Comparison of P25 and nanobelts on Kruppel-like factor-mediated nitric oxide pathways in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Recently, we reported that titanium dioxide (TiO₂) materials activated endothelial cells via Kruppel-like factor (KLF)-mediated nitric oxide (NO) dysfunction, but the roles of physical properties of materials are not clear. In this study, we prepared nanobelts from P25 particles and compared their adverse effects to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). TiO₂ nanobelts had belt-like morphology but comparable surface areas as P25 particles. When applied to HUVECs, P25 particles or nanobelts did not induce cytotoxicity, although nanobelts were much more effective to increase intracellular Ti element concentrations compared the same amounts of P25 particles. Only nanobelts significantly induced THP-1 adhesion onto HUVECs. Consistently, nanobelts were more significant to induce the expression of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) and the release of soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1), indicating that nanobelts were more potent to induce endothelial activation in vitro. As the mechanisms for endothelial activation, both P25 and nanobelts reduced the generation of intracellular NO as well as the expression of NO regulators KLF2 and KLF4. Combined, the results from this study indicated that the different morphologies of P25 particles and nanobelts only changed their internalization into HUVECs but showed minimal impact on KLF-mediated NO signaling pathways.     

尿酸性肾病中医分型与氧化应激指标的相关性研究

目的：探讨尿酸性肾病中医分型与氧化应激相关性。方法：采用回顾性分析方法对2017年12月至2019年9月北京中医药大学第三附属医院收治的尿酸性肾病患者105例进行研究，选择同时期正常健康者105例作为对照，参考《中药新药临床研究指导原则》将105例尿酸性肾病和临床常见证型相结合，分成脾肾气虚18例、气阴两虚证19例、肝肾阴虚16例、阴阳两虚12例、湿热蕴结19例、瘀血阻滞17例、痰浊内阻13例，均在入院次日清晨空腹抽取静脉血，检测氧化应激氧化应激、肾功能损害指标，比较不同组别在氧化应激指标含量水平变化情况，比较中医分型和氧化应激、肾功能损害指标水平变化。结果：1）尿酸性肾病组总抗氧化能力（T-ACO）、晚期蛋白氧化物（AOPP）、血清丙二醇（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）含量水平分别为（19.45±3.42）U/mL、（42.45±3.53）μmol/L、（4.52±1.23）nmol/L、（76.78±5.64）U/mL，正常对照组则分别为（10.76±1.31）U/mL、（20.84±1.28）μmol/L、（2.13±0.76）nmol/L、（130.85±16.75）U/mL，尿酸性肾病组T-ACO、AOPP、MDA较正常对照组显著偏高，SOD显著偏低（P<0.05）。2）虚证中阴阳两虚证SOD含量上较其他证型均偏低，而MDA、T-AOC、AOPP、胱抑素C（CysC）、β2微球蛋白、尿微量白蛋白（UMALB）、蛋白尿发生率则较其他证型均偏高，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05），实证中瘀血阻滞证SOD含量较其他证型均偏低，而MDA、T-AOC、AOPP则较其他证型均偏高，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：尿酸性肾病中医分型的阴阳两虚证、瘀血阻滞证氧化应激水平、肾损害指标均显著升高，可结合该实验室检查进行临床干预。     

The key role of macrophage depolarization in the treatment of COPD with ergosterol both in vitro and in vivo

Macrophages are the most abundant immune cells in the lung, which play an important role in COPD. The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation of ergosterol are well documented. However, the effect of ergosterol on macrophage polarization has not been studied. The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of ergosterol on macrophage polarization in CSE-induced RAW264.7 cells and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats COPD model. Our results demonstrate that CSE-induced macrophages tend to the M1 polarization via increasing ROS, IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as increasing MMP-9 to destroy the lung construction in both RAW264.7 cells and SD rats. However, treatment of RAW264.7 cells and SD rats with ergosterol inhibited CSE-induced inflammatory by decreasing ROS, IL-6 and TNF-α, and increasing IL-10 and TGF-β, shuffling the dynamic polarization of macrophages from M1 to M2 both in vitro and in vivo. Ergosterol also decreased the expression of M1 marker CD40, while increased that of M2 marker CD163. Moreover, ergosterol improved the lung characters in rats by decreasing MMP-9. Furthermore, ergosterol elevated HDAC3 activation and suppressed P300/CBP and PCAF activation as well as acetyl NF-κB/p65 and IKKβ, demonstrating that HDAC3 deacetylation was involved in the effect of ergosterol on macrophage polarization. These results also provide a proof in immunoregulation of ergosterol for therapeutic effects of cultured C. sinensis on COPD patients.     

FeNO预测肺癌患者放射性肺炎的临床价值

目的:观察肺癌患者放疗后一氧化氮分数（FeNO）的增加能否提示放射性肺损伤。方法:本研究中，我们评估了FeNO变化与放疗后呼吸症状、CT扫描改变和剂量体积直方图（DVH）参数之间的关系。测量65例肺癌患者放疗前及放疗后4、5、6、10周和4、7.5月的FeNO。结果:在放疗后，11名肺癌患者（17%）自述有明显的呼吸道症状，21名（32%）患者有超过1/3的被照射肺区表现出放射性肺炎样图像。13名患者（20%）的FeNO增加超过10 ppb。以FeNO增加超过10 ppb为标准诊断放疗相关呼吸症状的灵敏度和特异性分别为18%和83%。FeNO变化与放疗后DVH参数或CT扫描改变之间无显著相关性。3名患者（5%）在第4、5周持续表现出异常高水平的FeNO（2或3倍，高达55 ppb），随后出现了显著的呼吸症状和/或放射性肺炎图像。结论:放疗期间的连续FeNO监测预测肺癌患者放射性肺炎症状或图像的能力较差。然而，三名患者表现出的特定模式值得研究。     

口服硝酸盐对大鼠背部随意皮瓣的保护作用及机制探讨

目的 探讨口服硝酸盐对大鼠背部随意皮瓣的影响,以硝酸盐-亚硝酸盐-NO通路为切入点,探讨其可能的机制。方法 将24只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为硝酸盐组、氯化钠组和对照组,每组8只。采用改良大鼠背部随意皮瓣制作方法造模。硝酸盐干预组在术前7 d及术后每天口服0.5 mmol/L硝酸钠,氯化钠组每天口服等量氯化钠,对照组每天口服蒸馏水。术后第7天,检测各组皮瓣的存活情况,大鼠血清中硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐、肿瘤坏死因子（tumor necrosis factor alpha,TNF-a）和白介素6（interleukin-6,IL-6）水平,以及皮瓣组织中超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）和丙二醛（malondialdehyde,MDA）水平。采用SPSS 20.0软件包对数据进行t检验。结果 硝酸盐组皮瓣的存活面积显著高于对照组（P<0.05）。H-E染色显示,硝酸盐明显减轻了皮瓣的组织学损伤。硝酸钠显著增加了血清中硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐水平（P<0.05）,并显著下调血清中TNF-a和IL-6水平（P<0.05）。此外,硝酸盐组皮瓣组织内MDA表达显著减少（P<0.05）,SOD表达显著增加（P<0.05）。结论 口服硝酸盐可通过调控皮瓣的氧化应激和炎症反应保护皮瓣。     

Single-dose combination nanovaccine induces both rapid and durable humoral immunity and toxin neutralizing antibody responses against Bacillus anthracis

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, continues to be a prominent biological warfare and bioterrorism threat. Vaccination is likely to remain the most effective and user-friendly public health measure to counter this threat in the foreseeable future. The commercially available AVA BioThrax vaccine has a number of shortcomings where improvement would lead to a more practical and effective vaccine for use in the case of an exposure event. Identification of more effective adjuvants and novel delivery platforms is necessary to improve not only the effectiveness of the anthrax vaccine, but also enhance its shelf stability and ease-of-use. Polyanhydride particles have proven to be an effective platform at adjuvanting the vaccine-associated adaptive immune response as well as enhancing stability of encapsulated antigens. Another class of adjuvants, the STING pathway-targeting cyclic dinucleotides, have proven to be uniquely effective at inducing a beneficial inflammatory response that leads to the rapid induction of high titer antibodies post-vaccination capable of providing protection against bacterial pathogens. In this work, we evaluate the individual contributions of cyclic di-GMP (CDG), polyanhydride nanoparticles, and a combination thereof towards inducing neutralizing antibody (nAb) against the secreted protective antigen (PA) from B. anthracis. Our results show that the combination nanovaccine elicited rapid, high titer, and neutralizing IgG anti-PA antibody following single dose immunization that persisted for at least 108 DPI.     

Metabotropic glutamate receptors and nitric oxide in dopaminergic neurotoxicity

Dopaminergic neurotoxicity is characterized by damage and death of dopaminergic neurons. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily involves the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Therefore, the study of the mechanisms, as well as the search for new targets for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, is an important focus of modern neuroscience. PD is primarily caused by dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons; however, other neurotransmitter systems are also involved. Research reports have indicated that the glutamatergic system is involved in different pathological conditions, including dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Over the last two decades, the important functional interplay between dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems has stimulated interest in the possible role of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in the development of extrapyramidal disorders. However, the specific mechanisms driving these processes are presently unclear. The participation of the universal neuronal messenger nitric oxide (NO) in the mechanisms of dopaminergic neurotoxicity has attracted increased attention. The current paper aims to review the involvement of mGluRs and the contribution of NO to dopaminergic neurotoxicity. More precisely, we focused on studies conducted on the rotenone-induced PD model. This review is also an outline of our own results obtained using the method of electron paramagnetic resonance, which allows quantitation of NO radicals in brain structures.     

A modality-specific somatosensory evoked potential test protocol for clinical evaluation: A feasibility study

ObjectiveWe aimed to establish an objective neurophysiological test protocol that can be used to assess the somatosensory nervous system.MethodsIn order to assess most fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system, repetitive stimuli of seven different modalities (touch, vibration, pinprick, cold, contact heat, laser, and warmth) were synchronized with the electroencephalogram (EEG) and applied on the cheek and dorsum of the hand and dorsum of the foot in 21 healthy subjects and three polyneuropathy (PNP) patients. Latencies and amplitudes of the modalities were assessed and compared. Patients received quantitative sensory testing (QST) as reference.ResultsWe found reproducible evoked potentials recordings for touch, vibration, pinprick, contact-heat, and laser stimuli. The recording of warm-evoked potentials was challenging in young healthy subjects and not applicable in patients. Latencies were shortest within Aβ-fiber-mediated signals and longest within C-fibers. The test protocol detected function loss within the Aβ-fiber and Aδ-fiber-range in PNP patients. This function loss corresponded with QST findings.ConclusionIn this pilot study, we developed a neurophysiological test protocol that can specifically assess most of the somatosensory modalities. Despite technical challenges, initial patient data appear promising regarding a possible future clinical application.SignificanceEstablished and custom-made stimulators were combined to assess different fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system using modality-specific evoked potentials.     

Recipient hypertonic saline infusion prevents cardiac allograft dysfunction

Objective

Hypertonic saline (HTS) has potent immune and vascular effects. We assessed recipient pretreatment with HTS on allograft function in a porcine model of heart transplantation and hypothesized that HTS infusion would limit endothelial and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction following transplantation.

支气管扩张症合并感染患者血清人分泌型磷脂酶A2-X表达情况及其与炎性指标的相关性研究

背景　支气管扩张症是呼吸系统常见病、多发病，感染是引起支气管扩张症的最常见原因。人分泌型磷脂酶A2-X（sPLA2-X）在炎性反应中发挥重要作用，并可促进炎性反应的发生、发展，而支气管扩张症合并感染患者血清sPLA2-X表达情况及其与重要炎性指标如降钙素原（PCT）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）、白介素（IL）-6、IL-17、IL-33是否存在相关性尚未见相关报道。目的　研究支气管扩张症合并感染患者血清sPLA2-X表达情况及其与炎性指标--PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-33的相关性，并进一步研究血清sPLA2-X对支气管扩张症合并感染的影响。方法　选取2017年2月-2019年1月在贵州省人民医院呼吸与危重症医学科住院治疗的支气管扩张症合并感染患者47例为病例组，选取同期在贵州省人民医院健康体检中心体检的健康志愿者21例为健康对照组。收集研究对象一般资料，分别检测健康对照组体检当天、观察组治疗前（入院当天）与治疗后（出院前1天）血清sPLA2-X、白细胞计数、PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-33。比较两组治疗前后观察指标，分析病例组治疗前血清sPLA2-X与PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-33的相关性。结果　病例组治疗前血清sPLA2-X、白细胞计数、PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-33均高于健康对照组（P<0.05）；病例组治疗后血清sPLA2-X、PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-17均高于健康对照组（P<0.05）；两组治疗后白细胞计数、IL-6、IL-33比较，差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。病例组治疗后血清sPLA2-X、白细胞计数、PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-33均低于本组治疗前（P<0.05）。病例组治疗前血清sPLA2-X与PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-33均呈正相关（r=0.526 2、 0.640 1、0.550 7、0.516 8、0.609 9、0.357 4，P值均<0.01）。结论　支气管扩张症合并感染患者血清sPLA2-X升高，且其与PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-7、IL-33呈正相关，表明血清sPLA2-X与支气管扩张症合并感染有重要的关联，血清sPLA2-X可作为评估支气管扩张症合并感染的参考指标。