1.Design and Application of Five Elements Music Software Based on Emotion Classification in Malignant Tumor Population
Nan ZHAO ; Shanshan GU ; Jingtao ZHAO ; Hongmei XIE ; Wenjun WANG ; Mirui HE ; Guiju REN ; Shuying CHEN ; Guangmin LI ; Juan LIAO
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(7):1990-1999
Objective To design a Five-Elements Music Software based on Traditional Chinese Medicine's(TCM)theory of five elements music therapy and music emotion classification.The software is intended to provide appropriate music selections tailored to the negative emotional states of cancer patients and evaluate its effectiveness in psychological rehabilitation.Methods ①Music screening and classification:Qualitative analysis was used by six experts in TCM,psychology,nursing,and musicology to screen five elements music and classify corresponding emotional categories.②Software design and development:Based on screening and classification of music materials,design and develop a"Five Elements Music Software Based on Emotion Classification".③Software application evaluation:Recruit 50 cancer patients from the"Beijing Anti Cancer Paradise"as participants to have a trial listening experience with music software,and fill out a satisfaction questionnaire to evaluate its application effect.Results This study established a music database containing 150 pieces of five-elements musical tunes and completed the classification of emotional categories.Among the included subjects,80%of the recruited objects were satisfied with the experience of the five elements music software,of which the application experience of female patients was significantly better than that of male patients,and breast cancer patients were better than other cancer patients,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The five elements music Software in clinic showed comparing with other two groups after four weeks,there was a significant difference for HAMD when comparing five elements music software group and the other two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion The five-element music software designed based on emotion classification effectively meets the psychological rehabilitation needs of cancer patients.It provides appropriate music selections and convenient listening method to regulate cancer-related negative emotions,extending psychological rehabilitation from the hospital to the home.
2.Development of a Preoperative Risk Scoring System for Heart Transplantation Based on Characteristics of the Chinese Population
Shanshan ZHENG ; Zhe ZHENG ; Jie HUANG ; Zhongkai LIAO ; Jianfeng HOU ; Hanwei TANG ; Sheng LIU
Chinese Circulation Journal 2025;40(4):331-339
Objectives:Using data from the heart transplant patient dataset of our center,we aimed to develop a preoperative risk scoring model specifically suitable for the Chinese population undergoing heart transplantation.This model was established to predict the likelihood of graft failure within the first year post-surgery and classify recipients according to their risk level.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted at a single center on 1 210 consecutive heart transplant recipients between June 2004 and December 2022.Risk factor screening was performed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.Variable selection was carried out through a stepwise backward procedure based on the Akaike Information Criterion(AIC).The regression coefficients obtained from the final model were employed as weighting factors in the multifactor analysis.The study utilized the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)area under curve(AUC)as a metric to evaluate the performance of the model.Patients were stratified into low,medium,and high-risk groups based on the distribution of the calculated scores.Survival analysis was conducted on the various risk groups using the Kaplan-Meier method,with statistical comparisons performed using the log-rank test.A significance level of P<0.05 was deemed statistically significant.Results:A risk scoring model,denoted as the heart transplant(HTx)score,was developed,comprising 11 variables and yielding a total score of 20.6 points.In comparison to the low-risk group,the OR for 1-year graft failure in the medium-risk group was 2.0(95%CI:1.1-3.6,P=0.02),while the high-risk group had an OR of 9.8(95%CI:5.4-17.7,P<0.01).The risk scoring model exhibited strong discriminative ability with an AUC of 0.712(95%CI:0.646-0.778)and an internally validated bias-corrected AUC of 0.713.The results of the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test indicated that the predictive model demonstrated a strong calibration ability(Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2=2.92,P=0.71).Within the cohort,the AUC values for the IMPACT score,UNOS score,RSS score,Mayo score,BO score,and TRS score models were 0.645,0.651,0.632,0.589,0.610,and 0.604,respectively.These findings suggest that the HTx scoring model exhibited superior predictive performance compared to the aforementioned models in forecasting outcomes within our cohort.The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed statistically significant differences in long-term survival rates between the three risk groups,a noticeable decrease in long-term survival rates were observed with increasing levels of HTx risk stratification(P<0.05).Conclusions:Present results indicate a significant association between the developed HTx risk scores and graft failure within the initial year post-surgery,present model effectively categorizes the heart transplant recipients into low,medium,and high-risk groups and is valuable for risk stratification.
3.Three-dimensional morphological characteristics and clinical significance of the pedicle-isthmus complex of axis
Shanshan LIU ; Qiang TANG ; Yehui LIAO
Chinese Journal of Spine and Spinal Cord 2025;35(3):225-235
Objectives:To analyze the 3D structural characteristics and discuss the clinical significance of pedicle-isthmus complex(PIC)through measuring the anatomical and morphological parameters of normal axis PIC.Methods:The imaging data of 100 patients without high-riding vertebral artery[57 males,43 females,56.1±1.8(18-79)years]undergone CT angiography(CTA)examinations of the cervical spine or neck and admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University between January 2022 and December 2022,and another 28 patients[15 males,13 females,55.5±14.6(18-80)years]undergone posterior C2 pedicle screw fixation and examined with CT scan of the cervical spine during the same period were collected.The original CT data were uploaded to Mimics 21.0 software,and bilateral PICs were segmented from the axis to construct a new coordinate axes with multiplanar reconstruction(MPR)technology.The upper,middle and lower faults of the PIC were cut on the new axes,and the front-most,narrowest and back-most parts of the PIC were determined.The widths of the front-most,narrowest and,back-most parts and inclination angles of the upper,middle and lower faults of PIC were measured on 3D images.Based on whether the PIC was punctured or not,the patients implanted with posterior C2 pedicle screws were divided into punctured group and non-punctured group.Using the axis pedicle screw as reference,the image parameters of screw position were measured,including the height from the screw midpoint to the PIC upper wall,the width of the screw midpoint to the PIC inner wall,and the screw inclination angle.Results:There was no statistical difference between the left and right side of PIC parameters in 100 patients.The width of PIC in males was greater than that in females at all levels,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The results of PIC width from a coronal perspective showed that the overall width of the upper layer was 9.6±1.3mm,the overall width of the middle layer was 9.5±1.4mm,and the overall width of the lower layer was 8.0±1.1mm.There was no statistical difference between the overall width of the upper layer and the middle layer(P=0.41),while the difference between the other layers was statistically significant(P<0.05).The overall width of the PIC from the cross-sectional perspective showed that the overall width of the front-most part was 8.8±1.4mm,the overall width of the narrowest part was 7.2±1.3mm,and the overall width of the back-most part was 11.0±1.5mm,with statistical significance among all layers(P<0.05).The results of PIC inclination showed that the upper layer inclination was 15.1°±8.7°,the middle layer inclination was 19.5°±8.4°,and the lower layer inclination was 26.3°±9.0°,and the differences among all layers were statistically significant(P<0.05).In the 28 patients fixed with posterior C2 pedicle screw,a total of 50 screws were inserted,with 25 screws each in the punctured group and non-punctured group.The distances from the screw midpoint to PIC upper wall[4.4(3.6-5.3)mm]and PIC inner wall[3.3(2.8-3.8)mm]in the non-punctured group was smaller than those in the punctured group[5.1(4.5-6.0)mm and 4.0(3.1-5.4)mm,P<0.05].No statistical differences was found between the two groups in the screw inclination angles[17.6°(10.5°-21.5°)vs 16.9°(9.6°-23.1°),P=0.854].Conclusions:The normal PIC without high riding vertebral artery is wide at top and narrow at bottom in the coronal view,and wide at front and back and thin in the middle in the transverse view.The gradual increase of the internal inclination angle from top to bottom indicates that the 3D structure of PIC is distorted.Analyzing the axis PIC as a whole is helpful to better understand its anatomical morphology and change characteristics,and to guide the selection of safe strategies in implanting axial pedicle screws.
4.Multi-index quantitative detection and quality difference evaluation of Gleditsia sinensis from different producing areas
Meifeng LIANG ; Xiongfei WAN ; Nian LIAO ; Shanshan ZHU ; Zhijian WANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):568-573
OBJECTIVE To establish a multi-index quantitative detection method,and to evaluate the quality difference of Gleditsia sinensis from different producing areas.METHODS The contents of protocatechuic acid,vanillic acid,isoscopoletin,scoparone,isovitexin,fustin,taxifolin,fisetin,quercetin,kaempferol,echinocystic acid,betulinic acid,β-sitosterol and stigmasterol were detected by high performance liquid chromatography-quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker(HPLC-QAMS).The chromatographic column was Kromasil C18,the mobile phase was 0.2%phosphoric acid-acetonitrile solution(gradient elution),the detection wavelengths were 254,360,210 nm for different index components,the column temperature was 30 ℃,the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min,and the sample injection volume was 10 μL.The contents of extract and total ash were detected according to the method of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.The quality differences of 30 batches of G.sinensis(No.S1-S30)from different producing areas were evaluated by chemometrics,weighted technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution(TOPSIS)analysis and Logistic regression model.RESULTS The linear ranges of 14 components were 1.55-77.50,0.71-35.50,0.28-14.00,0.96-48.00,1.77-88.50,0.09-4.50,4.65-232.50,1.49-74.50,0.37-18.50,1.18-59.00,7.35-367.50,3.58-179.00,0.49-24.50 and 0.21-10.50 μg/mL,respectively(all r>0.999).The RSDs of precision,stability(24 h)and repeatability were less than 2.00%;the average recoveries were 96.99%-100.13%(all RSDs<2.00%),and the relative correction factor had good repeatability.The contents of extract and total ash were 4.2%-12.5%and 0.5%-2.3%,respectively.There was no significant difference in the content of 14 components measured by QAMS method and extemal standard method(P>0.05).The results of chemometrics showed that 30 batches of samples were clustered into 3 categories:S1 to S11 form one category,S12 to S20 form another category,and S21 to S30 constitute the third category.Echinocystic acid,betulinic acid,taxifolin,kaempferol,isovitexin,scoparone and protocatechuic acid may be the differential components affecting the quality of G.sinensis from different producing areas.The analysis results of the weighted TOPSIS method revealed that relative closeness(Jb)for 30 batches of G.sinensis ranged from 0.144 5 to 0.721 8,with S27 achieving the highest value(Jb)of 0.721 8.The analysis results of the Logistic regression model showed that S21-S30 batches of samples were of superior grade,S1-S11 were of intermediate grade,and S12-S20 were of inferior grade.CONCLUSIONS The established HPLC-QAMS method is simple and accurate.The comprehensive evaluation method is objective and comprehensive,and can be used to evaluate the quality difference of G.sinensis from different producing areas.
5.Clinical Experiences of Heart Transplantation in Patients With Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia
Chunlei FENG ; Sheng LIU ; Jie HUANG ; Zhongkai LIAO ; Shanshan ZHENG ; Zhe ZHENG
Chinese Circulation Journal 2025;40(4):340-345
Objectives:When heparin-induced thrombocytopenia(HIT)is diagnosed before heart transplantation,recommendation varies according to small sample observations from other countries.In China,recent HIT is considered as a relative contradiction for heart transplantation and clinical study results is not yet available.Methods:A total of 325 patients who received heart transplantation in Fuwai Hospital from January 1,2022 to July 31,2024 were retrospectively analyzed,124 of whom received instrumental circulation and heparin before transplantation,and 15 of whom had suspected HIT before surgery.Diagnostic strategy was based on clinical investigation,antibody detection and expert opinion.Results:All 15 patients used intra-aortic balloon pump(IABP)preoperatively,6 were diagnosed with HIT,contributing 4.8%of those who used mechanical circulation support before heart transplantation.Three patients were tested positive for HIT-Ab just before surgery.Three different anticoagulation strategies:bivalirudin,heparin,and combined bivalirudin and heparin was used in each of the 3 patients,respectively.Their clinical features varied significantly.The first patient experienced challenging bleeding issue and cervical vein embolization.The second patient experienced low-limb embolization and the third patient experienced spleen artery embolization.Thrombocyte count returned to normal range at day 8,6 and 10 respectively post operation.Conclusions:HIT is not rare in patients using IABP and other mechanical circulation support devices before heart transplantation.Diagnosis and treatment of HIT is challenging for patients awaiting heart transplantation.
6.Regulation of PU.1 on apoptosis resistance of aging macrophages stimulated by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide
Hui FANG ; Yiting YUAN ; Yongchun ZHANG ; Shanshan REN ; Lulu CHEN ; Wei LIAO ; Ai TIAN
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(4):471-477
Objective To investigate the regulatory effect of PU.1 on apoptosis resistance of aging macro-phages under in vitro inflammatory stimulation simulated by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)of Porphyromonas.Methods The expression of PU.1 in periodontitis gingival tissue and normal gingival tissue was analyzed by GEO database.Mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7 was divided into control group,P.g-LPS group,H2O2 group and PU.1 inhibitor group.mRNA expression of senescence associated secretory phenotype(IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α)and PU.1 were detected by RT-qPCR;The protein expressions of p21,p16,BAX,caspase-3,Bcl-2,Bcl-xl and PU.1 were detected by Western blot.The number of senescent cells was detected by senescence-associated-galactosidase(SA-β-gal)staining.The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry.Results Compared with control group,the expression of p21,p16 protein and mRNA of IL-6,IL-1β and TNF-α were up-regulated in P.g-LPS group and H2O2 group,the number of senescent cells was increased,the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl was up-regulated,the expression of BAX and caspase-3 was decreased,and the apoptosis rate was decreased.Meanwhile,the mRNA and protein expression of PU.1 were increased(P<0.05).Compared with P.g-LPS group,mRNA and protein expression of PU.1 in PU.1 inhibitor group were down-regulated,Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl were down-regulated,BAX and caspase-3 expressions were increased,apoptosis rate was increased,the number of senescent cells was decreased,and mRNA levels of IL-6,IL-1β and TNF-α were decreased.The expression of p21 and p16 proteins were down-regulated.(P<0.05).Conclusion Under inflammatory stimulation in vitro,increased expression of PU.1 induced apoptosis resistance of aging macrophages,inhibition of PU.1 promoted apoptosis of aging macrophages,reduced the number of aging macrophages,and down-regulated the secretion of inflammatory factors.
7.Development of a Preoperative Risk Scoring System for Heart Transplantation Based on Characteristics of the Chinese Population
Shanshan ZHENG ; Zhe ZHENG ; Jie HUANG ; Zhongkai LIAO ; Jianfeng HOU ; Hanwei TANG ; Sheng LIU
Chinese Circulation Journal 2025;40(4):331-339
Objectives:Using data from the heart transplant patient dataset of our center,we aimed to develop a preoperative risk scoring model specifically suitable for the Chinese population undergoing heart transplantation.This model was established to predict the likelihood of graft failure within the first year post-surgery and classify recipients according to their risk level.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted at a single center on 1 210 consecutive heart transplant recipients between June 2004 and December 2022.Risk factor screening was performed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.Variable selection was carried out through a stepwise backward procedure based on the Akaike Information Criterion(AIC).The regression coefficients obtained from the final model were employed as weighting factors in the multifactor analysis.The study utilized the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)area under curve(AUC)as a metric to evaluate the performance of the model.Patients were stratified into low,medium,and high-risk groups based on the distribution of the calculated scores.Survival analysis was conducted on the various risk groups using the Kaplan-Meier method,with statistical comparisons performed using the log-rank test.A significance level of P<0.05 was deemed statistically significant.Results:A risk scoring model,denoted as the heart transplant(HTx)score,was developed,comprising 11 variables and yielding a total score of 20.6 points.In comparison to the low-risk group,the OR for 1-year graft failure in the medium-risk group was 2.0(95%CI:1.1-3.6,P=0.02),while the high-risk group had an OR of 9.8(95%CI:5.4-17.7,P<0.01).The risk scoring model exhibited strong discriminative ability with an AUC of 0.712(95%CI:0.646-0.778)and an internally validated bias-corrected AUC of 0.713.The results of the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test indicated that the predictive model demonstrated a strong calibration ability(Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2=2.92,P=0.71).Within the cohort,the AUC values for the IMPACT score,UNOS score,RSS score,Mayo score,BO score,and TRS score models were 0.645,0.651,0.632,0.589,0.610,and 0.604,respectively.These findings suggest that the HTx scoring model exhibited superior predictive performance compared to the aforementioned models in forecasting outcomes within our cohort.The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed statistically significant differences in long-term survival rates between the three risk groups,a noticeable decrease in long-term survival rates were observed with increasing levels of HTx risk stratification(P<0.05).Conclusions:Present results indicate a significant association between the developed HTx risk scores and graft failure within the initial year post-surgery,present model effectively categorizes the heart transplant recipients into low,medium,and high-risk groups and is valuable for risk stratification.
8.Quality Evaluation of Kanggan Jiedu Capsules Based on Multi-component Quantification Combined with Chemometrics and Weighted TOPSIS Method
Xiongfei WAN ; Mefeng LIANG ; Nian LIAO ; Shanshan ZHU ; Zhijian WANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(9):2598-2608
Objective To establish a method for quantitative control of multi-pharmacological components in Kanggan Jiedu capsules,and to evaluate the quality of Kanggan Jiedu capsules by chemometrics and weighted technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution(TOPSIS)method.Methods HPLC was performed on an Apollo C18 column with acetonitrile-0.1%formic acid gradient elution as mobile phase.The volume flow rate was 1.0 mL/min,and the detection wavelength was 327,238 and 298 nm.The contents of 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid,4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid,gardenoside,geniposide,3'-hydroxy puerarin,puerarin,3'-methoxy puerarin,baicalin,wogonoside,oxypeucedanin,imperatorin,isoimperatorin,pseudoaspidin and tetraalbaspidin ABBA in 15 batches of Kanggan Jiedu capsules were determined by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker(QAMS),and then statistical software was used to analyze the difference of 15 batches of samples to find out the main potential markers affecting the quality of Kanggan Jiedu capsules.Results The f value of the 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid was 0.9119,with 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid as the internal reference.The f of the gardenoside,3'-hydroxy puerarin,puerarin and 3'-methoxy puerarin were 1.4941,1.2423,0.9281 and 1.0860,respectively,with geniposide as the internal reference.The f of the baicalin,wogonoside,oxypeucedanin,isoimperatorin,pseudoaspidin and tetraalbaspidin ABBA were 1.4551,0.7414,0.8796,0.6949,1.3248 and 0.8240,respectively,with imperatorin as the internal reference.The f values of each component were robust.There was no significant difference in the content determined by the two methods.The chemometrics method results showed that 15 batches of Kanggan Jiedu capsules could be clustered into three categories,there were certain differences between batches.Baicalin,geniposide,imperatorin,puerarin,3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid and wogonoside were the main potential markers affecting the quality of Kanggan Jiedu capsules.The results of weighted TOPSIS method results showed that the Ci values of 15 batches of samples were between 0.2018 and 0.7346,among which S13 ranked the top with Ci value of 0.7346.Conclusion The established method for quantitative detection of 14 pharmacodynamic components is convenient and accurate.The quality of Kanggan Jiedu capsules can be evaluated by chemometrics and weighted TOPSIS method.
9.Investigation on knowledge related to tuberculin skin test among 248 healthcare workers
Wen ZHANG ; Yaling SHI ; Shanshan LIU ; Qian SU ; Yu XIN ; Liyi ZHANG ; Juan LYU ; Wenping LIAO ; Jun FAN
Chongqing Medicine 2025;54(3):709-712,718
Objective To investigate the knowledge of tuberculin skin test(TST)among healthcare workers and provide evidence for improving the standardization of TST screening in primary healthcare staff.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 248 licensed physicians or nurses who were qualified as licensed physicians or nurses and responsible for TST work from 27 districts/counties of Chongqing in 2023.The awareness of TST-related knowledge and its influencing factors were statistically analyzed.Results The average TST knowledge score of 248 healthcare workers was(78.3±10.6)points.The overall awareness rate was 78.9%(8 213/10 416),with specific rates as follows:65.4%(1 135/1 736)for tubercu-losis knowledge,87.3%(3 248/3 720)for TST general knowledge,53.4%(795/1 488)for TST principles,88.0%(1 964/2 232)for TST procedures,and 86.4%(1 071/1 240)for TST result interpretation.Nurses showed higher awareness rates than physicians and other staff(P>0.05).Healthcare workers from medium-epidemic areas demonstrated significantly higher awareness rates than those from high-and low-epidemic are-as(P<0.001).No statistically significant differences were observed in gender,age,occupation type,institu-tion type,or regional epidemic level between the qualified group and non-qualified group about TST-related knowl-edge(P>0.05).Conclusion Healthcare workers exhibit incomplete mastery of TST-related knowledge.Strengthening TST-related knowledge training for standardizing TST implementation.
10.Regulation of natural killer cell subtypes and functions by programmed cell death protein 1 and its receptor at the maternal-fetal interface in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii during the second trimester
Jiayue SUN ; Qiuhua BAI ; Xiaodan CHEN ; Jiayin LÜ ; Shanshan HE ; Lili TANG ; Dejun LIAO ; Dengyu LIU ; Xiaoyin FU
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2025;37(5):465-474
Objective To investigate the regulatory role of the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling on the subtypes and functions of natural killer (NK) cells at the maternal-fetal interface during the second trimester in mice following Toxoplasma gondii infection during the first trimester. Methods Twelve 6- to 8-week-old female mice of the C57BL/6J strain were divided into a control group and an infection group, of 6 mice in each group. On the 6.5th day of pregnancy (Gd6.5), each pregnant mouse in the infection group was intraperitoneally injected with 150 tachyzoites of the Toxoplasma gondii PRU strain, while mice in the control group were injected with an equal volume of physiological saline. On the 12.5th day of pregnancy (Gd12.5), uterus and placenta tissues were sampled from pregnant mice for pathological observations, and the mRNA expression levels of PD-1, PD-L1, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were quantified in uterus and placenta tissues. The PD-1 and DX5 expression was measured on NK cells at the maternal-fetal interface using flow cytometry. In addition, the in vitro JEG-3 trophoblast cells and NK-92MI cells co-culture system was established as the control group, and the addition of T. gondii tachyzoites in the co-culture system served as the infection group. The PD-1, PD-L1, and DX5 mRNA expression was quantified in cells using real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay, and the TNF-α concentration was measured in the cell culture supernatant using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results On Gd12.5, clear and intact cellular structures of placental decidual tissues were seen in pregnant mice in the control group, with no remarkable abnormal changes found in the uterine columnar epithelial cells, and inflammatory cell infiltration and blood stasis at varying degrees were found in uterine and placental tissues from pregnant mice in the infection group. The relative PD-1, PD-L1, and TNF-α mRNA expression was (1.004 ± 0.004), (1.001 ± 0.001), and (1.001 ± 0.001) in uterine tissues from pregnant mice in the control group and (2.480 ± 0.720), (3.355 ± 0.920), and (2.391 ± 0.073) in the infection group, respectively. The relative PD-1, PD-L1, and TNF-α mRNA expression was (1.007 ± 0.010), (1.006 ± 0.006), and (1.001 ± 0.001) in the uterine tissues in the control group and (6.948 ± 1.918), (3.225 ± 1.034), and (1.536 ± 0.150) in the infection group, respectively. The relative PD-1, PD-L1, and TNF-α mRNA expression was higher in both the uterine (t = 3.55, 4.43 and 33.02, all P values < 0.05) and placental tissues (t = 5.36, 3.72 and 6.18, all P values < 0.05) in the infection group than in the control group. Flow cytometry showed that the proportions of PD-1+ NK cells, PD-1+ DX5+ NK cells, and DX5+ NK cells were (12.200 ± 1.082)%, (9.373 ± 7.728)%, and (44.000 ± 4.095)% in uterine tissues from pregnant mice in the control group, and (21.733 ± 1.630)%, (18.767 ± 1.242)%, and (73.367 ± 0.611)% in the infection group, respectively. The proportions of PD-1+ NK cells, PD-1+ DX5+ NK cells, and DX5+ NK cells were (1.100 ± 0.510)%, (2.277 ± 1.337)%, and (96.167 ± 2.831)% in placental tissues from mice in the control group, and (26.867 ± 9.722)%, (23.433 ± 6.983)%, and (82.467 ± 2.248)% in the infection group, respectively. The proportions of PD-1+ NK cells (t = 8.45, P < 0.05) and DX5+ NK cells (t = 12.29, P < 0.05) were higher in uterine tissues from pregnant mice in the infection group than in the control group, and no significant difference was seen in the proportion of PD-1+ DX5+ NK cells (Z = -1.09, P > 0.05). The proportions of PD-1+ NK cells (t = 4.58, P < 0.05) and PD-1+ DX5+ NK cells (t = 5.15, P < 0.05) were higher in placental tissues from pregnant mice in the infection group than in the control group, while the proportion of DX5+ NK cells was lower in the infection group than in the control group (t = -6.56, P < 0.05). RT-qPCR assay revealed that the relative PD-1, PD-L1, and DX5 mRNA expression was (1.010 ± 0.005), (1.002 ± 0.003), and (1.001 ± 0.001) in the JEG-3 cells and NK92MI cells co-culture system and (3.638 ± 1.258), (0.397 ± 0.158), and (4.267 ± 1.750) in the control group, and ELISA measured that the TNF-α concentration was higher in the cell culture supernatant in the infection group [(22.056 ± 3.205) pg/mL] than in the control group [(12.441 ± 0.001) pg/mL] (t = 5.20, P < 0.05). The PD-1(t = 3.62, P < 0.05) and DX5 mRNA expression (t = 3.23, P < 0.05) was higher in the infection group than in the control group, and the PD-L1 mRNA expression was lower in the infection group than in the control group (t = -6.63, P < 0.05). Conclusions Following T. gondii infection, both PD-L1 expression and PD-1 expression on DX5+ NK cells at the maternal-fetal interface are upregulated in mice during the second trimester; however, the proportion of DX5+ NK cells decreases. These findings suggest that PD-1/PD-L1 signaling may suppress NK cell functions by modulating DX5+ NK cell subsets.

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