Double deficiency of cathepsin B and L in the mouse pancreas alters trypsin activity without affecting acute pancreatitis severity

BackgroundPremature intracellular trypsinogen activation has long been considered a key initiator of acute pancreatitis (AP). Cathepsin B (CTSB) activates trypsinogen, while cathepsin L (CTSL) inactivates trypsin(ogen), and both proteins play a role in the onset of AP.MethodsAP was induced by 7 hourly intraperitoneal injections of cerulein (50 μg/kg) in wild-type and pancreas-specific conditional Ctsb knockout (Ctsb^Δpan), Ctsl knockout (Ctsl^Δpan), and Ctsb;Ctsl double-knockout (Ctsb^Δpan;Ctsl^Δpan) mice. Pancreatic samples were collected and analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and immunoblots. Trypsin activity was measured in pancreatic homogenates. Peripheral blood was collected, and serum amylase activity was measured.ResultsDouble deletion of Ctsb and Cstl did not affect pancreatic development or mouse growth. After 7 times cerulein injections, double Ctsb and Ctsl deficiency in mouse pancreases increased trypsin activity to the same extent as that in Ctsl-deficient mice, while Ctsb deficiency decreased trypsin activity but did not affect the severity of AP. Ctsb^Δpan;Ctsl^Δpan mice had comparable serum amylase activity and histopathological changes and displayed similar levels of proinflammatory cytokines, apoptosis, and autophagy activity compared with wild-type, Ctsb^Δpan, and Ctsl^Δpan mice.ConclusionDouble deletion of Ctsb and Ctsl in the mouse pancreas altered intrapancreatic trypsin activity but did not affect disease severity and inflammatory response after cerulein-induced AP.     

血管生成素样蛋白与胰岛素抵抗和糖代谢的关系及在多囊卵巢综合征中的作用

多囊卵巢综合征（polycystic ovary syndrome,PCOS）是育龄期女性最常见的内分泌及代谢性疾病之一,PCOS患者发生心血管疾病和2型糖尿病的风险增加。越来越多的研究支持胰岛素抵抗（insulin resistance,IR）是PCOS重要的病理机制之一。血管生成素样蛋白（angiopoietin-like proteins,ANGPTLs）家族是一类与血管生成素结构相似的分泌型糖蛋白,目前已发现8个成员,即ANGPTL1~ANGPTL8。ANGPTLs在PCOS患者血液中表达水平升高,并且与IR程度密切相关,ANGPTLs通过促进脂肪组织炎症、调节胰岛素分泌及磷脂酰肌醇3激酶/蛋白激酶B（PI3K/Akt）信号通路等参与了IR和糖代谢,这很可能与PCOS的发病有关。综述ANGPTLs参与IR和糖代谢的机制及其在PCOS中的作用,以期进一步探讨ANGPTLs参与PCOS发病的机制,为预测和治疗PCOS提供新思路。     

基于规律成簇的间隔短回文重复序列及其相关蛋白技术检测乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA方法的建立

目的建立一种基于规律成簇的间隔短回文重复序列及其相关蛋白(CRISPR/Cas13a)的乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)共价闭合环状DNA(HBV cccDNA)检测方法。方法提取2017年6月至2020年10月于首都医科大学附属北京佑安医院就诊的4例乙型肝炎患者肝脏总DNA后,使用HindⅢ内切酶和质粒安全性ATP依赖DNA酶(PSAD)分别进行酶切;根据松弛环状DNA(rcDNA)和cccDNA的结构差异,设计特异性扩增HBV cccDNA的引物,对酶切后的产物进行滚环扩增(RCA)和PCR扩增;并筛选crRNA,建立基于CRISPR/Cas13a技术的HBV cccDNA检测新方法。结果利用α-1-抗胰蛋白酶(A1AT)和HBV表面抗原(HBsAg)引物对双重酶切后的产物进行扩增,验证产物中HBV基因组的存在;利用HBV cccDNA和HBV rcDNA引物对PSDA酶切后的产物扩增,验证了产物中只存在HBV cccDNA;利用RCA后的阳性样本作为模板梯度稀释,然后进行PCR扩增转录后使用CRISPR/Cas13a检测,计算出检测下限为10拷贝/μl。结论本研究建立了RCA-PCR-CRISPR-Cas13a的新型检测方法,可对HBV cccDNA进行高灵敏度和高特异性检测,为乙型肝炎患者抗病毒治疗评估、治疗终点的确定以及调整治疗方案提供了有效的监测手段。     

An update in pathologic diagnosis of uterine mesenchymal tumours

Recent discovery of new disease-defining molecular alterations and development of novel targeted therapies has dramatically changed the classification and management of uterine mesenchymal neoplasms. This review discusses diagnostic updates in endometrial stromal sarcoma, PEComa, uterine tumor resembling ovarian sex cord tumor (UTROSCT), inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, NTRK fusion uterine sarcoma, COL1A1-PDGFB fusion sarcoma, and SMARC-deficient uterine sarcoma. Key clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular features are reviewed, with emphasis on common differential diagnoses and pitfalls, and their impact on prognosis or management. Where applicable, the role of novel targeted therapies is discussed. A stepwise approach to uterine mesenchymal neoplasms can achieve a proper diagnosis and guide appropriate clinical management in most cases. Nonetheless, given the rarity of these tumors, their overlapping pathologic features, and rapid evolution in their classification and management, we advocate a low threshold for diagnostic consultation.     

Rats bred for low intrinsic aerobic exercise capacity link obesity with brain inflammation and reduced structural plasticity of the hippocampus

BackgroundIncreasing evidence shows obesity and poor metabolic health are associated with cognitive deficits, but the mechanistic connections have yet to be resolved. We studied rats selectively bred for low and high intrinsic aerobic capacity in order to test the association between low physical fitness, a genetic predisposition for obesity, and brain health. We hypothesized that low-capacity runner (LCR) rats with concurrently greater levels of adiposity would have increased hippocampal inflammation and reduced plasticity compared to the more physically fit high-capacity runner (HCR) rats.MethodsWe examined markers for inflammation and brain plasticity in the hippocampi of LCR rats and compared them to HCR rats. The effect of age was determined by studying the rats at a young age (8 weeks) and later in life (40 weeks). We used western blots and immunohistochemistry to quantify the expression of target proteins.ResultsOur study showed that the number of adult-born new neurons in the hippocampus was significantly lower in LCR rats than it was in HCR rats already at a young age and that the difference became more pronounced with age. The expression of synaptic proteins was higher in young animals relative to older ones. Brain inflammation tended to be higher in LCR rats than it was in the HCR rats, and more prominent in older rats than in young ones.ConclusionOur study is the first to demonstrate that low intrinsic aerobic fitness that is associated with obesity and poor metabolic health is also linked with reduced hippocampal structural plasticity at a young age. Our results also suggest that inflammation of the brain could be one factor mediating the link between obesity and poor cognitive performance.     

Correlation between cow’s milk protein allergy and otitis media: a systematic review

ObjectivesTo review the evidence pertaining to the association between cow’s milk protein allergy and recurrent acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion.MethodsThe CENTRAL, Web of Science, EMBASE, MEDLINE, LILACS databases, and gray literature were searched.ResultsFour studies were included, identifying the prevalence rates: 0.2% of delayed speech due to chronic otitis media with effusion in 382 children with cow’s milk protein allergy, 10.7% of cow’s milk protein allergy in 242 children who underwent ENT procedures, 40% of cow’s milk protein allergy in 25 children with recurrent otitis media with effusion and higher tendency to otitis media in children with cow’s milk protein allergy of 186 children (1.5 + 0.6 vs. 0.4 + 0.1; p < 0.1).ConclusionConsidering the characteristics and methodological variations of the identified studies, it is not possible to state that there is reliable evidence of an association between cow’s milk protein allergy and otitis media.     

Role of high mobility group box-1 protein in pathogenesis of acute kidney injury induced by heat stroke in mice

Objective To observe the differential expression of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) in renal tissues of heat stroke mice models, and to explore its role in the pathogenesis of heat stroke associated acute kidney injury(HS-associated AKI). Methods According to random number table, 20 healthy male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 2 groups, including normal control (n=10) and heat stroke group (n=10). The mice in heat stroke group were given with a 2-hour-exposure in biological simulation chamber (temperature 41℃, humidity 70%). Heat stroke was defined as anal temperature lasting more than 40 degrees Celsius. A 18F-deoxyglucose nuclide labeled vivo imaging was conducted with micro- positron emission tomography(PET)/computer tomography (CT). Serum creatinine was examined with blood example. In order to evaluate the pathological changes, HE stain was conducted with kidney tissue, and mitochondrial morphological changes in kidney tissue were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expressions of HMGB1 and apoptosis inducing factor mitochondria associated 2 (Aifm2) were examined by immunohistochemical method, and the levels of HMGB1 and RAGE were examined by Western blotting. The cell apoptosis of renal tissue was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay (TUNEL). The metabolomics of kidney tissue in mice were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and the pathway enrichment analysis was carried out by KEEG database. Results (1) The body temperature of the mice in heat shock group was significantly higher than that in normal control group 45 min after model establishment (P＜0.05). The level of serum creatinine in heat shock group was significantly higher than that in normal control group (P＜0.05), and the levels of 18F-deoxyglucose increased in skeletal muscle and visceral tissue of the mice in heat-shock group. (2) HE staining showed hemorrhage in collecting duct and tubular endothelial cell swelling, and mitochondrial swelling and deformation were observed by transmission electron microscopy in kidney tissue of the heat shock group. (3)Immunohistochemical method showed that the levels of Aifm2 and HMGB1 in heat shock group were higher (P＜0.05). (4) Western blotting showed that the levels of HMGB1 and RAGE in heat shock group were higher than those in normal control group (P＜0.05). (5) TUNEL showed that the number of cells with positive stain in kidney tissue of the heat shock group was higher than that in normal control group (P＜0.05). (6) Between normal control group and heat shock group, 136 differential metabolites were detected in kidney tissues. After analysis by KEGG database, pathway abnormalities such as unsaturated fatty acid metabolism disorder may be associated with HS-associated AKI, and many differential metabolites such as adrenic acid may be important regulatory points in the pathogenesis. Conclusion Acute kidney injury is a common complication of heat shock. It may be related to the dysfunction of renal mitochondria and activation of apoptotic pathway caused by systemic hypercatabolism, which may be related to the disorder of unsaturated fatty acid metabolism and activation of HMGB1. Some differential metabolites may be of high value in HS- associated AKI studies.     

rhBMP in lumber fusion for lumbar spondylolisthesis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose

To compare the efficacy and safety of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP) and iliac crest autograft in the fusion treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Therapeutic strategies involving survivin inhibition in cancer

Survivin is a small protein that belongs to the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family. It is abundantly expressed in tumors compared with adult differentiated tissues, being associated with poor prognosis in many human neoplasms. This apoptotic inhibitor has a relevant role in both the promotion of cancer cell survival and in the inhibition of cell death. Consequently, aberrant survivin expression stimulates tumor progression and confers resistance to several therapeutic strategies in a variety of tumors. In fact, efficient survivin downregulation or inhibition results in spontaneous apoptosis or sensitization to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore, all these features make survivin an attractive therapeutic target to treat cancer. Currently, there are several survivin inhibitors under clinical evaluation, although more specific and efficient survivin inhibitors are being developed. Moreover, novel combination regimens targeting survivin together with other therapeutic approaches are currently being designed and assessed. In this review, recent progress in the therapeutic options targeting survivin for cancer treatment is analyzed. Direct survivin inhibitors and their current development status are explored. Besides, the major signaling pathways implicated in survivin regulation are described and different therapeutic approaches involving survivin indirect inhibition are evaluated. Finally, promising novel inhibitors under preclinical or clinical evaluation as well as challenges of developing survivin inhibitors as a new therapy for cancer treatment are discussed.