OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of quercetin for mitigating HIV-1 gp120-induced astrocyte neurotoxicity and its underlying mechanism. METHODS: Primary rat astrocytes were isolated and treated with quercetin, HIV-1 gp120, or gradient concentrations of quercetin combined with HIV-1 gp120. The formation of stress granules (SGs) in the treated cells was observed with immunofluorescence assay, and the levels of oxidative stress markers and protein expressions were measured using specific assay kits and Western blotting. HIV-1 gp120 transgenic mice were treated with quercetin (50 mg/kg) by gavage for 4 weeks, and the changes in cognitive functions and oxidative stress levels were examined by behavioral assessments, oxidative stress index analysis in serum, and immunohistochemical and Western blotting of the brain tissue. RESULTS: In primary rat astrocytes, treatment with quercetin significantly reduced HIV-1 gp120-induced SG formation, increased the levels of antioxidant indexes, decreased the levels of oxidative substances, and up-regulated protein level associated with SG depolymerization. In the transgenic mouse models, quercetin obviously improved the cognitive function of the rats, reduced oxidative stress levels, and promoted the expression of proteins associate with SG depolymerization in the brain tissues. CONCLUSIONS Quercetin mitigates HIV-1 gp120-induced astrocyte neurotoxicity and cognitive function impairment by inhibiting oxidative stress, enhancing expressions of SG depolymerization-related proteins, and promoting SG disassembly, suggesting the value of quercetin as a potential therapeutic agent for neuroprotection in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
Animals ; Quercetin/pharmacology* ; Astrocytes/metabolism* ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Rats ; Stress Granules/drug effects* ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of A. muciniphila gavage on intestinal microbiota and gut-brain interaction disorders (DGBIs) in gp120tg transgenic mouse models of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). METHODS: Intestinal microbiota was detected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing in 6-, 9-, and 12-month-old wild-type (WT) mice and gp120tg transgenic mice. The 12-month-old WT and transgenic mice were divided into 2 groups for daily treatment with PBS or A.muciniphila gavage (2×10⁸ CFU/mouse) for 6 weeks. After the treatment, immunohistochemistry, ELISA and qPCR were used to detect changes in colonic expression levels of glycosylated mucins, MBP and IL-1β, eosinophil infiltration, serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, and colonic expressions of occludin, ZO-1, IL-10, TNF-α and INF-γ mRNA. Morris water maze test and immunofluorescence assay were used to assess learning and spatial memory abilities and neuronal damage of the mice. RESULTS: Compared with WT mice, the transgenic mice exhibited significantly lowered Simpson's diversity of the intestinal microbiota with reduced abundance of Akkermansia genus, increased serum LPS levels and decreased colonic expression of glycosylated mucin. A.muciniphila gavage obviously ameliorated the reduction of glycosylated mucin in the transgenic mice without causing significant changes in body weight. The 12-month-old gp120tg mice had significantly decreased cdonic expressions of Occludin and ZO-1 with increased eosinophil infiltration and TNF-β, INF-γ and IL-1β levels and obviously lowered IL-10 level; all these changes were significantly mitigated by A.muciniphila gavage, which also improved cognitive impairment and neuronal loss in the hippocampus and cortex of the transgenic mice. CONCLUSIONS The gp120tg mice have lower intestinal microbiota richness and diversity than WT mice. The 12-month-old gp120tg mice have significantly reduced Akkermansia abundance with distinct DGBIs-related indexes, and A. muciniphila gavage can reduce intestinal barrier injury, colonic inflammation and eosinophil activation, cognitive impairment and brain neuron injury in these mice.
Animals ; Mice, Transgenic ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Mice ; Brain ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120/genetics* ; Akkermansia ; Disease Models, Animal

This study aimed to comprehensively examine the association of gallstones, cholecystectomy, and cancer risk. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to estimate the observational associations of gallstones and cholecystectomy with cancer risk, using data from a nationwide cohort involving 239 799 participants. General and gender-specific two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was further conducted to assess the causalities of the observed associations. Observationally, a history of gallstones without cholecystectomy was associated with a high risk of stomach cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-4.28), liver and bile duct cancer (aOR=2.46, 95% CI 1.17-5.16), kidney cancer (aOR=2.04, 95% CI 1.05-3.94), and bladder cancer (aOR=2.23, 95% CI 1.01-5.13) in the general population, as well as cervical cancer (aOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.12-2.56) in women. Moreover, cholecystectomy was associated with high odds of stomach cancer (aOR=2.41, 95% CI 1.29-4.49), colorectal cancer (aOR=1.83, 95% CI 1.18-2.85), and cancer of liver and bile duct (aOR=2.58, 95% CI 1.11-6.02). MR analysis only supported the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer. This study added evidence to the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer, highlighting the importance of cancer screening in individuals with gallstones.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Gallstones/complications* ; Female ; Male ; Cholecystectomy/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Aged ; Adult ; Neoplasms/etiology* ; Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology*

Objective To construct and validate a predictive model for gastric precancerous le-sions based on urea breath test,serum pepsinogen(PG)and gastrin-17(G-17).Methods Partici-pants who underwent endoscopic screening for upper gastrointestinal tumors were retrospectively en-rolled as study subjects.Using random function,all participants were divided into training cohort of 2,788 cases(comprising 1,290 cases in precancerous lesion group and 1,498 cases in control group)and validation cohort of 1,194 cases(comprising 581 cases in precancerous lesion group and 613 cases in control group)at a ratio of 7 to 3.A simple model was established based on urea breath test,PG and G-17.Clinical data between the precancerous lesion group and the control group in the training cohort were compared.A predictive model for gastric precancerous lesions was constructed u-sing multifactorial Logistic regression analysis,and a scoring model for gastric precancerous lesions(the complete model)was developed based on this predictive model.The complete model,the simple model,the new ABC method,and the Li's score were all included in the validation cohort to compare the predictive performance of the four models.Results Multifactorial Logistic regression analysis indicated that male,smoking,positive Helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection,PG Ⅱ ≥10.19 μg/L,the ratio of PG Ⅰ to PG Ⅱ(PGR)≤11.87,and G-17 ≥3.82 pmol/L were independent risk factors for gastric precancerous lesions(P＜0.05).A predictive model for gastric precancerous lesions was constructed based on these risk factors,and the complete model was established based on the predic-tive model.The total score ranged from 0 to 12(with 6 to 12 indicating a high-risk population for gastric precancerous lesions and 0 to 5 indicating a low-risk population).When the complete model,the simple model,the new ABC method,and the Li's score were included in the validation cohort for comparison,the predictive values of the complete model and the simple model were similar.Both models demonstrated higher sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,and accuracy compared to the new ABC method and the Li's score.Furthermore,the diag-nostic value of the simple model in the high-sensitivity region was slightly superior to that of the com-plete model.Conclusion The simple model constructed based on the urea breath test,PG and G-17 exhibits favorable predictive efficacy,calibration,and clinical utility,and is of positive signifi-cance for the early identification of patients with gastric precancerous lesions.

Ubiquitination is a crucial post-translational modification that is extensively involved in the regulation of protein activity,signal transduction,and the maintenance of genomic stability.As an important member of the deubiquitinating enzyme(DUB)family,ubiquitin-specific protease 11(USP11)dynamically regulates the stability and function of key tumor proteins by targeting specific substrates for deubiquitination.This,in turn,influences various biological behaviors of tumor cells,including proliferation,apoptosis,migration,invasion,metastasis,and drug resistance,ultimately exhibiting a dual role in either promoting or inhibiting cancer.This article systematically reviewed the relevant research progress on the role of USP11 in tumorigenesis and development and provided an in-depth analysis of the specific mechanisms by which USP11 participates in cellular biological behav-iors,aiming to offer a theoretical basis for the future development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting USP11,the formulation of combination drug strategies,and the identification of effective biomarkers.

Objective To explore the effect of A.muciniphila gavage on intestinal microbiota and gut-brain interaction disorders(DGBIs)in gp120tg transgenic mouse models of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder(HAND).Methods Intestinal microbiota was detected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing in 6-,9-,and 12-month-old wild-type(WT)mice and gp120tg transgenic mice.The 12-month-old WT and transgenic mice were divided into 2 groups for daily treatment with PBS or A.muciniphila gavage(2×108 CFU/mouse)for 6 weeks.After the treatment,immunohistochemistry,ELISA and qPCR were used to detect changes in colonic expression levels of glycosylated mucins,MBP and IL-1β,eosinophil infiltration,serum lipopolysaccharide(LPS)levels,and colonic expressions of occludin,ZO-1,IL-10,TNF-α and INF-γ mRNA.Morris water maze test and immunofluorescence assay were used to assess learning and spatial memory abilities and neuronal damage of the mice.Results Compared with WT mice,the transgenic mice exhibited significantly lowered Simpson's diversity of the intestinal microbiota with reduced abundance of Akkermansia genus,increased serum LPS levels and decreased colonic expression of glycosylated mucin.A.muciniphila gavage obviously ameliorated the reduction of glycosylated mucin in the transgenic mice without causing significant changes in body weight.The 12-month-old gp120tg mice had significantly decreased cdonic expressions of Occludin and ZO-1 with increased eosinophil infiltration and TNF-β,INF-γ and IL-1β levels and obviously lowered IL-10 level;all these changes were significantly mitigated by A.muciniphila gavage,which also improved cognitive impairment and neuronal loss in the hippocampus and cortex of the transgenic mice.Conclusion The gp120tg mice have lower intestinal microbiota richness and diversity than WT mice.The 12-month-old gp120tg mice have significantly reduced Akkermansia abundance with distinct DGBIs-related indexes,and A.muciniphila gavage can reduce intestinal barrier injury,colonic inflammation and eosinophil activation,cognitive impairment and brain neuron injury in these mice.

The novel coronavirus(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2),classified as a single-stranded RNA virus,replicates and transcribes its genome through the action of an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase,which is itself comprised of numerous non-structural pro-teins(non-structural proteins,Nsps).The present study delineates the development of a detection system founded on a bicistronic reporter plasmid in conjunction with an array of Nsp plasmids,ai-ming to investigate the influence of SARS-CoV-2 Nsps on the virus's replication and expression profiles.Specifically,a bicistronic reporter gene plasmid along with twelve distinct Nsp plasmids(encompassing Nsp3C-Flag,Nsp4,Nsp6-Nsp10,Nsp12-Nsp16)were meticulously constructed via molecular cloning techniques.The successful expression of these Nsps was subsequently confirmed through Western blot analysis.Initially,the activity of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase was assessed by co-transfection of the reporter plasmid with Nsp12,in the presence of its auxiliary fac-tors Nsp7 and Nsp8,with careful regulation of the co-transfection ratio,culturing temperature,and the timing of activity determination for the triad of Nsp plasmids.The normalized NLuc fluorescein value,in reference to the FLuc fluorescein value of the housekeeping gene,served as a metric for determining the polymerase activity.Building upon this foundation,the co-transfection concentra-tions of Nsp9-16 were fine-tuned,followed by the incremental addition of varying doses of Nsp3C,Nsp4,and Nsp6,to further elucidate the activity of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase(RdRp).The findings indicated that upon transfection with varying ratios of Nsp7,Nsp8,and Nsp12 at a propor-tion of 1∶8∶24,the polymerase activity was markedly elevated compared to the control group,with a statistical significance level(P＜0.001).Furthermore,in the absence of Nsp3,Nsp4,and Nsp6,the inclusion of Nsp10-16 substantially augmented the activity of the RdRp,particularly in scenarios where Nsp9 was not introduced,achieving statistical significance(P＜0.001).In the pres-ence of Nsp3 and Nsp4,the RdRp activity was augmented further upon the addition of Nsp9,reac-hing a level of significance(P＜0.05).The data imply that Nsp9 is capable of enhancing the RdRp activity of SARS-CoV-2 exclusively in the context of Nsp3 and Nsp4 coexistence,suggesting that the stimulatory influence of Nsp9 on viral replication may be contingent upon the formation of double-membrane vesicles.

Objective:To explore the potential value of dynamic changes of inflammatory factors in evaluating the efficacy of platinum regimen in the first-line treatment of advanced lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD).Methods:A total of 121 patients with advanced LUAD without common target mutations who were admitted to Dongtai People's Hospital to receive first-line treatment with platinum regimen from January 2021 to January 2023 were selected,and relevant clinical data such as general information,hematuria routine,angiogenic factors,serum tumor markers,inflammatory factors,immunoglobulin and T lymphocyte indexes were collected and statisti-cally analyzed.Patients in complete response(CR)group and partial response(PR)group were classified as chemotherapy sensitive group;stable(SD)group and progressive(PD)group were classified as chemotherapy insensitive group according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumors(RECIST).Through univariate and multi-factor Logistics regression analysis,the influencing factors of first-line treatment efficacy of platinum regimen in patients with advanced LUAD were analyzed,and the regression equation y=1-1/(1+e-z)prediction model was established and verified.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the potential value of dynamic changes of inflammatory factors in evaluating the efficacy of platinum-based first-line treatment for advanced LUAD.Results:①Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that CEA,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-8,IL-18,IL-1β and hs-CRP were still the influencing factors for the efficacy of first-line chemotherapy of platinum regimen in patients with advanced LUAD(P<0.05).②Inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-6,IL-8,IL-18,IL-1β and hs-CRP were included in multivariate Logistic regression analysis.After correcting confounders(Model 5),high levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-8,IL-18,IL-1β and hs-CRP were positively correlated with insensitivity after first-line chemotherapy of platinum regimen in advanced LUAD patients(P<0.05).Restrictive cubic spline model analysis showed that the dynamic changes of inflammatory factors and the insensitivity of patients with advanced LUAD after first-line chemotherapy all had a nonlinear dose-response relationship.With the increases of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-8,IL-18,IL-1β and hs-CRP levels,patients with advanced LUAD have a greatly increased risk of desensitization after first-line chemotherapy.③Stratified interaction test analysis showed that tumor stage,differentiation degree and lymph node metastasis before and after correction factors were significantly correlated with expressions of inflammatory factors(all P<0.05,all P interaction<0.05).④Prediction model based on the influence factors of inflammatory factors was well distinguished and accurate,the area under ROC curve(AUC)before and after internal validation for detecting chemotherapy sensitivity in patients with advanced LUAD treated with platinum regimen first-line therapy was 0.87(95%CI:0.81～0.93)and 0.88(95%CI:0.82～0.95),respectively,and the sensitivity were 89.69%and 89.75%,respectively,the specificity were 91.77%and 91.85%,respectively.Conclusion:Dynamic changes of inflammatory factors is an important factor affecting the chemotherapy efficacy of patients with advanced LUAD treated with platinum-containing regimen.With the significant decrease of inflammatory factors,the sensitivity of patients to chemotherapy is also significantly increased.

The novel coronavirus(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2),classified as a single-stranded RNA virus,replicates and transcribes its genome through the action of an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase,which is itself comprised of numerous non-structural pro-teins(non-structural proteins,Nsps).The present study delineates the development of a detection system founded on a bicistronic reporter plasmid in conjunction with an array of Nsp plasmids,ai-ming to investigate the influence of SARS-CoV-2 Nsps on the virus's replication and expression profiles.Specifically,a bicistronic reporter gene plasmid along with twelve distinct Nsp plasmids(encompassing Nsp3C-Flag,Nsp4,Nsp6-Nsp10,Nsp12-Nsp16)were meticulously constructed via molecular cloning techniques.The successful expression of these Nsps was subsequently confirmed through Western blot analysis.Initially,the activity of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase was assessed by co-transfection of the reporter plasmid with Nsp12,in the presence of its auxiliary fac-tors Nsp7 and Nsp8,with careful regulation of the co-transfection ratio,culturing temperature,and the timing of activity determination for the triad of Nsp plasmids.The normalized NLuc fluorescein value,in reference to the FLuc fluorescein value of the housekeeping gene,served as a metric for determining the polymerase activity.Building upon this foundation,the co-transfection concentra-tions of Nsp9-16 were fine-tuned,followed by the incremental addition of varying doses of Nsp3C,Nsp4,and Nsp6,to further elucidate the activity of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase(RdRp).The findings indicated that upon transfection with varying ratios of Nsp7,Nsp8,and Nsp12 at a propor-tion of 1∶8∶24,the polymerase activity was markedly elevated compared to the control group,with a statistical significance level(P＜0.001).Furthermore,in the absence of Nsp3,Nsp4,and Nsp6,the inclusion of Nsp10-16 substantially augmented the activity of the RdRp,particularly in scenarios where Nsp9 was not introduced,achieving statistical significance(P＜0.001).In the pres-ence of Nsp3 and Nsp4,the RdRp activity was augmented further upon the addition of Nsp9,reac-hing a level of significance(P＜0.05).The data imply that Nsp9 is capable of enhancing the RdRp activity of SARS-CoV-2 exclusively in the context of Nsp3 and Nsp4 coexistence,suggesting that the stimulatory influence of Nsp9 on viral replication may be contingent upon the formation of double-membrane vesicles.