Identification of autophagy signaling network that contributes to stroke in the ischemic rodent brain via gene expression

Neuroscience Bulletin - Autophagy plays a vital role in cerebral ischemia and may be a potential target for developing novel therapy for stroke. In this study, we constructed an autophagy-related...     

Is moral beauty different from facial beauty? Evidence from an fMRI study

Is moral beauty different from facial beauty? Two functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments were performed to answer this question. Experiment 1 investigated the network of moral aesthetic judgments and facial aesthetic judgments. Participants performed aesthetic judgments and gender judgments on both faces and scenes containing moral acts. The conjunction analysis of the contrasts ‘facial aesthetic judgment > facial gender judgment’ and ‘scene moral aesthetic judgment > scene gender judgment’ identified the common involvement of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), inferior temporal gyrus and medial superior frontal gyrus, suggesting that both types of aesthetic judgments are based on the orchestration of perceptual, emotional and cognitive components. Experiment 2 examined the network of facial beauty and moral beauty during implicit perception. Participants performed a non-aesthetic judgment task on both faces (beautiful vs common) and scenes (containing morally beautiful vs neutral information). We observed that facial beauty (beautiful faces > common faces) involved both the cortical reward region OFC and the subcortical reward region putamen, whereas moral beauty (moral beauty scenes > moral neutral scenes) only involved the OFC. Moreover, compared with facial beauty, moral beauty spanned a larger-scale cortical network, indicating more advanced and complex cerebral representations characterizing moral beauty.     

Impact of gender on the clinicopathological features of patients with primary IgA nephropathy

Objective To explore the impact of gender on the clinicopathological features of patients with primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Methods All patients with IgAN who were biopsy-proven in The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University from January 2006 to December 2011 were divided into two groups by gender: male group and female group. The clinical manifestations and pathological features of two groups were retrospectively investigated and compared. Results A total of 1512 primary IgAN patients were enrolled in the study, and the ratio of male to female was 1∶1.16, with a median age of 32(26, 39) years old at biopsy. Compared to female patients, male patients with IgAN exhibited more severe clinical manifestations including worse renal function, greater urinary protein excretion, and more frequent occurrence of hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperuricemia. Besides, male patients had worse histological lesions, including more severe segmental sclerosis, tubular-atrophy/interstitial fibrosis and interstitial infiltration. For female patients, hematuria, including gross and microscopic hematuria, was more frequent. Conclusion Male patients with IgAN were with worse clinicopathological changes than those of female.     

Rabies virus nucleoprotein as a carrier for foreign antigens

Rabies virus (RV) nucleoprotein (N) tightly encapsidates the genomic and antigenomic RNA of RV to form the viral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex. Antigens, such as N, presented in a highly organized structure are sufficient and even desirable to activate B cells to proliferate and produce antibodies. In addition to activating B cells to proliferate, it has been shown that RV N in the RNP complex induces potent T helper cell responses resulting in long-lasting and strong humoral immune responses against RV. The possibility to systematically incorporate foreign genes into the genome of RV and produce a recombinant virus allows us to examine whether the immunogenicity of foreign antigens can be enhanced by incorporation into the RV RNP structure. To test this hypothesis we constructed a recombinant RV expressing a RV N-GFP fusion protein. The chimeric N-GFP fusion protein was efficiently expressed and incorporated into RV RNP and virions. Moreover, the recombinant RNP induces a strong humoral immune response against GFP in mice. In contrast, mice inoculated with GFP alone or a combination of wild-type RV RNPs and GFP did not trigger any GFP-specific humoral responses using the same immunization schedule. These data indicate the usefulness of RV-based vectors as killed vaccines against other infectious diseases.     

Efficient transformation and regeneration of rice small cell groups

Transgenic plants have been regenerated from small cell groups of rice using a simpler, faster, and more efficient method than used previously (e.g., protoplast transformation and regeneration methods). Small cell groups of 50-100 cells were prepared from established suspension cultures of rice cell lines. Transformation of small cell groups with intact cell walls was carried out with a plasmid harboring the beta-glucuronidase gene and was mediated by polyethylene glycol. Assay of beta-glucuronidase activity indicated that the frequency of transformation was about 7%. beta-Glucuronidase activity was detected in the roots and leaves of plants regenerated from transformed calli. One or two copies of the beta-glucuronidase gene per cell were determined to be integrated into the rice chromosomal DNA isolated from transformed calli. This method of transformation and regeneration is widely applicable to both dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants, especially those varieties that are resistant to regeneration from protoplasts.     

Lymphocyte responses to DR1/4 restricted peptides in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE--To determine whether analog and unrelated DR1/4 binding peptides alter DR1/4 restricted responses of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS--PBL from 25 patients with RA and 12 healthy controls were cultured with DR1/4 restricted peptides of the influenza haemagglutinin, amino acids 307-319 (HA) and matrix proteins, amino acids 17-29 (IM). Responses were determined by 3H-thymidine uptake proliferation assays and limiting dilution analysis. Competitor peptides were analogs HA-R312 and HA-K313 differing from HA by one amino acid at the 312 or 313 position respectively or unrelated peptides which bind to DR1/4. RESULTS--The responses of eight patients with RA to the two stimulatory influenza peptides did not differ significantly from controls and this was confirmed by the frequency estimate of T cells in PBL which responded to HA (mean frequency: 1 in 9.0 x 10(4), n = 5, in DR1/4+ RA patients, 1 in 7.6 x 10(4), n = 5, in DR1/4+ healthy controls). DR1/4 binding analogs of the HA peptide inhibited HA specific peptide responses of PBL from patients with RA and controls. Inhibition was also detected with unrelated peptides which bind to DR1/4 but to which the individual did not respond. CONCLUSION--Similar responses to two DR1/4 restricted peptides were observed in patients with RA and controls. Both antigen analog- and unrelated peptide-major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) can result in the inhibition of antigen specific responses in multi-clonal human lymphocyte populations. However, an analog peptide may be stimulatory in some individuals. These results provide some initial data for the development of a rational approach to MHC-specific immunomodulation in rheumatoid arthritis.     

A comparison of the clinical, demographic and psychiatric profiles among patients with erosive and non-erosive reflux disease in a multi-ethnic Asian country

AIM: To examine the clinical spectrum of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and compare erosive (ERD) with non-erosive (NERD) in terms of clinical, demographic and psychiatric profiles. METHODS: Patients with reflux symptoms were enrolled and stratified to NERD and ERD after endoscopy (LA classification). Patients with ERD presenting with dyspepsia were included. Patients on proton pump inhibitors (PPI) or H2 receptor antagonists before endoscopy were excluded. Demographic data, Helicobacter pylori(H pylori) status and presence of minor psychiatric morbidity (based on General Health Questionnaire-28) were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 690 patients screened, 533 were eligible for analysis (male to female ratio: 3:2; Chinese: 75.4%; Malay: 9.8%; Indian: 14.8%). Clinical spectrum of GERD: N: 40.5%; A: 46%; B: 9.2%; C: 2.1%; D: 0.6%; Barrett's esophagus: 1.7%. Compared to patients with NERD, patients with ERD were significantly older (45 vs 39.4 years), more likely to be male (64.4% vs 53.7%), tended to smoke (19.6% vs 9.7%), less likely to have minor psychiatric morbidity (26.4 vs 46.7%) and were more likely to respond to PPI (79.7 vs 66.8%). There was also a trend towards a higher BMI (24.5 vs 23.5). Race, alcohol consumption and H pylori status were not significant. On multivariate analysis, age and presence of minor psychiatric morbidity remained with significant differences. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients who have typical symptoms of GERD have NERD or mild erosive reflux disease. Compared to patients with erosive reflux disease, patients with NERD were younger and had a higher prevalence of minor psychiatric morbidity.     

The association between the genetic polymorphism of HLA-DQA1, DQB1, and DRB1 and serum alanine aminotransferase levels in chronic hepatitis C in the Chinese population

Background and Aim:  To investigate a possible association between HLA genes with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and evaluate whether the HLA-DQA1, DQB1, and DRB1 genes could influence the development of liver damage in chronic hepatitis C.
Methods:  A total of 145 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (36 patients with persistently normal ALT values; 109 patients with elevated ALT levels) and 160 uninfected healthy controls were examined for HLA-DQA1, DQB1, and DRB1 molecules by using polymerase chain reaction–sequencing based typing (PCR-SBT).
Results:  Among the patients chronically infected with HCV, the frequencies of DQA1*0501, DQB1*0301, and DRB1*0401 alleles were significantly increased in the normal ALT group compared with those with abnormal ALT levels, whereas that of DQB1*0201 was significantly lower. As compared to uninfected healthy controls, DQA1*0501, DQB1*0301, and DRB1*0401 allele frequencies were also statistically higher in the normal ALT group, whereas that of DQB1*0201 was the inverse. The haplotype frequencies of DQA1*0301-DQB1*0301, DQA1*0501-DQB1*0301, and DRB1*1101-DQB1*0301 were found to be significantly higher in the normal ALT group. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that female sex, and the DQB1*0301 allele and DRB1*0401 allele were independently associated with normal ALT values, whereas DQB1*0201 allele was the inverse.
Conclusions:  These results suggest that particular HLA alleles may have an influence on the serum ALT level of chronic HCV infection as a host genetic factor in the Chinese population. The DQA1*0501, DQB1*0301, and DRB1*0401 alleles, and the DQA1*0301-DQB1*0301, DQA1*0501-DQB1*0301, and DRB1*1101-DQB1*0301 haplotypes seem to be associated with low hepatitis activity; whereas DQB1*0201 allele is closely correlated with the progression of liver injury in chronic HCV infection.     

Dissociation of immune responses to the SS-A (Ro) 52-kd and 60-kd polypeptides in systemic lupus erythematosus and Sj?gren's syndrome

The cellular RNA particle SS-A (Ro) is a target of autoimmune response in many patients with Sj?gren's syndrome (SS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recent immunologic, biochemical, and DNA cloning studies have shown that the SS-A particle consists of at least 2 polypeptide components, of 52 kd and 60 kd. Immunodiffusion analysis of 60 sera from patients with primary SS revealed 47 (78%) to be SS-A precipitin positive. Western blotting studies of the sera showed 3 groups of reactivities: 22 (47%) possessed autoantibodies against both the 60-kd and the 52-kd polypeptides, 19 (40%) reacted only with the 52-kd protein, and 6 (13%) were nonreactive in Western blots although positive in immunodiffusion. Fifty-one of 90 SLE sera (57%) were SS-A precipitin positive by immunodiffusion. In Western blots, 24 (47%) possessed antibodies against both the 60-kd and the 52-kd antigens, while 9 (18%) reacted only with the 60-kd protein. Eighteen (35%) were nonreactive by Western blot, although positive by immunodiffusion. Antibody to the 52-kd antigen without concomitant antibody to the 60-kd antigen was seen only in patients with primary SS, whereas antibody to the 60-kd antigen without concomitant antibody to the 52-kd antigen was seen only in SLE patients. Although antibodies to SS-A are detected in both SS and SLE, our findings show that there is dissociation of immune responses to the 2 component antigens of the particle, which may be evidence of different events initiating the autoimmune process in these diseases.     

A novel method for lymphadenectomy along the left laryngeal recurrent nerve during thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma

Background

Due to limited space in the left upper mediastinum, complete dissection of lymph nodes (LN) along left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is difficult. We herein present a novel method for lymphadenectomy along the left RLN during thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the semi-prone position for esophageal carcinoma. The method, suspension the esophagus and push aside trachea, allows en bloc lymphadenectomy along the left RLN from the below aortic arch to the thoracic inlet.

Methods

Between September 2014 and September 2015, a total of 110 consecutive patients with esophageal carcinoma were treated with thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis in the semi-prone position. Outcomes between those who received surgery with the novel method and conventional surgery were compared.

Results

Fifty patients underwent the novel method and sixty received conventional surgery. The operative field around the left RLN was easier to explore with the novel method. The estimated blood loss was less (23.7±8.2 vs. 34.2±10.3 g, P=0.001), and the number of harvested LNs along the left RLN was greater (6.4±3.2 vs. 4.1±2.8 min, P=0.028) in the novel method group, while the duration of lymphadenectomy along left RLN was longer in the novel method group (28.2±3.9 vs. 20.3±2.8 min, P=0.005). The rate of hoarseness in the novel and conventional groups was 10% and 16.7%, respectively. No significant difference in postoperative morbidity related to the left RLN was noted between the groups.

Conclusions

The novel method during semi-prone esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma is associated with better surgeon ergonomics and operative exposure.