Transplantation of neural stem progenitor cells from different sources for severe spinal cord injury repair in rat

Neural stem progenitor cell(NSPC)transplantation has been regarded as a promising therapeutic method for spinal cord injury(SCI)repair.However,different NSPCs may have different therapeutic effects,and it is therefore important to identify the optimal NSPC type.In our study,we compared the transcriptomes of human fetal brain-derived NSPCs(BNSPCs),spinal cord-derived NSPCs(SCNSPCs)and H9 embryonic stem-cell derived NSPCs(H9-NSPCs)in vitro and subsequently we transplanted each NSPC type on a collagen scaffold into a T8-9 complete SCI rat model in vivo.In vitro data showed that SCNSPCs had more highly expressed genes involved in nerve-related functions than the other two cell types.In vivo,compared with BNSPCs and H9-NSPCs,SCNSPCs exhibited the best therapeutic effects;in fact,SCNSPCs facilitated electrophysiological and hindlimb functional recovery.This study demonstrates that SCNSPCs may be an appropriate candidate cell type for SCI repair,which is of great clinical significance.

Reflection and transmission coefficient approximation at weak-contrast interfaces for strong VTI media

Reflection and transmission(R/T)responses characterize the propagation and energy distribution of incident and reflected waves on both sides of an interface which is crucial for imaging,amplitude variation with offset(AVO),and seismic inversion techniques.Subsurface media are typically characterized by anisotropy which can have a significant impact on the R/T response,even at small incident angles.Currently,anisotropic media problems including reflection,transmission,and inversion are generally discussed under a weak anisotropy assumption.However,this assumption is no longer valid in cases of large angles where anisotropy enhancement exacerbates the error of the conventional R/T coefficient approximation.An R/T coefficient approximation method for strong VTI media was proposed based on the assumption of weak-contrast of the media.In contrast to the conventional approach,which simplifies the phase velocity and polarization in an anisotropic background,the phase velocity and polarization at the weak-contrast interface of the elasticity and anisotropy parameters were approximated using a combination of the anisotropic background and perturbation terms.Specifically,a first-order approximation of the R/T coefficients for the VTI media characterized by elastic and anisotropic parameters was derived using Cramer's law to invert the anisotropic background matrix,avoiding the assumption of weak anisotropy.Subsequently,the exact solution of the Zoeppritz equations was used to correct the isotropic part,improving the accuracy of the R/T coefficients at interfaces with high-velocity contrast.Modeling tests on four classes of typical interfaces showed that the derived equations can be degraded to the Aki approximation in isotropic media,while exhibiting high accuracy in strong VTI media.Uncertainty analyses showed that a linear approximation that facilitates seismic inversion can be obtained by taking the S-to P-velocity ratio and anisotropy parameters in the coefficient terms a priori.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals Nestin+active neural stem cells outside the central canal after spinal cord injury

Neural stem cells(NSCs)in the spinal cord hold great potential for repair after spinal cord injury(SCI).The ependyma in the central canal(CC)region has been considered as the NSCs source in the spinal cord.However,the ependyma function as NSCs after SCI is still under debate.We used Nestin as a marker to isolate potential NSCs and their immediate progeny,and characterized the cells before and after SCI by single-cell RNA-sequencing(scRNA-seq).We identified two subgroups of NSCs:the subgroup located within the CC cannot prime to active NSCs after SCI,while the subgroup located outside the CC were activated and exhibited the active NSCs properties after SCI.We demonstrated the comprehensive dynamic transcriptome of NSCs from quiescent to active NSCs after SCI.This study reveals that Nestin+cells outside CC were NSCs that activated upon SCI and may thus serve as endogenous NSCs for regenerative treatment of SCI in the future.

Lineage tracing reveals the origin of Nestin-positive cells are heterogeneous and rarely from ependymal cells after spinal cord injury

Nestin is expressed extensively in neural stem/progenitor cells during neural development, but its expression is mainly restricted to the ependymal cells in the adult spinal cord. After spinal cord injury(SCI), Nestin expression is reactivated and Nestinpositive(Nestin;) cells aggregate at the injury site. However, the derivation of Nestin;cells is not clearly defined. Here, we found that Nestin expression was substantially increased in the lesion edge and lesion core after SCI. Using a tamoxifen inducible CreER(T2)-loxP system, we verified that ependymal cells contribute few Nestin;cells either to the lesion core or the lesion edge after SCI. In the lesion edge, GFAP+astrocytes were the main cell type that expressed Nestin;they then formed an astrocyte scar.In the lesion core, Nestin;cells expressed αSMA or Desmin, indicating that they might be derived from pericytes. Our results reveal that Nestin;cells in the lesion core and edge came from various cell types and rarely from ependymal cells after complete transected SCI, which may provide new insights into SCI repair.

National Alveolar Echinococcosis Distribution--China, 2012−2016

What is already known about this topic?Both alveolar echinococcosis(AE)and cystic echinococcosis are endemic in China,among which alveolar echinococcosis has a very high mortality rate.What is added by this report?The survey results showed the prevalence and scope of AE in China and identified high-risk groups including children,monks,herdsmen and illiterate people.At the same time,all the cases found in the survey(more than 90%of the patients did not go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment before survey)were promptly diagnosed and treated.What are the implications for public health practice?This study provides information for the development of a plan for AE prevention and control and for the implementation of interventions targeted to high-risk populations.