This study investigated the role of the nuclear factor of activated T cells c3 (NFATc3) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) progression and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Cytoplasmic and nuclear NFATc3 levels were elevated in human and mouse AAD. VSMC-NFATc3 deletion reduced thoracic AAD (TAAD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression in mice, contrary to VSMC-NFATc3 overexpression. VSMC-NFATc3 deletion reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and maintained the VSMC contractile phenotype. Nuclear NFATc3 targeted and transcriptionally upregulated matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and MMP2, promoting ECM degradation and AAD development. NFATc3 promoted VSMC phenotypic switching by binding to eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and inhibiting its phosphorylation in the VSMC cytoplasm. Restoring eEF2 reversed the beneficial effects in VSMC-specific NFATc3-knockout mice. Cabamiquine-targets eEF2 and inhibits protein synthesis-inhibited AAD development and progression in VSMC-NFATc3-overexpressing mice. VSMC-NFATc3 promoted VSMC switch and ECM degradation while exacerbating AAD development, making it a novel potential therapeutic target for preventing and treating AAD.

Objective To explore the effects of glycemia and serum calcium on occurrence and development of aortic root dilation disease. Methods The clinical data of patients with aortic root dilation who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Cardiac Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2011 to October 2021 were retrospectively collected. They were divided into two groups according to whether they were accompanied by acute aortic dissection (Stanford type A), and were matched with the propensity scoring method. Logistic univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to analyze the glycemia and the serum calcium of the patients in 24 hours at admission, and their receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted. Results Finally 184 pairs of patients were matched, including 297 males with an average age of 48.76±9.62 years and 71 females with an average age of 49.97±10.97 years. There were statistical differences in ethnicity, history of hypertension, aortic root diameter, serum calcium and glycemia between the two groups (P<0.05). Logistic multivariate regression analyses results showed that age＜40 years (OR=4.106, P=0.010), Han nationality (OR=2.863, P<0.001), aortic root diameter＜45 mm (OR=5.063, P<0.001), hypertension (OR=2.736, P=0.001), hyperglycemia (OR=4.426, P<0.001) and hypocalcemia (OR=5.375, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for aortic root dilation disease with dissection. ROC curve analysis suggested that the area under the curve (AUC) of glycemia was 0.742 and the AUC of serum calcium was 0.737, all of which had some predictive value. Conclusion Hyperglycemia and hypocalcemia are risk factors for the development of aortic root dilation disease, and to some extent, they can be used as indicators for screening high-risk patients with aortic root dilation disease.

Chronic hepatitis B induced by HBV infection is a significant risk factor leading to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.Half a century ago,HBeAg was first discovered in the serum of HBV infected individuals,and although HBeAg does not participate in HBV infection or replication in hepatocytes,studies have shown that it can interfere with the innate and adaptive immune responses of the host and play an important role in immune activation and immunosuppression during chronic HBV infection.HBV has no cytotoxicity to the infected hepatocytes,and the antiviral action and inflammatory response mediated by immune response determine whether HBV is cleared or induces liver inflammation-related diseases.Therefore,this article reviews the formation of HBeAg and its immune activation and immunosuppression mechanisms in chronic HBV infection,with a focus on the different immune effects caused by HBeAg on innate immune and adaptive immune cells,and this article also elaborates on the dual role of HBeAg in inducing immune responses and explores the conversion role of HBeAg in different stages of chronic HBV infection.

Objective:To document any effect of a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on the regulation of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue, NP cell apoptosis and matrix degradation using rats with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).Methods:Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group, an IDD model group (the model group), and a PEMF group. IDD was induced in both the model and PEMF groups. Right after the modeling, the PEMF group received 14 days of PEMF treatment, while the control group and model group were given no special treatment. Meanwhile, the primary rat nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) were cultured using Dulbecco′s Modified Eagle Medium at 37℃ and 5% CO 2. When the fusion rate reached 90% after passage, the NPCs were divided into a control group, a TNF-α model group (referred to as model group) and TNF-α + PEMF group (referred to as PEMF group) and treated accordingly. Eight weeks after the modeling, safranin-o/fast green staining was used to assess any pathological morphology changes. The expression of NPY, neuropeptide Y receptor Y2 (NPY2R), bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), collagen type II (Col-II) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) in the intervertebral disc and the cultivated nucleus pulposus cells of the 3 groups were determined. Results:The intervertebral disc cells in the model group were ruptured and folded, with significantly increased polysaccharide and protein components, and significantly increased bone fibers. In the PEMF group the cell boundaries were clearer, with less fibrin fracture and increased cartilage tissue. NPY was expressed in the fibrous annulus and the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc in the model group. The average expression levels of NPY and NPY2R were significantly higher than in the control group and the model group. Compared with the control group, there was a significant increase in the level of Bax and a significant decrease in the expression of Bcl-2 in the model group, and there was a significant decrease in the level of Bax in the PEMF group. Compared with the control group, there was a significant decrease in the Col-II level but a significant increase in the MMP3 protein expression in the model group. The average Col-II mRNA expression was significantly higher in the PEMF group compared with the model group, but the average MMP3 protein expression was significantly less. Those results are consistent with observations in vivo.Conclusion:PEMF may reverse the imbalance of ECM metabolism and delay IDD degeneration by up-regulating the expression of NPY and Bcl-2, as well as blocking the Bax/Bcl-2 signaling pathway to inhibit apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells.

The paper reports two cases of lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG) in children. The Sanger sequencing results in 2 cases indicated apolipoprotein E gene mutation[c.127 (exon3) C>T, p.R43C (p.Arg43Cys); c.494 (exon4) G>C, p.R165P (p.Arg165Pro),respectively]. Renal pathological presentation of two children showed that a large number of lipoprotein emboli were formed in the glomerular capillary loop, and the diagnosis of LPG was confirmed. The onset of LPG has no specific clinical manifestation, which is easy to be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Renal biopsy is a diagnostic means, glucocorticoid treatment is ineffective, and long-term lipid-lowering treatment may be required for LPG.

Objective:To analyze the long-term prognosis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and the risk factors related to renal prognosis in children with IgAN-FSGS.Methods:A retrospective study was concluded in IgAN-FSGS children who were followed up for more than 5 years and diagnosed by renal biopsy for the first time in the Eastern Theater General Hospital from January, 2004 to December, 2018. The end-point events of the study were entering end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decreased by ≥50% from baseline, which were defined as poor renal prognosis. Baseline clinicopathologic data of IgAN-FSGS children were compared between the end-point event group and the non-end-point event group. The cumulative renal survival rate of IgAN-FSGS children was calculated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The influencing factors of poor renal prognosis in IgAN-FSGS children were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards model, and the diagnostic value was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) and area under the curve (AUC). The diagnostic value was verified by time dependent-ROC and time dependent-AUC.Results:A total of 204 IgAN-FSGS children were enrolled in this study, of whom 132 cases were males (64.7%). The median age of renal biopsy was 16 (14, 17) years old. During a median follow-up time of 90.7 (71.7, 114.8) months, 57 cases (27.9%) reached the end-point events. Compared with the non-end-point event group ( n=147), the end-point event group ( n=57) had higher proportions of males and hypertension, higher levels of 24-hour urinary protein, serum creatinine, serum uric acid, urinary N-acetyl-β- D-glucosaminidase, urinary retinol binding protein, higher proportions of glomerular segmental sclerosis (S1) ≥25% and tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (T1/T2), and lower levels of serum albumin, serum IgA, and serum IgG (all P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in treatment (all P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that with entry of ESKD or eGFR decreased by ≥50% from baseline as the end-point events, the 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year cumulative renal survival rates in IgAN-FSGS children were 88.7%, 67.6%, and 50.7%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that proteinuria >1 g/24 h ( HR=3.702, 95% CI 1.657-8.272, P=0.001), hyperuricemia ( HR=3.066, 95% CI 1.793-5.245, P<0.001), S1≥25% ( HR=2.017, 95% CI 1.050-3.874, P=0.035), T1/T2 ( HR=1.863, 95% CI 1.021-3.158, P=0.016) were the independent related factors for poor renal prognosis. ROC curve analysis showed that S1≥25% ( AUC=0.605, P=0.021, sensitivity 26.3%, specificity 94.6%), T1/T2 ( AUC=0.624, P=0.006, sensitivity 43.9%, specificity 81.0%), hyperuricemia ( AUC=0.658, P<0.001, sensitivity 52.6%, specificity 78.9%), proteinuria>1 g/24 h ( AUC=0.670, P<0.001, sensitivity 87.7%, specificity 46.3%) could accurately predict the renal outcome of IgAN-FSGS. Time dependent-ROC curve validation showed that the combined diagnosis of S1≥25%, T1/T2, hyperuricemia and proteinuria>1 g/24 h had a good predictive value for renal prognosis (3-year AUC=0.846 and 5-year AUC=0.777, respectively). Conclusions:During a median follow-up of 90.7 months, 27.9% of IgAN-FSGS children have poor renal prognosis, and the 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year cumulative renal survival rates are 88.7%, 67.6%, and 50.7%, respectively. Urinary protein >1 g/24 h, hyperuricemia, T1/T2, and S1 ≥25% are the risk factors for renal prognosis in IgAN-FSGS children.

Objective:To explore any effect of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation on intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).Methods:Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group, an IDD model group, a PEMF group and an observation group. An IDD model was induced in all except those in the control group. Both the PEMF and observation groups were given PEMF stimulation, while the latter was additionally injected with the A2AR agonist CGS-21680. Eight weeks after the modelling any pathological changes in the morphology of the rats′ intervertebral disc tissues were evaluated using saffron solid green staining. The expression of A2AR, cyclic adenosine phosphate (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), cysteine aspartate proteolytic enzyme-3 (Caspase-3), type II collagen (COL-II) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) in the intervertebral discs were evaluated.Results:The nucleus pulposus had shrunk, while fibrous tissues and chondrocytes had increased in the IDD model group. In the observation group the nucleus pulposus was intact and of basically normal shape. A2AR mRNA and protein levels were higher in the intervertebral disc tissue of the model group than among the control group, on average, while the levels in the observation group were significantly higher than in the other groups. In the PEMF and observation groups cAMP and PKA mRNA were significantly higher than in the IDD model group. The p38 MAPK and P-P38 MAPK levels of the IDD model group and its average P-P38 MAPK/p38 MAPK ratio were significantly higher than in the control group. In the PEMF and observation groups those indices had decreased to varying degrees, with those of the observation group significantly lower than among the model and PEMF groups on average, except for the p38 MAPK values. Caspase-3 and its mRNA were significantly higher in the model group than in the control group, on average, and those values were significantly lower in the PEMF and observation groups than in the IDD model group. The average MMP3 contents of the IDD model group had increased significantly compared with the control group, while the Col-Ⅱ level had decreased significantly. Compared with the IDD model group, the MMP3 level had decreased but Col-Ⅱ expression had increased in both the PEMF and observation groups, with significant differences between the IDD model and observation groups.Conclusions:The activation of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway by inflammatory factors to induce apoptosis is one of the important reasons for the aggravation of IDD lesions. PEMF combined with A2AR agonists can activate the A2AR/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, inhibit p38 MAPK phosphorylation, reduce apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells, and relieve IDD damage.

Objective:To analyze the effects of two decomposition algorithms of dual-energy cone beam CT (DECBCT) (direct decomposition and iterative decomposition) on the image quality and material decomposition accuracy of different sizes of phantoms.Methods:Different sizes of imaging parts of patients were simulated using the combination of CatPhan604 phantoms and customized annuluses. CBCT with high energy of 140 kVp and low energy of 100 kVp were acquired using the Varian Edge CBCT system. Then the material decomposition of DECBCT images was performed using the two algorithms. The electron density (ED) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of each material in the CTP682 module were calculated. They were used to assess the decomposition accuracy and image quality of the two algorithms.Results:Based on the values in the Catphan604 manual, both algorithms have high ED accuracy. Only the ED accuracy of four materials of the smallest sized phantom showed statistical difference ( z = -4.21, 4.30, 2.87, 5.45, P < 0.05), but the average relative error was less than 1%. The CNR of the iterative decomposition algorithm was significantly higher than that of the direct decomposition, increasing by 51.8%-703.47%. The increase in the phantom size significantly reduced the accuracy of ED, and the increased amplitude of the relative error was up to a maximum of 2.52%. The large phantom size also reduced the image quality of iterative decomposition, and the decreased amplitude of CNR was up to a maximum of 39.71. Conclusions:Compared with the direct decomposition, the iterative decomposition algorithm can significantly reduce the image noise and improve the contrast without losing the accuracy of electron density in the DECBCT construction of different sizes of phantoms.

Objective:To observe any regulatory effect of a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on A2A adenosine receptors (A2ARs) in the nucleus pulposus of rats with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), and to explore any combination with the A2ARs′ agonist-mediating ROS/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.Methods:Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group, an intervertebral disc degeneration group (the model group), an A2AR agonist CGS-21680 treatment group (the agonist group), a PEMF group and a PEMF combined with CGS-21680 treatment group (the observation group). IDD was modeled in all except the rats in the control group. 100μL of CGS-21680 (100μg/kg) was injected into the L 5-6 intervertebral discs of the agonist group, while the PEMF group was given 30 minutes of PEMF intervention daily for 14 days at 1.5mT and 75Hz with a pulse width of 150μs. The observation group was injected with CGS-21680 and then given the same PEMF intervention. Primary nucleus pulposus cells from each group (50ng/mL) were cultured and the expressions of 8-OHDG, SOD, MDA and ROS were detected by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence or with an ELISA kit. The A2AR, PI3K, AKT and p-AKT protein levels were detected using western blotting. Results:The nucleus pulposus cells and the annulus fibrosus were obviously wrinkled, necrotic and broken in the model group but the annulus fibrosus was intact and the nucleus pulposus was almost normal in the observation group. Compared with the model group, the levels of SOD and A2AR, PI3K, p-AKT and AKT protein were higher in the agonist, PEMF and observation groups, while the expressions of MDA, ROS and 8-OHDG were weaker. The ROS level in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the agonist and PEMF groups, and the phosphorylation level of p-AKT in the observation group was significantly higher than in the agonist and PEMF groups. The average levels of SOD, A2AR, PI3K, p-AKT and AKT protein in the nucleus pulposus cells of the agonist, PEMF and observation groups were significantly higher than the IL-1β group′s average, while the average levels of MDA, ROS and 8-OHDG were significantly lower. The ROS levels in the observation group were significantly lower than in the agonist and PEMF groups, while the A2AR protein content and p-AKT phosphorylation in the observation group were significantly greater. The average Bax levels in the nucleus pulposus cells of the agonist, PEMF and observation groups were significantly lower than that in the IL-1β group, and the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly increased. There was significantly less apoptosis observed in the observation group than in the agonist and PEMF groups, while the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly higher.Conclusions:PEMF plays an anti-oxidative stress role by up-regulating A2AR activity and reducing ROS generation. Treatment with PEMF and A2AR agonist could further activate the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt, down-regulate Bax and up-regulate Bcl-2, thus inhibiting the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells and alleviating the malignant progression of IDD.

Objective:To explore the effect of combining pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation with A 2A adenosine receptor agonist CGS-21680 on apoptosis and inflammation of nucleus pulposus cells in cases of intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group (Sham group), an intervertebral disc degenerative disease group (Model group), an A 2A adenosine receptor agonist CGS-21680 group (Agonist group), and a group in which PEMF was combined with CGS-21680 (Observation group). The rat model of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) was established in all other groups than the sham operation group. The rats in the Agonist group were injected with 100μL of CGS-21680 (100μg/kg) at the L 5-6 intervertebral disc. The Observation group was injected with CGS-21680 similarly but then received 14 conse-cutive days of PEMF stimulation (30min/time). The Sham and Model groups were injected with the same amount of normal saline solution. Eight weeks later, HE staining was used to evaluate the pathological changes in the intervertebral disc tissues. The expression of type II collagen was determined by immunohistochemistry. The content and mRNA expression of inflammatory factors interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCRs). The protein and mRNA levels of A 2A, NLRP3 and caspase-3 were determined by western blotting and RT-PCR. Results:The degeneration in the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus in the Model group was significant, while significantly less shrinkage, necrosis and fibrous annulus rupture was observed in the Observation group. Compared with Model and Agonist groups, the positive expression of Col Ⅱ in the nucleus pulposus, A 2AR protein levels and relative expression of its mRNA had all increased significantly in the Observation group, while the average levels and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α had decreased significantly. The average protein level and mRNA expression of NLRP3 and caspase-3 in the intervertebral disc tissues of the Observation group were significantly lower than in the Model and Agonist groups. Conclusions:Combining pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation with A 2A adenosine receptor agonist CGS-21680 can inhibit the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells, alleviate disease response and delay IDD by up-regulating the activity of A 2A receptors and down-regulating the expressions of pro-inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α, NLRP3 and caspase-3 in nucleus pulposus cells.