[Objective] To analyze the infection status of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among blood donors in Zhengzhou, so as to provide data support for formulating local blood screening strategies. [Methods] Random samples from blood donors from January to December 2022 were tested for HEV RNA using PCR technology. Reactive samples were sequenced for gene analysis, and the donors were followed up. [Results] Among 21 311 samples, 3(0.14‰) were reactive for HEV RNA, all of whom were male. Genetic sequencing results revealed that one strong positive sample was genotype 4, while sequencing failed for the other two due to low viral load. A follow-up of 25 strong positive donors showed that ALT significantly increased on day 7 after donation, anti-HEV IgM and anti-HEV IgG turned positive. On day 21, ALT returned to normal, and on day 35, HEV RNA turned negative. Notably, anti-HEV IgM and anti-HEV IgG persisted until day 482. [Conclusion] There is HEV infection among blood donors in Zhengzhou, and it is necessary to expand the screening scope to comprehensively explore the prevalence and genotype distribution of HEV among blood donors.

Objective:To explore the possible anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor canagliflozin.Methods:ApoE -/-mice fed on Western diet were randomly assigned into the model group ( n=10) and the canagliflozin group ( n=10). C57BL/6J mice fed on normal diet were chosen as the control group ( n=10). Mice in the canagliflozin group were gavaged with canagliflozin for 14 weeks. The presence and severity of atherosclerosis were evaluated with HE and oil red O stainings in aortic root section slices. PCR assay was performed to determine the mRNA expression levels of nitric oxide synthase. Hepatic transcriptome analysis and hepatic amino acid detection were conducted using RNA-seq and targeted LC-MS, respectively. Results:HE staining and oil red O staining of the aortic root showed that AS models were successfully established in ApoE -/-mice fed on Western diet for 14 weeks. Canagliflozin alleviated the severity of atherosclerosis in pathology. Hepatic transcriptome analysis indicated that canagliflozin impacted on amino acid metabolism, especially arginine synthesis in ApoE -/-mice. Targeted metabolomics analysis of amino acids showed that canagliflozin reduced hepatic levels of L-serine, L-aspartic acid, tyrosine, L-hydroxyproline, and L-citrulline, but raised the hepatic level of L-arginine. Compared to the model group, the canagliflozin group exhibited higher serum arginine and nitric oxide levels as well as elevated nitric oxide mRNA expression in aortic tissues ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Canagliflozin regulated the amino acid metabolism, reduced the levels of glucogenic amino acids,and promoted the synthesis of arginine in atherosclerotic mice.

Methods:Cultured human alveolar epithelial A549 cells were assigned into LPS group and blank control group. LPS group was stimulated with LPS and adenosine triphosphate to induce pyroptosis and inflammation. A549 cells were divided into 4 groups: miR-20a mimics group, mimics-negative control (NC) group, inhibitor group and inhibitor-NC group. MiRNA-20a mimics, mimics-NC, inhibitor, and inhibitor-NC were transfected respectively into A549 cells, and after 24 h, the cells were collected to verify transfection efficiency by qPCR. MiRNA-20a mimics and the constructed TLR4-3'UTR double luciferase reporter plasmid were co-transfected into A549 cells, and luciferase activity was analyzed. MiRNA-20a mimics/inhibitors were transfected into A549 cells, and then the cells were stimulated by LPS for 8 h followed by adenosine triphosphate for 30 min. QPCR, Western Blot and ELISA were used to detect the expression of GSDMD, inflammatory factors (ASC, NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1β) and Signaling molecules (TLR4、NF-κB) in A549 cells at mRNA level and protein level. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of TLR4 in the A549 cells and NF-κB in the nucleus of A549 cells after transfecting with miRNA-20a mimics/inhibitor.Results:The mRNA and protein expression of pyroptosis marker molecule (GSDMD) and inflammatory factors (ASC, NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1β) in A549 cells stimulated with LPS were significantly higher than those in the blank control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The expression of miRNA-20 in the mimics group was significantly higher than that in the mimic-NC group ( P<0.05), while the expression of miRNA-20a in the inhibitor group was lower than that in the inhibitor-NC group ( P<0.01). The double luciferase reporter gene experiment showed that the relative fluorescence value of the co-transfection group for TLR4-3'UTR-WT and miRNA-20a mimics was significantly lower than the co-transfection group for TLR4-3'UTR-WT and miRNA-20a mimics-NC ( P<0.05). The mRNA and protein levels of pyroptosis marker molecule (GSDMD) , inflammatory factors (ASC, NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1β) and signaling molecules (TLR4, NF-κB) were decreased in the mimics group compared to the mimics-NC group, and increased in inhibitor group compared to inhibitor-NC group. Conclusions:miRNA-20a may inhibit LPS-induced pyroptosis and inflammation of A549 cells via TLR4/NF-κB signal pathway.Objetive:To explore the potential role of miRNA-20a in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced pyroptosis and inflamation of human alveolar epithelial A549 cells and its regulation mechanisim.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis, clinical phenotype and pathogenesis for a child with mosaicism ring chromosome 4. METHODS: Clinical data of the child was collected. Peripheral blood chromosomal karyotype G banding analysis, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were carried out for the child, in addition with a review of the literature. RESULTS: The child was born full-term with low birth weight, facial dysmorphism, patent ductus arteriosus and ventricular septal defect. His karyotype was determined as mos46,XY,r(4)(p16.3q35.2)[259]/45,XY,-4[25]/47,XY,r(4)(p16.3q35.2), +r(4)(p16.3q35.2)[8]/46,XY,der(4)del(4)(p16.3)inv(4)(p16.3q31.1)[6]/46,XY,dic?r(4;4)(p16.3q35.2;p16.3q35.2)[4]/48,XY,r(4)(p16.3q35.2),+r(4)(p16.3q35.2)×2[3]/46,XY,r(4)(p1?q2?)[2]; CMA result was arr[GRCH37]4p16.3(68 345-2 981 614)×1; FISH result was 45,XY,-4[12]/45,XY,-4×2,+mar1.ish r1(4)(WHS-,D4Z1+)[1]/ 46,XY,-4,+mar1.ishr1(4)(WHS-,D4Z1+)[73]/46,XY,-4,+mar2.ishr2(4)(WHS-,D4Z1++)[1]/47,XY,-4,+mar1×2.ishr1(4) (WHS-, D4Z1+)×2[4]/46,XY,del(4)(p16.3).ish del(4)(p16.3)(WHS-,D4Z1+)[9]. CONCLUSION In this case, the ring chromosome 4 as a de novo variant has produced a number of cell lines during embryonic development and given rise to mosaicism. The clinical phenotype of ring chromosome 4 is variable. The instability of the ring chromosome itself, presence of mosaicism, chromosome breakpoint and range of deletion and/or duplication may all affect the ultimate phenotype.
Humans ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Ring Chromosomes ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Karyotype ; Mosaicism

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Tongxie Yaofang on the immune microenvironment of colorectal cancer in mice under chronic stress and the underlying mechanism. MethodA total of 40 male SPF BABL/C mice were randomized into normal group， stress group， Tongxie Yaofang group （13.65 g·kg^-1）， and Tongxie Yaofang-stress group （13.65 g·kg^-1）， with 10 in each group. Chronic restraint stress was induced in mice and administration （ig） of Tongxie Yaofang began after 7 days of stress. On the 14^th day， forced swim and tail suspension tests were used to examine the behavioral changes of mice after stress and the subcutaneous colorectal tumor was implanted in each group of mice. The effect of this prescription on the body mass and tumor volume of mice was observed. After the last administration， mouse serum and tumor samples were collected. The content of T lymphocytes （CD3⁺， CD4⁺， CD8⁺， and CD4⁺/CD8⁺） in tumor was detected by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry and levels of corticosterone （CORT） in peripheral blood， and interleukin （IL）-2， interferon-γ （IFN-γ）， IL-6， and IL-10 in the serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein expression of inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB（IκB） kinase α/β （IKKα/β）， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）α （IκBα）， NF-κB p65， and phosphorylated （p）-NF-κB p65 was measured by Western blot. ResultCompared with the normal group， the stress group had large tumor volume （P<0.05）， low content of CD3⁺， CD4⁺， and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ （P<0.05， P<0.01）， high content of CD8⁺， low content of T helper 1 （Th1）-secreted IFN-γ （P<0.05）， high content of T helper 2 （Th2）-secreted IL-10 （P<0.05） and CORT （P<0.05）， high protein expression of p-NF-κB p65， NF-κB p65， and IKKα/β （P<0.05）， and low protein expression of IκBα （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the Tongxie Yaofang group showed slow tumor growth， high content of CD3⁺， CD4⁺， and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ （P<0.01）， low content of CD8⁺ （P<0.05）， high content of Th1-secreted IL-2 and IFN-γ （P<0.05）， low content of Th2-secreted IL-6 and IL-10 （P<0.05）， low content of CORT， low protein expression of p-NF-κB p65， NF-κB p65， and IKKα/β （P<0.05）， and high protein expression of IκBα （P<0.01）. Tongxie Yaofang-stress group demonstrated slower tumor growth， higher content of CD3⁺， CD4⁺， and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ （P<0.01）， smaller content of CD8⁺ （P<0.05）， higher content of IL-2 and IFN-γ （P<0.05）， lower content of IL-6， IL-10 （P<0.05）， and CORT （P<0.05）， lower protein expression of p-NF-κB p65， NF-κB p65， and IKKα/β （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and higher protein expression of IκBα （P<0.01） than the stress group. ConclusionTongxie Yaofang can delay the growth of colorectal cancer under chronic stress and alleviate the deterioration of the immune microenvironment， possibly by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway， regulating the function of T lymphocyte subsets， and thus suppressing the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors.

The prevalence and recurrence rate of depressive disorder are high, while the recognition and cure rate are low. Early intervention can improve the quality of life of patients with depression. In clinical practice, it has been found that psychological treatments can effectively improve the symptoms and prognosis of depression.Cognitive behavior therapy(CBT) has been widely used in the treatment of depression, however, its mechanisms are still unclear. In this paper, the neuroimaging studies of patients with depression before and after CBT were summarized, and the structural or functional changes of different brain regions in patients with depression before and after CBT were described. The findings suggest that CBT improved depressive symptoms by increasing gray matter volume, activation level, and functional connectivity strength in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, reducing activation levels in the amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus, and restoring abnormal brain network activity or functional connectivity. Larger gray matter volume in anterior cingulate gyrus and higher activation levels in hippocampus and amygdala before treatment can effectively predict the effect of CBT in depressed patients. In the future, machine learning could be combined with brain imaging data to more accurately predict the effectiveness of CBT in treating depression.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of berberine combined with evodiamine on the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer HCT116 and RKO cells and to explore the underlying mechanism. Methodcell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to examine the proliferation of HCT116 and RKO cells treated by berberine （30 μmol·L^-1）， evodiamine （0.8 μmol·L^-1）， and combination of two （30 μmol·L^-1+0.8 μmol·L^-1）， respectively. Scratch assay and Transwell assay were employed to detect the migration and invasion of HCT116 and RKO cells treated with berberine， evodiamine， and the combination， separately. In addition， the protein expression of epithelial cadherin （E-cadherin）， neural cadherin （N-cadherin）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， and protein kinase B （Akt） in HCT116 and RKO cells treated with the berberine， evodiamine， and the combination was respectively measured by Western blot. ResultCompared with the blank group， berberine alone and evodiamine alone had no significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation， migration， and invasion of HCT116 and RKO cells， while the combination showed significant inhibition （P<0.01）. Berberine alone and evodiamine alone had no remarkable influence on the expression of PI3K， N-cadherin， and E-cadherin in HCT116 and RKO cells， but the combination significantly reduced the expression of PI3K and N-cadherin （P<0.01） and increased the expression of E-cadherin （P<0.01） in HCT116 and RKO cells. Evodiamine alone also significantly suppressed the expression of Akt protein in HCT116 and RKO cells （P<0.05）， but the suppression was weaker than that of the combination. ConclusionThe combination of berberine and evodiamine can significantly inhibit the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer HCT116 and RKO cells and the two show synergy. The mechanism is the likelihood that the combination down-regulates the expression of PI3K and Akt.

Humans ; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2/metabolism* ; Multiprotein Complexes/metabolism* ; Neural Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Rapamycin-Insensitive Companion of mTOR Protein/metabolism* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*

Cell Cycle Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins