OBJECTIVE To explore the improvine mechanism of Yifei xuanfei jiangzhuo formula （YFXF） on vascular dementia （VAD） model rats based on the growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 （GRB2）/extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK）/cardiolipin synthase 1 （CRLS1） pathway. METHODS VAD rat model was established by permanent bilateral common carotid artery ligation. Forty-eight successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group （normal saline）， donepezil hydrochloride group （positive control group， 0.2 g/kg）， and YFXF low- and high-dose groups （12.18 and 24.36 g/kg， calculated based on the total amount of crude drug）， respectively. In addition， a sham operation group （normal saline） was set up. There were 12 rats in each group. Daily intragastric administration of drug or normal saline was performed for 30 consecutive days. After the last administration， the spatial cognitive ability of the rats was evaluated， the pathological morphology of the hippocampus was observed， the contents of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-4 （IL-4） in serum were detected， the expression levels of GRB2/ERK/CRLS1 pathway-related proteins and the mRNA levels of GRB2， CRLS1， NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1（ND1）， Tafazzin （TAZ）， phospholipid scramblase 3（PLSCR3） and the ATP content in hippocampal tissue were measured. RESULTS Compared with the sham operation group， the escape latency of rats in the model group was significantly prolonged （ P ＜0.05）， and the number of crossing platform was significantly reduced （ P ＜0.05）， while the number of pyramidal cells and Nissl bodies in the hippocampus decreased sharply； the content of TNF-α in serum was significantly increased （ P ＜0.05）， and the content of IL-4 was significantly decreased （ P ＜0.05）； the expression levels of GRB2 and CRLS1 proteins， the phosphorylation level of ERK protein， the relative expression levels of GRB2， CRLS1，ND1， TAZ， and PLSCR3 mRNA， and the content of ATP in hippocampal tissue were significantly decreased （ P ＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， the above pathological changes in the hippocampal tissue of each administration group were alleviated， and the quantitative indicators were significantly restored （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS YFXF may improve hippocampal neuron injury in VAD rats by activating the GRB2/ERK/CRLS1 pathway, maintaining cardiolipin homeostasis， and improving mitochondrial energy metabolism.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and mechanism of Wenpi tongluo kaiqiao formula （WPTL） against neuronal necroptosis in Alzheimer’s disease （AD） mice based on the Z-DNA binding protein 1 （ZBP1）/mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein （MLKL） signaling pathway. METHODS Forty APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice were randomly divided into model group， WPTL low-dose （WPTL-L） group （10.4 g/kg， calculated by the raw medicine）， WPTL high-dose （WPTL-H） group （20.8 g/kg， calculated by the raw medicine） and donepezil hydrochloride group （3 mg/kg）， with 10 mice in each group； another 10 C57BL/6J mice were selected as normal control group. Intragastric administration， once a day， for 30 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last administration， Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate learning and memory abilities； the pathological morphology of hippocampal tissues was observed； the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-4 （IL-4） were determined； the expressions of amyloid precursor protein （APP）， Tau protein， and ZBP1/MLKL signaling pathway-related proteins in hippocampal tissues were detected； the positive expression of phosphorylated receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 （p-RIPK3） in the neurons of hippocampal tissues and mRNA expression of ZBP1 were measured in hippocampal tissues. RESULTS Compared with normal control group， the escape latency of mice in model group was prolonged significantly on day 3 to 5 （P＜0.05）， the times of crossing platform reduced significantly （P＜0.05）， and obvious pathological changes were observed in the hippocampal tissue. The level of TNF- α， the expressions of APP， p-Tau and ZBP1， the phosphorylation levels of RIPK1， RIPK3 and MLKL， the fluorescence intensity of p-RIPK3 as well as the mRNA expression of ZBP1 were significantly increased （P＜0.05）， while the serum level of IL-4 was decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， above indexes were reversed significantly in administration groups （P＜0.05）， and pathological damage of hippocampal tissue was alleviated. CONCLUSIONS WPTL can inhibit the ZBP1/MLKL signaling pathway， reduce neuronal necroptosis in AD mice， and inhibit inflammatory responses， thereby improving learning and spatial memory abilities in AD mice.

Objective To explore the value of clinical-MRI radiomics combined model for differentiating borderline ovarian tumor(BOT)from epithelial ovarian cancer(EOC).Methods Totally 139 patients with BOT(BOT group)and 307 patients with EOC(EOC group)confirmed by postoperative pathology and underwent preoperative pelvic MRI were retrospectively enrolled and randomly divided into training set(n=312)and test set(n=134)at a ratio of 7∶3.Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent clinical predictors for differentiating BOT and EOC,then a clinical model was constructed.Radiomics features were extracted from the volumes of interest(VOI)of lesions on T2WI,diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)images,respectively,and single-sequence and multi-sequence MRI radiomics models were built using extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost)based on data in training set.The optimal MRI radiomics model was selected according to the highest area under the curve(AUC)in test set,and a clinical-MRI radiomics combined model was constructed combined the optimal radiomics model with independent clinical predictors.The performances of clinical model,the optimal MRI radiomics model and the combined model for differentiating BOT and EOC were compared in test set.SHapley Additive exPlanations(SHAP)analysis was applied to interpret key predictive features in the best model.Results Patients' age,carbohydrate antigen 153(CA153)and carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125)were all independent predictors for differentiating BOT and EOC(all P＜0.05).Multi-sequence MRI radiomics model was the optimal MRI radiomics model.The combined model showed superior performance(AUC=0.929)for discriminating BOT and EOC compared with clinical model(AUC=0.881)and multi-sequence MRI radiomics model(AUC=0.871)(both P＜0.05).SHAP beeswarm plot revealed that the top 10 important features of combined model included age,CA153 and CA125,as well as entropy,kurtosis and gray level non-uniformity from ADC and DWI sequences.Conclusion Clinical-MRI radiomics combined model based on multi-sequence MRI radiomics features and clinical features could be used to effectively differentiate BOT from EOC.

Probiotics play a crucial role in colon cancer treatment by metabolizing prebiotics to generate short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Colon cancer patients are frequently propositioned to supplement with probiotics to enhance the conversion and utilization of prebiotics. Nevertheless, the delivery and colonization of probiotics is hindered by the harsh conditions of gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Here, we devised a straightforward yet potent modified prebiotic-based "shield" (Gelatin-Inulin, GI), employing dietary inulin and natural polymer gelatin crosslinked via hydrogen bonding for enveloping Lactobacillus reuteri (Lr) to formulate synbiotic hydrogel capsules (Lr@Gl). The GI "shield" serves as a dynamic barrier, augmenting the resistance of Lr to gastric acid and facilitating its bioactivity and adherence in the GIT, synergizing with Lr to elicit an anti-tumor effect. Simultaneously, Lr@GI demonstrates anti-tumor effects by depleting glutathione to release reactive oxygen species, accompanied by the activation of NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3), and the induction M1 macrophage polarization. Furthermore, Lr@GI can not only promote the recovery of intestinal barrier but also regulate intestinal flora, promoting the production of SCFAs and further exerting anti-tumor effect. Crucially, Lr@GI also potentiates the anti-tumor effect of 5-Fluorouracil. The construction and synergistic anti-tumor mechanism of synbiotic hydrogel capsules system provide valuable insights for gut microbial tumor therapy.

Aim To study the diastolic effect and mechanism of farrerol on isolated pulmonary arteries of C57BL/6J mice.Methods After anesthesia,mouse lung tissue was quickly removed and placed into the 4 ℃ K-H buffer,pulmonary arteries were isolated under the microscope and cut into 2 mm long vascular rings for spare use.(1)The effect of farrerol on the resting tension of isolated mouse pulmonary arteries:in the resting state,the active mouse pul-monary artery rings were treated with different concentrations of farrerol(10-6,3×10-6,10-5,3×10-5 and 10-4 mol/L).(2)Farrerol relaxed mouse pulmonary artery experiment:pulmonary arteries were contracted using phenylephrine(PE,1 μmol/L)or KCl(60 mmol/L),and when the contraction reached the platform,different concentrations of farrerol(10-6,3×10-6,10-5,3×10-5 and 10-4 mol/L)was added.(3)Farrerol inhibited pulmonary artery contraction experi-ment:under conditions with or without the addition of farrerol,pulmonary arteries were contracted using different concen-trations of PE(10-9,3×10-9,10-8,3 × 10-8,10-7,3×10-7 and 10-6 mol/L)or KCl(20,30,40,60,80 and 120 mmol/L),and the pulmonary artery muscle tension was recorded.(4)Calcium free and recalcification experiments:under conditions with or without the addition of farrerol,the changes of isolated mouse pulmonary artery tension were meas-ured in the state of calcium free or recalcification { 2.5 mmol/L[Ca2+]ex }.(5)The relationship between farrerol in-duced relaxation of isolated mouse pulmonary arteries and potassium ion channels:firstly,60 mmol/L KCl solution was used to contract the mouse pulmonary arteries until the platform.Then,3 mmol/L aminopyridine(4-AP),2 mmol/L tet-raethylammonium(TEA),30 μmol/L BaCl2,and 10 μmol/L glibenclamide(Gli)were added and treated for 15 min.Subsequently,the pulmonary arteries were relaxed using a concentration gradient of farrerol.Results Farrerol had no significant effect on the mouse pulmonary arteries in the resting state,but had a concentration-dependent relaxing effect on the mouse pulmonary arteries pre-contracted with PE and KCl.While the pretreatment of 3×10-5 mol/L farrerol could sig-nificantly reduce the maximum contraction of mouse pulmonary arteries induced by PE and KCl(P＜0.01),as well as sig-nificantly reduce the contraction of mouse pulmonary arteries induced by KCl under calcium free or recalcification conditions(P＜0.01).Addition of the voltage-dependent potassium ion channel blocker 4-AP significantly reduced the maximum diastolic rate of mouse pulmonary arteries induced by farrerol(P＜0.01),while addition of the high conductivity calcium activated potassium ion channel blocker TEA,inward rectifying potassium ion channel blocker BaCl2,or ATP sensitive po-tassium ion channel blocker Gli had no significant effect on the vasodilation effect of farrerol(P＞0.05).Conclusion Farrerol has a relaxing effect on isolated mouse pulmonary arteries,and its mechanism may be related to open voltage-de-pendent potassium ion channels.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Liraglutide in rats with diabetic kidney disease(DKD)by regulating the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)ferroptosis signaling pathway.Methods Twelve male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into normal control(NC)group,DKD group,and Liraglutide treatment(Lir)group,with 4 rats in each group.The 24 hUAlb,TC,TG,LDL-C,serum creatinine(Scr),BUN,ferrous ion(Fe2+),the activity of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),and malondialdehyde(MDA)were detected in each group.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE),periodic acid-Schiff(PAS),and periodic acid-silver methenamine-Masson(PASM-Masson)staining were used to observe the pathological changes of the kidneys.Immunofluorescence was performed to detect the localization and expression of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in the renal tissue.The protein expressions of Nrf2 and GPX4 were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the NC group,the levels of 24 hUAlb,Scr,BUN,TC,TG,LDL-C,MDA,ROS,and Fe2+were increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),while the expressions of GSH-Px,Nrf2,and GPX4 proteins were decreased in the DKD group(P＜0.01).Compared with the DKD group,the levels of 24 hUAlb,BUN,TC,TG,LDL-C,MDA,ROS,and Fe2+were decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the expressions of GSH-Px,Nrf2,and GPX4 proteins were increased in the Lir group(P＜0.01).Conclusions Liraglutide may exert a protective effect in DKD by upregulating the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway and inhibiting ferroptosis.

Objective::To analyze fetal renal abnormality genetic features and the prenatal characteristics of the 17q12 microdeletion syndrome.Methods::This prospective cohort study examined prenatal ultrasound findings of renal abnormalities in pregnant women who underwent single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array or copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) testing on amniotic fluid or fetal tissue at Tianjin Central Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital between January 2016 and August 2022. The study cohort comprised women with advanced maternal age, fetal ultrasound anomalies, high-risk non-invasive prenatal testing results, or suspected 17q12 microdeletion syndrome. Comprehensive clinical data, including maternal age, detailed ultrasound findings, and pregnancy outcomes, were systematically collected. SNP-array analysis was conducted using an Affymetrix CytoScan 750 K Array Chip to identify CNVs and loss of heterozygosity, while CNV-seq was performed on the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. Detected variants were classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 27.0.Results::Abnormal renal development was identified in 141 patients, among whom 26 exhibited hyperechogenic kidneys (HCK). Of these, 12 cases were associated with 17q12 microdeletion syndrome, while the remaining 14 were linked to other chromosomal abnormalities. When excluding patients with HCK, those diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease demonstrated a higher prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities compared to those with multicystic dysplastic kidney and renal dysplasia. Although isolated conditions such as horseshoe kidney, hydronephrosis, ectopic kidney, and unilateral kidney typically presented with normal chromosomal findings, the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities increased when these conditions coexisted with other anomalies. A detailed analysis of the correlation between 17q12 microdeletion syndrome and HCK revealed that 12 out of the 14 patients diagnosed with 17q12 microdeletion syndrome exhibited HCK. Genetic testing confirmed the syndrome in seven patients, with five cases attributed to novel mutations and two cases resulting from inherited mutations.Conclusion::Fetal HCK was closely associated with the 17q12 microdeletion syndrome, and polycystic kidney disease showed a higher rate of chromosomal abnormalities. Chromosome test results were mostly normal in patients with other renal abnormalities, such as kidney dysplasia, horseshoe kidneys, hydronephrosis, kidney deficiency, and ectopic kidneys. Prenatal diagnosis is recommended, especially in cases of non-isolated fetal renal abnormalities. This study provides strong evidence supporting a link between fetal renal abnormalities and genetic syndromes.

Objective:To investigate the current status and influencing factors of decision anxiety in guardians of children with acute appendicitis under Endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) background, and to provide reference for the development of targeted intervention programs for decision anxiety.Methods:Convenient sampling method was used to select 254 guardians of children with acute appendicitis treated in the Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of PLA Air Force Medical University from February 2023 to April 2024. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the General Data Questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y-State anxiety subscale and the Preparation for Decision Making Scale. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors in guardians of children with acute appendicitis.Results:Among the guardians of 254 children with acute appendicitis, 156 were males and 98 were females, aged (37.44 ± 3.63) years old. The decision anxiety score of guardians of children with acute appendicitis was (52.49 ± 6.54). The results of multiple linear regression showed that age of children, gender of guardian, education level of guardian, per capita monthly income of family, decision making tendency and decision preparation were the main influencing factors of decision anxiety in guardians of children with acute appendicitis ( t values were -7.07-3.58, all P<0.05), which could explain 64.4% of the total variation. Conclusions:The decision anxiety in guardians of children with acute appendicitis is at a high level. Medical staff should provide targeted decision guidance, improve decision assistance programs and provide more effective decision support for guardians of children with acute appendicitis.

Objective:To analyze the changes in the phylogenetic and antigenic characteristics of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of influenza virus A(H3N2) [A(H3N2)] during the 2022-2024 influenza seasons in Beijing.Methods:The data of influenza-like cases and A(H3N2) strains from 17 network laboratories and their corresponding sentinel hospitals were collected during the 2022-2024 influenza seasons. The HA genes were amplified and sequenced after extracting nucleic acids of the chosen virus strains. BioEdit, the nucleotide and amino acid sequence identity were conducted, and the maximum likelihood method in MEGA 5.0 software was used to construct the phylogenetic tree of HA genes. Web Logo displayed the amino acid mutation, and the N-glycosylation sites of HA online were analyzed using the NetNGlyc1.0 Server online. The Datamonkey platform was utilized to analyze the positive selection pressure sites of the HA protein.Results:The 2022-2024 influenza season includes 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. During the influenza seasons of 2022-2024, the positive rates of A(H3N2) nucleic acid were 10.35% (2 127/20 543) and 10.47% (4 386/41 876), respectively. In the 2022-2023 influenza season, there were two peaks in the A(H3N2). The comparison of HA genes between all A(H3N2) strains studied with the 2022-2024 vaccine strain (A/Darwin/9/2021) revealed that all of the strains studied have the two amino acid mutations involving 186 and 225 receptor binding sites. There were 31 amino acid substitutions in the 2022-2023 influenza season, of which 18 variant sites involved antigenic determinants. There were 35 amino acid mutations during the 2023-2024 influenza season, of which 14 were related to antigenic determinants. There were changes in the genetic evolutionary subclades of A(H3N2) strains in two influenza seasons: from 2022 to 2023, three evolutionary subclades were co-prevalent together, with the 3C.2a1b.2a.2a.3a.1 accounting for 76.67% (23/30), the 3C.2a1b.2a.1a accounting for 20.00% (6/30), the 3C.2a1b.2a.2a.1 accounting for 3.33% (1/30); from 2023 to 2024, two subclades were prevalent, with 3C.2a1b.2a.2a.3a.1 accounting for 95.12% (39/41) and 3C.2a1b.2a.2a.1 accounting for 4.88% (2/41). The glycosylation site changes of the HA protein of A(H3N2) have been enhanced from 2023 to 2024. The 145 amino acid position of the HA protein of the A(H3N2) was the positive selection site for stress selection site analysis.Conclusions:The evolutionary subclades of the HA gene of A(H3N2) in Beijing showed changes from 2022 to 2024, and the glycosylation site polymorphism of the HA protein of A(H3N2) significantly increased from 2023 to 2024. Continuous monitoring of HA mutations in the A(H3N2) is crucial, providing a basis for developing influenza prevention and control strategies, as well as new strategic support for screening influenza vaccine components, vaccine design, and discovery of drug targets.

Objective:To investigate the impact of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subfraction cholesterol, measured by the vertical auto profile (VAP) technique based on vertical density gradient ultracentrifugation, on the occurrence and progression of coronary heart disease.Methods:This retrospective case-control study consecutively enrolled 94 inpatients diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) by percutaneous coronary angiography at Ningbo University Affiliated First Hospital between June 2023 and June 2024 (CAD group), and 48 outpatients from the cardiology department without carotid or coronary atherosclerosis(non-CAD group). The VAP technique was employed to measure HDL subfraction cholesterol levels (HDL 3-C and HDL 2-C) and their subtypes (HDL 2a-C, HDL 2b-C, HDL 2c-C; HDL 3a-C, HDL 3b-C, HDL 3c-C, HDL 3d-C). Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between HDL subfraction composition and CAD. CAD patients were further stratified by the number of affected coronary vessels (left anterior descending artery, left circumflex artery, and right coronary artery): 44 with single-vessel disease, 22 with double-vessel disease, and 28 with triple-vessel disease for correlation analysis. All CAD patients underwent 6-month clinical and telephone follow-up to record major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and repeat revascularization. Using the median HDL 3d-C level (0.064 mmol/L) as cutoff, CAD patients were divided into high-level ( n=48) and low-level ( n=46) subgroups for Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank testing. Results:Compared with non-CAD controls, CAD patients showed significantly higher HDL 3d-C [0.064 (0.041, 0.095) mmol/L vs 0.055 (0.038, 0.067) mmol/L] and HDL 3b-C [0.031 (0.001, 0.054) mmol/L vs 0.007 (0.004, 0.029) mmol/L], lower HDL 3c-C (0.220±0.080 mmol/L vs 0.254±0.062 mmol/L) and HDL 3a-C [0.282 (0.224, 0.351) mmol/L vs 0.334 (0.269, 0.433) mmol/L] (all P<0.05). Logistic regression revealed that HDL2b-C was a protective factor against atherosclerosis severity ( OR=0.914, 95% CI 0.896-0.987, P<0.001); HDL 3d-C served as both a CAD risk factor ( OR=2.303,95% CI 1.740-3.047, P<0.001) and disease progression indicator ( OR=1.224, 95% CI 1.123-1.335, P=0.025). MACE patients ( n=6) had elevated HDL3d-C versus non-MACE cases ( n=88) [0.120 (0.083, 0.173) mmol/L vs 0.061 (0.037, 0.092) mmol/L, P<0.05]. The high HDL 3d-C subgroup demonstrated significantly lower 6-month survival (χ2=4.777, P=0.029). Conclusion:Contrary to conventional understanding, our study reveals that HDL2b serves as a protective factor against coronary artery disease progression, whereas HDL 3d-C acts not only as a pathogenic factor for CAD but also as a critical determinant of CAD-related adverse events.