Deficiency of Macf1 in osterix expressing cells decreases bone formation by Bmp2/Smad/Runx2 pathway

Microtubule actin cross‐linking factor 1 (Macf1) is a spectraplakin family member known to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics, cell migration, neuronal growth and cell signal transduction. We previously demonstrated that knockdown of Macf1 inhibited the differentiation of MC3T3‐E1 cell line. However, whether Macf1 could regulate bone formation in vivo is unclear. To study the function and mechanism of Macf1 in bone formation and osteogenic differentiation, we established osteoblast‐specific Osterix (Osx) promoter‐driven Macf1 conditional knockout mice (Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre). The Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre mice displayed delayed ossification and decreased bone mass. Morphological and mechanical studies showed deteriorated trabecular microarchitecture and impaired biomechanical strength of femur in Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre mice. In addition, the differentiation of primary osteoblasts isolated from calvaria was inhibited in Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre mice. Deficiency of Macf1 in primary osteoblasts inhibited the expression of osteogenic marker genes (Col1, Runx2 and Alp) and the number of mineralized nodules. Furthermore, deficiency of Macf1 attenuated Bmp2/Smad/Runx2 signalling in primary osteoblasts of Macf1^f/fOsx‐Cre mice. Together, these results indicated that Macf1 plays a significant role in bone formation and osteoblast differentiation by regulating Bmp2/Smad/Runx2 pathway, suggesting that Macf1 might be a therapeutic target for bone disease.     

Thioredoxin-interacting protein promotes activation and inflammation of monocytes with DNA demethylation in coronary artery disease

Numerous studies have demonstrated that thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) expression of peripheral blood leucocytes is increased in coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon remained unclear. DNA methylation plays important roles in the regulation of gene expression. Therefore, we speculated there might be a close association between the expression of TXNIP and methylation. In this study, we found that compared with controls, DNA methylation at cg19693031 was decreased in CAD, while mRNA expressions of TXNIP and inflammatory factors, NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18, were increased. Methylation at cg19693031 was negatively associated with TXNIP expression in the cohort, THP-1 and macrophages/foam cells. Furthermore, Transwell assay and co-cultured adhesion assay were performed to investigate functions of TXNIP on the migration of THP-1 or the adhesion of THP-1 on the surface of endothelial cells, respectively. Notably, overexpressed TXNIP promoted the migration and adhesion of THP-1 cells and expressions of NLRP3, IL-18 and IL-1β. Oppositely, knock-down TXNIP inhibited the migration and adhesion of THP-1 and expressions of NLRP3, IL-18. In conclusion, increased TXNIP expression, related to cg19693031 demethylation orientates monocytes towards an inflammatory status through the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway involved in the development of CAD.     

Exosomes derived from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells alleviate viral myocarditis through activating AMPK/mTOR‐mediated autophagy flux pathway

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell‐derived exosomes (hucMSC‐exosomes) have been implicated as a novel therapeutic approach for tissue injury repair and regeneration, but the effects of hucMSC‐exosomes on coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)‐induced myocarditis remain unknown. The object of the present study is to investigate whether hucMSC‐exosomes have therapeutic effects on CVB3‐induced myocarditis (VMC). HucMSC‐exosomes were identified using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Western blot. The purified hucMSC‐exosomes tagged with PKH26 were tail intravenously injected into VMC model mice in vivo and used to administrate CVB3‐infected human cardiomyocytes (HCMs) in vitro, respectively. The effects of hucMSC‐exosomes on myocardial pathology injury, proinflammatory cytokines and cardiac function were evaluated through haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Doppler echocardiography. The anti‐apoptosis role and potential mechanism of hucMSC‐exosomes were explored using TUNEL staining, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, Ad‐mRFP‐GFP‐LC3 transduction and Western blot. In vivo results showed that hucMSC‐exosomes (50 μg iv) significantly alleviated myocardium injury, shrank the production of proinflammatory cytokines and improved cardiac function. Moreover, in vitro data showed that hucMSC‐exosomes (50 μg/mL) inhibited the apoptosis of CVB3‐infected HCM through increasing pAMPK/AMPK ratio and up‐regulating autophagy proteins LC3II/I, BECLIN‐1 and anti‐apoptosis protein BCL‐2 as well as decreasing pmTOR/mTOR ratio, promoting the degradation of autophagy flux protein P62 and down‐regulating apoptosis protein BAX. In conclusion, hucMSC‐exosomes could alleviate CVB3‐induced myocarditis via activating AMPK/mTOR‐mediated autophagy flux pathway to attenuate cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which will be benefit for MSC‐exosome therapy of myocarditis in the future.     

Dihydromyricetin increases endothelial nitric oxide production and inhibits atherosclerosis through microRNA-21 in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Natural products were extracted from traditional Chinese herbal emerging as potential therapeutic drugs for treating cardiovascular diseases. This study examines the role and underlying mechanism of dihydromyricetin (DMY), a natural compound extracted from Ampelopsis grossedentata, in atherosclerosis. DMY treatment significantly inhibits atherosclerotic lesion formation, proinflammatory gene expression and the influx of lesional macrophages and CD4-positive T cells in the vessel wall and hepatic inflammation, whereas increases nitric oxide (NO) production and improves lipid metabolism in apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe^−/−) mice. Yet, those protective effects are abrogated by using NOS inhibitor L-NAME in Apoe^−/− mice received DMY. Mechanistically, DMY decreases microRNA-21 (miR-21) and increases its target gene dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase-1 (DDAH1) expression, an effect that reduces asymmetric aimethlarginine (ADMA) levels, and increases endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation and NO production in cultured HUVECs, vascular endothelium of atherosclerotic lesions and liver. In contrast, systemic delivery of miR-21 in Apoe^−/− mice or miR-21 overexpression in cultured HUVECs abrogates those DMY-mediated protective effects. These data demonstrate that endothelial miR-21-inhibited DDAH1-ADMA-eNOS-NO pathway promotes the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis which can be rescued by DMY. Thus, DMY may represent a potential therapeutic adjuvant in atherosclerosis management.     

A Review on Additives for Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

Additives are widely adopted for efficient, stable, and hysteresis‐free perovskite solar cells and play an important role in various breakthroughs of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein the various additives adopted for PSCs are reviewed and their functioning mechanism and influence on device performance is described. The main roles of additives, modulating morphology of perovskite films, stabilizing phase of formamidinium (FA) and cesium (Cs)‐based perovskites, adjusting energy level alignment in PSCs, suppressing nonradiative recombination in perovskites, eliminating hysteresis, enhancing operational stability of PSCs, are summarized.     

思维导图引导康复锻炼对胸腰椎肿瘤术后功能恢复的干预效果

目的:研究思维导图引导康复锻炼对胸腰椎肿瘤术后功能恢复的干预效果,为患者术后的康复提供指导。方法:选择我院2017年1月-2019年12月期间我院200例胸腰段肿瘤术后患者。按照随机数表法将其分为研究组与对照组。研究组采用思维导图引导康复锻炼措施,对照组采用常规术后康复锻炼措施。比较两组患者干预前后腰背部功能、日常生活活动能力、社会生活生存质量及康复质量的评分结果。结果:干预后研究组生活自理能力、疼痛情况、站立、坐位、步行、睡眠情况、社会生活的Oswestry功能障碍(ODI)指数明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。干预后研究组Barthel指数以及Fugl-Meyer评分明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。干预后研究组社会功能缺陷筛选量表(SDSS)评分与生存质量测定量表(QOLI)评分明显优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。干预后研究组患者的躯体症状、心理状态及康复状况评分明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:思维导图引导康复锻炼对胸腰椎肿瘤术后功能恢复有着较为理想的效果,值得临床推广运用。     

丙泊酚在颅脑损伤手术中的效果观察及对血清CRP、PCT水平的影响

目的:分析丙泊酚在颅脑损伤手术中的效果及对血清C反应蛋白(CRP)、降钙素原(PCT)水平的影响。方法:选择2016年6月-2019年6月我院收治的颅脑损伤手术患者90例纳入本次研究,根据麻醉方式分为观察组(n=46)和对照组(n=44)。对照组使用依托咪酯进行麻醉诱导,观察组采用丙泊酚进行麻醉诱导。比较两组患者呼吸恢复时间、睁眼时间、拔管时间、不同时间血清CRP、PCT、心率(HR)、平均动脉压(MAP)、收缩压(SBP)及舒张压(DBP)、简易智能量表(MMSE)、视觉模拟(VAS)评分的变化情况及不良反应的发生情况。结果:观察组呼吸恢复时间、睁眼时间、拔管时间均显著短于对照组(P0.05)。术前,两组血清CRP、PCT水平比较无显著差异;术中,两组血清CRP、PCT水平均较术前明显下降,且观察组术中血清CRP、PCT水平均显著低于对照组(P0.05);术前,两组HR、MAP、SBP及DBP水平无显著差异;术中,两组HR、MAP、SBP及DBP水平均较术前显著升高,且观察组术中HR、MAP、SBP及DBP水平均显著低于对照组,术后两组HR、MAP、SBP及DBP水平均较术中明显下降,且观察组术后以上指标显著低于对照组(P0.05);术前,两组MMSE、VAS评分水平无明显差异;术后,两组MMSE、VAS评分水平均较术前明显下降,且观察组MMSE评分水平均显著高于对照组,VAS评分水平显著低于对照组(P0.05);两组不良反应总发生率分别为4.35%、11.36%,组间比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:丙泊酚可降低颅脑损伤手术患者术中血清CRP、PCT水平,稳定血流动力学,并发挥术后镇痛作用。     

Serologic Response to SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 Patients with Different Severity

Virologica Sinica - The immense patient number caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic brings the urge for more knowledge about its immunological features, including the...