Simulation of 3D tumor cell growth using nonlinear finite element method

We propose a novel parallel computing framework for a nonlinear finite element method (FEM)-based cell model and apply it to simulate avascular tumor growth. We derive computation formulas to simplify the simulation and design the basic algorithms. With the increment of the proliferation generations of tumor cells, the FEM elements may become larger and more distorted. Then, we describe a remesh and refinement processing of the distorted or over large finite elements and the parallel implementation based on Message Passing Interface to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the simulation. We demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the FEM model and the parallelization methods in simulations of early tumor growth.     

Long noncoding RNA SPRY4-IT1 regulates intestinal epithelial barrier function by modulating the expression levels of tight junction proteins

Epithelial cells line the intestinal mucosa and form an important barrier to a wide array of noxious substances in the lumen. Disruption of the barrier integrity occurs commonly in various pathologies. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) control diverse biological processes, but little is known about the role of lncRNAs in regulation of the gut permeability. Here we show that the lncRNA SPRY4-IT1 regulates the intestinal epithelial barrier function by altering expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins. SPRY4-IT1 silencing led to dysfunction of the epithelial barrier in cultured cells by decreasing the stability of mRNAs encoding TJ proteins claudin-1, claudin-3, occludin, and JAM-1 and repressing their translation. In contrast, increasing the levels of SPRY4-IT1 in the intestinal mucosa protected the gut barrier in mice exposed to septic stress by increasing the abundance of TJ proteins. SPRY4-IT1 directly interacted with TJ mRNAs, and this process was enhanced through the association with the RNA-binding protein HuR. Of interest, the intestinal mucosa from patients with increased gut permeability exhibited a decrease in the levels of SPRY4-IT1. These findings highlight a novel role for SPRY4-IT1 in controlling the intestinal epithelial barrier and define a mechanism by which SPRY4-IT1 modulates TJ expression by altering the stability and translation of TJ mRNAs.     

Sequential and compartmentalized action of Rabs,SNAREs, and MAL in the apical delivery of fusiform vesicles in urothelial umbrella cells

Uroplakins (UPs) are major differentiation products of urothelial umbrella cells and play important roles in forming the permeability barrier and in the expansion/stabilization of the apical membrane. Further, UPIa serves as a uropathogenic Escherichia coli receptor. Although it is understood that UPs are delivered to the apical membrane via fusiform vesicles (FVs), the mechanisms that regulate this exocytic pathway remain poorly understood. Immunomicroscopy of normal and mutant mouse urothelia show that the UP-delivering FVs contained Rab8/11 and Rab27b/Slac2-a, which mediate apical transport along actin filaments. Subsequently a Rab27b/Slp2-a complex mediated FV–membrane anchorage before SNARE-mediated and MAL-facilitated apical fusion. We also show that keratin 20 (K20), which forms a chicken-wire network ∼200 nm below the apical membrane and has hole sizes allowing FV passage, defines a subapical compartment containing FVs primed and strategically located for fusion. Finally, we show that Rab8/11 and Rab27b function in the same pathway, Rab27b knockout leads to uroplakin and Slp2-a destabilization, and Rab27b works upstream from MAL. These data support a unifying model in which UP cargoes are targeted for apical insertion via sequential interactions with Rabs and their effectors, SNAREs and MAL, and in which K20 plays a key role in regulating vesicular trafficking.     

有色大麦种质芽期耐盐性鉴定

以44份有色大麦种质为试材,通过测定发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数、萌发活力指数结合两个颜色指标YU(颜色亮度和浓度)进行芽期的耐盐性鉴定,并运用相关性分析、主成分分析、聚类分析等方法对有色大麦材料进行多指标耐盐性综合评价。结果表明,发芽率和发芽指数对盐胁迫响应最为敏感,芽长和根长对盐胁迫响应较为迟钝;粒色亮度与耐盐性综合评价F值呈显著负相关;粒色浓度与耐盐性综合评价F值呈显著正相关;综合指标F值相关分析表明,颜色越深,耐盐性越强;用综合指标F值,可将44份有色大麦分为4类,其中强耐盐材料包括XZDM-1401、XZDM-1404、XZDM-1543、XZDM-1546等4份,中等耐盐性包括XZDM-926、XZDM-957、XZDM-972等16份,弱耐盐性包括XZDM-815、XZDM-1606、XZDM-1030等12份,敏盐性包括XZDM-973、XZDM-1042、XZDM-1318等12份。     

急性缺血性脑卒中患者血清GAL3、CXCL12水平与病情严重程度和预后的关系研究

目的:探讨急性缺血性脑卒中(AIS)患者血清半乳糖凝集素3(GAL3)、血清趋化因子12(CXCL12)水平与病情严重程度和预后的关系。方法:选取成都市第五人民医院于2016年2月～2018年9月期间接收的AIS患者138例为观察组,另选取同期来该院行健康体检的志愿者60例为对照组。其中观察组根据美国国立卫生研究所中风量表(NIHSS)评分分为轻症组(n=42,4分),中症组(n=61,4～15分),重症组(n=35,15分),根据改良RABKIN量表(m RS)评分分为预后良好组(n=82)和预后不良组(n=56)。比较对照组、观察组的血清GAL3、CXCL12水平,分析不同NIHSS得分、不同预后的血清GAL3、CXCL12水平,采用Pearson相关性分析血清GAL3、CXCL12水平与NIHSS评分、m RS评分的相关性。结果:观察组血清GAL3、CXCL12水平均显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。重症组、中症组AIS患者血清GAL3、CXCL12水平高于轻症组,且重症组高于中症组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。预后不良组的AIS患者血清GAL3、CXCL12水平均高于预后良好组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。Pearson相关性分析结果可知,血清GAL3、CXCL12水平与NIHSS评分、m RS评分均呈正相关(P0.05)。结论:AIS患者的血清GAL3、CXCL12水平均异常升高,且其升高程度与AIS患者病情严重程度及预后息息相关。     

小儿肺热咳喘口服液联合阿奇霉素对肺炎支原体肺炎患儿肺功能和炎性因子的影响

目的:探讨小儿肺热咳喘口服液联合阿奇霉素对肺炎支原体肺炎患儿肺功能和炎性因子的影响。方法:选取2016年1月～2017年12月期间我院收治的175例肺炎支原体肺炎患儿,根据随机数字表法将其分为对照组(n=87,阿奇霉素治疗)和研究组(n=88,小儿肺热咳喘口服液联合阿奇霉素治疗),比较两组患儿临床疗效、临床症状消失时间、肺功能指标[第1s用力呼气容积(FEV1)、用力肺活量(FVC)、FEV1/FVC]、炎性因子指标[肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白介素-6(IL-6)、C反应蛋白(CRP)],记录两组患儿不良反应发生情况。结果:研究组患儿治疗后临床总有效率为94.32%(83/88),高于对照组患儿的80.46%(70/87)(P0.05)。研究组患儿咳嗽、发热、湿啰音、哮鸣音的消失时间均短于对照组(P0.05)。两组患儿治疗后FEV1、FVC、FEV1/FVC均升高,且研究组高于对照组(P0.05)。两组患儿治疗后IL-6、CRP、TNF-α水平均降低,且研究组低于对照组(P0.05)。两组患儿不良反应发生率对比无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:小儿肺热咳喘口服液联合阿奇霉素治疗肺炎支原体肺炎患儿的疗效优于单用阿奇霉素,且可有效改善患儿肺功能和炎性因子水平,快速缓解临床症状,促进患儿恢复。     

复方雷公藤逐痛颗粒辅助治疗痰瘀互结型类风湿关节炎的临床效果观察

目的:评价复方雷公藤逐痛颗粒治疗活动期类风湿关节炎痰瘀互结证的临床有效性和安全性。方法:选择2013年2月～2015年5月在上海光华中西医结合医院类风关内科门诊及住院的活动性痰瘀互结型类风湿关节炎患者63例,按治疗方式分为对照组33例和中西医结合治疗组30例,对照组采用西医治疗(甲氨蝶呤+青霉胺),治疗组采用中西医结合治疗(复方雷公藤逐痛颗粒+甲氨蝶呤+青霉胺)。治疗12周后,比较两组患者的临床疗效及各项观察指标的改善情况。结果:治疗后,两组患者晨僵持续时间、关节肿胀数、关节压痛数、中医症候积分、血沉(ESR)、血清CRP水平,疼痛VAS评分、患者总体状态自我VAS评分及DAS28评分均较治疗前显著下降(P0.05),且治疗组患者的上述各项指标均明显低于对照组(P0.05)。治疗期间,两组患者均未出现严重不良反应而中断治疗的情况,监测肝肾功能指标均未发现明显异常。结论:复方雷公藤逐痛颗粒辅助治疗痰瘀互结型类风湿关节炎的临床疗效确切,明显优于单用西医治疗,其有助于增强西医治疗对患者临床症状的缓解效果,提高患者的生活质量,且用药安全。     

T-piece复苏器在产房中对早产儿复苏中的应用效果评价*

目的:探讨T-piece复苏器在产房中对早产儿复苏中的应用效果。方法:选择2011年1月至2016年12月在本院产科出生的早产儿(胎龄28～37周)62例,随机分为对照组与观察组,各31例,对照组患儿给予自动充气式复苏囊正压人工通气,观察组患儿给予T组合复苏器正压人工通气,比较两组患儿1、5、10 min Apgar评分、肺气漏发生率,以及缺氧缺血性脑病、支气管肺发育不良、坏死性小肠结肠炎、动脉导管未闭、高胆红素血症率。结果:两组患儿胎龄、性别、分娩方式、出生体重、出生后1、5、10 min Apgar评分等方面差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。与对照组相比,观察组气漏发生率降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患儿缺氧缺血性脑病、支气管肺发育不良、坏死性小肠结肠炎、动脉导管未闭、高胆红素血症率差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:T-piece复苏器在产房中早产儿窒息复苏中的应用效果显著,具有操作简单、效率高等优点,两组复苏成功率差别不大,但T-piece复苏器能可有效减少肺气漏的发生,进而降低新生儿的病死率。