To explore the correlation between human body fat distribution and carotid athero-sclerosis.

Objective This study aims to investigate the expression, phenotypic changes, and mechanisms of action of guanylate-binding protein 2 (GBP2) in the process of silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Methods The expression and localization of GBP2 in silicotic lung tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence. An in vitro cell model was constructed, and methods such as Western blot and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerasechain reaction were utilized to investigate the function of GBP2 in different cell lines following silica stimulation. The mechanism of action of GBP2 in various cell lines was elucidated using Western blot analysis. Results GBP2 was highly expressed in the lung tissue of patients with silicosis. Immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence have revealed that GBP2 was localized in macrophages and epithelial cells. In vitro cell experiments demonstrated that silicon dioxide stimulated THP-1 cells to activate the c-Jun pathway through GBP2, promoting the secretion of inflammatory factors and facilitating the occurrence of M2 macrophage polarization. In epithelial cells, GBP2 promoted the occurrence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) by upregulating Krueppel-like factor 8 (KLF8). Conclusion GBP2 not only activates c-Jun in macrophages to promote the production of inflammatory factors and the occurrence of M2 macrophage polarization, but also activates the transcription factor KLF8 in epithelial cells to induce EMT, collectively promoting the progression of silicosis.
Humans ; Silicosis/genetics* ; Macrophages/cytology* ; Epithelial Cells/pathology* ; GTP-Binding Proteins/physiology* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Disease Progression ; Cell Line ; Male

Protrusive facial deformities, characterized by the forward displacement of the teeth and/or jaws beyond the normal range, affect a considerable portion of the population. The manifestations and morphological mechanisms of protrusive facial deformities are complex and diverse, requiring orthodontists to possess a high level of theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the relevant orthodontic field. To further optimize the correction of protrusive facial deformities, this consensus proposes that the morphological mechanisms and diagnosis of protrusive facial deformities should be analyzed and judged from multiple dimensions and factors to accurately formulate treatment plans. It emphasizes the use of orthodontic strategies, including jaw growth modification, tooth extraction or non-extraction for anterior teeth retraction, and maxillofacial vertical control. These strategies aim to reduce anterior teeth and lip protrusion, increase chin prominence, harmonize nasolabial and chin-lip relationships, and improve the facial profile of patients with protrusive facial deformities. For severe skeletal protrusive facial deformities, orthodontic-orthognathic combined treatment may be suggested. This consensus summarizes the theoretical knowledge and clinical experience of numerous renowned oral experts nationwide, offering reference strategies for the correction of protrusive facial deformities.
Humans ; Orthodontics, Corrective/methods* ; Consensus ; Malocclusion/therapy* ; Patient Care Planning ; Cephalometry

Objective To investigate the relationship between between the levels of serum malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD),the balance of oxidative/antioxidant stress,and the prognostic nu-tritional index(PNI)and the risk of early neurological deterioration in patients with acute ischemic stroke(AIS).Methods A total of 95 patients with suspected AIS admitted to the Second People's Hospital of Fos-han,Foshan from January to April 2023 were selected as the research subjects.Among them,71 patients who were finally diagnosed with AIS were included in the stroke group,and the remaining 24 non-AIS patients were included in the control group.According to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Rating Scale(NIH-SS)score,the stroke group was divided into the moderate-severe stroke group and the mild stroke group.Ac-cording to whether early neurological deterioration(END)occurred,it was divided into the END group and the non-END group.To analyze the correlations between the levels of serum SOD and MDA,SOD/MDA,and the PNI and the severity of stroke.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to evaluate the predictive value of each index for the risk of END.By fitting the indicators with high diagnostic efficacy,a Fisher discriminant function model for evaluating the risk of END was established to verify the overall accura-cy rate.Results The levels of serum MDA and SOD,SOD/MDA and the PNI in the moderate to severe stroke group were statistically different from those in the mild stroke group(P＜0.05).There were statistically sig-nificant differences in the levels of serum MDA and SOD,SOD/MDA and the PNI among the END group,the non-END group and the control group(P＜0.05).The areas under the curve(AUC)of SOD,MDA,SOD/MDA and PNI for evaluating END were 0.692,0.727,0.777 and 0.819,respectively.The Fisher discriminant function model established by fitting the NIHSS score,the SOD/MDA and the PNI has an overall accuracy rate of 85.9％.Conclusion The END risk prediction model established by applying the Fisher discriminant function can provide early and objective reference basis for clinical prediction of END risk and has certain practical value.

Objective To evaluate the application of serum soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2(sST2),glo-merular filtration rate(GFR),and serum iron(SI)combined test for predicting prognosis of acute decompensated heart failure(ADHF)patients.Methods A total of 575 ADHF patients were included in this study.Serum sST2,GFR,SI levels and other biomarkers were measured and followed up.Patients were divided into poor prognosis and good prognosis groups based on the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACEs).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the prognostic value of these indicators,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were employed to compare the prediction outcome of single and combined indicators.Results In the poor prognosis group,heart rate,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pres-sure and fasting blood glucose level were all significantly higher than in those in the control group(P＜0.05).Ad-ditionally,the poor prognosis group had higher level of sST2 and total iron-binding capacity,while GFR,SI and transferring saturation were lower as compared to control group(P＜0.05).Cox multivariate survival analysis showed that sST2,GFR,and SI were independent predictors of poor prognosis in ADHF patients(P＜0.05).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that higher level of sST2 was associated with poor survival prognosis.ROC curve analysis showed that when the biomarkers like sST2,GFR and SI were used together,the area under the curve(AUC)in-creased to 0.834,with a sensitivity of 80.2%and a specificity of 75.6%.Conclusions Combination test of serum sST2,GFR and SI significantly supports the predictive function for ADHF patients'prognosis.The highest AUC val-ue from the combined biomarker prediction may contribute to a more accurate assessment of patient risk.This com-bined test of indicators provides a more reliable tool for clinicians in terms of early identification of high-risk pa-tients,guiding treatment decisions and improving the prognosis management of patients.

Objective: To construct microRNA(miR)-22 gene knockout(miR-22-/-) mice using CRISPR/Cas 9 technology, to breed miR-22-/- mice and to identify their genotypes. Methods : In this experiment, CRISPR/Cas 9 technology was used to construct miR-22-/- genetically engineered mice. After gene identification, the F0 generation miR-22-/- mice were mated with wild-type mice in the same litter to obtain F1 generation miR-22-/- mice. The miR-22 knockout efficiency was analyzed at the RNA level by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR). Western blot was used to detect the interaction between miR-22 and target genes. Results : miR-22-/- mice were successfully constructed using CRISPR/Cas 9 technology, gene identification was performed on the bred mice, and three stable genotypes of miR-22+/+,miR-22+/-, and miR-22-/- were identified. The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR detection results confirmed that miR-22-/- mice showed almost no expression of miR-22 in the heart, liver, lung, kidney, spleen, and thymus tissues compared to wild-type mice in the same litter. Western blot analysis showed that the relative expression level of NLRP3 protein in miR-22-/- mouse tissues was lower than that in wild-type mice. Conclusion A miR-22-/- mouse model is successfully constructed, and stable genetic homozygous miR-22-/- mice is obtained. This indicates that miR-22 has an inhibitory effect on the downstream target gene NLRP3.

Objective This study aims to develop a prognostic risk prediction model for gastric cancer based on m1A/m5C/m6A/m7G regulated genes and to investigate the relationship between this model and immunology.Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)gastric cancer dataset was utilized to identify m1A/m5C/m6A/m7G regulated genes with significant expression differences.A prognostic risk score(RS)model was constructed using univariate Cox regression analysis and the LASSO algorithm.The RS model was validated using the Kaplan-Meier(K-M)statistic and cell lines for RT-qPCR biological validation.A nomogram model was created using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.The CIBERSORT algorithm and ESTIMATE package were employed to conduct immune correlation analysis.Results A prognostic RS model based on eight methylation regulated genes was developed to classify patients with gastric cancer as high-risk or low-risk.These eight genes showed significant expression in gastric cancer cell lines(P＜0.05).The TCGA-gastric cancer training set and GSE62254-validation set showed a substantial connection(P＜0.001)between overall survival rate(OS)and grouping status.The nomogram survival models accurately predicted 1-year(C-index = 0.703),3-year(C-index = 0.729),and 5-year(C-index = 0.734)survival rates.Immune correlation analysis showed that compared to the low-risk group,the high-risk group had higher immune scores and higher expression of immune checkpoint-related genes(P＜0.05).Conclusion We created a reliable prognostic RS model based on m1A/m5C/m6A/m7G regulated genes that can predict gastric cancer prognosis and guide individualized immunotherapy decisions.

Objective:To investigate personal exposures to nitrogen oxides(NOX)and nitrogen di-oxide(NO2)and the influence of baseline personal characteristics,living environment and daily activity patterns of the participants on the exposures among adults over 35 in Tianjin and Shanghai.Methods:In this panel study,91 healthy nonsmoking adults aged over 35 from Tianjin and Shanghai participated in our study.The study was conducted in summer and winter.The participants were followed for three times with an interval of at least two weeks.Only participants in Shanghai were followed once in winter because of the COVID-19 pandemic.Twenty-seven participants completed follow-up visits in both seasons.We measured their 24 h personal exposures to NOX and NO2and collected their baseline and time-activity in-formation through questionnaire/diary.The linear mixed model was used to analyze the associations be-tween potential influencing factors and personal NOX and NO2 exposure levels.Results:There were 349 follow-up visits with valid 24 h personal NO2 and NOX exposure measurements in the two cities.The ave-rage 24 h personal exposures to NO2 and NOX(volume fraction)in Tianjin participants were 18.0 x 10-9 and 26.2 × 10-9 in summer,and 31.0 x 10-9 and 54.9 x 10-9in winter,respectively;and the average 24 h personal exposures to NO2 and NOX in Shanghai participants were 38.7 x 10-9and 100.0x10-9in summer,and 45.5 x10-9 and 139.2 x 10-9 in winter,respectively.The results of univariate regression analysis showed that their personal NOX exposure levels were significantly associated with city,season,gender,average daily cooking times,and ambient NO2 concentrations measured at fixed-site monitoring stations.In addition to the above factors,the personal NOX exposure levels were also significantly associ-ated with educational level and the personal NO2 exposure levels were also significantly associated with passive smoking,average daily home time,cooking energy type,residential distance from main traffic road,and use of kitchen ventilators.Multivariate regression analysis showed that the personal exposure levels of NO2 and NOX were significantly lower in Tianjin than that in Shanghai,were significantly lower in summer than that in winter,and were significantly and positively associated with ambient NO2 concen-trations measured at fixed-site monitoring stations.In addition,personal NOX exposure levels were signifi-cantly lower in females than in males,and personal NO2 exposure levels were significantly positively asso-ciated with average daily cooking times and significantly inversely associated with average daily home time.For every interquartile range(IQR)increase(12.7 × 10-9)in ambient NO2,the personal NO2 exposure levels increased by 27.5％(95％CI:17.0％-38.9％),and personal NOX exposure levels in-creased by 16.1％(95％CI:7.1％-25.8％).Conclusion:Season,city and ambient NO2 concentra-tions are significant influencing factors of personal exposure levels of NO2and NOX At the same time,the personal exposures levels of NO2 are also affected by lifestyle factors.Our study provides scientific evi-dence for making precise air pollution control decisions and reducing the exposure levels of NOX in the population.

This paper explores the factors influencing the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of adult patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) from five dimensions based on the health ecology model: personal characteristics, behavioral traits, interpersonal networks, work and living environment, and policy environment. The aim is to provide a theoretical basis for proposing evidence-based interventions to effectively improve the HRQL of adult ECMO patients.

Objective:To predict the molecular mechanism of Biminkang Granules in the treatment of allergic rhinitis using network pharmacological methods combined with animal experiments.Methods:Active component targets and allergic rhinitis targets were screened from TCMSP, OMIM, GeneCards, TTD, DrugBank and PharmGKB databases; R language software was used to map the intersection of drug and disease targets; Cytoscape software and String platform were used to construct intersection target PPI network and conduct network topology analysis; DAVID platform was used to perform GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis, and perform molecular docking verification on the main active components and key targets. 32 rats were divided into a blank group of 8 and a model group of 24 using a random number table method. Model rats were induced by ovalbumin to establish an allergic rhinitis model. 24 SD rats that were successfully modeled and were randomly divided into model group, Western medicine group, and Biminkang Granules group using a random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. The Western medicine group was gavaged with 1 mg/kg of loratadine solution, the Biminkang Granules group was gavaged with 4.1 g/kg of Biminkang Granules solution, and the blank group and model group rats were gavaged with the same volume of physiological saline once a day for 2 consecutive weeks. The symptoms of rhinitis in each group of rats for 30 minutes were observed and recorded, and the pathological changes of the rat nasal mucosa were observed using HE staining. ELISA method was used to detect the levels of IL-17 and IL-6 in rat serum, and Western blot method was used to determine the expressions of TNF and STAT3 proteins in rat tissues.Results:A total of 41 target proteins of BiMinKang Dranule in the treatment of allergic rhinitis were predicted, and TNF, STAT3 and other core target proteins were obtained by PPI network topology analysis. The biological process of GO involved drug response, inflammatory response, cytokine response, etc.KEGG enrichment is involved in Th17 cell differentiation, lipid and atherosclerosis, IL-17, toll-like receptor and other pathways. Molecular docking results indicated that the main active components had good binding activity to key target proteins.Animal experiments showed that BiMinKang Dranule could improve the inflammatory symptoms of allergic rhinitis rats, down-regulate the expression of IL-17 and IL-6 in blood, and inhibit the expression of TNF and STAT3 proteins.Conclusion:Biminkang Granules can treat allergic rhinitis through multiple active components, multiple target proteins and multiple pathways, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of Th17 cell differentiation pathway related proteins.