GMF-Knockout Mice are Unable to Induce Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor after Exercise

We earlier reported that overexpression of glia maturation factor (GMF) in cultured astrocytes enhances the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The current study was conducted to find out whether BDNF production is impaired in animals devoid of GMF. To this end GMF-knockout (KO) mice were subjected to exercise and the neurotrophin mRNAs were determined by real-time RT-PCR. Compared to wild-type (WT) mice, there is a decrease in exercise-induced BDNF in the KO mice. The observation was correlated with the finding that, in WT mice, exercise increases GMF expression. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that GMF is necessary for exercise-induction of BDNF, and that GMF may promote neuroprotection through BDNF production.     

血清Irisin、TMAO、MIF与慢性心力衰竭合并心房颤动患者预后的关系及其预测价值研究

摘要 目的：探讨血清鸢尾素（Irisin）、氧化三甲胺（TMAO）、巨噬细胞迁移抑制因子（MIF）与慢性心力衰竭（CHF）合并心房颤动（AF）患者预后的关系及其预测价值。方法：选取2020年1月～2023年1月甘肃省人民医院收治的CHF合并AF患者175例纳入合并AF组,根据预后情况分为预后不良组和预后良好组。另选取同期收治未合并AF的CHF患者100例纳入未合并AF组。通过酶联免疫吸附法检测血清Irisin、TMAO、MIF水平。采用多因素Logistic回归分析CHF合并AF患者预后的影响因素,受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清Irisin、TMAO、MIF对CHF合并AF患者预后不良的预测价值。结果：与未合并AF组比较,合并AF组血清Irisin水平降低,血清TMAO、MIF水平升高（P＜0.05）。与预后良好组比较,预后不良组血清Irisin水平降低,血清TMAO、MIF水平升高（P＜0.05）。随访6个月,175例CHF合并AF患者预后不良发生率为26.29%。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,纽约心脏病协会（NYHA）心功能分级Ⅲ～Ⅳ级和N末端前体B型钠尿肽（NT-proBNP）、TMAO、MIF升高为CHF合并AF患者预后不良的独立危险因素,Irisin升高为独立保护因素（P＜0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示,血清Irisin、TMAO、MIF联合预测CHF合并AF患者预后不良的曲线下面积（AUC）为0.919,大于血清Irisin、TMAO、MIF单独预测的0.787、0.780、0.777。结论：CHF合并AF患者血清Irisin水平降低,TMAO、MIF水平升高,且与预后不良密切相关。血清Irisin、TMAO、MIF水平联合检测对CHF合并AF患者预后不良具有较高的预测价值。     

shASPP2 H22稳转肝癌细胞系的构建及ASPP2敲低对H22移植瘤小鼠血管生成的影响

摘要 目的：构建小鼠shASPP2 H22稳转肝癌细胞系,观察ASPP2敲低对血管生成的影响。方法：针对小鼠ASPP2基因设计了3个不同的shRNA干扰序列（Y18421,Y18422,Y18423）及1个对照序列（GL427NC2）,采用双酶切（Age Ⅰ和EcoR Ⅰ）及质粒连接构建重组质粒,使用菌落PCR和测序比对进行鉴定;使用293T细胞将各重组质粒包装慢病毒并测定滴度;将 shASPP2和对照慢病毒质粒转染H22细胞,采用流式细胞术测定转染效率;采用qRT-PCR、Western Blot法观察shASPP2慢病毒对H22细胞ASPP2的干扰效果;采用CCK8法观察ASPP2敲低对H22细胞增殖的影响;采用Western Blot法观察ASPP2敲低对H22细胞及上清VEGF表达和分泌的影响;采用细胞注射法建立小鼠ASPP2敲低H22细胞皮下移植瘤模型,游标卡尺法观察肿瘤体积大小,采用活体激光共聚焦观察肿瘤血管生成情况,采用Western Blot法观察肿瘤组织VEGF的表达。结果：双酶切、菌落PCR和测序鉴定结果表示各重组质粒构建成功;各重组质粒经慢病毒包装后,测定显示Y18421、Y18422、Y18423和GL427NC2慢病毒质粒的滴度分别为3.40×10⁸ TU/mL、4.08×10⁸ TU/mL、5.49×10⁸ TU/mL和1.7×10⁹ TU/mL;Y18421、Y18422、Y18423及GL427NC2慢病毒质粒转染效率分别为：86.2 %、69.6 %、60.8 %和76.9 %。与GL427NC2 H22细胞相比,Y18421 H22细胞的ASPP2 mRNA及蛋白的表达明显降低（P<0.01,P<0.05）;Y18421细胞在培养24,48,72 h后增殖速率显著增加（P<0.0001,P<0.001,P<0.01）;Y18421细胞及上清的VEGF表达显著升高（P<0.001,P<0.01,P<0.05）。与GL427NC2 细胞移植瘤相比,Y18421细胞移植瘤体积明显增大（P<0.05）,总血管长度显著增加（P<0.05）,VEGF蛋白的表达明显上调（P<0.05）。结论：小鼠shASPP2 H22稳转肝癌细胞系构建成功,ASPP2敲低可能通过上调VEGF的表达促进小鼠H22细胞移植瘤血管生成。     

Nrf2激动剂CDDO-Im对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠肝脏脂肪变性的影响

摘要 目的：探究Nrf2激动剂CDDO-Im对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠肝脏脂肪变性的作用。方法：33只雄性C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为两组：一组16只饲喂普通饲料,另一组17只饲喂高脂饲料建立肥胖模型。造模成功后将小鼠随机分成四组：普通饲料溶剂对照组（Control ND组）、普通饲料Nrf2激动剂组（Nrf2(+) ND组）、高脂饲料溶剂对照组（Control HFD组）和高脂饲料Nrf2激动剂组（Nrf2(+) HFD组）。分别给予Nrf2激动剂CDDO-Im和等体积溶剂灌胃干预6周后,检测各组小鼠血清甘油三酯（TG）、总胆固醇（T-CHO）和低密度脂蛋白-胆固醇（LDL-C）。苏木素-伊红（HE）染色观察肝脏组织形态学变化。RT-qPCR检测肝脏Nrf2下游抗氧化基因Nqo1、Ho1和Gclc的mRNA表达水平,Western Blot检测肝脏NQO1、HO-1和GCLC的蛋白表达水平。结果：与正常小鼠相比,肥胖小鼠的体重、TG和LDL-C升高（P＜0.05）,肝脏脂肪变性增加,GCLC的蛋白表达水平降低（P＜0.05）。在肥胖小鼠中,与溶剂对照组相比,Nrf2激动剂组小鼠的体重、血清TG降低（P＜0.05）,肝脏脂肪变性减轻,Nqo1和Gclc的mRNA表达水平升高（P＜0.05）,NQO1和GCLC的蛋白表达水平升高（P＜0.05）。结论：Nrf2激动剂CDDO-Im可改善高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠肝脏脂肪变性,可能与Nrf2激动剂CDDO-Im激活抗氧化基因的表达来减轻肝细胞氧化应激有关。     

小儿肺热咳喘颗粒联合雾化吸入用乙酰半胱氨酸溶液对支气管肺炎患儿肺通气功能、炎症因子和免疫球蛋白的影响

摘要 目的：观察小儿肺热咳喘颗粒联合雾化吸入用乙酰半胱氨酸溶液对支气管肺炎患儿肺通气功能、炎症因子和免疫球蛋白的影响。方法：选择2019年9月-2023年1月期间合肥市第二人民医院收治的100例支气管肺炎患儿,采用双色球法将患儿分为对照组和研究组,各为50例。对照组患儿接受雾化吸入用乙酰半胱氨酸溶液,研究组患儿在对照组的基础上接受小儿肺热咳喘颗粒。对比两组临床症状、炎症因子水平[白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、降钙素原（PCT）、C反应蛋白（CRP）]、免疫球蛋白[免疫球蛋白（Ig）A、IgM、IgG]、肺通气功能指标[吸气时间（TI）、呼气时间（TE）、吸呼比（TI/TE）、达峰时间比（TPF%TE）、达峰容积比（VPF%VE）]和不良反应发生率。结果：与对照组相比,研究组的肺部湿啰音消失时间、咳嗽消失时间、咳痰消失时间、退热时间更短（P<0.05）。研究组治疗10 d后CRP、IL-6、PCT低于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组治疗10 d后IgA、IgM、IgG高于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组治疗10 d后VT、TI、TE、TI/TE、TPF%TE、VPF%VE高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率对比未见差异（P>0.05）。结论：小儿肺热咳喘颗粒联合雾化吸入用乙酰半胱氨酸溶液治疗支气管肺炎,可有效缩短临床症状缓解时间,改善肺通气功能,降低炎症因子水平,调节免疫球蛋白,且安全性较好。     

Ultrastructure of retrocerebral complex of the earwig, Euborellia annulipes, and rôle of aorta as a neurohaemal organ

The ultrastructure of the retrocerebral endocrine-aortal complex of the earwig, Euborellia annulipes has been studied. The space between the inner and outer stromal layers of the aorta is occupied by numerous axon terminals and pre-terminals containing large electron dense granules (NS-I) of approximately 100 to 220 nm and a few axon terminals having small granules (NS-II) of approximately 40 to 90 nm; the former appear to belong to medial neurosecretory A-cells, and the latter to the B-cells of the brain. The corpora cardiaca consist of intrinsic cells with mitochondria and multivesicular bodies. Granules of type NS-II and NS-III are observed in the axon terminals and pre-terminals in the corpora cardiaca. The NS-II are identical to those found in the aorta and are probably the secretions of the lateral B-cells. Granules of type NS-III are 40 to 120 nm and electron dense, and are intrinsic in origin. Similar granules occur in the intrinsic cells of the corpora cardiaca. E M studies have confirmed the rôle of the aorta as a neurohaemal organ for the medial neurosecretory cells, and the corpora cardiaca for the lateral neurosecretory cells of the brain. The corpora cardiaca also act as a reservoir for the intrinsic secretion. The corpus allatum is a solid body consisting of parenchymal cells with prominent nuclei, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum. In between its cells are occasional glial cells and also neurosecretory as well as non-neurosecretory axons. The gland is devoid of A-cell NSM.     

Prognostic role of c-met expression in breast cancer patients

Background

Hepatocyte growth factor plays an important role in tumor growth, metastasis and angiogenesis. C-met is HGF''s high affinity receptor.

Aim

The aim of the study was to assess the correlations between c-met expression and clinic-pathological factors in breast cancer tissues. Furthermore, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR, c-met) expressions in homogenous group of breast cancer patients.

Materials and methods

Tumor samples were collected from 302 patients with breast carcinoma treated with primary surgery. We have assessed the percentage of tumor cells with c-met expression, the intensity of reaction and the ratio of these two factors—immunoreactivity according to the Remmele score.

Results

We have observed no correlations between HGFR immunoreactivities and clinical parameters (tumor size, grade, axillary lymph node status, age). In 5-year observation we have found prognostic value of assessing c-met immunoreactivity in primary tumor.

Conclusion

Our study has revealed prognostic value of c-met. Unlike in other authors’ studies, our patients’ group is very homogenous which might contribute to obtained results.     

Effects of Phosphorus Removal on the Maximal Algal Growth in Bioassay Experiments with Water from Four Dutch Lakes

This paper reports the effects of phosphorus removal at three sewage wastewater treatment plants on the state of eutrophication of four shallow lakes in the south-eastern part of the Rijnland Waterboard area during the years 1980–1982. With chemical analyses and bioassay experiments using the natural phytoplankton population no significant lowering could be detected of respectively the phosphate concentration and the maximal algal growth potential. All lakes proved to be principally nitrogen limited except the Reeuwijk Lakes, which showed clearly, after a primary nitrogen limitation, a secondary phosphorus limitation. Therefore the main attention with respect to phosphorus reduction should be concentrated on the Reeuwijk Lakes in the first place. For the other lakes in the investigated area phosphorus removal will, when it is the only measure taken, presumably not lead at short notice to a decrease of the algal biomass.     

Overcoming resistance to rapalogs in gliomas by combinatory therapies

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive brain tumor type, with a mean patient survival of approximately 1 year. Many previous analyses of the glioma kinome have identified key deregulated pathways that converge and activate mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Following the identification and characterization of mTOR-promoting activity in gliomagenesis, data from preclinical studies suggested the targeting of mTOR by rapamycin or its analogs (rapalogs) as a promising therapeutic approach. However, clinical trials with rapalogs have shown very limited efficacy on glioma due to the development of resistance mechanisms. Analysis of rapalog-insensitive glioma cells has revealed increased activity of growth and survival pathways compensating for mTOR inhibition by rapalogs that are suitable for therapeutic intervention. In addition, recently developed mTOR inhibitors show high anti-glioma activity. In this review, we recapitulate the regulation of mTOR signaling and its involvement in gliomagenesis, discuss mechanisms resulting in resistance to rapalogs, and speculate on strategies to overcome resistance. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Inhibitors of Protein Kinases (2012).