Objective To investigate the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild rodents in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of China, so as to provide insights into formulation of technical guidelines for monitoring of and the precise control strategy for S. japonicum infections in wild rodents during the elimination phase. Methods Two administrative villages where schistosomiasis was historically highly prevalent were selected each from Dongzhi County, Anhui Province, and Duchang County, Jiangxi Province as study villages. Wild rodents were captured from study villages with baited traps or cages at night in June and September, 2021. The number of rodents captured was recorded, and the rodent species was characterized based on morphologi-cal characteristics. Liver tissues were sampled from captured rodents for macroscopical observation of the presence of egg granu- lomas, and S. japonicum infection was detected simultaneously using liver tissue homogenate microscopy, examinations of mesenteric tissues for parasites, and modified Kato-Katz thick smear technique (Kato-Katz technique). A positive S. japonicum infection was defined as detection of S. japonicum eggs or adult worms by any of these methods. The rate of wild rodent capture and prevalence of S. japonicum infections in wild rodents were compared in different study villages and at different time periods, and the detection of S. japonicum infections in wild rodents was compared by different assays. Results The overall rate of wild ro- dent capture was 8.28% (237/2 861) in Dongzhi County, and the wild rodent capture rates were 9.24% (133/1 439) and 7.31% (104/1 422) in two study villages (χ² = 3.503, P = 0.061), and were 8.59% (121/1 409) and 7.99% (116/1 452) in June and September, 2021, respectively (χ² = 0.337, P = 0.561). The overall rate of wild rodent capture was 3.72% (77/2 072) in Duchang County, and the wild rodent capture rates were 6.91% (67/970) and 0.91% (10/1 102) in two study villages (χ² = 51.901, P < 0.001), and were 4.13% (39/945) and 3.37% (38/1 127) in June and September, 2021, respectively (χ² = 0.815, P = 0.365). Rattus norvegicus was the predominant rodent species captured in both counties, accounting for 70.04% (166/237) of all captured wild rodents in Dongzhi County and 88.31% (68/77) in Duchang County. No S. japonicum infection was detected in wild rodents captured in Duchang County. Nevertheless, the overall prevalence of S. japonicum infections was 51.05% (121/237) in wild rodents captured in Dongzhi County, with prevalence rates of 50.38% (67/133) and 51.92% (54/104) in two study villages (χ² = 0.098, P = 0.755), and 54.31% (63/116) and 47.93% (58/121) in September and June, 2021, respectively (χ² = 0.964, P = 0.326). Of 237 wild rodents captured in Dongzhi County, there were 140 (59.07%) rodents with visible hepatic egg granulomas, 117 (49.47%) tested positive for S. japonicum eggs by liver tissue homogenate microscopy, 34 (14.35%) tested positive for S. japonicum eggs with Kato-Katz technique; however, no adult S. japonicum worms were detected in mesenteric tissues. In addition, hepatic egg granulomas were found in all wild rodents tested positive for S. japonicum eggs with liver tissue homogenate microscopy. Conclusions The rate of wild rodent capture and prevalence of S. japonicum infection in wild rodents vary greatly in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of China, and the prevalence of S. japonicum infection is slightly higher in wild rodents captured in autumn than in summer. Liver tissue is recommended as the preferred sample for surveillance of S. japonicum infection in wild rodents, and a combination of macroscopical observation of hepatic egg granulomas and liver tissue homogenate microscopy may be a standard method for surveillance of S. japonicum infection in wild rodents.

OBJECTIVE: To screen out the key metabolites related to diabetic foot (DF) by integrating genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and metabolome genome-wide association studies (mGWAS). METHODS: The literature databases such as PubMed and China national knowledge infrastructure(CNKI), as well as genomics databases such as PAN UKBB, FinnGen, and IEU Open GWAS were systematically retrieved from database estobilishment to November 2024 on DF-related single nucleotide polymorphisms and genome-wide association studies. DF-single nucleotide polymorphism-metabolite network was constructed by mGWAS package and mGWAS-Explorer platform. The causal relationship between key factors was evaluated by two-sample Mendelian randomization. The genetic correlation between DF and 575 metabolites (source:IEU Open GWAS) was evaluated by linkage disequilibrium score regression. In vitro experiments were conducted to induce injury of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with 30 mM glucose and intervene with 20 μM γ-tocopherol. Changes in cell migration, scratch healing and tube formation function were detected. RESULTS: Twenty-senen literatures on single nucleotide polymorphism literatures and 3 studies on GWAS were included. Genetic analysis results showed DF-related single nucleotide polymorphisms were enriched in vascular endothelial dysfunction-related pathways (such as fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis). The results of metabolic network analysis screened out 19 associated metabolites, among which 12 such as γ -tocopherol and pyruvate had significant genetic correlations with DF. Mendelian randomization suggested matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) might be a potential driver of DF (β=0.658, P=0.063 8), and the occurrence of DF could reduce the level of high-density lipoprotein (β=-0.002, P=0.015 2). The results of in vitro experiments confirmed that γ -tocopherol could improve endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose, specifically manifested as an increase in the number of cell migrations, improvement in the scratch healing rate, and recovery of tubule formation ability (P<0.05). CONCLUSION DF has a genetic basis centered on vascular endothelial dysfunction, and its occurrence can lead to further metabolic disorders. The key single nucleotide polymorphism loci integrated provided molecular markers for the risk stratification of foot ulcers in diabetic patients. In addition, γ -tocopherol has demonstrated clinical application potential as a therapeutic drug for DF by significantly improving the function of vascular endothelial cells in a high-glucose environment.
Humans ; Diabetic Foot/drug therapy* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genomics ; Metabolomics ; Metabolome

Objective To investigate the dynamic expression with the time change of N6-methyladenosine(m6A)methylation-related factors in the repair process of skeletal muscle injury and its mechanism in the inflammatory response of macrophage in the injure process.Methods In vivo mice models of BaCl2 injury in the gastrocnemius were established.Four mice per group in the control group and injury group.Gastrocnemius tissues were harvested at day 1,3,5,7,and 9 after injury for experiments.Primary gastrocnemius muscle tissue cells,muscle satellite cells,muscle cells,and cell line C2C12 cells were treated with dexamethasone(DEX,50 μmol/L)to mimic injury.Lipopolysaccharide(LPS,100 μg/L)induced RAW264.7 cell lines to mimic the inflammatory response after skeletal muscle injury,and STM2457(30 μmol/L)was added to inhibit the effect of methyltransferase 3(Mettl3)before LPS treatment.The expression of m6A methylation-related factors(Writers,Erasers,Readers)and inflammation factors were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blotting.Results The muscle fibers were dissolved and then gradually repaired with the extension of injury time,the number of monocytes/macrophages increased first and then decreased,and the Pax7 mRNA level increased first and then decreased with the change of injury time.Compared with the control group,the mRNA and protein levels of m6A methylation-related factors in gastrocnemius did not change significantly on the injury-1 day.However,they were significantly increased on the injury-3 days compared with the control group(P＜0.05),and then obviously decreased on the injury-5 days group compared with the injury-3 days group(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,they were no significant differences on the injury-7 days group and-9 days group.In vitro DEX decreased the mRNA levels of m6A methyltransferase factors in primary muscle satellite cells and C2C12 cells and increased the mRNA expression level of methylation-recognition enzyme factors(P＜0.05).The mRNA levels of m6A methylation-related factors increased significantly in skeletal muscle tissue cells and myocytes after DEX treatment(P＜0.05).After LPS treatment,the mRNA and protein expression levels of m6A methylation-related factors and the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-1β in macrophages increased significantly(P＜0.05),while the levels of IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA in macrophages decreased significantly when the Mettl3 was inhibited(P＜0.05).Conclusion m6A methylation-related factors primarily is activated in the damaged muscle cells and inflammation response of macrophages.Inhibition of m6A methyltransferase can reduce the inflammatory response of macrophages.

Objective To evaluate the value of high-throughput sequencing(HTS)data reanalysis that does not include ERBB2 copy number variation(CNV)analysis,in identifying ERBB2 amplification in patients with colorectal cancer.Methods The HTS data of 252 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed by pathological biopsy who received peripheral blood cfDNA HTS detection samples were retrospectively analyzed.According to the HTS data of ERBB2 non-amplified samples judged by immunohistochemistry(IHC)and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH),the number of chromosome 17(Chr17)reads in the total number of reads was calculated the range of the ratio was initially determined as the threshold for prompting ERBB2 amplification.Suspected positive samples were screened according to thresholds and verified by digital PCR,IHC and FISH.Results The proportion of the number of Chr17 reads accounts for the number of total reads in the 89 cases of ERBB2 non-amplified samples determined by IHC and/or FISH ranged from 0.188 to 0.299(0.239±0.192).Using 0.298(1.25 times the mean)as the threshold indicating ERBB2 amplification,the data of 163 samples were analyzed,of which 7 cases were suspected to be positive,and the ratio ranged from 0.302 to 0.853.Among them,5 cases were determined to be positive by IHC and/or FISH,and 6 cases were confirmed to be positive by digital PCR.The ratio of the number of Chr17 reads to the number of total reads was positively correlated with the ratio of ERBB2/EIF2C1,and the correlation was good(r2=0.909).Conclusion The high-throughput sequencing data that does not cover the ERBB2 CNV analysis has a certain hint value for ERBB2 amplification in patients with colorectal cancer.

Aim To predict and validate the mechanism of wenshen xuanbi tang(WSXBT) in treatment of osteoporosis (OP) based on network pharmacology, molecular docking techniques and in vivo experimental techniques. Methods Network pharmacology was used to screen the key ingredients and core targets of WSXBT for the treatment of osteoporosis. Metascape database was used for gene ontology (GO) biological process enrichment analysis and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway enrichment analysis of core targets. AutoDockTools 1. 5. 7 software was applied in molecular docking to simulate the binding activity of key active ingredients to core targets. To study the efficacy of WSXBT on rats with osteoporosis and to verify the related targets and pathways, rat models of osteoporosis were established by excising the bilateral ovaries of rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum OPG, PINP and RANKL content. Biomechanical tester was applied to test the biomechanics of rat femurs. Micro-CT was applied to detect the femoral bone density. Then, Western blot was employed to measure the protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt). Results A total of 156 active ingredients of WSXBT were screened, involving 229 potential targets, 23 core targets and 145 signaling pathways. The molecular docking results showed that five key ingredients, including quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, isobavachin and licochalcone a, possessed good binding ability to the core targets of PIK3R1 and AKT1. The results of in vivo experiments showed that WSXBT could significantly increase bone density, improve bone tissue microstructure, enhance femur biomechanics and increase PINP expression and OPG/RANKL ratio in rats with osteoporosis. Results of WB showed that WSXBT significantly increased p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt ratios. Conclusions WSXBT could improve bone mineral density in postmenopausal osteoporotic rats through PI3K/ Akt signaling pathway and increasing OPG/RANKL ratio.

Objective To explore the effects of different fractionation doses,fractionation methods,and other related parameters on the peripheral blood lymphocyte count of patients with liver cancer receiving CyberKnife radiotherapy.Methods The clinical data of 90 patients with liver cancer receiving CyberKnife radiotherapy in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.The peripheral blood lymphocyte counts of patients 1 week before CyberKnife radiotherapy and 1 week,1 month and 3 months after treatment were determined.The effects of different prescribed doses,fractionation doses and numbers of fractionations on the peripheral blood lymphocyte count were analyzed.Results The peripheral blood lymphocyte counts of patients with different prescribed doses,fractionation doses and fractionation methods after CyberKnife treatment decreased to varying degrees compared with those 1 week before treatment(P<0.05).The peripheral blood lymphocyte counts of patients in the groups with≤5 fractionations and fractionation dose>7 Gy were significantly higher than those of patients in the groups with>5 fractionations and the fractionation dose≤7 Gy,respectively(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in peripheral blood lymphocyte counts between patients with different prescribed doses before and after CyberKnife treatment(P>0.05).Conclusion CyberKnife in the treatment of liver cancer with≤5 ractionations and a fractionation dose of>7 Gy is more beneficial to alleviate the decrease of lymphocyte count caused by Cyberknife treatment.

In recent years, nucleic acid therapy, as a revolutionary therapeutic tool, has shown great potential in the treatment of genetic diseases, infectious diseases and cancer. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are currently the most advanced mRNA delivery carriers, and their emergence is an important reason for the rapid approval and use of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and the development of mRNA therapy. Currently, mRNA therapeutics using LNP as a carrier have been widely used in protein replacement therapy, vaccines and gene editing. Conventional LNP is composed of four components: ionizable lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) lipids, which can effectively load mRNA to improve the stability of mRNA and promote the delivery of mRNA to the cytoplasm. However, in the face of the complexity and diversity of clinical diseases, the structure, properties and functions of existing LNPs are too homogeneous, and the lack of targeted delivery capability may result in the risk of off-targeting. LNPs are flexibly designed and structurally stable vectors, and the adjustment of the types or proportions of their components can give them additional functions without affecting the ability of LNPs to deliver mRNAs. For example, by replacing and optimizing the basic components of LNP, introducing a fifth component, and modifying its surface, LNP can be made to have more precise targeting ability to reduce the side effects caused by treatment, or be given additional functions to synergistically enhance the efficacy of mRNA therapy to respond to the clinical demand for nucleic acid therapy. It is also possible to further improve the efficiency of LNP delivery of mRNA through machine learning-assisted LNP iteration. This review can provide a reference method for the rational design of engineered lipid nanoparticles delivering mRNA to treat diseases.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides in the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression.Methods An open,single-arm,multi-center design was adopted in our study.Adult patients with mild and moderate depression who had received acute treatment of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides were enrolled and continue to receive Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules for 24 weeks,the dose remained unchanged during continuation treatment.The remission rate,recurrence rate,recurrence time,and the change from baseline to endpoint of Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),Clinical Global Impression-Severity(CGI-S)and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale(ASEX)were evaluated.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was reported.Results The scores of HAMD-17 at baseline and after treatment were 6.60±1.87 and 5.85±4.18,scores of HAMA were 6.36±3.02 and 4.93±3.09,scores of CGI-S were 1.49±0.56 and 1.29±0.81,scores of ASEX were 15.92±4.72 and 15.57±5.26,with significant difference(P＜0.05).After continuation treatment,the remission rate was 54.59％(202 cases/370 cases),and the recurrence rate was 6.49％(24 cases/370 cases),the recurrence time was(64.67±42.47)days.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was 15.35％(64 cases/417 cases).Conclusion Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules can be effectively used for the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression,and are well tolerated and safe.

This paper applied gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), network pharmacology and nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (¹H NMR) metabolomics techniques to study the material basis and mechanism of action of Ning Shen Essential Oil in anti-insomnia. The main volatile components of Ning Shen Essential Oil were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the insomnia-related targets were predicted using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology Database and Analytical Platform (TCMSP) and the databases of GeneCards, OMIM and Drugbank. The insomnia model of rats was replicated by intraperitoneal injection of 4-chloro-DL-phenylalanine (PCPA). Animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Ethics No.: SDUTCM20221025010). The modulating effect of Compound Ning Shen Essential Oil on anxiety behavior of rats was evaluated by behavioral related indexes. The serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenotropic corticotropic hormone (ACTH) and melatonin (MT) were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Rat serum and hippocampus were taken for nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) metabolomics to detect the changes of endogenous metabolites in rat serum hippocampus, to designate the differential metabolites and to construct metabolic pathways. The results showed that the exercise distance in the open field experiment and the number of times and time to enter the open arm in the elevated cross maze experiment of the rats in the model group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The behavioral indexes of rats improved to different degrees after the administration of Ning Shen Essential Oil. The serum CRH and ACTH levels of rats in the model group increased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the MT level decreased significantly (P < 0.01); After the intervention, serum CRH and ACTH levels were reduced to different degrees, and MT levels could be regressed. ¹H NMR metabolomics screened 10 potential biomarkers related to insomnia, which involved in 6 potential metabolic pathways. A total of 35 components of Ning Shen Essential Oil were detected by GC-MS, the main component targets of Ning Shen Essential Oil and insomnia disease targets were intersected, a total of 172 intersecting genes were screened, and 26 core targets were identified. The study demonstrated that Ning Shen Essential Oil had protective effects against PCPA-induced insomnia in rats, which was probably correlated with regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) related hormones and metabolism of amino acids, lipids and choline.

Objective:To clarify the causal relationship between obesity and male infertility through Mendelian randomization(MR)study.Methods:We assessed the causal effect of genetically predicted body mass index(BMI)on the risk of male infertility via a two-sample MR analysis,with the BMIs of 99 998 cases and 12 746 controls as the exposure factor and genetic information on male infertility obtained from a genome-wide association study of 73 479 Europeans.In the univariable MR(UVMR)analysis of the causal relationship,we mainly used inverse variance weighting(IVW),with MR-Egger regression and weighted median filtering as the supplementary methods.Sensitivity analyses including the Cochran's Q test,Egger intercept test,MR-PRESSO,leave-one-out analysis and funnel plot were performed to verify the robustness of the MR results.To evaluate the direct causal effects of BMI on MI risk,mult-ivariable MR(MVMR)was performed.Results:UVMR indicated a causal relationship between genetically predicted BMI and an in-creased risk of male infertility(OR:1.237,95%CI:1.090-1.404,P=0.001).Sensitivity analysis revealed little evidence of bias in the current study(P>0.05).With such risk factors as type 2 diabetes,alcohol consumption and smoking adjusted,MVMR confirmed a direct causal effect of genetically predicted BMI on the risk of male infertility(P<0.05).Conclusion:Genetically pre-dicted BMI may be associated with an increased risk of male infertility.Further studies are expected to explore the underlying mecha-nisms of this association and provide some new strategies for the prevention and treatment of BMI-related male infertility.