Objective: To explore the effects of personality and sleep quality with psychological distress of junior and senior high school stduents, so as to provide a reference basis for precise interventions of junior and senior high school students mental health. Methods: In October 2023, a convenience sampling method was used to select 9 034 students aged 12-17 from Shiyan City as the study subjects. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) were used to collect information on sleep quality and psychological distress of junior and senior high school stduents. Between group comparison was conducted by using t-test and Chi-square test. Generalized linear models were employed to analyze the interaction and joint effects of personality and sleep quality on psychological distress. Results: The generalized linear model analysis showed that the interaction between personality and sleep quality on psychological distress was statistically significant of junior and senior high school students(effect size=0.80, P <0.01). The general linear model analysis indicated that, after adjusting for variables such as age, gender, screen time, and daily sitting time with the extroverted and good sleep quality group as the reference, the introverted and poor sleep quality group had the largest mean difference in psychological distress scores (difference=0.51, P <0.05). When stratified by sleep quality, psychological distress scores were higher in the introverted and neutral personality groups with both poor and good sleep quality compared to the extroverted group (poor sleep quality: introverted difference=3.71, neutral difference=1.14; good sleep quality: introverted difference=2.23, neutral difference=0.57, all P < 0.05). When stratified by personality, psychological distress scores were higher in the poor sleep quality groups for introverted, neutral, and extroverted individuals compared to their good sleep quality counterparts (differences=8.66, 7.83, 7.34, all P < 0.05 ). Conclusions Personality and sleep quality have interactive and joint effects on psychological distress of junior and senior high school stduents. Personalized psychological interventions should be developed based on personality and sleep quality.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between Apelin and δ-like ligand 4(DLL4)expression levels and clinical stage and efficacy in patients with neovascular glaucoma(NVG).METHODS: A total of 96 NVG patients(96 eyes)who were admitted to our hospital from January 2022 to March 2024(NVG group)and 96 cataract patients(96 eyes)who underwent cataract surgery in our hospital during the same period(control group)were selected. NVG patients were divided into stage Ⅰ group(22 eyes), stage Ⅱ group(47 eyes)and stage Ⅲ group(27 eyes)according to the clinical stage; furthermore, patients were divided into ineffective group(20 eyes)and effective group(76 eyes)according to efficacy. Aqueous humor Apelin and DLL4 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The influencing factors of the efficacy in NVG patients were analyzed by multivariate unconditional Logistic regression analysis, the evaluation efficiency of aqueous humor Apelin and DLL4 levels on the efficacy in NVG patients was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.RESULTS: Compared with the control group, aqueous humor Apelin and DLL4 levels in the NVG group were increased(all P<0.001). Aqueous humor Apelin and DLL4 levels in the stage Ⅰ, stage Ⅱ and stage Ⅲ groups increased in turn(all P<0.001). The effective rate of 96 NVG patients was 79.2%(76/96). Compared with the effective group, aqueous humor Apelin and DLL4 levels in the ineffective group increased(all P<0.001). Clinical stage III, high intraocular pressure, high Apelin and DLL4 were independent risk factors for ineffective treatment in NVG patients(all P<0.05). The area under the curve of the combined evaluation of aqueous humor Apelin and DLL4 levels in evaluating the efficacy of NVG patients was 0.874, which was greater than 0.790 and 0.786 of aqueous Apelin and DLL4 levels alone(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Aqueous humor Apelin and DLL4 levels in NVG patients increase, which relate to the increase of clinical stage and poor efficacy, and the combination of aqueous humor Apelin and DLL4 levels is more effective in evaluating the efficacy of NVG patients.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the methods of ankle hinge position design in the correction of clubfoot deformity by Ilizarov method, and to explore its application value in the prevention of ankle dislocation. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted including 28 patients with rigid clubfoot deformity (34 feet) who met the selection criteria and admitted between September 2021 and December 2024. There were 19 males and 9 females with an average age of 31.8 years (range, 19-47 years). According to Dimeglio classification, there were 21 feet of degree Ⅲ and 13 feet of degree Ⅳ. The causes were traumatic sequelae in 9 cases, congenital foot deformity in 15 cases, spina bifida sequelae in 1 case, peripheral neuropathy in 1 case, and cerebral palsy sequelae in 2 cases. The malformation lasted from 6 to 46 years, with an average of 29.3 years. All patients were treated with Ilizarov circular external fixator, and the hinge position of ankle joint was planned according to the standard lateral X-ray film of foot and ankle and the principle of Ilizarov limb deformity correction center of rotation angulation (CORA) before operation. The 2008 International Clubfoot Study Group (ICFSG) scoring system was used to evaluate the efficacy. RESULTS: The deformity of rigid clubfoot was completely corrected in all patients, and the patients could walk with plantar weight-bearing, and the ankle weight-bearing walking significantly improved when compared with that before operation. There was no complication such as ankle dislocation, talus impact or extrusion, local skin necrosis, needle tract infection, or numbness of extremities during the correction process. All patients were followed up 5-39 months, with an average of 18.1 months. At last follow-up, according to the ICFSG scoring system, 23 feet were excellent, 10 feet were good, and 1 foot was fair, and the excellent and good rate was 97%. CONCLUSION Designing the position of the ankle hinge according to the principle of CORA can effectively avoid ankle dislocation, talus impingement, tibiotalar joint extrusion, and other ankle adverse events in the process of correcting clubfoot deformity, which has good application value in clinical practice.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Clubfoot/diagnostic imaging* ; Ilizarov Technique/instrumentation* ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; External Fixators ; Ankle Joint/diagnostic imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Joint Dislocations/prevention & control* ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective: To explore the clinical manifestations and treatment plans of chronic recurrent parotitis (CRP), and to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of CRP. Methods: Approval was obtained from the hospital’s Medical Ethics Committee, and a retrospective analysis and summary of the clinical features, imaging characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of 41 CRP patients with complete data were performed. Results: Among the 41 patients with CRP, 14 were male and 27 were female, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 1:2 (14/27). The age at first-time onset ranged from 3 to 23 years, with a median age of 6 years, and there were 38 patients (92.7%, 38/41) with the first onset age of under 18 years old. The age of the first visit to our hospital ranged from 4 to 72 years old, with an average age of (41.0 ± 17.3) years; the disease duration was 0.5 to 66 years, with an average of 35.0 ± 16.1 years. Twenty-five cases had bilateral parotid gland involvement (61.0%, 25/41). The clinical manifestations of CRP are repeated swelling of one or both parotid glands, along with discomfort, and this may be accompanied by mild edema or skin flushing and pus or jelly-like secretions at the duct openings. The typical manifestations of parotid angiography are: the dominant duct and branch ducts of the parotid gland do not have specific dilation or narrowing, and the peripheral ducts show characteristic “punctate, spherical, or cavitary” dilation and delayed emptying. Of the cases, 34 had abnormal enlargement of the main duct orifice (82.9%, 34/41), and 37 presented with abnormal anterior displacement of the accessory glands (90.2%, 37/41). The treatment plan of “antibiotic perfusion + aspiration and removal of obstruction (or aspiration after obstruction dissolution)+ postprandia massage along the direction of the parotid duct (from posterior to anterior) with multiple courses for consolidation”achieved favorable outcomes. The mean follow-up period of this group was(71.1+21.9)months, and no recurrence was observed during the follow-up period. Conclusion CRP is more prevalent in young females and frequently presents with bilateral involvement. Congenital anatomical defects, such as abnormal enlargement of the main duct orifice and abnormal anterior displacement of the accessory glands, are important predisposing factors. The multi-course comprehensive therapy centered on antibiotic infusion, removal and dissolution of obstructions, and post-prandial massage along the direction of the parotid duct has significant therapeutic effects and deserves clinical application.

Objective To map the genome-wide distribution profile of histone H3K27me3 modification in diffuse gastric cancer tissues,identify target genes regulated by H3K27me3,and primarily explore the potential mechanism of its modification reprogramming in the occurrence and development of the tumor.Methods Normal gastric mucosal tissues and diffuse gastric cancer tissues were harvested from the patients who underwent examinations or treatments in the departments of gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery of our medical center between 2021 and 2023.There were 14 patients in the normal group(6 males and 8 females,average age of 46 years)and 14 patients in the gastric cancer group(8 males and 6 females,average age of 63 years).Cleavage under target and tagmentation(CUT&Tag)technology was employed to capture genomic regions modified by H3K27me3,and analyze the reprogramming characteristics of these modifications.RNA sequencing data,data from high-throughput chromosome conformation capture(Hi-C)technology,and publicly available single-cell data were integrated to investigate the target genes regulated by the reprogramming of H3K27me3 modifications in diffuse gastric cancer cells.Results The quality of the CUT&Tag and RNA sequencing data met the standards required for subsequent analysis.Histone H3K27me3 modifications in normal gastric mucosa and diffuse gastric cancer tissues were primarily distributed in distal intergenic regions and intronic regions.In gastric cancer tissues,compared to normal tissues,there was significant reprogramming of H3K27me3 modifications,characterized by a marked reduction in overall H3K27me3 signal intensity.The loss of 2 912 H3K27me3 signal peaks might lead to the up-regulation of 822 tumor-associated genes.Among them,56 genes displayed the most significant up-regulation(fold change in signal intensity≥2,P<0.05),with notable enrichment in the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1(mTORC1)signaling pathway.Specifically,the methionine transporter SLC7A5 and the cystine transporter SLC7A11 were found to have the highest expression levels in gastric cancer tissues.Single-cell data revealed that the abnormal overexpression of SLC7A11 in diffuse gastric cancer was primarily observed in tumor epithelial cells.Further validation using public data and immunohistochemical experiments confirmed the elevated expression of SLC7A11 in diffuse gastric cancer,which is associated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients.Conclusion The reprogramming of histone H3K27me3 modification is an important epigenetic characteristic in diffuse gastric cancer.Loss of H3K27me3 signal peaks may up-regulate the expression of SLC7A11 in diffuse gastric cancer cells,and thereby promote tumor progression.

Objective To map the super-enhancers remodeling of intestinal gastric cancer and reveal the tumor biological functions of the super-enhancers and the downstream target genes that may be activated.Methods A total of 31 normal gastric mucosal tissues,23 intestinal gastric cancer tissues and 9 intestinal gastric cancer organoids were collected from the Department of Gastroenterology of Army Medical Center of PLA from January to December 2022.Chromatin targeting histone H3K27ac modified chromatin targeting cleavage under targets and tagmentation(CUT&Tag)sequencing was conducted on above tissues.The remodeling profiles of super-enhancers in intestinal gastric cancer were analyzed and the key target genes were identified based on bioinformation tools.CRISPRi technology was used to intervene with the super-enhancers,the expression of target genes was detected with Western blotting,and the proliferation,migration and invasion abilities were detected by CCK-8 assay and Transwell chambers in the control group and the intervention group.Results There was a significant difference in the signal of super-enhancers between intestinal gastric cancer tissues and normal gastric mucosal tissues(P<0.05),and the active super-enhancers in cancer tissues may be involved in biological processes such as negative regulation of the immune system and cell adhesion.The expression of up-regulated cell migration-inducing protein(CEMIP)in tumor cells was regulated by the super-enhancers,and intervening the super-enhancers down-regulated the expression of CEMIP(P<0.05),and inhibited the cell proliferation,invasion and migration abilities of tumor cells(P<0.05).Conclusion Super-enhancer remodeling is observed in intestinal gastric cancer,and they can up-regulate the expression of CEMIP gene and promote the growth,migration and invasion of cancer cells.

Objective To draw the genome-wide distribution and remodeling characteristics of H3K27me3 silencers in signet-ring cell carcinoma of the stomach(SRCC)through epigenetic sequencing technology,and to investigate their roles in transcriptional regulation in order to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of SRCC malignant progression.Methods The study was conducted on 35 gastric samples obtained by gastroendoscopic biopsy(15 normal and 20 SRCC tissues)from Department of Gastroenterology of Army Medical Center of PLA between January 2021 and December 2023.Multi-omics analyses,including assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing(ATAC-seq),cleavage under targets and tagmentation(CUT&Tag)and transcriptome sequencing(RNA-seq),were performed to identify chromatin accessibility,H3K27me3 silencer regions,and transcriptional changes,with aid of Illumina NovaSeq 6000.H3K27me3 related differentially expressed genes(|Log2FC|>1,FDR<0.05)were screened using DESeq2.Gene Ontology(GO)analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)analysis were employed to analyze the enrichment function,and Homer was employed to identify transcription factor motifs.A regulatory network was constructed using Cytoscape,and then validated using immunohistochemistry to explore its regulatory mechanism.Results H3K27me3 silencers were primarily located in distal intergenic regions(37.06%)in SRCC.Compared with the normal tissues,SRCC showed a significant reduction in H3K27me3 silencer signals(95%CI:1.34～2.30,P=0.007)with 6 257 lost sites(FDR<0.01).Integrating CUT&Tag and RNA-seq revealed 380 up-regulated immune-related genes,particularly in T cell receptor signaling(OR=4.2,95%CI:2.8～6.3,P=0.002).Immunohistochemistry confirmed elevated expression of transcription factor EHF(P<0.05).Conclusion There is the remodeling of H3K27me3 silencers in SRCC,and EHF may potentially play a crucial role in the SRCC malignant progression.

Background: Epimedii Folium, first recorded in the Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing), is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) known for its effects of “benefiting Qi and strengthening the heart.” Icariside II (ICS II) is one of the main active components of Epimedii Folium, possessing cardiovascular protective and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the potential mechanisms of ICS II on myocardial ischemia (MI) remain unclear. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects and preliminary molecular mechanisms of ICS II in treating isoproterenolinduced MI in rats. Methods: A rat model of MI was established by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, myocardial enzymes analysis, heart weight index, triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, histopathology, TUNEL staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blot were employed to evaluate the effects and preliminary molecular mechanisms of ICS II on MI rats. Results: Pharmacodynamic studies suggested that ICS II inhibited ST-segment elevation in electrocardiograms, improved cardiac function, reduced heart weight index and myocardial enzyme levels, decreased myocardial infarct size, alleviated cardiac histological damage, and inhibited apoptosis, thereby exerting cardioprotective effects in MI rats. Further studies revealed that ICS II may partially inhibit the expression of NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis-related targets at both protein and mRNA levels. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that ICS II exerts anti-MI effects, and its preliminary molecular mechanisms may be related to inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis to alleviate inflammatory responses.

Background: Epimedii Folium, first recorded in the Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing), is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) known for its effects of “benefiting Qi and strengthening the heart.” Icariside II (ICS II) is one of the main active components of Epimedii Folium, possessing cardiovascular protective and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the potential mechanisms of ICS II on myocardial ischemia (MI) remain unclear. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects and preliminary molecular mechanisms of ICS II in treating isoproterenolinduced MI in rats. Methods: A rat model of MI was established by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, myocardial enzymes analysis, heart weight index, triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, histopathology, TUNEL staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blot were employed to evaluate the effects and preliminary molecular mechanisms of ICS II on MI rats. Results: Pharmacodynamic studies suggested that ICS II inhibited ST-segment elevation in electrocardiograms, improved cardiac function, reduced heart weight index and myocardial enzyme levels, decreased myocardial infarct size, alleviated cardiac histological damage, and inhibited apoptosis, thereby exerting cardioprotective effects in MI rats. Further studies revealed that ICS II may partially inhibit the expression of NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis-related targets at both protein and mRNA levels. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that ICS II exerts anti-MI effects, and its preliminary molecular mechanisms may be related to inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis to alleviate inflammatory responses.

Background: Epimedii Folium, first recorded in the Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing), is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) known for its effects of “benefiting Qi and strengthening the heart.” Icariside II (ICS II) is one of the main active components of Epimedii Folium, possessing cardiovascular protective and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the potential mechanisms of ICS II on myocardial ischemia (MI) remain unclear. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects and preliminary molecular mechanisms of ICS II in treating isoproterenolinduced MI in rats. Methods: A rat model of MI was established by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, myocardial enzymes analysis, heart weight index, triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, histopathology, TUNEL staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blot were employed to evaluate the effects and preliminary molecular mechanisms of ICS II on MI rats. Results: Pharmacodynamic studies suggested that ICS II inhibited ST-segment elevation in electrocardiograms, improved cardiac function, reduced heart weight index and myocardial enzyme levels, decreased myocardial infarct size, alleviated cardiac histological damage, and inhibited apoptosis, thereby exerting cardioprotective effects in MI rats. Further studies revealed that ICS II may partially inhibit the expression of NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis-related targets at both protein and mRNA levels. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that ICS II exerts anti-MI effects, and its preliminary molecular mechanisms may be related to inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis to alleviate inflammatory responses.