Objective:To explore the effect of specific inhibitor of Smad3 (SIS3) on glucocorticoid-induced ocular hypertension in mice and its possible mechanism.Methods:Fifty-one eight-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, dexamethasone group and SIS3 group by the random number table method, with 17 mice in each group.Mice in the control group were injected with 20 μl 2 % polyvinyl alcohol into the conjunctival fornix every week for 4 weeks.Mice in the dexamethasone group and SIS3 group were injected with 20 μl 10 mg/ml dexamethasone acetate every week and SIS3 group was treated with additional 100 μg/ml SIS3 nanomicelle eye drops 3 times daily for up to 4 weeks.Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured weekly using Icare rebound tonometer.Mice were sacrificed 4 weeks after treatment, and the eyeballs were removed.Morphology of trabecular meshwork (TM) tissues were detected by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining.The collagen deposition area in TM tissues were examined by Masson staining.Fibronectin (FN) and collagen type Ⅰ (Col-1) in the extracellular matrix of TM tissue were detected by immunofluorescence staining.TM tissues were obtained from donated patients, and primary human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMCs) were obtained by culture.The expression level of myocilin in dexamethasone-induced HTMCs was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot for cell identification.Primary HTMCs were divided into normal control group, dexamethasone group and SIS3 group cultured with normal culture medium, medium containing 400 nmol/L dexamethasone, medium containing 400 nmol/L dexamethasone+ 10 μmol/L SIS3 for 48 hours, respectively.The expression levels of FN, Col-1 and p-Smad3/Smad3 proteins were measured by Western blot.The use and care of animals complied with the ARVO statement.This study protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Zhengzhou University (No.ZZU-LA20220729).The collection of TM tissue specimens complied with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Henan Provincial Eye Hospital (No.HNEECKY-2022[18]).The patients knew the purpose of the experiment and signed the informed consent forms.Results:There was a significant overall difference in IOP among the three groups at different time points after administration ( Fgroup=72.94, P<0.001; Ftime=33.19, P<0.001).Compared with baseline, IOP was increased in the dexamethasone group at each time point after administration, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.001).The IOP of the control and SIS3 groups at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 were significantly lower than that of the dexamethasone group (all P<0.001).HE staining showed that the iridocorneal angles of all groups were open with similar morphology of the TM structure.Masson staining showed that the positive expression area of collagen in the control group, dexamethasone group and SIS3 group was (9.57±2.91)%, (27.75±5.88)% and (11.67±3.78)%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference among the three groups ( F=25.91, P<0.001), and the positive expression area of collagen was significantly lower in the control group and SIS3 group than in the dexamethasone group (all P<0.001).The fluorescence expression level of FN in the control group, dexamethasone group and SIS3 group was 8.00±1.92, 14.01±2.74 and 7.85±0.64, respectively, and the fluorescence expression level of Col-1 was 6.90±1.16, 14.36±3.19 and 4.90±0.88, respectively, with statistically significant differences among the three groups ( F=15.93, 30.29; both P<0.001), and the fluorescence expression levels of FN and Col-1 were significantly lower in the control group and SIS3 group than in the dexamethasone group (all P<0.01).Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot showed that the cultured primary cells expressed myocilin and the expression level of myocilin was significantly increased after dexamethasone induction, which was identified as HTMCs.There were statistically significant differences in the relative expression levels of FN, Col-1, and p-Smad3/Smad3 proteins among different groups of cells ( F=8.22, 23.08, 8.78; all P<0.05), and the relative expression levels of FN, Col-1, and p-Smad3/Smad3 proteins were significantly lower in the control group and SIS3 group than in the dexamethasone group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:SIS3 reduces IOP by inhibiting p-Smad3, reducing extracellular matrix deposition in TM, and reducing fibrosis in the TM tissue.

Objective:To explore the effect of specific inhibitor of Smad3 (SIS3) on glucocorticoid-induced ocular hypertension in mice and its possible mechanism.Methods:Fifty-one eight-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, dexamethasone group and SIS3 group by the random number table method, with 17 mice in each group.Mice in the control group were injected with 20 μl 2 % polyvinyl alcohol into the conjunctival fornix every week for 4 weeks.Mice in the dexamethasone group and SIS3 group were injected with 20 μl 10 mg/ml dexamethasone acetate every week and SIS3 group was treated with additional 100 μg/ml SIS3 nanomicelle eye drops 3 times daily for up to 4 weeks.Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured weekly using Icare rebound tonometer.Mice were sacrificed 4 weeks after treatment, and the eyeballs were removed.Morphology of trabecular meshwork (TM) tissues were detected by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining.The collagen deposition area in TM tissues were examined by Masson staining.Fibronectin (FN) and collagen type Ⅰ (Col-1) in the extracellular matrix of TM tissue were detected by immunofluorescence staining.TM tissues were obtained from donated patients, and primary human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMCs) were obtained by culture.The expression level of myocilin in dexamethasone-induced HTMCs was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot for cell identification.Primary HTMCs were divided into normal control group, dexamethasone group and SIS3 group cultured with normal culture medium, medium containing 400 nmol/L dexamethasone, medium containing 400 nmol/L dexamethasone+ 10 μmol/L SIS3 for 48 hours, respectively.The expression levels of FN, Col-1 and p-Smad3/Smad3 proteins were measured by Western blot.The use and care of animals complied with the ARVO statement.This study protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Zhengzhou University (No.ZZU-LA20220729).The collection of TM tissue specimens complied with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Henan Provincial Eye Hospital (No.HNEECKY-2022[18]).The patients knew the purpose of the experiment and signed the informed consent forms.Results:There was a significant overall difference in IOP among the three groups at different time points after administration ( Fgroup=72.94, P<0.001; Ftime=33.19, P<0.001).Compared with baseline, IOP was increased in the dexamethasone group at each time point after administration, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.001).The IOP of the control and SIS3 groups at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 were significantly lower than that of the dexamethasone group (all P<0.001).HE staining showed that the iridocorneal angles of all groups were open with similar morphology of the TM structure.Masson staining showed that the positive expression area of collagen in the control group, dexamethasone group and SIS3 group was (9.57±2.91)%, (27.75±5.88)% and (11.67±3.78)%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference among the three groups ( F=25.91, P<0.001), and the positive expression area of collagen was significantly lower in the control group and SIS3 group than in the dexamethasone group (all P<0.001).The fluorescence expression level of FN in the control group, dexamethasone group and SIS3 group was 8.00±1.92, 14.01±2.74 and 7.85±0.64, respectively, and the fluorescence expression level of Col-1 was 6.90±1.16, 14.36±3.19 and 4.90±0.88, respectively, with statistically significant differences among the three groups ( F=15.93, 30.29; both P<0.001), and the fluorescence expression levels of FN and Col-1 were significantly lower in the control group and SIS3 group than in the dexamethasone group (all P<0.01).Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot showed that the cultured primary cells expressed myocilin and the expression level of myocilin was significantly increased after dexamethasone induction, which was identified as HTMCs.There were statistically significant differences in the relative expression levels of FN, Col-1, and p-Smad3/Smad3 proteins among different groups of cells ( F=8.22, 23.08, 8.78; all P<0.05), and the relative expression levels of FN, Col-1, and p-Smad3/Smad3 proteins were significantly lower in the control group and SIS3 group than in the dexamethasone group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:SIS3 reduces IOP by inhibiting p-Smad3, reducing extracellular matrix deposition in TM, and reducing fibrosis in the TM tissue.

Objective:To explore the clinical manifestations and genetic characteristics of Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) to improve the ability of diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the disease.Methods:The clinical features and auxiliary examinations and treatment of a proband with WHS caused by microdeletion of 4p16.3 segment who admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in December 2021 were recorded, and whole exome sequencing (WES) of the family was performed. The prognosis was followed up.Results:The female proband, 11 months old, presented with convulsions at the age of 8 months, with the characteristics of heat sensitivity and cluster seizures, and her identical twin sister had a similar medical history. Physical examination found malnutrition, retarded development, special face, prominent forehead, wide nasal bridge, small jaw, precordial murmur and grade 3/6 murmur in the whole period, hyperactivity of P2, and low limb muscle tone. The whole exon and copy number variation (CNV) test of the family revealed that the proband had a 1.99 Mb heterozygous deletion in the chromosome 4p16.3 segment, including WHSC1 (NSD2), WHSC2 (NEFLA) and other genes. Copy number variation sequencing (CNV-Seq) of the proband and her sister showed 1.97 and 1.92 Mb heterozygous deletion of chromosome 4p16.3, respectively. Genealogical analysis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that the CNV was de novo, and it was determined to be a pathogenic variant according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. The proband took sodium valproate orally, and her sister took oral sodium valproate, zonisamide, and levetiracetam successively, and at the same time they received family rehabilitation training. The age at the last follow-up was 1 year and 8 months. Neither of them had convulsions again in the past 3 months, but the developmental delay was obvious. Conclusion:WHS patients may present with growth retardation, epilepsy, Greek warrior helmet-like special face, and congenital heart disease, and may have microdeletions in the chromosome 4p16.3 segment.

Objective To investigate the effects of glycosaminoglycans (HGAG) on the immune function of peripheral blood cells from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods Peripheral blood monouclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from peripheral blood of 40 healthy people (healthy group) and 30 tuberculosis patients (tuberculosis group) and cocultured with HGAG in vitro for 24 hours.Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of CD45RA and CD45RO,as well as the expression of CD1a and CD83.Results The results showed that the expression of CD45RA and CD45RO in the tuberculosis group was the most significant (P ＜ 0.05) at the concentration of 50 μg/m coculturing with HGAG.The expression of CD45RA and CD45RO were most obvious in the healthy group at the concentration of 10 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml respectively (P ＜0.001).The difference of CD45RA between the two groups was no significant (P ＞0.05),while the difference of CD45RO was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01) before co-culturing.The expression of CD45RA and CD45RO at 10 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml after co-culturing with HGAG were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).There was no statistical difference in CD1a and CD83 in healthy group before and after co-culturing (P ＞ 0.05),while there was statistically difference (P ＜ 0.05) before and after culturing in tuberculosis group.Before co-culturing,there was no significant difference in the expression of CD1a between the healthy group and the tuberculosis group (P ＞ 0.05),but CD83 expression was statistically different (P ＜ 0.001).After co-culturing,there were no significant differences in CD1a and CD83 expression between healthy and healthy groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions HGAG can down-regulate the expression of CD45RA and up-regulate the expression of CD45RO in a certain concentration range,and promote the maturation of dendritic cells (DC) in tuberculosis patients and regulate the cellular immunity of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in vitro.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effects of radioactive 125I seeds on the growth and apoptosis of human lung adenocarcinoma cells A 549 in nude mice.Methods Human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells were cultured in vitro and subcutaneously transplanted in BALA/c nude mice.When the tumor size reached(300 ±50)mm3,40 tumor-bearing mice were divided into 4 groups by the random number table method as 0,0.6,0.8 mCi(1 Ci＝3.7×1010Bq)groups and blank control group,with 10 in each group.The 125I seeds of 0,0.6,and 0.8 mCi were implanted into the transplanted tumors in nude mouse,respectively.The blank control group received no treatment.The weight of nude mice was measured regularly every 4 days.The mice were sacrificed on the 32 days after 125I seeds implication.The transplanted tumors were weighed and the weight gain curve for nude mice was plotted.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of the tumor tissue.Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay,and the expressions of the P21,Caspase-9,Survivin and Livin proteins were detected by immunohistochemical assay.Results There was no nude mice dead in each group.On the day 28 and 32 after 125I seeds treatment,the body weights of nude mice of 0.6 and 0.8 mCi groups became lighter than those of the blank control group(q＝4.26,9.19,4.11,11.59,P＜0.05),the tumor weights of the 0.6 and 0.8 mCi groups were significantly decreased(q＝5.021,5.692,P＜0.05)with tumor inhibition rates of about 49％and 62％.In the 0.6 and 0.8 mCi groups,a large number of tumor cells degenerated to be necrotic cells.In addition,the apoptotic indexes were(50.00 ±2.58)％and(62.33 ± 4.51)％in the 0.6 and 0.8 mCi groups,respectively,and higher than that of blank control group(27.00 ±4.69)％.The expressions of P21 and Caspase-9 proteins in the 0.6 and 0.8 mCi groups were significantly higher than that in the blank control group(χ2＝11.380,24.310,11.380,20.376,P＜0.05).The expressions of Survivin and Livin proteins in the 0.6 and 0.8 mCi groups was significantly lower than that in the blank control group(χ2＝9.643,23.254,15.429,26.667,P＜0.05).Conclusions Radioactive 125I seeds can inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and promote the apoptosis of A 549 cells probably by up-regulating the expressions of P21 and Caspase-9 but down-regulating the expressions of Survivin and Livin.

Objective To investigate the long-term outcome of radical prostatectomy (RP) in the patients with incidental prostate cancer (IPCa) detected by surgery of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and to evaluate the risk factors for residual tumour after BPH surgery and biochemical recurrence in patients with IPCa treated with RP.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and follow-up data of 45 patients with IPCa detected by surgery of BPH and undergoing RP from January 2004 to October 2016.The age,PSA before and after BPH surgery,prostate volume,T stage and Gleason score after the BPH surgery,T stage at RP (pT0,pT2,pT3),Gleason score at RP and status of biochemical recurrence were recorded.Multivariate logistic regression analysis addressed the association between the factors and the presence of residual cancer after the surgery for BPH.Cox regression was used to analyzed the relationship between the factors and the rate of biochemical recurrence after RP.Results Among 45 IPCa patients,21 patients were stage T1a and 24 were stage T1b.After RP,7 (15.6％) patients had no residual tumor (pT0).PSA before BPH surgery (RR =2.58,95％ CI 1.27-5.42,P =0.04),PSA after BPH surgery (RR =4.26,95％ CI 2.57-7.64,P =0.01) and Gleason score after BPH surgery (RR =3.98,95％ CI 1.85-5.77,P =0.02) were significant associated factors with the residual cancer after BPH surgery.With a mean follow-up of 54 months(ranging 5-144 months),the 5-and 10-years.biochemical recurrence-free survival rates were 95.6％ and 86.7％,respectively.PSA after surgery for BPH (RR =4.79,95％ CI 2.57-7.64,P =0.02) and Gleason score after RP(RR =2.01,95％ CI 1.74-5.21,P =0.04) were the only independent risk factors for biochemical recurrence.Stage (T1a-T1b) did not predict residual cancer or the rate of biochemical recurrence (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions RP in the patients with IPCa detected by BPH surgery had a good outcome of long-term oncological control.PSA before and after BPH surgery and Gleason score at BPH surgery were the significant associated factors of residual cancer after BPH surgery.PSA after BPH surgery and Gleason score at RP were the only independent risk factors for biochemical recurrence.

The clinical features of 172 female and 1 067 male residents with gout in the coastal regions of Shandong province were analyzed.The results showed that as compared with male patients the onset of gout occurred at an older age in the female patients,and there were less obesity and tophi as well as less alcohol consumption and medication needed in the female patients.However,comorbidity with diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease,as well as involvement of upper limb and other metatarsophalangeal joints were more prevalent in the female patients.

Objective To study the antitumor effect and the mechanism of the polysaccharide from Gloipeltis furcata on H_(22),tumor bearing mice.Methods The polysaccharides from Gloipeltis furcata were administered by oral route in mice bearing H_(22) tumor.The treatments lasted for 7 days.The inhibition rate against H_(22) tumor and the indices of thymus, spleen and liver were measured.In addition,the levels of antibodies against H_(22) tumor and GPT in serum,and GPT,GOT,MDA and SOD in liver were measured using commercially available kits.Results The administration of the polysaccharides from Gloipeltis furcata(200 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) and 400 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) ) for 7 days,the inhibition rates of H_(22) tumor were 35.64%(P