Small intestinal organoid-derived SP cells contribute to repair of irradiation-induced skin injury

Side population (SP) cells, characterized by their ability to efflux the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342, were isolated from the small intestine of mice. In the abdominal irradiation model, small intestinal organoid-derived SP (sioSP) cells from ROSA 26 mice were submucosally injected into the small intestinal of the irradiated C57BL/6 mice. In contrast to the control mice, mice receiving sioSP cell transplantation demonstrated far less skin injury. Most importantly, hairs in the irradiated body part of the transplanted mice almost remained black, whereas the counterpart in the control mice almost turned white. Histochemistry studies showed the donor cells gave rise to skin cells in the irradiated skin. Thus, our study demonstrated for the first time that stem cells from the small intestine can differentiate into skin cells under local cues and thus supports the theory of stem cell plasticity.     

Modulation of disease severity of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa by a splice site mutation in combination with a missense mutation in the COL7A1 gene

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (EBD) is a clinically heterogeneous skin disorder, characterized by abnormal anchoring fibrils (AF) and loss of dermal-epidermal adherence. EBD has been linked to the COL7A1 gene at chromosome 3p21 which encodes collagen VII, the major component of the AF. Here we investigated two unrelated EBD families with different clinical phenotypes and novel combinations of recessive and dominant COL7A1 mutations. Both families shared the same recessive heterozygous 14 bp deletion at the exon-intron 115 boundary of the COL7A1 gene. The deletion caused in-frame skipping of exon 115 and the elimination of 29 amino acid residues from the pro-alpha1(VII) polypeptide chain. As a result, procollagen VII was not converted to collagen VII and the C-terminal NC-2 propeptide which is normally removed from the procollagen VII prior to formation of the anchoring fibrils was retained in the skin. All affected individuals also carried missense mutations in exon 73 of COL7A1 which lead to different glycine- to-arginine substitutions in the triple-helical domain of collagen VII. Combination of the deletion mutation with a G2009R substitution resulted in a mild phenotype. In contrast, combination of the deletion with a G2043R substitution led to a severe phenotype. The G2043R substitution was a de novo mutation which alone caused a mild phenotype. Thus, different combinations of dominant and recessive COL7A1 mutations can modulate disease activity of EBD and alter the clinical presentation of the patients.      

数字化大鼠动脉血管系统三维模型的建立

采用含造影剂及显色剂的填充剂对成年SD大鼠动脉血管系统进行灌注,并借助数字X射线成像设备对灌注效果进行实时监测,通过断层解剖成像系统获取切削间距为100 μm的二维断面解剖数据集(图像分辨率为4917×3446×24 bit,共1 464张),最后利用Visual C 结合可视化工具包编程实现数据集的动脉分割及三维可视化,得到数字化SD大鼠动脉血管系统的三维模型.该模型能提供大鼠动脉血管系统的空间结构信息,为实验大鼠血管系统的研究提供了更为准确可靠的形态学参考.     

Different applications of polymerases with and without proofreading activity in single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis

With the completion of the human genome project, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have become the focus of intense study in biomedical research. Polymerase-mediated primer extension has been employed in a variety of SNP assays. However, these SNP assays using polymerase without proofreading function are compromised by their low reliability. Using a newly developed short amplicon harboring restriction enzyme site, EcoR-I, we were able to compare the single-base discrimination abilities of polymerases with and without proofreading function in primer extension in a broad range of annealing temperatures. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrated a striking single-nucleotide discrimination ability of polymerases with proofreading function. Using unmodified 3'-end allele-specific primers, only template-dependent products were generated by polymerase with proofreading activity. This powerful single-base discrimination ability of exo(+) polymerases was further evaluated in primer extension using three types of 3' terminally modified allele-specific primers. As compared with the poor fidelity in primer extension of polymerases lacking 3' exonuclease activity, this study provides convincing evidence that the use of proofreading polymerases in combination with 3'-end modified allele-specific primers can be a powerful new strategy for the development of SNP assays.     

Quality validation of platelets obtained from the Haemonetics and Trima Accel automated blood-collection systems

BackgroundPlatelet transfusion is required to treat haemo-oncology or trauma patients. Platelet apheresis (PA) performed with apheresis equipment has increased rapidly in recent years. Leucocyte-reduced platelet apheresis (LRPA) can reduce the risk of platelet refractoriness and febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTRs) for transfusion. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate and compare the platelet metabolic and functional responses between PA performed with Haemonetics and LRPA performed with Trima Accel cell separator.MethodsThe qualities of platelets collected through PA and LRPA were evaluated in terms of visual appearance, morphology, platelet-aggregation changes, metabolic activities, and bacterium-screening test during 5-day storage. Statistical analyses included two-sample t-test and generalised estimating equation(GEE) method.ResultsDuring 5-day storage in LRPA, residual leucocytes were all <1.0×10⁶, and the parameters of platelet function were as follows: platelet aggregated to agonists such as adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP) and collagen, and the extent of shape change and pO₂ showed no statistically significant difference between PA and LRPA. The hypotonic shock reaction (HSR) on days 0, 1, and 3 were significantly higher in LRPA than in PA (71.78±6.92 vs. 64.10±7.42; P=0.002; 71.53±8.98 vs. 62.96±9.84; P=0.007; 68.05±7.28 vs. 57.76±6.80; P<0.0001, respectively). Values of mean platelet volume (MPV) were statistically larger in PA than in LRPA on days 0, 1, and 3. On day 5, the swirling score was higher in LRPA than in PA. The mean lactate levels had no statistically significant difference between PA and LRPA. Moreover, no growth was observed through bacterium-screening test conducted on 40 samples.ConclusionComparison of LRPA and PA products collected from the Trima Accel and Haemonetics automated blood-collection systems, respectively, revealed that both products possessed good platelet qualities even though additional processes are needed to reduce leucocytes. Furthermore, investigating the outcomes of other apheresis instruments with focus on the safety of donors, products, and recipients is necessary.     

先天性生殖器官异常孕妇的围生结局分析

目的探讨先天性生殖器官异常孕妇的围生结局。方法选择2009年1月至2019年12月,于四川大学华西第二医院活产分娩的99779例单胎妊娠孕妇为研究对象。根据是否合并先天性生殖器官异常,将其分为观察组(n=324,合并)及对照组(n=99455,未合并)。回顾性分析2组孕妇的临床病例资料,总结观察组不同类型先天性生殖器官异常孕妇的围生结局特点。采用χ^(2)检验及独立样本t检验,对2组孕妇妊娠期各并发症发生率、剖宫产率及新生儿出生体重等,进行统计学分析。本研究遵循的程序符合2013年修订的《世界医学协会赫尔辛基宣言》要求。结果①观察组孕妇最常见先天性生殖器官异常前3位依次为纵隔子宫、单角/残角子宫及弓形子宫,分别占35.2%(114/324)、26.2%(85/324)及13.9%(45/324)。包括既往妊娠次数在内,观察组孕妇共计妊娠571次,其中弓形子宫、纵隔子宫孕妇的自然流产率位列前2位,分别为38.5%(35/91)、28.6%(61/213);阴道畸形孕妇足月产率(70.0%),高于子宫畸形者(52.8%),并且差异有统计学意义(χ^(2)=4.432、P=0.035)。②观察组孕妇早产、胎膜早破、胎位异常、胎盘早剥、胎儿生长受限(FGR)、胎盘黏连/植入、子宫破裂及剖宫产率分别为29.6%、29.3%、36.1%、5.9%、2.5%、21.0%、3.4%、78.7%,均分别高于对照组孕妇的9.8%、22.3%、5.7%、1.2%、1.0%、11.5%、1.5%、62.0%;而羊水过少率(0.9%)及新生儿出生体重[(2913±652)g],则显著低于对照组的2.9%、(3254±445)g,并且上述差异均有统计学意义(均为P<0.05)。2组孕妇前置胎盘、妊娠期高血压疾病(HDCP)、产后出血(PPH)及子宫切除率比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论先天性生殖器官异常孕妇的母、胎围生期并发症发生风险高。提高该病孕妇的孕前及早孕期诊断率,加强围生期保健及处理,可改善其围生结局。     

主诉腰痛女性患者骨密度和骨质疏松患病率分析

目的研究主诉腰痛女性患者腰椎和髋部骨密度(BMD)测量的临床意义及骨质疏松(OP)患病率。方法采用扇形束双能X线骨密度仪(DEXA)测量主诉为腰痛的女性患者的腰椎和髋部BMD,并与对照组的BMD比较,同时比较其相应骨质疏松(OP)患病率。结果临床主诉以腰痛为主的女性病人腰椎及髋部BMD比以关节痛或全身痛为主诉者的低,(P＜0.05);主诉腰痛者各骨骼部位的OP检出率明显高于关节痛或全身痛者,且均与正常对照组有显著性差异(P＜0.05)。结论骨质疏松是女性腰痛病人就诊的主要原因之一,腰痛患者OP患病率较高;腰椎BMD测定是诊断骨质疏松症的重要手段。     

梯度胶电泳法测定冠心病患者血浆小密低密度脂蛋白

目的 建立实用的小密低密度脂蛋白(sdLDL)测定方法, 观察冠心病患者血浆中sdLDL和脂类成分的变化及相互关系。方法 采用2%～16%非变性聚丙烯酰胺梯度胶电泳和凝胶成象分析系统, 测定了105名冠心病患者和90名健康对照者血浆sdLDL、 血脂。结果 sdLDL＞50%的检出率, 冠心病组为38.1%, 对照组为11.1%(P＜0.01);sdLDL增多患者的甘油三酯水平(2.43±1.22) mmol/L明显高于sdLDL正常者(1.46±0.64) mmol/L, P＜0.01。结论 sdLDL与冠心病发生发展有关, 且与甘油三酯关系密切;sdLDL测定可作为预测冠心病危险性的指标之一。