Objective: To investigate the role of butyric acid-producing bacteria in long bone homeostasis in mice with periodontitis under a high-fat/high-sugar diet and to provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis and related bone metabolic diseases. Methods: This study has been approved by the Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee of the Experimental Animal Center. Initially, 14 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group) and the LIG group (the periodontitis group). Mice in the LIG group had experimental periodontitis induced by ligating the second maxillary molars bilaterally and were fed a high-fat and high-sugar diet. After 8 weeks, samples were collected. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) was used to analyze alveolar bone resorption and various parameters of the proximal tibia trabecular bone, including bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume per tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). After decalcification, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed on maxillary bone sections to assess periodontal tissue inflammation and connective tissue destruction. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect related genes in the distal femur and proximal tibia bone tissues, including osteocalcin (OCN), osteogenic transcription factor (Osterix), osteoprotegerin (OPG), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK), and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANK-L). Subsequently, the other 28 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group), LIG group (the periodontitis group), CON + butyric acid-producing bacteria (BP) group, and LIG + BP group. The breeding, sampling, and sample detection methods remained the same. Finally, the other 28 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group), LIG group (the periodontitis group), CON + sodium butyrate (SB) group, and LIG + SB group. The breeding, sampling, and sample detection methods remained the same. Results: ①Periodontitis modeling was successful. Compared with the CON group, the LIG group exhibited significant alveolar bone resorption of the maxillary second molar, aggravated periodontal tissue inflammation, and connective tissue destruction. ②Periodontitis exacerbated long bone resorption in mice fed a high-fat high-sugar diet. Compared with the CON group, the LIG group had significantly lower BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, and Tb.Th (P<0.05), and significantly higher Tb.Sp (P<0.05). HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that the trabeculae in the LIG group were sparse and disordered, with some areas showing fractures or dissolution. The expression of osteoblast markers (OCN, Osterix, OPG) was significantly lower in the LIG group (P<0.05), while the expression of the osteoclast marker TRAP showed an increasing trend (P>0.05). The ratio of RANK-L/OPG was significantly higher in the LIG group compared with the CON group (P<0.05). ③ Supplementation with butyric acid-producing bacteria alleviates periodontitis-induced disruption of long bone homeostasis in mice fed a high-fat/high-sugar diet. Compared with the LIG group, BMD and Tb.Th were significantly higher in the LIG + BP group. HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that bone resorption was mitigated in the LIG + BP group compared with the LIG group. The expression of OCN and Osterix was significantly higher in the LIG + BP group, while the expression of osteoclast-specific genes (OSCAR, RANK, RANK-L) was significantly lower (P<0.05). ④ Supplementation with butyrate alleviates periodontitis-induced disruption of long bone homeostasis in mice fed a high-fat/high-sugar diet. Compared with the LIG group, BV/TV and Tb.N were significantly higher in the LIG + SB group, and Tb.Sp was significantly lower (P<0.05). HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that bone resorption was mitigated in the LIG + SB group compared with the LIG group. The expression of Osterix, OPG, OSCAR, TRAP, and RANK was significantly lower in the LIG + SB group compared with the LIG group (P<0.05). Conclusion Periodontitis disrupts the long bone homeostasis of mice fed a high-fat high-sugar diet, aggravating long bone resorption. Supplementation with butyric acid-producing bacteria or butyrate can effectively alleviate the disruption of long bone homeostasis caused by periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of tafolecimab in patients with hypercholesterolemia， and provide support for optimizing management strategies for hypercholesterolemia and healthcare resource allocation. METHODS From the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system， an 11-state mutually exclusive Markov cohort model was developed to simulate disease progression and prognosis in the target population. The model cycle was set to one year， with a 30-year time horizon. Transition probabilities between health states were derived from the CREDIT series of clinical trials， while health utility values and medical cost parameters were sourced from the statistical yearbook and published literature. Quality-adjusted life years （QALYs） were used as the measure of health outcomes. Cost-effectiveness analysis was employed to calculate the incremental cost- effectiveness ratio （ICER） for three dosing regimens of tafolecimab [150 mg every 2 weeks （q2w）， 450 mg every 4 weeks （q4w）， and 600 mg every 6 weeks （q6w）] in combination with statins compared with control therapy （statins）. Using 1-3 times the per capita gross domestic product （GDP） of China in 2024 as willingness-to-pay threshold（WTP）， with a discount rate of 5%. Model robustness was assessed through one-way sensitivity analysis， probabilistic sensitivity analysis， and scenario analysis. RESULTS The 150 mg q2w regimen of tafolecimab yielded an ICER of 235 827.73 yuan/QALY， which was below the WTP （287 100 yuan/ QALY）， indicating that the regimen was cost-effective. In contrast， the ICERs for the 450 mg q4w and 600 mg q6w regimens were 329 498.24 and 318 630.51 yuan/QALY， respec-tively， both exceeding the WTP and thus not cost-effective.One-way sensitivity analysis identified the discount rate as a key influencing factor. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that under the WTP set in this study， the probabilities of cost-effectiveness for the 450 mg q4w and 600 mg q6w regimens were 15.3% and 22.4%， respectively， while the 150 mg q2w regimen had an 85.2% probability of being cost-effective. The situational analysis revealed that， over a simulated time horizon of 5 to 30 years， the ICER of tafolecimab was progressively reduced compared with the control regimen. When the price of tafolecimab was lowered by more than 20%， all three dosing regimens were demonstrated to be cost-effective.CONCLUSIONS Under the current Chinese healthcare system， compared with statin monotherapy， tafolecimab （150 mg q2w） combination improves health outcomes in patients with hypercholesterolemia， and is cost-effective given the current WTP.

BACKGROUND: Disease-modifying therapies have been approved for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The present study aims to examine the safety of teriflunomide in Chinese patients with RMS. METHODS: This non-randomized, multi-center, 24-week, prospective study enrolled RMS patients with variant (c.421C>A) or wild type ABCG2 who received once-daily oral teriflunomide 14 mg. The primary endpoint was the relationship between ABCG2 polymorphisms and teriflunomide exposure over 24 weeks. Safety was assessed over the 24-week treatment with teriflunomide. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were assigned to variant ( n  = 42) and wild type groups ( n  = 40), respectively. Geometric mean and geometric standard deviation (SD) of pre-dose concentration (variant, 54.9 [38.0] μg/mL; wild type, 49.1 [32.0] μg/mL) and area under plasma concentration-time curve over a dosing interval (AUC tau ) (variant, 1731.3 [769.0] μg∙h/mL; wild type, 1564.5 [1053.0] μg∙h/mL) values at steady state were approximately similar between the two groups. Safety profile was similar and well tolerated across variant and wild type groups in terms of rates of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE), treatment-related TEAE, grade ≥3 TEAE, and serious adverse events (AEs). No new specific safety concerns or deaths were reported in the study. CONCLUSION: ABCG2 polymorphisms did not affect the steady-state exposure of teriflunomide, suggesting a similar efficacy and safety profile between variant and wild type RMS patients. REGISTRATION NCT04410965, https://clinicaltrials.gov .
Humans ; Crotonates/adverse effects* ; Toluidines/adverse effects* ; Nitriles ; Hydroxybutyrates ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/genetics* ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult ; Neoplasm Proteins/genetics* ; East Asian People

Objective: To establish anin vitromodel of ferroptosis induced by Erastin and RAS-selective lethal 3(RSL3) in hepatoma cells, and to provide theoretical basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for HCC. Methods: Hepatoma cells(HCCLM3, HepG2, Hep3B, Huh7 and PLC/PRF/5) in logarithmic growth phase were treated with Erastin(0-40 μmol/L) and RSL3(0-10 μmol/L) at double concentrations respectively. After 24 h, CCK-8 method was used to detect cell viability, draw growth curve, calculate IC50, and HCC cells sensitive to inducers were selected for follow-up experiments. The effect of inducer on the state of hepatoma cells was observed under light microscope, and immunoblotting and flow cytometry were used to verify whether the ferroptotic modelin vitrowas successfully constructed. Results: Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells were sensitive to Erastin and RSL3, but HCCLM3 and PLC/PRF/5 were insensitive to Erastin and RSL3. When the concentration of Erastin and RSL3 reached the maximum, the survival rate was still above 65%. Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells were selected for subsequent experiments. Compared with the control group, the expression of Glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4), a ferroptotic marker, was down-regulated in a concentration-dependent manner. In Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells, lipid reactive oxygen species(ROS) levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 10 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L Erastin, respectively; in Huh7 cells, lipid ROS levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 0.5 μmol/L and 1 μmol/L RSL3, respectively; in Hep3B and HepG2 cells, lipid ROS levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 1 μmol/L and 2 μmol/L RSL3, respectively, compared with control group. Conclusion Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells are highly sensitive to Erastin and RSL3. Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells treated with 10 μmol/L Erastin for 24 h are good models for simulating ferroptosis induced by Erastinin vitro, Huh7 cells treated with 0.5 μmol/L RSL3 for 24 h and Hep3B and HepG2 cells treated with 1 μmol/L RSL3 for 24 h are good models for simulating ferroptosis induced by RSL3in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a growing prevalence of racial and ethnic discrimination occurred when many Americans struggled to maintain healthy lifestyles. This study investigated the associations of racial and ethnic discrimination with changes in exercise and screen time during the pandemic in the United States. METHODS: We included 2,613 adults who self-identified as non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, or Hispanic from the Health, Ethnicity, and Pandemic study, a cross-sectional survey conducted among a nationally representative sample of United States adults between October and November 2020. We assessed self-reported racial and ethnic discrimination by measuring COVID-19-related racial and ethnic bias and examined its associations with changes in exercise and screen time using multivariable logistic regression models. We analyzed data between September 2021 and March 2022. RESULTS: COVID-19-related racial and ethnic bias was associated with decreased exercise time among non-Hispanic Asian (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13 to 1.89) and Hispanic people (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.32 to 2.77), and with increased screen time among non-Hispanic Black people (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.85), adjusting for age, sex, education, marital status, annual household income, insurance, and employment status. CONCLUSIONS Racial and ethnic discrimination may have adversely influenced exercise and screen time changes among racial and ethnic minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms through which racial and ethnic discrimination can impact lifestyles and to develop potential strategies to address racial and ethnic discrimination as a barrier to healthy lifestyles.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) can significantly improve the outcomes of preterm infants. This study aimed to describe the ACS use rates among preterm infants admitted to Chinese neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and to explore perinatal factors associated with ACS use, using the largest contemporary cohort of very preterm infants in China. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled all infants born at 24 +0 to 31 +6 weeks and admitted to 57 NICUs of the Chinese Neonatal Network from January 1st, 2019 to December 30th, 2019. The ACS administration was defined as at least one dose of dexamethasone and betamethasone given before delivery. Multiple logistic regressions were applied to determine the association between perinatal factors and ACS usage. RESULTS: A total of 7828 infants were enrolled, among which 6103 (78.0%) infants received ACS. ACS use rates increased with increasing gestational age (GA), from 177/259 (68.3%) at 24 to 25 weeks' gestation to 3120/3960 (78.8%) at 30 to 31 weeks' gestation. Among infants exposed to ACS, 2999 of 6103 (49.1%) infants received a single complete course, and 33.4% (2039/6103) infants received a partial course. ACS use rates varied from 30.2% to 100% among different hospitals. Multivariate regression showed that increasing GA, born in hospital (inborn), increasing maternal age, maternal hypertension and premature rupture of membranes were associated with higher likelihood to receive ACS. CONCLUSIONS The use rate of ACS remained low for infants at 24 to 31 weeks' gestation admitted to Chinese NICUs, with fewer infants receiving a complete course. The use rates varied significantly among different hospitals. Efforts are urgently needed to propose improvement measures and thus improve the usage of ACS.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use*

Humans ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/drug therapy* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Liver Cirrhosis/pathology* ; Biopsy ; Patients ; Liver/pathology* ; Fibrosis

  Objective  To summarize the clinical manifestations, pathological features and gene mutation diversity of Blau syndrome/early-onset sarcoidosis.  Methods  We collected general data, clinical manifestations, and auxiliary examination results from 8 patients who were diagnosed of Blau syndrome/early-onset sarcoidosis and treated in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2022, and then summarized and analyzed their characteristics and diversity.  Results  Among the 8 patients, 4 were males and 4 were females. The onset age was 3 to 8 months old. Rash was the first symptom in 7 patients(87.5%). 6 patients(75.0%) had papules and erythema.3 cases(37.5%) had arthritis. 2 cases(25.0%) had uveitis and other eye inflammation. 4 cases (50.0%) also showed intermittent fever. 3 cases (37.5%) showed symptoms in nerve and respiratory system, and hypertension respectively. The skin histopathology of 8 patients showed non-caseous granuloma formation. In laboratory detection, CRP and TNF-α were significantly increased before treatment, while IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IL-2 receptor(IL-2R) were significantly decreased in 5 patients after glucocorticoid therapy. The results of genetic testing showed that 4 of the 7 patients had p.R334W(c.1000C > T) mutation, 1 had p.H313R(c.938A > G) and p.R471C(c.1411C > T)double mutation, and 1 had p.476_477del (c.1427_1429delcct).  Conclusions  Blau syndrome/early-onset sarcoidosis has significant features in clinical manifestations, histopathology and gene mutation, but it also has diversity.

Objective:To investigate an accurate and quantitative method to measure the eyeball morphological parameters of guinea pigs through a method that combines programmed digital techniques and mathematical geometric principles.Methods:Twenty-two three-week-old clean-grade male tricolor guinea pigs were selected and sacrificed by anesthesia overdose.Eyeballs were enucleated.The horizontal and sagittal images of the eyeball were taken with the high-speed photographic model of 13 million pixels macro meter, and the pictures were imported into pycharm programming software.Using the pre-written analysis program of Python 3.9, the conversion coefficient between the photo pixel and the actual length was obtained by a scale, and then the corneal surface was fitted by arc fitting and conic curve fitting.The results of arc fitting were converted to calculate the corneal radius of curvature.The corneal eccentricity was calculated according to the general conic equation (Ax 2+ Bxy+ Cy 2+ Dx+ Ey+ F=0). The corneal asphericity was evaluated by curve fitting between the central 3-mm and the whole cornea.The use and care of the animals complied with Regulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center (No.2022-A009-01). Results:The digital method of Python programming can show the corneal contour of guinea pigs completely and clearly.In the transverse plane, there was no significant difference in the corneal curvature measurements among the digital fitting in central 3-mm cornea, digital fitting in whole cornea and curvature meter ( F=1.693, P=0.190). In the sagittal plane, there was a significant difference in the corneal curvature measurements among the three methods ( F=3.500, P=0.030), and the corneal curvature measurements of the whole cornea measured by the curvature meter were significantly greater than those measured by the digital fitting ( P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in the measurements of corneal curvature radius among the three methods in the transverse plane and the sagittal plane ( F=1.817, P=0.170; F=2.050, P=0.133). The horizontal and sagittal corneal eccentricity measured by digital fitting in central 3-mm cornea were 0.55±0.15 and 0.53±0.17, which were lower than 0.66±0.10 and 0.64±0.14 measured by digital fitting in whole cornea, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-4.860, -5.210; both at P<0.01). Conclusions:It is feasible to use Python programming digital method to measure the corneal curvature and eccentricity of guinea pigs.