Objective:To explore the clinical application of preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M) in an unique case with Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2+ 0.Methods:A special SMA family presented at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University on October 19, 2020 was selected as the study subject. Multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and molecular tagging linkage analysis were carried out to identify the SMN1 genotype of the couple and their fetus. Subsequently, next-generation sequencing (NGS), molecular tagging linkage analysis, and chromosomal microarray analysis were employed to determine the haplotypes and validate the result of PGT-M on the 11 embryos derived for the couple. Results:The female partner was identified as a carrier of the rare SMN1[2+ 0] variant, and prenatal diagnosis confirmed the fetus to be affected by SMA. Ultimately, PGT-M has successfully selected four embryos free from the pathogenic SMN1 variants and X chromosome deletion. Conclusion:PGT-M can effectively prevent the transmission of rare genetic variants such as the SMA 2+ 0 subtype in the families. Above finding has provided guidance for genetic counseling and family planning for the couple.

Objective:To study the effects of naringenin on pancreatic fibrosis in the mouse model of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and its effects on the activation, proliferation and apoptosis of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs).Methods:Eighteen C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, CP group and naringenin group, with 6 mice in each group. The CP mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injections of caerulein. Naringenin group was given naringenin (200 mg/kg/day) by gavage once a day from the first day of the fourth week of modeling process to the day before the killing; the control group and CP group were treated by gavage with an equivalent amount of drug solvent containing 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na). Mice were killed 5 days after the last caerulein injection, and their pancreatic tissues were collected for hematoxylin-eosin staining and Sirius Red staining, pathological scoring and collagen sedimentation detection. Naringenin with different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 150, 200 μmol/L) were used to intervene HPSC for 24 hours, and CCK-8 method was used to detect the cell activity. TGF-β1 recombinant protein (2 ng/ml) was used to induce PSCs for 1 hour (TGF-β1 stimulation group), and naringenin with low (50 μmol/L), middle (100 μmol/L) and high (150 μmol/L) concentration was used to intervene for 36 hours after TGF-β1 stimulation, respectively. Western Blotting was used to detect the expression of PSC activation related proteins FN and COL1A1, cell proliferation marker p21, anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL, pro-apoptotic protein Bax and Bid.Results:The pathological scores of pancreatic tissue [(7.33±1.15), (4.67±1.15)] and the percentage of collagen positive areas [(46±4), (28±2)%] in CP group and naringenin group were higher than those in the control group [0, (4±2)%]. However, these indexes in the naringenin group were lower than those in CP group, and the differences were all statistically significant (all P value <0.05). The relative expression of FN in control group, TGF-β1 stimulation group and low, medium and high naringenin group was 0.02, 0.76, 0.67, 0.34 and 0.07, respectively; the expression of COL1A1 in these groups was 0.51, 1.71, 1.34, 0.84 and 0.11. The expression of FN and COL1A1 in TGF-β1 stimulation group was significantly higher than that in control group, and the expression of FN and COL1A1 in low, medium and high naringenin group was significantly lower than that in TGF-β1 stimulation group, and the differences were all statistically significant (all P value <0.05). The expression of p21 in the above five groups was 0.87, 1.18, 1.27, 1.22 and 1.00. The expression of p21 in TGF-β1 stimulation group was higher than that in control group, and the expression of p21 in high naringenin group was obviously lower than that in TGF-β1 stimulation group, and the differences were all statistically significant (all P value <0.05). In addition, the expression of Bcl-xL in these groups was 2.09, 2.21, 2.38, 2.50 and 2.12; the expression of Bax was 0.98, 0.88, 0.98, 1.00 and 0.88; the expression of Bid was 1.15, 1.09, 1.14, 1.18 and 1.18. There was no statistically significant difference among these groups (all P value >0.05). Conclusions:Naringenin could significantly alleviate the inflammation, atrophy and fibrosis in the CP mouse model, and inhibit the activation and proliferation of PSCs. However, naringenin had no significant effect on the apoptosis of PSCs, indicating that naringenin may be potentially used to treat pancreatic fibrosis in CP.

Objective:To explore the safety and efficacy of pancreatic extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (P-ESWL) in treating painful chronic pancreatitis patients with pancreatic stones.Methods:The painful chronic pancreatitis patients receiving P-ESWL alone or P-ESWL combined with ERCP at Shanghai Pudong New Area Gongli Hospital from August 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The success rate of stone fragmentation following P-ESWL, occurrence of postoperative complications, stone clearance rate of the main pancreatic duct and degree of pain relief in the follow-up were evaluated.Results:Among 113 patients, 7 patients were treated with P-ESWL alone and 106 patients were treated by P-ESWL combined with ERCP. The success rate of stone fragmentation was 98.2%. The occurrence of P-ESWL complications was 6.2%. Complete clearance of the main pancreatic duct stones was achieved in 75.2% of patients. With the mean follow-up of 17.5(3-31) months, complete pain relief was achieved in 84.1% of patients. The pain frequency and VAS score of patients treated with P-ESWL alone and P-ESWL combined with ERCP were obviously lower than those before treatment, and the body weight and body mass index were significantly higher than those before treatment, all with statistically significant differences (all P value <0.01). Conclusions:P-ESWL is safe and effective for the management of painful chronic pancreatitis patients with main pancreatic duct stones.

Objective To investigate whether the hyper-reactivity of monocytes from the patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) to LPS and Poly I ∶ C was associated with miR-146a.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from PBC patients and healthy controls were stimulated with 10 μg/ml of LPS or Poly I ∶ C.The levels of IL-1 β,IL-6,TNF-α and IFN-α in the culture medium were detected by ELISA.The relative expressions of miR-146a,miR-21,let-7e,miR-155 and miR-125b were detected by RT-PCR.The regulatory role of miR-146a on the production of inflammatory factors in LPS or Poly I ∶ C stimulated THP-1 cells was studied by gain-and-loss function assay.Results The up-regulation of miR146a,which was induced by both LPS or Poly I ∶ C,was impaired in the monocytes from PBC patients.The production of LPS or Poly I ∶ C induced inflammatory factor,could be enhanced by miR-146a down-regulation.Conclusion The hyper-reactivity of monocytes from PBC patients to LPS and Poly I ∶ C was associated with miR-146a.

Objective To investigate the association between IL-22 and the pathogenesis of coronary artery atherosclerosis(AS).Methods The relative expression of IL-22 mRNA in PBMC from 30 AS patients and 8 patients without any signs of coronary artery stenosis was detected by RT-PCR.Serum IL-22 levels of 22 patients without any signs of coronary artery stenosis and 79 AS patients were detected by ELISA.CRL-1730 cells(human umbilical vein endothelial cells) were stimulated with oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) at different dosage for 24 h,and the expression of IL-22R1 was detected by flowcytometry.The proliferation ability of CRL-1730 cells treated with IL-22(20 ng/ml) and/or ox-LDL(100 μg/ml)was measured by MTS assay,and the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) was detected by RTPCR and ELISA.Results Decreased IL-22 expression in PBMC and serum was observed as worsen of AS.The expression of IL-22R1 in ox-LDL treated CRL-1730 cells was increased in dose dependent manner.OxLDL decreased proliferation ability,as well as bFGF expression and releasing,of CRL-1730 cells.This effect of ox-LDL was partially rescued by IL-22.Conclusion IL-22 may have anti-atherosclerosis effect.This effect may be mediated by regulating bFGF expression and endothelial cells proliferation ability in the presence of IL-22.

Objective To investigate the increased expression of microRNA-146a(miR-146a) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and its clinical significance. Methods Twenty-eight patients with chronic ITP and 28 healthy controls matched with age and gender were enrolled in this study. Fluorescent quantitative PCR reaction was used to detect the relative expression of miR-146a in their PBMC. The serum concentration of TNF-α, IL-2,IL-1 β and IFN-γ were measured by ELISA. CCK-8 method was used to detect the proliferation ability of PBMC , which transfected with miR-146a mimics or inhibitor and then stimulated with platelet . Results The relative expression of miR-146a in ITP patients was higher than that of healthy controls. The increased expression of miR-146a was negatively correlated with the serum TNF-α, IL-2 and IFN-γ. The PBMC transfected with miR-146a mimics had reduced expression of IL-2 and proliferation when stimulated with platelet.In contrast, the opposite effect was observed with the miR-146a inhibitors transfection. Conclusion MiR146a was involved in the pathogenesis of chronic ITP by controlling IL-2 production and PBMC proliferation.Thus, it may be a potential therapy target for chronic ITP.

Objective To observe the long-term effect of surgical treatment in infertile varicocele patients. Methods 180 infertile patients with varicocele accepted modified Palomo operation (retroperitoneal high ligation of internal spermatic cord vein) from 2004 to 2007, and the long-term effect of thesurgery were analyzed retrospectively, such as semen parameters and spouse pregnancy. Results The operations were performed successfully in 180 cases, and semen parameters improved significantly after the surgery (Ps ＜ 0. 05 ).Among all patients, 10 cases had spouse pregnancy within 3 months after operation;47 cases had spouse pregnancy from 3 to 6 months after operation; 25 cases had spouse pregnancy from 6 to 12 months after operation;13 cases had spouse pregnancy from 12 to 24 months after operation. The fertility rate was 52. 8% (95/180) in total. Conclusion Surgical treatment of infertile male patients with varicocele has good long-term effects, made it the first choice in these patients.

Objective To detect the expression of IL-27 in PBC (primary biliary cirrhosis)patients and the possible involvement of IL-27 signal pathway in PBC. Methods The gene transcription and protein expression levels of IL-27 in patients with PBC, chronic hepatitis B(CHB) group and healthy controls(HC) were measured by real-time PCR, ELISA, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. AST,ALP, ALT, TBIL, GGT were determined and their correlation with IL-27 was also analyzed. Results IL-27 was significantly elevated in patients with PBC and IL-27 is present in the liver tissues of patients with PBC. Expression of IL-27 on CD4+T cells was increased in patients with PBC(72.40% ±6.22% ) and CHB(59.40% ± 7.03%) compared with HC(1.70%±0.55%,P＜0.01). Expression of IL-27 protein was increased in patients with PBC [( 126.25 ± 36.00 ) pg/ml] compared with CHB [( 51.81 ± 23.30 )pg/ml, P ＜ 0. 01] and HC[(34.19 ± 9.70) pg/ml, P ＜ 0.01], and it was positively correlated with GGT( r = 0.554, P＜0.01) and TBIL (r = 0.559,P＜0.01), but no correlation with ALT, AST, ALP.Conclusion These facts indicated the key role of IL-27 in the immune inflammatory reaction in patients with PBC.

Adiponectin is an adipokine predominantly synthesized and secreted by adipocytes in the white adipose tissue, and it can lower the blood glucose level and increase free fatty acid oxidation. In the current study, we developed the globular domain of adiponectin (gapM1) to treat type II diabetes. In both flask and fermentor, we cultivated Pichia pastoris expressing recombinant gapM1 and established the purification procedure by using gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography. To evaluate the biological activity of recombinant gapM1, we used rat type II diabetes model fed high-fat diet in combination with low-dose STZ (Streptozocin) induction. We purified 200 mg gapM1 with purity of 96% from 10 liters of supernatant. The recombinant gapM1 significantly lowered blood glucose (34.2%), serum triglyceride (79.6%) and total cholesterol (62.1%) in type II diabetes induced rat. Therefore, the recombinant human gapM1 is successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris and effectively treated type II diabetes in rat models.
Adiponectin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo observe sperm motion parameters in pre-freeze and post-thaw semen samples using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system.

METHODSSemen analyses of 238 samples before freezing and after thawing were separately performed by Hamilton-Thorne Sperm Analyzer.

RESULTSSperm motility in post-thaw samples was significantly decreased. There was significant correlation and difference between pre-freeze and post-thaw samples in sperm motion parameters, including average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), straightness (STR) and linearity (LIN), except heat cross frequency (BCF). The percentage of sperm movement velocity parameters (VAP, VSL and VCL) and moving pattern parameters (ALH) significantly decreased, while that of LIN and STR significantly increased in post-thaw samples.

CONCLUSIONCASA system is of clinically applied value and is a useful tool for evaluating sperm motion parameters in pre-freeze and post-thaw semen samples.