Objective: To investigate the role of butyric acid-producing bacteria in long bone homeostasis in mice with periodontitis under a high-fat/high-sugar diet and to provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis and related bone metabolic diseases. Methods: This study has been approved by the Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee of the Experimental Animal Center. Initially, 14 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group) and the LIG group (the periodontitis group). Mice in the LIG group had experimental periodontitis induced by ligating the second maxillary molars bilaterally and were fed a high-fat and high-sugar diet. After 8 weeks, samples were collected. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) was used to analyze alveolar bone resorption and various parameters of the proximal tibia trabecular bone, including bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume per tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). After decalcification, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed on maxillary bone sections to assess periodontal tissue inflammation and connective tissue destruction. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect related genes in the distal femur and proximal tibia bone tissues, including osteocalcin (OCN), osteogenic transcription factor (Osterix), osteoprotegerin (OPG), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK), and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANK-L). Subsequently, the other 28 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group), LIG group (the periodontitis group), CON + butyric acid-producing bacteria (BP) group, and LIG + BP group. The breeding, sampling, and sample detection methods remained the same. Finally, the other 28 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group), LIG group (the periodontitis group), CON + sodium butyrate (SB) group, and LIG + SB group. The breeding, sampling, and sample detection methods remained the same. Results: ①Periodontitis modeling was successful. Compared with the CON group, the LIG group exhibited significant alveolar bone resorption of the maxillary second molar, aggravated periodontal tissue inflammation, and connective tissue destruction. ②Periodontitis exacerbated long bone resorption in mice fed a high-fat high-sugar diet. Compared with the CON group, the LIG group had significantly lower BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, and Tb.Th (P<0.05), and significantly higher Tb.Sp (P<0.05). HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that the trabeculae in the LIG group were sparse and disordered, with some areas showing fractures or dissolution. The expression of osteoblast markers (OCN, Osterix, OPG) was significantly lower in the LIG group (P<0.05), while the expression of the osteoclast marker TRAP showed an increasing trend (P>0.05). The ratio of RANK-L/OPG was significantly higher in the LIG group compared with the CON group (P<0.05). ③ Supplementation with butyric acid-producing bacteria alleviates periodontitis-induced disruption of long bone homeostasis in mice fed a high-fat/high-sugar diet. Compared with the LIG group, BMD and Tb.Th were significantly higher in the LIG + BP group. HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that bone resorption was mitigated in the LIG + BP group compared with the LIG group. The expression of OCN and Osterix was significantly higher in the LIG + BP group, while the expression of osteoclast-specific genes (OSCAR, RANK, RANK-L) was significantly lower (P<0.05). ④ Supplementation with butyrate alleviates periodontitis-induced disruption of long bone homeostasis in mice fed a high-fat/high-sugar diet. Compared with the LIG group, BV/TV and Tb.N were significantly higher in the LIG + SB group, and Tb.Sp was significantly lower (P<0.05). HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that bone resorption was mitigated in the LIG + SB group compared with the LIG group. The expression of Osterix, OPG, OSCAR, TRAP, and RANK was significantly lower in the LIG + SB group compared with the LIG group (P<0.05). Conclusion Periodontitis disrupts the long bone homeostasis of mice fed a high-fat high-sugar diet, aggravating long bone resorption. Supplementation with butyric acid-producing bacteria or butyrate can effectively alleviate the disruption of long bone homeostasis caused by periodontitis.

The AP2/ERF transcription factor family is a class of transcription factors widely present in plants, playing a crucial role in regulating flowering, flower development, flower opening, and flower senescence. Based on transcriptome data from flower, leaf, and stem samples of two Lonicera macranthoides varieties, 117 L. macranthoides AP2/ERF family members were identified, including 14 AP2 subfamily members, 61 ERF subfamily members, 40 DREB subfamily members, and 2 RAV subfamily members. Bioinformatics and differential gene expression analyses were performed using NCBI, ExPASy, SOMPA, and other platforms, and the expression patterns of L. macranthoides AP2/ERF transcription factors were validated via qRT-PCR. The results indicated that the 117 LmAP2/ERF members exhibited both similarities and variations in protein physicochemical properties, AP2 domains, family evolution, and protein functions. Differential gene expression analysis revealed that AP2/ERF transcription factors were primarily differentially expressed in the flowers of the two L. macranthoides varieties, with the differentially expressed genes mainly belonging to the ERF and DREB subfamilies. Further analysis identified three AP2 subfamily genes and two ERF subfamily genes as potential regulators of flower development, two ERF subfamily genes involved in flower opening, and two ERF subfamily genes along with one DREB subfamily gene involved in flower senescence. Based on family evolution and expression analyses, it is speculated that AP2/ERF transcription factors can regulate flower development, opening, and senescence in L. macranthoides, with ERF subfamily genes potentially serving as key regulators of flowering duration. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further research into the specific functions of the AP2/ERF transcription factor family in L. macranthoides and offer important theoretical insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying floral phenotypic differences among its varieties.
Plant Proteins/chemistry* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Transcription Factors/chemistry* ; Lonicera/classification* ; Flowers/metabolism* ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Multigene Family

OBJECTIVES: To assess the preliminary efficacy and safety of a dose-intensified C5VD regimen (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, vincristine, and doxorubicin) in children with locally advanced hepatoblastoma. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 24 children with newly diagnosed, locally advanced hepatoblastoma who received the dose-intensified C5VD regimen at Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and Shanghai Children's Hospital between January 2020 and December 2023. Clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and chemotherapy-related toxicities were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients, 13 were male and 11 were female, with a median age at diagnosis of 18.7 months (range: 3.5-79.4 months). All patients achieved complete macroscopic resection of hepatic lesions without liver transplantation. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels decreased significantly after two chemotherapy cycles. During a median follow-up of 38.4 months (range: 15.8-50.7 months), all patients maintained continuous complete remission, with 3-year event-free survival and overall survival rates of 100%. Across 144 chemotherapy cycles, the incidence rates of grade 3-4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and infections were 97%, 77%, and 71%, respectively; no treatment-related deaths occurred. Notably, 5 patients (21%) developed Brock grade ≥3 hearing loss, of whom 1 required a hearing aid. CONCLUSIONS The dose-intensified C5VD regimen demonstrates significant efficacy with an overall favorable safety profile in the treatment of newly diagnosed, locally advanced pediatric hepatoblastoma. Grade 3-4 myelosuppression and infection are the predominant toxicities. However, high‑dose cisplatin-induced ototoxicity remains a concern, highlighting the need for improved otoprotective strategies.
Humans ; Hepatoblastoma/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Infant ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Child, Preschool ; Prospective Studies ; Doxorubicin/adverse effects* ; Child ; Cisplatin/adverse effects* ; Vincristine/adverse effects* ; Fluorouracil/adverse effects*

Neuropathic pain, a debilitating condition caused by dysfunction of the somatosensory nervous system, remains difficult to treat due to limited understanding of its molecular mechanisms. Bioinformatics analysis identified cerebellin 2 (CBLN2) as highly enriched in human and murine proprioceptive and nociceptive neurons. We found that CBLN2 expression is persistently upregulated in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) following spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in mice. In addition, transcription factor SOX11 binds to 12 cis-regulatory elements within the Cbln2 promoter to enhance its transcription. SNL also induced SOX11 upregulation, with SOX11 and CBLN2 co-localized in nociceptive neurons. The siRNA-mediated knockdown of Sox11 or Cbln2 attenuated SNL-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. High-throughput sequencing of DRG following intrathecal injection of CBLN2 revealed widespread gene expression changes, including upregulation of numerous NF-κB downstream targets. Consistently, CBLN2 activated NF-κB signaling, and inhibition with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate reduced CBLN2-induced pain hypersensitivity, proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines production, and neuronal hyperexcitability. Together, these findings identified the SOX11/CBLN2/NF-κB axis as a critical mediator of neuropathic pain and a promising target for therapeutic intervention.
Animals ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Ganglia, Spinal/metabolism* ; Up-Regulation ; Mice ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; SOXC Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Male ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics* ; Hyperalgesia/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Spinal Nerves

Objective To explore and compare the efficacy and safety of different transurethral enucle-ation procedures for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 215 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to May 2023.According to the surgical procedures,they were divided into plasma resection group(n=81),treated with transurethral plasma resection of the prostate,laser resection group(n=92),treated with transurethral laser resection of the prostate,and green laser enucleation group(n=42),treated with transurethral green laser enucle-ation of the prostate.The three groups were compared in terms of perioperative indicators(surgical time,intraop-erative bleeding volume,bladder flushing time,indwelling catheter time,postoperative hemoglobin concentration,and hospital stay),urodynamic indicators(RUV,IPSS score,Qmax,and QOL score),and postoperative compli-cations.Results The green laser enucleation group and laser resection group demonstrated a significantly higher total effective rate compared to the plasma electrosurgery group(P<0.05).The three groups showed no statisti-cally significant difference in hospital stay(P>0.05),but the green laser enucleation group showed a signifi-cantly shorter surgical time compared to the other two group(P<0.05).The green laser enucleation group and laser resection group had superiority in intraoperative bleeding,bladder flushing time,and indwelling catheter time compared to the plasma resection group,and a significantly higher postoperative hemoglobin concentration compared to the plasma resection group(P<0.05).Repeated measurement analysis of variance showed that the three groups all exhibited significantly decreases in RUV,IPSS score,and QOL score(P<0.05),and a signifi-cantly increase in Qmax at 1 month and 3 months after surgery(P<0.05).The laser resection group and green laser enucleation group presented with significant decreases in RUV,IPSS score,and QOL score(P<0.05),and a significantly decrease in Qmax compared to the plasma resection group at 1 month and 3 months after surgery(P<0.05).However,the laser resection group and the green laser enucleation group had no statistically signifi-cant difference in RUV,IPSS score,Qmax,and QOL score at 1 month and 3 months after surgery(P>0.05).The green laser enucleation group had the lowest total incidence of postoperative complications,following by the laser resection group and plasma resection group in order(7.14%vs.21.74%vs.35.80%,P<0.05).Conclusion The three surgical procedures all have good therapeutic effects on benign prostatic hyperplasia.Transurethral laser prostatectomy and green laser enucleation have superiority to those of transurethral plasma resection of the prostate in efficacy and safety,and they can promote early recovery of patients.Transurethral green laser enucleation is the best in safety.

【Objective】 To explore the the potential risks of antiretroviral therapy(ART) drugs on blood safety among blood donors in Shenzhen. 【Methods】 High pressure liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to measure ART drugs concentrations in the plasma of regular blood donors (negative control group, n=86) and anti-HIV positive individuals (experimental group, n=98, detected from approximately 440 000 blood donors during 2019—2023). The baseline plasma concentrations of ART drugs in the negative control group were clarified, and the impact of ART drugs on blood safety was analyzed. 【Results】 The baseline concentrations of ART drugs were not detected in 86 samples of negative control group. Four positive ART drugs samples were detected in 1∶2 pooled plasma samples of 98 anti-HIV positive blood donors plasma in the resolution test. The ART positive rate of anti-HIV positive donors was 4.08%, with tenofovir, lamivudine and efavirenz detected in three blood donors and lamivudine, lopinavir, ritonavir and zidovudine detected in one blood donor. 【Conclusion】 ART drugs were found among anti-HIV positive blood donors in Shenzhen. Additional research is needed to investigate the motivation of these specific donors, so as to ascertain the groups most susceptible to potential risks, and guarantee blood safety.

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is a rare malignancy located primarily in infratentorial or subcortical areas with a poor prognosis, and rarely in the lateral ventricle with a very poor prognosis. So far, only 6 cases of AT/RT in lateral ventricle have been reported in China. This article reports the diagnosis and treatment of four children with AT/RT in the lateral ventricle, and discusses the clinical manifestations, differentiation and diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the disease through literature review, in order to improve clinicians' understanding of the disease and reduce missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.

The importance of evaluating the oxygen supply system of the medical aircraft was introduced.With considerations on the characteristics of the oxygen supply system of the medical aircraft during its development and application,an oxygen supply system effectiveness evaluation method was proposed based on the analytic hierarchy process and the experience of experts in the field of medical aircraft,which involved in seven evaluation indexes of total oxygen supply,pipeline airtight-ness,single-nozzle flow adjustment characteristics,single-nozzle outlet pressure adjustment characteristics,disassembly and assembly,mechanical operation and fixation ability.The effectiveness evaluation method proposed was of significance for accurately grasping the changes in the performance of the oxygen supply system.References were provided for the ground maintenance of the oxygen supply system of the medical aircraft.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(1):89-92]

Objective:To establish a clinical laboratory diagnostic pathway for hepatitis C covering diagnosis, differential diagnosis, drug toxicity monitoring, and therapeutic and prognostic evaluation, and to explore a new teaching model for laboratory diagnostics based on the clinical laboratory diagnostic pathway.Methods:According to the clinical diagnosis and treatment guidelines for hepatitis C, laboratory testing strategies for different stages of diagnosis and treatment of the disease were formulated to establish a clinical laboratory diagnostic pathway for hepatitis C. The pathway was applied in the teaching for undergraduate medical students of the seven-year program of grade 2019 of The First Clinical College of Wuhan University, with those of grade 2018 as the control to receive traditional teaching. The teaching effect was compared through questionnaires and quizzes in class. The data were analyzed through the t test with the use of SPSS 19.0. Results:A clinical laboratory diagnostic pathway for hepatitis C recognized by clinicians was established, covering the entire process of clinical diagnosis, differential diagnosis, monitoring of drug side effects, and therapeutic and prognostic evaluation. The students of grade 2019 receiving the pathway-based teaching model had significant improvements in teaching quality evaluation indicators ( P<0.05), with the most marked improvement in "having mastered the key and difficult points of this lesson", with a score of (60.90±2.15) points for grade 2018 and (84.80±3.44) points for grade 2019. The total score for teaching evaluation was significantly higher in students of grade 2019 than in those of grade 2018 [(94.02±4.29) vs. (79.21±3.68)] points, P<0.05). Grade 2019 also had a significantly higher classroom quiz score than grade 2018 (94.60±5.63) vs. (78.10±4.92), P<0.01]. Conclusions:We established and applied a clinical laboratory diagnostic pathway of hepatitis C in the teaching model of laboratory diagnostics, which organically integrates laboratory diagnostics and clinical medicine, and significantly improves the quality of teaching.