Bo Hu

Haplotype diversity of 22 Y-chromosomal STRs in a southeast China population sample (Chaoshan area)

In this study, 22 Y-specific STR loci (DYS19, DYS389I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS461, DYS481, DYS504, DYS505, DYS508, DYS533, DYS576, DYS588, DYS607, DYS634, and DYS643) were analyzed in 216 unrelated male individuals from southeast China (Chaoshan area) by three multiplex PCR systems. The haplotype diversity using the classical set of Y-STRs (DYS19, DYS389I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, and DYS385; PowerPlexY Systems) was 0.9908. For the same population sample, the haplotype diversity using the new sets of 11 novel Y-STRs (DYS461, DYS481, DYS504, DYS505, DYS508, DYS533, DYS576, DYS588, DYS607, DYS634, and DYS643; multiplex I and II) was 0.9917. By combining the allelic states of the 22 Y-STR loci we could construct highly informative haplotypes that allowed the discrimination of 99.1% (214 out of 216) of the samples tested and the overall haplotype diversity of 0.9999. These results, including the haplotype data at 22 Y-STR loci in the present study, provide useful information for forensic practice in the Chaoshan population in southeast China.

GSK-3beta Inhibitor Induces Expression of Nrf2/TrxR2 Signaling Pathway to Protect against Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Diabetic Rats

Background/Aims: Diabetes mellitus (DM) can lead to renal damage and dysfunction, and exacerbate renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (RI/RI). The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of GSK-3β inhibitor TDZD-8 against RI/RI through Nrf2/TrxR2 signaling pathway in a rat DM model. Methods: A DM rat model was established by a single injection of streptozocin. Diabetic rats were pretreated with TDZD-8 (1 mg/kg bw) or TDZD-8+auranofin (10 nmol/L, 5ml/kg bw), and then subjected to 45-min ischemia and 24-h reperfusion. Rats were equally randomized into four groups: a Sham-operated group, a RI/RI group, a TDZD-8 group, and a TDZD-8+auranofin group. Serum levels of BUN and Scr were measured. SOD activity, MDA content, and Nrf2, TrxR2 and caspase-3 expressions in rat kidney tissues were determined. Results: Renal function was improved, oxidative stress and cell apoptosis were reduced, and the expression of Nrf2 and TrxR2 was up-regulated in TDZD-8 treated rats as compared with those in auranofin treated rats. Conclusion: TDZD-8 may exert its protective effect against RI/RI by regulating the Nrf2/TrxR2 signaling pathway in the kidney tissue in DM.

Haplotypes of 20 Y-chromosomal STRs in a population sample from southeast China (Chaoshan area)

In this study, 20 Y-specific short tandem repeat (STR) loci (DYS434, Y-GATA-A10, Y-GATA-H4, DYS438, DYS439, DYS443, DYS444, DYS446, DYS447, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS460, DYS520, DYS531, DYS557, DYS622, DYS630, DYS635(Y-GATA-C4), and DYS709) were analyzed in 158 unrelated healthy men from southeast China by three fluorescence-labeled multiplex polymerase chain reaction systems. The Y-STR multiplexes developed have followed the published nomenclature and International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG) guidelines for STR analysis. Gene diversity ranged from 0.2506 at DYS434 to 0.8034 at DYS447. A total of 157 different haplotypes were observed, and among these, 156 were unique, while 1 was found two times. The haplotype diversity value calculated from all 20 loci combined was 0.9997, which is informative. Furthermore, 80 father–son pairs, previously confirmed by autosomal STR analysis, were typed using the same 20 Y-STR loci, and four mutation events were identified at the Y-GATA-H4, DYS439, DYS456, and DYS458 loci, giving an average mutation rate of 0.25% per locus per generation (95% confidence interval 0.09–0.54). These results including the haplotype data at 20 Y-STR loci would enrich Chinese genetic informational resources and provide useful information in forensic practice.

Analysis of Blood Trace Elements and Biochemical Indexes Levels in Severe Craniocerebral Trauma Adults with Glasgow Coma Scale and Injury Severity Score

We aimed to investigate the correlation between the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the injury severity score (ISS) and serum levels of trace elements (TE) in severe trauma patients to analyze alteration of the levels of trace elements and serum biochemical indexes in the period of admission from 126 adult cases of severe brain trauma with traffic accidents. Multi-trace elements for patients in the trauma-TE groups were used. The results indicated that all patients presented an acute trace elements deficiency syndrome (ATEDs) after severe trauma, and the correlation between ISS and serum levels of Fe, Zn, and Mg was significant. Compared to the normal control group, levels of the trace elements in serum were significantly decreased after trauma, suggesting that enhancement of immunity to infection and multiple organ failure (MOF) via the monitoring and supplement of trace elements will be a good strategy to severe traumatic patients in clinics.

Apocynin Alleviates Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Through Regulating the Level of Zinc and Metallothionen

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the protective effects of apocynin on renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (RI/RI) in rats. Rats preconditioned with apocynin were subjected to renal I/R. Zinc levels in serum and renal tissues, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (Scr) were detected. We further measured the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD); the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α; and the expression of metallothionein (MT) in the renal tissues. Results indicated that the levels of MDA, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and MT in the kidney tissue and serum BUN and Scr levels in RI/RI group were significantly higher than those in sham-operated group, while the levels of serum Zn and kidney Zn and SOD were reduced in RI/RI group. Apocynin treatment further decreased the levels of MDA, IL-6, TNF-α, and serum BUN and Scr, whereas it significantly increased the levels of Zn, SOD, IL-4, IL-10, and MT in the kidney tissue and serum Zn. These findings suggest that apocynin might play a protective role against RI/RI in rats through regulating zinc level and MT expression involving in oxidative stress.

Trace Element Concentrations in Human Tissues of Death Cases Associated With Secondary Infection and MOF After Severe Trauma

Proper trace element level is crucial for the organs in maintaining normal physiological functions. Multiple organ failure (MOF) might be added to critically ill patients due to a lack of trace elements. Alterations of trace element levels in brain, heart, liver, and kidney after severe trauma, however, have been little studied so far. In this study, tissue samples of the frontal cortex of the brain, interventricular septum of the heart, right lobe of the liver, and upper pole of the kidney were obtained from forensic autopsies, of which 120 cases died during the 5th to 15th day of hospitalization, whereas the trauma death group and 43 cases immediately died due to severe craniocerebral trauma as the control group. Copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) were quantified by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry (ICP-AES). Cu, Fe, Zn, and Se concentrations in the brain, heart, liver, and kidney in the trauma group decreased dramatically (pu2009<u20090.05) compared to the control group. The incidence of secondary infection and multiple organ failure (MOF) in the trauma death group were 78.33 and 29.17xa0%, respectively. The concentrations of all elements exhibited a significant correlation with secondary infection and MOF (pu2009<u20090.01). Our data suggest that low concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Se in pivotal organs may contribute to the incidence of secondary infection and MOF after severe trauma, which to some extent results in death.

Activation of Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway by Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β Inhibition Attenuates Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Diabetic Rats

Background/Aims: Diabetes mellitus can exacerbate renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury (RI/RI). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of GSK-3β inhibition (TDZD-8) on I/R-induced renal injury through the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in a streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model. Methods: STZ-induced diabetic rats preconditioned with TDZD-8 and ZnPP were subjected to renal I/R. The extent of renal morphologic lesions. Renal function was assessed from blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr), as determined utlizing commercial kits. Oxidative stress and inflammatory activity in the kidney tissue was estimated from levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO), as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) using qRT-PCR and ELISA. The expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, Bcl-2 and NF-κB in the renal tissue were measured by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Results: I/R-induced renal inflammation was reduced significantly by TDZD-8 pretreatment. Preconditioning with TDZD-8 suppressed NF-κB expression and enhanced Bcl-2 expression in the renal tissue. The upregulated level of malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in I/R-shocked rats were markedly restored by TDZD-8 pretreatment. Furthermore, pretreatment with TDZD-8 enhanced activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in the renal tissue of diabetic RI/RI rats. Conclusion: These findings suggest that preconditioning with TDZD-8 may protect the kidney from I/R-induced damage via the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Further detailed studies are needed to further clarify the underlying mechanisms.

PEG- b -(PELG- g -PLL) nanoparticles as TNF-α nanocarriers: potential cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury therapeutic applications

Brain ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (BI/RI) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. However, the outcome of pharmacotherapy for BI/RI remains unsatisfactory. Innovative approaches for enhancing drug sensitivity and recovering neuronal activity in BI/RI treatment are urgently needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-loaded poly(ethylene glycol)-b-(poly(ethylenediamine L-glutamate)-g-poly(L-lysine)) (TNF-α/PEG-b-(PELG-g-PLL)) nanoparticles on BI/RI. The particle size of PEG-b-(PELG-g-PLL) and the loading and release rates of TNF-α were determined. The nanoparticle cytotoxicity was evaluated in vitro using rat cortical neurons. Sprague Dawley rats were preconditioned with free TNF-α or TNF-α/PEG-b-(PELG-g-PLL) polyplexes and then subjected to 2 hours ischemia and 22 hours reperfusion. Brain edema was assessed using the brain edema ratio, and the antioxidative activity was assessed by measuring the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the brain tissue. We further estimated the inflammatory activity and apoptosis level by determining the levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and nitric oxide (NO), as well as the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and cysteine aspartase-3 (caspase-3), in the brain tissue. We provide evidence that TNF-α preconditioning attenuated the oxidative stress injury, the inflammatory activity, and the apoptosis level in I/R-induced cerebral injury, while the application of block copolymer PEG-b-(PELG-g-PLL) as a potential TNF-α nanocarrier with sustained release significantly enhanced the bioavailability of TNF-α. We propose that the block copolymer PEG-b-(PELG-g-PLL) may function as a potent nanocarrier for augmenting BI/RI pharmacotherapy, with unprecedented clinical benefits. Further studies are needed to better clarify the underlying mechanisms.

Targeted delivery of puerarin/glycyrrhetinic acid-PEG-PBLA complex attenuated liver ischemia/reperfusion injury via modulating Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB pathway

AIMnTo synthesize a puerarin nanoparticle based on glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)-PEG-PBLA and evaluate it in vivo.nnnMATERIALS & METHODSnIn this study, drug nanoparticle was synthesized, characterized and assessed as puerarin delivery system. Nanoparticle GA-PEG-PBLA could combine with puerarin via hydrophobic interaction to form the compound. Puerarin could be quickly and efficiently loaded via the nanoparticle GA-PEG-PBLA at pH 7.4. Further, GA-PEG-PBLA-mediated puerarin delivery system could target for the liver that had GA receptor binding. The antiliver ischemia/reperfusion injury role of puerarin/GA-PEG-PBLA was measured in rats using free puerarin and puerarin/PEG-PBLA as the controls.nnnRESULTSnGA-PEG-PBLA displayed efficient loading and sustained release. Puerarin/GA-PEG-PBLA showed strengthened antiliver ischemia/reperfusion injury characteristics.nnnCONCLUSIONnOverall, the results show that GA-PEG-PBLA could be regarded as an underlying puerarin nanoparticle.

Anterior wrist and medial malleolus: the optimal sites for tissue selection in electric death through hand-to-foot circuit pathway

Specific morphological changes may be absent in some cases of electrocution shocked by the voltage of 220xa0V or lower. In this study, we attempted to demonstrate that the anterior wrist and medial malleolus were the optimal sites with promising and significant changes in electric death through the hand-to-foot circuit pathway. We established an electric shock rat model and observed histopathologic changes in the anterior wrist and medial malleolus. The results showed that the current intensities in the left anterior wrist and right medial malleolus were remarkably higher than those in the other sites, and the nuclei long/short (L/S) axis ratios of the arterial endotheliocyte and the skeletal muscle cell in these two areas were significantly higher than those in other parts of the body. These findings suggested that the anterior wrist and/or medial malleolus soft tissues as the narrowest parts of the limbs could be used as promising and useful sites for the assessment of electrical shock death, especially in forensic pathologic evaluation.