New views on ultrasonography in high-flow priapism,with typical cases

Dear Editor, Priapism is an uncommon pathological erection that mainly occurs in adult males between the ages of 20 years and 50 years.1 It is defined as an inv...     

Development and Optimization of Broadband Acoustic Metamaterial Absorber Based on Parallel–Connection Square Helmholtz Resonators

An acoustic metamaterial absorber of parallel–connection square Helmholtz resonators is proposed in this study, and its sound absorption coefficients are optimized to reduce the noise for the given conditions in the factory. A two–dimensional equivalent simulation model is built to obtain the initial value of parameters and a three–dimensional finite element model is constructed to simulate the sound absorption performance of the metamaterial cell, which aims to improve the research efficiency. The optimal parameters of metamaterial cells are obtained through the particle swarm optimization algorithm, and its effectiveness and accuracy are validated through preparing the experimental sample using 3D printing and measuring the sound absorption coefficient by the standing wave tube detection. The consistency between the experimental data and simulation data verifies feasibility of the proposed optimization method and usefulness of the developed acoustic metamaterial absorber, and the desired sound absorption performances for given conditions are achieved. The experimental results prove that parallel–connection square Helmholtz resonators can achieve an adjustable frequency spectrum for the low frequency noise control by parameter optimization, which is propitious to promote its application in reducing the noise in the factory.     

Protective Effects of Polydatin from Grapes and Reynoutria japonica Houtt. on Damaged Macrophages Treated with Acetaminophen

The unregulated use of acetaminophen (APAP), an antipyretic and analgesic drug, harms hepatocytes and kidney cells, leading to liver failure and acute kidney injury. Herein, we investigate whether APAP damages macrophages in the immune system by observing its effects on macrophage proliferation and apoptosis. Using proteomics, we analyzed the effects of APAP on macrophage protein expression profiles and evaluated whether polydatin, the active ingredient in grapes and wine, can repair the damaged cells. The results showed that APAP alters the morphology and physiological processes of macrophages, inhibits macrophage proliferation, and promotes apoptosis. We observed 528 differentially expressed proteins when 500 µg/mL APAP was administered to the cells. These proteins are involved in biological processes including cell division, apoptosis, and acute phase response. Overall, our findings demonstrate that APAP harms the immune system by damaging macrophages and that polydatin can repair this damage.     

The Uncertainty Propagation for Carbon Atomic Interactions in Graphene under Resonant Vibration Based on Stochastic Finite Element Model

Graphene is one of the most promising two-dimensional nanomaterials with broad applications in many fields. However, the variations and fluctuations in the material and geometrical properties are challenging issues that require more concern. In order to quantify uncertainty and analyze the impacts of uncertainty, a stochastic finite element model (SFEM) is proposed to propagate uncertainty for carbon atomic interactions under resonant vibration. Compared with the conventional truss or beam finite element models, both carbon atoms and carbon covalent bonds are considered by introducing plane elements. In addition, the determined values of the material and geometrical parameters are expanded into the related interval ranges with uniform probability density distributions. Based on the SFEM, the uncertainty propagation is performed by the Monte Carlo stochastic sampling process, and the resonant frequencies of graphene are provided by finite element computation. Furthermore, the correlation coefficients of characteristic parameters are computed based on the database of SFEM. The vibration modes of graphene with the extreme geometrical values are also provided and analyzed. According to the computed results, the minimum and maximum values of the first resonant frequency are 0.2131 and 16.894 THz, respectively, and the variance is 2.5899 THz. The proposed SFEM is an effective method to propagate uncertainty and analyze the impacts of uncertainty in the carbon atomic interactions of graphene. The work in this paper provides an important supplement to the atomic interaction modeling in nanomaterials.     

Evaluation of the Immunogenicity in Mice Orally Immunized with Recombinant Lactobacillus casei Expressing Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus S1 Protein

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), characterized by diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration, is an acute enteric infectious disease of pigs. The disease is caused by porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), which infects the intestinal mucosal surface. Therefore, mucosal immunization through the oral route is an effective method of immunization. Lactic acid bacteria, which are acid resistant and bile-salt resistant and improve mucosal immunity, are ideal carriers for oral vaccines. The S1 glycoprotein of PEDV mediates binding of the virus with cell receptors and induces neutralizing antibodies against the virus. Therefore, we reversely screened the recombinant strain pPG-SD-S1/Δupp ATCC 393 expressing PEDV S1 glycoprotein by Lactobacillus casei deficient in upp genotype (Δupp ATCC 393). Mice were orally immunized three times with the recombinant bacteria that had been identified for expression, and the changes of anti-PEDV IgG and secreted immunoglobulin A levels were observed over 70 days. The results indicated that the antibody levels notably increased after oral administration of recombinant bacteria. The detection of extracellular cytokines on the 42nd day after immunization indicated high levels of humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. The above results demonstrate that pPG-SD-S1/Δupp ATCC 393 has great potential as an oral vaccine against PEDV.     

A Unique Robust Dual-Promoter-Driven and Dual-Reporter-Expressing SARS-CoV-2 Replicon: Construction and Characterization

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2, SARS2) remains a great global health threat and demands identification of more effective and SARS2-targeted antiviral drugs, even with successful development of anti-SARS2 vaccines. Viral replicons have proven to be a rapid, safe, and readily scalable platform for high-throughput screening, identification, and evaluation of antiviral drugs against positive-stranded RNA viruses. In the study, we report a unique robust HIV long terminal repeat (LTR)/T7 dual-promoter-driven and dual-reporter firefly luciferase (fLuc) and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing SARS2 replicon. The genomic organization of the replicon was designed with quite a few features that were to ensure the replication fidelity of the replicon, to maximize the expression of the full-length replicon, and to offer the monitoring flexibility of the replicon replication. We showed the success of the construction of the replicon and expression of reporter genes fLuc and GFP and SARS structural N from the replicon DNA or the RNA that was in vitro transcribed from the replicon DNA. We also showed detection of the negative-stranded genomic RNA (gRNA) and subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) intermediates, a hallmark of replication of positive-stranded RNA viruses from the replicon. Lastly, we showed that expression of the reporter genes, N gene, gRNA, and sgRNA from the replicon was sensitive to inhibition by Remdesivir. Taken together, our results support use of the replicon for identification of anti-SARS2 drugs and development of new anti-SARS strategies targeted at the step of virus replication.     

PXR activation impairs hepatic glucose metabolism partly via inhibiting the HNF4α–GLUT2 pathway

Drug-induced hyperglycemia/diabetes is a global issue. Some drugs induce hyperglycemia by activating the pregnane X receptor (PXR), but the mechanism is unclear. Here, we report that PXR activation induces hyperglycemia by impairing hepatic glucose metabolism due to inhibition of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-alpha (HNF4α)‒glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) pathway. The PXR agonists atorvastatin and rifampicin significantly downregulated GLUT2 and HNF4α expression, and impaired glucose uptake and utilization in HepG2 cells. Overexpression of PXR downregulated GLUT2 and HNF4α expression, while silencing PXR upregulated HNF4α and GLUT2 expression. Silencing HNF4α decreased GLUT2 expression, while overexpressing HNF4α increased GLUT2 expression and glucose uptake. Silencing PXR or overexpressing HNF4α reversed the atorvastatin-induced decrease in GLUT2 expression and glucose uptake. In human primary hepatocytes, atorvastatin downregulated GLUT2 and HNF4α mRNA expression, which could be attenuated by silencing PXR. Silencing HNF4α downregulated GLUT2 mRNA expression. These findings were reproduced with mouse primary hepatocytes. Hnf4α plasmid increased Slc2a2 promoter activity. Hnf4α silencing or pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN) suppressed the Slc2a2 promoter activity by decreasing HNF4α recruitment to the Slc2a2 promoter. Liver-specific Hnf4α deletion and PCN impaired glucose tolerance and hepatic glucose uptake, and decreased the expression of hepatic HNF4α and GLUT2. In conclusion, PXR activation impaired hepatic glucose metabolism partly by inhibiting the HNF4α‒GLUT2 pathway. These results highlight the molecular mechanisms by which PXR activators induce hyperglycemia/diabetes.Key words: Pregnane X receptor, Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-alpha, Glucose transporter 2, Hepatic glucose uptake, Diabetes, Drug-induced hyperglycemia     

妊娠早期胚胎发育监测

文章对妊娠早期的胚胎发育监测进行介绍.     

Quercetin improves contrast-induced acute kidney injury through the HIF-1α/lncRNA NEAT1/HMGB1 pathway

ContextThe risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is increasing and the harm is great. Quercetin is the main active component in Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik (Malvaceae) and was reported to reduce the expression of HIF-1α.ObjectiveWe investigate whether quercetin improves the CI-AKI through the HIF-1α/lncRNA NEAT1/HMGB1 pathway.Materials and methodsHK-2 cells were treated with iohexol (200 mg/mL) for 6 h to establish a CI-AKI model. Quercetin (20 μM) was administered to CI-AKI cells cultured in dishes for 24 h. Cell morphology was observed by a fluorescence microscope. MTT and TUNEL assays were used to detect cell survival rate and apoptosis. Relative mRNA levels were measured by qRT-PCR. Protein levels were detected using western blotting. IL-6 and TNF-α protein levels were tested by Elisa assay. Targeting binding sites of HIF-1α and lncRNA NEAT1 were detected by luciferase assay.ResultsThe IC₅₀ value of quercetin was 163.25 μM. The expression levels of HIF-1α, lncRNA NEAT1 and HMGB1 were upregulated in the CI-AKI cell model. Quercetin diminished cell injury and apoptosis via inhibiting HIF-1α. Silencing of HIF-1α targeting lncRNA MEAT1 diminished cell injury and apoptosis. Silencing lncRNA NEAT1 has the same effect via suppressing HMGB1 expression. Collectively, quercetin diminished cell injury and apoptosis in CI-AKI cell model via the inhibition of HIF-1α on lncRNA NEAT1/HMGB1 signalling pathway.Discussion and conclusionsQuercetin diminished cell injury and apoptosis in CI-AKI cell mode via the inhibition of HIF-1α on the lncRNA NEAT1/HMGB1 signalling pathway, offering a potential novel therapeutic target for CI-AKI therapy.