ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodoutang （MLC） improves obesity-type polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway. MethodsThirty-six female Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a blank control group （Con） and an obesity-type PCOS model preparation group. The model was induced by gavage with letrozole （1 mg·kg^-1） combined with a high-fat diet （HFD）. After model establishment， the obesity-type PCOS model preparation group was further divided into the model group （Mod， normal saline）， metformin group （Met， 0.3 g·kg^-1）， low-dose MLC group （MLC-L， 4.3 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose MLC group （MLC-M， 8.6 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose MLC group （MLC-H， 17.2 g·kg^-1）. Active components of MLC and targets of obesity-type PCOS were screened from databases， a protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was constructed， and gene ontology（GO）and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis was performed. The gut microbiota structure was analyzed based on 16S rRNA sequencing and correlated with network pharmacology pathways. Body weight and estrous cycle were dynamically monitored. Ovarian morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect levels of follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， anti-Müllerian hormone （AMH）， testosterone （T）， and estradiol （E₂）. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of phosphorylated PI3K/PI3K （p-PI3K/PI3K）， phosphorylated Akt/Akt （p-Akt/Akt）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）. ResultsNetwork pharmacology screening identified 124 active components of MLC and 408 overlapping targets between the herbal formula and the disease. Core targets such as Akt1 and Bcl-2 were revealed. As indicated by 16S rRNA sequencing， the abundances of Lachnospiraceae， Lachnoclostridium， and Dorea were increased in the MLC groups （P<0.05）， while the abundance of Veillonella was decreased （P<0.05）. KEGG correlation analysis integrating network pharmacology and gut microbiota data showed significant enrichment of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Animal experiments showed that， compared with the Mod group， body weight decreased to normal levels in the Met， MLC-M， and MLC-H groups. The estrous cycle became regular. The number of corpora lutea increased and cystic follicles decreased. Serum levels of T， FSH， and LH/FSH were reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the E₂ level was increased （P<0.01）. Ovarian cell apoptosis was reduced （P<0.01）， and the protein expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K， p-Akt/Akt， and Bcl-2 in ovarian tissue were significantly increased， whereas Bax protein expression was significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionMLC can regulate gut microbiota structure， effectively improve ovarian pathology in rats with obesity-type PCOS， and inhibit ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis. The mechanism may be associated with upregulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodoutang （MLC） improves obesity-type polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway. MethodsThirty-six female Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a blank control group （Con） and an obesity-type PCOS model preparation group. The model was induced by gavage with letrozole （1 mg·kg^-1） combined with a high-fat diet （HFD）. After model establishment， the obesity-type PCOS model preparation group was further divided into the model group （Mod， normal saline）， metformin group （Met， 0.3 g·kg^-1）， low-dose MLC group （MLC-L， 4.3 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose MLC group （MLC-M， 8.6 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose MLC group （MLC-H， 17.2 g·kg^-1）. Active components of MLC and targets of obesity-type PCOS were screened from databases， a protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was constructed， and gene ontology（GO）and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis was performed. The gut microbiota structure was analyzed based on 16S rRNA sequencing and correlated with network pharmacology pathways. Body weight and estrous cycle were dynamically monitored. Ovarian morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect levels of follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， anti-Müllerian hormone （AMH）， testosterone （T）， and estradiol （E₂）. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of phosphorylated PI3K/PI3K （p-PI3K/PI3K）， phosphorylated Akt/Akt （p-Akt/Akt）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）. ResultsNetwork pharmacology screening identified 124 active components of MLC and 408 overlapping targets between the herbal formula and the disease. Core targets such as Akt1 and Bcl-2 were revealed. As indicated by 16S rRNA sequencing， the abundances of Lachnospiraceae， Lachnoclostridium， and Dorea were increased in the MLC groups （P<0.05）， while the abundance of Veillonella was decreased （P<0.05）. KEGG correlation analysis integrating network pharmacology and gut microbiota data showed significant enrichment of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Animal experiments showed that， compared with the Mod group， body weight decreased to normal levels in the Met， MLC-M， and MLC-H groups. The estrous cycle became regular. The number of corpora lutea increased and cystic follicles decreased. Serum levels of T， FSH， and LH/FSH were reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the E₂ level was increased （P<0.01）. Ovarian cell apoptosis was reduced （P<0.01）， and the protein expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K， p-Akt/Akt， and Bcl-2 in ovarian tissue were significantly increased， whereas Bax protein expression was significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionMLC can regulate gut microbiota structure， effectively improve ovarian pathology in rats with obesity-type PCOS， and inhibit ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis. The mechanism may be associated with upregulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Objective: To explore the current status and influencing factors of eating behaviors in adolescents, so as to provide a theoretical foundation for health promotion education among adolescents. Methods: Based on the database from Survey of Chinese Family Health Index (2021), by a random number table method, 1 065 teenagers were selected from the provincial capitals of 22 provinces and 5 autonomous regions in China, as well as 4 municipalities directly under the central government. A general characteristic questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Short Form of the Family Health Scale (FHS-SF), 10-item Short Version of the Big Five Personality(BFP-10), Content-based Media Exposure Scale (CM-E) and Sakata Eating Behavior Scale Short Form(EBS-SF) were used to collect information. Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis was employed to identify and analyze related factors of eating behaviors among adolescents. Receiver operating characteristic was used to validate the predictive ability of the EBS-SF score for overweight and obesity among adolescents. Results: The average scores of BFI-10,C-ME, FHS-SF, PHQ-9 and EBS-SF were (33.08±4.64)(19.20±4.55)(38.48±6.65)(6.09±5.63)(16.75±4.36), respectively. Multivariate linear regression showed that family type (other types), agreeableness, conscientiousness, family health and depression were the main related factors of EBS-SF scores among adolescents( B =2.61,-0.42,0.20,-0.11,0.23, P <0.05).The analysis of receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the EBS-SF scores had a good ability in predicting obesity among male adolescents ( AUC= 0.73, P <0.01). Conclusions Family type, big five personality, family health,depression are the related factors of eating behaviors among adolescents. EBS-SF scores are predictive of obesity in adolescents, which would provide a new perspective for promoting healthy eating habits among adolescents.

Objective:To evaluate the predictive value of proximal ureteral diameter (D1)to distal ureteral diameter (D2)ratio (DDR) for impacted stones in the middle and upper ureter.Methods:The clinical data of 173 patients with middle and upper ureteral calculi admitted to the Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2014 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 75 males and 98 females, with the median age of 56.0 (51.0, 62.0) years old and median body mass index of 26.1 (24.8, 27.2) kg/m 2. The imaging data of the patients were analyzed. The impacted stones were defined as the inability of the contrast agent to pass through the site of obstruction when intravenous urography or CT urography was performed, resulting in the inability of the ureter to visualize normally in parts below the site of obstruction. D1 was defined as the proximal ureteral diameter at the lower pole of the kidney on horizontal CT images. D2 was defined as the ureteral diameter 3 cm from the calculi. The stone diameter, stone CT value, D1, D2, and DDR were compared between impacted stone group and non-impacted stone group. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the different indicators. Random number table was used to divide the training set and validation set according to the ratio of 7∶3. Through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO) regression analysis, the independent influencing factors were obtained and the nomogram model was established (Model 1). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to verify the predictive efficacy of the model, and the other three effective models (Model 2-4) were constructed by stepwise multivariate logistic regression. The deLong test was used to compare whether there was a significant difference in the AUC between Model 1 and the other three models, and the net benefit of patients was analyzed by clinical decision curve analysis(DCA). Results:In this study, 64 cases (37.0%) were impacted ureteral calculi and 109 cases (63.0%) were non-impacted ureteral calculi, and there were significant differences in diameter[7.8(6.2, 8.8)mm vs. 6.3(5.2, 8.1)mm] , CT value[878.5(763.8, 940.5)HU vs.764.0 (613.0, 854.0) HU], D1[11.1(8.9, 14.9) mm vs. 9.1(7.1, 10.8) mm], D2[4.1(3.1, 4.9) mm vs. 5.0(4.1, 5.9) mm] and DDR[3.1(2.3, 3.9) vs. 1.8(1.4, 2.4)] between the two groups( P < 0.05). The results of univariate logistic regression analysis showed that stone diameter ( OR = 1.333, P < 0.001), CT value ( OR = 1.002, P=0.002), D1 ( OR = 1.146, P<0.001), D2 ( OR = 0.652, P < 0.001) and DDR ( OR = 2.995, P<0.001) were the influencing factors of impacted stones. The training set and validation set included 122 cases and 51 cases, respectively, without significant differences in their image characteristics and outcomes ( P > 0.05). The results of LASSO regression analysis showed that λ corresponding to the simplest result in the optimal range was 0.0908, and three variables were included at this time, and the influencing factors of impacted stones were stone diameter (coefficient 0.0700, OR = 1.073), CT value (coefficient 0.0003, OR = 1.001) and DDR (coefficient 0.5960, OR = 1.815). Moreover, Model 1 was established. According to the model fitting results, ROC curves were plotted, and the AUC of Model 1 was 0.862, and the AUCs of Model 2-4 were 0.859, 0.762, and 0.793, respectively. After deLong test, there was no significant difference between Model 1 and Model 2 ( Z = 0.248, P = 0.804). The AUC of Model 1 was superior to that of Model 3 ( Z = 2.888, P = 0.004) and Model 4 ( Z = 2.321, P = 0.020). The DCA suggested that Model 1 could improve the net benefit rate by up to approximately 21% of patients. Conclusions:DDR is the influencing factor of impacted ureteral calculi, and the model constructed by DDR, stone CT value and stone diameter can effectively predict the probability of impacted ureteral calculi in the middle and upper ureter.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence and development of lung cancer are closely linked to epigenetic modification. Abnormal DNA methylation in the CpG island region of genes has been found in many cancers. Protein kinase C delta binding protein (PRKCDBP) is a potential tumor suppressor and its epigenetic changes are found in many human malignancies. This study investigated the possibility of PRKCDBP methylation as a potential biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We measured the methylation levels of PRKCDBP in the three groups of NSCLC tissues. Promoter activity was measured by the dual luciferase assay, with 5'-aza-deoxycytidine to examine the effect of demethylation on the expression level of PRKCDBP. RESULTS: The methylation levels of PRKCDBP in tumor tissues and 3 cm para-tumor were higher than those of distant (>10 cm) non-tumor tissues. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis between tumor tissues and distant non-tumor tissues showed that the area under the line (AUC) was 0.717. Dual luciferase experiment confirmed that the promoter region was able to promote gene expression. Meanwhile, in vitro methylation of the fragment (PRKCDBP_Me) could significantly reduce the promoter activity of the fragment. Demethylation of 5'-aza-deoxycytidine in lung cancer cell lines A549 and H1299 showed a significant up-regulation of PRKCDBP mRNA levels. CONCLUSIONS PRKCDBP methylation is a potential and promising candidate biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer.
Biomarkers/metabolism* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of MELD combined with serum sodium concentration (MELD-Na) in predicting the short-term outcome of patients with HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) in China. MethodsPubMed, Embase, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang Data were searched for related articles in English and Chinese published from January 2006 to March 2018. The second version of Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) was used to evaluate the quality of each article. The presence or absence of threshold effect was examined. According to the presence or absence of heterogeneity, a random effect model or a fixed effect model was used for pooling sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated. The Deek’s funnel plot asymmetry test was used to investigate the presence or absence of publication bias. ResultsA total of eight studies were included, with a total of 1386 patients, among whom there were 1173 (84.6%) male patients. The mean age of the patients included in these studies ranged from 41.3 to 46.9 years. The tests for heterogeneity showed significant heterogeneity between studies and a random effect model was used for pooling. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and DOR were 0.67 (95% confidence interval ［CI］: 0.59-0.75), 0.77 (95%CI: 0.63-0.87), 2.89 (95%CI: 1.84-4.54), 0.43 (95%CI: 0.35-0.52), and 7.32 (95%CI: 4.33-12.40), respectively. The AUC was 0.75 (95CI: 0.72-0.79). The Deek’s funnel plot asymmetry test showed no significant publication bias. ConclusionMELD-Na score has a certain value in predicting the short-term outcome of patients with HBV-related ACLF in China.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of serum homocysteine in the diagnosis of colon cancer.Methods The performance rate method was used to detect the level of serum homocysteine(Hcy) in colon cancer group(50 cases) who were treated in Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from March 2011 to June 2016 and control group(50 cases).The expression of independent samples t test was used to analysis of the difference of the Hcy levels between the two groups.The ROC curve was used to evaluate the value of Hcy in diagnosis of colon cancer.Results The serum Hcy level in colon cancer group was (18.6±8.9) μmol/L,in healthy control group was (10.7±4.3) μmol/L,colon cancer group serum Hcy levels were significantly higher than those of healthy control group,there was significant difference(t=5.627,P<0.01).AUC of ROC curve was 0.775,cut-off value of 18.5 μmol/L,sensitivity was 0.50,specificity was 0.94,95%CI was 0.682-0.868(P<0.01).Conclusion Serum Hcy can be used as a reference index of the diagnosis of colon cancer.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of serum pepsinogen (PG) in gastric cancer screening. Methods The clinical data of 930 patients underwent colonoscopy were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, non chronic atrophic gastritis was in 550 cases (chronic atrophic gastritis group), chronic atrophic gastritis in 300 cases (chronic atrophic gastritis group), gastric cancer in 80 cases (gastric cancer group). The patients in chronic atrophic gastritis group were divided into mild chronic atrophic gastritis subgroup (100 cases), moderate chronic atrophic gastritis subgroup (120 cases) and severe chronic atrophic gastritis subgroup (80 cases) according to the severity of the atrophy. The levels of serum PGⅠand PGⅡwere detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, and the ratio of PGⅠand PGⅡ(PGR) was calculated. Results There was no statistical difference in PGⅡ among the 3 groups (F = 1.226, P>0.05). The PG Ⅰand PGR in gastric cancer group were significantly lower than those in chronic atrophic gastritis and non chronic atrophic gastritis:(70.41 ± 39.42)μg/L vs. (83.10 ± 30.08) and (165.5 ± 41.40)μg/L, 3.76 ± 2.03 vs. 5.08 ± 1.82 and 6.84 ± 1.88, those in chronic atrophic gastritis were significantly lower than those in non chronic atrophic gastritis group, there were statistical differences (P<0.05). The PG Ⅰand PGR in mild and moderate chronic atrophic gastritis subgroup were significantly higher than those in severe chronic atrophic gastritis subgroup and gastric cancer group:(95.50 ± 30.80) and (82.10 ± 31.42)μg/L vs. (70.12 ± 20.12) and (70.41 ± 39.42) μg/L, 5.84 ± 2.88 and 5.08 ± 1.89 vs. 3.90 ± 2.78 and 3.76 ± 2.03, there were statistical differences (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference between severe chronic atrophic gastritis subgroup and gastric cancer group (P>0.05), and there was no statistical difference between mild chronic atrophic gastritis subgroup and moderate chronic atrophic gastritis subgroup (P>0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used, the optimal critical value of PG Ⅰ was 74.8μg/L, the area under curve (AUC) was 0.842, the sensitivity was 90%, specificity was 75%;the optimal critical value of PGR was 4.46, AUC was 0.837, the sensitivity was 75%, specificity was 82%;the AUC of combined detection of PG Ⅰ and PGR was 0.906, the sensitivity was 88%, specificity was 85%. Conclusions Detection of PG Ⅰ combined with PGR can be used as gastric cancer screening, the recommended level of PGⅠ≤74.80μg/L and PGR≤4.46.

Objective: To investigate the relationship among depression, anxiety, stress and addictive substance use behavior in secondary vocational students. Methods: Cluster sampling method and the Adolescent Health-related Behaviors Questionnaire were used to collect demographic characteristics, psychological symptoms, and addictive substance usage among 5 935 students in nine vocational schools in Chongqing, Zhaoqing, Ningbo, and Taiyuan. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the addictive substance use behavior and psychological factors. Results: The detection rates of depression, anxiety and stress were 46.5% (n=2 762), 58.7% (n=3 483), and 29.8% (n= 1 770), respectively. The prevalence of addictive substances was 74.8% (n=4 440), traditional drugs was 0.8% (n=50), new drugs was 2.8% (n=166), other addictive drugs was 4.1% (n=241). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the normal psychological states of secondary vocational students, the OR value of mild depression tendency alcohol and tobacco use behavior of secondary vocational students was 1.45; the OR values of mild anxiety, moderate anxiety, severe anxiety and very serious anxiety were 1.46, 1.46, 1.71, and 1.83, respectively; the traditional drugs use behaviors were 5.51, and 2.61, respectively, for the severe anxiety and very serious anxiety. Compared with the normal psychological state of secondary vocational students, the OR values of the severe anxiety and very severe anxiety were 2.56, and 2.66, respectively, for severe anxiety and very serious anxiety. Compared with normal psychological status of secondary vocational students, the OR values of mild, moderate, severe, and very severe anxiety were 2.14, 2.47, 2.39, and 3.45, respectively; all P values <0.05. Conclusion Anxiety and mild depression were risk factors of tobacco and alcohol use in secondary vocational students; severe and above anxiety were the risk factors of drug use in secondary vocational students; anxiety was the risk factor for other addictive drug use in secondary vocational students.

Objective To investigate the effects of bone morphogenetic protein-7 ( BMP7 ) on insulin signaling transduction in C2C12 myotubes and HepG2 hepatocytes, and the underlying mechanisms were studied preliminarily.Methods The C2C12 myotubes and HepG2 cells were treated with BMP7 at different concentrations.The insulin signal transduction was analyzed by Western blot.Meanwhile, total RNA was extracted and quantitative PCR was employed for detecting the effects of BMP7 on gene expressions of effectors involved in insulin signal pathway.Furthermore, JNK signal pathway was also measured.Results The protein levels of p-IR, p-Akt and p-GSK3β, as well as glucose uptake, were significantly stimulated by insulin in the C2C12 myotubes and HepG2 cells.However, these stimulations induced by insulin were largely attenuated by BMP7.The mRNA levels of Akt1, Igf1r, Insr, and Irs1 were not altered by the treatment of BMP7.The JNK signal pathway was activated by a 5-min exposure of BMP7 in the HepG2 cells, and this activation was gradually reduced along with the treating time.Conclusion BMP7 attenuates the insulin signal transduction in the HepG2 cells and C2C12 myotubes, and this attenuation effect may be through JNK activation.