OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of the circadian clock gene period circadian regulator 1(PER1)and the tumor suppressor gene serine peptidase inhibitor Kazal type 5(SPINK5)in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC),and to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which PER1 regulates SPINK5 transcription via the NF-κB signaling pathway.METHODS Differentially expressed genes in HNSCC were screened using The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and GSE205155 datasets.The association between SPINK5 expression and patient prognosis was assessed via the GEPIA database.mRNA and protein expression levels of SPINK5 and PER1 in 60 clinical samples were detected by RT-qPCR,immunohistochemistry,and Western blot.PER1 knockdown(using siRNA)and overexpression(via plasmid transfection)were performed in the AMC-HN-8 cell line.Wound healing and colony formation assays were applied to evaluate the effects of PER1,SPINK5,and their interaction on HNSCC cell migration and proliferation.Western blot was utilized to examine the regulatory effect of NF-κB on SPINK5.RESULTS SPINK5 and PER1 were significantly downregulated in HNSCC tissues(all P<0.01),and their low expression was correlated with poor patient prognosis(for SPINK5,HR=0.69,P=0.006 7).A significant positive correlation was observed between PER1 and SPINK5 expression(R2=0.719 2,P=0.001 0).Knockdown and overexpression of PER1 respectively resulted in synchronous alterations in SPINK5 mRNA levels(all P<0.05).PER1 knockdown enhanced cell migration and proliferation(P<0.05),whereas SPINK5 overexpression suppressed these capabilities(P<0.01).Importantly,SPINK5 overexpression reversed the phenotypic changes induced by PER1 knockdown.Mechanistically,PER1 overexpression led to concomitant changes in NF-κB expression,activating the NF-κB pathway and thereby promoting SPINK5 transcription.CONCLUSION PER1 positively regulates SPINK5 transcription via the NF-κB pathway,inhibiting HNSCC cell proliferation and migration.These findings suggest that PER1 and SPINK5 may serve as potential therapeutic targets for HNSCC.

As a serine protease,thrombin can convert soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin and plays a pivotal role in the coagulation cascade.Therefore,the accurate quantitative assay of thrombin levels is of great value in the evaluation of coagulation function,clinical screening and prognostic monitoring of coagulation-related diseases,and screening of drugs for targeted therapy.Existing methods for thrombin detection can be divided into two categories,e.g.,the assay of concentration levels using nucleic acid aptamers as the affinity elements and the assay of activity levels based on the hydrolytic cleavage of substrate peptides.In recent years,electrochemical biosensors have attracted much attention in thrombin detection due to high sensitivity,high selectivity,simple instrument,fast response,and good portability.In this review,the latest research progress in methods for electrochemical detection of thrombin was summarized,focusing on the detection principles and the applied signal amplification strategies of related electrochemical biosensors.In addition,the challenges with respect to the practical use of electrochemical thrombin biosensors and the prospects were discussed.

This study investigated the functions and regulatory mechanism of Portulacae Herba and its chemical components on the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response 88(MyD88)/nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) inflammatory signaling pathway in the colon tissue of mice with dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis(UC). A total of 35 mice were randomly divided into groups, including a blank group, a model group, a mesalazine group(0. 5 g·kg~(-1)), and low, medium,and high dose alkaloids from Portulacae Herba groups(9, 18, 36 mg·kg~(-1)), and a combination treatment group, with 5 mice in each group. The blank group was given purified water, while the other groups were continuously given a 3% DSS solution for 7 days to induce the UC model. From day 8 onwards, the treatment group received oral gavage according to the prescribed doses for 14 days. The overall condition, body weight, stool characteristics, and presence of blood in the stool were recorded daily. After the experiment, the disease activity index(DAI) was assessed for each group, and colon length was measured. Histopathological changes in colon tissue were examined using hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and interleukin-1β( IL-1β) in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay( ELISA). The protein and m RNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in colon tissue were measured using Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR).Compared to the blank group, the model group showed a significant decrease in body weight, a notable increase in DAI scores, a significant shortening of colon length, and evident histopathological damage. The levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β in the serum were significantly elevated, and the protein and m RNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in colon tissue were significantly up-regulated. In contrast, the alkaloids from Portulacae Herba treatment groups significantly improved symptoms and reduced body weight loss in mice, decreased DAI scores, alleviated colon shortening, lowered serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β,significantly down-regulated the expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB proteins and genes in colon tissue, as well as reduced histopathological damage. Therefore, the study suggests that alkaloids from Portulacae Herba can alleviate intestinal inflammation damage in DSS-induced UC mice, with its mechanism involving the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative/immunology* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/immunology* ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism* ; Mice ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Male ; Alkaloids/administration & dosage* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Humans ; Female ; Colon/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal

Proanthocyanidin B_2(PAC-B_2), a polyphenolic dimeric compound comprising two epicatechin molecules linked by a C-C bond, is extensively found in traditional Chinese medicines, with anti-tumor and anti-oxidant activities. Given the limited bioavailability, a thorough investigation and comprehensive understanding of PAC-B_2 metabolism in vivo are essential for elucidating therapeutic forms and mechanisms. In the present study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) in the negative ion mode was employed to acquire the MS/MS information of PAC-B_2 and metabolites in urine and feces samples of the rats administrated with PAC-B_2. Online energy-resolved MS(ER-MS) was applied as supplementary to obtain the full collision energy ramp-MS~2 spectra(FCER-MS~2) of isomers-of-interest, which implied comprehensive MS~2 information of targeted compounds. Finally, the possible metabolic pathways of PAC-B_2 in rats were proposed. The primary fragmentation behaviors of PAC-B_2 in the negative ion mode included quinone methide fission between C_4-C_8 bond, retro Diels-Alder cracking of F-ring, heterocyclic ring fission of C-ring, and neutral loss of small molecules such as H_2O. A total of 25 metabolites were tentatively elucidated in urine and feces samples of rats administrated with PAC-B_2 by fragmentation pattern and reported literature. Two groups of isomers, M3/M4/M5 and M9/M11, were confirmatively differentiated based on the relationships between optimal collision energy provided by FCER-MS~2 and bond properties, including bond length and bond dissociation energy. In addition to the ring-opening and methylation, PAC-B_2 could also be metabolized into epicatechin and low molecular weight phenolic acids, which were subsequently subjected to dehydroxylation, ring-opening, methylation, sulfation, and glucuronidation. The structural information provided by online ER-MS and FCER-MS~2 enabled the differentiation of isomers and improved the identification confidence. More importantly, the present study deeply analyzes the in vivo metabolic pathways of PAC-B_2, providing a basis for the research on the pharmacological mechanism of this compound.
Animals ; Proanthocyanidins/urine* ; Rats ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Feces/chemistry* ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVE: To explore and quantify the association of hot night exposure during the sperm development period (0-90 lag days) with semen quality. METHODS: A total of 6,640 male sperm donors from 6 human sperm banks in China during 2014-2020 were recruited in this multicenter study. Two indices (i.e., hot night excess [HNE] and hot night duration [HND]) were used to estimate the heat intensity and duration during nighttime. Linear mixed models were used to examine the association between hot nights and semen quality parameters. RESULTS: The exposure-response relationship revealed that HNE and HND during 0-90 days before semen collection had a significantly inverse association with sperm motility. Specifically, a 1 °C increase in HNE was associated with decreased sperm progressive motility of 0.0090 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.0147, -0.0033) and decreased total motility of 0.0094 (95% CI: -0.0160, -0.0029). HND was significantly associated with reduced sperm progressive motility and total motility of 0.0021 (95% CI: -0.0040, -0.0003) and 0.0023 (95% CI: -0.0043, -0.0002), respectively. Consistent results were observed at different temperature thresholds on hot nights. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the need to mitigate nocturnal heat exposure during spermatogenesis to maintain optimal semen quality.
Humans ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Adult ; Sperm Motility ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects* ; China ; Middle Aged ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Young Adult

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease,and there is currently a lack of safe and effective vac-cines against the monkeypox virus.Therefore,screening and developing vaccine candidates is of signifi-cant practical importance.With the rapid advancement of molecular biology and plant genetic engineer-ing,plant bioreactors offer promising potential for producing vaccine proteins due to their advantages,in-cluding safety,cost-effectiveness,and scalability.In this study,we focused on the monkeypox protein B6R.The recombinant expression plasmid pFolia40108-B6R-Fer was successfully constructed using am-plification,enzyme digestion,and flexible linker tandem ferritin technology.A complete transient expres-sion system in Nicotiana benthamiana and a purification system for the recombinant monkeypox protein were established.The optimal expression time was determined to be 12-14 days,with a final purified pro-tein concentration of approximately 1 mg/mL and a yield of 0.85 mg/kg fresh weight.The purified B6R-Fer recombinant protein self-assembled into spherical virus-like particles(VLPs)with an average particle size of 24 nm.The B6R-Fer recombinant protein from this study shows promising potential for use in the development and screening of plant-derived monkeypox vaccine candidates.

Objective:To summarize the clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment and prognosis of children confirmed as Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced rash and mucositis (MIRM) in children. Methods:This retrospective study concluded 6 children diagnosed as MIRM in Department of Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Children′s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University from August 2023 to April 2024. This paper described the characteristics of MIRM and analyzed the therapeutic strategy and prognosis.Results:A total of 6 children were diagnosed as MIRM including 2 boys and 4 girls with an age of onset was 6.4 (3.1, 7.5) years. Among the 6 patients, 4 patients had oral mucosal involvement among whom 2 showed crusting of the lips. Four patients had ocular involvement manifesting as conjunctival congestion and increased secretion. All patients presented with skin lesions, manifesting as target-shaped damage in 4 cases, herpes herpetiformis in 1 case and purpura-like rash in 1 case. Serological tests for Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM and Mycoplasma pneumoniae nucleic acid test were positive in all 6 cases. Two cases received intravenous immunogloblin infusion combined with methylprednisolone, monotherapy of methylprednisolone in 4 cases. The course of glucocorticoids was 1-7 weeks, and the initial dose was 2-4 mg/(kg·d), which was gradually reduced according to the rash. The children were followed up for 3 to 9 months, no case suffered from long term ocular or cutaneous complications or recurrence of rash. All cases had good prognosis. Conclusions:Children diagnosed as MIRM present with mild symptoms and usually have good prognosis with early identification and appropriate intervention. Individualized therapy should be applied based on the severity of skin involvement.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease,and there is currently a lack of safe and effective vac-cines against the monkeypox virus.Therefore,screening and developing vaccine candidates is of signifi-cant practical importance.With the rapid advancement of molecular biology and plant genetic engineer-ing,plant bioreactors offer promising potential for producing vaccine proteins due to their advantages,in-cluding safety,cost-effectiveness,and scalability.In this study,we focused on the monkeypox protein B6R.The recombinant expression plasmid pFolia40108-B6R-Fer was successfully constructed using am-plification,enzyme digestion,and flexible linker tandem ferritin technology.A complete transient expres-sion system in Nicotiana benthamiana and a purification system for the recombinant monkeypox protein were established.The optimal expression time was determined to be 12-14 days,with a final purified pro-tein concentration of approximately 1 mg/mL and a yield of 0.85 mg/kg fresh weight.The purified B6R-Fer recombinant protein self-assembled into spherical virus-like particles(VLPs)with an average particle size of 24 nm.The B6R-Fer recombinant protein from this study shows promising potential for use in the development and screening of plant-derived monkeypox vaccine candidates.

Objective:To summarize the clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment and prognosis of children confirmed as Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced rash and mucositis (MIRM) in children. Methods:This retrospective study concluded 6 children diagnosed as MIRM in Department of Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Children′s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University from August 2023 to April 2024. This paper described the characteristics of MIRM and analyzed the therapeutic strategy and prognosis.Results:A total of 6 children were diagnosed as MIRM including 2 boys and 4 girls with an age of onset was 6.4 (3.1, 7.5) years. Among the 6 patients, 4 patients had oral mucosal involvement among whom 2 showed crusting of the lips. Four patients had ocular involvement manifesting as conjunctival congestion and increased secretion. All patients presented with skin lesions, manifesting as target-shaped damage in 4 cases, herpes herpetiformis in 1 case and purpura-like rash in 1 case. Serological tests for Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM and Mycoplasma pneumoniae nucleic acid test were positive in all 6 cases. Two cases received intravenous immunogloblin infusion combined with methylprednisolone, monotherapy of methylprednisolone in 4 cases. The course of glucocorticoids was 1-7 weeks, and the initial dose was 2-4 mg/(kg·d), which was gradually reduced according to the rash. The children were followed up for 3 to 9 months, no case suffered from long term ocular or cutaneous complications or recurrence of rash. All cases had good prognosis. Conclusions:Children diagnosed as MIRM present with mild symptoms and usually have good prognosis with early identification and appropriate intervention. Individualized therapy should be applied based on the severity of skin involvement.

Objective: To analyze the status and correlation between screen time, screen behavior type, and anxiety, depression among children and adolescents in Jiangxi Province, so as to provide a basis for effective intervention measures. Methods: Using the method of stratified random sampling, 8 851 primary and secondary school students in 11 districts of Jiangxi Province were investigated by questionnaire during September to December in 2020. Anxiety and depression status were investigated using the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children(CES-DC), respectively. Single factor analysis using χ 2-test, t-test,analysis of variance,and multivariate analysis using generalized linear models. Results: On school days and weekends, 4.7% and 20.4% of primary and secondary school students in Jiangxi Province had a total screen time of over 2 hours per day, respectively. The weighted scores of the total screen time (primary school students: 1.88± 0.68, junior middle school students: 1.96±0.71, high school students: 2.03±0.80) and time spent for playing video games (primary school students: 1.51±0.64, junior middle school students: 1.62±0.69, high school students: 1.68±0.75) daily showed an upward trend with the increase of educational stage ( F =31.48, 42.13), and with significantly higher in boys (1.97±0.74, 1.66± 0.72) than girls (1.93±0.72, 1.53±0.66)( t =2.48, 9.07)( P <0.05). The average scores of state anxiety and trait anxiety were (42.20±9.05) and (40.65±9.85), which showed an upward trend with the increase of educational stage ( F =168.12, 241.98 ), and were higher in girls than boys ( t =6.63, 8.48)( P <0.01). The average score of depression was (11.99±11.00), which was lower in elementary school students than middle school students and high school students ( F =136.42), with significantly higher in girls ( t =6.85)( P <0.01). On school days, with the increase of total screen time and time spent for playing video games daily, the risk of state anxiety, trait anxiety, and depression among primary and secondary school students significantly increased ( OR = 6.70- 818.98, P <0.01). On weekends, among primary and secondary school students, the total screen time of >1-2 hours daily reduced the risk of state anxiety ( OR =0.30). The risk of developing trait anxiety among students playing video games for more than 2 hours daily was 2.50 times higher than those without screen behavior ( OR =2.50). The risk of developing depression with a total screen time of more than 2 hours daily was 3.15 times higher those whithout screen behavior ( OR =3.15). The risk of developing depression among students playing video games >0-1, >1-2, >2 h daily was 2.14, 2.50, 4.90 times that of those without screen behaviors ( OR =2.14, 2.50, 4.90), and showed an upward trend with the increase of educational stage ( P <0.05). Conclusions Screen behaviors of primary and middle school students in Jiangxi Province are positively associated with the risk of anxiety and depression, but the total daily video time of >1-2 h on weekends was negatively associated with state anxiety. It is necessary to control the screen time as much as possible and reduce the risk of anxiety and depression.