Objective To study the mechanism of endoplamic reticulum stress(ERS)pretreatment induced by 2-DG on the auditory cortex injury after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Methods The SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups,sham group,I/R group,and ERS pretreatment group. Tread occlusion was used to prepare the model of MCAO in the mice for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 24 h. Neurological assessment was exercised and brain infarction volume was evaluated. The auditory brainstem response was tested. The pathological changes were observed by HE staining. Neurocyte apoptosis was observed by Tunel ,and the apop-tosis index(AI)was determined. Expression of GRP78 and Caspase-12 were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the sham group,the neurological scores,ratio of infarct volume and the hearing thresh-olds in I/R group increased significantly. HE staining showed the normal structure disappeared ,and apoptotic index increased significantly. Expression of GRP78 and Caspase-12 protein significantly up-regulated. Compared with I/R group,the indicators above showed improvement to some degrees. Conclusions The ERS pretreatment can alleviate the ischemia-reperfusion injury and neuron apoptosis in auditory cortex ,and reduce the possibility of hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: The pathogenesis of depression is not fully understood yet, but studies have suggested higher circulating C reactive protein (CRP) level might relate to depression occurrence. However, due to high variability of patients’ individual condition, the results to date are inconsistent. Considering CRP single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could also regulate plasma CRP levels, in the present study, we hypothesized that inherited CRP allelic variations may co-vary with depressive symptomatology. METHODS: We recruited 60 depression patients with family depression history and 60 healthy control volunteers into this project. We detected circulation CRP level as well as genome CRP SNPs from participants of this project. RESULTS: We have found a significantly higher circulating CRP level in patients with a positive family history. Furthermore, we also identified some certain inherited CRP SNPs (A allele in rs1417938 and C allele in rs1205) could up regulate serum CRP level and distributed more in depression patients with family history. CONCLUSION: Our finding may raise new evidence that genetically increased serum CRP level through SNPs variation is likely to induce family inherited depression.
Alleles ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Depression* ; Genome ; Humans ; Plasma ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Volunteers

Objective To explore the value of combined detection of serum pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase isoenzyme 4(PDK4),2,4-dienoyl coenzyme A reductase 1(DECR1)and matrix metalloproteinase 1(MMP1)in the diagnosis,clinical grading and prognosis of diabetes cardiomyopathy(DCM).Methods A sum of 26 patients with diabetes cardiomyopathy(DCM group)and 120 patients with diabetes non cardiomyopathy(control group)who were admitted to Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital from October 2021 to October 2023 were selected.The expression levels of PDK4,DECR1 and MMP1 proteins in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)to evaluate the diagnostic value of these three detection indicators in DCM.Results Compared with the Control group,the levels of serum PDK4(131.38±10.20 pg/ml vs 82.69±8.17 pg/ml),DECR1(152.06±12.57 pg/ml vs 86.14±9.55 pg/ml)and MMP1(40.27±4.02 μg/ml vs 17.77±0.98 μg/ml)protein in the diabetes cardiomyopathy(DCM)group were significantly higher,and the differences were statistically significant(t=36.24,47.63,12.29,all P＜0.001).In the DCM group,the protein expression levels of serum PDK4,DECR1 and MMP1 were correlated with NYHA cardiac function grading,while the protein expression levels were significantly increased with the grade increasing,and the differences between the groups were statistically significant(F=24.12,30.04,12.66,all P＜0.001).In the DCM group,compared with the mild group,the expression levels of serum PDK4(164.92±1.35pg/ml vs 122.48±8.78pg/ml),DECR1(192.17±9.11pg/ml vs 124.36±10.83pg/ml)and MMP1(84.44±7.38 μg/ml vs 39.41±3.05 μ g/ml)proteins were significantly increased in patients with moderate to severe illness,and the differences were statistically significant(t=26.33,47.12,15.41,all P＜0.001).The accuracy(x2=18.23,21.37,22.07),specificity(x2=9.72,13.43,15.12)and sensitivity(x2=12.07,16.07,17.55)of serum PDK4,DECR1 and MMP1 were significantly higher than those of single Test(all P＜0.05),the results of ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of combined detection was 0.955,which was significantly higher than that of single detection(Z=16.67,17.09,20.44,all P＜0.05).Conclusion Serum PDK4,DECR1 and MMP1 are related to the diagnosis,clinical grading and prognosis of diabetes cardiomyopathy.The combined detection of the three is helpful to the differential diagnosis of diabetes cardiomyopathy.

Objective To produce a plastic ampoule with an opening that fits syringe adapters to allow solutions to be drawn up without needles (to avoid needle stick and sharps injuries) and to test the effectiveness of the new design in terms of residual fluid volume and risk of microorganism contamination. Methods Evaluation study based on laboratory research was adopted. For the experimental group, 30 ampoules based on the new design were produced by 3D printing. The ampoules were sterilized and filled with 2 ml sterile water. The sterile water was drawn up without the use of needles, and the wastage fluid (i.e., 2 ml minus the quantity drawn up) was calculated. A 1 ml aliquot of sterile water from each ampoule was dropped onto a nutrient agar plate, and the number of colony-forming units was assessed after 48 h. For each ampoule, the experiment was performed twice. Sixty 2 ml glass-packaged sterile water injections constituted the control group. The fluid was drawn up with a needle, and the superfluous fluid and number of colony-forming units were assessed, as in the experimental group. Results The mean wastage fluid was 0.06 ml, 95% CI was 0.05-0.07 ml in the experimental group and the superfluous fluid was 0.06 ml, 95% CI was 0.06-0.07 ml in the control group, there was no significant difference between the two groups (Z=-1.194, P=0.233). The number of colony-forming units was 8 in the experimental group and 4 in the control group, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.224). Conclusions The newly designed plastic ampoule opening could help health workers to avoid needle stick and sharps injuries when drawing up solution. The wastage fluid and microorganism contamination levels met the required standards, indicating that the new design is suitable for clinical application.

Objective To study the effect and mechanism of endoplamic reticulum stress on the auditory cortex injury after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.Methods 30 healthy male adult SD rats were chosen and randomly divided into 2 groups,ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) group and sham operated control,with each group 15 rats.The rats in I/R group were operated for suture-occluded method to establish middle cerebral artery occlusionmodel(MCAO),with ischemia for 60 mins followed by reperfusion for 24 h.And the control group was only to be isolated cervical vessels,with no thread embolism inserted.The auditory brainstem response (ABR) was tested before operation and at 24 h post-operation respectively.The neurological deficits,ratio of infarct volume were evaluated.The pathological changes were observed by HE.Neurocyte apoptosis were observed by Tunel,and the AI were determined.The expression of GRP78,Caspase-12 were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Results Compared with the sham group,the neurological function scores,the infarct volume of brain of I/R group increased significantly.The threshold of ABR elevated significantly and AI rised in I/R group.HE staining showed that the neurons in the sham group were arranged in order,the shape was normal,but in the I/R group the normal structure disappeared,the nuclei were condensed.The expression of GRP78,Caspase-12 protein were significantly up-regulated.All of the differences above have statistical significance(P＜0.05).Conclusion The mechanism of hearing loss after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats is perhaps related to endoplamic reticulum stress,and GRP78,Caspase-12 participate in the process of neuron apoptosis on auditory cortex caused by ERS.

Objective To analyze the levels of serum thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor ( TAFI) in patients with chronic hepatitis B ( CHB ) with different degrees of hepatic fibrosis , and to evaluate the value of TAFI in the evaluation of liver fibrosis .Methods Forty six patients with CHB who underwent liver biopsy from June 2016 to March 2017 in Zhejiang Provincial People' s Hospital were enrolled.According to liver fibrosis stage (S0-4), they were divided into mild liver fibrosis group (S0-1, n=16), significant liver fibrosis group (S2, n=15) and severe liver fibrosis group (S3-4, n=15).At the same time, 16 healthy subjects were randomly selected as health controls in the physical examination center of the hospital .Serum TAFI levels were analyzed in each group , and the receiver operating curve ( ROC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of TAFI in CHB patients with significant liver fibrosis and severe liver fibrosis (S≥2).The SPSS 23.0 software was used to analyze the data .Results Serum TAFI levels in the mild liver fibrosis group , significant liver fibrosis group , severe liver fibrosis group and health controls were (63.4 ±18.2), (43.8 ±20.4), (27.5 ±19.2) and (71.3 ±25.6) ng/mL, the difference between the four groups was statistically significant (F=13.512, P<0.01).The level of TAFI in the significant liver fibrosis group was lower than that in the healthy control group and the mild liver fibrosis group (t=3.283 and 2.822, P<0.01).The level of TAFI in the severe fibrosis group was lower than that in the significant liver fibrosis group (t=2.260, P<0.05).Serum TAFI levels were negatively correlated with liver fibrosis stage (r=-0.562, P<0.01).The area under the ROC curve of TAFI for predicting liver fibrosis (S≥2) was 0.832, and the sensitivity and specificity were 81.3％and 78.3％, respectively. Compared with the APRI score and the FIB4 index, the difference was not statistically significant ( P >0.05).Conclusion The serum TAFI level is negatively correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis in CHB patients, which has a good diagnostic value for liver fibrosis (S≥2) in patients with CHB.

Objective: To investigate the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 early genes E2 and E6 and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) E2 and their interaction effects in the progression of the cervical cancer. Methods: Women with normal cervix (NC), low cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN Ⅰ) and high cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ) from the cervical lesions cohort in Jiexiu County of Shanxi Province from June 2014 to September 2014, and patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated at the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University in the same period were enrolled in this study. There were 257 participants, about 67 NC cases (26.07%), 69 CIN Ⅰ cases (26.85%), 68 CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ cases (26.46%), and 53 SCC cases (20.62%), respectively. The information of demographic characteristics, life health habits and cervical lesions were collected by using the structured questionnaire. Cervical exfoliated cells and cervical biopsy tissues were collected to detect the infection of HPV16 and the protein expression levels of hnRNP E2, HPV16 E2 and E6. According to the median-value of the protein expression levels of hnRNP E2, HPV16 E2 and E6 and E2/E6 ratio in the NC group, the study participants were divided into the high and low expression groups/ratio groups. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the correlation between HPV16 early gene E2 and E6, hnRNP E2 and cervical cancer. The interaction effect was analyzed by using the generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) model. Results: The ages of NC, CIN Ⅰ, CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ and SCC groups were (47.00±9.07), (47.64±7.35), (46.37±8.67) and (51.26±8.03) years old, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that the HPV16 E2 low expression, E6 high expression and E2/E6 low ratio could increase the risk of CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ, about OR (95%CI) values 11.11 (1.63-75.56), 8.00 (1.28-50.04), and 9.75 (1.22-77.72), respectively and SCC, about OR (95%CI) values 14.22 (2.11-95.88), 10.33 (1.67-64.00), and 12.38 (1.56-97.91), respectively. The hnRNP E2 low expression could increase the risk of CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ and SCC, about OR (95%CI) values 3.35 (1.39-8.10) and 5.53 (1.54-19.88). The result of GMDR showed that there were interaction effects of the hnRNP E2 low expression, HPV16 E2 low expression and HPV16 E6 high expression in both CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ and SCC groups. Conclusion The HPV16 E2 low expression, HPV16 E6 high expression and hnRNP E2 low expression could increase the risk of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer, and they might have an important interaction effect in the progression of the cervical cancer.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between serum thyroglobulin antibody (TG-Ab) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) cconcentrations and arteriosclerosis development in middle-aged and older adult patients with depression.Methods:A total of 200 middle-aged and older adult patients with depression who received treatment in the Third People's Hospital of Huzhou from January 2018 to October 2019 were included in this study. They were divided into four groups ( n = 50/group) according to TG-Ab and TPO-Ab test results: TG-Ab-positive (group 1), TPO-Ab-positive (group 2), TG-Ab-positive and TPO-Ab-positive (group 3), TG-Ab-negative and TPO-Ab-negative (control group). Serum thyroid hormone level, ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, and the incidences of intima-media thickening and plaque formation in the lower extremity arteries were compared between groups. Results:Total thyroxine concentration in the control group, groups 1, 2 and 3 was (89.96 ± 2.45) nmol/L, (101.29 ± 3.35) nmol/L, (90.09 ± 2.70) nmol/L, (97.55 ± 2.57) nmol/L, respectively. There was a significant difference in total thyroxine concentration between groups ( F = 3.85, P < 0.05). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in the control group, groups 1, 2, and 3 was (1 327.55 ± 67.78) cm/s, (1 510.36 ± 83.05) cm/s, (1 422.71 ± 71.40) cm/s, (1 533.95 ± 87.01) cm/s, respectively. There was a significant difference in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity between groups ( F = 65.12, P < 0.05). The incidence of intima-media thickening in the control group, groups 1, 2, and 3 was 18% (9/50), 50% (25/50), 32% (16/50), 60% (30/50), respectively. The incidence of plaque formation in the control group, groups 1, 2, and 3 was 22% (11/50), 56% (28/50), 40% (20/50), 70% (35/50), respectively. There were significant differences in intima-media thickening and plaque formation between groups ( χ2 = 21.83, 25.77, all P < 0.001). Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that age ( OR = 0.953) and TG-Ab ( OR = 1.116) were independent risk factors for developing arteriosclerosis in middle-aged and older adult patients with depression ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:TG-Ab-positive results are an independent risk factor for developing arteriosclerosis in middle-aged and older adult patients with depression. TPO-Ab-positive results have a synergistic effect on the occurrence and development of arteriosclerosis in middle-aged and older adult patients with depression. Monitoring serum TG-Ab and TPO-Ab concentrations is of great clinical significance for the prevention and treatment of arteriosclerosis in middle-aged and older adult patients with depression.

Objective:To investigate the impact of daily step count on glycemic outcomes in community residents with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).Methods:This was a prospective cohort study, in October 2018, 204 residents who met the criteria of IGT were recruited in the Shijingshan District in Beijing. The subjects were tested for fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test 2-hour blood glucose (2hBG), glycated hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c), lipid profile, liver and kidney function, as well as measurements of height, weight and waist circumference. A dedicated mobile application was used to deliver prediabetes health knowledge monthly. Online guidance was provided to answer questions and daily step count was collected using the application. Three years later, a follow-up was conducted to assess the participants′ glycemic outcomes and other indexes, and a total of 142 participants completed the follow-up review. According to daily step count, the subjects were categorized into high step count group (42 cases,>7 000 steps daily), moderate step count group (54 cases, 5 000-7 000 steps daily), and low step count group (46 cases,<5 000 steps daily). Subjects were categorized into diabetes group (30 cases), prediabetes group (77 cases) and normal glucose tolerance group (35 cases) with glycemic outcomes. Independent sample t test was used to compare the differences in blood glucose, blood lipids, and step counts between the two groups. Kruskal-Wallis H test or one-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences in blood glucose, blood lipids, and step counts between multiple groups. The χ2 test was used to compare the differences in glycemic outcomes between multiple groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the impact of daily step counts and body mass index on glycemic outcomes. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between daily step counts and 2 h BG. Results:A total of 142 participants completed the 3-year follow-up, including 43 males and 99 females, with a mean age of (60.15±5.67) years. At baseline, males had significantly higher body mass index, waist circumference, and fasting blood glucose when compared to those in females [(26.97±2.43) vs (24.89±2.93) kg/m 2, (92.68±7.75) vs (83.83±8.60) cm, (5.83±0.61) vs (5.62±0.52) mmol/L], the total cholesterol and HDL-C were also significantly lower in males than those in females [(5.10±1.16) vs (5.55±0.95) mmol/L, (1.35±0.34) vs (1.56±0.35) mmol/L] (all P<0.05). After 3-year follow-up, 21.1% (30/142) of IGT participants progressed to diabetes, with an annual conversion rate of approximately 7%. The normal glucose tolerance group showed significantly higher daily step counts when compared with the prediabetes and diabetes groups [(7 886±2 867) vs (5 981±2 655) vs (4 117±2 674) steps] ( H=31.778, P<0.001). Individuals with higher daily step counts exhibited lower body mass index, 2 h BG, and HbA 1c level when compared with those in the ones with moderate and low step counts [(24.26±3.09) vs (25.44±3.38) vs (26.26±3.59) kg/m 2, (7.50±1.71) vs (9.15±3.30) vs (11.19±3.84) mmol/L, 5.97%±0.46% vs 6.14%±0.99% vs 6.40%±0.96%] (all P<0.05). Higher step count was positively correlated with the reversal of prediabetes to normal blood glucose levels (moderate step count, OR=0.297, 95% CI: 0.109-0.804; low step count, OR=0.055, 95% CI: 0.010-0.287), lower daily step count correlated positively with prediabetes progressing to diabetes ( OR=4.857, 95% CI: 1.140-20.689) (all P<0.05). For every additional 1 000 steps per day, the 2 h BG decreased by 0.5 mmol/L. Conclusion:As daily step count increases, the glucose metabolism improves in IGT community residents. Higher daily step count is associated with reversal of IGT to normal glucose tolerance, while lower daily step count may be associated with the progression of IGT to diabetes.