OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside （TWM） on renal injury in diabetic nephropathy （DN） rats through tumor protein p53/microRNA-214 （miR-214）/UNC-51-like kinase 1 （ULK1） axis. METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group （n＝6） and modeling group （n＝28）； the modeling group was fed with high fat and high glucose plus intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to establish DN model. The modeled rats were randomly divided into model group， valsartan group [8.33 mg/（kg·d）] and TWM group[6.25 mg/（kg·d）]， with 8 rats in each group. Rats in each group were gavaged with the corresponding medication or normal saline， once a day， for 6 consecutive weeks. After the last medication， liver and renal function indexes [24 h urinary total protein （24 h-UTP）， blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， serum creatinine （SCr）， albumin （ALB）， alanine transaminase （ALT）]， blood lipid indexes （triglycerides， total cholesterol） and blood glucose index （fasting blood glucose） in urine/blood sample of rats were detected in each group. Renal pathologic change was observed， protein and mRNA expressions of p53， ULK1， Beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）， and expression of miR-214 in renal tissue were also determined. RESULTS Compared with the normal group， the renal tubular epithelium of rats in the model group showed obvious edema， cell swelling， accompanied by lymphocyte infiltration； the levels of 24h-UTP， BUN， SCr， ALT and glycolipid indexes， the expressions of p53 protein and mRNA， as well as the expression of miR-214 in rats in the model group and administration groups were significantly increased or up-regulated， while ALB level， LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ， the expressions of LC3 mRNA， the expressions of ULK1， Beclin-1 protein and mRNA were significantly decreased or down-regulated （P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the histopathological damage of the kidney in rats was improved in administration groups； the levels of 24 h-UTP， BUN， SCr， ALT and glycolipid indexes， the expressions of p53 protein and mRNA， as well as the expression of miR-214 were all significantly decreased or down-regulated， while ALB level， LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ， the expressions of LC3 mRNA， the expressions of ULK1 and Beclin-1 protein and mRNA were significantly increased or up-regulated （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS TG can alleviate renal damage in DN rats， and improve their liver and renal function， as well as glucose and lipid levels. These effects may be related to the regulation of the p53/miR-214/ULK1 axis and the restoration of cellular autophagy.

Objective: To explore the correlation between gut microbiota and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with Mendelian randomization analysis. Methods: Data involved with genome-wide association of the gut microbiome were retrieved from MiBioGen Consortium as the exposure group data，and RCC data were obtained from the FinnGen GWAS database.Next，a rigorous Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted utilizing multiple methods，including inverse variance weighted (IVW)，MR-Egger，maximum likelihood，and weighted median.Additionally，sensitivity analysis was performed to address heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy concerns. Results: A total of 2564 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the complete gut microbiota were analyzed.IVW analysis showed that bacillus (OR=0.780，95% CI:0.614-0.991，P=0.042) and anaerobic bacillus (OR=0.723，95% CI:0.533-0.981，P=0.037) reduced the risk of RCC.Actinomycetes (OR=1.302，95% CI：1.015-1.672，P=0.038)，family Ⅺ (OR=1.197，95% CI: 1.023-1.400，P=0.024)，coprococcus 2 genera (OR=1.440，95% CI：1.046-1.982，P=0.026)，clostridium lactate (OR=1.732，95% CI:1.254-2.392，P=0.001) and Odoribacter (OR=1.685，95% CI:1.150-2.469，P=0.007) were associated with an increased risk of RCC.Sensitivity analysis did not identify any abnormal SNPs，indicating the robustness and reliability of our findings. Conclusion: There may be a cause-and-effect relationship between different types of gut microbiota and genetically predited renal cell carcinoma，and different microbiota may be respectively associated with an increase or decrease in RCC.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of 3D printing spinal external fixator combined with McKenzie therapy for patients with lumbar dics herniation (LDH). METHODS: Sixty patients with LDH between January 2022 and January 2023 were enrolled. Among them, 30 patients were given McKinsey training. According to different treatment methods, all patients were divided into McKenzie group and McKenzie + 3D printing group, 30 patients in each group. The McKenzie group provided McKenzie therapy. The McKenzie + 3D printing group were treated with 3D printing spinal external fixation brace on the basis of McKenzie therapy. Patients in both groups were between 25 and 60 years of age and had their first illness. In the McKenzie group, there were 19 males and 11 females, with an average age of (48.57±5.86) years old, and the disease duration was (7.03 ±2.39) months. The McKenzie + 3D printing group, there were 21 males and 9 females, with an average age of (48.80±5.92) years old, and the disease duration was(7.30±2.56) months. Pain was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and lumbar spine function was assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. VAS, ODI and JOA scores were compared between two groups before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 12 months. The VAS for the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were(6.533±0.860), (5.133±1.008), (3.933±0.868), (2.900±0.759), (2.067±0.640), (1.433±0.504), respectively. In the McKenzie group, the corresponding scores were (6.467±0.860), (5.067±1.048), (4.600±0.968), (3.533±1.008), (2.567±0.728), (1.967±0.809), respectively. The ODI of the McKenzie group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were (41.033±6.810)%, (37.933±6.209)%, (35.467±6.962)%, (27.567±10.081)%, (20.800±7.531)%, (13.533±5.158)%, respectively. For the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group, the corresponding ODI were(38.033±5.605)%, (33.000±6.192)%, (28.767±7.045)%, (22.200±5.517)%, (17.700±4.836)%, (11.900±2.771)%, respectively. The JOA scores of the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were(8.900±2.074), (13.133±2.330), (15.700±3.583), (20.400±3.480), (22.267±3.084), (24.833±2.640), respectively. In the McKenzie group, the corresponding scores were(9.200±2.091), (12.267±2.406), (15.333±3.198), (18.467±2.240), (20.133±2.751), (22.467±2.849), respectively. Before the initiation of treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed in the VAS, ODI, and JOA scores between two groups (P>0.05). At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment, the VAS in the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group was significantly lower than that in the McKenzie group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The comparison of ODI between two groups at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment revealed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). At 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment, the JOA score in the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group was significantly higher than that in the McKenzie-only group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of 3D printed functional spinal external fixation brace with McKenzie therapy can significantly improve and maintain lumbar function in patients with LDH.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; External Fixators ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Adult ; Braces ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to reexplore minimum iodine excretion and to build a dietary iodine recommendation for Chinese adults using the obligatory iodine loss hypothesis. METHODS: Data from 171 Chinese adults (19-21 years old) were collected and analyzed based on three balance studies in Shenzhen, Yinchuan, and Changzhi. The single exponential equation was accordingly used to simulate the trajectory of 24 h urinary iodine excretion as the low iodine experimental diets offered (iodine intake: 11-26 μg/day) and to further deduce the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for iodine, including estimated average requirement (EAR) and recommended nutrient intake (RNI). RESULTS: The minimum iodine excretion was estimated as 57, 58, and 51 μg/day in three balance studies, respectively. Moreover, it was further suggested as 57, 58, and 51 μg/day for iodine EAR, and 80, 81, and 71 μg/day for iodine RNI or expressed as 1.42, 1.41, and 1.20 μg/(day·kg) of body weight. CONCLUSION The iodine DRIs for Chinese adults were established based on the obligatory iodine loss hypothesis, which provides scientific support for the amendment of nutrient requirements.
Humans ; Iodine/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Female ; China ; Young Adult ; Diet ; Adult ; Nutritional Requirements ; East Asian People

Monosodium urate (MSU)-induced the gouty arthritis (GA) model was used to investigate the effect of Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inhibitor N14 in alleviating GA. Firstly, the effect of NLRP3 inhibitor N14 on the viability of mouse monocyte macrophage J774A.1 was examined by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The expression of mature interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1) p20 in the cell supernatant and the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and pro-IL-1β proteins in the cell lysates was detected by Western blot for the inhibitory effect of N14 on the MSU-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in J774A.1 cells. Animal behavioral tests were used to detect redness, swelling, heat and pain in mice with gouty arthritis. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining revealed pathologic changes and inflammatory infiltration in foot sections. Protein expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, and pro-IL-1β in mouse hind paw tissues were assessed by Western blot. The effect of N14 on the plasma levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), creatinine (CRE), urea, and uric acid (UA) was investigated by the MSU-induced gouty arthritis model in mice. All animal experiments in this paper were approved by the Scientific Ethics Review Board of Qingdao Marine Biomedical Research Institute (grant No. E-MBWNL-2024-20). The experimental results showed that N14 did not exhibit cytotoxicity in mouse monocyte macrophage J774A.1 cells at concentrations up to 100 μmol·L^-1, and N14 effectively prevented MSU-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. In the mouse gouty arthritis model, N14 significantly ameliorated the redness, swelling, heat and pain caused by GA, and down-regulated the levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins in mouse hind paw tissues. Meanwhile, N14 appeared to be well tolerated, as it did not significantly affect various biochemical indices in mouse plasma. In conclusion, N14 effectively alleviated GA in mice by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, which is important for both prevention and treatment of related diseases.

Objective Viral encephalitis is an infectious disease severely affecting human health.It is caused by a wide variety of viral pathogens,including herpes viruses,flaviviruses,enteroviruses,and other viruses.The laboratory diagnosis of viral encephalitis is a worldwide challenge.Recently,high-throughput sequencing technology has provided new tools for diagnosing central nervous system infections.Thus,In this study,we established a multipathogen detection platform for viral encephalitis based on amplicon sequencing. Methods We designed nine pairs of specific polymerase chain reaction(PCR)primers for the 12 viruses by reviewing the relevant literature.The detection ability of the primers was verified by software simulation and the detection of known positive samples.Amplicon sequencing was used to validate the samples,and consistency was compared with Sanger sequencing. Results The results showed that the target sequences of various pathogens were obtained at a coverage depth level greater than 20×,and the sequence lengths were consistent with the sizes of the predicted amplicons.The sequences were verified using the National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST,and all results were consistent with the results of Sanger sequencing. Conclusion Amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing technology is feasible as a supplementary method for the pathogenic detection of viral encephalitis.It is also a useful tool for the high-volume screening of clinical samples.