Objective:To investigate the detection rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and its influencing factors among residents in western Chongqing of China during physical examination.Methods:Based on the clinical diagnostic criteria and ultra-sound examination results of NAFLD,the individuals who underwent physical examination in a grade A tertiary hospital in Western Chongqing from January 1,2020 to November 30,2023 were enrolled as subjects.The methods such as the t-test,the chi-square test,and the multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to clarify the detection rate of NAFLD and its influencing factors among the individuals undergoing physical examination.Results:The detection rate of NAFLD was 23.64%(12 872/54 067)among the individu-als undergoing physical examination.The detection rate of NAFLD in male individuals was significantly higher than that in female indi-viduals(39.22%vs.15.91%,χ2=2 197.112,P<0.001).The individuals in the age group of 50-59 years had the highest NAFLD detec-tion rate of 33.18%,and before the age of 60 years,the detection rate of NAFLD increased with age,while after the age of 60 years,the detection rate of NAFLD decreased with age(χ2=367.554,P<0.001),indicating the detection of NAFLD in younger populations in western Chongqing.The individuals with a body mass index in-dicative of overweight and obesity had a significantly higher detec-tion rate of NAFLD than those with a body mass index indicative of emaciation and normal weight(39.39%/71.40%vs.0.23%/9.68%,χ2=7 644.383,P<0.001).The multivariate logistic regression analy-sis showed that sex,age,body mass index,fasting blood glucose(FBG),systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),triglyceride(TG),uric acid(UA),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)were risk factors for the detection rate of NAFLD in individuals undergoing physical examination(P<0.05),while total cholesterol(TC)was not a risk factor for the detection rate of NAFLD.Conclusion:The detection rate of NAFLD is 23.64%among the individuals aged 18 years or above who undergo physical examination in Western Chongqing,and there is a relatively high incidence rate of NAFLD in the age group of 50-59 years.Male individuals and overweight or obese individuals are at a high risk of NAFLD.FBG,SBP,DBP,TG,UA,HDL-C,and LDL-C are risk factors for NAFLD,while TC is not a risk factor for NAFLD.

Objective To investigate the effect of PIAS3 on glucose fluctuation-induced oxidative stress and mito-chondrial dysfunction in rat cardiomyocytes.Methods H9c2 were cultured in vitro,and divided into normal glucose control group(Control),mannitol-induced osmotic pressure control group(MG),constant high glucose group(HG),intermittent hyperglycemia group(IHG),IHG+siRNA NC group,and IHG+PIAS3 siRNA group.Cell proliferation was assessed using CCK-8 assay.LDH release,MDA and GSH levels,as well as SOD activity,were detected using corresponding kits.Mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated via JC-1 staining combined with flow cytometry.ROS levels in cells and mitochondria were determined using DCFH-DA and MitoSOX staining,re-spectively.Protein expression of PI3K,p-PI3K,AKT,and p-AKT was analyzed by Western blot.Results Com-pared with the control group,intermittent hyperglycemia promoted oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction,significantly upregulated PIAS3 expression(P＜0.001)and downregulated p-PI3K and p-AKT protein levels(P＜0.001).Knockdown of PIAS3 significantly alleviated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by glucose fluctuations,and increased p-PI3K and p-AKT protein levels(P＜0.001).Conclusions Knockdown of PIAS3 may alleviate glucose fluctuation-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in ratcardiomyocytes by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Astrocytes are the largest glial population in the mammalian brain. However, we have a minimal understanding of astrocyte development, especially fate specification in different regions of the brain. Through lineage tracing of the progenitors of the third ventricle (3V) wall via in-utero electroporation in the embryonic mouse brain, we show the fate specification and migration pattern of astrocytes derived from radial glia along the 3V wall. Unexpectedly, radial glia located in different regions along the 3V wall of the diencephalon produce distinct cell types: radial glia in the upper region produce astrocytes and those in the lower region produce neurons in the diencephalon. With genetic fate mapping analysis, we reveal that the first population of astrocytes appears along the zona incerta in the diencephalon. Astrogenesis occurs at an early time point in the dorsal region relative to that in the ventral region of the developing diencephalon. With transcriptomic analysis of the region-specific 3V wall and lateral ventricle (LV) wall, we identified cohorts of differentially-expressed genes in the dorsal 3V wall compared to the ventral 3V wall and LV wall that may regulate astrogenesis in the dorsal diencephalon. Together, these results demonstrate that the generation of astrocytes shows a spatiotemporal pattern in the developing mouse diencephalon.
Mice ; Animals ; Astrocytes ; Neuroglia/physiology* ; Diencephalon ; Brain ; Neurons ; Mammals

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of didymin (Did) on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity. Methods: After pretreatment with Did (2, 4, 8 mg/kg intraperitoneal i.p.) for 7 d, the male C57 mice were injected with single dose of DOX (20 mg/kg i.p.). The cardioprotective effect of Did was observed on the 7th day after DOX treatment. Results: DOX delayed body growth and caused cardiac tissue injury, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Similar experiments in H9C2 cardiomyocytes showed that DOX reduced cell viability, increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and fragmentation of DNA, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. However, all of these adverse effects were suppressed by Did pretreatment. Did increased protein expression of glutamate-L-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCL), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Besides, Did also induced activation of PI3K/AKT. Conclusion: These findings indicated Did prevented DOX-induced cardiac injury and apoptosis via activating PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Realtime xCELLigence analysis (RTCA) is a new cell detection technology to continuously monitor, record and analyze a variety of information generated by cell activity. In drug research, it plays an important role in assessing myocardial toxicity and cell biological activity. Here, we first introduce the underlying mechanisms and characteristics of RTCA. Then we review the applications of RTCA in the research of myocardial toxicity and cell biological activity, to provides the fundamental baseline for understanding and exploiting RTCA. With the real-time, unlabeled, non-invasive, high throughput, and high accuracy features, RTCA not only promotes drug research and development, but also has a broad and good application prospect in other fields.
Pharmaceutical Preparations

Objective　To explore the levels of peripheral blood IL-33 and the difference of arteriovenous fistula glucose (Da-jvGlu) after giving Shenqi glucose injection in acute cerebral infarction patients.Methods　The levels of plasma IL-33 and Da-jvGlu were detected in 126 patients of acute cerebral infarction and 10 normal controls.The correlation between IL-33 and cerebral infarction was analyzed.Results　Compared with those in normal control group and the pretherapy groups,the levels of IL-33 in large volume were significantly higher (P<0.05).After giving Shenqi glucose injection,the level of IL-33 in mid volume and small volume were significantly higher between groups (P<0.05).Compared with those in normal control group and the pretherapy groups,the level of Da-jvGlu in large volume was significantly higher (P<0.05).After giving Shenqi glucose injection,there was no significant difference of Da-jvGlu in statics between groups (P>0.05).Conclusion　Shenqi glucose injection can affect the levels of IL-33 to protect nerve cells and stabilize blood glucose concentration.

OBJECTIVE:To study the effect and its possible mechanism of Xuezhiping capsule on blood lipid levels of high blood lipid model golden hamsters. METHODS:Golden hamsters were randomly divided into normal control group,model group, atorvastatin group (3 mg/kg),combination group (Xuezhiping capsule 1.3 g/kg+atorvastatin 1.5 mg/kg),Xuezhiping capsule low-dose,medium-dose,high-dose groups(Xuezhiping capsule 1.3,2.6,5.2 g/kg),10 in each group. Hamsters in normal control group received normal diet,the other groups were given high-fat diet to establish high blood lipid model. Then relevant drugs were intragastrically given 2 weeks later. Normal control group and model group were intragastrically given equal volume of distilled wa-ter,once a day,for 4 weeks. After last administration,blood lipid indexes(TG,TC,HDL-C,LDL-C,FFA),mRNA and protein expressions of lipid metabolism related genes (PPAR-α,CYP7A1,ACOX,SREBP-1c,ACC1) were detected. RESULTS:Com-pared with normal control group,serum contents of TC,TG,LDL-C,FFA in model group increased,HDL-C content decreased;PPAR-α,CYP7A1,ACOX mRNA and protein expressions were weakened,SREBP-1c,ACC1 mRNA and protein expressions were enhanced(P<0.05). Compared with model group,above-mentioned indexes were obviously improved in Xuezhiping capsule high-dose group,atorvastatin group and combination group (except for HDL-C in Xuezhiping capsule high-dose group)(P<0.05);TC,TG,FFA contents,and PPAR-α,CYP7A1,ACOX,ACC1 mRNA,and CYP7A1,SREBP-1c,ACC1 protein were obviously improved in Xuezhiping capsule medium-dose group(P<0.05);TC,TG contents,and PPAR-α mRNA,and CYP7A1, SREBP-1c protein were obviously improved in Xuezhiping capsule low-dose group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Xuezhiping cap-sule has a promising effect of lowering blood lipid,the mechanism may be related to activating PPAR-α and inhibiting SREBP-lc signaling pathway.

Arsenic trioxide has a significantly positive effect on the treatment of acute promyelocyte leukemia( APL) , and it also has been proved that arsenic trioxide can protect against some other kinds of malignant tumors in recent years. However, with the further research about arsenic trioxide, the reports about car-diac toxicity of arsenic trioxide are increasing. Currently, the possible mechanisms of As2 O3-induced cardiotoxicity are mainly considered to be associated with changes in cardiac ion chan-nels, oxidative stress injury and apoptosis. Research advances on cardiac toxicity of arsenic trioxide and some ways of preven-tion are summarized.

Objective To select the optimal acupoints formula by evaluating the efficacy of different groups of acupoints in the treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD) with acupuncture. Method Totally 108 PSD patients were randomized into 3 groups, i.e. Neiguan (PC6) group, Taichong (LR3) group, and Baihui (GV20) group, 36 cases each. The acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 5 sessions a week, 3 weeks as a treatment course. The clinical efficacies were compared among the 3 groups after the intervention. The 3 groups were evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and Quality of Life Scale (QOL) before and after the treatment, and the results were statistically analyzed. Result The effective rates were respectively 72.2%, 75.0%, and 86.1%in Neiguan group, Taichong group, and Baihui group, and the inter-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05); the HAMD, NIHSS, and QOL scores were significantly changed after the intervention in the 3 groups (P<0.01);the inter-group differences in the NIHSS and QOL scores were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion The three groups of acupoints are effective in improving the depression symptoms, neural defect and QOL, while Baihui group can produce a more significant efficacy in improving the depression symptoms compared to Neiguan and Taichong groups;the effects in improving neural defect and QOL are equivalent among the 3 groups of acupoints.

Notch signaling, a highly conserved pathway, is wide-ly found in invertebrates and vertebrates. By mediating cell com-munication, it can regulate many physiological and pathological processes in various kinds of cells, including cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in multi-cellular organism. Accu-mulating evidence shows that abnormality in Notch signaling is highly related to diabetes mellitus and its complications. Accord-ingly, this paper reviews the molecular basis of Notch signaling and the relations between its abnormal expression and diabetes mellitus, and focuses on the impact of key elements in the Notch signaling pathway on diabetic complications as well as correlative mechanisms.