This study is to investigate the effect of artesunate on transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its possible mechanism. After the in vitro cultured RLE-6TN cells were treated with TGF-beta1 then artesunate intervened on it, after 24 h, expression of the markers of mesenchymal cell was assayed using Western blotting and real-time PCR analysis. Western blotting was also used to detect the effect of TGF-beta1 on the Smad3 and Smad7 expressions of RLE-6TN cells. Morphological alterations were examined by phase-contrast microscope, and ultrastructure changes by electron microscope. Incubation of RLE-6TN cells with TGF-beta1 resulted in the up-regulation of the expression of the mesenchymal cell markers, after artesunate intervened on it, resulted in the down-regulation of the expression. Meanwhile, incubation with artesunate intervened on RLE-6TN cells could lead to the apparent down-regulation of the expression of Smad3 and up-regulation of Samd7 and the transition of RLE-6TN cells to mesenchymal-like by TGF-beta1 induction, after artesunate intervened on it, RLE-6TN cells to epithelial-like. TGF-beta1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition process; artesunate can inhibit TGF-beta1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, the possible mechanism is up-regulation of the expression of Smad7 and down-regulation of the expression of Smad3, meanwhile inhibits phosphorylation of Smad3.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) plays important roles in varieties of biological processes. This factor is highly conserved in mammalian animals and only one heterozygous LIF mutation was reported to cause the infertility of women. A LIF mutation was generated and the evidences were provided that the mutation of mature LIF at the 29th amino acid totally abolished its functions, including stimulation of STAT activation assayed by Luciferase reporter gene expression and EMSA experiments. In addition, the mutated LIF failed to inhibit the proliferation of M1 cells. The data indicated that the mutation of LIF did not have a dominant negative effect but lost the biological functions, suggesting that the 29th amino acid is critical for maintaining the activities of LIF.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of telbivudine (LDT) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) treatment during the second and third trimester in pregnant women with high viral load of hepatitis B virus (HBV).Methods:Totally 506 pregnancy women with HBV infection who received antiviral therapy during the second and third trimester of pregnancy in the obstetrical clinic of The Affiliated Nanjing Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 were retrospectively enrolled, and the anti-viral efficacy and safety in mothers and neonates were evaluated. Pregnancy women were divided into TDF group and LDT group according the medications. The efficacies including decline and negative rate of HBV DNA, the vertical transmission (VT) rate, the normalization rate of liver function in mothers between the two groups were compared. The safeties including birth weight of neonates, congenital deformities and the rates of preterm between the two groups were also compared. Chi-square test, independent sample t test or rank sum test were used for statistical analysis. Results:There were 239 pregnant women in the LDT group and 267 in the TDF group. The maternal HBV DNA levels before treatment in the LDT and TDF groups were (7.83±0.75) lg IU/mL and (7.82±0.66) lg IU/mL, respectively, while the maternal HBV DNA levels prior to delivery were 2.91(1.20) lg IU/mL and 2.83(1.01) lg IU/mL, respectively. The normalization rates of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) pregnant women prior to delivery in TDF group and LDT group were 95.00%(38/40) and 98.18%(54/55), respectively. There were all no significant differences between the two groups ( t=0.097, U=1.040 and χ2=0.767, respectively, all P>0.05). For CHB pregnant women, the HBV DNA negative rate at one month postpartum in TDF group was 85.45%(47/55) and that in LDT group was 82.50%(33/40). The normalization rate of ALT in TDF group was 94.55%(52/55), and that in LDT group was 92.50%(37/40). There were no significant differences between the two groups ( χ2=0.152 and 0.164, respectively, P=0.697 and 0.687, respectively). The VT rates were 0(0/262) in TDF group and 0.43%(1/231) in LDT group, which had no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=1.127, P=0.288). Two patients in LDT group who continued taking LDT 11 months postpartum switched to TDF because of HBV rt204 mutation, and no one had virus mutation in TDF group. No significant increased in creatine kinase in LDT group, and no significant abnormal calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the TDF group. The preterm rate was 7.87%(21/267) in TDF group and 4.18%(10/239) in LDT group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=2.970, P=0.085). However, the birth weight of neonates in TDF group ((3 204.72±490.50) g) was lower than that in LDT group ((3 374.31±467.50) g), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=3.780, P<0.01). During the course of treatment, no pregnant women discontinued treatment due to drug intolerance, and no infants presented with drug-related birth defects. Safeties for mothers and neonates were both good. Conclusions:Both LDT and TDF treatment could reduce the VT rate in pregnant women with high HBV viral load. The safety is good for both mothers and neonates. However, for CHB pregnant women who continue antiviral therapy postpartum, TDF is superior to LDT because of lower virus mutation, thus to reduce the risk of drug resistance.

Objective: To explore the relationship between dietary behavior, dietary frequency and central precocious puberty (CPP) among children in Wuhan, so as to provide a scientific basis for elucidating the possible and related dietary factors leading to precocious puberty. Methods: From February to December 2023, 100 children with CPP and 100 healthy children were collected in Wuhan Children s Hospital for a case control study. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect demographic information, child lifestyle, as well as dietary behavior and dietary frequency in the past six months. Conditional Logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship of children s dietary behavior and dietary frequency with CPP. Results: No associations were found between three dietary behavior, including emotional eating, restrictive eating, and external eating, with CPP at baseline ( P >0.05). In the association analysis of dietary frequency and CPP, the risk of CPP was higher in those who consumed red meat >5 times/week ( OR =1.93, 95% CI =1.01-3.68), carbonated beverages ≥4 times/month ( OR =2.70, 95% CI =1.03-7.08), fruit juices ≥4 times/month ( OR =2.31, 95% CI =1.02-5.25), and nutritional supplementation ( OR =2.77, 95% CI =1.47- 5.22 ), whereas the risk of CPP was lower in those who consumed nuts ≥4 times/month ( OR =0.21, 95% CI =0.08-0.57) ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion Consumption of higher amounts of red meat, high frequency of carbonated and juice based sugary drinks, and nutrient supplementation may be contributing factors to the development of CPP, whereas regular consumption of nuts is less likely to be associated with the development of CPP.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasonic measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and optical disk elevation (ODE) for intracranial hypertension in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis(CVST).Methods:A total of 50 patients with CVST who underwent lumbar puncture and ONSD examination in the Department of Neurology and Emergency Department of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2021 to December 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. After lumbar puncture, the patient′s initial intracranial pressure was recorded. Normal ICP was defined as ICP between 80 and 200 mmH 2O, and increased ICP was defined as ICP>200 mmH 2O. Fifty patients with CVST were divided into normal ICP group (14 cases) and increased ICP group (36 cases). The differences of baseline data, ONSD and ODE between the two groups were compared, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated. The area under the curve (AUC) and the diagnostic cut-off value of ONSD were analyzed. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between ONSD, ODE, CVST involvement range scores and intracranial pressure. Results:①There were no significant differences in gender, age and body mass index between the normal ICP group and the increased ICP group (all P>0.05). ②The ONSD and ODE in the increased ICP group were higher than those in the normal ICP group, and the differences were statistically significant [(4.83±0.33)mm vs (4.21±0.21)mm, (0.67±0.44)mm vs (0.24±0.29)mm, all P<0.001]. Spearman correlation analysis showed that ONSD and ODE were positively correlated with intracranial pressure ( rs=0.74, 0.51, all P<0.001). ③The extent of CVST involvement in the intracranial hypertension group was higher than that in the normal intracranial pressure group, and the difference was statistically significant [5.0(3.0, 7.5) vs 2.5(2.0, 5.0), P=0.015]. Spearman correlation analysis showed that CVST involvement score was positively correlated with intracranial pressure ( rs=0.43, P<0.001). ④In the diagnosis of intracranial hypertension in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, the AUC of ONSD was 0.935, the best diagnostic threshold of ONSD was 4.5 mm, the sensitivity was 0.81, and the specificity was 0.93. Conclusions:ONSD and ODE measured by ultrasound are reliable imaging methods to identify intracranial hypertension in patients with CVST.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the significance of NADPH quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) protein overexpression on prognostic evaluation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

METHODSNQO1 protein was detected in 162 of HNSCC, 45 cases of adjacent nontumor tissues and 26 samples of normal head and neck epithelia using EnVision immunohistochemical. Correlation between NQO1 overexpression and patients prognosis was also analyzed.

RESULTSThe positive rate and strongly positive rate of NQO1 protein were 84.0% (136/162) and 69.8% (113/162) in HNSCC, respectively, and both of which were significantly higher than either those in adjacent nontumor tissues and normal head and neck epithelia (both P < 0.01). NQO1 expression was significantly correlated with the clinical stage, pT and chemoradiotherapy of HNSCC (P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that overall survival and disease-free survival rates were significantly higher in HNSCC patients with high level NQO1 expression than that those with low level of NQO1 expression (Log-rank = 6.625 , P = 0.010;Log-rank = 6.234 , P = 0.013). Additional analysis by Cox proportional hazard regression model showed that high level of NQO1 expression was an independent hazard predictor for overall survival of patients with HNSCC (Wald = 6.626, P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONSNQO1 expression level is closely correlated with the progression and prognosis of patients with HNSCC. High level of NQO1 expression may be used as an important indicator for patients with poor prognostic HNSCC.

Breast ; enzymology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; enzymology ; mortality ; pathology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; enzymology ; mortality ; pathology ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) ; metabolism ; NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models

During 2 years,a 6-year-old girl was hospitalized for 2 times with recurrent onset of episodes of vomiting,weakness and fever after eating dessert at the Department of Neurology & Endocrine Pediatrics,the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University.The arterial blood gas analysis revealed severe hypoglycemia,lacticacidemia and metabolic acidosis,the urine ketone body was positive.After intravenous infusion of glucose,bicarbonate and antibiotics,there was a dramatic clinical improvement in a short time.Physical examination showed tachypnea and mild hepatomegaly,and she had normal physical and mental development.The laboratory findings revealed transient hyperuricacidemia.Urine organic acids analysis repeatedly showed an elevation of lactic acid,ketone and glycerol.Glyceroluria was a very distinctive trait.The literatures in PubMed was searched with glyceroluria as keyword.Three related diseases were identified:FBPase deficiency,glycerol kinase (GK) deficiency and complex GK deficiency.Further reading of related literatures to understand the characteristics of diseases and laboratory tests,the clinical diagnosis of GK deficiency and complex GK deficiency was excluded.The mutation analysis of FBPase gene (FBP1) was performed by Sanger sequencing and a novel compound heterozygous mutations of c.355G ＞A and c.960delG was discovered.Full analysis of disease-related traits and targeted gene testing is one of the effective methods for accurate diagnosis and treatment of inherited metabolic disorders.

Cough is a common symptom of several respiratory diseases. However, frequent coughing from acute to chronic often causes great pain to patients. It may turn into cough variant asthma, which seriously affects people's quality of life. For cough treatment, it is dominated by over-the-counter antitussive drugs, such as asmeton, but most currently available antitussive drugs have serious side effects. Thus, there is a great need for the development of new drugs with potent cough suppressant. BALB/c mice were used to construct mice model with cough to investigate the pharmacological effects of pectolinarigenin (PEC). Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining were used to assess lung injury and airway remodeling, and ELISA was used to assess the level of inflammatory factor release. In addition, inflammatory cell counts were measured to assess airway inflammation. Airway hyperresponsiveness assay was used to assess respiratory resistance in mice. Finally, we used Western blotting to explore the potential mechanisms of PEC. We found that PEC could alleviate lung tissue injury and reduce the release of inflammatory factors, inhibit of cough frequency and airway wall collagen deposition in mice model with cough. Meanwhile, PEC inhibited the Ras/ERK/c-Fos pathway to exhibit antitussive effect. Therefore, PEC may be a potential drug for cough suppression.

Objective:To investigate the hemodynamic characteristics and dynamic cerebral autoregulation(dCA) of patients with severe carotid stenosis before carotid endarterectomy(CEA), and to analyze their correlations with hyperperfusion after CEA.Methods:A total of 63 patients with unilateral severe carotid artery atherosclerotic stenosis who underwent CEA were consecutively recruited prospectively in Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2021 to August 2021. According to postoperative hyperperfusion, patients were divided into hyperperfusion group (13 cases) and non-hyperperfusion group (50 cases). The general clinical data and hemodynamic parameters were compared between the two groups. The dCA was evaluated by the transfer function analysis that measured the fluctuation amplitude of mean cerebral blood flow velocity(CBFV) with blood pressure change, the time difference of phase with blood pressure change, and the correlation between mean CBFV and blood pressure change. The value of dCA for predicting postoperative hyperperfusion was analyzed through the ROC curve and the area under the curve(AUC).Results:①The proportion of hypertension in hyperperfusion group was higher than that in non-hyperperfusion group ( P<0.05). ②The peak systolic velocity (PSV) at the stenosis lesion of the internal carotid artery, the end-diastolic velocity (EDV) at the stenosis lesion of the internal carotid artery and the ratio of PSV at the stenosis lesion of the internal carotid artery to the distal internal carotid artery in the hyperperfusion group were higher than the non-hyperperfusion group.And the PSV of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery in the hyperperfusion group was lower than the non-hyperperfusion group (all P<0.05). ③In the very low-frequency and low-frequency region, the phase in the hyperperfusion group was lower than that in the non-hyperperfusion group (all P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the high-frequency regions( P>0.05). In the three regions of very low-frequency, low-frequency and high-frequency, there were no significant differences in the gain and coherence between the two groups(all P>0.05). ④The best cutoff value of phase in the very low-frequency was 33.28 for predicting hyperperfusion after CEA (AUC=0.766, 95% CI=0.629-0.904, P=0.03), with the specificity of 0.700, and sensitivity of 0.846. Conclusions:There are differences in hemodynamics and dCA between the hyperperfusion group and the non-hyperperfusion group after CEA. The impaired preoperative dynamic cerebral autoregulation is an independent predictor of postoperative hyperperfusion.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of bupivacaine pamoate for sciatic nerve block in rats.Methods:Forty-eight SPF healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 300-400 g, were divided into 6 groups using a random number table method: bupivacaine pamoate vehicle group (group VE), bupivacaine HCl group (group BH), liposomal bupivacaine group (group BL), low-dose bupivacaine pamoate group (group HL), moderate-dose bupivacaine pamoate group (group HM) and high-dose bupivacaine pamoate group (group HH), with 8 animals in each group.In VE, BH, BL, HL, HM and HH groups, bupivacaine pamoate vehicle 0.4 ml, bupivacaine HCl solution 0.4 ml, liposomal bupivacaine suspension 0.4 ml, and 1, 3 and 10 mg/ml bupivacaine pamoate suspension 0.4 ml were injected around the left sciatic nerve, respectively.The thermal paw withdrawal latency were measured before administration (T 0) and at 0.5, 1.5, 3, 5, 8, 12, 16, 24 and 48 h after injection (T 1-9). The percentage of maximum possible effect (MPE) of thermal paw withdrawal latency was calculated, and motor function score was simultaneously performed to evaluate the efficacy of sensory and motor block.Five and three rats in each group were sacrificed at 2 and 7 days after administration (T 9, 10), respectively, and the sciatic nerve at the injection site and the surrounding muscle tissues were harvested for microscopic examination (with a light microscope) after Luxol fast blue and HE staining.Nerve damage and inflammatory responses were assessed and scored to evaluate neurotoxicity. Results:Compared with group VE, the MPE was significantly increased at T 1-4 in group HL, at T 1-8 in group HM and at T 1-8 in group HH, the motor function scores were decreased at T 1-4 in group HL, at T 1-5 in group HM and at T 1-7 in group HH ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in inflammatory response scores for the sciatic nerve and surrounding muscles at each time point in HL, HM and HH groups ( P>0.05). Compared with group BH, the MPE was significantly increased at T 3-8, motor function scores were decreased at T 3-5, and inflammatory response scores for the muscles around the sciatic nerve were decreased at T 9 in group HM ( P<0.05). Compared with group BL, the MPE was significantly increased at T 3-7, motor function scores were decreased at T 4, 5, and inflammatory response scores for the sciatic nerve and surrounding muscles were decreased at T 9 in group HM ( P<0.05). The nerve damage score was 0 in the six groups. Conclusion:Bupivacaine pamoate can block the sciatic nerve of rats, the duration of block is prolonged with the increase in the concentration, and the duration of motor block is not longer than that of sensory block; compared with the same concentration and equal volume of bupivacaine HCl and liposomal bupivacaine, bupivacaine pamoate produces longer duration of sciatic nerve block and less neurotoxicity.