BACKGROUND:Previous studies of the research group have found that icariin-containing serum can delay the progression of knee osteoarthritis,promote chondrocyte proliferation and stem cell cartilage differentiation in rats,but there is still a lack of sufficient basis for clinical application.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the repair effect of icariin-containing serum on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory damage of human chondrocytes.METHODS:The effect of icariin-containing serum on chondrocyte viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 method,and the optimal volume fraction and time of icariin-containing serum were screened.The cells were then divided into blank group,lipopolysaccharide group,icariin-containing serum group and lipopolysaccharide+icariin-containing serum group.After grouping,immunofluorescence was used to detect the secretion of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes in each group.Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of related genes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Icariin-containing serum showed good biosafety characteristics for human chondrocytes,and the cell viability reached the highest level after 48 hours of intervention when the icariin-containing serum volume fraction was 15％,and the follow-up experiments were carried out according to the conditions.(2)Compared with the blank group,lipopolysaccharide significantly inhibited the expression of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes,while icariin-containing serum showed a positive mobilization effect,which could effectively promote the secretion of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes under normal and inflammatory conditions.(3)The mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen and Aggrecan in chondrocytes decreased significantly under lipopolysaccharide stimulation,and the mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 13 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 increased significantly.Icariin-containing serum promoted the mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen in human chondrocytes under inflammatory conditions and reduced the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 in chondrocytes after lipopolysaccharide intervention.Therefore,these findings indicate that the icariin-containing serum has good safety for human chondrocytes and plays an important role in maintaining the normal physiological functions of chondrocytes,promoting the synthesis of extracellular matrix,and inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies of the research group have found that icariin-containing serum can delay the progression of knee osteoarthritis,promote chondrocyte proliferation and stem cell cartilage differentiation in rats,but there is still a lack of sufficient basis for clinical application.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the repair effect of icariin-containing serum on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory damage of human chondrocytes.METHODS:The effect of icariin-containing serum on chondrocyte viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 method,and the optimal volume fraction and time of icariin-containing serum were screened.The cells were then divided into blank group,lipopolysaccharide group,icariin-containing serum group and lipopolysaccharide+icariin-containing serum group.After grouping,immunofluorescence was used to detect the secretion of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes in each group.Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of related genes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Icariin-containing serum showed good biosafety characteristics for human chondrocytes,and the cell viability reached the highest level after 48 hours of intervention when the icariin-containing serum volume fraction was 15％,and the follow-up experiments were carried out according to the conditions.(2)Compared with the blank group,lipopolysaccharide significantly inhibited the expression of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes,while icariin-containing serum showed a positive mobilization effect,which could effectively promote the secretion of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes under normal and inflammatory conditions.(3)The mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen and Aggrecan in chondrocytes decreased significantly under lipopolysaccharide stimulation,and the mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 13 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 increased significantly.Icariin-containing serum promoted the mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen in human chondrocytes under inflammatory conditions and reduced the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 in chondrocytes after lipopolysaccharide intervention.Therefore,these findings indicate that the icariin-containing serum has good safety for human chondrocytes and plays an important role in maintaining the normal physiological functions of chondrocytes,promoting the synthesis of extracellular matrix,and inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors.

Objective To study the expression of N6-methyladenosine(m6A)methyltransferase-like protein 16(METTL16),Ankyrin repeat and SOCS box containing protein 4(ASB13)in elderly breast cancer tissues and their relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis.Methods 124 elderly patients with breast cancer diagnosed and treated in the Zibo 148 Hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 were selected.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)was used to detect the expression of METTL16 and ASB13 proteins in tissues.Real time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)was used to detect the expression of METTL16 mRNA and ASB13 mRNA in tissues.Pearson correlation was used for correlation analysis.Survival analysis used Kaplan-Meier curves and Log Rank tests to compare the prognostic differences among patients with different METTL16 and ASB13 expression levels.COX regression analysis was used to analyze the prognostic factors of elderly patients with breast cancer.Results The positive rate of METTL16 in cancer tissue(70.97%)was higher than that in adjacent tissues(8.06%),while the positive rate of ASB13(22.58%)was lower than that in adjacent tissues(72.58%),the differences were statistically significant(χ2=102.642,62.146,all P<0.001).METTL16 mRNA,Snail mRNA and N-cadherin(N-cd)mRNA were higher in cancer tissues than in adjacent tissues,while ASB13 mRNA was lower in adjacent tissues,the differences were statistically significant(t=40.498～48.624,all P<0.001).METTL16 mRNA was positively correlated with Snail mRNA and N-cd mRNA in cancer tissue(r=0.712,0.669,all P<0.001),while ASB13 mRNA was negatively correlated with Snail mRNA and N-cd mRNA(r=-0.734,-0.759,all P<0.001).Compared with TNM stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ and patients with high to medium differentiation,patients with TNM stage Ⅲ and low differentiation had higher positive rate of METTL16 in cancer tissue and lower positive rate of ASB13,the differences were statistically significant(χ2=5.340～10.370,all P<0.05).The 3-year progression free survival rate(73.86%)of the METTL16 positive group was lower than that of the METTL16 negative group(88.89%),the 3-year progression free survival rate(92.86%)of the ASB13 positive group was higher than that of the ASB13 negative group(73.96%),and the differences were statistically significant(Log Rank χ2=4.483,4.882,all P<0.005).METTL16 positive,TNM stage Ⅲ,poor differentiation were risk factors affecting the prognosis of elderly breast cancer,and ASB13 positive was protective factors(Wald χ2=5.056～9.267,all P<0.001).Conclusion METTL16 expression is up-regulated and ASB13 expression is down-regulated in elderly breast cancer,both of which are related to the expression of invasion and metastasis genes,and are new prognostic markers for elderly breast cancer.

ObjectiveTo find out whether there is any difference in the monitoring results of mosq-ovitraps placed in different orientations in multi-storey residential areas, so as to provide a scientific basis for routine and emergency monitoring of Aedes albopictus with mosq-ovitraps in residential areas. MethodsFrom July 6th to October 26th 2023, one mosquito ovitrap was set up in each of the 4 orientations of east, south, west and north around the buildings in a multi-storey residential area in Jinhui Town, Fengxian District, Shanghai. Data was collected and recorded 72 hours after placement. The chi-square test was used to compare the mosquito ovitrap indices (MOIs) of two independent samples, and the Kruskal⁃Wallis H test was used to compare the MOIs of multiple independent samples. ResultsAfter 16 weeks of surveillance, 997 mosquito ovitraps were recovered, of which 211 were positive, with the mosquito ovitrap index (MOI) of 21.16% and the Aedes albopictus density index of 1.03 mosquitoes·ovitrap^-1. The MOIs were higher in September (24.22%) and October (23.96%), and the MOIs in the west, south and north within the two months were all above 20.00%. From July to October, the MOIs in the east, west, south and north were 20.70%, 22.20%, 25.50% and 16.20%, respectively, and the difference in MOIs among the 4 orientations was not statistically significant (χ²=6.647, P=0.084). Stratified analysis by month showed that in August, the south side of the multi-storey residential areas had the highest MOI (31.30%), the north side had the lowest MOI (1.30%), and there was a statistically significant difference in MOI in the east, west, south and north (χ²=25.986, P<0.001). In October, the MOI in the west was the highest (33.30%) and the MOI in the east was the lowest (6.30%), the difference in MOIs of the 4 orientations was statistically significant (χ²=12.007, P=0.007). The MOIs in the south side of the building in the outskirts of the residential area from the 1st week in July to the 4th week in October was lower (19.20%) than that in the south side of the inner building (31.70%), and the difference in MOI was statistically significant (χ²=5.118, P=0.024). ConclusionThe study of MOI in different orientations in a multi-storey residential area is a preliminary exploration based on field work, and the results show that there is a difference in MOIs in different orientations during the peak breeding period of mosquitoes. Further indicators such as temperature, humidity and wind speed in different orientations can be collected to explore the influencing factors of MOIs.

Purpose To explore the changes of brain function and network in primary insomnia(PI)patients using the percent amplitude of fluctuation(perAF)combined with functional connectivity(FC).Materials and Methods A total of 51 PI patients and 45 normal controls underwent resting functional magnetic resonance scans in Kunshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from November 2019 to December 2022,then the perAF value and FC in brain regions of different perAF value between the two groups was analyzed.Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationships between the altered perAF values and insomnia years,Pittsburgh sleep quality index and Montreal cognitive assessment.Results Compared with healthy group,PI patients had increased perAF values in the left prefrontal lobe(-42 9 45)and decreased perAF values in the right parahippocampal gyrus(27-12-27)[Gaussian random field(GRF)correction,voxel-wise P<0.001,cluster-level P<0.05].FC analysis showed that the right parahippocampal gyrus of PI patients exhibited significantly increased FC with the left middle temporal gyrus,inferior temporal gyrus(-57-15-33)and the left middle occipital gyrus(-30-78 27)(GRF corrected,voxel-wise P<0.001,cluster-level P<0.05).It was noteworthy that the perAF values of the right parahippocampal gyrus were positively correlated with Montreal cognitive assessment of PI patients(r=0.428,P=0.002).Conclusion Specific brain areas in PI patients may exhibit aberrant neuronal activity,mainly manifested as decreased perAF value in the right parahippocampal gyrus,which was increased FC with the left middle temporal gyrus,inferior temporal gyrus and the left middle occipital gyrus.These discoveries may be the core of the mechanism of impaired brain function in PI patients.

With the holistic concept of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)as the foundation,Professor ZHOU Yunfeng proposes the three-part Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)manipulation to treat insomnia by"taking the head and brain as the essential and simultaneously regulating the abdomen and back".Taking the theories of Ying-nutrient and Wei-defensive Qi,Zang-Fu organs,and meridians as evidence,this method primarily regulates the mind and concurrently modulates Zang-Fu organs.The three-part Tuina manipulation regulates the spirit by grasping the five meridians(Governor Vessel,Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang,and Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang)and stimulating points such as Baihui(GV20),Yintang(GV29),Taiyang(EX-HN5),and Shenting(GV24);it regulates the abdomen by selecting Zhongwan(CV12),Shenque(CV8),Qihai(CV6),and Guanyuan(CV4),which means to calm the mind by regulating spleen-stomach Qi activities;it treats the back by selecting Jianjing(GB21),Xinshu(BL15),Pishu(BL20),Weishu(BL21),and Shenshu(BL23),which means to calm the mind by regulating Qi activities of the whole body.Mind regulation runs through the whole process of this manipulation,which combines points from three body regions to produce a synergistic effect,concurrently treating the three body parts,i.e.,the head,abdomen,and back,to mitigate the clinical symptoms and improve sleep quality in insomniacs.

BACKGROUND:The capability of repairing articular cartilage damage is very limited,and tissue engineering technology provides new therapeutic options for repairing damaged cartilage,in which the interaction and induction between chondrocytes,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,and synovial mesenchymal stem cells is the basis of autologous healing of cartilage damage. OBJECTIVE:To construct the chondrocyte-bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-synovial mesenchymal stem cell co-culture system to simulate the in vitro microenvironment of chondrocytes,and to explore the optimal cell inoculation ratio,meanwhile to observe the effects of icariin-containing serum on the proliferation of chondrocytes and the chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells in the system. METHODS:Rat knee chondrocytes,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and synovial mesenchymal stem cells were extracted,cultured and identified,and a chondrocyte-bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-synovial mesenchymal stem cell non-contact co-culture system was constructed according to different cell inoculation ratios.After 72 hours of co-culturing,the chondrocyte proliferative activity and phenotypic ability were observed,and the co-culture system with the best overall effect was selected.New Zealand white rabbits were gavaged with icariin solution(0.25 mg/mL)to prepare icariin-containing serum,and cultured in conventional complete medium(high sugar DMEM culture medium containing 10%fetal bovine serum and 1%double antibody by volume)as the control group,while the experimental group was intervened by adding 10%icariin-containing serum by volume on the basis of above.The proliferative activity of chondrocytes and the expression of collagen type II were tested for the two groups after 24 and 48 hours.The differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and synovial mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes in the co-culture system was tested by immunofluorescence staining after 14 days. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The three kinds of cells grew normally adherently to the wall in different ratios of co-culture,where chondrocytes showed the best proliferative activity and phenotypic ability in the co-culture system when chondrocytes:bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells:synovial mesenchymal stem cells=2:1:1.(2)Compared with the control group,the proliferative activity and type II collagen expression of chondrocytes in the experimental group were significantly increased after 24 hours(P<0.01),and the two groups still had difference after 48 hours(P<0.05).The two groups showed obvious chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and synovial mesenchymal stem cells after 14 days(P<0.01),and some of the cells appeared round or oval,and the cytoplasmic type II collagen immunofluorescence staining was positive.The fluorescence intensity of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.01).(3)The results showed that the chondrocyte-bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-synovial mesenchymal stem cell co-culture system could be successfully established by the non-contact co-culture method,and the best chondrocyte proliferative activity and phenotypic ability could be obtained when the cell ratio was 2:1:1.Icariin-containing serum had the promoting effect on chondrocyte proliferation,and chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and synovial mesenchymal stem cells in the system.

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

Tumor microenvironment plays a key role in oncogenesis, development and therapeutic response. In recent years, scholars at home and abroad have paid more and more attention to the regulation of tumor microenvironment. Radiation therapy, as an important means of tumor treatment, not only kills tumor cells directly, but also affects the efficacy of radiation therapy by influencing natural killer (NK) cells to regulate the tumor microenvironment. In this article, the research progress in the regulation of tumor microenvironment by radiation therapy through NK cells was reviewed, including the mechanism of NK cell regulation by radiation therapy, the functional changes of NK cells in the tumor microenvironment, as well as the therapeutic strategies based on the above mechanism and the potential application prospects, aiming to provide novel ideas for future basic research and clinical applications.