Irgm1 knockout indirectly inhibits regeneration after skeletal muscle injury in mice

Immunity-related GTPase family M1 protein (lRGM1) plays an important role in host resistance to infection, immune inflammation, and tumors, and it is expressed in various tissues and cells, including the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, bone marrow-derived cells, glioma, and melanoma. However, the effect of IRGM1 in the muscles has not been reported to date. In this study, Irgm1^−/− mice were used to evaluate the effect of lrgm1 on regeneration after skeletal muscle injury. The tibialis anterior muscle in Irgm1^−/− mice was poorly repaired after BaCl₂-induced injury, whereas lrgm1 knockout itself had no significant effect on the differentiation of myoblasts. However, the microenvironment of Irgm1^−/− mice with a high interferon-gamma level inhibited the differentiation of myoblasts in vivo. These results suggest that lrgm1 knockout indirectly inhibits skeletal muscle regeneration after injury, providing new insights into the biological function of IRGM1.     

中医康复护理对中风肢体功能障碍患者的疗效

目的分析脑卒中肢体功能障碍患者应用中医康复护理干预后,上下肢功能、生活品质以及神经功能损伤症状变化情况。方法选取本院2017年3月-2019年3月收治的160例脑卒中肢体功能障碍患者为研究对象,将其随机均分为采用传统康复护理的常规组,与采用中医康复护理的研究组。对比两组患者护理干预前后上下肢力指标、神经功能损伤评估分值以及生活品质评估分值。结果干预前,两组患者上、下肢肌力差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),干预后,两组患者上、下肢肌力全部明显增加,并且研究组增加幅度优于常规组,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05);干预后,研究组与常规组脑卒中患者神经功能缺损评分标准(CSS)评估分值均显著降低,且常规组降低幅度低于研究组;两组生活自理能力评估分值全部显著增加,且研究组提升幅度明显高于常规组,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论脑卒中肢体功能障碍患者应用中医康复护理干预,能够显著提高患者肢体肌肉能力以及生活品质,促进神经功能的修复。     

CDC42 promotes vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease

Vascular calcification is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Vascular calcification is now recognised as a biological process similar to bone formation involving osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Cell division cycle 42 (CDC42), a Rac1 family member GTPase, is essential for cartilage development during endochondral bone formation. However, whether CDC42 affects osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs and vascular calcification remains unknown. In the present study, we observed a significant increase in the expression of CDC42 both in rat VSMCs and in calcified arteries during vascular calcification. Alizarin red staining and calcium content assay revealed that adenovirus-mediated CDC42 overexpression led to an apparent VSMC calcification in the presence of calcifying medium, accompanied with up-regulation of bone-related molecules including RUNX2 and BMP2. By contrast, inhibition of CDC42 by ML141 significantly blocked calcification of VSMCs in vitro and aortic rings ex vivo. Moreover, ML141 markedly attenuated vascular calcification in rats with CKD. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of AKT signal was shown to block CDC42-induced VSMC calcification. These findings demonstrate for the first time that CDC42 contributes to vascular calcification through a mechanism involving AKT signalling; this uncovered a new function of CDC42 in regulating vascular calcification. This may provide a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of vascular calcification in the context of CKD. © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Maximal calf circumference reflects calf muscle mass measured using magnetic resonance imaging

BackgroundCalf circumference (CC) has been used as a surrogate for calf muscle mass, which facilitates venous blood return to the heart through active skeletal muscle. However, the correlation between CC and calf muscle mass has not been extensively examined. This study aimed to examine the relationship between CC and calf muscle mass considering differences in sex and physique in elderly individuals.MethodsA total of 124 community-dwelling elderly individuals ≥60 years of age (61 men, mean [±SD] age 74.3 ± 5.7 years) were enrolled. Maximal CC was measured using a tape measure with the subject supine. The cross-sectional area of skeletal muscle tissues was measured using magnetic resonance imaging from the point of greatest calf circumference to 5 cm proximal and distal. Calf muscle mass was calculated by multiplying the area of each slice by slice thickness (5 mm).ResultsCC was strongly correlated with calf muscle mass in male and female subjects (male: r = 0.908, P < 0.001; female: r = 0.892, P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that CC and body mass index (BMI) were independent associate factors of calf muscle mass. The following estimation formulae were derived: (male) calf muscle mass (cm³) = 47.82 × CC (cm)−12.50 × BMI (kg/m²) −732.80; (female) calf muscle mass (cm³) = 32.23 × CC (cm) −4.85 × BMI (kg/m²) −429.94.ConclusionsA strong correlation was found between CC and calf muscle mass according to magnetic resonance imaging. Sex differences and BMI should be considered for accurate estimation of calf muscle mass using CC.     

Three-year efficacy and patency follow-up of decellularized human internal mammary artery as a novel vascular graft in animal models

Background

Various investigations have reported that the internal mammary artery (IMA) is an efficient and functional choice of conduit for vascular graft surgeries, especially for coronary artery bypass grafts; however, the quest to find an ideal vascular substitute remains. We hypothesized that acellular IMA could be an appropriate graft for small-diameter vascular bypasses that could be used in various surgeries including coronary artery bypass grafting.

Focal hole versus screw stimulation to prevent false negative results in detecting pedicle breaches during spinal instrumentation

ObjectiveWe describe a stimulus-evoked EMG approach to minimize false negative results in detecting pedicle breaches during lumbosacral spinal instrumentation.MethodsIn 36 patients receiving 176 lumbosacral pedicle screws, EMG threshold to nerve root activation was determined using a focal probe inserted into the pilot hole at a depth, customized to the individual patients, suitable to position the stimulating tip at the point closest to the tested nerve root. Threshold to screw stimulation was also determined.ResultsMean EMG thresholds in 161 correctly fashioned pedicle instrumentations were 7.5 mA ± 2.46 after focal hole stimulation and 21.8 mA ± 6.8 after screw stimulation. Direct comparison between both thresholds in individual pedicles showed that screw stimulation was always biased by an unpredictable leakage of the stimulating current ranging from 10 to 90%. False negative results were never observed with hole stimulation but this was not true with screw stimulation.ConclusionsFocal hole stimulation, unlike screw stimulation, approaches absolute EMG threshold as shown by the lower normal limit (2.6 mA; p < 0.05) that borders the upper limit of threshold to direct activation of the exposed root.SignificanceThe technique provides an early warning of a possible pedicle breakthrough before insertion of the more harmful, larger and threaded screw.     

Development of the amniote ventrolateral body wall

In vertebrates, the trunk consists of the musculoskeletal structures of the back and the ventrolateral body wall, which together enclose the internal organs of the circulatory, digestive, respiratory and urogenital systems. This review gives an overview on the development of the thoracic and abdominal wall during amniote embryogenesis. Specifically, I briefly summarize relevant historical concepts and the present knowledge on the early embryonic development of ribs, sternum, intercostal muscles and abdominal muscles with respect to anatomical bauplan, origin and specification of precursor cells, initial steps of pattern formation, and cellular and molecular regulation of morphogenesis.     

Comparison of dystrophin expression following gene editing and gene replacement in an aged preclinical DMD animal model

1. Download : Download high-res image (137KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image