Adult-onset type II citrullinemia and idiopathic neonatal hepatitis caused by citrin deficiency: involvement of the aspartate glutamate carrier for urea synthesis and maintenance of the urea cycle

Citrin is a mitochondrial aspartate glutamate carrier primarily expressed in the liver, heart, and kidney. We found that adult-onset type II citrullinemia is caused by mutations in the SLC25A13 gene that encodes for citrin. In this report, we describe the frequency of SLC25A13 mutations, the roles of citrin as a member of the urea cycle and as a member of the malate-aspartate shuttle, the relationship between its functions and symptoms of citrin deficiency, and therapeutic issues.     

Prevalence of Antibodies to Hepatitis E Virus in Veterinarians Working with Swine and in Normal Blood Donors in the United States and Other Countries

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is endemic in many developing and some industrialized countries. It has been hypothesized that animals may be the source of infection. The recent identification of swine HEV in U.S. pigs and the demonstration of its ability to infect across species have lent credence to this hypothesis. To assess the potential risk of zoonotic HEV infection, we tested a total of 468 veterinarians working with swine (including 389 U.S. swine veterinarians) and 400 normal U.S. blood donors for immunoglobulin G anti-HEV. Recombinant capsid antigens from a U.S. strain of swine HEV and from a human HEV strain (Sar-55) were each used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The anti-HEV prevalence assayed with the swine HEV antigen showed 97% concordance with that obtained with the human HEV antigen (kappa = 92%). Among the 295 swine veterinarians tested from the eight U.S. states (Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, and Alabama) from which normal blood donor samples were available, 26% were positive with Sar-55 antigen and 23% were positive with swine HEV antigen. In contrast, 18% of the blood donors from the same eight U.S. states were positive with Sar-55 antigen and 17% were positive with swine HEV antigen. Swine veterinarians in the eight states were 1.51 times more likely when tested with swine HEV antigen (95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 2.20) and 1.46 times more likely when tested with Sar-55 antigen (95% confidence interval, 0.99 to 2.17) to be anti-HEV positive than normal blood donors. We did not find a difference in anti-HEV prevalence between veterinarians who reported having had a needle stick or cut and those who had not or between those who spent more time (> or = 80% of the time) and those who spent less time (< or = 20% of the time) working with pigs. Similarly, we did not find a difference in anti-HEV prevalence according to four job categories (academic, practicing, student, and industry veterinarians). There was a difference in anti-HEV prevalence in both swine veterinarians and blood donors among the eight selected states, with subjects from Minnesota six times more likely to be anti-HEV positive than those from Alabama. Age was not a factor in the observed differences from state to state. Anti-HEV prevalence in swine veterinarians and normal blood donors was age specific and paralleled increasing age. The results suggest that swine veterinarians may be at somewhat higher risk of HEV infection than are normal blood donors.     

Characterization of antimicrobial resistance among Escherichia coli O111 isolates of animal and human origin

Fifty isolates of Escherichia coli serogroup O111 recovered from humans and various animal species over a 24-year period (1976-1999) were examined for typical virulence-associated factors and susceptibilities to antimicrobials of human and veterinary significance. Nine H (flagellar) types were identified including nonmotile (n = 24), 32 (n = 12), negative (n = 5), and 56 (n = 3). Thirty-five (70%) isolates possessed at least one Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)-associated virulence determinants (eae, stxl, stx2, hlyA) via PCR analysis. Of these 35 isolates, 20 possessed eae, stxl, and hlyA genes, whereas three isolates possessed eae, stxl, stx2, and hylA genes. Multiple antibiotic resistance was observed in 70% of the 50 E. coli O111 isolates. The majority of isolates displayed resistance to streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and kanamycin. Bacterial resistance to ampicillin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim and apramycin was also observed. Integrons were identified in 23 (46%) of the E. coli isolates assayed, with a 1-kb amplicon being most frequently observed. DNA sequencing of these integrons revealed the presence of the aadA gene, encoding resistance to streptomycin. Two integrons of 1.5 and 2 kb contained the aadA2 and either dfrI or dfrXII genes, encoding resistance to streptomycin and trimethoprim, respectively. Integrons were also identified from isolates dating back to 1982. Isolates were further genetically characterized via ribotyping, which identified 15 distinct ribogroups, with 62% of isolates clustering into four major ribogroups. Certain riboprint patterns from different animal species, including humans, were observed in isolates spanning the 24-year collection period, suggesting the dissemination of specialized pathogenic O111 clones.     

Comparison of ethanol versus formalin fixation on preservation of histology and RNA in laser capture microdissected brain tissues

Although RNA can be retrieved from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, the yield is low, and the RNA is fragmented. Recent advances in gene expression profiling underscore the importance of identifying a fixative that preserves histology and mRNA. We demonstrated that, for immersion fixation of brains, 70% ethanol is superior to formalin for mRNA preservation. RNA yield from ethanol-fixed tissues was 70% of the yield from fresh frozen specimens, but only a negligible quantity was recovered from formalin-fixed tissues. RNA from ethanol-fixed brains showed integrity comparable to RNA from fresh frozen tissues, and RT-PCR using RNA from ethanol-fixed tissues was consistently successful. RNA from FFPE tissues composed of low-molecular weight fragments, and their use in RT-PCR failed repeatedly. The yield and quality of RNA from ethanol-fixed brains were unaffected after immersion at 4 degrees C for 2 weeks. In a blinded comparison to FFPE tissues, ethanol-fixed specimens were judged to show comparable histology and superior immunostaining. After laser capture microdissection (LCM), we failed to recover mRNA from FFPE tissues but retrieved mRNA from ethanol-fixed tissues for RT-PCR and cDNA microarray analysis. We conclude that 70% ethanol preserves RNA integrity and is suitable for expression profiling of brain tissues by LCM and cDNA microarray.     

GDNF-induced seminomatous tumours in mouse--an experimental model for human seminomas?

Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a distant member of the transforming growth factor superfamily. It binds to and activates a receptor complex consisting of GFR-alpha1 and Ret receptor tyrosine kinase. In testis, GDNF is expressed by Sertoli cells. We have shown by transgenic loss- and gain-of-function mouse models that GDNF regulates the cell fate decision of undifferentiated spermatogonia. In the GDNF +/- mice, the spermatogonia differentiate in excess leading to the depletion of germ cells. In the mice overexpressing GDNF in testes, undifferentiated spermatogonia accumulate in the tubules, no sperm is produced, and the mice are infertile. After a year, the GDNF overexpressing mice frequently (89%) develop testicular tumours, and most of them are bilateral (56%). All these tumours show the same histological pattern. They are composed of round spermatogonial/gonocytic cells with only a scant cytoplasm. The tumours are locally invasive but do not metastasise. They express germ line markers, are positive for alkaline phosphatase, and aneuploid with a triploid peak. Thus, by several histological, molecular, and histochemical characteristics, the GDNF-induced tumours mimic classical seminomas in men, but the precursor lesions are apparently different in mouse and man.     

基于肠道菌群和代谢组学研究化滞柔肝颗粒治疗非酒精性脂肪肝的作用机制

目的 探讨化滞柔肝颗粒治疗非酒精性脂肪肝（nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,NAFLD）的作用机制。方法 高脂饮食饲养8周构建大鼠NAFLD模型,化滞柔肝颗粒ig给药4周。半自动生化分析仪测定大鼠血脂相关指标;油红O染色观察肝脏组织病理变化;Illumina Miseq测序平台对V3～V4可变区进行扩增和测序,超高效液相色谱串联质谱（UPLCMS/MS）开展血浆代谢组学研究,并结合Spearman进行肠道菌群与代谢组学之间的关联分析。结果 与模型组相比,化滞柔肝颗粒中、高剂量组可显著降低大鼠体质量（P<0.05、0.01）和血清总胆固醇（totalcholesterol,TC）、三酰甘油（triacylglycerol,TG）水平（P<0.01）,升高高密度脂蛋白（high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C）水平（P<0.05、0.01）。此外,化滞柔肝颗粒高剂量组还可显著降低大鼠低密度脂蛋白（low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C）水平（P<0...     

用非同位素原位杂交组化在光镜和电镜水平观察前阿黑皮素mRNA在垂体的分布

用地高辛标记反意前阿黑皮素(pro-opiomelanocortin,POMC)cRNA探针原位杂交组化在光镜和电镜水平观察了POMC mRNA在大鼠垂体的分布,并比较了碱性磷酸酶(AKP)显色系统和辣根过氧化酶(HRP)显色系统在光镜水平上的敏感性.结果:POMC mRNA广泛地分布于垂体的中间叶和前叶.中间叶全部细胞均为POMC mRNA阳性.前叶中除前叶的腹侧缘和前叶与中间叶交界处阳性细胞较少外,都有较多的POMC mRNA阳性细胞分布.AKP显色系统比HRP显色系统敏感.在电镜水平,POMC mRNA主要分布于粗面内质网,少数分泌颗粒可能呈阳性反应,胞核未见阳性反应沉淀.文内还就阳性分泌颗粒在调节细胞合成功能方面可能起的作用进行了讨论.     

特瑞普利单抗联合舒尼替尼治疗晚期肾细胞癌的初步疗效分析

目的：评估特瑞普利单抗联合舒尼替尼治疗晚期肾细胞癌的疗效与安全性。方法：回顾性分析2020年1月—2022年3月海军军医大学第二附属医院接受特瑞普利单抗联合舒尼替尼治疗的25例晚期肾癌患者临床资料,其中男21例,女4例,中位年龄为59 (33~80)岁。25例患者病理类型均为透明细胞癌,其中2例为TFE3融合基因相关肾癌,1例部分肉瘤样变,25例患者均发生局部进展或远处转移。评价其生存获益和相关不良反应发生情况。结果：中位随访时间11.0(2.5～24)个月,25例患者均可评价疗效,总体人群ORR 36.0%,DCR 84.0%,9例患者部分缓解,12例患者病情稳定,4例患者疾病进展,中位PFS 12.7个月(95%置信区间：10.7～14.7),中位OS尚未达到。治疗总体不良反应发生率为88.0%,常见不良反应包括皮疹、腹泻、手足皮肤反应、高血压等,90%的不良反应为1~2级。     

Adenovirus-mediated p53 gene therapy in nasopharyngeal cancer

EBV-associated nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) occurs with high frequency in China and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. To explore the potential use of adenovirus-mediated tumor suppressor p53 gene therapy In NPC, we first examined the in vitro effects of p53 introduced into the NPC cell lines RPMI 2650, Fadu and Detroit 562. p21(WAF1/CIP1) induction by chemotherapy was used as a functional assay which revealed that RPMI 2650 expresses wild-type p53 whereas Fadu and Detroit 562 encode mutant p53. Infection with p53-expressing adenovirus (Ad-p53) induced apoptosis and inhibited cell growth in all three NPC cell lines, regardless of the endogenous p53 status. Adenovirus infectivity was greatest in RPMI 2650 cells, with 100% of the cells expressing beta-galactosidase following Ad-LacZ infection using an MOI of 100, as compared to 20-30% infectivity with the other NPC lines. Using RPMI 2650 cells injected into nude mice, we developed an animal model for nasopharyngeal cancer. Established tumors (0.6-0.8 cm) were injected with 5x10(9) PFU Ad-LacZ, Ad-p53 or PBS in a 100 mu l volume. We found evidence for in vivo expression of beta-galactosidase or p53 and p21 up to two weeks following Ad-LacZ or Ad-p53 virus injection respectively. Objective regression of tumor size was observed at two weeks in 4/6 Ad-p53-treated tumors, but not in Ad-LacZ or PBS-treated tumors. The results provide an animal model for human nasopharyngeal cancer, and indicate a potential use of p53 in its therapy in vivo.