Background Exposure to ozone (O₃) is closely associated with an increased risk of mortality in the population, but this association exhibits regional heterogeneity, and relevant research in northern and central-western China is limited. Hohhot, as a typical city in the northern and western region, has seen a significant upward trend in O₃ concentrations (an increase of 17.9 μg·m⁻³ in 2020 compared to 2016). Studies targeting this region can fill the regional research gap. Objective To evaluate the health effects of ground-level O₃ exposure on resident mortality in Hohhot from 2018 to 2023. Methods Air quality, meteorological, and mortality data in Hohhot from 2018 to 2023 were collected. A time-series analysis based on Quasi-Poisson generalized additive model (GAM) was employed, controlling for meteorological factors, day-of-week effects, and holiday effects, to assess the impact of O₃ on non-accidental mortality, mortality from circulatory system diseases (CSD), and mortality from respiratory system diseases (RSD). Results From 2018 to 2023, the non-accidental, CSD, and RSD mortalities in Hohhot amounted to 89721, 47394, and 11378 cases, respectively. The daily maximum 8-hour average O₃ concentration (O₃-8 h) was 90.00 μg·m⁻³. According to the Class I limit (100 μg·m⁻³) of GB 3095—2012 Ambient Air Quality Standard, the annual average number of days exceeding the standard was 144 d. For single-day lag effects, O₃ had the strongest health impact on non-accidental mortality and CSD mortality on the current day (lag0), with effect sizes of 0.78% (95%CI: 0.33%, 1.24%) and 1.10% (95%CI: 0.50%, 1.71%), respectively. The strongest impact on RSD mortality occurred on the second day (lag2), with an effect size of 1.61% (95%CI: 0.61%, 2.62%). The subgroup analyses showed that for every 10 μg·m⁻³ increase in O₃-8 h concentration, the risk of non-accidental mortality in females increased by 0.70% (95%CI: 0.01%, 1.41%); for CSD mortality, the risk in males and individuals aged ≥65 years increased by 0.73% (95%CI: 0.01%, 1.47%) and 0.76% (95%CI: 0.13%, 1.39%), respectively. During the warm season, statistically significant risks were observed for non-accidental, CSD, and RSD mortalities, with increases of 1.07% (95%CI: 0.54%, 1.60%), 1.31% (95%CI: 0.59%, 2.04%), and 2.27% (95%CI: 1.07%, 3.49%), respectively. In the two-pollutant models incorporating sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometers or less (PM₁₀), and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), the effect estimates (excess risk) of O₃ remained stable and statistically significant (P<0.05), indicating model robustness. Conclusion Ground-level O₃ exposure in Hohhot increases mortalities due to non-accidental causes, CSD, and RSD, with more pronounced effects during the warm season. Females and individuals aged ≥65 years may be susceptible populations. Therefore, relevant authorities should prioritize the potential health risks of O₃ exposure, particularly to vulnerable groups, and promote targeted prevention and control strategies.

Extensive epigenetic reprogramming involves in memory CD8+ T-cell differentiation. The elaborate epigenetic rewiring underlying the heterogeneous functional states of CD8+ T cells remains hidden. Here, we profile single-cell chromatin accessibility and map enhancer-promoter interactomes to characterize the differentiation trajectory of memory CD8+ T cells. We reveal that under distinct epigenetic regulations, the early activated CD8+ T cells divergently originated for short-lived effector and memory precursor effector cells. We also uncover a defined epigenetic rewiring leading to the conversion from effector memory to central memory cells during memory formation. Additionally, we illustrate chromatin regulatory mechanisms underlying long-lasting versus transient transcription regulation during memory differentiation. Finally, we confirm the essential roles of Sox4 and Nrf2 in developing memory precursor effector and effector memory cells, respectively, and validate cell state-specific enhancers in regulating Il7r using CRISPR-Cas9. Our data pave the way for understanding the mechanism underlying epigenetic memory formation in CD8+ T-cell differentiation.
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Cell Differentiation ; Chromatin/immunology* ; Animals ; Mice ; Immunologic Memory ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; SOXC Transcription Factors/immunology* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/immunology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic

Objective:To observe any effect of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP).Methods:Eighty-six persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus and DPNP were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each of 43. Both groups were given basic treatment to control plasma glucose and blood pressure, while the observation group was additionally provided with daily 10Hz rTMS of the primary motor cortex (M1 area) of the non-dominant hand 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Before and after the treatment, pain in both groups was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Patient′s Global Impression Change scale (PGIC). The motor conduction velocity (MCV) and sensory conduction velocity of the median and the common peroneal nerves were also tested.Results:After treatment, the average VAS pain rating and PGIC score of the observation group were significantly lower than the control group′s averages and those before treatment. The observation group′s treatment effectiveness rate (79.07%) was then much better than that of the control group (23.26%). After the treatment, the average MCV of the median and common peroneal nerves of the observation group (47.65±1.94 m/s and 46.98±3.26 m/s, respectively) were significantly faster than before treatment, and those of the control group.Conclusions:rTMS based on routine intervention can significantly relieve DPNP and promote the recovery of injured nerves, bettering diabetics′ physical condition and life quality.

Objective:To explore clinical evaluation and genetic analysis of patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH).Methods:The clinical data and phenotypes of 22 patients with IHH diagnosed and treated in our department were reviewed and analyzed. Whole-exome sequencing(WES)and Sanger method were used for variant analysis and verification.Results:Among the 22 cases of IHH probands, 12 cases of Kalman syndrome (KS) and 10 cases of IHH (nIHH) with normal sense of smell. On physical examination, males showed short penis, small testicles, small or inconspicuous laryngeal knots, and a sharp voice. Mammary gland development, mammary gland dysplasia, primary amenorrhea, etc. in women. Sex hormone examination: Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) levels are reduced or at the lower limit of normal. There were nine missense variants of CHD7 gene in 8 patients. Based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines, the c. 307T>A(p.Ser103Thr), c.3143G>A(p.Gly1048Glu), c.6956G>T(p.Arg2319Leu) and c. 3145A>T(p.Ser1049Cys) variants of CHD7 gene were predicted to be likely pathogenic (PS1+ PP1+ PM2, PM2+ PM6+ PP2+ PP3, PM2+ PM5+ PM6+ PP2+ PP3 and PM2+ PM6+ PP2+ PP3), the remaining 14 cases of IHH patients had negative genetic screening. Conclusion:CHD7 gene variants may be related to IHH disease.

Patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA) is a subtype of knee osteoarthritis that has gained popularity in recent years due to its high prevalence and disease burden. The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital) and the Joint Surgery Branch of the Chinese Orthopaedic Association, together with the editorial department of the Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics, convened a panel of orthopaedic experts to come up with guidelines. Subsequently, the Chinese clinical practice guideline for patellofemoral osteoarthritis (2020 edition) was officially released in September 2020. This is of utmost importance in standardizing the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PFOA in China. The present guideline focused on the diagnosis (symptoms, signs and imaging changes), non-surgical interventions (primary treatment and pharmacotherapy) and surgical interventions (repair and reconstruction) of PFOA. The present interpretation aims to address key emerging clinical issues in the diagnosis and treatment of PFOA in China.

Objective: To identify pathogenic variants in 5 sporadic patients and two Chinese pedigrees affected with 17-hydroxylase deficiency (17-OHD). Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected with informed consent. Variants of CYP17A1 gene were screened by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Suspected mutations were validated in other members of the pedigrees. Results: Gene sequencing has identified a homozygous c. 985_987delTACinsAA (Y329Kfs) mutation in exon 6 of the CYP17A1 gene in 4 patients and the sister of case 3. Case 1 was found to harbor compound heterozygous mutations c. 1459_1467del9 (p.D487_F489del) and c. 1244-3C>A. The parents and brother of cases 2 and 5 were heterozygous carriers of a c. 985_987delTACinsAA(Y329Kfs) mutation. Conclusion Mutations of the CYP17A1 gene probably underlie the pathogenesis of 17-OHD, for which c. 985_987delTACinsAA(Y329Kfs) is the most common. The c. 1244-3C>A is a novel mutation. Above results have facilitated genetic counseling for the affected families.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genotype-phenotype correlation among 18 patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). METHODS: PCR-Sanger sequencing was used to analyze the 10 exons and flanking regions of the CYP21A2 gene among the 18 patients and 20 healthy controls. RESULTS: Seventeen patients had variants of the CYP21A2 gene. Eight patients (44.4%, 8/18) carried homozygous variants including p.Ile 173Asn (62.5%, 5/8), p.Pro31Leu (25.0%, 2/8), and IVS2-13A/C>G (12.5%, 1/8), respectively. Six patients (33.3%, 6/18) carried compound heterozygous variant, among which IVS2-13 A>G+p.Ile 173Asn were most common (50.0%). 94.4% (34/36) of the variant were pathogenic, with the most common variants being p.Ile173Asn (41.7%), IVS2-13A/C>G (19.4%), and p.Ile173Asn (7.5%). No variant was identified among the 20 healthy controls. CONCLUSION The majority of 21-OHD patients carried CYP21A2 gene variants in homozygous or compound heterozygous forms, among which the p.Ile173Asn was the most common one. There is a strong correlation between the genotypes and clinical phenotypes.
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To identify pathogenic variants in 5 sporadic patients and two Chinese pedigrees affected with 17-hydroxylase deficiency (17-OHD). METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected with informed consent. Variants of CYP17A1 gene were screened by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Suspected mutations were validated in other members of the pedigrees. RESULTS: Gene sequencing has identified a homozygous c.985_987delTACinsAA (Y329Kfs) mutation in exon 6 of the CYP17A1 gene in 4 patients and the sister of case 3. Case 1 was found to harbor compound heterozygous mutations c.1459_1467del9 (p.D487_F489del) and c.1244-3C>A. The parents and brother of cases 2 and 5 were heterozygous carriers of a c.985_987delTACinsAA(Y329Kfs) mutation. CONCLUSION Mutations of the CYP17A1 gene probably underlie the pathogenesis of 17-OHD, for which c.985_987delTACinsAA(Y329Kfs) is the most common. The c.1244-3C>A is a novel mutation. Above results have facilitated genetic counseling for the affected families.
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase ; genetics

Objective To investigate the change of CD35 expression on neutrophils in the peripheral blood and the relationship between the change and disease activity in patient with myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (MPO-AAV).Methods Forty untreated patients with active MPO-AAV(patient group)and forty healthy volunteers (control group) were enrolled into this study,and Bermingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) for every patient was recorded.Flow cytometry (FCM) was employed to detect the CD35 and MPO expression on the neurtrophil,and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was taken to test the levels of autoantibody against MPO-Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA),fragment a from the activated complement factor B (Ba) and MPO in peripheral blood from both group.All test results were compared between the 2 groups by t test,Non-parametric test,Spearman correlation analysis.In addition,the relations among the laboratory results and the relationship between BVAS and the laboratory results were analyzed respectively.Results Compared with the control group,the expression level,which was represented as mean flourscence indensity (MFI),of CD35 and neutrophil membrane MPO on peripheral blood neutrophils was significantly increased [(2 014±968) vs (1 454±511),t=3.024,P=0.002 and (709±244) vs (580±158),t=2.806,P＜0.01,respectively],and the MPO expression level in neutrophils was significantly lower [(1 525±1 033) vs (3 196±2 126),t=-4.468,P＜0.01].Ba and MPO levels in serum of the patient group was significantly higher than that in the control group [37.89(26.17,63.14) μg/L vs 27.99(18.64,46.52) μg/L,Z=-2.521,P=0.012 and 546.16(450.55,729.96) U/L vs 327.93(279.02,365.10) U/L,Z=7.121,P＜0.01,respectively].In patient group,the expression level of CD35 had a significant positive relationship with peripheral blood neutrophil count (r=0.573,P＜0.01),serum Ba (r=0.433,P=0.005) and BVAS (r=0.368,P=0.020),respectively,whereas,there was a negative correlation between the MPO expressed on the neutrophils and that in the neutrophils (r=-0.458,P=0.003),and a positive relationship between MPO-ANCA and BVAS (r=0.351,P=0.026).Conclusion There is significant increased expression of CD35 on the neutrophil of patient with MPO-AAV,which might protect the neutrophil from destruction by the activated complement alternative pathway,and more neutrophils consequently contribute to the MPO-AAV pathogenesis.Inhibition of CD35 expression might become one of the potential new pathways for the treatment of MPO-AAV.

Objective To investigate the effect and its underlying mechanism of Linagliptin on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.Methods Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)scale was used to prospectively screen T2DM patients for MCI in our hospital from December 2016 to June 2017,and a total of 98 elderly T2DM patients with MCI were recruited.They were randomly divided into the linagliptin group(Linagliptin + metformin,n=50)and the non-linagliptin group(gliclazide + metformin,n =48).Serum fasting plasma glucose (FPG),glycosylated hemoglobin(HbAlc),blood lipids and amyloid β-protein 1-42 (Aβ1-42) levels were determined,and MoCA score and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)were calculated,and were compared between the two groups before and after 24 weeks of treatment.Results In the linagliptin group,serum FPG,HbA1c,HOMA-IR,Aβ1-42 levels were significantly decreased and MoCA score was increased after 24 weeks of treatment as compared with pre-treatment [(7.29± 1.00) mmol/L vs.(9.16 ± 1.60) mmol/L,(7.19 ± 0.99) ％ vs.(9.36 ± 1.07) ％,(3.05 ± 1.12) vs.(4.05±1.30),(0.463±0.093)g/L vs.(0.528±0.110)g/L,(24.48± 1.18) vs.(23.22± 1.37),all P＜0.05].In the non-linagliptin group as control,FPG and HbA1c levels were decreased after 24 weeks of treatment as compared with pre-treatment[(7.23±1.09)mmol/L vs.(9.20± 1.75) mmol/L,(7.23±1.03)％ vs.(9.69± 1.18)％,both P ＜ 0.05],while there was no significant difference in HOMA IR,Aβ1-42 level and MoCA score[(3.95 ± 1.00) vs.(4.19± 1.13),(0.517± 0.113)g/L vs.(0.526±0.119)g/L,(23.21±1.18) vs.(23.00±1.32),all P＞0.05].It is worth to pay close attention to the key discovery of this paper that HOMA-IR and Aβ1-42 levels were significantly lower and MoCA score was significantly higher in the linagliptin group than in the non-linagliptin group after 24 weeks of treatment(all P＜0.05).Conclusions Linagliptin as one of DPP-4 enzyme inhibitors can improve the cognitive function in elderly patients with T2DM,which might be relevant to reducing serum Aβ level and improving HOMA-IR.DPP-4 enzyme inhibitor may be a good option for treatment of mild cognitive dysfunction in T2DM patients in the future.