Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Objective To investigate the gene expression profile of cervical exfoliated cells from woman treated by artificial cycle,and their potential association with endometrial receptivity in order to screen specific biomarkers closely related to the receptivity.Methods A total of 19 female patients were enrolled from those preparing for frozen embryo transfer(FET)at the Reproductive Center of First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from February 2024 to October 2024.Under the artificial cycle frozen embryo transfer protocol,the endometrial tissues were collected on the 4th day after progesterone administration(P+4)to verify their endometrial receptivity status.Additionally,cervical exfoliated cells were collected on the 4th day(P+4)and the 6th day(P+6)after progesterone administration.RNA sequencing(RNA-Seq)was used to detect gene expression profiles.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified using the criteria of|log2fold change|＞1 and a false discovery rate(FDR)＜0.05,followed by bioinformatics analysis.The protein-protein interaction(PPI)network of DEGs was constructed using R software(4.4.1)and analyzed with gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)analyses.The candidate genes were identified based on the PPI network using Cytoscape software.Quantitative reverse transcription PCR(RT-qPCR)was employed to validate the target candidate genes both in vitro and in vivo.Results The rsERT confirmed that all 19 women were in state of endometrial receptivity at P+6.RNA-Seq identified 3 458 DEGs in cervical exfoliated cells between P+4 and P+6.The up-regulated DEGs were mainly enriched in the pathways associated with immune response and cell differentiation,and the down-regulated ones were mainly enriched in the pathways associated with lipid metabolism and cell proliferation.Using maximal clique Centrality(MCC)algorithm in the PPI network,the top 20 genes were selected.Among them,6 genes,such as IFIT2,OASL,MX1,RSAD2,IFIT1 and IFIT3,tied for the first place,and the 6 genes all belong to interferon-stimulated genes(ISGs).qRT-PCR indicated that the above 6 genes showed significantly higher expression levels in the cervical exfoliated cells at the P+4 stage than the cells at the P+6 stage(P＜0.05).Conclusion There are changes in the expression levels of the genes related to immunity and cytoskeleton remodeling in cervical exfoliated cells during the endometrial receptivity phase.The decrease in the expression of ISGs may serve as a potential biomarker for endometrial receptivity.

Objective To establish a rat model of ovarian endometriosis(EMS)using the horn reversion method,to provide an ideal animal model for exploring the pathogenesis and treatment of EMS.Methods Fifty SPF-grade female SD rats were divided randomly into five groups:a sham group,and 1,2,3,and 4 weeks after surgery groups,respectively(n=10 rats per group).Apart from the sham group,an ovarian-type EMS model was established in the other groups by the uterine horn refracture method,and the modeling success rate,and ectopic foci volume and mass were observed in each group.The morphology of ectopic foci was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE),and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),Ki67,epithelial cadherin(E-cadherin),and neural cadherin(N-cadherin)in the uterus and ectopic foci tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.The model was further evaluated and the degree of cell proliferation and epithelial mesenchymal transformation at different times after modeling were analyzed.Results The modeling success rates in the 1,2,3,and 4 weeks after surgery groups were 80%,90%,100%,and 100%,respectively(P＞0.05).The volume and mass of the ectopic foci were significantly greater in the 3 and 4 weeks after surgery groups compared with the 1 and 2 weeks after surgery groups(P＜0.01).HE staining showed endometrial epithelial cells,mesenchymal cells and a few glands in the ectopic foci tissues.Immunohistochemical staining showed that expression levels of Ki67,PCNA,and N-cadherin in uterus tissues were significantly higher(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)in all the model groups compared with the sham group,while expression levels of E-cadherin were significantly lower(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Expression levels of Ki67,PCNA,and N-cadherin in the uterus and ectopic foci tissues were significantly higher(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)in the 2,3,and 4 weeks after surgery groups compared with the 1 week after surgery group,while expression levels of E-cadherin were significantly lower(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion The uterine horn reversion method can be used to establish an ovarian EMS model in rats.Ectopic lesions can be observed 1 week after surgery.The success rate of modeling increases with modeling time,stabilizing at 3 weeks postoperatively.Ki67,PCNA,and N-cadherin were significantly expressed in the uterus and ectopic foci tissues,and their expression levels increased with modeling time,while E-cadherin expression in the uterus and ectopic foci tissues decreased with modeling time.These results showed good modeling success of the EMS rat model,suggesting that it could be used as a stable EMS modeling method.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture,the clinical efficacy,systemic inflammatory response,blood-brain barrier and intestinal flora in patients with cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke(IS)were studied.Methods Thirty patients(3 cases shedding)with cognitive impairment after IS were included as the disease group,including patients before treatment as the disease group,patients after Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture treatment as the electroacupuncture group,and 30 healthy controls(3 cases shedding)were included as the healthy group.In the electroacupuncture group,on the basis of the basic treatment,Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture was applied,which was 30 min each time,once a day for 14 days.The MMSE,MoCA and MBI scores of the three groups were observed.The fecal and serum samples from all study subjects were collected,and 16S rDNA sequencing technology and ELISA were used to detect the changes of proinflammatory factors IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α and S100β in serum in intestinal flora and feces.Results Compared with the healthy group,the MMSE,MoCA,and MBI score of patients in the disease group decreased significantly(P<0.05),serum proinflammatory factors and S100β protein content increased significantly(P<0.05),and the Shannon index(P<0.01)and Simpson index(P<0.001)increased significantly.Compared with the disease group,the MMSE,MoCA,and MBI score of the EA group increased significantly(P<0.05),the serum levels of proinflammatory factors and S100β decreased significantly(P<0.05),Shannon index and Simpson index decreased(P>0.05).The dominant bacterial flora in the healthy group mainly included Bacteroides,Bifidobacterium,Bacteroides,Faecalibacterium,Bifidobacteriaceae,Ruminococcaceae,and Bacteroides and other beneficial bacteria(P<0.05).The dominant flora in the disease group included Proteobacteria,Enterobacteriaceae,Escherichia,Klebsiella and other opportunistic bacteria(P<0.05),while the dominant flora in the EA group was consistent with the healthy group,the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria increased significantly(P<0.05),and the relative abundance of opportunistic bacteria decreased significantly(P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis found that beneficial bacteria were positively correlated with clinical efficacy related indicators,but with serum proinflammatory factors and the content of S100β was negatively correlated.Conclusion Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture can regulate the diversity of intestinal flora to increase the abundance of Bacteroides,Bifidobacterium,Faecalibacterium,and other beneficial bacteria,regulate the intestinal microecological balance,Thereby regulating systemic inflammation and blood-brain barrier function,which plays a role in improving cognitive function.

Objective To investigate the changes of macrophages and hemophagocytes in bone marrow smears of patients with multiple myeloma(MM)before and after chemotherapy and their correlation with clinical prognostic value.Methods A total of 300 MM patients treated in Liaocheng Second People's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from June 2018 to June 2023 were selected as the study objects.All patients received at least 3 courses of chemotherapy and were divided into the remission group(n=214)and the non-remission group(n=86)according to the clinical effect.Immunoglobulin(Ig)A,IgG,CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,interleukin(IL-2),IL-4,IL-6,IL-17,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,transforming growth factor(TGF)-β,macrophages and hemophagocytes were detected in the two groups and compared between the two groups.COX regression was used to analyze the relationship between immunological indexes and non-remission of chemotherapy.The relationship between macrophages and hemophagocytes and non-remission of chemotherapy was analyzed by restricted cubic spline.The multiplicative interaction of macrophages and hemophagocytes on non-remission of chemotherapy was analyzed using an unconditioned Logistic regression model,and the additive interaction was analyzed using the interaction calculation table.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis of macrophages and hemophagocytes alone or in combination to determine the value of chemotherapy non-remission.Results The overall response rate(ORR)and non-response rate(NRR)of MM patients were 71.33%and 28.67%respectively.Compared with before treatment,IgA,IgG,CD8+,IL-6,IL-17,TNF-α,TGF-β,macrophages and hemophagocytes were significantly decreased in both groups after treatment(tslow=9.252～61.177,tnot slow=4.057～35.797).CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+,IL-2 and IL-4 were significantly increased(tslow=9.706～33.940,tnot slow=4.227～16.167),and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).After treatment,compared with the remission group,IgA,IgG,CD8+,IL-6,IL-17,TNF-α,TGF-β,macrophages and hemophagocytes in the non-remission group were significantly higher than those in remission group(t=3.362～30.028),CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+,IL-2 and IL-4 were significantly lower than those in remission group(t=3.736～13.998).and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).After adjusting the influence of other factors by COX regression,the trend test of macrophages and hemophagocytes was still statistically significant the trend test of macrophages and hemophagocytes was still statistically significant(P<0.05).Patients with≥5 macrophages/tablet and≥3 hemophagocytes/tablet had a significantly increased risk of non-remission from chemotherapy(P<0.05).There were additive(OR=6.157,95%CI:3.768～12.978)and multiplicative(OR=5.648,95%CI:1.035～17.492)interactions between macrophages and hemophagocytes in the non-remission of chemotherapy.Compared with the single judgment of macrophages and hemophagocytes,the combination of the two has the highest accuracy in determining chemotherapy non-remission(P＜0.05).Conclusion Macrophages and hemophagocytic cells in MM patients after chemotherapy are significantly lower than those before chemotherapy,with≥5 macrophages/tablet and≥3 hemocyte phages/tablet,indicating that the risk of non-remission in patients with chemotherapy increased significantly,and the combination of the two can accurately judge the clinical efficacy.

Objective:To evaluate the contents and transfer rates of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in Hirudo, decoction pieces, standard decoction, intermediates, and formula granules; To provide a basis for the safety evaluation of formula granules of Hirudo.Methods:The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography-Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) were employed for determining the contents of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in Hirudo and its scald product. Then the contents, transfer rates, and proportions of inorganic arsenic in total arsenic were analyzed to inform the change rules of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic after processing and decocting. Clustering analysis (CA) was applied by analyzing fifteen batches of Hirudo for identifying the distinction among different producing areas.Results:After processing the Hirudo into Hirudo scald product, the content of arsenic was basically unchanged, arsenite and arsenate were presenting a different variation, the content of arsenite and its proportion in total arsenic decreased, while the content of arsenate and its proportion in total arsenic increased. The total arsenic content was exceeding the standard easily, meanwhile the transfer rate of total arsenic was at high level. The transfer rates of arsenite and arsenate were more than 100%, and the proportions of arsenite and arsenate in total arsenic increased since the decoction pieces were decocted into standard decoction, intermediates and formula granules. CA results showed that producing areas have a certain impact on the arsenic content in Hirudo.Conclusion:This study revealed the change rules of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in Hirudo after processing and decocting into standard decoction,intermediates, and formula granules, which can providing reference for the production and quality standard formulation of formula granules of Hirudo.