BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous studies reported that integrated information in the brain ultimately determines the subjective experience of patients with chronic pain, but how the information is integrated in the brain connectome of functional dyspepsia (FD) patients remains largely unclear. The study aimed to quantify the topological changes of the brain network in FD patients. METHODS: Small-world properties, network efficiency and nodal centrality were utilized to measure the changes in topological architecture in 25 FD patients and 25 healthy controls based on functional magnetic resonance imaging. Pearson's correlation assessed the relationship of each topological property with clinical symptoms. RESULTS: FD patients showed an increase of clustering coefficients and local efficiency relative to controls from the perspective of a whole network as well as elevated nodal centrality in the right orbital part of the inferior frontal gyrus, left anterior cingulate gyrus and left hippocampus, and decreased nodal centrality in the right posterior cingulate gyrus, left cuneus, right putamen, left middle occipital gyrus and right inferior occipital gyrus. Moreover, the centrality in the anterior cingulate gyrus was significantly associated with symptom severity and duration in FD patients. Nevertheless, the inclusion of anxiety and depression scores as covariates erased the group differences in nodal centralities in the orbital part of the inferior frontal gyrus and hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest topological disruption of the functional brain networks in FD patients, presumably in response to disturbances of sensory information integrated with emotion, memory, pain modulation, and selective attention in patients.
Anxiety ; Brain* ; Chronic Pain ; Connectome ; Depression ; Dyspepsia* ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory ; Orbit ; Putamen

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biological characteristics and genetic features of human placenta mesenchymal stem cells (hPA-MSCs) cultured in vitro in order to assess its safety for clinical use.

METHODSThe shapes of the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 17th and 20th generation hPA-MSCs cultured in vitro using serum-free culture medium were observed. Their cell cycle, cell surface markers, and karyotype were analyzed, and relevant genes and cytokines were measured.

RESULTSThe shape of hPA-MSCs has remained as fusiform or short fusiform, and there was no significant change. About 93% of hPA-MSCs cells were in G0/G1 phase and remained stable. No obvious chromosomal translocation, loss or inversion was noted by karyotyping analysis. Cytokines expression level remained stable. Related gene expression level as a whole was on the decline, but the gene expression level of the first five generations showed very slight variations, with genetic characteristics remaining stable.

CONCLUSIONThe hPA-MSCs cultured in vitro with serum-free medium has retained stable in the first five generations.

Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; physiology ; Placenta ; cytology ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUNDSepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI) is caused by a variety of mechanisms. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) on SIMI and its mechanisms in rats.

METHODSForty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: MMP-8 inhibitor (M8I), dexamethasone (DEX), sepsis, and sham groups. The sepsis model was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Rats in the M8I group immediately received an intraperitoneal injection of M8I (0.1 mg/kg) after CLP. Rats in the DEX group immediately received an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of DEX (2 mg/kg). Rats in the sepsis and sham groups received intraperitoneal injections of normal saline. Rats were sacrificed 12 hours after CLP. Paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to observe the myocardium. The myocardial ultrastructure was observed with transmission electron microscopy. MMP-8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of MMP-8 was measured by Western blotting. TNF-α and IL-1β levels in serum and myocardial tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSCompared with the sham group, the myocardium in the sepsis group was seriously injured. MMP-8, TNF-α and IL-1β expression was higher in the sepsis group than in the sham group. Treatment with M8I or DEX, however, attenuated sepsis induced histopathological changes in the heart, and was associated with significant reductions in serum and myocardial levels of TNF-α and IL-1β (P < 0.05). M8I significantly inhibited MMP-8 expression in myocardial tissue (P < 0.05). In addition, treatment with DEX was not associated with a change in myocardial levels of MMP-8 (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMMP-8 inhibitor attenuated myocardial injury in septic rats, which might be related to reduced expression of TNF-α and IL-1β.

Animals ; Dexamethasone ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Heart Diseases ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepsis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

The protocorm-suspension-system of Cremastra appendiculata was founded by liquid-suspension culture. The factors to effect germination rate and seedling conversion rate of C. appendiculata synthetic seeds, such as synthetic coating materials, synthetic endosperm components, storing conditions and germination materials, etc. were studied. The result showed that the germination rate and seedling conversion rate of synthetic seeds were the highest on the MS solid-medium while using 4% sodium alginate + 2% CaCl2 + 2% chitosan as synthetic coating materials, with 1/2 MS liquid-medium + 0.2 mg x L(-1) NAA + 0.1 mg x L(-1) GA3 + 0.5 mg L(-1) BA + 0.4 mg x L(-1) penicillin + 10.0 mg x L(-1) endophyte extract +0.3% carbendazim powder + 0.2% sodium benzoate + 1.0% sucrose as synthetic endosperm. And the germination rate and seedling conversion rate of synthetic seeds could attain to 68% and 65% after 20 days storing at 4 degrees C. The germination rate and seedling conversion rate of synthetic seeds decreased to a great extent with increasing the storing temperature and prolonging storing time.
Culture Media ; metabolism ; Germination ; Orchidaceae ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seeds ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; methods