ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Cuscutae Semen on the learning and memory ability， N6-methyladenosine （m⁶A）-related modification enzymes and total m⁶A level in hippocampus of the offspring of fear-damaged pregnant rats. MethodForty-five pregnant rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group and Cuscutae Semen group. From the 1^st day to the 19^th day of pregnancy， rats in the model group and the Cuscutae Semen group were induced by observing electric shock of other rats. The Cuscutae Semen group was treated with 5 g·kg^-1·d^-1 Cuscutae Semen decoction （ig）， while the other two groups were treated with the same amount of purified water. The offspring were assigned following the grouping method of their maternal generation. The behavioral changes of the offspring were tested by Morris water maze on 21^st day after birth， and the development of hippocampal neurons was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The mRNA and protein expression levels of methyltransferase-like 3 （METTL3）， METTL14， Wilms tumor 1 associated protein （WTAP）， fat mass and obesity-associated protein （FTO） and Alk B homologue 5 （ALKBH5） were detected by Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， Western blot and immunohistochemistry （IHC）. The total content of m⁶A in hippocampus was determined by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS）. ResultCompared with the conditions in the blank group， the average latency duration in the model group was prolonged， and the number of entries in the target quadrant， the target quadrant duration and the number of crossing the platform were decreased （P<0.01）. Additionally， the model group had seriously damaged structure of hippocampal CA1 and CA3 neurons， swollen mitochondria， expanded endoplasmic reticulum， and small number of synapses with some having blurred structure， and the expression levels of METTL3， METTL14， FTO， ALKBH5 as well as the total m⁶A level were lower than those in the blank group （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Cuscutae Semen group had shortened average latency duration， increased number of entries in the target quadrant， target quadrant duration and number of crossing the platform （P<0.01）， alleviated damage of hippocampal CA1 and CA3 neurons， fine structure of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum， and clear， intact and dense synapses. And the expression levels of METTL3， METTL14， FTO as well as the total level of m⁶A were up regulated， while the expression level of ALKBH5 was down regulated in the Cuscutae Semen group （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionCuscutae Semen improved the learning and memory ability of the offspring of the rats affected by fear damaging kidney during pregnancy， protected hippocampal neurons， and up-regulated the expression levels of METTL3， METTL14， FTO and the total m⁶A level in hippocampus.

Objective: To investigate the role of gut microbiota in the amelioration of liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 in mice by 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Methods: Fifteen mice were randomly divided into normal control group, liver fibrosis group and 3-MA treatment group. The liver fibrosis model was established by injecting CCl4, and the mice in the 3-MA treatment group were injected 3-MA additionally from the third week onwards. After 8 weeks, all of the mice were sacrificed and their blood, liver tissue and fecal samples were collected to analyze serum ALT, AST, GGT levels, liver histopathology and gut microbiota. Results: Compared with the liver fibrosis group, serum ALT and AST levels in 3-MA treatment group decreased obviously ([68.6±4.2] U/L vs [111.0±7.8] U/L, [179.0±12.9] U/L vs [253.2±26.7] U/L, P＜0.01), and the degree of hepatic histopathological changes was reduced. The intestinal flora in three groups were distinguished by principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis. Compared with the normal control group, there were decreased Alpha diversity of intestinal community, reduced significantly abundance of Lachnospiraceae, and increased obviously abundance of Actinobacteria and Desulfovibrionacea in the liver fibrosis group (P＜0.05). Compared with the liver fibrosis group, there were increased Alpha diversity of intestinal community, increased significantly abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Blautia, and reduced abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae in the 3-MA treatment group (P＜0.05). In addition, the abundance of Lactobacillaceae in the 3-MA treatment group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P＜0.05). Conclusion 3-MA improves the liver fibrosis of mice induced by CCl4, and gut microbiota may play an active role in this process.

Objective To evaluate the effect of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)on the detection of carbapenemase producing enterobacteriaceae. Methods A total of 21 carbapenem non-susceptible enterobacteriaceaeclinical strains were collectedfrom the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University during January to May, 2018, including 11 strains of Klebsiella pneumonia, 3 strains of Klebsiella oxytoca, 3 strains of Enterobacter cloacae, and 4 strains of Escherichia coli. All the isolates were incubated with 0.5g/L meropenem solution for 2 hours. The supernatant was centrifuged and collected for MALDI-TOF MS detection. The characteristic peaks were captured to determin whether the strain was producing carbapenemase or not. And then, the results were compared with PCR results by Kappastatistical analysis. Results The PCR results showed that all the strains were positive for carbapenmase genes, among them 15 isolates were encoding KPC genes, 6 isolates encoding GES genes, 2 isolates encoding NDM genes, 1 isolate encoding VIM genes, 4 isolates encoding GIM and 1 isolate encoding SIM. And the strains could carry one or more carbapem-resistant determinants. MALDI-TOF MS showed that meropenem were hydrolyzed by 21 isolates and a characteristic drug hydrolysis peak appeared at 199 m/z, as a result of carbapenemase produced by enterobacteriaceae. The assay of MALDI-TOF MS was highly consistentwith PCR results. Conclusions The investigation showed that MALDI-TOF MS can directly detect the carbapenemase by capture the characteristic drug hydrolysis peak.

Pulmonary surfactant (PS) is synthesized and secreted by alveolar epithelial type II (AEII) cells, which is a complex compound formed by proteins and lipids. Surfactant participates in a range of physiological processes such as reducing the surface tension, keeping the balance of alveolar fluid, maintaining normal alveolar morphology and conducting host defense. Genetic disorders of the surfactant homeostasis genes may result in lack of surfactant or cytotoxicity, and lead to multiple lung diseases in neonates, children and adults, including neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, and pulmonary fibrosis. This paper has provided a review for the functions and processes of pulmonary surfactant metabolism, as well as the connection between disorders of surfactant homeostasis genes and lung diseases.
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; genetics ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein C ; genetics ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and side reaction of brucea javanica oil ( BJO) combined with 125I and chemotherapy on stageⅢ?Ⅳpatients with non?small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) . Methods One hundred and twenty cases on stageⅢ?Ⅳpatients with NSCLC were randomly divided into two groups,60 cases received BJO combined with 125I and chemotherapy treatment(observation group),the other 60 cases received 125I combined with chemotherapy treatment(control group). Results The objective response rate(ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 71. 7%,86. 7% of observation group and 66. 7%,85. 0% of control group,there were no significant difference(χ2=0. 352,0. 069;P>0. 05) . The improvement rate of KPS score in observation group was significantly superior to that in control group, the difference was significant (76. 7% vs. 55. 0%;χ2=6. 261,P<0. 05) . The incidence of myelosuppression and gastrointestinal adverse e?vents in observation group was significantly lower that in control group ( 68. 3% vs. 83. 3%,41. 7% vs. 61. 7%;χ2=3. 883,4. 805;P<0. 05) . Conclusion BJO combined with 125I and chemotherapy for treating on stageⅢ?Ⅳ patients with NSCLC can reduce the toxicity and side effects caused by chemotherapy,and significantly im?prove the clinical symptoms and quality of life of patients.

Objective To analyze hemolysin and virulence -related genes in incomplete hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus.Methods Fifty strains of incomplete hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from patients admitted in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University during 2013 and 2014, and the isolates with complete hemolytic phenotype were also collected at the same period as the control strains . All the strains were inoculated and subcultured on four kinds of sheep blood agar plates supplied by different manufacturers to compare their hemolytic phenotype .The relative mRNA expressions of hemolysin genes (hla, hlb, hlc, hld) in standard strain, complete and incomplete hemolytic phenotype strains were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and valued by 2 -△△Ct method.t test was used to compare mRNA expressions of hemolysin genes .Western blot was performed to analyze the expression of α-hemolysin.Antibiotic susceptibility test of incomplete hemolytic strains was performed using broth microdilution method.Resistant gene mecA and virulence genes pvl, tst were detected by PCR.Results The steady and hereditary incomplete hemolysis was observed in 50 strains of incomplete hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus on the sheep blood agar plates from different suppliers .Taking mRNA expression of hla, hlb, hlc, hld in standard strain as 1, the relative mRNA expressions of hemolysin genes in incomplete hemolytic strains were 0.02, 7.51, 0.06 and 0.12 respectively, there were statistical differences between standard strain and incomplete hemolytic strains (t =8.46, -56.40, 8.12 and 7.61, all P <0.05).And the expression of α-hemolysin was decreased in incomplete hemolytic strains .All the strains were identified as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).Three strains exhibited different minimum inhibitory concentrations of teicoplanin and linezolid after subcultured , but the differences had no impact on the final results of antibiotic susceptibility test .mecA, pvl and tst genes were positive in incomplete hemolytic strains . Conclusion Staphylococcus aureus with incomplete hemolytic phenotype is methicillin resistant with higher expression of β-hemolysin and lower expressions of α-hemolysin, γ-hemolysin and δ-hemolysin.It carries plv and tst virulence genes and is of high virulence .

Objective To investigate the biological characteristics of rpoS gene deleted mutation in Salmonella typhi under different stress conditions,so as to explore the target gene for the prevention and treament of Salmonella typhi infection.Methods rpoS gene deleted mutant of Salmonella typhi was prepared by homologious recombination.rpoS mutant and parental strains were incubated under iso-osmia and various stress conditions:acid stress(pH 4.2),high osmolarity stress(NaCl 300 mmol/L),bile stress (1.5 mmol/L sodiumdeoxycbolate)and oxidative stress(1 mmol/L H2O2).The growth curves were compared between mutant and parental strains under different incubation conditions(t test).Results rpoS gene deleted mutant of Salmonella typhi Was successfully generated.Compared with the parental strain,the survival ability of rpoS mutant was significantly compromised under the acid stress,high osmolarity stress and oxidative stress(t values at4 h were 12.864,3.594 and 12.979;t values at 14 h were6.497,3.039 and 10.440,P<0.05 or<0.01).Conclusion rpoS is important for Salmonella typhi to overcome the acid,high osmolarity and oxidative stresses,and it may be a target gene for the prevention and treatment of Salmonella typhi infection.

Proteomics was important for the coherent study of human reproduction and animal breeding including human infertility,sperm-egg binding and mutual recognition of the mechanism.It was well known that proteomics had become one of the main branches of life sciences in the future.This provides the technological means and theoretical foundation for the individual dynamic changes in the protein.At the same time,it plays an important role in the drug development,the mechanism of life activities and in the field of livestock breeding.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the influence of Valsartan on the serum ET,CGRP levels,urinary protein and Q - Td of patients with CRF complicating hypertension.METHODS: CRF research group including 24 patients with CRF complicating hypertension receiving Valsartan 80mg/ d for 4 weeks; CRF control groups including 20 CRF patients with normal blood pressure; health group including 9 health people.The serum ET and CGRP levels, urinary protein, and Q - Td were measured.RESULTS: (l)The serum ET level of CRF patients was higher than that of health people;The serum ET level of CRF research group(before treatment) was higher than that of CRF control group and decreased after treatment of Valsartan.(2) The serum CGRP level of CRF patients was higher than that of health people .The serum of CGRP level of CRF research group (before treatment) was higher than that of CRF control group and continued to increase after treatment of Valsartan. (3) The content of urinary protein of CRF patients was significantly higher than that of health people.The content of urinary protien of CRF research group before treatment was higher than that of CRF control group and decreased after treatment of Valsartan. (4) The Q - Td of CRF research group was longer than that of health group and CRF control group.But the Q - Td of CRF research group did not change after treatment of Valsartan.CONCLUSION: Valsartan could effectively control blood pressure and decrease content of urinary protein, and delay the deterioration of renal function, but could not reverse the cardiovascular remoulding.