AIM: To explore retinal microvascular changes in migraine patients using meta-analysis.METHODS: The National Library of Medicine PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched to find relevant studies, and the search period was from the creation of database to June 2023. Two investigators independently screened the literatures, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of included studies using the NOS scale. STATA15.0 was used for Meta-analysis and publication bias evaluation, sensitivity analysis was performed for results with large heterogeneity, and the funnel plot and Egger were used to assess the publication bias of the literature.RESULTS:A total of 12 studies, including 217 patients(252 eyes)with migraine with aura(MA), 283 patients(388 eyes)with migraine without aura(MO), and 374 healthy individuals(479 eyes), were included in this Meta-analysis. Several optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)indicators, including foveal avascular zone(FAZ)macular or optic disc perfusion density were compared and analyzed. The Meta-analysis results showed that compared with healthy controls, patients with MA had a significant increase in FAZ area and perimeter, a significant decrease in perfusion density of the macular deep capillary plexus(mDCP)except for the fovea, and a significant decrease in perfusion density of the radial peripapillary capillaries(RPC)around the optic disc; the FAZ parameters were significantly increased in MO, while the differences in perfusion density of the macular superficial capillary plexus(mSCP), mDCP and RPC were not statistically significant, except for the perfusion density in the parafovea mDCP.CONCLUSIONS: Both MA and MO patients had an enlarged FAZ area, patients with MA had a significant decrease in mDCP perfusion density, and migraine patients had some degree of retinal ischemia.

Objective:Bacterial liver abscess is one of the common infectious diseases of the digestive system.Invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess syndrome(IKLAS)refers to cases where,in addition to liver abscess,there are migratory infections foci or other invasive manifestations.The clinical characteristics and risk factors of IKLAS are not fully elucidated,and there is a lack of research on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different treatment methods.This study aims to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with IKLAS and non-IKLAS,and explore effective and economical treatment methods. Methods:This retrospective study collected medical records of patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess treated at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2010 to December 2023.A total of 201 patients were included,dividing into an IKLAS group(n=37)and a non-IKLAS group(n=164).Differences in demographics,symptoms and signs,laboratory indicators,imaging characteristics,comorbidities,treatment methods,treatment outcomes,and direct treatment costs between 2 groups were analyzed.The study also compared the effectiveness and costs of different treatment methods. Results:Compared with the non-IKLAS group,the proportion of patients with diabetes,Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(qSOFA)≥2,immune deficiency,anemia,and thrombocytopenia in the IKLAS group was higher,and the level of procalcitonin at the onset in the IKLAS group was also higher(all P<0.05).In terms of symptoms and signs,the IKLAS group had a higher proportion of visual abnormalities and a lower proportion of complaints of abdominal pain(both P<0.05).In terms of complications,the incidence of combined pleural effusion,pulmonary infection,acute renal failure,respiratory failure,and multiple organ failure was higher in the IKLAS group(all P<0.05).The IKLAS group had a higher proportion of patients treated with antibiotics alone(24.32%vs 11.59%),while the non-IKLAS group had a higher proportion of patients treated with antibiotics combined with puncture and drainage(86.59%vs 64.86%,both P<0.05).The overall effective rate of the IKLAS group(83.78%)was lower than that of the non-IKLAS group(95.73%),and the treatment and drug costs were higher(all P<0.05).The treatment method of antibiotics combined with surgical resection of infectious foci showed a 100%improvement rate,antibiotics combined with abscess puncture and drainage had an 84.9%improvement rate,and in antibiotics alone had an 82.1%improvement rate,with statistical differences among the 3 treatment methods(P<0.05).In terms of treatment costs,antibiotics alone were the most expensive(P<0.05). Conclusion:Patients with IKLAS have poorer prognosis and higher direct medical costs.The combination of abscess puncture and drainage or surgery has a higher improvement rate and lower hospitalization costs compared to antibiotics alone,suggesting that surgical intervention may reduce antibiotic costs and save medical expenses.

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is a non-enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the family Picornaviridae and the genus Cardiovirus. EMCV has the ability to infect various mammals, such as mice, pigs, and cattle. In addition, humans are susceptible to EMCV infection, and the seropositivity rate of relevant antibodies in healthy populations is steadily increasing, which poses a potential risk of epidemics. The initial step of viral infection in cells involves recognition and attachment to cell surface receptors, followed by endocytosis into the cells. Subsequently, viral proteins interact with host proteins within the cells to promote their own replication. With the progress made in protein-protein interaction studies and the development of high-throughput sequencing technologies, multiple host proteins that interact with EMCV have been identified. This article summarizes the host proteins that interact with EMCV during infection, explores the mechanisms by which these proteins facilitate or inhibit viral invasion, discusses the latest progress in EMCV-induced endocytosis and intracellular signaling, hoping to provide reference for better elucidating EMCV receptor proteins, understanding viral infection and replication mechanisms, studying virus-host interactions and tissue tropism, and developing novel targeted antiviral drugs and prevention strategies.

BACKGROUND: Previous study demonstrated that hypoxia preconditioning promoted mesenchymal stem cells survival and their therapeutic efficacy, and this effect was mediated by hypoxia induced factor-1α (HIF-1α). However, specific downstream mechanism remained unclear. OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of hypoxia preconditioning on the survival and vascularization potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and explore the regulatory mechanism of HIF-1α/MALAT1/VEGFA pathway. METHODS: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were obtained and cultured in vitro. Cells were divided into hypoxia (1% O2) and normoxia control groups (20% O2), and cultured for 24 hours. Cells proliferation, apoptosis and vascularization were evaluated. The expression of HIF-1α, MALAT1, and VEGFA was detected. HIF-1α and MALAT1 were inhibited by their siRNAs separately. HIF-1α siRNA scramble and MALAT1 siRNA scramble were used as negative controls before hypoxia preconditioning. Alterations of the molecules were examined and compared in different groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with the normoxia control group, cell viability was significantly enhanced; and cell apoptosis percentage was significantly declined in the hypoxia group; vascular lumen like structure was also increased significantly in the hypoxia group (P < 0.01); expression of HIF-1α, MALAT1, and VEGFA was significantly increased in the hypoxia group (P < 0.01). (2) After the inhibition of HIF-1α and hypoxia preconditioning, both MALAT1 and VEGFA expression levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.01). The expression of VEGFA was also significantly suppressed after the blockage of MALAT1 (P < 0.01). (3) This study suggested that hypoxia preconditioning effectively promoted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell survival and vascularization through the activation of HIF-1α/MALAT1/VEGFA pathway.

Objective: To investigate effects of personal innovation behaviors, self-efficacy and colleague solidarity of nurses on career success, and to provide the basis for career planning and management of clinical nurses. Methods: A total of 441 registered nurses from eight grade three and first-class hospitals in Tianjin were measured with personal innovation behaviors scale, self-efficacy scale, colleague solidarity of nurses' scale and career success scale. Results: The total score of personal innovation behavior was (21.58±4.81). The total score of self-efficacy was (27.68±6.53). The total score of colleague solidarity of nurses was (95.12±9.42). The total score of career success was (35.75±9.27). The personal innovation behaviors, self-efficacy, colleague solidarity of nurses career success and each dimension showed positive correlation(r=0.115-0.915, P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that innovation behaviors, self-efficacy and academic solidarity entered career success regression equation(β=0.090-0.554, P<0.05), and explained 49.7% of the total variation.Path analysis model showed innovative behavior, self-efficacy and colleague solidarity of nurses were positively predictive of career success, and the path coefficients were 0.62, 0.18 and 0.12.Hierarchical regression analysis showed both self-efficacy and colleague solidarity of nurses played mediating roles between innovative behavior and career success(β=0.207-0.104, P<0.05). Conclusion Hospital managers should take measures to improve nurses' innovative behavior, self-efficacy and colleague solidarity of nurses to promote their career success.

AIM:To analyze the alterations of angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ), connexin 43 (Cx43), angiotenisinⅡreceptor type 1 (AT1) and signaling molecules in the TGF-β1/Smad pathway in different regions of the left ventricular heart tissue for exploring whether Ang Ⅱregulates Cx43 expression via the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in myocardial infarction ( MI) rats.METHODS:MI was induced in 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats by the left anterior descending coronary artery ligation.The rats were then randomized into 2 groups.In the losartan group, 20 mg· kg-1· d-1 of losartan were ad-ministered for 2 weeks.Heart functions were assessed after surgery and 2 weeks later again following the above treatments . All the rats were sacrificed and relevant molecules , including Ang Ⅱ, AT1, and Cx43 were determined thereafter in diffe-rent areas of the left ventricle .TGF-β1 and its downstream signaling molecules , including Smad 2, Smad 3 and Smad 7, were also detected .RESULTS:In losartan group , both left ventricular internal dimension diastole ( LVIDd) and left ven-tricular internal dimension systole (LVIDs) were smaller, with diminished interventricular septal thickness (IVSd) and left ventricular posterior wall depth ( LVPWd ) and distinct improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF ) ( P<0.05 ) .Losartan therapy exhibited a reduction of Ang Ⅱin the infarct zone and the border zone in the cardiac tissues .AT1 was obviously attenuated in the infarct zone with an enhanced expression of Cx 43, which was also elevated in the border zone and none infarct zone .TGF-β1, Smad 2 and Smad 3 were decreased in different zones of the left ventricle , while Smad 7, in contrary to the above factors , presented a converse alteration .CONCLUSION:The activation of Ang Ⅱpro-vokes downregulation of Cx 43 through TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in MI rats .

AIM:To validate the association between long noncoding (lncRNA)-H19 and microRNA-199a-5p (miR-199a-5p) through the dual-luciferase reporter gene system by construction of a luciferase reporter vector containing the gene of lncRNA-H19.METHODS:The potential complementary binding sites of lncRNA-H19 and miR-199a-5p were predicted by RegRNA 2.0.The H19 gene or its mutant ( Mut) fragment was cloned into luciferase reporter vector psi-CHECK-2.Restriction enzyme analysis and sequence analysis were used to identify whether the recombinant plasmids of the H19 and H19-Mut were successfully constructed .miR-199a-5p mimics, miR-199a-5p inhibitor, miR-199a-5p mimics neg-ative control or miR-199a-5p inhibitor negative control was co-transfected into the 293T cells with the luciferase reporters containing H19 or H19-Mut.Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to detect the luciferase activity in different groups in order to verify the relationship between lncRNA-H19 and miR-199a-5p.RESULTS:The results of double enzyme diges-tion and DNA sequencing showed that the sequence of luciferase reporter vector was correct .The results of dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that the H 19 reporter gene luciferase activity significantly decreased in miR-199a-5p mimics group by 49%(P<0.01), and the H19 reporter gene luciferase activity was obviously upregulated in miR-199a-5p inhibitor group compared with miR-199a-5p mimics group ( P<0.01).However, miR-199a-5p mimics, miR-199a-5p inhibitor, miR-199a-5p mimics negative control and miR-199a-5p inhibitor negative control showed no effect at H 19-Mut reporter gene.CONCLUSION:lncRNA-H19 binds to miR-199a-5p to exert an inhibitory effect at transcriptional level .

BACKGROUND:Piglitazone, aperoxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPAR-γ) agonist, has been demonstrated topromote survivalandcardiac differentiation ofexogenous bone marrow mesenchymal stem celsto improvecardiacfunction.In this study, we attempted to investigate whether pioglitazone couldinduce cardiac differentiation of endogenous bone marrow mesenchymal stem celsandimprove cardiacfunction, andmeanwhile, probed into the relevant mechanisms.
OBJECTIVE:To compare the therapeutic efficacy ofpioglitazone combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation, pioglitazone alone and phosphate buffer solution(PBS)and to investigatetherelevant mechanisms.
METHODS:ThirtySprague-Dawley ratswith myocardial infarctioninducedby ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery were randomized intocombined group (combination of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels and pioglitazone), pioglitazone group andPBSgroup. Two weeks later, PKH26-labeled bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels inPBSorPBSalone wereinjected into the local infarct zone in the combinedgroup andthe other twogroups, respectively. Pioglitazone (3 mg/kg/d) was given by the oral gavage in the combinedand pioglitazone groups forcontinuous2weeks after cels transplantation. At 2weeks after treatment, cardiac functions were evaluated. In addition, expressions of PPAR-γ, connexin 43 and relative factors in transforming growth factor-β1/SMAD signaling pathway were examined in different areas of the left ventricle from each harvested heart.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were no differences in the baseline parameters of cardiac function between the two groups.Twoweeksafter treatment, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter and left ventricular ejection fraction were significantlyimprovedin the combined groupcompared with the other two groups; the expression of PPAR-γ was significantly increased in different zones of the left ventriclein the combined andpioglitazone groups.In the combined group, there was a significantlyhigher expression of connexin 43, and the levels of transforming growth factor-β1, SMAD2 and SMAD3 were obviously attenuated in the infarctand marginal zones.However, no differences were found in the abovedeterminants between the pioglitazone andPBSgroups. To conclude, pioglitazone cannot induce the differentiation andproliferation of endogenous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels, but pioglitazone combined with exogenous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels can improve cardiac function post myocardial infarction.In this process,PPAR-γmight promote the connexin 43 expression inexogenous bone marrow mesenchymal stem celsviathe blockade oftransforming growth factor-β1/SMAD signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have demonstrated that the electrophysiological stability and ventricular fibril ation threshold after myocardial infarction in rats are significantly improved in the mid-term of cardiac stem cel transplantation, but relative regulatory mechanism and pathway remain unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the relative molecular regulatory mechanism of cardiac stem cel s improving the electrophysiological stability and ventricular fibril ation threshold after myocardial infarction in rats. METHODS:Myocardial infarction was induced in 20 Sprague-Dawley rats by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary, which were then randomized into two groups (n=10 per group) and were subjected to the injection of cardiac stem cel s labeled with PKH26 in phosphate buffer solution (cardiac stem cel group) or the same amount of phosphate buffer solution (PBS) alone (PBS group) into the local infarct zone at 2 weeks after modeling, respectively. Six weeks later, relevant signaling molecules involved in the ANGII/AT1R/TGF-β1/SMAD/Cx43 pathway were al examined in myocardial tissues of the left ventricle and harvested blood samples. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the PBS group, expressions of connexin 43 in different zones of the left ventricle were significantly increased in the cardiac stem cel group (P<0.01);there was a significant reduction of the angiotensin II level in plasma and different regions of the left ventricular (P<0.05;P<0.01). Furthermore, in the cardiac stem cel group, expressions of angiotensin II type I receptor, transforming growth factor-β1, SMAD2 and SMAD3 were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Whereas SMAD7 was significantly elevated (P<0.05) in different areas of the left ventricle compared with the phosphate buffer solution group. These findings suggest that the cardiac stem cel transplantation can improve the electrophysiological stability and ventricular fibril ation threshold after myocardial infarction by enhancing the expression of connexin 43 via ANGII/AT1R/TGF-beta1/SMAD/CX43 signaling pathway.

AIM:ToinvestigatetheexpressionofFoxp3+regulatoryTcells(Foxp3+Tregs)andprogrammed death receptor 1 (PD1) in gastric cancer tissues and their association with clinicopathological factors and prognosis of the patients.The correlation between the 2 molecules was also analyzed at the same time.METHODS: The tumor sections from 111 gastric cancer patients were stained for Foxp3 and PD1 by the method of immunohistochemistry.The associations of the expression levels of these 2 molecules with clinicopathological factors involved in the disease progression and progno-sis were statistically analyzed .The relationship of their expression was detected.RESULTS:Foxp3 +Tregs and PD1 were expressed in the gastric cancer tissues, and PD1 was expressed in the tumor infiltrating lymphocytes ( TILs) .The expres-sion of Foxp3 and PD1 was correlated with lymph node metastasis, clinicopathological stage and prognosis of gastric cancer patients.The expression of these 2 determinants in the patients with lymph node metastasis and an advanced clinicopatho-logical stage was distinctly higher ( P<0.05 ) .The patients with positive expression of the 2 indexes presented a lower overall survival rate and worse prognosis (P<0.05).A significantly positive correlation between the infiltration of Foxp3 +Tregs and the expression of PD1+TILs was also observed (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Foxp3 +Tregs and PD1 +TILs co-infiltrate in the gastric cancer tissues, which can be used as biological markers to predict the disease progression and prog-nosis.