Infection of the human central nervous system by Balamuthia mandrillaris is very rare and is mostly observed in people engaged in agriculture-related occupations，with a high fatality rate. This article reports a case of Balamuthia mandrillaris amoebic encephalitis in southern Hunan, China，which was finally confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid. The patient gave up treatment and was discharged from the hospital without achieving remission after antiviral，anti-fungal，and anti-parasitic therapies，cranial pressure reduction，and symptomatic supportive treatment，and the patient died at 5 months after confirmed diagnosis. This article reviews related literature to improve the understanding of this disease among clinicians，and it is necessary to consider the possibility of this disease in case of encephalitis of unknown etiology. Early diagnosis and timely comprehensive anti-infective therapy should be performed to improve the success rate of treatment.
Balamuthia mandrillaris

This consensus will introduce the characteristics of fillers used in the surgical cavities of domestic nasal surgery patients based on relevant literature and expert opinions. It will also provide recommendations for the selection of cavity fillers for different nasal diseases, with chronic sinusitis as a representative example.
Humans ; Nasal Cavity/surgery* ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; China ; Consensus ; Sinusitis/surgery* ; Dermal Fillers

OBJECTIVES: To study the molecular mechanisms of LDH-loaded si-NEAT1 for regulating paclitaxel resistance and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) polarization in breast cancer. METHODS: qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of lncRNA NEAT1, miR-133b, and PD-L1 in breast cancer SKBR3 cells and paclitaxel-resistant SKBR3 cells (SKBR3-PR). The effects of transfection with si-NEAT1 and miR-133b mimics on MRP, MCRP and PD-L1 expressions and cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis were investigated using qRT-PCR, Western blotting, scratch and Transwell assays, and flow cytometry. Rescue experiments were conducted using si-NEAT1 and miR-133b inhibitor. Human THP-1 macrophages were cultured in the presence of conditioned media (CM) derived from SKBR3 and SKBR3-PR cells with or with si-NEAT1 transfection for comparison of IL-4-induced macrophage polarization by detecting the surface markers. LDH@si-NEAT1 nanocarriers were constructed, and their effects on MRP, MCRP and PD-L1 expressions and cell behaviors of the tumor cells were examined. THP-1 cells were treated with the CM from LDH@si-NEAT1-treated tumor cells, and the changes in their polarization were assessed. RESULTS: SKBR3-PR cells showered significantly upregulated NEAT1 and PD-L1 expressions and lowered miR-133b expression as compared with their parental cells. Transfection with si-NEAT1 and miR-133b mimics inhibited viability, promoted apoptosis and enhanced MRP and BCRP expressions in SKBR3-PR cells. NEAT1 knockdown obvious upregulated miR-133b and downregulated PD-L1, MRP and BCRP expressions. The CM from SKBR3-PR cells obviously promoted M2 polarization of THP-1 macrophages, which was significantly inhibited by CM from si-NEAT1-transfected cells. Treatment with LDH@si-NEAT1 effectively inhibited migration and invasion, promoted apoptosis, and reduced MRP, BCRP and PD-L1 expressions in the tumor cells. The CM from LDH@si-NEAT1-treated SKBR3-PR cells significantly downregulated Arg-1, CD163, IL-10, and PD-L1 and upregulated miR-133b expression in THP-1 macrophages. CONCLUSIONS LDH@si-NEAT1 reduces paclitaxel resistance of breast cancer cells and inhibits TAM polarization by targeting the miR-133b/PD-L1 axis.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Paclitaxel/pharmacology* ; Breast Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Tumor-Associated Macrophages ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Macrophages ; Cell Movement

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important sugar crop. Biotic and abiotic stresses such as diseases, cold, and drought are major factors limiting sugarcane production. β-1,3-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.39), a member of the pathogenesis-related protein family, plays an essential role not only in the plant defenses against pathogens but also in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. To systematically investigate the sugarcane β-1,3-glucanase gene family, 132 glycoside hydrolase (GH) 17 family members were identified in the genomes of the sugarcane wild species Saccharum spontaneum 'Np-X', the tropical species S. officinarum 'LA-Purple', and the Saccharum spp. hybrid cultivar 'R570'. The results of the phylogenetic analysis categorized them into four subfamilies, of which subfamily Ⅳ had the largest proportion of members (102). The members of the sugarcane GH17 gene family contained five conserved motifs and 0-16 introns. The majority of the GH17 genes exhibited a genome-wide replication pattern, with 89.50% originating from S. spontaneum 'Np-X' and S. officinarum 'LA-Purple', while 58.10% of them in the Saccharum spp. hybrid cultivar 'R570' belonged to the discrete replication type. Four major classes of cis-acting elements were identified in the promoters, including the elements related to plant growth, development, and tissue-specific expression (14.21%), light-responsive elements (38.24%), biotic or abiotic stress-responsive elements (9.18%), and hormone-responsive elements (38.37%), which suggested that this gene family was involved in plant growth, development, hormone responses, and stress responses. Transcriptome and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses showed that the sugarcane GH17 genes exhibited tissue-specific expression and were differentially expressed under low temperature, drought, and hormone treatments, as well as during the interactions between different sugarcane genotypes and Sporisorium scitamineum, suggesting their potential roles in plant defenses. In addition, some SsGlu genes (SsGlu5, SsGlu20, SsGlu21, SsGlu25, SsGlu28, and SsGlu39) were expected to serve as candidate stress-related genes. This study lays a foundation for further revealing the molecular mechanisms of the stress resistance of sugarcane via β-1,3-glucanase genes.
Saccharum/physiology* ; Stress, Physiological/genetics* ; Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase/metabolism* ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics*

Objective To explore the relationship between the monocyte to high-density lipoprotein choles-terol ratio(MHR)and atrial fibrillation(AF)in diabetes mellitus(DM)patients by analyzing the clinical da-ta.Methods A total of 132 patients diagnosed with DM in Linfen People's Hospital,the Seventh Clinical Col-lege of Shanxi Medical University from January 2018 to December 2023 were selected as group A,and 139 pa-tients with DM complicated with AF were selected as group B.The clinical data of the two groups were com-pared,and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify the influencing factors of DM com-plicated with AF.The diagnostic value of MHR for AF in DM patients was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results There were statistically significant differences in age,hypertension,coro-nary heart disease,platelet count,neutrophils,lymphocytes,mean red blood cell volume,red blood cell volume distribution width,total bilirubin,conjugated bilirubin,unconjugated bilirubin,high-density lipoprotein choles-terol,neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio,and MHR between group A and group B(P＜0.05).The results of mul-tivariate Logistic analysis showed that MHR,age,hypertension,and coronary heart disease were independent risk factors for DM patients with AF(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of MHR and the combination of age and MHR for diagnosing DM complicated with AF were 0.578(95％CI:0.510-0.646)and 0.811(95％CI:0.759-0.862),respectively.Conclusion MHR is an independent risk fac-tor for DM complicated with AF,and has good diagnostic value combined with age,which can be used to as-sess the risk of the occurrence of AF in the clinical management of DM patients.

Objective:To explore the optimum opportunity for lumbodorsal muscles exercises of patients undergoing posterior lumbar decompression and instrumentation, and investigate its effect on the rehabilitation outcomes and kinesiophobia.Methods:A randomized controlled trial was used. By convenient sampling method, a total of 120 lumbar disc herniation patients were prospectively selected from Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai(Nantong Sixth People′s Hospital) from February 2020 to December 2021. The paitients were assigned to early group, middle group and late group, with 40 cases in each group. All patients were given routine postoperative care and lumbodorsal muscles exercises. The early group started to exercise 10th day after operation, the middle group started to exercise 3 weeks after operation, and the late group started to exercise 6 weeks after operation. The intervention effect was respectively evaluated by Japanese Orthopaedics Association (JOA) and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK).Results:There were 3, 1 and 1 missing cases in the early, middle and late group respectively, the age in the 3 groups were (56.05 ± 11.77), (57.33 ± 14.64) and (54.23 ± 15.73) years old in turn. Three months after exercising, the total score of JOA in the early, middle and late group were (25.32 ± 2.45), (24.44 ± 2.19) and (22.13 ± 1.58) in turn, the difference was significant ( F=23.64, P<0.05); the score of TSK in the early, middle and late group were (37.95 ± 6.81), (34.18 ± 6.39) and (33.33 ± 7.36) in turn, the difference was significant ( F=4.82, P<0.05). Conclusions:Lumbodorsal muscles exercises start at 3 weeks after operation can significantly improve the rehabilitation outcome of lumbar disc herniation patients undergoing posterior lumbar decompression and instrumentation, and will not increase the level of kinesiophobia, its can be consider as optimum opportunity for lumbodorsal muscles exercises.

Objective·To explore the molecular regulatory mechanism of neural tube defect(NTD)induced by retinoic acid(RA)in mouse embryos,and reveal the gene expression regularity of neural tube closure in mice.Methods·Based on the high-quality brain vesicle transcriptome data of mouse embryo during the critical period of neural tube closure[embryonic day 8.5(E8.5),E9.5 and E10.5],the gene expression trend data of the NTD group and the control group were obtained by using Short Time-series Expression Miner(STEM)software.Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis were performed for genes with different expression trends between the NTD group and the control group.Some candidate genes were screened for validation.Pregnant mice were divided into the NTD group and control group,with 9 mice in each group.Pregnant mice in the NTD group were treated with RA and those in the control group were treated with sesame oil by gavage at E7.5.Foetal rat brain vesicle tissues were collected at E8.5,E9.5 and E10.5 for experiments.Based on the above animal tissues,the screened candidate genes were validated by quantitative real-time PCR(RT-PCR).Results·A total of 18 255 genes were detected in the transcriptome data of the control group,and the expression patterns of these genes could be summarized into 7 significant profiles.A total of 19 037 gene expression data were detected in the transcriptome data of the NTD group,and gene expression patterns could be summarized into 6 profiles with significant significance.A total of 46 genes in the control group showed an upward trend but a downward trend in the NTD group.They were enriched in the positive and negative regulation of organ development,neuronal apoptosis,oligodendrocyte proliferation,and fibroblast growth factor signaling pathway at the biological process level.At the cellular component level,they were mainly involved in the basic structure of cells and neurons;At the molecular functional level,they were mainly related to the binding of fibroblast growth factor receptor.A total of 61 genes showed a downward trend in the control group but an upward trend in the NTD group.These genes were enriched in functions such as cell lysis and amino acid/ion transport at the biological process level.At the cellular component level,they were enriched in intracellular molecules,particles,extracellular region,intercellular space,etc.At the molecular function level,they were related to the activity of a series of enzymes and transporters.The results of RT-qPCR showed that the transcriptome sequencing data were authentic and reliable.Conclusion·RA intervention causes abnormal cellular activities and stress responses during mouse embryo development,leading to abnormal embryo development,activation of signalling pathways related to organismal self-protection,and suppression of genes that maintain normal embryo development.

Objective To observe the effect of Lactobacillus casei(L.casei)on the depression-like behaviors of offspring rats induced by maternal separation(MS),and explore the potential action mechanism of probiotics to improve central nervous inflammation in depression-like behaviors.Methods MS stress was used to establish a depressed animal model in offspring.Female SD rats were randomly divided into control group(CON),MS group,and MS+L.casei group,with 8 animals in each group.The female rats and their offspring in the control group did not undergo MS intervention after delivery,while those in the MS group were separated 3 h each day,for 14 consecutive days after normal delivery.The offspring of the MS+L.casei group was given intervention of 8 ×108 CFU/(kg·d)L.casei gavage for 4 weeks.Source preference test(SPT)and forced swimming test(FST)were used to evaluate the changes in depressive behaviors of the offspring rats.ELISA was employed to determine the levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1 β and IL-10 in serum and hippocampus tissue.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was applied to detect the mRNA expression levels of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1(IDO1)and 5-HT mRNA in hippocampus.Results Compared with the CON group,the offspring in the MS group had significantly reduced percentage of source preference(P＜0.05),prolonged immobility time during forced swimming(P＜0.05),and decreased number of grid crossings in spontaneous activity test(though no statistical difference),indicating that the offspring rats had obvious depression-like behaviors after MS.L.casei treatment improved the behavioral changes of offspring rats caused by MS stress,with significantly increased percentage of source preference(P＜0.05)and shortened immobility time of forced swimming(P＜0.05).Compared with the conditions in the MS group,L.casei reduced the levels of IL-6,IL-1 β and TNF-α(P＜0.01)and increased that of IL-10(P＜0.05)in the hippocampus and peripheral blood,and decreased mRNA level of IDO1 and enhanced 5-HT mRNA level in hippocampus(P＜0.01)in the offspring rats of the MS+L.casei group.Conclusion MS stress induces depression-like behavior in offspring rats.L.casei inhibits the hippocampal expression of IDO1 and enhances that of 5-HT by regulating inflammatory factors in hippocampus and peripheral blood,and thus,improves depression-like behavior.

Objective To examine the process of the initial ethical review of drug clinical trials in medical institutions in Shaanxi province,analyze the current situation of initial reviews,and make suggestions to expedite the speed of initial ethical review of drug clinical trial projects.Methods Based on the drug clinical trial institutions in Shaanxi recorded in the"drug and medical device clinical trial institutions for the record management information system".This study involved retrieving information through hospital website,WeChat public accounts,and conducting telephone consultations to usnderstand the process.The analysis focused on the initial review requirements,documents submission,and approval documents.Results A total of 44 drug clinical trial institutions were assessed.63.6% of these institutions had clearly issued ethical review/application guidelines,with some lacking detailed provisions on the initial review submission list,simplified data and seal requirements.31.8% of the institutions had established ethics review management systems.The average time of obtaining ethics approval was from 5.13 to 6 d.Conclusion It is recommended to further improve ethical review guidelines,standardize the initial review process,refine the initial ethical review documents and institutional project approval documents,build an information management platform,reduce the time for initial review of drug clinical trial projects,and improve the speed of clinical trial initiation.

Objective:To describe the implementation status of home enteral nutrition (HEN) in pediatric patients, providing reference for the management of HEN in pediatric patients.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. From March 2020 to May 2021, convenience sampling was used to select 161 pediatric patients who were discharged from the Children's Hospital of Fudan University and underwent HEN as participants. The survey questionnaire was designed to collect clinical data based on the research purpose.Results:Among the 161 pediatric patients who underwent HEN, congenital malformations, digestive system diseases, neurological diseases, malignant tumors, and respiratory system diseases accounted for 38.5% (62/161), 21.7% (35/161), 19.3% (31/161), 11.2% (18/161), and 9.3% (15/161), respectively. A total of 120 pediatric patients were followed up and recorded with nutritional supplements, 49 pediatric patients received whole protein nutritional supplements, 19 received amino acid nutritional supplements, 16 received whole protein nutritional supplements with homemade homogenization, 15 received short peptide nutritional supplements, seven received breast milk with whole protein nutritional supplements, five received homemade homogenization, five received animal milk, two received breast milk, and two received amino acid nutritional supplements with homemade homogenization. A total of 118 pediatric patients were followed up with tube feeding, including 107 cases using intermittent feeding, nine cases using continuous feeding, and two cases using intermittent combined continuous feeding. There were 46 children with tube slippage, nine cases of vomiting, six cases of tube blockage, three cases of abdominal pain and bloating, two cases of diarrhea, one case of nasal redness, one case of aspiration pneumonia, and one case of exudation around the stoma. After a short-term HEN, 74 cases continued to receive tube feeding, 49 cases were successfully removed from the tube and switched to oral feeding, three cases were switched to tube and oral combined feeding, five cases died due to severe illness.Conclusions:Pediatric patients undergoing HEN have a wide range of diseases and a high incidence of tube slippage. Education should be provided to family caregivers to enhance their ability to identify and handle complications, as well as to make correct choices in feeding formulations and methods. We should also establish a sound follow-up system, closely monitor the nutritional status of pediatric patients, and actively assist in preventing complications.