Background At present, the treatment of silicosis is still limited, and no method is available to cure the disease. miRNAs are involved in the process of fibrosis at the transcriptional level by directly degrading target gene mRNA or inhibiting its translation. However, how miR-130a-3p regulates silicosis fibrosis has not been fully elucidated yet. Objective To investigate whether miR-130a-3p promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by inhibiting peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors gamma (PPAR-γ), thereby pro-moting the process of silicotic fibrosis. To identify effective new targets for the treatment of silicotic fibrosis. Methods (1) Animal experiments: C57BL/6J mice were intratracheally injected with a one-time dose of 10 mg silica suspension (dissolved in 100 μL saline) as positive lung exposure. A silicosis model group was established 28 d after the exposure. A control group was injected with the same amount of normal saline into the trachea. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Sirius red staining were used to observe the pathological changes and collagen deposition in lung tissues respectively. Realtime fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to assay the expression of miR-130a-3p and PPAR-γ mRNA in lung tissues. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of PPAR-γ, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and Collagen Ⅰ in lung tissues. (2) Cells experiments: Mouse lung epithelial cells (MLE-12) were induced with 5 µg·L⁻¹ TGF-β1 for different time (0, 12, 24, 48 h). RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-130a-3p and PPAR-γ mRNA in cells. The binding relationship between miR-130a-3p and PPAR-γ mRNA was verified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. MLE-12 cells were stimulated by 5 µg·L⁻¹ TGF-β1 after transfection of miR-130a-3p inhibitor, and Western blotting was used to measure the protein expression of PPAR-γ, E-cadherin, and α-SMA in the TGF-β1-induced cells. Results In the silicosis model group, the alveolar septum was widened and the pulmonary nodules were formed. The Sirius red staining collagen deposition in pulmonary nodules indicated that a silicosis fibrosis model was successfully established. The expressions of TGF-β1, α-SMA, and Collagen Ⅰ proteins were increased, and the expressions of E-cadherin and PPAR-γ proteins were decreased in lung tissues of the silicosis group, compared with the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The expression of miR-130a-3p was increased and the expression of PPAR-γ mRNA was decreased in lung tissues of the silicosis model (P<0.01). The expression of miR-130a-3p was significantly increased, while the expression of PPAR-γ mRNA was decreased in the TGF-β1 induced MLE-12 cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The dual luciferase reporter assay showed a direct relationship between miR-130a-3p and PPAR-γ mRNA in MLE-12 cells. The transfection of miR-130a-3p inhibitor in the TGF-β1 induced MLE-12 cells inhibited the decrease of PPAR-γ and E-cadherin proteins, and the increase of α-SMA protein in the MLE-12 cells induced by TGF-β1 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion miR-130a-3p promotes the development of silicosis fibrosis by targeting PPAR-γ to increase pulmonary EMT.

Objective: To investigate the distribution of pupil diameter and its association with myopia in school age children, providing ideas into the mechanisms of the role of pupil diameter in the onset and development of myopia. Methods: Adopting a combination of stratified cluster random sampling and convenience sampling method, 3 839 children from six schools in Shandong Province were included in September 2021. Pupil diameters distribution was analyzed by age, sex, and myopic status. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between pupil diameter and cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE), as well as axial length (AL) and other variables. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to match myopic and non myopic children at a 1∶1 ratio based on age and sex. A generalized linear model (GLM) was constructed with pupil diameter as the dependent variable to identify independent factors influencing pupil size and its association with myopia. Results: The mean pupil diameter of school age children was (5.77±0.80)mm. Pupil diameter exhibited a significant increasing trend with age ( F =49.34， P trend ＜ 0.01). Myopic children had a significantly larger mean pupil diameter [(6.10±0.73)mm] compared to non myopic children [(5.62±0.79)mm] with a statistically significant difference( t=18.10, P <0.01). Multivariable GLM analysis, adjusted for age, amplitude of accommodation, and uncorrected visual acuity, revealed a negative correlation between pupil diameter and cycloplegic SE (before PSM: β =-0.089, after PSM: β =-0.063, both P ＜0.01). Conclusions Myopic school age children exhibite larger pupil diameters than their non myopic counterparts. Pupil diameter may serve as a potential indicator for monitoring myopia development in school age children.

Coptis chinensis Franch. and Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. are traditional herbal medicines with millennia of documented use and broad therapeutic applications, including anti-diabetic properties. However, the synergistic effect of total alkaloids from Coptis chinensis and total ginsenosides from Panax ginseng on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its underlying mechanism remain unclear. The research demonstrated that the optimal ratio of total alkaloids from Coptis chinensis and total ginsenosides from Panax ginseng was 4∶1, exhibiting maximal efficacy in improving insulin resistance and gluconeogenesis in primary mouse hepatocytes. This combination demonstrated significant synergistic effects in improving glucose tolerance, reducing fasting blood glucose (FBG), the weight ratio of epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) mice. Subsequently, a T2DM liver-specific network was constructed based on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) experiments and public databases by integrating transcriptional properties of disease-associated proteins and protein-protein interactions (PPIs). The network recovery index (NRI) score of the combined treatment group with a 4∶1 ratio exceeded that of groups treated with individual components. The research identified that activated adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) signaling in the liver played a crucial role in the synergistic treatment of T2DM, as verified by western blot experiment in db/db mice. These findings demonstrate that the 4∶1 combination of total alkaloids from Coptis chinensis and total ginsenosides from Panax ginseng significantly improves insulin resistance and glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in db/db mice, surpassing the efficacy of individual treatments. The synergistic mechanism correlates with enhanced AMPK/ACC signaling pathway activity.
Animals ; Panax/chemistry* ; Ginsenosides/administration & dosage* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Mice ; Male ; Alkaloids/pharmacology* ; Coptis/chemistry* ; Drug Synergism ; Insulin Resistance ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Transcriptome/drug effects* ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Hepatocytes/metabolism*

The methodological framework for interventional clinical research of Chinese medicine （CM） under the research mode of syndrome dominating disease provides a set of technical principles and methods to design， evaluate， and implement of this kind. It consists of three main parts including general principles， research points and key design elements， with a total of 25 items. This methodological framework proposes implementing requirements and recommendations in a variety of aspects， including basic norms to be followed in relevant studies， perspectives for selecting research topics， as well as the technological details on study population （P）， intervention （I） and comparison（C）， outcome measurement （O）， time frame （T） of treatment and follow-up， sample orientation （prospective versus retrospective）， study design （S） format and type. To provide practical guidance for future studies， this article clearly explains each items of the methodological framework through some supportive cases.

Objective:To investigate the application value of intraoperative motor nerve monitoring in cervical neurogenic tumor surgery.Methods:The efficacy of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) was analyzed retrospectively in 18 patients, including 6 males and 12 females, aged from 15 to 74 years, treated in Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University from June 2019 to September 2022 who underwent total cystectomy of cervical neurogenic tumors under intraoperative nerve monitoring.Results:All 18 patients had complete tumor removal, including 8 patients with tumors from the vagus nerve and 10 patients with tumors from the brachial plexus nerve. Postoperative nerve functions were normal in patients with tumors from brachial plexus nerve, and incomplete vocal cord paralysis occurred in 2 patients with tumors from vagus vagus nerve. The total incidence of motor nerve injury was 11.1% (2/18). All patients were followed up for 6 to 45 months, with no tumor recurrence.Conclusion:Intraoperative neuromonitoring has significant values in surgery of cervical neurogenic tumors, which is helpful to remove completely the tumors on the basis of protecting the nerve functions to the maximum extent.

Objective:To explore the clinical features of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor-associated hypophysitis and improve the understanding of the disease.Methods:For the present retrospective case series study, the clinical data of patients with PD-1 inhibitor-associated hypophysitis who were treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University and the 3rd Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2020 to May 2023 were collected for analysis of clinical manifestations and prognosis.Results:Fifteen cases of PD-1 inhibitor-induced hypophysitis were included, with 13 males and 2 females. The mean age of onset was (62.1±7.5) years, and the median time of onset was 6.5 (4.7, 11.6) cycles of PD-1 inhibitor. At diagnosis, 14 patients complained of gastrointestinal symptoms, and 12 patients complained of fatigue. There were 12, 1, 1, 5, and 1 cases of hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypoglycemia, hypotension, and fever, respectively. Secondary adrenocortical insufficiency occurred in all cases. Moreover, four patients had secondary hypothyroidism, and two patients had secondary hypogonadism. Posterior pituitary hypofunction was not found. Pituitary MRI showed one case each of vacuolar sella turcica, pituitary cystic lesion, pituitary stalk slightly shifted to the left, high metabolism in the sella turcica, and pituitary abnormal signal, while no abnormalities were found in 11 cases. The follow-up time was (47.66±11.93) weeks. At the last follow-up, one patient′s serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol returned to normal.Conclusions:Hypophysitis associated with PD-1 inhibitors occurs later, and gastrointestinal symptoms and fatigue are the most common clinical manifestations. PD-1 inhibitor-associated hypophysitis mainly manifests as adrenocortical hypofunction, and some cases manifest as hypothyroidism and hypogonadism. In addition, patients with PD-1 inhibitor-associated hypophysitis show no obvious imaging changes in the pituitary gland.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of venetoclax (VEN) combined with hypomethylating agents (HMA) in the treatment of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasms (BPDCN).Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The clinical data of 5 patients with BPDCN treated with VEN combined with azacitidine (AZA) or decitabine (DAC) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and Suzhou Hongci Blood Disease Hospital from February 2017 to July 2023 were collected, and the therapeutic effect, adverse reaction and prognosis of all 5 patients were summarized.Results:All 5 BPDCN patients were male with the median onset age [ M ( Q1, Q3)] of 66 years (51 years, 73 years), of which 4 cases were presented with skin lesions and 1 case was presented with lymphadenopathy as the primary symptom. As for the treatment, 3 patients were initially treated with VEN in combination with AZA induction regimen, among which 2 patients achieved complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi) after 2 cycles of treatment, survived for 26.5 months and 14.6 months, respectively and finally died, and 1 patient achieved partial remission after 1 cycle of treatment and he still survived after 3-month follow-up; 1 patient was initially treated with VEN in combination with DAC induction regimen, and achieved clinical complete remission of non-active disease with residual skin abnormalities after 2 cycles of treatment followed by allogeneic hematologic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and he was in the state of disease-free survival for 15-month; and another 1 patient experienced a relapse after treatment with acute lymphocytic leukemia-like regimen in combination with allo-HSCT and again achieved CRi after 2 treatment courses of VEN in combination with AZA regimen, and he was in the state of disease-free survival for 30-month follow-up. Treatment-related haematological adverse effects of VEN combined with HMA were mainly neutropenia with fever, reduction of hemoglobin and thrombocytopenia; and non-haematological adverse effects were mainly gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea and vomiting. These adverse events improved with symptomatic supportive therapy, and no treatment-related deaths occurred. Conclusions:BPDCN patients who are unable to tolerate intensive chemotherapy regimens at initial time of diagnosis may attempt induction therapy with VEN+HMA regimen, which has a manageable adverse reaction and may serve as a bridge to allo-HSCT.

Objective To construct a model of Fat-1/APPPS1 transgenic mice and a cellular model of microglia and explore the improvement effect and underlying mechanism of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(n-3 PUFAs)on the learning and memory abilities of APPPS1 mice by regulating microglial activation and polarization.Methods After the male mice with heterozygous Fat-1 genotype were mated with the female ones with heterozygous APPPS1 genotype,genetic identification was used to screen the male offspring with Fat-1/APPPS1 genotype.Then after the male wild-type(WT)mice and those with Fat-1,Fat-1/APPPS1,and APPPS1 genotypes were bred until 9 months old,their learning and memory abilities were evaluated with Morris water maze(MWM)test.In addition,gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)was performed to detect the concentration of PUFAs in the brain,and immunohistochemistry(IHC)was applied to detect the deposition of β-amyloid protein(Aβ)in the hippocampal regions.Moreover,immunofluorescence assay,qRT-PCR,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA)were conducted to measure inflammation,and transcription and expression of Iba-1(indicating the microglial activation)and CD86 and CD206(indicating microglial polarization)in central nervous system(CNS).After pretreated with DHA+EPA(25 pmol/mL∶25 μmol/mL),microglial model of inflammatory injury was established in immortalized mouse BV2 cells induced by LPS(1 μg/mL).Afterwards,immunofluorescence assay,qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect inflammation and microglial activation and polarization.Results Compared with the APPPS1 mice,endogenous n-3 PUFAs effectively improved the learning and memory disorders in Fat-1/APPPS1 ones(P＜0.05),remarkably alleviated Aβ deposition in the hippocampal regions(P＜0.05),evidently reduced CNS inflammation and microglial activation(P＜0.05)and transformed the activated microglia from M1 to M2(P＜0.05).Furthermore,BV2 cells with DHA+EPA pretreatment obviously resisted LPS-induced cellular inflammation and induced activated ones from M1 to M2(P＜0.05).Conclusion n-3 PUFAs inhibit the microglial activation,regulate the microglial polarization from M1 to M2,reduce CNS inflammation,and thus alleviate learning and memory disorders in APPPS1 mice.

Objective:To explore the main risk factors for acute myocardial infarction in young and middle-aged population.Methods:CNKI,VIP,Wanfang,CBM,PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for case-control and cohort studies on the risk factors of acute myocardial infarction in young and middle-aged population from the establishment of the database to Feb 2023.The quality of the literature was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale(NOS).Meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 14.0 software.Results:A total of 15 articles were included in this study,including 2 961 patients in the case group and 57 604 patients in the control group.Results of the meta-analysis showed that male(OR=4.79,95%CI:3.28-6.99),hypertension(OR=2.77,95%CI:2.07-3.70),diabetes mellitus(OR=2.65,95%CI:1.89-3.71),family history of early-onset coronary heart disease(OR=3.66,95%CI:2.51-5.32),smoking(OR=2.29,95%CI:1.92-2.73),hyperlipidemia(OR=1.87,95%CI:1.67-2.10),insufficient sleep(OR=1.97,95%CI:1.57-2.47)were the risk factors for acute myocardial infarction in young and middle-aged population.Conclusion:Male,hypertension,diabetes,family history of early-onset coronary heart disease,smoking,hyperlipidemia and insufficient sleep are risk factors of acute myocardial infarction in young and middle-aged population.

Objective:To investigate the interactive effect of mismatch repair (MMR) protein status and adverse clinicopathological features on prognosis of stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ colon cancer.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 1 650 patients with colon cancer of stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ who were admitted to 7 hospitals in China from January 2016 to December 2017 were collected. There were 963 males and 687 females, aged 62(53,71)years. Patients were classified as 230 cases of MMR deficiency (dMMR) and 1 420 cases of MMR proficiency (pMMR) based on their MMR protein status. Observation indicators: (1) comparison of clinicopathological characteristics between patients of different MMR protein status; (2) analysis of factors affecting the survival outcomes of patients of dMMR; (3) analysis of factors affecting the survival outcomes of patients of pMMR; (4) interaction analysis of MMR and adverse clinicopathological features on survival outcomes. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Comparison of ordinal data was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. The random forest interpolation method was used for missing values in data interpolation. Univariate analysis was conducted using the COX proportional risk regression model, and multivariate analysis was conducted using the COX stepwise regression with forward method. The coefficient of multiplication interaction effect was obtained using the interaction term coefficient of COX proportional risk regression model. Evaluation of additive interaction effects was conducted using the relative excess risk due to interaction ( RERI). Results:(1) Comparison of clinicopathological characteristics between patients of different MMR protein status. There were significant differences in age, T staging, the number of lymph node harvest, the number of lymph node harvest <12, high grade tumor between patients of dMMR and pMMR ( P<0.05). (2) Analysis of factors affecting the survival outcomes of patients of dMMR. Results of multivariate analysis showed that T staging, N staging, the number of lymph node harvest <12 were independent factors affecting the disease-free survival (DFS) of colon cancer patients of dMMR ( hazard ratio=3.548, 2.589, 6.702, 95% confidence interval as 1.460-8.620, 1.064-6.301, 1.886-23.813, P<0.05). Age and N staging were independent factors affecting the overall survival (OS) of colon cancer patients of dMMR ( hazard ratio=1.073, 10.684, 95% confidence interval as 1.021-1.126, 2.311-49.404, P<0.05). (3) Analysis of factors affecting the survival outcomes of patients of pMMR. Results of multivariate analysis showed that age, T staging, N staging, vascular tumor thrombus were independent factors affecting the DFS of colon cancer patients of pMMR ( hazard ratio=1.018, 2.214, 2.598, 1.549, 95% confidence interval as 1.006-1.030, 1.618-3.030, 1.921-3.513, 1.118-2.147, P<0.05). Age, T staging, N staging, high grade tumor were independent factors affecting the OS of colon cancer patients of pMMR ( hazard ratio=1.036, 2.080, 2.591, 1.615, 95% confidence interval as 1.020-1.052, 1.407-3.075, 1.791-3.748, 1.114-2.341, P<0.05). (4) Interaction analysis of MMR and adverse clinicopathological features on survival outcomes. Results of interaction analysis showed that the multiplication interaction effect between the number of lymph node harvest <12 and MMR protein status was significant on DFS of colon cancer patients ( hazard ratio=3.923, 95% confidence interval as 1.057-14.555, P<0.05). The additive interaction effects between age and MMR protein status, between high grade tumor and MMR protein status were significant on OS of colon cancer patients ( RERI=-0.033, -1.304, 95% confidence interval as -0.049 to -0.018, -2.462 to -0.146). Conclusions:There is an interaction between the MMR protein status and the adverse clinicopathological features (the number of lymph node harvest <12, high grade tumor) on prognosis of colon cancer patients of stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ. In patients of dMMR, the number of lymph node harvest <12 has a stronger predictive effect on poor prognosis. In patients of pMMR, the high grade tumor has a stronger predictive effect on poor prognosis.