Background The active metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), 7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxybenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE), can form adducts with DNA, but the spectrum of BPDE-DNA adducts is unclear. Objective To identify the distribution of BPDE adduct sites and associated genes at the whole-genome level by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-Seq), and serve as a basis for further exploring the toxicological mechanisms of BaP. Methods Human bronchial epithelial-like cells (16HBE) were cultured to the fourth generation inthe logarithmic growth phase. Cells were harvested and added to chromatin immunoprecipitation lysis buffer. The lysate was divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received a final concentration of 20 μmol·L⁻¹ BPDE solution, while the control group received an equivalent volume of dimethyl sulfoxide solution. The cells were then incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. Chromatin fragments of 100-500 bp were obtained through sonication. BPDE-specific antibody (anti-BPDE 8E11) was used to enrich DNA fragments with BPDE adducts. High-throughput sequencing was conducted to detect BPDE adduct sites. The top 1000 peak sequences were subjected to motif analysis using MEME and DREME software. BPDE adduct target genes at the whole-genome level were annotated, and Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of BPDE adduct target genes were conducted using bioinformatics techniques. Results The high-throughput sequencing detected a total of 842 BPDE binding sites, distributed across various chromosomes. BPDE covalently bound to both coding and non-coding regions of genes, with 73.9% binding sites located in intergenic regions, 19.6% in intronic regions, and smaller proportions in upstream 2 kilobase, exonic, downstream 2 kilobase, and 5' untranslated regions. Regarding the top 1000 peak sequences, four reliable motifs were identified, revealing that sites rich in adenine (A) and guanine (G) were prone to binding. Through the enrichment analysis of binding sites, a total of 199 BPDE-adduct target genes were identified, with the majority located on chromosomes 1, 5, 7, 12, 17, and X. The GO analysis indicated that these target genes were mainly enriched in nucleic acid and protein binding, participating in the regulation of catalytic activity, transport activity, translation elongation factor activity, and playing important roles in cell division, differentiation, motility, substance transport, and information transfer. The KEGG analysis revealed that these target genes were primarily enriched in pathways related to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and immune-inflammatory responses. Conclusion Using ChIP-Seq, 199 BPDE adduct target genes at genome-wide level are identified, impacting biological functions such as cell division, differentiation, motility, substance transport, and information transfer. These genes are closely associated with cardiovascular diseases, tumors, and immune-inflammatory responses.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Huolong moxibustion combined with Shaofu Zhuyu ointment acupoint application in the treatment of sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease with cold coagulation and stasis syndrome.Methods:Randomized controlled trial study was performed. 102 patients with pelvic inflammatory disease in our hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were selected as the observation subjects. They were divided into two groups according to random number table method, with 51 cases in each group. The control group was treated with conventional Western medicine therapy, with 10 days as one course of treatment, for a total of 3 courses of treatment. The observation group was treated with Huolong Moxibustion combined with Shaofu Zhuyu Ointment acupoint application, once every 3 days, with 5 sessions as a course of treatment, for a total of 3 menstrual cycles. TCM syndrome scores were performed before and after treatment; doppler ultrasound diagnostic instrument was used to detect the maximum systolic blood flow velocity (PSV), end diastolic blood flow velocity (EDV), pulsatile index (PI), and resistance index (RI) of the uterine artery; ELISA was used to detect levels of β - endorphin (β - EP), prostaglandin F2α(PGF2α), and serum substance P (SP). Adverse reactions during treatment were recorded, and clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:The total effective rate of the observation group was 92.16% (47/51), while that of the control group was 76.47% (39/51),the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=4.74, P=0.029).After treatment, the observation group had lower abdominal pain refusal to press (1.76 ± 0.45 vs. 2.12 ± 0.54, t=3.66),limb coldness and chills (1.85 ± 0.47 vs. 2.21 ± 0.60, t=3.37), menstrual disorders (1.93 ± 0.56 vs. 2.31 ± 0.58, t=3.37), tongue purple coating white score (2.04 ± 0.55 vs. 2.52 ± 0.50, t=4.25) and total score (7.58 ± 1.56 vs. 9.16 ± 1.92, t=4.56) than the control group ( P<0.01); the EDV [(18.86 ± 3.65) cm/s vs. (14.45 ± 3.51) cm/s, t=6.23] and PSV [(37.94 ± 5.19) cm/s vs. (32.21 ± 4.97) cm/s, t=5.70] of the uterine artery were higher than those in the control group ( P<0.01); the RI [(72.62 ± 7.56)% vs. (78.31 ± 6.58)%, t=4.05], PI [(41.94 ± 5.90)% vs. (47.52 ± 5.59)%, t=4.90] were lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01);the levels of β-EP [(49.86 ± 5.87) μg/L vs. (55.41 ± 5.91) μg/L, t=4.76], PGF2α [(71.94 ± 8.13) μg/L vs. (78.21 ± 8.97) μg/L, t=3.70], and SP [(19.12 ± 3.98) μg/L vs. (22.34 ± 3.81) μg/L, t=4.17] were lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions during treatment was 11.76% (6/51) in the observation group and 3.9% (2/51) in the control group, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.44, P=0.505). Conclusion:The combination of Huolong Moxibustion and Shaofu Zhuyu Ointment acupoint application can effectively improve the microcirculation status of the uterine artery in patients with pelvic inflammatory disease sequelae of cold coagulation and blood stasis syndrome, reduce the level of pain factors, alleviate the main symptoms of patients, improve clinical efficacy, and have good safety.

Objective To investigate the correlation between interleukin 1β gene-511C/T polymorphism of and essential hypertension in the Yi ethnic group of Yunnan province.Methods-511C/T polymorphism of interleukin 1β gene was detected by PCR-RFLP in 85 Yi patients with essential hypertension(EH group)and 106 Yi healthy people(control group)in Shuanghe Township,Jinning County,Yunnan Province.Genotype and allele frequencies were analyzed by SPSS 27.0 software,and association analysis was performed.Results The frequency distribution of CC,CT and TT genotypes at the mutation site 511 of the IL-1βgene in EH group was 18.82%,44.71%and 36.47%,respectively,and it was 5.66%,26.42%and 67.92%in the control group.The difference in genotype frequency between the two groups was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The allele frequency of C and T in EH group was 41.18%and 58.82%,respectively,and the allele frequency of C and T in control group was 18.87%and 81.13%.The frequency difference of alleles between the two groups was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Both genotype frequency and allele frequency found in males and females had statistical differences(P＜0.05).Conclusions The distribution of IL-1β gene-511C/T polymorphism is related to the incident of essential hyper-tension among the Yi ethnic group Yunnan Province,and is the susceptibility gene of the Yi ethnic group to essen-tial hypertension.

Background Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) has neurotoxicity, which can induce the loss of hippocampal neurons in humans and animals and lead to spatial learning and memory dysfunction, but its mechanism is still unclear. Objective To observe the ferroptosis of mouse hippocampal neuron HT22 cells induced by 7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxybenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE), an active metabolite of BaP, and to explore its potential mechanism, so as to provide a basis for the study of BaP neurotoxicity mechanism. Method Mouse hippocampal neuron HT22 cells were selected and divided into four groups: solvent control group and low, medium, and high concentration BPDE exposure groups (0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 μmol·L⁻¹). Cell survival was detected by CCK8 method. Cell morphology and ultrastructure were observed under light and electron microscopes. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Fe²⁺ were detected by fluorescence probe method. Iron, 4-hydroxynonenoic acid (4-HNE), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) levels were detected with commercial kits. The expression levels of acyl-CoA synthase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) were detected by Western blotting. After interventions with ferroptosis inhibitors 20 μmol·L⁻¹ deferoxamine (DFO) and 10 μmol·L⁻¹ ethyl 3-amino-4-cyclohexylaminobenzoate (Fer-1), the cell survival rate of each BPDE exposure group and the changes of the ferroptosis characteristic indicators and protein expression levels were observed. Results With the increase of BPDE concentration, the survival rate of HT22 cells decreased gradually, and the survival rate of each BPDE group was significantly lower than that of the solvent control group (P<0.01). Under light microscope, the number of cells in the high concentration BPDE group was significantly reduced, and atrophic cells and reduced synapses were recorded. Under electron microscope, the HT22 cells in the high concentration BPDE group showed mitochondrial shrinkage, decreased crista, and increased mitochondrial membrane density. Compared with the solvent control group, the levels of intracellular lipid ROS, Fe²⁺, 4-HNE, and MDA significantly increased in the high concentration group (P<0.01), the GSH and GSH-PX levels were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the protein expression levels of ASCL4 and COX2 were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of SCL7A11 and GPX4 were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The ferroptosis inhibitors DFO and Fer-1 significantly reversed the cell survival rate (P<0.01), the ferroptosis characteristic indicators (ROS, Fe²⁺, 4-HNE, MDA, GSH, and GSH-PX levels) (P<0.01), and the expression levels of ferroptosis-related proteins (ACSL4, COX2, SLC7A11, and GPX4) (P<0.01) in the high concentration BPDE group. Conclusion BPDE can induce ferroptosis in mouse hippocampal neuron HT22 cells, which may be related to the inhibition of SLC7A11/GSH/GPX4 axis and the induction of iron metabolism disorder.

Objective:To compare the adverse reactions, efficacy and survival rate of carbon ion beam irradiation in the elective lymph node (ENI) drainage area of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) with relative biological effect (RBE) dose of 48 Gy using 16 and 12 fractions.Methods:A total of 72 patients with pathologically confirmed LA-NSCLC admitted to Wuwei Heavy Ion Center of Gansu Wuwei Tumor Hospital from June 2020 to December 2021 were enrolled and simple randomly divided into groups A and B, with 36 patients in each group. Patients in groups A and B were treated with carbon ion beam irradiation to the lymph node drainage area with 48 Gy (RBE) using 16 and 12 fractions. The acute and chronic adverse reactions, efficacy and survival rate were observed. The survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method. Difference test was conducted by log-rank test.Results:The median follow-up time was 13.9 (8.8-15.7) months in group A and 14.6 (6.3-15.9) months in group B. Sixteen (44.4%) patients were effectively treated in group A and 9 (25%) patients in group B. Thirty-four (94.4%) cases achieved disease control in group A and 30 (83.3%) cases in group B. Statistical analysis showed that the overall survival rate in group B was similar to that in group A ( χ2=1.192, P=0.275). Comparison of planning parameters between two groups showed CTV volume, D mean, V 5 Gy(RBE), V 20 Gy(RBE) and V 30 Gy(RBE) of the affected lung, cardiac V 20 Gy(RBE), V 30 Gy(RBE) and D mean, esophageal V 30 Gy(RBE), V 50 Gy(RBE), D max and D mean, D max of the trachea and spinal cord had no significant difference (all P>0.05). No grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions occurred in the enrolled patients during treatment and follow-up. No statistical differences were observed in the acute radiation skin reaction ( χ2=5.134, P=0.077), radiation esophagitis ( χ2=1.984, P=0.371), and advanced radiation pneumonia ( χ2=6.185, P=0.103) between two groups. Conclusions:The two dose fractionation modes of carbon ion therapy system are equally safe in the mediastinal lymphatic drainage area of LA-NSCLC, and the adverse reactions are controllable. The long-term efficacy still needs further observation.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Xianglian Huazhuo prescription in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis （CAG） based on network pharmacology and animal experiments，so as to provide scientific basis for clinical application. MethodThe possible targets and pathways of Xianglian Huazhuo prescription in the treatment of CAG were obtained based on the prediction of network pharmacology. The CAG rat model was induced by sodium salicylate，N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine （MNNG） and hunger and satiety disorder. Then the CAG rats were treated with Xianglian Huazhuo prescription and morodan for 60 days. After administration，the rats were sacrificed，and the content of interleukin-6 （IL-6），tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α），interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） in serum was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. In addition， the protein expression of Bad and Bcl-2 in gastric mucosa was detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. ResultA total of 241 active components of Xianglian Huazhuo prescription and 53 core targets were obtained. Xianglian Huazhuo prescription affected multiple biological processes，such as cell proliferation and apoptosis，inflammatory reaction，regulation of DNA metabolism，and cell response to redox，as well as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt），TNF，mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK），cancer and cancer-related signaling pathways. The animal model verification showed that Xianglian Huazhuo prescription lowered the levels of IL-6，TNF-α，IL-1β and VEGF in serum of CAG rats，and reduced the protein expression of Bad and Bcl-2 in gastric tissue. ConclusionXianglian Huazhuo prescription could regulate PI3K/Akt signal pathway and improve gastric mucosal injury in CAG by participating in biological processes such as cell proliferation，apoptosis and inflammation.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and safety of carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) in the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer in phase Ⅰ/Ⅱ clinical trials.Methods:Clinical stage T 2-3 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (without distant metastasis) were studied. A three-fraction treatment was applied, including the local irradiation with the dose from 12 Gy to 24 Gy and 11 fractions of whole-bladder irradiation with a dose of 44 Gy. The carbon ion irradiation dose is determined with relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of 3.0. The total dose for bladder tumor was 56-68 Gy in 14 fractions. The primary endpoints included tumor treatment-related side effects, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) responses, and local control (LC) rate, and the secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS). Results:Nine patients received CIRT of various doses in the clinical trials, with the dose gradually increasing to 68 Gy. The patients did not suffer from DLT response, acute adverse effects of radiation therapy of grade ≥3, and late radiation adverse reactions during follow-up. When the dose to the tumor reached 68 Gy, there were 2 cases of grade 2 acute urogenital tract reaction and 1 case of acute lower gastrointestinal tract symptom. For the group with a dose above 62 Gy, three cases of grade 1 late radiation bladder reaction were observed and their symptoms included urinary frequency and microscopic hematuria. At the end of treatment, hematuria disappeared, dysuria was relieved, and urine red blood cell value significantly decreased for all the patients. Three months and six months after treatment, the LC rates were 100% and 88.9%, respectively, and the objective response rates were both 88.9%. One patient developed local recurrence and was treated with salvage surgery six months after treatment.Conclusions:The preliminary efficacy observation of CIRT in the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer showed significant short-term efficacy, obvious symptom relief, and good tolerability for patients, without DLT. Therefore, CIRT is safe and feasible.

Transcriptional regulators (TRs) participate in essential processes in cancer pathogenesis and are critical therapeutic targets. Identification of drug response-related TRs from cell line-based compound screening data is often challenging due to low mRNA abundance of TRs, protein modifications, and other confounders (CFs). In this study, we developed a regression-based pharmacogenomic and ChIP-seq data integration method (RePhine) to infer the impact of TRs on drug response through integrative analyses of pharmacogenomic and ChIP-seq data. RePhine was evaluated in simulation and pharmacogenomic data and was applied to pan-cancer datasets with the goal of biological discovery. In simulation data with added noises or CFs and in pharmacogenomic data, RePhine demonstrated an improved performance in comparison with three commonly used methods (including Pearson correlation analysis, logistic regression model, and gene set enrichment analysis). Utilizing RePhine and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia data, we observed that RePhine-derived TR signatures could effectively cluster drugs with different mechanisms of action. RePhine predicted that loss-of-function of EZH2/PRC2 reduces cancer cell sensitivity toward the BRAF inhibitor PLX4720. Experimental validation confirmed that pharmacological EZH2 inhibition increases the resistance of cancer cells to PLX4720 treatment. Our results support that RePhine is a useful tool for inferring drug response-related TRs and for potential therapeutic applications. The source code for RePhine is freely available at https://github.com/coexps/RePhine.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in patients with end-stage renal disease treated with maintenance hemodialysis with that in healthy controls and to investigate the relationship between end-stage renal disease, dental caries and periodontal disease. Methods : A total of 82 maintenance hemodialysis patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected as the case group, and 86 healthy persons who underwent oral examination in the physical examination center were selected as the control group. Dental caries and periodontal conditions were examined in the two groups. The dental caries examination was conducted by determining the number of decayed-missing-filled teeth, which was recorded as recommended by the World Health Organization. The periodontal condition parameters included the plaque index, calculus index, bleeding on probing, periodontal pocket depth and clinical attachment loss. Results: The prevalence of dental caries in the case group and healthy control group was 87.8% and 81.4%, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The periodontal indexes, including the plaque index, calculus index, probe bleeding index, periodontal pocket depth and clinical attachment level, in the case group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05), and the prevalence of periodontitis in the case group was significantly higher than that in the control group (97.6% vs 88.4%, P < 0.05). Conclusion The dental caries conditions were comparable between the case group and the control group, but the prevalence and severity of periodontitis were significantly higher in the case group than in the control group.

Diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) is characterized by delayed gastric emptying caused by reduction of gastrointestinal motility. Its clinical manifestations include vomiting, nausea, belching, early satiety, postprandial fullness, and abdominal distention, etc. The mechanism of DGP is still not clear. Depletion of interstitial cells of Cajal, myopathy and neuropathy are considered to be the main pathogenic factors. Gastric prokinetics, gastric electric stimulation and endoscopic therapy are the main treatment options, but the long-term efficacy of these symptomatic treatment is not very satisfactory, which seriously affects patients' quality of life. This article reviewed the advances in study on pathogenesis and treatment of DGP.