AIM:To investigate the protective effects of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide(DOP)on high glucose-induced apoptosis in retinal capillary pericytes and its potential mechanism involving mitochondrial function.METHODS:Retinal capillary pericytes were allocated into five groups: normal control(NC), high glucose(HG), and three DOP treatment groups(low, DOP-L; medium, DOP-M; high, DOP-H). Pericyte ultrastructure was analyzed using transmission electron microscopy(TEM). Apoptotic rate was quantified via Annexin V-FITC staining. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential was assessed using the JC-1 probe. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)and Western blot were employed to measure expression levels of cytochrome C(Cyt C), B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), Caspase-9, and Caspase-3, respectively.RESULTS:Compared to the NC group, pericytes exposed to HG exhibited significant mitochondrial damage, elevated apoptotic rate, increased mRNA and protein expression of Cyt C, Bax, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3(all P<0.01), alongside a marked reduction in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein(all P<0.01). In contrast, DOP treatment groups(DOP-M,DOP-H)dose-dependently ameliorated mitochondrial damage, reduced apoptotic rate, downregulated Cyt C, Bax, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3 expression, enhanced mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and upregulated Bcl-2 expression relative to the HG group(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION:DOP attenuates high glucose-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial injury in retinal capillary pericytes. The underlying mechanism may involve the restoration of mitochondrial transmembrane potential.

Objective:To explore the serum miRNA-144-5p (miR-144-5p) level in liver cancer patients and its relationship with clinical characteristics, as well as the target genes of miR-144-5p and the possible pathogenic mechanisms.Methods:The morning fasting serum samples were retrospectively collected from 100 newly diagnosed liver cancer patients (liver cancer group) before any treatment in Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital from June 2019 to June 2020, as well as 100 healthy individuals (healthy control group) during physical examinations in the same period. The real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction method was used to measure the transcription level expression of miR-144-5p in serum. The high and low expressions of miR-144-5p in patients were determined based on the median relative expression level of miR-144-5p; the distribution differences between patients with high and low expressions of miR-144-5p among different clinical pathological features were compared. The online tools miRDB, TargetScan 8.0 and miRWalk were used to predict potential target genes for miR-144-5p, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed through a bioinformatics platform, and complementary sequences between miR-144-5p and target genes were analyzed using RNA22 software.Results:The median age of the liver cancer group was 54 years old, ranging from 38 to 74 years old, including 80 males (80.0%) and 20 females (20.0%); the median age of the healthy control group was 46 years old, ranging from 34 to 66 years old, including 69 males (69.0%) and 31 females (31.0%); there was no statistically significant difference in age and gender composition between the two groups (both P > 0.05). The median transcription level relative expression of miR-144-5p in liver cancer patients was lower than that in the healthy control group [ M ( Q1, Q3)] [0.311 (0.066, 2.270) vs. 1.067 (0.263, 3.620)], and the difference was statistically significant ( Z = -4.16, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with low expression of miR-144-5p was higher in the group with maximum diameter of tumor > 5 cm compared to the group with maximum diameter of tumor ≤5 cm [59.3% (35/59) vs. 36.6% (15/41)] and in the group with metastasis compared to the group without metastasis [60.4% (29/48) vs. 40.4% (21/52)], and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of patients with high and low expressions of miR-144-5p among different subgroups based on gender, age >55 years, presence of hepatitis, cirrhosis, alpha fetoprotein >400 μ g/L, and differentiation degree (all P > 0.05). According to predictions, there were 34 miR-144-5p target genes shared by the three bioinformatics online tools. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that these target genes were associated with ubiquitination, primarily enriched in the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway (hsa04120) and the mTOR signaling pathway (hsa04150). RNA22 software analysis showed that miR-144-5p mainly had complementary sequences with 3' untranslated regions of UBR5 and UBE4A genes. Conclusions:The serum miR-144-5p level in liver cancer patients is relatively low, and its expression level may be related to tumor size and metastasis. miR-144-5p may affect the occurrence and development of liver cancer by regulating ubiquitination level through target genes such as UBR5 and UBE4A.

Objective:To investigate the impact and mechanism of polydatin(PD)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)induced in-flammatory damage in pancreatic acinar cells.Methods:Rat pancreatic exocrine cells AR42J were cultured in vitro,LPS treated cells were used to construct a cell inflammatory injury model,and co-cultured with 0,12.5,25,50,100 and 200 μg/L PD,CCK-8 method was applied to detect cell proliferation activity;AR42J cells were grouped into blank group(CT group),inflammatory injury model group(M group),PD group(100 μg/L),and PD+WZ811 group[stromal cell derived factor 1(SDF-1)/CXC chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4)pathway inhibitor](100 μg/L PD+1 μmol/L WZ811),dinitrophenylhydrazine method was applied to detect the leakage rate of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)in each group of cells,flow cytometry was applied to detect cell apoptosis rate,ELISA kit was ap-plied to determine the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in cell supernatant,thiobarbituric acid method were applied to determine the content of malondialdehyde(MDA),Xanthine oxidation method was applied to measure superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity,immunofluo-rescence staining was applied to detect the expressions of SDF-1 and CXCR4 proteins.Results:Compared with 0 μg/L group,100 μg/L and 200 μg/L PD obviously increased cell proliferation activity;compared with the CT group,the leakage rate of LDH,apoptosis rate,and the contents of IL-1β,TNF-α and MDA of cells in the M group increased,the SOD activity and expressions of SDF-1 and CXCR4 proteins decreased(P<0.05);compared with the M group,the leakage rate of LDH,apoptosis rate,and the contents of IL-1β,TNF-α and MDA of cells in the PD group decreased,the SOD activity and expressions of SDF-1 and CXCR4 proteins increased(P<0.05);compared with the PD group,the leakage rate of LDH,apoptosis rate,and the contents of IL-1β,TNF-α,and MDA of cells in the PD+WZ811 group increased,the SOD activity and expression of SDF-1 and CXCR4 proteins decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:The protective effect of PD on LPS-induced inflammatory damage in AR42J cells may be related to the activation of the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway.

Selenium is an essential trace element for human body.The primary functional form of selenium in the organism is selenoproteins(Sep),which plays a crucial role in maintaining normal physiological functions,influencing immune responses,and is also implicated in tumorigenesis and related metabolic disorders.Recent studies have shown that Sep is involved in the pathophysiological process of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).This article reviewed the mechanisms of Sep in IBD,aiming to explore the pathogenic mechanisms of IBD and provide insights for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Objective:To study the epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis in Ordos City and provide reference and theoretical guidance for prevention and control of the disease.Methods:The surveillance data of human brucellosis cases and the serological surveillance data of key occupational populations reported by the Ordos City Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2013 to 2022 were collected and analyzed descriptively. ArcGIS 10.8 software was used to draw a spatial distribution map of human brucellosis in Ordos City, and SPSS 26.0 software was used to conduct Spearman correlation analysis to further explore the impact of economic factors on human brucellosis.Results:From 2013 to 2022, a total of 8 676 cases of human brucellosis were reported in Ordos City, with an average annual incidence rate of 40.93/100 000. In 2022, 2 570 cases were reported, with an incidence rate of 116.78/100 000, reaching the peak in the past 10 years. The cases were mainly distributed in Dalad Banner, Hangjin Banner, and Otog Front Banner, with a total of 6 415 cases, accounting for 73.94% of the total number of cases. The spatial distribution spread from north to south and from north to east. The majority of cases were in the age group of 40 to 65 years old (6 061 cases, accounting for 69.86%), male (6 089 cases, accounting for 70.18%), and farmers and herdsmen (7 367 cases, accounting for 84.91%). The median time interval between onset and diagnosis was 16 days. The positive rate of serological surveillance in key occupational groups was 5.38% (7 058/131 229). The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that the number of agricultural legal entities, the number of animal husbandry legal entities, regional gross domestic product, per capita disposable income of rural and pastoral residents, total agricultural output value, the number of cattle and sheep at the end of the year, milk production, and mutton production were important factors affecting the incidence of brucellosis ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of brucellosis in Ordos City is on the rise, and the epidemic situation is severe. It is necessary to strengthen the surveillance and joint prevention and control of human brucellosis to prevent the spread and expansion of the epidemic.

Objective:To evaluate whether there is a difference between the lesion volumes detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging and 11C-choline PET/CT imaging based on different threshold delineation methods in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and to recommend a more clinically appropriate threshold method with reference to lesion volume detected by enhanced MRI. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 37 patients(27 males, 10 females, age (51.2±11.9) years) with nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosed in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, between October 2015 and May 2017. All patients underwent nasopharyngeal enhanced MRI, 18F-FDG PET/CT and 11C-choline PET/CT scans. Advantage Workstation 4.6 software was used to fuse images of the 3 imaging examinations. The lesion contour was sketched manually based on enhanced MRI sequences to obtain VMRI, and the lesion was sketched in PET images to obtain the corresponding metabolic tumor volume (MTV) by absolute threshold method, relative threshold method and background threshold method respectively. The correlation between ROIs sketched by different threshold methods and ROI in MRI was evaluated by using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Friedman test or repeated measures analysis of variance (corrected by Greenhouse-Geisser) was employed to analyze the differences of MTV or DSC obtained by using 3 threshold methods. Wilcoxon signed-rank test or paired t-test was used to compare the data of different imaging methods. Results:In 18F-FDG PET/CT results, MTVs obtained by using the absolute threshold method, relative threshold method, and background threshold method were 13.21(5.47, 23.16), 10.13(5.67, 16.81), and 13.68(5.77, 25.52)mm 3, respectively, with significant differences ( χ2=17.89, P<0.001). The corresponding DSC differences for the 3 methods were also significant (0.43±0.19, 0.38±0.17 and 0.44±0.17; F=16.35, P<0.001). In 11C-choline PET/CT results, MTV differences based on the 3 threshold methods were significantly different (14.96(6.80, 32.27), 16.28(12.23, 32.47) and 18.97(14.38, 37.02)mm 3;χ2=10.45, P=0.005), and the DSC differences were also significant (0.52±0.21, 0.58±0.13 and 0.62±0.13; F=16.37, P<0.001). The differences in MTV and DSC between FDG and choline groups were also significant ( Z=-3.87, t=-5.57, both P<0.001). The differences between MTVs of 18F-FDG imaging/ 11C-choline imaging and VMRI (24.35(14.48, 36.89)mm 3) were all significantly different ( Z values: from -5.03 to -2.59, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with 18F-FDG PET/CT, the preoperative 11C-choline PET/CT imaging in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma is closer to enhanced MRI (gold standard) in the lesion delineation. Compared with ROIs of the other 2 threshold delineation methods, the ROI obtained by the background threshold method is closer to that in enhanced MRI.

Objective:To explore the relationship between drug literacy and quality of life in patients with multiple chronic diseases.Methods:It was a cross-sectional study. Between March and October 2023, 260 patients with multiple chronic diseases from the General Medicine Department of Peking University Third Hospital were selected using a convenience sampling method. A medication literacy scale, a medication adherence scale, and a health survey scale (SF-36 scale) were used to conduct a questionnaire survey in the patients. The SF-36 scale reflected the quality of life of the patients (including physical health and mental health). A total of 260 questionnaires were distributed, 260 questionnaires were returned, and 240 were effective (92.3%). Single-factor analysis of medication literacy in those patients was conducted using F-test and t-test. The correlation between medication literacy and medication adherence, as well as between medication literacy and quality of life, was analyzed using Pearson′s test. The correlation between different factors and medication adherence, as well as quality of life, in those patients was analyzed using multiple linear regression. Results:Among the 240 patients with multiple chronic diseases, 134 were male and 106 were female, aged (65.84±11.56) years. The drug literacy scale score was (8.36±3.57) points, the SF-36 physical health score was (242.00±87.85) points, mental health score was (275.67±80.29) points, medication compliance scale score was (6.22±1.93) points. The drug literacy was positively correlated with medication compliance ( r=0.157) and mental health ( r=0.165) in patients with multiple chronic diseases (all P<0.05). The score of drug literacy ( SE=2.440), mental health score ( SE=2.523), perceptual impairment ( SE=2.046) and duration of disease ( SE=2.459) were positively correlated with the medication compliance of the patients, while the number of chronic diseases ( SE=-2.818) was negatively correlated with the medication compliance of the patients (all P<0.05). The score of drug literacy ( SE=0.121) and insensible perception disorder ( SE=0.399) were positively correlated with the quality of life of the patients, and the number of chronic diseases ( SE=-0.171) was negatively correlated with the quality of life of the patients (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The drug literacy of patients with multiple chronic diseases is at the medium level, and the drug literacy is positively correlated with medication compliance and quality of life.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between lean lipid accumulation product (LAP) and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).Methods:This cross-sectional study consecutively enrolled 1 990 adult subjects who underwent health examinations at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University between June 2021 and May 2023. All recruited participants had a body mass index (BMI)<23 kg/m2. Data collection included general information, physical examination, serum biochemical parameter measurements, and liver ultrasonography. Participants were divided into four groups (Q1-Q4) according to quartiles value of LAP from low to high. The differences of biochemical parameters and the prevalence of lean MAFLD were compared among the groups. Logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to explore the relationship between LAP and lean MAFLD and assess the diagnostic predictive value of LAP for lean MAFLD.Results:A total of 1990 participants were selected, and the detection rate of lean MAFLD was 4.97% (99 cases). The detection rate of lean MAFLD showed a significant increasing trend from Q1 to Q4 groups ( P<0.001) and respectively was 0.40%, 0.81%, 4.01% and 14.70%. The average age, male proportion, BMI and waist circumference significantly increased in a dose-response manner from Q1 to Q4 (all P<0.001). Indirect bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, serum uric acid, fasting blood glucose, fatty liver index, fibrosis-4 index and every metabolic syndrome component in groups Q2 to Q4 were significantly higher than in the Q1 group, while high-density lipoprotein levels gradually decreased (all P<0.05). RCS showed that the risk of lean MAFLD rose significantly with the increase of LAP ( P<0.005), presenting a nonlinear relationship between them ( P for nonlinear<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that after adjusting other confounding factors, the risk of lean MAFLD in the Q4 group remained 4.75 times higher than that in the Q1 group (95% CI: 11.22-31.69, P<0.05). ROC curve demonstrated that LAP had a better predictive value for lean MAFLD than BMI and waist circumference, with area under the curve of 0.839, critical value of 19.59, diagnostic sensitivity of 82.8% and specificity of 75.1%. Conclusions:Elevated LAP is independently and positively correlated with the risk of lean MAFLD, and its predictive efficacy is significant superior to traditional obesity indicators.

Objective:The study investigated the full-time Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs) working in hospitals on their current working situation and explored affecting factors to provide suggestions for a professional and systemic clinical research workforce establishment in municipal medical institutions.Methods:A questionnaire survey was designed for CRCs in municipal hospitals in Shanghai, descriptive and one-way cross-tabulation analysis were conducted, using t-test for continuous numerical variables, rank-sum test for count variables and chi-square test for categorical variables.Results:Totaling 177 CRCs in 9 municipal hospitals in Shanghai answered the questionnaire. The average age of the respondents was 28.56±7.299 years old. Their professional background was mainly nursing and pharmacy (139/177, 87.53%), and bachelor degree (114/177, 64.41%). Averagely worked 2.50±1.632 years, the average number of research projects undertaken by CRC was 3.45±2.179, and the average number of cumulative projects involved was 8.72±9.341. The CRCs employed by hospitals mainly undertook Investigator-Initiated clinical Trial/Research projects (IITs) (26/36, 72.22%), while the CRCs employed by SMO companies mainly undertook Industry-Sponsored Clinical Trial (IST) projects (96/141, 68.09%). 85.88% (152/117) of CRCs held GCP certificates valid within three years, and the proportion of CRCs employed by hospitals held GCP certificates was lower than that of SMO companies ( P<0.05). Among the CRCs employed by hospitals, 23 (63.89%) said they had no position or were not clear about their position; The CRCs in SMO companies were mainly primary and intermediate (χ 2=84.119, P<0.05). The average number of research projects undertaken by CRC was 3.45±2.179, and the average number of cumulative projects involved was 8.72±9.341. Conclusions:With the development of clinical research, the full-time specialized CRCs in medical institutions mainly have 2 sources: from SMO/CRO companies or self-employment by medical institutions. In general, there are still problems in the CRC talent team as unclear entry standards, insufficient, lack career positioning planning, large mobility, imperfect training system, and imperfect promotion mechanism. It is suggested to unify occupational access standards and set specialty in colleges or universities. Strengthen post-service education and training system, establish multi-party collaborative training mechanism, standardize the assessment and evaluation, improve the job title promotion system, to promote the rapid development of CRC team.

OBJECTIVE To explore the isolation rates,drug resistance and molecular epidemiological characteristics of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli(CRGNB)isolated from intensive care units(ICU)of a tertiary hos-pital so as to provide bases for prevention and control of the nosocomial infections caused by CRGNB.METHODS The environmental surfaces that were high frequently contacted by the patients with CRGNB infections[carbapen-em-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP),carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii(CRAB),carbap-enem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa(CRPA)]and their hands were randomly sampled from the ICU of a ter-tiary three-A hospital from Apr.2024 to Aug.2024.Multilocus sequence typing(MLST)and detection of drug re-sistance genes were performed by means of complete genome sequencing technique and bioinformatics,and the ho-mology between the CRGNB strains isolated from the patients and the strains isolated from their surrounding was observed.RESULTS Totally 30(7.85％)strains of CRGNB were isolated,23(6.02％)of which were CRKP,7(1.83％)were CRAB,and no strain of CRPA was detected.The molecular subtyping showed that ST 11(93.33％)was dominant among the CRKP strains,and ST2(69.23％)was dominant among the CRAB strains.The phylogenetic analysis indicated that there were clonal transmission tendencies of CRKP-ST11 and CRAB-ST2.The analysis of drug resistance genes showed that the CRAB strains mainly carried ant(3")-lla(100％),blaOXA-23(92.31％)and amvA(92.31％);blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-66 were the major carbapenems resistance genes;the CRKP strains mainly carried the drug resistance genes emrDh,rmtB1,fosA and kdeA(all were 96.67％),followed by the carbapenems resistance gene blaKPC-2(90.00％).CONCLUSIONS ST11 is the predomi-nant molecular subtype for CRGNB among the CRKP strains isolated from the ICU,anf ST2 predominant among the CRAB strains;the carrying rates of drug resistance genes are high.There is risk of clonal transmission.It is necessary to strengthen the monitoring and take comprehensive infection control measures so as to reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections.