Objective To study the mechanism of overexpression of retinoic acid receptor alpha( RARα)in attenuating renal interstitial fibrosis(RIP)in rats. Methods Porty 6_week_old male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:sham operation group,model group,negative control group and transfection group,with 10 rats in each group. Rats in model group were separated and double ligated with left ureter;rats in sham operation group were not li_gated with ureter;rats in transfection group and negative control group were transfected with adeno_associated virus and negative control virus carrying RARα gene on the basis of model group,respectively. All rats were sacrificed 2 weeks later. Left kidney tissues were taken for pathological examination and RIP index was calculated. The expression of colla_genⅣ(Col_Ⅳ)and fibronectin(PN)in renal tissue was detected by using immunohistochemistry. The expressions of RARα,prohibitin(DHB)and transforming growth factor_beta 1(TGP_β1)in renal tissue were detected by using real_time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction( RT _qDCR)and Western blot. Results (1)Com_pared with sham operation group,the RIP index was significantly increased in model group(22. 81 ± 2. 43 vs. 2. 34 ± 0. 55,q﹦24. 94,P〈0. 05);compared with model group,the RIP index was not of significant difference in negative control group(22. 81 ± 0. 43 vs. 22. 26 ± 3. 43,q﹦0. 67,P〉0. 05),however it significantly decreased in transfection group(14. 06 ± 2. 99 vs. 22. 81 ± 2. 43,q﹦10. 66,P〈0. 05).(2)Compared with sham operation group,the mRNA and protein expressions of RARα,DHB significantly decreased in model group,but TGP_β1 mRNA and protein,Col_Ⅳand PN protein expression significantly increased in model group( mRNA:0. 43 ± 0. 17 vs. 1. 00 ± 0. 00,0. 34 ± 0. 08 vs. 1. 00 ± 0. 00,2. 97 ± 0. 54 vs. 1. 00 ± 0. 00,all P〈0. 05;protein:0. 25 ± 0. 10 vs. 0. 51 ± 0. 06,0. 24 ± 0. 07 vs. 0. 58 ± 0. 04,0. 59 ± 0. 09 vs. 0. 33 ± 0. 06,16. 01 ± 0. 87 vs. 8. 79 ± 0. 39,14. 64 ± 0. 32 vs. 9. 36 ± 0. 59,all P〈0. 05);com_pared with model group,the mRNA and protein expressions of RARα,DHB,TGP_β1 and Col_Ⅳand PN protein ex_pression had no significant difference in negative control group(all P〉0. 05);compared with model group,the mRNA and protein expression of RARα,DHB mRNA and protein expression significantly increased,but the TGP_β1 mRNA and protein,Col_Ⅳ and PN protein expression significantly decreased in transfected group( mRNA:0. 86 ± 0. 07 vs. 0. 43 ± 0. 17,0. 89 ± 0. 11 vs. 0. 34 ± 0. 08,1. 65 ± 0. 28 vs. 2. 97 ± 0. 54,all P〈0. 05;protein:0. 40 ± 0. 07 vs. 0. 25 ± 0. 10,0. 45 ± 0. 10 vs. 0. 24 ± 0. 07,0. 43 ± 0. 08 vs. 0. 59 ± 0. 09,11. 57 ± 0. 33 vs. 16. 01 ± 0. 87,11. 67 ± 0. 53 vs. 14. 64 ± 0. 32,all P〈0. 05).(3)Correlation analysis revealed that RARα protein expression was negatively correlated with RIP index,Col_Ⅳ,PN,TGP_β1(r﹦ _0. 78,_0. 78,_0. 76,_0. 76,all P〈0. 05);DHB protein expression was negatively correlated with RIP index,Col_Ⅳ,PN,TGP _β1( r ﹦ _0. 87,_0. 87,_0. 88,_0. 75,all P 〈0. 05);RARα protein was positively correlated with DHB(r﹦0. 85,P〈0. 05). Conclusion Overexpression of RARα could attenuate RIP by enhancing DHB expression in rats subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Objective:To construct a eukaryotic expression vector for bacteriophage D29 LysinB/Holin fusion protein and study its bactericidal efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb) in a cell infection model. Methods:A recombinant plasmid pET32a-LysinB was constructed and induced to express LysinB. The polyclonal antibody against LysinB was prepared after the purification of LysinB. A recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1(+ )-LysinB/Holin was constructed and transfected into mononuclear macrophages RAW264.7. After the expression of the prepared polyclonal antibody was identified, a cell infection model was established and the bactericidal efficacy of LysinB/Holin fusion protein was measured by acid-fast staining and colony counting.Results:The polyclonal antibody against LysinB was successfully prepared. The recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1(+ )-LysinB/Holin could effectively express LysinB/Holin fusion protein in eukaryotic cells without inducing significant cytotoxicity. LysinB/Holin fusion protein was effective in killing Mtb in cells. Conclusions:The recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1(+ )-LysinB/Holin has a better killing effect on intracellular Mtb without inducing obvious cytotoxicity against eukaryotic cells, showing a potential in the treatment of tuberculosis.

Objective:To summarize long-term clinical follow-up results of segment instability between the upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) and the adjacent upper vertebra (UIV+1) and to establish the optimal timing for surgery for UIV+1.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 265 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases who underwent transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) surgery at the Department of Spinal Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, from January 2014 to December 2018. The cohort included 119 male and 146 female patients, with an average age of 64.93 years (range: 32-86 years). Preoperative dynamic imaging measured sagittal angulation (SA) and sagittal translation (ST) of the UIV+1/UIV segment. Patients with SA>10° or ST>2 mm were categorized into the unstable group, further divided into the unstable non-fusion group and the unstable fusion group based on whether UIV+1 expansion fusion was performed. The remaining patients were classified into the stable group. Imaging indicators, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores were compared among the groups, with JOA improvement rates calculated to assess clinical efficacy. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was employed to examine correlations between preoperative imaging indicators and final follow-up JOA improvement rates. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and the maximum Youden index were utilized to determine thresholds for preoperative SA and ST.Results:The follow-up duration for all patients was 73.53±12.92 months (range: 61-108 months). The stable group (124 cases) included 61 males and 63 females, aged 64.31±9.83 years (range: 44-82 years). The unstable non-fusion group (59 cases) included 22 males and 37 females, aged 65.76±11.01 years (range: 32-86 years). The unstable fusion group (82 cases) included 36 males and 46 females, aged 65.26±8.68 years (range: 47-80 years). At the last follow-up, the unstable non-fusion group exhibited ΔSA 0.90°±1.97° and ΔST 0.77±1.27 mm, both significantly higher than the stable group's ΔSA 0.25°±1.57° and ΔST 0.34±0.34 mm ( t=3.564, P<0.001; t=2.311, P=0.022). Clinical improvements were lower in the unstable non-fusion group compared to the other two groups: VAS (2.28±0.83), ODI (5.91%±3.46%), JOA (24.11±1.78), with a JOA improvement rate of 60%. The stable group showed VAS (1.51±0.69), ODI (3.71%±1.75%), JOA (27.33±1.91), with a JOA improvement rate of 83%. The unstable fusion group had VAS (1.46±0.83), ODI (3.46%±1.81%), JOA (26.48±1.66), with a JOA improvement rate of 78%. These differences were statistically significant ( F=32.117, P<0.001; F=24.827, P<0.001; F=92.658, P<0.001; F=93.341, P<0.001). The JOA improvement rate was negatively correlated with preoperative SA ( r=-0.363, P<0.001) to a low extent, and with preoperative ST ( r=-0.596, P<0.001) to a moderate extent. ROC curve analysis determined the preoperative SA threshold as 11.5° and the preoperative ST threshold as 1.85 mm. Conclusion:Pre-existing instability of the responsible segment UIV and UIV+1 (SA>10° or ST>2 mm) may worsen during long-term follow-up after TLIF. When preoperative SA exceeds 11.5° and ST exceeds 1.85 mm between UIV and UIV+1, performing an extended fusion involving UIV+1 can ensure surgical efficacy over long-term follow-up.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of the patients who had clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) with metastasis to the pancreas. Methods: From Jan, 2000 to Dec, 2018, 18 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) and had pathologically diagnosed metastasis to the pancreas were enrolled at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. The clinical and pathological data were retrospectively analyzed. Results: 11 out of 18 patients were male, and the other 7 were female. The average age of onset of CCRCC was 51.4 years. 8 cases (44.4%) occurred in the left kidney, and the other 10 cases (55.6%) with right kidney tumor. Three patients had synchronous pancreatic metastasis, and the other 15 patients had metachronous pancreatic metastasis. The median time from CCRCC onset to pancreas metastasis was 156 months. The main complaints of pancreas metastasis were abdominal pain, jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding, nausea, weakness, loss of weight and so on. Seven patients (38.9%) had single lesion of pancreas, while 11 patients (66.1%) had multiple lesions of pancreas. Nine patients (50%) had other organs metastasis besides pancreatic metastasis at the same time. Five patients underwent pancreatic metastasis resection, while 15 patients received oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor(TKI). The mean follow-up was 171.7 months(1~361.5 months) and 5 patients died. The median overall survival (mOS) was 122 months, and the 5 year-survival rate was 81.4%. In univariate analysis, synchronous metastasis to the pancreas, relapse after 10 years, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center prognostic index, International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium index were all significant parameters for patients′survival. Conclusions Metastasis to the pancreas from clear cell renal cell carcinoma were rare. These patients had better survival outcomes, especially those relapsing after ten years. Pancreatic metastasis resection had no significant benefit on patient′s survival.

To promote the development of extracellular vesicles of herbal medicine especially the establishment of standardization, led by the National Expert Committee on Research and Application of Chinese Herbal Vesicles, research experts in the field of herbal medicine and extracellular vesicles were invited nationwide with the support of the Expert Committee on Research and Application of Chinese Herbal Vesicles, Professional Committee on Extracellular Vesicle Research and Application, Chinese Society of Research Hospitals and the Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Herbal Vesicles. Based on the collation of relevant literature, we have adopted the Delphi method, the consensus meeting method combined with the nominal group method to form a discussion draft of "Consensus statement on research and application of Chinese herbal medicine derived extracellular vesicles-like particles (2023)". The first draft was discussed in online and offline meetings on October 12, 14, November 2, 2022 and April and May 2023 on the current status of research, nomenclature, isolation methods, quality standards and research applications of extracellular vesicles of Chinese herbal medicines, and 13 consensus opinions were finally formed. At the Third Academic Conference on Research and Application of Chinese Herbal Vesicles, held on May 26, 2023, Kewei Zhao, convenor of the consensus, presented and read the consensus to the experts of the Expert Committee on Research and Application of Chinese Herbal Vesicles. The consensus highlights the characteristics and advantages of Chinese medicine, inherits the essence, and keeps the righteousness and innovation, aiming to provide a reference for colleagues engaged in research and application of Chinese herbal vesicles at home and abroad, decode the mystery behind Chinese herbal vesicles together, establish a safe, effective and controllable accurate Chinese herbal vesicle prevention and treatment system, and build a bridge for Chinese medicine to the world.