[Progress of circulating tumor DNA in the clinical management of colorectal cancer]

Despite the great progress in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), the current standard treatment protocols still have many limitations, and there is an urgent need for more effective biomarkers for personalized patient treatment. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), as a dynamic, non-invasive liquid biopsy approach, overcomes the limitations of tissue biopsy in detecting tumor heterogeneity and molecular evolution. Current evidence from several studies suggests that ctDNA shows great promise in stratifying recurrence risk, guiding treatment decisions, and monitoring early recurrence. In addition, ctDNA can improve the efficiency of clinical research and drug development. However, the lack of standardisation of pre-ctDNA test variables and analysis procedures and the high technical costs limit its promotion and development. In this review, we summarize the available evidence on ctDNA in the clinical management of CRC and present its limitations and strategies for improvement.

[Application and research advances of delayed sural neurotrophic vascular flap for diabetic foot ulcers]

Diabetic foot ulcer is one of the serious complications of diabetes. Diabetic wounds are of great difficulty to repair, causing a high amputation rate and a great burden to patients and their family members and society. Researches showed that the delayed sural neurotrophic vascular flap has a great effect in repairing diabetic foot ulcers. This article mainly reviewed the clinical status and research advances of the delayed sural neurotrophic vascular flap in repairing diabetic foot ulcers, intending to provide a reference for its application and research.

[Clinical repair strategy for ischial tuberosity pressure ulcers based on the sinus tract condition and range of skin and soft tissue defects]

Objective: To investigate the clinical repair strategy for ischial tuberosity pressure ulcers based on the sinus tract condition and range of skin and soft tissue defects. Methods: The study was a retrospective observational study. From July 2017 to March 2023, 21 patients with stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ ischial tuberosity pressure ulcers who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, including 13 males and 8 females, aged 14-84 years. There were 31 ischial tuberosity pressure ulcers, with an area of 1.5 cm×1.0 cm-8.0 cm×6.0 cm. After en bloc resection and debridement, the range of skin and soft tissue defect was 6.0 cm×3.0 cm-15.0 cm×8.0 cm. According to the depth and size of sinus tract and range of skin and soft tissue defects on the wound after debridement, the wounds were repaired according to the following three conditions. (1) When there was no sinus tract or the sinus tract was superficial, with a skin and soft tissue defect range of 6.0 cm×3.0 cm-8.5 cm×6.5 cm, the wound was repaired by direct suture, Z-plasty, transfer of buttock local flap, or V-Y advancement of the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve nutrient vessel flap. (2) When the sinus tract was deep and small, with a skin and soft tissue defect range of 8.5 cm×4.5 cm-11.0 cm×6.5 cm, the wound was repaired by the transfer and filling of gracilis muscle flap followed by direct suture, or Z-plasty, or combined with transfer of inferior gluteal artery perforator flap. (3) When the sinus tract was deep and large, with a skin and soft tissue defect range of 7.5 cm×5.5 cm-15.0 cm×8.0 cm, the wound was repaired by the transfer and filling of gracilis muscle flap and gluteus maximus muscle flap transfer, followed by direct suture, Z-plasty, or combined with transfer of buttock local flap; and transfer and filling of biceps femoris long head muscle flap combined with rotary transfer of the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve nutrient vessel flap; and filling of the inferior gluteal artery perforator adipofascial flap transfer combined with V-Y advancement of the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve nutrient vessel flap. A total of 7 buttock local flaps with incision area of 8.0 cm×6.0 cm-19.0 cm×16.0 cm, 21 gracilis muscle flaps with incision area of 18.0 cm×3.0 cm-24.0 cm×5.0 cm, 9 inferior gluteal artery perforator flaps or inferior gluteal artery perforator adipofascial flaps with incision area of 8.5 cm×6.0 cm-13.0 cm×7.5 cm, 10 gluteal maximus muscle flaps with incision area of 8.0 cm×5.0 cm-13.0 cm×7.0 cm, 2 biceps femoris long head muscle flaps with incision area of 17.0 cm×3.0 cm and 20.0 cm×5.0 cm, and 5 posterior femoral cutaneous nerve nutrient vessel flaps with incision area of 12.0 cm×6.5 cm-21.0 cm×10.0 cm were used. The donor area wounds were directly sutured. The survival of muscle flap, adipofascial flap, and flap, and wound healing in the donor area were observed after operation. The recovery of pressure ulcer and recurrence of patients were followed up. Results: After surgery, all the buttock local flaps, gracilis muscle flaps, gluteus maximus muscle flaps, inferior gluteal artery perforator adipofascial flaps, and biceps femoris long head muscle flaps survived well. In one case, the distal part of one posterior femoral cutaneous nerve nutrient vessel flap was partially necrotic, and the wound was healed after dressing changes. In another patient, bruises developed in the distal end of inferior gluteal artery perforator flap. It was somewhat relieved after removal of some sutures, but a small part of the necrosis was still present, and the wound was healed after bedside debridement and suture. The other posterior femoral cutaneous nerve nutrient vessel flaps and inferior gluteal artery perforator flaps survived well. In one patient, the wound at the donor site caused incision dehiscence due to postoperative bleeding in the donor area. The wound was healed after debridement+Z-plasty+dressing change. The wounds in the rest donor areas of patients were healed well. After 3 to 15 months of follow-up, all the pressure ulcers of patients were repaired well without recurrence. Conclusions: After debridement of ischial tuberosity pressure ulcer, if there is no sinus tract formation or sinus surface is superficial, direct suture, Z-plasty, buttock local flap, or V-Y advancement repair of posterior femoral cutaneous nerve nutrient vessel flap can be selected according to the range of skin and soft tissue defects. If the sinus tract of the wound is deep, the proper tissue flap can be selected to fill the sinus tract according to the size of sinus tract and range of the skin and soft tissue defects, and then the wound can be closed with individualized flap to obtain good repair effect.

[Analysis on the characteristics of natural foci of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Gansu Province, 2012-2022]

Objective: To explore the characteristics of natural foci of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Gansu Province. Methods: The information of HFRS case data and rodent density monitoring data from 2012 to 2022 in Gansu Province were collected and epidemiological methods were used to analyze and investigate the characteristics of the epidemic focus. Results: A total of 869 cases of HFRS were reported, and four patients died from 2012 to 2022. The annual incidence rate is between 0.05 per 100 000 and 1.21 per 100 000. The cases were mainly distributed in the eastern, southeast, southern, and south of the central region of Gansu Province. Most cases were distributed between age 20-60, and the sex ratio was 1.85∶1 (564∶305). Most cases were farmers (61.80%, 537/869), herdsmen (19.79%,172/869) and students (6.33%, 55/869). In a wild rat-type epidemic focus,the incidence peak was from November to January of the following year. The natural rodent hosts of HFRS were Rattus norvegicus, Apodemus agrarius, and Mus musculus. The hantaan virus carriage rates were 2.79% (21/754), 0.42% (5/1 179) and 0.31% (2/643),respectively. Three epidemic foci were defined: two derived from the Pingliang and Gannan prefecture new outbreaks epidemic foci, respectively, while the other was the residue of the Dingxi epidemic focus. Conclusions: The southern, south of the central region and eastern part of Gansu Province are current key HFRS epidemic foci dominated by Rattus norvegicus, Apodemus agrarius, and Mus musculus, respectively. The virus genotype is hantaan virus. Case reporting areas should strengthen epidemic monitoring; the key epidemic areas should strengthen and implement various prevention and control measures to reduce the harm caused by HFRS.

[Overview of design and construction of hypertensive disorders of a pregnancy-cohort in Shenzhen]

Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) involves two major public health issues: mother-infant safety and prevention and controlling major chronic disease. HDP poses a serious threat to maternal and neonatal safety, and it is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, as well as an important risk factor for long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD). In order to explore effective strategies to prevent and control the source of CVD and reduce its risk, we have established a cohort of HDPs in Shenzhen for the primordial prevention of CVD. The construction of the HDP cohort has already achieved preliminary progress till now. A total of 2 239 HDP women have been recruited in the HDP cohort. We have established a cohort data management platform and Biobank. The follow-up and assessment of postpartum cardiovascular metabolic risk in this cohort has also been launched. Our efforts will help explore the pathophysiological mechanism of HDP, especially the pathogenesis and precision phenotyping, prediction, and prevention of pre-eclampsia, which, therefore, may reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, and provide a bridge to linking HDP and maternal-neonatal cardiovascular, metabolic risk to promote the cardiovascular health of mothers and their infants.

[Impact of different diagnostic criteria for assessing mild micro-hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis: an analysis based on a prospective, multicenter, real-world study]

Objective: To compare the differences in the prevalence of mild micro-hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) among patients with cirrhosis by using the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) and the Stroop smartphone application (Encephal App) test. Methods: This prospective, multi-center, real-world study was initiated by the National Clinical Medical Research Center for Infectious Diseases and the Portal Hypertension Alliance and registered with International ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05140837). 354 cases of cirrhosis were enrolled in 19 hospitals across the country. PHES (including digital connection tests A and B, digital symbol tests, trajectory drawing tests, and serial management tests) and the Stroop test were conducted in all of them. PHES was differentiated using standard diagnostic criteria established by the two studies in China and South Korea. The Stroop test was evaluated based on the criteria of the research and development team. The impact of different diagnostic standards or methods on the incidence of MHE in patients with cirrhosis was analyzed. Data between groups were differentiated using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ (2) test. A kappa test was used to compare the consistency between groups. Results: After PHES, the prevalence of MHE among 354 cases of cirrhosis was 78.53% and 15.25%, respectively, based on Chinese research standards and Korean research normal value standards. However, the prevalence of MHE was 56.78% based on the Stroop test, and the differences in pairwise comparisons among the three groups were statistically significant (kappa = -0.064, P < 0.001). Stratified analysis revealed that the MHE prevalence in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C was 74.14%, 83.33%, and 88.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Chinese researchers, while the MHE prevalence rates in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C were 8.29%, 23.53%, and 38.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Korean researchers. Furthermore, the prevalence rates of MHE in the three groups of patients with Child-Pugh grades A, B, and C were 52.68%, 58.82%, and 73.53%, respectively, according to the Stroop test standard. However, among the results of each diagnostic standard, the prevalence of MHE showed an increasing trend with an increasing Child-Pugh grade. Further comparison demonstrated that the scores obtained by the number connection test A and the number symbol test were consistent according to the normal value standards of the two studies in China and South Korea (Z = -0.982, -1.702; P = 0.326, 0.089), while the other three sub-tests had significant differences (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of MHE in the cirrhotic population is high, but the prevalence of MHE obtained by using different diagnostic criteria or methods varies greatly. Therefore, in line with the current changes in demographics and disease spectrum, it is necessary to enroll a larger sample size of a healthy population as a control. Moreover, the establishment of more reliable diagnostic scoring criteria will serve as a basis for obtaining accurate MHE incidence and formulating diagnosis and treatment strategies in cirrhotic populations.

Dietary isoleucine supplementation enhances growth performance, modulates the expression of genes related to amino acid transporters and protein metabolism, and gut microbiota in yellow-feathered chickens

This study investigated the effects of dietary isoleucine (Ile) on growth performance, intestinal expression of amino acid transporters, protein metabolism-related genes and intestinal microbiota in starter phase Chinese yellow-feathered chickens. Female Xinguang yellow-feathered chickens (n = 1,080, aged 1 d) were randomly distributed to 6 treatments, each with 6 replicates of 30 birds. Chickens were fed diets with 6 levels of total Ile (6.8, 7.6, 8.4, 9.2, 10.0, and 10.8 g/kg) for 30 d. The average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were improved with dietary Ile levels (P < 0.05). Plasma uric acid content and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase activity were linearly and quadratically decreased with increasing dietary Ile inclusion (P < 0.05). Dietary Ile level had a linear (P < 0.05) or quadratic (P < 0.05) effect on the jejunal expression of ribosomal protein S6 kinase B1 and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1. The relative expression of jejunal 20S proteasome subunit C2 and ileal muscle ring finger-containing protein 1 decreased linearly (P < 0.05) and quadratically (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary Ile levels. Dietary Ile level had a linear (P = 0.069) or quadratic (P < 0.05) effect on the gene expression of solute carrier family 15 member 1 in jejunum and solute carrier family 7 member 1 in ileum. In addition, bacterial 16S rDNA full-length sequencing showed that dietary Ile increased the cecal abundances of the Firmicutes phylum, and Blautia, Lactobacillus, and unclassified_Lachnospiraceae genera, while decreased that of Proteobacteria, Alistipes, and Shigella. Dietary Ile levels affected growth performance and modulated gut microbiota in yellow-feathered chickens. The appropriate level of dietary Ile can upregulate the expression of intestinal protein synthesis-related protein kinase genes and concomitantly inhibit the expression of proteolysis-related cathepsin genes.

[Research advances on pharmacological interventions for hypertrophic scar]

Hypertrophic scar is an abnormal fibrous proliferative disease that occurs after deep cutaneous injury, which not only affects aesthetics and function but also has negative psychological effects on the patients. However, the mechanism of hypertrophic scar formation has not been fully elucidated, and its clinical treatment is complex with a high rate of recurrence and no radicle cure. Intervention based on molecular targets will likely be the future direction for the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scar. In this article, we review the specific roles and mechanisms of drug-targeted interventions in hypertrophic scar formation, including general drugs, cytokines, immunomodulators, herbal extracts, exosomes, and nanomaterials, in the context of advances in both basic and clinical research at home and abroad.

[Recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis in China]

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV) is a group of systemic small vasculitis characterized by ANCA positive in serum. Three diseases are included in this group of diseases: granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). In China, standardized diagnosis and treatment of AAV is still lacking. Based on the evidence and guidelines from China and abroad, the Chinese Rheumatology Association formulated the standardization of diagnosis and treatment of ANCA associated vasculitis. The purpose is to standardize the diagnosis of AAV and disease activity assessment, and recommend the treatment strategies.

[Research advances on the clinical characteristics and diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune disease-related ulcers]

Studies have shown that autoimmune disease (AID)-related ulcers are disease complications that lead to serious poor prognosis such as infection and disability. It is difficult to make a clear diagnosis and there are contradictions between the applications of immunosuppressive therapy and anti-infectious therapy. Improper diagnosis and immunosuppressive therapy can easily delay the timing of anti-infectious therapy and surgery for patients, which bring adverse effects on the prognosis of patients. This paper reviews the concept, clinical characteristics and treatment suggestions of each subtype of AID-related ulcers, in order to provide more ideas for AID-related ulcers' clinical diagnosis and treatment.

[Past, present, and future of critical burn treatment]

The fatality rate of patients with critical burns is extremely high, and the clinical treatment is challenging. By reviewing the history on treatment of critically ill burns patients, this article elaborates and analyzes the advanced concepts and technologies at home and abroad about the critical burn treatment in the areas including shock and fluid resuscitation, hypermetabolism and nutrition, inhalation injury and respiratory support, acute kidney injury and continuous renal replacement therapy, wound assessment and management, infection and control, coagulopathy and its prevention and treatment, etc. Furthermore, some thoughts on the future development trend of critical burn treatment are put forward as reference for people in the same field.

An improved lightweight network architecture for identifying tobacco leaf maturity based on Deep learning

The classification of fresh tobacco leaves during the picking process plays an important role in the subsequent roasting. In this paper, a lightweight convolutional neural network is used to detect the maturity of tobacco leaves quickly. Fresh tobacco leaves in the datasets are divided into 3 categories by the picking position, and each category is divided into 4 maturity levels and finally gets 12 types of tobacco leaves with different maturity. To ensure the lightweight of the model, the new network is based on the MobileNetV2 to establish. By utilizing shortcut operation, the shallow network information is preserved, and network degradation is suppressed. In the tobacco leaf datasets we obtained, the improved network has superior performance and compared with other classic networks, the model size and the number of operations have been reduced.

Clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy

Objectives

The different etiology of HF has different prognostic risk factors. Prognosis assessment of ICM and NICM has important clinical value. This study is aimed to explore the predicting factors for ICM and NICM.

Methods

1082 HFrEF patients were retrospectively enrolled from Jan. 01, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2017. On Jan. 31, 2019, 873 patients were enrolled for analysis excluding incomplete, unfollowed, and unexplained data. The patients were divided into ischemic and non-ischemic group. The differences in clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis between the two groups were analyzed, and multivariate Cox analysis was used to predict the respective all-cause mortality, SCD and rehospitalization of CHF.

Results

873 patients aged 64(53,73) were divided into two groups: ICM (403, 46.16%) and NICM. At the end, 203 died (111 in ICM, 54.68%), of whom 87 had SCD (53 in ICM, 60.92%) and 269 had rehospitalization for HF(134 in ICM, 49.81%). Independent risk factors affecting all-cause mortality in ICM: DM, previous hospitalization of HF, age, eGFR, LVEF; for SCD: PVB, eGFR, Hb, revascularization; for readmission of HF: low T3 syndrome, PVB, DM, previous hospitalization of HF, eGFR. Otherwise; factors affecting all-cause mortality in NICM: NYHA III-IV, paroxysmal AF/AFL, previous hospitalization of HF, β-blocker; for SCD: low T3 syndrome, PVB, nitrates, sodium, β-blocker; for rehospitalization of HF: paroxysmal AF/AFL, previous admission of HF, LVEF.

Conclusions

Both all-cause mortality and SCD in ICM is higher than that in NICM. Different etiologies of CHF have different risk factors affecting the prognosis.

[Pediatric inhalation injury]

The various systems and organs of the pediatric body are still in the developmental stage, with immature anatomy and physiology. Pediatric patients with inhalation injury are often in critical conditions, being prone to respiratory difficulties and even evolving into acute respiratory distress syndrome. The changes are rapid with extremely high mortality rate, bringing certain challenges to clinical treatment. This article reviews the causes, characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of pediatric inhalation injury for peer reference.

[Advances in the research of diagnosis and treatment of ventilator-induced lung injury after burn]

As one of the important means for saving severely burned patients, mechanical ventilation can not only improve the function of important organs such as heart, lung, and kidney, but also stabilize the homeostasis of the body, thus promoting the recovery of patients. Improper use of mechanical ventilation, however, can lead to many complications, among which the ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is one of the most common and serious complications, accompanying with a high mortality rate. The target of preventing VILI is to minimize the risk of lung injury caused by mechanical ventilation. This article reviews the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and early prevention and treatment of VILI caused by mechanical ventilation in burned patients.

Sodium and chloride requirements of yellow-feathered chickens between 22 and 42 days of age

Sodium and chloride are the key factors maintaining normal osmotic pressure (OSM) and volume of the extracellular fluid, and influencing the acid-base balance of body fluids. The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Na+ and Cl- level on growth performance, excreta moisture, blood biochemical parameters, intestinal Na+-glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1) messenger RNA (mRNA), and Na+-H+ exchanger 2 (NHE2) mRNA, and to estimate the optimal dietary sodium and chlorine level for yellow-feathered chickens from 22 to 42days. A total of 900 22-day-old Lingnan yellow-feathered male chickens were randomly allotted to five treatments, each of which included six replicates of 30 chickens per floor pen. The basal control diet was based on corn and soybean meal (without added NaCl and NaHCO3). Treatments 2 to 5 consisted of the basal diet supplemented with equal weights of Na+ and Cl-, constituting 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.4% of the diets. Supplemental dietary Na+ and Cl- improved the growth performance (P<0.05). Average daily gain (ADG) showed a quadratic broken-line regression to increasing dietary Na+ and Cl- (R2=0.979, P<0.001), and reached a plateau at 0.1%. Supplemental Na+ and Cl- increased (P<0.05) serum Na+ and OSM in serum and showed a quadratic broken-line regression (R2=0.997, P=0.004) at 0.11%. However, supplemental Na+ and Cl- decreased (P<0.05) serum levels of K+, glucose (GLU) and triglyceride. Higher levels of Na+and Cl- decreased duodenal NHE2 transcripts (P<0.05), but had no effect on ileal SGLT1 transcripts. The activity of Na+ /K+-ATPase in the duodenum decreased (P<0.05) with higher levels of dietary Na+ and Cl-. In conclusion, the optimal dietary Na+ and Cl- requirements for yellow-feathered chickens in the grower phase, from 22 to 42 days of age, to optimize ADG, serum Na+, OSM, K+ and GLU were 0.10%, 0.11%, 0.11%,0.17% and 0.16%, respectively, by regression analysis.

[Epidemiological and spatial-temporal distribution of several natural focus diseases in Gansu province, 2014-2018]

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological and spatial-temporal distribution of Brucellosis, epidemic encephalitis B and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Gansu province during 2014-2018 so as to provide evidence for the prevention and control of those diseases. Methods: A database was established in Gansu province from 2014 to 2018, using the geographical information system. A spatial distribution map was drawn, with trend analysis and space-time clustering used to study the 3-dimention of the diseases, by using both ArcGIS 10.5 and SaTScan 9.6 softwares. Results: Results from the trend surface analysis showed that the incidence of Brucellosis decreased gradually from north to south parts while the U type curve could reflect the distribution from the east to the west areas. Incidence of epidemic encephalitis B decreased significantly from south to north areas in the province, with incidence higher in the eastern than in the mid-west region. Difference on the incidence of HFRS was not significantly visible in the eastern and western regions, while the incidence was slightly higher in the southern than the northern parts of the province. Spatial and space-time clustering did exist among the 3 diseases in Gansu from 2014 to 2018. The areas with clusters of Brucellosis appeared in the eastern parts during 2014-2015, including 19 counties. The areas with secondary clusters of Brucellosis were seen in the Hexi district, including 4 counties, during 2017-2018. The areas with high incidence of epidemic encephalitis B were clustered in the middle and southeast areas, including 32 counties, during 2017-2018. Areas with most clusters of HFRS appeared in Min county of Dingxi city in 2018, with the areas of secondary clusters in 8 counties of the eastern areas in 2018. Conclusions: The overall incidence rates of the 3 natural focus diseases were in a upward trend and showing obvious characteristics on spatial clustering. According to the distributive characteristics, effective measures should be developed accordingly.

In vivo selection reveals autophagy promotes adaptation of metastatic ovarian cancer cells to abdominal microenvironment

Peritoneal dissemination is the most frequent metastatic route of ovarian cancer. However, due to the high heterogeneity in ovarian cancer, most conventional studies lack parental tumor controls relevant to metastases and, thus, it is difficult to trace the molecular changes of cancer cells along with the selection by the abdominal microenvironment. Here, we established an in vivo mouse peritoneal dissemination scheme that allowed us to select more aggressive sublines from parental ovarian cancer cells, including A2780 and SKOV-3. Microarray and gene profiling analyses indicated that autophagy-related genes were enriched in selected malignant sublines. Detection of LC3-II, p62 and autophagic puncta demonstrated that these malignant variants were more sensitive to autophagic induction when exposed to diverse stress conditions, such as high cell density, starvation and drug treatment. As compared with parental A2780, the selected variant acquired the ability to grow better under high-density stress; however, this effect was reversed by addition of autophagic inhibitors or knockdown of ATG5. When analyzing the clinical profiles of autophagy-related genes identified to be enriched in malignant A2780 variant, 73% of them had prognostic significance for the survival of ovarian cancer patients. Taken together, our findings indicate that an increase in autophagic potency among ovarian cancer cells is crucial for selection of metastatic colonies in the abdominal microenvironment. In addition, the derived autophagic gene profile can not only predict prognosis well but can also be potentially applied to precision medicine for identifying those ovarian cancer patients suitable for taking anti-autophagy cancer drugs.

[Regulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1α on permeability of vascular endothelial cells and the mechanism]

Objective: To investigate the regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) on permeability of rat vascular endothelial cells and the mechanism. Methods: Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 35 to 38 days were collected and vascular endothelial cells were separated and cultured. The morphology of cells was observed after 4 days of culture, and the following experiments were performed on the 2nd or 3rd passage of cells. (1) Rat vascular endothelial cells were collected and divided into blank control group, negative control group, HIF-1α interference sequence 1 group, HIF-1α interference sequence 2 group, and HIF-1α interference sequence 3 group according to the random number table (the same grouping method below), with 3 wells in each group. Cells in negative control group, HIF-1α interference sequence 1 group, HIF-1α interference sequence 2 group, and HIF-1α interference sequence 3 group were transfected with GV248 empty plasmid, recombinant plasmid respectively containing HIF-1α interference sequence 1, interference sequence 2, and interference sequence 3 with liposome 2000. Cells in blank control group were only transfected with liposome 2000. After transfection of 24 h, expression levels of HIF-1α mRNA and protein of cells in each group were respectively detected by reverse transcription real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting (the same detecting methods below) . The sequence with the highest interference efficiency was selected. (2) Another batch of rat vascular endothelial cells were collected and divided into blank control group, negative control group, and HIF-1α low expression group, with 3 wells in each group. Cells in blank control group were only transfected with liposome 2000, and cells in negative control group and HIF-1α low expression group were respectively transfected with GV248 empty plasmid and low expression HIF-1α recombinant plasmid selected in experiment (1) with liposome 2000. After 14 days of culture, the mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α in each group were detected. (3) Another batch of rat vascular endothelial cells were collected and divided into blank control group, negative control group, and HIF-1α high expression group, with 3 wells in each group. Cells in blank control group were transfected with liposome 2000, and cells in negative control group and HIF-1α high expression group were respectively transfected with GV230 empty plasmid and HIF-1α high expression recombinant plasmid with liposome 2000. After 14 days of culture, the mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α of cells in each group were detected. (4) After transfection of 24 h, cells of three groups in experiment (1) and three groups in experiment (2) were collected, and mRNA and protein expressions of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), phosphorylated myosin light chain (p-MLC), and zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) of cells were detected. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and t test. Results: After 4 days of culture, the cells were spindle-shaped, and rat vascular endothelial cells were successfully cultured. (1) The interference efficiencies of HIF-1α of cells in HIF-1α interference sequence 1 group, HIF-1α interference sequence 2 group, and HIF-1α interference sequence 3 group were 47.66%, 45.79%, and 62.62%, respectively, and the interference sequence 3 group had the highest interference efficiency. After transfection of 24 h, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1α of cells in interference sequence 3 group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (t=18.404, 9.140, P<0.01) and negative control group (t=15.099, 7.096, P<0.01). (2) After cultured for 14 days, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1α of cells in HIF-1α low expression group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (t=21.140, 5.440, P<0.01) and negative control group (t= 14.310, 5.210, P<0.01). (3) After cultured for 14 days, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF-1α of cells in HIF-1α high expression group were significantly higher than those in blank control group (t=19.160, 7.710, P<0.01) and negative control group (t= 19.890, 7.500, P<0.01). (4) After transfection of 24 h, the mRNA expression levels of MLCK and p-MLC of cells in HIF-1α low expression group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (t=2.709, 4.011, P<0.05 or P<0.01) and negative control group (t=2.373, 3.744, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of ZO-1 of cells in HIF-1α low expression group was significantly higher than that in blank control group and negative control group (t=4.285, 5.050, P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of MLCK and p-MLC of cells in HIF-1α high expression group were significantly higher than those in blank control group (t=9.118, 11.313, P<0.01) and negative control group (t=9.073, 11.280, P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of ZO-1 of cells in HIF-1α high expression group was significantly lower than that in blank control group and negative control group (t=2.889, 2.640, P<0.05). (5) After transfection of 24 h, the protein expression levels of MLCK and p-MLC of cells in HIF-1α low expression group were significantly lower than those in blank control group (t=2.652, 3.983, P<0.05 or P<0.01) and negative control group (t=2.792, 4.065, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein expression of ZO-1 of cells in HIF-1α low expression group was significantly higher than that in blank control group and negative control group (t=3.881, 3.570, P<0.01). The protein expression levels of MLCK and p-MLC of cells in HIF-1α high expression group were 1.18±0.24 and 0.68±0.22, which were significantly higher than 0.41±0.21 and 0.35±0.14 in blank control group (t=5.011, 3.982, P<0.05 or P<0.01) and 0.43±0.20 and 0.36±0.12 in negative control group (t= 4.880, 3.862, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein expression level of ZO-1 of cells in HIF-1α high expression group was 0.08±0.06, which was significantly lower than 0.20±0.09 in blank control group and 0.19±0.09 in negative control group (t=4.178, 3.830, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions: HIF-1α up-regulates expressions of MLCK and p-MLC and down-regulates expression of ZO-1, thereby increasing the permeability of rat vascular endothelial cells.

[Effects of aerosol inhalation of recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor 2 on the lung tissue of rabbits with severe smoke inhalation injury]

Objective: To investigate the effect of recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor 2 (rhKGF-2) on lung tissue of rabbits with severe smoke inhalation injury. Methods: A total of 120 New Zealand rabbits were divided into 5 groups by random number table after being inflicted with severe smoke inhalation injury, with 24 rats in each group. Rabbits in the simple injury group inhaled air, while rabbits in the injury+phosphate buffer solution (PBS) group inhaled 5 mL PBS once daily for 7 d. Rabbits in injury+1 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group, injury+2 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group, and injury+5 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group received aerosol inhalation of 1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, and 5 mg/kg rhKGF-2 (all dissolved in 5 mL PBS) once daily for 7 d, respectively. On treatment day 1, 3, 5, and 7, blood samples were taken from the ear central artery of 6 rabbits in each group. After the blood was taken, the rabbits were sacrificed, and the tracheal carina tissue and lung were collected. Blood pH value, arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO(2)), arterial blood carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO(2)), and bicarbonate ion were detected by handheld blood analyzer. The expressions of pulmonary surfactant-associated protein A (SP-A) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in lung tissue were detected by Western blotting. Pathomorphology of lung tissue and trachea was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Data were processed with analysis of variance of two-way factorial design and Tukey test. Results: (1) Compared with those in simple injury group, the blood pH values of rabbits in the latter groups on treatment day 1-7 had no obvious change (P>0.05). The PaO(2) of rabbits in injury+2 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group on treatment day 5 and 7 were (75.0±2.4) and (71.0±4.5) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), respectively, which were significantly higher than (62.0±6.8) and (63.0±3.0) mmHg in simple injury group (q=4.265, 8.202, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The PaO(2) of rabbits in injury+5 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group on treatment day 7 was (82.0±4.9) mmHg, which was significantly higher than that in simple injury group (q=6.234, P<0.01). Compared with that in simple injury group, the PaCO(2) of rabbits in injury+2 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group on treatment day 3 was significantly decreased (q=4.876, P<0.01) and significantly increased on treatment day 5 (q=5.562, P<0.01); the PaCO(2) of rabbits in injury+5 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group was significantly increased on treatment day 5 and 7 (q=5.013, 4.601, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with that in simple injury group, the serum bicarbonate ion of rabbits in injury+1 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group on treatment day 7 was significantly increased (q=5.142, P<0.01); the serum bicarbonate ion of rabbits in injury+2 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group on treatment day 5 and 7 were significantly increased (q=4.830, 6.934, P<0.01); the serum bicarbonate ion of rabbits in injury+5 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group on treatment day 5 were significantly increased (q=3.973, P<0.05). (2) The expressions of SP-A in lung tissue of rabbits in simple injury group and injury+PBS group in each treatment time point were close (P>0.05). The expressions of SP-A in lung tissue of rabbits in injury+2 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group and injury+5 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group on treatment day 3 were 0.091±0.007 and 0.101±0.009, respectively, significantly higher than 0.069±0.009 in simple injury group (q=10.800, 13.580, P<0.01). The expressions of SP-A in lung tissue of rabbits in injury+1 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group, injury+2 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group, and injury+5 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group on treatment day 5 and 7 were 0.127±0.008, 0.132±0.006, 0.194±0.006, 0.152±0.017, 0.166±0.004, 0.240±0.008, significantly higher than 0.092±0.003 and 0.108±0.005 in simple injury group (q=6.789, 12.340, 17.900, 9.875, 31.480, 40.740, P<0.01). (3) On treatment day 1 and 5, there was no significant difference in the expression of VEGF in lung tissue of rabbits among the 5 groups (P>0.05). Compared with those in simple injury group, the expressions of VEGF in lung tissue of rabbits in injury+2 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group on treatment day 3 and 7 were significantly increased (q=4.243, 8.000, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the expression of VEGF in lung tissue of rabbits in injury+5 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group on treatment day 7 was significantly increased (q=20.720, P<0.01). (4) On treatment day 1, the injury of rabbits in each group was similar, with a large number of neutrophils infiltrated and abscess formed in the alveolar and interstitial tissue, thickened alveolar septum, some collapsed alveolar and atelectasis; large area of tracheal mucosa was degenerated and necrotic, with a large amount of inflammatory exudates blocking in the cavity. On treatment day 3, the inflammation of lung tissue and trachea in each group were improved, but the inflammation in simple injury group and injury+PBS group was also serious. On treatment day 5, the inflammation in lung tissue and trachea of rabbits in injury+2 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group and injury+5 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group were improved much obviously than those in the other groups. On treatment day 7, the inflammation in lung tissue of rabbits in injury+5 mg/kg rhKGF-2 group alleviated obviously than those in the other groups, most alveoli had no obvious exudative fluid, the alveolar cavity was intact and clear, the local alveolar dilated like a cyst, and the alveolar septum thinning; the improvement of inflammation of trachea was more obvious than the other groups, the tracheal mucosa tended to be more complete, and few neutrophils were infiltrated in the endotracheal cavity. Conclusions: Atomization inhalation of rhKGF-2 can improve the PaO(2) level of rabbits with severe smoke inhalation injury, reduce airway inflammation, increase the expression of SP-A and VEGF in lung tissue, thus promoting the repair of lung tissue.

Differential expression of intestinal ion transporters and water channel aquaporins in young piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88

The study was to determine whether the expression of genes involved in intestinal water and ion transport would be affected by enterotoxigenic (ETEC) K88 both in vitro and in vivo. First, 36 male piglets (4 d old) were randomly allotted to either the control or the ETEC K88 group. Each group had 6 replicates with 3 piglets per replicate. All piglets were fed with the same diets for 17 d. On d 15, piglets in the ETEC K88 group were challenged with ETEC K88 (serotype O149:K91:K88ac) at 1 × 10 cfu per pig, whereas those in the control group received the same volume of sterile PBS. After being challenged with ETEC K88 for 72 h (d 18), 1 piglet from each replicate was selected for slaughter to collect samples from the jejunum, ileum, and colon. The mRNA expression and protein abundance of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in the ileum and colon were increased compared with that in the control group ( < 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expression of () in the ileum and colon was increased by ETEC K88 challenge ( < 0.05), whereas in the jejunum, both its mRNA and protein expression were increased by ETEC K88 treatment ( < 0.05). Additionally, an established porcine intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) was used to investigate the effect and possible mechanism of ETEC K88 on expression of water channel aquaporins (AQP) and ion transporters. Cells (1.17 × 10 per well) were grown in 6-well plates and treated with ETEC K88 at a multiplicity of infection of 50:1 for 3 h. The mRNA expression of , , and () in IPEC-J2 cells was reduced after ETEC K88 treatment ( < 0.05). Further analyses using western blotting also demonstrated that ETEC K88 decreased the protein expression of AQP3, AQP9, and AQP11 in IPEC-J2 cells ( < 0.05). Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of protein kinase A (PKA) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-response element binding protein (CREB) were decreased by ETEC K88 challenge ( < 0.05). The results indicate that ETEC K88 challenge induced differential expression of intestinal ion transporters and AQP in young piglets, probably by regulation of the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway. This study might provide new insights about the importance of fluid homeostasis in control of ETEC-induced diarrhea in young piglets.

Features of the volume change and a new constitutive equation of hydrogels under uniaxial compression

For high-water content hydrogels in compression, the water inside of hydrogels contributes to the response of hydrogels to external loads directly, but part of the water is expelled from hydrogels in the meantime to change the volume of the hydrogel and reduce the contribution. In order to consider the contribution of the water in the constitution equation, PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) hydrogels with high-water content were used as examples, and compressive experiments were carried out to measure both the stress-strain relation and the change of the volume in the meantime. By considering the effect of the difference of the contribution of water in different directions of the hydrogel, we deduced a new constitutive equation, which can pretty well depict the stress-strain of hydrogels with different water contents. The results showed that the contribution of water to the total stress increases with the compression strain and even exceed that of the polymer, although the expelled water reduces the contribution at the early loading stage, which well explains the difference of elastic moduli of hydrogels in compression and tension.

Effects of oxidative stress induced by high dosage of dietary iron ingested on intestinal damage and caecal microbiota in Chinese Yellow broilers

The objective of this trial was to test the effects of oxidative stress induced by a high dosage of dietary iron on intestinal lesion and the microbiological compositions in caecum in Chinese Yellow broilers. A total of 450 1-day-old male chicks were randomly allotted into three groups. Supplemental iron (0, 700 and 1,400 mg/kg) was added to the basal diet resulting in three treatments containing 245, 908 and 1,651 mg/kg Fe (measured value) in diet respectively. Each treatment consisted of six replicate pens with 25 birds per pen. Jejunal enterocyte ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that a high dosage of dietary iron induced oxidative stress in broilers. Dilated endoplasmic reticulum (ER), autophagosome formation of jejunal enterocytes and decreased villi were caused by this oxidative stress. Compared to the control, concentration of the malondialdehyde (MDA) in jejunal mucosa in the 908 and 1,651 mg/kg Fe groups increased by 180% (p < .01) and 155% respectively (p < .01); activity of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD) increased in jejunum (p < .01); and the concentration of plasma reduced glutathione (GSH) decreased by 34.9% (p < .01) in birds fed 1,651 mg/kg Fe. Gene expression of nuclear factor, erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), in the higher dietary Fe groups was enhanced (p < .05). Species of microbial flora in caecum increased caused by oxidative stress. The PCR-DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) dendrograms revealed different microbiota (65% similarity coefficient) between the control and iron-supplemented groups (p < .05). These data suggest high dosage of iron supplement in feed diet can induce oxidative stress in Chinese Yellow broilers, and composition of microbiota in the caecum changed. It implied there should be no addition of excess iron when formulating diets in Chinese Yellow broilers.

[Effects of non-muscle myosin ⅡA silenced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on lung damage of rats at early stage of smoke inhalation injury]

Objective: To investigate the effects of non-muscle myosin ⅡA (NMⅡA) silenced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the lung damage of rats at early stage of smoke inhalation injury. Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, simple injury, NMⅡA-BMSCs, and BMSCs groups according to the completely random method, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in control group inhaled air normally, while rats in the latter 3 groups inhaled smoke to reproduce model of smoke inhalation injury. At 30 min post injury, rats in simple injury group were injected with 1 mL normal saline via caudal vein, and rats in group BMSCs were injected with 1 mL the fifth passage of BMSCs (1×10(7)/mL), and rats in group NMⅡA-BMSCs were injected with 1 mL NMⅡA silenced BMSCs (1×10(7)/mL). At post injury hour (PIH) 24, abdominal aorta blood and right lung of rats in each group were harvested, and then arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO(2)), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO(2)), and pH value were detected by blood gas analyzer. Ratio of wet to dry weight of lung was determined by dry-wet weight method. Pathological changes of lung were observed with HE staining. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected, and then tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) content of BALF was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and least-significant difference test. Results: (1) At PIH 24, compared with those in control group, PaO(2) values of rats in simple injury, BMSCs, and NMⅡA-BMSCs groups were obviously decreased (with P values below 0.05), and PaCO(2) values were obviously increased (with P values below 0.05). Compared with those in simple injury group, PaO(2) values of rats in groups NMⅡA-BMSCs and BMSCs were obviously increased (with P values below 0.05), while PaCO(2) values were obviously decreased (with P values below 0.05). PaO(2) value of rats in group NMⅡA-BMSCs was obviously increased as compared with that in group BMSCs (P<0.05). The pH value of arterial blood of rats in simple injury group was obviously lower than that in control group (P<0.05). (2) At PIH 24, ratios of wet to dry weight of lung of rats in control, simple injury, BMSCs, and NMⅡA-BMSCs groups were 4.36±0.15, 7.79±0.42, 5.77±0.18, and 5.11±0.20, respectively. Compared with that in control group, ratio of wet to dry weight of lung of rats was obviously increased in the other 3 groups (with P values below 0.05). Compared with that in simple injury group, ratio of wet to dry weight of lung of rats was obviously decreased in groups BMSCs and NMⅡA-BMSCs (with P values below 0.05). Compared with that in group BMSCs, ratio of wet to dry weight of lung of rats in group NMⅡA-BMSCs was obviously decreased (P<0.05). (3) At PIH 24, alveolar structure of rats in control group was complete without abnormality. Compared with those in simple injury group, lung injury and infiltration of inflammatory cells of rats in groups BMSCs and NMⅡA-BMSCs were obviously alleviated, and alveolar structure was relatively complete with no thickening of alveolar wall. (4) At PIH 24, compared with that in control group, TNF-α content of BALF of rats in simple injury and BMSCs groups was obviously increased (with P values below 0.05). Compared with that in simple injury group, TNF-α content of BALF in groups BMSCs and NMⅡA-BMSCs was obviously decreased (with P values below 0.05). Compared with that in control group, IL-10 content of BALF in simple injury, NMⅡA-BMSCs and BMSCs groups were obviously increased (with P values below 0.05). Compared with that in simple injury group, IL-10 content of BALF in groups BMSCs and NMⅡA-BMSCs was obviously increased (with P values below 0.05). Compared with that in group BMSCs, IL-10 content of BALF in group NMⅡA-BMSCs was obviously increased (P<0.05). Conclusions: NMⅡA silenced BMSCs can alleviate lung damage of rats at early stage of smoke inhalation injury, showing better effectiveness than using BMSCs only.

[Advances in the research of treatment of burns in the elderly]

With our country going into the aging society, burns in the elderly often occur. Studies have shown that the number of elderly burn patients has reached 13% to 20% of the total number of burn patients. As the sensory and cognitive functions are low, skin is thinning, the functions of heart, lung, and kidney are reduced, the immunity is impaired, and other physiological characteristics exist in the elderly, the wounds of elderly burn patients often heal slowly, and the mortality is high. At present, there is still a lack of enough attention to the elderly burn patients. In this review, according to the physiological characteristics of the elderly, for reference to our peers, we make a summary of the treatment of elderly burn patients, such as fluid resuscitation, wound treatment, acute kidney injury management, infection management, and nutritional support.

[Phenotypic characteristics of LAP(+) CD4(+) T lymphocytes in colorectal cancer tissues]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the phenotypic characteristics of LAP(+) CD4(+) T lymphocytes and investigate their molecular mechanisms in colorectal cancer (CRC) microenvironment.

METHODS

Fifty colorectal cancer patients treated in our two hospitals from January 2014 to May 2014 were included in this study. Their tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues, peripheral blood samples, and peripheral blood samples of 25 healthy donors (HD) were collected to isolate the lymphocytes. The different expressions of CCR7, CD45RA, Foxp3, CTLA-4, CCR4 and CCR5 in LAP(+) CD4(+) T and LAP(-)CD4(+) T lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTS

The FCM assay detected that the percentage of LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells in peripheral blood of the CRC patients were significantly higher than that of HD [(9.44±3.18)% versus (1.49±1.00)%, P<0.001]. In addition, significantly more LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells were also recruited into tumor tissue than those in the tumor-adjacent normal tissue [(11.76±3.74)% versus (3.87±1.64)%, P<0.001]. LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells in the tumor-adjacent normal tissue and peripheral blood of both HDs and CRC patients mainly displayed a central memory phenotype. However, effector memory lymphocytes were predominant in the tumor tissue.In the tumor tissue, the expression of Foxp3 in the LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells was (3.87±1.12)%, significantly lower than that in the LAP(-)CD4(+) T cells (16.70±2.61)%, (P<0.001); the expression of CTLA-4 in the LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells was (36.36±19.14)%, significantly higher than the (19.60±8.91)% in the LAP(-)CD4(+) T cells (P<0.001); the expression of CCR4 in the LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells was (37.72±11.14)%, significantly higher than the (30.06±9.14)% in the LAP(-)CD4(+) T cells (P<0.001); and the expression of CCR5 in the LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells was (18.86±7.10)%, significantly higher than the (13.92±3.31)% in the LAP(-)CD4(+) T cells (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells with low expression of Foxp3 and high expressions of CTLA-4, CCR4 and CCR5 are tend to be enriched and accumulated in the tumor tissue. The unique phenotypic characteristics make these cells a distinct subset of lymphocytes, apparently different from the traditional CD4(+) CD25(+) Treg cells.

[Analysis of microcephaly and related factors among 31 902 infants of Chongqing, China]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the status of head circumference development and related factors of microcephaly among infants in Chongqing, China.

METHODS

We included infants aged 7-24 months who had received child health care services at a Chongqing hospital from 1 February 2010 to 1 November 2014. We collected data of sex, age, head circumference, childbirth conditions, mother's pregnancy history, infant feeding patterns, and parents' educational level. Ultimately, 31 902 infants (17 511 males and 14 391 females) were analyzed. The t-test was used to compare head circumference by sex, and logistic regression models used to analyze the related factors of microcephaly. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

Among the different age groups (7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-18, and 19-24 months), head circumferences for males were (44.3±1.3), (45.2±1.4), (46.1±1.5), (46.8±1.4), and (47.8±1.4) cm, respectively; for females, head circumferences were (43.1±1.3), (44.1±1.3), (44.8±1.4), (45.7±1.4), and (46.7±1.3)cm, respectively. Head circumference for males were all greater than those for girls (t-values were 32.09, 27.73, 32.21, 41.66, and 32.03, respectively; P<0.001). The rate of microcephaly was 3.2% (1 025/31 902) among infants. Birth weights and fetal times were related to microcephaly in infants, with OR (95% CI) values 0.15(0.13-0.18) and 1.31(1.11-1.54), respectively. Factors including urban location, delayed birth, cesarean section, formula feeding, and mixed feeding patterns might reduce the risks of microcephaly compared with suburban location, term birth, eutocia, and breastfeeding; OR (95% CI) values were 0.60 (0.52-0.68), 0.55 (0.44-0.70), 0.76 (0.67-0.87), 0.46 (0.32-0.67), and 0.51 (0.34-0.75), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Head circumference development among infants in Chongqing was satisfactory. Family environmental factors, birth conditions, and feeding patterns were found to be important factors related to microcephaly.

Effects of high peanut meal with different crude protein level supplemented with amino acids on performance, carcass traits and nitrogen retention of Chinese Yellow broilers

This study assessed the effects of feeding high peanut meal diets of reduced crude protein (CP) content supplemented with essential amino acids (EAA) on growth performance, carcass traits, biochemical indices in plasma, and nitrogen (N) retention of male and female Lingnan Yellow broilers from day 22 to day 42 of age. Each of four dietary treatments (19%, 18%, 17% or 16% CP, dietary CP level reduced by the reduced dietary peanut meal) contained six replicate pens with 35 birds of each sex (males and females with equal number), separately (1680 in total). The three diets with reduced CP were supplemented with 5 EAA to meet the requirements and provide the same levels as in the 19% CP diet. Average daily gain decreased and feed:gain ratio was worse in both sexes with reduced CP% (linear, p < 0.05). Dressing percentage increased as CP% decreased in males (linear, p < 0.05) and thigh muscle percentage reduced slightly in females (linear, p < 0.05). Abdominal fat percentage of males fed the 17% CP was the lowest (quadratic, p < 0.05). The plasma metabolic indices, concentrations of triglycerides and malondialdehyde, showed linear responses to reduced CP% (p < 0.05) with triglycerides increasing while malondialdehyde decreased. Plasma uric acid increased in females (linear, p < 0.05), but not in males, as CP% decreased. Efficiency of N retention increased and N excretion strikingly decreased with lower CP diets (p < 0.001), and both variables showed significant (p < 0.05) linear and quadratic effects. It is concluded that there was a limit to which dietary CP of broilers could be reduced without adverse effects. Dietary CP could be reduced to 17% for males and 18% for females (or 18% when fed together) between day 22 and day 42, if diets are supplemented with synthetic EAA.

Serum cytokine modulation after Staphylococcus hyicus infection in BALB/c mice

Staphylococcal infection is a severe bacterial infection. Finding satisfactory predictable biological markers is essential for the treatment of this condition. In this study, we applied a 32-marker sandwich ELISA-based antibody array to evaluate cytokine changes in Staphylococcus hyicus-inoculated BALB/c mice at 24 and 48 h post infection. Among the cytokines detected, the expression levels of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), interleukin 6 (IL-6), macrophage inflammatory protein 2, and keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC) were increased to levels more than twice higher than those in the control group 24 h after infection, while the expression of interleukin 12p40p70 (IL-12p40p70) was decreased to less than half the level measured in the controls. The expression of G-CSF, IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protei-5, chemokine ligand 11, and KC was upregulated 48 h post infection, whereas IL-12p40p70 expression was still significantly lower (P < 0.05). Among the detected cytokines, the expression levels of G-CSF, IL-6, and KC were constantly upregulated, while IL-12p40p70 was downregulated. This result was then validated by an ELISA assay analysis, which confirmed that G-CSF, IL-6, KC, and IL- 12p40p70 expression levels were specifically modulated after an S. hyicus bacterial infection, while granulocyte monocyte colony stimulation factor, IL-12, and IFNγ levels were significantly increased after a viral infection. Our study indicated the potential of cytokines G-CSF, IL-6, KC, and IL- 12p40p70 as markers for detecting S. hyicus infection. The results of this study may provide useful data for the appropriate use of medication following S. hyicus infection.

The hemodynamically-regulated vascular microenvironment promotes migration of the steroidogenic tissue during its interaction with chromaffin cells in the zebrafish embryo

Background

While the endothelium-organ interaction is critical for regulating cellular behaviors during development and disease, the role of blood flow in these processes is only partially understood. The dorsal aorta performs paracrine functions for the timely migration and differentiation of the sympatho-adrenal system. However, it is unclear how the adrenal cortex and medulla achieve and maintain specific integration and whether hemodynamic forces play a role.

Methodology and Principal Findings

In this study, the possible modulation of steroidogenic and chromaffin cell integration by blood flow was investigated in the teleostean counterpart of the adrenal gland, the interrenal gland, in the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Steroidogenic tissue migration and angiogenesis were suppressed by genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of blood flow, and enhanced by acceleration of blood flow upon norepinephrine treatment. Repressed steroidogenic tissue migration and angiogenesis due to flow deficiency were recoverable following restoration of flow. The regulation of interrenal morphogenesis by blood flow was found to be mediated through the vascular microenvironment and the Fibronectin-phosphorylated Focal Adhesion Kinase (Fn-pFak) signaling. Moreover, the knockdown of krüppel-like factor 2a (klf2a) or matrix metalloproteinase 2 (mmp2), two genes regulated by the hemodynamic force, phenocopied the defects in migration, angiogenesis, the vascular microenvironment, and pFak signaling of the steroidogenic tissue observed in flow-deficient embryos, indicating a direct requirement of mechanotransduction in these processes. Interestingly, epithelial-type steroidogenic cells assumed a mesenchymal-like character and downregulated β-Catenin at cell-cell junctions during interaction with chromaffin cells, which was reversed by inhibiting blood flow or Fn-pFak signaling. Blood flow obstruction also affected the migration of chromaffin cells, but not through mechanosensitive or Fn-pFak dependent mechanisms.

Conclusions and Significance

These results demonstrate that hemodynamically regulated Fn-pFak signaling promotes the migration of steroidogenic cells, ensuring their interaction with chromaffin cells along both sides of the midline during interrenal gland development.

Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum on diarrhea and intestinal barrier function of young piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88

The present study was performed to investigate the preventative effect of Lactobacillus plantarum on diarrhea in relation to intestinal barrier function in young piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88. Seventy-two male piglets (4 d old) were assigned to 2 diets (antibiotic-free basal diet with or without L. plantarum, 5 × 10(10) cfu/kg diet) and subsequently challenged or not with ETEC K88 (1 × 10(8) cfu per pig) on d 15 in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Feed intake and BW were measured on d 15 and 18 (3 d after challenge) for determination of growth performance. On d 18, 1 piglet from each pen was slaughtered to evaluate small intestinal morphology and expression of tight junction proteins at the mRNA and protein levels while another piglet was used for the intestinal permeability test. Before and after ETEC K88 challenge, piglets fed L. plantarum had greater BW, ADG, and ADFI (P < 0.05) and marginally greater G:F (P < 0.10) compared to piglets fed the unsupplemented diet. After ETEC K88 challenge, the challenged piglets did not show an impaired growth performance but had greater incidence of diarrhea compared to the nonchallenged piglets. There was an interaction between dietary L. plantarum and ETEC K88 challenge (P < 0.05) as L. plantarum prevented the ETEC K88-induced diarrhea. Piglets challenged with ETEC K88 also had greater urinary lactulose:mannitol and plasma concentration of endotoxin, shorter villi, deeper crypt depth, and reduced villous height:crypt depth in the duodenum and jejunum and decreased zonula occludens-1 mRNA and occludin mRNA and protein expression in the jejunum (P < 0.05). These deleterious effects caused by ETEC K88 were inhibited by feeding L. plantarum (P < 0.05). There were no effects of either treatment on the morphology and expression of tight junction proteins in ileum. In conclusion, L. plantarum, given to piglets in early life, improved performance and effectively prevented the diarrhea in young piglets induced by ETEC K88 challenge by improving function of the intestinal barrier by protecting intestinal morphology and intestinal permeability and the expression of genes for tight junction proteins (zonula occludens-1 and occludin).

Maternal energy and protein affect subsequent growth performance, carcass yield, and meat color in Chinese Yellow broilers

This experiment was carried out to investigate effects of maternal ME and CP levels on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of broiler offspring. A total of 1,134 thirty-week-old Chinese Yellow broiler breeders was randomly assigned to 3 dietary ME levels (11.09, 11.51, and 11.92 MJ/kg) and 3 CP levels (15.5, 16.5, and 17.5%) in a 3×3 factorial arrangement. Each dietary treatment had 6 replicates with 21 hens per replicate. At 39 wk of age, 30 settable eggs per replicate were selected for hatching. All broiler offspring were fed the same diets. There were significant ME×CP interactions in egg CP and ether extract (EE) contents, BW at d 1, 22 to 42 d ADG, ADFI during 1 to 21 d and 43 to 63 d, shear force, plasma albumin, cholesterol, and triglycerides contents of broiler offspring. Dietary ME at 11.92 MJ/kg increased average egg weight, egg EE content, and broiler 1-d-old BW compared with 11.09 MJ/kg group at 16.5%, 15.5%, and 17.5% CP levels, respectively (P<0.05). Maternal 11.51 and 11.92 MJ/kg of ME increased 1 to 21-d ADFI, and 11.51 MJ/kg of ME decreased lightness (L*) value of broiler offspring compared with 11.09 MJ/kg group at 17.5 and 16.5% CP levels, respectively (P<0.05). Broiler breeder dietary CP at 17.5% decreased egg EE content, increased average egg weight, egg CP content, BW at d 1, and 1 to 21-d ADFI of broiler offspring compared with 15.5% CP group at 11.92 MJ/kg of ME level (P<0.05). Maternal dietary 15.5% CP increased dressing percentage and decreased yellowness (b*) value of broiler offspring compared with 16.5% and 17.5% CP groups at 11.51 MJ/kg of ME level, respectively (P<0.05). Collectively, the results indicate that maternal diets composed of 11.51 to 11.92 MJ/kg of ME and 17.5% CP at 39 wk of age increased growth performance during 1 to 21 d in Chinese Yellow broiler, whereas 11.51 MJ/kg of ME and 15.5% CP improved carcass dressing percentage and meat color of their offspring.

Dietary supplementation with carnosine improves antioxidant capacity and meat quality of finishing pigs

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) supplementation on antioxidant capacity and meat quality of pigs. 72 pigs approximately 60 kg were fed a corn- and soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0, 25, 50 or 100 mg carnosine per kg diet for 8 weeks. Carnosine supplementation did not affect growth performance and carcass traits of pigs. However, the addition of 100 mg carnosine per kg diet increased pH value of muscle at 45 min, 24 h and 48 h postmortem. It also decreased drip loss at 48 h postmortem and increased redness value of muscle at 45 min postmortem (p < 0.05). The addition of 100 mg carnosine per kg diet enhanced glycogen concentration and Ca-ATPase activity at 24 and 48 h postmortem, and reduced malondialdehyde and carbonyl protein complexes concentrations in muscle at 24 h postmortem (p < 0.05). The addition of 100 mg carnosine per kg diet increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in plasma, liver or muscle, as well as SOD and GSH-Px genes expression in muscle (p < 0.05). Taken together, these findings indicate that carnosine supplementation improves antioxidant capacity and meat quality of pigs.

Effects of spray-dried animal plasma on serous and intestinal redox status and cytokines of neonatal piglets

The study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, as well as serum and intestinal cytokines and antioxidant indicators of artificially reared neonatal piglets. Three diets, 1) control (a fish meal basal diet), 2) SDAP (containing 10% SDAP), and 3) autoclaved SDAP (auSDAP; containing 10% auSDAP), were fed to 36 weaned piglets (3 d old), which were randomly allotted to 3 groups. At 21 d of age, blood and intestinal mucosal samples were collected from all piglets after they were slaughtered. Compared with the control, both SDAP and auSDAP improved ADFI and duodenal villus height of piglets (P < 0.05), whereas SDAP increased ADG and duodenal villus height to crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05). Piglets fed SDAP and auSDAP had reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content in mucosa (P < 0.05). The concentration of serum MDA was decreased and mucosal catalase (CAT) activities were increased in piglets fed SDAP diet than those fed the control diet (P < 0.05). In the mucosa, both SDAP and auSDAP decreased tumor necrosis factor α, IL-6, transforming growth factor β, and soluble IL-2 receptor contents (P < 0.05). Mucosal IL-1β was decreased in SDAP compared with auSDAP and control groups (P < 0.05). The SDAP and control groups had increased mucosal IL-2 compared with auSDAP group (P < 0.05). The cytokines in serum were not affected by SDAP and auSDAP. The results indicate that both SDAP and auSDAP improved the growth performance of neonatal piglets, whereas the SDAP had a greater effect. The benefits of SDAP probably resulted from the promotion of the intestinal development, which were accompanied by the increased antioxidant capacity and the decreased production of inflammatory factors in the intestinal mucosa.

Role of the insulin-like growth factor system in epiphyseal cartilage on the development of Langshan and Arbor Acres chickens, Gallus domesticus

We measured the mRNA transcript expression patterns for members of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system during embryonic and postnatal development in epiphyseal cartilage from Langshan (LS) and Arbor Acres (AA) chickens. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-2 expression was positively correlated with IGF-I from embryonic day (E) 14 to postnatal d (P) 0 and with IGF-II from E14 to P14 but negatively correlated with IGF-I from P0 to P42 and IGF-II from P14 to P42. Expression of IGFBP-5 correlated positively with IGF-I from E14 to P0 but negatively from P0 to P28. The results suggest that these genes are regulated in a coordinated fashion during development. A negative correlation was found between IGFBP-7 and IGF-II during P0 to P42. A positive correlation was found between IGFBP-3 (E14 to E18, P14 to P42) and IGF-IR and between IGFBP-3 (E14 to P0, P14 to P42) and IGF-I. The endocrine factors can be integrated with nutrition to regulate animal growth. In our study, AA chickens were fed a nutrient-rich AA diet, and LS chickens were fed either an AA diet or a less-rich diet. The LS and AA chickens fed the same AA diet showed no differences in IGF-I, IGF-I receptor, IGFBP-2, IGFBP-5, IGFBP-7, and IGFBP-3 but did still show differences in IGF-II. Our data indicate that these select genes may show linked expression during certain periods of development and that differences in gene expression respond differently to nutrient intake in LS and AA chickens.

Effects of soybean isoflavone on growth performance, meat quality, and antioxidation in male broilers

To investigate the effects of a synthetic soybean isoflavone (ISF) on growth performance, meat quality, and antioxidation in male broilers, 1,500 birds that were 42 d old were allotted to 5 treatments with 6 replicates per treatment (50 birds per replicate). Birds were fed diets supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg of ISF/kg, respectively, for a period of 3 wk ad libitum. The results showed that dietary supplementations with 10 or 20 mg of ISF/kg increased weight gain by 13.6 and 16.2% (P < 0.01) and elevated feed intake by 7.37% (P < 0.05) and 11.2% (P < 0.01), respectively. Addition of 10 mg of ISF/kg decreased feed:gain by 5.5% (P < 0.05). Supplementation with 40 mg of ISF/kg in the diet slightly increased water-holding capacity by 17.24% (P < 0.1), and the addition of 20 or 40 mg/kg of ISF significantly increased the pH value of meat (P < 0.01), although adding 40 or 80 mg of ISF/kg increased the lightness of meat color (P < 0.05). Malondialdehyde production was slightly reduced in plasma of 20 mg of ISF/kg supplemented chickens (P < 0.1) and significantly decreased in breast muscles of 20, 40, or 80 mg of ISF/kg supplemented chickens (P < 0.01). The addition of 40 or 80 mg of ISF/kg significantly increased total antioxidant capability (P < 0.01) and slightly elevated total superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.1) in plasma of chickens. The dose of 80 mg of ISF/kg slightly improved catalase activity in plasma (P < 0.06). In breast muscle, treatment of birds with 40 or 80 mg of ISF/kg caused an increase of total superoxide dismutase activity by 25.36% (P < 0.05) or 63.93% (P < 0.01). Catalase activity significantly increased by 70.61% by the supplemental ISF at the 40-mg level (P < 0.05). Also, 10, 20, or 40 mg doses of ISF/kg decreased lactic acid production (P < 0.05). The results of this study indicate that dietary ISF could improve growth performance and meat quality by decreasing lipid peroxidation and improving antioxidative status in male broilers.

Direct measurements of Ab and Ac using vertex and kaon charge tags at the SLAC detector

Exploiting the manipulation of the SLAC Linear Collider electron-beam polarization, we present precise direct measurements of the parity-violation parameters A(c) and A(b) in the Z-boson-c-quark and Z-boson-b-quark coupling. Quark-antiquark discrimination is accomplished via a unique algorithm that takes advantage of the precise SLAC Large Detector charge coupled device vertex detector, employing the net charge of displaced vertices as well as the charge of kaons that emanate from those vertices. From the 1996-1998 sample of 400 000 Z decays, produced with an average beam polarization of 73.4%, we find A(c)=0.673+/-0.029(stat)+/-0.023(syst) and A(b)=0.919+/-0.018(stat)+/-0.017(syst).

Analysis of insulin signalling by RNAi-based gene silencing

Using siRNA-mediated gene silencing in cultured adipocytes, we have dissected the insulin-signalling pathway leading to translocation of GLUT4 glucose transporters to the plasma membrane. RNAi (RNA interference)-based depletion of components in the putative TC10 pathway (CAP, CrkII and c-Cbl plus Cbl-b) or the phospholipase Cγ pathway failed to diminish insulin signalling to GLUT4. Within the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway, loss of the 5′-phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate phosphatase SHIP2 was also without effect, whereas depletion of the 3′-phosphatase PTEN significantly enhanced insulin action. Downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate and PDK1, silencing the genes encoding the protein kinases Akt1/PKBα, or CISK(SGK3) or protein kinases Cλ/ζ had little or no effect, but loss of Akt2/PKBβ significantly attenuated GLUT4 regulation by insulin. These results show that Akt2/PKBβ is the key downstream intermediate within the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway linked to insulin action on GLUT4 in cultured adipocytes, whereas PTEN is a potent negative regulator of this pathway.

Improved direct measurement of the parity-violation parameter Ab using a mass tag and momentum-weighted track charge

We present an improved direct measurement of the parity-violation parameter A(b) in the Z boson-b-quark coupling using a self-calibrating track-charge technique applied to a sample enriched in Z-->bb events via the topological reconstruction of the B hadron mass. Manipulation of the Stanford Linear Collider electron-beam polarization permits the measurement of A(b) to be made independently of other Z-pole coupling parameters. From the 1996-1998 sample of 400,000 hadronic Z decays, produced with an average beam polarization of 73.4%, we find A(b)=0.906+/-0.022(stat)+/-0.023(syst).

Improved direct measurement of A(b) and A(c) at the Z(0) pole using a lepton tag

The parity violation parameters A(b) and A(c) of the Zb(b) and Zc(c) couplings have been measured directly, using the polar angle dependence of the polarized cross sections at the Z(0) pole. Bottom and charmed hadrons were tagged via their semileptonic decays. Both the electron and muon analyses take advantage of new multivariate techniques to increase the analyzing power. Based on the 1993-1998 SLD sample of 550,000 Z(0) decays produced with highly polarized electron beams, we measure A(b) = 0.919+/-0.030(stat)+/-0.024(syst), and A(c) = 0.583+/-0.055(stat)+/-0.055(syst).

[Overexpression of artificial synthetic gene of Aspergillus niger NRRL3135 phytase in Pichia pastoris]

The phytase gene of Aspergillus niger NRRL3135 was modified with a deletion of intron and signal coding sequence. Then, according to the codon preference of Pichia pastoris, modified phyA gene was artificially synthesized and cloned into expression vector of pPICZ alpha A. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into chromosome of Pichia pastoris X-33 strain by electroporation. The results of SDS-PAGE and enzymatic kinetic analysis proved that the recombinant phytase was secreted into culture medium with nearly same character of natural phytase. After screening for high level productive yeast strains, a strain named SPAN-III produced recombinant phytase with 165,000 u/mL under the condition of shake cultivation. It will satisfy the demand for industrialized production in some degree.

Improved direct measurement of leptonic coupling asymmetries with polarized Z bosons

We present final measurements of the Z boson-lepton coupling asymmetry parameters A(e), A(mu), and A(tau) with the complete sample of polarized Z bosons collected by the SLD detector at the SLAC Linear Collider. From the left-right production and decay polar angle asymmetries in leptonic Z decays we measure A(e) = 0.1544+/-0.0060, A(mu) = 0.142+/-0.015, and A(tau) = 0.136+/-0.015. Combined with our left-right asymmetry measured from hadronic decays, we find A(e) = 0.1516+/-0.0021. Assuming lepton universality, we obtain a combined effective weak mixing angle of sin (2)theta(eff)(W) = 0.230 98+/-0.000 26.

First symmetry tests in polarized Z0 decays to bbg

We have made the first direct symmetry tests in the decays of polarized Z0 bosons into fully identified bbg states, collected in the SLD experiment at SLAC. We searched for evidence of parity violation at the bbg vertex by studying the asymmetries in the b-quark polar- and azimuthal-angle distributions, and for evidence of T-odd, CP-even or CP-odd, final-state interactions by measuring angular correlations between the three-jet plane and the Z0 polarization. We found results consistent with standard model expectations and set 95% C. limits on anomalous contributions.

Component of the Rhodospirillum centenum photosensory apparatus with structural and functional similarity to methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein chemoreceptors

Photosynthetic bacteria respond to alterations in light conditions by migrating to locations that allows optimal use of light as an energy source. Studies have indicated that photosynthesis-driven electron transport functions as an attractant signal for motility among purple photosynthetic bacteria. However, it is unclear just how the motility-based signal transduction system monitors electron flow through photosynthesis-driven electron transport. Recently, we have demonstrated that the purple photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum centenum is capable of rapidly moving swarm cell colonies toward infrared light as well as away from visible light. Light-driven colony motility of R. centenum has allowed us to perform genetic dissection of the signaling pathway that affects photosynthesis-driven motility. In this study, we have undertaken sequence and mutational analyses of one of the components of a signal transduction pathway, Ptr, which appears responsible for transmitting a signal from the photosynthesis-driven electron transport chain to the chemotaxis signal transduction cascade. Mutational analysis demonstrates that cells disrupted for ptr are defective in altering motility in response to light, as well as defective in light-dependent release of methanol. We present a model which proposes that Ptr senses the redox state of a component in the photosynthetic cyclic electron transport chain and that Ptr is responsible for transmitting a signal to the chemotaxis machinery to induce a photosynthesis-dependent motility response.

[Cardiovascular effects of lateral intracerebroventricular injection of L-securinine]

To investigate cardiovascular effects of changed GABAergic tonic activation in periventricular forebrain, arterial pressure (AP), heart rate (HR) and renal sympathetic nerve discharge (RSND) were recorded in anesthetized rats when L-securinine (L-Sec) was administered into the lateral intracerebroventricle. L-Sec elicited dose-dependent increases in RSND, AP and HR, which were much weaker than those of bicuculline. L-Sec antagonized the sympatho-inhibitory and depressor effects evoked by both muscimol and baclofen. These results indicate that GABAergic inhibition originating from periventricular forebrain may suppress tonically sympathetic outflow to cardiovascular system which is disinhibited by L-Sec, and L-Sec is likely an unselective GABA receptor antagonist.

[Effect of central administration of motilin on the activity of gastric-related neurons in brain stem and gastric motility of rats]

To investigate the effect of microinjection of motilin into ventral medail hypothalamus (VMH) or intracerebroventricle (icv) on gastric motility, extracellular unit responses of dorsal vagal complex (DVC) in anesthetized rats and gastric motility of conscious rats were recorded. The results are as follows. (1) The firing rate of gastric distention related neurons in DVC was modified. (2) VMH and icv administration of motilin induced obvious enhancement in gastric motility. (3) The effect of motilin on gastric motility was abolished by vagotomy. These results imply that central motilin appears to work as an excitatory neuromodulator in the regulation of gastric motility through VMH-DVC-vagal nerve axis.

Treatment of pulmonary hypertension during surgery with nitric oxide and vasodilators

PURPOSE

To describe the effects of the combination of several therapies on the pulmonary circulation and cardiac function in a patient with severe pulmonary hypertension.

CLINICAL FEATURES

We report the case of a female patient with chronic secondary pulmonary hypertension and cardiac failure who underwent right hemicolectomy under general anesthesia. Insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter before the operation revealed pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) of 55/24 mm Hg which was lowered moderately by 40 parts per million (ppm) inhNO. During surgery, the patient presented an episode of atrial fibrillation with a slow, irregular heart rate of 45-50 min(-1) and variable systemic pressure. A dipyridamole DPD (0.2 mg x kg(-1)) bolus stabilized systemic pressure and increased heart rate and cardiac output. However, PAP did not change. Nitroglycerine infusion was started at 10 mg x hr(-1) shortly after the initiation of DPD. The patient responded favourably to combined inhNO, intravenous DPD and NTG therapy with a marked and sustained reduction of PAP and a systemic hemodynamic stability.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that: 1) in combination with inhNO, DPD does not augment the inhNO-induced decrease in PAP; 2) DPD improves the hemodynamic profile and elevates cardiac output; 3) therapeutic combination (inhaled NO, NTG, DPD) has a potent effect on pulmonary pressure in cardiac failure patients.

Mechanisms of hepatocyte growth factor-induced retinal endothelial cell migration and growth

PURPOSE

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), also called scatter factor, stimulates growth and motility in nonocular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells through its receptor c-Met. Recent reports suggest that HGF is increased in the serum and vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and that smooth muscle cells and retinal pigment epithelial cells secrete HGF in the eye. However, little is known about HGF's action in the retina. In this study, the activity, expression, and signaling pathways of HGF were investigated in bovine retinal microvascular endothelial cells (BRECs).

METHODS

Mitogenic and motogeneic effects of HGF on BRECs were examined using cell counts, thymidine uptake, and migration assays. MAP kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation was examined by Western blot analysis. Protein kinase C (PKC), MAPK, and PI3 kinase involvement were evaluated using selective inhibitors and activity assays. Expression of HGF and c-Met was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

HGF and c-Met were both expressed in BRECs. HGF stimulated BREC growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner, observed at HGF concentrations of 5 ng/ml or more and maximal (410%) at 100 ng/ml (P < 0.001). HGF increased BREC migration in a dose-dependent manner with a maximal 3.4-fold increase at 50 ng/ml after 5 hours. HGF induced time- and dose-dependent MAPK phosphorylation, initially evident at 5 minutes (P < 0.001) or 5 ng/ml (P < 0.050) and maximal after 15 minutes (>80-fold, P < 0.001) or 50 ng/ml (>20-fold, P < 0.001), respectively. MAPK phosphorylation was maintained for more than 2 hours. This response was inhibited 31% by 0.1 microm wortmannin and 76% by 30 microm LY294002, another PI3 kinase inhibitor. The non-isoform-selective PKC inhibitor GFX inhibited HGF-induced MAPK phosphorylation by only 15% at 5 microm. Combined PKC and PI3 kinase inhibition was additive (P < 0.05). Cell migration was inhibited 30% by wortmannin (P < 0.01) and 32% by GFX (P < 0.05), and again the effect was additive (P < 0.001). HGF-induced BREC growth was suppressed by PI3 kinase, PKC, or MAPK inhibition (all P < 0.01). HGF (50 ng/ml) stimulated PI3 kinase activity 347% (P < 0.001) and PKC activity 37% (P < 0.05). HGF-induced MAPK phosphorylation and mitogenesis were not inhibited by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-neutralizing antibody.

CONCLUSIONS

HGF and its receptor are expressed in BREC, and HGF stimulates both BREC growth and migration at concentrations observed in the human eye with diabetic retinopathy. HGF signaling appears to involve activation of both PKC and PI3 kinase, inducing MAPK phosphorylation that is critical for migration and growth. However, VEGF does not appear to mediate these initial HGF effects. These results indicate that HGF could have a significant role in mediating retinal endothelial cell proliferation and migration in diabetic retinopathy, and they begin to elucidate the signal transduction pathway by which this action may occur.