芪玉三龙汤调节Beclin1,Atg5,LC3B表达以抑制肺癌肿瘤生长机制

目的:研究芪玉三龙汤对肺癌小鼠皮下移植瘤生长及对自噬关键分子酵母Atg6同系物(Beclin1),自噬相关基因5(autophagy related genes,Atg5)及微管相关蛋白1轻链3(microtubule-associated protein1light chain3,LC3B)表达的影响。方法:采用Lewis肺癌细胞(lewis lung cancer cell,LLC)构建肺癌移植瘤小鼠模型,造模成功后随机分为模型组、芪玉三龙汤组、顺铂组及联合组,每组18只移植瘤小鼠。模型组每日按照生理盐水20 mL·kg~(-1)灌胃;芪玉三龙汤组每日按照80. 48 g·kg~(-1)灌胃;顺铂组在第1,3,5天腹腔注射顺铂溶液(DDP)0. 4 mL;联合组每日按80. 48 g·kg~(-1)灌胃给药,并分别在第1,3,5天腹腔注射顺铂溶液0. 4 mL;连续治疗21 d剥离瘤组织,称取瘤重,计算抑瘤率。苏木素-伊红(HE)染色观察肿瘤组织形态学改变。免疫组化检测肿瘤组织中Beclin1,LC3B蛋白表达和定位。蛋白免疫印迹法(Western blot)测定Beclin1,Atg5,微管相关蛋白1轻链3-I(LC3B-Ⅰ)及微管相关蛋白1轻链3-Ⅱ(LC3B-Ⅱ)蛋白表达,并计算LC3B-Ⅱ/LC3B-Ⅰ。实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(Real-time PCR)检测肿瘤组织Beclin1,Atg5 mRNA转录水平。结果:芪玉三龙汤具有温和的移植瘤抑制作用,抑瘤率为31. 2%;镜下观察芪玉三龙汤组肿瘤组织可见片状坏死的肿瘤细胞;免疫组化及Western blot实验表明,与模型组比较,芪玉三龙汤能够上调Beclin1,Atg5,LC3B蛋白的表达(P 0. 01),并且能促进LC3B-Ⅰ转化为LC3B-Ⅱ;Real-time PCR结果表明,与模型组比较,芪玉三龙汤能够促进Beclin1,Atg5 mRNA的转录(P 0. 01)。结论:芪玉三龙汤对肺肿瘤生长具有温和地抑制作用,其作用机制可能与上调自噬关键分子Beclin1,Atg5,LC3B表达,促进LC3B-Ⅰ向LC3B-Ⅱ转化有关。     

Hepatitis E: An Underdiagnosed,Emerging Infection in Nonendemic Regions

Although hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the primary cause of enterically transmitted acute hepatitis and jaundice in developing countries, locally acquired HEV infections are increasing in nonendemic countries. As such, HEV is emerging as an underdiagnosed cause of infection. This report describes three clinically variable cases of HEV infection with unusual clinical presentations. These cases highlight the fact that HEV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with unexplained hepatitis (acute or chronic) with or without extrahepatic manifestations. HEV should also be considered in patients with persistently elevated liver enzymes who have not travelled to known HEV-endemic regions. Lack of knowledge among physicians and an absence of standardized diagnostic tests may result in increased morbidity and mortality from HEV infection.     

Inhibitors of the Hepatitis C Virus Polymerase; Mode of Action and Resistance

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a pandemic human pathogen posing a substantial health and economic burden in both developing and developed countries. Controlling the spread of HCV through behavioural prevention strategies has met with limited success and vaccine development remains slow. The development of antiviral therapeutic agents has also been challenging, primarily due to the lack of efficient cell culture and animal models for all HCV genotypes, as well as the large genetic diversity between HCV strains. On the other hand, the use of interferon-α-based treatments in combination with the guanosine analogue, ribavirin, achieved limited success, and widespread use of these therapies has been hampered by prevalent side effects. For more than a decade, the HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) has been targeted for antiviral development. Direct acting antivirals (DAA) have been identified which bind to one of at least six RdRp inhibitor-binding sites, and are now becoming a mainstay of highly effective and well tolerated antiviral treatment for HCV infection. Here we review the different classes of RdRp inhibitors and their mode of action against HCV. Furthermore, the mechanism of antiviral resistance to each class is described, including naturally occurring resistance-associated variants (RAVs) in different viral strains and genotypes. Finally, we review the impact of these RAVs on treatment outcomes with the newly developed regimens.     

Viral infection in placenta relevant cells – a morphological and immunohistochemical cell culture study

Viral infections in pregnancy are known to cause fetal malformation, growth restriction, and even fetal death. Macroscopic placental examination usually shows slight and unspecific changes. Histology may show secondary, non‐specific tissue reaction, i.e. villitis with lymphocytic invasion. Primary specific morphology characteristics are known for some virus, like cytomegalovirus, parvovirus, and herpes simplex, however many viral infections show non‐specific changes. Placenta relevant cells as human first trimester trophoblasts HTR8/SVneo, primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and primary human embryonic fibroblasts were examined following infection with commonly occurring virus like adenovirus and enterovirus. Morphology in routine stained sections and virus‐specific immunostains were studied 4, 8, 24, 48, 72 h after infection. Nuclear enlargement was seen in the infected cells. A specific diagnosis of adenovirus or enterovirus infection, however, was not possible without specific immunostains.     

Melatonin compensates silencing of heat shock protein 70 and suppresses ultraviolet radiation‐induced inflammation in human skin ex vivo and cultured keratinocytes

Melatonin, a lipophilic compound synthesized and released from the pineal gland, effectively acts against ultraviolet radiation (UVR), one of the main inducers of epidermal damage, skin cancer, inflammation, and DNA photo damage. One of the common known stress protein induced by UVR is heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), highly expressed in human keratinocytes, providing cellular resistance to such stressors. Here, using human full‐thickness skin and normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK), we investigated the interaction of melatonin and Hsp70 toward UVR‐induced inflammatory and apoptotic responses. The following observations were made: (i) UVR upregulated Hsp70 gene expression in human epidermis while melatonin significantly inverted this effect, (ii) similar patterns of regulation were observed within Hsp70 protein level, and (iii) mechanistic studies involving silencing of Hsp70 RNA (Hsp70 siRNA) showed prominent decrease of IκB‐α (an inhibitor of NF‐κB) and enhanced gene expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, Casp‐1) and pro‐apoptotic protein (Casp‐3) in NHEK. Parallel investigation using melatonin (10^?3 m ) significantly inverted these responses regardless depletion of Hsp70 RNA suggesting a compensatory action of this compound in the defense mechanisms. Our findings combined with data reported so far thus enrich existing knowledge about the potent anti‐apoptotic and anti‐inflammatory action of melatonin.     

70例上呼吸道感染患者药物性双硫仑样反应的临床分析

目的：探讨上呼吸道感染患者药物性双硫仑样反应的临床特点。方法对70例诊断为双硫仑样反应的上呼吸道感染患者临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果本组70例上呼吸道感染用药后发生双硫仑样反应的患者中，83%没有明确的细菌感染征象，但全部患者应用了抗生素；其中64.3%(45/70)抗生素为执业医师处方用药，35.7%(25/70)为患者自行购买；80%患者本人及100%患者家属对药物双硫仑样反应不了解；58%经医生处方用抗生素的患者未被告知关于禁酒的注意事项。结论在上呼吸道感染患者中不但应合理应用抗生素，而且要加强对患者及家属用药期间避免饮酒等注意事项的宣教，以减少药物不良反应，提高医疗水平。     

Novel phenotype of mouse spermatozoa following deletion of nine β-defensin genes

β-defensin peptides are a large family of antimicrobial peptides. Although they kill microbes in vitro and interact with immune cells, the precise role of these genes in vivo remains uncertain. Despite their inducible presence at mucosal surfaces, their main site of expression is the epididymis. Recent evidence suggests that a major function of these peptides is in sperm maturation. In addition to previous work suggesting this, work at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh, has shown that homozygous deletion of a cluster of nine β-defensin genes in the mouse results in profound male sterility. The spermatozoa derived from the mutants had reduced motility and increased fragility. Epididymal spermatozoa isolated from the cauda region of the homozygous mutants demonstrated precocious capacitation and increased spontaneous acrosome reactions compared with those from wild-types. Despite this, these mutant spermatozoa had reduced ability to bind to the zona pellucida of oocytes. Ultrastructural examination revealed a disintegration of the microtubule structure of mutant-derived spermatozoa isolated from the epididymal cauda region, but not from the caput. Consistent with premature acrosome reaction and hyperactivation, spermatozoa from mutant animals had significantly increased intracellular calcium content. This work demonstrates that in vivo β-defensins are essential for successful sperm maturation, and that their disruption alters intracellular calcium levels, which most likely leads to premature activation and spontaneous acrosome reactions that result in hyperactivation and loss of microtubule structure of the axoneme. Determining which of the nine genes are responsible for the phenotype and the relevance to human sperm function is important for future work on male infertility.     

Digital bathroom scales with open source software provide valid dynamic ground reaction force data for assessment and biofeedback

BackgroundMeasuring dynamic vertical ground reaction force allows for assessment of important clinical and physical capacity factors such as weight bearing asymmetry, force distribution, and rate of force development. However, current technologies for accurately assessing ground reaction force are typically expensive.Research QuestionThe aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of obtaining static and dynamic ground reaction force data from low-cost modified digital bathroom scales.MethodsFour modified bathroom scales, two units each of two different brands, were examined. Repeated mechanical loading trials were performed with known loads ranging from 0.01 to 65 kg, with acquired data compared against the known loading to calculate accuracy, hysteresis, and non-linearity. Dynamic trials consisting of 5 times sit-to-stand and weight-shifting were performed by 32 adults. Absolute and relative agreement intraclass correlation coefficient, and Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlations were performed to determine validity and reliability for the mechanical tests. Bland-Altmann plots were created for each comparison. Mean absolute error (MAE) and unbiased cross-correlation were performed on the dynamic data, comparing the calibrated data to the known values from a Bertec force platform.ResultsHysteresis and non-linearity were excellent (<0.2 % full-scale), and mechanical test results showed excellent reliability and validity. Cross-correlation results for the dynamic data were excellent, however MAE for the more rapid sit-to-stand task was higher than the slower weight-shifting test. This may have been due to the low default sampling rate for the lowest noise setting of the HX711 amplifier (10 Hz).SignificanceIn summary, our results suggest that digital bathroom scales can be easily and inexpensively modified to obtain accurate vertical ground reaction force data, with sensitivity to detect changes of as little as 0.01 kg.