BACKGROUND:Previous studies by the research group have shown that core proteoglycan in Cornus Cervi Col la can enter the bone,promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,and has a good repair effect on steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of Cornus Cervi Colla on steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rats by fecal non-targeted fecal metabolomics.METHODS:Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into three groups using a random number table method:the control group(n=10)was injected with normal saline into the right gluteal muscle(injected on the first 3 days of each week for 3 consecutive weeks),and was given pure water gavage(once a day for 6 consecutive weeks).The model group(n=10)was injected with methylprednisolone sodium succinate into the right gluteal muscle(injected on the first 3 days of each week for 3 consecutive weeks)to establish a steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head model,and was given pure water gavage(once a day for 6 consecutive weeks).The Cornus Cervi Co I la group(n=10)was also established with a steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head model,and was given Cornus Cervi Col la gavage(once a day for 6 consecutive weeks).After gavage,cecal feces and femoral heads were collected for fecal metabolomics analysis and bone tissue Micro-CT and hematoxylin-eosin staining,respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Metabolomics analysis results showed that there were 233 differential metabolites between the Cornus Cervi Col la and model groups,with 65 significantly differing and clearly annotated metabolites.Lipid and amino acid metabolites were significantly increased,with bile acids,sulfated steroids,ephedrine,hypoxanthine,betaine,L-carnitine,B-mouse bile acid,cytidine,4-pyridoxic acid,taurine,N-acetyl-d-glucosamine,and butyric acid being the most impacted(variable weight value VIP＞5).The metabolic pathways of taurine and hypotaurine were crucial in the metabolic regulatory network(pathway impact=0.428 57).(2)Micro-CT scanning results of bone tissue showed that the femoral heads of rats in the model group and the Cornus Cervi Col la group had different degrees of damage;the femoral head contour was irregular;the trabeculae in the subchondral bone of the femoral head were missing and disordered,and some cystic structures were visible.Compared with the model group,the degree of trabecular damage in the rats of the Cornus Cervi Colla group was milder.Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that the trabeculae in the subchondral bone of the femoral heads of rats in the model group and the Cornus Cervi Colla group were sparse or interrupted,and the empty bone lacuna rate and adipocyte invasion were increased.Compared with the model group,the empty bone lacuna rate and adipocyte invasion in the subchondral bone of the femoral heads of rats in the Cornus Cervi Colla group were reduced.(3)These results conclude that Cornus Cervi Colla potentially mitigates steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head through the metabolic processes involving taurine and associated pathways.

BACKGROUND:Osteonecrosis is an orthopedic disease that severely limits joint function,with complex pathogenesis involving multiple risk factors.Cathepsins,as a class of enzymes that play a key role in bone metabolism,are closely related to the proliferation,differentiation of bone cells,and remodeling of the bone matrix.However,previous studies have mostly focused on descriptive analyses,lacking direct evidence of causal relationships.OBJECTIVE:To clarify the potential causal relationship between cathepsins and osteonecrosis and to explore their possible mechanisms by analyzing large-scale sample data from the FinnGen database.METHODS:We obtained osteonecrosis-related data from the FinnGen database,including R9(a total of 359 399 samples:1 385 cases and 358 014 controls)and R10 versions(a total of 392 580 samples:1 543 cases and 391 037 controls).Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with nine cathepsins(cathepsin B,E,F,G,H,O,S,L2,and Z)were acquired from a previous study(3 301 individuals).Univariate Mendelian randomization,reverse univariate Mendelian randomization,and multivariate Mendelian randomization analyses were conducted using the inverse variance weighted method,MR-Egger method,weighted median method,simple mode method,and weighted mode method.Initially,Mendelian randomization analysis was performed using osteonecrosis data from R9.Additionally,sensitivity analyses were conducted using Cochran's Q test,MR-Egger intercept,MR-PRESSO global test,and leave-one-out analysis to check for horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity.Subsequently,a validation analysis study was carried out on the R10 dataset,and a meta-analysis was conducted to combine the two datasets to explore the joint effect.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Univariate Mendelian randomization analysis results showed that higher levels of cathepsin B were significantly associated with a reduced risk of osteonecrosis(inverse variance weighted:odds ratio(OR)=0.865,95％confidence interval(CI):0.762-0.982,P=0.025),and no reverse causal relationship was found between the nine cathepsins and osteonecrosis(P＞0.05).These associations were validated by meta-analysis.Multivariate analysis,using the nine cathepsins as covariates,revealed a reverse causal relationship between the levels of cathepsin Band the risk of osteonecrosis(inverse variance weighted:OR=0.8710,95％CI:0.761-0.997,P=0.045),consistent with the results before adjustment.Sensitivity analyses based on heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy suggested that the results were relatively robust.This study suggests that there is a causal relationship between high levels of cathepsin B and the reduced risk of osteonecrosis,and it may serve as a biomarker for osteonecrosis,providing new directions and insights for the diagnosis and treatment of osteonecrosis.Although this study is based on data analysis of European populations,these findings have important implications for Chinese biomedical research,especially in understanding disease mechanisms,developing biomarkers,and formulating treatment strategies.They also encourage similar studies conducted on Chinese populations to explore the impact of racial and genetic background differences on the occurrence of osteonecrosis.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies by the research group have shown that core proteoglycan in Cornus Cervi Col la can enter the bone,promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,and has a good repair effect on steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of Cornus Cervi Colla on steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rats by fecal non-targeted fecal metabolomics.METHODS:Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into three groups using a random number table method:the control group(n=10)was injected with normal saline into the right gluteal muscle(injected on the first 3 days of each week for 3 consecutive weeks),and was given pure water gavage(once a day for 6 consecutive weeks).The model group(n=10)was injected with methylprednisolone sodium succinate into the right gluteal muscle(injected on the first 3 days of each week for 3 consecutive weeks)to establish a steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head model,and was given pure water gavage(once a day for 6 consecutive weeks).The Cornus Cervi Co I la group(n=10)was also established with a steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head model,and was given Cornus Cervi Col la gavage(once a day for 6 consecutive weeks).After gavage,cecal feces and femoral heads were collected for fecal metabolomics analysis and bone tissue Micro-CT and hematoxylin-eosin staining,respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Metabolomics analysis results showed that there were 233 differential metabolites between the Cornus Cervi Col la and model groups,with 65 significantly differing and clearly annotated metabolites.Lipid and amino acid metabolites were significantly increased,with bile acids,sulfated steroids,ephedrine,hypoxanthine,betaine,L-carnitine,B-mouse bile acid,cytidine,4-pyridoxic acid,taurine,N-acetyl-d-glucosamine,and butyric acid being the most impacted(variable weight value VIP＞5).The metabolic pathways of taurine and hypotaurine were crucial in the metabolic regulatory network(pathway impact=0.428 57).(2)Micro-CT scanning results of bone tissue showed that the femoral heads of rats in the model group and the Cornus Cervi Col la group had different degrees of damage;the femoral head contour was irregular;the trabeculae in the subchondral bone of the femoral head were missing and disordered,and some cystic structures were visible.Compared with the model group,the degree of trabecular damage in the rats of the Cornus Cervi Colla group was milder.Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that the trabeculae in the subchondral bone of the femoral heads of rats in the model group and the Cornus Cervi Colla group were sparse or interrupted,and the empty bone lacuna rate and adipocyte invasion were increased.Compared with the model group,the empty bone lacuna rate and adipocyte invasion in the subchondral bone of the femoral heads of rats in the Cornus Cervi Colla group were reduced.(3)These results conclude that Cornus Cervi Colla potentially mitigates steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head through the metabolic processes involving taurine and associated pathways.

BACKGROUND:Osteonecrosis is an orthopedic disease that severely limits joint function,with complex pathogenesis involving multiple risk factors.Cathepsins,as a class of enzymes that play a key role in bone metabolism,are closely related to the proliferation,differentiation of bone cells,and remodeling of the bone matrix.However,previous studies have mostly focused on descriptive analyses,lacking direct evidence of causal relationships.OBJECTIVE:To clarify the potential causal relationship between cathepsins and osteonecrosis and to explore their possible mechanisms by analyzing large-scale sample data from the FinnGen database.METHODS:We obtained osteonecrosis-related data from the FinnGen database,including R9(a total of 359 399 samples:1 385 cases and 358 014 controls)and R10 versions(a total of 392 580 samples:1 543 cases and 391 037 controls).Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with nine cathepsins(cathepsin B,E,F,G,H,O,S,L2,and Z)were acquired from a previous study(3 301 individuals).Univariate Mendelian randomization,reverse univariate Mendelian randomization,and multivariate Mendelian randomization analyses were conducted using the inverse variance weighted method,MR-Egger method,weighted median method,simple mode method,and weighted mode method.Initially,Mendelian randomization analysis was performed using osteonecrosis data from R9.Additionally,sensitivity analyses were conducted using Cochran's Q test,MR-Egger intercept,MR-PRESSO global test,and leave-one-out analysis to check for horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity.Subsequently,a validation analysis study was carried out on the R10 dataset,and a meta-analysis was conducted to combine the two datasets to explore the joint effect.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Univariate Mendelian randomization analysis results showed that higher levels of cathepsin B were significantly associated with a reduced risk of osteonecrosis(inverse variance weighted:odds ratio(OR)=0.865,95％confidence interval(CI):0.762-0.982,P=0.025),and no reverse causal relationship was found between the nine cathepsins and osteonecrosis(P＞0.05).These associations were validated by meta-analysis.Multivariate analysis,using the nine cathepsins as covariates,revealed a reverse causal relationship between the levels of cathepsin Band the risk of osteonecrosis(inverse variance weighted:OR=0.8710,95％CI:0.761-0.997,P=0.045),consistent with the results before adjustment.Sensitivity analyses based on heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy suggested that the results were relatively robust.This study suggests that there is a causal relationship between high levels of cathepsin B and the reduced risk of osteonecrosis,and it may serve as a biomarker for osteonecrosis,providing new directions and insights for the diagnosis and treatment of osteonecrosis.Although this study is based on data analysis of European populations,these findings have important implications for Chinese biomedical research,especially in understanding disease mechanisms,developing biomarkers,and formulating treatment strategies.They also encourage similar studies conducted on Chinese populations to explore the impact of racial and genetic background differences on the occurrence of osteonecrosis.

Objective:To investigate the expression characteristics of mucin 5B (MUC5B) protein and programmed cell death factor 4 (PDCD4) protein in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and to construct a nomogram model for prognosis prediction.Methods:Clinical data of 100 patients who underwent radical surgical resection and were diagnosed as ICC by postoperative pathology from September 2009 to September 2020 in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were retrospectively selected, including 46 males and 54 females, aged (56.9±12.2) years old. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of MUC5B and PDCD4 protein in 100 cases of ICC and corresponding adjacent tissues respectively, and the relationship between them and clinicopathological factors of ICC patients was analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to analyze the influencing factors on postoperative prognosis of ICC patients. The nomogram model was constructed using rms package and performed internal verification.Results:The positive expression rate of MUC5B protein in ICC was 76.0% (76/100), which was higher than that in para-cancer tissues 27.0%(27/100), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=11.33, P=0.015). While the positive expression rate of PDCD4 protein in ICC was 21.0%(21/100), which was lower than that in normal tissues 73.0% (73/100), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=15.57, P=0.007). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that ICC patients with carbohydrate antigen 19-9>37 kU/L, tumor length>5 cm, tumor TNM stage Ⅱ/Ⅲ, tumor medium/low differentiation, MUC5B positive expression, and PDCD4 negative expression had a high risk of short survival after resection (all P<0.05). The nomogram model was constructed based on the above indicators, and the C-index was 0.801. The postoperative survival calibration curve showed that the high predictive survival fit of the nomogram model, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.862. Conclusions:Positive expression of MUC5B protein and negative expression of PDCD4 protein in ICC tissue suggest poor prognosis of ICC patients. The nomogram model constructed on the basis of MUC5B and PDCD4 protein is well distinguished and has ideal predictive efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the expression of nuclear matrix protein 4 (NMP4) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and its relationship with clinicopathological features and survival prognosis of patients.Methods:The clinical data of 100 HCC patients who were treated with radical resection of liver cancer in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from July 1, 2014 to July 1, 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 63 males and 37 females, aged (58.5±10.4) years old. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of NMP4 protein in HCC cancer tissue and the corresponding adjacent normal tissue. According to the expression of NMP4 in HCC tissues, 100 patients were divided into two groups: the NMP4-positive expression group ( n=62) and the NMP4-negative expression group ( n=32). Univariate analysis was performed on the relationship between NMP4 expression and clinical pathological features as well as overall survival of HCC patients. Cox multivariate analysis was performed on the factors influencing postoperative prognosis of HCC patients. Results:Immunohistochemistry results showed that NMP4 was primarily expressed in the nucleus, the positive expression rate of NMP4 in HCC tissues was higher than that in adjacent non-cancerous tissues [62.0% (62/100) vs. 8.0%(8/100)], and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=2.12, P=0.003). Univariate analysis revealed that the overall survival of HCC patients was correlated with the degree of tumor differentiation, tumor length, BCLC stage, number of tumor foci, vascular tumor thrombus and expression of NMP4 (all P<0.05). Cox multivariate analysis revealed that low differentiation, high BCLC stage (stage C), number of tumor foci (≥3), and positive expression of NMP4 were independent risk factors affecting postoperative survival and recurrence-free survival of HCC patients. The median overall survival and median recurrence-free survival of HCC patients in the NMP4-positive expression group were 22.3 months and 11.5 months, respectively. In contrast, that in the NMP4-negative expression group were 40.6 months and 19.4 months, respectively. The cumulative survival rate and recurrence-free survival rate of HCC patients in the NMP4-positive expression group were lower than those in the NMP4-negative expression group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.05). Conclusion:Positive NMP4 expression was closely correlated with malignant biological progression and poor prognosis of HCC patients.

Objective:To investigate the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on mindfulness attention awareness, experiential avoidance, and cognitive fusion in individuals with general anxiety disorder(GAD).Methods:A total of 53 patients aged 18-60 years who met the GAD diagnostic criteria of DSM-5 were selected from the Seventh People's Hospital of Hangzhou from May 2021 to September 2022.After receiving routine treatment, patients were randomly assigned to two groups: MBCT group( n=26) for an 8-week mindfulness cognitive therapy and health education group( n=27) for an 8-week health education program. Participants were evaluated using the generalized anxiety disorder scale(GAD-7), acceptance and action questionnaire-2nd edition(AAQ-Ⅱ), cognitive fusion questionnaire(CFQ), and mindful attention awareness scale (MAAS) before and after the intervention.Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software, with the chi-square test, independent sample t-test, and paired sample t-test. Results:(1)There was no significant difference in MAAS score between the two groups before the intervention (42.63±10.18, 47.67±9.52, t=-1.55, P=0.13). However, after the intervention, the MAAS score in MBCT group was significantly higher than that in the health education group(54.42±9.87, 47.83±7.59, t=-2.27, P=0.03). (2) No significant difference was observed in CFQ score between the two groups before the intervention (57.11±15.97, 53.50±12.01, t=-0.77, P=0.45). However, after the intervention, the CFQ score in the MBCT group was significantly lower than that in the health education group(38.32±10.31, 47.11±10.66, t=-2.51, P<0.01). (3) There was no significant difference in AAQ-Ⅱ scores between the two groups before the intervention(33.79±7.90, 30.00±7.23, t=1.52, P=0.14). After the intervention, the AAQ-Ⅱ score in the MBCT group was significantly lower than that in the health education group(21.89±8.69, 30.22±8.68, t=-3.51, P<0.01) . Conclusion:MBCT has a positive effect on enhancing mindfulness attention awareness, reducing cognitive fusion, and mitigating experiential avoidance in GAD patients.

PURPOSE: Survival of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patient remains unknown and varies greatly from person to person. Thus, we aimed to construct a nomogram to quantify the survival probability of patients with MBC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We had included 793 MBC patients and calculated trends of case fatality rate by Kaplan-Meier method and joinpoint regression. Six hundred thirty-four patients with MBC between January 2004 and July 2011 and 159 patients with MBC between August 2011 and July 2013 were assigned to training cohort and internal validation cohort, respectively. We constructed the nomogram based on the results of univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses in the training cohort and validated the nomogram in the validation cohort. Concordance index and calibration curves were used to assess the effectiveness of nomogram. RESULTS: Case fatality rate of MBC was increasing (annual percentage change [APC], 21.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0 to 46.3; p < 0.05) in the first 18 months and then decreased (APC, -4.5; 95% CI, -8.2 to -0.7; p < 0.05). Metastasis-free interval, age, metastasis location, and hormone receptor status were independent prognostic factors and were included in the nomogram, which had a concordance index of 0.69 in the training cohort and 0.67 in the validation cohort. Calibration curves indicated good consistency between the two cohorts at 1 and 3 years. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the fatality risk of MBC was increasing and reached the summit between 13th and 18th month after the detection of MBC. We have developed and validated a nomogram to predict the 1- and 3-year survival probability in MBC.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Calibration ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Methods ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Nomograms ; Risk Assessment*

OBJECTIVETo compare fecal microbiota and metabolites between colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and healthy population.

METHODSFeces from fifteen CRC patients and twelve normal people were analyzed by using pyrosequencing and gas chromatography mass spectrometry(GC/MS).

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the overall microbial community structure associated with the disease state, but 18 bacterial genera were underrepresented or overrepresented in the CRC samples. GC-MS profiling revealed higher concentrations for 9 kinds of amino acids and metabolites of short-chain fatty acids, lower concentrations for 3 kinds of unsaturated fatty acids and 2 kinds of glycerin and ursodeoxycholic acid in stool samples from CRC patients. Correlative analysis between the combined datasets revealed some potential relationships between stool metabolites and certain bacterial species.

CONCLUSIONSThere are significant differences in fecal metabolites and the relative abundance of certain types of bacteria between CRC patients and healthy people, which can provide insight into microbial functions occurring in a cancer environment and will help direct future mechanism studies.

Objective To observe the expression of phosphorylation of signal transducer and activa -tor of transcription 5 (STAT5) protein and the DNA-binding activity of STAT5 after interleukin 2 therapy for genital herpes .Methods Six patients with recurrent genital herpes were included in this study .CD4 +T cells from patients who underwent interleukin 2 therapy were analyzed for changes in STAT 5 signaling.None had been treated with corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents .Phosphorylation of STAT 5 was detected in the T cells using Western blot analysis .Electrophoretic mobility shift assay ( EMSA) was carried out to detect the DNA-biding activity of STAT5.Results The expressions of phosphorylated STAT 5 in T cells de-rived from patients with genital herpes 28 days after interleukin treatment were 1.8~2.7 fold to that of be-fore the treatment was given .STAT5 DNA-binding activity in T cells derived form patients with genital her-pes who had received the treatment was 2.3~3.4 fold increased compared to that of before the initiating of interleukin 2 treatment.The differences between the before and after interleukin 2 treatment were statistical-ly significant( t =10.6, P <0.05).Conclusion This study indicates that STAT5 may be an important signaling mediator of interleukin 2 therapies , and that STAT5 activation may predict response to this treat-ment .