MF59 adjuvant enhances the immunogenicity and protective immunity of the OmpK/Omp22 fusion protein from Acineterbacter baumannii through intratracheal inoculation in mice

Acinetobacter baumannii (A baumannii) is an emerging nosocomial pathogenic bacterium which leads to hospital infections. The increase in drug‐resistant A baumannii strains makes it difficult to control by using common antibiotics. The development of effective vaccines is an alternative means to avoid A baumannii infections. In the present study, Balb/c mice were inoculated intratracheally with 30 μg of OmpK/Omp22 fusion protein alone or OmpK/Omp22 formulated with MF59 adjuvant. After two times of boosting at day 14 and 21, the antigen‐specific antibody levels and the protective immunity against A baumannii challenge were evaluated. The results showed that the OmpK/Omp22 formulated with MF59 immunized mice produced much higher level of antigen‐specific antibodies compared to mice immunized with OmpK/Omp22 alone (P < 0.01). Mice immunized with 30 μg of OmpK/Omp22 formulated with MF59 also provided more potent protection post‐challenge, which showed lower bacterial loads in the blood and lung tissue, lower level of blood inflammatory cytokines and higher survival rate (83.3%) than mice immunized with OmpK/Omp22 alone (P < 0.001). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that OmpK/Omp22 fusion protein adjuvanted with MF59 induced superior immune response and better protection than OmpK/Omp22 alone through intratracheal inoculation in mice .     

腹腔镜下中间入路与侧方入路右半结肠癌根治术的术中、术后情况比较

目的:探讨腹腔镜下中间入路右半结肠癌根治术的临床疗效及并发症。方法:回顾性分析在2015年6月1日至2018年6月1日期间由中国人民解放军第967医院普外科收治的82例右半结肠癌患者临床资料，45例患者接受腹腔镜中间入路右半结肠癌根治术，为中间入路组，37例患者接受腹腔镜侧方入路右半结肠癌根治术，为侧方入路组；对比两组患者手术时间、术中出血量、清扫淋巴结数量、中转开腹率、术后肠功能恢复时间、术后住院时间及术后并发症等临床指标，评价分析腹腔镜下中间入路右半结肠癌根治术的优越性。结果:中间入路组手术时间、术中出血量、淋巴结清扫数量、中转开腹率与侧方入路组相比差异显著，均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）；但中间入路组在术后肠功能恢复时间、术后住院时间及术后并发症发生情况等方面与侧方入路组相比无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。结论:采用腹腔镜下中间入路右半结肠癌根治术能缩短手术时间、减少术中出血量、减少中转开腹率、增加清扫淋巴结个数，近期治疗效果满意，值得在临床中应用并推广。     

Rapamycin prevents thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection in mice

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether rapamycin inhibits the development of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) in mice.

靶向抑制ZNF281基因表达对直肠癌细胞生长抑制及化疗增敏作用的机 制探讨

目的:探讨抑制ZNF281基因表达对直肠癌细胞活力、凋亡率及5-氟尿嘧啶(5-FU)化疗敏感性的影响。方法:以LipofectamineTM 2000（Lipo2000）为载体，将siRNA转染人直肠癌Colo320细胞，Colo320细胞分为NC组（阴性对照siRNA）、si-ZNF281组（靶向抑制ZNF281表达的小干扰RNA）和si-ZNF281+5-FU组，MTT检测细胞活力，流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率，Western blotting检测β-catenin、PCNA和Survivin的蛋白表达。结果:ZNF281 siRNA转染Colo320细胞后，ZNF281表达显著低于空白组（P<0.05）。与NC组比较，si-ZNF281组细胞活力降低，凋亡率升高，β-catenin、PCNA和Survivin的蛋白表达降低，差异均具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。与si-ZNF281组比较，si-ZNF281+5-FU组细胞活力降低，凋亡率升高，β-catenin、PCNA和Survivin的蛋白表达降低，差异均具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论:抑制ZNF281基因表达可降低直肠癌细胞活力及诱导细胞凋亡，且可增加5-FU化疗敏感性，机制与抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路有关。     

Toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) to THP-1 macrophages: interactions with saturated or unsaturated free fatty acids

In a biological microenvironment, free fatty acids (FFA) as ubiquitous biological molecules might interact with nanoparticles (NPs) and consequently change the toxicological responses. However, whether the chemical structures of FFA could influence their interactions with NPs remain unknown. This study investigated the interactions between ZnO NPs and saturated or unsaturated FFA (complexed to BSA), namely stearic acid (SA, C18:0), oleic acid (OA, C18:1), and α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3). It was shown that BSA, SA, OA, and ALA increased the atomic force microscope (AFM) heights as well the polydispersity index (PDI) of ZnO NPs. BSA modestly protected THP-1 macrophages from ZnO NP exposure, whereas OA and ALA led to relatively less cyto-protective effects of BSA. Moreover, only co-exposure to ZnO NPs and SA significantly promoted the release of interleukin-8. BSA, SA, OA, and ALA equally changed intracellular ROS and Zn ions associated with ZnO exposure, but co-exposure to ZnO NPs and OA/ALA particularly activated the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-apoptosis genes. In combination, these results showed that FFA could influence the colloidal aspects and toxicological signaling pathway of ZnO NPs, which is dependent on the number of unsaturated bonds of FFA.     

A randomized study on the effect of modified behavioral activation treatment for depressive symptoms in rural left-behind elderly

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified behavioral activation treatment (MBAT) intervention on reducing depressive symptoms in rural left-behind elderly.

Method: This is a randomized study registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-17011289). Eighty rural left-behind elderly people who had a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score between 11 and 25 were randomly assigned to the intervention (n?=?40) and control group (n?=?40). The intervention group received both MBAT and regular treatment for 8 weeks while the control group received regular treatment. Both groups were assessed with the GDS, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3 months post-intervention.

Results: There were a total of 73 participants that completed the intervention. The scores of GDS and BAI decreased significantly, but the scores of OHQ increased significantly in the intervention group after 8 sessions of MBAT (P?<?.01). The reduction in depression symptoms after the intervention was maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Significant differences in GDS, BAI, and OHQ scores were observed between the intervention group and the control group (P?<?.01).

Conclusion: MBAT produced a significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms than regular care in rural left-behind elderly.

Clinical or methodological significance of this article: A modified behavioral activation (BA) psychotherapy can significantly reduce the recurrence and seriousness of depression symptoms in the left-behind elderly with mild to moderate depression. This study also suggests that further study of the MBAT as an intervention will provide a direction for the management of mental health in rural left-behind elders.     

Vegetarians have a lower fasting insulin level and higher insulin sensitivity than matched omnivores: A cross-sectional study

Background and aims

Potential associations of vegetarian diet patterns with fasting insulin (FI) and insulin sensitivity remain unclear. We aimed to investigate whether vegetarian diets were associated with FI and insulin sensitivity in a cross-sectional study in Chinese vegetarians and matched omnivores and then to test whether it is independent of body mass index (BMI).