Mammals exhibit limited heart regeneration ability, which can lead to heart failure after myocardial infarction. In contrast, zebrafish exhibit remarkable cardiac regeneration capacity. Several cell types and signaling pathways have been reported to participate in this process. However, a comprehensive analysis of how different cells and signals interact and coordinate to regulate cardiac regeneration is unavailable. We collected major cardiac cell types from zebrafish and performed high-precision single-cell transcriptome analyses during both development and post-injury regeneration. We revealed the cellular heterogeneity as well as the molecular progress of cardiomyocytes during these processes, and identified a subtype of atrial cardiomyocyte exhibiting a stem-like state which may transdifferentiate into ventricular cardiomyocytes during regeneration. Furthermore, we identified a regeneration-induced cell (RIC) population in the epicardium-derived cells (EPDC), and demonstrated Angiopoietin 4 (Angpt4) as a specific regulator of heart regeneration. angpt4 expression is specifically and transiently activated in RIC, which initiates a signaling cascade from EPDC to endocardium through the Tie2-MAPK pathway, and further induces activation of cathepsin K in cardiomyocytes through RA signaling. Loss of angpt4 leads to defects in scar tissue resolution and cardiomyocyte proliferation, while overexpression of angpt4 accelerates regeneration. Furthermore, we found that ANGPT4 could enhance proliferation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and promote cardiac repair in mice after myocardial infarction, indicating that the function of Angpt4 is conserved in mammals. Our study provides a mechanistic understanding of heart regeneration at single-cell precision, identifies Angpt4 as a key regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration, and offers a novel therapeutic target for improved recovery after human heart injuries.
Humans ; Mice ; Rats ; Cell Proliferation ; Heart/physiology* ; Mammals ; Myocardial Infarction/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Pericardium/metabolism* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Zebrafish/metabolism*

As main recipient cells for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine alveolar macrophage (PAM) are involved in the progress of several highly pathogenic virus infections. However, due to the fact that the PAM cells can only be obtained from primary tissues, research on PAM-based virus-host interactions remains challenging. The improvement of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology provides a new strategy to develop IPSCs-derived PAM cells. Since the CD163 is a macrophage-specific marker and a validated receptor essential for PRRSV infection, generation of stable porcine induced pluripotent stem cells lines containing CD163 reporter system play important roles in the investigation of IPSCs-PAM transition and PAM-based virus-host interaction. Based on the CRISPR/Cas9- mediated gene editing system, we designed a sgRNA targeting CD163 locus and constructed the corresponding donor vectors. To test whether this reporter system has the expected function, the reporter system was introduced into primary PAM cells to detect the expression of RFP. To validate the low effect on stem cell pluripotency, we generated porcine iPSC lines containing CD163 reporter and assessed the pluripotency through multiple assays such as alkaline phosphatase staining, immunofluorescent staining, and EdU staining. The red-fluorescent protein (RFP) expression was detected in CD163-edited PAM cells, suggesting that our reporter system indeed has the ability to reflect the expression of gene CD163. Compared with wild-type (WT) iPSCs, the CD163 reporter-iPSCs display similar pluripotency-associated transcription factors expression. Besides, cells with the reporter system showed consistent cell morphology and proliferation ability as compared to WT iPSCs, indicating that the edited-cells have no effect on stem cell pluripotency. In conclusion, we generated porcine iPSCs that contain a CD163 reporter system. Our results demonstrated that this reporter system was functional and safe. This study provides a platform to investigate the iPS-PAM development and virus-host interaction in PAM cells.
Swine ; Animals ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics* ; Antigens, CD/metabolism* ; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus/genetics*

Despite complications were significantly reduced due to the popularity of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in clinical trials, reperfusion injury and chronic cardiac remodeling significantly contribute to poor prognosis and rehabilitation in AMI patients. We revealed the effects of HSP47 on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and shed light on the underlying molecular mechanism. We generated adult mice with lentivirus-mediated or miRNA (mi1/133TS)-aided cardiac fibroblast-selective HSP47 overexpression. Myocardial IRI was induced by 45-min occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery followed by 24 h reperfusion in mice, while ischemia-mediated cardiac remodeling was induced by four weeks of reperfusion. Also, the role of HSP47 in fibrogenesis was evaluated in cardiac fibroblasts following hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR). Extensive HSP47 was observed in murine infarcted hearts, human ischemic hearts, and cardiac fibroblasts and accelerated oxidative stress and apoptosis after myocardial IRI. Cardiac fibroblast-selective HSP47 overexpression exacerbated cardiac dysfunction caused by chronic myocardial IRI and presented deteriorative fibrosis and cell proliferation. HSP47 upregulation in cardiac fibroblasts promoted TGFβ1-Smad4 pathway activation and Smad4 deubiquitination by recruiting ubiquitin-specific peptidase 10 (USP10) in fibroblasts. However, cardiac fibroblast specific USP10 deficiency abolished HSP47-mediated fibrogenesis in hearts. Moreover, blockage of HSP47 with Col003 disturbed fibrogenesis in fibroblasts following HR. Altogether, cardiac fibroblast HSP47 aggravates fibrosis post-myocardial IRI by enhancing USP10-dependent Smad4 deubiquitination, which provided a potential strategy for myocardial IRI and cardiac remodeling.

Objective:To analyze the status and epidemiological characteristics of respiratory virus infection in children with influenza-like illness in outpatient department, and to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of children in this area.Methods:Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from children who attended the fever clinic of The Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine due to influenza-like illness from July 2021 to March 2022, and six common respiratory virus nucleic acids were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The general information of the children was collected and grouped by gender and age (0-<6 months, 6-<12 months, 1-3< year-old, 3-<6 year-old , and ≥6 year-old), and the chi-square test was used for statistical analysis between the groups to explore the epidemic pattern of respiratory viruses.Results:A total of 739 cases (45.9%, 739/1 609) of respiratory viruses were detected from children with influenza-like illness, including 651 cases (40.5%, 651/1 609) of simple infection and 88 cases (5.5%, 88/1 609) of multiple infections. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was detected in 18.6% (300/1 609), followed by influenza B virus (FluB) in 11.9% (192/1 609), adenovirus (ADV) in 8.3% (134/1 609), parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) in 7.6% (123/1 609), parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV-1) in 4.9% (79/1 609), and influenza A virus (FluA) in 0.4% (6/1 609). Multiple infections including double or triple infections, with 81(92.0%, 81/88) cases of double infection and the most common being ADV+RSV (22.7%, 20/88) and 7 (8.0%, 7/88) cases of triple infection. There was a significant difference in the virus detection rate between the age groups (χ2=17.078, P=0.002), with the highest virus detection rate in the 3-<6 years of age group (49.7%, 286/575). Among the detection of simple infection, FluB had the highest detection rate in the ≥ 6 years of age group (26.6%, 98/369), and RSV and PIV-1 had the highest detection rate in the 3-<6 years of age group (20.0%, 115/575 and 5.9%, 34/575). The total monthly virus detection rate increased from 26.8% (37/138) in July to 63.0% (58/92) in January, and decreased to 46.1% (106/230) and 26.8% (37/138) in February and March. The detection rate of RSV was the highest from August to November, the detection rate of FluB was the highest from December to March, the detection rate of ADV increased in December and January, and the detection rate of PIV-3 increased from October to December; the detection rate of PIV-1 did not fluctuate significantly, and FluA was sporadically detected. Conclusions:RSV is the main respiratory virus in children with influenza-like illness. Most respiratory viruses are present as single infections. Multiple infections are more common in double infections. FluB, RSV and PIV-1 infections showed certain age distribution characteristics, especially in children over 3 years of age. The epidemic characteristics of respiratory virus infection show that the epidemic gradually peaks from summer to autumn and winter, and turns into an epidemic decline in spring. RSV was relatively prevalent in autumn, FluB was prevalent in winter and spring, ADV and PIV-3 were prevalent to varying degrees in winter, PIV-1 continued to circulate at a low level, and FluA did not present epidemic characteristics.

Objective:To compare the early and mid-term results of hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) and minimally invasive multivessel coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS-CABG) in coronary artery disease patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction and non diabetes mellitus, and to explore the indication of HCR and MICS-CABG.Methods:A retrospective cohort analysis of HCR and MICS-CABG cases with preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction less than 0.40, and without diabetes mellitus were conducted in Xijing Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019. 36 cases in HCR group and 17 cases in MICS group were included in this study. For HCR procedure, minimally invasive left internal mammary artery(LIMA) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) bypass surgery were performed, and followed by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to treat non LAD lesion 1 to 4 weeks later. MICS-CABG procedure was performed through left anterior small thoracotomy minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting for multiple diseased vessels.Results:The preoperative SYNTAX score in MICS group was significantly higher than that in HCR group ( P<0.05). There was no perioperative death in both groups. Troponin I, postoperative drainage volume, blood transfusion volume and ventilator ventilation time in MICS group were significantly higher than those in HCR group ( P<0.05). After 12 months follow-up, no patient died in both groups. Furthermore, all LIMA grafts were patency. The stenosis rate of drug-eluting stents in HCR group was similar to that of great saphenous vein grafts in MICS group. LVEF and left ventricular end diastolic diameter of both groups were significantly improved 12 months after operation ( P<0.05). Conclusion:HCR and MICS-CABG are minimally invasive and safe treatment for multivessel coronary artery disease patients with low ejection fraction and non diabetese mellitus. The early and mid-term therapeutic effects are satisfactory. If coronary artery lesions other than LAD are suitable for PCI, HCR should be the preferred treatment.

Objective To investigate the application prospect of the most extensive genome engineering pig internationally in preclinical xenotransplantation. Methods Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) knockout combined with 3 major heterologous antigen gene knockouts and 9 humanized genes for inhibition of complement activation, regulation of coagulation disorders, anti-inflammatory and anti-phagocytosis were transferred into a pig (PERV-KO/3-KO/9-TG) as a donor, and the heart, liver and kidney were obtained and transplanted to 3 Rhesus macaque recipients respectively to establish a preclinical research model of pig-to-Rhesus macaque xenotransplantation. The functional status of xenografts after blood flow reconstruction was observed and the survival of recipients was summarized. The hemodynamics of xenografts were monitored. The change of hematological indexes of each recipient was compared. The histopathological manifestation of xenografts was observed. Results After the blood flow was reconstructed, all xenografts showed ruddy color, soft texture and good perfusion. The transplant heart, liver and kidney showed full arterial and venous blood flow and good perfusion at 1 d after operation. The postoperative survival time of heart, liver, and kidney transplant recipients was 7, 26, and 1 d, respectively. The levels of creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzyme, and lactate dehydrogenase increased in heart transplant recipient at 1 d after operation, and gradually recovered to near normal levels at 6 d after operation. All indexes increased sharply at 7 d after operation. The level of aspartate aminotransferase increased in liver transplant recipients at 2 d after operation, and the alanine aminotransferase basically returned to normal at 10 d after operation, but the total bilirubin continued to increase. Both aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase increased at 12 d after operation, and reached a peak at 15 d after operation. The kidney transplant recipient developed mild proteinuria at 1 d after operation, and died of sudden severe arrhythmia. Histopathology showed that the tissue structure of cardiac and renal xenografts was close to normal, and liver xenografts presented with patchy necrosis, the liver tissue structure was disordered, accompanied by inflammatory damage, interstitial hemorrhage and thrombotic microangiopathy. Conclusions PERV-KO/3-KO/9-TG pig shows advantages in overcoming hyperacute rejection, mitigating humoral rejection and coagulation dysregulation. However, whether it can be used as potential donor for clinical xenotransplantation needs further evaluation.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy between femoral neck system (FNS) and inverted cannulated compression screws (ICCS) in the fixation of adult femoral neck fracture.Methods:The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed of the 119 patients with femoral neck fracture who had received FNS or ICCS internal fixation at Department of Traumatic Orthopedics, West China Hospital from September 2019 to June 2020. They were divided into 2 groups according to their internal fixation methods. In the FNS group of 62 patients, there were 38 males and 24 females, with an age of (54.0±13.0) years, and 13 cases of type Ⅱ, 34 cases of type Ⅲ and 15 cases of type Ⅳ according to the Garden classification; in the ICCS group of 57 patients, there were 42 males and 15 females, with an age of (53.2±11.3) years, and 9 cases of type Ⅱ, 33 cases of type Ⅲ and 15 cases of type Ⅳ according to the Garden classification. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fluoroscopy frequency, hospitalization time, fracture healing time, Harris hip score and incidence of complications were compared between the 2 groups.Results:The 2 groups were comparable due to insignificant differences in their preoperative general data or follow-up duration ( P>0.05). There were significant differences between the FNS and ICCS groups in fluoroscopy frequency [(8.8±2.9) times versus (15.6±3.4) times], operation time [(45.2±10.1) min versus (51.8±11.7) min], fracture healing time [(3.2±0.4) months versus (4.0±0.6) months], Harris hip score at the last follow-up [(91.8±4.4) points versus (84.6±3.3) points], and femoral neck shortening at the last follow-up, favoring the FNS group (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in follow-up time, hospitalization time, intraoperative blood loss or incidence of complications between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:In the fixation of adult femoral neck fractures, compared with ICCS, FNS can significantly reduce fluoroscopy frequency, shorten fracture healing and operation time, reduce risk of femoral neck shortening and hospitalization time, and promote functional recovery of the hip.

Laboratory testing plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with Novel Coronavirus pneumonia. However, the lack of understanding of the virus in the early stage led to great difficulties in biosafety protection for clinical laboratories. Based on the latest researches and findings about the virus, this paper provides some personal opinions on the biosafety prevention in clinical laboratorians under epidemic condition for the reference of laboratory workers.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a grade B infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). In pace with the spreading of the disease, biosafety risk of the biological specimen preservation in biobanks has been significantly increased and biosafety protection during biological specimen preservation become increasingly important. According to the related national rules and the corresponding guidelines of Chinese Medical Association, this paper introduced the etiology about SARS-CoV-2, epidemiology about COVID-19, and the biosafety protection principles of individuals and biological specimen storage places in the process of personal protection, protection of collection, transport, handling, preservation, detection, post-detection disposal and emergencies of biological specimen. Emphasized to carry out a strict biosafety-risk assessment on biological specimen basing on virus load information, infectivity, and sample type (possible contact transmission, aerosol transmission, and fecal oral transmission).
Betacoronavirus ; isolation & purification ; Containment of Biohazards ; standards ; Coronavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Humans ; Pandemics ; prevention & control ; Pneumonia, Viral ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Prevalence ; Risk Assessment ; Specimen Handling ; standards

TORCH, which is considered as a series of pathogens, including the Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus or Herpes simplex virus, often infects the pregnant women to induce the the fetus or newborn infection by transplacental infection or exposure to contaminated genital tract secretions at delivery. Increasing evidence have been confirmed that the infection of TORCH may cause the miscarriage, premature birth, malformed fetus, stillbirth, intrauterine growth retardation, neonatal multiple organ dysfunction and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. For most TORCH-infections cases may lacking the effective treatments during pregnancy, and it is important to achieve the effacing monitoring of TORCH infections before and during pregnancy. The laboratory testing of TORCH has the great significance. However, the consensus opinions still need to improve the the standardization of TORCH testing process and the correct interpretation. Based on the characteristics of the TORCH detection method, this article gives a consensus opinion on the standardized detection and clinical application of TORCH from the laboratory perspective according to the characteristics and types of infection of different pathogens.