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.     

Predator stress-induced depression is associated with inhibition of hippocampal neurogenesis in adult male mice

Stress has been suggested to disturb the 5-hydroxytryptamine system and decrease neurogenesis, which contribute to the development of depression. Few studies have investigated the effect of predator stress, a type of psychological stress, on depression and hippocampal neurogenesis in adult mice; we therefore investigated this in the present study. A total of 35 adult male Kunming mice were allocated to a cat stress group, cat odor stress group, cat stress + fluoxetine group, cat odor stress + fluoxetine group, or a control group(no stress/treatment). After 12 days of cat stress or cat odor stress, behavioral correlates of depression were measured using the open field test, elevated plus maze test, and dark-avoidance test. The concentrations of hippocampal 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection. Neurogenesis was also analyzed using a bromodeoxyuridine and doublecortin double-immunostaining method. Cat stress and cat odor stress induced depression-like behaviors; this effect was stronger in the cat stress model. Furthermore, compared with the control group, cat stress mice exhibited lower 5-hydroxytryptamine concentrations, higher 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations, and significantly fewer bromodeoxyuridine+/doublecortin+-labeled cells in the dentate gyrus, which was indicative of less neurogenesis. The changes observed in the cat stress group were not seen in the cat stress + fluoxetine group, which suggests that the effects of predator stress on depression and neurogenesis were reversed by fluoxetine. Taken together, our results indicate that depression-like behaviors induced by predator stress are associated with the inhibition of hippocampal neurogenesis.     

基础医学综合实验与实验设计课程教学改革实践

本着以课程为中心的原则，研究组在基础医学综合实验课程建设、运行方式、教学方法改革等方面积极探索；以联系疾病、联系应用为导向，广泛开展基于疾病动物模型制备及干预过程的实验教学；增加"创新性"实验项目，确保课程内容体现出前沿性和时代性；以生物医学前沿方法训练引领课程建设，着力培养学员的学习能力、实践能力和创新能力。此外，在优化以实践应用、创新性为导向的课程内容建设的基础上，打造虚拟仿真实验项目，尝试线上线下混合式教学，全方位提升学员的实践运用能力。     

Same-Day Yttrium-90 Radioembolization: Feasibility with Resin Microspheres

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility of a same-day yttrium-90 (⁹⁰Y) radioembolization protocol with resin microspheres (including pretreatment angiography, lung shunt fraction [LSF] determination, and radioembolization) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver metastases.

武连仲教授治疗坐骨神经痛经验

全国名中医天津中医药大学第一附属医院针灸科武连仲教授用多年的临床经验总结概括出针刺的理、法、方、穴、术，其创立的"通经止痛"针刺疗法在临床中疗效佳，武老在治疗坐骨神经痛时，取足太阳膀胱经和足少阳胆经具有走窜针感的经穴为主穴，其配伍精确，组方严密，手法独特，可供临床参考。本文将武老运用"痛经止痛"针刺法治疗坐骨神经痛的经验从"理、法、方、穴、术"方面做浅述。     

新生儿胃穿孔的临床特点及影响预后的因素

目的探讨新生儿胃穿孔的临床特点及影响预后的相关因素。方法本研究为回顾性研究。研究对象为山西省儿童医院新生儿外科2008年1月至2017年12月手术治疗的49例新生儿胃穿孔病例。分析这些患儿的临床表现、辅助检查、手术情况及预后等临床资料。根据预后将患儿分为存活组和死亡组,探讨影响患儿预后的相关因素。采用独立样本t检验或连续性校正χ^2检验(或Fisher精确概率法)分析数据。结果(1)49例患儿中,男29例(59.2%),女20例(40.8%);早产儿30例(61.2%),足月儿19例(38.8%);体重(2450±700)g,范围为1010~5000 g。29例(59.2%)为低出生体重儿。11例(22.4%)有围产期不良事件;17例(34.7%)术前合并感染性休克;6例(12.2%)合并其他消化道畸形。2例(4.1%)有生后窒息复苏史,2例(4.1%)合并呼吸窘迫综合征行机械通气,12例(24.5%)有留置胃管或洗胃史。(2)49例患儿的发病时间为(3.8±2.0)d,47例(95.9%)于生后1周内发病,其中36例于生后≤4 d发病;25例(51.0%)发病到手术时间≤12 h。(3)首发症状以单纯腹胀最常见[69.4%(34/49)],12例(24.5%)腹胀伴呕吐,39例(79.6%)患儿术前腹部立位X射线片可见膈下大量游离气体,肝脏受压下移,胃泡影减小或消失。(4)所有患儿入院后均急诊行开腹探查、胃壁一期修补术。术中见27例(55.1%)穿孔位于胃大弯,5例(10.2%)位于胃小弯,14例(28.6%)位于胃前壁,3例(6.1%)位于胃后壁。33例(67.3%)穿孔长径≥3 cm。术后3例(6.1%)发生切口感染,2例(4.1%)吻合口漏;1例术后48 h发现大量气液胸,再次手术证实为食道重复并食道穿孔。(5)49例中,35例(71.4%)的病因为先天性胃壁肌层缺损,4例(8.2%)为损伤,10例(20.4%)为自发性穿孔。(6)49例中,8例(16.3%)死亡,36例(73.5%)存活,5例(10.2%)术后放弃治疗。剔除5例放弃治疗的患儿后,存活组中发病到手术时间≤12 h及穿孔长径<3 cm患儿的比例高于死亡组[61.1%(22/36)与1/8,χ^2=4.404;41.7%(15/36)与0/8];死亡组合并感染性休克的比例高于存活组[6/8与22.2%(8/36),χ^2=6.147](P值均<0.05)。结论新生儿胃穿孔病死率较高,先天性胃壁肌层缺损是新生儿胃穿孔的病理基础和主要病因,突然出现的腹胀是其主要的临床表现。尽早手术有助于提高治愈率。