OBJECTIVES: Hyperhomocysteinaemia (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. MicroRNA (miR)-18a-5p is closely related to cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to investigate the effects of miR-18a-5p on homocysteine (Hcy)-induced myocardial cells injury. METHODS: H9c2 cells were transfected with miR-18a-5p mimic/miR-18a-5p mimic negative control (NC) or combined with Hcy for intervention, and untreated cells were set as a control group. The transfection efficiency was verified by real-time RT-PCR, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to determine cell viability. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Western blotting was performed to measure the protein levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-I, LC3-II, Beclin1, p62, Bax, Bcl-2, and Notch2. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the interaction of miR-18a-5p with Notch2. RESULTS: Compared with the control, treatment with Hcy or transfection with miR-18a-5p mimic alone, or combined treatment with Hcy and miR-18a-5p mimic/miR-18a-5p mimic NC significantly reduced the H9c2 cell viability, promoted apoptosis and ROS production, up-regulated the expressions of Bax and Beclin, down-regulated the expressions of Bcl-2, p62, and Notch2, and increased the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I (all P<0.05). Compared with the combined intervention of miR-18a-5p mimic NC and Hcy group, the above indexes were more significantly changed in the combined intervention of miR-18a-5p mimic and Hcy group, and the difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (all P<0.05). There is a targeted binding between Notch2 and miR-18a-5p. CONCLUSIONS MiR-18a-5p could induce autophagy and apoptosis via increasing ROS production in cardiomyocytes, and aggravate Hcy-induced myocardial injury. Notch2 is a target of miR-18a-5p.
Apoptosis/genetics* ; Autophagy/genetics* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Rats ; Animals ; Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects* ; Homocysteine/adverse effects* ; Hyperhomocysteinemia

Objective:To explore the value of using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology to detect pathogens in patients with burns and patients with acute or chronic wounds.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. From March 2019 to June 2020, 11 patients with burns and patients with acute or chronic wounds (including 10 males and 1 female, aged 23 to 85 years) in the Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital met the inclusion criteria and were recruited. A total of 23 specimens were collected, including 6 whole blood specimens, 1 skin tissue specimen, 1 drained pus specimen, and 15 wound secretion swab specimens. Each specimen was divided into two parts, which were subjected for pathogen detection using microbial culture method and mNGS method, respectively. The number and types of pathogens detected by the 2 methods and the relative abundance detected by the mNGS method were recorded, and the consistency of the two methods were compared. Data were statistically analyzed with paired Wilcoxon rank sum test.Results:With the microbial culture method, no pathogen was detected in 5 of the 23 specimens, while 35 pathogens were detected in the remaining 18 specimens, belonging to 9 species of bacteria and 2 species of fungi. Five specimens had one pathogen while 9 specimens had 2 pathogens and 4 specimens had 3 pathogens detected in each specimen. With the mNGS method, no pathogen was detected in one of the 23 specimens, while 75 pathogens were detected in the remaining 22 specimens, belonging to 28 species of bacteria, 3 species of fungi, and 3 species of viruses. Eight specimens had one pathogen, 5 specimens had 2 pathogens, 2 specimens had 3 pathogens, 3 specimens had 4 pathogens, 2 specimens had 6 pathogens, and 1 specimen had 7 pathogens, and 1 specimen had 20 pathogens detected in each specimen. The number of pathogens detected in each specimen by microbial culture method was 2 (1, 2) types, which was significantly less than 2 (1, 4) types by mNGS method ( Z=3.359, P<0.01). In 5 specimens, no bacteria were detected by microbial culture method but mNGS method detected bacteria in 2 specimens and virus in 2 different specimens. The mNGS method detected two or more types of bacteria in 13 specimens, the relative abundance of bacteria with the 1st relative abundance ranking ranged from 28.8% to 95.9% in each specimen. Of the 23 specimens detected by two detection methods, 7 specimens (30.4%) showed identical detection results, 5 specimens (21.7%) showed totally different detection results, and 11 specimens (47.8%) had partially consistent detection results. Conclusions:Compared with the traditional microbial culture method, the mNGS method has higher detection sensitivity and stronger capacity to detect pathogens, and can determine the relative abundance of pathogens in mixed infections. As a supplement to the culture method, the mNGS method is expected to play an important role in the diagnosis of infectious pathogens in burns and acute or chronic wounds.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between KDM6A mutation or expression and clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer.Methods:Fifty-seven cases of gastric cancer tissues were analyzed by second-generation sequencing, and bioinformation database such as Cbioportal, Kaplan Meier-Plotter, and the Human Protein Atlas were used to analyze the relationship between KDM6A mutation and clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer.Results:Among 57 gastric cancer samples, 14 were KDM6A mutation, and the mutation proportion was 24.6%. Compared with the non-mutation group, the Borrmann classification, T stage, TNM stage and tumor diameter of KDM6A mutant group were significantly different (all P<0.05). The median survival time of the KDM6A mutant patients was 53.5 months, significantly shorter than 72.0 months of the KDM6A non-mutation patients ( P=0.007). The analysis result of Kaplan Meier-Plotter database showed that, among all of the 875 patients, 655 patients had low KDM6A expression and 220 patients had high expression. The median survival time of patients with low expression was 23.5 months, significantly shorter than 30.8 months of patients with high expression ( P=0.002). In male, gastric cancer patients with stage Ⅲ, intestinal type, diffuse type, simple surgical treatment and fluorouracil chemotherapy, the expression of KDM6A is related to the patient's overall survival time (all P<0.05). The analysis result of Cbioportal database showed that, among all of the 1 172 gastric cancer patients, 70 patients with KDM6A mutation, 1100 patients with non-mutation. The median overall survival time of mutant patients was 28.9 months, significantly shorter than 35.9 months of non-mutation patients ( P<0.001). The analysis result of Human Protein Atlas database showed that, among all of the 355 gastric cancer patients, 97 patients had high KDM6A expression and 258 patients had low KDM6A expression. The median survival time of patients with low expression was 13.7 months, significantly shorter than 19.8 months of patients with high expression ( P=0.022). Conclusions:The survival time of gastric cancer patients with KDM6A mutation or low expression is shorter. The mutation and expression of KDM6A are related to clinical pathological factors, which may become a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between KDM6A mutation or expression and clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer.Methods:Fifty-seven cases of gastric cancer tissues were analyzed by second-generation sequencing, and bioinformation database such as Cbioportal, Kaplan Meier-Plotter, and the Human Protein Atlas were used to analyze the relationship between KDM6A mutation and clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer.Results:Among 57 gastric cancer samples, 14 were KDM6A mutation, and the mutation proportion was 24.6%. Compared with the non-mutation group, the Borrmann classification, T stage, TNM stage and tumor diameter of KDM6A mutant group were significantly different (all P<0.05). The median survival time of the KDM6A mutant patients was 53.5 months, significantly shorter than 72.0 months of the KDM6A non-mutation patients ( P=0.007). The analysis result of Kaplan Meier-Plotter database showed that, among all of the 875 patients, 655 patients had low KDM6A expression and 220 patients had high expression. The median survival time of patients with low expression was 23.5 months, significantly shorter than 30.8 months of patients with high expression ( P=0.002). In male, gastric cancer patients with stage Ⅲ, intestinal type, diffuse type, simple surgical treatment and fluorouracil chemotherapy, the expression of KDM6A is related to the patient's overall survival time (all P<0.05). The analysis result of Cbioportal database showed that, among all of the 1 172 gastric cancer patients, 70 patients with KDM6A mutation, 1100 patients with non-mutation. The median overall survival time of mutant patients was 28.9 months, significantly shorter than 35.9 months of non-mutation patients ( P<0.001). The analysis result of Human Protein Atlas database showed that, among all of the 355 gastric cancer patients, 97 patients had high KDM6A expression and 258 patients had low KDM6A expression. The median survival time of patients with low expression was 13.7 months, significantly shorter than 19.8 months of patients with high expression ( P=0.022). Conclusions:The survival time of gastric cancer patients with KDM6A mutation or low expression is shorter. The mutation and expression of KDM6A are related to clinical pathological factors, which may become a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer.

Lysine demethylase 6 (KDM6) is involved in the demethylation regulation of histone H3 as an important modification enzyme in epigenetic modification,and plays an important role in embryonic development,inflammation and disease development.Current researches indicate that KDM6 is involved in the occurrence and development of various tumors (pancreatic cancer,colon cancer,gastric cancer,breast cancer,bladder cancer,etc.),affects proliferation,metastasis,prognosis and chemotherapy resistance of tumors,and plays different roles due to different tumor backgrounds.

Objective To investigate the CT features of mesenteric lymph nodes in patients with active Crohn’s disease.Methods The CT findings in 54 patients with active Crohn's disease proved by histology were analyzed,and the anatomic distribution,size, number,shape and enhancement ratio (ER)of the mesenteric lymph node were assessed.Results Mesenteric lymphadenopathy in 38 patients (70.4%)was found with a total number of 242,83.5%(202/242)of whom were located at the mesenteric root and 16.5%(40/242) at mesenteric edge.The size of the lymph nodes at the mesenteric root was larger than that at the mesenteric edge (8.57 mm±2.26 mm versus 5.38 mm±0.1 9 mm,the mean maximum short diameter),and 73.6% (1 78/242 )of the lymph nodes were oval in shape.The lymph nodes showed significant enhancement after contrast injection with an ER of 0.53 ±0.09.Conclusion Active CD often leads to mesenteric lymphadenopathy,which is more obvious at the mesenteric root.

Aim With metabolomics method, to study Shen-Mai decoction’ s function on protecting the myo-cardial injured rats caused by doxorubicin for probing into the functioning mechanism of Shen-Mai decoction’ s medical effect. Methods By means of UPLC-TOF-MS, the metabolites of urine of the rats treated by Shen-Mai decoction were analyzed. Then, the differ-ences between each group of the metabolites were sought with PLS-DA ( the partial least square discrimi-nant analysis ) and OPLS-DA ( the orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis ) . VIP ( variable importance in projection ) and t test were used to screen out potential biomarkers. Results Fourteen endogenous metabolites such as succinyladenosine, a-denosine 2′, 3′-cyclic phosphate, S-( 3-methylbu-tanoyl )-dihydrolipoamide-E, cis-4-hydroxycyclohexy-lacetic acid, phenylbutyrylglutamine, 3-butyn-1-al, 3-hydroxytetradecanedioic acid, dihydrolipoamide and pyruvic acid, etc. were characterized. Conclusions The results indicate that Shen-Mai decoction can pro-tect the body from myocardial injury by regulating pu-rine metabolism, some acid metabolism, fat metabo-lism and energy metabolism, etc. The study expounds the functioning mechanism for Shen-Mai decoction ’ s medical effect in the body and provides theoretical grounds for the rationality of the two medical herbs ’ compatibility and their combination in clinical treat-ment of diseases.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of amifostine(Amf)on the differentiation of human megakaryocyte cell line-Dami. METHODS Dami cells were treated with Amf 0.01-5.0 mmol · L-1 for 12 d. Dami cells were counted every day for the growth curve:only cells with a diameter>20μm. The platelet demarcation membrane system was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expression of CD33,CD34,CD41a and DNA ploidy was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS Amf 0.1-1.0 mmol · L-1 promoted the differentiation of Dami cells ,but inhibited their proliferation at a concentration>1.0 mmol · L-1. When these cells were treated with Amf 1.0 mmol · L-1 for 12 d,the platelet demarcation membrane system was observed,the percentage of cells with a diameter >20 μm was increased by 24.6%(P<0.01),the expression of CD41a was increased by 11.9%,while the expression of CD33 was decreased by 13.6%(P<0.05). Polyploidy cells(16N)were observed,and 4N,8N and 16N cells were increased to 31.56%,8.83% and 3.43%,respectively(P<0.05). CONCLUSION Amf 0.1-1.0 mmol · L-1 can promote the differentiation of Dami cells,but inhibit their proliferation at a high concentration(>1.0 mmol·L-1).

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of activating silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) on early myocardial damage in severely burned rats.

METHODSTwenty-four healthy male SD rats were divided into sham injury group (SI), scald group (S), and resveratrol (RSV) treatment group (RT) according to the random number table, with 8 rats in each group. Rats in groups S and RT were inflicted with 30% TBSA full-thickness scald on the back by immersing in 95 °C water for 18 s. Immediately after injury, rats in group S were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mL normal saline (50 mL/kg) and those in group RT with 10 mL normal saline (50 mL/kg)+10 µL RSV in the concentration of 1 g/mL (50 mg/kg). Backs of rats in group SI were immersed in 20 °C room temperature water for 18 s to simulate the scald process. Heart tissues and aorta abdominalis blood samples were collected at post injury hour (PIH) 6. The histomorphology of heart tissues was observed with HE staining. The serum contents of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined with ELISA. The protein expressions of SIRT1 and caspase-3 and mRNA expressions of SIRT1, caspase-3, IL-1β, and TNF-α in heart tissue specimens were determined with Western blotting and real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR (with protein level denoted as gray value). Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD- t test.

RESULTS(1) In group SI, myocardial fibers were in irregularly cylindrical shape, neatly arranged, and the transverse striation were distinct. In group S, myocardial interstitial edema, disorder of myocardial fiber arrangement, and cytoplasm destruction were observed. In group RT, the degrees of myocardial interstitial edema, disorder of myocardial fiber arrangement, and cytoplasm destruction were alleviated in comparison with those of group S. (2) The serum contents of CK and LDH of rats in group S were respectively (2 385 ± 712) and (2 551 ± 196) U/L, which were significantly higher than those in the group SI [(290 ± 59) and (759 ± 60) U/L, with t values respectively 9.466 and 25.452, P values below 0.01]. The serum contents of CK and LDH of rats in group RT were respectively (1 336 ± 149) and (2 209 ± 133) U/L, which were significantly lower than those of group S (with t values respectively -4.506 and -4.860, P values below 0.01). (3) The protein expressions of SIRT1 and caspase-3 in heart tissue of rats in group S were respectively 0.47 ± 0.11 and 0.48 ± 0.12, which were significantly higher than those in group SI [0.18 ± 0.06 and 0.09 ± 0.05, with t values respectively 4.813 and 9.014, P values below 0.01]. The protein expression of SIRT1 in heart tissue of rats in group RT was 0.74 ± 0.18, which was significantly higher than that of group S (t = 4.561, P < 0.01); the protein expression of caspase-3 in heart tissue of rats in group RT was 0.21 ± 0.08, which was significantly lower than that of group S (t = -6.239, P < 0.01). (4) The mRNA expressions of SIRT1, caspase-3, IL-1β, and TNF-α in heart tissue of rats in group S were respectively 2.33 ± 0.24, 1.96 ± 0.20, 2.46 ± 0.21, 1.89 ± 0.37, which were significantly higher than those in group SI (1.00 ± 0.07, 1.00 ± 0.06, 1.00 ± 0.08, 1.00 ± 0.09, with t values respectively 14.961, 12.823, 18.559, 6.679, P values below 0.01). The mRNA expression of SIRT1 in heart tissue of rats in group RT was 2.89 ± 0.31, which was significantly higher than that of group S (t = 3.997, P < 0.01). The mRNA expressions of caspase-3, IL-1β, and TNF-α in heart tissue of rats in group RT were respectively 1.31 ± 0.08, 1.64 ± 0.09, 1.25 ± 0.08, which were significantly lower than those of group S (with t values respectively -8.264, -10.245, -4.818, P values below 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of SIRT1 in heart tissue is upregulated in the early stage of severely burned rats. Activation of SIRT1 by RSV can alleviate myocardial tissue injury and reduce apoptosis of cardiac myocytes and secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; Apoptosis ; Burns ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Edema ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Serum ; Sirtuin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stilbenes ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of mouse adipose-derived stem cell conditioned medium (ADSC-CM) on apoptosis of keratinocytes (human epithelial cell line HaCaT) induced by thermal injury in vitro.

METHODS(1) Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) from inguinal adipose tissue of 5 healthy BALB/c mice were isolated, cultured, and purified by collagenase digestion in vitro. The 3rd passage of cells were collected for morphologic observation, detection of expressions of surface markers CD31, CD34, CD45, CD90, and CD105 with flow cytometer, and identification of adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation. (2) HaCaT cells were incubated in water at 51.5 °C for 35 seconds to reproduce thermal injury model, and then the apoptosis rate was detected immediately after injury by flow cytometer. (3) Thermally injured HaCaT cells were divided into routine culture group (RC, cultured with DMEM containing 10% FBS), serum-free group (cultured with serum-free DMEM), 50%ADSC-CM group (cultured with DMEM containing 50%ADSC-CM), and 100%ADSC-CM group (cultured with 100%ADSC-CM) according to the random number table. After 24 hours, apoptosis of HaCaT cells was observed by acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO-EB) staining; apoptotic rate was determined by flow cytometer; the mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were respectively determined by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR technique and Western blotting (protein level was denoted as gray value); the cell cycles were determined by flow cytometer. All above experiments were repeated for 3 times. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD- t test.

RESULTS(1) The 3rd passage of cells proliferated well showing fusiform shape similar to fibroblasts. The positive expression rates of CD31, CD34, and CD45 were less than 10.0%, while those of CD90 and CD105 were above 90.0%. The cells could differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts. They were identified as ADSCs. (2) Immediately after injury, apoptotic rate of HaCaT cell was (9.8 ± 0.4)%. (3) The number of apoptotic cells was significantly higher in serum-free group than in the other three groups with AO-EB staining. The apoptotic rate of serum-free group [(8.1 ± 1.2)%] was significantly higher than that of 50%ADSC-CM group [(6.0 ± 0.8)%], group RC [(4.6 ± 0.8)%], or 100%ADSC-CM group [(3.1 ± 0.4)%], with t values respectively 3.02, 4.96, 6.60, P values below 0.01. There was no statistically significant difference in apoptotic rate between group RC and 100% ADSC-CM group (t = 1.50, P > 0.05), while statistically significant difference was found between 100% ADSC-CM group and 50%ADSC-CM group (t = 10.21, P < 0.01). (4) The mRNA level of Bcl-2 of serum-free group (0.34 ± 0.08) was significantly lower than that of group RC, 50%ADSC-CM group, and 100%ADSC-CM group (0.98 ± 0.04, 0.77 ± 0.05, 1.06 ± 0.04, with t values respectively 12.87, 8.07, 14.11, P values below 0.01). Compared with that of 100%ADSC-CM group, the mRNA level of Bcl-2 of group RC was slightly decreased (t = 0.08, P > 0.05) and that of 50%ADSC-CM group was significantly decreased (t = 8.08, P < 0.01). (5) The mRNA level of caspase-3 of serum-free group (1.15 ± 0.05) was obviously higher than that of 50%ADSC-CM group (0.72 ± 0.11), group RC (0.41 ± 0.03), or 100%ADSC-CM group (0.38 ± 0.11), with t values respectively 6.93, 13.97, 22.79, P values below 0.01. Compared with 100%ADSC-CM group, the mRNA level of caspase-3 was slightly increased in group RC (t = 0.05, P > 0.05) and significantly increased in 50%ADSC-CM group (t = 4.77, P < 0.01). (6) The protein level of Bcl-2 was significantly lower in serum-free group (0.93 ± 0.04) than in group RC, 50%ADSC-CM group, and 100%ADSC-CM group (1.74 ± 0.06, 1.32 ± 0.05, 1.90 ± 0.04, with t values respectively 20.45, 11.15, 31.38, P values below 0.01). Compared with that of 100%ADSC-CM group, the protein level of Bcl-2 of group RC was slightly decreased (t = 1.33, P > 0.05), but that of 50%ADSC-CM group was obviously decreased (t = 17.30, P < 0.01). (7) The protein level of caspase-3 was obviously higher in serum-free group (0.63 ± 0.08) than in 50%ADSC-CM group, group RC, and 100%ADSC-CM group (0.46 ± 0.03, 0.29 ± 0.08, 0.21 ± 0.03, with t values respectively 3.28, 5.05, 8.46, P values below 0.01). Compared with that of 100%ADSC-CM group, the protein level of caspase-3 of group RC was slightly increased (t = 0.08, P > 0.05), but that of 50%ADSC-CM group was significantly increased (t = 3.52, P < 0.05). (8) Compared with that of serum-free group, the percentage of cells in G2/M phase of each of the other 3 groups was significantly decreased (with t values respectively 6.88, 4.08, 7.28, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with that in serum-free group, the percentage of cells in S phase was significantly increased in group RC and 100% ADSC-CM group (with t values respectively 2.67 and 2.40, P values below 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase among all groups (F = 0.70, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS100% xenogeneic ADSC-CM can suppress apoptosis of HaCaT cells induced by thermal injury through regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and caspase-3, and accelerate cell cycle progression by ameliorating the retardation of cell growth in G2/M phase, and all these effects may give rise to some potential in the treatment of burn wounds at early stage.

Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Burns ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Keratinocytes ; metabolism ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cells