Objective To evaluate the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on autophagy in melanocytes,and to explore its possible regulatory mechanisms.Methods Normal human melanocytes at exponential growth phase were divided into several groups:blank control group receiving no treatment,positive control group treated with 100 nmol/L sirolimus solution,and experiment groups treated with H2O2 solution at different volume fractions of 10-7-10-3 respectively.After 4-hour treatment,cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate the cellular proliferative activity and detect apoptosis of melanocytes respectively.Acridine orange staining was performed to detect autophagosome formation,transmission electron microscopy to observe ultrastructural changes of autophagosomes,and Western blot analysis to measure the expression of autophagy-specific protein Beclin 1 and microtubuleassociated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B).A total of 84 autophagy-related genes were analyzed by RT2 Profiler PCR Array,so as to screen differentially expressed autophagy-related genes.Results After the treatment with H2O2 at different volume fractions of 10-3,5 × 10-4,10-4,5 × 10-5,10-5,5 × 10-6 and 10-6,experiment groups showed significantly decreased cellular proliferative activity,but significantly increased apoptosis rate compared with the blank control group (F =286.95,301.23,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).With the increase in volume fractions of H2O2,the cellular proliferative activity was significantly gradually decreased (P ＜ 0.05),while the apoptosis rate showed an opposite trend (P ＜ 0.05),except that the 5 ×10-6 H2O2 group showed no significant differences in the apoptosis rate compared with the 10-5 H2O2 group and 10-6 H2O2 group.Acridine orange staining and electron microscopy showed autophagosome formation in the 10-5 H2O2 group,10-6 H2O2 group and positive control group.Western blot analysis revealed that Beclin1 expression and LC3B-Ⅱ/LC3B-Ⅰ ratio were significantly higher in the 10-5 H2O2 group,10-6 H2O2 group and positive control group than in the blank control group (all P ＜ 0.05).RT2 Profiler PCR Array showed significant up-regulation of ATG12,ATG3,ULK1,PIK3CG,PTEN and PIK3C3 genes and significant downregulation of EIF2AK3 gene in the 10-5 H2O2 group,10-6 H2O2 group and positive control group compared with the blank control group.In the 10-5 H2O2 group and positive control group,the mTOR gene was significantly up-regulated,and the ULK2 gene was significantly down-regulated.The 10-6 H2O2 group showed no obvious changes in the expression of mTOR gene,but significant up-regulation of AMPK and JNK1 genes.Conclusion H2O2 at volume fractions of 10-5 and 10-6 can induce autophagy in melanocytes,likely by influencing the expression of some related signaling molecules.

Objective To investigate the expressions of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), c-Jun amino terminal kinase (JNK) and nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the heart tissue in SD rat model of diabetic cardiomyopathy, and to explore the relationship between Syk, JNK and NLRP3. Methods Clean male SD rats were randomly divided into the control (Ctrl) group and diabetic cardiomyopathy model (DCM) group. Rats of DCM group were treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ), while rats of Ctrl group were injected with the same dose of citrate buffer. The random blood glucose level and body weight were monitored every week until 20 weeks after STZ or citrate buffer injection, then all the rats were killed and their hearts were obtained. Rat H 9c2 cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into normal glucose treatment (NG) group, high glucose treatment (HG) group, Syk inhibitor control (BAY) group and Syk inhibitor high glucose (HG+BAY) group. The Syk and JNK phosphorylations and NLRP3 protein expression were detected by Western blot assay in the heart tissue of SD rats and H9c2 cardiomyocytes. The NLRP3, cysteine-containing aspartate specific protease 1(caspase-1) and interleukin (IL)-1β expressions at mRNA level were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The random blood glucose level was significantly increased (P<0.05) and the body weight was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in DCM group compared with those of Ctrl group. The expressions of cardiac p-Syk, p-JNK and NLRP3 at protein level were significantly increased in DCM group compared with those of Ctrl group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05). BAY treatment significantly inhibited the high glucose-induced NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β mRNA expressions and p-JNK, NLRP3 protein expressions in H9c2 cardiomyocytes (P < 0.05). Conclusion JNK phosphorylation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by Syk play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Objective:To investigate the difference of lymphocyte subsets between elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis and non-elderly patients and its clinical significance.Methods:A total of 124 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January, 2017 to December, 2019 were enrolled.The patients were divided into elderly group(≥60 years old, 34 cases)and non-elderly group(<60 years old, 90 cases). Rheumatoid arthritis activity(DAS-28)scoring was performed for each patient.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)were extracted by Ficoll density centrifugation.Lymphocytes were labeled and detected by 18-color flowcytometry with more than 30 fluorescent antibodies.Results:DAS-28 scoring showed that the disease activity score of the elderly group(4.56±1.89)was higher than that of the non-elderly group(3.37±1.49)( t=3.633, P<0.001). Flow cytometry showed that MAIL%T(mucus-associated lymphoid tissue T cell subset)( Z=-2.798, P=0.005), Tn%CD8 T cells(initial CD8 T cells)( Z=-2.179, P=0.029), VD2% T(Vδ2+ T, γδT cell subtype)( Z=-2.806, P=0.005), PD1-CD28-%Th( Z=-2.050, P=0.040)and IGM+ D-%B( Z=-2.376, P=0.017)were lower in the elderly group than in the non-elderly group.While, CD45+ CD27+ %CD8 T cells( Z=-3.069, P=0.002), abT%T cell(αβT cells)( Z=-2.103, P=0.035), CD27-CD28+ %T cells( Z=-2.341, P=0.019), ASC%PBMC( Z=-2.341, P=0.019)and ASC%CD19+ ( Z=-2.000, P=0.046)subgroup expression were higher in the elderly group than in the non-elderly group. Conclusions:The disease activity of elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis is significantly higher than that of younger patients.The expressions of abT%T and CD4% abT in effector T cells of elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis are higher than those of younger patients, while the expression of VD2% T is lower.The expression level of CD45RA+ CD27+ %CD8 T with cytotoxic effect is higher; However, the expression level of Tn%CD8 T in naive cells is lower.

Objective To analyze miR-92a expression and its clinical significance in the plasma of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.Methods Plasma samples from 44 SLE patients,16 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 20 healthy controls were collected.The small RNAs in these plasma samples were isolated and reversely transcribed.Using cel-miR-39 as the external reference,the levels of miR-92a expression were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.MiR-92a and cel-miR-39 were analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis.The sensitivity and specificity of miR-92a as SLE were analyzed by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve.The correlation between the levels of miR-92a expression and the clinic pathological features of SLE and biological significance of miR-92a expression in SLE were further analyzed by Pearson or Chi-square test.Results Our data indicated that the plasma levels of miR-92a expression was 49.20 (5.33,95.17) in SLE patients,411.30 (320.84,504.69) in healthy controls,and 25.59(11.20,30.54) in RA patients.The difference was significant (x2=40.77,P＜0.01).The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.958 for discriminating between SLE patients and normal subjects and 1.00 for discriminating between RA patients and healthy controls.The levels of miR92a expression cutoff values were set the as 198.59 for healthy control and 85.35 for RA patients,the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 93.2％,90％,and 100％,100％,res-pectively.The analysis of the correlation between miR-92a expression and the clinic pathological features of SLE had shown that the levels of plasma miR-92a expressions were much lower in SLE patients with down-regulated complement C3,and up-regulated urea nitrogen,creatinine,LDH,ATH (all P＜0 05).Conclusion Down-regulated miR-92a expression in plasma of SLE may be involved in the SLE disease occurrence or development and could be used as a novel potential diagnostic biomarker for SLE.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of a flat ground exoskeleton robot in improving the walking ability of stroke survivors.Methods:Fifty-eight stroke survivors with mobility difficulties were randomly divided into a robot group ( n=29) and a control group ( n=29). In addition to routine rehabilitation, the control group received conventional walking training, while the robot group underwent exoskeleton robot-assisted gait training. The 30-minute training sessions were held twice a day, 5 days per week for 5 weeks. Before as well as after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, everyone′s walking ability was tested using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and functional ambulation scale (FAC). General lower limb motor function was quantified using the Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity assessment (FMA-LE). Moreover, gait analysis was conducted before and after 4 weeks of treatment. Results:After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the average 6MWT times of both groups were significantly better than before the treatment, with the improvement of the robot group significantly greater than that of the control group after 2 weeks. After 2 and 4 weeks the average FMA-LE and FAC scores of both groups had improved significantly compared with before treatment. After 4 weeks the stride frequency and gait cycle of both groups had improved significantly.Conclusions:Exoskeleton robot-assisted gait training can improve walking ability and lower limb motor function of stroke survivors about as well as conventional walking training.

Objective To explore the effects of prohibitin 2(PHB2)on sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549 to erlotinib(Erl)and its potential mechanisms.Methods RACK1-specific small interfering RNA was transfected in A549 cells for knocking-down of PHB2.The effects of PHB2 inhibition on cell proliferation and apop-tosis induced by Erl were observed.The colocalization of microtuble-associated protein light chain 3 alpha(LC3)and mitochondria was visualized by MitoTracker staining and green fluorescent protein-microtuble-associated protein light chain 3 alpha(GFP-LC3)transfection.Cell proliferation was detected by 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine(EdU)staining.Cell colony formation was evaluated by colony forming assay.Apoptotic index of A549 cells was evaluated by TUNEL.Western blot was used to measure the expressions of PHB2 and LC3Ⅱ.Mitochondrial transmembrane potential,cytochrome c and respiratory chain complexⅠ/Ⅱ/Ⅴactivity were analyzed by the commercially availa-ble kits.Results Compared with the siPHB2 and siCtrl+Erl group,the EdU-positive A549 cells and the number of cell colonies decreased significantly(P＜0.05),while the TUNEL-positive A549 cells increased significantly(P＜0.05)in the siPHB2+Erl group.In addition,compared with the siPHB2 and siCtrl+Erl group,mitochondrial transmembrane potential and respiratory chain complexⅠ/Ⅱ/Ⅴactivity decreased significantly(all P＜0.05)and the levels of cytochrome c increased in mitochondrial fractions(P＜0.05)and decreased in cytosolic fractions(P＜0.05)in the siPHB2+Erl group.Conclusions PHB2 inhibition significantly improves sensitivity of A549 cells to Erl,which may be explained by inhibition of PHB2-mediated mitochondrial autophagy.

Objective:To report the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of a patient with linear scleroderma en coup de sabre (LSCS), and review the relevant literature in order to provide the basis for early diagnosis and timely treatment of the disease.Methods:The clinical data and treatment process of a patient with LSCS admitted to Hangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University on September 22, 2022 were summarized, and the case reports or case series studies related to LSCS with epilepsy or Coats-like response at home and abroad were systematically analyzed. The gender, age, onset time, clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis of this type of patients were summarized.Results:The patient is a 22 years old female with a history of scalp patchy alopecia and ipsilofrontal en coup de sabre for over 10 years and was diagnosed as Coasts disease due to decreased vision in the right eye 5 years ago, and now she is blind. This visit was due to "episodic loss of consciousness for more than 2 hours" with epileptic seizures and Coats-like response of the left eye. Treatment with antiepileptic drugs, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants showed satisfactory results. The clinical data of all 20 patients with LSCS reported in domestic and foreign literature were analyzed. The age of onset was 11.00 (6.75, 20.50) years, with a male to female ratio of 1∶1. The imaging findings of patients with LSCS with epilepsy were mainly manifested as multiple brain calcifications, soft tissue atrophy and skull thinning on the focal side. The results of fundus examination and fundus fluorescein angiography in patients with LSCS with Coats-like response were mainly exudative inflammation and retinal detachment, including 1 case with cerebral cerebrovascular inflammation. In terms of treatment, most of the patients with LSCS with epilepsy were treated with antiepileptic drugs, glucocorticoids combined with immunosuppressant, interleukin-6 inhibitor tozizumab, and the other 2 cases were treated with surgery. Patients with LSCS with Coats-like response were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab in combination with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive therapy or retinal targeted photocoagulation or local laser therapy with triamcinolone. The above treatment can control the patient′s refractory epilepsy and improve the vision loss.Conclusions:The main manifestations of LSCS are en coup de sabre lesion with pigmentation on the forehead above the eyelid, accompanied by Coats-like response of the eye, epilepsy, and brain imaging abnormalities. The above clinical features may appear successively or simultaneously. In some patients, these symptoms may progress slowly, and can lead to blindness and refractory epilepsy severely. Glucocorticoids combined with immunosuppressive therapy should be given as early as possible, and intravitreal bevacizumab therapy can improve visual loss of LSCS patients.

Objective:To investigate the safety and effectiveness of Willis covered stent in patients having carotid artery rupture during transnasal endoscopic pituitary tumor resection.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed. Six patients having carotid artery rupture during transnasal endoscopic pituitary tumor resection admitted to the 3 hospitals from May 2016 to December 2019 were chosen; their clinical data were collected. The surgical processes and complications were concluded, and the prognoses were evaluated by modified Rankin scale (mRS).Results:One patient was treated with intraoperative simple tamponade compression for hemostasis, and died for massive intracranial hemorrhage 2 weeks after surgery. Five patients were occluded by Willis covered stents; the occluded success rate was 100% but ophthalmic arteries were blocked in all. During the perioperative period, diabetes insipidus occurred in one patient and incomplete oculomotor paralysis occurred in one patient; 5 patients were followed up for 3-12 months: MRI indicated subtotal resection of tumor in 4 patients and total resection in one patient, no new bleeding or ischemic stroke events occurred in these 5 patients, and the prognosis was good.Conclusion:Willis covered stent is safe and effective in patients having carotid artery rupture during transnasal endoscopic pituitary tumor resection.

BACKGROUNDThe domestic prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in China is 7.18% in 2006, imposing great societal healthcare burdens. Nucleot(s)ide analogues (NUCs) anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) therapies are widely applied despite the relatively low rate of seroconversion and high risk of drug-resistant mutation. More effective treatments for CHB deserve further explorations. Combined therapy of NUCs plus Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is widely accepted in China, which is recognized as a prospective alternative approach. The study was primarily designed to confirm the hypothesis that Tiaogan-Yipi Granule (, TGYP) or Tiaogan-Jianpi-Jiedu Granule (, TGJPJD) plus entecavir tablet (ETV) was superior over ETV monotherapy in enhancing HBeAg loss rate.

METHODSThe study was a nationwide, large-scale, multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with a designed duration of 108 weeks. A total of 16 hospitals and 596 eligible Chinese HBeAg positive CHB patients were enrolled from November 2012 to September 2013 and randomly allocated into 2 groups in 1:1 ratio via central randomization system: experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). Subjects in EG received CM formulae (TGYP or TGJPJD, 50 g per dose, twice daily) plus ETV tablet (or ETV placebo) 0.5 mg per day in the first 24 weeks (stage 1), and CHM granule plus ETV tablet (0.5 mg per day) from week 25 to 108 (stage 2). Subjects in CG received CHM Granule placebo plus ETV tablet (0.5 mg per day) for 108 weeks throughout the trial. The assessments of primary outcomes (HBV serum markers and HBV-DNA) were conducted by a third-party College of American Pathologists (CAP) qualified laboratory. Adverse effects were observed in the hospitals of recruitment.

DISCUSSIONThe study was designed to compare the curative effect of CM plus ETV and ETV monotherapy in respect of HBeAg loss, which is recognized by the European Association for the Study of the Liver as "a valuable endpoint". We believe this trial could provide a reliable status for patients' "journey" towards durable responses after treatment discontinuation. The trial was registered before recruitment on Chinese Clinical trial registry (No. ChiCTR-TRC-12002784, Version 1.0, 2015/12/23).