Objective To determine the effect of baicalein on high glucose-induced cardiac fibro-blast pyroptosis based on the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1(Caspase-1)/gasdermin D(GSDMD)pathway.Methods Rat cardiac fibroblasts were grouped into control,high glucose group,low-,medium-and high-dose baicalein(H-,M-and L-baicalein)groups,and H-baicalein+NLRP3 agonist(BMS-986299)group.Except for the control group,all other groups were cultured in DMEM medium containing 40 mmol/L glucose,then 12.5,25 and 50 μmol/L baicalein was added into the medium correspondingly,and 1 μmol/L BMS-986299 was used to treat the H-baicalein+NLRP3 agonist group.Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)cytotoxicity assay were employed to detect cell cytotoxicity.qRT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to determine the expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1,and GSDMD at mRNA and protein levels.Results High glucose treatment induced more EdU positive cells,higher pyroptotic rate,stronger cytotoxicity,higher Col-Ⅰ and Col-Ⅲ contents,and enhanced mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD in comparison to the control group(P＜0.05).The H-baicalein+NLRP3 agonist group had more EdU positive cells(26.85±2.95 cells vs 15.43±1.82 cells,P＜0.05),higher pyroptotic rate[(33.45±4.02)％vs(17.34±2.15)％,P＜0.05],stronger cytotoxicity[(27.94±2.93)％vs(14.13±1.87)％,P＜0.05],and increased contents of Col-Ⅰ(107.58±13.39 ng/ml vs 58.73±8.36 ng/ml,P＜0.05)and Col-Ⅲ(118.43±13.95 ng/ml vs 68.74±8.57 ng/ml,P＜0.05),and enhanced expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD at both mRNA and protein levels(P＜0.05)when compared with the H-baicalein group.Conclusion Baicalein inhibits high glucose-induced cardiac fibroblast pyroptosis by suppressing NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway.

To screen and identify a chitosanase with high stability, we cloned the chitosanase gene from Bacillus atrophaeus with a high protease yield from the barren saline-alkali soil and expressed this gene in Escherichia coli. The expressed chitosanase of B. atrophaeus (BA-CSN) was purified by nickel-affinity column chromatography. The properties including optimal temperature, optimal pH, substrate specificity, and kinetic parameters of BA-CSN were characterized. The results showed that BA-CSN had the molecular weight of 31.13 kDa, the optimal temperature of 55 ℃, the optimal pH 5.5, and good stability at temperatures below 45 ℃ and pH 4.0-9.0. BA-CSN also had good stability within 4 h of pH 3.0 and 10.0, be activated by K⁺, Na⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Co²⁺, (especially by Mn²⁺), and be inhibited by Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, and Ag⁺. BA-CSN showcased the highest relative activity in the hydrolysis of colloidal chitosan, and it had good hydrolysis ability for colloidal chitin. Under the optimal catalytic conditions, BA-CSN demonstrated the Michaelis constant K_m and maximum reaction rate V_max of 9.94 mg/mL and 26.624 μmoL/(mL·min), respectively, for colloidal chitosan. In short, BA-CSN has strong tolerance to acids and alkali, possessing broad industrial application prospects.
Bacillus/genetics* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Glycoside Hydrolases/biosynthesis* ; Substrate Specificity ; Enzyme Stability ; Chitosan/metabolism* ; Temperature ; Kinetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis* ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics*

Objective: To establish a progressive research strategy for “colonic components analysis - efficacy verification and mechanism exploration - gut microbiota”, screen pharmacodynamic substances, and investigate their mechanism via gut microbiota. Methods: The pharmacodynamics of Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD) were assessed using a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometer was used to identify the prototype and metabolic components of GQD in the colon during UC. To analyze the structure and function of characteristic genera of GQD and its active components, 16S rRNA sequencing was performed. Results: We identified 67 prototypic and 14 metabolic components of GQD in the UC colon. The primary prototype components are flavonoids and alkaloids, including puerarin (PUE), baicalin (BAI), and berberine (BER). The metabolism was predominantly sulfonation. Efficacy verification showed that the main active components, puerarin, baicalin, and berberine, had good therapeutic effects on UC. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that GQD improved UC by regulating the structure and function of the gut microbiota. The abundance of gut microbiota involved in the metabolism of the prototype components was influenced by the corresponding components. The function prediction results showed that PUE was the most comparable to GQD, with 24 consistent pathways. BAI and BER showed comparable gut microbiota regulation pathways. Characteristic pathways of BER include glucometabolic processes. Conclusion This study focused on the key issues in the gut microbiota pathway and developed a progressive research strategy to understand the transformation mechanisms of colonic components. This research systematically analyzed the active components and metabolic transformation of GQD in the colon during the pathological state of UC, as well as changes in the structure and function of the gut microbiota, clarified the mechanism of GQD and its active components in improving UC via the gut microbiota pathway.

Objective To evaluate the role of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI)in the diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastasis(ALNM)in breast cancer patients with low HER-2 expression.Methods A total of 297 breast cancer patients with low HER-2 expression treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were enrolled and divided into ALNM group(n=71)and non-ALNM group(n=226)according to whether there was ALNM.All patients underwent DCE-MRI,and DCE-MRI derived parameters were collected and analyzed.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for ALNM,and the efficacy of DCE-MRI in diagnosing ALNM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve.Results Significant differences were observed between two groups in lesion distribution,TNM staging,vascular invasion,and most DCE-MRI derived parameters including short-to-long axis ratio,Ve,Ktrans,Kep,ADC and SER(all P<0.05).Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the short-to-long axis ratio,Ve,Ktrans,Kep,ADC and SER were significant risk factors for ALNM in breast cancer patients.Comparative analysis demonstrated that the combination of DCE-MRI derived parameters yielded a maximum area under the curve of 0.976,with a sensitivity of 91.5%and a specificity of 92.9%.Conclusion DCE-MRI is an effective tool for determining the presence of ALNM in breast cancer patients with low HER-2 expression,providing significant diagnostic evidence for clinical practice.

Objective To determine the effect of baicalein on high glucose-induced cardiac fibro-blast pyroptosis based on the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1(Caspase-1)/gasdermin D(GSDMD)pathway.Methods Rat cardiac fibroblasts were grouped into control,high glucose group,low-,medium-and high-dose baicalein(H-,M-and L-baicalein)groups,and H-baicalein+NLRP3 agonist(BMS-986299)group.Except for the control group,all other groups were cultured in DMEM medium containing 40 mmol/L glucose,then 12.5,25 and 50 μmol/L baicalein was added into the medium correspondingly,and 1 μmol/L BMS-986299 was used to treat the H-baicalein+NLRP3 agonist group.Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)cytotoxicity assay were employed to detect cell cytotoxicity.qRT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to determine the expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1,and GSDMD at mRNA and protein levels.Results High glucose treatment induced more EdU positive cells,higher pyroptotic rate,stronger cytotoxicity,higher Col-Ⅰ and Col-Ⅲ contents,and enhanced mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD in comparison to the control group(P＜0.05).The H-baicalein+NLRP3 agonist group had more EdU positive cells(26.85±2.95 cells vs 15.43±1.82 cells,P＜0.05),higher pyroptotic rate[(33.45±4.02)％vs(17.34±2.15)％,P＜0.05],stronger cytotoxicity[(27.94±2.93)％vs(14.13±1.87)％,P＜0.05],and increased contents of Col-Ⅰ(107.58±13.39 ng/ml vs 58.73±8.36 ng/ml,P＜0.05)and Col-Ⅲ(118.43±13.95 ng/ml vs 68.74±8.57 ng/ml,P＜0.05),and enhanced expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1 and GSDMD at both mRNA and protein levels(P＜0.05)when compared with the H-baicalein group.Conclusion Baicalein inhibits high glucose-induced cardiac fibroblast pyroptosis by suppressing NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway.

Objective To evaluate the role of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI)in the diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastasis(ALNM)in breast cancer patients with low HER-2 expression.Methods A total of 297 breast cancer patients with low HER-2 expression treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were enrolled and divided into ALNM group(n=71)and non-ALNM group(n=226)according to whether there was ALNM.All patients underwent DCE-MRI,and DCE-MRI derived parameters were collected and analyzed.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for ALNM,and the efficacy of DCE-MRI in diagnosing ALNM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve.Results Significant differences were observed between two groups in lesion distribution,TNM staging,vascular invasion,and most DCE-MRI derived parameters including short-to-long axis ratio,Ve,Ktrans,Kep,ADC and SER(all P<0.05).Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the short-to-long axis ratio,Ve,Ktrans,Kep,ADC and SER were significant risk factors for ALNM in breast cancer patients.Comparative analysis demonstrated that the combination of DCE-MRI derived parameters yielded a maximum area under the curve of 0.976,with a sensitivity of 91.5%and a specificity of 92.9%.Conclusion DCE-MRI is an effective tool for determining the presence of ALNM in breast cancer patients with low HER-2 expression,providing significant diagnostic evidence for clinical practice.

Objective Investigating the relationship between smoking,overweight,and bibulosity with plasma PAI-1 and osteonecrosis of the femoral head after internal fixation by retrospective study,and providing reference for clinical treatment.Methods A total of 95 patients with femoral neck fracture treated with internal fixation from January 2021 to January 2022 were retrospectively studied.The data of smoking,overweight,alcohol abuse,preoperative and postoperative plasma PAI-1 levels were collected.The patients were divided into necrosis group and non-necrosis group according to the occurrence of femoral head necrosis at the last follow-up.Univariate analysis was performed on smoking,overweight,alcohol abuse,plasma PAI-1 level before and 2 days after operation,and the presence of smoking,overweight and bibulosity factors was analyzed.The association of smoking,overweight and bibulosity with plasma PAI-1 level was analyzed.Figure out the relationship between smoking,overweight,bibulosity and plasma PAI-1 and femoral head necrosis after internal fixation.Results Femoral head necrosis occurred in 22 of 95 patients.Age,gender,smoking,overweight and bibulosity were not independent risk factors for postoperative femoral head necrosis(P＞0.05).The plasma PAI-1 level at 2 days after operation in necrosis group was(46.95±2.35)ng/ml,which was significantly higher than that in non-necrosis group[(41.94±4.73)ng/ml,P＜0.05].The level of plasma PAI-1 at 2 days after operation was(48.29± 1.78)ng/ml in patients with smoking,overweight and alcohol abuse at the same time,which was significantly higher than that in other patients[(42.40±4.60 ng/ml,P＜0.05].In addition,when the smoking,overweight,and bibulosity were concurrent,it was a risk factor for femoral head necrosis(P＜0.05).Conclusion When the smoking,overweight,and bibulosity were concurrent,it can increases the risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head after internal fixation,which may be related to the significant increase of plasma PAI-1 level,especially at 2 days after surgery.

Objective To monitor the antifungal resistance of clinical isolates of Candida spp.in the East China region.Methods MALDI-TOF MS or molecular methods were used to re-identify the strains collected from January 2018 to December 2022.Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method.The susceptibility test results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of 2022 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)documents M27 M44s-Ed3 and M57s-Ed4.Results A total of 3 026 strains of Candida were collected,65.33％of which were isolated from sterile body sites,mainly from blood(38.86％)and pleural effusion/ascites(10.21％).The predominant species of Candida were Candida albicans(44.51％),followed by Candida parapsilosis complex(19.46％),Candida tropicalis(13.98％),Candida glabrata(10.34％),and other Candida species(0.79％).Candida albicans showed overall high susceptibility rates to the 10 antifungal drugs tested(the lowest rate being 93.62％).Only 2.97％of the strains showed dose-dependent susceptibility(SDD)to fluconazole.Candida parapsilosis complex had a SDD rate of 2.61％and a resistance rate of 9.42％to fluconazole,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida glabrata had a SDD rate of 92.01％and a resistance rate of 7.99％to fluconazole,resistance rates of 32.27％and 48.24％to posaconazole and voriconazole non-wild-type strains(NWT),respectively,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida tropicalis had resistance rates of 29.55％and 26.24％to fluconazole and voriconazole,respectively,resistance rates of 76.60％and 21.99％to posaconazole and echinocandins non-wild-type strains(NWT),and a resistance rate of 2.36％to echinocandins.Conclusions The prevalence and species distribution of Candida spp.in the East China region are consistent with previous domestic and international reports.Candida glabrata exhibits certain degree of resistance to fluconazole,while Candida tropicalis demonstrates higher resistance to triazole drugs.Additionally,echinocandins resistance has emerged in Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Candida tropicalis,and Candida parapsilosis.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in treating patients with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods In this retrospective analysis, clinical materials of 60 patients with obesity and PCOS by LSG were analyzed, and postoperative improvements of PCOS symptoms were observed. Results A total of 60 patients had a preoperative mean body mass index (BMI) of (39.4±5.4) kg/m² and an average age of (26.3±6.1) years old, and all of them successfully completed LSG. After follow-up of 12 to 18 months, 50 cases (83.3%) had normalized menstrual cycles, with an average recovery time of (4.5 ±2.2) months after surgery, and 7 cases had natural pregnancy after surgery. Before surgery, ultrasound results in 35 patients indicated polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM), and 29 cases (82.9%) regained normal ovarian status with an average recovery duration of (6.3±2.8) months. Complicated hyperandrogenemia was observed in 31 patients, and 29 cases (93.5%) exhibited normalization of testosterone levels within 18 months after surgery. At 18 months after surgery, the BMI was (26.47±4.70) kg/m², the average weight loss was (32.4±7.4) %. Conclusion LSG is a safe and effective treatment for obese PCOS.