BACKGROUND: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) have been drawing a great attention due to their potential therapeutic effect in a variety of diseases, including immune-mediated diseases. Further characterization of the immunomodulatory properties and action pathways of hUC-MSCs is necessary to ensure their safety and effectiveness in clinical application. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunomodulatory properties of hUC-MSCs. METHODS: HUC-MSCs were directly co-cultured with CFSE-labeled peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at the ratio of 1:5, 1:10, and 1:20, or indirectly co-cultured with CFSE-labeled PBMCs at the ratio of 1:5 via the Transwell co-culture system. Phytohemagglutinin- stimulated PBMC proliferation and the percentages of Th1, Th17 and Treg subgroups in the CD4+ T cells were determined by flow cytometry. The levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interferon γ were determined by ELISA. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After direct co-culture, hUC-MSCs significantly inhibited the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated PBMCs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the inhibitory effect disappeared in the Transwell co-culture system. A significant decrease of Th1, Th17 cells and an increase of Treg cells were detected in the PBMCs co-cultured with hUC-MSCs compared to the PBMCs cultured alone. Furthermore, hUC-MSCs co-culture significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor α and interferon γ levels in the PBMCs. These findings indicate that cell-to-cell contact is essential for hUC-MSCs to inhibit the proliferation, differentiation and inflammatory factor secretion of immune cells.

Objective: To investigate condom use and associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Fuyang District, Hangzhou City, so as to provide insights into instructing the correct use of condoms and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS patients. Methods: A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted to collect demographic information, sexual behaviors during recent 6 months and condom use of HIV/AIDS patients receiving ART in Fuyang District from May to December, 2022. Descriptive analysis was employed on the proportion of participants who insisted on using condoms at each sexual contact, and a multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors affecting condom use at each sexual contact. Results: Totally 111 HIV/AIDS patients who received ART and had sexual contacts during recent 6 months were investigated, with a median age of 43.00 (interquartile range, 19.00) years. There were 82 males (73.87%), 63 married cases (56.76%), 52 cases with homosexual behaviors (46.85%), 110 cases insisting on using condom after ART (99.10%), 101 cases insisting on using condoms at each sexual contact (90.99%). Among 93 patients being aware of HIV infection status of all sexual partners, 93.55% of the patients insisted on using condoms at each sexual contact. Among 105 patients without sexually transmitted diseases (STD) diagnosis and treatment, 94.29% of the patients insisted on using condoms at each sexual contact. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified aware of HIV infection status of sexual partners (OR=0.046, 95%CI: 0.004-0.560), no STD diagnosis and treatment (OR=0.060, 95%CI: 0.004-0.890) as promoting factors for condom use at each sexual contact among HIV/AIDS patients receiving ART. Conclusions There is a high proportion of condom use at each sexual contact among HIV/AIDS patients receiving ART in Fuyang District. Patients who are aware of sexual partners' HIV infection and have not received STD diagnosis and treatment are more likely to insist on using condoms at each sexual contact.

Objective From knowledge,attitude,practice,and environment dimensions to investigate the status of oral health self-management in adolescents receiving fixed orthodontics and analyze its influencing factors.Methods A self-designed questionnaire developed from an evaluation index system for adolescents receiving fixed orthodontics was used to investigate 300 adolescent orthodontic patients in a stonatological hospital in Shanghai,who were 11 to 17 years old,receiving fixed orthodontics for more than three months.Results For adolescents receiving fixed orthodontics,self-management knowledge score was 0.99-±0.18,attitude score was 0.92±0.13,practice score was 1.11±0.21,and environment score was 0.66±0.15.The scores of oral health self-management knowledge,attitude,practice,and environment were significantly different between boys and girls(P＜0.01).There was significant difference in the scores of oral health self-management practice in adolescents with different age(P＜0.05).The scores of oral health selfmanagement were significantly different for adolescents with different stages of receiving fixed orthodontics(P＜0.05).Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that oral health self-management status was affected by gender and age.Conclusion The oral health self-management status of adolescents receiving fixed orthodontics needs to be further improved.Female adolescents have better oral health self-management status than male adolescents.The increasing of age cannot necessarily improve self-management status.Orthodontic time has the greatest influence on oral health self-management practice.Medical staffs can provide targeted health education and guidance based on the status and influencing factors for adolescent orthodontic patients in order to improve their oral health self-management status.

Objective: This study aimed to explore whether high pressure would increase expression of TNF-a and IL-1β. Methods: BV2 microglia cells were treated with a self-made device. BV2 microglia cells were randomly divided into five groups according to different pressures: control group, 20 mmHg group, 25 mmHg group, 30 mmHg group, and 35 mmHg group. BV2 microglia cells were randomly divided into five groups according to different intervention time: control group, 6 h group, 12 h group, 24 h group. TNF-α and IL-1β expression were assessed by Western Blotting or double immunofluorescence. Results: The 30 mmHg group had the highest expression levels of TNF-α and IL-1β as compared with control group (both P<0.01), 6 h group (both P<0.01)、12 h group (TNF-α: P<0.05; IL-1β: P< 0.01).30 mmHg group had the highest expression levels of TNF-α and IL-1β as compared with control group (bothP<0.01), 20 mmHg group (both P<0.01), and 25 mmHg group (TNF-α: P<0.05; IL-1β: P<0.01). The expression levels of TNF-α and L-1β were not different between 30 mmHg group and 35 mmHg group (both P>0.05). Conclusions High pressure may increase the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-1β of microglia.

Abstract In recent years, the prevention and treatment of eye diseases in children has become one of the worldwide recognized public health issues. Both genetic and environmental factors can influence the development of offspring visual systems, leading to abnormal vision acuity such as refractive errors, strabismus, and nystagmus. With the aim of elucidating the influencing factors and mechanisms of early life adverse exposures on offspring vision outcomes, the article summarizes the research on exposure in early life and visual acuity in offspring from different perspectives, including tobacco exposure during pregnancy, exposure to microelements, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, and drug abuse during pregnancy, so as to provide scientific evidence for the development of more effective strategies to prevent and control eye diseases in children and adolescents.

Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanism of gut metabolite sodium butyrate on the proliferation and apoptosis of steatosis HepG2 cells in vitro. Methods:The in vitro steatosis hepatocyte model was established with human liver cell line HepG2 and free fatty acid (FFA; the concentration ratio of oleic acid to palmitic acid was 2∶1). Normal control group, model group and intervention groups with different concentration (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mmol/L) of sodium butyrate were set up. The inhibition of sodium butyrate on the proliferation of steatosis HepG2 cells was detected by cell counting kit (CCK-8). The proportion of apoptotic cells of normal control group, model group and sodium butyrate 5 mmol/L (sodium butyrate intervention) group was detected by flow cytometry. Normal control group, model group, intervention group with different concentration (1, 2, 5 and 10 mmol/L) of sodium butyrate, negative small interfering RNA (siRNA) control group, G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 43-siRNA group, GPR109a-siRNA group, GPR43+ GPR109 a double knockout group were set up. The change of the levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT) and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) before and after transfection were detected by Western blotting. One-way analysis of varivance, SNK- q test and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results:The results of CCK-8 test indicated that sodium butyrate inhibited the proliferation of steatosis HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The results of flow cytometry showed that the proportion of apoptotic cells of the sodium butyrate intervention group was higher than that of the model group and normal control group ((3.400±0.100)% vs. (1.800±0.400)% and(1.067±0.451)%), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=6.721 and 8.705, both P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the proportion of apoptotic cells between the model group and the normal control group ( P>0.05). Before transfection, the expressions of p-AKT and p-mTOR at protein level of the model group were both higher than those of the normal control group (2.300±0.058 vs. 1.000±0.012, 2.160±0.125 vs. 1.000±0.052), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=22.080 and 8.575, both P<0.05). The expressions of p-AKT and p-mTOR at protein level of sodium butyrate intervention groups at 1, 2, 5 and 10 mmol/L were all lower than those of the model group (1.530±0.085, 1.407±0.096, 1.032±0.035 and 1.036±0.099 vs. 2.300±0.058; 1.483±0.073, 1.297±0.048, 1.067±0.035 and 0.970±0.072 vs. 2.160±0.125), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=7.491, 7.997, 19.790, and 11.020; 4.683, 6.445, 8.424, and 8.245; all P<0.05). After transfection, the expressions of p-AKT and p-mTOR at protein level of GPR43-siRNA group, GPR109a-siRNA group and GPR43/ GPR109 a double knockout group were all higher than those of the negative siRNA control group and 5 mmol/L sodium butyrate group (1.474±0.045, 1.471±0.058 and 2.067±0.120 vs. 1.158±0.030 and 1.139±0.031; 1.850±0.082, 1.683±0.058 and 2.160±0.091 vs. 1.469±0.037 and 1.490±0.116), and the differences were statistically significant ( tp-AKT=5.807, 4.816, 7.322, 6.109, 5.080 and 7.463; tp-mTOR=4.235, 3.113, 7.044, 2.542, 1.497 and 4.562; all P<0.05). Conclusions:The effect of sodium butyrate on the proliferation and apoptosis of steatosis HepG2 cells is associated with the GPR43/GPR109a-pAKT-mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective:To explore the change of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in septic rats.Methods:A rat model of sepsis was established by cecal ligation and puncture. Rats were randomly (random number) grouped according to the intervention time: sham-operated group, sepsis 1-day group, sepsis 4-day group, and sepsis 7-day group. Fluorescein sodium was used to test the permeability of the BBB. Western blot and immunofluorescence methods were applied to detect the expression of tight junction proteins including Claudin-5, Occludin and ZO-1.Results:Compared with the sham-operated group, rats in the sepsis group presented quick breath, slow response, decreased intake of food and water, obvious abdominal distension and loose stools. After abdominal anatomy of sepsis rats, we found mesenteric adhesions, dilatation of proximal intestinal, black cecum ligation site with purulent exudate, enlarged liver and diffused bloody exudate. Compared with the sham-operated group, body weight of sepsis rats was reduced remarkably ( P < 0.05). The body weight of rats of sepsis 7-day group was the lowest, which was significantly lower than that of rats of sepsis 4-day group ( P< 0.05) and 1-day group ( P< 0.05). Compared with the sham-operated group, the content of fluorescein sodium in sepsis 1-day rats was increased remarkably ( P< 0.05). The content of fluorescein sodium in rats of sepsis 7-day group was the highest, which was significantly higher than that in rats of sepsis 4-day group ( P< 0.05) and 1-day group ( P< 0.05). Compared with the sham-operated rats, the expression of Claudin-5, Occludin and ZO-1 in sepsis rats were decreased remarkably (all P < 0.05). The expression of Claudin-5, Occludin and ZO-1 were the lowest in rats of the sepsis 7-day group, which were significantly decreased than those of rats in the sepsis 4-day group (all P< 0.05) and rats in sepsis 1-day group (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:Sepsis rats showed increased permeability of the BBB, and the permeability of BBB increased continuously along with the duration of sepsis.

Objective To investigate the expression of miR-30a-5p and miR-129-5p in the serum of patients with non-small cell lung cancer after EGFR targeted therapy and their relationship with the therapeutic effect.Methods A total of 186 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who received EGFR targeted therapy in our hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were regarded as research objects.According to the efficacy of patients,they were separated into effective group(n=141)and ineffective group(n=45).The serum levels of miR-30a-5p and miR-129-5p were compared between the two groups;multivariate logistic regression was applied to analyze the factors influencing the efficacy of non-small cell lung cancer;receiver operating characteristic was applied to analyze the predictive value of serum miR-30a-5p,miR-129-5p levels for efficacy of non-small cell lung cancer.Results There were obvious differences in smoking history and TNM stage between the ineffective group and the effective group(P＜0.05).The expression levels of miR-30a-5p and miR-129-5p in the ineffective group were obviously lower than those in the effective group(P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum miR-30a-5p,miR-129-5p,smoking history,and TNM stage were all factors influencing the efficacy of non-small cell lung cancer(P＜0.05).Receiver operating characteristic showed that the AUC of the combination of serum miR-30a-5p and miR-129-5p to predict the efficacy of non-small cell lung cancer was 0.926,the sensitivity was 91.11％,and the specificity was 83.69％,which was better than their respective predictions(Z combination-miR-30a-5P=3.260,Zcombination-miR-129-5p=3.726,P=0.001,0.000).Conclusion The serum levels of miR-30a-5p and miR-129-5p in patients with non-small cell lung cancer who failed to respond to EGFR targeted therapy are obviously lower than those in the effective group;The combination of the two has a good predictive value for the efficacy of non-small cell lung cancer after EGFR targeted therapy.

Fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) is a condition with high morbidity and mortality characterized by systemic inflammatory reactions and elevated fetal plasma interleukin-6 levels, often leading to premature delivery and damage to multiple organ systems.Pulmonary involvement may lead to neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.This article summarizes the pathogenesis of FIRS and its influence on pulmonary diseases, with a view to increasing clinicians′ awareness of FIRS and providing directions for exploring effective prevention and treatment.

Recent studies have highlighted spatially resolved multi-omics technologies,including spatial genomics,transcriptomics,proteomics,and metabolomics,as powerful tools to decipher the spatial heterogeneity of the brain.Here,we focus on two major approaches in spatial transcriptomics(next-generation sequencing-based technologies and image-based technologies),and mass spectrometry imaging tech-nologies used in spatial proteomics and spatial metabolomics.Furthermore,we discuss their applications in neuroscience,including building the brain atlas,uncovering gene expression patterns of neurons for special behaviors,deciphering the molecular basis of neuronal communication,and providing a more comprehensive explanation of the molecular mechanisms underlying central nervous system disorders.However,further efforts are still needed toward the integrative application of multi-omics technologies,including the real-time spatial multi-omics analysis in living cells,the detailed gene profile in a whole-brain view,and the combination of functional verification.