Background and purpose: Short tandem repeats (STR) multiplex PCR fluorescence detection technology is the most widely used DNA technology in individual identity and genetic identification. It's the most direct method to obtain accurate conclusions. However, some studies have indicated that the rate of STR mutations in tumor tissue is significantly higher than that in normal tissues or blood. This study aimed to investigate the tendency of genetic instability in 20 STR loci on autosomal and Amel loci in tumor tissue samples from lung cancer. Methods: This study, collected 75 cases of human lung cancer tissues and the adjacent normal tissues. DNA samples were extracted by tissue DNA extraction kit, amplified using MicroreaderTM 21 Direct ID System PCR amplification kit. Capillary electrophoresis was performed using API 3130 analyzer, and results were analyzed by genetic analysis software (Gene Mapper ID V3.2). Results: STR alterations were detected in 24 specimens from 75 lung cancer tissues (32%). Fifty-five alterations were detected in the frequently used 21 STR loci in total, including additional alleles 10 times, loss of heterozygosity 10 times, partial loss of heterozygosity 35 times. Partial loss of heterozygosity was the most common genetic alteration types accounting for 63.64% of the total alteration frequency. And multiple genetic alteration types could occur in the same lung cancer tissue. Among them, the highest alteration frequency occurred on D5S818 (7 times), secondly on D3S1358 and D12S391 (both 5 times), and no alterations on D2S441 and Penta E. Combining the experimental results and analysis on clinical data, this study found the statistical differences between the staging of lung cancer and the age of the patients with the STR loci alterations (P<0.05). However, the alterations did have much relationship with the classification of lung cancer and the patient's gender (P>0.05). Conclusion: STR loci of the lung cancer tissue were not stable, and the alteration occurred in the aged or high malignant degree lung cancer tissue more frequently. Meanwhile, no alteration was detected on D2S441 and Penta E. In the future research the two STR loci should be verified to determine whether they can be used as the stable STR loci in such cases by increasing the sample size.

Use of genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) for pollution abatement has been limited because of the risks associated with their uncontrolled release in environment. In this study, a pollutant-dependent bacterial containment system was constructed in E. coli JM109. The system consisted of two plasmids containing a killing element and a regulatory element respectively. The survival of strains can be regulated by the concentration of salicylate in environment. In the presence of salicylate, the expression of the suicide gene gef was inhibited with the synthesis of LacI protein, leading to the normal proliferation of the strain. While in the absence of salicylate, the expression of the regulatory element was cancelled, and the expression of the suicide gene gefled to a high rate of cell killing. This containment system can be used as a model during the construction of genetically engineered strains for bioremediation.
Biodegradation, Environmental ; Containment of Biohazards ; methods ; Environmental Pollutants ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Lethal ; genetics ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Organisms, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; metabolism ; Salicylates ; pharmacology

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are diminutive vesicles naturally released by Gram-negative bacteria. These vesicles possess distinctive characteristics that attract attention for their potential use in drug administration and immunotherapy in cancer treatment. Therapeutic medicines may be delivered via OMVs directly to the tumor sites, thereby minimizing exposure to healthy cells and lowering the risk of systemic toxicity. Furthermore, the activation of the immune system by OMVs has been demonstrated to facilitate the recognition and elimination of cancer cells, which makes them a desirable tool for immunotherapy. They can also be genetically modified to carry specific antigens, immunomodulatory compounds, and small interfering RNAs, enhancing the immune response to cancerous cells and silencing genes associated with disease progression. Combining OMVs with other cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation has shown promising synergistic effects. This review highlights the crucial role of bacterial OMVs in cancer, emphasizing their potential as vectors for novel cancer targeted therapies. As researchers delve deeper into the complexities of these vesicles and their interactions with tumors, there is a growing sense of optimism that this avenue of study will bring positive outcomes and renewed hope to cancer patients in the foreseeable future.

Objective:To study the expression of peripheral blood NKT-like cells in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), to explore the correlation between NKT-like cells and laboratory and clinical indicators of systemic sclerosis, and investigate the role of NKT-like cells in the occurrence and development of Systemic sclerosis.Methods:Forty-six SSc patients (SSc group) were enrolled from Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Peking University People 's Hospital during December 2018 to December 2019. Thirty healthy subjects with matched age and sex were selected as healthy control group (HC group). The cell count and percentage of NKT-like cells and other lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. At the same time, other laboratory indexes were determined by different methods. Spearman's correlation analysis, Pearson's correlation analysis, Man-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test were used to analyze the difference and correlation between NKT-like cells and other clinical and laboratory indicators. Results:Compared with HC group [165(72, 226)cells/μl], the cell count of NKT-like cells in peripheral blood of SSc group[30(19, 58)cells/μl] was significantly decreased ( Z=-5.69, P<0.001). Correlation analysis showed that the cell count of NKT-like cells was positively correlated with total T lymphocytes ( r=0.56, P<0.001), CD4 +T cells ( r=0.42, P=0.004), CD8 +T cells ( r=0.60, P<0.001), B cells ( r=0.50, P<0.001) and NK cells ( r=0.33, P=0.024), respectively. The percentage of NKT-like cells in lymphocytes was also positively correlated with the percentage of CD8 +T cells ( r=0.34, P=0.020), but not significantly correlated with other subset of lymphocytes. The ESR of the NKT-like cell decreased group was significantly higher than that of the NKT-like normal group[15(9, 28) mm/1 h vs 8 (4, 16) mm/1 h, Z=-2.04, P=0.042]. Moreover, the cell count of NKT-like cells was negatively correlated with ESR ( r=-0.34, P=0.019). Conclusion:The cell count and percentage of NKT-like cells in peripheral blood of SSc patients decreased significantly. NKT-like cells were not only positively correlated with a variety of lymphocyte subpopulations, but also negatively correlated with ESR. NKT-like cells may be used as an indicator to monitor the disease activity in patients with SSc.

Hypertension is a kind of chronic cardiovascular system disease caused by a series of factors and carriers dysfunction, which belongs to the category of Tibetan medicine "Chalong disease", and has a high rate of disability and mortality. Zuomua Decoction is a classical Tibetan medicine for Chalong disease, but its mechanism is not clear. Therefore, in this paper we explored the multi-components, multi-targets and multi-channels mechanism of Zuomua Decoction in the treatment of hypertension based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. First of all, the chemical components of Zuomua Decoction were obtained in the retrieval of traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database(TCMSP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI) and Wanfang database. The potential targets of Zuomua Decoction were predicted by BATMAN-TCM database, and the targets of hypertension were obtained by using DisGeNET database. The intersection of these two targets set was taken to obtain the potential targets of Zuomua Decoction in the treatment of hypertension, and then the chemical compositions-targets network was constructed. Secondly, the intersection targets were imported into STRING database to obtain the interaction relationship of intersection targets, and the protein interaction network of Zuomua Decoction in the treatment of hypertension was constructed in Cytoscape. Topological, GO, and KEGG enrichment analysis were used to construct the key targets-signal pathways-biological processes network diagram and explore the mechanism of Zuomua Decoction in the treatment of hypertension. Finally, the key targets were selected to construct the pharmacodynamic identification models to verify the effect mode of Zomua Decoction in treating hypertension. The results showed that there were 61 chemical components and 90 potential targets in the compounds-targets network. We obtained 21 key targets, 154 signal pathways, and 382 biological processes in topological, GO, and KEGG enrichment analysis of the protein interaction network, and in the comprehensive analysis, it was found that Zuomua Decoction could reduce blood pressure by regulating renin angiotension aldosterone system, balancing the concentration of intracellular calcium and sodium ions and regulating vasoconstriction and relaxation. ACE, AGTR1, and ADRB2 were used as the carriers for molecular docking study on the components of Zuoma Decoction, and the results showed that the chemical components of Zuomua Decoction had a good binding activity with key targets. The purpose of this study is to provide ideas for the in-depth study of Zuoma Decoction in the treatment of hypertension, and provide scientific basis for its clinical rational application.
Antihypertensive Agents ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Technology

Objective:To investigate the prognoses of pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients with leptomeningeal metastases (LM) and explore their influencing factors.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed. The clinical data, imaging features and treatment plans of pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients with LM admitted to our hospital from January 2010 to June 2021 were collected. Overall survival (OS) was used as the prognostic evaluation criterion and patients were divided into good prognosis group (OS≥6 months) and poor prognosis group (OS<6 months) accordingly. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the influencing factors for prognoses of pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients with LM. These patients were grouped according to different Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores and different treatment methods, and survival curves were drawn to compare their OS.Results:A total of 173 pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients with LM were enrolled in the study, including 75 with good prognosis and 87 with poor prognosis. There were significant differences in the KPS scores, pulmonary adenocarcinoma lesion controlled status, giving third generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy or not, giving systemic chemotherapy and/or whole brain radiotherapy or not between the two groups ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that KPS scores and pulmonary adenocarcinoma lesion controlled status were independent influencing factors for prognoses ( OR=4.186, 95%CI: 1.583-11.070, P=0.004; OR=4.198, 95%CI: 1.499-11.760, P=0.006). Survival curves showed median OS of 8.2 months for all patients ( 95%CI: 6.5-9.8). The OS in patients with low-risk(KPS scores≥60) was significantly higher than that in patients with high-risk(KPS scores<60), that in patients accepted TKI treatment was significantly higher than that in patients not accepted TKI treatment, and that in patients accepted TKI and systemic chemotherapy was significantly higher than that in patients accepted TKI alone ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Patients with high KPS scores and controlled pulmonary adenocarcinoma can have relatively good prognosis; TKI treatment and combination therapy may prolong OS of these patients.

ObjectiveTo systematically develop the courses of rehabilitation based on World Health Organization rehabilitation competency framework (RCF). MethodsThe theories and methods of RCF were used to analyze competency characteristics of rehabilitation workers and educational objectives to construct the curriculum contents in rehabilitation. ResultsThe competency of the rehabilitation workers included practice, professionalism, learning and development, management and leadership, research, values and beliefs in the specific rehabilitation situations. The objectives of rehabilitation medicine education needed to correspond to the competencies of the rehabilitation workers and set up knowledge units that could develop competency in terms of behaviour, activity tasks and proficiency. The curriculum systems of rehabilitation with RCF included the fields of rehabilitation physiotherapy, rehabilitation occupational therapy, hearing and speech rehabilitation, and prosthetic and orthopaedic engineering, etc. ConclusionThe teaching objectives corresponding to the competency characteristics of rehabilitation workers need to be translated into competency-based education. The curriculum contents in rehabilitation needs to be systematically constructed based on RCF from the areas of rehabilitation physiotherapy, rehabilitation occupational therapy, hearing and speech rehabilitation, and prosthetic and orthopaedic engineering.

Objective To investigate the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and potential influencing factors of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases in Qinghai Province from 2016 to 2022, so as to provide insights into the formulation of the echinococcosis control strategy in Qinghai Province. Methods The number of individuals screened for echinococcosis, number of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases, number of registered dogs and number of stray dogs were captured from the annual reports of echinococcosis control program in Qinghai Province from 2016 to 2022, and the detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases was calculated. The number of populations, precipitation, temperature, wind speed, sunshine hours, average altitude, number of year-end cattle stock, number of year-end sheep stock, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, and number of village health centers in each county (district) of Qinghai Province were captured from the Qinghai Provincial Statistical Yearbook, and county-level electronic maps in Qinghai Province were downloaded from the National Platform for Common Geospatial Information Services. The software ArcGIS 10.8 was used to map the distribution of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases in Qinghai Province, and the spatial autocorrelation analysis of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases was performed. In addition, the spacetime scan analyses of number of individuals screened for echinococcosis, number of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases and geographical coordinates in Qinghai Province were performed with the software SaTScan 10.1.2, and the spatial stratified heterogeneity of the detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases was investigated with the software GeoDetector. Results A total of 6 569 426 residents were screened for echinococcosis in Qinghai Province from 2016 to 2022, and 5 924 newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases were found. The detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases appeared a tendency towards a decline over years from 2016 to 2022 (χ² = 11.107, P < 0.01), with the highest detection in Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in 2017 (82.12/10⁵). There were spatial clusters in the detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases in Qinghai Province from 2016 to 2018 (Moran’s I = 0.34 to 0.65, all Z values > 1.96, all P values < 0.05), and the distribution of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases appeared random distribution from 2019 to 2022 (Moran’s I = −0.09 to 0.04, all Z values < 1.96, all P values > 0.05). Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed high-high clusters and low-low clusters in the detection of new diagnosed echinococcosis cases in Qinghai Province from 2016 to 2022, and space-time scan analysis showed that the first most likely cluster areas of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases in Qinghai Province from 2016 to 2022 were mainly distributed in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. GeoDetector-based analysis of the driving factors for the spatial stratified heterogeneity of detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases in Qinghai Province showed that average altitude, number of village health centers, number of cattle and sheep stock, GDP per capita, annual average sunshine hours, and annual average temperature had a strong explanatory power for the spatial distribution of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases, with q values of 0.630, 0.610, 0.600, 0.590, 0.588, 0.537 and 0.526, respectively. Conclusions The detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases appeared a tendency towards a decline in Qinghai Province over years from 2016 to 2022, showing spatial clustering. Targeted control measures are required in cluster areas of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases for further control of the disease.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Echinococcus infections in small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, so as to provide insights into precision echinococcosis control. Methods One or two quadrats, each measuring 50 m × 50 m, were randomly assigned in Shanglaxiu Township and Longbao Township, Yushu City, Qinghai Province on June 2023, respectively, and 300 plate-type mouse traps, each measuring 12.0 cm × 6.5 cm, were assigned in each quadrat. Small rodents were captured during the period between 10 : 00 and 18 : 00 each day for 4 days. Then, all captured small rodents were identified and dissected, and liver specimens with suspected Echinococcus infections were subjected to pathological examinations. The Echinococcus cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) gene was amplified using PCR assay, and the sequence of the amplified product was aligned to that was recorded in the GenBank to characterize the parasite species. In addition, a phylogenetic tree of Echinococcus was generated based on the cox1 gene sequence using the neighbor-joining method. Results A total of 236 small rodents were captured in Shanglaxiu and Longbao townships, Yushu City, including 65 Qinghai voles and 51 plateau pikas in Shanglaxiu Township, and 62 Qinghai voles and 58 plateau pikas in Longbao Township, and there was no significant difference in the constituent ratio of small rodents between the two townships (χ² = 0.294, P > 0.05). Seven plateau pikas and 12 Qinghai voles were suspected to be infected with Echinococcus by dissection, and pathological examinations showed unclear structure of hepatic lobules and disordered hepatocyte arrangement in livers of small rodents suspected of Echinococcus infections. PCR assay identified E. shiquicus DNA in 7 Qinghai voles, which were all captured from Shanglaxiu Township. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the cox1 gene sequence of Echinococcus in small rodents was highly homologous to the E. shiquicus cox1 gene sequence reported previously. Conclusion Plateau pika and Qinghai vole were predominant small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, and E. shiquicus infection was detected in Qinghai voles.