[Clinical and genetic analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency of six cases]

The clinical and molecular genetic data of 6 patients with genetically confirmed tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency(THD) diagnosed in Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from March 2017 to February 2022 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The 6 patients were from 5 families. Among them, 5 patients had persistent or paroxysmal abnormal walking posture, 4 patients had dystonia of head and face, including spasm of perioral and oculopharyngeal muscles, hyperactivity, and binocular upvision, 4 patients showed obvious morning light and evening heavy phenomenon, 2 patients had postural tremor of limbs, 2 patients had psychomotor retardation from childhood, 1 patient only had limb and cervical muscle weakness, 1 patient had epileptic seizures. Of the 6 patients, only 1 was adult-onset, and the rest were child-onset. Four patients had good response to low-dose dopa preparation, 2 patients from the same family had poor response to dopamine treatment, requiring extremely low dose initiation and multi-frequency titration treatment. However, the long-term treatment effect was poor with obvious abnormalities. Gene testing of 5 families revealed 8 mutations in the TH gene, with c.698G>A (p.R233H) being the hot spot mutation site. The clinical manifestations of THD are complex. Besides paroxysmal or persistent dystonia, it can also be accompanied by eye movement crisis, muscle weakness, epilepsy, and delayed mental and motor development. Most patients respond well to low-dose dopamine preparations, but a small number of patients require titration treatment with extremely low-dose dopamine preparations, and the long-term effect is not satisfactory.

[The mid-term effect of corneal collagen cross-linking for progressive keratoconus and the changes in rigid gas permeable contact lens fitting parameters]

Objective: To investigate the effect of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) for progressive keratoconus and to evaluate changes in the parameters of rigid gas permeable contact lens (RGPCL) fitting after surgery. Methods: It was a prospective cohort study. Fifty-three eyes of 41 keratoconus patients received accelerated CXL in Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from May to December 2018. There were 31 males and 10 females, aged (20.46±4.15) years. According to the corneal thickness, de-epithelial CXL (33 eyes) or trans-epithelial CXL (20 eyes) was performed. The best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, refractive power and the thinnest corneal thickness at baseline and at 6 weeks were compared. Corneal topography was performed at baseline and at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Rose K RGPCLs were used before and 6 weeks after surgery, and the fitting status was monitored until 12 months after surgery. The t test was performed to analyze the difference before and after the operation. Results: The best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, refractive power, and the thinnest corneal thickness were not significantly changed over 6 weeks of follow-up, but the Kf, Ks and Kmax values were significantly increased in all patients (all P<0.05). In the de-epithelial group, the Kmax values before the operation, at 3, 6 and 12 months after the operation were (55.00±5.51) diopters (D), (54.73±5.34) D, (54.58±6.15) D and (54.20±5.49) D, respectively, and the decrease at 12 months was significant [(0.80±2.05) D; t=2.25, P=0.001]. In the trans-epithelial group, the Kmax values were (59.43±8.98) D, (57.97±8.79) D, (58.19±8.37) D and (56.94±7.19) D at the four time points, respectively, and the decreases at 3, 6 and 12 months were all significant [(1.46±2.09) D, (1.25±1.82) D, (2.49±3.64) D; t=3.12, 3.06, 3.50; P=0.006, 0.006, 0.007]. The best RGPCL-corrected visual acuity, the diameter and the average diopters of RGPCLs showed no significant change in both groups. The RGPCL base curve decreased by 0.07 mm in the de-epithelial group and by 0.13 mm in the trans-epithelial group (both P<0.05). The design of edge lifting was used in 10 eyes postoperatively in the de-epithelial group compared with 8 eyes preoperatively, and in 4 eyes postopratively in the trans-epithelial group compared with 7 eyes preoperatively. The number of eyes using the toric peripheral design of the lens was increased to 3 compared with 2 preoperatively in the de-epithelial group and from 1 to 4 in the trans-epithelial group. The acceptance rate of RGPCL fitting in both groups increased at 6 and 12 months after surgery compared to 6 weeks after surgery. Conclusions: The corneal curvature became steep slightly at 6 weeks after CXL and gradually recovered and flattened. The Kmax in the trans-epithelial group decreased earlier and more than that in the de-epithelial group. The base curve of the RGPCLs was slightly reduced after 6 weeks, and the toric peripheral design was increasingly needed, but the requirement for the design of the lifted edge was different between the two groups. A good RGPCL fitting can be achieved within 1 year after CXL.

Elucidation of the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Er Miao San by integrative approach of network pharmacology and experimental verification

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been long time used in China and gains ever-increasing worldwide acceptance. Er Miao San (EMS), a TCM formula, has been extensively used to treat inflammatory diseases, while its bioactive components and therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we conducted an integrative approach of network pharmacology and experimental study to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of EMS in treating human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory conditions. Quercetin, wogonin and rutaecarpine were probably the main active compounds of EMS in RA treatment as they affected the most RA-related targets, and TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were considered to be the core target proteins. The main compounds in EMS bound to these core proteins, which was further confirmed by molecular docking and bio-layer interferometry (BLI) analysis. Moreover, the potential molecular mechanisms of EMS predicted from network pharmacology analysis, were validated in vivo and in vitro experiments. EMS was found to inhibit the production of NO, TNF-α and IL-6 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells; reduce xylene-induced mouse ear edema; and decrease the incidence of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. The carrageenan-induced up-regulation of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA expression in rat paws was down-regulated by EMS, consistent with the network pharmacology results. This study provides evidence that EMS plays a critical role in anti-inflammation via suppressing inflammatory cytokines, indicating that EMS is a candidate herbal drug for further investigation in treating inflammatory and arthritic conditions.

[Effect and mechanism of moxibustion on oxidative stress injury in rats with Parkinson's disease by activating Nrf2/ARE pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of moxibustion on oxidative stress injury of nigrostriatal system in rats with Parkinson's disease (PD) based on nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway, and to explore its mechanism.

METHODS

A total of 48 SD rats were randomized into a blank group, a sham-operation group, a model group and a moxibustion group, 12 rats in each group. Unilateral two-point injection with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was adopted in the model group and the moxibustion group to establish the PD model; the operation manipulation in the sham-operation group was the same as the model group and the moxibustion group, and the same volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solutions was given by unilateral two-point injection. Moxibustion was adopted at "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Sishencong" (EX-HN 1) in the moxibustion group for 20 min, once a day, 6 times a week for 6 weeks. No intervention was given in the other 3 groups. Morphology of right mesencephalon substantia nigra was observed by HE staining, the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in right mesencephalon substantia nigra was detected by immunohistochemistry method, the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in corpus striatum was detected by colorimetry method, and the expression of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) proteins was detected by Western blot in the 4 groups.

RESULTS

Clear tissue structure and complete dopaminergic neurons of right mesencephalon substantia nigra were observed in the blank group and the sham-operation group; unclear tissue structure, decreased and swelling dopaminergic neurons were observed in the model group; compared with the model group, more neurons were observed and the swelling of cyton was reduced in the moxibustion group. Compared with the sham-operation group, the expression of TH in right mesencephalon substantia nigra was decreased in the model group (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the expression of TH in right mesencephalon substantia nigra was increased in the moxibustion group (P<0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, the expression of ROS, MDA was increased (P<0.01), the expression of GSH, GSH-Px, Nrf2 and HO-1 was decreased in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05); compared with the model group, the expression of ROS, MDA was decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the expression of GSH, GSH-Px, Nrf2 and HO-1 was increased in the moxibustion group (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Moxibustion can alleviate oxidative stress injury of nigrostriatal system in rats with Parkinson's disease by activating the Nrf2/ARE pathway, and protect the dopamine neurons.

MicroRNA-206 inhibits tumor metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through targeting G6PD

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a main type of otolaryngological malignancy. In many cancers, miR-206 functions as a tumor suppressor, suppressing cell proliferation, migration and invasion. The purpose of this study was to explore how miR-206 worked on cell metastasis in NPC. The mRNA levels of miR-206 and G6PD were determined in NPC tissues and cell lines by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Transwell assay was applied to evaluate the migratory and invasive capacities. Dual luciferase reporter assay was employed to confirm that miR-206 mediated the expression of G6PD in C666-1 cells. In this study, miR- 206 was downregulated, whereas G6PD was upregulated in NPC tissues and cell lines. In addition, G6PD was identified as a direct target gene of miR-206 in C666-1 cells. The expression of G6PD was mediated by miR-206, which could partially reverse the inhibitory effects of miR-206 on the migration, invasion and EMT in C666-1 cells. In conclusion, miR-206 regulated the migratory, invasive and EMT abilities through directly targeting the 3'-UTR of G6PD mRNA in C666-1 cells. The newly identified miR-206/G6PD axis provides novel insight into the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Zinc Finger-Homeodomain Genes: Evolution, Functional Differentiation, and Expression Profiling Under Flowering-Related Treatments and Abiotic Stresses in Plants

Zinc finger-homeodomain (ZHD) proteins constitute a plant-specific transcription factor family that play important roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. In this study, we investigated a total of 10, 17, and 31 ZHD gene members in the peach, Arabidopsis, and apple genome, respectively. The phylogenetic tree divided the identified ZHD genes into 4 subfamilies based on their domain organization, gene structure, and motif distribution with minor variations. The ZHD gene family members were unevenly distributed throughout in apple, peach, and Arabidopsis genomes. Segmental duplication was observed for 14 pairs of genes in apple. Transcript analysis found that ZHD genes mostly expressed in various tissues, particularly in leaves and flowers. Moreover, the transcript of most ZHD genes was significantly affected at different time points in response to various flowering-related exogenous hormones (sugar, gibberellin [GA], and 6-benzylaminopurine [6-BA]), signifying their possible role in the flowering induction in apple. Furthermore, the transcripts of CaZHD6, CaZHD7, CaZHD3, and CaZHD8 have induced in response to abiotic stresses including heat, drought, salt, and cold, indicating their possible involvement in response to abiotic stresses. Our research work systemically presents the different roles of ZHD genes. We believe that this study will provide a platform for future functional characterization of ZHD genes and to deeply unfold their roles in the regulation of flowering induction in plants.

[Clinical research on robot-assisted percutaneous pelvic and acetabular screws surgery]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the security and efficiency of a surgical robotic assisted percutaneous screw fixation for the treatment of pelvic and acetabular fractures.

METHODS

In the study, 12 patients with pelvic and acetabular fractures who were treated in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January to April in 2016 were involved in this research. The research subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. Robotic-assisted percutaneous sacroiliac screw internal fixations were performed under the guidance of fluoroscopy navigation in the experimental group; in the control group, doctors operated manually guided by fluoroscopy. Statistical analysis was performed on the total operation time, the intraoperative fluoroscopy time, the adjustment numbers of intraoperative guide wires, the excellent rate of screw placement and the incidence of adverse events in order to evaluate the security and efficiency of a surgical robotic assisted percutaneous screw fixation for the treatment of pelvic and acetabular fractures.

RESULTS

Eleven screws were placed in 7 patients from the experimental group, while 7 screws were placed in 5 patients from the control group in total. All the screw placement positions were satisfactory according to postoperative CT images. The excellent rates of screw placement position were 100% in both groups. However, the P value was 0.016 based on the comparison between the screws' distribution in the two groups which meant that the screw distribution of the experimental group was better than that of the control group. The average fluoroscopy time needed for screw insertion was (7.36±2.63) s in the experimental group while (41.80±13.99) s in the control group (P<0.001). This suggested that the difference between the two groups had statistical significances. Intra-operative fluoroscopy time of the experimental group was significantly smaller than that of the control group. The number of the average screw adjustment was (0.36±0.48) times in the experimental group while (9.00±3.06) times in the control group (P=0.003). This suggested that the difference of the number of the guide needle adjustment between the two groups had statistical significances, and the number of the experimental group was smaller than that of the control group. The average operation time was (43.86±49.06) min in the experimental group while only (29.00±12.14) min were needed in the control group (P=0.528). This suggested that the difference between the two groups had no statistical significance. That is, the total operation time of the two groups was equal. All the screws were in satisfactory positions according to validation results of CT scans. No complications such as screw breaking out the bone cortex and entering into the knee joint cavity, wound infection occurred.

CONCLUSION

Surgical robots are suitable for robot-assisted percutaneous screw fixation in pelvic and acetabular fractures. Robot-assisted treatment of pelvic and acetabular fractures has significant advantages over manual operations including high accuracy, small perspective radiation, safety and efficiency.

Transcription Profiles Reveal Sugar and Hormone Signaling Pathways Mediating Flower Induction in Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.)

Flower induction in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is regulated by complex gene networks that involve multiple signal pathways to ensure flower bud formation in the next year, but the molecular determinants of apple flower induction are still unknown. In this research, transcriptomic profiles from differentiating buds allowed us to identify genes potentially involved in signaling pathways that mediate the regulatory mechanisms of flower induction. A hypothetical model for this regulatory mechanism was obtained by analysis of the available transcriptomic data, suggesting that sugar-, hormone- and flowering-related genes, as well as those involved in cell-cycle induction, participated in the apple flower induction process. Sugar levels and metabolism-related gene expression profiles revealed that sucrose is the initiation signal in flower induction. Complex hormone regulatory networks involved in cytokinin (CK), abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid pathways also induce apple flower formation. CK plays a key role in the regulation of cell formation and differentiation, and in affecting flowering-related gene expression levels during these processes. Meanwhile, ABA levels and ABA-related gene expression levels gradually increased, as did those of sugar metabolism-related genes, in developing buds, indicating that ABA signals regulate apple flower induction by participating in the sugar-mediated flowering pathway. Furthermore, changes in sugar and starch deposition levels in buds can be affected by ABA content and the expression of the genes involved in the ABA signaling pathway. Thus, multiple pathways, which are mainly mediated by crosstalk between sugar and hormone signals, regulate the molecular network involved in bud growth and flower induction in apple trees.

Association of SIRT2 gene polymorphisms with body measurement and growth traits of Qinchuan cattle

Silent information regulator 2 (SIRT2), a member of the Sirtuin family of class III nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent protein deacetylases, plays an important role in senescence, metabolism, and apoptosis. This study was conducted to detect potential polymorphisms of the bovine SIRT2 gene and explore their relationships with meat quality and body measurement traits (BMTs) in Qinchuan cattle. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (A7445G, C7711T, G17937A, and G20937A) in the fourth intron, fourth exon, ninth exon, and twelfth exon of the SIRT2 gene, respectively, were identified according to the sequencing results of 520 individuals of a Qinchuan cattle population. The genotypic distributions of both A7445G and G20937A were in agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.05), whereas the other two mutations were not (0.05 < P < 0.01), based on the X(2) test. Association analysis indicated that the four loci were significantly correlated with several BMTs and meat quality traits. When in combination, the H1H1 (AA-CC-GG-CC) diplotypes showed better BMT and meat quality traits than those by other combinations. Collectively, the results show that SIRT2 is involved in the regulation of the growth and meat quality of cattle, suggesting that the SIRT2 gene may be a candidate gene for marker-assisted selection in the development of future breeding programs for Qinchuan cattle.

[Effects of environmental factors at different altitudes on leaves and fruit quality of Fuji apple]

To inquire the different performances of the leaves and fruit quality of Fuji apple tress at various altitudes and their responses to the environmental factors, indices including leaf morphology, anatomy, δ13 C, and fruit quality of the Fuji apple trees at respective altitudes of 1375 m, 1575 m and 1715 m were investigated and their responses to environmental factors were determined following stepwise regression analysis. The results showed that 6 factors like the warmth index, Bailey's index, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), coldness index, ultraviolet B and the annual precipitation dominantly affected the characteristic parameters of leaves and fruit. Elevation increase was matched by the decreasing warmth index, rising Bailey' s index, intenser PAR, higher coldness index, stronger ultraviolet B and heavier annual precipitation; meanwhile, the leaf structure and fruit quality parameters also displayed evident trends of change accordingly, namely, leaf parameters like leaf thickness, cuticle thickness, ratio of palisade and spongy, maximum conduit diameter, δ13C and nitrogen content per unit area increased gradually, and oppositely, leaf length-width ratio, specific leaf area, stoma length-width ratio and ratio of upper and lower epidermis to the leaf thickness decreased gradually; similarly, fruit parameters such as fruit shape index, fruit hardness, sugar-acid ratio, total color and the a/b-value ascended while the titratable acid and the hue angle descended. With increasing the altitude, the photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency of leaves were enhanced, and the fruit sugar-acid ratio climbed and the fruit flavor and color improved. Therefore, it could be safely concluded that within the altitude range between 1375 and 1715 m, environmental factors at a higher altitude favored Fuji apple growth.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor attenuates chronic neuroinflammation in the brain of amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice: an Alzheimer's disease mouse model

Recent evidence suggests that inflammatory mechanisms contribute significantly to the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is an anti-inflammatory immunomodulator, but the mechanism of its anti-inflammatory effect is unclear. This study was designed to investigate whether G-CSF could inhibit inflammation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease through an α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) pathway. Mice transgenic for the V171I mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP) were injected subcutaneously with G-CSF 50 μg/kg per day or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; control group) for 7 days, and wild-type C57/BL6 mice were injected with PBS daily for 7 days. Mice were killed on days 7, 14 and 28 after treatment began. Levels of α7 nAChR protein were significantly increased and levels of interleukin-1β, tumour necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) protein were significantly decreased in the brain of APP transgenic mice in response to G-CSF. Levels of α7 nAChR protein correlated negatively with NF-κB levels. It is concluded that G-CSF might attenuate inflammation by down-regulating NF-κB and up-regulating α7 nAChR in the brain of APP transgenic mice, indicating a potential new therapeutic approach to Alzheimer's disease.

[Effects of G-protein regulators and stylar S-RNase on the growth and Ca2+ concentration of Pyrus pyrifolia pollen tube]

The effects of G protein regulators and stylar S-RNase on the growth and [Ca(2+)](i) changes of the Pyrus pyrifolia pollen tube were investigated using Laser Confocal Scanning Microscope (LCSM). The results indicated that: (1) The growth of 'Housui' pollen tube could be inhibited by its stylar S-RNase and pertussis toxin (PTX), the inhibitor of heterotrimeric G protein. While 'Kousui' stylar S-RNase had little effect on the growth of 'Housui' pollen tube; cholera toxin (CTX), the activator of heterotrimeric G protein, could promote pollen tube growth and eliminate the suppression of stylar S-RNase on the growth of self-pollen tube, but the growth of 'Housui' pollen tube could be arrested under the co-action of PTX and S-RNase from 'Kousui' Fig.1). (2) Treatments with different stylar S-RNase and G protein regulators could have different effects on the change in [Ca(2+)](i) in the tip of pollen tube (Figs.2,3). The treatment with 'Housui' stylar S-RNase could induce the decrease of fluorescence gradient of [Ca(2+)](i) along the tip of self-pollen tube (Figs.2A, 3A), and the treatment with CTX could markedly elevate [Ca(2+)](i) in the tip of pollen tube showed (Fig.3C). The way of [Ca(2+)](i) changed in 'Housui' pollen tube under the co-action of CTX and its stylar S-RNase showed the compositive effect of the two respective treatment (Fig.3A, C, E), but the effect of the co-action of PTX and 'Kousui' stylar S-RNase showed increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in the pollen tube in 18 min after treatment, and then decrease between 18-36 min (Fig.3F). These results suggest that during self or cross pollination, the control of the growth of Pyrus pyrifolia pollen tube is by the synergistic effect of stylar S-RNase, G protein and [Ca(2+)](i) in the pollen tube.

[The effect of G protein regulator on pollen germination and [Ca2+]i variation in Pyrus serotina Rehd. pollen]

The effects of the cholera toxin (CTX) and pertussis toxin (PTX), which can activate and antagonize respectively the heterotrimeric G protein, on pollen germination, pollen tube growth and the dynamic of cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) in pear pollen were investigated using Laser Confocal Scanning Microscope (LCSM). The results show that CTX could stimulate pollen germination and tube growth while PTX had the opposite effect. CTX and PTX had marked influence on the dynamic of pollen [Ca(2+)]i. The CTX treatment had no significant effect on the changes in pollen [Ca(2+)]i during pollen germination, but induced specific signaling of "calcium transient" in pollen. Treatment with PTX caused decline of pollen [Ca(2+)]i in the first 18 min after treatment. These data suggested that the regulation of pollen germination and tube growth in Pyrus serotina may involve in heterotrimeric G protein, which can stimulate specific change of pollen [Ca(2+)]i.