Objective To detect the distributions and expressions of Toll-like receptor-2(TLR-2)and TLR-4 in different kinds of periodontitis and different extent of the inflammation of gingival tissues and to discuss the roles of TLR-2 and TLR-4 in the progress of periodontal inflammation.Methods Gingival biopsies were divided into 5 groups:control group(n=10),chronic periodontitis group(n=10),chronic periodontitis clinically healthy group(n=10),aggressive periodontitis group(n=10),and aggressive periodontitis clinically healthy group(n=10).The distributions and expressions of TLR-2 and TLR-4 were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results TLR-2 and TLR-4 expressed in all layers of gingival connective tissues.TLR-4 was also observed in gingival epithelium.Compared to control group,expressions of TLR-2 and TLR-4 were significantly higher than those in the other 4 groups(P

The mutations in the dual oxidase 2 (DUOX2) and dual oxidase maturation factor 2 (DUOXA2) genes can cause congenital hypothyroidism (CH). This study reports the pedigree with goitrous congenital hypothyroidism (GCH) due to the coexistence of heterozygous mutations in the DUOX2 and DUOXA2 genes. The two sisters with GCH were diagnosed with CH at neonatal screening and were enrolled in this study. The DUOX2, DUOXA2, and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) genes were considered for genetic defects screening. Family members of the patients and normal controls were also enrolled and evaluated. The two girls harbored compound heterozygous mutations, including a new mutation of c.2654G>T (p.R885L) in the maternal DUOX2 allele and c.738C>G (p.Y246X) in the paternal DUOXA2 allele, that has been previously reported. The germline mutations from the families were consistent with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. No mutations in the TPO gene and the controls were observed.
Alleles ; Congenital Hypothyroidism* ; Female ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Inheritance Patterns ; Iodide Peroxidase ; Mass Screening ; Neonatal Screening ; Oxidoreductases ; Pedigree ; Siblings

BACKGROUNDImmunotherapy is emerging as a promising cure for cancer. However, a severe problem in this area is the immune tolerance to tumor cells and tumor-associated antigens, as evidenced by the ability of cancer to escape immune surveillance. To overcome this problem this work examined the potential of improving the antigenicity of myeloma by metabolic engineering of its cell surface carbohydrate antigens (i.e., glycoengineering) and presentation of the modified tumor antigens by dendritic cells (DCs) to generate cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs).

METHODSCD138+ myeloma cells were isolated from 11 multipe myeloma (MM) patients by the immunomagnetic bead method. The MM cells were treated with N-propionyl-D-mannosamine (ManNPr), a synthetic analog of N-acetyl-D-mannosamine (ManNAc), the natural biosynthetic precursor of N-acetyl sialic acid (NeuNAc), to express unnatural N-propionylated sialoglycans. The glycoengineered cells were then induced to apoptosis, and the apoptotic products were added to cultured functional DCs that could present the unnatural carbohydrate antigens to autologous T-lymphocytes.

RESULTSIt was found that the resultant DCs could activate CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes, resulting in increased expression of T cell surface markers, including CD8CD28 and CD4CD29. Moreover, upon stimulation by glycoengineered MM cells, these DC-activated T-lymphocytes could release significantly higher levels of IFN-gamma (P < 0.05). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays further showed that the stimulated T-lymphocytes were cytotoxic to glycoengineered MM cells.

CONCLUSIONSThis work demonstrated that glycoengineered myeloma cells were highly antigenic and the CTLs induced by the DCs loaded with the unnatural myeloma antigens were specifically cytotoxic to the glycoengineered myeloma. This may provide a new strategy for overcoming the problem of immune tolerance for the development of effective immunotherapies for MM.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate ; immunology ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Immunotherapy ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Multiple Myeloma ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

This study was aimed to isolate and culture rhesus mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), and to analyze its phenotype and biological characteristics. Bone marrow was aspirated from femur of rhesus, mononuclear cells were extracted, the nonadherent cells were removed after 24 hours, adherent cells were subcultured when they grew 80% confluence. After the fifth passage, the cells were used for examination. The phenotypes of MSC were analyzed by flow cytometry, differentiated cells were identified by relevant specific staining. Cytokines' mRNA expressed by MSC were detected by RT-PCR. The results showed that rhesus MSC gave rise to a population of adherent cells characterized by the presence of a predominant cell type with a typical fibroblast-like morphology. During the log phase of growth, MSC proliferated to a two-fold population at 31 - 40 hours. MSC could be ex vivo expanded by successive cycles of trypsinization, seeding, and culture. The phenotypes expressed on rhesus MSC were Flk-1, CD29, CD105, CD166 positive and CD34, CD45, CD33 nearly negative. In various induction differentiation conditions, rhesus MSC could differentiate into the osteoblast and lipocyte. IL-6, TGF-beta were highly expressed, TNF-alpha was lowly expressed and IL-2, Fas-L, IFN-gamma were not detected on rhesus MSC using RT-PCR method. It is concluded that rhesus MSC can be successfully isolated and culture-expanded and the biological characteristics of rhesus MSC are similar to those of human MSC.
Adipocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; genetics ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunophenotyping ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

To investigate the effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor simvastatin (SV) on proliferation, apoptosis and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in human acute monocytic leukemia cell line SHI-1. SHI-1 cells were incubated with different concentrations of SV (5, 10, 15 µmol/L). Otherwise, SHI-1 cells without any treatment were used as control. Cells in different groups were collected at 24, 48 and 72 h after incubation for further detection. MTT method was used to assay the growth inhibition rate and flow cytometry was used to detect the early stage apoptosis ratio. The human PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathway RT(2) Profiler(TM) PCR Array was used to detect the expression of 84 genes involved in PI3K-AKT signaling. The results indicated that the SV inhibited the proliferation and inducted the apoptosis of SHI-1 cells in time- and dose-dependent manners significantly. The growth inhibition rates of SHI-1 cells treated with 15 µmol/L SV for 24, 48 and 72 h were 26.82, 47.09 and 63.92, respectively; and their early stage apoptosis ratios were 5.75, 13.25 and 15.59, respectively. Compared with the control group, expression levels of 39 genes were changed in the group of 15 µmol/L SV at 48 h, among them 26 genes were down-regulated and 13 genes were up-regulated. It is concluded that the SV can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of SHI-1 cells, and the mechanism may be associated with the changes of gene expression level in PI3K-AKT signaling pathway regulated by SV.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology

Objective To study the effects of the composite of propolis and magnolol on the growth of Streptococcus mutans (Sm).Methods The solution concentration of the propolis (250,125,62.5,31.25,15.625 g/L),magnolol (0.0625,0.0313,0.0156,0.0078,0.0039 g/L) and the composite of those two (propolis,magnolol) A1 (250 g/L,0.0625 g/L),A2(125 g/L,0.0313 g/L),A3 (62.5 g/L,0.0156 g/L),A4 (31.25 g/L,0.0078 g/L),A5 (15.625 g/L,0.0039 g/L) were chosen according to pretested minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).The solutions were proportionally diluted to the presupposed concentration before operated on the Sm.Meanwhile,the solvent and the bacterial were also operated on the Sm as controls.Slip diffusion method was adopted to measure the inhibitory effect of those solutions on Sm.Results Bacteria inhibition zones were appeared at the concentration of 62.5 g/L prololis and 0.0156 g/L magnolol respectively.A inhibition zone appeared at the lower concentration of A5 (15.625 g/L,0.0039 g/L) of the propolis and magnolol composite.As general,the inhibition effects increased with concentration.The difference were statistically significant,P ＜ 0.05.Conclusions The inhibitory effect of the composite of propolis and magnolol would be much stronger than either of those two separately.

This study aimed to investigate the effect and possible mechanism of Bidens pilosa decoction on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) induced by high fat and high glucose in mice. Bald/c mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, metformin(200 mg·kg~(-1)) treatment group, Bidens pilosa decoction(10 g·kg~(-1)) treatment group, metformin and B. pilosa decoction(100 mg·kg~(-1)+5 g·kg~(-1)) treatment group. Except for the normal group, mice in the other four groups were fed with high-fat and high-glucose diet for 8 weeks to establish the non-alcoholic fatty liver model. After 4 weeks of treatment, blood was collected from the eyeballs, the mice were sacrificed, and relevant indicators were detected. The results showed that compared with the model group, blood lipid and blood glucose levels of each treatment group were significantly lower(P<0.05); HE staining results showed that liver pathological damage in each treatment group was significantly improved; oil red O staining results showed fat distribution in each treatment group significantly reduced(P<0.01); immunohistochemical staining showed that glucose regulated the protein expression of protein 78(GRP78) in liver tissues of each treatment group was also significantly reduced(P<0.01); Western blot results showed that endoplasmic reticulum stress signal pathway-related factors GRP78, phosphorylated-protein kinase R-like ER kinase(p-PERK), eukaryotic translation-initiation factor 2α(eIF2α), activating transcription factor 4(ATF4), C/EBP homologous protein(Chop), inositol requiring 1α(IRE1α), and cleaved-cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 12(cleaved-caspase-12) were significantly reduced(P<0.01). The results of the combined drug treatment group were better than those of the single drug treatment group. These results showed that B. pilosa decoction had the effect in improving non-alcoholic fatty liver, and its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)-related factors, and the reduction of the apoptosis of hepatocytes caused by ERS and the down-regulation of blood lipid and blood glucose levels.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Bidens ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Endoribonucleases ; Glucose ; Mice ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases

ObjectiveTo study the conceptual framework and methodological system of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in occupational therapy and its systematic implementation in clinical practice. MethodsBased on the ICF theory and the policy documents of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, the conceptual framework of occupational therapy and the systematic implementation in clinical settings based on the ICF framework were analyzed. ResultsThis study constructed a conceptual framework and approach for occupational therapy based on ICF, and clarified the goals, principles, and implementation methods of integrated occupational therapy interventions in rehabilitation services. The goal of occupational therapy interventions was to improve the individual activity and participation through multidisciplinary and cross-cutting implementation of integrated occupational therapy programs to optimize functioning. Occupational therapy was based on the bio-psycho-social model, adhered to the principles of person-centeredness and functioning orientation, and implemented individualized intervention programs in different context. In clinical practice, it was recommended to follow ICF-based standardized process and systematically use World Health Organization Family International Classifications: functioning and unmet needs analysis using ICHI; functional classification, assessment and coding using ICF; disease classification, diagnosis and coding using ICD; intervention of occupational therapies using ICHI to build a systematic occupational therapy service system. ConclusionAn ICF-based occupational therapy concept and methodological system has been built, a comprehensive clinical occupational therapy implementation model has been established, the goal of activity and participation oriented occupational therapy interventions has been clarified, and the systematic, structured, standardized and refined level of occupational therapy has been enhanced.

Objective: To compare the efficiency of the target gene panel method and whole-exome sequencing (WES) in detecting idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH), and select a more suitable gene detection method. METHODS: We selected 24 genes closely related to the molecular pathogenesis of IHH to make up the gene panel, detected the mutation sites in 73 patients with IHH using the panel method, and verified the results of sequencing with the Sanger method. Using the key words "idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism", we searched databases for relevant literature, calculated the positive rate of IHH detected by WES and compared it with that detected with the panel method. RESULTS: Of the 73 cases of IHH detected with the panel method, 7 were found with pathogenic mutations, including 2 cases of FGFR1, 2 cases of CHD7, 2 cases of KISS1R, and 1 case of NR5A1 mutation. Sanger sequencing showed that the positive rate of the panel method was 9.7%. Of the 1 336 articles retrieved, 5 met the inclusion criteria and were included, in which WES revealed a positive rate of about 30%. CONCLUSIONS For detection of the diseases with clear mutated genes, the panel method is relatively inexpensive and has a high sequencing depth, while for detection of the diseases with complicated genetic patterns and unclear mutated genes, WES is more efficient. Further studies are needed for choice of the two methods for different purpose of detection./.
Humans ; Hypogonadism/genetics* ; Male ; Whole Exome Sequencing

In this study, we investigated the pharmacological effect and possible molecular mechanism of higenamine (HG) in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction (MI). All procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. ISO was used to induce MI model in rats and H9c2 cells. The effects of HG on biomarkers and cardiac function in MI rats were evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), echocardiography and hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE). The expression of apoptosis and autophagy related proteins were detected by Western blot in myocardial tissue and H9c2 cells, as well as methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) and transcription factor EB (TFEB) protein expression. Molecular docking was used to evaluate the interaction between HG and METTL3. The results showed that HG significantly improved cardiac function and pathologic changes in ISO-induced MI, and inhibited the levels of MI-related biomarkers such as creatine kinase Mb (CK-MB), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Mechanism studies showed that HG inhibited the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax/Bcl2, caspase3, cleaved-caspase3). Interestingly, HG up-regulated the expression of autophagy related protein Beclin1, promoted autophagy flux, and decreased the ratio of light chain 3B-I/light chain 3B-II (LC-3B-I/LC-3B-II). Further studies found that HG increased the autophagy regulator TFEB and inhibited METTL3 expression. Molecular docking results showed that HG had a good interaction with METTL3. Taken together, HG has a potential anti-MI effect via regulating METTL3/TFEB signaling pathway-mediated autophagy.