ObjectiveTo investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of baicalein （BAI） on Parkinson's disease （PD） model rats by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. MethodsSeventy-two Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， BAI low-dose group （80 mg·kg^-1）， medium-dose group （120 mg·kg^-1）， high-dose group （160 mg·kg^-1）， and levodopa-benserazide group （51 mg·kg^-1）， with 12 rats per group. Except for the normal group， PD rat models were established by subcutaneous injection of rotenone solution （2 mg·kg^-1） into the neck back of rats in the rest of groups for consecutive 28 days. Concurrently， rats in all groups received corresponding drugs via gavage for 28 days. After treatment， behavioral changes were assessed by using the open field and pole climbing tests. Neuronal pathology and apoptosis in the substantia nigra were observed via hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL） assay. α-Synuclein and tyrosine hydroxylase （TH） expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. Inflammatory factors such as interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase （PERK）， activating transcription factor 4 （ATF4）， C/EBP-homologous protein （CHOP）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax） expressions were analyzed by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited significantly reduced locomotion distance （P<0.01） and elevated pole-climbing scores （P<0.01）， with increased neuronal apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， significantly enhanced α-Synuclein expression （P<0.01）， decreased TH expression （P<0.01）， upregulated release of inflammatory factors （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and increased protein expressions of PERK/ATF4 pathway proteins and pro-apoptotic Bax （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， medium/high-dose BAI groups and levodopa-benserazide group showed obviously improved motor function （P<0.05，P<0.01）， reduced pole-climbing scores （P<0.05）， decreased neuronal apoptosis （P<0.01）， downregulated α-Synuclein expression （P<0.01）， upregulated TH expression （P<0.05，P<0.01）， suppressed release of inflammatory factors （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and decreased protein expressions of PERK/ATF4 pathway proteins and pro-apoptotic Bax （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionBAI reduces the release of neuroinflammatory factors and neuronal apoptosis to improve the neurological function of PD model rats， and its mechanism may be related to alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis by regulating the PERK/ATF4 pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of baicalein （BAI） on Parkinson's disease （PD） model rats by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. MethodsSeventy-two Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， BAI low-dose group （80 mg·kg^-1）， medium-dose group （120 mg·kg^-1）， high-dose group （160 mg·kg^-1）， and levodopa-benserazide group （51 mg·kg^-1）， with 12 rats per group. Except for the normal group， PD rat models were established by subcutaneous injection of rotenone solution （2 mg·kg^-1） into the neck back of rats in the rest of groups for consecutive 28 days. Concurrently， rats in all groups received corresponding drugs via gavage for 28 days. After treatment， behavioral changes were assessed by using the open field and pole climbing tests. Neuronal pathology and apoptosis in the substantia nigra were observed via hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL） assay. α-Synuclein and tyrosine hydroxylase （TH） expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. Inflammatory factors such as interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase （PERK）， activating transcription factor 4 （ATF4）， C/EBP-homologous protein （CHOP）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax） expressions were analyzed by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited significantly reduced locomotion distance （P<0.01） and elevated pole-climbing scores （P<0.01）， with increased neuronal apoptosis rate （P<0.01）， significantly enhanced α-Synuclein expression （P<0.01）， decreased TH expression （P<0.01）， upregulated release of inflammatory factors （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and increased protein expressions of PERK/ATF4 pathway proteins and pro-apoptotic Bax （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， medium/high-dose BAI groups and levodopa-benserazide group showed obviously improved motor function （P<0.05，P<0.01）， reduced pole-climbing scores （P<0.05）， decreased neuronal apoptosis （P<0.01）， downregulated α-Synuclein expression （P<0.01）， upregulated TH expression （P<0.05，P<0.01）， suppressed release of inflammatory factors （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and decreased protein expressions of PERK/ATF4 pathway proteins and pro-apoptotic Bax （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionBAI reduces the release of neuroinflammatory factors and neuronal apoptosis to improve the neurological function of PD model rats， and its mechanism may be related to alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis by regulating the PERK/ATF4 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Severe stroke has high rates of mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to investigate the clinical course, causes of worsening, and outcomes of severe ischemic stroke. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter cohort study enrolled adult patients admitted ≤30 days after ischemic stroke from nine hospitals in China between September 2017 and December 2019. Severe stroke was defined as a score of ≥15 on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Clinical worsening was defined as an increase of 4 in the NIHSS score from baseline. Unfavorable functional outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale score ≥3 at 3 months and 1 year after stroke onset, respectively. We performed Logistic regression to explore baseline features and reperfusion therapies associated with clinical worsening and functional outcomes. RESULTS: Among 4201 patients enrolled, 854 patients (20.33%) had severe stroke on admission. Of 3347 patients without severe stroke on admission, 142 (4.24%) patients developed severe stroke in hospital. Of 854 patients with severe stroke on admission, 33.95% (290/854) experienced clinical worsening (median time from stroke onset: 43 h, Q1-Q3: 20-88 h), with brain edema (54.83% [159/290]) as the leading cause; 24.59% (210/854) of these patients died by 30 days, and 81.47% (677/831) and 78.44% (633/807) had unfavorable functional outcomes at 3 months and 1 year respectively. Reperfusion reduced the risk of worsening (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.12-0.49, P  <0.01), 30-day death (adjusted OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.11-0.41, P  <0.01), and unfavorable functional outcomes at 3 months (adjusted OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08-0.68, P <0.01) and 1 year (adjusted OR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.06-0.50, P  <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-fifth of patients with ischemic stroke had severe neurological deficits on admission. Clinical worsening mainly occurred in the first 3 to 4 days after stroke onset, with brain edema as the leading cause of worsening. Reperfusion reduced the risk of clinical worsening and improved functional outcomes. REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03222024.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Ischemic Stroke/mortality* ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Stroke ; Brain Ischemia

PURPOSE: To screen laboratory markers with predictive value in early spinal surgical site infections (SSI) that are diagnosed within 30 days postoperatively. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgical treatment for internal spinal fixation between March 2022 and March 2023 in our hospital were retrospectively studied. The inclusion criteria were aged >18 years, undergoing internal fixation surgery, complete medical records with >30 days of postoperative follow-up, diagnosis was made within 30 days postoperatively, and an informed consent form was obtained. The exclusion criteria were abnormal white blood cell count or neutrophil percentage in the preoperative blood routine and combined diseases that may affect the C-reactive protein (CRP) or procalcitonin (PCT) values, including lower respiratory tract infection, renal insufficiency, and liver disease. We collected patients' personal information, surgical information, and blood laboratory data, including CRP, PCT, lymphocyte-neutrophil ratio, platelet-neutrophil ratio, and routine blood tests on preoperative and postoperative days 3, 5, and 7, from these patients. These data were statistically analyzed to determine which laboratory markers were statistically significant. The diagnostic value and optimal diagnostic threshold of these laboratory markers were further determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were enrolled in this study, of whom 8 patients were diagnosed with early SSI. A total of 4 laboratory markers were screened, namely, CRP on postoperative day 7 (optimal diagnostic threshold of ≥64.1 mg/L, sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 76.5%, area under the curve (AUC) of 0.908), PCT on postoperative day 7 (optimal diagnostic threshold of ≥0.2 ng/mL, sensitivity of 87.5%, specificity of 94.1%, AUC of 0.967), lymphocyte count on postoperative day 5 (optimal diagnostic threshold of ≤0.67 × 10⁹/L, sensitivity of 50%, specificity of 95.9%, AUC of 0.760), and lymphocyte count on postoperative day 7 (optimal diagnostic threshold of ≤1.32 × 10⁹/L, sensitivity of 87.5%, specificity of 55.1%, AUC of 0.721). CONCLUSION We concluded that CRP and PCT levels on postoperative day 7 and lymphocyte counts on postoperative days 5 and 7 are useful markers in screening for early spinal SSI.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Middle Aged ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis* ; Surgical Wound Infection/blood* ; Procalcitonin/blood* ; Adult ; Aged ; Postoperative Period ; ROC Curve ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Spine/surgery*

Objective:To evaluate the role of interferon gene stimulator/long-chain ester acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (STING/ACSL4) signaling pathway in alleviation of oxygen-glucose deprivation and restoration (OGD/R)-induced ferroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells.Methods:The close juxial tubule epithelial cells of human renal cortex were selected and divided into 9 groups ( n=78 each) using a random number table method: control group (C group ), OGD/R group, OGD/R + 25 μmol/L ciprofol group (HC25 group), OGD/R + 50 μmol/L ciprofol group (HC50 group), OGD/R + 100 μmol/L ciprofol group (HC100 group), virus control (NC) group, OGD/R + NC group, OGD/R + ciprofol + NC group (OGD/R+ Cip+ NC group), and OGD/R + ciprofol + STING overexpression lentivirus group (OGD/R+ Cip+ OE-STING group). The OGD/R model was developed by subjecting the cells to O 2-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 4 h followed by restoration of O 2-glucose supply for 20 h. Ciprofol at a final concentration of 25, 50 and 100 μmol/L was added to the medium during OGD/R in HC25, HC50, and HC100 groups, respectively. The cells were subjected to conventional culture after infection with the control virus of the STING overexpression lentivirus in NC group. The OGD/R model was developed after the cells were infected with control virus in OGD/R+ NC group. In OGD/R+ Cip+ NC group and OGD/R+ Cip+ OE-STING group, the cells were infected with control virus and STING overexpression lentivirus, respectively, and ciprofol 50 μmol/L was added to the medium during OGD/R. Cell damage parameters included the cell viability and activity of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in supernatant. The oxidative stress parameters included the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH). Mitochondrial damage parameters included the mitochondrial area and branch length, content of mitochondrial 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and DNA expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (mtND1, mtND2) and cytochrome oxidase (COX-1). The ferroptosis parameters included Fe 2+ content and expression of STING, ACSL4, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) protein and mRNA. Results:Compared with group C, the activity of LDH in the supernatant was significantly increased, the cell viability was decreased, the ROS activity, MDA content, and Fe 2+ content were increased, the GSH content was decreased, the expression of ACSL4, cGAS, STING, NF-κB protein and mRNA was up-regulated, the expression of GPX4 protein and mRNA was down-regulated, the content of 8-OHdG in mtDNA was increased, the DNA expression of cytoplasmic mtND1, mtND2 and COX-1 was up-regulated, and the mitochondrial area and branch length were increased in group OGD/R ( P<0.05). Compared with OGD/R group, the cell viability and GSH content were significantly increased, the MDA content and Fe 2+ content were decreased, the expression of ACSL4, cGAS, STING, NF-κB protein and mRNA was down-regulated, the expression of GPX4 protein and mRNA was up-regulated, the content of 8-OHdG in mtDNA was decreased, and the DNA expression of cytoplasmic mtND1, mtND2 and COX-1 was up-regulated in HC50 group ( P<0.05). Compared with OGD/R+ Cip+ NC group, the cell viability was significantly decreased, the ROS activity was increased, the expression of ACSL4, cGAS and NF-κB protein and mRNA was up-regulated, the expression of GPX4 protein and mRNA was down-regulated, and the DNA expression of cytoplasmic mtND1, mtND2 and COX-1 was up-regulated in OGD/R+ Cip+ OE-STING group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Ciprofol may exert cytoprotective effects by alleviating ferroptosis during OGD/R in renal tubular epithelial cells by inhibiting STING/ACSL4 signaling pathway.

Cell-free biosensors are detection tools that involve cell-free protein synthesis and consist of recognition elements and reporting elements.These biosensors offer several advantages,such as the ease of construction,a significant specificity and a high sensitivity.By overcoming the limitations associated with cell survival and cell membrane barriers,cell-free biosensors can considerably reduce response times.This article reviewed the recognition and reporting compo-nents of cell-free biosensors,summarizes recent research advancements in their applications to such spheres of public health as environmental monitoring and disease diagnosis,and explores the programmability and logical analysis capabili-ties of these biosensors.Future developments in this field are also predicted.

Objective To explore the value of CT-based radiomics and machine learning in predicting the severity of community acquired pneumonia(CAP)in children.Methods The clinical and imaging data of 158 patients diagnosed with CAP in children were analyzed retrospectively.All patients were randomly divided into training set(n=110)and validation set(n=48)in a ratio of 7︰3.Radiomics features were outlined and extracted using 3D Slicer software,and feature selection was achieved using maximum relevance and minimum redundancy(MRMR)and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)algorithms.The construction of the nomogram model and the machine learning combined model was performed by combining clinical features and Radiomics score(Radscore),and its performance was evaluated and validated.Results The area under the curve(AUC)of the clinical model,the radiomics model and the nomogram model in the validation set were classified as 0.82,0.86 and 0.91,respectively.The AUC of the combined multi-layer perceptron(MLP),random forest(RF),and adaptive boosting(ADB)models were 0.926,0.934 and 0.917,respectively in the validation set.Conclusion Radiomics combined with clinical data is expected to be a novel predictor of the severity of CAP in children.MLP,RF and ABD machine learning algorithms can further enable model performance.

Objective To explore the value of a CT radiomics model in differentiating Xpert MTB/RIF-negative pulmonary tuber-culosis(PTB)from non-tuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease(NTM-PD).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 90 patients with Xpert MTB/RIF-negative PTB and 127 patients with NTM-PD.All patients were randomly divided into training set and testing set at the ratio of 7∶3.Radiomics features were extracted from chest CT images.Feature dimensionality reduction and selection were sequentially performed using the maximum relevance and minimum redundancy(mRMR)algorithm and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)algorithm.Clinical,radiomics,and combined models were constructed by multi-variable logistic regression.The area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was utilized to assess the model diagnostic performance.Calibration curves were used to evaluate model stability,and the decision curve analysis(DCA)was used to evaluate the clinical utility.Results The combined model had the highest diagnostic performance in both training and testing sets,with AUC of 0.90 and 0.86,respectively,which were higher than clinical and radiomics models.The calibration curve showed that the combined model had a good consistency between the predicted and the actual observations,and DCA revealed the highest clinical benefit.Conclusion The clinical-radiomics combined model has excellent predictive ability in differentiating Xpert MTB/RIF-negative PTB from NTM-PD,which can provide robust support for clinical diagnosis.

Objective:To evaluate the role of interferon gene stimulator/long-chain ester acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (STING/ACSL4) signaling pathway in alleviation of oxygen-glucose deprivation and restoration (OGD/R)-induced ferroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells.Methods:The close juxial tubule epithelial cells of human renal cortex were selected and divided into 9 groups ( n=78 each) using a random number table method: control group (C group ), OGD/R group, OGD/R + 25 μmol/L ciprofol group (HC25 group), OGD/R + 50 μmol/L ciprofol group (HC50 group), OGD/R + 100 μmol/L ciprofol group (HC100 group), virus control (NC) group, OGD/R + NC group, OGD/R + ciprofol + NC group (OGD/R+ Cip+ NC group), and OGD/R + ciprofol + STING overexpression lentivirus group (OGD/R+ Cip+ OE-STING group). The OGD/R model was developed by subjecting the cells to O 2-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 4 h followed by restoration of O 2-glucose supply for 20 h. Ciprofol at a final concentration of 25, 50 and 100 μmol/L was added to the medium during OGD/R in HC25, HC50, and HC100 groups, respectively. The cells were subjected to conventional culture after infection with the control virus of the STING overexpression lentivirus in NC group. The OGD/R model was developed after the cells were infected with control virus in OGD/R+ NC group. In OGD/R+ Cip+ NC group and OGD/R+ Cip+ OE-STING group, the cells were infected with control virus and STING overexpression lentivirus, respectively, and ciprofol 50 μmol/L was added to the medium during OGD/R. Cell damage parameters included the cell viability and activity of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in supernatant. The oxidative stress parameters included the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH). Mitochondrial damage parameters included the mitochondrial area and branch length, content of mitochondrial 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and DNA expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (mtND1, mtND2) and cytochrome oxidase (COX-1). The ferroptosis parameters included Fe 2+ content and expression of STING, ACSL4, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) protein and mRNA. Results:Compared with group C, the activity of LDH in the supernatant was significantly increased, the cell viability was decreased, the ROS activity, MDA content, and Fe 2+ content were increased, the GSH content was decreased, the expression of ACSL4, cGAS, STING, NF-κB protein and mRNA was up-regulated, the expression of GPX4 protein and mRNA was down-regulated, the content of 8-OHdG in mtDNA was increased, the DNA expression of cytoplasmic mtND1, mtND2 and COX-1 was up-regulated, and the mitochondrial area and branch length were increased in group OGD/R ( P<0.05). Compared with OGD/R group, the cell viability and GSH content were significantly increased, the MDA content and Fe 2+ content were decreased, the expression of ACSL4, cGAS, STING, NF-κB protein and mRNA was down-regulated, the expression of GPX4 protein and mRNA was up-regulated, the content of 8-OHdG in mtDNA was decreased, and the DNA expression of cytoplasmic mtND1, mtND2 and COX-1 was up-regulated in HC50 group ( P<0.05). Compared with OGD/R+ Cip+ NC group, the cell viability was significantly decreased, the ROS activity was increased, the expression of ACSL4, cGAS and NF-κB protein and mRNA was up-regulated, the expression of GPX4 protein and mRNA was down-regulated, and the DNA expression of cytoplasmic mtND1, mtND2 and COX-1 was up-regulated in OGD/R+ Cip+ OE-STING group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Ciprofol may exert cytoprotective effects by alleviating ferroptosis during OGD/R in renal tubular epithelial cells by inhibiting STING/ACSL4 signaling pathway.

Objective:To prepare domestic 64Cu-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraacetic acid- D-Phe1-Tyr3-Thr8-octreotide (DOTATATE), and to verify its distribution and preliminary diagnostic value in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Methods:DOTATATE was labeled with the domestic 64Cu to obtain 64Cu-DOTATATE. The lipophilicity, in vitro stability, and pharmacokinetics were studied. Biodistribution experiments and microPET imaging were performed on NCI-H727 (somatostatin receptor (SSTR)2 positive expression) tumor-bearing nude mice. The preliminary clinical applications were conducted on 10 NETs patients (5 males, 5 females; age (58.5±13.0) years) from Chinese PLA General Hospital between May 2023 and April 2024. Data were analyzed by using independent-sample t test. Results:64Cu-DOTATATE was successfully prepared with the radiochemical purity greater than 98%, log P of -2.609±0.051 and good stability. Pharmacokinetic experiments in BALB/c mice suggested rapid blood clearance of the drug (elimination half-time of 22.78min). Biodistribution results in tumor-bearing mice showed that 64Cu-DOTATATE was mainly metabolized through the liver and kidneys, with significant tumor uptake at 1h ((2.519±0.273) percentage activity of injection dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g)) and sustained high uptake at 24h ((4.331±0.549)%ID/g). MicroPET imaging of tumor-bearing mice showed a slight increase in uptake and good retention at 24h, with a significant statistical difference compared to the blocked group ((2.197±0.250) vs (0.985±0.064) % ID/g; t=6.40, P=0.008). The tumor/liver ratios were 0.075±0.007, 0.083±0.011, 0.118±0.005, 0.263±0.031 at 1, 2, 6 and 24h, respectively. Preliminary clinical application indicated that 64Cu-DOTATATE exhibited good targeting in patients, and the liver radioactivity distribution was moderate (SUV max=10.62±3.46), providing good image quality. Conclusion:Domestic 64Cu-DOTATATE PET/CT imaging is a promising imaging evaluation method in NETs with the value for further clinical research.