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Objective: To study the underlying mechanism of cadmium-induced apoptosis of mouse spermatocytes (GC-2 spd) . Methods: In March 2021, GC-2 spd cells were exposed to different concentrations of CdCl(2) for 24 hours, namely 5 μmol/L CdCl(2) (low-dose) group and 10 μmol/L CdCl(2) (high-dose) group, and unexposed GC-2 spd cells were used as control group. Mitochondrial morphology was observed in the cells stained with Mito-Track Red CMXRos fluorescent probes by confocal microscopy and the mitochrondrial membrane potential was measured by flow cytometry with JC-1 fluorescent probes. Mitochrondrial proteins, cytosolic proteins and total cellular proteins of GC-2 spd cells were extracted using cell mitochondria isolation kit and RIPA buffer, respectively. The expression of mitochondrial homeostasis regulatory proteins (FIS1 and OPA1), and apoptosis-related proteins (Cytochrome c and cleaved Caspase-3) were examined by Western blot. Results: Compared with the cells in the control group, the relative ratio of JC-1 red/green fluorescence signal in the cells of the low-dose and high-dose CdCl(2) groups decreased significantly (0.740±0.071, 0.570±0.028), with a statistically significant difference ( P =0.017, 0.004) ; The morphology of mitochondria changed from long tube to point, and the proportion of cells containing point mitochondria increased significantly (45.1%±3.7% and 25.7%±4.9%), the difference was statistically significant ( P =0.005, 0.001) ; The relative expression level of mitochondrial FIS1 in cells of low and high dose CdCl(2) groups was significantly higher (1.271±0.120, 1.693±0.155), the difference was statistically significant ( P =0.046, 0.000) ; The relative expression level of OPA1 decreased significantly (0.838±0.050, 0.682±0.040), and the difference was statistically significant ( P =0.049, 0.001). Compared with the control group, the relative expression level of cytochrome c protein in the cytoplasm of cells in the low dose group of CdCl(2) was not significantly increased (1.249±0.151), and the difference was not statistically significant ( P =0.075). However, the relative expression level in the cytoplasm of cells in the high dose group of CdCl(2) was significantly increased (2.355±0.110), and the difference was statistically significant ( P =0.000) ; The relative expression level of Cytochrome c in mitochondria of low and high dose CdCl(2) groups decreased significantly (0.681±0.043, 0.619±0.114), with a statistically significant difference ( P =0.004, 0.001) ; Moreover, the level of cleaved Caspase-3 protein in cells gradually increased (5.486±0.544, 11.493±1.739), the difference was statistically significant ( P =0.004, 0.000) . Conclusion: Cadmium induced cleaved Caspase-3 mediated apoptosis of GC-2 spd cells via promoting mitochrondrial fission and the release of Cytochrome c from the mitochrondria to the cytosol.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is a critical angiogenic factor which is mainly secreted from podocytes and epithelial cells in kidney and plays an important role in renal pathophysiology. In recent years, functions of different isoforms of VEGF-A and the new secretion approach via extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been identified. Thus, further understanding are needed for the role of VEGF-A and its isoforms in renal injury and repair. In this review, we summarized the expression, secretion and regulation of VEGF-A, its biological function, and the role of different isoforms of VEGF-A in the development of different renal diseases. Meanwhile, the research progress of VEGF-A as diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for renal diseases were discussed.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-enclosed structures containing diverse bioactive cargoes that play a major role in intercellular communication in both physiological and pathological conditions. Currently, the field of EV-based therapy has been rapidly growing, and two main therapeutic uses of EVs can be surmised: (i) exploiting stem cell-derived EVs as therapeutic agents; and (ii) employing EVs as natural therapeutic vectors for drug delivery. This review will discuss the recent advances in EV-based therapy in the treatment of renal disease.

Methanol, ethyl acetate, and water were used to extract the continuous cropping soils of Panax notoginseng , with the solution/soil ratios of 3:1, 6:1, and 9:1. We investigated the effects of those soil extracts on the growth and population of root-rot pathogens of P. notoginseng . Results showed that the methanol, ethyl acetate and water extracts all promoted mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani after 72 h of plate culture. The response indices of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts on the growth of F. oxysporum were 14.0%-19.8% and 16.2%-20.2%, being higher than that of water extract (8.9%-14.2%), but without significant difference between diffe-rent extraction ratios. However, methanol extract inhibited the mycelial growth of Alternaria spp . The inhibitory effect was highest at the extraction ratio of 3:1, reaching -33.2% to -38.5%. Ethyl acetate and water extracts did not affect the mycelial growth of Alternaria spp. After four weeks of soil culture, methanol, ethyl acetate and water extracts all increased the F. oxysporum populations. The positive effect of water extract was higher than that of methanol (1.68×10 4 -6.73×10 4 copies·g -1 dry soil) and ethyl acetate (1.77×10 4 -3.72×10 4 copies·g -1 dry soil) extracts, being 3.49×10 6 -9.56×10 6 copies·g -1 dry soil. This increment was weakened along with the increase of extraction ratio. Both water extract and methanol extract with low extraction ratio could increase the F. solani populations, while there were no significant effects of methanol, ethyl acetate and water extracts on the population of Alternaria spp. Therefore, the extracts from continuous P. notoginseng cropping soil showed allopathically promoting effects on the growth and population of root-rot pathogens, F. oxysporum and F. solani , which may be one of the reasons for the occurrence of root rot and other soil-borne diseases in replanted P. notoginseng gardens.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is becoming an alarming health burden worldwide, however, there is still lack of early biomarkers and effective treatment options. Thus, in the upcoming era of precision medicine, searching for the sensitive, non-invasive biomarkers has been the cornerstone and major challenge in the management of CKD. Urine contains rich biological information which could be an ideal source for non-invasive biomarkers of CKD. This review will discuss the recent advances in biomarker study from urine sediment, urine supernatant and urinary extracellular vesicles with special interest in gene transcript (miRNA, mRNA) biomarkers. Besides, the challenges and future directions for urinary gene transcript biomarker study will be discussed.

Objective: To compare clinical results of Sanders II-IV fractures of calcaneus treated by self-setting calcium phosphate cement and allograft with locking reconstruction bone plate internal fixation., Methods: From March 2012 to December 2015, 48 patients with Sanders II-IV fractures of calcaneus were treated by open reduction and internal fixation through L-shape incision, bone grafting were performed on reserved bone defect of calcaneal fracture. The patients were divided into self-setting calcium phosphate cement and allograft group according to different materials. Twenty-eight patients in self-setting calcium phosphate cement group, including 23 males and 5 females aged from 22 to 52 years old with an average of (34.46±7.33) years old; 8 cases were type II, 11 cases were type III and 7 cases were type IV according to Sanders classification. Twenty patients in allograft group, including 17 males and 3 females aged from 24 to 55 years old with an average of(36.40±7.93) years old; 6 cases were type II, 7 cases were type III and 9 cases were type IV according to Sanders classification. Postoperative wound complications, Böhler angle before and after operation and 12 months, Maryland functional score were evaluated., Results: All patients obtained bone union, and were followed up from 12 to 42 months with an average of 25 months. There were no statistical significance in Böhler angle and Manyland score before and after operation and 12 months between two groups. Five patients occurred wound complications in allograft group and 2 cases occurred wound complications in self-setting calcium phosphate cement and allograft group., Conclusions: Both of open reduction bone grafting and reconstructive plate internal fixation have good effective results for calcaneal fracture. Compared with allograft, self-setting calcium phosphate cement, which has no rejection response and less complications, has equal effects for calcaneal fracture and deserves to be popularized., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© 2018 by the China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Press.)

Objective: To determine the most cost-effective modality for breast cancer screening in women living in Shanghai. Methods: A Markov model for breast cancer was redeveloped based on true effect which was derived from a project for detection of women at high risk of breast cancer and an organized breast cancer screening program conducted simultaneously in Minhang district, Shanghai, during 2008 to 2012. Parameters of the model were derived from literatures. General principles related to cost-effectiveness analysis were used to compare the costs and effects of 12 different screening modalities in a simulated cohort involving 100 000 women aged 45 years. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was used to determine the most cost-effective modality. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate how these factors affected the estimated cost-effectiveness. Results: The modality of biennial CBE followed by ultrasonic and mammography among those with positive CBE was observed as the most cost-effective one. The costs appeared as 182 526 Yuan RMB per life year gained and 144 386 Yuan RMB per quality adjusted life-year (QALY) saved, which were within the threshold of 2-3 times of local per capita Gross Domestic Product. Results from sensitivity analysis showed that, due to higher incidence rate of breast cancer in Shanghai, the cost per QALY would be 64 836 Yuan RMB lower in Shanghai than the average level in China. Conclusion: Our research findings showed that the biennial CBE program followed by ultrasonic and mammography for those with positive CBE results might serve as the optimal breast cancer screening modality for Chinese women living in Shanghai, and thus be widely promoted in this population elsewhere.