Patients suffering from nerve injury often experience exacerbated pain responses and complain of memory deficits. The dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), a well-defined region responsible for learning and memory, displays maladaptive plasticity upon injury, which is assumed to underlie pain hypersensitivity and cognitive deficits. However, much attention has thus far been paid to intracellular mechanisms of plasticity rather than extracellular alterations that might trigger and facilitate intracellular changes. Emerging evidence has shown that nerve injury alters the microarchitecture of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and decreases ECM rigidity in the dHPC. Despite this, it remains elusive which element of the ECM in the dHPC is affected and how it contributes to neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits. Laminin, a key element of the ECM, consists of α-, β-, and γ-chains and has been implicated in several pathophysiological processes. Here, we showed that peripheral nerve injury downregulates laminin β1 (LAMB1) in the dHPC. Silencing of hippocampal LAMB1 exacerbates pain sensitivity and induces cognitive dysfunction. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that loss of hippocampal LAMB1 causes dysregulated Src/NR2A signaling cascades via interaction with integrin β1, leading to decreased Ca²⁺ levels in pyramidal neurons, which in turn orchestrates structural and functional plasticity and eventually results in exaggerated pain responses and cognitive deficits. In this study, we shed new light on the functional capability of hippocampal ECM LAMB1 in the modulation of neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits, and reveal a mechanism that conveys extracellular alterations to intracellular plasticity. Moreover, we identified hippocampal LAMB1/integrin β1 signaling as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neuropathic pain and related memory loss.
Animals ; Laminin/genetics* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Male ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/metabolism* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Integrin beta1/metabolism* ; Pyramidal Cells/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a naturally occurring, low-toxicity, and hydrophilic bile acid (BA) in the human body that is converted by intestinal flora using primary BA. Solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) functions to uptake extracellular cystine in exchange for glutamate, and is highly expressed in a variety of human cancers. Retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) refers to liposarcoma originating from the retroperitoneal area. Lipidomics analysis revealed that UDCA was one of the most significantly downregulated metabolites in sera of RLPS patients compared with healthy subjects. The augmentation of UDCA concentration (≥25 μg/mL) demonstrated a suppressive effect on the proliferation of liposarcoma cells. [¹⁵N₂]-cystine and [¹³C₅]-glutamine isotope tracing revealed that UDCA impairs cystine uptake and glutathione (GSH) synthesis. Mechanistically, UDCA binds to the cystine transporter SLC7A11 to inhibit cystine uptake and impair GSH de novo synthesis, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and mitochondrial oxidative damage. Furthermore, UDCA can promote the anti-cancer effects of ferroptosis inducers (Erastin, RSL3), the murine double minute 2 (MDM2) inhibitors (Nutlin 3a, RG7112), cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibitor (Abemaciclib), and glutaminase inhibitor (CB839). Together, UDCA functions as a cystine exchange factor that binds to SLC7A11 for antitumor activity, and SLC7A11 is not only a new transporter for BA but also a clinically applicable target for UDCA. More importantly, in combination with other antitumor chemotherapy or physiotherapy treatments, UDCA may provide effective and promising treatment strategies for RLPS or other types of tumors in a ROS-dependent manner.

Objective To investigate the regulatory effect of miRNA-933 on the apoptosis and proliferation of human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 and its mechanism.Methods Firstly,with human liver tissue for research,gene microarray technology was used to detect the differentially expressed genes in liver tissue between liver cirrhosis/chronic hepatitis B tissue and normal liver tissue,among which the significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were identified,and thus miRNA-933 was determined as the research object.Then,with the human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 for research,miRNA-933 mimic and inhibitor(miRNA-933 siRNA)were used to construct the LX-2 models of overexpression and knockdown,and the cells transfected with mimic-NC(overexpression)or siRNA-NC(knockdown)were established as the negative control group.Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to measure the expression levels of miRNA-933 and activation biomarkers;techniques such as cell proliferation assay and flow cytometry were used to investigate the effect and mechanism of miRNA-933 on cell apoptosis,proliferation,and activation.The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups;a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups,and Bonferroni correction was also performed.Results A total of 18 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained based on the results of gene microarray,among which miRNA-933 was significantly downregulated(P<0.05).After LX-2 cells were transfected with miRNA-933 mimic or siRNA,compared with the negative control group,miRNA-933 siRNA significantly downregulated the expression of miRNA-933(P=0.000 7),while miRNA-933 mimic significantly upregulated the expression of miRNA-933(P=0.000 3).Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR showed that miRNA-933 siRNA significantly upregulated the expression of collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA(P<0.001),while miRNA-933 mimic significantly inhibited the expression of collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA(P<0.05).Flow cytometry showed that compared with the negative control group,miRNA-933 siRNA significantly downregulated the apoptosis rate of LX-2 cells(P=0.031 9),and miRNA-933 mimic significantly upregulated the apoptosis rate of LX-2 cells(P=0.005 5).Western blot showed that compared with the negative control group,miRNA-933 siRNA could inhibit the expression of Caspase-3(P=0.006 7)and poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1(PARP-1)(P=0.003 0)and upregulate the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)in LX-2 cells(P=0.002 0),while miRNA-933 mimic could significantly upregulate the expression of Caspase-3(P=0.011 8)and PARP-1(P=0.049 5)and downregulated the expression of Bcl-2(P=0.002 1).Cell proliferation assay showed that compared with the negative control group,miRNA-933 siRNA could promote the proliferation of LX-2 cells(P=0.011 5),while on the contrary,miRNA-933 mimic could inhibit the proliferation of LX-2 cells(P=0.001 2).Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR showed that miRNA-933 siRNA significantly inhibited the expression of Kruppel-like factor 6(KLF6)and downregulated the expression of activating transcription factor 4(ATF4),activating transcription factor 3(ATF3),and C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP),while miRNA-933 mimic promoted the expression of the above proteins(all P<0.05).Conclusion This study shows that miRNA-933 may promote cell apoptosis and inhibit cell activation and proliferation by promoting the activation of the KLF6/ATF4/ATF3/CHOP/Bcl-2 signal axis in LX-2 cells.

Objective:To explore the gene mutations of Langerhans cell histiocytosis in children,and to analyze the correlation of BRAF V600E mutation with clinical features and prognosis of LCH,so as to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods:Fluorescence PCR was used to detect gene mutations in paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 78 children with LCH,and the correlation of BRAF V600E mutation with clinical characteristics and prognosis of LCH in children was analyzed. Results:Among the 78 children,41 cases (52.6％) had BRAF V600E mutation,8 cases (10.3％) had MAP2K1 mutation,1 case (1.3％) had BRAF Exon 12 mutation,1 case (1.3％) had ARAF mutation,and 1 case (1.3％) had PIK3CA mutation. BRAF V600E mutation was not significantly correlated with sex,age,multisystem involvement,risk-organ involvement,CNS-risk lesions,and early treatment response in children with LCH (P>0.05),and it was also not significantly correlated with the recurrence and event-free survival (EFS) of children with LCH (P>0.05). Conclusion:LCH is an inflammatory myeloid tumor. BRAF V600E mutation is not correlated with clinical features,early treatment response,recurrence and prognosis of LCH.

Objective:To analyze the blood differential metabolites of patients with intrahepatic cholestasis (IHC) by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics technology so as to find potential metabolic target.Method:Serum samples were collected from thirty patients with intrahepatic cholestasis and thirty healthy individuals after metabolomics analysis. The differential metabolites were initially screened based on the multiple differences and significance. KEGG enrichment analysis was performed on the differential metabolites to determine the candidate targets. The potential clinical application value of these characteristic metabolites was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve.Result:A total of thirty patients with intrahepatic cholestasis and thirty healthy adults were included. The age difference between the two groups was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The clinical condition was consistent with the statistically significant differences in liver biochemical indicators, blood routine, coagulation, and inflammatory indicators between the two groups ( P<0.05). Furthermore, a blood metabolomics screening analysis revealed 99 differentially expressed metabolites associated with intrahepatic cholestasis. Of these, 15 showed statistically significant differences. Glucose, lipid, and energy metabolisms were the various primary types of differential metabolites involved. The receiver operating characteristic curve>0.9 included the following twelve kinds of metabolites: 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde, 6-hydroxy-1H-indole-3-acetamide, phenylalanyl tryptophan, 1-methylguanosine, 2-ethoxy-5-methylpyrazine, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 5-(2-chlorophenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole, methylthioadenosine, alanylisoleucine, anabsinthin, N-acetyl-DL-histidine monohydrate, N-methylnicotinamide, and others. The fifteen metabolites that were previously identified and calculated according to the differential quantitative value of the metabolite corresponding ratio exhibited fold-changes in the upregulated and downregulated potential biomarkers (phenylalanine tryptophan, phenylalanine, 5'-methylthioadenosine, anabsinthin, and N-methylnicotinamide) in combination with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve>0.9. Conclusion:Phenylalanyl tryptophan, phenylalanylalanine, 5'-methylthioadenosine, anabsinthin, and N-methylnicotinamide may serve as potential metabolic markers to distinguish patients with cholestasis from healthy controls. N-methylnicotinamide, among them, is of great importance as a potential marker.

Objective To observe the improvement of motor dysfunction and serum levels of C-reactive protein(CRP),blood glucose and blood lipid in post-stroke patients treated with scalp acupuncture at different needle retention time.Methods A total of 120 patients with motor dysfunction after stroke were randomly divided into control group,observation group 1 and observation group 2,with 40 cases in each group.The patients in the 3 groups were treated with scalp acupuncture,body acupuncture and routine rehabilitation exercise,once a day and 6 times a week,lasting for 2 weeks.The control group was given scalp acupuncture with retaining of needles for 30 minutes,the observation group 1 was given scalp acupuncture with retaining of needles for one hour,and the observation group 2 was given scalp acupuncture with retaining of needles for 2 hours.Before and after treatment,the 3 groups were observed in the changes of the scale scores of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS),Fugl-Meyer Assessment(FM A),Berg Balance Scale(BBS)and modified Barthel Index(MBI),and the levels of laboratory indicators of peripheral blood CRP,fasting plasma glucose(FPG),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C).After treatment,the clinical safety of the three groups was evaluated.Results(1)After treatment,the scale scores of NIHSS in the three groups were lower(P＜0.01)and the scale scores FMA,BBS and MBI were higher than those before treatment(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The comparison of post-treatment scale scores showed that the differences among the three groups were statistically significant(P＜0.01).The intergroup comparison showed that the decrease of NIHSS score and the increase of FMA,BBS and MBI scores in the observation group 2 were significantly superior to those in the control group and the observation group 1(P＜0.01);the improvement of FMA score in the observation group 1 was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01),while the improvement of NIHSS,BBS and MBI scores tended to be superior to that in the control group without statistically significant differences(P＞0.05).The results indicated that the curative effect of scalp acupuncture plus exercise regimen was positively correlated with the duration of needle retention for scalp acupuncture.(2)After treatment,the laboratory indicator levels of CRP and FPG in the peripheral blood of the three groups,the levels of TG and LDL-C in the two observation groups and the level of HDL-C in the observation group 2 were improved compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Statistically significant differences were presented in the post-treatment levels of CRP and TG in peripheral blood among the three groups(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The intergroup comparison showed that the improvement of CRP and TG levels in the observation group 2 was significantly superior to that in the control group,and the improvement of CRP level in the observation group 2 was significantly superior to that in the observation group 1,the differences being statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The TC level in the three groups after treatment did not differ from that before treatment,and there was no significant difference in TC level after treatment among the three groups either(P＞0.05).(3)During the treatment,no adverse reactions such as fainting,needle breaking and hematoma occurred in the three groups,the vital signs of the patients were stable,and there were no obvious abnormal changes in pulse,blood pressure and respiratory rate.Conclusion Scalp acupuncture can effectively improve the motor function of post-stroke patients in a pasitive time-effect relationship with the needle retention,and better the curative effect can be achieved by retaining of the needle for 2 h.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT)combined with camrelizumab and apatinib in treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed of 85 patients with advanced HCC treated in the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and People's Hospital of Zhengzhou from January 2019 to September 2021.They were divided into observation group(n=31,SBRT combined with camrelizumab and apatinib)and control group(n=54,treated with camrelizumab and apatinib)according to whether they received SBRT.The propensity score matching(PSM)was used to balance the influence of confounding factors.The objective remission rate(ORR)and disease control rate(DCR)were compared between the two groups.The 6-month overall survival rate,1-year overall survival rate and progression-free survival(PFS)were compared between the two groups by Kaplan-Meier method.The safety of the two groups was evaluated by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events(CTCAE)version 5.0.Results Before PSM,there were significant differences in age(P=0.043),number of extrahepatic metastasis(P=0.028),and previous surgical treatment(P=0.038)between the two groups.After PSM,there was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups(P>0.05).After PSM,27 cases were included in each groups,and three months after treatment,the ORR in observation group and control group were 66.7%and 29.6%,respectively,showed difference with statistically significant(P=0.006);and the DCR in the both groups were 96.3%and 85.2%respectively,showed no statistically significant difference(P=0.175).There were statistical differences in 6-month overall survival rate(96.3%vs.80.9%,P=0.001),1-year overall survival rate(75.0%vs.61.4%,P=0.034)and median PFS(8 months vs.5 months,P=0.003)between the observation group and control group.Multi-factor Cox regression analysis showed that baseline alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)≥400 ng/ml was an independent risk factor for affecting the survival of patients with advanced HCC(HR>1,P<0.05),while the triple therapy and previous targeted drugs therapy were the protective factors for the survival of patients with advanced HCC(HR<1,P<0.05).In the observation group,4 patients had grade 3 adverse reactions,and the common adverse reactions were dyspepsia(14.8%).One case of grade 3 adverse reactions occurred in control group,and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P=0.639).Conclusion SBRT combined with camrelizumab and apatinib is a safe and effective treatment for advanced HCC with significant clinical effect and controllable adverse reactions.

Objective:To study the remote multi-disciplinary team (MDT) model in diagnosis and treatment of plague, in order to provide scientific basis for clinical treatment of plague.Methods:A retrospective analysis was made on the diagnosis and treatment process of a case of bubonic plague, a sudden imported Class A infectious disease, which was secondary to septicemic plague, involving a remote MDT team consisting of the Infectious Diseases Department, Intensive Care Unit, Respiratory and Critical Care Department, Cardiology Department, Pharmacy Department, and Nosocomial Infection Department of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University.Results:The patient was a middle-aged female who was engaged in herding work on the grassland. The first symptom was a sudden pain in the left lower abdomen for three days, accompanied by chest tightness and shortness of breath. After hospitalization, blood culture indicated Yersinia, abdominal CT indicated left lower abdominal lymph node enlargement, and lymph node puncture fluid was positive for Yersinia pestis nucleic acid. Combined with clinical symptoms and signs, the patient was diagnosed as bubonic plague secondary to septicemic plague, and was isolated for treatment. After remote MDT consultation, comprehensive treatment was given, including anti-infection treatment of streptomycin and ciprofloxacin, short-term application of hormones, nutritional support, and local application of chloramphenicol ointment, etc. Secondary acute pancreatitis occurred during the course of the disease, which improved after symptomatic treatment. Finally, after 20 days of treatment, MDT expert group assessed that it met the discharge criteria. No abnormalities were found in follow-up visits outside the hospital. Conclusion:The remote MDT is effective in the treatment of bubonic plague secondary to septicemic plague, which is worth popularizing.

The acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults have a higher rate of neurological injury and early death compared with atlas or axial fractures alone. Currently, the diagnosis and treatment choices of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults are controversial because of the lack of standards for implementation. Non-operative treatments have a high incidence of bone nonunion and complications, while surgeries may easily lead to the injury of the vertebral artery, spinal cord and nerve root. At present, there are no evidence-based Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults. To provide orthopedic surgeons with the most up-to-date and effective information in treating acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field of spinal trauma to develop the Evidence-based guideline for clinical diagnosis and treatment of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults ( version 2023) by referring to the "Management of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults" published by American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) in 2013 and the relevant Chinese and English literatures. Ten recommendations were made concerning the radiological diagnosis, stability judgment, treatment rules, treatment options and complications based on medical evidence, aiming to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with drug-eluting bead transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:The data of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatic artery chemoembolization at General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from July 2019 to April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Of 282 patients who were enrolled, there were 233 males and 49 females, aged (55.9±10.0) years. The groups were divided into the conventional TACE group ( n=179) and the DEB-TACE group ( n=103) based on the treatments. The efficacy of the two groups was compared according to the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors. Postoperative adverse effects and liver function between the two groups were compared. Results:The differences in comparing the preoperative and postoperative liver function indexes between the two groups were not statistically significant. Patients who died and were lost to follow-up at 6 months after surgery were excluded and 240 patients were excluded in the efficacy analysis, with 148 patients in the conventional TACE group and 92 patients in the DEB-TACE group. At 6 months after treatment in the conventional TACE group, there were 64 patients (43.2%) with complete remission, 18 patients (12.2%) with partial remission, 27 patients (18.2%) with stable disease, and 39 patients (26.4%) with disease progression. In the DEB-TACE group, the corresponding figures were 38 patients (41.3%), 17 patients (18.5%), 26 patients (28.3%), and 11 patients (12.0%), respectively. The efficacy of DEB-TACE was better than conventional TACE with statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (χ 2=8.96, P=0.030). The incidence of postoperative embolic syndrome was 53.1% (95/179) in the conventional TACE group, which was significantly higher than the 34.0% (35/103) in the DEB-TACE group (χ 2=7.34, P=0.007). Conclusion:The efficacy and safety of DEB-TACE for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma were superior to those of the conventional TACE group.