Objective To investigate the associations of baseline serum uric acid, bilirubin levels with short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods The clinical data in successive patients with acute ischemic stroke were colected, including the serum levels of uric acid and bilirubin on admission, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at discharge or at day14 (mRS 0-2 was defined as good outcome, > 2 was defined as poor outcome). Results A total of 162 patients with ischemic stroke were enroled, including 114 in the good outcome group and 48 in the poor outcome group. There were significant differences in proportions of the patients with diabetes melitus (51. 75% vs. 75. 00% ; χ2 = 7. 526, P = 0. 006), previous history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (18. 42% vs. 50. 00% ; χ2 = 17. 790, P = 0. 001), as wel as the baseline diastolic blood pressure (87. 061 ± 12. 245 mmHg vs. 82. 375 ± 10. 949 mmHg; t = 2. 293, P = 0. 023; 1 mmHg =0. 133 kPa), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1. 604 ± 0. 299 mmol/L vs. 1. 265 ± 0. 206 mmol/L; t =3. 227, P = 0. 002), fasting glucose (2. 875 ± 0. 438 mmol/L vs. 8. 160 ± 0. 592 mmol/L; t = - 4. 761, P <0. 001), uric acid (289. 365 ± 77. 168 μmol/L vs. 248. 206 ± 66. 206 μmol/L; t = 3. 111, P = 0. 002), total bilirubin (14. 673 ± 2. 213 μmol/L vs. 10. 395 ± 2. 714 μmol/L; t = 3. 779, P = 0. 001 ), direct bilirubin (6. 036 ± 1. 392 μmol/L vs. 4. 956 ± 1. 379 μmol/L; t = 2. 088, P = 0. 038), and indirect bilirubin (8. 634 ± 2. 307 μmol/L vs. 5. 439 ± 1. 223 μmol/L; t = 4. 219, P < 0. 001) levels between the 2 groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the previous history of stroke or TIA (odds ratio [ OR ] 3. 751, 95% confidence interval [CI ] 1. 395-10. 091; P = 0. 009) and baseline NIHSS score (OR 2. 723, 95% CI 1. 093-6. 783; P = 0. 031) were the independent risk factors for poor outcome of ischemic stroke; while uric acid (OR 0. 357, 95% CI 0. 141-0. 900; P = 0. 029), high-density lipoprotein (OR 0. 262, 95% CI 0. 079-0. 870; P = 0. 029), and indirect bilirubin (OR 0. 117, 95% CI 0. 025-0. 539; P = 0. 006) were independently correlated with good outcome. Conclusions The increased baseline uric acid and indirect bilirubin levels are the favorable factors for good outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences of the clinical effects, side effects and treatment-related cost between two kinds of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT).

METHODSForty-four inpatients with acute, subacute, and chronic wounds were divided into simplified NPWT group (A group) and conventional NPWT group (B group) according to the random number table. Wounds of patients in A group were treated with gauze + continuous suction with hospital central negative pressure (-10.64 kPa) for 24 hs; wounds of patients in B group were treated with sponge + interrupted suction with a purpose-designed suction appliance (-16.63 kPa) for 24 hs. Gross wound condition, treatment time, survival rates of skin graft and flap, changes of bacterial species on wound, treatment cost, and ratio of side effects between two groups were compared.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between A and B groups in respect of gross wound condition, treatment time [A group (29 +/- 12) d, B group (26 +/- 13) d, P > 0.05], changes of bacterial species, survival rates of skin graft [A group (98 +/- 4)%, B group (98 +/- 4)%, P > 0.05] and flap (A group 98%, B group 100%, P > 0.05). Treatment cost of A group yen(374 +/- 134) was obviously lower than that of B group yen(9825 +/- 4956) (P < 0. 01), while more side effects were observed in A group (33.3%) than that in B group (5.0%) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBoth simplified NPWT and NPWT with purpose-designed appliance can effectively improve wound healing. The simplified method may cause many side effects and has a potential risk of inciting nosocomial infection, but it can be conveniently employed with a low cost. In contrast, the cost of using purpose-designed appliance should be cut down to meet the aim of generalization.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; methods ; Wound Healing ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on the treatment of complicated and refractory wounds.

METHODSSixty-seven patients with complicated or refractory wounds admitted to our hospital from September 2005 to November 2008 were randomly divided into NPWT group (n = 35) and conventional treatment (CT) group (n = 32). Wounds of patients in NPWT group were treated with interrupted suction under a pressure of -16.63 kPa for 24 hs, or continuous suction under a pressure of -10.64 kPa for 24 hs. Wounds of patients in CT group were covered with petrolatum gauze overlaid with isotonic saline gauze and dry gauze. Duration of treatment, times of operation, treatment cost, and the process of healing were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe duration of treatment, treatment cost and times of operation of patients in NPWT group were obviously less or fewer than those of CT group (P < 0.05). Wounds of patients in NPWT group were mainly healed by themselves (40.0%) or healed after free skin grafting (40.0%). While wounds in patients in CT group healed mainly after tissue flap transplantation (66.7%) or free skin grafting (23.3%).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with CT, NPWT can shorten the length of hospital stay, reduce operation frequency and treatment cost, and it is easier to carry out in the surgery of treating complicated and refractory wounds, which is worth generalization.

Adult ; Aged ; Diabetic Foot ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Pressure Ulcer ; surgery ; Wound Healing

Objective:To investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic variation of Basel-Vanagaite-Smirin-Yosef syndrome (BVSYS), and to enhance clinicians′ knowledge of the disease.Methods:The clinical data of a child with BVSYS admitted to the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Qingdao Women and Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University in February 2023 were collected. Whole genome sequencing was used to analyze the pathogenic genes of the child, and Sanger sequencing was used to verify the suspected mutation sites of the family members. The clinical phenotype and genetic variation characteristics were analyzed, and the clinical characteristics of BVSYS were summarized in combination with relevant literature.Results:The patient, a female aged 3 years and 1 month, presented with global developmental delay, speech disorder, distinctive facial features, esotropia, epilepsy, hypotonia and atrial septal defect. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral ventriculomegaly with abnormal signal intensity in the posterior bodies of both lateral ventricles and thinning of the corpus callosum. The whole genome sequencing revealed a homozygous missense mutation c.518 (exon5) T>C (p.IIe173Thr) in the MED25 gene of the child, and Sanger sequencing confirmed that her parents and elder brother carried the aforementioned heterozygous mutation, which was classified as a likely pathogenic mutation according to the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. A total of 22 cases from 6 literature sources were retrieved, with no reported cases in China so far. Conclusions:BVSYS is clinically rare. For patients presenting with unexplained global developmental delay or intellectual disability combined with craniofacial, neurological, cardiac, and eye abnormalities, targeted genetic testing can facilitate a definite diagnosis.

Objective:To explore the protective effect and the mechanism of Danggui Shaoyaosan（DSS） on angiotensin Ⅱ （AngⅡ）/transient receptor potential cation channel 6 （TRPC6） pathway in nephrotic syndrome （NS） rats. Method:In animal experiments， doxorubicin （4 mg·kg^-1 for the 1^st week and 2 mg·kg^-1 for the 2^nd week） was injected twice to the tail vein of rats to induce NS model in 160 rats， which were then randomly divided into model group （normal saline）， losartan group （30 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， and low-（4.3 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， medium-（8.6 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and high-dose （17.2 g·kg^-1·d^-1） DSS groups. Besides， a normal group was also set. After intervention for four weeks， ultrastructure changes of the kidney were identified by transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. The 24-hour urine protein was detected by kits. Radioimmunoassay was used to detect the content of AngⅡ and Calcineurin （CaN） in plasma. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of TRPC6， angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor （AT1R）， podocyte slit diaphragm-specific protein （Nephrin）， and cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 （Caspase-3） in the renal cortex. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of TRPC6 and AT1R in the slit diaphragm. In cell experiments， AngⅡ stimulated MPC5 podocytes. The cells were randomly divided into a normal group， an AngⅡ group， an AngⅡ+SAR7334 （TRPC6-specific inhibitor） group， an AngⅡ+5%DSS group， an AngⅡ+10%DSS group， and an AngⅡ+15%DSS group. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of TRPC6， AT1R， Nephrin， and Caspase-3 in podocytes. Result:Compared with the normal group， the model group showed increased 24-hour urine protein content （P<0.01） and AngⅡ and CaN in plasma （P<0.01）， incomplete glomerular structure， the extensive fusion of podocyte process with elevated fusion rate （P<0.01）， increased expression distribution of AT1R and TRPC6 in the renal cortex， and up-regulated protein expression of AT1R， TRPC6， and Caspase-3 in renal tissues （P<0.01）， and reduced Nephrin protein expression （P<0.01）. Compared with model group， the losartan group and the high-dose DSS group exhibited decreased 24-hour urine protein content （P<0.01） and the content of AngⅡ and CaN in plasma （P<0.01）， improved glomerular structure， reduced fusion rate of podocyte process （P<0.01）， diminished expression distribution of TRPC6 and AT1R in the renal cortex， declining protein expression of AT1R， TRPC6 and Caspase-3 in renal tissues （P<0.01）， and elevated Nephrin protein expression （P<0.01）. Additionally， compared with the normal podocytes， AngⅡ-stimulated podocytes showed increased protein expression of AT1R， TRPC6 and Caspase-3 （P<0.01）， and decreased expression of Nephrin （P<0.01）. Compared with the AngⅡ group， the AngⅡ+SAR7334 group displayed reduced protein expression of AT1R， TRPC6， and Caspase-3 （P<0.01） and increased protein expression of Nephrin （P<0.01）. Conclusion:DSS can improve the pathological characteristics of NS presumedly by inhibiting the interaction between AngⅡ and TRPC6 in podocytes and improving the structural integrity of podocytes to repair the damage of glomerular molecular barrier and slow down the progression of NS-induced proteinuria.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the physiological features of Ano1 were affected by enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fusing at Ano1 C-terminal. The eukaryotic expression vectors of Ano1 and EGFP-Ano1 were constructed, and these plasmids were transfected into Fischer rat thyroid follicular epithelial (FRT) cells using liposome. The expression and location of Ano1 were examined by using inverted fluorescence microscope. The ability of Ano1 to transport iodide was detected by kinetics experiment of fluorescence quenching. The results showed that both Ano1 and EGFP-Ano1 were expressed on FRT cell membrane and could be activated by Ca(2+). There was no significant difference of the ability to transport iodide between Ano1 and EGFP-Ano1. These results suggest Ano1 and EGFP-Ano1 have similar physiological feature.
Animals ; Anoctamin-1 ; Cell Membrane ; physiology ; Chloride Channels ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; physiology ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Plasmids ; Rats ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; metabolism ; Thyroid Gland ; cytology ; Transfection

Objective To describe the microbiological characteristics of ()CGMCC 12426 and determine and analyze its complete genome sequences.Methods strain CGMCC 12426 genomic DNA sequencing was performed on a single molecule real-time sequencing(SMRT)platform and the annotation was completed in the NCBI Prokaryotic Genomic Annotation Pipeline(pGAP).Results The complete genomic sequences of the released CGMCC 12426 consisted of a 4 138 265-bp circular chromosome and a 74 165-bp plasmid,which resulted in the prediction of 4581 genes including 4222 coding sequences,87 tRNAs,and 30 rRNAs(which included 5S rRNA,16S rRNA,and 23S rRNA).Conclusion The genome sequencing provided a basis for further investigations on the genetic background of and on the metabolic and regulatory mechanisms.
Bacillus subtilis ; genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Plasmids ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5S ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Aim Human TMPRSS2 is a transmembrane serine protease.In this paper, the structure and func¬tion of the protein were systematically analyzed by bioinformatics, the codon was optimized and the pro- karvotie expression vector was constructed to explore the molecular mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infecting host cells.Methods The recombinant expression vector pET-22b-TMPRSS2 was generated by molecular clo¬ning technology.The homology, functional sites, sub¬cellular localization, three-dimensional structure and evolutionary characteristics of TMPRSS2 protein were systematically analyzed by using analytical tools such as Protparam, NetPhos3.1, Blast, Clustal X2 and MEGA7.0.Results The prokarvotic expression plas- mid was constructed correctly; TMPRSS2 belongs to medium molecular weight protein, which is composed of 492 amino acid residues.The theoretical isoelectric point is 8.12, the molecular extinction coefficient is 118 145 L • mol~1 • cm"1 , and the half-life is 30 h; TMPRSS2 has 15 potential glycosylation sites and 49 possible phosphorylation sites.It is a transmembrane hydrophilie protein without signal sequenee.In addi¬tion, the protein has 13 potential B-cell epitopes and 7 T-eell epitopes.Seeondarv structure analysis showed that random coil accounted for the highest proportion of TMPRSS2 protein ( 0.453 3) , followed by extended strand (0.252 0).Sequence comparison and evolu¬tionary analysis showed that the highest sequence con¬sistency and closest genetic relationship with human TMPRSS2 was Pan troglodytes, followed by gorilla.Conclusions Human-derived TMPRSS2 protein is ev- olutionarilv conserved and functionally important.Hie results of this study can help to reveal the structure and mechanism of action of TMPRSS2 protein, provide ide¬as for the diagnosis and treatment of COYID-19, and accelerate the research and development process of new drugs targeting TMPRSS2 protein.

Whether in the West or the East, the connection between the ear and the rest of the body has been explored for a long time. Especially in the past century or more, the relevant theoretical and applied research on the ear has greatly promoted the development of ear therapy, and finally the concept of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been proposed. The purpose of taVNS is to treat a disease non-invasively by applying electrical current to the cutaneous receptive field formed by the auricular branch of the vagus nerve in the outer ear. In the past two decades, taVNS has been a topic of basic, clinical, and transformation research. It has been applied as an alternative to drug treatment for a variety of diseases. Based on the rapid understanding of the application of taVNS to human health and disease, some limitations in the development of this field have also been gradually exposed. Here, we comprehensively review the origin and research status of the field.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma （GR）-containing serum on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced inflammation in human colon epithelial adenocarcinoma cells （Caco2） based on inhibition of ferroptosis by the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） pathway. MethodCaco2 cells were divided into a normal group， a model group （LPS， 200 μg·L^-1）， low-， medium-， and high-dose GR-containing serum groups （5%， 10%， 20%）， and a ferroptosis inhibitor group （3-amino-4-cyclohexylamino-benzoic acid ethyl ester， Fer-1， 10 μmol·L^-1）. The cells in the normal group were cultured normally， while those in other groups underwent the induction of an inflammation model. The cells in the low-， medium-， and high-dose GR-containing serum groups were treated with 5%， 10%， and 20% GR-containing serum for 24 hours， respectively， and the cells in the ferroptosis inhibitor group were treated with Fer-1 for 24 hours. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe mitochondrial morphology in each group. Flow cytometry was used to detect intracellular Fe²⁺ levels. Microplate assays were performed to measure superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity， malondialdehyde （MDA） and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） levels. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， IL-6， IL-10， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） levels. Western blot was used to measure the expression levels of Nrf2， HO-1， ferritin heavy chain 1 （FTH1）， and glutathione peroxidase 4 （GSH-Px4） proteins. Small interfering RNA （siRNA） was used to investigate the role of Nrf2 in ferroptosis regulation. The cells after interference were divided into a negative control （NC） group， a Si-Nrf2 group， a GR-containing serum （20%） + Si-Nrf2 group， and a GR-containing serum （20%） + NC group. Microplate assays were performed to measure MDA， SOD， and GSH-Px levels， and Western blot was used to measure the expression levels of Nrf2， HO-1， FTH1， and GSH-Px4 proteins. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed mitochondrial contraction， increased mitochondrial membrane thickness， and smaller mitochondrial morphology， increased Fe²⁺ content （P<0.01）， blunted SOD activity （P<0.01）， decreased GSH-Px expression （P<0.01）， increased MDA content （P<0.01）， reduced expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 （P<0.05）， reduced FTH1 expression （P<0.01）， and down-regulated GSH-Px4 expression （P<0.01）. In the GR-containing serum groups， the medium- and high-dose groups showed a significant decrease in Fe²⁺ content （P<0.01）， potentiated SOD and GSH-Px activities （P<0.01）， and decreased MDA levels （P<0.01）. The high-dose group showed a significant increase in Nrf2 expression （P<0.05）， and the medium-dose group showed increased expression of HO-1 and GSH-Px4 proteins （P<0.05）. The expression levels of FTH1 significantly increased in the low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （P<0.01）. The study on mechanism revealed that compared with the NC group， the cells transfected with Nrf2 siRNA showed increased MDA content （P<0.01）， blunted SOD activity （P<0.01）， decreased GSH-Px activity （P<0.01）， decreased expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 （P<0.01）， and reduced levels of FTH1 and GSH-Px4 proteins （P<0.01）. Compared with the Si-Nrf2 group， the cells treated with GR-containing serum showed a decrease in MDA content （P<0.01）， an increase in SOD activity （P<0.01）， an increase in GSH-Px activity （P<0.01）， increased expression of Nrf2 and FTH1 proteins （P<0.05）， and higher expression levels of HO-1 and GSH-Px4 proteins （P<0.01）. ConclusionGR-containing serum can reduce the inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress levels in LPS-induced Caco2 cells. Its mechanism is related to the promotion of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway expression， alleviating intracellular lipid peroxidation and inhibiting ferroptosis.