Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of microencapsulated human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell transplantation into the striatum in a rat model of Parkinson' disease (PD). Methods Cultured RPE cells were microencapsulated by alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) using a high voltage electrostatic system. The Parkinsonian rats were divided into 4 groups, namely the model group, RPE group, APA group and RPE-APA group, and in the latter 3 groups, RPE cells, empty APA microcapsules and APA-capsulated RPE cells, respectively, were transplanted into the right striatum of the rats via stereotactic surgery. After the transplantation, the changes in apomorphine-induced rotation of the rats were investigated and the striatum DA contents were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Results TThe rotation of the rats in RPE-APA group was reduced by 51.48%, showing significant difference from that in the model control group 4 weeks after the transplantation (P<0.05). At 8 weeks after the transplantation, apomorphine-induced rotation in the RPE-APA group showed further significant reduction by 54.43% (P<0.05). The changes of DA contents in the striatum after transplantation were consistent with the changes in the rotation behavior of the rats. Conclusions Microencapsulated human RPE cell transplantation is a promising approach for the treatment of PD.

BACKGROUNDClinical observations have shown that the complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) associates with ganglionated plexus activity in the cardiac autonomic nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the impact of CFAE ablation on vagal modulation to atria and vulnerability to develop atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSTen adult mongrel dogs were involved. Cervical sympathovagal trunks were decentralized and sympathetic effects were blocked. CFAE was color tagged on the atrial 3-dimensional image and ablated during AF induced by S1S2 programmed stimulation plus sympathovagal trunk stimulation. Atrial effective refractory period (ERP) and vulnerability window (VW) of AF were measured on baseline and at vagal stimulation at 4 atrium sites. Serial tissue sections from ablative and control specimens received hematoxylin and eosin staining for microscopic examination.

RESULTSMost CFAE areas were localized at the right superior pulmonary quadrant, distal coronary sinus (CS(d)) quadrant, and proximal coronary sinus (CS(p)) quadrant (21.74%, separately). Sinus rhythm cycle length (SCL) shortening did not decrease significantly after ablation at the sites, including right atrial appendage, left atrial appendage, CS(d), and CS(p) (P > 0.05). ERP shortening during vagal stimulation significantly decreased after ablation (P < 0.01); the VW to vagal stimulation significantly decreased after ablation (P < 0.05). The architecture of individual ganglia altered after ablation.

CONCLUSIONSCFAE has an autonomic basis in dogs. The decreased SCL and ERP shortening to vagal stimulation after CFAE ablation demonstrate that CFAE ablation attenuates vagal modulation to the atria, thereby suppressing AF mediated by enhanced vagal activity. CFAE ablation could suppress AF mediated by enhanced vagal activity.

Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; therapy ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Dogs ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; methods ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of extract of ginkgo biloba leaves on the precondition of liver graft in rat liver transplantation. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used as donors and recipients of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), and were randomly divided into extract of ginkgo biloba leaves group (Egb), NS control group (NS), and sham operation group (SO) according to whether the extract of ginkgo biloba leaves was injected by the venous (40 mg/kg) 1 h before the liver grafts harvesting. The rats were killed at 2 h, 6 h, and 24 h after the ischemia/reperfusion. The serum concentrations of ALT and AST were determined and the liver tissue were sampled to observe the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1. RESULTS: After the ischemia/reperfusion the serum concentration of ALT and AST and expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-1 in the hepatic tissue in the NS group significantly increased (p<0.01), and the hepatocytic morphologic change was obvious compared with the SO group. The treatment of ginkgo biloba extract significantly decreased the serum concentration of ALT and AST and the expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-1 in the hepatic tissue in EGb group compared with the NS group (p<0.01), and relieved the hepatocyte swelling and necrosis. CONCLUSION Ginkgo bilobA extract may decrease the release of TNF-alpha and IL-1 by inhibiting activation of kuffer cells and regulate the cell factors to protect the live.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Interleukin-1 ; biosynthesis ; Liver ; blood supply ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and genotypes of human rhinovirus (HRV) in patients with upper respiratory tract infection in Qingdao in the winter of 2020.Methods:Throat swab samples were collected from 101 patients with upper respiratory tract infection in Qingdao from November 2020 to January 2021. Quantitative PCR was used to detect 15 common respiratory viruses in the samples. HRV-positive samples were further analyzed with RT-PCR to amplify and sequence HRV VP4/VP2 gene. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the sequencing results and homology analysis was conducted.Results:Six common respiratory viruses were detected in the 101 patients. Thirty-four cases (34/101, 33.66%) were single pathogen infection and two cases were multiple infection (2/101, 1.98%). The positive rate of HRV was the highest (21.78%, 22/101). Twenty HRV VP4/VP2 sequences were successfully amplified. Phylogenetic analysis showed that there were 16 strains of HRV-A subtype and four strains of HRV-C subtype and 14 serotypes were involved.Conclusions:HRV was one of the leading viral pathogens causing upper respiratory tract infection in Qingdao in the winter of 2020 and the predominant subtype was HRV-A.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture(EA) for apoplectic urinary incontinence.

METHODSTwo hundred and four cases of apoplectic urinary incontinence were randomized into an EA group (136 cases) and an indwelling catheter group (68 cases). The EA was applied at Qugu (CV 2), Zhongji (CV 3), Shuidao (ST 28), Qihai (CV 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4), etc. in the EA group,5 times a week. Indwelling catheter was applied in the indwelling catheter group at intervals of 2-4 hours, and periodic bladder irrigation along with bladder rehabilitation training were also given. The efficacies were evaluated after 4 weeks of treatment. Before and after treatment, the urination diary (including the interval of urination, nocturia frequency, urination difficulty, urinary incontinence severity), bladder capacity, patients' satisfaction of the two groups were observed and the efficacy was evaluated.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 96.2% (125/130) in the EA group, which was apparently superior to 87.5% (56/64) in the indwelling catheter group (P < 0.05); except for nocturia frequency in the indwelling catheter group, the total score and the subitem score in the urination diary were all improved significantly after treatment in both groups (all P < 0.001), which were more obvious in the EA group (P < 0.001, P < 0.05); the patients' satisfaction and bladder capacity were all improved significantly after treatment in both groups (all P < 0.001), which were more obvious in the EA group (both P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe EA has an obvious effect for apoplectic urinary incontinence in urinary incontinence alleviation and bladder capacity increase, which has better efficacy than indwelling catheter therapy.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Incontinence ; therapy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the function of Zinc finger protein 488 (ZNF488) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The endogenous expression of ZNF488 in NPC tissues, normal nasopharyngeal epithelium tissues and NPC cell lines were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. ZNF488 over-expressing and knock-down NPC cell line models were established through retroviral vector pMSCV mediated over-expression and small interfering RNA (siRNA) mediated knock-down. The invasion and migration capacities were evaluated by wound healing and transwell invasion assays in ZNF488 over-expressing and control cell lines. Soft-agar colony formation and a xenograft experiment were performed to study tumorigenic ability in vitro and in vivo. Immunofluorescence and western blotting analysis were used to examine protein changes followed by ZNF488 over-expression. Microarray analysis was performed to explore gene expression profilings, while luciferase reporter assay to evaluate the transcriptive activity of Tcf/Lef. RESULTS: ZNF488 was over-expressed in NPC tissues compared with normal tissues, especially higher in 5-8F and S18, which are well-established high metastatic NPC clones. Functional studies indicate that over-expression of ZNF488 provokes invasion, whereas knock-down of ZNF488 alleviates invasive capability. Moreover, over-expression of ZNF488 promotes NPC tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. Our data further show that over-expression of ZNF488 induces epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) by activating the WNT/beta-catenin signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Our data strongly suggest that ZNF488 acts as an oncogene, promoting invasion and tumorigenesis by activating the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway to induce EMT in NPC.
Blotting, Western ; Carcinogenesis* ; Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition* ; Epithelium ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Heterografts ; Luciferases ; Microarray Analysis ; Oncogenes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Wnt Signaling Pathway* ; Wound Healing ; Zidovudine ; Zinc Fingers

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and prognostic factors of Chinese patients with mantle cell lymphoma.

METHODSOne hundred and two cases of mantle cell lymphoma occurring in Chinese patients were studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The follow-up information was also analyzed. The cases were classified as mantle zone, nodular or diffuse patterns and as typical or blastoid variants. Age, Ann-Arbor staging, B symptoms, hematologic parameters, histologic variants, mitotic index and immunophenotype were assessed for possible prognostic implication.

RESULTSThe median age of the patients was 59 years (range: 30 to 79 years) and the male-to-female ratio was 2.92:1. Seventy-one patients (87.65%) presented with advanced stage disease (Ann Arbor stage III to IV). B symptoms were present in 45.45% of patients. The commonest site of involvement was lymph node (100%). The other involved sites included bone marrow (64.44%), spleen (63.16%), Waldeyer's ring (31.25%), peripheral blood (29.41%), liver (22.64%) and gastrointestinal tract (14.71%). All cases expressed B-cell markers but were negative for T-cell marker. Majority of cases were positive for cyclin D1 (94.12%) and CD5 (71.43%). Blastoid variant accounted for 24.51% of cases. Amongst the 68 cases with follow-up data available, the median survival was 10 months. Parameters associated with shorter survival included diffuse pattern, blastoid variant, high mitotic index, high proliferative activity and presence of bone marrow involvement.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinicopathologic features and prognostic factors of mantle cell lymphoma occurring in Chinese are similar to those in Caucasians. Diffuse pattern, blastoid variant, high mitotic index, high proliferative activity and involvement of bone marrow indicate poor prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; CD5 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD79 Antigens ; metabolism ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use

Artemisia annua also known as Qinghao, is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine. Its active ingredient is artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone compound with a peroxy bridging group structure. A. annua is an effective antimalarial drug. Artemisinin, a secondary metabolite in A. annua, can be induced by many physical and chemical factors, such as salinity, moisture, light, and plant hormones. Temperature, as an important growth factor, also has a great influence on the synthesis of artemisinin. This article aims to study the effect of high temperature on inducing artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua. The A. annua seedlings were placed at 25, 40 °C, and the samples were taken after 0, 3, 12 and 36 h. The content of artemisinin in each sample was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Total RNA was extracted from the samples, and then transcriptome sequencing and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR were used to quantitatively analyze the expression of the key enzyme genes in artemisinin synthesis pathway and competition pathway. The results showed that artemisinin content was increased by 20%, 42% and 68% after 3, 12, 36 h of treatment at 40 °C. The expression levels of FDS, ALDH1, CYP71AV1 and ADS were up-regulated by 4.3, 3.3, 2.5, 1.9 times, and the expression levels of SQS and BPS were down-regulated by 37% and 90% respectively. In summary, high temperature can promote the biosynthesis of artemisinin by promoting the expression of synthetase genes in artemisinin synthesis pathway and inhibiting the expression of synthetase genes in artemisinin-competition pathway.
Antimalarials ; metabolism ; Artemisia annua ; metabolism ; Artemisinins ; metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Plants, Medicinal ; metabolism ; Temperature

Objective:To investigate the renal protective effect of Tangshenping capsule (Tangshenping) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) KKAy mice and its effect on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Method:Sixty female Sprague-Dawley KKAy mice aged 10 weeks old were induced with KKAy rat feed for 10 weeks. The DN animal model was successfully determined with blood glucose (>16.7 mmol·L^-1) and 24 hour urine protein (>0.4 mg). The model mice were randomly divided into a model group, an irbesartan group, and low, medium and high-dose Tangshenping group, with 10 female C57BL/6J mice as a control group. The treatment groups were given the corresponding drugs by gavage. The normal group and the model group were given an equal volume of deionized water by gavage. The intragastric dose was 0.01 mL·g^-1 body weight coefficient once a day. The general conditions of the mice were observed, the body mass was weighed every 4 weeks, and 24 h urine protein was quantified. At the 26^th week, the blood was collected from eyeballs, and the mice were put to death. The quality of the kidneys, serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) content were measured. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expressions of Wnt4, glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK3β) and β-catenin in kidney tissues. Result:Compared with model group, body mass, kidney mass/body mass, and 24 h urine protein were significantly lower in high-dose Tangshenping group (P<0.01). The pathological damage of the kidney was significantly reduced, the serum BUN, SCr, TG and MDA contents were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the contents of NO and SOD were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the protein and mRNA expression levels of Wnt4, Gsk-3β and β-catenin were decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion:Tangshenping may inhibit the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, reverse the transdifferentiation of renal tubular epithelial cells in DN KKAy mice, delay the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis, and then exert renal protection.