AIM:To investigate the mechanism of reduced tear secretion in depression-related dry eye rats based on 5-HT/TRPV4/AQP5.METHODS:Healthy SD male rats were established with chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)method to establish a depression-induced dry eye model(n=8), and the control group was blank rats(n=8). The ELISA method was used to compare the 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)in serum and hippocampal tissue of the two groups, and the HE sections of lacrimal gland and AQP5 immunohistochemistry were observed. Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of 5-HT3R, TRPV4 and AQP5 in the lacrimal gland tissue of the two groups of rats.RESULTS:The tear secretion in the depression-induced group was significantly reduced(P=0.001), the serum and hippocampal 5-HT levels were significantly reduced(all P<0.05), the expression of AQP5 antibody in the lacrimal gland immunohistochemistry was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.001), the expression of 5-HT3R, TRPV4 and AQP5 in the lacrimal gland was significantly reduced(all P<0.05), and no obvious inflammatory cells were found in the lacrimal gland tissue sections.CONCLUSION:Depression-related dry eye may occur through a non-inflammatory 5-HT/TRPV4/AQP5 mechanism.

AIM:To investigate the mechanism of reduced tear secretion in depression-related dry eye rats based on 5-HT/TRPV4/AQP5.METHODS:Healthy SD male rats were established with chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)method to establish a depression-induced dry eye model(n=8), and the control group was blank rats(n=8). The ELISA method was used to compare the 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)in serum and hippocampal tissue of the two groups, and the HE sections of lacrimal gland and AQP5 immunohistochemistry were observed. Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of 5-HT3R, TRPV4 and AQP5 in the lacrimal gland tissue of the two groups of rats.RESULTS:The tear secretion in the depression-induced group was significantly reduced(P=0.001), the serum and hippocampal 5-HT levels were significantly reduced(all P<0.05), the expression of AQP5 antibody in the lacrimal gland immunohistochemistry was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.001), the expression of 5-HT3R, TRPV4 and AQP5 in the lacrimal gland was significantly reduced(all P<0.05), and no obvious inflammatory cells were found in the lacrimal gland tissue sections.CONCLUSION:Depression-related dry eye may occur through a non-inflammatory 5-HT/TRPV4/AQP5 mechanism.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving motor function and regulating microglial activation based on Notch receptor 1 (Notch1)/Hes family bHLH transcription factor 1 (Hes1) pathway in mice with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Thirty-six male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an EA group, 12 mice in each group. PD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 7 consecutive days in the model group and the EA group. From the 1st day of modeling, EA was applied at "Baihui" (GV20) and bilateral "Shenshu" (BL23) in the EA group, with continuous wave, in frequency of 2 Hz and current of 2 mA, 15 min a time, once a day for 14 days continuously. The behavioral performance was evaluated by gait test, pole climbing test and hanging test, the number of positive cells of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the co-expression positive cells of Notch1/ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1) in the substantia nigra of midbrain was assessed by immunofluorescence, the protein expression of TH, α-synuclein (α-syn), Notch1, Hes1, Iba-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Arginase-1 (ARG1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 was detected by Western blot, the mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, in the model group, the stride frequency was accelerated (P<0.001) and the stride length was shortened (P<0.001) for the four limbs, the pole climbing test time was prolonged (P<0.01) and the grip level was reduced (P<0.01); in the substantia nigra of midbrain, the number of positive cells of TH was decreased (P<0.001), the number of co-expression positive cells of Notch1/Iba-1 was increased (P<0.001), the protein expression of α-syn, Notch1, Hes1, Iba-1, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 was increased (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.001), the protein expression of TH, ARG1 and IL-10 was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001), the mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the EA group, the stride frequency was decelerated (P<0.001) and the stride length was increased (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001) for the four limbs, the pole climbing test time was shortened (P<0.05) and the grip level was increased (P<0.05); in the substantia nigra of midbrain, the number of positive cells of TH was increased (P<0.01), the number of co-expression positive cells of Notch1/Iba-1 was decreased (P<0.001), the protein expression of α-syn, Notch1, Hes1, Iba-1, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β was decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the protein expression of TH, ARG1 and IL-10 was increased (P<0.05, P<0.001, P<0.01), the mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION EA can improve the behavioral performance and protect the dopaminergic neurons in PD mice, its mechanism may relate to the inhibition of Notch1/Hes1-mediated neuroinflammation, thus inhibiting the microglial activation.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Male ; Receptor, Notch1/metabolism* ; Parkinson Disease/physiopathology* ; Transcription Factor HES-1/metabolism* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Signal Transduction

Objective To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Pterocarya hupehensis Skan total flavonoids(PHSTF)for rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods Twenty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group,RA model group,PHSTF treatment(45 and 90 mg/kg)groups,and Tripterygium glycosides(TPG)tablet(10 mg/kg)group(n=5).Except for those in the normal control group,all the rats were subjected to collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)modeling using a secondary immunization method,after which PHSTF and TPG were administered via gavage once daily for 4 weeks.After the treatments,serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were measured using ELISA,and ankle joint pathologies were assessed with HE staining;the expression of citrullinated histone H3(Cit-H3),a neutrophil extracellular trap(NET)marker,in the ankle joints was evaluated with immunohistochemistry.In primary cultures of rat peripheral blood neutrophils stimulated with phorbol ester(PMA),the effects of PHSTF(100 and 200 μg/mL)on the expressions of Cit-H3,peptidylarginine deiminase 4(PADI4),neutrophil elastase(NE),and myeloperoxidase(MPO)were examined with Western blotting;immunofluorescence assay was used to observe Cit-H3 expression and NET formation in the cells.Results In the CIA rat models,PHSTF significantly alleviated ankle swelling,decreased serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β,improved histopathological changes in the ankle joints,and reduced Cit-H3 expression in both the serum and ankle joint cartilage.In the isolated rat neutrophils,PHSTF showed no significant effect on cell viability but strongly inhibited PMA-induced NET release.Conclusion PHSTF can alleviate RA by inhibiting the formation of NETs.

BACKGROUND:Oxidative injury is considered to be one of the important factors of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.Superoxide dismutase 2(SOD2)is a key mitochondrial antioxidant molecule,and fenofibrate can regulate the expression of SOD2 by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α. OBJECTIVE:To explore whether the mechanism of fenofibrate in the treatment of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury depends on the expression of SOD2. METHODS:The TALENs system was used to construct SOD2 transgenic mice.The transgenic mice were genotyped by PCR and DNA sequencing techniques.The expression of SOD2 protein in transgenic mice was detected by western blot assay.Wild-type and SOD2 transgenic mice were randomly divided into four groups:wild-type control group(n=6),wild-type fenofibrate group(n=6),SOD2 transgenic control group(n=5)and SOD2 transgenic fenofibrate group(n=5).A mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion was prepared using the suture-occlusion method.After 90 minutes of ischemia,the thread was removed to reperfuse cerebral blood flow for 30 minutes.A cerebral blood flow monitor was used to monitor local cerebral blood flow.Brain tissue slices were taken for 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining to analyze the situation of cerebral infarction in each group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After PCR and DNA sequencing analysis,nine SOD2+/+ transgenic mice were successfully constructed.After cerebral ischemia-reperfusion,the wild-type fenofibrate group showed partial recovery of cerebral blood flow and significantly reduced cerebral infarction volume compared with the wild-type control group(P<0.001).There was no significant difference in cerebral blood flow and cerebral infarction volume between the SOD2 transgenic fenofibrate group and the SOD2 transgenic control group.The SOD2 transgenic control was superior to the wild-type control group in terms of improving cerebral blood flow and cerebral infarction(P<0.001).There were also no significant differences in cerebral blood flow and cerebral infarction volume between the wild-type fenofibrate group and the SOD2 transgenic control group and between the wild-type fenofibrate group and the SOD2 transgenic fenofibrate group.To conclude,the expression of SOD2 is one of the mechanisms of fenofibrate in the treatment of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Objective To assess the impact of statins combined with sorafenib(SRF)therapy on survival outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma(mRCC).Methods Clinical data of mRCC patients treated in the 908th Hospital of the Joint Security Force from November 2019 to November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.They were categorized into statin group and non-statin group according to whether they used statins or not,and the differences in the primary endpoint of overall survival(OS),secondary endpoints of progression-free survival(PFS),objective response rate(ORR),and disease control rate(DCR)were compared between the two groups.Results A total of 80 patients were included in the study,with 27 in the statin group and 53 in the non-statin group.There were no statistically significant differences in partial remission,stable disease,disease progression,and DCR between the two groups(P＞0.05);complete remission and ORR were significantly higher in the statin group than in the non-statin group(P＜0.05).Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that,compared with the non-statin group,the median PFS and OS of the statin group were prolonged,and the difference in median PFS between the two groups was statistically significant(P＜0.05).In terms of safety,the incidence of other adverse events was similar in both groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Statins combined with SRF treatment regimen can improve ORR and DCR and prolong median PFS and OS in patients with mRCC.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of oxygen blowing combined with clostridium butyricum and bifidobacterium powders in neonatal diaper dermatitis(DD).Methods Data of neonatal DD patients admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University from January 2019 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.They were divided into the control group(oxygen blowing)and the experimental group(oxygen blowing combined with clostridium butyricum and bifidobacterium powders)according to whether or not they received clostridium butyricum and bifidobacterium powders treatment.The primary efficacy index of the study was the treatment efficiency,and the secondary efficacy indexes were the severity of DD(Neonatal Rash Scale score,DD score,and lesion area score),time to erythema resolution,time to vesicle resolution,and time to healing.Results A total of 99 patients were included in the study,with 42 in the experimental group and 57 in the control group.The treatment efficiency of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P＜0.05).With regard to the severity of DD,the papule and pustule scores,dermatitis extent scores,erythema severity scores,skin damage scores and lesion area scores of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group(P＜0.05);the proportions of moderate and severe syndrome in the experimental group were lower than those of the control group(P＜0.05).The time for erythema to subside,the time for vesicles to subside and the time for healing were shorter in the experimental group than in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Oxygen blowing combined with clostridium butyricum and bifidobacterium powders can significantly improve the clinical effect of neonatal DD,but the specific mechanism still needs to be explored.

Objective:To prepare rabbit polyclonal antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) N protein and use them as the detection antibodies to establish a N-ELISA-based method for rapid detection of neutralizing antibodies.Methods:A plasmid of pET30a-N for the expression of RSV N protein was constructed. After purification, the protein was immunized into New Zealand rabbits to prepare polyclonal antibodies, which were used as the detection antibodies. Positive serum samples were diluted and used to neutralize RSV (100 TCID 50/well). Hep-2 cells were inoculated and cultured, and then the cells were fixed with 80% acetone. ELISA was performed to detect RSV N protein in infected cells. When the absorbance value of a well was below the cut-off value, it was regarded as the positive well in the neutralization test. The highest dilution of a positive well serum was the neutralizing antibody titer. After optimizting the antibody dilution, detection time, cell density and the duration of neutralization, the method for neutralizing antibody detection was established based on N-ELISA. The established method was verified by analyzing the influences of different cell generations and edge effects, and calculating the accuracy, repeatability and precision. The correlation between the established method and microneutralization method was analyzed by detecting human RSV IgG-positive serum. Results:The plasmid pET30a-N was successfully constructed, and the expressed N protein showed high purity and good specificity. After the third immunization, the antibody titer in rabbit serum was 1∶51 200, and the antibodies could specifically bind to RSV. The prepared rabbit anti-RSV N polyclonal antibodies had a titer of 1∶51 200, and showed good specificity. The neutralizing antibodies could be detected on day 4 with the established method, and the duration of neutralization was shortened to 30 min. Cell generations and the position of wells in the 96-well plate (edge well and non-edge well) had no significant effect on the method, and the repeatability, precision and accuracy of the method were good. In the detection of 64 RSV IgG-positive human serum samples by the established method and microneutralization method, the correlation coefficient was 0.929 6, indicating a good positive correlation between the two methods.Conclusions:A N-ELISA-based method for rapid neutralizing antibody detection is successfully established, which can be used to evaluate the serum antibody level after RSV vaccination.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the major pathogens of acute respiratory infections, becoming a huge global burden. Virus-receptor interactions play a key role in the pathogenesis of RSV infection. The distribution of receptors influences the cellular and the tissue tropism of RSV as well as the viral replication and proliferation in the host. However, the RSV receptors are currently unknown, which is one of the reasons that hinders the development of RSV vaccines and therapeutic drugs. In this study, the existing RSV receptors are reviewed with the hope to provide ideas for the research of RSV vaccines and therapeutic drugs.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Pterocarya hupehensis Skan total flavonoids(PHSTF)for rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods Twenty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group,RA model group,PHSTF treatment(45 and 90 mg/kg)groups,and Tripterygium glycosides(TPG)tablet(10 mg/kg)group(n=5).Except for those in the normal control group,all the rats were subjected to collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)modeling using a secondary immunization method,after which PHSTF and TPG were administered via gavage once daily for 4 weeks.After the treatments,serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were measured using ELISA,and ankle joint pathologies were assessed with HE staining;the expression of citrullinated histone H3(Cit-H3),a neutrophil extracellular trap(NET)marker,in the ankle joints was evaluated with immunohistochemistry.In primary cultures of rat peripheral blood neutrophils stimulated with phorbol ester(PMA),the effects of PHSTF(100 and 200 μg/mL)on the expressions of Cit-H3,peptidylarginine deiminase 4(PADI4),neutrophil elastase(NE),and myeloperoxidase(MPO)were examined with Western blotting;immunofluorescence assay was used to observe Cit-H3 expression and NET formation in the cells.Results In the CIA rat models,PHSTF significantly alleviated ankle swelling,decreased serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β,improved histopathological changes in the ankle joints,and reduced Cit-H3 expression in both the serum and ankle joint cartilage.In the isolated rat neutrophils,PHSTF showed no significant effect on cell viability but strongly inhibited PMA-induced NET release.Conclusion PHSTF can alleviate RA by inhibiting the formation of NETs.