Neural Stem Cell-Conditioned Medium Ameliorated Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Introduction. Our previous study suggested that NSC-CM (neural stem cell-conditioned medium) inhibited cell apoptosis in vitro. In addition, many studies have shown that neurotrophic factors and microparticles secreted into a conditioned medium by NSCs had neuroprotective effects. Thus, we hypothesized that NSC-CM had the capacity of protecting against cerebral I/R injury. Methods. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats receiving middle cerebral artery occlusion surgery as an animal model of cerebral I/R injury were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group and NSC-CM-treated group. 1.5 ml NSC-CM or PBS (phosphate buffer saline) was administrated slowly by tail vein at 3 h, 24 h, and 48 h after ischemia onset. Results. NSC-CM significantly ameliorated neurological defects and reduced cerebral infarct volume, accompanied by preserved mitochondrial ultrastructure. In addition, we also found that NSC-CM significantly inhibited cell apoptosis in the ischemic hemisphere via improving the expression of Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2). Conclusion. NSC-CM might be an alternative and effective therapeutic intervention for ischemic stroke

Original Article Detection of COL4A5 gene mutations in Chinese patients with Alport’s syndrome

Background. Mutations in the COL4A5 gene, encoding the 5 chain of type IV collagen, are responsible for X-linked Alport’s syndrome (XLAS), a progressive nephropathy characterized by glomerular basement membrane abnormalities and usually associated with progressive hearing loss and ocular lesions. Methods. In this study, we analysed all 51 exons of the COL4A5 gene in 20 Chinese patients with XLAS or suspected XLAS from 16 families by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) DNA sequencing. Results. Five gene mutations identified in five families were considered to be pathogenic, including one nonsense mutation in exon 1 (266C!T, Gln22Term), two missense mutations in exons 31 (2757G!T, Gly852Val) and 43 (4142C!T, Pro1314Ser), and two splice site mutations in introns 1 and 25 just next to the 30 end of their respective exons (283þ1G!T, 2150þ1G!T). According to GenBank, these five mutations have not been reported previously. All male patients have typical clinical manifestations and pathological findings that closely correspond to the effects of the mutations. Furthermore, seven gene polymorphisms were detected in introns 18 and 10 and exons 20, 27, 29, 39 and 46. Only the substitution in intron 18 (1234þ25G!A) had a gene frequency significantly higher in patients than in normal individuals. Conclusion. Our study demonstrated the critical role of COL4A5 gene mutations in the pathogenesis of XLAS. The linkage of the polymorphism to AS is still unknown

Mesomycoplasma ovipneumoniae from goats with respiratory infection: pathogenic characteristics, population structure, and genomic features

Abstract Background Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is a critical pathogen that causes respiratory diseases that threaten Caprini health and cause economic damage. A genome-wide study of M. ovipneumoniae will help understand the pathogenic characteristics of this microorganism. Results Toxicological pathology and whole-genome sequencing of nine M. ovipneumoniae strains isolated from goats were performed using an epidemiological survey. These strains exhibited anterior ventral lung consolidation, typical of bronchopneumonia in goats. Average nucleotide identity and phylogenetic analysis based on whole-genome sequences showed that all M. ovipneumoniae strains clustered into two clades, largely in accordance with their geographical origins. The pan-genome of the 23 M. ovipneumoniae strains contained 5,596 genes, including 385 core, 210 soft core, and 5,001 accessory genes. Among these genes, two protein-coding genes were annotated as cilium adhesion and eight as paralog surface adhesins when annotated to VFDB, and no antibiotic resistance-related genes were predicted. Additionally, 23 strains carried glucosidase-related genes (ycjT and group_1595) and glucosidase-related genes (atpD_2), indicating that M. ovipneumoniae possesses a wide range of glycoside hydrolase activities. Conclusions The population structure and genomic features identified in this study will facilitate further investigations into the pathogenesis of M. ovipneumoniae and lay the foundation for the development of preventive and therapeutic methods

Spatial distribution of Dactylogyrus wunderi Bychowsky on gills of Abramis brama orientalis Berg (Leuciscinae) in Irtysh River, China

The spatial distribution of the monogenean Dactylogyrus wunderi Bychowsky, 1931 on the gill filaments of the bream Abramis brama orientalis Berg (Leuciscinae) inhabiting the Irtysh River of Xinjiang, China was investigated from June to July 2012. D. wunderi was identified by sequencing a fragment of its ITS rDNA region. Sixty-five fish were examined, with 55% testing positive for monogenean infection. The prevalence of the parasite in the left and right gill arches was 46% and 48%, respectively. In fish with a large body length, the prevalence of the parasite and the infection intensity did not significantly differ between the right and left gill arches but both were slightly higher in the former. Among the three size groups of fish (small, medium and large) the prevalence and the intensity of infection were lowest in fish with small body lengths. The distribution of the monogenean population in the host gills showed an aggregate distribution, with little change in the degree of aggregation, suggesting that most hosts were either not or only slightly infected by D. wunderi and that the parasite infected only a few hosts. In addition, differences in D. wunderi infections between gill arches of A. brama orientalis were not significant (P > 0.05).The spatial distribution of the monogenean Dactylogyrus wunderi Bychowsky, 1931 on the gill filaments of the bream Abramis brama orientalis Berg (Leuciscinae) inhabiting the Irtysh River of Xinjiang, China was investigated from June to July 2012. D. wunderi was identified by sequencing a fragment of its ITS rDNA region. Sixty-five fish were examined, with 55% testing positive for monogenean infection. The prevalence of the parasite in the left and right gill arches was 46% and 48%, respectively. In fish with a large body length, the prevalence of the parasite and the infection intensity did not significantly differ between the right and left gill arches but both were slightly higher in the former. Among the three size groups of fish (small, medium and large) the prevalence and the intensity of infection were lowest in fish with small body lengths. The distribution of the monogenean population in the host gills showed an aggregate distribution, with little change in the degree of aggregation, suggesting that most hosts were either not or only slightly infected by D. wunderi and that the parasite infected only a few hosts. In addition, differences in D. wunderi infections between gill arches of A. brama orientalis were not significant (P > 0.05)