[Mechanism of Kuntai Capsules in treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome rat models based on AGE-RAGE signal pathway]

This study aims to investigate the impact of Kuntai Capsules(KTC) on polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS) rat models and explore the underlying mechanism. Fifty female SD rats were randomly divided into five groups(10 rats in each group), including control group, model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose KTC group. Except for the control group, the other groups were injected with dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA) combined with a high-fat diet(HFD) to induce the PCOS rat model for 28 days. 0.315, 0.63, and 1.26 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) KTC was dissolved in the same amount of normal saline and given to low-, medium-, and high-dose KTC groups by gavage. Both control group and model group were given the same amount of normal saline for 15 days. After administration, fasting blood glucose(FBG) was measured by a glucose meter. Fasting insulin(FINS), luteinizing hormone(LH), testosterone(T), and follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and LH/FSH ratio and insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) were calculated. The pathological morphology of ovarian tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The expression levels of collagen α type Ⅲ 1 chain(COL3A1), apoptotic factors Bax, and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blot and immunofluorescence. The mRNA expressions of COL3A1, Bax, and Bcl-2 in ovarian tissue were performed by real-time PCR(RT-PCR). The results show that compared with the control group, the body weight, serum levels of FBG, FINS, LH, T, LH/FSH, and HOMA-IR are higher in model group(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the level of FSH is lower(P<0.05). In model group, a large number of white blood cells are found in the vaginal exfoliated cells, mainly in the interictal phase. There are more cystic prominences on the surface of the ovary. The thickness of the granular cell layer is reduced, and oocytes are absent. COL3A1 and Bax protein expression levels are increased(P<0.01), while Bcl-2 protein expression levels are decreased(P<0.05) in the ovarian tissue COL3A1 and Bax mRNA expression levels are increased in ovarian tissue(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the body weight, FBG, FINS, LH, T, LH/FSH, and HOMA-IR in low-, medium-, and high-dose KTC groups are decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the levels of FSH in medium-, and high-dose KTC groups are increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Low-, medium-, and high-dose KTC groups gradually show a stable interictal phase. The surface of the ovary is smooth. Oocytes and mature follicles can be seen in ovarian tissue, and the thickness of the granular cell layer is increased. The expression level of COL3A1 protein decreases in low-and medium-dose KTC groups(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and that of Bax protein decreases in low-dose KTC group(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the expression level of Bcl-2 protein increases in low-dose KTC group(P<0.01). The expression levels of COL3A1 and Bax mRNA decreased in the low-dose KTC group(P<0.05), while the expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA increased(P<0.05). In summary, KTC can inhibit ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis and reduce follicular atresia by regulating the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. It can promote insulin secretion, reduce blood sugar and body weight, restore serum hormone levels, improve symptoms of PCOS, alleviate morphological damage of the ovary, and restore ovarian function, which is of great value in the treatment of PCOS.

[Comparing the prognostic value of 3 diagnostic criteria of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants]

Objective: To compare the prognostic value of 3 diagnostic criteria of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants with gestational age<32 weeks. Methods: The retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect the clinical data of 285 preterm infants with BPD admitted to the Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from January 2019 to September 2021, who were followed up regularly after discharge. The primary composite adverse outcome was defined as death or severe respiratory morbidity from 36 weeks of corrected gestational age to 18 months of corrected age, and the secondary composite adverse outcome was defined as death or neurodevelopmental impairment. According to the primary or secondary composite adverse outcomes, the preterm infants were divided into the adverse prognosis group and the non-adverse prognosis group. The 2001 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) criteria, 2018 NICHD criteria, and 2019 Neonatal Research Network (NRN) criteria were used to diagnose and grade BPD in preterm infants. Chi-square test, Logistic regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Delong test were used to analyze the prognostic value of the 3 diagnostic criteria. Results: The 285 preterm infants had a gestational age of 29.4 (28.1, 30.6) weeks and birth weight of 1 230 (1 000, 1 465) g, including 167 males (58.6%). Among 285 premature infants who completed follow-up, the primary composite adverse outcome occurred in 124 preterm infants (43.5%), and the secondary composite adverse outcome occurred in 40 preterm infants (14.0%). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that severe BPD according to the 2001 NICHD criteria, gradeⅡand Ⅲ BPD according to the 2018 NICHD criteria and grade 2 and 3 BPD according to the 2019 NRN criteria were all risk factors for primary composite adverse outcomes (all P<0.05). ROC curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the 2018 NICHD criteria and 2019 NRN criteria were both higher than that of the 2001 NICHD criteria (0.70 and 0.70 vs. 0.61, Z=4.49 and 3.35, both P<0.001), but there was no significant difference between the 2018 NICHD and 2019 NRN criteria (Z=0.38, P=0.702). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the secondary composite adverse outcomes were all associated with grade Ⅲ BPD according to the 2018 NICHD criteria and grade 3 BPD according to the 2019 NRN criteria (both P<0.05). ROC curve showed that the AUC of the 2018 NICHD criteria and 2019 NRN criteria were both higher than that of the 2001 NICHD criteria (0.71 and 0.71 vs. 0.58, Z=2.93 and 3.67, both P<0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference between the 2018 NICHD and 2019 NRN criteria (Z=0.02, P=0.984). Conclusion: The 2018 NICHD and 2019 NRN criteria demonstrate good and comparable predictive value for the primary and secondary composite adverse outcomes in preterm infants with BPD, surpassing the predictive efficacy of the 2001 NICHD criteria.

Modulating the polarization phenotype of microglia - A valuable strategy for central nervous system diseases

Central nervous system (CNS) diseases have become one of the leading causes of death in the global population. The pathogenesis of CNS diseases is complicated, so it is important to find the patterns of the disease to improve the treatment strategy. Microglia are considered to be a double-edged sword, playing both harmful and beneficial roles in CNS diseases. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the progression of the disease and the changes in the polar phenotype of microglia to provide guidance in the treatment of CNS diseases. Microglia activation may evolve into different phenotypes: M1 and M2 types. We focused on the roles that M1 and M2 microglia play in regulating intercellular dialogues, pathological reactions and specific diseases in CNS diseases. Importantly, we summarized the strategies used to modulate the polarization phenotype of microglia, including traditional pharmacological modulation, biological therapies, and physical strategies. This review will contribute to the development of potential strategies to modulate microglia polarization phenotypes and provide new alternative therapies for CNS diseases.

A predictive model for frequent exacerbator phenotype of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background

The frequent exacerbator phenotype of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is characterized by experiencing at least two exacerbations per year, leading to a significant economic burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Although several biomarkers have been shown to be effective in assessing AECOPD severity in recent years, there is a lack of studies on markers to predict the frequent exacerbator phenotype of AECOPD. The current study aimed to develop a new predictive model for the frequent exacerbator phenotype of AECOPD based on rapid, inexpensive, and easily obtained routine markers.

Methods

This was a single-center, retrospective study that enrolled a total of 2,236 AECOPD patients. The participants were divided into two groups based on the frequency of exacerbations: infrequent group (n=1,827) and frequent group (n=409). They underwent a complete blood count, as well as blood biochemistry, blood lipid and coagulation testing, and general characteristics were also recorded. Univariate analysis and binary multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore independent risk factors for the frequent exacerbator phenotype of AECOPD, which could be used as components of a new predictive model. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the predictive value of the new model, which consisted of all significant risk factors predicting the primary outcome. The nomogram risk prediction model was established using R software.

Results

Age, gender, length of stay (LOS), neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, direct bilirubin (DBil), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and the glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio (GLR) were independent risk factors for the frequent exacerbator phenotype of AECOPD. The area under the curve (AUC) of the new predictive model was 0.681 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.653-0.708], and the sensitivity was 63.6% (95% CI: 58.9-68.2%) and the specificity was 65.0% (95% CI: 60.3-69.6%).

Conclusions

A new predictive model based on demographic characteristics and blood parameters can be used to predict the frequency of acute exacerbations in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

[Application status and progress of intraoperative nerve monitoring in pelvic autonomic nerve preserving radical resection of rectal cancer]

The current treatment strategy for rectal cancer is a comprehensive treatment centered on surgery. The application of total mesorectal excision (TME) has significantly reduced the local recurrence rate and improved the survival prognosis, but a series of pelvic organ dysfunction caused by pelvic autonomic nerve injury during the operation will reduce the postoperative quality of life of patients. Pelvic autonomic nerve preserving (PANP) radical proctectomy has emerged, but the biggest challenge in the implementation process of this technology is the accurate identification of nerves. A series of studies have shown that pelvic intraoperative autonomic monitoring (pIONM) can effectively assist surgeons to identify nerves, The purpose of this article is to introduce the function of pelvic autonomic nerve, the clinical manifestation of postoperative pelvic dysfunction and its relationship with nerve injury, the key points of implementing PANP, and the current situation and research progress of pIONM technology application.

[Situational analysis of periodontal disease burden for adults in China from 1990 to 2019 and its incidence trend prediction]

Objective: To analyze the burden and changing trends of periodontal disease in adults of the mainland of China from 1990 to 2019, and to predict the incidence trends of periodontal disease in the next 25 years, with a goal to provide a basis for reducing the burden of periodontal disease and formulating relevant prevention and treatment measures. Methods: Data on the incidence, prevalence, and disability adjusted life years (DALY) rate of periodontal disease among adults in the mainland of China from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the global burden of disease study 2019 (GBD 2019) database. The estimated annual percent change (EAPC) was used to estimate the temporal trend of periodontal disease, and the age-period-cohort model (APC) was used to predict the age-standardized incidence of periodontal disease in Chinese adults from 2020 to 2044. Results: From 1990 to 2019, the incidence, prevalence, and DALY rate of adult periodontal disease in the mainland of China showed an increasing trend, with EAPCs of 0.3 (95%CI: 0.1-0.6), 0.5 (95%CI: 0.1-0.8), and 0.5 (95%CI: 0.1-0.8), respectively. The incidence and prevalence of periodontitis among the population aged 35-39 years old and 40-44 years old increased the most significantly, with EAPCs of 0.8 and 0.7, respectively, whereas the change in periodontal disease prevalence tended to be stable and the increase trend in prevalence was lower in the elderly group (EAPC=0.4). The incidence (EAPC=2.1), prevalence (EAPC=2.6) and DALY rate (EAPC=2.6) of periodontal disease in females increased more than those in males (EAPC=1.9, 2.4, and 2.4, respectively), of which the prevalence had exceeded that of males in 2019. The APC model predicted that the prevalence of periodontal disease in the period of 2020-2044 in China would still be on an upward trend, and the increase rate would be higher in females than in males. Conclusions: The burden of periodontal disease among adults in China had been increasing over the past 30 years, especially among young and middle-aged adults as well as females, and the incidence of periodontal disease will continue to increase over the next 25 years.

The value of MRI in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma with cytokeratin 19 expression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To evaluate the overall diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), different image features, and different image analysis methods in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cytokeratin 19 (CK19) expression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed to identify studies using MRI to predict HCC with CK19 expression between 2012 and 2023. Data were extracted to calculate the pooled sensitivity and specificity. Overall diagnostic performance was assessed using areas under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Subgroup analyses were conducted for specific image features and according to image analysis methods (traditional image feature, radiomics, and combined methods). Z-test statistics was used to analyse the differences in diagnostic performance between combined and individual methods.

RESULTS

Eleven studies with 14 datasets (1,278 lesions from 1,264 patients) were included. The overall pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated to be 0.72 (0.55, 0.85), 0.88 (0.80, 0.93), and 0.89 (0.86, 0.91) for MRI in predicting HCC with CK19 expression. Combined methods had higher sensitivity than image feature methods (0.86 versus 0.54, p=0.001), with no difference in specificity (0.85 versus 0.87, p=0.641). There were no significant differences between radiomics and combined methods regarding sensitivity (p=0.796) and specificity (p=0.535), respectively.

CONCLUSION

MRI shows moderate sensitivity and high specificity in identifying HCC with CK19 expression. The application of radiomics can improve the sensitivity of MRI in identifying HCC with CK19 expression.

P-coumaric acid ameliorates Aβ25-35-induced brain damage in mice by modulating gut microbiota and serum metabolites

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is a lack of effective therapeutic drugs. There is great potential for natural products to be used in the development of anti-AD drugs. P-coumaric acid (PCA), a small molecule phenolic acid widely distributed in the plant kingdom, has pharmacological effects such as neuroprotection, but its anti-AD mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In the current study, we investigated the mechanism of PCA intervention in the Aβ25-35-induced AD model using gut microbiomics and serum metabolomics combined with in vitro and in vivo pharmacological experiments. PCA was found to ameliorate cognitive dysfunction and neuronal cell damage in Aβ25-35-injected mice as measured by behavioral, pathological and biochemical indicators. 16S rDNA sequencing and serum metabolomics showed that PCA reduced the abundance of pro-inflammatory-associated microbiota (morganella, holdemanella, fusicatenibacter and serratia) in the gut, which were closely associated with metabolites of the glucose metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, tyrosine metabolism and phospholipid metabolism pathways in serum. Next, in vivo and in vitro pharmacological investigations revealed that PCA regulated Aβ25-35-induced disruption of glucose metabolism through activation of PI3K/AKT/Glut1 signaling. Additionally, PCA ameliorated Aβ25-35-induced neuroinflammation by inhibiting nuclear translocation of NF-κB and by modulating upstream MAPK signaling. In conclusion, PCA ameliorated cognitive deficits in Aβ25-35-induced AD mice by regulating glucose metabolism and neuroinflammation, and the mechanism is related not only to restoring homeostasis of gut microbiota and serum metabolites, but also to PI3K/AKT/Glut1 and MAPK/NF-κB signaling.

An integrated mycotoxin-mitigating agent can effectively mitigate the combined toxicity of AFB1, DON and OTA on the production performance, liver and oviduct health in broiler breeder hens

This study was to evaluate the efficacy of an integrated mycotoxin-mitigating agent in reducing the adverse effects of co-occurring dietary aflatoxin B1 deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A on broiler breeder hens. 360 30-week-old Hubbard Efficiency Plus broiler breeder hens were allocated into four groups and received a basal diet (BD; Control), BD added 0.15 mg/kg aflatoxin B1+1.5 mg/kg deoxynivalenol+0.12 mg/kg ochratoxin A (Toxins), BD plus Toxins with 0.1% TOXO-XL (Toxins + XL1), and BD plus Toxins with 0.2% TOXO-XL (Toxins + XL2), respectively, for 8 weeks, and then received the same BD for another 4 weeks. Compared with control, mycotoxins decreased total egg weigh, egg laying rate, settable eggs rate, hatch of total eggs rate, egg quality, but increased feed/egg ratio and mortality rate, and impaired the liver and oviduct health during weeks 1-8 and(or) 9-12. It also increased PC and MDA concentrations, TUNEL-positive cells and IL-1β and IL-6 expression, and decreased T-AOC, GPX and CAT activities in liver and/or oviduct. Notably, most of these negative changes were mitigated by both dosages of TOXO-XL. Generally, 0.2% TOXO-XL displayed better mitigation effects than 0.1% TOXO-XL. Conclusively, these findings revealed that TOXO-XL could mitigate the combined mycotoxins-induced toxicity on the performance, liver and oviduct health, through the regulation of redox, immunity, and apoptosis in broiler breeder hens.

[Study on formulation and revision of detection methods of "Standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022)" in China]

The formulation and revision of the detection methods of indoor air quality standards is an important, rigorous and delicate endeavor. This paper introduced the formulation and revision of the detection methods of the standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022), focusing on the revision process, revision principles, main adjustments and technical points of some key indicators to facilitate users to better understand and apply the detection methods in standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022).

[Study on formulation and revision of standard limits for radon in "Standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022)" in China]

Public exposure to radon has attracted increasing public concern. The newly issued "Standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022)" has revised the radiological parameters of radon. This study analyzed and discussed the relevant technical contents about the derivation of radon limit, including the distribution level for indoor radon, exposure pathway, health effects, and the process for establishing the standard limits. Specific implementation and evaluation suggestions are also proposed.

Roles of interferon induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFIT) family in autoimmune disease

Interferon-induced tetrapeptide repeat (IFIT) family proteins are an important component of the antiviral immune response. There are four known members of the human IFIT family, namely IFIT1, IFIT2, IFIT3 and IFIT5. More and more evidence shows that IFIT family members are involved in a variety of pathophysiological processes in vivo, regulate the homeostasis and differentiation of a variety of cells including immune cells, and are closely related to a variety of autoimmune diseases, which is expected to become a new therapeutic target. This review reviews the biological roles of different IFIT proteins in various autoimmune diseases, and highlights the potential use of these molecules as biomarkers and prognostic factors in autoimmune diseases, with a view to providing ideas for exploring the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Effects of cadmium exposure on metabolism, antioxidant defense, immune function, and the hepatopancreas transcriptome of Cipangopaludina cathayensis

Cadmium (Cd) is a common contaminant in aquatic environments. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying Cd toxicity in the freshwater snail Cipangopaludina cathayensis (Heude, 1890). This study to investigate the toxic effects of Cd on the standard metabolism, antioxidant activities, immune function, and hepatopancreas transcriptome profiles of C. cathayensis. C. cathayensis was exposed to 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mg/L Cd for 3 h, with results showing that Cd significantly inhibited oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion and disrupted the respiratory metabolism of C. cathayensis. In addition, the O:N ratio dropped below 7, indicating that C. cathayensis may rely exclusively on proteins as an energy source under Cd stress. To understand how Cd impacts the antioxidant activities, immune function, and transcriptional profiles, C. cathayensis were exposed to 0.5 (low exposure, L14) or 1.5 (high exposure, H14) mg/L Cd for 14 days. Our results indicate that Cd exposure leads to oxidative stress and immunosuppression, with the latter effect being larger for exposure to higher Cd concentrations. A total of 2172 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by transcriptome analysis of the hepatopancreas, of which 885 were upregulated and 1287 were downregulated. Gene ontology and KEGG analyses revealed that the DEGs in the H14 group are enriched for energy generation terms and the "oxidative phosphorylation" pathway, respectively. Therefore, up-regulation of energy metabolism may be an adaptive strategy under Cd stress. Moreover, several genes involved in antioxidant activity were downregulated, whereas genes related to reactive oxygen species generation were upregulated. In addition, many immunity-related genes were identified within the DEGs, indicating that Cd toxicity may affect immune defense. Further, DEGs in the H14 group were enriched for disease-associated pathways. Taken together, our results indicate that Cd exposure leads to metabolic disorders, oxidative stress, and immunosuppression and thus may potentially contribute to disease outbreaks.

[Role of Flow Cytometry in the Diagnosis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the immunological phenotype of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and explore its characteristics and significance.

METHODS

The immunophenotypes of 40 CML children and 40 controls were analyzed by multicolor flow cytometry. CD45/SSC, as the basic gate, was used to delineate neutrophils. Then, the distribution of cluster differentiation (CD) molecules on the surface of granulocytes was analyzed in three ranges (≥1%, ≥5%, and ≥20%), and the expression rates of CD molecules (≥1% included in the statistical analysis) and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The proportion of granulocytes in the CML group was (82.1±6.4)%, which was significantly higher than (57.8±11.8)% in the control group (P <0.001). The expression rates of CD15/CD11b/CD33/CD13 in CML and control groups were high, and both distributed in the range of ≥20%. The differentiation trajectory of CD33/CD13 was normal and there were no significant differences in the expression rate and MFI between the two groups. However, both the expression rate of CD11b and CD15 MFI in the CML group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P <0.001). There were no significant differences in the expression rate and MFI of CD10 between the two groups, and the expression levels of CD10 between the two groups were consistent in different distributions. In the CML group, there was a large number of cases with abnormal high expression of CD56, 52.5% of the cases had a CD56 expression rate of ≥5%, and 42.5% had a CD56 expression rate of ≥20%, while the control group did not express CD56 (<1%). The expression distribution of CD117 was different between the two groups. In the range of expression rate ≥5%, there were 35.0% cases in the CML group, while only 2.5% in the control group. The expression rate of CD117 in the CML group was higher than that in the control group (P <0.001), though there was no significant difference in MFI.

CONCLUSION

The immunophenotyping of CML is characterized by increased proportion of mature neutrophils, decreased CD15 MFI, decreased proportion of CD11b and abnormal high expression of CD56 and CD117. Flow cytometric analysis of immunophenotype can effectively distinguish normal granulocytes from chronic granulocytes, and help in the diagnosis of CML.

[Study on the association between air pollution and respiratory disease of primary school students in Chongqing City]

To analyze the association between exposure to air pollution and respiratory disease of primary school students in Chongqing City. Eight districts and counties were randomly selected based on the air pollution situation in Chongqing City. In each selected district and county, one primary school was randomly selected. A questionnaire survey was conducted on all primary school students in Grades 3-5 by the end of 2019. Air quality data from the nearest environmental monitoring sites were collected. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the impact of the living environment, lifestyle and air pollution on the respiratory disease of surveyed students. This study included 5 918 primary school students, with a prevalence rate of respiratory disease of 21.54%. The prevalence rates of boys and girls were 23.38% and 19.59%, respectively. The average Air quality index (AQI) of the surveyed school was 67, and the rates of exceeding standards of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and O3 were 1.16%, 6.92%, 0.99% and 5.65%, respectively. The level of SO2 and CO did not exceed the standard. After adjusting for relevant factors, logistic regression analysis showed that primary school students in areas with high exposure to air pollution (OR=2.52), using air pollution related-chemicals at home (OR=1.47), passive smoking (OR=1.27), and keeping pets at home (OR=1.18) had a higher risk of respiratory disease (all P<0.05). In addition, the average annual values of AQI (OR=1.18), PM10 (OR=1.20), PM2.5 (OR=1.35), and NO2 (OR=1.11) increased the risk of respiratory diseases in primary school students (all P<0.05). In conclusion, the respiratory disease of primary school students in Chongqing City is related to the living environment, behavior habits and ambient air quality. The increased exposure concentration of PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 in air pollutants can lead to an increased risk of respiratory disease among primary school students.

The Role of CCL3 in the Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unexplained causes. Its pathological features include synovial tissue hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration in joint cavity fluid, cartilage bone destruction, and joint deformation. C-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) belongs to inflammatory cell chemokine. It is highly expressed in inflammatory immune cells. Increasingly, studies have shown that CCL3 can promote the migration of inflammatory factors to synovial tissue, the destruction of bone and joint, angiogenesis, and participate in the pathogenesis of RA. These symptoms indicate that the expression of CCL3 is highly correlated with RA disease. Therefore, this paper reviews the possible mechanism of CCL3 in the pathogenesis of RA, which may provide some new insights for the diagnosis and treatment of RA.

Mitigating the adverse effects of Aflatoxin B1 in LMH, IPEC-J2 and 3D4/21 cells by a novel integrated agent

This study was to evaluate the efficacy of TOXO-XL (XL), an integrated mycotoxin-mitigating agent, on aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁)-induced damage in Leghorn male hepatoma (LMH), porcine jejunum epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) and porcine alveolar macrophages (3D4/21) cells, and to explore its potential mechanisms. The results showed that 30% inhibition concentration (IC₃₀) of AFB₁ in LMH, IPEC-J2 and 3D4/21 cells was 0.5, 15.0, and 2.5 mg/L, respectively. Notably, cell viability, ROS, apoptosis and DNA lesion induced by AFB₁ (IC₃₀) could be ameliorated by the supplementation with XL at the dosage of 0.025, 0.025 and 0.005%, respectively. Additionally, the migration and phagocytosis abilities impaired by AFB₁ were also restored by XL in 3D4/21. Further experiments revealed that XL supplementation markedly attenuated AFB₁-induced inflammatory response by decreasing IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 in LMH, IL-6 in IPEC-J2 and IL-1β in 3D4/21 cells. Meanwhile, XL supplementation reversed the alterations of BAX, BCL-2 and caspase-3 induced by AFB₁ in the three cells, suggesting that AFB₁-induced apoptosis may be suppressed via the mitochondria-dependent pathway. Furthermore, XL may have a protective effect on the intestinal barrier through the restoration of occludin protein. Conclusively, these findings indicated that XL could alleviate AFB₁-induced cytotoxicity in the three cells, potentially through the regulation of cytokines, ROS, apoptotic and DNA damage signaling.

Multifunctional O-phenanthroline silver(I) complexes for antitumor activity against colorectal adenocarcinoma cells and antimicrobial properties by multiple mechanisms

A series of O-phenanthroline silver(I) complexes were synthesized and characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The cytotoxicity of the silver(I) complex (P-131) was evaluated in the cancer cell lines HCT-116, HeLa, and MDA-MB-231 and the normal cell line LO2 via MTT assays. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) of P-131 on HCT116 cell line is 0.86 ± 0.03 μM. It is far lower than the IC₅₀ value of cisplatin (9.08 ± 1.10 μM), the IC₅₀ value of normal cell LO2 (76.20 ± 0.48 μM) is much higher than that of cisplatin (3.99 ± 0.74 μM), indicating that its anticancer effect is stronger than that of cisplatin, and its biological safety is greater than that of cisplatin. Furthermore, anticancer mechanistic studies showed that P-131 inhibited cell proliferation by blocking DNA synthesis and acted temporally on the nucleus in dividing HCT-116 cells. Moreover, P-131 increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, 10 mg/kg P-131 showed better antitumor effects than oxaliplatin in an HCT116 human colorectal xenograft mouse model without inducing toxicity. Moreover, the microdilution broth method was used to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of P-131 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. A biofilm eradication study was also performed using the crystal violet method and confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Preparation, characterization and safety evaluation of Ligusticum chuanxiong essential oils liposomes for treatment of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

The essential oils of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (CXEO) are considered to be important parts of the pharmacological action of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. CXEO have a wide range of applications in various fields. Despite the interesting properties of CXEO, the volatility and low solubility have limited the application. Liposomes are vesicles composed of concentric bilayer lipids arranged around the water environment. Therefore, this study aimed to prepare stable CXEO liposomes (CXEO-LP) to improve the properties. Then, CXEO-LP were prepared by thin film dispersion method and optimized. The results showed that CXEO-LP were well dispersed. Subsequently, in vitro release and antioxidant properties of CXEO-LP were researched. CXEO-LP had slow release effect and oxidation resistance, indicating CXEO-LP may be a potential drug for treating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). The nasal mucosa toxicity test and acute toxicity test showed that CXEO-LP had no obvious toxicity to nasal cavity, heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney tissues. Pharmacodynamic studies found that CXEO-LP significantly improved neurological deficits and brain pathology in a mouse model of CIRI compared to CXEO after intranasal administration. In general, this study showed that CXEO-LP were easy to prepare and continuously released, and had an important development prospect in the treatment of CIRI.

[Biological function and clinical significance of long non-coding RNA LINC00342 in head and neck squamous carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the long-non-coding RNA LINC00342 expression and the clinicopathological parameters of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and the biological function of LINC00342 in HNSCC cells. Methods: The expression level of LINC00342 in the HNSCC was analyzed using transcriptome sequencing data from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database, and the expressions of LINC00342 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues (LSCC) of 27 patients in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were detected by transcriptome sequencing. The expression levels of LINC00342 in human embryonic lung diploid cells 2BS, HNSCC cell lines FD-LSC-1, CAL-27 and Detroit562 were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RNAi (RNA interference) was used for LINC00342 knockdown in HNSCC cell lines, and the changes of malignant phenotype in the tumor cells after LINC00342 knockdown were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, flow cytometry, transwell invasion and migration assays. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to construct a LINC00342-centered competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network, and GO (Gene Ontology) enrichment analysis was performed. Statistical analysis and graphing were performed using SPSS 25.0 software and GraphPad Prism 6 software. Results: Mean LINC00342 levels in HNSCC tissues and TCGA database were higher than that in normal control tissues, but with no significantly statistical difference (P=0.522). LINC00342 expression levels were positively correlated with cervical lymph node metastasis and pathological grade in patients with HNSCC, with higher expression in male patients than in female patients (P<0.05). Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that mean expression level of LINC00342 in LSCC tissues of 27 patients was significantly higher than that in the paired adjacent normal mucosa tissues (t=1.56, P=0.036). LINC00342 expression was significantly upregulated in HNSCC cell lines FD-LSC-1, CAL-27 and Detroit562 (t-values of -12.17, -23.26 and -388.57, respectively; all P<0.001). Knockdown of LINC00342 by transfecting si-LINC00342-1 and si-LINC00342-2 inhibited HNSCC cell proliferation (t-values of 8.95 and 4.84, 2.70 and 5.55, 2.02 and 3.70, respectively), colony formation (t-values of 6.66 and 6.17, 7.38 and 11.65, 4.90 and 5.79, respectively), migration (t-values of 8.21 and 7.19, 5.76 and 6.46, 6.28 and 9.92, respectively) and invasion abilities (t-values of 9.29 and 10.25, 11.30 and 11.36, 8.02 and 8.66, respectively), but promoting apoptosis in cell lines FD-LSC-1 and CAL-27 (t-values of -2.21 and -5.83, -3.05 and -5.25 respectively) (all P-values<0.05). The LINC00342-centered ceRNA network consists of 10 downregulated microRNA and 647 upregulated mRNA nodes. GO analysis results indicated that LINC00342-regulated mRNAs were enriched in 22 biological processes, 32 molecular functions, and 12 cellular components. Conclusion: High level of LINC00342 is associated with the malignant progression of HNSCC. LINC00342 promotes the proliferation, migration, invasion, and antagonizes apoptosis of HNSCC cells, which serves as a potential molecular marker in HNSCC.

Preparation of a Tetra-Imidazolium Salt and Sensing for p-Dinitrobenzene

A macrocyclic tetra-imidazolium salt (2) based on quinoxaline was prepared and characterized. The recognition of 2 to nitro compounds was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy, ¹H NMR titrations, MS, IR spectroscopy, and UV/vis spectroscopy. The results displayed that 2 was able to effectively differentiate p-dinitrobenzene from other nitro compounds via the fluorescence method.

PPAR-γ alleviates the inflammatory response in TNF-α-induced fibroblast-like synoviocytes by binding to p53 in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by synovial inflammation, synoviocyte expansion and damage to cartilage and bone. We recently reported that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ inhibited the proliferation and activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), and was downregulated in RA synovial. In this study we investigated the role of PPAR-γ in RA and the underlying mechanisms. Adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) was induced in rats; from D15, AIA rats were orally administered pioglitazone (30 mg·kg-1·d-1) or rosiglitazone (4 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 14 days. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was induced in wild-type and Ppar-γ+/- mice. We showed that the expression of PPAR-γ was significantly reduced, whereas that of TNF-α was markedly increased in human RA FLS. In CIA mice, knockdown of PPAR-γ expression (Ppar-γ+/-) aggravated the ankle inflammation. Similarly, T0070907 (a PPAR-γ antagonist) or si-PPAR-γ promoted the activation and inflammation of TNF-α-induced FLS in vitro. On the contrary, administration of PPAR-γ agonist pioglitazone or rosiglitazone, or injection of ad-Ppar-γ into the ankle of AIA rat in vivo induced overexpression of PPAR-γ, reduced the paw swelling and inflammation, and downregulated activation and inflammation of FLS in RA. Interesting, injection of ad-Ppar-γ into the ankle also reversed the ankle inflammation in Ppar-γ+/- CIA mice. We conducted RNA-sequencing and KEGG pathway analysis, and revealed that PPAR-γ overexpression was closely related to p53 signaling pathway in TNF-α-induced FLS. Co-IP study confirmed that p53 protein was bound to PPAR-γ in RA FLS. Taken together, PPAR-γ alleviates the inflammatory response of TNF-α-induced FLS by binding p53 in RA.

PLCL1 regulates fibroblast-like synoviocytes inflammation via NLRP3 inflammasomes in rheumatoid arthritis

Background

Phospholipase C-like 1 (PLCL1), a protein that lacks catalytic activity, has similar structures to the PLC family. The aim of this research was to find the function and underlying mechanisms of PLCL1 in fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

In this study, we first analyzed the expression of PLCL1 in the synovial tissue of RA patients and K/BxN mice by immunohistochemical staining. Then silencing or overexpressing PLCL1 in FLS before stimulating by TNF-α. The levels of IL-6, IL-1β and CXCL8 in FLS and supernatants were detected by Western Blot (WB), Real-Time Quantitative PCR and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. We used INF39 to specifically inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes, and detected the expression of NLRP3, Cleaved Caspase-1, IL-6 and IL-1β in FLS by WB.

Result

When PLCL1 was silenced, the level of IL-6, IL-1β and CXCL8 were down-regulated. When PLCL1 was overexpressed, the level of IL-6, IL-1β and CXCL8 were unregulated. The previous results demonstrated that the mechanism of PLCL1 regulating inflammation in FLS was related to NLRP3 inflammasomes. INF39 could counteract the release of inflammatory cytokines caused by overexpression of PLCL1.

Conclusion

Result showed that the function of PLCL1 in RA FLS might be related to the NLRP3 inflammasomes. We finally confirmed our hypothesis with the NLRP3 inhibitor INF39. Our results suggested that PLCL1 might promote the inflammatory response of RA FLS by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasomes.

[Nitric Oxide Emissions from Chinese Upland Cropping Systems and Mitigation Strategies: A Meta-analysis]

Agroecosystems are a significant source of nitric oxide (NO), a potent atmospheric pollutant. It has been well documented that the NO emissions from upland cropping systems and their emission factors are large relative to those from paddy fields. However, a clear understanding of their uncertainty and regulating factors is still lacking. To date, various field experiments have been conducted to investigate NO emissions and mitigation, providing an opportunity for a Meta-analysis. The aims of this study were to 1 investigate the uncertainty and regulating factors of NO emissions and emission factors from maize-winter wheat rotations, non-waterlogging period in rice-winter wheat rotations, vegetable fields, tea plantations, and fruit orchards across China by extracting data from peer-reviewed publications, and 2 quantify the mitigation potential of management practices, such as reducing nitrogen fertilizer input, organic substitution with chemical fertilizers, and application of enhanced-efficiency nitrogen fertilizers or biochar by performing a pairwise Meta-analysis. A total of 49 references (published from 2006 to 2021) were collected. The results showed that annual NO emissions from the maize-winter wheat rotations, tea plantations, and fruit orchards averaged 1.44, 7.45, and 0.92 kg·hm^-2, respectively, with significant differences among the three cropping systems (P<0.05). The seasonal NO emissions from the non-waterlogging period in rice-winter wheat rotations and vegetable fields within a single growth period averaged 2.13 kg·hm^-2 and 2.09 kg·hm^-2, respectively. The NO emissions positively related to nitrogen inputs in the maize-winter wheat rotations, non-waterlogging period in rice-winter wheat rotations, and tea plantations (P<0.01) but not in the vegetable fields and fruit orchards. The emission factors averaged 0.31%, 0.71%, 0.96%, 1.74%, and 0.13% in the maize-winter wheat rotations, non-waterlogging period in rice-winter wheat rotations, vegetable fields, tea plantations, and fruit orchards, respectively, with significant differences among the cropping systems (P<0.01), except between the maize-winter wheat rotations and non-waterlogging period in rice-winter wheat rotations or vegetable fields (P>0.05). Considering the substantial differences in emission factors among the cropping systems, a specific emission factor for each system should be applied when estimating an agricultural NO budget at a regional or national scale. Reducing nitrogen input only mitigated NO emissions (by 36%) at a reducing nitrogen ratio above 25% but did not impact emission factors. An optimal reducing nitrogen ratio has to be further evaluated without crop productivity penalties. Organic substitution in soils with organic carbon content<15 g·kg^-1 or pH<7 and application of enhanced-efficiency fertilizers in the maize-winter wheat rotation simultaneously mitigated NO emissions (by -46%- -38%) and emission factors (by -62%- -45%). By contrast, biochar amendment had no significant effects on either NO emissions or emission factors. These findings highlight a possibility of choosing an effective NO mitigation strategy under specific field conditions.

[Prevalence and risk factors of medication non-adherence in children with inflammatory bowel disease]

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of medication non-adherence in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from September 2020 to March 2022 and 112 children with IBD were enrolled. Their general information, medication adherence, and parental disease-related knowledge were collected by questionnaires. According to the medication adherence score, the children were divided into the adherence group (score of 6 to 8) and the non-adherence group (score of <6), then the demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared. Subsequently, a multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors of medication non-adherence. Results: Of the 112 children, 76 were males and 36 females, with the age of 12.9 (9.5, 14.0) years. There were 50 (44.6%) in the non-adherence group and 62 (55.4%) in the adherence group. Regarding the demographic and clinical characteristics, the results showed that the dosage frequency and the parental disease related knowledge were associated with medication non-adherence (both P<0.05). Multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with 0-6 years old children, the risk of medication non-adherence was significantly increased in children aged 7-12 years (OR=9.30, 95%CI 1.58-54.87, P=0.014) and 13-18 years (OR=8.26, 95%CI 1.49-45.85, P=0.016); and the risk was also significantly increased in children who took medication twice or more per day (OR=12.88, 95%CI 2.77-59.80, P=0.001) compared with children who took medication once per day. Meanwhile, the parental score of the questionnaire on Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis related knowledge (OR=0.76, 95%CI 0.66-0.89, P=0.001) was also a significant risk factor. Conclusions: Medication non-adherence is common in children with IBD. Children older than 7 years, a dosage frequency of twice or more per day, and parental poor disease-related knowledge are the independent risk factors for medication non-adherence in children with IBD. Clinicians should pay attention to promoting patients' adherence to improve clinical outcomes.

[Central mechanism of acupuncture intervention in anxiety and depression under fMRI]

Despite the significant efficacy of acupuncture in alleviating anxiety and depression, the mechanism remains unclear. In recent years, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology has provided a visual method for deciphering the mechanism of acupuncture in treating anxiety and depression. This paper summarized the clinical studies about the imaging changes of anxiety and depression during the treatment with acupuncture under fMRI. The available studies demonstrated that acupuncture may act on functional nuclei and brain regions such as hippocampus, amygdala, cingulate gyrus, frontal lobe, and temporal lobe. The paper can lay a foundation for the further study of the central mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of anxiety and depression.

Effectiveness of Chinese Native Culture Education for Improving Undergraduate Nursing Students' Transcultural Self-Efficacy

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of Chinese native culture education based on Chinese native culture on the intercultural competence of undergraduate nursing students.

Method

A quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest was used. We recruited nursing students from 4 classes of the School of Nursing in our hospital in 2016 as research subjects. Undergraduate nursing students (n = 79) who completed one semester of education in indigenous Chinese culture completed a demographic questionnaire and the transcultural self-efficacy tool (TSET). Chinese native culture education is the topics related to nursing, consistent with the culture of Chinese patients under the background of Chinese native culture, including the dietary habits, taboos, religions, values, particularly Chinese medicine, and specific diseases. The control group (n = 91) was students who did not participate in Chinese native culture education and completed the instrument during the same time frame.

Result

Students who participated in Chinese native cultural education significantly improved their transcultural self-efficacy in three dimensions: cognition, emotion, and practice. Compared with the control group, the students in the cultural education group had higher change scores in three sizes of transcultural self-efficacy.

Conclusion

When strengthening cultural education for undergraduate nursing students, adding content related to Chinese native culture can improve their transcultural self-efficacy and meet the growing cultural needs of patients.

Hesperetin derivative decreases CCl4 -induced hepatic fibrosis by Ptch1-dependent mechanisms

Hepatic fibrosis (HF), a continuous wound-healing response of the liver to repeated injuries, is characterized by abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are considered a major cell type for ECM production. However, recent evidence indicates the lack of effective treatments for HF. Hesperetin, a Traditional Chinese Medicine monomer, has been isolated from the fruit peel of Citrusaurantium L. (Rutaceae). Growing evidence suggests the partial function of hesperetin in HF treatment. A hesperetin derivative (HD) was synthesized in our laboratory to increase the bioavailability and the water solubility of hesperetin. In this study, we detected the functions of HD in a mouse model of CCl₄ -induced HF and transforming growth factor-β1-stimulated HSC-T6 cells, in vivo and in vitro. HD reduced histological damage and CCl₄ -induced HF. Moreover, HD interference was associated with the activation of indicators in HSC-T6 cells, showing that HD is involved in HSCs activation in HF. Mechanistically, the Hedgehog pathway is involved in the HD treatment of HF, and HD may attenuate the aberrant expression of patched1. In conclusion, the studies indicate that HD may function as a potential antifibrotic Traditional Chinese Medicine monomer in HF therapy.

[Epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 caused by 2019-nCoV Delta variant in Shangyu district, Shaoxing of Zhejiang province]

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 caused by 2019-nCoV Delta variant in Shangyu district, Shaoxing of Zhejiang province in 2021, and provide evidence for the improvement of COVID-19 control and prevention measures. Methods: The incidence data of COVID-19 in Shangyu from December 7 to 21, 2021 was obtained from Shangyu District Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The epidemiological characteristics of the cases, i.e. the population, time and space distributions, were analyzed, and the incubation period and time-varying reproduction numbers (R_t) were calculated. Results: From December 7 to 21, 2021, a total of 380 COVID-19 cases caused by 2019-nCoV Delta variant were detected in Shangyu, the median age of the cases was 52 years, M (Q₁，Q₃: 38, 61). The male to female ratio of the cases was 1∶1.25, and the cases were mainly workers (36.58%) and farmers (27.63%). The epidemic affected 9 townships (or community) of Shangyu, especially Caoe and Baiguan communities with the cases accounting for 57.10% and 31.53% respectively. The median incubation period of cases was 4.00 days, M (Q₁，Q₃: 3.00, 5.75). The basic reproduction number (R₀) was 4.06, and the R_t was 5.62 in early phase of the outbreak (the highest) and continuously decreased to less than 1.00 within 10 days after the detection of the outbreak. The number of COVID-19 cases decreased to 0 within 14 days after the outbreak (December 7-21), and the main detection methods were screening in centralized isolation (55.53%) and home isolation (40.00%). The infection rates of close contacts and secondary close contacts were 2.06% and 0.46% respectively. Conclusion: The epidemic of COVID-19 in Shangyu characterized by short incubation period, large number of infected people, and case clustering, suggesting the strong transmission of Delta variant (B.1.617.2). Comprehensive prevention and control measures, such as management of close contacts and secondary close contacts, and high-risk area, are essential for the rapid control of the epidemic.

Predicting the probability of a live birth after a freeze-all based in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment strategy

BACKGROUND

The predictors for live birth rate (LBR) following one episode of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle for patients using a "freeze-all" strategy are not entirely clear.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study utilizing a prediction model was developed to assess the relationship to the LBR. Women undergoing IVF with a freeze-all strategy were screened. Univariate models were first fitted for female age at oocytes retrieval/frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET), body mass index (BMI), duration and etiology of infertility, previous IVF failures, total dose and duration of gonadotrophin, ovarian sensitivity index (OSI), number of oocytes collected, method of fertilization, number of embryos created, number and stage of embryos frozen, type and number of FET cycles, endometrial thickness (EMT)/pattern, hormone level on transplantation day, storage duration, number of embryos thawed and damaged thawed embryos, number and stage of embryos transferred and number of different quality embryos transferred. Variables with P<0.05 in the univariate model were selected for further analysis of the final multivariate discrete-time logistic regression model.

RESULTS

A total of 7,602 women undergoing one ovarian stimulation resulted in 9,964 FETs, of whom 3,066 (40.33%) had a live-birth after their first FET and 3,929 (51.68%) after total FETs. The EMT and woman's age at oocyte retrieval were the most important predictors. In the first FET, the LBR of women with an EMT ≤8 mm [27.40%; 95% confidence interval (CI): (21.60-33.81%)] was significantly lower than that of women with EMT between 9 and 11 mm [36.51%; 95% CI: (34.25-38.81%)] and thicker than 12 mm [44.23%; 95% CI: (42.22-46.25%)] (P<0.05). The optimistic and conservative cumulative LBRs of women younger than 31 years [87.5%; 95% CI: (86.32-88.61%) and 63.04%; 95% CI: (61.36-64.69%)] were significantly decreased in women aged 31-35, 36-40 and >40 (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides an effective prediction model for a woman's chance of having a baby after a "freeze-all" policy. The use of EMT and female age as tools to identify LBR are shown to be justified, and repeated FETs cannot reverse the age-dependent decline in fertility.

Network pharmacology integrated with experimental validation reveals the regulatory mechanism of action of Hehuan Yin decoction in polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hehuan Yin decoction (HHY), first recorded in the Jingyue Quanshu (published in 1624 A.D.), is composed of Albizia julibrissin Durazz. and Ampelopsis japonica (Thunb.) Makino.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of HHY in treating polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance (PCOS-IR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict active compounds, potential targets, and pathways for PCOS-IR treatment using HHY. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered letrozole (1 mg/kg) with a high-fat diet to establish a PCOS-IR model. Thereafter, symptoms, ovarian pathology, serum insulin resistance, and sex hormone levels were determined. Western blotting was used to determine the levels of PI3Kp85α, AKT, phospho (p)-AKT, and GSK3β in the ovaries of rats.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology revealed 58 components in HHY and 182 potential targets that were shared between HHY and PCOS-IR. HHY could potentially treat PCOS-IR via the insulin resistance, PI3K/AKT, HIF-1, and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways. Molecular docking revealed that PI3K, AKT1, GSK3β, IRS1, and EGFR had high affinities to HHY compounds. In the PCOS-IR rats, HHY significantly normalised the symptoms and ovarian pathology, increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol levels in the serum, and decreased the levels of fasting plasma glucose and fasting insulin, as well as the insulin resistance index. HHY also decreased the luteinising hormone (LH) and testosterone levels and the LH/FSH ratio in the PCOS-IR rats and increased the levels of PI3K, p-AKT, and GSK3β in ovary tissue, which indicated the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

HHY can improve PCOS-IR symptoms via multiple pharmacological pathways and may be a potential alternative therapy for the treatment of PCOS-IR.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Profiles of Novel 1,3,4-Oxadiazole-2-carbohydrazides with Molecular Diversity

To unceasingly expand the molecular diversity of 1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-carbohydrazides, herein, small fragments (including -CH₂-, -OCH₂-, and -SCH₂-) were incorporated into the target compounds to screen out the potential succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs). The bioassay results showed that the antifungal effects (expressed by EC₅₀) against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Fusarium oxysporum, and Colletotrichun higginsianum could reach 1.29 (10a), 0.63 (8h), 1.50 (10i), and 2.09 (10i) μg/mL, respectively, which were slightly lower than those of carbendazim (EC₅₀ were 0.69, 0.13, 0.55, and 0.80 μg/mL, respectively). Especially, compound 10h was extremely bioactive against Gibberella zeae (G. z.) with an EC₅₀ value of 0.45 μg/mL. This outcome was better than that of fluopyram (3.76 μg/mL) and was similar to prochloraz (0.47 μg/mL). In vivo trials against the corn scab (infected by G. z.) showed that compound 10h had control activity of 86.8% at 200 μg/mL, which was better than that of boscalid (79.6%). Further investigations found that compound 10h could inhibit the enzymatic activity of SDH in the G. z. strain with an IC₅₀ value of 3.67 μM, indicating that potential SDHIs might be developed. Additionally, the other biological activities of these molecules were screened simultaneously. The anti-oomycete activity toward Phytophthora infestans afforded a minimal EC₅₀ value of 3.22 μg/mL (10h); compound 4d could strongly suppress the growth of bacterial strains Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae with EC₅₀ values of 3.79 and 11.4 μg/mL, respectively; and compound 10a displayed some insecticidal activity toward Plutella xylostella. Given their multipurpose features, these frameworks could be actively studied as potential pesticide leads.

MicroRNA-195-3p promotes hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis by suppressing PTEN expression

Liver fibrosis is a reversible wound healing reaction characterized by abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in response to liver injury. Recent studies have shown that it can be epigenetically regulated, especially by microRNAs (miRNAs). It has been acknowledged that activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a pivotal step in the initiation and progression of liver fibrosis. Notably, our results showed that miR-195-3p was increased in HSCs isolated from CCl₄-treated mice and that the increase was more pronounced as the degree of liver fibrosis increased. Moreover, treatment of LX-2 cells, a human immortalized hepatic stellate cell line, with TGF-β1 resulted remarkable upregulation of miR-195-3p. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments have suggested that the increased levels of miR-195-3p inhibit the expression of phosphatase and tension homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), a negative regulator of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in liver fibrosis, thereby contributing to HSC activation and proliferation and promoting the expression of profibrotic genes, such as α-SMA and collagen I, in LX-2 cells, which accelerates the accumulation of fibrous extracellular matrix deposition in the liver, while knockdown of miR-195-3p induced the opposite effect. Taken together, these results provide evidence for the harmful role of miR-195-3p in CCl₄-treated mouse liver fibrosis.

Role of the S100 protein family in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, and proliferation of inflammatory tissue (angiogranuloma). The destruction of joints and surrounding tissues eventually causes joint deformities and dysfunction or even loss. The S100 protein family is one of the biggest subtribes in the calcium-binding protein family and has more than 20 members. The overexpression of most S100 proteins in rheumatoid arthritis is closely related to its pathogenesis. This paper reviews the relationship between S100 proteins and the occurrence and development of rheumatoid arthritis. It will provide insights into the development of new clinical diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for rheumatoid arthritis.

[Study on the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with prior hepatitis B virus infection]

Objective: To explore the role of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with prior hepatitis B virus infection (HBsAg-negative and anti-HBC-positive). Methods: 1605 hospitalized patients who were first diagnosed with HCC at Nanfang Hospital between 2015 to 2017 were retrospectively studied. Patients who developed HCC on the basis of active HBV infection (HBsAg-positive, anti-HBc positive) were used as control. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between NAFLD and HCC in patients with prior hepatitis B virus infection. Results: Among HCC patients with both HBsAg and anti-HCV negative, the proportion of prior HBV infection accounted for 86.7%. NAFLD prevalence was higher in patients with HCC based on prior HBV infection than active HBV infection (19.7% vs. 8.5%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for gender, age, hypertension, alanine aminotransferase, and liver cirrhosis, patients with HCC based on prior HBV infection were more likely to develop NAFLD (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.40-3.74), and this phenomenon was observed only in patients with non-cirrhosis (OR: 5.26, 95% CI: 2.53-10.96) and aged≥50 years (OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.33-4.20). Conclusion: NAFLD may be a risk factor for HCC in a previously infected patients with HBV, especially in non-cirrhotic and population aged≥50 years.

Evolution of the frequency-comb structure and coherence from a Keldysh multiphoton into a tunneling regime

We present a theoretical study of the characteristics of the frequency-comb structure and coherence via high-order harmonic generation (HHG) driven by the laser pulse trains when the ionization process is pushed from Keldysh multiphoton into tunneling regime. HHG is obtained by solving accurately the time-dependent Schrödinger equation by means of the time-dependent generalized pseudospectral method. We find that the nested comb structures are formed from each harmonic order in the Keldysh multiphoton ionization regime. But it is severely suppressed or even disappeared in the Keldysh tunneling ionization regime. It implies that the temporal coherence of the emitted frequency comb modes is very sensitive to the Keldysh ionization regime. To understand the evolution of frequency-comb structure and coherence, we perform the calculation of the time-dependent ionization probability and the spectral phase of frequency-comb HHG. We find that the frequency-comb HHG driven by the laser pulse trains in the Keldysh multiphoton regime has a good coherence because the ionization probability of the atom driven by each laser pulse is stable, leading to a phase-coherent frequency-comb structure rather than those cases in the Keldysh tunneling regime with high laser intensity. Our results shed light on current interest and significance to the experimental realization of controllable and frequency-comb vacuum-ultraviolet light sources.

[Comparison of training models for master of public health between China and other countries]

With the accelerating globalization and the implementation of "Belt and Road" initiative proposed by our government, communication and exchanges between China and foreign countries have become more and more frequent than before, and much more international students have chosen to study in China's universities as candidates of master of public health (MPH). However, because China only launched the MPH program in recent years, with the training models being highly similar to the program of master of science in China but quite different from those of main international MPH programs, hindering China's MPH program to become an international one. This paper systematically evaluated existing training models of MPH programs both at home and abroad through literature review and identified major differences and deficiencies of China's MPH program compared to those from other countries: (1) requirement for medical background only; (2) comparatively longer period to complete the program; (3) incomplete curriculum; (4) overemphasizing scientific research competencies but somewhat neglecting practical abilities; and (5) limited career choices, and put forward some suggestions to improve the MPH program of China, including removing requirement for medical background only, shortening the period of MPH program, improving the curriculum of MPH program, and enhancing the training of practical abilities.

An AIE material with time-dependent luminescence conversion obtained by 2D coordination polymer modification via covalent post-synthetic modification

In this study, we reported the covalent post-synthetic modification (PSM) of a luminescent complex to achieve aggregation-induced emission (AIE), prepared using the Schiff base reaction of TPE-CHO and HLC-NH2, denoted by HLC-NH2-TPE. HLC-NH2 formed a 2D luminescent complex which was constructed using 4,4'-diamino-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2,2'-dicarboxylic acid and zinc ions via a solvothermal reaction. HLC-NH2-TPE inherited the luminescence properties of HLC-NH2 and exhibited noticeable AIE properties in response to environmental viscosities and temperature changes. Interestingly, HLC-NH2-TPE displayed a time-dependent luminescence conversion phenomenon in a mixed solution of DMF/H₂O (v : v/1 : 9).

LncRNA MEG3 reverses CCl4-induced liver fibrosis by targeting NLRC5

Liver fibrosis is a persistent pathological repair of chronic liver injury, which is characterized by excessive deposition of collagen-dominated extracellular matrix (ECM). It is well known that hepatic fibrosis can be reversed in the absence of etiology. Studies have shown that long non-coding RNA (Lnc RNA) maternally expressed gene3 (MEG3) has strong effects on the activation of hepatic stellata cells (HSCs). However, the function of MEG3 in the reversal of liver fibrosis has not been studied. In this experiment, we studied the content expression, function, and part of the potential mechanism of MEG3 in reversing liver fibrosis. In in vivo and in vitro models, we found that MEG3 was down-regulated during the formation of liver fibrosis, while it was up-regulated during the reversal of liver fibrosis. Then, it was found that the silencing of MEG3 could gradually restore the activity of the inactivated LX-2 cells, Overexpression of MEG3 can inhibit the activation of LX-2 cells, accelerate the reversal of liver fibrosis. Through catRAPID analysis, it was found that NLR family CARD domain containing 5 (NLRC5) may be a target of MEG3. We found that, after MEG3 silencing, NLRC5 expression was upregulated in LX-2 cells in the reverse phase, while, after MEG3 overexpression, NLRC5 expression was decreased. Further, we verified that MEG3 can target NLRC5 through RNA pull down experiment. Therefore, MEG3 may inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells by targeting NLRC5, thus accelerating the reversal of hepatic fibrosis.

[Ethics review characteristics of clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion]

The elements of ethical review related to clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion is discussed to provide ideas for various institutions to carry out relevant ethical review. It is believed that the ethical review of clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion needs to focus on the specificity of acupuncture and moxibustion. Starting from the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the theory of meridians and acupoints and the theory of syndrome differentiation along meridians, the key contents of ethical review such as intervention methods, grouping design and placebo control should be considered, so as to standardize the clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion and protect the health and rights and interests of participants.

Organic Acids Improve Growth Performance with Potential Regulation of Redox Homeostasis, Immunity, and Microflora in Intestines of Weaned Piglets

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of organic acids on piglet growth performance and health status. A total of 360 weanling pigs (5.3 ± 0.6 kg) were randomly allotted to 3 treatment groups with 12 replicates of 10 pigs/pen. Piglets were fed the same basal diet and given either water (control) or water plus 2.0 L/Ton organic acid (OA) blends, such as OA1 or OA2, respectively, for 7 weeks. Compared to the control, OA1 and OA2 improved growth performance and/or reduced the piglets' diarrhea rate during the various periods and improved small intestinal morphology at days 14 and/or 49. OA1 and OA2 also increased serum CAT and SOD activities and/or T-AOC and, as expected, decreased MDA concentration. Moreover, at day 14 and/or day 49, OA1 and OA2 increased the jejunal mRNA levels of host defense peptides (PBD1, PBD2, NPG1, and NPG3) and tight junction genes (claudin-1) and decreased that of cytokines (IL-1β and IL-2). Additionally, the two acidifiers regulated the abundance of several cecum bacterial genera, including Blautia, Bulleidia, Coprococcus, Dorea, Eubacterium, Subdoligranulum, and YRC2. In conclusion, both of the organic acid blends improved piglet growth performance and health status, potentially by regulating intestinal redox homeostasis, immunity, and microflora.

The stability improvement of dextransucrase by artificial extension modification of the V domain of the enzyme

Improving enzyme stability is very important for enzyme applications. Structural modification is a reliable and effective method to improve the characteristics of protein. By artificially extending the C-terminus, 6 domain modification variants of different sizes were constructed, and a new enzyme species with high stability was obtained. Experimental results affirmed that high stability can be achieved by decreasing the degree of domain freedom. The optimum temperatures of domain modification variants were improved by 10 °C compared with the original enzyme. Specifically, compared with the original enzyme, the half-life of the variant dexYG-fdx (D-F) was increased to 280% under 35 °C and 200% under 45 °C, and the pH tolerance range was wider. Further structural simulations and molecular docking studies provided a reasonable explanation (The increased domain reduced the degree of freedom of the enzyme terminal to some extent) for this variant to increase stability and produce dextran. This study can provide valuable information for increasing the characteristics of recombinant dextransucrase.

N6 -Methyladenosine and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Comprehensive Review

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), one of the most common autoimmune diseases, is characterized by immune cell infiltration, fibroblast-like synovial cell hyperproliferation, and cartilage and bone destruction. To date, numerous studies have demonstrated that immune cells are one of the key targets for the treatment of RA. N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most common internal modification to eukaryotic mRNA, which is involved in the splicing, stability, export, and degradation of RNA metabolism. m⁶A methylated-related genes are divided into writers, erasers, and readers, and they are critical for the regulation of cell life. They play a significant role in various biological processes, such as virus replication and cell differentiation by controlling gene expression. Furthermore, a growing number of studies have indicated that m⁶A is associated with the occurrence of numerous diseases, such as lung cancer, bladder cancer, gastric cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this review, we summarize the history of m6A research and recent progress on RA research concerning m⁶A enzymes. The relationship between m⁶A enzymes, immune cells, and RA suggests that m⁶A modification offers evidence for the pathogenesis of RA, which will help in the development of new therapies for RA.

Free Triiodothyronine Connected With Metabolic Changes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease by Interacting With Other Functional Indicators

This study aims to evaluate the association between free triiodothyronine (FT3) and outcomes of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, as well as to assess the predictive power of FT3 and related functional markers from the perspective of potential mechanism. A total of 5104 CAD patients with an average follow-up of three years were enrolled into our study. Multivariate Cox regression was used to evaluate the associations between FT3, FT4 (free thyroxin), FT3/FT4 and death, MACE. We developed and validated an age, biomarker, and clinical history (ABC) model based on FT3 indicators to predict the prognosis of patients with CAD. In the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, FT3 and FT3/FT4 were independent predictors of mortality (Adjusted HR = 0.624, 95% CI = 0.486–0.801; adjusted HR = 0.011, 95% CI = 0.002–0.07, respectively). Meanwhile, emerging markers pre-brain natriuretic peptide, fibrinogen, and albumin levels are significantly associated with low FT3 (p < 0.001). The new risk death score based on biomarkers can be used to well predict the outcomes of CAD patients (C index of 0.764, 95% CI = 0.731–0.797). Overall, our findings suggest that low levels of FT3 and FT3/FT4 are independent predictors of death and MACE risk in CAD patients. Besides, the prognostic model based on FT3 provides a useful tool for the death risk stratification of CAD patients.

Circular RNA circUbe2k promotes hepatic fibrosis via sponging miR-149-5p/TGF-β2 axis

Abundant regulatory genes and complex circuits involving non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) monitor the formation and development of hepatic fibrosis (HF). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of RNAs generated from protein coding genes by back-splicing, playing crucial roles in various pathological processes, including HF. However, little is known about mechanisms of action of circRNAs, let alone in HF. In this study, we found circUbe2k enhanced in CCl₄ -induced HF mice and LX-2 cells stimulated with TGF-β1, regulating the development of HF. Restraining the expression of circUbe2k inhibited α-SMA and Col1α1 expression in CCl₄ -induced HF mice and in LX-2 cells stimulated with TGF-β1. Furthermore, inhibiting circUbe2k expression reduced hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation and proliferation in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, we demonstrated a direct interaction between circUbe2k and miR-149-5p, which results in the modulation of TGF-β2 expressions. Together, circUbe2k may act as a "catalyst" of HSCs activation and HF through the circUbe2k/miR-149-5p/TGF-β2 axis. Our results provide unprecedented evidence for a significant role for circUbe2k to serve as a potential biomarker for HF therapy.

PTEN Methylation Promotes Inflammation and Activation of Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by a tumor-like expansion of the synovium and subsequent destruction of adjacent articular cartilage and bone. In our previous work we showed that phosphatase and tension homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) contributes to the activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA), but the underlying mechanism is not unknown. In this study, we show that PTEN is downregulated while DNA methyltransferase (DNMT)1 is upregulated in FLS from RA patients and a rat model of AIA. DNA methylation of PTEN was increased by administration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in FLS of RA patients, as determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation and methylation-specific PCR. Treatment with the methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine suppressed cytokine and chemokine release and FLS activation in vitro and alleviated paw swelling in vivo. PTEN overexpression reduced inflammation and activation of FLS via protein kinase B (AKT) signaling in RA, and intra-articular injection of PTEN-expressing adenovirus into the knee of AIA rats markedly reduced inflammation and paw swelling. Thus, PTEN methylation promotes the inflammation and activation of FLS in the pathogenesis of RA. These findings provide insight into the molecular basis of articular cartilage destruction in RA, and indicate that therapeutic strategies that prevent PTEN methylation may an effective treatment.

Loss of Selenov predisposes mice to extra fat accumulation and attenuated energy expenditure

Selenoprotein V (SELENOV) is a new and the least conserved member of the selenoprotein family. Herein we generated Selenov knockout (KO) mice to determine its in vivo function. The KO led to 16-19% increases (P < 0.05) in body weight that were largely due to 54% higher (P < 0.05) fat mass accumulation, compared with the wild-type (WT) controls. The extra fat accumulation in the KO mice was mediated by up-regulations of genes and proteins involved in lipogenesis (Acc, Fas, Dgat, and Lpl; up by 40%-1.1-fold) and down-regulations of lipolysis (Atgl, Hsl, Ces1d, and Cpt1a; down by 36-89%) in the adipose tissues. The KO also decreased (P < 0.05) VO₂ consumption (14-21%), VCO₂ production (14-16%), and energy expenditure (14-23%), compared with the WT controls. SELENOV and O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) exhibited a novel protein-protein interaction that explained the KO-induced decreases (P < 0.05) of OGT protein (15-29%), activity (33%), and function (O-GlcNAcylation, 10-21%) in the adipose tissues. A potential cascade of SELENOV-OGT-AMP-activated protein kinase might serve as a central mechanism to link the biochemical and molecular responses to the KO. Overall, our data revealed a novel in vivo function and mechanism of SELENOV as a new inhibitor of body fat accumulation, activator of energy expenditure, regulator of O-GlcNAcylation, and therapeutic target of such related disorders.

[Mechanisms Summary and Potential Analysis of EPS as a Flame Retardant]

High value-added extracellular polymer substance (EPS) extracted from excess sludge can effectively promote resource recovery from wastewater. EPS can replace traditional alginate in the food, medicine, textile, printing and dyeing, papermaking, and household chemicals industries. Moreover, its unique performance as a flame retardant has shown attractive potential for aircraft including space shuttles. This is due to the complicated chemical structure and composition of EPS, the excellent compatibility, adhesion, and other advantages of which could yield environmental-friendly flame-retardants. Therefore, a systematic analysis and summary on the mechanisms of EPS as flame retardants is of significance for future application. On the basis of the advantages and disadvantages of other fire-resistant materials on the market, the characteristics and application potential of EPS are analyzed and summarized. Second, the possible fire-resistant mechanisms of phosphorus and alginate-like substance (ALE) in EPS are revealed, and the synergistic flame-retardant effects of extracellular-proteins are also elucidated. Based on this, the flame-retardant characteristics of EPS are comprehensively evaluated and compared with other fire-resistant materials. To further improving the performance of EPS as a flame-retardant material, some modification strategies are proposed, such as increasing their phosphorus content, purifying and enhancing the content of ALE in EPS, and optimizing the modification methods of EPS on their substrates.