OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of quercetin on cuproptosis and L-type calcium currents in the myocardium of diabetic rats. METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomized into control group and diabetic model groups. The rat models of diabetes mellitus (DM) induced by high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection were further divided into DM model group, quercetin treatment group, and empagliflozin treatment group (n=10). Blood glucose and body weight were measured every other week, and cardiac function of the rats was evaluated using echocardiography. HE staining, Sirius red staining, and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) analysis were used to observe the changes in myocardial histomorphology, and serum copper levels and myocardial FDX1 expression were detected. In cultured rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells with high-glucose exposure, the effects of quercetin and elesclomol, alone or in combination, on intracellular CK-MB and LDH levels and FDX1 expression were assessed, and the changes in L-type calcium currents were analyzed using patch-clamp technique. RESULTS: The diabetic rats exhibited elevated blood glucose, reduced body weight, impaired left ventricular function, increased serum copper levels and myocardial FDX1 expression, decreased L-type calcium currents, and prolonged action potential duration. Quercetin and empagliflozin treatment significantly lowered blood glucose, improved body weight, and restored cardiac function of the diabetic rats, and compared with empagliflozin, quercetin more effectively reduced serum copper levels, downregulated FDX1 expression, and enhanced myocardial L-type calcium currents in diabetic rats. In H9c2 cells, high glucose exposure significantly increased myocardial expressions of FDX1, CK-MB and LDH, which were effectively lowered by quercetin treatment; Elesclomol further elevated FDX1, CK-MB and LDH levels in the exposed cells, and these changes were not significantly affected by the application of quercetin. CONCLUSIONS Quercetin ameliorates myocardial injury in diabetic rats possibly by suppressing myocardial cuproptosis signaling and restoring L-type calcium channel activity.
Animals ; Quercetin/pharmacology* ; Calcium Channels, L-Type/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Male

Objective:To explore the application of an automatic slide-dropping instrument in bone marrow chromosomal karyotyping.Methods:The effects of manual and automatic dropping methods under different environmental humidity were retrospectively analyzed, and the repeatability of the automatic dropping method was analyzed.Results:No statistical difference was found between the results of automatic and manual dropping methods under the optimum ambient humidity and high humidity ( P>0.05). At low humidity, there was a statistical difference between the two methods ( P<0.05). With regard to the repeatability, the coefficient of variations of the automatic dropping method for the number of split phases, the rate of good dispersion and the rate of overlap were all lower than those of the manual dropping method. A statistical difference was also found in the number of split phases ( P<0.05) but not in the discrete excellent rate and overlapping rate between the two methods ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Better effect can be obtained by the automatic dropping instrument. It is suggested to gradually replace manual work with machine.

Background::Clinical opportunistic screening is a cost-effective cancer screening modality. This study aimed to establish an easy-to-use diagnostic model serving as a risk stratification tool for identification of individuals with malignant gastric lesions for opportunistic screening.Methods::We developed a questionnaire-based diagnostic model using a joint dataset including two clinical cohorts from northern and southern China. The cohorts consisted of 17,360 outpatients who had undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination in endoscopic clinics. The final model was derived based on unconditional logistic regression, and predictors were selected according to the Akaike information criterion. External validation was carried out with 32,614 participants from a community-based randomized controlled trial.Results::This questionnaire-based diagnostic model for malignant gastric lesions had eight predictors, including advanced age, male gender, family history of gastric cancer, low body mass index, unexplained weight loss, consumption of leftover food, consumption of preserved food, and epigastric pain. This model showed high discriminative power in the development set with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.791 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.750–0.831). External validation of the model in the general population generated an AUC of 0.696 (95% CI: 0.570–0.822). This model showed an ideal ability for enriching prevalent malignant gastric lesions when applied to various scenarios.Conclusion::This easy-to-use questionnaire-based model for diagnosis of prevalent malignant gastric lesions may serve as an effective prescreening tool in clinical opportunistic screening for gastric cancer.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application value of left ventricular myocardial strain obtained by cardiac MR (CMR) in recent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods:From January 2020 to December 2020, a total of 163 patients successfully underwent primary PCI and underwent CMR examination within one week after surgery at Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University. The scan sequences included rapid balance-fast field echo and late-gadolinium enhancement. CVI42 post-processing software was used to analyze and measure the left ventricular myocardial strain indices, including left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), left ventricular global circumferential strain (GCS), and left ventricular global radial strain (GRS). According to the results of the 1-year follow-up after surgery, the patients were divided into the MACE group ( n=28) and the non-MACE group ( n=135). For continuous variables with a normal distribution, the t test of two independent samples was used for comparisons between groups. For continuous variables with an abnormal distribution, the variables were compared and analyzed by the rank sum test. For categorical variables, the χ 2 tests were used for between-group comparisons. Cox regression was used to analyze the prognostic value of myocardial strain on the development of MACE in patients with STEMI. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of myocardial strain parameters, and the optimal cut-off value was evaluated by calculating the Youden index. Results:The GLS, GCS, and GRS of the MACE group were (-10.4±3.3)%, [-11.9 (-14.5, -9.3)]%, and (18.3±6.3)%, respectively, and those of the non-MACE group were (-13.7±3.4)%, [-14.6 (-16.4, -11.7)]%, and (22.3±6.1)%, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t/ Z=-4.71, -3.04, 3.21, P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that GLS was an independent predictor of MACE (HR=1.546, 95%CI 1.180-2.027, P=0.002). The ROC curve analysis showed that GLS had the largest area under the curve (AUC) (AUC=0.754, 95%CI 0.658-0.851, P<0.001), with a cut-off value of -12.45%. Its diagnostic sensitivity was 71.4%, and the specificity was 67.4%. The value was better than that of the traditional predictor of STEMI prognosis, namely, left ventricular ejection fraction (AUC=0.680, 95%CI 0.567-0.793, P=0.003). Conclusion:GLS of CMR is an independent predictor of MACE in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

Humans ; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia/genetics* ; East Asian People ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Lymphoma

Objective:To investigate the effect of ligand of numb-protein X1(LNX1)on the proliferation,invasion and migration of renal clear cell carcinoma cells and its underlying molecular mechanism. Methods:Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis(GEPIA)database was used to analyze the mRNA expression level of LNX1 in renal clear cell carcinoma tissues and its relationship with the prognosis of patients with renal clear cell carcinoma.LNX1 gene specific shRNA(shLNX1)was delivered into renal clear cell carcinoma cell lines 786-O and ACHN by lentiviral infection,and flag-LNX1 plasmid was delivered into 786-O and ACHN cells by transient transfection.CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay were used to assess the effects of LNX1 silencing or overexpression on the proliferation of 786-O and ACHN cells.Transwell assay was used to evaluate the effects of LNX1 silencing or overexpression on the invasion and migration of 786-O and ACHN cells.Bioinformatics analysis was used to screen the downstream target genes of LNX1.Western blotting was used to examine the effects of LNX1 silencing or overexpression on the expression level of T-lymphoma invasion and metastasis-inducing protein 1(TIAM1)as well as the expression levels of total and phosphorylated ERK(phospho-ERK,p-ERK)in the ERK signaling pathway downstream of TIAM1 in 786-O and ACHN cells.786-O and ACHN cells overexpressing LNX1 were treated with proteasome inhibitor MG132,and the protein expression level of TIAM1 was analyzed by Western blotting.Finally,myc-TIAM1 recombinant plasmid was transfected into LNX1-overexpressing cells.Then,the expression levels of proteins in the ERK signaling pathway and the abilities of proliferation,invasion and migration of 786-O and ACHN cells were examined by Western blotting,colony formation assay and Transwell assay,respectively. Results:The mRNA expression level of LNX1 in renal clear cell carcinoma tissue was decreased(P＜0.05)and was positively correlated with the survival time of patients with renal clear cell carcinoma(P＜0.001).LNX1-silencing 786-O and ACHN cells and LNX1-overexpressing 786-O and ACHN cells were constructed successfully.After LNX1 silencing,the proliferation,invasion and migration of 786-O and ACHN cells were significantly enhanced(all P＜0.05).After LNX1 overexpression,the abilities of proliferation,invasion and migration of 786-O and ACHN cells were significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).Bioinformatics analysis identified TIAM1 as a potential target of LNX1.After silencing LNX1,the protein expression levels of TIAM1 and p-ERK were significantly increased(all P＜0.05),while the expression level of ERK remained unchanged.After LNX1 overexpression,the protein expression levels of TIAM1 and p-ERKwere significantly decreased(all P＜0.01),while the expression level of ERK was unchanged.Treatment with proteasome inhibitor MG132 increased the protein expression level of TIAM1 in LNX1-overexpressing 786-O and ACHN cells(P＜0.01 and P＜0.001).After LNX1-overexpressing cells were transfected with myc-TIAM1 plasmid,the protein expression level of p-ERK was increased,the abilities of cell proliferation,invasion and migration were enhanced(all P＜0.05),and the expression level of ERK protein remained unchanged. Conclusion:LNX1 inhibits the proliferation,invasion and migration of renal clear cell carcinoma cells by degrading TIAM1 which further regulates the phosphorylation of ERK.

Objective:To screen out the differentially regulated metabolites by the analysis of serum metabolic fingerprints, and to provide potential biomarkers for diagnosis of lung cancer.Methods:A total of 228 subjects were enrolled in Changhai Hospital from January 27, 2021 to June 4, 2021, including 97 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients and 131 healthy individuals. Serum samples were collected from the enrolled cohort according to a standard procedure, and the enrolled cohort was divided into a training set and a completely independent validation set by stratified random sampling. The metabolic fingerprints of serum samples were collected by previously developed nano-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (nano-LDI MS). After age and gender matching of the training set, a diagnostic model based on serum metabolic fingerprints was established by machine learning algorithm, and the classification performance of the model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:Serum metabolic fingerprint for each sample was obtained in 1 minute using a novel nano-LDI MS, with consumption of only 1 μl original serum sample. For the training set, the area under ROC curve (AUC) of the constructed classifier for diagnosis of lung cancer was 0.92 (95% CI 0.87-0.97), with a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 89%. For the independent validation set, the AUC reached 0.96 (95% CI 0.90-1.00) with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 94%, which showed no significant decrease compared to training set. We also identified a biomarker panel of 5 metabolites, demonstrating a unique metabolic fingerprint of lung cancer patients. Conclusion:Serum metabolic fingerprints and machine learning were combined to establish a diagnostic model, which can be used to distinguish between lung cancer patients and healthy controls. This work sheds lights on the rapid metabolic analysis for clinical application towards in vitro diagnosis.

Objective: To investigate the sleep quality at home and the influencing factors in patients with colorectal tumor after enterostomy. Methods: Using convenience sampling method, during March 2016 to December 2017 in Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital wound and stoma outpatient, choose 276 patients with enterostomy (including temporary enterostomy and permanent enterostomy), using self-made general questionnaire ostomy, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and self nursing competence scale to investigate them. Results: The total PSQI score of enterostomy patients was 6.39±4.07, among which 150 patients (57.0%) had poor sleep (PSQI>7). The score of the 7 dimensions of PSQI from high to low was sleep time (1.22±1.05), sleep time (1.12±0.98), subjective sleep quality (1.00 ±0.92), sleep disorder (1.02±0.95), sleep efficiency (0.95±0.43), daytime dysfunction (0.83±0.76), hypnotic drugs (0.25±0.24).There were statistically significant differences in sleep quality among patients with different ages (Z=-2.937), duration of stoma (t=3.450-3.896), types of stoma (t=3.998-4.011), whether or not they had a history of leakage within 1 month (t=3.454-6.774), whether or not they had bloating bags (t=3.230-4.001), stoma complications (t=2.976-3.582), enterostomy self-care knowledge (Z=-3.202, t=3.971) and nursing skills (t=3.061)(P<0.05). Conclusions The present study shows that the sleep quality of patients with enterostomy is generally poor, and targeted measures should be taken to reduce its incidence or to intervene in time.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MNs) after successful treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) . Methods: Clinical data of 4 patients, diagnosed as t-MNs secondary to APL at Hematology Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from October 2012 to January 2019, were collected retrospectively. T-MNs related literature was reviewed. Results: The 4 cases were all females, with the median age 42 (range 40-53) years old at the diagnosis of APL. Regarding the induction and consolidation regimens, 3 patients received all-trans retinoid acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) combined with anthracycline/anthraquinone and/or cytosine. One patient only received ATRA and other auxiliary drugs. Alkylating agents were not administrated. The 4 patients developed t-MNs 40 to 43 months after complete remission (CR) of APL, including 1 case of therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) and 3 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) . The PML-RARα fusion genes were all negative when t-MNs developed. The three patients with t-AML were treated with 3 to 4 re-induction regimens, one of whom underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) after complete remission (CR) . One patient with t-MDS received hypomethylating agents. After a median follow-up of 54.5 (48-62) months, 2 patients with t-AML died, the median overall survival after t-MN was 12 (5-18) months. From 1989 to 2018, a total of 63 t-MN cases were reported in the literature. Therefore, 67 cases were analyzed when four patients in our center were added, including 27 males and 40 females with median age 52.5 (15-76) years. The median latency was 39 (12-126) months and the median overall survival after diagnosis of t-MN was 10 (1-39) months. Conclusions Although rare, t-MNs may occur after successful control of APL. There are no existing guidelines for prevention and treatment of t-MNs, which have very poor prognosis. If cytopenia or other abnormalities of peripheral blood cells develop after 3 years of APL, t-MNs should be considered as a differential diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the ultra microstructures and the expression of platelet peroxidase (PPO) of megakaryocytes from bone marrow, their clinical manifestations and laboratory characteristics in patients with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL).

METHODSKaryocytes from bone marrow of 22 AMKL patients were divided into two parts by lymphocyte separation liquid, one part was used to prepare the ordinary transmission electron microscope specimens to observe the morphological structures of megakaryocytes, the other was used to prepare the histochemical specimens of platelet peroxidase to analyze the positive reaction of PPO in AMKL, which were coupled with the patients' data of with bone marrow morphology, cell chemistry, and chromosome karyotype examination.

RESULTSMegakaryocytes from 17 of 22 patients were in the first stage, less than 20 µm in diameter, the nucleis were round, the cytoplasm contained microtubules, membranous vesicles and minute dense granules, no demarcation membrane system and surface-connected canalicular system, less dense granules and α-granules; Megakaryocytes in 5 cases were mainly in the first stage, while containing second and third stage megakaryocytes; the positive rate of PPO in megakaryocytes of 22 patients was 0-80%. The primitive and naive megakaryocytes were found in bone marrow smears of 22 cases, CD41 staining of the megakaryocytes was detected in the primitive and naive megakaryocytes, and more complex chromosome karyotype anomalies were observed.

CONCLUSIONThe majority of megakaryocytes in AMKL patients were the first stage ones, the rest were second and third stage ones, and the positive PPO reaction was significantly different. CD41 staining of the megakaryocytes was specific with complex chromosome karyotypeswere.

Blood Platelets ; enzymology ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Cell Count ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Disorders ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Megakaryocytes ; pathology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Staining and Labeling