Objective To investigate the expressions of PTEN and p21 genes in Hazak patients with esophageal can-cer. Methods The expressions of PTEN and p21 genes were detected by RT-PCR in 48 samples (cancer tissues and nor-mal tissues) of patients with esophageal cancer. The relationship between the expressions of PTEN and p21 genes, tumor dif-ferentiation, TNM stage, clinical phase and lymph node metastasis were analyzed. Results The positive rates of PTEN gene were 75%and 45.8%in cancer and distant normal tissues. The expression of PTEN was significantly higher in cancer tis-sues than that of distant normal tissues (χ2=8.537,P＜0.05). The positive rates of p21 gene were 95.8%and 97.9%in cancer and distant normal tissues, and no significant difference between them (χ2=0.344,P>0.05). There was no correlation be-tween expressions of PTEN and p21and the tumor differentiation, the depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis in esopha-geal cancer. Conclusion PTEN and p21 genes are not the primary genes for the carcinogenesis of esophageal cancer in Hazak.

Objective:To understand the genetic variation and the prevalence of H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus in Guizhou province, and to provide the scientific evidence for the prevention and control of avian influenza virus.Methods:The results of AIV detection in live poultry market(LPM) environment in Guizhou province from October 2018 to March 2019 were statistically analyzed, RNAs were extracted and sequenced from the HA genes of 13 samples of H9N2 positive screened by real-time PCR. Then the homology, the genetic evolution and the mutations of important amino acid were analyzed by bioinformation softwares. Results:The positive rate of AIV was 52.2% and the positive rate of H9N2 was 83.7% in LPM environment. The homology between nucleotides of the HA gene of 21 strains ranged from 91.6% to 100.0%, and the homology between amino acids of the HA gene ranged from 91.0% to 100.0%. All strains belonged to Y280 sublineage and G57 genotype. Key sites analysis showed that they had a common motif PSRSSRGLF and LSRSSRGLF at the cleavage site, which indicated that they were lentogenic and low pathogenic strains. Mutations H191N, E198T/A and Q234L at the receptor binding sites in the HA was found in 21 strains, while indicated the viruses had the potential to bind human-like receptor. The analysis results of glycosylation motifs showed that all 21 strains had 7 glycosylation sites, but had a site deletion at amino acid site 218 and an addition at 313.There was no significant mutation in the key site compared with the human infected strains. Conclusions:The detection rate of AIV in LPM environment in Guizhou province was high, and the pollution was very serious, and H9N2 subtype is the main subtype, All H9N2 subtype AIVs belonged to Y280 sublineage and G57 genotype, and they were low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in Guizhou province, but the genetic gap were widening and mutations of key amino acid site might enhance susceptibility and pathogenicity to human beings. Hence, It is necessary to strengthen the surveillance of molecular characteristic variation of H9N2 subtype AIV.

BACKGROUNDMelanoma antigen genes (MAGE) are tumor specific genes. The aim of this study is to explore the feasibility of MAGE genes detection as a diagnostic method for malignant pleural effusion.

METHODSThe expression of MAGE-1, -2, -3 and -4 mRNA was detected in 18 benign and 22 malignant pleural effusion samples by RT-PCR.

RESULTSNo MAGE gene expressed in the 18 cases of benign pleural effusion. Out of the 22 cases of malignant pleural effusion, 8 cases were positive by cytological examination, who all showed positive expression of MAGA genes; in the other 14 patients who were positive by pleural biopsy but negative by cytological examination, 11 cases showed positive expression of MAGE genes in both the pleural effusion and pleura samples, while the other 3 cases showed negative MAGE expression in both the pleural effusion and pleura samples.

CONCLUSIONSDetection of MAGE genes in pleural effusion may be an effective method in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pleural effusion.

This article reviewed and summarized the experimental researches on the treatment of gouty arthritis (GA) with traditional Chinese medicine in recent years, which showed that the traditional or modified animal models of disease were widely used, and also concerned about the the model of integrating the disease and symptoms. However, few are about the application of combined disease and syndromes model. The mechanism research result shows that, single Chinese herb, component extract of Chinese herbs and Chinese herbal compound all play an important role in inhibiting inflammation, regulating signal pathway, anti-oxidation, reducing uric acid, increasing feeling of pain and regulating body metabolism.

Radix Tetrastigmatis is a traditional medicinal herb in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.It mainly contains flavonoids,organic acids,phenols,volatile oils,triterpenes and sterols,polysaccharides,etc.It has the effects of anti-tumor,anti-inflammatory,anti-viral,hepatoprotective,and can prevent and treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.This article reviewed the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of Radix Tetrastigmatis,and looked forward to its development prospects,so as to provide reference for its rational development and utilization.

BACKGROUNDHepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a parasitic disease in humans and caused by the Echinococcus multilocularis (Em). Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) may be the only effective treatment for end-stage hepatic AE. However, in some AE patients, extrahepatic Em can not be completely eliminated after OLT. We aimed to study whether the immunological changes caused by Em evasion may influence the rejective response.

METHODSRat modles of AE were established by injecting the Em suspension into abdomen of Brown Norway (BN) rats. Three months later, in the experimental group, the liver was transplanted from Lewis (LEW) rats to Em-infected BN rats. In the control group, transplantation was from LEW rats to healthy BN rats. Liver tissue and peripheral blood (PB) samples were collected on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after OLT. Liver tissue was analyzed after hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining; numbers of CD4, CD8, and CD28 on peripheral blood cells were detected by flow cytometry; and expression of the chemokine fractalkine (Fkn) was detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Interleukin-10 (IL-10) was measured in the serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In every group, eight BN rats were retained for observing survival time.

RESULTSThe survival times of recipients in the experimental group were prolonged compared with those in the control group. The rejective response occurred later and was milder in the experimental group. percentage of CD4, CD8, CD28 T-cells and Fkn mRNA expression were lower in the experimental group. While the serum IL-10 levels were higher in the experimental group than those in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSAcute rejective response after OLT was attenuated in the rats with Em infection, and the recipients` survival time was prolonged. Em may play a role in this process by elevating IL-10 secretion, decreasing the effector T cells, inhibiting the expression of Fkn, which lead to reduce the inflammatory cells infiltration into the liver.

Animals ; CD28 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Echinococcosis, Hepatic ; mortality ; surgery ; therapy ; Echinococcus multilocularis ; pathogenicity ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Graft Rejection ; immunology ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUND:Bibliometrics and visual analyses based on thematic literature are particularly important for understanding the foundation and frontiers of postmenopausal osteoporosis research. OBJECTIVE:To perform bibliometric,citation,and visualization analyses of highly cited SCI papers in postmenopausal osteoporosis research over the last 20 years. METHODS:The top 100 highly cited papers on postmenopausal osteoporosis published between 2003 and 2022 included in SCI-EXPANDED catalog of the Web of Science database were obtained for bibliometric measure and visual analysis using CiteSpace software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The top 100 highly cited papers have a total of 67 377 citations in the Web of Science Core Collection,with an annual average of 49.17 citations per paper.Postmenopausal osteoporosis research primarily involves medical,engineering,biological,and multidisciplinary fields.The subcategories are dominated by endocrinology and metabolism,and medicine:internal medicine.Stable and close cooperative network relationships have been formed globally.United States,University of California System,Cummings,and Steven R are the country,research institution,and author,respectively,with the most highly-cited publications.The frontiers of postmenopausal osteoporosis research mainly include calcium and vitamin D supplementation and fracture risk,clinical studies of bisphosphonates in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis,atypical femur fracture,clinical studies of new drugs and sequential treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis,predictors of fracture risk,mid-and long-term follow-up of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures,genetic polymorphisms and hereditary factors,formulation and updating of clinical practice guidelines for postmenopausal osteoporosis.Large cohort studies,high-quality randomized controlled trials,systematic reviews,meta-analyses,and clinical practice guidelines are the great engines that drive the development of clinical research in postmenopausal osteoporosis.We should make efforts in the above areas to improve China's international influence in the field of osteoporosis.

In the process of drug clinical trials， while proposing positive countermeasures to the legal and practical issues they raise， more attention should be paid to the ethical aspects of their responsibility， such as loss of the subjects’ sense of personal responsibility， insufficient supervision by regulatory bodies， responsible parties of researcher ignoring the spirit of the contract， and conflicts between professional requirements and individual requirements. In response to the above issues， based on the principle of responsible ethics， specific countermeasures were proposed， such as cultivating personal awareness of responsibility ethics， strengthening the standards of industry ethical review， improving informed consent compensation clauses， and cultivating research subjects’ awareness of responsibility ethics， thus to enhance the protection of the rights and interests of drug clinical trials’ subjects， as well as to protect the subjects’ rights and interests of life and health.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) offer great promise for the treatment of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. However, the survival and differentiation rates of grafted cells in the host brain need to be enhanced. In this regard, understanding of the underlying mechanism of NSCs survival and death is of great importance for the implications of stem cell-based therapeutic application in the treatments of neurological disorders. Autophagy is a conserved proteolytic mechanism required for maintaining cellular homeostasis, which can affect NSCs fate through regulating their biological behaviors, such as survival and proliferation. In this mini-review, we will summarize the effects of autophagy on NSCs fate including survival, apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation, as well as the underlying mechanisms.
Apoptosis ; Autophagy ; Brain ; Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurodegenerative Diseases

Objective:To analyze the molecular evolution characteristics of HA and NA genes of influenza B/Yamagata (BY) and influenza B/Victoria (BV) lineage viruses in Guizhou Province, aiming to provide reference for scientific prevention and control of influenza. Methods:The prevalence of various types of influenza viruses in Guizhou Province from 2017 to 2021 was analyzed. The nucleic acid of influenza B viruses was extracted, and then the HA and NA genes were amplified by RT-PCR. Fourteen strains were sequenced and the sequences of 83 strains were obtained from GISAID. Homologies between the 97 influenza B viruses as well as the phylogenetic characteristics and amino acid site variations were analyzed. Results:Influenza A, BY and BV lineage viruses co-circulated in Guizhou Province and BV lineage was the predominant type. The homologies of HA and NA genes were 98.7%-99.4% and 98.4%-99.6% between BY lineage viruses and the reference vaccine strain B/PHUKET/3073/2013. BV lineage viruses shared 98.3%-99.3% and 98.9%-99.6% homologies with the reference vaccine strain B/Colorado/06/2017. The BY lineage strains in Guizhou Province mainly belonged to Y3 genetic group with HA gene in two branches of Y3-H1-2 and NA gene in three branches of Y3-N1-3. Three reassortant strains were found in Y3 clade. The isolated BV lineage strains mainly belonged to V1A-2 genetic group with HA gene in four branches of V1A-2 H1-4 and NA gene in five branches of V1A-2 N1-5. Twenty reassortant strains were found in V1A-2 clade and no inter-lineage reassortants were found. Analysis of variations at key amino acid sites showed that there was no mutation at epitopes in Y3 genetic group. However, there were point mutations at four main epitopes and a shift mutation in 190 helix in V1A-2 genetic group. There was no mutation in drug resistance sites. Conclusions:Various types of influenza viruses circulated in Guizhou Province. The homology between influenza B viruses and vaccine strains was decreasing. Different branches of HA and NA genes had been evolved and various forms of mutations were detected in the sequences. Intra-lineage reassortant strains and new varieties emerged. Surveillance of influenza B viruses should be strengthened.