ObjectiveTo explore the effects of hypoxia on the migration ability of human oligodendrocyte precursor cells （hOPCs） and its regulatory mechanisms. MethodsBased on the variations in oxygen concentration within the culture system， three experimental groups were set up： the 21%O₂ group （normoxic control group）， the 5%O₂ group， and the 2%O₂ group. The migration ability of hOPCs under normoxia （21%O₂）， 5%O₂， and 2%O₂ conditions was detected through the Transwell migration assay. RT-qPCR， transcriptome sequencing， and flow cytometry were used to detect the expression changes of genes and proteins such as hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha （HIF-1α） and chemokine （C-X-C Motif） receptor 4 （CXCR4）. Bioinformatics analysis was combined to analyze the KEGG pathways related to migration， so as to explore the effects of different oxygen concentrations on the migration ability of hOPCs and their possible mechanisms. ResultsHypoxia treatments at concentrations of 5%O₂ and 2%O₂ could both promote the in vitro migration of hOPCs， and the promoting effect of migration was more significant at the 2%O₂ concentration （P<0.001）. After hypoxia treatment， the mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α， CXCR4， etc. in hOPCs significantly increased （P<0.001）. Compared with the 5%O₂ concentration， the expression of CXCR4 in cells was higher at the 2%O₂ concentration （P<0.000 1）. Flow cytometry analysis detection showed that the expression of CXCR4 increased significantly after hypoxia treatment （P<0.01）， and with the decrease of oxygen concentration， its expression level further increased （P<0.000 1）. Ordinary transcriptome sequencing analysis indicated that hypoxia treatment could activate the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and the Axon guidance pathway. ConclusionHypoxia treatment can enhance the in vitro migration ability of hOPCs， and this effect is negatively correlated with the oxygen concentration. Its mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of the expression of genes such as HIF-1α and CXCR4， and the activation of the migration related signaling pathway including PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and axon guidance pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Notoginsenoside R1 （NGR1） ameliorates hypoxia/reoxygenation （H/R）-induced injury in AC16 human cardiomyocyte cell lines through the regulation of mitophagy. MethodsCommon genes linked to hypoxia/reoxygenation injury and mitophagy were identified by intersecting data from GeneCards and MitoCarta databases. AC16 cell viability was assessed via CCK-8 assay under varying NGR1 concentrations （0， 6.25， 12.5， 25， 50， 100， 200， 300， 400， 500 μmol/L）. AC16 cells were divided into the following groups： control group （Control）， model group （H/R）， and treatment groups （H/R + NGR1 at 100， 200 and 300 μmol/L）. Mitochondrial membrane potential （ΔΨm） was measured using 5，5'，6，6'-tetrachloro-1，1'，3，3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide （JC-1） staining. Transcriptional levels of mitophagy-related genes （Parkin， Pink1， P62） were quantified by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR （RT-qPCR）. Protein expression of mitophagy-related markers （Parkin， Pink1， P62， and LC3BⅡ） was evaluated via Western blot analysis. Mitochondrial ultrastructure was visualized by transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. ResultsCompared to the control group， cell viability in the H/R group significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Treatment with NGR1 at concentrations above 100 μmol/L significantly enhanced the cell viability of AC16 cells compared to the H/R group （P<0.01）. H/R induced a significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential （P<0.01）， which was restored by NGR1 treatment （P<0.01）. The mRNA levels of Parkin， Pink1， and P62 in the H/R group were upregulated compared to the control group （P<0.05）， while NGR1 intervention downregulated their expression （P<0.05）. Protein expression levels of Parkin， Pink1， and LC3BⅡ in the H/R group significantly increased， while P62 expression decreased compared to the control group （P<0.01）. In contrast， different doses of NGR1 treatment significantly reduced the expression of Parkin， Pink1， and LC3BⅡ while increasing P62 expression （P<0.05）. TEM revealed that the mitochondrial structure in the H/R group was severely disrupted， with fragmented and disorganized cristae， which was alleviated by NGR1. ConclusionNGR1 ameliorates H/R-induced AC16 cell injury， and its mechanism may be associated with modulating the Pink1/Parkin pathway to suppress excessive mitophagy.

Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) are widely used synthetic broad-spectrum antibacterial agents that can enter the human body through the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and other pathways. More and more studies have found that exposure to TCS and TCC can affect human health, but currently, review reports on the health effects of human exposure to TCS and TCC are limited. Therefore, this study reviewed population studies on the relationship between TCS and TCC exposure and health effects by searching the PubMed database, summarized the associated health outcomes, and elucidated the biological mechanisms. A total of 56 studies were retrieved, among which cross-sectional studies (25 studies, 44.64%) and cohort studies (25 studies, 44.64%) accounted for a relatively large proportion, while case-control studies (6 studies, 10.72%) were relatively few. Studies on TCS exposure (48 studies, 85.71%) were far more prevalent than those on TCC exposure (2 studies, 3.57%). The remaining 6 studies involved both TCS and TCC exposure. The research results revealed that TCS exposure was associated with male and female abnormal reproductive functions, fetal growth restriction, abnormal behavior development in children, obesity, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and immune-related diseases. Although the results of different studies show significant differences, they have indicated that exposure to TCS is a potential risk factor for these health problems. Due to the limited number of studies, the evidence for the relationship between TCC exposure and most of the aforementioned health effects is insufficient. Population studies and in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that exposure to TCS and TCC can interfere with the microbial homeostasis, the endocrine system, oxidative stress and immune function of the body, which are potential mechanisms causing adverse health effects. In the future, large-scale prospective cohort studies, as well as in vivo and in vitro studies, are still needed to further clarify the associations between TCS and TCC exposure and health effects, and to deeply explore its mechanism of action. These efforts will provide references for clarifying the human health hazards of TCS and TCC exposure and formulating targeted prevention and control strategies.

Allergic conjunctivitis is a common ocular inflammatory disease, with intense itching being the most typical and distressing symptom for patients. In recent years, with the in-depth study of the interaction between the nervous and immune systems, significant progress has been made in understanding the mechanism of itching in allergic conjunctivitis. This review elaborates on the neurobiological basis of itching in allergic conjunctivitis, with a focus on the complex dialogue between immune cells and sensory neurons, particularly the core role of the IL-33-ST2-CGRP signaling axis in mediating itching. Additionally, this article introduces new findings in genetic susceptibility research, including the identification of susceptibility genes for allergic conjunctivitis through transcriptome-wide association studies. The sensory nervous system not only transmits itch signals but also actively participates in the formation of antigen channels related to conjunctival goblet cells, thereby regulating the local uptake of allergens and the initiation of the immune response. Moreover, targeted novel therapeutic strategies offer hope for patients with refractory allergic conjunctivitis. Exploring the molecular and cellular mechanisms of itching in allergic conjunctivitis will provide a theoretical basis for the development of more effective treatment methods.

Objective:To investigate differentially expressed lipid molecules and their associated metabolic pathways in lung tissue using lipidomic analysis in a rat model of acute lung injury (ALI).Methods:An ALI rat model was established via intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Twenty rats were randomly allocated into an ALI group and a control group ( n = 10 per group). The left lung was subjected to histopathological evaluation, while the right lung underwent untargeted lipidomics analysis. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed for lipid profiling. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were performed to assess intergroup differences and determine variable importance in projection (VIP) scores. Differential lipids were screened based on VIP and fold change.Lipid identification and metabolic pathway analysis were conducted using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. Results:Among 1 022 detected lipid molecules, 47 were differentially expressed (VIP > 1, FC > 2.0 or < 0.5, P< 0.05). Subsequent analysis identified 12 structurally annotated lipids ( P < 0.05), predominantly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, and α-linolenic acid metabolism pathways. Notably, phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) exhibited significant alterations in the ALI group. Conclusions:The ALI model demonstrated substantial dysregulation of lipid metabolism, particularly involving PCs and LPCs, with prominent perturbations in glycerophospholipid metabolism. This provides a scienctific basis for indepth research on the pathogenesis mechanism of ALI/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) .

ObjectiveThe U6 promoter is an essential element for driving sgRNA expression in the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat sequences/CRISPR-associated protein 9（CRISPR/Cas9）gene editing system in dicotyledonous plants. Endogenous U6 promoters typically exhibit higher transcriptional activity， which can significantly improve gene editing efficiency. This study aims to identify endogenous U6 promoters in Artemisia annua to optimize its CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system， which holds significant importance for its molecular breeding. MethodsOn the basis of the highly conserved U6 snRNA sequences in Arabidopsis thaliana， endogenous U6 promoters were screened in the A. annua genome. Expression vectors were constructed with candidate AaU6 promoter driving the firefly luciferase （LUC） reporter gene， and then transiently transformed into Nicotiana benthamiana. Transcriptional activities of the promoters were measured and compared by in vivo imaging and the Dual Luciferase Reporter assay. ResultsEight endogenous U6 promoters were successfully cloned from A. annua. Sequences alignment revealed that all these promoters contained the two conserved cis-acting elements， upstream sequence element （USE） and TATA-box， which affected their transcriptional activity. Dual-luciferase activity assays indicated that the transcriptional activities of AaU6-3， AaU6-1， and AaU6-5 were significantly higher than that of the Arabidopsis AtU6-26 promoter， with AaU6-3 exhibiting the highest activity. ConclusionThis study identified three endogenous AaU6 promoters with high transcriptional activity in A. annua， providing key functional elements for establishing an efficient gene editing system in A. annua. These findings will contribute to advancing precision molecular breeding and high-quality germplasm innovation in A. annua.

Objective:Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the risk factors for intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) in critically ill patients.Methods:A total of 220 critically ill patients who were admitted to Intensive Care Unit, The First Hospital of Jiaxing from January 2020 to January 2022 were included in this study. The incidence of ICU-AW was recorded. Univariate analysis was conducted to investigate the factors related to ICU-AW, while multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for ICU-AW in critically ill patients.Results:Among the 220 critically ill patients, 64 developed ICU-AW, resulting in an incidence of 29.1% (64/220). There were no significant differences in sex, age, history of alcoholism, history of smoking, marital status, hypertension, diabetes, or use of glucocorticoid (methylprednisolone sodium succinate for injection) between the ICU-AW group and the non-ICU-AW group (all P > 0.05). The proportion of patients with sepsis in the ICU-AW group was higher than that in the non-ICU-AW group [46.9% (30/64) vs. 15.4% (24/156)]. The proportion of patients who were immobilized in the ICU-AW group was higher than that in the non-ICU-AW group [89.1% (37/64) vs. 64.1% (100/156)]. The use of nerve blocker (vecuronium bromide for injection) was more prevalent in the ICU-AW group than that in the non-ICU-AW group [57.8% (37/64) vs. 23.1% (36/156)]. The Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ score in the ICU-AW group was higher than that in the non-ICU-AW group [16 (11, 23) vs. 12 (8, 17)]. The duration of mechanical ventilation in the ICU-AW group was longer than that in the non-ICU-AW group [8 (4, 13) days vs. 4 (3, 6) days]. The length of hospital stay in the ICU-AW group was longer than that in the non-ICU-AW group [10 (7, 17) days vs. 7 (5, 11) days]. The blood lactate level in the ICU-AW group was higher than that in the non-ICU-AW group [2 (1, 2) mmol/L vs. 1 (1, 2) mmol/L]. All differences were statistically significant ( χ2 = 24.30, 13.83, 24.70, Z = 3.83, 4.59, 3.97, 2.70, all P < 0.05). The results of the univariate analysis, when included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis, showed that sepsis, immobilization, duration of mechanical ventilation, blood lactate level, and Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ score were independent risk factors for ICU-AW (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of ICU-AW is high and the risk factors for ICU-AW are complex. Therefore, targeted control of high-risk factors should be actively performed to prevent and treat ICU-AW.

Purpose To investigate the cortical thickness features in Parkinson's disease(PD)patients at various stages and their association with dopamine transporter(DAT)levels in the putamen.Materials and Methods We retrospectively enrolled 30 PD patients and 15 healthy subject who underwent 11C-CFT PET and T1 MRI scans at the Department of Nuclear Medicine/PET Center of Huashan Hospital from August 2016 to October 2020.DAT average radioactivity in the anterior and posterior putamen was analysis using SPM12 software,with the occipital lobe as the reference region.Cortical segmentation and reconstruction were performed on T1 images using Freesurfer v7.2.The differences in cortical thinning between the groups were compared using a general linear model.Additionally,the relationship between cortical thickness in various brain regions and DAT uptake in the putamen were assessed.Results Compared to healthy subjects,significant cortical thinning was observed in the left inferior parietal lobule and the right and left inferior middle frontal gyrus of PD patients(all P<0.05).There was a significant positive correlation between the cortical thickness of the left inferior parietal lobule and right inferior middle frontal gyrus and DAT uptake in the corresponding anterior/posterior parts of the putamen(r=0.30-0.47,all P<0.05).Furthermore,the DAT uptake in the right precentral gyrus was positively correlated with the ipsilateral posterior putamen,exhibiting a stronger correlation than on the contralateral side(r=0.32,P=0.029).Conclusion The results show that the thickness of the thinning cortex area in the PD patients correlates significantly positively with DAT levels in the putamen,highlighting the importance of the basal ganglia cortical circuit and providing a basis for further research into the neural mechanisms of PD.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors related to the severity of tinnitus with normal hearing and to provide a clinical basis for the treatment of such patients.Methods From November 2019 to May 2020,150 normal hearing patients with tinnitus as their first chief complain in the outpatient clinic of our center were selected.The severity of tinnitus was assessed by the tinnitus handicap inventory(THI),and the quality of sleep and psychological condition were assessed by the Pittsburgh sleep quality index inventory(PSQI)and the anxie-ty and depression scale(HADS).The relationship between tinnitus severity and patients'gender,age,duration of illness,tinnitus side,tinnitus dominant sound frequency,tinnitus dominant sound loudness,sleep quality,anxiety and depression were analyzed using Pearson's method and Logistic multi-factor regression.Results The Pearson correlation analysis suggested that sleep quality(r=0.667,P＜0.001),anxiety status(r=0.603,P＜0.001)and depression status(r=0.593,P＜0.001)were correlated with the THI classification,and patients with poorer sleep quality and higher anxiety and depression scores had more severe tinnitus.Logistic multi-factor regression analysis showed that only sleep quality had a significant effect on THI classification(P＜0.001).Conclusion Sleep quality may be related to the severity of tinnitus patients with normal hearing,and it is important to focus on their sleep sta-tus in the clinical management of such patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of two methods of smear layer removal on the surface properties of dentin. METHODS: Sixty extracted sound third molars were collected in this study, and were prepared as uniform dentin specimens with smear layer. All specimens were randomly divided into three groups: Control group, ultrasonic treatment (UT) group and etched treatment (ET) group. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to observe the surface micromorphology of all three groups. Then, the surface elements, mineral phases and functional groups were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and flourier transformed infrared spectrometer (FTIR) respectively. The mechanical properties, hydrophilicity and biocompatibility were also further evaluated. RESULTS: It was revealed that dentin tubules of UT and ET groups were exposed, but lots of dentin debris piled up on the surface of the control one which covered up dentin tubules on the surface. The EDX results should that the weaker peak value of calcium and phosphorus in ET group than control and UT groups. Characteristic peaks of hydroxyapatite could be seen by XRD in all of the three groups, but lower distinctive peaks of amide Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ bands of collagen of the dentin surface in control group than in ET and UT groups. The microhardness results showed that ET group was lower than control and UT groups, the difference was significant (P < 0.05). Better hydrophilicity of ET group was investigated (P < 0.05) than control group and UT group. Cells could be observed to adhere normally to dentin surface of each group which meant that all of the three groups had good biocompatibility. CONCLUSION Both UT and ET could effectively remove the smear layer on the surface of dentin and had no adverse effect of the dentin micromorphology and biocompatibility. The ultrasonic removal of the smear layer did not influence the mineral structure, hydrophilicity and mechanical properties of dentin surface. Although ET can effectively improve the hydrophilicity of dentin but decreased mechanical properties and the content of calcium and phosphorus.
Dentin/ultrastructure* ; Humans ; Surface Properties ; Smear Layer ; Molar, Third ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Dental Etching/methods*