Growth arrest DNA damage-inducible protein 45 β (GADD45B) has been reported to be a regulatory factor for active DNA demethylation and is implicated in the modulation of synaptic plasticity and chronic stress-related psychopathological processes. However, its precise role and mechanism of action in stress susceptibility remain elusive. In this study, we found a significant reduction in GADD45B expression specifically in the ventral, but not the dorsal hippocampal CA1 (dCA1) of stress-susceptible mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that GADD45B negatively regulates susceptibility to social stress and NMDA receptor-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) in the ventral hippocampal CA1 (vCA1). Importantly, through pharmacological inhibition using the NMDA receptor antagonist MK801, we provided further evidence supporting the hypothesis that GADD45B potentially modulates susceptibility to social stress by influencing NMDA receptor-mediated LTP. Collectively, these results suggested that modulation of NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic plasticity is a pivotal mechanism underlying the regulation of susceptibility to social stress by GADD45B.
Animals ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/antagonists & inhibitors* ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal/drug effects* ; Male ; Stress, Psychological/physiopathology* ; Mice ; Neuronal Plasticity/drug effects* ; Long-Term Potentiation/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Antigens, Differentiation/metabolism* ; Dizocilpine Maleate/pharmacology* ; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists/pharmacology* ; GADD45 Proteins

Objective This study aimed to comprehensively survey the tick distribution in the natural scenic belts of various counties and districts in Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province, and to provide guidance on tick control measures. Methods From 2023 to 2024, questing ticks in 29 natural scenic belts spanning seven counties and districts of Huai'an City were collected using hand-scratching method. Further, parasitic ticks in the surrounding areas were collected using the animal search method. Collected ticks were subsequently identified to the species level in the laboratory. Results In total, 288 questing ticks were collected, all belonging to the genus Haemaphysalis of family Ixodidae. Hae. longicornis was the dominant species, accounting for 98.61%, followed by Hae. flava(1.04%)and Hae. phasiana(0.35%). The average tick density index in Lotus Lake Scenic Area(Jinhu County), All-People Fitness Theme Park(Lianshui County), Peach Blossom Valley(Qingjiangpu District), Huai'an Forest Park(Huai'an District), Qizu of Gaozhuang Village(Hongze District), Ancient Yellow River Sports Park(Huaiyin District), Putao Trench and(Xuyi County)was 0.022, 0.025, 0.01, 0.10,0.22,0.28, and 0.79 ticks/flag·100 m, respectively. In total,114 parasitic ticks were collected at the monitoring sites, with an average tick infestation rate of 69.25% in sheep and 100% in dogs at Tianquanhu Town in Xuyi County; all of these were Hae. longicornis. All parasitic ticks were from Xuyi County, and no parasitic ticks were found at the monitoring sites in Huai'an District, Hongze District, and Lianshui County. Conclusions Overall, with the advancement of eco-tourism resorts and urban greening construction in Huai'an City, the presence of ticks was confirmed by this study in previously unsurveyed areas. As the frequency of human-animal interactions increases in these areas, the potential risk of tick-borne diseases also rises. Furthermore, this study provides important clues for subsequent investigations into local tick-borne pathogens.

Objective:To investigate and analyze case reporting ethical review and patient informed consent reports published in the comprehensive journals of clinical medicine in China in 2022.Methods:According to the data from the 2022 Edition of the Chinese Science and Technology Journal of the Citation Reports(Extended Version),the case reports published in comprehensive journals of clinical medicine in 2022 were selected as the research objects.The information on ethics and patient informed consent was extracted from the case reports that met the selection criteria,and Microsoft Excel 2021 and SPSS 21.0 were used to sort out and analyze the data.Results:A total of 587 case reporting articles were published in the 42 included journals in 2022,of which 36(6.13%)reported on science and technology ethics and/or informed consent.Case reports reporting on science and technology ethics and/or informed consent mostly came from the key magazine of China technology(88.89%Vs.65.88%),and the proportion of manuscripts involving science and technology ethics on the official website of the journal was relatively high(86.11%Vs.63.88%),and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion:The proportion of case reports of science and technology ethics and/or informed consent in journals of comprehensive discipline classification of clinical medicine was relatively low.Currently,most international journals are required to obtain the informed consent of patients or legal guardians before publishing case reports.Compared with this,there are still certain gaps in China,which need to be paid great attention to.

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) have recently been identified to be closely related to the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis (AS). A growing body of evidence has suggested Chinese medicine takes unique advantages in preventing and treating AS. In this review, the related research progress of AS and LOX-1 has been summarized. And the anti-AS effects of 10 active components of herbal medicine through LOX-1 regulation have been further reviewed. As a potential biomarker and target for intervention in AS, LOX-1 targeted therapy might provide a promising and novel approach to atherosclerotic prevention and treatment.
Humans ; Atherosclerosis ; Scavenger Receptors, Class E/physiology* ; Biomarkers ; Plant Extracts ; Lipoproteins, LDL

Objective To exploxe the analgesic effect of general anesthesia combined with different concentrations of ropivacaine and transverse abdominis plane block on laparoscopic appendectomy(LA).Methods LA patients from Xiamen University Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital from January 2022 to July 2023 were included.All patients underwent general anesthesia combined ropivacaine plane block of the transverse abdominis muscle.According to the different concentrations of ropivacaine,patients were divided into high concentration group(0.50％,20 mL),medium concentration group(0.375％,20 mL)and low concentration group(0.25％,20 mL).The dosage of fentanyl,postoperative bleeding,time of first press of the analgesic pump,and number of presses among three groups of patients were recorded and compared.The postoperative vital signs(mean arterial pressure and heart rate),pain level(NRS),comfort level(BCS)(1 h,6 h,12 h,and 24 h),and incidence of postoperative adverse reactions were observed and compared.Results This study included a total of 90 LA patients,with 30 cases in each group.The first press of the analgesic pump in the low concentration group was significantly shorter than that in the medium and high concentration groups(P＜0.05),while the number of presses was significantly higher than the other two groups(P＜0.05).The mean arterial pressure and heart rate significantly decreased with the increase of ropivacaine concentration at 1 hour after surgery(P＜0.05);compared with 1 hour after surgery,the average arterial pressure and heart rate of patients in the medium concentration group and low concentration group significantly increased at 6 hours after surgery(P＜0.05),and no significant changes occurred thereafter.The NRS scores of patients in the high concentration group were significantly lower than those in the medium and low concentration groups at all four postoperative time points(P＜0.05);the NRS scores of patients in the medium concentration group were significantly lower than those in the low concentration group at four postoperative time points(P＜0.05).The BCS scores of the low concentration higher than those of the medium concentration group and low concentration group an 1 h,6 h and 24 h.The incidence of adverse reactions in the high concentration group was significantly higher than that in the low concentration group and the medium concentration group(P＜0.05);there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the medium concentration group and the low concentration group(P＞0.05).Conclusion General anesthesia combined with 0.50％ropivacaine abdominal transverse muscle plane block has a significant analgesic effect and high comfort for patients undergoing LA,but the risk of postoperative adverse reactions is high,and the plan needs to be adjusted according to the actual situation.

Child ; Humans ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Hospitals, Pediatric

The incidence of anastomotic leakage, a common and serious postoperative complication of low rectal cancer, remains high. Clarifying the risk factors for anastomotic leakage in patients with low rectal cancer after surgery can help guide clinical treatment and help patients improve their prognosis. The current literature suggests that the risk factors affecting the occurrence of anastomotic leakage after low rectal cancer include three aspects: (1) individual factors: male gender, high body mass index, malnutrition, smoking, alcoholism, and metabolic diseases; (2) tumor factors: the lower margin of tumor <5 cm from the anal verge, tumor diameter >2.5 cm, late tumor stage, high level of tumor markers and preoperative intestinal obstruction; (3) surgical factors: long operative time (>180 min), intraoperative bleeding (≥70 ml), more than 2 cartridges of stapling for anastomosis, contamination of the operative field, epidural analgesia and intraoperative hypothermia. Notably, the surgical approach (laparoscopic, open and hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery) was not a factor influencing the occurrence of postoperative anastomotic leakage in low rectal cancer. The findings on the effects of receiving neoadjuvant therapy, gut microbiota,intestinal bowel preparation, insufficient time for preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis, left colonic artery dissection, intraoperative blood transfusion, pelvic drainage, transanal drainage and combined organ resection, and postoperative diarrhea on postoperative anastomotic leakage in low rectal cancer are controversial. However, clinical workers can still take measures to reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage according to the above risk factors by making a good assessment before surgery, actively avoiding them during and after surgery, and taking measures for each step, so as to bring maximum benefits to patients.
Humans ; Male ; Anastomotic Leak/prevention & control* ; Rectum/surgery* ; Rectal Neoplasms/complications* ; Anastomosis, Surgical/adverse effects* ; Laparoscopy/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the optimal maintenance dose of caffeine citrate for preterm infants requiring assisted ventilation and caffeine citrate treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 566 preterm infants (gestational age ≤34 weeks) who were treated and required assisted ventilation and caffeine citrate treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit of 30 tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu Province of China between January 1 and December 31, 2019. The 405 preterm infants receiving high-dose (10 mg/kg per day) caffeine citrate after a loading dose of 20 mg/kg within 24 hours after birth were enrolled as the high-dose group. The 161 preterm infants receiving low-dose (5 mg/kg per day) caffeine citrate were enrolled as the low-dose group. RESULTS: Compared with the low-dose group, the high-dose group had significant reductions in the need for high-concentration oxygen during assisted ventilation (P=0.044), the duration of oxygen inhalation after weaning from noninvasive ventilation (P<0.01), total oxygen inhalation time during hospitalization (P<0.01), the proportion of preterm infants requiring noninvasive ventilation again (P<0.01), the rate of use of pulmonary surfactant and budesonide (P<0.05), and the incidence rates of apnea and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.01), but the high-dose group had a significantly increased incidence rate of feeding intolerance (P=0.032). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the body weight change, the incidence rates of retinopathy of prematurity, intraventricular hemorrhage or necrotizing enterocolitis, the mortality rate, and the duration of caffeine use (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS This pilot multicenter study shows that the high maintenance dose (10 mg/kg per day) is generally beneficial to preterm infants in China and does not increase the incidence rate of common adverse reactions. For the risk of feeding intolerance, further research is needed to eliminate the interference of confounding factors as far as possible.
Caffeine/therapeutic use* ; Citrates ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The significant morbidity and mortality resulted from the infection of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) call for urgent development of effective and safe vaccines. We report the immunogenicity and safety of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, KCONVAC, in healthy adults. METHODS: Phase 1 and phase 2 randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trials of KCONVAC were conducted in healthy Chinese adults aged 18 to 59 years. The participants in the phase 1 trial were randomized to receive two doses, one each on Days 0 and 14, of either KCONVAC (5 or 10 μg/dose) or placebo. The participants in the phase 2 trial were randomized to receive either KCONVAC (at 5 or 10 μg/dose) or placebo on Days 0 and 14 (0/14 regimen) or Days 0 and 28 (0/28 regimen). In the phase 1 trial, the primary safety endpoint was the proportion of participants experiencing adverse reactions/events within 28 days following the administration of each dose. In the phase 2 trial, the primary immunogenicity endpoints were neutralization antibody seroconversion and titer and anti-receptor-binding domain immunoglobulin G seroconversion at 28 days after the second dose. RESULTS: In the phase 1 trial, 60 participants were enrolled and received at least one dose of 5-μg vaccine (n = 24), 10-μg vaccine (n = 24), or placebo (n = 12). In the phase 2 trial, 500 participants were enrolled and received at least one dose of 5-μg vaccine (n = 100 for 0/14 or 0/28 regimens), 10-μg vaccine (n = 100 for each regimen), or placebo (n = 50 for each regimen). In the phase 1 trial, 13 (54%), 11 (46%), and seven (7/12) participants reported at least one adverse event (AE) after receiving 5-, 10-μg vaccine, or placebo, respectively. In the phase 2 trial, 16 (16%), 19 (19%), and nine (18%) 0/14-regimen participants reported at least one AE after receiving 5-, 10-μg vaccine, or placebo, respectively. Similar AE incidences were observed in the three 0/28-regimen treatment groups. No AEs with an intensity of grade 3+ were reported, expect for one vaccine-unrelated serious AE (foot fracture) reported in the phase 1 trial. KCONVAC induced significant antibody responses; 0/28 regimen showed a higher immune responses than that did 0/14 regimen after receiving two vaccine doses. CONCLUSIONS: Both doses of KCONVAC are well tolerated and able to induce robust immune responses in healthy adults. These results support testing 5-μg vaccine in the 0/28 regimen in an upcoming phase 3 efficacy trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx (No. ChiCTR2000038804, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=62350; No. ChiCTR2000039462, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=63353).
Adult ; COVID-19 ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Vaccines, Inactivated/adverse effects*

【Objective】 To investigate the feasibility of using the indirect labeling method to label small molecular peptide cNGQGEQc with ¹⁸⁸Re and to observe the inhibitory effect of ¹⁸⁸Re-cNGQGEQc on lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 in vitro. 【Methods】 ¹⁸⁸Re-cNGQGEQc and ¹⁸⁸Re-cNAQAEQc(negative polypeptide radiolabeled with 188Re) were prepared by indirect labeling method with ethylene dicysteine(EC) as the bifunctional chelating agent. The labeling rate, specific activity, radiochemical purity(RCP) and octanol-water partition coefficient were determined, and the stability in normal human serum was evaluated. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the inhibitory effects of ¹⁸⁸Re-cNGQGEQc, ¹⁸⁸RecNAQAEQc and free ¹⁸⁸ReO4^- with different radioactive doses on A549 lung cancer cell proliferation. Then the relative inhibitory rates and 50% inhibiting concentration(IC50) of the three peptides were calculated and compared. 【Results】 The labeling rate, specific activity and log P value of ¹⁸⁸Re-cNGQGEQc were(90.24±1.58) %, (4.07±0.14) TBq·mmol/L^-1 and(-2.90±0.03), respectively. The RCP of ¹⁸⁸Re-cNGQGEQc purified by using a Sep-Pak C18 column and after being placed in normal serum for 24 h at 37 ℃ were(98.42±0.32) % and(89.08±0.94) %, respectively. CCK-8 assay results revealed that ¹⁸⁸Re-cNGQGEQc significantly inhibited the proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells in a dose-dependent and positively-correlated manner. IC50 value of ¹⁸⁸Re-cNGQGEQc was 44.88×10⁷ Bq/L, significantly lower than 93.45× 10⁷ Bq/L for ¹⁸⁸Re-cNAQAEQc and 99.60×10⁷ Bq/L for ¹⁸⁸ReO4^- (P<0.01) . 【Conclusion】 It is feasible to use EC as the bifunctional chelating agent to label small molecular peptide with ¹⁸⁸Re and this labeling method has high labeling rate and good in vitro stability. The in vitro experiment confirms that ¹⁸⁸Re-cNGQGEQc can effectively inhibit the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. These results provide the experimental basis for further in vivo application of small molecular peptides for the targeted therapy of lung cancer.