Objective:To study the characteristics of metabolites in lower resPiratory tract between coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients and dust exposure patients, and compare the differences of metabolites and their main metabolic pathways.Methods:From December 2020 to February 2021, through a prospective cross-sectional study, a total of 26 patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (metabolic group of coal workers' pneumoconiosis) were selected from the bronchoalveolar lavage treatment of coal workers' pneumoconiosis and dust exposure in the Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Department of the 920th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force during the same period. With 19 cases of dust exposure as the control group (dust exposure metabolic group), samples of alveolar lavage fluid were collected from 2 groups. Metabolites of the two groups were quantitatively analyzed by metabonomics technology, and the characteristics of metabolites and their metabolic pathways were compared. The metabolites with potential predictive value were screened by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) .Results:Through metabolomic analysis of alveolar lavage fluid in the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group and the dust contact group, a total of 28 different metabolites were screened, including trihydroxybutyric acid, alanine, ethanolamine, L-osan, proline (carboxyl), leucine, 2-hydroxyglutaric acid, proline, lactic acid, serine, valine and threonine in the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group. The levels of differential metabolites such as ornithine, isoleucine, threitol, glucose and lysine were higher ( P<0.05). The levels of different metabolites such as sarcoine, pelanoic acid, palmitic acid, heptadecanoic acid, n-butylamine, tetradecanoic acid, isobutylamine, aminoadipic acid, phosphate, uracil and cytosine were higher in the dust exposure group ( P<0.05). Two major metabolic pathways include glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, biotin metabolism, and aminoacyl biosynthesis metabolism. Among the 17 metabolites increased in the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group, the AUC of threitol and lactic acid was greater than 0.8, and the specificity and sensitivity of the working characteristic curves of the two metabolites were 80% and 70%, respectively. Conclusion:There were significant differences in the metabolites of lower respiratory tract between patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis and those exposed to dust, and the differences were related to multiple metabolic pathways. Threitol and lactic acid may have potential predictive value for pneumoconiosis.

Objective:To study the characteristics of metabolites in lower resPiratory tract between coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients and dust exposure patients, and compare the differences of metabolites and their main metabolic pathways.Methods:From December 2020 to February 2021, through a prospective cross-sectional study, a total of 26 patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (metabolic group of coal workers' pneumoconiosis) were selected from the bronchoalveolar lavage treatment of coal workers' pneumoconiosis and dust exposure in the Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Department of the 920th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force during the same period. With 19 cases of dust exposure as the control group (dust exposure metabolic group), samples of alveolar lavage fluid were collected from 2 groups. Metabolites of the two groups were quantitatively analyzed by metabonomics technology, and the characteristics of metabolites and their metabolic pathways were compared. The metabolites with potential predictive value were screened by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) .Results:Through metabolomic analysis of alveolar lavage fluid in the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group and the dust contact group, a total of 28 different metabolites were screened, including trihydroxybutyric acid, alanine, ethanolamine, L-osan, proline (carboxyl), leucine, 2-hydroxyglutaric acid, proline, lactic acid, serine, valine and threonine in the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group. The levels of differential metabolites such as ornithine, isoleucine, threitol, glucose and lysine were higher ( P<0.05). The levels of different metabolites such as sarcoine, pelanoic acid, palmitic acid, heptadecanoic acid, n-butylamine, tetradecanoic acid, isobutylamine, aminoadipic acid, phosphate, uracil and cytosine were higher in the dust exposure group ( P<0.05). Two major metabolic pathways include glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, biotin metabolism, and aminoacyl biosynthesis metabolism. Among the 17 metabolites increased in the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group, the AUC of threitol and lactic acid was greater than 0.8, and the specificity and sensitivity of the working characteristic curves of the two metabolites were 80% and 70%, respectively. Conclusion:There were significant differences in the metabolites of lower respiratory tract between patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis and those exposed to dust, and the differences were related to multiple metabolic pathways. Threitol and lactic acid may have potential predictive value for pneumoconiosis.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the learning and memory function of offspring rats exposed to sevoflurane in late-pregnancy.Methods:Thirty-two SPF healthy Sprague-Dawley pregnant rats at gestational day 18, weighing 260-280 g, were assigned to 4 groups ( n=8 each) using a random number table method: control group (C group), sevoflurane group (Sev group), EA group and sham EA group (SEA group). Sev, SEA and EA groups inhaled 2.5% sevoflurane in 50% oxygen for 6 h. In EA group, Shenting, Baihui, bilateral Quchi, and bilateral Zusanli points were stimulated with an electric stimulator (disperse-dense waves, frequency 2/6 Hz, intensity 1 mA, 20 min per day for 7 consecutive days) starting on postnatal day 21, EA was performed again for 7 days after an interval of 1 day, and the EA treatment lasted for a total of 14 days. Moriss water maze test was performed at 36 days of age to detect the spatial learning and memory function. The offspring rats were sacrificed on postnatal day 42, and the hippocampal tissues were removed for calculation of the dendritic spine density of neurons (after Golgi staining) and for determination of the apoptosis rate (using flow cytometry) and the expression of the two primary forms of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), mature (mBDNF) and pro (proBDNF), mBDNF/proBDNF ratio, tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) (by Western blot). The mBDNF/proBDNF ratio was calculated. Results:Compared with C group, the escape latency was significantly prolonged, the time of staying at the target platform quadrant was shortened, the frequency of crossing the original platform was reduced, the dendritic spine density of hippocampal neurons and mBDNF/proBDNF ratio were decreased, the expression of TrkB was down-regulated, and the expression of p75NTR was up-regulated in Sev groups ( P<0.05). Compared with the offspring rats of Sev and SEA groups, the escape latency was significantly shortened, the time of staying at the target platform quadrant was prolonged, the frequency of crossing the original platform was increased, the dendritic spine density of hippocampal neurons and mBDNF/proBDNF ratio were increased, the expression of TrkB was up-regulated, and the expression of p75NTR was down-regulated in the offspring rats of EA group ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the aforementioned parameters in the offspring rats of SEA group ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons among the offspring rats of the four groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:EA can improve the learning and memory function of offspring rats exposed to sevoflurane in late-pregnancy, and the mechanism may be related to promoting the conversion of proBDNF to mBDNF and improving neuronal development.

Objective To analyze in elderly type 2 diabetes (diabetes mellitus type 2, T2DM) combined high homocysteine levels (Hyperhomocysteinemia, HHcy) clinical characteristics and dietary factors, provide theoretical basis for T2DM combined HHcy patient's diagnosis and treatment. Methods A total of 186 elderly T2DM patients admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were selected and divided into control group (without HHcy) and observation group (with HHcy) according to whether the patients were complicated with HHcy. The age, gender, body mass index (BMI), mean course of disease, SBP, fasting blood glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, whether complicated with carotid plaque were compared between the two groups. Univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the dietary factors affecting HHcy in T2DM patients. Results Among the 186 T2DM patients, 47 (25.27%) had HHcy. The serum Hcy level in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The age, mean disease duration, levels of FPG, HbA1c, LDL-C and the proportion of carotid plaque in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in gender, BMI, TG, SBP and visceral fat area between the two groups(P>0.05). In terms of dietary factors , there were significant differences between the two groups in daily vegetable intake, daily meat intake, daily quantity of soy products (P<0.05). Daily vegetable intake <400g (OR=2.873) and weekly meat intake <560 or >1050g (OR=3.652) were dietary independent risk factors for HHcy in T2DM patients (P<0.05). Conclusion The elderly T2DM patients are at high risk of HHcy, especially those with daily vegetable intake <400g and weekly meat intake <560 or >1050 g. Dietary adjustment should be actively adopted to reduce the risk of HHcy in T2DM patients.

Background: Domestic yaks are the most important livestock species on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Adult female yaks normally breed in the warm season (July to September) and enter anestrous in the cold season (November to April). Nevertheless, it is unclear how ovarian activity is regulated at the molecular level. Objectives: The peculiarities of yak reproduction were assessed to explore the molecular mechanism of postpartum anestrus ovaries in yaks after pregnancy and parturition. Methods: Sixty female yaks with calves were observed under natural grazing in Haiyan County, Qinghai Province. Three yak ovaries in pregnancy and postpartum anestrus were collected. RNA sequencing and quantitative proteomics were employed to analyze the pregnancy and postpartum ovaries after hypothermia to identify the genes and proteins related to the postpartum ovarian cycle. Results: The results revealed 841 differentially expressed genes during the postpartum hypoestrus cycle; 347 were up-regulated and 494 genes were down-regulated. Fifty-seven differential proteins were screened: 38 were up-regulated and 19 were down-regulated. The differential genes and proteins were related to the yak reproduction process, rhythm process, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway categories. Conclusions Transcriptome and proteomic sequencing approaches were used to investigate postpartum anestrus and pregnancy ovaries in yaks. The results confirmed that BHLHE40, SF1IX1, FBPX1, HSPCA, LHCGR, BMP15, and ET-1R could affect postpartum hypoestrus and control the state of estrus.

Objective:To evaluate the application high-resolution 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis of ligament and tendon injuries of the forefeet.Methods:From September 2014 to August 2020, 40 patients with forefeet injury (40 forefoot) and 20 healthy subjects (40 forefoot) meeting the including and excluding criteria were enrolled into this retrospective study. All subjects underwent MRI T1-weighted image (T1WI) and fat suppression proton density-weighted imaging (PD-FS) scan on coronal planes, sagittal planes and axial planes, respectively. Then the MRI characteristics of tendons in forefoot of healthy subjects and patients with forefoot injuries were compared. In patients the MR features of ligament and tendons injury were compared with the surgical findings or follow-up results.Results:In 20 normal subjects the tendons and ligament of the forefoot showed homogeneous low-signal-intensity on T1WI and PD-FS images. In the 40 patients with forefoot injuries, 22 cases were confirmed by surgical findings and 18 cases were confirmed by follow-up results. There were 8 cases of collateral ligament injuries, including 2 cases with complete tear, 3 cases with partial tear and 3 cases with sprain; 2 cases of extensor tendon with partial tear; 8 cases of flexor tendon injuries, including 3 cases with complete tear, 3 cases with partial tear and 2 cases with sprain; 3 cases of abductor tendon with partial tear; 13 cases of plantar plate injuries; and 6 cases of Lisfranc ligament injuries including 5 cases with complete tear and 1 case with partial tear. The injured ligament and tendons presented thicker and discontinuity in T1WI; and demonstrated heterogeneously increased signal intensity with edema in the surrounding soft tissues in PD-FS. The partially torn ligament and tendons showed discontinuity and thickening; and the completely torn ligament and tendons showed that they were interrupted and retracted, fiber structure disappeared and was filled with liquid, and edema in the surrounding soft tissue.Conclusion:High resolution magnetic resonance imaging of the forefoot can demonstrate the anatomy and features of ligament and tendon injuries in forefoot accurately, which has clinical application value for the early diagnosis and accurate treatment of the injury.

Objective To study the effects of schisandrin B (Sch B) on the apoptosis of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and its mechanism. Methods Cell counting reagent (CCK-8) was used to detect the effect of Sch B on the survival rate of MDA-MB-231 cells. MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with Sch B (10, 20, 40 μmol/L) for 24 hours. The cell death was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI. The levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by DCFA-DA fluorescent probe. Apoptosis and the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress related proteins (Bcl-2、Bax、CHOP、GPR78、PERK、p-PERK、p-eIF2α、eIF2) were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the blank group, the cell survival rate decreased significantly (P<0.01) with the increase of Sch B concentration, and its IC₅₀ was 19.16 μmol/L. Compared with the control group, Sch B groups (10, 20, 40 μmol/L) inhibited cell clone formation in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Sch B groups (10, 20, 40 μmol/L) induced apoptosis (P<0.05), significantly reduced the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and significantly increased the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax (P<0.05). Sch B groups (10, 20, 40 μmol/L) significantly increased the level of intracellular ROS in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Sch B groups (10, 20, 40 μmol/L) stimulated endoplasmic reticulum stress and increased the expressions of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins CHOP, GPR78 and p-eIF2α in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Conclusion Sch B induces apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells through ROS mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Objective To compare clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa different sources of β-lactamase-resistant phenotype differences,as to provide theoretical basis for guiding clinical rational use of antibiotics.Methods Isolation of 478 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected from clinical specimens in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January to December 2015,by VITEK 2 Compact bacteria identification and drug sensitivity analysis of advanced expert system for β-lactamase-resistant phenotype,statistical analysis of drug resistance phenotype and antibiotic resistance.Results 478 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were mainly composed of phenotype 5 and phenotype 3.Sputum,drainage fluid and bile duct bile specimens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were based on phenotype 5,accounted for 31.08％,34.71％ and 38.46％.Multiple comparison x2 were 3.893,4.071 and 5.595,There was no statistical difference between groups compare significance (P＞0.05).Urine,secretions and whole blood samples of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were phenotype 3,accounted for 34.88 ％,27.78 ％,45.45 ％;Multiple comparison x2 were 6.654,9.956 and 9.852.There was no statistical difference between groups compare significance (P＞0.05).Sputum,drainage of liquid,bile duct bile and urine,secretion,whole blood specimens respectively source of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant phenotype distribution of two comparative difference was statistically significant (x2 =15.056～22.050,P＜0.05).Comparing the resistance of different β-lactamase-resistant phenotypes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from different sources:the sputum specimen source in imipenem,meropenem,piperacillin and piperacillin/tazobactam had significant difference (x2 =22.225～39.025,P＜0.05).There was statistical significance in department of hepatobiliary surgery only ceftazidime and meropenem differences (x2 =21.890～22.872,P＜0.05).Conclusion The phenotypic analysis of β-lactamase-resistant phenotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from different specimens was different,which provided a theoretical basis for guiding the clinical application of antibiotics and the control of nosocomial infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

We investigated the pathogen of an outbreak of lung infection with unknown causes.By epidemiological analysis,we used real-time PCR,ELISA,gold dipstick,VITEK2 and MALDI-TOF-MS to identify suspicious bacteria.We made use of serum plate agglutination test to confirm the suspicious bacteria and the patient serum.We isolated 2 strains of Cryptococcus albidus from environmental samples.There has been specific agglutination between suspicious bacteria and patient serum.This pneumonia may be related to the infection of Ccryptococcus albidus.

Thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) is a thiamine (vitamin B1) derivative and an essential cofactor in oxidative metabolism of the sugars,fatty acids and amino acids in living cells.By now,numerous TPP-dependent artificial riboswitch systems have been developed to regulate target gene expression but limited in bacteria,fungi or plant cells.Herein,the activating (switch-on) and inhibiting (switch-off) TPP-depended hammerhead ribozyme switches,which are from previous reported structures of prokaryotes screening,were investigated in mammalian cells.These ribozyme switches were inserted into the 3'UTR of the enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) gene to construct the efficient ribozyme-based artificial switches through overlap extension PCR cloning.The HEK293 cells were transfected with the engineered ribozyme switches at increasing concentration of TPP.The EGFP gene-regulatory ability was analyzed with fluorescent microscope and flow cytometry.These TPP-inducible gene regulation devices showed the obvious ligand dose-dependency and excellent specificity.Two switch-on and one switch-off constructs demonstrated 3.1-fold or 1.9-fold increment and 2.3-fold reduction of EGFP level respectively with 150 μ mol/L TPP.The ligand-responsive ribozyme switches,by tuning the change of TPP concentration into the visual reporter genetic expression in cells,enable an efficient development of label-free,noninvasive and high-specific biosensors in living mammalian cells.