Objective:To prepare decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM)-gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) composite hydrogels and to study their effects on hepatocyte proliferation.Methods:Hepatic dECM was prepared by elution, and GelMA hydrogel and 10%, 30% and 50% dECM-GelMA composite hydrogels were prepared by pepsin solubilization. The morphology of normal liver and dECM liver was observed by eyes and scanning electron microscopy using hematoxylin-eosin, Sirius red and periodate-Schiff staining, respectively. The internal structure of the dECM-GelMA composite hydrogels was observed by scanning electron microscopy, and the pore diameter was measured. Liver HL-7702 cells were co-cultured with GelMA hydrogel and 10%, 30% and 50% dECM-GelMA composite hydrogels, and the cell proliferation viability was determined by cell counting kit-8. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Wnt family protein 5a (Wnt5a), β-catenin, extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) were detected by Western blotting. Comparisons were made using independent sample t-test or one-factor analysis of variance. Results:After decellularization, the hepatocyte morphology showed rounded depressions, and the extracellular matrix structure was intact. The GelMA hydrogel and 10%, 30% and 50% dECM-GelMA composite hydrogels showed inernally porous structures. The pore diameter increased from (3.06±1.35) μm in the GelMA hydrogel to (16.01±4.02) μm in the 50% dECM-GelMA composite hydrogel. On the 3rd, 5th and 7th day, the relative cell proliferation was higher in the 50% dECM-GelMA composite hydrogel group than that in the GelMA hydrogel group (1.89±0.04 vs 1.53±0.01, 9.36±0.04 vs 3.89±0.09, 7.15±0.27 vs 4.89±0.15, all P<0.05). The relative expression levels of PCNA, Wnt5a, β-catenin, and p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2 proteins in the 50% dECM-GelMA composite hydrogel group were higher than those in the GelMA hydrogel group (2.14±0.04 vs 1.00±0.03, 2.36±0.09 vs 1.00±0.08, 1.45±0.03 vs 1.00±0.04, 1.43±0.04 vs 1.00±0.01, all P<0.05). Conclusions:A dECM-GelMA composite hydrogel can be prepared, which may promote hepatocyte proliferation by upregulating the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effect of low-dose ketamine on neuroinflammation and microcirculation in mice with traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods:Sixty adult male C57BL/6 mice, weighing 22-28 g, were randomly divided into sham-operated group, TBI group, Sham+ketamine group, and TBI+ketamine group ( n=15). A controlled cortical impingement (CCI) method was used to establish TBI models in the later 2 groups. Sham+ketamine group and TBI+ketamine group were intraperitoneally injected with 30 mg/kg ketamine once daily for 3 d at 30 min after TBI; sham-operated group and TBI group were intraperitoneally injected same amount of saline at the same time points. Cerebral cortical blood flow in 6 mice from each group was measured by laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) before, immediately after, 30 min after, 1 d after and 3 d after modeling, respectively. Three d after modeling, immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescent double label staining were used to detect the nuclear translocation of microglia markers, ionized calcin-antibody-1 (Iba-1) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 in damaged cortical brain tissues in 6 mice from each group. The remaining 3 mice in each group were sacrificed and tissue plasma was extracted 3 d after modeling; levels of NF-κB p65, phosphorylated (p)-NF-κB p65, p-IκB and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in cortical brain tissues were detected by Western blotting. Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1-β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), iNOS, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in cortical brain tissues were detected by ELISA. Results:LSCI indicated that, 3 d after modeling, relative blood flow in local cerebral microcirculation of TBI+ketamine group was significantly increased compared with that of TBI group ( P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining indicated that compared with the sham-operated group and Sham+ketamine group, the TBI group and TBI+ketamine group had significantly increased number of Iba-1 positive cells in the cerebral cortex ( P<0.05); compared with the TBI group, the TBI+ketamine group had significantly decreased number of Iba-1 positive cells ( P<0.05). ELISA indicated that compared with the sham-operated group and Sham+ketamine group, the TBI group and TBI+ketamine group had significantly increased expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, ROS and RNS in damaged cortical brain tissues ( P<0.05); compared with the TBI group, the TBI+ ketamine group had significantly decreased expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, ROS and RNS in damaged cortical brain tissues ( P<0.05). Immunofluorescent double label staining indicated obviously inhibited NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation in TBI+ketamine group when it was compared with TBI group. Western blotting indicated that compared with the sham-operated group and Sham+ketamine group, the TBI+ketamine group had significantly increased iNOS, NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65 and P-IκB protein expressions in damaged cortical brain tissues ( P<0.05); compared with the TBI group, the TBI+ketamine group had significantly decreased protein expressions of iNOS, NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκB in damaged cortical brain tissues ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Low-dose ketamine reduces neuroinflammation and improves cerebral microcirculatory blood flow after open TBI, whose mechanism may be related to inhibition of microglia NF-κB/iNOS pathway.

Objective Genotypes(G)1,3,and 5 of the Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV)have been isolated in China,but the dominant genotype circulating in Chinese coastal areas remains unknown.We searched for G5 JEV-infected cases and attempted to elucidate which JEV genotype was most closely related to human Japanese encephalitis(JE)in the coastal provinces of China. Methods In this study,we collected serum specimens from patients with JE in three coastal provinces of China(Guangdong,Zhejiang,and Shandong)from 2018 to 2020 and conducted JEV cross-neutralization tests against G1,G3,and G5. Results Acute serum specimens from clinically reported JE cases were obtained for laboratory confirmation from hospitals in Shandong(92 patients),Zhejiang(192 patients),and Guangdong(77 patients),China,from 2018 to 2020.Seventy of the 361 serum specimens were laboratory-confirmed to be infected with JEV.Two cases were confirmed to be infected with G1 JEV,32 with G3 JEV,and two with G5 JEV. Conclusion G3 was the primary infection genotype among JE cases with a definite infection genotype,and the infection caused by G5 JEV was confirmed serologically in China.

AIM:The objective of this study is to examine the expression of profilin 1(PFN1)in mice with di-abetic nephropathy and determine its association with immune cell infiltration.METHODS:This study presents an analy-sis of PFN1 expression and immune cell infiltration in patients with diabetic nephropathy,utilizing transcriptome expres-sion data from kidney tissue microarray.Additionally,the findings were validated in a diabetic nephropathy mouse model.Sixteen C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into two groups,namely the normal group and the model group,in an equal manner.The model group underwent the establishment of the diabetic nephropathy model through intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.Subsequently,the expression levels of CD11b,F4/80,CC chemokine receptor 4(CCR4),interleukin-1 receptor type I(IL-1R1),B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)and caspase-3 in kidney tissue were assessed upon successful establishment of the diabetic nephropathy model.Furthermore,the overexpression of PFN1 was observed in a cellular model of diabetic nephropathy,and the protein expression levels of monocyte chemotactic pro-tein-1(MCP-1)and caspase-3 were assessed.RESULTS:The expression of PFN1 was found to be significantly in-creased in the GSE30122 dataset of transcriptome expression in kidney tissues affected by diabetic nephropathy(P＜0.01).This increase in PFN1 expression was found to be correlated with the presence of macrophages and T cells.Fur-thermore,the renal tissue of the diabetic nephropathy model group exhibited significant pathological changes.In this mod-el group,the expression levels of PFN1,CD11b,F4/80,CCR4,IL-1R1,Bax,Bcl-2,and caspase-3 were all significant-ly increased(P＜0.01).Overexpression of PFN1 could enhance the expression of MCP-1 and caspase-3 proteins.CON-CLUSION:Macrophages and Th17 cells were identified within the renal tissue of mice with diabetic nephropathy,con-comitant with an up-regulation in the expression of PFN1.This up-regulation was observed to facilitate the induction of apoptosis in the context of diabetic nephropathy.

【Objective】 To investigate the protective effects of aflexible sleeve penile protection device on reducing postoperative pain and wound edema in patients after circumcision. 【Methods】 A total of 54 patients who underwent circumcision at Yan’an Branch of Peking University Third Hospital during Feb.1 and May 31, 2023 were enrolled.The patients were randomly divided into the experimental group and control group, with 27 patients in either groups.Patients in the experimental group were treated with a flexible sleeve penis protection device after surgery, and patients in the control group were treated with traditional gauze bandage after surgery.Postoperative pain, wound edema and complications were compared between the two groups. 【Results】 In terms of pain, the visual analogue scale of the experimental group was significantly lower at 6 hours [(1.7±0.9) vs.(3.3±1.9), P<0.001] and 2 days [(2.0±1.3) vs.(3.3±1.3), P<0.001] after surgery than that of the control group, but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups on the 4th and 7th postoperative days (P>0.05).In terms of edema, the edema score of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group on the 2nd postoperative day [(2.0±1.0) vs.(4.0±0.8), P<0.001] , the 4th postoperative day [(1.5±1.2) vs.(2.6±0.9), P<0.001] , and the 7th postoperative day [(0.9±1.3) vs.(2.3±1.5), P<0.001] .There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (P>0.05). 【Conclusion】 The flexible sleeve penile protection device has significant effects of reducing early postoperative pain and reducing edema in patients undergoing circumcision.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for detecting fetal chromosomal copy number variants (CNV).Methods:A retrospective analysis was carried out on NIPT positive samples in Suzhou Municipal Hospital from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. The effect of NIPT on fetal CNV detection was assessed by comparison with the results of karyotype analysis and/or chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA).Results:Among the 525 NIPT positive samples, 146 were CNV cases, of which 84 were further verified by karyotyping and/or CMA, 29(34.5%) were true positive. Among them, 12 cases were pathogenic variants, 2 cases were likely pathogenic variants and 15 cases were variants of uncertain significance.Conclusion:NIPT could detect CNV with high accuracy, and to combine CNV detection and chromosomal aneuploidy detection has great significance to improve the prenatal and postnatal care.

Abstract： Objective　To elucidate the antigenic antibody reaction of recombinant expression of non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus with various mosquito-borne flaviviruses, including JE virus, and the antigenic antibody reaction of serum samples of patients infected with JE virus in acute stage. Methods　In this study, Escherichia coli prokaryotic expression vector (pET) system was used to recombinant express Japanese encephalitis virus NS1 gene. Western Blot assay was performed to detect the antibody responses of the recombinantly expressed protein against a variety of mosquito-transmitted flaviviruses, including JE virus, as well as antigen-antibody reactions of serum from patients with acute JE virus infection. Results　The NS1 gene expression product of JE virus (P3 strain) was in the form of an inclusion body, and the denatured and renatured expression product was displayed as a single band in the denatured gel (polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, PAGE), with a molecular weight of about 45 000. The results of further antigen-antibody analysis showed that the antigen/antibody hybridization reaction of the expression product with polyclonal or monoclonal antibody of JE virus (mosquito isolates, encephalitis isolates) and serum samples of patients with acute JE virus infection could be completely consistent. The recombinant product showed negative antigen/antibody hybridization reactions with mosquito-transmitted flaviviruses, such as dengue virus and yellow fever virus polyclonal antibodies, but positive reactions with polyclonal antibodies to West Nile virus and Murray Valley encephalitis virus. Conclusions　In this study, the recombinant expression of the NS1 protein of JE virus was successfully obtained, and the antigen/antibody reaction between the recombinant protein and samples of patients infected with mosquito-borne flavivirus and JE virus was analyzed. The study results provide important basic data for elucidating the antigen-antibody reaction between the NS1 protein of JE virus and mosquito-borne flavivirus. The recombinant expression protein obtained in this study provides an important material basis for further research on the function of JE virus NS1 protein.

Objective:To determine the evaluation indexes of national standard strains of genotypes 1, 3 and 5 of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and evaluate the national standard JEV strains.Methods:According to the national standard strain evaluation technical standards of pathogenic microbial bacteria (virus) species, based on the application of Japanese encephalitis virus research, and according to the morphological characteristics, biological characteristics, molecular biological characteristics and other research data to identify the characteristics of G1, G3 and G5 genotypes of JEV.Results:Spherical virus particles with a diameter of about 60 nm were visible under electron microscope of the three Japanese encephalitis virus strains. The cytopathic effect was mainly characterized by cell shrinkage and exfoliation in BHK-21 and Vero cell lines, cell fusion and exfoliation were shown after infection with C6/36 cell line; the virus titer was 10 5-10 7 PFU/ml, and the plaque size was different by genotype. The median lethal dose of intrabitoneal challenge in G1, G3 and G5 JEV in three weeks-old mice was 50.51 PFU, 6.98 PFU, and 8.13 PFU, and the median lethal dose of intracranial challenge in five weeks mice was 3 PFU, 0.3 PFU, 1.35 PFU. The whole genome length of G1, G3 and G5 JEV was 10 967 bp, 10 976 bp and 10 983 bp, respectively. Conclusions:Three genotypic national standard strains of JE V were identified and evaluated by electron microscopy, cell, animal and genome laboratory indexes, which provided reference for the identification and evaluation of other national standard strains of JEV.

Objective:This study contrasts the immune efficacy of the varicella zoster virus glycoprotein E (VZV gE)using Al/CpG combined adjuvants and AS01 adjuvant in BALB/c mice.Methods:BALB/c mice were immunized at 0 and 21 days respectively, and serum antibodies were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Detection of neutralizing antibodies in mouse serum using varicella zoster virus; enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay was used to detect cellular immune response.Results:Following two intramuscular immunizations, mice in the experimental groups (Shingrix, gE+ Al/CpG, and gE+ AS01) demonstrated elevated neutralizing antibody titers and an augmented count of lymphocytes releasing IFN-γ and IL-4. The gE+ Al/CpG group displayed the highest neutralizing antibody titer (1943), yet the AS01-adjuvanted groups (Shingrix and gE+ AS01) showed increased lymphocyte counts secreting IFN-γ and IL-4 compared to the Al/CpG group (gE+ Al/CpG). In comparison to the AS01 adjuvant, Al/CpG adjuvants triggered a humoral immune response favoring Th2 in mice. The proportions of CD4 + T and CD8 + T cells were not significantly different among the experimental groups. Conclusions:Al/CpG adjuvant combined with gE protein resulted in high neutralizing antibody titers, while the intensity of the induced cellular immune response was inferior to that of AS01 adjuvant.