Proteomic Analysis of Human Milk Reveals Nutritional and Immune Benefits in the Colostrum from Mothers with COVID-19

Despite the well-known benefits of breastfeeding and the World Health Organization’s breastfeeding recommendations for COVID-19 infected mothers, whether these mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed is under debate due to concern about the risk of virus transmission and lack of evidence of breastmilk’s protective effects against the virus. Here, we provide a molecular basis for the breastfeeding recommendation through mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics and glycosylation analysis of immune-related proteins in both colostrum and mature breastmilk collected from COVID-19 patients and healthy donors. The total protein amounts in the COVID-19 colostrum group were significantly higher than in the control group. While casein proteins in COVID-19 colostrum exhibited significantly lower abundances, immune-related proteins, especially whey proteins with antiviral properties against SARS-CoV-2, were upregulated. These proteins were detected with unique site-specific glycan structures and improved glycosylation diversity that are beneficial for recognizing epitopes and blocking viral entry. Such adaptive differences in milk from COVID-19 mothers tended to fade in mature milk from the same mothers one month postpartum. These results suggest that feeding infants colostrum from COVID-19 mothers confers both nutritional and immune benefits, and provide molecular-level insights that aid breastmilk feeding decisions in cases of active infection.     

Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide and Substance P Mediate Emetic Response Induction by Masked Trichothecene Deoxynivalenol-3-Glucoside through Ca2+ Signaling

Deoxynivalenol (DON), the most naturally-occurring trichothecenes, may affect animal and human health by causing vomiting as a hallmark of food poisoning. Deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (D3G) usually co-occurs with DON as its glucosylated form and is another emerging food safety issue in recent years. However, the toxicity of D3G is not fully understood compared to DON, especially in emetic potency. The goals of this research were to (1) compare emetic effects to D3G by oral and intraperitoneal (IP) routes and relate emetic effects to brain-gut peptides glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and substance P (SP) in mink; (2) determine the roles of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and transient receptor potential (TRP) channel in D3G’s emetic effect. Both oral and IP exposure to D3G elicited marked emetic events. This emetic response corresponded to an elevation of GIP and SP. Blocking the GIP receptor (GIPR) diminished emetic response induction by GIP and D3G. The neurokinin 1 receptor (NK-1R) inhibitor Emend^® restrained the induction of emesis by SP and D3G. Importantly, CaSR antagonist NPS-2143 or TRP channel antagonist ruthenium red dose-dependently inhibited both D3G-induced emesis and brain-gut peptides GIP and SP release; cotreatment with both antagonists additively suppressed both emetic and brain-gut peptide responses to D3G. To summarize, our findings demonstrate that activation of CaSR and TRP channels contributes to D3G-induced emesis by mediating brain-gut peptide exocytosis in mink.     

Study on Wear Mechanism of Helical Gear by Three-Body Abrasive Based on Impact Load

This study aimed to explore the wear characteristics and evolution mechanisms of large-scale wind power gears under the impact load of particles of the three-body abrasive Al₂O₃ (0.2 mg/mL) from four aspects: oil analysis, vibration analysis, amount of gear wear, and tooth-surface-wear profile analysis. A magnetic powder brake was used to simulate the actual working conditions. Combined with the abrasive particle monitoring and the morphology analysis of the tooth-surface-wear scar, by setting quantitative hard particles in the lubricating oil, the gears are mainly operated in the abrasive wear state, and wear monitoring and wear degree analysis are carried out for the whole life cycle of the gears. Oil samples were observed and qualitatively analyzed using a particle counter, a single ferrograph, a metallographic microscope, and a scanning electron microscope. The experiments demonstrate that the initial hard particles have a greater impact in the early wear stage of the gears (<20 h), and abrasive particle concentration increases by 30%. This means that Al₂O₃ particles accelerate the gear wear during the running-in period. The loading method of the impact load on the oblique gear exacerbates the abrasion particle wear and expands the stress concentration, which reduces the surface of large milling particles on the surface, and reduces the width of the tooth (the part above the pitch line is severely worn), which causes the gear to break into failure. The research provides help for analyzing the mechanism of abrasive wear of gears and predicting wear life.     

Production of butanol from lignocellulosic biomass: recent advances,challenges, and prospects

Due to energy and environmental concerns, biobutanol is gaining increasing attention as an alternative renewable fuel owing to its desirable fuel properties. Biobutanol production from lignocellulosic biomass through acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE) fermentation has gained much interest globally due to its sustainable supply and non-competitiveness with food, but large-scale fermentative production suffers from low product titres and poor selectivity. This review presents recent developments in lignocellulosic butanol production, including pretreatment and hydrolysis of hemicellulose and cellulose during ABE fermentation. Challenges are discussed, including low concentrations of fermentation sugars, inhibitors, detoxification, and carbon catabolite repression. Some key process improvements are also summarised to guide further research and development towards more profitable and commercially viable butanol fermentation.

Due to energy and environmental concerns, biobutanol is gaining increasing attention as an alternative renewable fuel owing to its desirable fuel properties.     

Th17 cell‐derived miR‐155‐5p modulates interleukin‐17 and suppressor of cytokines signaling 1 expression during the progression of systemic sclerosis

Background miR‐155‐5p is associated with autoimmune diseases. T helper 17 (Th17) cells, interleukin (IL)‐17, and suppressor of cytokines signaling 1 (SOCS1) have important roles in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The purpose of this study was to explore the role of miR‐155‐5p in the regulation of IL‐17 and SOCS1 expression in Th17 cells and the subsequent effect on SSc disease progression.MethodsTh17 cells were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of SSc patients and healthy controls (HCs). RT‐qPCR and western blotting were used to examine the expression patterns of miR‐155‐5p, IL‐17, and SOCS1. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to confirm SOCS1 as a target of miR‐155‐5p. RNA pull‐down assays were performed to detect the interaction of IL‐17 and SOCS1 with miR‐155‐5p. In situ hybridization was performed to analyze the co‐expression pattern of miR‐155‐5p and IL17A in Th17 cells.ResultsThe levels of Th17 cell‐derived miR‐155‐5p were significantly up‐regulated in SSc patients compared with HCs, and its levels were negatively correlated with SOCS1 levels. Meanwhile, miR‐155‐5p positively regulated IL‐17 expression levels in Th17 cells isolated from SSc patients as the disease progressed. Using pmirGLO vectors, SOCS1 was confirmed as a target of miR‐155‐5p. The binding status of IL‐17 and SOCS1 to miR‐155‐5p was related to SSc progression. An increase in the co‐localization of miR‐155‐5p and IL‐17 was associated with greater SSc progression.ConclusionsIL‐17 and SOCS1 expression modulated by Th17 cell‐derived miR‐155‐5p are critical for SSc progression, which may provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of SSc.     

植入电极法记录大鼠视觉诱发电位

目的:建立一种新的植入式颅骨电极记录大鼠视觉诱发电位(visual evoked potential,VEP)的方法,同时应用于RCD大鼠及CSNB大鼠,看是否可行.方法:大鼠麻醉后,暴露颅骨表面,分别在前囟(bregma)前4mm和后8mm处钻孔,植入长2mm,直径1.2mm的不锈钢螺钉,分别作为参考和记录电极;接地电极接入尾部.记录暗适应和明适应下视觉诱发电位(刺激光强:0.011,0.035,0.11,0.35,1.1和3.5cd·s/m2,叠加100次,不同光强间隔2～5 min,刺激频率1Hz,时程300ms).1wk后,以同样条件再次记录暗适应和明适应下视觉诱发电位.结果:植入电极后的大鼠存活时间较长,能达数月.记录时基本无干扰,波形清晰,稳定.植入法记录的波形与传统方法记录(记录电极插于两耳连线中点,向前刺入1～1.5cm,保持电极与身体长轴平行;参考电极由不锈钢针制成,插入右侧颊部;接地电极也由不锈钢针制成,置于尾部,对侧眼遮盖.)的波形没有差异,但幅值明显增大.在视锥细胞缺失(RCD)及先天性静止性夜盲(CSNB)大鼠中得到了同样的结果.结论:由于电极可以长期留置于大鼠上,有利于观察其视觉诱发电位的动态改变,对长期病程变化的研究也非常有利,同时记录和参考电极的位置固定,两者之间的相对位置也无变化,可大大减少实验误差,提高结果的可重复性及精确性.     

组织工程关节软骨梯度仿生支架的研究进展

由于良好的机械性能和生物相容性,组织工程支架已经成为修复和再生关节软骨缺损的重要方法。随着组织工程技术的不断发展,过去十年已经开发和测试了许多支架的制备和形成方法,但是理想再生支架的制备一直存在争议。关节软骨作为人体关节内的承重组织,其基质结构和细胞组成呈带状,并且从软骨表层至软骨下骨存在着几个平滑的自然梯度,包括细胞...     

右美托咪定辅助全身麻醉对心脏瓣膜置换术患者血流动力学和脑氧代谢及认知功能的影响

目的 探讨右美托咪定辅助全身麻醉对心脏瓣膜置换术患者血流动力学、脑氧代谢及认知功能的影响。方法 选取2018年3月至2019年5月于山东大学齐鲁医院拟行心脏瓣膜置换术的108例患者作为研究对象,采用随机数字表法分为对照组与观察组,每组54例。对照组行常规全身麻醉,观察组在对照组基础上于麻醉诱导前给予右美托咪定辅助麻醉。比较两组手术时间、麻醉时间、体外循环时间、血流动力学、血气和脑氧代谢指标及简易精神状态评价量表(MMSE)评分。结果 两组手术时间、麻醉时间及体外循环时间比较差异无统计学意义。T₂、T₄时,观察组收缩压(SBP)、舒张压(DBP)、心率(HR)均低于对照组,且T3时,观察组SBP、DBP均低于对照组(P<0.05)。T₂、T₃、T₄时,观察组动脉-颈内静脉血氧含量差(Da-jvO₂)、脑氧摄取率(CERO2)均高于对照组(P<0.05)。术后24、72 h,观察组简易精神状态评价量表(MMSE)评分均高于对照组(P<0.05...     

Müller细胞对大鼠视网膜微血管内皮细胞增生和迁移的影响

目的:用免疫磁珠法原代培养大鼠视网膜微血管内皮细胞(RMEC),观察共培养Müller细胞对视网膜微血管内皮细胞增生和迁移的影响。方法:采用免疫磁珠的细胞分选法分离大鼠视网膜微血管内皮细胞,在条件培养基中培养生长,采用第Ⅷ因子抗体免疫组化染色方法鉴定细胞,采用流式细胞术和台盼兰染色分析传代中的微血管内皮细胞纯度以及细胞活性。传统的方法培养并鉴定Müller细胞。采用不同孔径微孔滤膜培养小室,进行大鼠视网膜微血管内皮细胞与Müller细胞分离共培养,对照组培养环境中无Müller细胞。以细胞曲线描绘反映细胞增生,并用流式细胞仪测定细胞周期。相差显微镜下计算穿过微孔滤膜迁移贴附于背面的内皮细胞数量。结果:通过磁珠分离方法获得了纯度为97.13%大鼠视网膜微血管内皮细胞,细胞活力达92%,第Ⅷ因子抗体染色呈阳性。与Müller细胞共培养的RMEC可早于正常培养2～3d进入生长平台期。RMEC中S期和G2期比例增加,G1期比例相对减少。S、G2和G1期百分比,在共培养组24h分别为44.0%,11.2%和44.8%,48h分别为42.3%,10.9%和46.8%;对照培养组24h分别为41.3%,4.9%和53.8%,48h分别为40.1%,4.7%和55.2%。迁移的细胞数增加,共培养6h移行至膜下的内皮细胞数12.2±2.5个,12h为51.7±23.4个,对照培养6h移行至膜下的内皮细胞3.3±2.5个,12h为14.7±7.0个,6h和12h两组内皮细胞数差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:免疫磁珠细胞分选方法可以获得高纯度的大鼠视网膜微血管内皮细胞,且对细胞活力无影响。Müller细胞可以促进视网膜内皮细胞的迁移,促进该细胞的增生。     

超声生物显微镜量化观察超声乳化白内障吸除人工晶状体植入术后前房角的改变

目的:探讨超声乳化白内障吸除折叠式人工晶状体植入术后术眼前房角结构的改变。方法:对46例(50眼)老年性白内障患者行小切口超声乳化白内障吸除折叠式人工晶状体植入术,分别于术前和术后1mo使用超声生物显微镜量化测量前房深度和前房角宽度。结果:全部患者术后1mo前房深度明显增大(P<0.01);500μm处小梁虹膜夹角(TIA500)、250μm和500μm处前房角开放距离(AOD250、AOD500)与术前比较均显著增大(P<0.01),TIA500平均比值(术后TIA500/术前TIA500)为1.65(1.12～4.91),AOD250平均比值(术后AOD250/术前AOD250)为1.81(1.06～2.67),AOD500平均比值(术后AOD500/术前AOD500)为1.65(1.01～2.76),均与术前值呈显著负相关(P<0.01)。结论:超声乳化白内障吸除折叠式人工晶状体植入术可显著增大老年性白内障患者的前房角宽度;术前前房角越窄,术后前房角的变化程度越大。