Objective To investigate the regulatory role of the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling on the subtypes and functions of natural killer (NK) cells at the maternal-fetal interface during the second trimester in mice following Toxoplasma gondii infection during the first trimester. Methods Twelve 6- to 8-week-old female mice of the C57BL/6J strain were divided into a control group and an infection group, of 6 mice in each group. On the 6.5th day of pregnancy (Gd6.5), each pregnant mouse in the infection group was intraperitoneally injected with 150 tachyzoites of the Toxoplasma gondii PRU strain, while mice in the control group were injected with an equal volume of physiological saline. On the 12.5th day of pregnancy (Gd12.5), uterus and placenta tissues were sampled from pregnant mice for pathological observations, and the mRNA expression levels of PD-1, PD-L1, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were quantified in uterus and placenta tissues. The PD-1 and DX5 expression was measured on NK cells at the maternal-fetal interface using flow cytometry. In addition, the in vitro JEG-3 trophoblast cells and NK-92MI cells co-culture system was established as the control group, and the addition of T. gondii tachyzoites in the co-culture system served as the infection group. The PD-1, PD-L1, and DX5 mRNA expression was quantified in cells using real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay, and the TNF-α concentration was measured in the cell culture supernatant using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results On Gd12.5, clear and intact cellular structures of placental decidual tissues were seen in pregnant mice in the control group, with no remarkable abnormal changes found in the uterine columnar epithelial cells, and inflammatory cell infiltration and blood stasis at varying degrees were found in uterine and placental tissues from pregnant mice in the infection group. The relative PD-1, PD-L1, and TNF-α mRNA expression was (1.004 ± 0.004), (1.001 ± 0.001), and (1.001 ± 0.001) in uterine tissues from pregnant mice in the control group and (2.480 ± 0.720), (3.355 ± 0.920), and (2.391 ± 0.073) in the infection group, respectively. The relative PD-1, PD-L1, and TNF-α mRNA expression was (1.007 ± 0.010), (1.006 ± 0.006), and (1.001 ± 0.001) in the uterine tissues in the control group and (6.948 ± 1.918), (3.225 ± 1.034), and (1.536 ± 0.150) in the infection group, respectively. The relative PD-1, PD-L1, and TNF-α mRNA expression was higher in both the uterine (t = 3.55, 4.43 and 33.02, all P values < 0.05) and placental tissues (t = 5.36, 3.72 and 6.18, all P values < 0.05) in the infection group than in the control group. Flow cytometry showed that the proportions of PD-1⁺ NK cells, PD-1⁺ DX5⁺ NK cells, and DX5⁺ NK cells were (12.200 ± 1.082)%, (9.373 ± 7.728)%, and (44.000 ± 4.095)% in uterine tissues from pregnant mice in the control group, and (21.733 ± 1.630)%, (18.767 ± 1.242)%, and (73.367 ± 0.611)% in the infection group, respectively. The proportions of PD-1⁺ NK cells, PD-1⁺ DX5⁺ NK cells, and DX5⁺ NK cells were (1.100 ± 0.510)%, (2.277 ± 1.337)%, and (96.167 ± 2.831)% in placental tissues from mice in the control group, and (26.867 ± 9.722)%, (23.433 ± 6.983)%, and (82.467 ± 2.248)% in the infection group, respectively. The proportions of PD-1⁺ NK cells (t = 8.45, P < 0.05) and DX5⁺ NK cells (t = 12.29, P < 0.05) were higher in uterine tissues from pregnant mice in the infection group than in the control group, and no significant difference was seen in the proportion of PD-1⁺ DX5⁺ NK cells (Z = -1.09, P > 0.05). The proportions of PD-1⁺ NK cells (t = 4.58, P < 0.05) and PD-1⁺ DX5⁺ NK cells (t = 5.15, P < 0.05) were higher in placental tissues from pregnant mice in the infection group than in the control group, while the proportion of DX5⁺ NK cells was lower in the infection group than in the control group (t = -6.56, P < 0.05). RT-qPCR assay revealed that the relative PD-1, PD-L1, and DX5 mRNA expression was (1.010 ± 0.005), (1.002 ± 0.003), and (1.001 ± 0.001) in the JEG-3 cells and NK92MI cells co-culture system and (3.638 ± 1.258), (0.397 ± 0.158), and (4.267 ± 1.750) in the control group, and ELISA measured that the TNF-α concentration was higher in the cell culture supernatant in the infection group [(22.056 ± 3.205) pg/mL] than in the control group [(12.441 ± 0.001) pg/mL] (t = 5.20, P < 0.05). The PD-1(t = 3.62, P < 0.05) and DX5 mRNA expression (t = 3.23, P < 0.05) was higher in the infection group than in the control group, and the PD-L1 mRNA expression was lower in the infection group than in the control group (t = -6.63, P < 0.05). Conclusions Following T. gondii infection, both PD-L1 expression and PD-1 expression on DX5⁺ NK cells at the maternal-fetal interface are upregulated in mice during the second trimester; however, the proportion of DX5⁺ NK cells decreases. These findings suggest that PD-1/PD-L1 signaling may suppress NK cell functions by modulating DX5⁺ NK cell subsets.

Stroke-related sarcopenia (SRS) is a secondary sarcopenia caused by stroke, typically characterized by a rapid decline in muscle mass and structural changes following the onset of stroke. At present, there is a lack of clinical research on the diagnosis and treatment of SRS, and its mechanism of occurrence is complex, which cannot be explained by post-stroke apraxia alone, leading to significant difficulties in screening and intervening in SRS. This article reviews the pathogenesis, specific manifestations, screening, risk factors and predictive biomarkers of SRS, its impact on patients, and possible prevention and intervention strategies.

Objective:To investigate the activation of peripheral basophils from patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA) and its mechanisms. Methods:The activation markers including CD203c and the proportion of IL-4 positive rate of peripheral basophils from RA patients and healthy controls were detected by flow cytometry. Serum levels of IgE in RA patients and healthy controls were detected by electrochemilu minescence immunoassay. Basophils were negatively isolated and co-cultured with or without purified IgE,anti-IgE as positive control,then,the expression of CD203c and propotion of IL-4 positive basophils were detected by flow cytometry. Results:The expression of CD203c and IL-4 positive rate of basophils from RA patients were higher than that of healthy controls (P<0. 05). Serum levels of IgE in RA were higher than that of healthy controls (P<0. 05). After co-cultured with isolated IgE from RA patients,basophils negatively isolated from healthy controls were activated,and higher expression of CD203c and proportion of IL-4 (P<0.05). Conclusion:Basophil activation is related with development of RA,and its activation is mainly mediated by IgE. Targeting basophil and its activation pathway would be expected to provide new strategies for the treatment of RA.

OBJECTIVETo explore the genetic etiology for fetuses featuring intrauterine growth anomalies using array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH).

METHODSForty-nine fetuses were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA of the abortive tissues was analyzed with aCGH.

RESULTSFourteen (28.6%) samples were found with chromosomal aberrations, which included 8 chromosomal aneuploidies and 6 micro-aberrations (4 with known clinical pathogenecity and 2 with unknown clinical significance).

CONCLUSIONNumerical and structural chromosomal aberrations underlie a significant proportion of fetal growth anomalies. aCGH has provided an effective method for delineating their genetic cause.

Adult ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Congenital Abnormalities ; genetics ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods

This paper studied the influence ofsurface preponderantfungi on main effective substances of CitriReticulatae Pericarpium (CRP).Spreading plate method was used to isolatepredominant strains from the surface of CRP.Besides,the method combining microscopic and molecular identification was also adopted.HPLC and UVspectrophotometric methods were used to determine the main effective substances in CRP.From thesurface of CRP,the advantage strain fungi were Aspergillusniger and A.Flavus.After the inoculation of A.Niger and A.flavus against CRP,the effective compositionwas changed.And different A.niger strains had differenceeffectiveness oneffective chemical components,especially one strain of A.niger.Compared withthe control group,contents of total flavonoids and hesperidin were significantly increased (P＜0.01);and five types of obvious new chemical compositions were produced.It was concluded that the metabolic transformation of fungi was related tochanges ofeffective substances of CRP,which played a significant role in the aging process of CRP.The growth and metabolism of fungi consumeeffeetive substances and producechanges of composition.From the perspective of microorganisms,"the older,the better" of CRP hasa better explanation.

BACKGROUND:Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging can display the dispersion changes of peripheral nerve injury and be used to conduct quantitative research, so it has good application prospects in displaying the nerve injury and regeneration. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the possibility of magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging of rabbit acute sciatic nerve traction injury, and to figure out the value of diffusion tensor parameters in the diagnosis of peripheral nerve injuries and to reveal the pathologic basis. METHODS:The right hind limb sciatic nerves of 32 New Zealand white rabbits were selected to make the regeneration and repair models, the left hind limb nerves as the sham-operation side. Diffusion tensor imaging examination of sciatic nerves were performed at 1 and 3 days, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after operation with 1.5 T MRI. Fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient were measured through diffusion tensor tracing
reconstruction, and then the pathological examination was performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Diffusion tensor imaging revealed only the proximal nerve, injured nerve as wel as the middle of the distal nerve at 1 day after traction injury. At 1 week, the nerve of distal portion appeared thinner and shorter fiber bundle. At 2-6 weeks after operation, the fiber bundle was increased and thickened. At 8 weeks after operation, the distal nerve fibers had nearly restored to the level before injury. There was significant difference in the fractional anisotropy value of traction portion and distal portions between traction injury and sham-operation group at 1 day-8 weeks after operation (P<0.05). While there was significant difference in the fractional anisotropy value of proximal traction portion between traction injury and sham-operation group 1 day-1 week after operation (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the apparent diffusion coefficient values between traction injury and sham-operation group at 1 day-8 weeks after operation. Fal of fractional anisotropy value in the early stage of nerve traction injury was the result of myelin sheath broke down and axonal disintegrated;recovery of fractional anisotropy value resulted from myelin sheath proliferated and myelin sheath grew slowly to mature. Diffusion tensor tracing can show the abnormal change of the sciatic nerve with traction injury in rabbit clearly and early, and the measurement of fractional anisotropy value can be used as the sensitive method to monitor the degeneration and regeneration after nerve traction injury.

Fifty-two patients with silient myocardial ishcemia (SMI) were categorized into Type Ⅰ SMI group (n=21) and Type HI SMI group (n=31).22 normal subjects were also observed to serve as the control.It was found that the apparent viscosity of whole blood at different shear rate of 192.0 s-1,30.72s-1,and 3.84 s-1,the plasma viscosity,and the inter-viscosity of erythrocytes,and the duration of total myocardial ischemia on Holter monitoring electrocardiogram were higher and longer in Type Ⅲ SMI patients than in Type Ⅰ SMI ones and the normal controls (P