Objective To investigate the possible regulating effect of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) towards matrix metalloproteinase-9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-9/TIMP-1) ratio in the process of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human kidney proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells.Methods HK-2 cells were cultured and stimulated with 10 ng/ml TGF-β1.Specific ILK-small interfering RNA (ILK-siRNA) was used to inhibit ILK expression.The characteristic epithelial marker (E-cadherin) and mesenchymal marker (α-SMA) of EMT were examined by Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) and Western blot.The expressions of ILK,MMP-9,and TIMP-1 were also examined,to determine the regulating effect of ILK towards MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio.Results In the HK-2 cells cultured with TGF-β1,the expression of E-cadherin decreased,and α-SMA expression increased;overexpression of ILK and an abnormal changing of MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio were observed.ILK inhibition by ILK-siRNA could adjust MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio to near normal.Meanwhile,the overexpressed ILK and α-SMA were decreased.Conclusions Our data indicates that ILK-siRNA successfully inhibits ILK expression,which regulates the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in HK-2 cells.The inhibition of ILK expression suppresses TGF-β1-induced EMT partially.

Objective: To analyze the trend of the burden of leukemia among people under 35 years in China from 1990 to 2019. Methods: Incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) of leukemia among people under 35 years in China from 1990 to 2019 were collected by using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study Database 2019. The trends in leukemia incidence, mortality and DALY rates were analyzed using the average annual percent change (AAPC) and age-period-cohort model. Results: From 1990 to 2019, the incidence, mortality and DALY rates of leukemia among people under 35 years in China showed a downward trend (AAPC=-2.336%, -3.604% and -3.589%, all P<0.05), with more pronounced downward trends in females (AAPC=-3.209%, -3.787% and -3.818%, all P<0.05) than in males (AAPC=-2.521%, -3.292% and -3.306%, all P<0.05). According to the age-period-cohort model, the risks of leukemia incidence, mortality and DALY rates decreased with increasing age. Among them, the children under 5 years had the highest risks of leukemia incidence, mortality and DALY rates (RR=4.697, 2.718 and 3.059). Over time, the risks of leukemia incidence, mortality and DALY rates also decreased from 1990-1994 (RR=1.217, 1.264 and 1.296) to 2015-2019 (RR=0.901, 0.696 and 0.691). With regard to birth cohorts, the risks of leukemia incidence, mortality and DALY rates first increased and then decreased, peaking in the 1986-1990 birth cohort (RR=1.335, 1.192 and 1.231). Conclusions The incidence, mortality and DALY rates of leukemia among people under 35 years in China from 1990 to 2019 showed a downward trend. Males and children under 5 years were the key populations for leukemia prevention and control.

Objective To analyze the correlation between coronary artery lesion complexity and left ventricular funotion index of patients.Methods A total of 69 patients with coronary heart disease were selected in the study and were divided into low- risk(27 cases),medium-risk(23 cases) and high-risk (19 cases) groups according to the SYNTAX score.The difference in left ventricular function among the three groups were compared by ANOVA, and the correlation between coronary artery SYNTAX score and left ventricular function index was evaluated by Spearman rank correlation analysis.Results The differences in left ventricular end-diastolic volume(EDV),end-systolic volume(ESV),stroke volume(SV),ejection fraction(EF) and muscle mass(MM) among the groups were statistically signifcant (F=7.254,9.181, 13.004, 7.544 and 5.276,P<0.05).The coronary SYNTAX score was negatively corelated with the EF (r=-0.702,P<0.05),but positively correlated with the MM (r=0.638, P<0.05).Conclusion Coronary SYNTAX score is negatively correlated with left ventricular EF, but positively correlated with MM.

Objective:To investigate the effect of heat shock protein B8 (HspB8) downregulation on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) and retinal function in the mice model of optic nerve injury (ONC).Methods:Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) 2 AAV2-shHspB8-GFP was constructed to knockdown HspB8. 66 adult male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into the control group, the ONC group, the AAV2-shHspB8 group, the ONC+AAV2-shHspB8 group, and the ONC+AAV2-GFP group. There were 10, 20, 16, 10 and 10 mice respectively, and both eyes were used as experimental eyes. Western blot was used to evaluate the expression of HspB8 on day 3 and 7 after ONC. By GFP immunofluorescence staining, the efficacy of AAV2-shHspB8-GFP transfer was accessed. Moreover, it was possible to identify functional and RGC survival differences between groups by optomotor response (OMR), dark adapted full-field flash electroretinogram (ff-ERG), oscillatory potentials (OPs), photopic negative response (PhNR) and retinal flat-mount RGC counting 5 days after ONC. Comparisons between two groups were made using Mann-Whitney U test, unpaired t-test, unpaired t-test with Welch’s correction, one-way ANOVA, and Bonferroni t test. Results:Compared with the control group, the expression of HSPB8 protein in the retina of mice in ONC3 group was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=43.63, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the ONC group showed obviously lower visual acuity ( P<0.01), lower a-wave, b-wave, OPs, PhNR amplitude, longer b-wave latency ( P<0.05), and the survival rates of RGC in ONC3 group, ONC5 group and ONC7 group decreased in a time-dependent manner( F=384.90, P<0.01). Transfection of AAV2 efficiency was highest on 4 weeks after IVT. Besides, there was no significant differences between the control group and the AAV2-shHspB8 group on visual acuity, ff-ERG, OPs, PhNR and RGC survival ( P>0.05). In comparison of the control group, we found that RGC survival of the ONC5+AAV2-shHspB8 group was significantly elevated ( F=10.62, P<0.01). Conclusions:Expression of HspB8 on the retina can be induced by ONC. The investigation of RGC counting, visual acuity, and ff-ERG revealed that optic nerve injury destructed functionality of mice retina and resulted to RGC death ultimately. The Most crucial finding of this research is that HspB8 knockdown had a neuroprotective effect in RGC after ONC.

OBJECTIVETo research the mechanism of dormancy and find out the breaking method for the seeds of Epimedium wushanense.

METHODThe water permeability of seed coat was tested by weighing seeds. The germination inhibitor of the seeds were determined with biotic measurement. The development of embryos, germination rate and germination potential were determined after stratification.

RESULTThe water permeability of seed coat was 41.86% after 5 h. The extracts of seeds had strong inhibition effects to the length growth of cabbage seedlings. The growth and development of embryos under the cold stratification (5 degrees C) were better than that under the other conditions. The embryo rate extended from 15.39% to 86.21% after 90 d. Germination rate and germination potential after stratification under 5 degrees C were significantly higher than that under other temperatures.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that there was no obstacle of water permeability on the test of E. wushanense, after-ripening of embryogenesis and the germination inhibitor of the seed were the main reason for the seed dormancy. The cold stratification would be an effective way for breaking of the dormancy, which could significantly promote the seed embryogenesis and increase germination rate comparing to other methods.

Epimedium ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Plant Dormancy ; drug effects ; physiology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Solvents ; pharmacology ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Water ; pharmacology

Objective To explore the correlation between serum uric acid level and coronary artery SYNTAX score of coronary heart disease.Methods A total of 69 patients of coronary heart disease were enrolled according to SYNTAX score.The patients were divided into the low risk group (27 cases),medium risk group (23 cases) and high risk group (19 cases).The differences of serum uric acid concentrations among the three groups were compared by ANOVA.Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum uric acid concentrations and coronary artery SYNTAX scores.Results ANOVA analysis showed that the differences of serum uric acid concentrations among the groups were statistical significant (F=4.74,P＜0.05).The Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum uric acid concentrations were positively correlated with coronary SYNTAX score (r =0.58,P ＜0.05).Conclusion Serum uric acid level and severity of coronary artery disease are positively correlative.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Krüppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) on the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and electroretinogram (ERG) after retinal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR) injury in mice.Methods:A total of 126 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal group, RIR group, normal-KLF7 group, normal-green fluorescent protein (GFP) group, RIR-KLF7 group and RIR-GFP group. At the age of 8 weeks, mice of normal-KLF7 group and RIR-KLF7 group were intravitreally injected 1ul of 1.0×10 12 vg/ml adeno-associated virus overexpressing KLF7 (AAV2-KLF7-GFP). Mice of normal-GFP group and RIR-GFP group were injected adeno-associated virus of AAV2-GFP with the same titer. At the age of 11 weeks, RIR injury was induced in mice of RIR group, RIR-KLF7 group and RIR-GFP group, and intraocular pressure was measured. Retinal cryosections were used to access the efficacy of virus transfection 4 weeks after AAV2-KLF7-GFP transfer. 7 days after RIR injury, RGCs' survival rate was observed and quantified by immunofluorescent staining. ERG was performed to observe the differences in amplitudes and incubation period of scotopic ERG a-, b-wave, oscillatory potentials (Ops), photopic negative responses (PhNR). Optomotor response was performed to observe the differences of visual acuity. Expression of KLF7 was detected by western blot 4 weeks after AAV2-KLF7-GFP transfer. Results:Compared with normal group, RGCs’ survival rates, amplitudes of ERG a-, b-wave, Ops, PhNR and visual acuity of mice in RIR group were decreased, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=12.860, 7.157, 5.735, 8.953, 4.744, 9.887; P<0.05). With the increase of light intensity, the amplitudes of scotopic ERG a- and b-wave were gradually increased while the incubation period was gradually shortened. Compared with RIR group, RGCs’ survival rates, amplitudes of ERG a-, b-wave, Ops, PhNR and visual acuity of mice in RIR-KLF7 group were increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=6.350, 3.253, 3.695, 5.825, 5.325, 4.591; P<0.05). Protein level of KLF7 was up-regulated in normal-KLF7 group than those in normal group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=4.105, P<0.01). Conclusion:Overexpression of KLF7 can improve RGCs’ survival rates and preserve the electrophysiological function.

Objective:To develop an Role Adaptation Questionnaire for Nursing Assistants and test its reliability and validity.Methods:Based on Hershenson's work adaptation model, combined with relevant literature and interview results, the preliminary questionnaire was formed through research group discussion, expert content review and cognitive interview. Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 799 nursing assistants were included in the questionnaire for reliability and validity test from October to December 2022.Results:The Role Adaptation Questionnaire for Nursing Assistants consisted of 10 dimensions and 48 items. The total Cronbach's α coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.95, the split-half reliability was 0.87, the average scale-level content validity was 0.97, and the item-level content validity was 0.83-1.00. A total of 10 factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis, and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 66.13%. The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the questionnaire model was well adapted, with good convergent and discriminant validity.Conclusions:The Role Adaptation Questionnaire for Nursing Assistants has good reliability and validity, which can be used to evaluate the level of role adaptation for nursing assistants.

Objective:To investigate the expression of integrin-linked kinase (ILK)/zinc finger transcription factor (Snail) signaling pathway in renal tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in diabetic nephropathy (DN) and the effect of rhein.Methods:Healthy male Wistar rats of 8 weeks old were randomly divided into normal group, diabetic nephropathy group, rhein intervention group and valsartan intervention group, with 12 rats in each group. Streptozotocin (STZ) was used to induce the diabetic nephropathy model, then rhein intervention group and valsartan intervention group were given rhein 100 mg/(kg·d) and valsartan 30 mg/(kg·d), respectively. At the end of the 8th and 16th week, six rats of each group were killed, in situ lavage kidney, take out the kidney tissue of rats after fixed in wax block and slices. Renal tubular interstitial damage index and the relative area of interstitial collagen evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining respectively. The protein expression of E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), ILK, Snail and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-2) in renal tubular epithelial cells were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:Comparing to normal group, the renal tubular interstitial damage index and relative area of renal interstitial collagen of diabetic nephropathy rats were both increased. The expression of E-cadherin in renal tubular epithelial cells decreased and the expression of α-SMA significantly increased ( P<0.05). Comparing with diabetic nephropathy group, in rhein and valsartan intervention groups, the expression of E-cadherin in renal tubular epithelial cells increased, while the expression of α-SMA significantly decreased ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the above indexes between rhein intervention group and valsartan intervention group ( P>0.05). Compared to normal group, the expressions of ILK, Snail, MMP-2 increased progressively with the disease ( P<0.05). Compared with diabetic nephropathy group, rhein and valsartan intervention groups showed significant decrease in expression of ILK, Snail, MMP-2 ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the above indexes between rhein intervention group and valsartan intervention group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Rhein could inhibit EMT progression by down-regulating the expression of ILK/Snail signaling pathway in renal tubular epithelial cells of DN rats.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the cardia morphology under magnetically controlled capsule gastroscopy and the clinical characteristics of subjects.Methods:A total of 216 subjects with gastrointestinal symptoms or receiving physical examination who underwent magnetically controlled capsule gastroscopy at the Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University from August 2022 to November 2022 were enrolled. All subjects took gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (Gerd-Q) survey. Clinical data of subjects were collected, and images of cardia morphology under magnetically controlled capsule gastroscopy were recorded. The subjects were divided into 4 groups according to differrent cardia morphology based on the degree of relaxation. The clinical characteristics of each group were compared, and the influencing factors for cardia morphology were analyzed.Results:In non-swallowing state, 116 subjects showed good continuous closure of the cardia in plum shape (group A), 33 subjects radial closure of cardia (group B), 46 subjects slightly relaxed linear cardia (group C) and 21 subjects relaxed and continuous opening of cardia in the shape of cave (group D). The ages of subjects in group A, B, C and D were 35.00 (31.00, 42.00) years, 53.00 (37.50, 60.50) years, 61.50 (41.50, 68.25) years and 52.00 (39.00, 70.00) years, respectively, with significant differences ( H=44.348, P<0.001). The Gerd-Q scores of subjects in group A, B, C and D were 1.50 (1.00, 2.00), 3.00 (2.00, 6.50), 8.00 (5.75, 9.00) and 8.00 (7.50, 9.00), respectively, with significant differences ( H=90.788, P<0.001). The body mass index (BMI) of subjects in group A, B, C and D were 22.66 (19.53, 24.70) kg/m 2, 23.44 (21.41, 27.05) kg/m 2, 23.77 (21.19, 26.93) kg/m 2 and 23.73 (19.63,24.79) kg/m 2, respectively, with significant differences ( H=8.114, P=0.044). The degree of cardia relaxation was positively correlated with the age ( rs=0.456, P<0.001), Gerd-Q score ( rs=0.648, P<0.001) and BMI ( rs=0.146, P=0.032) of subjects. Conclusion:The magnetically controlled capsule gastroscopy provides good visualisation of cardia morphology in non-swallowing state. There is a positive correlation between the degree of cardia relaxation under magnetically controlled capsule gastroscopy in non-swallowing state and the subjects' age, Gerd-Q score, and BMI.