ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Huanglian Jiedutang （HLJDT） on cognitive function in mice with ischemic stroke （IS） and to elucidate whether its neuroprotective effects are mediated by inhibition of the nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway and subsequent suppression of NF-κB-regulated neuronal apoptosis. MethodsAn IS model was established using middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO）. Sixty C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to five groups （n =12 per group）， i.e.， sham operation， model， HLJDT low-dose （3.9 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， HLJDT high-dose （7.8 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and Ginkgo biloba extract （GBE， 31.2 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）. Post-operatively， neurological deficit scores （Longa score）， cerebral infarct volume assessed by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining， and brain water content were evaluated. Learning and memory were assessed using new object recognition （NOR） and fear conditioning （FC） tests. Hippocampal pathology was examined via hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining. Immunofluorescence detected expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP， astrocyte marker）， cellular oncogene Fos （c-Fos， neuronal activation marker）， and glutamate decarboxylase 65 （GAD65）. Western blot measured nuclear factor-κB inhibitor protein α （IκBα）， phosphorylated IκBα （p-IκBα）， NF-κB p65， phosphorylated NF-κB p65 （p-NF-κB p65）， ionic calcium binding adapter molecule 1 （Iba-1）， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-1β， and apoptosis-related proteins， such as cleaved cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease 3 （Caspase-3）， B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）. Real-time quantitative PCR （Real-time PCR） was used to assess mRNA levels of Iba-1， TNF-α， IL-1β， NF-κB p65， cleaved Caspase-3， Bax， and Bcl-2. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group exhibited significantly increased neurological deficit scores， brain water content， and cerebral infarct volume （P<0.01）. Hippocampal CA1 neurons were disorganized， showing nuclear pyknosis and karyolysis. NOR exploration time and FC freezing time were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. GFAP and c-Fos expression were increased， while GAD65 expression was decreased （P<0.01）. Cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax were upregulated， Bcl-2 was downregulated， and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was elevated （P<0.01）. Expression levels of p-IκBα， p-NF-κB p65， IL-1β， TNF-α， and Iba-1 were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， HLJDT high-dose， low-dose， and GBE groups showed significant improvements in all parameters （P<0.01）. Among them， the HLJDT high-dose group showed the most pronounced neuronal structural recovery and superior performance in NOR and FC tests （P<0.01）. In this group， GFAP and c-Fos decreased， GAD65 increased （P<0.01）， apoptosis-related protein expression was reversed， and NF-κB signaling and related inflammatory factor expression were suppressed （P<0.01）. ConclusionHLJDT ameliorates cognitive dysfunction in mice after IS， potentially by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway， thereby reducing neuroinflammation and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis.

Objective To analyze the expression of monocyte surface antigen-presenting factors CD86+and HLA-DR in the subacute phase of burn injury,and the molecular mechanism of monocytes contributing to persistent inflammation.Methods The mice were divided into the sham group and the burn group,and a mouse model of 30％body surface burn was estab-lished.Spleens were collected from mice on the 8th day after burn injury,and monocytes were isolated for transcriptomic analy-sis.A mouse model of Notch1 lentiviral transfection was constructed,and models of sham burn+blank control(sham-NC),burn+blank control(burn-NC),sham burn+Notch1 shRNA(sham-sh),and burn+Notch1 shRNA(burn-sh)were estab-lished.The qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of monocyte surface antigens CD86+and HLA-DR.Immunofluorescence was performed to analyze the expression of CD86+and HLA-DR in splenic monocytes.ELISA was used to analyze serum levels of IL-10 and CRP.Results On the 8th day after burn injury,compared with the sham burn group,the expressions of monocyte surface antigens CD86+and HLA-DR were decreased,while serum levels of IL-10 and CRP were increased in the burn group.Contents of IL-10 and CRP showed significant negative correlations with CD86+and HLA-DR,re-spectively.Transcriptomic analysis revealed 258 significantly upregulated genes and 360 significantly downregulated genes in splenic monocytes from the burn group.The differentially expressed genes primarily enriched in the Notch signaling path-way.Western blot results showed a significant upregulation of Notch1 expression.After lentiviral inhibition of Notch1 signaling invivo,compared with the burn-NC group,expressions of CD86+and HLA-DR on monocyte surfaces were increased,and ser-um levels of IL-10 and CRP were decreased in the burn-sh group.Conclusion The functional inhibition of splenic monocytes is mediated by Notch1 signaling pathway in the subacute phase of burn injury.Inhibition of Notch1 signaling in vivo improves the antigen-presenting capacity of monocytes after burn injury and inhibits the secretion of inflammatory factors.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) of fetal free DNA in maternal peripheral blood in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency (NT).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 184 singleton pregnant women that underwent chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School from June 2014 to December 2022 due to fetal increased NT (≥3.0 mm). These subjects were categorized based on whether the increased NT was accompanied by other high-risk factors into isolated increased NT without advanced maternal age (further subdivided into 3.0 mm≤NT<3.5 mm, 3.5 mm≤NT<4.0 mm, and NT≥4.0 mm subgroups), isolated increased NT with advanced maternal age, increased NT with nasal bone abnormalities, increased NT with other soft markers, and increased NT with structural abnormalities groups. Assuming the sensitivity and specificity of NIPT and expanded NIPT at this center were both 100%, genomic abnormalities outside the detection range of NIPT or expanded NIPT were termed as residual risk of NIPT or expanded NIPT. Chi-square test and Bonferroni correction were used to compare the residual risks of NIPT and expanded NIPT among the three subgroups of isolated increased NT without advanced maternal age group. Results:(1) In the group of isolated increased NT without advanced maternal age: For the 3.0 mm≤NT<3.5 mm subgroup (329 cases), 19 abnormalities were detected by CMA [12 cases of chromosome aneuploidy, seven cases of pathogenic copy number variation (pCNV)], with residual risks of NIPT and expanded NIPT both at 2.1% (7/329). For the 3.5 mm≤NT<4.0 mm subgroup (173 cases), 29 abnormalities were detected by CMA (17 cases of chromosome aneuploidy, nine cases of pCNV, three cases of chromosome unbalanced translocation), with residual risks of NIPT at 8.1% (14/173) and expanded NIPT at 7.5% (13/173). For the NT≥4.0 mm subgroup (270 cases), CMA detected abnormalities in 70 cases (50 cases of chromosome aneuploidy, 16 cases of pCNV, three cases of unbalanced translocations, and one case of sex chromosome abnormality combined with pCNV). The residual risk of NIPT was 12.2% (33/270), and the residual risk of expanded NIPT was 7.0% (19/270). The residual risks of NIPT and expanded NIPT in the 3.0 mm≤NT<3.5 mm subgroup were lower than those in the 3.5 mm≤NT<4.0 mm and NT≥4.0 mm subgroups (Bonferroni correction, all P<0.017). (2) In the group of 92 cases with isolated increased NT and advanced maternal age, CMA detected abnormalities in 36 cases (29 cases of chromosome aneuploidy, five cases of pCNV, one case of trisomy 21 combined with sex chromosome abnormality, and one case of trisomy 18 combined with sex chromosome abnormality). The residual risk of NIPT was 7.6% (7/92), and that of expanded NIPT was 5.4% (5/92). (3) In the group of 49 cases with increased NT combined with nasal bone abnormalities, CMA detected abnormalities in 24 cases (23 cases of chromosome aneuploidy and one case of pCNV). The residual risks of NIPT and expanded NIPT were both 2.0% (1/49). (4) In the group of 26 cases with increased NT combined with other soft markers, CMA detected abnormalities in nine cases (six cases of chromosome aneuploidy, one case of pCNV, and two cases of chromosome unbalanced translocations). The residual risks of NIPT and expanded NIPT were both 11.5% (3/26). (5) In the group of 245 cases with increased NT combined with structural abnormalities, CMA detected abnormalities in 121 cases (107 cases of chromosome aneuploidy, seven cases of pCNV, four cases of chromosome unbalanced translocations, one case of trisomy 21 combined with trisomy 20, and two cases of trisomy 18 combined with sex chromosome abnormalities). The residual risk of NIPT was 16.7% (41/245), and that of expanded NIPT was 4.1% (10/245). Conclusions:For isolated NT≥3.5 mm or NT≥3.0 mm combined with other high-risk factors, chorionic villus sampling in early pregnancy can be recommended, advancing the timing of prenatal diagnosis from the second trimester to the first trimester. For fetuses with isolated 3.0 mm≤NT<3.5 mm, the 2.1% residual risk of chromosomal abnormalities should be fully informed during counseling, even if the risk of NIPT is low.

Objective:To explore the development and change of social exclusion and malevolent creativity in college students and their mutual prediction effects.Methods:A total of 2 397 college students were tested twice at an interval of 6 months[baseline(T1)and 6 months after baseline(T2)].The survey was conducted using the College Student Social Exclusion Questionnaire(SEQU)and the Malevolent Creativity Behavior Scale(MCBS),and Mplus 8.7 was used for cross-lag analysis.Results:There was a positive correlation between SEQU and MCBS scores(r=0.25-0.48,Ps＜0.01).The results of repeated measures ANOVA showed that there was no statistical-ly significant time main effect of SEQU score and MCBS score(Ps＞0.05).After controlling for demographic vari-ables and T1 MCBS scores,T1 SEQU scores positively predicted T2 MCBS scores(β=0.09).After controlling for demographic variables and T1 SEQU scores,T1 MCBS scores positively predicted T2 SEQU scores(β=0.12).Conclusion:Social exclusion and malevolent creativity of college students are relatively stable and mutually caus-al.

Objective To analyze the expression of monocyte surface antigen-presenting factors CD86+and HLA-DR in the subacute phase of burn injury,and the molecular mechanism of monocytes contributing to persistent inflammation.Methods The mice were divided into the sham group and the burn group,and a mouse model of 30％body surface burn was estab-lished.Spleens were collected from mice on the 8th day after burn injury,and monocytes were isolated for transcriptomic analy-sis.A mouse model of Notch1 lentiviral transfection was constructed,and models of sham burn+blank control(sham-NC),burn+blank control(burn-NC),sham burn+Notch1 shRNA(sham-sh),and burn+Notch1 shRNA(burn-sh)were estab-lished.The qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of monocyte surface antigens CD86+and HLA-DR.Immunofluorescence was performed to analyze the expression of CD86+and HLA-DR in splenic monocytes.ELISA was used to analyze serum levels of IL-10 and CRP.Results On the 8th day after burn injury,compared with the sham burn group,the expressions of monocyte surface antigens CD86+and HLA-DR were decreased,while serum levels of IL-10 and CRP were increased in the burn group.Contents of IL-10 and CRP showed significant negative correlations with CD86+and HLA-DR,re-spectively.Transcriptomic analysis revealed 258 significantly upregulated genes and 360 significantly downregulated genes in splenic monocytes from the burn group.The differentially expressed genes primarily enriched in the Notch signaling path-way.Western blot results showed a significant upregulation of Notch1 expression.After lentiviral inhibition of Notch1 signaling invivo,compared with the burn-NC group,expressions of CD86+and HLA-DR on monocyte surfaces were increased,and ser-um levels of IL-10 and CRP were decreased in the burn-sh group.Conclusion The functional inhibition of splenic monocytes is mediated by Notch1 signaling pathway in the subacute phase of burn injury.Inhibition of Notch1 signaling in vivo improves the antigen-presenting capacity of monocytes after burn injury and inhibits the secretion of inflammatory factors.

BACKGROUND:The combination of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome and semen quality-related parameters can jointly predict the occurrence of abnormal increase in sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and draw a column chart,which can significantly improve clinical practicality and application efficiency,provide a basis for comprehensive evaluation of semen quality in clinical practice,take active intervention measures to improve clinical outcomes,and formulate personalized medical plans.OBJECTIVE:To explore the prediction model and verification of sperm DNA fragments based on traditional Chinese medicine syndrome and semen quality-related parameters.METHODS:Retrospective analysis was made on 420 infertile patients who received traditional Chinese medicine syndrome diagnosis and sperm DNA fragment rate examination in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Andrology,Nanxishan Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from July 2019 to July 2021.According to the Manual of Human Semen Examination and Treatment Laboratories (6th Edition),137 patients with sperm DFI>30％ were included in the group of abnormally high sperm DFI,and 283 patients with sperm DFI ≤ 30％ were taken as the control group.First,univariate analysis was used to screen the influencing factors of the abnormal increase of sperm DFI.Then,the best matching factor was selected by using the collinearity problem of LASSO correction factors.Then,it was included in the multifactor forward stepwise logistic regression to find out its independent influencing factors and draw a nomogram.Finally,the receiver operating characteristic curve,calibration curve,decision curve analysis and clinical impact curve were used to verify the differentiation and accuracy of the prediction model and its clinical application effectiveness.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) The results of the univariate analysis showed that age,body mass index,forward motion rate,total sperm motility,sperm concentration,sperm morphology,kidney yang deficiency syndrome,damp heat downpour syndrome,and kidney sperm deficiency syndrome were the influencing factors for the abnormal increase of sperm DFI (P<0.05).(2) The best matching factors further screened by LASSO regression were age,body mass index,total sperm motility,sperm concentration,sperm morphology,kidney yang deficiency syndrome,damp heat downpour syndrome,and kidney essence deficiency syndrome (P<0.05).(3) Multifactor forward stepwise Logistic regression showed that age,body mass index,sperm concentration,total sperm motility,damp heat downpour syndrome,and kidney yang deficiency syndrome were six independent factors that caused the abnormal increase in sperm DFI.(4) Receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the area under the curve of the model group was 0.760(0.713,0.806),and the area under the curve of the validation group was 0.745(0.714,0.776).It showed that the prediction model had good discrimination.(5) The average absolute error of the calibration curve was 0.040,and the Hosmer Lemeshow test (P>0.05),suggesting that there was no significant statistical difference between the probability of the abnormal increase in DFI of spermatozoa predicted by the model and the probability of the abnormal increase in DFI of spermatozoa actually occurred,which confirmed that the model had good accuracy.(6) Decision curve analysis and clinical impact curve showed that the model group and validation group had the maximum clinical net benefit when the threshold probability values were (0.08-0.84) and (0.09-0.78) respectively,and had good clinical application efficiency within the threshold probability range.(7) These findings conclude that age,body mass index,sperm concentration,total sperm viability,damp heat downpour syndrome and kidney yang deficiency syndrome are independent factors that cause the abnormal increase in sperm DFI.The nomogram of the clinical prediction model constructed by them has good clinical prediction value and clinical application efficiency,and can provide the basis for comprehensive clinical evaluation of semen quality and individualized medical service.

Objective To explore the effect of CB-103 on pyroptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)cells via the reactive oxygen species(ROS)/caspase-3/gasdermin-E(GSDME)signaling pathway.Methods The OSCC cell line SCC-7 was treated with varying concentrations of CB-103(0,20,40,60,80,and 100 μg/mL).The proliferation activity of CB-103 cells was measured using cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay.The cell migration was assessed using a wound-healing assay.Morphological changes in the cells were observed under an inverted microscope.Western blotting was performed to evaluate the protein expression of GSDME,GSDME-N ter-minal,and cleaved caspase-3.ATP release was measured using an ATP detection kit.The levels of intracellular high-mobility group box 1(HMGB1)and ROS were quantified by immunofluorescence.Results Compared to the control group,CB-103 inhibited the proliferation and migration of SCC-7 cells.Additionally,CB-103 increased ROS levels and upregulated the expression of cleaved caspase-3 protein.Furthermore,CB-103 promoted the cleavage of GSDME and increased the number of GSDME-N terminal fragments(all P＜0.05),thereby inducing pyroptosis in SCC-7 cells.Conclusion CB-103 promotes pyroptosis in OSCC cells by activating the ROS/caspase-3/GSDME pathway.

In order to establish a method for the detection of serum antibodies to donkey-derived e-quine coronavirus(ECoV),recombinant ECoV N protein was expressed in E.coli system,purified by nickel column affinity chromatography and identified by Western blot.After optimizing the re-action conditions,the indirect ELISA(iELISA)detection method was established using the puri-fied recombinant protein as coating antigen and used to detect 143 clinical serum samples.The re-sults showed that the recombinant N protein,which has good reaction activity with serum antibod-y,was successfully expressed.The optimum conditions of the established iELISA method were as follows:the amount of antigen coated was 0.2 μg/well and overnight at 4 ℃,10％skimmed milk powder solution was sealed at 37℃ for 1.5 h,the dilution concentration of serum was 1∶200,and the enzyme-labeled secondary antibody diluted at 1∶10 000.The sensitivity test results showed that the positive serum could be diluted to 1∶6 400.The specificity test results showed that all an-tibodies to several donkey pathogens were negative.The repetitive test results showed that the in-tra-and inter-batch coefficients of variation were 2.90％-6.12％and 2.29％-7.88％respectively.The positive rate of clinical donkey serum was 57.3％.The iELISA established in this study pro-vides a technical support for epidemiological investigation and antibody surveillance.

Objective:To explore the development and change of social exclusion and malevolent creativity in college students and their mutual prediction effects.Methods:A total of 2 397 college students were tested twice at an interval of 6 months[baseline(T1)and 6 months after baseline(T2)].The survey was conducted using the College Student Social Exclusion Questionnaire(SEQU)and the Malevolent Creativity Behavior Scale(MCBS),and Mplus 8.7 was used for cross-lag analysis.Results:There was a positive correlation between SEQU and MCBS scores(r=0.25-0.48,Ps＜0.01).The results of repeated measures ANOVA showed that there was no statistical-ly significant time main effect of SEQU score and MCBS score(Ps＞0.05).After controlling for demographic vari-ables and T1 MCBS scores,T1 SEQU scores positively predicted T2 MCBS scores(β=0.09).After controlling for demographic variables and T1 SEQU scores,T1 MCBS scores positively predicted T2 SEQU scores(β=0.12).Conclusion:Social exclusion and malevolent creativity of college students are relatively stable and mutually caus-al.

Objective:To explore the changes of atlantoaxial joint spaces and pharyngeal airway after combined orthodontic-orthognathic treatment in skeletal class Ⅲ patients with mandibular deviation.Methods:A total of 34 adult skeletal class Ⅲ patients (10 males and 24 females) with mandibular deviation who received combined orthodontic-orthognathic treatment at the Department of Orthodontics and the Department of Orthognathic Surgery in the Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from August 2014 to October 2021 were retrospectively selected. The patients were 22 (5) years old (18-33 years). Cone-beam CT data of patients taken before treatment (T0), after preoperative orthodontics (T1), and 6 to 12 months after orthognathic surgery (T2) were collected. The anterior atlanto-dental interval (ADI), variance of bilateral lateral atlanto-dental interval (VBLADI), the anterior posterior length (APL), maximum transverse width (LTW), aspect ratio (L/W), cross-sectional area (CSA) of each airway cross-section, the airway volumes, as well as the positions of the maxillofacial landmark points [subspinale (point A), supramental (point B), posterior nasal spine (point PNS), the most anterior and superior point of the hyoid bone (point H)] were measured at different time points. The correlations between airway changes, maxillofacial movements as well as the changes in the atlantoaxial joint spaces were also analyzed.Results:During the combined orthodontic-orthognathic treatment, no statistically significant differences were found in the ADI and VBLADI among different treatment time points (all P>0.05). After preoperative orthodontics, the volume of total airway increased from 20 868 (6 669) mm 3 to 21 302 (8 911) mm 3 ( P<0.05). After orthognathic surgery, there were no statistically significant differences in the APL, CSA of the PNS plane, the L/W of the uvula plane, and the nasopharyngeal airway volume compared with those after preoperative orthodontics (all P>0.05). The L/W of the PNS plane after surgery was significantly increased compared with that after preoperative orthodontics ( P<0.05), while other airway parameters were all significantly decreased compared with those after preoperative orthodontics (all P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, the nasopharyngeal airway volume after surgery [6 186 (1 707) mm3] increased significantly ( P<0.05) and the palatopharyngeal airway volume [8 145 (2 594) mm3] and the glossopharyngeal airway volume [5 605 (4 395) mm3] decreased significantly (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the total airway volume between after surgery and before treatment ( P>0.05). Correlation analysis showed that after preoperative orthodontics, the amount of the sagittal movement of point B was moderately positively correlated with the total airway volume change ( r=0.40, P=0.022). Before and after orthognathic surgery, the amount of the sagittal movement of point PNS was moderately positively correlated with the changes in the palatopharyngeal airway volume and the total airway volume ( r=0.43, P=0.015; r=0.46, P=0.008). In addition, the change in VBLADI before and after orthognathic surgery was weakly positively correlated with the changes in the CSA of the PNS plane and the APL of the uvula plane ( r=0.35, P=0.029; r=0.38, P=0.016). Conclusions:During the combined orthodontic-orthognathic treatment, the anterior atlanto-dental interval in skeletal class Ⅲ patients with mandibular deviation remained stable among different treatment time points. The total airway volume increased after preoperative orthodontics. After orthognathic surgery, the backward movement of the mandible tended to reduce the size of the pharyngeal airway, and the morphology of the glossopharyngeal airway tended to become more flattened. The changes in the pharyngeal airway dimensions were correlated with the maxillomandibular movements and the atlantoaxial joint space changes.