Engraftable neural crest stem cells derived from cynomolgus monkey embryonic stem cells

Neural crest stem cells (NCSCs), a population of multipotent cells that migrate extensively and give rise to diverse derivatives, including peripheral and enteric neurons and glia, craniofacial cartilage and bone, melanocytes and smooth muscle, have great potential for regenerative medicine. Non-human primates provide optimal models for the development of stem cell therapies. Here, we describe the first derivation of NCSCs from cynomolgus monkey embryonic stem cells (CmESCs) at the neural rosette stage. CmESC-derived neurospheres replated on polyornithine/laminin-coated dishes migrated onto the substrate and showed characteristic expression of NCSC markers, including Sox10, AP2α, Slug, Nestin, p75, and HNK1. CmNCSCs were capable of propagating in an undifferentiated state in vitro as adherent or suspension cultures, and could be subsequently induced to differentiate towards peripheral nervous system lineages (peripheral sympathetic neurons, sensory neurons, and Schwann cells) and mesenchymal lineages (osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and smooth muscle cells). CmNCSCs transplanted into developing chick embryos or fetal brains of cynomolgus macaques survived, migrated, and differentiated into progeny consistent with a neural crest identity. Our studies demonstrate that CmNCSCs offer a new tool for investigating neural crest development and neural crest-associated human disease and suggest that this non-human primate model may facilitate tissue engineering and regenerative medicine efforts.     

Potentilla anserine L. polysaccharide protects against cadmium-induced neurotoxicity

Cadmium is a toxic metal that can damage the brain and other organs. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of Potentilla anserine L. polysaccharide (PAP) against CdCl₂-induced neurotoxicity in N2a and SH-SY5Y cells and in the cerebral cortex of BALB/c mice. In addition, we aimed to identify the potential mechanisms underlying these protective effects. Relative to CdCl₂ treatment alone, pretreatment with PAP prevented the reduction in cell viability evoked by CdCl₂, decreased rates of apoptosis, promoted calcium homeostasis, decreased ROS accumulation, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibited cytochrome C and AIF release, and prevented the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. In addition, PAP significantly decreased the CdCl₂-induced phosphorylation of CaMKII, Akt, and mTOR. In conclusion, PAP represents a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of Cd-induced neurotoxicity, functioning in part via attenuating the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and the Ca²⁺-CaMKII-dependent Akt/mTOR pathway.     

子宫内膜异位症不孕患者血清泌乳素水平分析

目的:探讨子宫内膜异位症不孕患者与非子宫内膜异位症不孕患者血清卵泡刺激素、黄体生成素、雌二醇、睾酮、促甲状腺激素及泌乳素的差异。方法:选取2015~2016年907例子宫内膜异位症不孕患者(观察组),与1579例非子宫内膜异位症的不孕患者(对照组),对比分析两组患者激素水平。结果:两组卵泡刺激素、黄体生成素、雌二醇、睾酮、促甲状腺激素水平差异无统计学意义。观察组泌乳素水平[(17.8±8.8)ng/mL vs.(16.8±8.2)ng/mL]高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P=0.005)。子宫内膜异位症卵巢型患者血清泌乳素水平为(17.1±7.1)ng/mL,腹膜型为(18.9±11.0)ng/mL,腹膜型高于卵巢型,差异有统计学意义(P=0.009)。结论:子宫内膜异位症不孕患者泌乳素水平升高,针对泌乳素的机制研究与干预可能有助于了解不孕症的发生机制、提高临床诊治效果。     

中国国家出生队列研究质量控制策略与措施

出生队列是研究孕前和孕期各种环境暴露因素与胎儿、婴幼儿、青少年健康之间关系的有效方法。出生队列建设周期长、环节众多,研究质量可能受到多种因素的影响。本文对中国国家出生队列建设过程中的各项质量保证和质量控制措施进行梳理,归纳总结建设经验。以期为相关队列研究提供经验,减少相关因素对队列研究的影响,提升队列研究质量。中国国家出生队列在质量保证的顶层设计方面采取一系列措施保障研究质量,包括研究中心筛选、成员管理系统开发、标准化操作流程制定及工作人员规范化培训;在质量控制方面,包括针对队列数据产生过程的实时、及时、定时质控,针对生物样本采集、处理及保存的全周期质控,以及针对参与工作人员的培训、督查和量化考核的全面立体质控。     

中国国家出生队列研究调查对象的基线特征分析

目的 探讨生命早期环境因素、遗传因素和遗传与环境交互作用对子代近期和远期健康的影响以及系统评价和比较辅助生殖受孕和自然受孕人群的妊娠结局和子代健康相关结局。方法 中国国家出生队列（CNBC）研究是一项覆盖辅助生殖受孕家庭和自然受孕家庭的多中心前瞻性出生队列研究。2016年,CNBC项目陆续在我国12个省（自治区、直辖市）的24所医院启动,以家庭为单位纳入研究对象,并在辅助生殖治疗前、胚胎移植、孕早期、孕中期、孕晚期及分娩时以及出生后第42天、6个月、12个月、36个月多个时点采集数据信息和生物样本。结果 截至2020年6月,CNBC共纳入27 044个辅助生殖受孕家庭,29 589个自然受孕家庭,CNBC的研究人群中绝大部分为城市居民。在辅助生殖受孕家庭中,男女双方分别有65.5%和63.7%为大学及以上文化程度,年龄为（33.83±5.52）和（32.38±4.67）岁;女方83.2%为初产妇,吸烟率为0.8%,饮酒率为2.1%。在自然受孕家庭中,男女双方分别有81.5%和86.5%为大学及以上文化程度,年龄为（32.06±5.09）和（30.40±4.27）岁,女方67.2%为初产妇,吸烟率为0.1%,饮酒率为2.2%。不同地区的辅助生殖受孕家庭和自然受孕家庭的基线特征均有差异。结论 CNBC的建立将为研究生命早期遗传、环境因素、遗传-环境交互作用以及辅助生殖技术治疗相关因素对出生后子代健康的影响提供了重要资源。