Objective The aim of this study was to explore the effects of changes in the estrogen receptor alpha 36(ER-α36)expression on the proliferation and membrane-initiated estrogen signaling in glioblastoma U251 cells.Methods The expression and localization of ER-α36 and EGFR glioblastoma U87 cells and U251 cells were determined by immunofluorescence,qRT-PCR and Western blot.The effect of upregulating ER-α 36 on U251 cell proliferation and estrogen signaling pathway activity by low con-centrations of 100 pmol/L icariin isomer(SNG162)was detected by MTT assay and Western blot.Results ER-α36 and EGFR were co-expressed in the cell membrane of glioblastoma.Compared with DMSO(control group),the expression ER-α36(P<0.01)and EG-FR increased in U251 cells treated with SNG162(P<0.05);Further experments also found that low concentrations of SNG162 in-creased the expression of cycle related proteins-cyclin D1,cyclin B,cyclin E and CDK4(P<0.01),and enhanced the proliferative a-bility of U251 cells(P<0.05).Conclusion The low concentration of SNG162 upregulates the expression of ER-α36,activates the estrogen-mediated ERK1/2 MAPK,p38 MAPK,and EGFR/Src signaling pathways,promotes glioblastoma proliferation,and activates the membrane initialized estrogen signaling pathway.

Objective To quantitatively measure the density of hydroxyapatite(HAP)(water)within lumbar vertebral bodies using the gemstone spectral imaging(GSI)material decomposition technique and to compare and analyze the clinical significance of density variations of HAP(water)in different regions of L1-L3 vertebral bodies.Methods A total of 242 patients who underwent lumbar quantitative computed tomography(QCT)scans via utilizing the GSI technique were selected.Following the scans,the HAP(water)density values in four regions(anterosuperior,posterosuperior,anteroinferior,and posteroinferior)of each L1-L3 vertebral bodies were quantitatively measured using the material decomposition technique.Based on the QCT results,all cases were divided into three groups of normal bone mineral density,osteopenia,and osteoporosis.The distributions of HAP(water)density values in the four regions within each vertebral body were compared and analyzed among the groups.Results In all three groups of patients,the highest HAP(water)density values in the L1-L3 vertebral bodies were all located in the posteroinferior region,followed by the posterosuperior region.In the normal bone mineral density group,the lowest HAP(water)density values was found in the anterosuperior region of the L1 vertebral body.In the osteopenia and osteoporosis groups,the lowest HAP(water)density values was found in the anteroinferior region of the L1-L3 vertebral bodies.Conclusion Significant differences in HAP(water)density are present across different regions within lumbar vertebral bodies,which may be related to the development of vertebral osteoporosis and the location of fractures.

Objective To investigate the coagulation abnormalities and molecular genetic characteristics of a family with asymptomatic inherited fibrinogen disorders(IFD).Methods The clinical data of a family with IFD,including 5 individuals from two generations,were collected.Their peripheral blood coagulation indicators were detected.The coding sequences of FGA,FGB and FGG genes were amplified by PCR and Sanger sequencing was used to identify the candidate variants,which were further validated in the family mem-bers.The bioinformatic software was used to analyze the pathogenicity and conservation of the missense mutation and its effect on the spatial structure and function of the protein.Results The IFD patients had significantly low fibrinogen antigen(Fg:Ag)concentration and fibrinogen coagulation(Fg:C)activity concentration as well as prolonged thrombin time(TT),while coagulation indicators of the unaffected relatives were normal.The results of Sanger sequencing showed that all IFD patients carried a heterozygous missense variant of c.1001A>C(p.Asn334Thr)in the FGG gene.The bioinformatic analysis suggested that Asn334Thr was a pathogenic variant,while homology analysis indicated that the Asn334 locus was highly conserved in evolution.The analysis of protein spatial structure showed that the Asn334Thr mutation altered hydrogen bonds between amino acids.Conclusion The heterozygous missense variant c.1001A>C(p.Asn334Thr)in the FGG gene may be the pathogenic cause of the proband.The finding enriches the spectrum of FGG gene mutations and provides experimental evidence for the genetic counseling of affected families.

Objective To study the need for blood compatibility evaluation of medical devices that come into indirect contact with blood in order to accurately evaluate the risk of their interaction with blood.Methods Seven medical devices with indirect contact with blood were selected as samples including extension tubes of central venous catheters,port bodies of implantable drug delivery devices,infusion sets,receiving lines of dialysis equipment,auxiliary lines of left ventricular assist devices,blood monitors and catheter holders,with high-density polyethylene as the negative control,glass beads as the positive control and blank whole blood or plasma for the blank control.Partial thromboplastin time(PTT)test,platelet count test and hematology test(white blood cell and red blood cell count)were performed by direct contact method and indirect contact method,respectively.In the direct contact method,whole blood or plasma was in direct contact with the sample;while in the indirect contact method,whole blood or plasma was not in direct contact with the extraction solution,with no direct contact with the sample.Results With the indirect contact method the ratios(expressed as a percentage)of the PTT,platelate,WBC and RBC counts of the samples,positive and negative controls to those of the blank control were all higher than those with the direct contact method,and the indirect contact method had the sensitivity lower than that of the direct contact method.Conclusion Medical devices indirectly contacting blood have low risks for causing coagulation and platelet and hematologic adverse reactions,which are suggested to be evaluated for hemolysis testing only in case of the history of safe clinical use.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(8):44-49]

Objective:To compare the clinical effects of restrictive transfusion strategy and liberal transfusion strategy for cardiac valve surgery.Methods:This study employed a prospective, randomized controlled superiority design, enrolling 439 patients undergoing non-emergency cardiac valve surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass at Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People′s Hospital, Southern Medical University from June 2023 to October 2024 who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. While all the patients appeared hematocrit (Hct)≤24% or hemoglobin (Hb)≤80 g/L during the cardiopulmonary bypass. A simple random design was adopted to generate a random sequence and participants were randomized into a restrictive transfusion group (restrictive criteria: Hct≤18% or Hb≤60 g/L during cardiopulmonary bypass, and Hct≤21% or Hb≤70 g/L postoperatively) or a liberal transfusion group (liberal criteria: Hct≤24% or Hb≤80 g/L during cardiopulmonary bypass and Hct≤30% or Hb≤100 g/L postoperatively). If Hb or Hct fell below the respective thresholds, 2 units of red blood cells were transfused, followed by re-evaluation. If levels remained below the threshold, an additional 2 units were transfused until the criteria were met. The primary outcome was a composite of postoperative 3-month mortality, infection, ischemic events, and new-onset renal failure requiring dialysis. Secondary outcomes included blood product utilization, length of stay in the ICU and so on. Intergroup comparisons were performed using independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, or Fisher′s exact test, and analyses were conducted using a binary multivariable Logistic regression model. Results:A total of 439 patients were included in this study. The restrictive roup included 221 patients, including 75 males and 146 females, aged ( M(IQR)) 57.0 (14.0) years (range: 21 to 76 years). The liberal group included 218 patients, including 67 males and 151 females, aged 56.0 (20.0) years (range: 19 to 74 years). No statistically significant difference was observed in the incidence of primary outcome (restrictive group: 10.9%(24/221) vs. liberal group: 9.6%(21/218), χ2=0.180, P>0.05), 2 patints in the restrictive group died and 3 patints in liberal group died ( P=0.684). The transfusion rate was significantly lower in the restrictive group(19.0%(42/221) vs. 100%(218/218), P<0.01), with no significant differences in other secondary outcomes (all P>0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed an interaction between sex and transfusion strategy ( P=0.023), suggesting that using liberal transfusion strategy in male patients might increase the risk of the primary outcome. Conclusion:The mid-term results do not show that the restrictive transfusion strategy is superior to the liberal transfusion strategy in reducing the incidence of postoperative outcome events in patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery.

Transfer RNA-derived small RNAs(tsRNAs)are a novel class of non-coding small RNAs,which have various biological functions such as regulating gene expression,protein translation,epigenetic inheritance,cell proliferation and apoptosis,and communication.tsRNA is abnormally expressed in respiratory system cancers,lung injury,pulmonary hypertension,childhood obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome and respiratory virus infections,affecting the occurrence and development of these diseases.However,the regulatory mechanism of tsRNAs in respiratory diseases has not been fully elucidated yet.Therefore,this review introduces the sources,classification and detection methods of tsRNA,summarizes the biological functions of tsRNA in respiratory diseases,related regulatory mechanisms,and its application prospects as biomarker in clinical diagnosis and prognosis evaluation,aiming to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases,and to provide reference for in-depth research on tsRNA regulation of respiratory diseases.

OBJECTIVE: Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to ultrafine particulate matter (UPM, aerodynamic diameter < 0.1 µm) is associated with adverse cardiovascular events. Previous studies have found that Shenlian (SL) extract possesses anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic properties and has a promising protective effect at all stages of the atherosclerotic disease process. In this study, we aimed to investigated whether SL improves UPM-aggravated myocardial ischemic injury by inhibiting inflammation and cell apoptosis. METHODS: We established a mouse model of MI+UPM. Echocardiographic measurement, measurement of myocardialinfarct size, biochemical analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), histopathological analysis, Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL), Western blotting (WB), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and so on were used to explore the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of SL in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: SL treatment can attenuate UPM-induced cardiac dysfunction by improving left ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and decreasing cardiac infarction area. SL significantly reduced the levels of myocardial enzymes and attenuated UPM-induced morphological alterations. Moreover, SL significantly reduced expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1. UPM further increased the infiltration of macrophages in myocardial tissue, whereas SL intervention reversed this phenomenon. UPM also triggered myocardial apoptosis, which was markedly attenuated by SL treatment. The results of in vitro experiments revealed that SL prevented cell damage caused by exposure to UPM combined with hypoxia by reducing the expression of the inflammatory factor NF-κB and inhibiting apoptosis in H9c2 cells. CONCLUSION Overall, both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that SL attenuated UPM-aggravated myocardial ischemic injury by inhibiting inflammation and cell apoptosis. The mechanisms were related to the downregulation of macrophages infiltrating heart tissues.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects* ; Mice ; Male ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Myocardial Ischemia/drug therapy* ; Cell Line

Liver diseases cannot be easily detected in the early stage， and although invasive diagnostic methods， such as liver biopsy， are relatively accurate， they tend to have a low degree of acceptance， which greatly limits the improvement in diagnosis and treatment techniques for liver diseases. Therefore， it is of great importance to search for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. As an emerging biomarker for liquid biopsy， tRNA-derived small RNA （tsRNA） is abnormally expressed in various liver diseases including viral hepatitis， fatty liver disease， liver injury， and liver cancer， and it can affect the development and progression of liver diseases by regulating the biological functions such as gene expression， epigenetic regulation， and protein translation. This article reviews the origin， classification， and biological function of tsRNA， as well as the research advances in tsRNA as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for liver diseases， so as to provide ideas for the early diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of respiratory pathogens in China.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study, which encompassed 19 core units of the clinical pathogen network and established a three-tiered clinical pathogen surveillance system. Thirty respiratory samples were collected every two weeks from various units from January to December 2024, and the clinical and pathogen diagnostic information were gathered. A total of 11 864 samples were tested using this system. The tier-1 clinical pathogen surveillance system covered influenza A virus (Flu-A), influenza B virus (Flu-B), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The tier-2 clinical pathogen surveillance system focused on 18 key respiratory pathogens. The tier-3 clinical pathogen surveillance system further clarified whether any emerging infectious diseases had occurred.Results:The tier-1 clinical pathogen surveillance system showed Flu-A predominated in December, Flu-B predominated in January, SARS-CoV-2 peaked in March and August, whereas RSV circulated sporadically throughout the year. Geographic trends were broadly consistent across the seven major regions, although Flu-A detection in December was notably higher in Northeast China (48.1%(111/231)) and East China (36.2%(148/409)), and RSV detection was concentrated in the Northwest and South China from January to March. Data from the tier-2 clinical pathogen surveillance system indicated that Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, rhinovirus, and adenovirus were detected year-round, of these, Streptococcus pneumoniae and rhinovirus showed elevated positive detection rates from August to September, while adenovirus peaked in January. Legionella pneumophila was not detected throughout the year, and other pathogens fluctuated throughout the year without a consistent pattern. The predominant etiologic agents of pediatric pneumonia were Mycoplasma pneumoniae (35.0%(105/300)), rhinovirus (25.7%(77/300)), and adenovirus (17.3%(52/300)), whereas adult pneumonia was mainly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (10.5%(29/277)), Staphylococcus aureus (6.9%(19/277)), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (6.9%(19/277)), and Flu-A (6.1%(17/277)). The tier-3 clinical pathogen surveillance system did not identify any emerging respiratory pathogens. Conclusion:Respiratory pathogens in China in 2024 exhibit distinct temporal and spatial distribution patterns and vary among different populations.

Objective:To explore the association of blood and urinary cadmium levels with lipid profile levels and dyslipidemia in Chinese adults aged 18 to 79 years.Methods:Based on the China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) program, a cross-sectional survey was conducted from 2017 to 2018 using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method, including a total of 10 713 adults aged 18 to 79 years. Data was obtained through questionnaires, physical examinations, biological sample collection, and laboratory testing. Multiple linear mixed effect model (MLMM) and generalized linear mixed effect model (GLMM) were used to analyze the association of blood and creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels with lipid profile levels as well as dyslipidemia among adults.Results:The age of 10 713 participants was (47.23±0.24) years, with 5 372 males accounting for 61.3% of the national population. The weighted mean±standard error (SE) of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was (5.21±0.03), (1.86±0.03), (2.96±0.03), and (1.43±0.01) mmol/L, respectively. The prevalence rate of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, mixed hyperlipidemia, low HDL-C, and high LDL-C was 16.0%, 21.6%, 6.6%, 13.5%, and 10.0%, respectively. MLMM showed that, after adjusting for relevant confounders, log-transformed blood cadmium levels were positively associated with increased levels of TC, TG and LDL-C ( P<0.05). When blood cadmium levels were categorized into quartiles, compared to the lowest exposure group ( Q1), participants in the highest blood cadmium exposure group ( Q4) had increases of 0.19 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.32) mmol/L in TC and 0.25 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.43) mmol/L in TG. GLMM indicated that, after adjusting for confounders, higher blood cadmium exposure levels were associated with increased risks of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, mixed hyperlipidemia, and high LDL-C ( P<0.05). Further analysis by quartiles showed that, compared to the blood cadmium Q1 exposure group, the OR value (95% CI) for the Q4 group was 1.53 (1.12, 2.08) for hypercholesterolemia, 1.54 (1.09, 2.17) for hypertriglyceridemia, 2.24 (1.47, 3.40) for mixed hyperlipidemia, and 1.49 (1.07, 2.09) for high LDL-C. Conclusion:The cadmium internal exposure levels are associated with blood lipid profile levels as well as the incidence of dyslipidemia in Chinese adults aged 18 to 79.