Abstract Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) is a systemic vascular inflammatory disease. Huanglian Decoction (HLD) ameliorates renal injury in nephritis; however, the mechanism of action of HLD on HSPN has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the protective mechanism of HLD treatment in HSPN. The effects of HLD on HSPN biochemical indices, kidney injury and NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway were analyzed by biochemical analysis, ELISA, HE and PAS staining, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western Blot. In addition, the effects of HLD on HSPN cells were analyzed. We found that HLD treatment significantly reduced renal tissue damage, decreased the levels of IL-17, IL-18, TNF-α, and IL-1β, and increased the levels of TP and ALB in HSPN mice. It also inhibited the deposition of IgA, IgG, and C3 in kidney tissues and significantly decreased the expression of IκBα, p-IκBα, NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β in kidney tissues and cells. In addition, PMA treatment inhibited the above-mentioned effects of HLD. These results suggested that HLD attenuates renal injury, IgA deposition, and inflammation in HSPN mice and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. HenochSchonlein Henoch Schonlein (HSPN disease (HLD however investigated indices NFκB/NLRP3 NFκBNLRP3 NFκBNLRP NF κB/NLRP3 κB NLRP3 NLRP NF-κB/NLRP analysis ELISA staining immunohistochemistry immunofluorescence Blot addition damage IL17, IL17 IL 17, 17 IL-17 IL18, IL18 18, 18 IL-18 TNFα, TNFα TNF α, α TNF-α IL1β, IL1β ILβ 1β, 1β β IgG C IκBα pIκBα, pIκBα p p-IκBα caspase1, caspase1 caspase 1, 1 caspase-1 abovementioned above mentioned NFκB NFκB/NLRP κBNLRP3 κBNLRP κB/NLRP IL1 IL-1 caspase- IL-

ABSTRACT A 35-year-old immunocompetent woman from southern China went to the hand surgery clinic with a six-month history of progressive swelling in her right index finger. She had been pinched by a lobster and had received several treatments without any improvement. Pus specimens were taken from the swollen parts of her finger, and the pathology showed granulomatous inflammation. Ziehl–Neelsen staining revealed positive bacillus in the pus specimens. The bacteria grew well on Columbia blood agar. However, the MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were not able to distinguish between Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium ulcerans because of their close genetic relationship. Photochromogenicity testing can help differentiate between these species based on the alteration in colony color after light exposure. For our patient, the colonies turned yellow after 18h of incubation in the sun, identifying the species as M. marinum. Besides surgical drainage, the patient received rifampicin and clarithromycin for three months, and her symptoms resolved without relapse after six months of follow-up.

Abstract The antimicrobial effect of chitosan on Penicillium expansum, a major postharvest pathogen of pome fruit, and the possible mechanisms involved in its effect were examined in this study. Chitosan strongly inhibited spore germination and hyphal growth of P. expansum. Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations revealed that chitosan also caused morphological changes in hyphae and conidia, such as abnormal branching and vacuolation. Proteomic changes in P. expansum after chitosan treatment were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, and 26 proteins were ambiguously identified and categorized based on their putative biological function. Proteins related to DNA or protein biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism and energy production were decreased in relative protein abundance, while proteins involved in antibiotics resistance and defense response increased in relative protein abundance. Changes in abundance of these identified proteins were in accordance to the observed physiological and morphological changes of the fungi cells. Altogether, these experimental results provide a detailed illustration of the responses to chitosan in P. expansum, and widen our knowledge on the potential antifungal mechanisms of chitosan.

Abstract Purpose: To establish a hypotensive brain death pig model and observe the effects of hypotension on small bowel donors. Methods: The hypotensive brain death model was produced using the modified intracranial water sac inflation method in ten domestic crossbred pigs. Effects of hypotensive brain death on small bowel tissue morphology were evaluated through changes in intestinal tissue pathology, tight junction protein of the intestinal mucosa and plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (i-FABP) levels. The pathophysiological mechanism was examined based on changes in superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow and systemic hemodynamics. Results: After model establishment, SMA blood flow, and the mean arterial pressure (MAP) significantly decreased, while heart rate increased rapidly and fluctuated significantly. Small bowel tissue morphology and levels of tight junction protein of the intestinal mucosa showed that after model establishment, small bowel tissue injury was gradually aggravated over time (P<0.05). Plasma i-FABP levels significantly increased after brain death (P<0.05). Conclusions: A hypotensive brain death pig model was successfully established using an improved intracranial water sac inflation method. This method offers a possibility of describing the injury mechanisms more clearly during and after brain death.

ABSTRACT Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the commonest diffuse liver disease, of which women with polycystic ovary syndrome are at an increased risk. The aim of the present study was to assess the diagnostic value of the semiquantitative strain parameters of real-time ultrasound elastography for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Subjects and methods: Thirty-five polycystic ovary syndrome patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, 70 polycystic ovary syndrome patients without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and 70 healthy female controls of reproductive age were included. All participants underwent ultrasonic examination and semiquantitative analysis of real-time ultrasound elastography of the liver. Results: Main semi quantitative strain parameters, such as average strain value, differed significantly among groups polycystic ovary syndrome with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and control (87.02 ± 10.16 vs. 96.31 ± 11.44 vs. 104.49 ± 7.28, p < 0.001). Clinical and laboratory parameters differed significantly between the two subgroups with low or high average strain value. For diagnostic value of average strain value for elevated aminotransferase, the area under the curve was 0.808 (range 0.721-0.895). In multiple linear regression analysis, polycystic ovary syndrome, waist circumference, and metabolic syndrome were stand-alone independent factors associated with average strain value among subjects without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusion: Semiquantitative real-time ultrasound elastography analysis could distinguish liver parenchyma alterations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome more sensitively. The diagnostic value of the proposed method for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease need further research.

A series of experiments was conducted through a full-scale subsurface wastewater infiltration system (SWIS) to investigate the impact of hydraulic loading rate (HLR), organic loading rate (OLR) and underground temperature on nutrient removal and microbial settlement. Taking the hydraulic and treatment performance into consideration, HLR of 0.10 m³/(m²·d) was recommended with average NH3-N, TN, COD and TP removal rates of 82.6%, 81.5%, 80.9% and 90.9%, respectively. Considering treatment performance, OLR of 10.4 g BOD/(m²·d) was recommended with average NH3-N, TN, COD and TP removal rates of 88.1%, 84.8%, 86.3% and 91.3%, respectively. The number of nitrifying bacteria in each layer in the matrix decreased with increasing HLR, and the number of denitrifying bacteria increased with increasing HLR, at 0.8 and 1.0 m depths. When OLR increased, the number of bacteria and denitrifying bacteria at 0.8 and 1.0 m depths increased, and the number of nitrifying bacteria decreased. Average NH3-N, TN and COD removal rates increased with underground temperature increasing. The number of bacteria, nitrifying bacteria at 0.4 and 0.6 m depths and denitrifying bacteria at 0.8 and 1.0 m depths, increased with underground temperature increasing.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the possibility of using peripheral-blood presurfactant protein B (Pro-SFTPB) for screening non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A total of 873 healthy volunteers and 165 lung cancer patients hospitalized in the Fifth People’s Hospital of Dalian were tested Pro-SFTPB once every half year from January 2014 to September 2015. The healthy volunteers were also conducted spiral computed tomography (CT) examination once every year. The data were then com-pared and statistically analyzed. Results: The positive expression rate of Pro-SFTPB in NSCLC was significantly higher than that in healthy volunteers, and significantly higher in lung adenocarcinoma than in squamous cell carcinoma; additionally, the expression rate was increased with the in-crease of smoking index, and the intergroup differences showed statistical signifi-cance (p≤0.05). The positive rate of newly diagnosed lung cancer was 29.55%, higher than healthy volunteers (22.34%), but there was no significant difference (p>0.05). Conclusion: Pro-SFTPB is over expressed in non-small cell lung cancer, especially in lung adeno-carcinoma, but it can’t be used as a clinical screening tool for lung cancer.

Abstract Background Hypertrophic scarring (HS) is a severe disease, and results from unusual wound healing. Col1A1 could promote the hypertrophic scar formation, and the expression of Col1A1 in HS tissue was markedly higher than that in the normal. In present study, we aimed to identify miRNAs as post-transcriptional regulators of Col1A1 in HS. Methods MicroRNA-98 was selected as the key miRNA comprised in HS. The mRNA levels of miR-98 in HS tissues and the matched normal skin tissues were determined by qRT-PCR. MTT and flow cytometry were used to determine the influence of miR-98 on cell proliferation and apoptosis of HSFBs, respectively. Col1A1 was found to be the target gene of miR-98 using luciferase reporter assay. Luciferase assay was performed to determine the relative luciferase activity in mimic NC, miR-98 mimic, inhibitor NC and miR-98 inhibitor with Col1A13′-UTR wt or Col1A13′-UTR mt reporter plasmids. The protein expression of Col1A1 in HSFBs after transfection with mimic NC, miR-98 mimic, inhibitor NC and miR-98 inhibitor were determined by western blotting. Results The mRNA level of miR-98 in HS tissues was much lower than that in the control. Transfection of HSFBs with a miR-98 mimic reduced the cell viability of HSFBs and increased the apoptosis portion of HSFBs, while inhibition of miR-98 increased cell viability and decreased apoptosis portion of HSFBs. miR-98 inhibitor increased the relative luciferase activity significantly when cotransfected with the Col1A1-UTR reporter plasmid, while the mutant reporter plasmid abolished the miR-98 inhibitor-mediated increase in luciferase activity. Western blotting revealed that overex-pression of miR-98 decreased the expression of Col1A1. Conclusions Overexpression of miR-98 repressed the proliferation of HSFBs by targeting Col1A1.

In this work we describe the establishment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and the role of bFGF in adipocyte differentiation. The totipotency of ESCs and MSCs was assessed by immunofluorescence staining and RT-PCR of totipotency factors. MSCs were successfully used to induce osteoblasts, chondrocytes and adipocytes. MSCs that differentiated into adipocytes were stimulated with and without bFGF. The OD/DNA (optical density/content of total DNA) and expression levels of the specific adipocyte genes PPARγ2 (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ2) and C/EBPs were higher in bFGF cells. Embryonic bodies had a higher adipocyte level compared with cells cultured in plates. These findings indicate that bFGF promotes adipocyte differentiation. MSCs may be useful cells for seeding in tissue engineering and have enormous therapeutic potential for adipose tissue engineering.

Our objective was to evaluate the association of rs12255372 in theTCF7L2 gene with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the world population. We carried out a survey of the literature about the effect of rs12255372 on genetic susceptibility to T2DM by consulting PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase from 2006 to 2012, and then performed a meta-analysis of all the studies in order to evaluate the association between rs12255372 and T2DM. A total of 33 articles including 42 studies (with 34,076 cases and 36,192 controls) were confirmed to be eligible and were included in the final meta-analysis: 6 studies conducted on Europeans, 14 on Caucasians, 17 on Asians, 2 on Africans, and 3 on Americans. Overall, the effect size was as follows: for the variant allele T (OR = 1.387, 95%CI = 1.351-1.424), for the TT genotype (OR = 1.933, 95%CI = 1.815-2.057), for the GT genotype (OR = 1.363, 95%CI = 1.315-1.413), for the dominant model (OR = 1.425, 95%CI = 1.344-1.510), and for the recessive model (OR = 1.659, 95%CI = 1.563-1.761). In summary, by pooling all available qualified data from genetic studies on rs12255372 and T2DM, we have confirmed that rs12255372 is significantly associated with susceptibility to T2DM in the global population.