Objective: To investigate the causal relationship between antioxidant nutrients and pregnancy complications, so as to provide the reference for the prevention and treatment of pregnancy complications. Methods: Data of seven antioxidant nutrients including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, copper and iron were collected from genome-wide association study (GWAS) Catalog database, and data of four pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes mellitus, pre-eclampsia, spontaneous abortion and preterm birth were collected from the Finland database. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data were collected, and 27 SNPS strongly correlated with seven antioxidant nutrients were selected as instrumental variables. Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method with seven antioxidant nutrients as exposures factors and four pregnancy complications as outcome variables. The heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran's Q test, the horizontal pleiotropy was assessed using the MR-PRESSO test and MR-Egger regression, and the robustness of the results was verified with the leave-one-out. Results: Cochran's Q test showed heterogeneity of MR results between vitamin C and gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia and preterm birth, between vitamin E and iron and gestational diabetes (all P<0.05), and a random effect model was employed. There was no heterogeneity in other results (all P>0.05), and a fixed effect model was employed. MR analysis results showed that there was no causal association between seven antioxidant nutrients and the risk of four pregnancy complications (all P>0.05). MR-PRESSO test and the MR-Egger regression identified no horizontal pleiotropy of instrumental variables (both P>0.05). Conclusion This study did not find genetically predicted associations of antioxidant nutrients with pregnancy complications.

Objective:To investigate the independent and combined effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring genetic susceptibility on overall cancer mortality.Methods:Based on the United Kingdom Biobank ( n=419 228) data, the Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to estimate the effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on offspring overall cancer (including 16 cancers in men and 18 in women) mortality and its combined effect and interaction with offspring genetic factors. Results:Maternal smoking during pregnancy was significantly associated with a 13% increased risk of overall cancer mortality in men [hazard ratio( HR)=1.13, 95% CI: 1.06-1.20] and 19% increased risk in women ( HR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.11-1.27). Participants with high genetic risk had the highest overall cancer mortality than those with low genetic risk (men: HR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.30-1.55; women: HR=1.38, 95% CI: 1.25-1.52). Compared with participants without maternal smoking during pregnancy and low genetic risk, those with maternal smoking during pregnancy and high genetic risk were associated with a 56% increased risk of overall cancer mortality in men ( HR=1.56, 95% CI: 1.37-1.77) and 59% in women ( HR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.39-1.83). Conclusion:Maternal smoking during pregnancy may increase offspring overall cancer mortality and more severe harm in individuals with high genetic risk.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the bone marrow characteristics of methimazole-induced agranulocytosis and other hematologic damage, and to explore its correlation with clinical features and prognosis.Methods:The bone marrow and clinical parameters of 20 patients of Graves′ disease diagnosed with methimazole-induced agranulocytosis at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University from January 2000 to December 2022 were collected. The intergroup differences in bone marrow characteristics and granulocyte recovery time were analyzed. Differences in peripheral blood and bone marrow characteristics between patients with single agranulocytosis and pancytopenia were compared. Besides, literature review of the bone marrow characteristics of methimazole-induced hematologic diseases was conducted.Results:Compared to patients with bone marrow characteristics of granulocyte and precursor maturation disorders(Type Ⅱ), patients with aplastic marrow(Type Ⅰ) had significant decreases in the proportions of granulocytes in all phases( P<0.05). Patients with bone marrow characteristics of Type Ⅰ had a significant increase in the proportion of the lymphocyte system [51.00%(41.50%, 75.50%) vs 22.00%(14.00%, 35.00%), P=0.002], and got a longer to recovery time [(6.58±1.68)d vs(3.71±1.60)d, P=0.003]; Correlation analysis suggested the granulocyte to erythrocyte ratio was negatively correlated with the granulocyte recovery time( r=-0.520, P=0.023), and the proportion of the bone marrow lymphocyte was positively correlated with granulocyte recovery time( r=0.622, P=0.004). Compared to patients with single agranulocytosis, patients with pancytopenia had a markedly longer hospital stay duration [(27.14±5.27)d vs(14.15±7.36)d, P=0.001]. Literature review suggestsed that methimazole may cause various degrees of damage to blood system and bone marrow. Conclusion:Methimazole can induce a variety of hematologic damages. Analysis of bone marrow characteristics can aid in further prognosis assessment. Clinicians should be vigilant about potential hematologic adverse reactions when using methimazole and promptly diagnose and treat them to prevent serious consequences.

Epilepsy is a common, chronic neurological disorder that has been associated with impaired neurodevelopment and immunity. The chemokine receptor CXCR5 is involved in seizures via an unknown mechanism. Here, we first determined the expression pattern and distribution of the CXCR5 gene in the mouse brain during different stages of development and the brain tissue of patients with epilepsy. Subsequently, we found that the knockdown of CXCR5 increased the susceptibility of mice to pentylenetetrazol- and kainic acid-induced seizures, whereas CXCR5 overexpression had the opposite effect. CXCR5 knockdown in mouse embryos via viral vector electrotransfer negatively influenced the motility and multipolar-to-bipolar transition of migratory neurons. Using a human-derived induced an in vitro multipotential stem cell neurodevelopmental model, we determined that CXCR5 regulates neuronal migration and polarization by stabilizing the actin cytoskeleton during various stages of neurodevelopment. Electrophysiological experiments demonstrated that the knockdown of CXCR5 induced neuronal hyperexcitability, resulting in an increased number of seizures. Finally, our results suggested that CXCR5 deficiency triggers seizure-related electrical activity through a previously unknown mechanism, namely, the disruption of neuronal polarity.
Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism* ; Actins/metabolism* ; Epilepsy/metabolism* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Receptors, CXCR5/metabolism* ; Seizures/metabolism*

Humans ; COVID-19/genetics* ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics* ; Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/genetics* ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics* ; RNA, Viral/genetics*

【Objective】 To investigate the effect of isoliquiritigenin on inflammatory response of vascular endothelial cells and whether the regulatory effect of isoliquiritigenin on inflammation is mediated by histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3). 【Methods】 Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro and treated with LPS, different concentrations of isoliquiritigenin and HDAC3 specific inhibitor, respectively. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines and HDAC3. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into vehicle group and isoliquiritigenin treatment group. The vascular inflammation model of C57BL/6J mice was established by ligation of the left carotid arteries. The mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines and HDAC3 in the carotid arteries of mice were detected by Real-time PCR. A molecular docking study was performed to investigate the interaction between isoliquiritigenin and HDAC3. 【Results】 Compared with the vehicle group, isoliquiritigenin reduced the mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18, MCP-1 and ICAM-1 and decreased the expression of HDAC3 mRNA and protein in HUVECs stimulated with LPS. In addition, isoliquiritigenin also decreased the mRNA expressions of NLRP3, IL-1β and HDAC3 in carotid arteries of ligated C57BL/6J mice. The docking of isoliquiritigenin in the active site of HDAC3 showed that isoliquiritigenin might act through HDAC3. Furthermore, HDAC3 specific inhibitor RGFP966 further promoted the inhibitory effect of isoliquiritigenin on the expression of inflammatory cytokines in vascular endothelial cells. 【Conclusion】 These results suggest that isoliquiritigenin suppresses the inflammatory response of vascular endothelial cells via HDAC3.

Epilepsy is a common and severe brain disease affecting >65 million people worldwide. Recent studies have shown that kinesin superfamily motor protein 17 (KIF17) is expressed in neurons and is involved in regulating the dendrite-targeted transport of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subtype 2B (NR2B). However, the effect of KIF17 on epileptic seizures remains to be explored. We found that KIF17 was mainly expressed in neurons and that its expression was increased in epileptic brain tissue. In the kainic acid (KA)-induced epilepsy mouse model, KIF17 overexpression increased the severity of epileptic activity, whereas KIF17 knockdown had the opposite effect. In electrophysiological tests, KIF17 regulated excitatory synaptic transmission, potentially due to KIF17-mediated NR2B membrane expression. In addition, this report provides the first demonstration that KIF17 is modified by SUMOylation (SUMO, small ubiquitin-like modifier), which plays a vital role in the stabilization and maintenance of KIF17 in epilepsy.
Animals ; Epilepsy/metabolism* ; Kinesins/metabolism* ; Mice ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/metabolism* ; Seizures/metabolism*

The importance of gut microbes to human health has gradually attracted attention. With the use of animal models, it has been revealed that maternal microbes during pregnancy could influence their children's health outcomes through shaping their microbial composition and regulating the development of their metabolic and immune system. However, the physiological mechanism of the human body is more complex and is affected by the interaction of multiple factors. The research results obtained from animal models are often inconsistent with human studies. At present, the influence of maternal intestinal microbes during pregnancy on the microbial colonization in their offspring and on a series of children's health outcomes is still unclear. Establishing a sub-cohort to detect the microbiome of the women across pregnancy and of their offspring, and further to integrate with variety of environmental and behavioral exposures can better provide reliable support for the research on the mechanism of children's health and diseases. This paper briefly introduces the research objectives, content, progress, strength and limitations of the sub-cohort study.

Diabetes is the most important comorbidity of cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease is the main cause of mortality and disability of patients with type 2 diabetes. In order to standardize the diagnosis and treatment of patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the National Health Commission Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center organized the experts from the field of cardiology and endocrinology systematically reviewing the research progresses and expert experiences of relevant disciplines from home and abroad, and formulated this consensus. This consensus covers the diagnosis, drug treatment, and risk factor management for patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease (including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure) from the perspective of cardiovascular disease and diabetes management aiming to strengthen the comprehensive management of patients and ultimately to improve the prognosis of patients. The management of cardiovascular diseases mainly includes the management of blood pressure, blood lipids, anti-thrombosis, anti-myocardial ischemia, anti-ventricular remodeling and so on. Diabetes management mainly includes lifestyle intervention (including diet, exercise, weight loss, etc.), anti-hyperglycemia therapy (including drugs and insulin), blood glucose monitoring, and hypoglycemic prevention. In addition, specific clinical recommendations are given to patients with special health care needs such as diabetic nephropathy, elderly (>75 years), and cardiovascular critical illness.

Neuronal polarity is involved in multiple developmental stages, including cortical neuron migration, multipolar-to-bipolar transition, axon initiation, apical/basal dendrite differentiation, and spine formation. All of these processes are associated with the cytoskeleton and are regulated by precise timing and by controlling gene expression. The P-Rex1 (phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate dependent Rac exchange factor 1) gene for example, is known to be important for cytoskeletal reorganization, cell motility, and migration. Deficiency of P-Rex1 protein leads to abnormal neuronal migration and synaptic plasticity, as well as autism-related behaviors. Nonetheless, the effects of P-Rex1 overexpression on neuronal development and higher brain functions remain unclear. In the present study, we explored the effect of P-Rex1 overexpression on cerebral development and psychosis-related behaviors in mice. In utero electroporation at embryonic day 14.5 was used to assess the influence of P-Rex1 overexpression on cell polarity and migration. Primary neuron culture was used to explore the effects of P-Rex1 overexpression on neuritogenesis and spine morphology. In addition, P-Rex1 overexpression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of mice was used to assess psychosis-related behaviors. We found that P-Rex1 overexpression led to aberrant polarity and inhibited the multipolar-to-bipolar transition, leading to abnormal neuronal migration. In addition, P-Rex1 overexpression affected the early development of neurons, manifested as abnormal neurite initiation with cytoskeleton change, reduced the axon length and dendritic complexity, and caused excessive lamellipodia in primary neuronal culture. Moreover, P-Rex1 overexpression decreased the density of spines with increased height, width, and head area in vitro and in vivo. Behavioral tests showed that P-Rex1 overexpression in the mouse mPFC caused anxiety-like behaviors and a sensorimotor gating deficit. The appropriate P-Rex1 level plays a critical role in the developing cerebral cortex and excessive P-Rex1 might be related to psychosis-related behaviors.