Objective: To study the mechanisms of cold exposure mediated ileum mechanical barrier injury in mice. Methods: Twenty mice were randomly divided into the control and cold exposure groups. Both the control and cold exposure groups were placed in the climate room with (24±2)℃ and 40% humidity. The mice in the cold exposure group were moved to the climate room at (4±2)℃ every day for 3 hours for three consecutive weeks. Three weeks later, the ileum tissues of mice were collected. Changes in ileum tissue structure were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining. The related protein expression levels of the tight junction, inflammatory cytokines, and the NF-κB pathway were detected by Western blot. Results: Compared with the control group, the circular muscle layer of the ileum in cold exposed mice became thin, a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated, the length of villi became short, the depth of recess was increased, and tissue fibrosis appeared. The expression levels of ideal tight junction-associated proteins in cold exposed mice were decreased significantly (P＜0.05), while the protein expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and phosphorescent p65 were increased significantly (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Cold exposure can damage the tight junction of the mouse ileum, destroy the integrity of the mechanical barrier and activate the NF-κB signaling pathway to promote the occurrence of the inflammatory response.
Animals ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Ileum/metabolism* ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Mice ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Tight Junctions/metabolism*

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) with extrahepatic adverse drug reaction (EHADR) is the injury of extrahepatic organs which is caused by the same drug inducing liver injury and may occur simultaneously or successively with DILI, such as the skin, gastrointestinal tract, blood system, cardiovascular system, and bone and joint system, and it should be taken seriously in clinical practice. DILI with EHADR is not rare, and its pathogenesis may be associated with various factors including the physicochemical properties, distribution, metabolism, excretion, biological activity, and immunological properties of drugs, host genetic background, and underlying diseases. The diagnosis and treatment of DILI with EHADR is more challenging than that of DILI alone.

To evaluate immune efficacy of the recombinant Lactobacillus casei, we constructed pLA-Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-F/L. casei and obtained the expression products. PCR amplified the NDV F gene carrying part of the major epitopes. The target gene was inserted to the shuttle plasmid pLA, and then transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) in order to screen positive recombinant plasmid. The positive recombinant plasmid was transformed into L. casei by electroporation to construct pLA-NDV-F/L. casei. The positive strains were identified by PCR. The reactivity of the recombinant bacteria was identified by Western blotting and the protein expression was detected by indirect immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and laser confocal microscopy. The 14-day-old chickens in each group were vaccinated by oral plus nose drops. The pLA-NDV-F/L. casei twice immunization group and three times immunization group, the commercial vaccine group, the pLA/L. casei group, the unchallenge PBS and the challenge PBS group were established. IgG in serum and sIgA in the lavage fluid of intestinal, nasal and lung were detected by ELISA. The protection rate of chickens was evaluated. The results showed that 94.10% of the recombinant bacteria expressed the F protein. The recombinant protein was highly expressed on the surface of L. casei with a protein size of 62 kDa, which specifically bound to anti-NDV serum. The levels of anti-F IgG and sIgA antibodies in each test group were significantly higher than those in the control groups. The duration of antibody in the pLA-NDV-F/L. casei three-time immunization group lasted 28 days longer than that in the twice immunized group, and there was no significant difference between antibody peak values. The attack protection rates in each group of immunized pLA-NDV-F/L. casei three times, twice, attenuated vaccine, pLA/L. casei and PBS were 80%, 80%, 90%, 0% and 0%, respectively. Therefore, the antigenic protein of NDV F was successfully expressed by L. casei expression system, which has of reactogenicity and immunogenicity, and could induce protective immune responses in chickens.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; Chickens ; Immunization ; Lactobacillus casei ; Newcastle disease virus ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; Viral Vaccines

Objective: To investigate application and safety of pediatric interfacility-transport with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in China. Methods: The data of 48 patients transported inter-hospital from February 2016 to May 2018 were collected from the following 4 centers: pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of Bayi Children′s Hospital Affiliated to the 7th Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Pediatric Hospital of Fudan University, Henan Provincial People′s Hospital and Children′s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The data of patients′ characteristics, ECMO mode and wean rate, and mortality were reviewed, which was further compared with the data of 57 compatible inner-hospital ECMO cases with t test, Rank sum test or chi-square test. Results: All the 48 interfacility-transports were accomplished by ambulance on land, with an average transfer distance of (435±422) km. The incidence of ECMO complications was 13% (6 case), without death. There were no significant differences in lactic acid, PaO₂ or SaO₂ before and after transport (4.0 (2.0, 7.5) vs. 3.0 (1.5, 6.0) mmol/L, Z=-1.579, P>0.05; 112(47, 405) vs. 166(122, 240) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), Z=-0.104, P>0.05; 0.97±0.02 vs. 0.96±0.03, t=1.570, P>0.05). Instead, PaCO₂ and pH were significantly different ((47±8) vs. (42±5) mmHg, t=2.687, P<0.05; 7.3±0.2 vs. 7.5±0.2, t=3.379, P<0.05). The total ECMO weaned rate was 73% (35/48) and the survival rate was 67% (32/48). No significant differences in demographic characteristics, ECMO mode or duration, transport distance or duration, or complications existed between the survival group and the death group (7/25 vs. 2/14, χ²=0.615, P>0.05; 4/28 vs. 2/14, χ²=0, P>0.05; (405±404) vs. (493±465) km, t=0.525, P>0.05; (5±4) vs. (5±5) h, t=0.388, P>0.05; 166 (128, 239) vs. 187(52, 405) h, Z=-0.104, P>0.05; 3/32 vs. 3/16, χ²=0.734, P>0.05). The lowest lactate value in survival group before ECMO transport was significantly lower than that in the death group ((5±5) vs. (8±6) mmol/L, t=2.151, P<0.05). There were neither significant differences in age, ECMO mode or support pattern (9/39 vs. 15/42, χ²=0.845, P>0.05; 6/42 vs. 7/50, χ²=0.001, P>0.05; 29/19 vs. 38/19, χ²=0.441, P>0.05), nor in ECMO weaned rate, survival rate or complications between interfacility-transport group and inner-hospital group (35/48 vs. 37/57, χ²=0.775, P>0.05; 32/48 vs. 35/57, χ²=0.313, P>0.05; 20/48 vs. 22/57, χ²=0.102, P>0.05). Conclusion With appropriate transport equipment and mature teams who handle problems timely during the transport, critically ill children could be safely transported to the destination with ECMO.

Objective:To investigate the mutative rate and spectrum of common hereditary deafness genes in Chinese. Methods:Heel blood samples from 2545 infants born from January to October, 2018, were collected, and screened with microarray chip. Results:There were 119 children with mutation of deafness gene, including 60 cases (2.36%) with GJB2 mutation, male/female = 1∶1 (30/30); 48 (1.88%) with SLC26A4 mutation, male/female nearly 1∶1 (26/22); five (0.20%) with mutation of mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene; five (0.20%) with GJB3 mutation; one (0.04%) with heterozygosis in GJB2 235 and SLC26A4 IVS7-2 mutation. Other more, mutations of 1174A > T, 1229C > T and 15+5G>A of SLC26A4 were found in one child, respectively. Conclusion:The distribution of deafness gene loci has been investigated, which can be reference for prevention and control of hereditary deafness in Chinese.

Ageratina adenophora is a noxious plant and it is known to cause acute asthma, diarrhea, depilation, and even death in livestock (Zhu et al., 2007; Wang et al., 2017). A. adenophora grows near roadsides and degraded land worldwide (He et al., 2015b). In the areas where it grows, A. adenophora is an invasive species that inhibits the growth of local plants and causes poisoning in animals that come in contact with it (Nie et al., 2012). In China, these plants can be found in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Chongqing, and other southwestern areas (He et al., 2015a) and they have become a dominant species in these local regions. It threatens the native biodiversity and ecosystem in the invaded areas and causes serious economic losses (Wang et al., 2017). It has been reported that A. adenophora can grow in the northeast direction at a speed of 20 km per year in China (Guo et al., 2009). Because of the damage caused by A. adenophora, it ranks among the earliest alien invasive plant species in China (Wang et al., 2017).
Adenosine Triphosphatases/metabolism* ; Ageratina/toxicity* ; Animals ; Biodiversity ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/pathology* ; China ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics* ; Ecosystem ; Introduced Species ; Liver/drug effects* ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mitochondria, Liver/pathology* ; Plant Extracts/toxicity*

In order to clarify dynamic change of microbial community composition and to identify key functional bacteria in the cellulose degradation consortium, we studied several aspects of the biodegradation of filter papers and rice straws by the microbial consortium, the change of substrate degradation, microbial biomass and pH of fermentation broth. We extracted total DNA of the microbial consortium in different degradation stages for high-throughput sequencing of amplicons of bacterial 16 S rRNA genes. Based on the decomposition characteristics test, we defined the 12th, 72nd and 168th hours after inoculation as the initial stage, peak stage and end stage of degradation, respectively. The microbial consortium was mainly composed of 1 phylum, 2 classes, 2 orders, 7 families and 11 genera. With cellulose degradation, bacteria in the consortium showed different growth trends. The relative abundance of Brevibacillus and Caloramator decreased gradually. The relative abundance of Clostridium, Bacillus, Geobacillus and Cohnella increased gradually. The relative abundance of Ureibacillus, Tissierella, Epulopiscium was the highest in peak stage. The relative abundance of Paenibacillus and Ruminococcus did not change obviously in each stage. Above-mentioned 11 main genera all belonged to Firmicutes, which are thermophilic, broad pH adaptable and cellulose or hemicellulose degradable. During cellulose degradation by the microbial consortium, aerobic bacteria were dominant functional bacteria in the initial stage. However, the relative abundance of anaerobic bacteria increased gradually in middle and end stage, and replaced aerobic bacteria to become main bacteria to degrade cellulose.
Bacteria ; classification ; metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cellulose ; metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Microbial Consortia ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics

Objective To investigate the morbidity and characteristics of adult osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) in Chengdu, and to further explore its related risk factors.Methods Self-designed questionnaires were used to collect data by the way of household or field survey. From January,2016 to February, 2018, a total of 544 cases (797 hips) diagnosed as ONFH were included in the study. The medical data including general condition, risk factors, diagnosis, disease stages and treatment were collected. Based on the data, the risk factors were analyzed statistically.Results The average age of 544 patients (392 males and 152 females) was 55 years old (range: 19 to 90 years); the bilateral incidence was 46.51% (253 cases). The proportion of Association Research Circulation Osseous stages was accounted respectively 3.64% for stage I, 6.15% for stage II, 8.41% for stage III and 81.81% for stage IV when confirmed ONFH initially. In all the reasons of ONFH, 52.39% were alcohol-associated osteonecrosis, 16.18% for steroid-induced osteonecrosis, 11.58% for traumatic osteonecrosis, 5.88% for dysplastic osteonecrosis, and 13.97% for other reasons.Conclusion The incidence of ONFH was higher in men than in women. Stages III-IV accounted for the highest proportion. The high intake of alcohol or overuse of steroid was the leading causes of adult ONFH, among which alcohol-associated osteonecrosis was the main for the males and steroid-induced osteonecrosis for the females.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the genetic polymorphism of IL-6 C-572G and susceptibility to spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB).

METHODSThe subjects were from Beijing and the surrounding areas of Beijing. This case-control study enrolled 569 SPTB infants, including 56 extremely preterm (<28 weeks of gestation), 166 very preterm (28-31weeks of gestation) and 347 moderate to late preterm infants (32 to 36weeks of gestation). A total of 673 term infants were enrolled as the control group. The latest Sequenom MassARRAY®SNP detection technique was used for the typing of single nucleotide polymorphism of IL-6 C-572G.

RESULTSCompared with the CC genotypes, the IL-6 C-572G G-positive genotype (CG+GG genotype) was significantly associated with an increased susceptibility to moderate to late SPTB (OR=1.35, 95%CI: 1.01-1.80, P=0.04).

CONCLUSIONSAmong the Chinese population, IL-6 C-572G polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to moderate to late SPTB.

Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; genetics

Objective: To analysis the alterations of CaM and its downstream factors in the brains of scrapie infected mice. Methods: Using the methods of Western blot and immunohistochemistry assay to detect the levels and distributions of CaM, as well as the expressing alterations of the downstream substrates of CaM in the brains of mice infected with scrapie. Results: Compared with the normal controls, the levels of CaM are significantly increased in the brains of scrapie-infected mice and particularly distributing in the regions of cortex, thamalus and cerebellum. Remarkable high levels of CaMKII, p-CaMKII and p-CaMKIV are observed in the brain homogenates of scrapie-infected mice. The regulatory protein of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and p-CERB are also increased, while the levels of BDNF which is regulated by p-CREB are obeviously downregulated. Conclusions The synthesis of BDNF may be influenced by the prion replication in neuron and further attenuates its neuronal protective features.