Objective:Using retrogradely trans-monosynaptic tracing method mediated by rabies virus(RV)to ob-serve presynaptic neuronal distributions of vesicular glutamate transporter 2(VGLUT2)-positive neurons of the med-iodorsal thalamic nucleus(MD)in whole brain.Methods:The helper viruses of RV were injected into the right MD of VGLUT2-ires-Cre mice,and two weeks later RV was injected into the same area.After another one week,perfusion was taken and whole brain scanning was performed to observe the distributions of RV-labeled presynaptic neurons throughout the brain.Results:After RV virus was injected into the MD of VGLUT2-ires-Cre mice,dense presynaptic neurons were observed in the cortex and brainstem.RV labeled neurons were mostly distributed in primary motor cortex(M1),sec-ondary motor cortex(M2),medial prefrontal cortex,orbitofrontal cortex and insular cortex at the cortical level.Tha-lamic retrogradely labeled neurons were mostly found in reticular thalamic nucleus and lateral hypothalamic area,and retrogradely labeled neurons in the brainstem were mainly distributed in lateral parabrachial nucleus,periaqueductal grey matter and dorsal raphe nucleus.Conclusion:The results in the present experiment suggest that VGLUT2-positive neurons within the MD can receive ascending information transmission from the brainstem,or regulation from the reticu-lar nucleus of thalamus.As a higher-order thalamus,MD can also receive descending projections from the cortex,and is involved in a variety of functions.Our results provide morphological basis for the study of the function and the related neural circuit of the MD.

Objective:To observe the projections from tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)positive neurons in locus coerule-us(LC)to tachykinin-1(TAC1)neurons in paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus(PVT),and morphologically determine whether they are involved in transmission and modulation of nociceptive information.Methods:TAC1-ires-Cre mice were hybridized with Rosa26:CAG-LSL-tdTomato(Ai9)mice.And spared nerve injury(SNI)induced neu-ropathic pain model was established with TAC1-ires-Cre::Ai9 mice to observe the colocalization of TAC1 and Fos and the close appositions between TAC1/FOS double-labeled neurons and TH positive axonal terminals.The distribution of the TH positive neurons and FG retrogradely labeled neurons were observed in the LC after Fluorogold(FG)was injec-ted into the PVT.Finally,the coexistences of TH positive neurons and RV labeled neurons in the LC were observed after injection of RV-mediated retrograde tracing system.Results:TAC1 positive neurons were shown with red fluores-cence in TAC1-ires-Cre::Ai9 mice.TAC1/FOS double-labeled neurons were found in the PVT of the SNI model.Some TAC1/FOS double labeled neurons made close appositions with TH positive axonal terminals.FG retrogradely labeled neurons were observed in the LC after FG injected into the PVT,and some of the FG labeled neurons coexisted with TH positive neurons.Using RV retrograde transsynaptic tracing virus,the results showed that presynaptic neurons of TAC1 positive neurons in the PVT were found in the LC,and most of the presynaptic neurons were TH positive neu-rons.Conclusion:TH positive neurons in the LC project to TAC1 positive neurons of the PVT,forming LCTH+-PVTTAC1+neural circuit,which were activated by nociceptive information.It demonstrates that this pathway plays a role in pain transmission or regulation.

OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical efficacy of Erdong Xiaoke Formula in the treatment of type 2 diabetes dry eyes with yin deficiency and heat excess syndrome and its effect on serum interleukin 17(IL-17)and interleukin 1β(IL-1β),and to ex-plore the therapeutic mechanism of Erdong Xiaoke Formula.METHODS 110 cases of type 2 diabetes patients with dry eyes of yin deficiency and heat excess syndrome from Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine were enrolled and randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,55 cases each.5 cases dropped out of the treatment group and 4 cases dropped out of the control group.The control group was given a basic hypoglycemic regimen combined with topical sodium hyaluronate eye drops.The treatment group was given Erdong Xiaoke Formula in addition to the treatment in the control group.The treatment course for both groups was 4 weeks.Changes in TCM syndrome scores of the two groups of patients were observed before and after treatment,and the clinical effica-cy of TCM was evaluated.Blood glucose and pancreatic islet function-related indicators[fasting blood glucose(FBG),fasting insulin(FINS),fasting C-peptide(FCP),postprandial 2 h blood glucose(PBG),insulin secretion function index(HOMA-β),insulin re-sistance index(HOMA)-IR)],ocular surface indicators[tear break up time(BUT),corneal sodium fluorescein staining(FL),Schirmer Ⅰ test(SⅠT)],and inflammation-related indicators(IL-17,IL-1β)were detected.The occurrence of adverse reactions in the two groups of patients was observed during the treatment period.RESULTS After treatment,the total scores of TCM syn-dromes in both groups were significantly reduced(P＜0.01),the treatment group was better than the control group(P＜0.01),and the total effective rate of TCM syndromes in the treatment group was higher than that of the control group(P＜0.01);SⅠT and BUT of pa-tients in both groups increased significantly(P＜0.01),and the treatment group was better than the control group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);the FL of patients in both groups significantly reduced(P＜0.01),and there was no significant difference between the groups;the ser-um IL-17 and IL-1β of the patients in the treatment group decreased significantly(P＜0.01),which was significantly better than that of the control group(P＜0.05).There were no significant changes in blood glucose and pancreatic islet function-related indicators in the two groups before and after treatment(P＞0.05).During the treatment,no obvious adverse reactions were observed in the two groups.CONCLUSION Erdong Xiaoke Formula can improve SⅠT,BUT,FL and eye symptoms in patients with diabetic dry eye,effectively treat diabetic dry eye,and reduce ocular surface inflammation.Its mechanism may be related to reducing serum inflammato-ry factors IL-17 and IL-1β.

Background/Aims: Ubiquitination is widely involved in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by regulating various cellular processes. However, systematic strategies for screening core ubiquitin-related genes, clarifying their functions and mechanisms, and ultimately developing potential therapeutics for patients with HCC are still lacking. Methods: Cox and LASSO regression analyses were performed to construct a ubiquitin-related gene prediction model for HCC. Loss- and gain-of-function studies, transcriptomic and metabolomics analysis were used to explore the function and mechanism of UBE2S on HCC cell glycolysis and growth. Results: Based on 1,423 ubiquitin-related genes, a four-gene signature was successfully constructed to evaluate the prognosis of patients with HCC. UBE2S was identified in this signature with the potential to predict the survival of patients with HCC. E2F2 transcriptionally upregulated UBE2S expression by directly binding to its promoter. UBE2S positively regulated glycolysis in a HIF-1α-dependent manner, thus promoting the proliferation of HCC cells. Mechanistically, UBE2S enhanced K11-linkage polyubiquitination at lysine residues 171 and 196 of VHL independent of E3 ligase, thereby indirectly stabilizing HIF-1α protein levels by mediating the degradation of VHL by the proteasome. In particular, the combination of cephalomannine, a small molecule compound that inhibits the expression of UBE2S, and PX-478, an inhibitor of HIF-1α, significantly improved the anti-tumor efficacy. Conclusions UBE2S is identified as a key biomarker in HCC among the thousands of ubiquitin-related genes and promotes glycolysis by E3 enzyme-independent ubiquitination, thus serving as a therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors of constipation in patients with cerebral hemorrhage, construct a risk prediction model, and verify the predictive effect of the model to scientifically guide subsequent treatment and nursing.Methods:A total of 254 patients with cerebral hemorrhage hospitalized in Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical Collegefrom May 2022 to November 2022 were selected in a prospective cohort study, and they were divided into constipation group ( n = 150) and non-constipation group ( n = 104) according to whether constipation occurred. Univariate analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of constipation in patients with cerebral hemorrhage, and a risk prediction model was established and a nomogram was drawn. A total of 110 patients with cerebral hemorrhage hospitalized in the same hospital from December 2022 to March 2023 were selected as the validation group, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and ROC curve were used to verify the model. Results:In this study, four risk factors of hospital stay, Koubmwater swallowing test score, nutrition and diuretics were finally included to construct a risk prediction model, and the area under the ROC curve of the modeling group was 0.918, the 95% CI was 0.848 to 0.963, the optimal cut-off value was 0.7225, the sensitivity was 0.885, and the specificity was 0.837. External verification results showed a sensitivity of 0.926 and specificity of 0.611. Conclusions:The risk prediction model constructed in this study has good effect and can provide reference for clinical assessment of whether patients with cerebral hemorrhage have the risk of constipation.

Objective:To evaluate the role of glutathione S-transferase μ1 (GSTM1) expression in mild hypothermia-induced mitigation of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and the relationship with microglial polarization.Methods:Eighty clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8 weeks, weighing 260-280 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=20 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S group), cerebral I/R group (I/R group), mild hypothermia group (H group), and GSTM1 inhibitor + mild hypothermia group (IH group). The rat model of cerebral I/R injury was prepared using the filament occlusion method. The filament was removed to restore blood flow after the left middle cerebral artery was blocked for 2 h, and the rats′ brain and rectal temperature were maintained at 36-37 ℃ during the period. The vessels were only isolated and ligated without occlusion in S group. In H group, the entire body was wiped with 75% ethanol immediately after removing the filament, and the brain and rectal temperatures were maintained at 32-33 ℃ for 3 h, and the other procedures were the same as those previously described in I/R group. In IH group, GSTM1 inhibitor itaconic acid 8.6 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 24 and 1 h before developing the model, and the other procedures were the same as those previously described in H group. Neurological deficits were evaluated using a modified neurological severity score (mNSS) at 24 h of reperfusion, and then the animals were sacrificed and the brains were removed for observation of cerebral infarction (by TTC staining) and for determination of the expression of GSTM1, M1-type microglial marker inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and M2-type microglial marker arginase-1 (Arg-1) (by Western blot), expression of GSTM1, iNOS and Arg-1 mRNA (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) and contents of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Results:Compared with S group, the mNSS and percentage of cerebral infarct size were significantly increased, and the expression of iNOS and Arg-1 protein and mRNA was up-regulated, the expression of GSTM1 and mRNA was down-regulated, and the contents of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10 and TGF-β were increased in the other three groups ( P<0.05). Compared with I/R group and IH group, the mNSS and percentage of cerebral infarct size were significantly decreased, and the expression of iNOS protein and mRNA was down-regulated, the expression of Arg-1 protein and mRNA and GSTM1 was up-regulated, the contents of TNF-α and IL-6 were decreased, and the contents of TGF-β and IL-10 were increased in H group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Up-regulated expression of GSTM1 is involved in mild hypothermia-induced mitigation of cerebral I/R injury, which is associated with inhibition of microglial polarization toward the M1 phenotype and promotion of polarization toward the M2 phenotype.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum Betatrophin levels and metabolic parameters in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) .Methods:98 patients with PCOS (PCOS group) treated in Zhengzhou People’s Hospital from Dec. 2017 to Sep. 2019 were selected. They were divided into non-obese group ( n=45) and obese group ( n=53) according to BMI value; They were divided into non-IR group ( n= 21) and IR group ( n=77) according to HOMA-IR value; They were divided into non-hyperandrogen group ( n=24) and hyperandrogen group ( n=74) according to TT level; Another 90 healthy women were taken as the control group. The baseline data, lipid metabolism indexes, hormone indexes, glucose metabolism indexes and Betatrophin levels of the two groups were recorded. Pearson test and logisitc regression model were used to analyze the influencing factors related to the increase of serum Betatrophin level in patients with PCOS. Results:Compared with the control group, PCOS group had higher level of BMI, body fat, WHR, VLDL, LDL, TG, TC, FAI, TT, LH, DHEA-S, 17-OHP, FSH, FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR, while the HDL level was significantly lower. The difference was significant ( P<0.01). Serum Betatrophin level in obese group was significantly higher than that in the control group (163.99±126.97 vs 110.99±102.97), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=3.21, P<0.001) ; serum Betatrophin level in IR group was higher than that in the control group (160.26±136.80 vs 133.17±112.06), and the serum Betatrophin level in IR group was higher than that in the control group (173.51±147.85 vs 144.26±124.56), but the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Serum Betatrophin levels in PCOS group were positively correlated with BMI, WHR, TG, FAI, FBG, FINS ( P<0.05), and negatively correlated with HDL ( P<0.05). Logistic analysis showed that BMI, WHR and TG were independent factors affecting the increase of serum Betatrophin level. Conclusion:Serum Betatrophin levels of PCOS patients are significantly increased, and BMI, WHR, TG, HDL, FAI, FBG, FINS may play an important role in the occurrence and development of PCOS and obesity, insulin resistance, blood lipids and androgen metabolism disorders.

BACKGROUND: Cullin1 is a representative member of the Cullin family, and it plays an important role in the ubiquitination of cell cycle, transcription and signal transduction related proteins. Cullin1 is closely related to the occurrence and development of a variety of malignant tumors. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Cullin1 on biological function of lung adenocarcinoma A549 and H1395 Cells. METHODS: The expression of Cullin1 mRNA was detected by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction in lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549, H358, H1395, H1650) and human normal lung epithelial cells BEAS-2B, siRNA technology was used to interfere with lung adenocarcinoma cells with relatively high expression of Cullin1 mRNA; cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, early cell apoptosis, invasion and migration ability were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay (MTT), flow cytometry and Transwell experiment; Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), Cyclin D1, Cyclin E2, p21 and p27. RESULTS: Compared with the BEAS-2B cell, Cullin1 mRNA was highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma cells, especially in lung adenocarcinoma A549 and H1395 cells (P<0.05). The proliferation ability of lung adenocarcinoma cells was inhibited after interference with Cullin1, and the number of cells in G1 phase increased, the number of cells in S phase decreased, and the early apoptosis rate of lung adenocarcinoma cells is significantly increased (P<0.05); The invasion and migration ability of lung adenocarcinoma cells decreased (P<0.05). After interference with Cullin1, the protein expression of MMP-9, MMP-2, CyclinD1 and CyclinE2 decreased (P<0.05), while the expression of TIMP-1, p21 and p27 protein increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Interference with Cullin1 inhibits the proliferation, invasion and migration of lung adenocarcinoma A549 and H1395 cells, Cullin1 plays a role in promoting cancer in lung adenocarcinoma.

Objectives:To summarize the clinical and genetic characteristics of the patients with isolated methylmalonic acidemia and investigate the strategies for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention.Methods:Three hundred and fourteen patients (180 males, 134 females) with isolated methylmalonic acidemia were ascertained from 26 provinces or cities across the mainland of China during January 1998 to March 2020. Genetic analysis was performed by Sanger sequencing, gene panel sequencing, whole exome sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification or quantitative PCR. According to the age of onset, the patients were divided to early-onset group (≤12 months of age) and the late-onset group (>12 months of age). They were treated by cobalamin, L-carnitine and (or) special diet and symptomatic treatment. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test.Results:Fifty-eight of 314 (18.5%) patients were detected by Newborn screening using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Five cases (1.6%) had a postmortem diagnosis. Two hundred and fifty-one patients (79.9%) were clinically diagnosed with an age of onset ranged from 3 hours after birth to 18 years. One hundred and fifty-nine patients (71.0%) belonged to early-onset groups, 65 patients (29.0%) belonged to the late-onset group. The most common symptoms were metabolic crises, psychomotor retardation, epilepsy, anemia and multiple organ damage. Metabolic acidosis and anemia were more common in early-onset patients than that in late-onset patients (20.8%(33/159) vs. 9.2% (6/65), 34.6% (55/159) vs. 16.9% (11/165), χ 2=4.261, 6.930, P=0.039, 0.008). Genetic tests were performed for 236 patients (75.2%), 96.2%(227/236) had molecular confirmation. One hundred and twenty-seven variants were identified in seven genes (MMUT, MMAA, MMAB, MMADHC, SUCLG1, SUCLA2, and MCEE), of which 49 were novel. The mut type, caused by the deficiency of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, was the most common ( n=211, 93%) cause of this condition. c.729_730insTT, c.1106G>A and c.914T>C were the three most frequent mutations in MMUT gene. The frequency of c.914T>C in early-onset patients was significantly higher than that in late-onset patients (8.3% (18/216) vs. 1.6% (1/64), χ 2=3.859, P=0.037). Metabolic crisis was more frequent in mut type than the other types (72.6% (114/157) vs. 3/13, χ 2=13.729, P=0.001),developmental delay and hypotonia were less frequent in mut type (38.2% (60/157) vs. 9/13, 25.5% (40/157) vs. 8/13, χ 2=4.789, 7.705, P=0.030, 0.006). Of the 58 patients identified by newborn screening, 44 patients (75.9%) who were treated from asymptomatic phase developed normally whereas 14 patients (24.1%) who received treatment after developing symptoms exhibited varying degrees of psychomotor retardation. Conclusions:The characteristics of phenotypes and genotypes among Chinese patients with isolated methylmalonic acidemia were analyzed. Expanded the mutation spectrum of the associated genes. Because of the complex clinical manifestations and severe early onset of isolated methylmalonic acidemia, Newborn screening is crucial for early diagnosis and improvement of prognosis. MMUT gene is recommended for carrier screening as an effort to move the test earlier as a part of the primary prevention of birth defects.