BACKGROUND:In mammals,white adipose tissue stores energy,whereas brown adipose tissue dissipates energy.Conversion from White to brown/beige adipocytes is a potential therapeutic strategy to fight obesity,but the molecular mechanisms that drive this process is unclear.OBJECTIVE:To reveal the potential relationship between Hr mutation and adipocyte browning.METHODS:Ten 10-week-old male Yuyi hairless mice and 10 littermate wild-type controls were selected and changes in food intake,body mass and inguinal white adipose tissue mass were recorded.Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin were estimated by ELISA.Glucose tolerance test was used to assess glucose metabolic function and insulin tolerance test was performed to analyze insulin sensitivity.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe pathological changes of inguinal white adipose tissue in mice.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunofluorescent staining were performed to analyze the expression of genes and proteins associated with browning of white adipose tissue in the groin.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with wild-type mice,Yuyi hairless mice had increased brown fat content and ultimately increased glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.Hr mutation reduced body mass and inguinal adipose mass in mice,but food intake did not change significantly compared with wild-type mice,suggesting that there was a reduction in body mass and adipose mass but not in food intake.(2)Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed browning of adipocytes in the inguinal white adipose tissue of Yuyi hairless mice,which became smaller,rounder and accompanied by the appearance of multilocular cells.(3)There was increased level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α and activation of thyroid hormone receptor α,uncoupling protein 1,and the mitochondria-shaping genes(nuclear respiratory factor 1and mitochondrial transcription factor A),thereby promoting browning of adipocytes.Thus,Hr mutation activates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α/thyroid hormone receptorα/uncoupling protein 1 signaling pathway and increases brown adipose content in mice,thereby promoting energy expenditure and thermogenesis and inhibiting obesity.

BACKGROUND:In mammals,white adipose tissue stores energy,whereas brown adipose tissue dissipates energy.Conversion from White to brown/beige adipocytes is a potential therapeutic strategy to fight obesity,but the molecular mechanisms that drive this process is unclear.OBJECTIVE:To reveal the potential relationship between Hr mutation and adipocyte browning.METHODS:Ten 10-week-old male Yuyi hairless mice and 10 littermate wild-type controls were selected and changes in food intake,body mass and inguinal white adipose tissue mass were recorded.Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin were estimated by ELISA.Glucose tolerance test was used to assess glucose metabolic function and insulin tolerance test was performed to analyze insulin sensitivity.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe pathological changes of inguinal white adipose tissue in mice.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunofluorescent staining were performed to analyze the expression of genes and proteins associated with browning of white adipose tissue in the groin.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with wild-type mice,Yuyi hairless mice had increased brown fat content and ultimately increased glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.Hr mutation reduced body mass and inguinal adipose mass in mice,but food intake did not change significantly compared with wild-type mice,suggesting that there was a reduction in body mass and adipose mass but not in food intake.(2)Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed browning of adipocytes in the inguinal white adipose tissue of Yuyi hairless mice,which became smaller,rounder and accompanied by the appearance of multilocular cells.(3)There was increased level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α and activation of thyroid hormone receptor α,uncoupling protein 1,and the mitochondria-shaping genes(nuclear respiratory factor 1and mitochondrial transcription factor A),thereby promoting browning of adipocytes.Thus,Hr mutation activates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α/thyroid hormone receptorα/uncoupling protein 1 signaling pathway and increases brown adipose content in mice,thereby promoting energy expenditure and thermogenesis and inhibiting obesity.

Objective:To investigate the distribution of CGG repeat numbers in the FMR1 gene among reproductive-age women in China, providing data reference for carrier screening and genetic counseling of Fragile X syndrome. Methods:This cross-sectional study recruited 16 610 reproductive-age women from 12 medical institutions between July 2022 and October 2023. Peripheral venous blood samples (3 mL) were collected, and genomic DNA was extracted. The number of CGG repeats in the FMR1 gene was determined using the triplet-primed polymerase chain reaction (TP-PCR) combined with capillary electrophoresis technology. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the prevalence and distribution of CGG repeat expansions. Results:Among 16 610 women of childbearing age, 5 684 (34.220%) women had the same number of CGG repeats in the two alleles of FMR1 gene, and 10 926 (65.780%) women had different numbers of repeats in the two alleles. Among the 33 220 FMR1 alleles in 16 610 women of reproductive age, the most common CGG repeat numbers were 29 [48.645% (16 160/33 220)] and 30 [26.276% (8 729/33 220)], while the most frequent CGG genotype was CGG 29/29 [24.726% (4 107/16 610)]. The CGG repeat numbers of FMR1 gene were normal in 16 498 women (99.326%). Among the 112 women (0.674%) with CGG repeat abnormities, 96 (0.578%) women were classified as intermediate carriers, 15 (0.090%) as premutation carriers, and 1 (0.006%) as a full mutation carrier, whose CGG genotype was (36, >200). Conclusion:In the general reproductive-age female population in China, the normal CGG repeat numbers of the FMR1 gene account for 99.326%, while the intermediate carrier rate is 0.578%, and the combined carrier rate of the premutation and full mutation types is 0.096%.

Objective:To explore the resting-state network(RSN) of college students with high obsessive-compulsive tendency by electroencephalographic (EEG) microstate analysis, with the aim of informing early identification and intervention of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Methods:From December 2021 to February 2022, a total of 687 college students from Anhui Medical University were investigated by obsessive-compulsive inventory-revised(OCI-R). Thirty students were selected as the high obsessive-compulsive tendency group (OCI-R>25) and thirty-two students were selected as the low obsessive-compulsive tendency group (OCI-R<15), and 4-minute resting-state EEG data were collected for all subjects. The collected EEG data were analyzed to explore the EEG microstate by spectral decomposition, and intergroup differences in different frequency bands were compared separately using Python (v3.9.0) permutation test for independent samples. Additionally, partial correlation analysis was performed between microstate parameters that exhibited significant between-group differences and symptom scale scores, controlling for age, gender and years of education.Results:(1) The scores of self-rating anxiety scale (37.77±6.01 vs 29.75±6.08), the self-rating depression scale (42.97±8.52 vs 32.78±6.61), OCI-R (34.07±7.10 vs 6.25±3.81), and the Padua inventory-Washington State University revision (56.70±12.98 vs 21.22±10.28) in high obsessive-compulsive tendency group were higher than those of the low obsessive-compulsive tendency group( t=5.215-19.401, all P<0.01). (2) EEG microstate analysis revealed that in the theta band, compared to the low obsessive-compulsive tendency group, the high obsessive-compulsive tendency group showed longer duration ((109.05±19.29)ms vs (100.86±12.02)ms) and higher coverage ((23.27±8.39)% vs (19.51±5.41)%) of microstate A, along with a lower occurrence of microstate B ((1.81±0.43)times/s vs (2.02±0.36)times/s), (all P<0.05). In the beta band, compared to the low obsessive-compulsive tendency group, the high obsessive-compulsive tendency group showed higher duration ((84.17±9.08)ms vs (79.52±5.92)ms) and coverage ((20.30±6.91)% vs (17.43±3.36)%) of microstate A (both P<0.05). (3) Correlation analysis showed that, in the theta band, both the duration and coverage of microstate A were positively correlated with the contamination/washing compulsions factor (CWCF) score ( r=0.482, P=0.011; r=0.406, P=0.035, respectively), while the occurrence of microstate B was negatively correlated with CWCF score ( r=-0.430, P=0.025). Conclusion:The duration and coverage of microstate A may be an early warning signal for the development of contamination/washing compulsions symptoms. In addition, the theta and beta bands are sensitive bands for obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Objective:To explore the modulating effect of match-type of reward on social attention in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Methods:From August 2023 to September 2024, twenty children with ASD and twenty typical development (TD) children peers matched to age, gender and intelligence were recruited from several rehabilitation institutions and a primary school in Hefei, Anhui province, and participated in the experiments. All children with ASD were assessed by autism behavior checklist (ABC). All children completed the reward learning task, reward learning test and visual search training on the first day and the visual search test on the second day. SMI-red eye tracking system was used to collect the children's eye tracking features. Two-way analysis of variance and t-test were utilized to examine search time and search accuracy rate using SPSS 26.0 and GraphPad Prism 8 softwares. Results:All children successfully passed the reward learning test.However, the accuracy of children with ASD was significantly lower than TD peers (96.68% vs 99.32%, Z=2.25, P<0.05). In visual search training, both ASD and TD children spent less time searching the high-reward face than the low-reward face (ASD children: (484.67±136.80)ms vs (527.09±126.90)ms, t=-2.56, P=0.02, TD children: (453.82±176.17)ms vs (511.66±187.14)ms, t=-3.41, P<0.01). During the visual search test, enhanced attention capture were observed in both groups when singleton distractor matched with high reward characteristics compared to the low reward(feature-match: ASD children(451.82±121.13)ms vs (511.67±134.99)ms, t=-2.51, P=0.02; TD children(364.79±92.83)ms vs (465.53±146.95)ms, t=-4.22, P<0.01. Relation-match: ASD children(513.67±215.03)ms vs (446.53±148.00)ms, t=-2.22, P=0.04, TD children(464.00±194.55)ms vs (410.58±184.47)ms, t=3.93, P<0.01). Conclusion:The feature-match relationship can regulate the social attention of children with ASD.

Objective:To explore the relationship between trait anger and depression among college students, as well as the mediating roles of perceived stress and emotion-oriented coping strategies.Methods:From March to April 2022, a total of 2 037 college students were surveyed by the trait anger scale, the perceived stress scale, the coping inventory for stressful situations, and the 9-item patient health questionnaire.The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 27.0 software and AMOS 24.0 statistical software packages.Results:The score of trait anger among college students was (14.78±3.56), the score of perceived stress was (10.02±4.77), the score of emotion-oriented coping was (14.43±3.38), and the score of depression was 2.00(0, 9.00). Correlation analysis showed that depression was significantly and positively correlated with temperamental anger, reactive anger, perceived stress, and emotion-oriented coping ( r=0.303-0.467, all P<0.01). Temperamental anger and reactive anger were significantly and positively correlated with both perceived stress and emotion-oriented coping ( r=0.279-0.332, all P<0.01). Emotion-oriented coping was significantly and positively correlated with perceived stress ( r=0.397, P<0.01). Mediation effect analysis showed that the total effect of trait anger on depression was 0.420. The direct effect of trait anger on depression was 0.241, accounting for 57.38% of the total effect. The mediating effects of perceived stress and emotion-oriented coping were 0.145 and 0.024, accounting for 34.52% and 5.72% of the total effect, respectively. The chain mediating effect of perceived stress and emotion-oriented coping was 0.010, accounting for 2.38% of the total effect. Conclusion:Trait anger can significantly and positively predict depression among college students, and it can also positively predict the level of depression among college students through the chain mediation effect of perceived stress and emotion orientation.

Objective:To investigate gut microbiota differences between individuals with and without colorectal adenoma(CRA)and to identify gut microbes associated with CRA.Methods:This cross-sectional study analyzed the gut microbiota of 100 patients with CRA and 68 individuals without CRA(aged 40-75 years)who underwent colonoscopies between March 2021 and March 2022 at Tianjin Nankai Hospital.Fecal samples were sequenced for the V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene using the Illumina NovaSeq platform.Results:Compared to the non-CRA group,the CRA group exhibited reduced relative abundances of identified and unidentified Lachnospiraceae,with increased Faecalibacterium and Streptococcus.In the non-CRA group,the relative abundances of Coprococcus,unidentified Clostridiaceae,and Clostridium were higher.LEfSe analysis revealed significant enrichment of Gammaproteobacteria,Proteobacteria,Enterobacteriales,and Faecalibacterium in the CRA group,while the non-CRA group was enriched for Moraxellaceae,Acinetobacter,and Anaerostipes.Conclusions:These findings suggest a discernible disparity in the gut microbiota structure between CRA patients and individuals without adenoma.The enrichment of potential pathogenic taxa,such as Faecalibacterium and Streptococcus,in the CRA group suggests a possible association with adenoma development.

Objective:To investigate the distribution of CGG repeat numbers in the FMR1 gene among reproductive-age women in China, providing data reference for carrier screening and genetic counseling of Fragile X syndrome. Methods:This cross-sectional study recruited 16 610 reproductive-age women from 12 medical institutions between July 2022 and October 2023. Peripheral venous blood samples (3 mL) were collected, and genomic DNA was extracted. The number of CGG repeats in the FMR1 gene was determined using the triplet-primed polymerase chain reaction (TP-PCR) combined with capillary electrophoresis technology. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the prevalence and distribution of CGG repeat expansions. Results:Among 16 610 women of childbearing age, 5 684 (34.220%) women had the same number of CGG repeats in the two alleles of FMR1 gene, and 10 926 (65.780%) women had different numbers of repeats in the two alleles. Among the 33 220 FMR1 alleles in 16 610 women of reproductive age, the most common CGG repeat numbers were 29 [48.645% (16 160/33 220)] and 30 [26.276% (8 729/33 220)], while the most frequent CGG genotype was CGG 29/29 [24.726% (4 107/16 610)]. The CGG repeat numbers of FMR1 gene were normal in 16 498 women (99.326%). Among the 112 women (0.674%) with CGG repeat abnormities, 96 (0.578%) women were classified as intermediate carriers, 15 (0.090%) as premutation carriers, and 1 (0.006%) as a full mutation carrier, whose CGG genotype was (36, >200). Conclusion:In the general reproductive-age female population in China, the normal CGG repeat numbers of the FMR1 gene account for 99.326%, while the intermediate carrier rate is 0.578%, and the combined carrier rate of the premutation and full mutation types is 0.096%.

Objective:To explore the resting-state network(RSN) of college students with high obsessive-compulsive tendency by electroencephalographic (EEG) microstate analysis, with the aim of informing early identification and intervention of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Methods:From December 2021 to February 2022, a total of 687 college students from Anhui Medical University were investigated by obsessive-compulsive inventory-revised(OCI-R). Thirty students were selected as the high obsessive-compulsive tendency group (OCI-R>25) and thirty-two students were selected as the low obsessive-compulsive tendency group (OCI-R<15), and 4-minute resting-state EEG data were collected for all subjects. The collected EEG data were analyzed to explore the EEG microstate by spectral decomposition, and intergroup differences in different frequency bands were compared separately using Python (v3.9.0) permutation test for independent samples. Additionally, partial correlation analysis was performed between microstate parameters that exhibited significant between-group differences and symptom scale scores, controlling for age, gender and years of education.Results:(1) The scores of self-rating anxiety scale (37.77±6.01 vs 29.75±6.08), the self-rating depression scale (42.97±8.52 vs 32.78±6.61), OCI-R (34.07±7.10 vs 6.25±3.81), and the Padua inventory-Washington State University revision (56.70±12.98 vs 21.22±10.28) in high obsessive-compulsive tendency group were higher than those of the low obsessive-compulsive tendency group( t=5.215-19.401, all P<0.01). (2) EEG microstate analysis revealed that in the theta band, compared to the low obsessive-compulsive tendency group, the high obsessive-compulsive tendency group showed longer duration ((109.05±19.29)ms vs (100.86±12.02)ms) and higher coverage ((23.27±8.39)% vs (19.51±5.41)%) of microstate A, along with a lower occurrence of microstate B ((1.81±0.43)times/s vs (2.02±0.36)times/s), (all P<0.05). In the beta band, compared to the low obsessive-compulsive tendency group, the high obsessive-compulsive tendency group showed higher duration ((84.17±9.08)ms vs (79.52±5.92)ms) and coverage ((20.30±6.91)% vs (17.43±3.36)%) of microstate A (both P<0.05). (3) Correlation analysis showed that, in the theta band, both the duration and coverage of microstate A were positively correlated with the contamination/washing compulsions factor (CWCF) score ( r=0.482, P=0.011; r=0.406, P=0.035, respectively), while the occurrence of microstate B was negatively correlated with CWCF score ( r=-0.430, P=0.025). Conclusion:The duration and coverage of microstate A may be an early warning signal for the development of contamination/washing compulsions symptoms. In addition, the theta and beta bands are sensitive bands for obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Objective:To explore the modulating effect of match-type of reward on social attention in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Methods:From August 2023 to September 2024, twenty children with ASD and twenty typical development (TD) children peers matched to age, gender and intelligence were recruited from several rehabilitation institutions and a primary school in Hefei, Anhui province, and participated in the experiments. All children with ASD were assessed by autism behavior checklist (ABC). All children completed the reward learning task, reward learning test and visual search training on the first day and the visual search test on the second day. SMI-red eye tracking system was used to collect the children's eye tracking features. Two-way analysis of variance and t-test were utilized to examine search time and search accuracy rate using SPSS 26.0 and GraphPad Prism 8 softwares. Results:All children successfully passed the reward learning test.However, the accuracy of children with ASD was significantly lower than TD peers (96.68% vs 99.32%, Z=2.25, P<0.05). In visual search training, both ASD and TD children spent less time searching the high-reward face than the low-reward face (ASD children: (484.67±136.80)ms vs (527.09±126.90)ms, t=-2.56, P=0.02, TD children: (453.82±176.17)ms vs (511.66±187.14)ms, t=-3.41, P<0.01). During the visual search test, enhanced attention capture were observed in both groups when singleton distractor matched with high reward characteristics compared to the low reward(feature-match: ASD children(451.82±121.13)ms vs (511.67±134.99)ms, t=-2.51, P=0.02; TD children(364.79±92.83)ms vs (465.53±146.95)ms, t=-4.22, P<0.01. Relation-match: ASD children(513.67±215.03)ms vs (446.53±148.00)ms, t=-2.22, P=0.04, TD children(464.00±194.55)ms vs (410.58±184.47)ms, t=3.93, P<0.01). Conclusion:The feature-match relationship can regulate the social attention of children with ASD.