The role of recombination signal sequences in the preferential joining by deletion in DH-JH recombination and in the ordered rearrangement of the IgH locus

The bias favoring deletion over inversion in DH-JH rearrangement has been known for years, but the underlying mechanism has yet to be fully defined. It has been suggested that the ratio of deletion/inversion is determined by the combined effect of two factors: (i) the relative strengths of 5' and 3' recombination signal sequences (RSS) of a DH segment, and (ii) the efficiency with which the deletional product (one joint) forms relative to the inversional product (two joints). In this study, we analyzed for the first time the effect of factor 1 alone on the biased 3' RSS utilization in DH-JH joining by using deletional plasmids in an extrachromosomal substrate V(D)J recombination assay. It was found that the 3' RSS and associated coding end (12 bp) mediate recombination more efficiently than the 5' RSS/coding end DH-JH plasmids. These results demonstrate that the effect of the RSS/coding end alone can account, at least partially, for the predominant deletion in DH-JH recombination. The potential effect of the relative strength of RSS and associated coding end on the ordered rearrangement of DH-JH followed by VH to DH-JH was also assessed. When recombination frequencies of D-->J (3' DH to J3) were compared with frequencies of V-- >D (VHPJ14 to 3' DH or VHOX2 to 3' DH), it was found that V-->D joining was, if anything, more efficient than D-->J joining. Therefore, if all three segments were accessible, RSS/coding end effects would not contribute to the ordered rearrangement of the IgH locus.      

Reduction of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits and decrease of expressions of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in foam cells by a water-soluble fraction of Polygonum multiflorum

Polygonum multiflorum stilbeneglycoside （PMS） is a water-soluble fraction of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. , one of the most famous tonic traditional Chinese medicines, that has protective effects on the cardiovascular system. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the effects of PMS on macrophage-derived foam cell functions and the reduction of severity of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic New Zealand White （NZW） rabbits. NZW rabbits were fed for 12 weeks with a normal diet, a high cholesterol diet, or a high cholesterol diet associated with irrigation with different doses of PMS （25, 50, or 100 mg/kg）. Treatment of NZW rabbits fed with high cholesterol diet with 100 mg/kg PMS attenuated the increase in plasma cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and plasma triglyceride. Treatment with 50 and 100 mg/kg PMS caused 43% and 60% decrease in atherosclerotic lesioned area ratio to total surface area, respectively. In U937 foam cells, PMS could decrease the high expression of intercellular adhesion molecule （ICAM）-1 protein and the vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） protein levels in the medium induced by oxidized lipoprotein when analyzed by flow cytometry. The results proved that PMS is a powerful agent against atherosclerosis and that PMS action could possibly be through the inhibition of the expression of ICAM-1 and VEGF in foam cells.     

FISSURE SEALANT IN A NUTSHELL. EVIDENCE-BASED META-EVALUATION OF SEALANTS’ EFFECTIVENESS IN CARIES PREVENTION AND ARREST

ObjectiveThis meta-evaluation aimed to summarize all available evidence regarding different fissure sealants on occlusal caries prevention, arrest, retention rate, adverse effect, and cost-effectiveness; when compared with no intervention, other preventive or minimally-invasive procedures.Materials and MethodsThe systematic reviews and meta-analyses were identified via four electronic databases and manual searching. Two independent reviewers performed study selection, data extraction, quality assessment with AMSTAR-2.ResultsAmong the 366 records yielded, 38 systematic reviews were identified as eligible 24 of them included meta-analyses. Moderate evidence has supported the efficacies of resin-based sealants (RBS) in occlusal caries prevention, arrest and cost-effectiveness compared to no interventions. Low to very low certainty of evidence suggested similar effectiveness of glass-ionomer cements in caries prevention with RBS and more superior performance of resin infiltration in arresting non-cavitated occlusal lesions.ConclusionThis meta-evaluation supports the use of RBS on permanent molars to reduce occlusal caries occurrence, arrest lesion progression and alleviate oral health inequalities between individuals of different socioeconomic status. This meta-evaluation also advocates further research on glass-ionomer cements and resin infiltration with respect to their efficacies in caries prevention and arrest.     

Effect of medial arch-heel support in inserts on reducing ankle eversion: a biomechanics study

Background  

Excessive pronation (or eversion) at ankle joint in heel-toe running correlated with lower extremity overuse injuries. Orthotics and inserts are often prescribed to limit the pronation range to tackle the problem. Previous studies revealed that the effect is product-specific. This study investigated the effect of medial arch-heel support in inserts on reducing ankle eversion in standing, walking and running.     

Non‐invasive assessment of kidney allograft fibrosis with shear wave elastography: A radiological‐pathological correlation analysis

Objectives

To evaluate the use of shear wave elastography in assessment of kidney allograft tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Methods

Shear wave elastography assessment was carried out by two independent operators in kidney transplant recipients who underwent allograft biopsy for clinical indications (i.e. rising creatinine >15% or proteinuria >1 g/day). Allograft biopsies were interpreted by the same pathologist according to the 2013 Banff Classification.

Results

A total of 40 elastography scans were carried out (median creatinine 172.5 μmol/L [interquartile range 133.8–281.8 μmol/L]). Median tissue stiffness at the cortex (22.6 kPa [interquartile range 18.8–25.7 kPa] vs 22.3 kPa [interquartile range 19.0–26.5 kPa], P = 0.70) and medulla (15.0 kPa [interquartile range 13.7–18.0 kPa] vs 15.6 kPa [interquartile range 14.4–18.2 kPa]) showed no significant differences between the two observers. Interobserver agreement was satisfactory (intraclass correlation coefficient of the cortex 0.84, 95% CI 0.70–0.92 and intraclass correlation coefficient of the medulla 0.88, 95% CI 0.78–0.94). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for detection of tubulointerstitial fibrosis were estimated to be 0.75 (95% CI 0.61–0.89), 0.85 (95% CI 0.75–0.95) and 0.65 (95% CI 0.53–0.78) for cortical, medullary tissue stiffness and serum creatinine, respectively.

Conclusions

Shear wave elastography can be used as a non‐invasive tool to evaluate kidney allograft fibrosis with reasonable interobserver agreement and superior test performance to serum creatinine in detecting early tubulointerstitial fibrosis.     

核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸抑制肿瘤坏死因子α诱导大鼠关节滑膜细胞中一氧化氮合酶2和环氧合酶2的表达

目的:利用核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸抑制肿瘤坏死因子α诱导的关节滑膜细胞中一氧化氮合酶2和环氧合酶2的表达,探讨基因治疗类风湿性关节炎的新方法。方法:实验于2005-03/2006-03在北京大学医学部中心实验室(国家级)完成。①实验材料:清洁级健康近交系SD大鼠10只;一氧化氮合酶2,环氧合酶2,3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶引物(由北京奥科生物公司合成);肿瘤坏死因子α(Sigma公司);核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸和转染条件由北京大学运动医学研究所陈连旭博士提供。②实验干预:切取大鼠髋关节和膝关节的滑膜体外培养滑膜细胞。利用脂质体siPORTTMLipid将核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸转染滑膜细胞,再加入肿瘤坏死因子α刺激。阴性对照为任意编码的小干涉核糖核酸,阳性对照为针对3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶的小干涉核糖核酸。③实验评估:提取滑膜细胞中的核蛋白,利用电泳迁移率试验检测核因子κB的活性;提取滑膜细胞的核糖核酸和总蛋白,利用反转录聚合酶链反应和蛋白质免疫印记法从信使核糖核酸和蛋白质两水平检测一氧化氮合酶2和环氧合酶2的表达。结果:①肿瘤坏死因子α和核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸对核因子κB转录活性的影响:与正常滑膜细胞相比,肿瘤坏死因子α可以显著提高核因子κB的结合能力,而事先转染小干涉核糖核酸48h,再用肿瘤坏死因子α刺激,核因子κB的结合能力又显著降低。②核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸对核因子κB下游因子的影响:在培养的滑膜细胞中,肿瘤坏死因子α可以显著增加一氧化氮合酶2和环氧合酶2的表达;在转染小干涉核糖核酸抑制核因子κBp65的表达后再用肿瘤坏死因子α刺激,一氧化氮合酶2和环氧合酶2的表达被抑制。结论:①核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸可降低肿瘤坏死因子α诱导的滑膜细胞中核因子κB的转录活性,抑制其下游因子一氧化氮合酶2和环氧合酶2的表达。②核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸可用于基因治疗类风湿性关节炎的试验研究。     

'Localized amyloidosis': 123I-labelled SAP component scintigraphy and labial salivary gland biopsy

In apparently localized amyloidosis, there is no appropriate test to determine whether systemic deposits exist. We studied the value of serum amyloid P component (SAP) scintigraphy and labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy on patients with apparently localized amyloidosis in 12 patients who had neither clinical nor biological evidence of systemic amyloidosis. All patients had an LSG biopsy and echocardiography. Iodine-123-labelled serum amyloid P component (123I-SAP) scintigraphy was performed in all patients. Whole-body scintigraphy was done, and tissue retention was evaluated at 24 h and 48 h. Of these 12 patients, three had amyloidosis in their LSG and had abnormal 123I-SAP scintigraphy; these three had a secondary clinical history of systemic amyloidosis. Three other patients had abnormal 123I-SAP scintigraphy without detectable systemic amyloid deposits, but one had a previous history of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome treated with infiltration. 123I-SAP scintigraphy in association with LSG biopsy may be helpful in determining the localized or systemic character of amyloid disease.