Objective To investigate the role of magnesium ion(Mg2+)in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury(Cis-AKI)in kidney organoids and HK-2 cells,as well as the potential mechanism.Methods Initially,we utilized human-derived induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs)to construct kidney organoids,and then built a Cis-AKI model based on kidney organoids.HE staining was used to observe the structure of kidney organoids,and immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the localization of markers and the expression of cleaved caspase-3.qRT-PCR was conducted to detect mRNA levels of tubular and glomerular markers,as well as inflammatory factors.Subsequently,the kidney organoids were randomly divided into control group,cisplatin group(Cis group),and Mg2+pretreatment group(Cis+Mg2+group).CCK-8 and ATP content assays were employed to evaluate the cell viability of renal tubular epithelial cells.TUNEL staining was performed to detect the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells.Western blot was utilized to detect the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins(Bcl-2,Bax,cleaved caspase-3)and organic cation transporter 2(OCT2).Immunofluorescence was used to detect the localization and expression of OCT2.Results On the 10th day,the tubular structure in kidney organoids was visible,with abundant expression of renal markers.Treatment with 10 μmol/L cisplatin resulted in structural damage to kidney organoids,significantly increased expression of cleaved caspase-3 and mRNA levels of inflammatory factors,and significantly decreased ATP content.Compared with the Cis group,the Cis+Mg2+group showed increased ATP content in kidney organoids,reduced number of TUNEL-positive cells,significantly decreased expression of apoptosis-associated proteins,and significantly decreased expression of OCT2.However,there was no significant improvement in HK-2 cell viability,the number of TUNEL-positive cells,or apoptosis-associated proteins in the Cis+Mg2+group,and HK-2 cells did not express OCT2.Conclusion Kidney organoid is an ideal in vitro model to study the pathogenesis and treatment of Cis-AKI.Mg2+pretreatment can significantly reduce the damage of kidney organoids induced by cisplatin,and the mechanism may be related to the downregulation of OCT2.

Purpose/Significance To design a comprehensive data platform to meet the needs of collecting and sharing survey data on meteorological sensitive diseases,so as to enhance monitoring capabilities for meteorological sensitive diseases in China.Method/Process Through various methods such as data extraction,data exchange,data import and customized collection,disease data,meteoro-logical data,environmental data and diagnosis and treatment data are processed and integrated into the platform for unified management.Result/Conclusion This platform realizes the functions of data collection,aggregation,visualization display and data sharing,which can provide support for scientific researchers in various bases across the country to better manage and utilize meteorological sensitive disease survey data.

With the increase in the number of patients with heart failure and the improvement of medical care,the prevalence of patients with end-stage heart failure is increasing.Due to the limited donor supply for heart transplantation,the implantation of left ventricular assist devices has become a major alternative treatment option for patients with end-stage heart failure.Patients with left ventricular assist device have to face potential heart failure and long-term self-care related to left ventricular assist devices.It is of great significance to comprehensively evaluate the level of self-care behavior of patients with left ventricular assist devices and to formulate targeted self-care guidance programs to improve their prognosis.This article reviewed the concept and connotation,assessment tools,current status,influencing factors and intervention of self-care of patients with left ventricular assist devices,in order to provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for improving the self-care level of patients with left ventricular assist devices,so as to improve the quality of life and improve the prognosis of patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of shikonin-induced death of human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells. METHODS: Cultured SMMC-7721 cells and normal hepatocytes (L-02 cells) were treated with 4, 8, or 16 μmol/L shikonin, and the changes in cell viability was assessed using MTT assay. The levels of ATP and lactic acid in the cell cultures were detected using commercial kits. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence staining were used to determine the relationship among pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), prolyl hydroxylase 3 (PHD3), and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). The expressions of PHD3, PKM2, HIF-1α, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and Bcl-2 in SMMC-7721 cells were detected with Western blotting, and cell apoptosis was analyzed with annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The effects of RNA interference of PKM2 on PHD3 and HIF-1α expressions in SMMC-7721 cells were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: The IC₅₀ of shikonin against SMMC-7721 and L-02 cells was 8.041 μmol/L and 31.75 μmol/L, respectively. Treatment with shikonin significantly inhibited the protein expressions of PKM2, HIF-1α and PHD3 and nuclear translocation of PKM2 and HIF-1α in SMMC-7721 cells. Coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence staining confirmed that shikonin inhibited the formation of PKM2/PHD3/HIF-1α complex and significantly reduced the contents of lactic acid and ATP in SMMC-7721 cells (P < 0.05). The expressions of PHD3 and HIF-1α decreased significantly after PKM2 knockdown (P < 0.05). Shikonin treatment significantly increased the apoptosis rate, enhanced the expressions of Bax and cleaved caspase-3, and decreased Bcl-2 expression in SMMC-7721 cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Shikonin induces apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells possibly by inhibiting aerobic glycolysis through the PKM2/PHD3/HIF-1α signaling pathway to cause energy supply dysfunction in the cells.
Humans ; Prolyl Hydroxylases ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Caspase 3 ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Liver Neoplasms ; Signal Transduction ; Apoptosis ; Adenosine Triphosphate

Objectives: To investigated the safety and efficacy of treating patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and elevated levels of N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with levosimendan within 24 hours of first medical contact (FMC). Methods: This multicenter, open-label, block-randomized controlled trial (NCT03189901) investigated the safety and efficacy of levosimendan as an early management strategy of acute heart failure (EMS-AHF) for patients with NSTEMI and high NT-proBNP levels. This study included 255 patients with NSTEMI and elevated NT-proBNP levels, including 142 males and 113 females with a median age of 65 (58-70) years, and were admitted in the emergency or outpatient departments at 14 medical centers in China between October 2017 and October 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a levosimendan group (n=129) and a control group (n=126). The primary outcome measure was NT-proBNP levels on day 3 of treatment and changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline on day 5 after randomization. The secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in NT-proBNP levels from baseline, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and at 6 months after hospitalization, safety during the treatment, and health economics indices. The measurement data parameters between groups were compared using the t-test or the non-parametric test. The count data parameters were compared between groups using the χ² test. Results: On day 3, the NT-proBNP levels in the levosimendan group were lower than the control group but were statistically insignificant [866 (455, 1 960) vs. 1 118 (459, 2 417) ng/L, Z=-1.25,P=0.21]. However, on day 5, changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline in the levosimendan group were significantly higher than the control group [67.6% (33.8%,82.5%)vs.54.8% (7.3%,77.9%), Z=-2.14, P=0.03]. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in the NT-proBNP levels on day 5 between the levosimendan and the control groups [77.5% (100/129) vs. 69.0% (87/126), χ²=2.34, P=0.13]. Furthermore, incidences of MACE did not show any significant differences between the two groups during hospitalization [4.7% (6/129) vs. 7.1% (9/126), χ²=0.72, P=0.40] and at 6 months [14.7% (19/129) vs. 12.7% (16/126), χ²=0.22, P=0.64]. Four cardiac deaths were reported in the control group during hospitalization [0 (0/129) vs. 3.2% (4/126), P=0.06]. However, 6-month survival rates were comparable between the two groups (log-rank test, P=0.18). Moreover, adverse events or serious adverse events such as shock, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia were not reported in both the groups during levosimendan treatment (days 0-1). The total cost of hospitalization [34 591.00(15 527.46,59 324.80) vs. 37 144.65(16 066.90,63 919.00)yuan, Z=-0.26, P=0.80] and the total length of hospitalization [9 (8, 12) vs. 10 (7, 13) days, Z=0.72, P=0.72] were lower for patients in the levosimendan group compared to those in the control group, but did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Early administration of levosimendan reduced NT-proBNP levels in NSTEMI patients with elevated NT-proBNP and did not increase the total cost and length of hospitalization, but did not significantly improve MACE during hospitalization or at 6 months.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Simendan/therapeutic use* ; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction ; Heart Failure/drug therapy* ; Peptide Fragments ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Biomarkers ; Prognosis

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of modern rehabilitation techniques combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) external application in the treatment of knee stiffness.Methods:Prospective cohort study. A total of 80 patients with knee stiffness meeting the entry criteria admitted to the People's Hospital of Bozhou from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected and divided into the observation group ( n=40) and the control group ( n=40) according to the random ball touching method. Both groups were given routine physiotherapy. The control group was treated with TCM external application on the basis of the physiotherapy, and the observation was treated with modern rehabilitation techniques on the basis of the treatment of the control group. The goniometer was used to measure the knee flexion and extension before and after treatment, and the VAS scale was used to assess the knee pain. Fug l-Meyer motor function score was used to evaluate lower extremity motor function. Results:After treatment, the knee flexion [(96.43 ± 4.63) ° vs. (89.58 ± 4.67) °, t=6.59] in the observation group was higher than that of the control group ( P<0.01), and the extension [(8.32 ± 2.03) ° vs. (11.69 ± 2.37) °, t=6.83] in the control group was lower than that of the control group ( P<0.01); VAS score (2.06 ± 0.49 vs. 3.65 ± 0.76, t=11.12) was lower than that of the control group ( P<0.01), and Fugl Meyer motor function score (28.97 ± 3.76 vs. 20.43 ± 3.04, t=11.17) was higher than that of the control group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:The application of modern rehabilitation techniques combined with TCM external application in the treatment of knee stiffness can improve the range of motion of the knee joint, reduce the VAS score of pain, and improve the motor function.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of electroacupuncture (EA) in experimental models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in vivo. METHODS: Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice were used as AD models and received EA at Yingxiang (LI 20, bilateral) and Yintang (GV 29) points for 20 days. For certain experiments, SAMP8 mice were injected intravenously with human fibrin (2 mg). The Morris water maze test was used to assess cognitive and memory abilities. The changes of tight junctions of blood-brain barrier (BBB) in mice were observed by transmission electron microscope. The expressions of fibrin, amyloid- β (Aβ), and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBa-1) in mouse hippocampus (CA1/CA3) were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot or immunohistochemical staining. The expression of fibrin in mouse plasma was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1 and claudin-5 in hippocampus were detected by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. Apoptosis of hippocampal neurons was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. RESULTS: Fibrin was time-dependently deposited in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice and this was inhibited by EA treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, EA treatment suppressed the accumulation of Aβ in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice (P<0.01), which was reversed by fibrin injection (P<0.05 or P<0.01). EA improved SAMP8 mice cognitive impairment and BBB permeability (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, EA decreased reactive oxygen species levels and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice, which was reversed by fibrin injection (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Mechanistically, EA inhibited the promoting effect of fibrin on the high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1)/toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) signaling pathways (P<0.01). CONCLUSION EA may potentially improve cognitive impairment in AD via inhibition of fibrin/A β deposition and deactivation of the HMGB1/TLR4 and RAGE/NADPH signaling pathways.
Mice ; Humans ; Animals ; NADP/metabolism* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; HMGB1 Protein/metabolism* ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/metabolism* ; Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism* ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases ; Electroacupuncture ; Alzheimer Disease/therapy* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism*

Objective This study aims to analyze the clinical and imaging characteristics of atrial fibrillation(AF)patients with left atrial appendage(LAA)hypoplasia and to explore the effectiveness of anticoagulation in preventing left atrial thrombus.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on five AF patients with LAA hypoplasia.The patients in this study were diagnosed using left atrial computed tomography venography venography(CTV)and/or transesophageal echocardiography(TEE)out of a total of 3 068 patients who were admitted to Zhoupu hospital between July 2018 and October 2023.The analysis included an examination of clinical features,and imaging data,and anticoagulation treatment was analyzed.Results The study found that out of the 5 patients with LAA hypoplasia,only one patient underwent both left atrial CTV and TEE examinations.One patient underwent chest CT scan and TEE,while the remaining three patients underwent complete left atrial CTV and were all diagnosed with LAA hypoplasia.The diagnosis relied on the delay and venous phase of multiplanar reconstruction of left atrial CTV,while TEE was only able to detect small crevices or no abnormalities.The incidence of LAA hypoplasia was 1.63‰.The characteristics of LAA hypoplasia include a small LAA,thick LAA wall,and LAA without cavity or small.All five AF patients were complicated with cardio-cerebrovascular atherosclerosis,one patient underwent cryoablation,and and antiplatelet or anticoagulant regimen or both therapy strategy was selected.Conclusions LAA hypoplasia is a unique subtype of LAA,that can be diagnosed through multi-plane reconstruction in the delayed and venous phase of left atrial CTV.TEE can serve as a supplementary diagnostic tool,and further research is needed to determine the anticoagulation regimen for AF patients with LAA hypoplasia.

This study aims to explore the electrophysiological properties and changes in gene expression of basket cells, a unique population of GABAergic interneurons expressing parvalbumin (PV), during the postnatal development of mouse prefrontal cortex (PFC). Toward this goal, we took use of the G42 transgenic mouse line which specifically expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in basket cells. The brain slices of PFC were prepared from the postnatal 7 (P7), 14 (P14) and 21 days (P42) G42 mice and whole-cell patch clamp recording was performed in basket cells. In addition, we sorted the basket cells by flow cytometry and analyzed their transcription profiling on P7, P14, and P21 using RNA-seq technology. The results showed that the resting membrane potential and membrane input resistance decreased gradually from P7 to P21. The amplitude and duration of action potential of basket cells increased and decreased from P7 to P21, respectively. In contrast, the threshold of action potential of basket cells did not have a significant change from P7 to P21. The frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) of basket cells increased gradually, while the amplitudes of sEPSCs of basket cells remained constant from P7 to P21. RNA sequencing from basket cells revealed that the expression of 22 and 660 genes was upregulated and downregulated from P7 to P14, respectively. By contrast, the expression of 107 and 69 genes was upregulated and downregulated from P14 to P21, respectively. The differentially expressed genes in basket cells from P7 to P21 were significantly enriched in pathways such as neuron apoptotic process, mRNA processing, Golgi vesicle transport and axon guidance. Altogether, we characterized electrophysiological properties and changes in gene expression of basket cells during the postnatal development in mouse PFC. These results provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the development of basket cells in mouse cortex.
Animals ; Gene Expression ; Interneurons/metabolism* ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Parvalbumins/metabolism* ; Prefrontal Cortex/metabolism*

Recent population studies have significantly advanced our understanding of how age shapes the gut microbiota.However,the actual role of age could be inevitably confounded due to the complex and variable environmental factors in human populations.A well-controlled envi-ronment is thus necessary to reduce undesirable confounding effects,and recapitulate age-dependent changes in the gut microbiota of healthy primates.Herein we performed 16S rRNA gene sequenc-ing,characterized the age-associated gut microbial profiles from infant to elderly crab-eating maca-ques reared in captivity,and systemically revealed the lifelong dynamic changes of the primate gut microbiota.While the most significant age-associated taxa were mainly found as commensals such as Faecalibacterium,the abundance of a group of suspicious pathogens such as Helicobacter was exclusively increased in infants,underlining their potential role in host development.Importantly,topology analysis indicated that the network connectivity of gut microbiota was even more age-dependent than taxonomic diversity,and its tremendous decline with age could probably be linked to healthy aging.Moreover,we identified key driver microbes responsible for such age-dependent network changes,which were further linked to altered metabolic functions of lipids,carbohydrates,and amino acids,as well as phenotypes in the microbial community.The current study thus demon-strates the lifelong age-dependent changes and their driver microbes in the primate gut microbiota,and provides new insights into their roles in the development and healthy aging of their hosts.