ObjectiveTo assess the value of the Beijing version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment ( MoCA) in community dwelling older adults residing in Shenyang,China.MethodsThe stratified random sampling method was used to investigate the population over 60 years old in 4 communities of Shenyang in the year 2011.Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Beijing version of MoCA were administered to all participants.258 old people finished the assessment.ResultsThe internal consistency of the MoCA Beijing version was good,yielding a Cronbach alpha of 0.836.The correlation between the MoCA Beijing version and the MMSE was good(r=0.623,P＜0.001 ).Only 15.1％ participants had an education of over 12 years,but 26.3％ participants had an education of 6 years or less.Only 3 items of MoCA Beijing version ( naming lion,forward digit span,recall daisy)showednosignificantdifferencebetweenpersonswithandwithoutover 6yearsofeducation.ConclusionsThe results indicates that the Beijing version of MoCA have good reliability and validity.This study shows that an education of 6 years or less might be the proper population to add the one point in China,and the cutoff-point of 26 for normal is too high for Chinese population.

Objective To obtain high-yield and easy-purification severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-CoV) S1 protein with biological activity and to study the activity of S1 protein and its antibody further.Methods SARS-CoV S1 gene was inserted into yeast expression vector pMET?A by ligation reaction.The recombinant plasmid was verified by enzyme digestion and sequencing,followed by being transformed into yeast host strain PMAD11 with electroporation.After induced with methanol,the S1 gene expression was verified with overlay assay and Western blotting.Results The positive clones of S1 gene into pMET?A were approved by restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing.The expression of S1 protein was confirmed subsequently by overlay assay and Western blotting.Conclusion SARS-CoV S1 gene has been cloned and expressed in yeast p.methanolica,which can provide experimental data for next study on the activity of this protein and its antibody during SARS-CoV infection.

Objective:To predict and analyze the secondary structure and B cell epitopes of Izumo protein.Methods: The secondary structure and flexible regions of Izumo protein were predicted by the methods of Chou-Fasman,Gamier-Robson and Karplus-Schulz.Moreover,hydrophilicity plot,surface probability plot and antigenic index of Izumo protein were predicted by the methods of Kyte-Doolitde,Emini and Jameson-Wolf,respectively.Results: Izumo protein contained moreαhelix regions.There were several centers ofαhelix in the regions of 6-17,30-40,88-99,103-120,153-160,173-188,249-260,283-297,334-338 and 339-346 of Izumo protein,and several centers of βsheet in the regions of 21-25,198-200,245-248 and 320-323.Moreover,many distinct B cell epitopes in Izumo protein possibly localized in the regions of 3642,62-66,94-99,118-122,129-132,151-154,161-164,173-177,205-208,212-216,256-265,271-276,283-288,314-318 and 336-350.Conclusion:These results are helpful for identification of the dominant B cell epitopes and the functional domains of Izumo protein.

Objective: To observe the morphologic changes of pituitary adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) cells in Wistar rats at different altitudes, and clarify the mechanism of stress reaction to hypoxia in ACTH cells. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into three groups and moved to different altitudes (1700 m, 3100 m, 4050 m). After 12 days, changes of ACTH cells were observed by using immunohistochemisty, image analysis and electron microscopy. Results:The ratio (R) of immunoreactive cell area to scanned area and mean optical density (A) increased at higher altitude with statistically different R values between groups of 1700 m and 4050 m (P

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of geniposide on treating experimental CP rats.

METHODThe animal model of CP was made with rats by injecting hemorrhoid injection. Rats in experiment group were randomly devided into model group, Qianliekang tablets group (2 g x kg(-1)) and geniposide high, middle, low dose groups (20, 10, 5 mg x kg(-1)). Subsequently, the state of all rats, prostate index, WBC and lecithine corpuscle, LDH5/LDH1, and prostatic histopathological changes were observed. Count of total cellular score (TCS) and quantitation of inflammatory cell, fibroblasts, glandular organ, calculation of glandular cavity area, and their changes of morphology were analyzed.

RESULTCompared with model group, the prostate index, WBC and LDHS/LDH1 of the rats in Qianliekang tablets group, high dose geniposide group and middle dose geniposide group were significantly decreased, while the quantities of lecithine corpuscle were remarkably increased (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Compared with model group, the number of inflammatory cells and fibroblasts in Qianliekang tablets group, high dose geniposide group were decreased, and the quantity of glandular organ and area of glandular cavity in these groups were increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGeniposide of high and middle dose can reduce leucocytes infiltration, restrain the hyperplasia of fibrous tissue, and recover the secretion function of prostate. It show that geniposide is significantly potential to cure rats which are exposed to chronic prostatitis.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Chronic Disease ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Iridoids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Prostate ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prostatitis ; blood ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the effect of thymosin ?1 (T?1) on cellular immune function in gastric cancer patients through observing its treatment on the differentiation of T-lymphocyte subsets from screened peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Methods PBMCs were obtained by centrifugation of blood samples from 18 healthy subjects and 32 patients with gastric cancer,and then cultured in the presence of culture medium with addition of T?1 at 50,10 and 1 ?g/ml for 2 d. T lymphocyte subsets (such as CD4+,CD8+ and CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ T cells) and Th1/Th2 multiplex cytokines were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). Results After PBMCs isolated from healthy people and patients were incubated with or without T?1,there was no significant change in percentage of CD4+,CD8+ peripheral lymphocyte subsets and ratio of CD4+/CD8+. There was no obvious change in the percentage of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ T lymphocyte subsets in the normal control,but a significant increase was observed in the cells from patients with gastric cancer after treatment (P

Objective:To explore the transcriptional regulation mechanism of transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF-β 1) on Meox1 and its effect on cell migration of adult human dermal fibroblasts (HDF-a). Methods:(1) HDF-a cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 complete medium (hereinafter referred to as routinely cultured). The cells were divided into TGF-β 1 stimulation group and blank control group. The cells in TGF-β 1 stimulation group were stimulated with 10 μL TGF-β 1 in the mass concentration of 1 mg/μL, while the cells in blank control group were stimulated with the equal volume of phosphate buffer solution. After 72 hours in culture, partial cells in both groups were collected for transcriptome sequencing. The genes with differential expression ratio greater than or equal to 2 and P<0.01 between the two groups were selected to perform enrichment analysis and analysis of metabolic pathways of the Kyoto Gene and Genome Encyclopedia with, and the expression value of Meox1 per million transcripts (TPM) was recorded ( n=3). Partial cells from the two groups were used to detect the Meox1 mRNA expression by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) ( n=3). (2) Cultured HDF-a cells in the logarithmic growth phase (the same growth phase of cells below) were divided into empty plasmid group, Smad2 overexpression (OE) group, Smad3 OE group, and Smad4 OE group, which were transfected respectively with 2 μg empty pcDNA3.1 plasmid and pcDNA3.1 plasmids separately carrying Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 for 6 hours, and then were routinely cultured for 48 hours. The Meox1 mRNA expression in the transfected cells of each group was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR ( n=3). (3) HDF-a cells were routinely cultured and grouped the same as in experiment (1). After 72 hours in culture, the enrichment of Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 protein on the Meox1 promoter in the cells of each group was detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) ( n=3). (4) HDF-a cells were routinely cultured and divided into negative interference group, small interference RNA (siRNA)-Smad2 group, siRNA-Smad3 group, siRNA-Smad4 group, empty plasmid group, Smad2 OE group, Smad3 OE group, and Smad4 OE group, which were transfected respectively with 50 μmol/L random siRNA, siRNA-Smad2, siRNA-Smad3, siRNA-Smad4, 2 μg empty pcDNA3.1 plasmid and pcDNA3.1 plasmids separately carrying Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 for 6 hours and then routinely cultured for 48 hours. The enrichment of Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 protein on the Meox1 promoter in the cells of corresponding group was detected by ChIP-qPCR ( n=3). (5) Two batches of HDF-a cells were cultured and divided into negative interference group, siRNA-Meox1 group, empty plasmid group, and Meox1 OE group, which were transfected respectively with 50 μmol/L random siRNA, siRNA-Meox1, 2 μg empty pcDNA3.1 plasmid and pcDNA3.1 plasmid carrying Meox1 for 6 hours and then routinely cultured for 24 hours. One batch of cells were subjected to scratch test with the scratch width being observed 24 hours after scratching and compared with the initial width for scratch wound healing; the other batch of cells were subjected to Transwell assay, in which the migrated cells were counted after being routinely cultured for 24 hours ( n=3). (6) From January 2018 to June 2019, 3 hypertrophic scar patients (2 males and 1 female, aged 35-56 years) were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (the Third Military Medical University) 8-12 months after burns. The scar tissue and normal skin tissue along the scar margin resected during surgery were taken, and immunohistochemical staining was performed to observe the distribution of Meox1 protein expression. Data were statistically analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and independent sample t test. Results:(1) After 72 hours in culture, a total of 843 genes were obviously differentially expressed between the two groups, being related to tissue repair, cell migration, inflammatory cell chemotaxis induction process and potential signaling pathways such as tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 17, extracellular matrix receptor. The TPM value of Meox1 in the cells of blank control group was 45.9±1.9, which was significantly lower than 163.1±29.5 of TGF-β 1 stimulation group ( t=6.88, P<0.01) with RNA-sequencing. After 72 hours in culture, the Meox1 mRNA expression levels in the cells of blank control group was 1.00±0.21, which was significantly lower than 11.00±3.61 of TGF-β 1 stimulation group ( t=4.79, P<0.01). (2) After 48 hours in culture, the Meox1 mRNA expression levels in the cells of Smad2 OE group, Smad3 OE group, and Smad4 OE group were 198.70±11.02, 35.47±4.30, 20.27±2.50, respectively, which were significantly higher than 1.03±0.19 of empty plasmid group ( t=31.07, 13.80, 13.12, P<0.01). (3) After 72 hours in culture, the enrichment of Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of TGF-β 1 stimulation group was significantly higher than that of blank control group respectively ( t=12.99, 41.47, 29.10, P<0.01). (4) After 48 hours in culture, the enrichment of Smad2 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of negative interference group was (0.200 000±0.030 000)%, significantly higher than (0.000 770±0.000 013)% of siRNA-Smad2 group ( t=11.67, P<0.01); the enrichment of Smad2 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of empty plasmid group was (0.200 000±0.040 000)%, significantly lower than (0.700 000±0.090 000)% of Smad2 OE group ( t=8.85, P<0.01). The enrichment of Smad3 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of negative interference group was (0.500 0±0.041 3)%, significantly higher than (0.006 0±0.001 3)% of siRNA-Smad3 group ( t=17.79, P<0.01); the enrichment of Smad3 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of empty plasmid group was (0.470 0±0.080 0)%, which was significantly lower than (1.100 0±0.070 0)% of Smad3 OE group ( t=9.93, P<0.01). The enrichment of Smad4 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of negative interference group was similar to that of siRNA-Smad4 group ( t=2.11, P>0.05); the enrichment of Smad4 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of empty plasmid group was similar to that of Smad4 OE group ( t=0.60, P>0.05). (5) Twenty-four hours after scratching, the scratch healing width of cells in siRNA-Meox1 group was narrower than that of negative interference group, while that of Meox1 OE group was wider than that of empty plasmid group. After 24 hours in culture, the number of migration cells in negative interference group was significantly higher than that in siRNA-Meox1 group ( t=9.12, P<0.01), and that in empty plasmid group was significantly lower than that in Meox1 OE group ( t=8.99, P<0.01). (6) The expression of Meox1 protein in the scar tissue was significantly higher than that in normal skin of patients with hypertrophic scars. Conclusions:TGF-β 1 transcriptionally regulates Meox1 expression via Smad2/3 in HDF-a cells, thus promoting cell migration.

Probiotics can improve the microecological balance of the body and have special effects in promoting nutrient absorption, controlling intestinal infections, and regulating immune function. However, there are problems such as difficult colonization in the gastrointestinal environment and low oral bioavailability. Bacterial biofilms are organized bacterial cells that adhere to an abiotic or biotic surface and are enclosed in extracellular polymeric substances of exopolysaccharides (EPS), extracellular DNA (eDNA), proteins and lipids, with a three-dimensional spatial structure. Probiotics with the help of bacterial biofilms have obvious advantages over planktonic bacteria in stress resistance, combating pathogens and modulating the host's immune function, which provides a new research idea for the development of probiotics. This paper expounded on the advantages of probiotics with the help of bacterial biofilms, and focused on introducing substances that could promote the formation of probiotic biofilms and the mechanisms, and the safety of probiotic biofilms. Currently, research on probiotic biofilms is still in its infancy, and this paper is expected to provide references for future research in this field.
Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; Probiotics

Numerous studies have reported that the resistance of biofilm bacteria to antibiotics can be up to 10-1 000 fold higher than that of planktonic bacteria. Bacterial biofilms are reported to be responsible for more than 80% of human microbial infection, posing great challenges to the healthcare sector. Many studies have reported that plant extracts and their active ingredients can inhibit the formation and development of bacterial biofilms, including reducing biofilm biomass and the number of viable bacteria in biofilms, as well as eradicating mature biofilms. This review summarized the plant extracts and their active ingredients that are inhibitory to bacterial biofilms, and analyzed the underpinning mechanisms. This review may serve as a reference for the development of plant drugs to prevent and treat biofilm infections.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Humans ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Quorum Sensing