AIM: To construct recombinant lentiviral vector with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) of CREB gene, and to investigate the effect of CREB gene silencing on mitochondrial morphology and cell apoptosis in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced cortical neurons.METHODS: Three lentiviral vectors pLentiLox3.7 (PLL) inserted shRNA fragments targeting CREB gene were co-transfected with the packaging plasmids psPAX2 and pMD2.G to the 293T cells, and the virus particles, which was infected with the primary cortical neurons, was encapsulated.The protein expression of CREB was detected by Western blot.The mitochondrial morphology, cell apoptosis and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were evaluated by the methods of MitoTracker red, TUNEL and Western blot in OGD/R induced cortical neurons after CREB gene silencing.RESULTS: The pLL-CREB-shRNA1 was the most effective shRNA, which inhibited 80% CREB gene expression in the cortical neurons.The mitochondrial was appeared dot and fragment morphology in OGD/R induced cortical neurons with transfected pLL-CREB-shRNA1 plasmid.In addition, the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased, the expression of Bax, and the apoptosis of the neurons were increased by tranfected with pLL-CREB-shRNA1.CONCLUSION: CREB shRNA recombinant lentiviral vector specifically inhibits the expression of CREB gene.CREB gene silencing promotes the cell apoptosis and mitochondrial morphological changes in the cortical neurons induced by OGD/R.

In the automatic analysis system of the kidney-tissue image, boundary enhancement for glomerulus area is a vital step. Complex characteristics of kidney-tissue image leads to the difficulty in boundary features description. This paper suggests a kind of feature template under the special boundary definition. A nonlinear threshold surface is constructed by neural network, then the proper surface can be selected to enhance boundary with the influence of error permissibility being taken into account. Experimental results indicate that this learning method with error permissibility can enhance the boundary of glomerulus and suppress noises at the same time, so it can obtain good processed effects and have a fine performance highly adaptive to various sample images.
Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Neural Networks (Computer)

Caveolin-1(CAV1)is a structural protein of caveolae on the plasma membrane and is an important regulatory factor for liver function.CAV1 regulates hepatic lipid deposition,lipid and glucose metabolism,mitochondrial function,and hepatocyte proliferation through various molecular pathways.Therefore,CAV1 plays a crucial role in maintaining liver physiology during the metabolic regulatory processes such as hepatic steatosis and hepatocyte proliferation.Furthermore,CAV1 is also involved in the development and progression of different types of liver injury,hepatitis,and liver cirrhosis.This article reviews the role of CAV1 in liver-related diseases and its mechanism in the regulation of liver macrophages,so as to provide a theoretical basis for targeting CAV1 in the treatment of liver-related diseases.

Objective:To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of ultrasound-guided paravertebral nerve block combined with platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection on patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).Methods:Sixty PHN patients diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University from August 2023 to June 2024 were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an observation group using a random number table. The control group received ultrasound-guided paravertebral nerve block, while the observation group received PRP injection in addition to the control group. The two groups were compared before treatment (T 0), 1 week after treatment (T 1), 2 weeks after treatment (T 2), 3 weeks after treatment (T 3), 4 weeks after treatment (T 4), and 8 weeks after treatment (T 5), pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) scores, and incidence of adverse reactions at each time point. Results:The pain VAS, PSQI, and DLQI scores of both groups of patients at T 1, T 2, T 3, T 4, and T 5 time points were reduced compared to T 0, and the pain VAS, PSQI, and DLQI scores of the observation group at T 1 to T 5 time points were lower than those of the control group (all P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the control group was 26.6%(8/30), while in the observation group it was 6.6%(2/30), with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (χ 2=4.320, P<0.05). The total effective rate of the control group [70.0%(21/30)] was lower than that of the observation group [93.3%(28/30)], with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (χ 2=5.454, P<0.05). Conclusions:The combined application of ultrasound-guided paravertebral nerve block and PRP injection for the treatment of PHN can significantly alleviate patients′ pain symptoms, improve their sleep and quality of life, with relatively few side effects and high safety.

Objective To investigate the screening strategy of group B streptococcus (GBS) in the reproductive tract of women in the third trimester and analyze its impact on pregnancy outcome. Methods A total of 85 461 pregnant women in 35-37 weeks of gestation from Bao′an Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Jinan University from January 2011 to June 2018 were enrolled. They were divided into 3 periods according to different GBS screening strategies, the unscreened period included 31 384 cases (36.72%), 33 267 cases (38.93%) were included in partial screening period, 20 810 cases (24.35%) were included in screening period. All GBS screening positive pregnant women were given intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP). The impact on pregnancy outcomes, and the impact of different GBS collection transport and culture methods on the positive rate of GBS screening were analyzed. Results (1) The incidence of neonatal early onset GBS disease (EOGBSD) in unscreened period was 0.03% (11/31 773), in partial screening period was 0.02%(6/33 887), and in screening period, the incidence of neonatal EOGBSD decreased to 0, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=7.86, P=0.02).(2) The incidence of hematogenous infection of GBS in pregnant women was 0.02%(6/33 887) in partial screening period, and there was none in screening period, there was no significant difference (adjusted χ2=3.75, P=0.05). (3) In the screening period, the positive rate of GBS was 14.08%(2 719/19 306), which was significantly higher than the positive rate of GBS in the partial screening period (11.48%, 2 058/17 920; χ2=56.12, P=0.00). (4) Antibiotic sensitivity tests of 4 777 GBS strains showed that the antibiotics with higher resistance rate were tetracycline (81.52%, 3 896/4 777), erythromycin (66.59%, 3 181/4 777), and clindamycin (64.31%, 3 072/4 777). The combination of erythromycin, clindamycin and tetracycline was the most common resistant pattern, accounting for 48.80% (2 331/4 777). No penicillin, ceftriaxone or vancomycin resistant strains was found. Conclusions GBS screening strategy in different regions could combine the local neonatal EOGBSD incidence rate, maternal GBS colonization rate, and the socioeconomic factors to determine whether universal GBS screening or screening for high-risk maternal women. GBS screening positive rate is related to the population, scope of the investigation, the sample collection, delivery and culture methods. The multi-drug resistance rate of GBS is high.[Key words] Streptococcus agalactiae; Streptococcal infections; Neonatal sepsis; Prenatal diagnosis; Pregnancy trimester, third; Pregnancy outcome

Ubiquitin specific protease 33 (USP33) is a multifunctional protein regulating diverse cellular processes. The expression and role of USP33 in lung cancer remain unexplored. In this study, we show that USP33 is down-regulated in multiple cohorts of lung cancer patients and that low expression of USP33 is associated with poor prognosis. USP33 mediates Slit-Robo signaling in lung cancer cell migration. Downregulation of USP33 reduces the protein stability of Robo1 in lung cancer cells, providing a previously unknown mechanism for USP33 function in mediating Slit activity in lung cancer cells. Taken together, USP33 is a new player in lung cancer that regulates Slit-Robo signaling. Our data suggest that USP33 may be a candidate tumor suppressor for lung cancer with potential as a prognostic marker.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; genetics ; physiology ; Cohort Studies ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; RNA Interference ; Receptors, Immunologic ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; physiology ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, dexamethasone (VCD) regimen and bortezomib dexamethasone (VD) regimen in the treatment of the patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). Methods: The clinical data of 73 patients with NDMM in Shanxi Dayi Hospital from January 2013 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the chemotherapy regimen, the patients were divided into VCD group (41 cases) and VD group (32 cases). The efficacy and adverse reactions of the two groups were evaluated. Results: The overall response rate of VCD group and VD group was 80.5% (33/41) and 78.1% (25/32) respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ ²= 0.061, P= 0.804); and complete remission (CR) rate was 36.6% (15/41) and 15.6% (5/32) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ ²= 3.970, P= 0.046); the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 27 months and 24 months respectively, and the median overall survival (OS) was 35 months and 33 months respectively, and the differences were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). Most adverse reactions occurred in grade 1-2, in which peripheral polyneuropathy and thrombocytopenia were the most common. Peripheral neuritis was the most common finding among the adverse reactions of grade 3. The incidence of adverse reactions in both groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions VCD and VD regimen could be recommended as a better induction therapy for NDMM patients. Compared with VD scheme, VCD scheme has a higher CR rate.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified FC/ATG pretreatment in the treatment of severe aplastic anemia(SAA).Methods:From June 2012 to June 2020, clinical data of 64 patients with severe aplastic anemia undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with modified FC/ATG(Flu 30 mg·m -2·d -l, -5~-2 d、CTX 50 mg·kg -1·d -1~-2 d、ATG: 2.5 mg·kg -1·d -1, -5~-2 d) pretreatment were retrospectively analyzed.There were MSD-HSCT ( n=29) and Haplo-HSCT ( n=35). Results:One patient died of intracerebral hemorrhage before transplantation and the remainders were completely implanted.During a median follow-up period of 14.5(1-95) months, overall survival (OS) rate of 92.2%.It was significantly higher than OS rate of 67.2% in the treatment of SAA by foreign pretreatment regimens containing low-dose TBI.And pretreatment scheme containing FC+ BU/TBI had an OS of slightly >91.3% in the treatment of SAA.The 3-year OS rates were 85.7% and 93.5% in Haplo-HSCT and MSD-HSCT groups ( P=0.058). The OS rate of SAA Haplo-HSCT/MSD-HSCT group was similar to that of " Beijing Protocol" (BU/CY+ ATG) (89%, 91%). The viral infection rates of EB and CMV were significantly higher in haplo-HSCT group than those in MSD-HSCT group and inter-group difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). However, univariate analysis showed that two groups had no effect on survival time ( P=0.403, P=0.132). Univariate analysis showed that survival time was significantly associated with the presence of Ⅲ-Ⅳ° aGVHD and the presence of severe complications ( P=0.007, P=0.001). Further multivariate analysis revealed that severe complication was an independent risk factor for survival ( P=0.003). Conclusions:The efficacy of improved FC/ATG pretreatment in the treatment of SAA in MSD-HSCT or Haplo-HSCT is higher than other domestic and international pretreatment schemes in OS rate, safety and effectiveness.Onset of severe complication and association with Ⅲ ~ Ⅳ ° aGVHD are the influencing factors for patient survival.The efficacy of Haplo-HSCT group is similar to that of MSD-HSCT group.It may be employed as an alternative donor for SAA patients without fully congruent donors.

Objective:To analyze any changes in the functional connectivity between the seed points of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the whole brain, as well as any fluctuations in the low-frequency amplitude among persons with post-stroke depression (PSD). The aim was to develop correlations among functional imaging results, clinical scales, and inflammation indicators including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 17a (IL-17a) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ).Methods:Between 2016 and 2020, 55 ischemic stroke survivors were tested. The 28 scoring 7 or more on the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) formed the PSD group, while the 27 others formed the control group. Functional magnetic resonance images were collected, and serum inflammation indicators were determined.Results:When seed points in the left DLPFC were used, in the PSD group the frontal cortex (FC) decreased in one cluster, with a voxel of 129mm3 and the MNI coordinates (x=9, y=30, z=33) indicating that the anatomical automatic labeling (AAL) brain regions were the Cingulum_Ant_L, Cingulum_Mid_R and the frontal_Sup_Medial_L. When the right DLPFC was used as the seed point the FC again decreased in one cluster, with voxels of 44mm 3 and the MNI coordinates (x=-27, y=12, z=47) referring to the AAL brain region of the frontal_Mid_L. In the PSD group, the FC value of abnormal brain areas with the R-DLPFC as the seed point was positively correlated with time since stroke. In the control group, the FC value of abnormal brain areas with L-DLPFC as the seed point was negatively correlated with MoCA, while with R-DLPFC as the seed point it was positively correlated with IFN-γ. The FC values of abnormal areas of the brain showed no significant correlation with other clinical scales, inflammation indicators or lesion volume. Conclusion:Abnormal functional connections within the executive control network and between the salience networks may participate in the mechanism of PSD, and may be related to the time since stroke, cognitive functioning, and IFN-γ levels.