ObjectiveTo investigate the accuracy of multiple discriminant analysis （MDA） versus fibrosis-4 （FIB-4） in assessing liver fibrosis degree in patients with HBV infection， as well as the possibility of MDA as an indicator for disease progression. MethodsA total of 263 patients with HBV infection who underwent liver biopsy in The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from April 2010 to April 2024 were included， and their clinical data were collected. According to the results of pathological examination， they were divided into non-significant fibrosis group （F<2） with 126 patients and significant fibrosis group （F≥2） with 137 patients. The correlation of MDA and FIB-4 with liver fibrosis degree was analyzed， and MDA and FIB-4 were compared in terms of their accuracy in assessing significant liver fibrosis. A total of 62 patients completed follow-up， and according to the presence or absence of progression to liver cirrhosis at the last follow-up visit， they were divided into progressive group with 21 patients and non-progressive group with 41 patients； the efficacy of MDA and FIB-4 in diagnosing disease progression was analyzed and compared. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups； the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between multiple groups， and the Bonferroni method was used for further comparison between two groups. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data. The Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used for correlation analysis. The Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was used for the analysis of baseline data and data at the end of follow-up， and the binary Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influencing factors for progression to liver cirrhosis. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was used to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of indicators， the Z-test was used for comparison of the area under the ROC curve （AUC）， and the paired chi-square test was used for comparison of the sensitivity， specificity， and accuracy of the two indicators. ResultsThe correlation coefficient between FIB-4 and liver fibrosis degree was 0.378， while the correlation coefficient between MDA and liver fibrosis degree was -0.325 （both P<0.001）. FIB-4 had an AUC of 0.688， a sensitivity of 64.96%， a specificity of 68.87%， a positive predictive value of 67.42%， a negative predictive value of 63.36%， an accuracy of 65.40%， and a cut-off value of 1.01， while MDA had an AUC of 0.653， a sensitivity of 52.55%， a specificity of 78.57%， a positive predictive value of 72.73%， a negative predictive value of 60.37%， an accuracy of 65.02%， and a cut-off value of 0.29， suggesting that compared with FIB-4， MDA had a lower sensitivity （P=0.004） and a higher specificity （P=0.001）. The progressive group had a significantly higher age than the non-progressive group at baseline （t=2.611， P=0.011）. For the progressive group， there was an increase in FIB-4 and a reduction in MDA from baseline to the end of follow-up （both P<0.001）， while the non-progressive group showed no significant changes （both P>0.05）. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that aspartate aminotransferase （odds ratio ［OR］=0.940， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 0.885‍ ‍—‍ ‍0.998， P<0.05） and MDA （OR=0.445， 95%CI： 0.279‍ ‍—‍ ‍0.710， P<0.001） were independent influencing factors for disease progression. MDA had an AUC of 0.893 and an optimal cut-off value of -0.01 in diagnosing the disease progression of liver cirrhosis. ConclusionMDA has a comparable accuracy to FIB-4 in the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis， and MDA<-0.01 has a high accuracy in diagnosing the progression of liver fibrosis to liver cirrhosis， which can help to reduce the need for liver biopsy in clinical practice.

Silent mutations within the RAS  gene have garnered increasing attention for their potential roles in tumorigenesis and therapeutic strategies. Kirsten-RAS ( KRAS ) mutations, predominantly oncogenic, are pivotal drivers in various cancers. While extensive research has elucidated the molecular mechanisms and biological consequences of active KRAS  mutations, the functional significance of silent mutations remains relatively understudied. This review synthesizes current knowledge on KRAS  silent mutations, highlighting their impact on cancer development. Silent mutations, which do not alter protein sequences but can affect RNA stability and translational efficiency, pose intriguing questions regarding their contribution to tumor biology. Understanding these mutations is crucial for comprehensively unraveling KRAS -driven oncogenesis and exploring novel therapeutic avenues. Moreover, investigations into the clinical implications of silent mutations in KRAS -mutant tumors suggest potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Despite being in early stages, research on KRAS  silent mutations holds promise for uncovering novel insights that could inform personalized cancer treatments. In conclusion, this review underscores the evolving landscape of KRAS  silent mutations, advocating for further exploration to bridge fundamental biology with clinical applications in oncology.
Humans ; Mutation/genetics* ; Neoplasms/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics* ; Animals

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Peptide-based therapies have attracted considerable interest in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, bacterial infections, and neurodegenerative diseases due to their promising therapeutic properties and enhanced safety profiles. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the major trends in peptide drug discovery and development, emphasizing preclinical strategies aimed at improving peptide stability, specificity, and pharmacokinetic properties. It assesses the current applications and challenges of peptide-based drugs in these diseases, illustrating the pharmaceutical areas where peptide-based drugs demonstrate significant potential. Furthermore, this review analyzes the obstacles that must be overcome in the future, aiming to provide valuable insights and references for the continued advancement of peptide-based drugs.
Humans ; Peptides/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Drug Discovery ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/drug therapy* ; Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy*

Objective To analyze the anatomical characteristics of the azygos lobe in the right upper lung using three-dimensional CT reconstruction.Methods This retrospective study analyzed 92 patients diag-nosed with azygos lobe in the right upper lung through thin-section chest CT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from March 2016 to March 2019.Three-dimensional reconstruction models were utilized to statistically analyze the trajectories of bronchi and vessels in the azygos lobe,and to evaluate the anatomical structures of the right upper lobe in these patients.Results According to the classification based on the origin of the azygos lobe bronchi and the number of lobar bronchi,the unibranched type was pre-dominant,accounting for 76.1%(70/92),with most azygos lobe bronchi originating from B1b or B1a.Regard-ing arterial origin classification,the unibranched type remained dominant at 72.8%(67/92),primarily origina-ting from A1a,followed by A1b and A1a.Most azygos lobe veins drained into V1a(68 cases,73.9%),while the remainder drained into V1b(24 cases,26.1%).There were six branching patterns of right upper lobe bronchi,with the trifurcated type(B1-B2-B3)being the most common anatomical configuration at 53.3%(49/92).The mean volume of the azygos lobe was(62 869.36±45 097.76)cm3,smaller than the average volume of other pulmonary segments.Patients with larger azygos lobe volumes generally had dual bronchial branches,with a mean volume of(120 421.41±25 294.04)cm3,whereas unibranched azygos lobes showed a mean volume of(43 685.34±31 697.77)cm3.Conclusion The pulmonary anatomical structure of the azygos lobe demon-strates and multitype variations in complexity,and may exhibit extremely rare anatomical variants.

Objective Fasting hypometabolism regulation technology has broad application potential in long-term space flight and survival in extreme extraterrestrial environments.In-depth research on the substrate conversion of energy metabolism and the formation of new steady states under fasting hypometabolism will provide theoretical basis and experimental data support for formulating effective prolonged fasting application mode.Methods 30 SD rats were randomly divided into control group and fasting group(fasting for 1,2,3,and 5 days).Blood biochemical examination,qRT-PCR,and western blotting were performed to analyze the body weight,blood biochemistry,and expression changes of genes and proteins related to glucose and lipid metabolism during different fasting periods.Results Prolonged fasting significantly reduced the body weight,blood glucose,and triglyceride levels of rats;increased the blood ketone level,and replaced glucose as the main energy substance in the body.There are temporal and tissue-specific changes as a whole.Hepatic and renal gluconeogenesis play major roles respectively during different fasting periods.As the fasting time prolongs,the level of hepatic gluconeogenesis gradually decreases,the content of FFA in the blood increases,the expression level of genes related to fat synthesis decreases,fatty acid oxidation is enhanced,and the expression level of the key gene HMGCS2 for ketone body generation increases.Conclusion During prolonged fasting,there is a significant conversion of glucose-ketone energy supply substrates,and a new steady state of energy metabolism mainly supplied by ketone bodies is formed within 2-5 days of fasting.The body maintains a low metabolic state by regulating changes in key genes in pathways such as glucose and lipid metabolism.

Objective:To discuss the anti-fatigue effect of Wujia Shengmai Yin,and to clarify its mechanism.Methods:Thirty-six male ICR mice were randomly devided into control group(equivalent volume of distilled water),Shengmai Yin group(500 mg·kg?1 of Shengmai Yin),and Wujia Shengmai Yin group(600 mg·kg?1 of Wujia Shengmai Yin).The body weights of the mice in various groups were detected every 7 d,and the mental states were observed.The rotating rod test and exhaustive swimming test were used to detect the duration on the rod and the swimming time to exhaustion of the mice in various groups,respectively;the levels of urea nitrogen(BUN)and lactate(LA),and the activities of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)in serum,the levels of liver glycogen(LG),muscle glycogen(MG),and malondialdehyde(MDA),and activities of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)in muscle tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by kits;the expression levels of glucose metabolism-related proteins in liver tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by Western blotting method.Results:Compared with before experiment,the body weights after experiment of the mice in various groups showed a increasing trend but the differences were not statistically significant(P>0.05).The rotating rod test results showed that compared with control group,the duration on the rod of the mice in Wujia Shengmai Yin group was significantly increased(P<0.01).The exhaustive swimming test results showed that compared with control group,the swimming time to exhaustion of the mice in Shengmai Yin group and Wujia Shengmai Yin group was significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with control group,the levels of BUN in serum of the mice in Shengmai Yin group and Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the activities of LDH were significantly increased(P<0.01);the level of LA of the mice in Wujia Shengmai Yin group was significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with Shengmai Yin group,the levels of BUN and LA in the serum and LDH activity of the mice in Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with control group,the levels of LG in liver tissue and the levels of MG in muscle tissue of the mice in Shengmai Yin group and Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with Shengmai Yin group,the level of LG in liver tissue and the level of MG in muscle tissue of the mice in Wujia Shengmai Yin group were increased(P<0.01).Compared with control group,the activities of GSH-Px and SOD in muscle tissue of the mice in Shengmai Yin group and Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly increased,and the levels of MDA in Shengmai Yin group and Wujia Shengmai Yin group was significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with Shengmai Yin group,the activities of GSH-Px and SOD in muscle tissue of the mice in Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly increased and the level of MDA was decreased(P<0.01).The Western blotting results showed that compared with control group,the expression levels of phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase(p-PI3K),phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-AKT),phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta(p-GSK3β),and glycogen synthase(GS)proteins in liver tissue of the mice in Shengmai Yin group and Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);compared with Shengmai Yin group,the expression levels of p-PI3K,p-AKT,p-GSK3β,and GS proteins in liver tissue of the mice in Wujia Shengmai Yin group were significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion:Wujia Shengmai Yin enhances the anti-fatigue effect by activating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta(GSK3β)signaling pathways,and improves the body's antioxidant capacity,and increases the glycogen synthesis.

Objective:To analyze the association between the peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and the occurrence of carotid atherosclerosis(CAS)and discuss the risk factors of CAS,and to provide the basis for risk prediction and early intervention of CAS.Methods:A total of 419 subjects were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.All the subjects underwent carotid ultrasonography,and the detection of T lymphocyte,B lymphocyte,and natural killer(NK)cell subsets were performed.According to the carotid artery intima-media thickness(IMT),the subjects were divided into normal carotid artery group(n=166)and CAS group(n=253).The basic data and laboratory inspection indexes of the subjects in two groups were collected,including age,gender,blood pressure,medical history,smoking history,medication history,blood lipids,and percentages of T lymphocyte,B lymphocyte,and NK cell subsets.The risk factors for the occurrence of CAS of the subjects were analyzed using Logistic regression analysis.Results:The univariate analysis results showed that compared with normal carotid artery group,the age,morbidity rate of hypertension,morbidity rate of diabetes,and smoking rate of the subjects in CAS group were increased(P＜0.05),and the percentages of CD4+T lymphocytes,CD4+T lymphocyte count,CD4+/CD8+ratio,CD16+CD56+NK cell count,and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c)level in peripheral blood were increased(P＜0.05),while the percentage of CD8+T lymphocyte was decreased(P＜0.05).The multivariable Logistic regression analysis results showed that age(OR=1.112,95％CI:1.083-1.142,P＜0.001),smoking(OR=1.997,95％CI:1.192-3.346,P=0.009),LDL-c(OR=1.427,95％CI:1.017-2.001,P=0.039),and percentage of CD4+T lymphocyte(OR=1.044,95％CI:1.002-1.087,P=0.039)were the independent risk factors for the occurrence of CAS.Conclusion:The percentage of CD4+T lymphocyte is associated with the occurrence of CAS and it is a predictive risk factor for CAS.

BACKGROUND:Compared with traditional two-dimensional culture,three-dimensional microtissue culture can show greater advantages.However,more favorable cultivation methods in three-dimensional culture still need to be further explored. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the cell behavior of microtissue and its ability to promote cartilage formation under two three-dimensional culture methods. METHODS:Cartilage-derived microcarriers were prepared by chemical decellularization and tissue crushing.DNA quantification and nuclear staining were used to verify the success of decellularization,and histological staining was used to observe the matrix retention before and after decellularization.The microcarriers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and CCK-8 assay.Cartilage-derived microtissues were constructed by combining cartilage-derived microcarriers with human adipose mesenchymal stem cells through three-dimensional static culture and three-dimensional dynamic culture methods.The cell viability and chondrogenic ability of the two groups of microtissues were detected by scanning electron microscopy,live and dead staining,and RT-qPCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Cartilage-derived microcarriers were successfully prepared.Compared with before decellularization,the DNA content significantly decreased after decellularization(P<0.001).Scanning electron microscope observation showed that the surface of the microcarrier was surrounded by collagen,maintaining the characteristics of the natural extracellular matrix of cartilage cells.CCK-8 assay indicated that microcarriers had no cytotoxicity and could promote cell proliferation.(2)Scanning electron microscopy and live and dead staining results showed that compared with the three-dimensional static group,the three-dimensional dynamic group had a more extended morphology of microtissue cells,and extensive connections between cells and cells,between cells and matrix,and between matrix.(3)The results of RT-qPCR showed that the expressions of SOX9,proteoglycan,and type Ⅱ collagen in microtissues of both groups were increased at 7 or 14 days.The relative expression levels of each gene in the three-dimensional dynamic group were significantly higher than those in the three-dimensional static group at 14 days(P<0.05).At 21 days,the three-dimensional static group had significantly higher gene expression compared with the three-diomensional dynamic group(P<0.001).(4)The results showed that compared with three-dimensional static culture microtissue,three-dimensional dynamic culture microtissue could achieve higher expression of chondrogen-related genes in a shorter time,showing better cell viability and chondrogenic ability.

Objective:To study the in vitro construction of functional and self-renewing cartilage organoids based on cartilage acellular extracellular matrix (ECM) microcarriers.Methods:Fresh porcine articular cartilage was taken. The merely crushed cartilage particles were set as natural cartilage group and ECM microcarriers of appropriate particle size, which were prepared by the acellular method of combining physical centrifugation and chemical extraction, were set as microcarrier group. Cartilage organoids were constructed by loading human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) and human chondrocytes (hCho) with a ratio of 3∶1 with microcarriers through a rotating bioreactor. The organoids with different induction times were divided into 0-, 7-, 14-, and 21-day induction groups. The cell residues of the microcarrier group and natural cartilage group were evaluated by 4′, 6-diaminidine 2-phenylindole (DAPI) fluorescence staining and DNA quantitative analysis. The retention of microcarrier components was observed by Safranin O and toluidine blue stainnings, and the collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAGs) levels in the microcarrier group and the natural cartilage group were determined by colorimetric method and dimethyl-methylene blue (DMMB) method. The microcarriers were further characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The hUCMSCs cultured with Dulbecco′s Modified Eagle′s Medium (DMEM) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) in a volume fraction of 10% was used as the control group and the hUCMSCs cultured with the microcarrier extract was used as the experimental group. Subgroups of hUCMSCs cultured at 3 time points: 1, 3 and 5 days were set up in the two groups separately. Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) was used to detect the biocompatibility of the two groups. The cellular activity of the organoids of the 0-, 7-, 14-, and 21-day induction groups was detected by live/dead staining and the self-renewal ability of the cartilage organoids of the 14-day induced group was identified by Ki67 fluorescence staining. The organoids of the 7-, 14-, and 21-day induction groups were detected by RT-PCR in terms of the expression levels of chondrogenesis-related marker aggrecan (ACAN), type II collagen (COL2A1), SRY-related high mobility group-box gene-9 (SOX9), cartilage hypertrophy-and mineralization-related marker type I collagen (COL1A1), Runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2), and osteocalcin (OCN). Colorimetric and DMMB assays were performed to determine the ability of organoids in the 0-, 7-, 14-, and 21-day induction groups to secrete collagen and GAGs.Results:The results of DAPI fluorescent staining showed that the natural cartilage group had a large number of nuclei while the microcarrier group hardly had any nuclei. The DNA content of the microcarrier group was (7.8±1.8)ng/mg, which was significantly lower than that of the natural cartilage group [(526.7±14.7)ng/mg] ( P<0.01). Saffranin O and toluidine blue staining showed that the microcarrier was dark- and uniform-colored and it kept a lot of cartilage ECM components. The collagen and GAGs contents of the microcarrier group were (252.9±1.4)μg/mg and (173.4±0.8)μg/mg, which were significantly lower than those of the natural cartilage group [(311.9±2.2)μg/mg and (241.3±0.7)μg/mg] ( P<0.01). Scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface of the microcarriers had uneven and interleaved collagen fiber network. The results of energy spectrum analysis showed that elements C, O and N were evenly distributed in the microcarriers, indicating that the composition of the microcarrier was uniform. The microcarrier had good biocompatibility and there was no statistical significance in the results of CCK-8 test between the control group and the experimental group after 1 and 3 days of culture ( P>0.05). After 5 days of culture, the A value of the experimental group was 0.53±0.02, which was better than that of the control group (0.44±0.03) ( P<0.05). In the 0-, 7-, 14-, and 21-day induction groups, hUCMSCs and hCho were attached to the surface of the microcarriers, with good cellular activity, and the live/death rates were (70.6±1.1)%, (80.5±0.6)%, (94.5±0.9)%, and (90.8±0.5)% respectively ( P<0.01). There were a large number of Ki67 positive cells in cartilage organoids. RT-PCR showed that the expression levels of ACAN, COL2A1, SOX9, COL1A1, RUNX2 and OCN were 1.00±0.09, 1.00±0.24, 1.00±0.18, 1.00±0.03, 1.00±0.06 and 1.00±0.13 respectively in the 7-day induction group; 4.16±0.28, 5.09±1.25, 5.65±1.05, 0.47±0.01, 1.68±0.02 and 0.21±0.06 respectively in the 14-day induction group; 13.42±0.92, 3.07±0.21, 1.84±1.08, 2.72±0.17, 2.91±0.18 and 3.32±1.20 respectively in the 21-day induction group. Compared with the 7-day induction group, the expression levels of ACAN, COL2A1, SOX9 and RUNX2 in the 14-day group were increased ( P<0.05), but COL1A1 expression level was decreased ( P<0.05), with no significant difference in OCN expression level ( P>0.05). Compared with the 7-day induction group, the expression levels of ACAN, COL1A1 and RUNX2 in the 21-day induction group were significantly increased ( P<0.01), with no significant differences in the expression levels of COL2A1, SOX9 and OCN ( P>0.05). Compared with the 14-day induction group, the expression levels of ACAN, COL1A1, RUNX2 and OCN in the 21-day group were increased ( P<0.05 or 0.01), with no significant difference in the expression level of COL2A1 ( P>0.05), but the expression level of SOX9 was decreased ( P<0.05). The contents of collagen in 0-, 7-, 14-and 21-day induction groups were (219.15±0.48)μg/mg, (264.07±1.58)μg/mg, (270.83±0.84)μg/mg and (280.01±0.48)μg/mg respectively. The GAGs contents were (171.18±1.09)μg/mg, (184.06±1.37)μg/mg, (241.08±0.84)μg/mg and (201.14±0.17)μg/mg respectively. Compared with the 0-day induction group, the contents of collagen and GAGs in 7-, 14-, and 21-day induction groups were significantly increased ( P<0.01), among which the content of collagen was the lowest in 7-day induction group ( P<0.01) but the highest in the 21-day induced group ( P<0.01); the content of GAGs was the lowest in the 7-day induced group ( P<0.01) but the highest in the 14-day induction group ( P<0.01). Conclusions:The microcarriers prepared by combining physical and chemical methods are decellularized successfully, with more matrix retention, uniform composition and on cytotoxicity. By loading microcarriers with hUCMSCs and hCho, cartilage organoids are successfully constructed in vitro, which are characterized by good cell activity, self-renewal ability, strong expression of genes related to chondrogenesis and secretion of collagen and GAGs. The cartilage organoids constructed at 14 days of induction have the best chondrogenic activity.