Neutralization of BDNF Attenuates the in vitro Protective Effects of Olfactory Ensheathing Cell-Conditioned Medium on Scratch-Insulted Retinal Ganglion Cells

Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) becomes one of the promising strategies in restoring lost functions of injured central nervous system. Elevated level of expressed brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was revealed in the previous studies to be related to the protective effects of OECs on injured cortical and brain stem neurons as well as retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), but no evidence has been obtained to demonstrate whether transplanted OECs protect injured central neurons directly by their secreted BDNF. In the present study, the effects of BDNF neutralization on the neuroprotection of adult OEC-conditioned medium (OEC-CM) on scratch-insulted RGCs were examined. The results showed that OEC-CM protected cultured RGCs from scratch insult, and neutralization of BDNF by BDNF neutralizing antibody attenuated such neuroprotection of the medium. It is thus concluded that neurotrophic factors including BDNF secreted by OECs can protect injured OECs in vitro and BDNF plays a major role in such a protection of OECs.     

Promotion of Monacolin K Production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium tumefaciens</Emphasis>-Mediated Transformation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monascus albidus</Emphasis> 9901

The binary vector pCAMBIA3300-gpdA-hph-trpC with hygromycin B phosphotransferase (hph) was constructed and transformed into Monascus albidus 9901 by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, with gene hph as the selective marker. In order to improve the efficiency of A. tumefaciens-mediated transformation in M. albidus 9901, we optimized various factors including concentration of M. albidus 9901 spores, cell density of A. tumefaciens, co-cultivation time, temperature, and acetosyringone concentration. Most transformants of M. albidus 9901 could grow stably on media containing 50 μg ml⁻¹ hygromycin B up to five generations. The presence of hph was identified by PCR. Two transformants H1 and H2 which produced more Monacolin K than M. albidus 9901 were screened, and the concentration of Monacolin K in the fermented millet by H1 and H2 increased by 42.15% and 40.34% respectively compared with that produced by M. albidus 9901.     

周期性机械牵张对肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞Cyr61表达的影响

目的研究周期性牵张肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞株A549细胞对Cyr61表达的影响。方法对肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞株A549细胞施加周期性机械牵张应力。加载频率0.5 Hz,加载时间2 h,加载应力分别为5%,15%,30%。加载应力为15%,加载频率0.5 Hz,加载时间分别0,15 min,30 min,60 min,120 min。每个实验均设立空白对照即不给予机械应力。用PCR法测定Cyr61 mRNA的表达,用western法测定Cyr61蛋白含量。结果随着加载应力的增加和加载时间的延长,Cyr61蛋白含量和mRNA表达均增加(P<0.05);施加不同加载幅度后,Cyr61蛋白含量和mRNA表达均增加(P<0.05)。结论肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞IL-8的产生和释放与周期性的机械牵张应力呈强度和时间依赖性。     

Amperometric glucose biosensor based on self-assembly hydrophobin with high efficiency of enzyme utilization

Hydrophobins are a family of natural self-assembling proteins with high biocompability, which are apt to form strong and ordered assembly onto many kinds of surfaces. These physical-chemical and biological properties make hydrophobins suitable for surface modification and biomolecule immobilization purposes. A class II hydrophobin HFBI was used as enzyme immobilization matrix on platinum electrode to construct amperometric glucose biosensor. Permeability of HFBI self-assembling film was optimized by selecting the proper HFBI concentration for electrode modification, in order to allow H₂O₂ permeating while prevent interfering compounds accessing. HFBI self-assembly and glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilization was monitored by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and characterization of the modified electrode surface was obtained by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The resulting glucose biosensors showed rapid response time within 6 s, limits of detection of 0.09 mM glucose (signal-to-noise ratio = 3), wide linear range from 0.5 to 20 mM, high sensitivity of 4.214 × 10⁻³ A M⁻¹ cm⁻², also well selectivity, reproducibility and lifetime. The all-protein modified biosensor exhibited especially high efficiency of enzyme utilization, producing at most 712 μA responsive current for per unit activity of GOx. This work provided a promising new immobilization matrix with high biocompatibility and adequate electroactivity for further research in biosensing and other surface functionalizing.     

Dissolved organic carbon concentrations in four Norway spruce stands of different ages

Boreal forests are increasing in age partly due to reduced logging and efficient wildfire control. As a result, they also stock more carbon. Whether increased forest C stock causes greater production of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is uncertain. DOC in bulk precipitation, throughfall and soil water was studied in 10-, 30-, 60- and 120-year-old stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) DOC concentrations in throughfall and O horizon soil water followed the order 10 < 30 < 60 = 120 and 10 = 30 < 120 < 60, respectively. DOC fluxes followed the order 10 = 30 < 60 = 120 in throughfall, while no significant difference between stands was found for O horizon soil water. Above-ground tree litter varied according to 10 < 30 < 60 = 120, a pattern identical to that for DOC concentrations in throughfall and resembling but not identical to that for DOC concentrations in O horizon soil water. This indicates additional sources for DOC in soil water. Seasonality in DOC concentrations was observed at the base of the O horizon, and seasonality in DOC fluxes in both throughfall and O horizon soil water. Our results suggest differences in the polarity of DOC between the 10-year stand and the others, which we interpret as reflecting the lack of grown trees and possibly the different vegetation on the 10-year stand.     

Mefunidone Attenuates Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis in a Rat Model of Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction

Background

Inflammation has a crucial role in renal interstitial fibrosis, which is the common pathway of chronic kidney diseases. Mefunidone (MFD) is a new compound which could effectively inhibit the proliferation of renal fibroblasts in vitro. However, the overall effect of Mefunidone in renal fibrosis remains unknown.

Methods

Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided intro 6 groups: sham operation, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), UUO/Mefunidone (25, 50, 100mg/kg/day) and UUO/PFD (500mg/kg/day). The rats were sacrificed respectively on days 3, 7, and 14 after the operation. Tubulointerstitial injury index, interstitial collagen deposition, expression of fibronectin (FN), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), type I and III collagen and the number of CD3+ and CD68+ cells were determined. The expressions of proinflammatory cytokines, p-ERK, p-IκB, and p-STAT3 were measured in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells of HK-2 or macrophages.

Results

Mefunidone treatment significantly attenuated tubulointerstitial injury, interstitial collagen deposition, expression of FN, α-SMA, type I and III collagen in the obstructive kidneys, which correlated with significantly reduced the number of T cells and macrophages in the obstructive kidneys. Mechanistically, Mefunidone significantly inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α-) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines. This effect is possibly due to the inhibition of phosphorylation of ERK, IκB, and STAT3.

Conclusion

Mefunidone treatment attenuated tubulointerstitial fibrosis in a rat model of UUO, at least in part, through inhibition of inflammation.     

Comparison of Short- and Medium-Term Clinical Outcomes between Transradial Approach and Transfemoral Approach in a High-Volume PCI Heart Center in China

Background

Transradial approach (TRA) outweighed transfemoral approach (TFA) in acute coronary syndrome patients because the former has better short-term outcomes in high-volume percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centers. Our study was one of the limited studies specifically in comparing the short- and medium-term effects of TRA and those of TFA in patients undergoing elective PCIs.

Methods

A total of 21,242 patients who underwent elective PCI with stent implantation were included. Using propensity score methodology, 1,634 patient pairs were matched. Major clinical outcomes and PCI-related complications between TRA and TFA were compared.

Results

In the propensity score-matched patients, the rates of in-hospital net adverse clinical events, which included death, myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), stroke, and major bleeding, were much lower with TRA than with TFA (1.8% vs. 3.9%, P < 0.001). This difference was mainly due to the lower rate of major bleeding (0.6% vs. 1.8%, P < 0.001) and the decreased rate of MI (1.1% vs. 1.9%, P = 0.060). PCI-related dissection and thrombosis were similar between the TRA and TFA groups (both P > 0.05). Meanwhile, one-year incidence rates of major adverse cardiovascular events, which included death, MI, and TVR, were also similar (4.1% vs. 4.9%, P = 0.272) in TRA and TFA. Multivariable regression analyses showed that TRA was an independent predictor of the low rate of in-hospital net adverse clinical events (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.40 to 0.71), but not of major adverse cardiovascular events at one-year follow-up (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.96 to 1.06).

Conclusions

In patients undergoing elective PCI, TRA patients had lower rates of in-hospital net adverse clinical outcomes compared with TFA patients. TRA might be recommended as a routine approach in high-volume PCI hospitals for elective PCIs.     

Higher Body Mass Index Increases the Risk for Biopsy-Mediated Detection of Prostate Cancer in Chinese Men

Objective

To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and prostate cancer (PCa) risk at biopsy in Chinese men.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1,807 consecutive men who underwent initial multicore (≥10) prostate biopsy under transrectal ultrasound guidance between Dec 2004 and Feb 2014. BMI was categorised based on the Asian classification of obesity as follows: <18.5 (underweight), 18.5–22.9 (normal weight), 23–24.9 (overweight), 25–29.9 (moderately obese), and ≥30 kg/m2 (severely obese). The odds ratios (OR) of each BMI category for risk of PCa and high-grade prostate cancer (HGPCa, Gleason score ≥4+3) detection were estimated in crude, age-adjusted and multivariate-adjusted models. Prevalence ratios and accuracies of PSA predicted PCa were also estimated across BMI groups.

Results

In total, PCa was detected by biopsy in 750 (45.4%) men, and HGPCa was detected in 419 (25.4%) men. Compared with men of normal weight, underweight men and obese men were older and had higher prostate specific antigen levels. The risk of overall PCa detection via biopsy presented an obvious U-shaped relationship with BMI in crude analysis. Overall, 50.0%, 37.4%, 45.6% 54.4% and 74.1% of the men in the underweight, normal weight, overweight, moderately obese and severely obese groups, respectively, were diagnosed with PCa via biopsy. In multivariate analysis, obesity was significantly correlated with a higher risk of PCa detection (OR = 1.17, 95%CI 1.10–1.25, P<0.001). However, higher BMI was not correlated with HGPCa detection (OR = 1.03, 95%CI 0.97–1.09, P = 0.29). There were no significant differences in the accuracy of using PSA to predict PCa or HGPCa detection across different BMI categories.

Conclusion

Obesity was associated with higher risk of PCa detection in the present Chinese biopsy population. No significant association was detected between obesity and HGPCa.