The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanism of three or-ganic acids,including formic acid(FA),butyric acid(BA)and lactic acid(LA),on the pathogenic-ity of Salmonella enteritidis(SE),Escherichia coli(EC)and Staphylococcus aureus(SA).The growth of pathogens was detected by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration(MIC)and Oxford Cup antimicrobial zone assays.The motility of pathogens was detected by soft agar plate method,and the biofilm of pathogens was detected by crystal violet staining.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was used to measure the expression levels of genes related to the patho-genicity of SE.The results showed that FA and BA significantly inhibited the growth of SE,EC and SA,and FA had a superior inhibitory effect on EC(MIC:0.25 g/L;inhibition zone:20.0 mm)and SA(MIC:0.5 g/L;inhibition zone:25.0 mm).In addition,the three organic acids significantly inhibited the motility of SE,EC and SA as accessed by swimming and swarming assays,and FA showed the best inhibition effect.Besides,the three organic acids,especially FA,markedly inhibited the biofilm formation of SE,EC and SA.Finally,our results showed that the three organic acids in-hibited the expression of the main virulence genes encoded by SPI-1(InvA,InvF,SopE,SopB,SipB,HilA and SipA),SPI-2(SopD2),pili-related genes(FliF,LpfA,SefA and FimF)and flagellum-related genes(FlhD,FliC and FliD)of SE.This study demonstrates that FA,BA,and LA significantly inhibited the growth and pathogenicity of the four pathogens,among which FA showed the most obvious effect on inhibiting the growth,motility,biofilm formation and virulence gene expression.Our study provided a theoretical basis for the application of organic acids in the field of animal husbandry.

The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanism of three or-ganic acids,including formic acid(FA),butyric acid(BA)and lactic acid(LA),on the pathogenic-ity of Salmonella enteritidis(SE),Escherichia coli(EC)and Staphylococcus aureus(SA).The growth of pathogens was detected by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration(MIC)and Oxford Cup antimicrobial zone assays.The motility of pathogens was detected by soft agar plate method,and the biofilm of pathogens was detected by crystal violet staining.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was used to measure the expression levels of genes related to the patho-genicity of SE.The results showed that FA and BA significantly inhibited the growth of SE,EC and SA,and FA had a superior inhibitory effect on EC(MIC:0.25 g/L;inhibition zone:20.0 mm)and SA(MIC:0.5 g/L;inhibition zone:25.0 mm).In addition,the three organic acids significantly inhibited the motility of SE,EC and SA as accessed by swimming and swarming assays,and FA showed the best inhibition effect.Besides,the three organic acids,especially FA,markedly inhibited the biofilm formation of SE,EC and SA.Finally,our results showed that the three organic acids in-hibited the expression of the main virulence genes encoded by SPI-1(InvA,InvF,SopE,SopB,SipB,HilA and SipA),SPI-2(SopD2),pili-related genes(FliF,LpfA,SefA and FimF)and flagellum-related genes(FlhD,FliC and FliD)of SE.This study demonstrates that FA,BA,and LA significantly inhibited the growth and pathogenicity of the four pathogens,among which FA showed the most obvious effect on inhibiting the growth,motility,biofilm formation and virulence gene expression.Our study provided a theoretical basis for the application of organic acids in the field of animal husbandry.

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a self-limiting disease characterized by serous detachment of the neurosensory retina affecting the macular area.Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a common complication of CSC which would lead to a poor visual prognosis.Recent studies have shown that disease duration is a main important risk factor for CNV secondary to CSC.Although the mechanism is not fully understood, it may involve various pathological mechanisms including choroidal ischemia and hypoxia and impaired retinal barrier function.Multimodal imaging techniques can improve the detection rate of CNV secondary to CSC, while optical coherence tomography showing hyperreflective flat irregular pigment epithelial detachment requires high vigilance for the possibility of secondary CNV.The utilization of photodynamic therapy and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs improves its visual prognosis, but it still lacks consensus on treatment regimen.This article reviews the research progress in risk factors, pathogenesis, multimodal imaging for diagnosis and treatment of CNV secondary to CSC to help better understand the mechanism of CNV formation and optimize the clinical management of such situation.

Objective To investigate the application value of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) in elderly patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and its influence on bones and kidneys. Methods A total of 36 CHB patients, aged ≥60 years, who received TAF antiviral therapy in Qingdao Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Sixth People's Hospital, Chengyang People's Hospital, and Jimo People's Hospital from June 2021 to October 2022 were enrolled in this study, and all patients received TAF (25 mg/d) antiviral therapy. Related data were collected at baseline and weeks 24 and 48 of treatment, including virological indicators, biochemical parameters, urinary protein electrophoresis indices, transient elastography (FibroScan), and bone mineral density. Virological indicators included high-sensitivity HBV DNA quantification; biochemical parameters included total bilirubin, direct bilirubin (DBil), indirect bilirubin (IBil), alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, total bile acid (TBA), glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and cystatin C (Cys C); urinary protein electrophoresis indices included urinary β2 microglobulin (β2-MG), urinary retinol (URBP), and urinary α1 microspherin (α1-MG). The paired t -test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data before and after treatment, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data before and after treatment; the chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of categorical data. Results A total of 36 CHB patients completed 24 weeks of follow-up. The complete virological response rate after 24 weeks of treatment was higher than that at baseline [83.3% (30/36) vs 77.8% (28/36), χ 2 =0.36, P =0.55], and there were significant reductions in DBil ( t =-2.42, P =0.02) and Cys C ( t =-4.34, P < 0.001) from baseline to week 24. A total of 18 CHB patients completed 48 weeks of follow-up. The complete virological response rate after 48 weeks of treatment was higher than that at baseline (94.4% vs 77.8%, χ 2 =2.22, P =0.34), and there were significant increases in IBil ( t =2.43, P =0.03), TBA ( Z =-2.24, P =0.03), and bone mineral density T score of lumbar vertebra ( t =2.92, P = 0.01) and femoral neck ( t =2.42, P =0.03) and a significant reduction in liver stiffness measurement ( t =-2.31, P =0.03). There were no significant changes in β2-MG, URBP, and α1-MG after treatment (all P > 0.05). Conclusion TAF has a good antiviral effect in CHB patients aged ≥60 years and can help more CHB patients achieve complete virological response, without causing damage to the kidney, and it can also improve bone mineral density and liver fibrosis degree.

Objective:To investigate the changes of intestinal microecology in the early stage of sepsis rat model by 16S rDNA sequencing.Methods:Sixty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group and sham operation group (Sham group), with 30 rats in each group. In the CLP group, sepsis rat model was reproduced by CLP method; the rats in the Sham group only underwent laparotomy without CLP. At 24 hours after the operation, the intestinal feces and serum samples of 8 rats in each group were collected. The survival rate of the rest rats was observed until the 7th day. The level of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Intestinal feces were sequenced by 16S rDNA sequencing technology. The operational taxonomic unit (OTU) data obtained after sequence comparison and clustering was used for α diversity and β diversity analysis, principal coordinate analysis and linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis (LEfSe) to observe the changes of intestinal microecology in early sepsis rats and excavate the marker flora.Results:At 24 hours after the reproduction of the model, the rats in the CLP group showed shortness of breath, scattered hair and other manifestations, and the level of serum TNF-α increased significantly as compared with that in the Sham group (ng/L: 43.95±9.05 vs. 11.08±3.27, P < 0.01). On the 7th day after modeling, the cumulative survival rate of the Sham group was 100%, while that of the CLP group was 31.82%. Diversity analysis showed that there was no significant difference in α diversity parameter between the Sham group and the CLP group (number of species: 520.00±52.15 vs. 492.25±86.61, Chao1 richness estimator: 707.25±65.69 vs. 668.93±96.50, Shannon index: 5.74±0.42 vs. 5.79±0.91, Simpson index: 0.93±0.03 vs. 0.94±0.05, all P > 0.05). However, the β diversity analysis showed that the difference between groups was greater than that within groups whether weighted according to OTU or not (abundance weighted matrix: R = 0.23, P = 0.04; abundance unweighted matrix: R = 0.32, P = 0.01). At the phylum level, the abundance of Proteobacteria and Candidatus_sacchari in the CLP group increased significantly as compared with the Sham group [18.100% (15.271%, 26.665%) vs. 6.974% (2.854%, 9.764%), 0.125% (0.027%, 0.159%)% vs. 0.018% (0.008%, 0.021%), both P < 0.05]. At the genus level, the abundance of opportunistic pathogen including Helicobacter, Ruthenium, Streptococcus, Clostridium ⅩⅧ in the CLP group was significantly higher than that in the Sham group [5.090% (1.812%, 6.598%) vs. 0.083% (0.034%, 0.198%), 0.244% (0.116%, 0.330%) vs. 0.016% (0.008%, 0.029%), 0.006% (0.003%, 0.010%) vs. 0.001% (0%, 0.003%), 0.094% (0.035%, 0.430%) vs. 0.007% (0.003%, 0.030%), all P < 0.05], and the abundance of probiotics such as Alloprevotella and Romboustia was significantly lower than that in the Sham group [7.345% (3.662%, 11.546%) vs. 22.504% (14.403%, 26.928%), 0.113% (0.047%, 0.196%) vs. 1.229% (0.809%, 2.29%), both P < 0.01]. LEfSe analysis showed that the probiotics belonging to Firmicutes were significantly enriched in the Sham group, and Romboustia was the most significantly enriched species. Opportunistic pathogens such as Helicobacter, Streptococcus and Clostridium ⅩⅧ were significantly enriched in the CLP group, Helicobacter_NGSU_ 2015 was the most significantly enriched species. Conclusion:In the early stage of sepsis, the intestinal microbiota structure of rats is significantly changed, which mainly shows that the abundance of Alloprevotella and other probiotics is significantly reduced, while that of Helicobacter and other opportunistic pathogens is significantly increased.

Objective　To explore the relationship between the levels of serum lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) and angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) and the degree of neurological deficit and prognosis of patients with acute watershed cerebral infarction.Methods　From June 2018 to July 2021,105 patients with acute watershed cerebral infarction accepted by our hospital were enrolled as the research group,the NIHSS scale was used to evaluate the degree of neurological deficit,and the patients were divided into mild neurological deficit group and moderate-severe neurological deficit group;the modified Rankin scale was used to evaluate the prognosis of the patients,and they were grouped into a good prognosis group and a poor prognosis group;another 100 healthy subjects were enrolled as the control group,the serum levels of LOX-1 and ANGPTL8 of subjects in each group were detected,and the differences between groups were compared.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to analyze the evaluation value of serum LOX-1 and ANGPTL8 levels for the degree of neurological deficit and prognosis in patients with acute watershed cerebral infarction.Results　The levels of serum LOX-1 and ANGPTL8 in the study group were obviously higher than those in the control group,the levels of serum LOX-1 and ANGPTL8 in the moderate to severe neurological deficit group were obviously higher than those in the mild neurological deficit group,and the levels of serum LOX-1 and ANGPTL8 in the poor prognosis group were also obviously higher than those in the good prognosis group (P<0.05).The area under the curve (AUC) of serum LOX-1 and ANGPTL8 combined to assess moderate to severe neurological deficit in patients with acute watershed cerebral infarction was 0.894,which was greater than that of LOX-1 (0.763) and ANGPTL8 (0.852) alone (P<0.05);the AUC of the two combined assessment of acute watershed cerebral infarction patients with poor prognosis was 0.932,which was greater than that of LOX-1 and ANGPTL8 alone (P<0.05).Conclusion　Serum LOX-1 and ANGPTL8 levels are up-regulated in patients with acute watershed cerebral infarction,and the combination of the two has a higher efficacy in evaluating the degree of neurological deficit and prognosis of patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the influence of Rce1 on invasion and migration of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells by silencing the Rce1 gene with RNA interference. METHODS: The tongue squamous cell carcinoma Cal-27 and SCC-4 cells were cultured in vitro. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) of the Rce1 gene was designed, and the Rcel gene expression was silenced vialiposome transfection. According to the siRNA transfected by liposome, the experimental group was divided into three groups, namely, Rce1-siRNA-1, Rce1-siRNA-2, and Rce1-siRNA-3 groups. Negative control group was transfected by siCON, and the blank control group was untransfected by siRNA. The Rce1, RhoA, and K-Ras gene expression levels in each group were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The Rce1, RhoA, K-Ras, MMP-2, and MMP-9 protein expression levels were analyzed by Western blot. The invasiveness of tongue cancer cell Cal-27 and SCC-4 were determined by Transwell invasion assay, and cell migration assay was performed by cell scratch assay. RESULTS: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot results showed that compared with the negative and blank control groups, the Rce1 gene and protein expression levels in three experimental groups decreased (P<0.05). The RhoA, K-Ras gene and protein expression levels were insignificantly different among groups (P>0.05). Meanwhile, the MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression levels decreased (P<0.05). Transwell invasion assay results showed that the total number of cells in the PET film of the experimental groups was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P<0.05). The cell scratch test showed that the cell closure time of the scratch in the interference group was significantly longer than those in the control and blank groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Silencing Rce1 in vitro can effectively downregulate its expression in tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells Cal-27 and SCC-4 and reduce the migration and invasion abilities of these cells.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Endopeptidases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Tongue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; therapy ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine for blocking mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in pregnant women with high viremia.

METHODSA total of 128 pregnant women with high HBV load (HBV DNA ≥ 1.0*10⁷ copies/ml and positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)) were enrolled in the study from January 2009 to January 2013 and divided into the following three groups:group A (n=42) treated with telbivudine at 12 weeks of gestation until postpartum 12 weeks; group B (n=41) treated with telbivudine at 20 to 28 weeks of gestation until postpartum 12 weeks; group C (n=45; control group) with no telbivudine treatment.All study participants were given compound giyeyrrhizin for liver protection. All infants born to the women from the three groups were vaccinated with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (200 IU) and the HBV vaccine (20 tg) ager birth. The mother-to-infant transmission of HBV was indicated by the presence of HBsAg in infants at 7 months after birth.The maternal HBV DNA levels of the women in the three groups were statistically compared with the HBsAg positive rates in their neonates.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the HBV DNA levels between the three groups before treatment (P more than 0.05). The pre-delivery level of HBV DNA in group A (0.553 ± 1.588 log10 copies/ml) and in group B (0.486 ± 1.429 log10 copies/ml) was significantly decreased compared to that in group C (7.698 ± 0.255 log10 copies/ml) (both P < 0.01).The post-delivery (12 weeks) level of HBV DNA in group A (0.381 ± 1.116 log10 copies/ml) and in group B (0.335 ± 1.073 log10 copies/ml) was significantly decreased compared to that in group C (7.728 ± 0.277 log10 copies/ml) (both P < 0.01).There were no significant differences in the HBV DNA levels between group A and group B (P > 0.05). No infants in group A or group B were HBsAg-positive,while the HBsAg-positive rote was 17.4% in group C (P=0.012; P=0.015).

CONCLUSIONSTelbivudine treatment starting from the 12th week of gestation or from the 20-28th week of gestation can significantly decrease the serum HBV DNA level in peripheral blood of pregnant women with high viremia and reduce the infection rate of HBV in their neonates.

Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; Thymidine ; analogs & derivatives ; Viremia

AIM:To investigate the effects of osteogenic induction media and the medias containing different concentration of calcium on the induction of osteogenic differentiation of human renal fibroblasts in vitro.METHODS: Culturedhuman renal fibroblasts were divided into 5 groups in this experiment: osteogenic induction group (osteogenic inductionmedia), CaⅠgroup (0.5 mmol/L Ca2 + media), CaⅡgroup (1.5 mmol/L Ca2 + media), Ca Ⅲ group (2.5 mmol/LCa2 + media) and control group (PBS).The cell activity in each groups was measured by MTT assay .At 9th day, the cellcalcium Alizarin red S staining and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) Gomori calcium cobalt staining were performed respectivelyto observe the formation of calcium nidus and the expression of ALP .In addition, the expression of Runt-related transcriptionfactor 2 (Runx2) at mRNA and protein levels was determined by real -time PCR and Western blot, respectively.RE- SULTS: The remarkable positive signs which represented the formation of calcium nidus and the deposit of calcium objectsin all experiment groups were observed .The mRNA and protein expression of Runx2 in osteogenic induction group increasedin accordance with the induction time .Compared with control group, the mRNA and protein expression of Runx2 inthe CaⅠ ~Ⅲ groups increased gradually in a calcium concentration dependent manner at the 9th induction day.CON- CLUSION: Human renal interstitial fibroblasts show the potential activity in osteogenic differentiation induced by osteogen -ic induction media or high level calcium in vitro, which may be account for the cytological formation of the Randall ’splaque in the kidney.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms of calculus crystal transport by macro-phage in kidney. Methods Hyperoxaluria rat model was established by administration of 1% ethyl-ene glycol and 1% ammonium chloride in drinking water. 24 h rat urine was collected, urinary oxalate were analyzed by ion chromatography. The expression and location of osteopontin and macrophage in kidney were observed by immunohistochemistry. Macrophage and calculus crystal at the basement membrane of renal tubular epithelial cells and interstitium were observed. Results The urinary ox-slate concentration were (0.22±0.13), (0.29±0.08), (0. 50±0.26), (0. 41±0. 22), (0.25±0. 12) ng/ml among these 5 groups. The osteoponitin expression was 0.16±0.04, 0.25±0.09, 0.37±0.10, 0.23±0.08, 0.19±0.02 respectively. The expression of osteopontin was positively correlated with urinary oxlate concentration(r=0.887, P<0.05). The macrophage at the basement membrane of renal tubular epithelial cells was 0.12±0.08, 0.19±0.06, 0.27±0.04, 0.16±0.03, 0.18±0.03 respectively. The macrophage distribution was positively correlated with the expression of osteopontin (r= 0.596, P<0.05). The macrophage moved from vessel to the basement membrane of loops of Henle, then disrupted and released the calculus crystal. Conclusions The macrophage might take part in the calculus crystal transport in kidney at the basement membrane of loops of Henle, which may be the source of Randall plaque. This process may be mediated by osteopontin.