Background Manganese is an essential trace element for the human body and maintains normal development of many organs including the brain. However, long-term exposure to a high manganese environment or excessive manganese intake will lead to manganese poisoning and result in neurological diseases, and currently no effective treatment plan is available. Objective To develop an animal model for subchronic manganese exposure and assess the impact of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. alkaloids (DNLA) on manganese associated behavioral and hippocampal effects in rats. Methods Fifty male SPF SD rats were randomly allocated into a control group (0.9% normal saline by intraperitoneal injection), two experimental groups [7.5 mg·kg⁻¹ (low) or 15 mg·kg⁻¹ (high) of MnCl₂·4H₂O by intraperitoneal injection], and two DNLA antagonistic groups [15 mg·kg⁻¹ MnCl₂·4H₂O by intraperitoneal injection then either 20 mg·kg⁻¹ (low) or 40 mg·kg⁻¹ (high) DNLA by oral administration]. All groups of rats were adminaistered 5 d per wek, once a day, for consecutive 13 weeks. Following modeling, neurobehavioral assessments were conducted using open field, Morris water maze, and Y maze. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was utilized to measure manganese levels in the blood and brain tissues of the rats, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was employed to examine neuronal morphological changes in the hippocampal tissues of the rats. Results The neurobehavioral tests revealed that the manganese-exposed rats exhibited decreased total movement distance, prolonged central zone dwelling time, and reduced motor activity in the open field test, indicating tendencies toward depression and anxiety (P<0.05). In the Y-maze test, the mean exploration distance in the novel arm, the number of entries into the novel arm, and the time spent in the novel arm of the managanses-exposed rats were all reduced, while the latency period increased, suggesting impaired spatial exploration and learning-memory functions (P<0.05). In the Morris water maze navigation test, the escape latency was significantly longer in the manganese-exposed rats compared to the control group, and the number of platform crossings decreased in the spatial probe test, indicating a significant decline in spatial learning and memory (P<0.05). The ICP-MS analysis showed elevated manganese concentrations in the blood and hippocampus of the exposed rats (P<0.05), and the histopathological observation revealed hippocampal damage. Following the DNLA intervention, the manganese-exposed rats showed increased total movement distance and reduced central zone dwelling time in the open field test (P<0.05). In the Y-maze test, the mean exploration distance in the novel arm, the number of entries into the novel arm, and the time spent in the novel arm increased, while the latency period decreased, suggesting alleviation of anxiety and improved exploratory behavior (P<0.05). In the Morris water maze test, the escape latency gradually shortened, and both the number of platform crossings and the percentage of time spent in the target quadrant increased, indicating improved spatial learning and memory (P<0.05). Additionally, the manganese levels in the blood and hippocampus decreased (P<0.05), and the hippocampal pathological changes were partially restored. Conclusion DNLA demonstrates the ability to counteract multiple neurotoxic effects following the elevation of manganese levels in the blood and hippocampal tissues of rats induced by subchronic manganese exposure. Specifically, DNLA is shown to ameliorate the behavioral alterations observed in rats after manganese exposure, and mitigate the hippocampal damage in manganese-exposed rats.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a highly aggressive hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis, despite advancements in treatment. Many patients struggle with relapse or refractory disease. Investigating the role of the super-enhancer (SE) regulated gene ubiquitin-specific protease 20 (USP20) in T-ALL could enhance targeted therapies and improve clinical outcomes. Analysis of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) data from six T-ALL cell lines and seven pediatric samples identified USP20 as an SE-regulated driver gene. Utilizing the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and BloodSpot databases, it was found that USP20 is specifically highly expressed in T-ALL. Knocking down USP20 with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) increased apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in T-ALL cells. In vivo studies showed that USP20 knockdown reduced tumor growth and improved survival. The USP20 inhibitor GSK2643943A demonstrated similar anti-tumor effects. Mass spectrometry, RNA-Seq, and immunoprecipitation revealed that USP20 interacted with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and stabilized it by deubiquitination. Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) results indicated that USP20 co-localized with HIF1A, jointly modulating target genes in T-ALL. This study identifies USP20 as a therapeutic target in T-ALL and suggests GSK2643943A as a potential treatment strategy.

Saponins associated with Panax notoginseng (P. notoginseng) demonstrate significant therapeutic efficacy across multiple diseases. However, certain high-yield saponins face limited clinical applications due to their reduced pharmacological efficacy. This study synthesized and evaluated 36 saponin-1,2,3-triazole derivatives of ginsenosides Rg1/Rb1 and notoginsenoside R1 for anti-adipogenesis activity in vitro. The research revealed that the ginsenosides Rg1-1,2,3-triazole derivative a17 demonstrates superior adipogenesis inhibitory effects. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) analysis indicates that incorporating an amidyl-substituted 1,2,3-triazole into the saponin side chain via Click reaction enhances anti-adipogenesis activity. Additionally, several other derivatives exhibit general adipogenesis inhibition. Compound a17 demonstrated enhanced potency compared to the parent ginsenoside Rg1. Mechanistic investigations revealed that a17 exhibits dose-dependent inhibition of adipogenesis in vitro, accompanied by decreased expression of preadipocytes. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) adipogenesis regulators. These findings establish the ginsenoside Rg1-1,2,3-triazole derivative a17 as a promising adipocyte differentiation inhibitor and potential therapeutic agent for obesity and associated metabolic disorders. This research provides a foundation for developing effective therapeutic approaches for various metabolic syndromes.
Adipogenesis/drug effects* ; Triazoles/chemical synthesis* ; Ginsenosides/chemical synthesis* ; Saponins/chemical synthesis* ; Animals ; Mice ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; PPAR gamma/genetics* ; 3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes/metabolism* ; Panax notoginseng/chemistry* ; Drug Design ; Molecular Structure ; Humans ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins/genetics*

Objective : To illuminate the distribution of brucellosis patients and the epidemic typologies as well as the genetic attributes of brucellosis in Bozhou City,Anhui Province,thereby furnishing a substantive foundation for formulating efficacious prevention and control strategies for this disease within the region. Methods : The rose bengal plate agglutination test(RBPT) and the tube agglutination test(TAT) were conducted on a total of 698 blood samples that had been collected.Epidemiological data of the tested subjects were meticulously collected,followed by statistical analyses of the obtained results.The genomic DNA of positive bacterial strains was cultured and extracted.Molecular identification and typing of the isolated strains were executed through 16 S rRNA sequencing.Sequence alignment was conducted employing Clustal W and MEGA 7,with comparisons made against the outcomes of AMOS-PCR and BCSP31-PCR. Results : A total of 66 positive samples were detected through serological assays,with a positive rate of 9.46%.The demographic cohort demonstrating the highest detection rate primarily comprised individuals engaged in live sheep slaughtering.The 1 6 S rRNA gene sequencing on ten positive strains disclosed close phylogenetic affinities with Brucella melitensis.Moreover,the phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that these strains coalesced within the same branch,the findings were in alignment with the results obtained from BCSP31-PCR and AMOS-PCR assays. Conclusion Brucella melitensis assumes a predominant position in the transmission dynamics within this area,identifying individuals involved in sheep breeding,slaughtering,vending,and related occupations as high-risk groups.The outcomes of this study offer molecular biological substantiation for the distribution of brucellosis patients in this region,contribute to genotyping endeavors and tracing studies associated with the pathogen,and concurrently verify the efficacy of 16S rRNA molecular tracing.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of admission serum homocysteine levels and quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) indicators for adverse outcomes in patients with cerebral hemorrhage.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 89 patients, who were collected as the study objects with hemorrhagic stroke treated in the neurology intensive care unit at Kailuan General Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022. Patients were categorized into two groups based on modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at discharge: a good prognosis group (mRS≤2) and a poor prognosis group (mRS 3-6). Clinical data and qEEG monitoring of various brain regions were collected. The impact factors of hemorrhagic prognosis were analyzed using multifactorial logistic regression. ROC curve analysis was performed to assess the predictive value of qEEG and admission homocysteine levels for adverse outcomes in hemorrhagic stroke patients.Results:(1) The age of the poor prognosis group was higher than that of the good prognosis group((66.51+13.64) to (60.53+11.69), t=2.15, P=0.034) and admission serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in the poor prognosis group than in the good prognosis group (17.28(15.52,24.72)mmol/L to 14.50(10.28,16.00)mmol/L, Z=4.14, P<0.001). (2) In the poor prognosis group, power values of δ brain waves in leads Fp1-2, F4, C4, P4, F8, and T4 were higher than those in the good prognosis group (87.99(41.57,196.69) to 50.67(26.64,54.75), Z=2.76, P=0.006); (79.17(40.71,200.00) to 45.06(20.22,61.00), Z=2.10, P=0.036); (72.64(34.97,219.78) to 34.42(19.81,63.4), Z=2.03, P=0.043); (65.06(33.36,177.45) to 28.12(15.88,63.36), Z=2.08, P=0.038); (52.92(25.64,187.91) to 23.61(11.67,43.26), Z=2.21, P=0.027); (66.67(32.56,180.76) to 36.31(17.2,53.78), Z=2.46, P=0.014); (57.30(25.24,127.04) to 29.57(11.91,41.89), Z=2.26, P=0.024). Power values of θ brain waves in leads Fp1-2, F3, F4, C3, C4, P3-4, O1, F7-8, and T3-4 were higher in the poor prognosis group(77.45(47.63,138.72)比35.88(20.92,44.81), Z=3.50, P<0.001); (77.05(35.16,120.22) to 38.74(19.86,58.09), Z=2.27, P=0.023); (85.24(52.53,147.90) to 35.42(14.7,52.59), Z=2.61, P=0.009); (75.81(37.90,124.97) to 36.85(17.92,55.43), Z=2.30, P=0.021); (72.00(43.92,123.54) to 28.37(14.02,51.9), Z=2.22, P=0.027); (67.08(32.01,104.05) to 31.32(17.98,45.28), Z=2.10, P=0.035); (55.33(32.29,94.30) to 25.64(11.87,34.01), Z=2.24, P=0.025); (48.84(20.64,96.28) to 19.85(9.83,28.58), Z=2.30, P=0.022);(48.46(25.06,81.78) to 23.95(8.80,29.16), Z=2.51, P=0.012); (64.46(39.38,112.44) to 26.85(15.74,39.58), Z=2.80, P=0.005); (65.68(31.78,102.00) to 31.09(15.98,46.96), Z=2.38, P=0.017); (45.26(28.34,73.14) to 21.45(10.57,36.59), Z=2.04, P=0.042); (43.50(22.58,78.67) to 25.45(11.91,32.26), Z=2.22, P=0.027). Power values of slow-wave index in leads Fp1-2, F3-4, C3-4, P4, F7-8, and T4, as well as the overall brain average, were higher in the poor prognosis group (6.64(2.98,10.42) to 3.65(2.31,4.30), Z=2.65, P=0.01); (6.53(3.96,11.65) to 3.53(2.56,4.51), Z=2.30, P=0.022); (7.38(4.62,13.12) to 3.83(1.70,4.71), Z=2.38, P=0.017); (5.88(4.02,12.15) to 3.18(2.21,4.46), Z=2.29, P=0.022); (6.13(3.83,11.22) to 2.97(1.53,4.58), Z=2.01, P=0.044); (6.07(3.53,9.39) to 2.74(2.00,3.81), Z=2.40, P=0.016);(4.11(2.51,9.23) to 2.18(1.37,2.82), Z=2.25, P=0.024); (5.71(3.81,10.44) to 3.22(1.86,4.04), Z=2.28, P=0.023); (6.00(3.65,10.37) to 3.04(2.00,4.00), Z=2.39, P=0.017); (4.08(2.56,8.33) to 2.08(1.60,3.14), Z=2.50, P=0.013), with significant statistical differences noted (5.45(3.31,10.08) to 3.17(2.02,4.88), Z=3.62, P=0.005). (3) Logistic regression results showed that admission homocysteine levels ( OR 1.311,95% CI 1.008-1.705, P=0.044), admission NIHSS scores ( OR 1.588,95% CI 1.074-2.349, P=0.020), and overall brain average slow-wave index were influencing factors for poor prognosis in cerebral hemorrhage ( OR 8.596,95% CI 1.088-67.889, P=0.041). (4) ROC curve analysis revealed that the AUC for predicting adverse outcomes in cerebral hemorrhage was 0.768 (95% CI (0.665, 0.872)) for admission homocysteine levels, 0.743 (95% CI (0.634, 0.852)) for the overall brain average slow-wave index, and 0.896 (95% CI (0.827, 0.965)) for admission NIHSS. The cutoff values were 15.67, 3.62, and 8.5, respectively. Sensitivity was 77.8%, 71.1%, and 68.9%, and specificity was 59.4%, 68.7%, and 100%, respectively. The Youden indices were 0.372, 0.398, and 0.689. Conclusion:In the acute phase of cerebral hemorrhage, electroencephalographic physiological changes manifest shows an increase in the δ, θ, and slow-wave index throughout the entire brain. Higher admission homocysteine levels suggest a worse prognosis in patients with cerebral hemorrhage. Admission homocysteine levels and overall brain average slow-wave index have certain predictive value for adverse outcomes in acute cerebral hemorrhage.

Background The substantial health damage attributed to heat waves, along with their increasing intensity and frequency in the context of global warming, highlights the importance of exploring the health effects of heat waves. Objective To calculate the excess heat stroke cases during heat waves in the summer of 2013—2023 in Shanghai, analyze the association between heat waves and heat stroke, and to further explore the modifying effects of heat wave characteristics on heat stroke. Methods Using a retrospective ecological study design, data on heat stroke cases were collected from the heat stroke case reporting system of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and concurrent meteorological data from Xujiahui Meteorological Station. A heat wave was defined as at least 3 consecutive days with daily maximum temperature meeting or exceeding 35 ℃ in this study, excess heat stroke cases related to heat waves were assessed as the difference between the numbers of heat stroke cases observed on a given day and the corresponding 31 d (15 d before and after that day) moving average, and statistical analyses using generalized linear model based on time series study were performed to assess the impact of heat waves on heat stroke. Results Overall 25 heat waves during the study period were observed, leading to a total of estimated 792.6 extra heat stroke cases. The risk of heat stroke significantly increased during heat waves (RR=2.60, 95%CI: 2.08, 3.26), but no statistically significant differences in heat wave effects were observed among different genders, ages, or regions. In terms of the timing of heat waves, the risk of heat stroke was highest during the first heat wave (RR=3.58, 95%CI: 2.82, 4.55), which was significantly higher than that during the second heat wave (RR=2.19, 95%CI: 1.66, 2.90), and no significant effect was observed during the third or subsequent heat waves. The impact of heat waves on heat stroke persisted for more than 4 d, with the risk higher on the fourth day and beyond (RR=2.95, 95%CI: 2.28, 3.83), significantly higher than on the first day of heat wave (RR=1.74, 95%CI: 1.18, 2.56). Conclusion Heat waves had a substantial effect on heat stroke in Shanghai from 2013 to 2023, and special attention need to be paid to heat waves with early onset and long duration.

Objective:To investigate the prognosis and the factors that influence it in patients with non-gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) who are at low risk of recurrence.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study. Clinicopathologic and prognostic data from patients with non-gastric GISTs and at low risk of recurrence (i.e., very low-risk or low-risk according to the 2008 version of the Modified NIH Risk Classification), who attended 18 medical centers in China between January 2000 and June 2023, were collected. We excluded patients with a history of prior malignancy, concurrent primary malignancy, multiple GISTs, and those who had received preoperative imatinib. The study cohort comprised 1,571 patients with GISTs, 370 (23.6%) of whom were at very low-risk and 1,201 (76.4%) at low-risk of recurrence. The cohort included 799 (50.9%) men and 772 (49.1%) women of median age 57 (16–93) years. Patients were followed up to July 2024. The prognosis and its influencing factors were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curves for tumor diameter and Ki67 were established, and the sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC) and optimal cut-off value with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Propensity score matching was implemented using the 1:1 nearest neighbor matching method with a matching tolerance of 0.02.Results:With a median follow-up of 63 (12–267) months, the 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates of the 1,571 patients were 99.5% and 98.0%, respectively, and the 5- and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 96.3% and 94.4%, respectively. During postoperative follow-up, 3.8% (60/1,571) patients had disease recurrence or metastasis, comprising 0.8% (3/370) in the very low-risk group and 4.7% (57/1,201) in the low-risk group. In the low-risk group, recurrence or metastasis occurred in 5.5% (25/457) of patients with duodenal GISTs, 3.9% (25/645) of those with small intestinal GISTs, 9.2% (6/65) of those with rectal GISTs, and 10.0% (1/10) of those with colonic GISTs. Among the 60 patients with metastases, 56.7% (34/60) of the metastases were located in the abdominal cavity, 53.3% (32/60) in the liver, and 3.3% (2/60) in bone. During the follow-up period, 13 patients (0.8%) died of disease. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted for tumor diameter and Ki67 and assessed using the Jordon index. This showed that the difference in DFS between the two groups was statistically significant when the cutoff value for tumor diameter was 3.5 cm (AUC 0.731, 95% CI: 0.670–0.793, sensitivity 77.7%, specificity 64.1%). Furthermore, the difference in DFS between the two groups was statistically significant when the cutoff value for Ki67 was 5% (AUC 0.693, 95% CI: 0.624–0.762, sensitivity 60.7%, specificity 65.3%). Multifactorial analysis revealed that tumor diameter ≥3.5 cm, Ki67 ≥5%, and R1 resection were independent risk factors for DFS in patients with non-gastric GISTs at low risk of recurrence (all P<0.05). Furthermore, age >57 years, Ki67 ≥5%, and R1 resection were also independent risk factors for OS in patients with non-gastric GISTs at low risk of recurrence (all P<0.05). We also grouped the patients according to whether they had received postoperative adjuvant treatment with imatinib for 1 or 3 years. This yielded 137 patients in the less than 1-year group, 139 in the 1-year plus group; and 44 in both the less than 3 years and 3-years plus group. After propensity score matching for age, tumor diameter, Ki67, and resection status, the differences in survival between the two groups were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). The 10-year DFS and OS were 87.5% and 95.5%, respectively, in the group treated with imatinib for less than 1 year and 88.5% and 97.8%, respectively, in the group treated for more than 1 year. The 10-year DFS and OS were 89.6% and 92.6%, respectively, in the group treated with imatinib for less than 3 years and 88.0% and 100.0%, respectively, in the group treated with imatinib for more than 3 years. Conclusion:The overall prognosis of primary, non-gastric, low recurrence risk GISTs is relatively favorable; however, recurrences and metastases do occur. Age, tumor diameter, Ki67, and R1 resection may affect the prognosis. For some patients with low risk GISTs, administration of adjuvant therapy with imatinib for an appropriate duration may help prevent recurrence and improve survival.

Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)play an indispensable role in the occurrence and development of ovarian cancer(OC).However,the potential involvement of lncRNAs in the progression of OC is largely unknown.To investigate the detailed roles and mechanisms of RAD51 homolog B-antisense 1(RAD51B-AS1),a novel lncRNA in OC,reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was performed to verify the expression of RAD51B-AS1.Cellular proliferation,metastasis,and apoptosis were detected using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8),colony-formation,transwell,and flow cytometry assays.Mouse xenograft models were established for the detection of tumorigenesis.The results revealed that RAD51B-AS1 was significantly upregulated in a highly metastatic human OC cell line and OC tissues.RAD51B-AS1 significantly increased the proliferation and metastasis of OC cells and enhanced their resistance to anoikis.Biogenetics prediction analysis revealed that the only target gene of RAD51B-AS1 was RAD51B.Subsequent gene function experiments revealed that RAD51B exerts the same biological effects as RAD51B-AS1.Rescue experiments demonstrated that the malignant biological behaviors promoted by RAD51B-AS1 overexpression were partially or completely reversed by RAD51B silencing in vitro and in vivo.Thus,RAD51B-AS1 promotes the malignant biological behaviors of OC and activates the protein kinase B(Akt)/B cell lymphoma protein-2(Bcl-2)signaling pathway,and these effects may be associated with the positive regulation of RAD51B expression.RAD51B-AS1 is expected to serve as a novel molecular biomarker for the diagnosis and prediction of poor prognosis in OC,and as a potential therapeutic target for disease management.

Objective:To investigate the application value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in the evaluation of T re-staging after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer.Methods:Clinical, endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) and SWE data of 271 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent nCRT and total mesorectal excision in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from October 2021 to March 2023 were prospectively collected. The independent predictors for low T staging were analyzed and screened, and the Logistic regression model was constructed. An independent test set was used to validate the prediction performance of the models and compare them with the diagnostic results of sonographers.Results:Binary multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that Emean of the mesentery around the lesion, thickness, and enlarged lymph nodes around the rectum were the independent predictors for low T staging, and the odds ratios were 1.089, 1.214, 0.183, respectively. The Logistic regression model A established by Emean, thickness and enlarged lymph nodes around the lesion and the Logistic regression model B established by Emean around the lesion had high diagnostic efficiencies (area under the ROC curve were 0.931, 0.918, respectively, the accuracy were 0.888 and 0.887, respectively). There was no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the two models ( P=1.000), and both models were significantly higher than that of sonographers (all P<0.001). Conclusions:SWE can effectively predict whether the tumor is of low T staging after nCRT in locally advanced rectal cancer, and can be used as an important supplement to ERUS in evaluating the T re-staging of rectal cancer after nCRT.

Background The Qingcaosha Reservoir is facing issues of algal blooms and eutrophication, and the resulting increase in the level of chlorination disinfection by-products in the water has been a major concern. Objective To evaluate the impact of "Algae Monitoring and Control Program in Qingcaosha Reservoir" (hereinafter referred to as the program) on the control of trihalomethanes (THMs) in conventional finished water. Methods From 2011 to 2019, water samples were collected from the Lujiazui Water Plant once per season, one sample each time, and the concentrations of four THMs (trichloromethane, dichlorobromomethane, monochlorodibromomethane, and tribromomethane) were measured in the samples. Using 2014 when the program was implemented as a cut-off point, the entire study period was divided into two phases: pre-implementation (2011–2013) and post-implementation(2014–2019). Segmented linear regression with interrupted time series analysis was applied to assess the concentrations and trends of THMs in the finished water before and after the program launch. Results The concentration of total THMs in finished water increased by 1.561 µg·L⁻¹ (P=0.010) for each season of time extension before launching the program. The change in the concentration of total THMs in finished water was not statistically significant after the program launch, but the THMs concentration showed a decreasing trend as the slope was −0.626 (P=0.001). From 2017 until the end of 2019, the average concentration of THMs in finished water of Lujiazui Water Plant dropped to 10 μg·L⁻¹ or less. Conclusions The algae and eutrophication control measures in Qingcaosha Reservoir have achieved good results, controlling THMs in finished water at a low level, and the trend of THMs has changed from a yearly increase pattern before the program to a yearly decrease pattern after the program.