OBJECTIVES: To investigate the ethnic origin of Chuanqing people, one of the largest unidentified ethnic groups in Guizhou, China, and analyze its genetic relationships with surrounding populations. METHODS: Based on a self-developed microhaplotype system, we conducted genotyping and analyzed the genetic distribution of microhaplotype loci and their forensic applicability in Chuanqing population in Guizhou Province. Using the microhaplotype data from different intercontinental populations and previously reported data from Han population living in Guizhou Province, we systematically investigated the genetic background of Chuanqing people through population genetic approaches, including genetic distance estimation, principal component analysis, and phylogenetic tree construction. RESULTS: Among the studied population, the number of haplotype per microhaplotype ranged from 6 to 25. The average expected heterozygosity (He), observed heterozygosity (Ho), power of discrimination (PD), and probability of exclusion (PE) were 0.8291, 0.8301, 0.9387, and 0.6593, respectively. The cumulative power of discrimination (CPD) and cumulative probability of exclusion (CPE) for these 33 loci were 1-2.62×10^-41 and 1-7.64×10^-17, respectively. Population genetic analyses revealed that the Chuanqing population had close genetic relationships with the East Asian populations, especially the local Guizhou Han population, Beijing Han population and the Han populations living in southern China. CONCLUSIONS The 33 microhaplotypes exhibit high levels of genetic diversity in the Guizhou Chuanqing population, highlighting their potentials for both forensic identification and parentage testing. The Han populations might have contributed a significant amount of genetic material to the Chuanqing population during the formation and development of the latter.
Humans ; China/ethnology* ; Ethnicity/genetics* ; Forensic Genetics/methods* ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Phylogeny ; East Asian People/genetics*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expression of the long non-coding RNA maternally expressed gene 3 (LncRNA Meg3) in patients with the Wilson disease (WD) and its correlation with the severity of liver fibrosis and autophagy-related markers. METHODS: A total of 100 WD patients and 50 healthy individuals were enrolled from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine. Serum biomarkers, including platelet count, hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), type III procollagen N-terminal peptide (PIIINP), type IV collagen (C‑IV), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), were measured, and the non-invasive indices APRI and FIB-4 were calculated. Peripheral blood levels of LncRNA Meg3, Beclin-1 and LC3B were detected using RT-qPCR, and liver stiffness (LSM) and shear wave velocity (SWV) were evaluated using two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE). The liver tissues from 10 WD patients and 10 patients with hepatic hemangioma were examined using histochemical staining, transmission electron microscopy, and RT-qPCR. RESULTS: The expression level of LncRNA Meg3 was significantly lower, while the levels of AST, ALT, HA, LN, PIIINP, C‑IV, APRI, FIB-4, LSM and SWV were significantly higher in WD patients than in the healthy individuals (all P<0.01). LncRNA Meg3 was negatively correlated with LSM, SWV, APRI, FIB-4, Beclin-1 and LC3B (P<0.05). ROC analysis demonstrated that LncRNA Meg3 effectively discriminated >F4 stage fibrosis (AUC=0.902) with a sensitivity of 92.9% and a specificity of 83.7% at the optimal cut-off value, outperforming APRI (AUC=0.746) and FIB-4 (AUC=0.661). The liver tissues from WD patients exhibited characteristic histopathological changes and lowered expression of LncRNA Meg3, which was negatively correlated with Beclin-1 and LC3B expressions (P<0.05). Liver fibrosis staging (7 S4 cases and 3 S3 cases) was significantly associated with LSM and SWV levels (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The expression level of LncRNA Meg3 is significantly decreased in WD patients, which is negatively correlated with the severity of liver fibrosis and closely related to the level of autophagy.
Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism* ; Adult ; Female ; Male ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration/metabolism* ; Case-Control Studies ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: Therapeutic angiogenesis has become a promising approach for treating ischemic heart disease (IHD). The present study aims to investigate the effects of Qishen Granule (QSG) on angiogenesis in myocardial ischemia (MI) and the potential mechanism. METHODS: In vivo study was conducted on rat model of myocardial infarction. QSG was performed daily at a dose of 2.352 g/kg for four weeks. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiogram and pro-angiogenic effects were evaluated by Laser Doppler and CD31 expression. Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was applied in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Cell viability, wound healing and tube formation assay were used to test functions of HUVECs. ELISA and Western blots were used to assess protein expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2-delta-like 4-notch homolog 1 (BMP2-Dll4-Notch1) signaling pathway. RESULTS: The results showed that QSG improved heart function, cardiac blood flow and microvessel density in myocardial ischemic rats. In vitro, QSG protected HUVECs by promoting the cell viability and tube formation. QSG upregulated bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) and downregulated delta-like 4 (Dll4) and notch homolog 1 (Notch1) expressions both in rats and HUVECs. CONCLUSION QSG protected against MI by promoting angiogenesis through BMP2-Dll4-Notch1 pathway. BMP2 might be a promising therapeutic target for IHD.

Objective:To explore the characteristic of dynamic function network connectivity (dFNC) of resting brain networks in internet gaming disorder (IGD) adolescents.Methods:Forty-four adolescent IGD subjects (IGD group, male/female: 38/6) and fifty healthy controls (HC group, male/female: 40/10) were collected, and the subjects completed demographic questionnaires, Young internet addiction scale(YIAS), Chinese adolescents' maladaptive cognitions scale(CAMAS), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) tests. The fMRI data were preprocessed on the Matlab platform, and the preprocessed data was divided into 64 components for group level independent component analysis.The dynamic functional connectivity of obtained 18 effective independent components was analyzed by sliding time window technique, and the difference of dynamic functional connectivity of brain triple network between the IGD group and HC group was compared using SPSS 22.0 software.Results:Four repeated dFNC states were identified through cluster analysis.Each state indicated that different functional networks had different connection strengths.State 3, the most frequent state, had been indicated that the whole brain network of the subject was in a state of weak functional connectivity.The second frequent state was state 1, which indicated enhanced functional connectivity within the subject's central executive network (CEN).State 2 had been indicated enhanced functional connectivity within the subject's salience network (SN).State 4 had been indicated generally enhanced functional connectivity in the subjects' brain networks, and this state was the least frequent.The results of non-parametric permutation test on the time attribute showed that compared with the HC group, the IGD group had a longer time score (IGD group: 0.24±0.19, HC group: 0.13±0.15, t=1.19, P<0.05, non-parametric substitution test) for state 1 with strong connectivity within the CEN, which was positively correlated with the YIAS score and game time ( r=0.418, P=0.003; r=0.515, P=0.004).Compared with HC group, the functional connectivity of ICD group between the internal insula of the SN and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex was enhanced ( P<0.05, FDR corrected), while the average residence time in weakly connected state 3 was longer ( Z=2.09, P<0.05, nonparametric substitution test). Conclusions:The difference in dynamic functional connectivity of the triple network in the brain of IGD adolescents under resting state is mainly manifested by strong connections in CEN, functional connections between insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex in SN is enhanced, and weakening of overall functional connections, which may play an important role in the pathological mechanism of IGD.

Objective:To perform adenovirus detection and genetic evolutionary analysis on specimens from a fever outbreak in Kunming city.Methods:Pharyngeal swabs from typical febrile patients were collected and tested for nucleic acids of 30 common respiratory pathogens using TaqMan Array Card technology. The full-length sequences of three important genes of adenovirus, Penton base, Hexon and Fiber, were amplified, sequenced and typed using Nanopore high-throughput sequencing. A phylogenetic tree was constructed. Molecular variations and genetic evolution of the three genes were analyzed.Results:Five specimens were collected and all of them tested positive for adenovirus and Haemophilus influenzae. The sequences of the full-length coding regions of the Penton base, Hexon and Fiber genes were obtained by Nanopore sequencing. The homology of the three gene sequences in the five specimens was 100.0%, 99.9%-100.0% and 100.0% in nucleotide sequences, and 100.0% in amino acid sequences. The three genes in the specimens had the highest homology with those of the reference strain of human adenovirus type 3 (HAdV3, accession number: AY599834) in nucleotide sequences, which was 98.6%, 98.7% and 98.9%, respectively. Results of the phylogenetic analysis of the three genes were basically consistent. These Kunming strains were clustered into an independent clade with the reference HAdV3 strain and had a distant relationship with the strains isolated in foreign countries and Taiwan, China in the early years. They were closely related to the domestic and foreign strains in recent years and highly homologous to the 2019 Japanese strain (accession: LC703523) and the Guangzhou strain (accession: MZ540961). Compared with the reference strain, these Kunming strains had five amino acid variations in Penton base, 10 in Hexon and 11 in Fiber. Conclusions:All of the adenovirus strains isolated in this outbreak belong to P3H3F3 type based on the full-length sequences of Penton base, Hexon and Fiber genes. They share high homology with the domestic and foreign HAdV3 strains, including the reference strain. Compared with the reference strain, several amino acid mutations are identified in these Kunming strains, and most of them are in the high variability region or functional regions. M7L in the Hexon protein is an unique amino acid mutation site of Kunming strains.

Objective To analyze the risk factors of malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy and construct a nomogram prediction model. Methods A total of 152 patients who received complete chemotherapy were selected as study subjects. After complete chemotherapy, the patients were divided into well-nourished group (n=46) and undernourished group (n=106) according to the nutritional evaluation results. Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the influencing factors of malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy. A nomogram model was constructed to predict the risk of malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve were used to verify the differentiation and consistency of the nomogram model. Results Among 152 patients with gastric cancer treated with chemotherapy, 106 were malnourished, the incidence rate was 69.74%. Male (95%CI, 1.232 to 6.292, P=0.014), no parenteral nutrition support during chemotherapy (95%CI, 1.528 to 7.781, P=0.003), hypoproteinemia (95%CI, 1.193 to 76.786, P=0.033), early satiety (95%CI, 1.259 to 82.652, P=0.030) were independent risk factors for malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The area under ROC curve was 0.757 (95%CI, 0.680 to 0.833). The slope of calibration curve was close to 1, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test was good (χ²=5.834, P=0.442). Conclusion Male, lack of parenteral nutrition support during chemotherapy, hypoproteinemia and early satiety are independent risk factors for malnutrition inpatients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The prediction nomogram model built on this basis has good differentiation and consistency.

Objective     To explore the relationship between preoperative fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in type 2 diabetic patients undergoing elective thoracoscopic lung resection, and provide a reference for prediction and prevention of PPCs in the clinic. Methods     A retrospective analysis was performed on the type 2 diabetic patients who underwent elective thoracoscopic lung resection for the first time in our hospital from January 2017 to March 2021. According to the level of FPG one day before the operation, the patients were divided into three groups: a hypoglycemia group (<6.1 mmol/L), a medium level blood glucose group (≥6.1 mmol/L and <8.0 mmol/L) and a high blood glucose group (≥8.0 mmol/L). Besides, the patients were divided into a PPCs group and a non-PPCs group according to whether PPCs occurred. The risk factors for PPCs were analyzed by logistic regression analysis, and the predictive value of preoperative FPG level on PPCs was estimated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results     A total of 130 patients were included, including 75 (57.7%) males and 55 (42.3%) females with an average age of 63.5±9.0 years. Logistic regression analysis showed that compared to non-PPCs patients, the level of preoperative FPG (P=0.023) and smoking history ratio (P=0.036) were higher and the operation time was longer (P=0.004) in the PPCs patients. High FPG level on preoperative day 1 and longer operation time were associated with PPCs risk. Besides, the preoperative FPG of 6.79 mmol/L was the threshold value to predict the occurrence of PPCs [AUC=0.653, 95%CI (0.559, 0.747), P=0.003]. Conclusion     There is a certain correlation between preoperative FPG level and postoperative PPCs, which may be used as an index to predict the occurrence of PPCs.

OBJECTIVE To analyze and identify the metabolites of isoimperatorin in normal rats in vivo. METHODS After the rats were intragastrically administered, the plasma, urine and feces samples of rats in normal and dosed groups were collected, and the samples were processed by solid phase extraction. Then, UHPLC-HRMS(Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS) high- resolution mass spectrometry was used to analyze biological samples, and the metabolites were screened and identified. RESULTS In both positive and negative ion modes, a total of 32 metabolites were accurately analyzed and identified based on the precise molecular masses obtained, chromatographic retention behavior, control mass spectral cleavage patterns, characteristic fragment ions, and relevant literature reports. The main metabolic pathways were furan ring opening, lactone hydrolysis, oxidation, methylation, glucuronidation, sulfation and their complex reactions. Among them, the glucuronidation product was discovered for the first time. CONCLUSION This study comprehensively clarifies the transformation pathways of isoimperatorin in rats, which can provide a basis for its pharmacodynamic study and metabolism study analysis of the other furocoumarins.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of esketamine on acute kidney injury (AKI) in the rats with sepsis and the role of autophagy.Methods:Forty SPF healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200-240 g, were divided into 5 groups ( n=8 each) by a random number table method: control group (Con group), esketamine group (Con+ Ket group), sepsis group (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] group), sepsis plus esketamine group (LPS+ Ket group), and sepsis plus esketamine plus 3-methyladenine (3MA) group (LPS+ Ket+ 3MA group). The model of AKI was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS in anesthetized rats.Normal saline 10 ml/kg was intraperitoneally injected in Con group.In Con+ Ket group, normal saline 10 ml/kg was intraperitoneally injected, and 30 min later esketamine 10 mg/kg was injected via the tail vein.LPS 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in LPS group.In LPS+ Ket group, LPS 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected, and 30 min later esketamine 10 mg/kg was injected via the tail vein.In LPS+ Ket+ 3MA group, LPS 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected, and 30 min later esketamine 10 mg/kg and 3-MA 15 mg/kg were injected via the tail vein.The rats were anesthetized at 24 h after intraperitoneal injection of LPS and then sacrificed, and renal tissues were removed for microscopic examination of the pathological changes which were scored and for determination of contents of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), caspase-1, interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-18 (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and expression of LC3, P62 and Beclin-1 (by Western blot). Results:Compared with Con group, the score for pathological damage to renal tissues and contents of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly increased, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio was decreased, the expression of Beclin-1 was down-regulated, and the expression of P62 was up-regulated in LPS group ( P<0.05). Compared with LPS group, the score for pathological damage to renal tissues and contents of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly decreased, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio was increased, the expression of Beclin-1 was up-regulated, and the expression of P62 was down-regulated in LPS+ Ket group ( P<0.05). Compared with LPS+ Ket group, the score for pathological damage to renal tissues and contents of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly increased, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio was decreased, the expression of Beclin-1 was down-regulated, and the expression of P62 was up-regulated in LPS+ Ket+ 3MA group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Esketamine can reduce AKI and autophagy is involved in the process, which is related to inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and decreasing inflammatory responses in rats with sepsis.

Objective:To evaluate the role of ErbB2 interacting protein (Erbin) in sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) in mice and the relationship with nod-like receptor thermoprotein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes.Methods:Sixty SPF-grade healthy male wild-type C57BL/6 mice and 60 Erbin (-/-)C57BL/6 mice, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=30 each) by a random number table method: wild-type sham operation group (WT+ Sham group), wild-type SAE group (WT+ SAE group), Erbin (-/-) sham operation group (EKO+ Sham group) and Erbin (-/-) plus SAE group (EKO+ SAE group). The model of SAE was established by cecal ligation and perforation in anesthetized mice.Open field test (total distance moved) was performed at 7 days after establishing the model, new object recognition test (recognition index) was performed at 8 days after establishing the model, and Morris water maze test (time of staying at target quadrant) was performed at 10 days after establishing the model.The mice were sacrificed, and hippocampal tissues were removed for microscopic examination of pathologic changes (by HE staining) and for determination of neuron count, expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) (by Western blot), the number of NLRP3 positive cells (by immunohistochemistry), and contents of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-18 (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The cell survival rate was calculated. Results:Compared with group WT+ Sham, the time of staying at target quadrant was significantly shortened, the recognition index and cell survival rate were decreased, the contents of IL-1β, IL-18 and TNF-α and the number of NLRP3 positive cells were increased, and the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and ASC was up-regulated in group WT+ SAE ( P<0.05). Compared with group EKO+ Sham, the time of staying at target quadrant was significantly shortened, the recognition index and cell survival rate were decreased, the contents of IL-1β, IL-18 and TNF-α and the number of NLRP3 positive cells were increased, and the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and ASC was up-regulated in group EKO+ SAE ( P<0.05). Compared with group WT+ SAE, the time of staying at target quadrant was significantly shortened, the recognition index and cell survival rate were decreased, the contents of IL-1β, IL-18 and TNF-α and the number of NLRP3 positive cells were increased, and the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and ASC was up-regulated in group EKO+ SAE ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in total distance moved between the four groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Erbin can exert endogenous protection by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in mice with SAE.