Alzheimer’ s disease ( AD) is one of the most common dementia of neurodegenerative disorders, which results from the deposition of amyloid-beta ( Aβ) and there are no curative treatments for this disease at present.It had been proved that prion protein is the receptor for Aβand it plays a key role in the progress of AD with dual-side effects. Prion protein can not only transfer neurotoxicity to neurons but also protect them from neurotoxicity of Aβ.The polymor-phisms of prion protein encoding gene ( PRNP) affect the AD incubation period and clinical symptoms in humans and other animals.The discovery of PRNP mutational mouse fills the gaps of existing AD mouse models in this research area, which is potential for the studies of pathogenesis, new drugs design and testing aspects.The role and effects of prion protein in AD pathogenesis were summarized in this paper, furthermore, the discovery and utility of PRNP gene mutational mouse in research on AD and/or amyloid diseases were reviewed, and in order to provide some guidance for AD animal model study.

Objective The aim of this study was to explore the effect of androgen deficiency on serum hormone levels, visceral fat accumulation and inflammatory gene expression in miniature pigs fed a high-fat diet ( HFD) . Methods Sexually mature male Chinese Wuzhishan miniature pigs were divided into three groups ( animals/group) as follows:intact male pigs ( SHAM) , castrated male pigs ( CAS) and castrated male pigs plus testosterone treatment ( CAS+T) . The pigs were fed a HFD diet for 12 weeks. Serum levels of testosterone and leptin were measured and visceral fat were dissected and weighted. qRT?PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression levels of lipogenic, lipolysis and inflammation relat?ed genes. Results (1) Serum testosterone levels were significantly decreased but serum leptin levels were significantly in?creased in the castrated pigs. These effects were recovered after testosterone treatment. ( 2 ) Visceral fat percentage was significantly increased in the castrated pigs, and testosterone treatment reduced the increased visceral fat in the castrated pigs. (3) Castration and testosterone treatment had no significant effects on the expression levels of lipogenic genes (FAS and ACC) and lipolysis genes (HSL and ATGL) in pigs fed a HFD. (5) Castration significantly induced the expressions of inflammatory genes including Leptin, CD68, CCL16, CCL23 and SAA, and testosterone treatment recovered the expres?sions of the above genes in the castrated pigs. Conclusions Castration?induced testosterone deficiency promotes visceral fat accumulation and upregulates the expression levels of inflammatory genes in miniature pigs fed a HFD. Moreover, tes?tosterone treatment ameliorates castration?induced visceral fat accumulation and inflammatory response in HFD?fed pigs.

Objective The aim of this study was to explore the effect of testosterone deficiency on serum lipid levels and hepatic lipid accumulation in miniature pigs fed a high-fat diet (HFD).Methods Eighteen sexually mature male Chinese Wuzhishan miniature pigs (6~7 months old) were used in this study.The pigs were divided in three groups ( n =6 animals/group ) as follows: intact male pigs , castrated male pigs and castrated male pigs with testosterone replacement .They were fed a HFD diet for 12 weeks and body weights were recorded weekly .Serum levels of testosterone , total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were measured.Hepatic TG and TC levels were also determined , and liver tissues were embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E).Results (1) The body weights of pigs in each group were found to be linearly elevated over time .Though castrated pigs gained less weight than did pigs in the other groups , no significant differences were found between them .( 2 ) Castration caused a significant decrease in serum testosterone levels in pigs . This effect was recovered by testosterone treatment .(3) Serum levels of TC, LDL-C and TG were significantly increased in castrated pigs.However, castration had no significant effect on serum HDL-C levels.Testosterone treatment reduced the increased serum lipids in castrated pigs .(4) Hepatic TG and TC contents in castrated pigs were also significantly higher than those in other groups of pigs .Testosterone treatment reduced the increased hepatic lipids in castrated pigs .( 5 ) Compared with other groups of pigs , castrated pigs showed increased steatosis .However , testosterone treatment attenuated hepatic steatosis in castrated pigs .Conclusion Testosterone deficiency caused severe dyslipidemia , and increased hepatic lipid accumulation in miniature pigs fed a high-fat diet.

AIM: To investigate the autophagy of breast cancer cells induced by baicalein and to explore its mechanism.METHODS: The effects of baicalein on the viability of MCF-7 cells and 4T1 cells were investigated by MTT assay, and the dosage of the drug was determined.The expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) and LC3-I in the MCF-7 cells and 4T1 cells treated with baicalein at doses of 25, 50 and 100 μmol/L, or combined with autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) were determined by Western blot.In order to confirm the role of baicalein in autophagy, the effect of 3-MA on the apoptosis of both MCF-7 cells and 4T1 cells induced by baicalein was analyzed by flow cytometry.The protein levels of p-mTOR, mTOR, p-AKT and AKT were examined by Western blot and the role of AKT-mTOR pathway in the induction of autophagy in breast cancer induced by baicalein was determined by the combination of activators.RESULTS: Baicalein at 50 μmol/L and above doses significantly inhibited the viability of breast cancer cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner.The expression of LC3-II/LC3-I in both MCF-7 cells and 4T1 cells was significantly enhanced after the action of baicalein, and the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I was significantly decreased after 3-MA addition.The results of flow cytometry showed that, compared with baicalein group, the combination of baicalein and 3-MA promoted the levels of necrosis and apoptosis.Moreover, the protein levels of p-mTOR and p-AKT were significantly decreased and were rescued by EGF, while their total protein levels were not changed.CONCLUSION: Baicalein induces autophagy through AKT-mTOR pathway both in MCF-7 cells and 4T1 cells.

Objective To establish a Wuzhishan minipig model of atherosclerosis(AS) induced by high fat/cholesterol diet,and observe the changes of expression of lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2) in plasma and plaques.Methods 10 Wuzhishan minipigs were randomly divided into 2 groups:The normal control(Ctr,n=4) group was fed with normal diet,and AS model(n=6) group fed with high fat/cholesterol diet for 24 weeks.After the modeling for 24 weeks,the changes of total cholesterol(TC),low density lipoprotein(LDL-C),high density lipoprotein(HDL-C),triglyceride(TG),C-reactive protein(CRP),Lp-PLA2 activity and composition were detected.The changes of vascular lipid deposition and plaques were assessed by pathology using oil red O staining and HE staining,respectively,and immunohistochemical staining for IL-6 protein expression.Moreover,the expression of Lp-PLA2 mRNA determined by RT-PCR and protein by Western blot were observed in the abdominal aortic tissues.Results Compared with the control group,the body weight,body mass index(BMI),TC,LDL-C,HDL-C,CRP,Lp-PLA2 activity and composition and aortic lipid deposition were significantly increased,and AS plaque formation was observed in the AS model group(P<0.05,P<0.01).The expression of Lp-PLA2mRNA and protein and IL-6 protein in abdominal aortic tissues were also significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusions Long-term high fat/cholesterol diet feeding for 24 weeks can induce atherosclerosis in Wuzhishan minipigs,and Lp-PLA2 plays a key role in the vascular inflammation and plaque formation.

Objective To observe the morphological structures of WHBE rabbit brain in vivo based on 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI), accumulate the basic biological data of WHBE rabbit brain imaging, and provide a background information to further expand the WHBE rabbit application.Methods Nine healthy adult male WHBE rabbits were intravenously anesthetized with 3% pentobarbital sodium.3.0 T MRI plus rabbit brain dedicated coil was used to perform routine transverse and sagittal scans, and the size of brain structures were measured.Results MRI scanning can be successfully performed to obtain sagittal and transverse T2WI or T1WI images of WHBE rabbit brain in vivo, and can be clearly observed the basic structures of WHBE rabbit brains in vivo, such as olfactory bulb, cerebrum, cerebellum and pituitary gland.In addition, high signal was found in the hippocampus of the left and right temporal lobes in 4 rabbits with T2WI, but also low signal appeared in the corresponding regions in T1WI, and the others were not abnormal.Meanwhile, the reference data of frontal lobe, hippocampus, cerebrum, lateral ventricles, pituitary gland and other related anatomical structures were also obtained.Conclusions Using the 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging system and rabbit brain coil,the morphological and anatomical structures of rabbit brain can be clearly observed, and the basic imaging data of WHBE rabbits brain have been established preliminarily.

Objective To compare the differences in the intestinal microflora of WHBE rabbit and JW rabbit models of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). Methods 16 WHBE rabbits and 16 JW rabbits were randomly divided into normal control(NC)group and IBS model group, respectively(n=8). The diarrhea-predominant IBS model was established by wet-heat stress combined with intragastric gavage of senna decoction. The abdominal circumference index,water content of feces and colonic transit function were observed. After sacrifice,colon tissue samples were taken for histopathological examination and colon contents for intestinal flora diversity analysis. Results Compared with the NC group,the IBS model rabbits showed an increased abdominal circumference index and fecal water content,and a shortened colon transit time, but no obvious pathological changes were observed in the colon tissues. Meanwhile, the Shannon index and Chao1 index of IBS model rabbits were significantly decreased(P<0.05). According to the result of OTU classification analysis,Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes are the dominant bacteria in the intestinal microflora of rabbits. Compared with the NC group, the Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Chloroflexi, Akkermansia, and Streptococcus in the WHBE rabbit IBS model group were significantly reduced(P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while Bacteroidetes and rc4-4 significantly increased(P < 0.05, P < 0.01). However, in the JW rabbit IBS model group, Eubacterium and Subdoligranulum were significantly increased(P< 0.05),while Lactobacillus,Coprobacter,Veillonella and Streptococcus were markedly decreased(P<0.05). Compared with the JW rabbit NC group,the abundance of Firmicutes,Odoribacter, Veillonella,Streptococcus,Oscillospira and Pseudoflavonifractor were significantly decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01), but Bacteroidetes,Verrucomicrobia,Eubacterium,Akkermansia and Coprobacter were significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01)in the WHBE rabbit NC group. Compared with the JW rabbit IBS model group, the abundance of rc4-4, Bacteroidetes,Coprobacter and Clostridium were significantly higher(P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while the Firmicutes, Dorea, Coprococcus and Subdoligranulum were significantly lower(P <0.05)in the WHBE rabbit IBS model group. Conclusions There is an intestinal microflora imbalance in rabbits with IBS, resulting in a decrease of microflora diversity. The changes of intestinal microflora in the WHBE rabbits and JW rabbits with IBS have their own characteristics, and have apparent differences.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features of patients with recurrent or metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC)after 131I therapy. Methods:From December 2000 to December 2017, a total of 40 patients[14 males amd 26 females, median age 48(29-60)years] with recurrent or metastatic DTC after 131I therapy in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital were reviewed. We analyzed the clinical pathological features of the patients receiving the initial 131I ablation to screen the relevant factors affecting the time of recurrence or metastasis, the dynamic serological changes, imaging characteristics and the iodine uptake in the lesion at diagnosis. Chi- square test, Mann- Whitney U test and Kaplan- Meier analysis were used to compare the differences between the two groups. Results:The time of recurrence or metastasis of DTC after 131I therapy was not statistically different in the patient′s age, gender, multifocal cancer, lymph node metastasis, the interval between the initial 131I therapy and the operation, stimulated thyroglobulin(Tg)levels before the initial ablation and last 131I therapy, and times of 131I therapy( P > 0.05), but associated with the T-stage of in-situ tumor, soft tissue metastasis and initial therapeutic dose of 131I. Patients with the T4-stage of in-situ tumor( P=0.033), soft tissue metastasis( P=0.008)and tumor initial dose≤3.7 GBq( P=0.002)were more prone to early recurrence or metastasis. From termination of 131I therapy to the diagnosis of tumor recurrence or metastasis, Tg [Tg antibodys(TgAb)negative] and TgAb(TgAb positive)showed a gradually increasing trend. Recurrent or metastatic lesions were mostly located in the cervical lymph nodes, and most of them were multiple. Among the 40 patients with recurrent or metastatic DTC, only 3 patients had iodine-avid lesions. Conclusion:The T-stage of in-situ tumor, soft tissue metastasis and initial therapeutic dose of radioiodine are important factors affecting the time of recurrence or metastasis after 131I therapy in DTC patients. Most of the recurrent or metastatic lesions don′t ever concentrate radioiodine, so it′s difficult to benefit from continued 131I therapy.