[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.03.002.].

AIM:To explore the correlation between trimethylamine-N-oxide(TMAO)and type 2 diabetic kidney disease(DKD),and to provide new ideas for the early clinical diagnosis of DKD.METHODS:A total 246 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)ad-mitted to the Department of Endocrinology of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from January 1,2020 to May 31,2020 were divided into diabetic kidney disease group(DKD group)and simple diabetes mellitus group(NDKD group).According to urinary albumin/creatinine ratio(UACR),the patients were divided into A1,A2 and A3 subgroups.According to the estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),the patients were divided into G1,G2,G3 and G4-5 sub-groups.According to the Kidney Disease:Improving Global Outcomes(KDIGO)guidelines,the risk of progression of DKD was assessed(low,medium,high or very high risk).General clinical data and laboratory indicators were collected.TMAO level was measured by euzymelinked immunosorbent assay.SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis.RESULTS:In T2DM patients,TMAO level was positively correlated with UACR(r=0.515,P<0.01)and negatively correlated with eGFR(r=-0.409,P<0.01).TMAO is an indepen-dent risk factor for the onset and progression of DKD.In diagnostic model,the AUROC was 0.745 with op-timal cut-off value was 5.37μmol/L.CONCLUSION:TMAO is closely related to the occurrence and de-velopment of DKD,and it has certain clinical predictive value for DKD.Therefore,TMAO may become a po-tential target for the early diagnosis and treatment of DKD.

Objective To observe the value of 5.0T MRI for quantifying proton density fat fraction(PDFF)of liver.Methods Liver chemical shift encoded(CSE)MR scanning were prospectively performed using 5.0T,3.0T and 1.5T scanner in 30 volunteers,respectively,and CSE-PDFF were measured.Then MR spectroscopy(MRS)were performed using 5.0T and 1.5T scanner,respectively,and MRS-PDFF were also measured.The consistency of liver PDFF measured on different images was observed,and the value of 5.0T MRI for liver PDFF was analyzed.Results The overall consistencies of liver CSE-PDFF measured with 5.0T,3.0T and 1.5T MR scanner were all good(all ICC＞0.75,all P＜0.001).The consistency of liver CSE-PDFF based on 5.0T and 3.0T,1.5T MR scanner were both good(ICC=0.989,0.992,both P＜0.001).The overall consistencies of CSE-PDFF based on 5.0T MR and MRS-PDFF based on 5.0T and 1.5T MR were both good(both ICC＞0.75,both P＜0.001).CSE-PDFF had good consistency with MRS-PDFF based on same 5.0T MR scanner(ICC=0.988,P＜0.001),and CSE-PDFF based on 5.0T had good consistency with MRS-PDFF based on 1.5T MR scanner(ICC=0.978,P＜0.001).Conclusion 5.0T MRI had high value for quantifying liver PDFF.

Objective To observe the consistency of 5.0T and 1.5T MR spectroscopy(MRS)for quantitating proton density fat fraction(PDFF)of liver.Methods Lipid emulsion models with lipid content of 0,5％,10％,15％,20％,25％and 30％were prepared.1H-MRS were collected using 5.0T and 1.5T MR scanners,respectively,and PDFF were obtained with jMRUI software.Totally 23 people,including 11 cases of fatty liver and 12 healthy adults were prospectively collected,and volume of interest(VOI)in the liver were selected to acquire 1H-MRS,and PDFF were obtained with jMRUI software and corresponding workstation,respectively.The consistencies of PDFF measured with different methods were analyzed.Results PDFF of lipid emulsion models with lipid content of 0,5％,10％,15％,20％,25％and 30％measured with jMRUI software and workstations based on 5.0T and 1.5T 1H-MRS all had good consistencies and being positively correlated,so were PDFF of liver tissue measured with jMRUI software and workstations based on 5.0T and 1.5T 1H-MRS.Conclusion 5.0T and 1.5T 1H-MRS had good consistency for quantitating liver PDFF.Measuring liver PDFF with workstation in clinical practice was helpful to simplifying workflow.

Objective:To analyze the influencing factors of contrast agent extravasation in coronary CT angiography(CTA)examination,and to formulate intervention measures.Methods:A retrospective selection of data from 583 patients who underwent coronary CTA at Peking University People's Hospital from January to December 2023 was conducted.Logistic regression was used to analyze the patients'general information and injection protocols,and the risk factors of contrast agent extravasation were determined.Results:Among the 583 patients included,11 patients had contrast agent extravasation during CTA examination,with an extravasation rate of 1.887%.The contrast agent was all extravasated into the subcutaneous tissue,and the CT value did not reach the trigger criteria.Gender,education level,diabetes mellitus,history of intravenous chemotherapy,age,weight,body mass index(BMI),injection rate and injection dose were all associated with the occurrence of contrast agent extravasation,the difference was statistically significant(x2=18.911,7.563,16.567,4.279,t=3.576,3.244,1.865,4.297,6.532,P<0.05).Age,education level,history of intravenous chemotherapy,diabetes mellitus,injection rate and injection dose were risk factors for contrast agent extravasation in coronary CTA(OR=1.008,1.372,1.029,5.092,0.975,1.421,P<0.05).Conclusion:Factors such as low education level,advanced age,history of intravenous chemotherapy,high injection rate and large injection dose can increase the risk of contrast agent extravasation in coronary CTA examination.Radiology staff should closely monitor high-risk patients,strengthen monitoring of intravenous injection of contrast agents for coronary CTA examination,and reduce the occurrence of contrast agent extravasation.

Due to the limitations of current anti-HBV therapies, the HBV core (HBc or HBcAg) protein assembly modulators (CpAMs) are believed to be potential anti-HBV agents. Therefore, discovering safe and efficient CpAMs is of great value. In this study, we established a HiBiT-based high-throughput screening system targeting HBc and screened novel CpAMs from an in-house marine chemicals library. A novel lead compound 8a, a derivative of the marine natural product naamidine J, has been successfully screened for potential anti-HBV activity. Bioactivity-driven synthesis was then conducted, and the structure‒activity relationship was analyzed, resulting in the discovery of the most effective compound 11a (IC₅₀ = 0.24 μmol/L). Furthermore, 11a was found to significantly inhibit HBV replication in multiple cell models and exhibit a synergistic effect with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and IFNa2 in vitro for anti-HBV activity. Treatment with 11a in a hydrodynamic-injection mouse model demonstrated significant anti-HBV activity without apparent hepatotoxicity. These findings suggest that the naamidine J derivative 11a could be used as the HBV core protein assembly modulator to develop safe and effective anti-HBV therapies.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the protective effect of the probiotic bacterium Streptococcus salivarius K12 (K12) against Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) infection in mice. METHODS: Forty male BALB/c mice were randomized into normal control group, K12 treatment group, Mp infection group, and K12 pretreatment prior to Mp infection group. The probiotic K12 was administered daily by gavage for 14 days before Mp infection induced by intranasal instillation of Mp. Three days after Mp infection, the mice were euthanized for analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell counts and serum levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). RT-qPCR was performed to detect the P1 and community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome ( CARDS ) toxin of Mp in the lung tissues and the mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, chemokine 1 (CXCL1), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), mucin 5ac (MUC5ac), collagen 3a1 (Col3a1), Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4; the protein expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 in the lung tissue were detected using Western blotting. Pathological changes in the lung tissue and airway remodeling were examined with HE staining and AB/PAS staining. RESULTS: Compared with the Mp-infected mice with PBS treatment, the infected mice with K12 treatment showed significantly lowered mRNA levels of P1 and CARDS in the lung tissue and reduced white blood cell counts in the BALF (P<0.05). In spite of the absence of significant differences in serum levels of inflammatory factors between the two groups, the mRNA expressions of TNF‑α, IL-6, CXCL1, MMP9, MUC5ac and COL3A1 and the mRNA and protein levels of TLR2 and TLR4 in the lung tissues were significantly lower in K12-treated mice, in which AB/PAS staining showed obviously decreased mucus secretion. CONCLUSIONS K12 pretreatment can effectively reduce pulmonary inflammatory responses, improve airway remodeling and alleviate lung injury in Mp-infected mice.
Animals ; Mice ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Toll-Like Receptor 2/metabolism* ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Male ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Lung/microbiology* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; Streptococcus salivarius ; Probiotics/administration & dosage* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism* ; Mucin 5AC/metabolism* ; Chemokine CXCL1/metabolism* ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/metabolism* ; Bacterial Toxins ; Bacterial Proteins

Strigolactones(SLs) are a class of sesquiterpenoids derived from the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway with the core carbon skeleton consisting of tricyclic lactone(ABC tricyclic ring) and α,β-unsaturated furan ring(D ring). SLs are widely distributed in higher plants and are symbiotic signals between plants and Arbuscular mycorrhiza(AM), which play key roles in the evolution of plant colonizing terrestrial habitats. As a new type of plant hormone, SLs possess such important biological functions as inhibiting shoot branching(tillers), regulating root architecture, promoting secondary growth, and improving plant stress resistance. Therefore, SLs have attracted wide attention. The biological functions of SLs are not only closely related to the formation of "excellent shape and quality" of Chinese medicinal materials but also have important practical significance for the production of high-quality medicinal materials. However, SLs have been currently widely studied in model plants and crops such as Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana, and few related studies have been reported on SLs in medicinal plants, which need to be strengthened. This review focused on the latest research progress in the isolation and identification, biological and artificial synthesis pathways, biosynthesis sites and transport modes, signal transduction pathways and mechanisms, and biological functions of SLs, and prospected the research on the regulation mechanism of SLs in the growth and development of medicinal plants and their related application on targeted regulation of Chinese herbal medicine production, which is expected to provide some references for the in-depth research on SLs in the field of Chinese medicinal resources.
Arabidopsis ; Lactones ; Plants, Medicinal

Objective: To measure and analyze the shoulder circumferences of adults' permanent teeth crown preparations based on data collected through the intraoral scanning, so as to provide dental anatomy data for clinical diagnosis and analysis. Methods: Intraoral scanning data of 840 complete crown preparations were collected, and were entrusted to the World Dental Laboratory Co., Ltd. in Fuzhou between March 2021 and June 2022. Except the data of the third molar, the rest data were categorized in terms of 14 tooth positions in the upper and lower jaw (each category involved 30 samples from male group and 30 samples from female group). Image measurement software was used to measure the shoulder circumferences of permanent teeth crown preparations. And analysis was conducted to reveal the difference of shoulder circumference diameters between male and female groups. And then they were grouped according to the mean value at each tooth position, on the premise that the difference between the maximum and minimum values and the mean value of the entire group was≤±1.00 mm. Analysis were further conducted to determine the differences of shoulder circumference diameters between each dental position and the differences between male and female in the same groups. Results: Bivariate analysis of variance showed that gender had no effect on the shoulder circumference of full crown preparations (F=0.55, P=1.457), while tooth position had a significant impact on the shoulder circumference of full crown preparations (F=273.15, P<0.001). The samples were classified into 5 groups according to the mean values of shoulder circumference diameters relating to each tooth position. Statistical analysis showed that Group 1, covering maxillary lateral incisor, mandibular central incisor and mandibular lateral incisor, had shoulder circumference with diameters of (16.62±2.21) mm; Group 2, consisting of maxillary central incisor, maxillary cusp, mandibular cusp, mandibular first premolar and mandibular second premolar, had diameters of (20.78±2.48) mm; Group 3, consisting of maxillary first premolar and maxillary second premolar, had diamerters of (22.09±2.72) mm; Group 4, covering maxillary first molar, maxillary second molar and mandibular first molar, had diamerters of (30.21±2.67) mm; while group 5, with mandibular second molar alone its member, had diamerters of (31.34±3.18) mm. The difference among the 5 groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions: Significant differences of shoulder circumference diameters could be found between different tooth positions, while at the same tooth position, the differences between male and female are not significant. The 14 tooth positions could be grouped into 5 groups according to their shoulder circumference diameters. Future research could take the grouping as reference.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features of patients with local recurrence and secondary operation after partial nephrectomy for renal cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 14 patients who underwent secondary operation for local recurrence of renal cancer after partial nephrectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from January 2000 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 males and 2 females. Nine patients had a body mass index ≥24 kg/m 2. At first diagnosis of renal cancer, nine patients’ R. E.N.A.L. score of renal mass were at least 7. Partial nephrectomy was performed in the first operation of each patient, including 4 cases of open surgery, 6 cases of laparoscopic surgery, and 4 cases of robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. The pathological stage of nine patients was pT 1aN 0M 0 and that of five patients was pT 1bN 0M 0. Twelve cases were clear cell carcinoma, 1 case was sarcomatoid carcinoma and 1 case was chromophobe cell carcinoma. The mean time from the first operation to local recurrence was (29.3±16.8) months. All recurrence lesions were found by abdominal CT or MRI. Thirteen patients had no clinical symptom at the time of tumor recurrence. The location of recurrence was clear. No sign of invasion of peripheral organs and tissues was observed. There was no other suspicious lesion. The tumor was considered to be completely resectable in all patients. All 14 cases underwent secondary operation. Ten patients underwent radical nephrectomy [tumor size was (2.8±0.9) cm]. Partial nephrectomy was performed in 4 cases [tumor size was (1.8±0.9) cm]after full evaluation by surgeons, including 2 cases of anatomic solitary kidney, and 2 cases of recurrent tumor less than 2 cm with clear tumor margin. Results:Eleven of the 14 cases underwent minimally invasive surgery, and no cases were converted to open surgery. The other 3 cases underwent open surgery. Seven patients had severe adhesions in the operation area. The blood loss in the partial nephrectomy group and the radical nephrectomy group was (100.0±70.7) ml and (143.0±81.2) ml, respectively. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications, Grade Ⅰ and Grade Ⅱ complication occurred in 1 patient respectively, and no patient had Grade Ⅲ or above complication. No tumor cell was found at the surgical margin. The pathological type and nuclear grade were the same as those in the first operation. There were 10 cases of pT 1aN 0M 0 stage, 3 cases of pT 3aN 0M 0 stage and 1 case of pT 3aN 1M 0stage. The follow-up time of 13 patients with complete follow-up data was (21.4±14.9) months after local recurrence resection. The tumor recurred in 3 patients and metastasized in 2 patients. The disease-free survival time of the above 5 patients was (13.2±8.8) months. Of the 4 patients who underwent partial nephrectomy, 3 had recurrence or metastasis. Among the 9 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy, 2 had postoperative recurrence or metastasis, and 7 patients survived without tumor until the last follow-up. Conclusions:For patients with local recurrence after partial nephrectomy who are in good condition and the recurrent lesions can be completely resected, the second operation is safe, feasible and effective. Patients with secondary radical nephrectomy have better prognosis. If the patient has a solitary kidney, the recurrent tumor is small and the margin is clear, partial nephrectomy can also be selected for the second operation. But the postoperative follow-up should be emphasized, and the adjuvant drug therapy should be given if necessary.