Objective To study the evolutionary and mutant characteristics of Ebora virus envelope glycoprotein.Methods A total of 100 Ebora virus envelope glycoproteins amino acid sequences isolated during 1976 and 2014 were collected from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis were performed to investigate the evolutionary and mutant characteristics of Ebora virus envelope glycoprotein.Results Glycoprotein amino acid sequences of Ebora virus isolated during 1976 and 2014 showed only 54.00％-65.00％ homology among different subtypes,while 95.00％-100.00％ homology in same subtypes.Ebola virus isolated from different regions in 2014 showed a 99.70％-100.00％ homology of glycoprotein amino acid sequences in the same subtype.The homology of glycoprotein amino acid sequences of Ebola-Zaire virus isolated from Sierra Leone in 2014 was 100.00％,but three strains of Ebola-Zaire virus isolated from Guinea showed diversity in glycoprotein amino acid sequences.Glycoprotein amino acid sequences of Ebola virus with different subtypes were on different branches of phylogenetic tree.Glycoprotein amino acid sequences of Ebola-Zaire virus isolated from Sierra Leone in 2014 were on one branch,and those of Ebola-Zaire virus isolated from other countries during 1976 and 2014 were on the another branch.Conclusions Glycoprotein amino acid sequences of Ebora virus vary with time and region.Ebola-Zaire virus isolated from different regions in 2014 may be two variants with the same origin,and hybrid phenomenon is not observed among virus of different subtypes.

Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells have the potential of self-renewal,proliferation and multidirectional differentiation,which maintain the normal haematopoiesis of bnmml body.Alterations in the number and function of mature blood cells in the peripheral blood commonly observed in humans exposed to microgravity (μ-g)are results of many reasons.The change of biological characteristic of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells is one of the important ressons.Migration,proliferation,and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells under microgravity are summarized in this article.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of prealbumin (PA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level for the diagnosis of children patients with bacterial community acquired pneumonia (CAP).Methods Seventy-two children with bacterial CAP (CAP group) between July 2012 and December 2013 were enrolled in the study.Fifty healthy children were selected as healthy control group.The level of serum PA and CRP were measured by flow cytometry and turbidimetric immunoassay respectively.The results were compared.Results Before treatment,the level of CRP in CAP group was higher than that in healthy control group,and the level of PA in CAP group was lower than that in healthy control group,there was significant difference (P ＜ 0.01).The level of white blood cell count and the rate of neutrophilic granulocyte in CAP group was higher than that in healthy control group,but there was no significant difference(P ＞ 0.05).After treatment,the level of CRP in CAP group was decreased and the level of PA was increased,there was significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).Pearson analysis showed that the level of CRP in CAP patients had negative relationship with the level of PA (r =-0.613,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Detection of serum PA and CRP contributes to clinical diagnosis of children bacterial CAP and evaluation of anti-infection effect.

AIM:To investigate the effect of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor rolipram on the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of alcoholism model mice.METHODS:The mice (n=60) were randomly divided into control group , con-trol+rolipram group, alcoholism model group, and alcohol +rolipram (0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) groups.The mice were given alcohol preference test on days 6, 13, 20 and 27.After the test, the mice received withdrawal of alcohol for 1 d.On day 28, the mice were given behavior test of depression , and after the test, the mice were sacrificed.The cAMP levels in the hippocampus and PFC were detected by ELISA , and the protein levels of PKA , CREB, p-CREB and BDNF were detec-ted by Western blot.RESULTS:The mice showed an obvious drinking phenomenon (P<0.01), and the immobility time of forced swimming test and tail suspension test was significantly increased (P<0.01), with increasing drinking days and withdrawal times .However , chronic treatment with rolipram for 28 d reversed this phenomenon .Moreover , the cAMP lev-els in the hippocampus and PFC were significantly decreased after 28 d alcohol treatment ( P<0.01 ) , and pretreatment with rolipram (1 mg/kg) obviously reversed this decrease (P<0.01).Parallel to these changes of cAMP , the protein lev-els of PKA, p-CREB and BDNF were also decreased in the hippocampus and PFC (P<0.01), and 28 d rolipram adminis-tration inhibited the decreased cAMP , PKA, p-CREB and BDNF levels in the hippocampus .Moreover, 28 d rolipram ad-ministration also reversed decreased cAMP , PKA and p-CREB in the PFC.CONCLUSION:Rolipram treatment protects against alcohol-induced depression-like behaviors , and also reduces alcohol drinking .These effects may be related to PDE4-cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF pathway .

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of ferulic acid(FA)on motor function of rats with a spinal cord injury model(SCI)and its possible effects on expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3(LC3),Beclin1,Bcl-2 and Bax. METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham group,SCI group,FA(100 mg·kg-1,po)group. Rats were subjected to moderate contusion inju?ries using a vascular clip for 2 min to establish an SCI animal model beforfe they were given BBB scores and inclined plate scoring function test on 6 h,1,3,7 and 14 d after SCI. After the test,rats were sacrificed. Spinal cords were observed by hematoxylin eosin(HE)staining. Furthermore,the expressions of LC3,Beclin1,Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS Compared with the sham group,BBB scores and inclined plate function scores significantly decreased in model group. The BBB scores decreased from 21 in sham group to(0.5±0.5)in SCI group,and inclined plate function scores decreased from 70° in sham group to(5.8±2.0)° in SCI group. However,this was reversed by FA treatment. BBB scores and inclined plate function scores increased from 3.0 ± 1.7 to 6.2 ± 3.6(P<0.05)and from (13.3 ± 4.1)° to(26.7 ± 8.7)°(P<0.05)after FA was po given for 7 d,respectively. HE staining showed the gradual emergence of internal spinal cord edema,while the structural changes associated with spinal cord injury could be significantly reversed by administration of FA. Moreover,the expression of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰand Beclin1 was significantly increased in SCI 1 d group(P<0.01),but was decreased in 14 d group when compared with SCI 1 d group(P<0.05). The expression of Bcl-2 was increased in SCI 14 d group,and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax was increased on 14 d after SCI(P<0.05). Compared with the SCI group,LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰand Beclin1 expression was increased in FA-treated 1 d group(P<0.05),Bcl-2 expression was increased in FA-treated 14 d group and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax was significantly increased on 14 d after SCI(P<0.05). CONCLUSION FA has a therapeutic effect on SCI,which may be related to the impact of neuronal autophagy and apoptosis. Meanwhile,autophagy of SCI may be a process of gradual enhancement followed by weakening,and the anti-apoptosis effect may gradually increase with autophagy.

Objective To assess the sweat secretion of Yin-deficient ovariectomized rats and investigate the changes in biochemical indexes.Methods Eighteen SD female rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group,model group,and positive control group of six rats each.The rats in the sham operation group underwent a sham operation,and those in the model group and positive control group underwent bilateral ovariectomy.L-Thyroxine(92 mg/kg)was given once a day for 7 consecutive days starting on the 7th postoperative day to establish a Yin-deficient ovariectomized model.The rats in the positive control group were orally administered Qinggu San Tang(7.3 g/kg)once a day,while those in the sham operation group and model group were orally administered an equal amount of distilled water once a day for a total of 14 days.Sweat secretion from the plantar region of the foot was measured using the Wada-Takagaki reagent coloring method.At the end of the experiment,blood was taken from the abdominal aorta and the tissue of the paw pads was separated.The serum levels cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP),cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP),luteinizing hormone(LH),gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH),and estradiol(E2)were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Western Blot was used to determine the expression levels of M3 R,β2 AR,and aquaporin-5(AQP5)in the paw pad.Results The three main findings of this study were as follows.(1)Compared with the rats in the sham operation group,those in the model group were more irritable and aggressive,and their body weights decreased while their average temperature and sweat secretion significantly increased.(2)Serum cAMP level and cAMP/cGMP ratio increased,the LH and GnRH levels significantly increased,and the E2 level decreased.(3)M3 R expression was down-regulated and β2 AR and AQP5 expression was up-regulated in the paw pads of the rats.After 2 weeks of positive control treatment,the serum cAMP level and cAMP/cGMP ratio significantly decreased and the LH and GnRH levels decreased;however,no statistically significant difference was observed in the serum E2 level.The expression levels of M3 R were increased-regulated in paw pads of the rats,and reduced expression of β2 AR and AQP5.Conclusions Sweat secretion significantly increased in this"combined disease and evidence"model of perimenopausal syndrome kidney yin deficiency established by desiccation combined with thyroxine.The underlying mechanism may be related to the changes in cGMP,cAMP,and key proteins M3 R,β2 AR,and AQP5 in sweat glands that regulate sweat secretion.

Objective: The therapeutic effect of acid fibroblast growth factor 1(FGF1) on rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) was evaluated by using nano-liposomes combined with ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction technique (UTMD). Methods: The FGF1-loaded nano-liposomes were prepared by water-in-water emulsion method combined with lyophilization technique.TypeⅠdiabetes model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 70 mg/kg) in 60 male SD rats.Sixteen weeks later, diabetic rats were randomly divided into: placebo group (saline treatment), FGF1 group, FGF1-loaded nano-liposomes group, and FGF1-loaded nano-liposomes plus UTMD group (n=15 each). After two weeks of intervention followed by 2 weeks intervention stop, all rats underwent cardiac catheterization, and the left ventricular end-systolic pressure (LVESP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and the maximal increase/decrease rate of left ventricular pressure (LV±dp/dtmax) were measured.Then, the rats were sacrificed and myocardial tissue were obtained for Masson trichrome staining, TUNEL apoptotic staining and CD31 immunohistochemistry staining to quantify myocardial collagen fraction (CVF), cardiac myocyte apoptotic index and myocardial microvascular density (MVD). Results: (1)Scanning electron microscope results revealed good morphology and FGF1 encapsulation efficiency (84.3±2.8)% with high stability and dispensability of FGF1 loaded nano-liposomes.(2)The hemodynamic evaluation showed that LVESP, LV + dp/dt_max and LV -dp/dt_max were all significantly higher, while LVEDP was significantly lower in the FGF1-loaded nano-liposome+ UTMD group than in DCM group, FGF1 solution group, and FGF1 nano-liposome group(all P<0.05). (3)The Masson trichrome staining demonstrated that CVF was significantly higher in all DCM groups than in control group and was significantly lower in the FGF1-loaded nano-liposome+ UTMD group than in DCM group, FGF1 solution group, and FGF1 nano-liposome group (all P<0.05). (4)The CD31 immunohistochemical staining results showed that MVD was significantly lower in all DCM groups than in control group and was significantly higher in the FGF1-loaded nano-liposome+ UTMD group than in DCM group, FGF1 solution group, and FGF1 nano-liposome group (all P<0.05). (5)The TUNEL results showed that apoptotic index was significantly higher in all DCM groups than in control group and was significantly lower in the FGF1-loaded nano-liposome + UTMD group than in DCM group, FGF1 solution group, and FGF1 nano-liposome group (all P<0.05). Conclusion FGF1 nano-liposomes combining with UTMD technique can significantly improve cardiac functions and attenuate myocardial CVF and apoptosis and enhance myocardial MVD in DCM rats.

Objective:To investigate the expression of lipoic acid synthase gene ( LIAS) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 gene ( NRF2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with silicosis and their correlation with silicosis. Methods:A total of 45 healthy controls and 107 patients with silicosis were randomly selected in this study in May 2019. PBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood and NRF2 protein expression was detected by immunofluorescence. The mRNA levels of LIAS and NRF2 in PBMCs were determined by real-time PCR. The dose-response relationship beween LIAS and NRF2 mRNA expression levels and their association with silicosis were analyzed by restricted cubic spline (RCS) and logistic regression. Results:Compared with the control group, the number of monocytes in the case group was significantly increased, and the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1.0) decreased, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05) . The positive expression rate of NRF2 in PBMCs of silicosis patients in stage Ⅰ group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the positive expression rate of NRF2 in silicosis patients in stageⅡ and Ⅲ groups was lower than that in silicosis patients in control group and stage Ⅰ group ( P<0.01) . Results of RCS showed that there was a linear dose-response relationship between LIAS and NRF2 mRNA expression (overall correlation test, χ 2=213.710, P<0.01; non-linear test, χ 2=1.340, P=0.511) . There was a positive correlation between mRNA expression of LIAS and that of NRF2 ( r=0.651, P<0.01) . The results of multivariate analysis showed that LIAS and NRF2 were increased the risk of incidence in silicosis patients with stageⅠ ( OR=11.184, 4.332, P<0.05) and NRF2 was the protective factor in silicosis patients with stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ ( OR=0.225, 0.208, P<0.05) after adjusting for potential confounding factors including age, education level, BMI and smoking. Conclusion:There is a linear dose-response relationship between the expression of LIAS and NRF2 mRNA in PBMCs of silicosis patients, LIAS and NRF2 are involved in the pathogenesis of silicosis.

Objective:To investigate the expression of lipoic acid synthase gene ( LIAS) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 gene ( NRF2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with silicosis and their correlation with silicosis. Methods:A total of 45 healthy controls and 107 patients with silicosis were randomly selected in this study in May 2019. PBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood and NRF2 protein expression was detected by immunofluorescence. The mRNA levels of LIAS and NRF2 in PBMCs were determined by real-time PCR. The dose-response relationship beween LIAS and NRF2 mRNA expression levels and their association with silicosis were analyzed by restricted cubic spline (RCS) and logistic regression. Results:Compared with the control group, the number of monocytes in the case group was significantly increased, and the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1.0) decreased, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05) . The positive expression rate of NRF2 in PBMCs of silicosis patients in stage Ⅰ group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the positive expression rate of NRF2 in silicosis patients in stageⅡ and Ⅲ groups was lower than that in silicosis patients in control group and stage Ⅰ group ( P<0.01) . Results of RCS showed that there was a linear dose-response relationship between LIAS and NRF2 mRNA expression (overall correlation test, χ 2=213.710, P<0.01; non-linear test, χ 2=1.340, P=0.511) . There was a positive correlation between mRNA expression of LIAS and that of NRF2 ( r=0.651, P<0.01) . The results of multivariate analysis showed that LIAS and NRF2 were increased the risk of incidence in silicosis patients with stageⅠ ( OR=11.184, 4.332, P<0.05) and NRF2 was the protective factor in silicosis patients with stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ ( OR=0.225, 0.208, P<0.05) after adjusting for potential confounding factors including age, education level, BMI and smoking. Conclusion:There is a linear dose-response relationship between the expression of LIAS and NRF2 mRNA in PBMCs of silicosis patients, LIAS and NRF2 are involved in the pathogenesis of silicosis.