Objective: To investigate the mechanism of action of Wuzi Yanzong pill (WYP) in rats with oligoasthenozoospermia (OAZ) via metabolomics and to provide a possible basis for improving this WYP-based treatment. Methods: A rat model of OAZ was established by treating male Sprague–Dawley rats with glucosides from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. Seventy-two rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, L-carnitine (positive control), model, and low-, medium-, and high-dose WYP groups. Rats in the experimental groups were treated with WYP for 4 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, sperm cell quality (density, motility, and viability) was assessed using a semen analysis system, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was assessed using flow cytometry, and testicular injury was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining to validate the therapeutic effect of WYP in OAZ. Further, serum metabolomics-based analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify differential metabolic pathways and possible mechanisms of action of WYP in OAZ treatment. Results: A rat model of OAZ was considered successfully-established after comparing the quality of spermatozoa in the model group to that in the control group. WYP-M and WYP-H treatments significantly improved sperm cell density, motility, and viability compared with those in the model group (all P < .05). Compared with the model group, both WYP-M and WYP-H treatments increased MMP values (P = .006 and P = .021 respectively), while there was no significant difference in the L-carnitine group. L-carnitine and WYP administration reversed damage to the testes to varying degrees compared with that in the model group. Further, 44 differential metabolites and four metabolic pathways, especially autophagy pathway, related to OAZ were identified via metabolomics. Conclusions WYP improves sperm cell quality and MMP in OAZ primarily via autophagy regulation. These findings can be employed to improve the efficacy of WYP in humans.

Background::Limited information exists regarding the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on psoriasis patients. The objective of this study was to identify clinical factors associated with the prognosis of psoriasis following SARS-CoV-2 infection.Methods::A retrospective, multicenter study was conducted between March and May 2023. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related psoriasis outcomes. The study included 2371 psoriasis patients from 12 clinical centers, with 2049 of them having been infected with SARS-CoV-2.Results::Among the infected groups, lower exacerbation rates were observed in individuals treated with biologics compared to those receiving traditional systemic or nonsystemic treatments (22.3% [236/1058] vs. 39.8% [92/231] vs. 37.5% [140/373], P <0.001). Psoriasis progression with lesions (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 8.197, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 5.685–11.820, compared to no lesions), hypertension (adjusted OR = 1.582, 95% CI = 1.068–2.343), traditional systemic (adjusted OR = 1.887, 95% CI= 1.263–2.818), and nonsystemic treatment (adjusted OR= 1.602, 95% CI= 1.117–2.297) were found to be associated with exacerbation of psoriasis after SARS-CoV-2 infection, but not biologics (adjusted OR = 0.931, 95% CI = 0.680–1.274, compared to no treatment), according to multivariable logistic regression analysis. Conclusions::A reduced risk of psoriasis exacerbation after SARS-CoV-2 infection was observed with biologics compared to traditional systemic and nonsystemic treatments. Significant risk factors for exacerbation after infection were identified as existing psoriatic lesions and hypertension.

Objective:To explore the correlation of bone marrow polychonal plasma cell proportion (pPC% ) and clinical features in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 317 patients with NDMM admitted to Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2018 to January 2023 was performed. The results of the pPC% in all patients were clear. The relationship between the pPC% and clinical characteristics was analyzed.Results:A total of 317 patients were included, comprising 180 males and 137 females. The median age at diagnosis was 61 (26-91) years, and 55.8% were 60 years or older. The pPC% in the bone marrow of patients with NDMM was different in the DS, International Staging System (ISS), and revised ISS (R-ISS) stages ( P=0.002, 0.010, and 0.049, respectively), whereas no statistical difference in pPC% was observed among patients with different FISH risk stratigrams ( P=0.971). The correlation coefficient between pPC% and hemoglobin (HGB) at the first diagnosis in patients was 0.211 ( P<0.01). The correlation coefficients with serum calcium, serum creatinine, M protein level, and β 2-microglobulin were -0.141, -0.120, -0.181, and -0.207, respectively, and the results of the significance test were P=0.012, 0.033, 0.004, and 0.002, respectively, indicating a negative correlation. Compared with the patients with a pPC% of ≥2.5%, the group of patients with a pPC% of <2.5% had significantly higher levels of light chain, serum calcium, serum creatinine, M protein, and β 2-microglobulin at the initial diagnosis ( P<0.05) ; lower HGB level ( P<0.001) ; and a higher proportion of patients in ISS stage Ⅲ ( P=0.034) . Conclusion:In this study, the pPC% in patients with NDMM was associated with clinical features of good prognosis, including higher HGB, lower serum calcium, serum creatinine, M protein quantity, β 2-microglobulin, light chain involvement, lower proportion of advanced disease (DS stage and ISS stage Ⅲ), and clinical features showing lower tumor burden.

Objective To analyze the correlation between air pollutants and pediatric atopic dermatitis outpatient visits in Lanzhou,and provide scientific insights for the life guidance of the affected children and dis-ease prevention by relevant departments.Methods A generalized additive model was employed to analyze the effects and lagged effects of air pollutants on pediatric atopic dermatitis outpatient visits in Lanzhou while control-ling for confounding factors such as long-term trends,holiday effects,day of the week effects and meteorological factors.Results The effects of NO2,PM2.5,PM10,and SO2 on pediatric atopic dermatitis outpatient visits were most significant on the current day(Lag0),but were not statistically significant(all P＞0.05);CO also had the most significant effect on Lag0,and for every 10 μg/m3 increase in its concentration,the excess risk(ER)for pediatric atopic dermatitis outpatient visits was 0.05％(95％CI=0-0.10％,P=0.049);and O3 exhibi-ted the most significant effect on day 7 of the cumulative lag(Lag07),with a statistically significant increase in the ER for each 10 μg/m3 increase in its concentration of 7.40％(95％CI=5.31％-9.53％,P＜0.001)for pediatric atopic dermatitis outpatient visits.Age stratification showed that children aged 0-3 years with atopic dermatitis were the most sensitive to CO,with an increased ER of 0.09％(95％CI=0.04％-0.15％,P＜0.001)for every 10 μg/m3 increase in concentration,and children aged 7-14 years with atopic dermatitis were the most sensitive to O3,with an increased ER of 8.26％(95％CI=4.99％-11.64％,P＜0.001)for every 10 μg/m3 increase in concentration.Seasonal stratification showed that CO exerted a stronger effect on pediatric atopic dermatitis outpatient visits in summer and fall,with ER values of 0.45％and 0.16％(both P＜0.001),respectively,while O3 had a significant effect on outpatient visits in winter,with an ER value of 20.48％(P＜0.001).Conclusion Elevated daily average concentrations of air pollutants CO and O3 in Lanzhou were posi-tively correlated with the number of outpatient visits for atopic dermatitis in children,with significant seasonal effects and age-stratified sensitivities.

Objective:To evaluate the role of Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1)/receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-induced pyroptosis in macrophages of mice.Methods:The RAW264.7 macrophages from mice were routinely cultured and divided into 6 groups ( n=9 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), LPS-ATP group, LPS-ATP+ transfection negative control scRNA group (group LPS-ATP+ scRNA), LPS-ATP+ ZBP1 small interference RNA group (group LPS-ATP+ siRNA), LPS-ATP+ dimethyl sulfoxide group (group LPS-ATP+ DSMO), and LPS-ATP+ RIPK1 inhibitor nec-1 group (group LPS-ATP+ nec-1). The siRNA technique was used to inhibit the expression of ZBP1 in group LPS-ATP+ siRNA. The RIPK1 inhibitor nec-1 was given to inhibit the expression of RIPK1 protein in group LPS-ATP+ nec-1. Group C was routinely cultured. Cells were incubated with 10 μg/ml LPS for 24 h, then 5 mmol/L ATP was added, and the cells were incubated for 30 min to develop the cell pyroptosis model in the remaining 5 groups. The cell survival was detected by the CCK-8 assay. The concentrations of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in cell supernatant were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pyroptosis was determined by propidium iodide fluorescence staining. Western blot was used to detect the expression of ZBP1, RIPK1, caspase-1 and GSDMD. Results:Compared with group C, the cell survival rate was significantly decreased, the cell pyroptosis rate and concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18 and TNF-α in the supernatant were increased, and the expression of ZBP1, RIPK1, caspase-1 and GSDMD was up-regulated in group LPS-ATP ( P<0.05). Compared with group LPS-ATP, no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group LPS-ATP+ scRNA and group LPS-ATP+ DSMO ( P>0.05). Compared with group LPS-ATP+ scRNA, the cell survival rate was significantly increased, the cell pyroptosis rate and concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18 and TNF-α in the supernatant were decreased, and the expression of ZBP1, RIPK1, caspase-1 and GSDMD was down-regulated in group LPS-ATP+ siRNA ( P<0.05). Compared with group LPS-ATP+ DMSO, the cell survival rate was significantly increased, the cell pyroptosis rate and concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18 and TNF-α in the supernatant were decreased, the expression of ZBP1, caspase-1 and GSDMD was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the expression of ZBP1 in group LPS-ATP+ nec-1 ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Activation of ZBP1/RIPK1 signaling pathway is involved in LPS-ATP-induced pyroptosis in macrophages of mice.

Objective:To investigate the differences in programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and immune cell infiltration characteristics in different molecular subtypes of endometrial cancer.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. Ninety primary treated EC patients who underwent surgery without preoperative neoadjuvant therapy at the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from November 2016 to May 2022 were collected. The surgical paraffin-embedded tissues were selected, and the molecular subtypes of endometrial cancer were classified according to 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) molecular subtypes using POLE gene Sanger sequencing and immunohistochemical staining. The expression of PD-L1, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD68, and CD20 proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry. Stained slides were digitally scanned for quantitative analysis of PD-L1 and immune cell infiltration density. The PD-L1-related scores were evaluated, including tumor cell score (TCS, the percentage of PD-L1 positive tumor cells among total tumor cells ≥1% was TCS positive, <1% was TCS negative), immune cell score (ICS, the percentage of PD-L1 positive tumor-associated lymphocytes and macrophages among total tumor-associated lymphocytes and macrophages ≥1% was ICS positive, <1% was ICS negative) and combined positive score [CPS, PD-L1 positive stained cells (including tumor cells, lymphocytes and macrophages)/total number of viable tumor cells ×100 ≥ 1 was CPS positive, < 1 was CPS negative]. Clinicopathological characteristics, PD-L1 scores and immune cell infiltration densities among different molecular subtypes were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot disease-free survival (DFS) curves for molecular subtypes, PD-L1 scores and immune cell infiltration densities, with subgroup comparisons using log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards models were used for univariate and multivariate analyses of poor DFS in endometrial cancer patients.Results:The median age of 90 patients was 58 years old (range: 33-72 years old); endometrioid carcinoma was present in 78 cases (86.7%), and non-endometrioid carcinoma was present in 12 cases (13.3%). Molecular subtyping identified POLE-mutated subtype in 6 cases (6.7%), mismatch repair deficient (MMRd) subtype in 23 cases (25.6%), p53 abnormal subtype in 14 cases (15.6%), and non-specific molecular profile (NSMP) subtype in 47 cases (52.2%). Significant differences were observed among the 4 molecular subtypes in International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, histological grade, morphological subtype, tertiary lymphoid structures, estrogen receptor expression, and progesterone receptor expression (all P < 0.05). Among the 90 cases, 18 cases (20.0%) were positive for TCS, 31 cases (34.4%) were positive for ICS, and 39 cases (43.3%) were positive for CPS. Significant differences were found among the 4 molecular subtypes in PD-L1 + cell density, distribution of patients with ICS positivity, and distribution of patients with CPS positivity (all P < 0.01), but not in distribution of patients with TCS positivity ( P = 0.090); compared to NSMP subtype, the proportions of ICS-positive patients in POLE-mutated and MMRd subtypes were higher, the proportion of CPS-positive patients and PD-L1 + cell density in MMRd and p53 abnormal subtypes were higher, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Significant differences in immune cell densities were observed among the 4 molecular subtypes (all P < 0.01); compared to NSMP subtype, POLE-mutated, MMRd and p53 abnormal subtypes had higher densities of CD3 + and CD8 + cells, MMRd subtype had higher CD4 + cell density, and POLE-mutated and MMRd subtypes had higher CD68 + and CD20 + cell densities (all P < 0.05). The median follow-up was 43 months (range: 7-75 months). Among the molecular subtypes, p53 abnormal patients had the worst DFS, and POLE-mutated patients had the best DFS, and the difference in DFS among the 4 subtypes was statistically significant ( P = 0.046). Grouping according to the median density of immune cells in the entire group, patients with high CD8 + cell density (45 cases) had better DFS than those with low density (45 cases) ( P = 0.010), PD-L1 ICS-positive patients had worse DFS than negative patients ( P = 0.019), and NSMP subtype patients with high CD4 + cell density (24 cases) had better DFS than those with low density (23 cases) ( P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in DFS among patients grouping with other PD-L1 scoring modes and other immune cell infiltration density (all P > 0.05). Cox regression analysis indicated that high CD8 + cell density ( HR = 0.335, 95% CI: 0.113-0.990, P = 0.048) was an independent protective factor for poor DFS in endometrial cancer patients, and high CD4 + cell density was an independent protective factor for poor DFS in NSMP subtype patients ( HR = 0.035, 95% CI: 0.003-0.345, P = 0.004). Conclusions:There are significant differences in PD-L1 expression and immune cell infiltration density among the different molecular subtypes of endometrial cancer, which are correlated with the prognosis of patients, and may provide reference for the selection of immunotherapy strategies and prognosis judgment.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical phenotype and genetic features of a child with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). METHODS: Clinical data of the child who had presented at the Zhengzhou Children's Hospital on April 28, 2020 was collected. Trio-whole exome sequencing (trio-WES) was carried out for the child and her parents, and candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing. "FHL2" was taken as the key word to retrieve related literature from January 1, 1997 to October 31, 2021 in the PubMed database and was also searched in the ClinVar database as a supplement to analyze the correlation between genetic variants and clinical features. RESULTS: The patient was a 5-month-old female infant presented with left ventricular enlargement and reduced systolic function. A heterozygous missense variant c.391C>T (p.Arg131Cys) in FHL2 gene was identified through trio-WES. The same variant was not detected in either of her parents. A total of 10 patients with FHL2 gene variants have been reported in the literature, 6 of them had presented with DCM, 2 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and 2 with sudden unexplained death (SUD). Phenotypic analysis revealed that patients with variants in the LIM 3 domain presented hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and those with variants of the LIM 0~2 and LIM 4 domains had mainly presented DCM. The c.391C>T (p.Arg131Cys) has been identified in a child with DCM, though it has not been validated among the patient's family members. Based on the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the c.391C>T(p.Arg131Cys) variant was re-classified as likely pathogenic (PS2+PM2_Supporting+PP3+PP5). CONCLUSION The heterozygous missense variant of c.391C>T (p.Arg131Cys) in the FHL2 gene probably predisposed to the DCM in this child, which has highlighted the importance of WES in the clinical diagnosis and genetic counseling.
Female ; Humans ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/genetics* ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Genetic Counseling ; Genomics ; Heterozygote ; Muscle Proteins/genetics* ; Transcription Factors ; LIM-Homeodomain Proteins/genetics*

Objective:To evaluate the role of miR-124-3p in reduction of oxygen-glucose deprivation and restoration (OGD/R) injury by electrostimulation preconditioning in microglia and its relationship with microglial polarization.Methods:The well-growing BV2 cells were divided into 4 groups ( n=30 each) by the random number table method: control group (group C), OGD/R group, electrostimulation preconditioning group (group E) and miR-124-3p inhibitor group (group I). Group C was cultured under normal conditions, and group OGD/R was deprived of oxygen and glucose for 2 h followed by restoration of oxygen and glucose supply for 24 h to develop the OGD/R injury model. In group E, cells were stimulated with 100 mV/mm direct current for 4 h before oxygen-glucose deprivation, and the other treatments were similar to those previously described in group OGD/R. Group I was transfected with micrOFF? mmu-miR-124-3p inhibitor at 48 h before oxygen-glucose deprivation, and the other treatments were similar to those previously described in group E. The cell survival rate was determined by CCK-8 assay, the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-10 in the cell supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of a surface marker of M1 microglia inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and a surface marker of M2 microglia arginase 1 (Arg-1) was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot, respectively. The expression of iNOS and Arg-1 mRNA and miR-124-3p was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results:Compared with group C, the cell survival rate was significantly decreased, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10 in the supernatant were increased, and the expression of iNOS and Arg-1 protein and mRNA and miR-124-3p was up-regulated in the remaining three groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group OGD/R, the cell survival rate was significantly increased, the concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1β in the supernatant were decreased, the IL-10 concentration was increased, the expression of iNOS protein and mRNA was down-regulated, and the expression of Arg-1 protein and mRNA and miR-124-3p was up-regulated in E and I groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group E, the cell survival rate was significantly decreased, the concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1β in the supernatant were increased, the IL-10 concentration was decreased, the expression of iNOS protein and mRNA was up-regulated, and the expression of Arg-1 protein and mRNA and miR-124-3p was down-regulated in group I ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which electrostimulation preconditioning reduces OGD/R injury in microglia is related to up-regulation of the expression of miR-124-3p, promotion of M2 microglia polarization, inhibition of M1 microglia polarization, and thus inhibiting the inflammatory responses.

Infectious diseases are still one of the leading causes of morbidity and death globally, affecting public health and life, social and economic development, and even national security. Early detection focuses on detecting the abnormal information of infectious disease outbreaks or epidemics in a timely and sensitive way to conduct field investigation and verification. It is also a precursor to effective surveillance and early warning system. The effective surveillance and early warning system can fully and accurately understand the real conditions, driving forces, and transmission chain of the occurrence of a specific infectious disease outbreak and epidemic and put forward scientific and effective prevention and control strategies and measures. Due to the measurement of the resources support and the particular data collection value, it is not easy to obtain epidemiological, etiological, and other data information in a timely, complete and accurate manner. This paper summarized the theory and technology on early detection, effective surveillance, and early warning information on infectious diseases. It also integrated and utilized the multi-source data, including effective infectious disease surveillance and the country's early warning system, to better understand the outbreak epidemic, causes, risks, processes, and driving forces. Thus, it is possible to set up a sensitive, specific staging measurement innovative technical system to monitor, early warning, and timely respond to acute infectious diseases through multidisciplinary cooperation in China. It provides the basis for strengthening the surveillance and early warning of new emerging and major infectious diseases and public health emergencies, avoiding the spread of inadequate response to infectious disease, and preventing the resources waste of over-response.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride on the expression of airway mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) during ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and the relationship with Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (TLR4/MyD88) signaling pathway in rats. Methods: Thirty-six clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 200-250 g, were divided into 3 groups (n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (group S), VILI group (group VILI), and penehyclidine hydrochloride group (group P). The rats were tracheotomized in group S. The rats were tracheotomized, connected to a small animal ventilator and mechanically ventilated for 4 h with the tidal volume of 20 ml/kg, respiratory rate 80 breaths/min, inspiratory/expiratory ratio 1∶1, and inspired oxygen fraction ratio 21% in VILI and P groups.At 30 min before mechanical ventilation, penehyclidine hydrochloride 2 mg/kg was injected via the tail vein in group P, and the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in S and VILI groups.At 4 h of mechanical ventilation, the arterial blood samples were taken for measurement of PaO₂.The rats were then sacrificed, and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for determination of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The lung specimens were collected for calculation of the wet/dry weight ratio (W/D ratio), for examination of pathological changes which were scored after haematoxylin and eosin staining (under a light microscope), and for determination of the expression of MUC5AC (by immunohistochemistry), expression of TLR4, MyD88, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in lung tissues (by Western blot), and expression of MUC5AC mRNA in lung tissues (by real-time polymerase chain reaction). Results: Compared with group S, PaO₂ was significantly decreased, the W/D ratio and lung injury score were increased, the expression of MUC5AC protein and mRNA was up-regulated, the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in BALF were increased, and the expression of TLR4, p38MAPK, MyD88 and NF-κB was up-regulated in VILI and P groups (P<0.01). Compared with group VILI, PaO₂ was significantly increased, the W/D ratio and lung injury score were decreased, the expression of MUC5AC protein and mRNA was down-regulated, the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in BALF were decreased, and the expression of TLR4, p38MAPK, MyD88 and NF-κB was down-regulated in group P (P<0.05). Conclusion Penehyclidine hydrochloride can decrease the expression of airway MUC5AC during VILI, and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting activation of TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway in rats.