Background and purpose:Members of the serine protease inhibitor(SERPIN)family can influence tumorigenesis,progression,and prognosis by modulating processes such as apoptosis,invasion,metastasis,and angiogenesis in tumor cells.However,their role in pancreatic cancer remains unclear.This study aimed to investigate the impact of high expression of serine protease inhibitor A3(SERPINA3)on the proliferation,apoptosis,migration,and chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer cells and its mechanism.Methods:This study analyzed the SERPINA3 expression levels in the normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cell line hTERT-HPNE and pancreatic cancer cell lines SW1990,Capan-1,PANC-1,and ASPC-1 by real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).We established gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines PANC-1/R and ASPC-1/R,and used qRT-PCR assay and cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)to determine the SERPINA3 expression levels in the constructed resistant cell lines and their parental sensitive cell lines,as well as the differences in their chemosensitivity to gemcitabine.We constructed the SERPINA3-knockdown cell line si-SERPINA with siRNA,and the negative control group si-SERPINA#NC with siRNA negative control.We used MDA assay,CCK-8 assay,EdU cell proliferation assay,transwell migration assay,matrigel invasion assay,scratch assay,and apoptotic assay to respectively detect the lipid oxidation levels,proliferation,migration,invasion,wound-healing ability,and the influence on apoptosis of the gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells in the si-SERPINA group and the si-SERPINA#NC group.Results:Compared with normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cells hTERT-HPNE,the expression level of SERPINA3 in various pancreatic cancer cell lines was significantly increased(P＜0.05).mRNA and protein expression levels of SERPINA3 in PANC-1/R and ASPC-1/R were significantly increased compared with those in parent cells(P＜0.001).When SERPINA3 was knocked down in PANC-1/R and ASPC-1/R cells,the survival rate of the cells under different concentrations of gemcitabine chemotherapy decreased,and MDA detected that the lipid oxidation level was increased(P＜0.001).In addition,the proliferation rate of PANC-1/R and ASPC-1/R cell lines with SERPINA3 knockout,the number of migrating/invading cells and the healing rate of scratch test were significantly decreased(P＜0.01),and flow cytometry demonstrated that the number of apoptotic cells was increased(P＜0.05).These results suggest that SERPINA3 knockdown can inhibit the proliferation,migration,invasion and wound healing ability of gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells,and promote the apoptosis of these resistant cells.Conclusion:SERPINA3 overexpression was found in various pancreatic cancer cells.SERPINA3 overexpression promoted malignant progression and chemotherapy resistance of pancreatic cancer,and interference with SERPINA3 expression promoted ferroptosis and enhanced chemotherapy sensitivity of gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells.

Objective To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of Kanggan Mixture(KGM)on key targets in rats with acute lung injury,network pharmacology and in vivo micro-CT experiments were employed.Methods Network pharmacology was utilized to forecast the target genes and principal pathways involved in the intervention of KGM in acute lung injury(ALI).Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced ALI rat models were utilized,and micro-computed tomography(micro-CT)was employed to evaluate the extent of lung injury in vivo.Experiments were conducted to verify the intervention mechanism of KGM on ALI rats.Results The findings revealed that 190 chemical constituents were identified from KGM,and 579 potential targets and 204 pathways associated with KGM's impact on ALI were predicted.The principal components of KGM,such as quercetin,luteolin,kaempferol,betulin,and lupenone,exhibit anti-viral,anti-inflammatory,and immunomodulatory properties by targeting TP53,AKT1,SRC,EP300,and STAT3,and modulating the FoxO signaling pathway,TNF signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,and MAPK signaling pathway,demonstrating an influence on acute lung injury.Micro-CT results suggest that KGM can improve lung texture enhancement and lung injury in ALI rats,with an increase in end-expiratory lung volume(inspiratory phase-expiratory phase).The HE and W/D ratio results indicate that KGM can improve lung tissue injury and reduce the lung tissue wet/dry weight ratio(P<0.01).Blood cell analysis results show that the anti-inflammatory agent can decrease the WBC(white blood cell count)and N%(neutrophil percentage)in ALI rats'blood(P<0.01),and increase lymphocytes(P<0.05).Real-time quantitative PCR,WES,and immunohistochemistry results suggest that KGM can decrease the mRNA expression,protein distribution,and protein expression levels of TP53,AKT1,SRC,EP300,and STAT3 in lung tissue of ALI rats(P<0.05).Conclusion KGM has a certain intervention effect on acute lung injury,mainly achieved through the core targets STAT3,EP300,SRC,AKT1,and TP53.

Objective To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of Kanggan Mixture(KGM)on key targets in rats with acute lung injury,network pharmacology and in vivo micro-CT experiments were employed.Methods Network pharmacology was utilized to forecast the target genes and principal pathways involved in the intervention of KGM in acute lung injury(ALI).Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced ALI rat models were utilized,and micro-computed tomography(micro-CT)was employed to evaluate the extent of lung injury in vivo.Experiments were conducted to verify the intervention mechanism of KGM on ALI rats.Results The findings revealed that 190 chemical constituents were identified from KGM,and 579 potential targets and 204 pathways associated with KGM's impact on ALI were predicted.The principal components of KGM,such as quercetin,luteolin,kaempferol,betulin,and lupenone,exhibit anti-viral,anti-inflammatory,and immunomodulatory properties by targeting TP53,AKT1,SRC,EP300,and STAT3,and modulating the FoxO signaling pathway,TNF signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,and MAPK signaling pathway,demonstrating an influence on acute lung injury.Micro-CT results suggest that KGM can improve lung texture enhancement and lung injury in ALI rats,with an increase in end-expiratory lung volume(inspiratory phase-expiratory phase).The HE and W/D ratio results indicate that KGM can improve lung tissue injury and reduce the lung tissue wet/dry weight ratio(P<0.01).Blood cell analysis results show that the anti-inflammatory agent can decrease the WBC(white blood cell count)and N%(neutrophil percentage)in ALI rats'blood(P<0.01),and increase lymphocytes(P<0.05).Real-time quantitative PCR,WES,and immunohistochemistry results suggest that KGM can decrease the mRNA expression,protein distribution,and protein expression levels of TP53,AKT1,SRC,EP300,and STAT3 in lung tissue of ALI rats(P<0.05).Conclusion KGM has a certain intervention effect on acute lung injury,mainly achieved through the core targets STAT3,EP300,SRC,AKT1,and TP53.

Background and purpose:Members of the serine protease inhibitor(SERPIN)family can influence tumorigenesis,progression,and prognosis by modulating processes such as apoptosis,invasion,metastasis,and angiogenesis in tumor cells.However,their role in pancreatic cancer remains unclear.This study aimed to investigate the impact of high expression of serine protease inhibitor A3(SERPINA3)on the proliferation,apoptosis,migration,and chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer cells and its mechanism.Methods:This study analyzed the SERPINA3 expression levels in the normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cell line hTERT-HPNE and pancreatic cancer cell lines SW1990,Capan-1,PANC-1,and ASPC-1 by real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).We established gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines PANC-1/R and ASPC-1/R,and used qRT-PCR assay and cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)to determine the SERPINA3 expression levels in the constructed resistant cell lines and their parental sensitive cell lines,as well as the differences in their chemosensitivity to gemcitabine.We constructed the SERPINA3-knockdown cell line si-SERPINA with siRNA,and the negative control group si-SERPINA#NC with siRNA negative control.We used MDA assay,CCK-8 assay,EdU cell proliferation assay,transwell migration assay,matrigel invasion assay,scratch assay,and apoptotic assay to respectively detect the lipid oxidation levels,proliferation,migration,invasion,wound-healing ability,and the influence on apoptosis of the gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells in the si-SERPINA group and the si-SERPINA#NC group.Results:Compared with normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cells hTERT-HPNE,the expression level of SERPINA3 in various pancreatic cancer cell lines was significantly increased(P＜0.05).mRNA and protein expression levels of SERPINA3 in PANC-1/R and ASPC-1/R were significantly increased compared with those in parent cells(P＜0.001).When SERPINA3 was knocked down in PANC-1/R and ASPC-1/R cells,the survival rate of the cells under different concentrations of gemcitabine chemotherapy decreased,and MDA detected that the lipid oxidation level was increased(P＜0.001).In addition,the proliferation rate of PANC-1/R and ASPC-1/R cell lines with SERPINA3 knockout,the number of migrating/invading cells and the healing rate of scratch test were significantly decreased(P＜0.01),and flow cytometry demonstrated that the number of apoptotic cells was increased(P＜0.05).These results suggest that SERPINA3 knockdown can inhibit the proliferation,migration,invasion and wound healing ability of gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells,and promote the apoptosis of these resistant cells.Conclusion:SERPINA3 overexpression was found in various pancreatic cancer cells.SERPINA3 overexpression promoted malignant progression and chemotherapy resistance of pancreatic cancer,and interference with SERPINA3 expression promoted ferroptosis and enhanced chemotherapy sensitivity of gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells.

Objective To observe the value of artificial intelligence(AI)knowledge graph and image classification for quality control(QC)of chest posterior-anterior position X-ray radiograph(abbreviated as chest film).Methods Totally 9 236 chest films from 595 medical institutions in Anhui province imaging cloud platform were retrospectively enrolled.QC knowledge graph containing 21 classification labels were constructed.Firstly,QC of chest films based on the above knowledge graph were performed by 10 technicians for 2 rounds of single person and 1 round of multi person,and the results were recorded as A,B and C,respectively.Then AI algorithms were used to classify and evaluate based on knowledge graph,and the result was recorded as D.Finally,a QC expert reviewed results C and D to determine the final QC results and taken those as references to analyze the efficiency of the above 4 QC.Results The area under the curve(AUC)of AI algorithm for QC of chest films were all ≥0.780,with an average value of 0.939.The average precision of QC for chest films of A,B,C and D was 81.15％,85.47％,91.65％and 92.21％,respectively.Conclusion AI knowledge graph and image classification technology could be effectively used for QC of chest posterior-anterior position X-ray radiograph.

Objective:To screen the aging genes closely associated with pelvic organ prolapse(POP)by bioinformatics techniques,and to clarify the potential clinical significance and value of key genes.Methods:Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)Database was used to download the datasets GSE53868 and GSE151188 for POP-related genes with the keyword"pelvic organ prolapse".The aging-related genes were obtained from Aging Atlas,CellAge,and the Human Ageing Genomic Resources(HAGR)Databases;the intersection of genes related with POP in two groups provided a list of differentially expressed genes(DEGs)associated with aging in POP;gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA)was conducted with R software version 4.2.1;Gene Ontology(GO)functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)signaling pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs were conducted by the Database for Annotation,Visualization and Integrated Discovery(DAVID);the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed with Cytoscape 3.9.1 software;the top 10 Hub genes were selected by cytoHubba plugin;the infiltration of 22 types of immune cells in the patients in POP group and control group was analyzed by CIBERSORT deconvolution method using R software;the key genes were further screened by LASSO regression algorithm;the correlation and diagnostic efficacy between key genes and immune cell infiltration were analyzed.Results:From the Aging Atlas,CellAge,and HAGR Databases,724 aging-related genes were identified.Intersection with the POP expression profile yielded an aging gene expression matrix related to POP containing 624 genes,and 29 POP-related DEGs were identified after differential analysis,including 2 upregulated genes and 27 downregulated genes.The GSEA results showed that the upregulated pathways were mainly related to diabetes and cellular senescence,whereas the downregulated pathways included Alzheimer's disease and hypoxia-inducible factor-1(HIF-1)signaling pathways.The GO functional enrichment analysis mainly enriched in the biological processes such as the response of the cells to lipopolysaccharide,inflammatory response,and negative regulation of cell proliferation.The KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis mainly enriched in interleukin-17(IL-17),tumor necrosis factor(TNF),and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)signaling pathways.The PPI network analysis got 10 Hub genes including interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1B(IL-1B),prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2),and NF-kappa-B inhibitor alpha(NFKBIA).The CIBERSORT deconvolution method results showed a relatively higher infiltration proportion of neutrophils and activated mast cells in the patients in POP group,the activated mast cells had a positive correlation with most of the DEGs(r>0.5)and the macrophages had a significant positive correlation with IL-1B(r>0.6).The key genes Jun D proto-oncogene(JUND),Snail homolog 1(SNAI1),amphiregulin(AREG),Lamin A/C(LMNA),and superoxide dismutase 2(SOD2)selected by LASSO regression analysis had high diagnostic efficacies,and the area under receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)(AUC)were all greater than 0.75.Conclusion:During the aging process,the genes such as JUND,SNAI1,AREG,LMNA,and SOD2 may participate in the pathophysiology of POP through various pathways,including inflammation-related pathways,transcription regulation,and affecting collagen secretion and metabolism,thereby influence the connective tissue support function and promote the occurrence and development of POP.

The study aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of 23 cases of lupus nephritis and explore the prospect of half-dose rituximab in lupus nephritis treatment. Twenty-three patients with lupus nephritis hospitalized in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from May 2013 to December 2021 were selected. Eighteen patients received rituximab 375 mg/m 2 on the first and 14th days, 5 patients received 500 mg of rituximab on the first and 14th days, and rituximab was used as needed 6 months later. Methylprednisolone (80-120 mg) was given together with rituximab. Afterward, 1 mg/kg prednisone was used for 4 weeks, which was progressively tapered to maintenance doses or discontinued. B lymphocyte level, renal function, 24-h urine protein level, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI2K) score before and after treatment were recorded. The efficacy and adverse reactions were analyzed. The results showed that 11 patients suffered from renal insufficiency [creatinine (162.7±58.6) μmol/L ] at baseline, while the creatinine level of 9 patients returned to normal 12 months after the treatment [ (66.3±10.1)μmol/L ]. Normal renal function of the other 12 patients was maintained during treatment. After 12 months, the 24-h urine protein level decreased from 4.00 (2.00,6.80) g in the baseline period to 0.10 (0.08,0.40) g. SLEDAI2K score decreased from 22 (18,26) in the baseline period to 3 (0,6) 12 months after the treatment. The B lymphocyte level reached 0.00 (0.00,0.01)% at 3 months. Of 23 patients, 13 patients achieved complete remission, and 7 patients achieved partial remission after 6 months of rituximab treatment. Five patients experienced adverse reactions related to rituximab, including 1 case of transfusion reaction, 1 case of perioral herpes with pulmonary infection, and 3 cases of decreased IgG levels. Therefore, rituximab regimen used in this study can be an effective treatment strategy for lupus nephritis.

Objective:To establish an animal model of trichloroethylene (TCE) -induced liver cancer following chronic exposure and to understand the changes in SET expression and histone acetylation, potentially serving as a molecular mechanism for TCE-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.Methods:B6C3 mice at 6 weeks were treated with TCE at a series of doses (500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg) by gastric gavage, with corn oil used as the negative control and carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) as the positive control. The serum and liver were sampled for the determination of biochemical indexes and pathological examination after 56 weeks of chemical exposure. Western blot was used to determine the levels of SET, H2AK9ac and HDAC1 expression. Results:The overall survival rate of the mice in various groups was 90.4% (141/156) , with no statistical difference between groups ( P>0.05) . Compared with the negative control, the organ coefficient for the liver in the high dose TCE group and the positive control group were significantly increased ( P<0.05) . The levels of ALT, AST, LDH and BUN in the all the three TCE groups and the positive control were significantly higher than those in the negative control ( P<0.01) . CREA levels in the 1000 and 2000 mg/kg TCE groups were significantly higher than those in the negative control ( P<0.05) . Statistical increases in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and the activities of ALT and AST in various doses of TCE-exposed mice as compared with the control were observed ( P<0.01) , in a dose-dependent manner. In the 1000 and 2000 mg/kg of TCE treated mice, levels of SET and H2AK9ac were increased ( P<0.05) , while HDAC1 was decreased ( P<0.05) , Compared to the tissue adjacent to liver cancer, in the 1000 and 2000 mg/kg TCE groups, the levels of SET were increased ( P<0.05) , while HDAC1 was decreased ( P<0.05) , and H2AK9ac increased in the 2000 mg/kg group. Conclusion:The hepatocellular carcinoma mouse model induced by chronic exposure to trichloroethylene was successfully established, with enhanced SET protein expression and H2AK9ac in the hepatic tissue.

Objective:To establish an animal model of trichloroethylene (TCE) -induced liver cancer following chronic exposure and to understand the changes in SET expression and histone acetylation, potentially serving as a molecular mechanism for TCE-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.Methods:B6C3 mice at 6 weeks were treated with TCE at a series of doses (500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg) by gastric gavage, with corn oil used as the negative control and carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) as the positive control. The serum and liver were sampled for the determination of biochemical indexes and pathological examination after 56 weeks of chemical exposure. Western blot was used to determine the levels of SET, H2AK9ac and HDAC1 expression. Results:The overall survival rate of the mice in various groups was 90.4% (141/156) , with no statistical difference between groups ( P>0.05) . Compared with the negative control, the organ coefficient for the liver in the high dose TCE group and the positive control group were significantly increased ( P<0.05) . The levels of ALT, AST, LDH and BUN in the all the three TCE groups and the positive control were significantly higher than those in the negative control ( P<0.01) . CREA levels in the 1000 and 2000 mg/kg TCE groups were significantly higher than those in the negative control ( P<0.05) . Statistical increases in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and the activities of ALT and AST in various doses of TCE-exposed mice as compared with the control were observed ( P<0.01) , in a dose-dependent manner. In the 1000 and 2000 mg/kg of TCE treated mice, levels of SET and H2AK9ac were increased ( P<0.05) , while HDAC1 was decreased ( P<0.05) , Compared to the tissue adjacent to liver cancer, in the 1000 and 2000 mg/kg TCE groups, the levels of SET were increased ( P<0.05) , while HDAC1 was decreased ( P<0.05) , and H2AK9ac increased in the 2000 mg/kg group. Conclusion:The hepatocellular carcinoma mouse model induced by chronic exposure to trichloroethylene was successfully established, with enhanced SET protein expression and H2AK9ac in the hepatic tissue.

Objective: To explore the imaging changes of lung lesions in patients with imported COVID-19 patients when reaching the discharge standard. Method: The clinical and CT imaging data of 60 patients with imported COVID-19 cured and discharged from January to February 2020 in Anhui Province were retrospectively collected. The clinical characteristics of the patients and the characteristics of chest CT images at discharge were analyzed. Results: Fever (57 cases) and cough (55 cases) were the main symptoms in 60 patients. At the initial diagnosis, 5 cases were mild, 53 were ordinary, and 2 were severe. In 5 light patients, 3 cases were negative in the whole course of CT examination, 2 cases were negative in the first time and abnormal in the second time. . The first CT imaging features of 55 patients (53 common type and 2 severe type)were mainly bilateral lung involvement (51 cases), multiple lesions (33 cases), more common under the pleura (40 cases), and ground glass opacities were the most common. (55 cases). The clinical features of chest CT in clinical outcomes are that the ground glass shadow in the lung gradually fades and was completely absorbed (19 cases); the scope of ground glass shadow in the lung expanded and progressed to crazy-paving, consolidation shadow, and the lesion gradually absorbs again followed by Fibrous cord shadows (27 cases); ground-glass opacities in the lungs quickly progressed to a consolidation and then slowly absorbed . Most of the lesions were accompanied by more residual fibrous cord shadows (4 cases). In 2 severe patients, the lesions in the lungs were larger ground glass, and a big amount of fibrous foci remained after slowly absorption. Conclusion Chest CT plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of imported COVID-19, and the degree of lung involvement seen on CT images is in good agreement with clinical outcome.