[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effect of phycocyanin on the apoptosis of human laryngeal cancer HEP-2 cells and to explore the inhibitory mechanism of phycocyanin to tumor.METHODS:Highly purified phycocyanin was ex-tracted from spirulina.The effects of phycocyanin at different concentrations on the growth of human laryngeal cancer HEP-2 cells were detected by MTT assay.In addition, the cell structures were observed under electron microscope.The cell ap-optosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.The production of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) was measured by flow cytometry. Enzymatic activities of caspase-3,-8 and-9 were measured by chemical colorimatry.The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Fas, P53, caspase-3 and caspase-9 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot.RESULTS:MTT test confirmed that phycocyanin inhibited the cell activity of HEP-2 cells with time and dose dependent manners.The result of electron microscope observation and flow cytometry indicated that phycocyanin induced the apoptosis of HEP-2 cells.The intracellular content of ROS was increased.The activities of caspase-3, -8 and -9 were increased.RT-PCR showed that the mRNA expression of Bax, Fas, P53, caspase-3, caspase-9 was increased and Bcl-2 was decreased.The results of Western blot were consistent with the results of RT-PCR.CONCLUSION:Phycocyanin might induce apoptosis of HEP-2 cells by down-regulating Bcl-2, up-regulating Bax, Fas and P53, and the transduction of apoptotic signals in the human laryngeal cancer cells.

Objective To evaluate perfusion computed tomography in the assessment of portal vein pressure changes in an experimental dog model of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.Methods The canine model of cirrhosis and portal hypertension was induced by portal vein stenosis with combination of systemic thioacetamide(TAA) feeding in drinking water.All of the Beagles in control group and cirrhotic group underwent hepatic perfusion on a spiral CT scanner.The parameters of hepatic perfusion were calculated by the method of deconvolution.The portal vein pressure was measured by a laparotomy surgery.Results ① In control group, the portal vein pressure was ( 14.5 ± 2.2) cm H2O, while it was (23.1 ± 2.8) cm H2O in PHT group, there was significant difference in the portal vein pressure between the two groups (P＜0.05).② The blood flow(BF) was (112 ±14) ml·100 g-1·min-1 in controls, while ( 96 ± 11) ml·100 g-1·min-1 in PHT group; the blood volume ( BV ) in control group and PHT group was (10 ±3) ml·100 g-1 and (11 ± 5) ml· 100 g-1, respectively; the mean transit time( MTT) was (7.1 ± 2.0) s and (10.4 ± 3.5) s, respectively; the hepatic arterial fraction (HAF) was ( 24 ± 5) % and ( 37 ± 6)% , respectively; the hepatic arterial perfusion (HAP) was(27 ±6) ml·100 g-1·min-1 and (35 ±5) ml·100 g-1·min-1, respectively; the portal venous perfusion (PVP) was (85 ± 13) ml·100 g-1·min-1 and (61 ±11) ml·100 g-1·min-1, respectively.There was significant difference in all parameters between the two groups except the parameter BV(P ＜ 0.05).③ In PHT group, the PVP and BF were negatively correlated with the portal vein pressure, while positively correlated with MTT and HAF.Portal vein pressure was negatively correlated with PVP, the equation, Y = 36.624 -0.219X, was deduced with linear regression analysis, by which the portal vein pressure in PHT Beagles was ( 23.2 ± 2.4) cm H2O, which was correlated with the observed by laparotomy value (23.1 ± 2.8) cm H2O (r = 0.843, P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion CT perfusion is a new non-invasive and effective method for assessment of portal vein pressure.

Frailty is a clinical condition associated with aging, encompassing deficiencies in physical performance, nutritional status, mental health, and cognition.Physical exercise has proven to be an effective strategy for maintaining functional abilities and alleviating frailty symptoms in older adults.Exercise helps in preserving or enhancing bone density, muscle mass, strength, and overall function.In recent years, there has been increasing attention on the impact of resistance exercise on the prognosis of frailty in the elderly population.This article explores the mechanisms of resistance exercise in preventing and treating frailty, examines the effects of different types of resistance exercise on age-related weakness, and reviews related research on the use of resistance exercise for preventing and treating frailty.The findings of this study provide valuable insights for developing precise exercise prescriptions that incorporate multiple modes of exercise for frail older patients.

Objective:To evaluate and analyze the health status of elderly people from the physical, psychological and social aspects using the Health Criteria for Older Adults in China(2022), and to understand the impact of social demographic characteristics on the overall health status of the elderly.Methods:159 elderly people aged 60 years and over in the Lanyuan community of Malianwa Subdistrict, Haidian District, Beijing were selected by the stratified sampling method, with a mean age of(70.7±7.9)years, including 74 men and 85 women.The physical, psychological, social and overall health status of the elderly were comprehensively evaluated and analyzed from data collected through a self-designed questionnaire with face-to-face interviews at respondents' homes.Results:The percentage of participants in this community who were considered overall healthy was 30.2%(n=48). The proportions of those meeting the criteria for physical, mental and social health were 79.2%(n=126), 90.6%(n=144)and 32.1%(n=51), respectively.For participants of 3 age groups(60-69, n=89; 70-79, n=44; ≥80, n=26), differences in percentages of people who were considered not healthy, largely healthy and healthy, measured using the overall, physical, mental and social health criteria, were statistically significant( χ2=24.683, 57.096, 12.801, 11.802, all P<0.05), and results of the χ2test for trend showed that the frequency distribution of people with overall, physical, mental and social health decreased with age( χ2=16.878, 31.600, 9.626, 9.626, all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that education level( OR=2.142, 95% CI: 1.053-4.538, P=0.035)was an influencing factor for overall health status of the elderly. Conclusions:The overall health status of community-dwelling elderly people in Beijing is relatively poor and deteriorates with age.Education level is a factor affecting their health status.Health assessment for the elderly should be strongly advocated, and targeted health education should be provided for the elderly in disease prevention and mental health care.

Objective:To evaluate the testing capacity of HIV-1 viral load testing laboratories, and to provide data references for further improving the accuracy of laboratory test result in China.Methods:The test result of 155 positive samples distributed by the National AIDS Reference Laboratory to each laboratory from 2005 to 2019 were summarized and grouped according to the test assay and sample number. The independent sample t-test was used to evaluate the economic status and the proficiency testing (PT) assessment period on the stability of the test results. And, one-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate the influence of the types of laboratories and reagents on the stability of test results.Results:The number of HIV-1 viral load testing laboratories increased from 13 in 2005 to 267 in 2019. The participating institutions were mainly centers for disease control and prevention(CDC)and hospitals. Since 2015, the excellent rate of laboratories has remained above 85%, and the unqualified rate has remained below 3%. The associated factor analysis showed that the laboratory testing stability of HIV-1 viral load associated with the PT assessment period and the types of testing reagents, and the laboratories participating in the PT assessment for more than 5 years showed better stability.Conclusions:Participating in the annual proficiency testing program helped improve the laboratory capability of HIV-1 viral load testing in China.

Objective:To examines the social health status and influencing factors affecting the elderly population in urban communities of Beijing, based on the "the Standard for Healthy Chinese Older Adults(2022)" .Methods:Using the stratified sampling method, a total of 159 elderly individuals aged 60 and above from the Lanyuan community in the Malianwa street jurisdiction of Haidian district, Beijing, were selected as research subjects.The average age of the participants was(70.7±7.9)years, comprising 74 males and 85 females.Household face-to-face interviews were conducted, utilizing self-compiled questionnaires to perform a comprehensive assessment and analysis of the social health status of the elderly.Results:In the study involving community-based elderly participants, 32.1%(51 cases)were classified as healthy.The analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the social health status among various age groups of the elderly( χ2=11.802, P=0.019), with a notable downward trend in social health status as age increases( χ2=9.626, P=0.002).Furthermore, the results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that educational level( OR=2.119, 95% CI: 1.044-4.031, P=0.038)and chronic disease status( OR=5.007, 95% CI: 1.083-23.140, P=0.039)are significant influencing factors on the social health status of older adults. Conclusions:The social health status of the elderly in urban communities in Beijing is generally low and deteriorates progressively with age.Both educational attainment and chronic disease prevalence significantly influence the social health of this demographic.For elderly individuals with lower educational levels and poor chronic disease management, it is essential to conduct social health assessments and implement targeted intervention strategies to enhance their overall social health.

The 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1(11β-HSD1)is the only enzyme in the body, which can convert inactive cortisone(11-dehydrocorticosterone in rodents)to active cortisol(corticosterone in rodents)in vivo.And it is vital for regulating the level of active glucocorticoids in local tissues.It has been implicated that glucocorticoid dysregulations are closely related to various metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), etc.Therefore 11β-HSD1 may be a potential target for the treatment of metabolic diseases.In this review, we summarize the biological function and tissue distribution of 11β-HSD1, discuss how 11β-HSD1 participates in physiological and pathological mechanisms of obesity, T2DM, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hypertension and sarcopenia, and sum up the advanced developments of 11β-HSD1 inhibitors.

Objective:To investigate the differential expression of miRNAs during white adipose tissue(WAT)browning in mice under different stimulation conditions, and to analyze the potential regulatory mechanisms.Methods:Mouse models of subcutaneous WAT(sWAT)browning were established by different methods: cold-induced browning and intraperitoneal injection of CL316-243.HE staining and analysis of thermogenesis-related gene expression were used to validate the browning models.miRNAs expression profiles in different conditions were described by RNA-sequencing(RNA-seq)and miRNAs with similar expression patterns in the two groups were detected via screening.Target genes of miRNAs were predicted by bioinformatics, and their expression levels were verified by quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR).Results:Both cold-induced browning and intraperitoneal injection of CL316-243 were able to activate the browning of sWAT, and the miRNA expression profile of sWAT showed significant differences before and after induction.After screening differentially expressed miRNAs, the expression of Mir-30E-3p was increased and the expression of Mir-181A-5p was decreased under different browning-inducing conditions in WAT.The prediction and validation of target genes revealed that cyclin-dependent kinase 6(Cdk6)and sirtuin 1(Sirt1)were potential targets regulated by miR-30e-3p and miR-181a-5p in the browning of sWAT, respectively.Conclusions:There are significant differences in miRNA expression during the browning of sWAT in mice induced by cold stimulation and CL316-243 injection.MiR-30e-3p and miR-181a-5p may be involved in the regulation of the sWAT browning process through target genes Cdk6 and Sirt1, respectively.

ObjectiveTo understand the mortality trends among residents of Fuling District， Chongqing， before and after theCOVID-19 outbreak， and to provide references for the government to formulate disease prevention and control policies and measures. MethodsData on mortality and population in Fuling District from 2017 to 2022 were collected to analyze population mortality and standardized mortality rates， and to compare the changes in the causes of death by year and before and after the pandemic. ResultsFrom 2017 to 2022， the crude mortality rate in Fuling District showed an upward trend （APC=3.04%， P<0.05）， while the standardized mortality rate showed a downward trend （APC=-6.47%， P<0.01）. The mortality rate of males was higher than that of females （P<0.05）， with different age groups having different causes of death composition. The highest proportion of deaths in 0-year-old group was from infectious diseases， maternal and neonatal diseases， and nutritional deficiencies， the highest proportion of deaths in the 1‒24 age group， with the exception of those aged 5‒9， was from injuries， and the main cause of death for residents aged 25 and above was chronic diseases. The mortality rate of mental and behavioral disorders rose from the 13th to the 9th place. According to the epidemic situation of COVID-19， there were no changes in the top five causes of death among the entire population. The motility rate of endocrine， nutritional and metabolic diseases rose from the sixth to the fifth place in male population， and the motility rate of malignant tumor rose from the 3rd to the 2nd place in female population. ConclusionThere are no changes in the top five causes of death among the entire population of Fuling District before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Chronic diseases remain the main cause of death. It is necessary to control the risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as hypertension， diabetes， and dyslipidemia， and to curb the rising trend of mortality rates from strokes and acute myocardial infarction. For deaths caused by accidental injuries， targeted health education should be conducted for different populations.