Purpose This study aimed to investigate the expression,function,and molecular mechanisms of ZNF384 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC),as well as its role in tumor progression and chemoresistance.Methods The expression of ZNF384 in ESCC cell lines and tissues was assessed using RT-qPCR.Correlations with TNM stage,invasion depth,lymph node metastasis,and prognosis were evaluated.In vitro assays were performed to examine the effects of ZNF384 on ESCC cell proliferation,migration,invasion,and chemosensitivity.Dual-luciferase reporter assays were conducted to determine the interaction between ZNF384 and FZD3,and to assess the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway.Results ZNF384 expression was significantly upregulated in ESCC cell lines and tissues(P＜0.01).Elevated ZNF384 expression was associated with advanced TNM stage,greater invasion depth,lymph node metastasis,and poor prognosis(P＜0.05).Functional assays demonstrated that ZNF384 overexpression promo-ted ESCC cell proliferation,migration,and invasion(all P＜0.01),whereas ZNF384 knockdown inhibited these processes and enhanced chemosensitivity to cisplatin(all P＜0.01).Mechanistic studies showed that ZNF384 directly bound to the FZD3 promoter,upregulated FZD3 expression,and activated the Wnt signaling pathway(P＜0.05).Overexpression of FZD3 partially reversed the inhibitory effects of ZNF384 knockdown on cell malignancy and chemore-sistance(P＜0.05).Conclusion ZNF384 promotes ESCC progression and reduces chemosensitivity through activa-tion of the FZD3/Wnt signaling pathway,suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target in ESCC.

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the expression,function,and molecular mechanisms of ZNF384 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC),as well as its role in tumor progression and chemoresistance.Methods The expression of ZNF384 in ESCC cell lines and tissues was assessed using RT-qPCR.Correlations with TNM stage,invasion depth,lymph node metastasis,and prognosis were evaluated.In vitro assays were performed to examine the effects of ZNF384 on ESCC cell proliferation,migration,invasion,and chemosensitivity.Dual-luciferase reporter assays were conducted to determine the interaction between ZNF384 and FZD3,and to assess the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway.Results ZNF384 expression was significantly upregulated in ESCC cell lines and tissues(P＜0.01).Elevated ZNF384 expression was associated with advanced TNM stage,greater invasion depth,lymph node metastasis,and poor prognosis(P＜0.05).Functional assays demonstrated that ZNF384 overexpression promo-ted ESCC cell proliferation,migration,and invasion(all P＜0.01),whereas ZNF384 knockdown inhibited these processes and enhanced chemosensitivity to cisplatin(all P＜0.01).Mechanistic studies showed that ZNF384 directly bound to the FZD3 promoter,upregulated FZD3 expression,and activated the Wnt signaling pathway(P＜0.05).Overexpression of FZD3 partially reversed the inhibitory effects of ZNF384 knockdown on cell malignancy and chemore-sistance(P＜0.05).Conclusion ZNF384 promotes ESCC progression and reduces chemosensitivity through activa-tion of the FZD3/Wnt signaling pathway,suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target in ESCC.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), whose etiology is influenced by genetic and clinical risk factors, considerably impacts women's quality of life. However, the genetic underpinnings in non-European populations and comprehensive risk models integrating genetic and clinical factors remain underexplored. This study constructed the first polygenic risk score (PRS) for POP in the Chinese population by utilizing 20 disease-associated variants from the largest existing genome-wide association study. We analyzed a discovery cohort of 576 cases and 623 controls and a validation cohort of 264 cases and 200 controls. Results showed that the case group exhibited a significantly higher PRS than the control group. Moreover, the odds ratio of the top 10% risk group was 2.6 times higher than that of the bottom 10%. A high PRS was significantly correlated with POP occurrence in women older than 50 years old and in those with one or no childbirths. As far as we know, the integrated prediction model, which combined PRS and clinical risk factors, demonstrated better predictive accuracy than other existing PRS models. This combined risk assessment model serves as a robust tool for POP risk prediction and stratification, thereby offering insights into individualized preventive measures and treatment strategies in future clinical practice.
Humans ; Female ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Assessment/methods* ; China/epidemiology* ; Multifactorial Inheritance ; Aged ; Risk Factors ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Case-Control Studies ; Adult ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Genetic Risk Score ; East Asian People

Objective:To observe any effect of environmental enrichment on depressive behavior and the expression of the neuroplasticity-related protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats subjected to chronic, unpredictable mild stress (CUMS).Methods:Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided at random into a blank group, a model control group, a no-music-environmental enrichment (NMEE) group and a music-environmental enrichment (MEE) group, each of 10. CUMS was induced in all except the blank group. After successful modeling, the rats in the blank and model control groups were housed in conventional cages for 21 days, while the MEE group received 21 days of environmental enrichment with music and the NMEE group was similarly housed without the music. After the intervention, all groups underwent a sugar water preference experiment, an open field experiment, and a forced swimming experiment. They were then sacrificed and hippocampal PKA, CREB, p-CREB and BDNF protein expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry and western blotting.Results:After the intervention there were significant differences between the model control and blank groups in their sugar water preference, the total distance of their open field activities, the central area distance of their activities, their time spent standing up, and the duration of immobility during swimming. Those indicators were also significantly different between the MEE and model control groups. The average duration of swimming immobility of the NMEE group was significantly longer than the MEE group′s average. The percentage the hippocampus positive for CREB, p-CREB or BDNF protein had decreased significantly in the model control group compared to the blank group, while those percentages in the NMEE and especially the MEE group were significantly different from those of the model control group. PKA, CREB, p-CREB and BDNF protein expression in the model control group was significantly different from that in the blank group, while those levels in the NMEE group were significantly higher than in the model control group on average. The levels in the MEE group were the highest of all.Conclusions:Environmental enrichment can significantly improve depressive behavior resulting from CUMS, at least in rats. Adding music to an enriched environment can enhance its anti-depressant efficacy. The anti-depressant mechanism of environmental enrichment may be related to its upregulation of PKA, CREB, p-CREB and BDNF protein expression.

Objective:To observe any effect of environmental enrichment on depressive behavior and the expression of the neuroplasticity-related protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats subjected to chronic, unpredictable mild stress (CUMS).Methods:Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided at random into a blank group, a model control group, a no-music-environmental enrichment (NMEE) group and a music-environmental enrichment (MEE) group, each of 10. CUMS was induced in all except the blank group. After successful modeling, the rats in the blank and model control groups were housed in conventional cages for 21 days, while the MEE group received 21 days of environmental enrichment with music and the NMEE group was similarly housed without the music. After the intervention, all groups underwent a sugar water preference experiment, an open field experiment, and a forced swimming experiment. They were then sacrificed and hippocampal PKA, CREB, p-CREB and BDNF protein expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry and western blotting.Results:After the intervention there were significant differences between the model control and blank groups in their sugar water preference, the total distance of their open field activities, the central area distance of their activities, their time spent standing up, and the duration of immobility during swimming. Those indicators were also significantly different between the MEE and model control groups. The average duration of swimming immobility of the NMEE group was significantly longer than the MEE group′s average. The percentage the hippocampus positive for CREB, p-CREB or BDNF protein had decreased significantly in the model control group compared to the blank group, while those percentages in the NMEE and especially the MEE group were significantly different from those of the model control group. PKA, CREB, p-CREB and BDNF protein expression in the model control group was significantly different from that in the blank group, while those levels in the NMEE group were significantly higher than in the model control group on average. The levels in the MEE group were the highest of all.Conclusions:Environmental enrichment can significantly improve depressive behavior resulting from CUMS, at least in rats. Adding music to an enriched environment can enhance its anti-depressant efficacy. The anti-depressant mechanism of environmental enrichment may be related to its upregulation of PKA, CREB, p-CREB and BDNF protein expression.

Objective To investigate the imaging features of ultrasound,CT and air enema in children with intestinal duplications,and to improve the preoperative diagnosis rate.Methods The imaging data of 22 cases with intestinal duplications confirmed by operation and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results Fifteen cases underwent ultrasound,in which 12 cases showed cystic lesions,and the cyst wall showed typical"double ring sign"and"Y sign".12 cases underwent enhanced CT examination,in which 11 cases showed cystic lesions,and the enhancement pattern of the cyst wall was similar to that of intestinal wall.8 cases underwent CT plain scan examination,but only 3 cases showed cystic lesions and no characteristic signs were found.3 patients of secondary intussusceptions underwent air enema,in which 1 case of recurrent intussusceptions was unsuccessful,and 2 cases still showed masses in the ileocecal region after successful reduction.Conclusion CT plain scan has low diagnostic value for intestinal duplications in children,and the combination of ultrasound and CT enhanced examination can improve the preoperative diagnosis rate.For patients with recurrent intussusceptions and successful air enema reductions,if masses are still seen in the ileocecal region,the possibility of intestinal duplications should be considered.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab (UST) for Crohn′s disease (CD) .Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect clinical data of CD patients with active lesions in colonoscopy before the treatment of UST in Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from May 2020 to September 2021. Primary endpoint was the endoscopic response and remission rates at the 24th/32th week after the treatment of UST.Results:A total of 36 CD patients who were endoscopically active at baseline [25 men, 11 women; mean age, 29.8±8.7 years; disease duration, 38.0 (15.5, 66.1) months] were included. According to Montreal classification, 4 patients (11.1%) were L1 type (terminal ileum) , 4 (11.1%) were L2 type (colon) , 28 (77.8%) belonged to L3 type (ileocolon) , and upper digestive tract involvement occurred in 4 (11.1%) . As for disease behavior, 28 patients (77.8%) had non-structuring and non-penetrating lesions; 5 (13.9%) had structuring lesions and 3 (8.3%) had penetrating lesions. (1) Endoscopic activity: At the 24th/32th week, the endoscopic remission rate and response rate were 33.3% (12/36) and 63.9% (23/36) , respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in endoscopic remission rate and response rate between first-line and second-line usages of UST (all P>0.05) . (2) Clinical activity: Among the 36 patients, 16 were in the clinical active phase, and 20 patients were in the clinical remission phase at baseline. The clinical remission rate and clinical response rate of 16 clinical active patients at the 24th/32th week were 81.2% and 93.8% respectively. (3) Radiological activity: Twenty-seven patients completed the radiological evaluation at the 24th/32th week. In 3 patients with L1 lesions, 2 achieved response or partial response and no response in 1. In 24 patients with L3 lesions, radiological response occurred in 5 patients (20.8%) , partial response in 19 (79.2%) , and no response in 5 (20.8%) . In 19 patients with active perianal fistula at baseline, 6 achieved healing fistule at the 24th/32th week, 2 had partial response, 6 remained stable, while progress were seen in the other 5. (4) Serological and nutritive index: Compared with baseline values, the body mass index, hemoglobin and serum albumin levels of patients were significantly improved at the 24th/32th week (all P<0.05) , but the level of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate at the 24th/32th week showed no significant difference (all P>0.05) . (5) Safety: No serious adverse events and infusion reactions were observed, and adverse events occurred in 2 patients. Conclusion:UST can effectively improve the endoscopic manifestations, clinical symptoms, imaging and nutritive index of CD patients with good safety.

BACKGROUND: Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are a small subset of cells in tumors that exhibit self-renewal and differentiation properties. CSCs play a vital role in tumor formation, progression, relapse, and therapeutic resistance. B7-H3, an immunoregulatory protein, has many protumor functions. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying the role of B7-H3 in regulating gastric cancer (GC) stemness. Our study aimed to explore the impacts of B7-H3 on GC stemness and its underlying mechanism. METHODS: GC stemness influenced by B7-H3 was detected both in vitro and in vivo . The expression of stemness-related markers was examined by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and flow cytometry. Sphere formation assay was used to detect the sphere-forming ability. The underlying regulatory mechanism of B7-H3 on the stemness of GC was investigated by mass spectrometry and subsequent validation experiments. The signaling pathway (Protein kinase B [Akt]/Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 [Nrf2] pathway) of B7-H3 on the regulation of glutathione (GSH) metabolism was examined by Western blotting assay. Multi-color immunohistochemistry (mIHC) was used to detect the expression of B7-H3, cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), and Nrf2 on human GC tissues. Student's t -test was used to compare the difference between two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between two molecules. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. RESULTS: B7-H3 knockdown suppressed the stemness of GC cells both in vitro and in vivo . Mass spectrometric analysis showed the downregulation of GSH metabolism in short hairpin B7-H3 GC cells, which was further confirmed by the experimental results. Meanwhile, stemness characteristics in B7-H3 overexpressing cells were suppressed after the inhibition of GSH metabolism. Furthermore, Western blotting suggested that B7-H3-induced activation of GSH metabolism occurred through the AKT/Nrf2 pathway, and inhibition of AKT signaling pathway could suppress not only GSH metabolism but also GC stemness. mIHC showed that B7-H3 was highly expressed in GC tissues and was positively correlated with the expression of CD44 and Nrf2. Importantly, GC patients with high expression of B7-H3, CD44, and Nrf2 had worse prognosis ( P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS B7-H3 has a regulatory effect on GC stemness and the regulatory effect is achieved through the AKT/Nrf2/GSH pathway. Inhibiting B7-H3 expression may be a new therapeutic strategy against GC.
Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms

Objective:To investigate the role of 20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound in evaluating scar thickness and morphology.Methods:The clinical data of patients with the initial stage of scar formation after burn trauma (<1 month), hypertrophic scar (1-6 months) and atrophic scar (>6 months) treated by the Department of Burn and Cutaneous Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from April 2019 to December 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were evaluated by 20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound, histopathology and Vancouver scar scale (VSS). Three measurement points were randomly selected at the scar during ultrasonic examination, and the average value was recorded as the ultrasonic thickness measurement value. The scar tissue samples were collected from the site of ultrasonic examination, and HE staining and Masson staining were performed. At the same time, scar thickness was evaluated by two physicians using VSS. The difference of scar thickness assessment result among the 3 method in patients at the initial stage of scar formation, hypertrophic scar and atrophic scar was compared. Meanwhile, the relationship between the characteristics of 20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound and histopathology was compared. The measurement data of normal distribution were expressed as Mean±SD. One-way ANOVA was used for comparison among three groups, and SNK- q test was used for pairwise comparison between groups. Counting data were analyzed by Chi-square test. Results:A total of 224 patients were included, including 91 males and 133 females, aged from 1 to 34 years, with an average age of 25.7 years. There were 79 patients at the initial stage of scar formation, 102 at the hypertrophic stage, and 43 at the atrophic stage. (1) In the initial stage of scar formation, the thickness measured by 20 MHz ultrasound was about (2.01±0.68) mm, the thickness evaluated by VSS was (1.72±0.49) mm, and the thickness measured by pathological section was (2.11±0.45) mm. In the hyperplastic scar stage, the thickness measured by 20 MHz ultrasound was (4.11±0.73) mm, the thickness evaluated by VSS was (3.02±0.47) mm, and the thickness measured by pathological section was (4.27±0.44) mm. In the atrophic scar stage, the thickness measured by 20 MHz ultrasound was (1.74±0.64) mm, the thickness measured by VSS was (1.77±0.61) mm, and the thickness measured by pathological section was (1.71±0.67) mm. For scars in the above three periods, there was no statistical significance between scar thickness measured by 20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound and that measured by pathological sections(all P<0.05). In the initial stage of scar formation and hypertrophic stage, the thickness evaluated by VSS was significantly different from that measured by 20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound and pathology (all P<0.05), respectively. (2) Echo intensity was evaluated by ultrasound. In the initial stage of scar formation, the thickness of the epidermis shown by high-frequency ultrasound was close to that of the normal epidermis and presented a high-intensity echo, but there was a strip of echoless or no echo zone of <1 mm between the high-intensity echo epidermis and dermis, which looked like dermal edema. Pathology showed that there were acanthoid changes in the epidermis of the scar at this stage, rich capillaries and a small amount of collagen fibrous tissue in the dermis. In the hyperplastic scar stage, the scar epidermis still showed strong echo, while the dermis showed uneven echo, the superficial dermis showed obvious isoecho, and the deep dermis showed no echo or hypoecho. Pathology showed that the epidermis was thin and smooth, and keratosis was obvious. Collagen fibers parallel to the epidermis could be seen in the superficial layer of the dermis, with regular arrangement. Collagen fibers were increased and thickened in the deep layer of the dermis, in the shape of nodules and swirls. In the atrophic scar stage, the scar epidermis presented a strong echo, and there was no obvious demarcation between the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, presenting a uniform echo. Pathological findings showed that the epidermis became thinner with a "skin nails" -like structure, the junction between the superficial and deep dermis was not obvious, and the collagen fibers were arranged in parallel or oblique direction, and the surface boundary was unclear. Conclusion:20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound is more accurate than VSS in the assessment of thickness of hypertrophic scar, and can reflect the collagen content and moisture ratio in scar. Compared with pathological examination, it has the advantages of non-invasive and fast, and is an effective means to evaluate scar thickness and morphology.