This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of vanillic acid(VA) against cardiac fibrosis(CF) induced by isoproterenol(ISO) in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, VA group(100 mg·kg~(-1), ig), ISO group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc), ISO + VA group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 100 mg·kg~(-1), ig), ISO + dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1) inhibitor(Mdivi-1) group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 50 mg·kg~(-1), ip), and ISO + VA + Mdivi-1 group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 100 mg·kg~(-1), ig + 50 mg·kg~(-1), ip). The treatment groups received the corresponding medications once daily for 14 consecutive days. On the day after the last administration, cardiac functions were evaluated, and serum and cardiac tissue samples were collected. These samples were analyzed for serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB), cardiac troponin I(cTnI), reactive oxygen species(ROS), interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels, as well as cardiac tissue catalase(CAT), glutathione(GSH), malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), superoxide dismutase(SOD), total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) activities, and cytochrome C levels in mitochondria and cytoplasm. Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, uranium acetate and lead citrate staining were used to observe morphological and mitochondrial ultrastructural changes in the cardiac tissues, and myocardial injury area and collagen volume fraction were calculated. Flow cytometry was applied to detect the relative content and M1/M2 polarization of cardiac macrophages. The mRNA expression levels of macrophage polarization markers [CD86, CD206, arginase 1(Arg-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)], CF markers [type Ⅰ collagen(Coll Ⅰ), Coll Ⅲ, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)], and cytokines(IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-α) in cardiac tissues were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of Coll Ⅰ, Coll Ⅲ, α-SMA, Drp1, p-Drp1, voltage-dependent anion channel(VDAC), hexokinase 1(HK1), NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, gasdermin D(GSDMD), cleaved N-terminal gasdermin D(GSDMD-N), IL-1β, IL-18, B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), B-cell lymphoma-xl(Bcl-xl), Bcl-2-associated death promoter(Bad), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), apoptotic protease activating factor-1(Apaf-1), pro-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-9, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1(PARP-1), and cleaved-PARP-1 in cardiac tissues. The results showed that VA significantly improved cardiac function in mice with CF, reduced myocardial injury area and cardiac index, and decreased serum levels of AST, CK-MB, cTnI, LDH, ROS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α. VA also lowered MDA and MPO levels, mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, and mRNA and protein expressions of Coll Ⅰ, Coll Ⅲ, and α-SMA in cardiac tissues, and increased serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10, cardiac tissue levels of CAT, GSH, SOD, and T-AOC, and mRNA expressions of IL-4 and IL-10. Additionally, VA ameliorated cardiac pathological damage, inhibited myocardial cell apoptosis, inflammatory infiltration, and collagen fiber deposition, reduced collagen volume fraction, and alleviated mitochondrial damage. VA decreased the ratio of F4/80~+CD86~+ M1 cells and the mRNA expressions of CD86 and iNOS in cardiac tissue, and increased the ratio of F4/80~+CD206~+ M2 cells and the mRNA expressions of CD206 and Arg-1. VA also reduced protein expressions of p-Drp1, VDAC, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1β, IL-18, Bad, Bax, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-PARP-1, and cytoplasmic cytochrome C, and increased the expressions of HK1, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9 proteins, as well as the Bcl-2/Bax and Bcl-xl/Bad ratios and mitochondrial cytochrome C content. These results indicate that VA has a significant ameliorative effect on ISO-induced CF in mice, alleviates ISO-induced oxidative damage and inflammatory response, and its mechanism may be closely related to the inhibition of Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathways, suppression of myocardial cell inflammatory infiltration and collagen fiber deposition, reduction of collagen volume fraction and CollⅠ, Coll Ⅲ, and α-SMA expressions, thus mitigating CF.
Animals ; Isoproterenol/adverse effects* ; Male ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Vanillic Acid/administration & dosage* ; Dynamins/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Fibrosis/genetics* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical efficacy of membrane-induced technique combined with gastrocnemius muscle flap transposition in treating traumatic osteomyelitis of the upper tibia. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 7 patients with traumatic osteomyelitis of the upper tibia who were treated with membrane-induced technique combined with gastrocnemius muscle flap transposition from January 2022 to December 2023. Among them, there were 4 males and 3 females; aged from 29 to 57 years old; 4 patients were treated after open fracture, 2 patients were treated after closed fracture, and 1 patient was treated after scalding; the courses of disease ranges from 2 weeks to 8 years; sinus tracts were present in all patients, and the lesion range of the tibia ranged from 5 to 9 cm. The results of deep tissue bacterial culture showed that 2 patients were negative, 3 patients were staphylococcus aureus, 1 patient was methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, and 1 patient was pseudomonas aeruginosa and 1 patient was klebsiella pneumoniae. After debridement, the range of bone defect ranged from 8 to 12 cm, and the cortical defect accounted for approximately 30% of the circumference. The area of soft tissue defect ranged from 8.0 cm×2.0 cm to 10.0 cm×6.0 cm. At the first stage, vancomycin-loaded/meropenem/gentamicin-loaded bone cement was implanted. The gastrocnemius muscle flap was repositioned to cover the wound surface and free skin grafting was performed. After an interval of 7 to 10 weeks, the stageⅡsurgery was performed to remove bone cement. Autologous iliac bone mixed with vancomycin/gentamicin and calcium sulfate artificial bone was transplanted, and the wound was sutured. One patient retained the original internal plants, one patient removed the internal plants and replaced them with steel plate external fixation, one patient replaced the internal plants and added steel plate external fixation, and three patients were simply fixed with steel plate external fixation. One year after operation, the recovery of knee joint and ankle joint functions was evaluated by using Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee joint score and Kofoed ankle joint function score respectively. RESULTS: All patients had their wounds closed simultaneously with bone cement implantation and healed well. All patients were followed up for 12 to 17 months after operation, and satisfactory bone healing was achieved at 6 months after stageⅡsurgery. Twelve months after operation, all patients had good bone healing without obvious limping was observed when walking. At 12 months after operation HSS knee joint score ranged from 93 to 100 points, and Kofoed ankle function score ranged from 96 to 100 points. CONCLUSION For traumatic osteomyelitis of the upper tibia, a staged treatment plan combining membrane-induced technique and gastrocnemius flap transposition on the basis of thorough debridement could safely cover the wound surface, effectively control bone infection and achieve satisfactory bone healing, without adverse effects on limb function.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Osteomyelitis/surgery* ; Adult ; Surgical Flaps ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibia/injuries* ; Muscle, Skeletal/surgery*

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.05.019.].

ObjectiveIn recent years, the negative impact of microgravity on astronauts’ nervous systems has received widespread attention. The repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) technology has shown significant positive effects in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The potential benefits of combined frequency stimulation (CFS) which combines different frequency stimulation patterns in ameliorating neurological dysfunctions induced by the microgravity environment, still require in-depth investigation. Exploring the therapeutic effects and electrophysiological mechanisms of CFS in improving various neurological disorders caused by microgravity holds significant importance for neuroscience and the clinical application of magnetic stimulation. MethodsThis study employed 40 C57BL/6 mice, randomly divided into 5 groups: sham group, hindlimb unloading (HU) group, 10 Hz group, 20 Hz group, and combined frequency stimulation (10 Hz+20 Hz, CFS) group. Mice in all groups except the sham group received 14 d of simulated microgravity conditions along with 14 d of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. The effects of CFS on negative emotions and spatial cognitive abilities were assessed through sucrose preference tests and water maze experiments. Finally, patch-clamp techniques were used to record action potentials, resting membrane potentials, and ion channel dynamics of granule neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) region. ResultsCompared to the single-frequency stimulation group, behavioral results indicated that the combined frequency stimulation (10 Hz+20 Hz) significantly improved cognitive impairments and negative emotions in simulated microgravity mice. Electrophysiological experiments revealed a decrease in excitability of granule neurons in the hippocampal DG region after HU manipulation, whereas the combined frequency stimulation notably enhanced neuronal excitability and improved the dynamic characteristics of voltage-gated Na⁺ and K⁺ channels. ConclusionThe repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with combined frequencies (10 Hz+20 Hz) effectively ameliorates cognitive impairments and negative emotions in simulated microgravity mice. This improvement is likely attributed to the influence of combined frequency stimulation on neuronal excitability and the dynamic characteristics of Na⁺ and K⁺ channels. Consequently, this study holds the promise to provide a theoretical basis for alleviating cognitive and emotional disorders induced by microgravity environments.

The incidence of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fracture (OTLVF) in the elderly is gradually increasing. The kyphotic deformity caused by various factors has become an important characteristic of OTLVF and has received increasing attention. Its clinical manifestations include pain, delayed nerve damage, sagittal imbalance, etc. Currently, the definition and diagnosis of OTLVF with kyphotic deformity in the elderly are still unclear. Although there are many treatment options, they are controversial. Existing guidelines or consensuses pay little attention to this type of fracture with kyphotic deformity. To this end, the Lumbar Education Working Group of the Spine Branch of the Chinese Medicine Education Association and Editorial Committee of Chinese Journal of Trauma organized the experts in the relevant fields to jointly develop Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures with kyphotic deformity in the elderly ( version 2024), based on evidence-based medical advancements and the principles of scientificity, practicality, and advanced nature, which provided 18 recommendations to standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, including lung cancer. However, the exact underlying mechanism and therapeutic potential are largely unknown. Here we report that protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) is highly expressed in lung cancer and is required for cell metabolism, tumorigenicity, and cisplatin response of lung cancer. PRMT6 regulated the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) flux and glycolysis pathway in human lung cancer by increasing the activity of 6-phospho-gluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) and α-enolase (ENO1). Furthermore, PRMT6 methylated R324 of 6PGD to enhancing its activity; while methylation at R9 and R372 of ENO1 promotes formation of active ENO1 dimers and 2-phosphoglycerate (2-PG) binding to ENO1, respectively. Lastly, targeting PRMT6 blocked the oxidative PPP flux, glycolysis pathway, and tumor growth, as well as enhanced the anti-tumor effects of cisplatin in lung cancer. Together, this study demonstrates that PRMT6 acts as a post-translational modification (PTM) regulator of glucose metabolism, which leads to the pathogenesis of lung cancer. It was proven that the PRMT6-6PGD/ENO1 regulatory axis is an important determinant of carcinogenesis and may become a promising cancer therapeutic strategy.

Humans ; Child ; Neurofibromatosis 1/drug therapy* ; Benzimidazoles/therapeutic use*

[Abstract] Objective To investigate the relationship between the Han, Zhuang and the World populations by comparing the frequency of dental non-metric traits. Methods From 2015 to 2019, ten dental non-metric traits were sampled from He’nan, Jiangsu and Guangxi Zhuang Autonmous Region, with sample size of 1785(674 He’ nan, 547 Jiangsu, 388 Guangxi Han, 176 Guangxi Zhuang). Principal component analysis, multidimensional scaling and neighbor network were carried out. Results East Asian populations could be clearly divided into two major groups, Northeast Asian and Southeast Asian. Han and Zhuang populations were close to the Northeast Asian populations, but were far from the Southeast Asian populations. There were also some north-south differences within Han populations. Conclusion Both Sundadonty and Sinodonty are existed in East Asian populations. Han and Zhuang populations dental non-metric traits are closer to the Sinodonty.

Objective To observe the effect of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid ( Poly-IC ) treatment on the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion ( I / R ) injury in fryperlipidemia rats, and to detect the cerebral infarction, blood-brain barrier permeability and behavioral injury symptoms, to explore the neuroprotective effect of Poly-IC treatment on cerebral I /R injury in fryperlipidemia rats. Methods Hyperlipidemia rats were randomly divided into cerebral I /R group, Poly-IC pretreatment group, Poly-IC post-treatment group and sham operation group, 20 rats in each group. Neurobehavioral performance of rats in each group was recorded according to neurobehavioral score of 0-4 points. Blood-brain barrier permeability of rats in each group was detected by Evans blue staining. TTC staining was used to observe the cerebral infarction in each group. Apoptotic cells in the cerebral cortex of rats in each group was observed by TUNEL staining. The relative expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blotting. Results Compared with the sham group, the symptoms of neurobehavioral damage in the I/R group were serious and the score increased significantly (P<0. 05). The scores of Poly-IC pretreatment and post-treatment groups were significantly lower than that of I/R group (P<0. 05). Evans blue staining result showed that the blood-brain barrier permeability of the I/R group was significantly higher than that of the sham group (P<0. 05) , and Poly-IC pretreatment or post-treatment could significantly reduce the blood-brain barrier permeability ( P < 0. 05 ) . No infarct was observed in the sham group with uniform red staining, while white infarct was observed in the brain tissue of the I/R group. Compared with the I/R group, the volume of infarct in both Poly-IC pretreatment and post-treatment groups reduced significantly (P<0. 05). The apoptosis index in cerebral cortex of rats in I/R group was significantly higher than that in sham group ( P < 0 .05 ) , while the apoptosis index in Poly-IC pretreatment or post-treatment group was significantly lower than that in I/R group(P<0. 05 ) . The result of Western blotting showed that, compared with the sham group, the expression of Bax in the I/R group was significantly increased(P<0. 05) , the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased(P<0. 05). Compared with the I/R group, the expression of Bax in the Poly-IC pretreatment or post-treatment group reduced significantly ( P < 0. 05 ) , the expression of Bcl-2 increased significantly(P<0. 05). Conclusion Poly-IC pretreatment or post-treatment can improve the symptoms of neurobehavioral injury, reduce the damage of blood-brain barrier, reduce the volume of cerebral infarction, decrease the apoptosis index of nerve cells, play a neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats with hyperlipidemia, and this protective effect may be related to the change of Bcl-2 and Bax expression levels.