CEACAM1 loss links inflammation to insulin resistance in obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Mounting epidemiological evidence points to an association between metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an increasingly recognized new epidemic. NASH pathologies include hepatocellular ballooning, lobular inflammation, hepatocellular injury, apoptosis, and hepatic fibrosis. We will review the relationship between insulin resistance and inflammation in visceral obesity and NASH in an attempt to shed more light on the pathogenesis of these major metabolic diseases. Moreover, we will identify loss of the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 as a unifying mechanism linking the immunological and metabolic abnormalities in NASH.     

The establishment of humanized IL-4/IL-4RA mouse model by gene editing and efficacy evaluation

Asthma is a common respiratory immune disease in children and adults, and interleukin-4 (IL-4) is one of the key factors for the onset of asthma. Therefore, targeting human IL-4 and IL-4 receptor alpha (IL-4RA) has become one of the strategies for targeted therapy of cytokines. Herein, we established an animal model of asthmatic airway inflammation using double humanized IL-4/IL-4RA (hIL-4/hIL-4RA) mice, where human IL-4 and IL-4RA replaced their murine counterparts, respectively. We successfully identified the phenotype by Southern blotting, ELISA, and flow cytometry. The hIL-4/hIL-4RA mice induced by ovalbumin (OVA) exhibited several important features of asthma, such as inflammatory cell infiltration, IgE release, goblet cell hyperplasia, and Th2 cytokine secretion. Furthermore, treatment of these humanized mice with anti-human IL-4RA antibodies significantly inhibited level of these pathological indicators. Thus, hIL-4/hIL-4RA mice provide a validated preclinical mouse model to interrogate new therapeutic agents targeting this specific cytokine pathway in asthma.     

Characterization of a moderately pathogenic pseudorabies virus variant isolated in China, 2014

In this study, we reported a moderately pathogenic pseudorabies virus (PRV) variant isolated from one Bartha-K61-vaccinated pig farm in Weifang, Shandong Province, China, 2014. The sick piglets in the farm were characterized by anorexia, weight loss and neurologic symptoms but did not die. Sequence alignment of the gE gene indicated that it belonged to a new mutated PRV strain and about 15% amino acid sites had mutations, deficiencies and insertions compared to the other PRV strains. The gD gene had two amino acid insertions and ten amino acid mutations in comparison with the Bartha-K61 vaccine strain. The TK and gM genes were the same as one highly pathogenic PRV TJ strain. Evidence from virus isolation, laboratory challenge, serological detection and histopathologic examination confirmed that the etiological agent of the disease is PRV SD1404, which is a moderately pathogenic strain and causes piglets to be sick but not to die. PRV SD1404 strain is different from other reports and should be paid more attention to avoid economic losses.     

绶草内生真菌化学成分相关性的研究

目的 探讨绶草内生真菌与其宿主化学成分的相关性,为阐明药用植物真菌与宿主植物产生相同或相似化学成分的机制奠定基础。方法 采用HPLC法对绶草及其内生真菌各提取部位进行色谱分析,并利用SPSS16.0软件对色谱结果进行聚类,得到绶草内生真菌之间化学成分的相关性。结果 绶草内生真菌石油醚提取物的聚类规律不明显;醋酸乙酯提取物及水饱和正丁醇提取物均表现为分离自同一部位的真菌倾向于聚类在同一分支,相同种属的内生真菌同样倾向于聚类在同一分支,且以醋酸乙酯提取物表现最为明显。结论 绶草内生真菌石油醚提取物之间的相关性最小,醋酸乙酯提取物与真菌分离部位相关性最为明显,与真菌的种属同样存在较大的相关性。     

肝癌细胞中γ-谷氨酰转肽酶基因甲基化研究

目的:研究肝癌细胞中γ-谷氨酰转肽酶(GGT)甲基化的改变。方法:纯化人肝癌及癌旁组织中总GGT及RNA,观察总GGT、膜结合和可溶性GGT的表达,并以逆转录巢式PCR扩增GGT非编码区基因片段,分析M_3位点的甲基化状态。结果:肝癌、癌旁和远癌组总RNA浓度呈明显的梯度升而趋势(P<0.05);癌组织总GGT、膜结合和可溶性GGT均高于癌周又远癌组织(P<0.05);在癌、癌旁及远癌组织中,特定基因片段的扩增检出率分别为100％、85％、75％,M_3位点低甲基化频率分别为75％、55％、50％。结论:肝癌组织中GGT呈异常表达与基因低甲基化状态有关。     

微量元素锌 铜与血脂代谢关系的研究进展

正常情况下,人体含有一定量的锌、铜微量元素。血液中极少量的锌、铜对血脂代谢的稳定有一定影响,锌、铜微量元素的缺乏或过量都有可能导致血脂代谢紊乱。从膳食中合理摄取锌、铜对血脂代谢有着非常重要的意义。     

中医证候的发生规律与结构表征研究

中医证候在疾病的产生、发展和变化的过程中,有一个从起始到终结的自然过程,存在着证候的发生规律;而中医证候的发生规律,具体是从证候构成要素的发生过程中体现出来的。证候构成要素发生过程中,表现出了4个特征不变量（分别用Yy、Yx、xy与xx表示）,而且4不变量两次衍生后发生出来的证候的具体形式,是证候自然过程中发生出来的全部子集,因此可导出中医学一般证候的拓扑学表达形式,f（Xy）：YyV（Yy＋Yx）V（Yy＋xy）V（Yy＋Yx＋xy）V（Yy＋Xy＋Xx）V（Yy＋Yx＋Xy＋Xx）,从而可以实现证候结构的表征。由此,可以揭示出证候的内在结构规律,实现证候结构的形式化表达,使证候结构数据能够进行智能计算。这对于破解中医证候的复杂结构、建立起证候的判断诊断标准,对于中医理法方药结构表征的研究、建立理法方药精准对应的方法学体系,对于实现治则治法和方剂知识的创新、建立辨证论治水平评价体系,都具有重要的理论价值和临床意义。     

Genotyping polymorphic microhaplotype markers through the Illumina® MiSeq platform for forensics

Microhaplotype markers are emerging forensic genetic markers that have received broad attention in forensics and may supplement existing genetic marker panels. Short tandem repeat polymorphisms (STRPs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the general genetic markers at present. Stutter and the high mutation rate of STR markers and the low polymorphism of SNP markers obstruct the solving of certain cases. Kidd proposed microhaplotype markers that encompass 2–4 SNPs. In this study, we screened microhaplotype loci through three criteria, and chose the Illumina^® MiSeq platform to sequence the new markers. A new nomenclature was proposed and Perl-based tool FLfinder was designed to genotype the microhaplotype marker. After counting the number of haplotypes in samples that were sequenced and calculating common forensic parameters, 13 loci with high polymorphism were reported. Twelve of the 13 loci had an average allele coverage ratio (ACR) of 0.72 to 0.92. Structure analysis showed that 2504 samples (1000 genome project) could be divided into 5 groupings of populations, and each one representing a continental origin. The finding indicates that microhaplotype markers could be used for individual identification and ancestry inference, and a new choice is provided for forensic practice in the future.     

The effect of prone positioning on pressure injury incidence in adult intensive care unit patients: A meta-review of systematic reviews

ObjectiveNumerous systematic reviews have examined the impact of prone positioning on outcomes, including pressure injury (PI). The objective of this meta-review was to synthesise the evidence on the effect of prone positioning on the incidence and location of PIs in adult intensive care unit patients.Review methodThis is a meta-review of published systematic reviews. Five databases were searched; data were extracted by three authors and adjudicated by a fourth. The AMSTAR-2 tool was used to quality appraise the selected articles, which was completed by three authors with a fourth adjudicating.ResultsTen systematic reviews were synthesised. The cumulative incidence of PI in 15,979 adult patients ranged from 25.7% to 48.5%. One study did not report adult numbers. Only one review reported the secondary outcome of PI location. PIs were identified in 13 locations such as the face, chest, iliac crest, and knees. Using the AMSTAR-2, three reviews were assessed as high quality, six as moderate quality, and one as low quality.ConclusionThe high incidence of PI in the prone position highlights the need for targeted preventative strategies. Care bundles may be one approach, given their beneficial effects for the prevention of PI in other populations. This review highlights the need for proactive approaches to limit unintended consequences of the use of the prone position, especially notable in the current COVID-19 pandemic.     

Entrapment of Ketorolac Tromethamine in Polymeric Vehicle for Controlled Drug Delivery

The most common method for applying a drug in to the eye is to formulate the drug in the form of an eye drop, but this method is not considered ideal for ocular delivery of drug because of poor bioavailability arising from precorneal loss processes, this loss of drug from the precorneal area is a net effect of drainage, tear secretion and noncorneal absorption. Following the above lead we tried to improve the ocular bioavailability by increasing the corneal contact time and the feasible way was to formulate a drug with mucoadhesive/viscosity imparting agents. The adhesive strength of various polymers on corneal surface was studied with the help of self modified Franz diffusion cell and freshly excised goat/bovine cornea. The polymers hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, Eudragit type E/RL/RS, Carbopol ETD 2020 and Carbopol 934 National Formulary were formulated with drug, ketorolac tromethamine. The adhesive strength of polymers on corneal surface and permeation characteristics of drug through cornea were investigated by using above said formulations. Eudragit type E/RL/RS did not show any improvement in mucoadhesion, but the formulations containing Carbopol ETD 2020 and Carbopol 934 national formulary showed good mucoadhesion on corneal surface in the concentration as low as 0.75%. The mucoadhesive strength was also evaluated using the combination of Carbopol acrylates/C 10-30 alkylacrylate with allylpentaerithrital and preservative benzalkonium chloride, which also resulted in good mucoadhesion with improved corneal permeation. Observations made in this study indicate the potentiality of the ophthalmic formulations containing mucoadhesive/viscosity imparting agents.