This study aimed to comprehensively examine the association of gallstones, cholecystectomy, and cancer risk. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to estimate the observational associations of gallstones and cholecystectomy with cancer risk, using data from a nationwide cohort involving 239 799 participants. General and gender-specific two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was further conducted to assess the causalities of the observed associations. Observationally, a history of gallstones without cholecystectomy was associated with a high risk of stomach cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-4.28), liver and bile duct cancer (aOR=2.46, 95% CI 1.17-5.16), kidney cancer (aOR=2.04, 95% CI 1.05-3.94), and bladder cancer (aOR=2.23, 95% CI 1.01-5.13) in the general population, as well as cervical cancer (aOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.12-2.56) in women. Moreover, cholecystectomy was associated with high odds of stomach cancer (aOR=2.41, 95% CI 1.29-4.49), colorectal cancer (aOR=1.83, 95% CI 1.18-2.85), and cancer of liver and bile duct (aOR=2.58, 95% CI 1.11-6.02). MR analysis only supported the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer. This study added evidence to the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer, highlighting the importance of cancer screening in individuals with gallstones.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Gallstones/complications* ; Female ; Male ; Cholecystectomy/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Aged ; Adult ; Neoplasms/etiology* ; Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology*

Objective To investigate the action mechanism of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)-N1LR on blood-brain barrier(BBB)after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)injury.Methods Primary rat brain microvascular endothelial cells(BMECs)were cultured and treated with OGD/R to simulate cerebral I/R injury.The experiment was divided into normal control group,ln-cRNA-N1LR OGD group,overexpression group(lncRNA-N1LR overexpression after OGD treat-ment)and silence group(lncRNA-N1LR silence after OGD treatment).The mRNA levels of ln-cRNA-N1LR,claudin-5 and occludin in each group were detected by RT-qPCR.The BBB permea-bility was detected by FITC-dextran infiltration assay.The expression of claudin-5 and occludin were detected by Western blotting.Results The mRNA levels of lncRNA-N1LR,occludin and claudin-5 were significantly decreased(0.31±0.01 vs 1.00±0.10,0.42±0.03 vs 1.01±0.13,0.38±0.03 vs 1.00±0.15,P＜0.05),and the BBB permeability was significantly increased(58.79± 3.04 vs 8.87±0.63,P＜0.05)in the OGD group than the control group.The lncRNA-N1LR over-expression group increased the mRNA expression of lncRNA-N1LR,occludin and claudin-5(0.67±0.07 vs 0.31±0.01,0.92±0.02 vs 0.42±0.03,0.70±0.08 vs 0.38±0.03,P＜0.05),and decreased the BBB permeability(41.57±2.43 vs 58.79±3.04,P＜0.05)than the OGD group.lncRNA-N1LR silence resulted in lower mRNA levels of lncRNA-N1LR,occludin and claudin-5(0.21±0.02 vs 0.31±0.01,0.31±0.03 vs 0.42±0.03,0.22±0.02 vs 0.38±0.03,P＜0.05),and enhanced BBB permeability(72.34±1.43 vs 58.79±3.04,P＜0.05)when compared with the OGD group.Conclusion Up-regulation of lncRNA-N1LR may play a neuroprotective role by reducing BBB permeability.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

The global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has infected over 109 million people, leading to over 2 million deaths up to date and still lacking of effective drugs for patient treatment. Here, we screened about 1.8 million small molecules against the main protease (M^pro) and papain like protease (PL^pro), two major proteases in severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 genome, and identified 1851M^pro inhibitors and 205 PL^pro inhibitors with low nmol/l activity of the best hits. Among these inhibitors, eight small molecules showed dual inhibition effects on both M^pro and PL^pro, exhibiting potential as better candidates for COVID-19 treatment. The best inhibitors of each protease were tested in antiviral assay, with over 40% of M^pro inhibitors and over 20% of PL^pro inhibitors showing high potency in viral inhibition with low cytotoxicity. The X-ray crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 M^pro in complex with its potent inhibitor 4a was determined at 1.8 Å resolution. Together with docking assays, our results provide a comprehensive resource for future research on anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug development.
Humans ; Antiviral Agents/chemistry* ; COVID-19 ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Protease Inhibitors/chemistry* ; SARS-CoV-2/enzymology* ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins

Objective:To explore the value of arterial spin labeling (ASL) in detecting epileptogenic zone (EZ) in children with drug-refractory epilepsy (DRE).Methods:From March 2018 to December 2019, 28 children with DRE were collected prospectively in Peking University First Hospital. Structural MRI, ASL sequence, and PET-CT were performed on 28 DRE children. All children underwent surgical treatment. Intraoperative electrocorticogram findings combined with postoperative MRI results were considered the gold standard for locating EZ. A total of 29 EZ were resected in 28 children. Based on the pathological results, the EZ was divided into focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) Ⅰb and Ⅱa group ( n=12), FCD Ⅱ b group ( n=11) and malformation of cortical dysplasia (MCD) group ( n=6). Structural MRI was observed for finding any abnormal changes that could induce epilepsy and was divided into the normal MRI group ( n=13) and the abnormal MRI group ( n=16). The spatial relationship between abnormal areas in the cerebral blood flow (CBF) map and PET images and the gold standard was observed, and the accurate detection rate of EZ was calculated. The region of interest (ROI) on CBF and PET images was drawn. ROIs were defined as EZ, EZ contralateral zone (EZCZ), EZ adjacent zone (EZAZ), EZAZ contralateral zone (EZAZCZ). The CBF and maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) were measured, and the asymmetry index (AI) value of EZ and EZAZ of CBF and SUV max was calculated respectively. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the difference among 4 regions and 3 pathological types of CBF, SUV max, and AI. The independent sample t-test was used to compare the difference in AI between normal and abnormal MRI groups. Results:In CBF map, the EZ was accurately localized in 89.7% (26/29) of the lesions, in which 24 EZ had decreased perfusion, and 2 EZ had increased perfusion. Among the 24 EZ with decreased perfusion, the CBF of EZ, EZCZ, EZAZ, and EZAZCZ were significantly different( F=8.79, P<0.001). In PET-CT, the EZ was accurately localized in 93.1% (27/29) of the lesions, in which 25 EZ had decreased metabolism, and 2 EZ had increased metabolism. Among the 25 EZ with decreased metabolism, the SUV max of EZ, EZCZ, EZAZ, and EZAZCZ were significantly different ( F=6.40, P=0.001). The AI value of CBF and SUV max of EZ in the abnormal MRI group were larger than those of the normal MRI group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=3.34, 3.09, P=0.002 , 0.004). There was no statistical difference in the AI values of CBF and SUV max among FCD Ⅰb and Ⅱa group, FCD Ⅱb group and MCD group ( F=2.05, 1.54, P=0.149, 0.234). Conclusions:ASL technology is accurate in detecting EZ. The changes in perfusion and metabolism of normal structural MRI EZ are greater than abnormal structural MRI EZ. There is no obvious difference in CBF and SUVmax changes in different pathological EZ.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of metformin on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)injury in U251 cells.Methods Human glioma cell line U251 cells were cultured and divided into 6groups:blank control group,model group,metformin medium dose group,metformin high dose group,agonist group(Wnt3a,Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway agonist),inhibitor group(metformin+XAV939,Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor).Except for the blank control group,the cells in the other groups were subjected to OGD/R for 2h and then reperfusion for 24h to establish the OGD/R model.The animals were treated with met-formin,Wnt3a and XAV939 24h before modeling.Cell viability and toxicity were detected by CCK-8method and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)assay.ROS formation was detected by DHE staining.Glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),superoxide dismutase(SOD)malond-ialdehyde(MDA),interleukin-6(IL-6),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were de-tected by enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay(ELISA).The protein expression levels of β-catenin,cyclin D1,p-GSK-3β(Ser9)and GSK-3β were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with blank control group,LDH,ROS,MDA,IL-6,iNOS and TNF-α in model group,metformin group,agonist group and inhibitor group were significantly increase.The relative expression lev-els of SOD,GSH-Px,β-catenin,cyclin D1,p-GSK-3β(Ser9)and cell viability were significantly decreased.Compared with mod-el group,the levels of LDH,ROS,MDA,IL-6,iNOS and TNF-α in metformin group and agonist group were significantly decreased,while the relative expression levels of SOD,GSH-Px,β-catenin,cyclin D1,p-GSK-3β(Ser9)and the cell viability were signifi-cantly increased.Compared with metformin group,LDH,ROS,MDA,IL-6,iNOS and TNF-α in metformin group and inhibitor group were significantly increase,the relative expression levels of SOD,GSH-Px,β-catenin,cyclin D1,p-GSK-3 β(Ser9)and the cell viability were significantly decreased.Conclusion Metformin may play a protective role in OGD/R of U251 cells through Wnt/β-cate-nin signaling pathway.

Humans ; Endovascular Aneurysm Repair ; Stents ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Aortic Dissection/surgery* ; Endovascular Procedures ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Retrospective Studies