BACKGROUND: Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which are metabolites of arachidonic acid catalyzed by cytochrome P450 epoxygenase, are degraded into inactive dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Many studies have revealed that sEH gene deletion exerts protective effects against diabetes. Vascular calcification is a common complication of diabetes, but the potential effects of sEH on diabetic vascular calcification are still unknown. METHODS: The level of aortic calcification in wild-type and Ephx2-/- C57BL/6 diabetic mice induced with streptozotocin was evaluated by measuring the aortic calcium content through alizarin red staining, immunohistochemistry staining, and immunofluorescence staining. Mouse vascular smooth muscle cell lines (MOVAS cells) treated with β-glycerol phosphate (0.01 mol/L) plus advanced glycation end products (50 mg/L) were used to investigate the effects of sEH inhibitors or sEH knockdown and EETs on the calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells, which was detected by Western blotting, alizarin red staining, and Von Kossa staining. RESULTS: sEH gene deletion significantly inhibited diabetic vascular calcification by increasing levels of EETs in the aortas of mice. EETs (especially 11,12-EET and 14,15-EET) efficiently prevented the osteogenic transdifferentiation of MOVAS cells by decreasing nidogen-2 (NID2) expression. Interestingly, suppressing sEH activity by small interfering ribonucleic acid or specific inhibitors did not block osteogenic transdifferentiation of MOVAS cells induced by β-glycerol phosphate and advanced glycation end products. NID2 overexpression significantly abolished the inhibitory effect of sEH gene deletion on diabetic vascular calcification. Moreover, NID2 overexpression mediated by adeno-associated virus 9 vectors markedly increased insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and phospho-ERK1/2 expression in MOVAS cells. Overall, sEH gene knockout inhibited diabetic vascular calcification by decreasing aortic NID2 expression and, then, inactivating the downstream IGF2-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS sEH gene deletion markedly inhibited diabetic vascular calcification through repressed osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells mediated by increased aortic EET levels, which was associated with decreased NID2 expression and inactivation of the downstream IGF2-ERK1/2 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Mice ; Vascular Calcification/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Epoxide Hydrolases/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/genetics* ; Male ; Gene Deletion ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/genetics* ; Cell Line ; Immunohistochemistry ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/genetics* ; Mice, Knockout

Objective:To investigate the current situation of satisfaction with graduate education among recent medical graduates in China, and analyze the differences between different populations, and to propose countermeasures and suggestions.Methods:From June to July 2023, a self-made questionnaire was used to survey 16 903 medical graduates who had recently earned a post-graduate degree from 78 institutions about their satisfaction with curriculum sessions, practical sessions, research training, tutoring, and institutional management. The degrees of satisfaction with education among different populations were compared through the t test and analysis of variance with the use of SPSS 26.0. Results:The scores of satisfaction of the graduates with tutoring, curriculum sessions, practical sessions, institutional management, and research training were 4.44, 4.03, 4.02, 3.90, and 3.82, respectively. Satisfaction scores for individual dimensions were significantly higher for males, doctors, non-transfers, comprehensive universities, non-agricultural household registration, moderate-to-high annual household income per capita, parents with high educational levels, and parents with mid- or senior-level occupations ( P<0.05). Conclusions:There is room for improvement in students' satisfaction with medical graduate education. To improve the quality of medical graduate education, attention should be paid to key populations, education policies, school management, and tutoring to provide appropriate education for different students.

As a new clinical trial mode,decentralized & digitalized clinical trial(DCT)is based on digital health equipment and uses internet and artificial intelligence technologies to complete the screening,registration,randomization,intervention,evaluation and follow-up of subjects,which is helpful to improve efficiency and reduce trial costs.The DCT mode has been applied to evaluate the treatment and management effects of cardiovascular diseases such as atrial fibrilla-tion,heart failure,coronary heart disease,and hypertension,showing broad development prospects and application space.This article will provide a brief introduction to representative DCT in the global cardiovascular disease field,and look for-ward to the application prospects of this model,providing reference and guidance for accelerating the development of cardio-vascular DCT in China.

Objective:To understand the evaluation of graduate education quality by medical graduate supervisors in China, to identify the shortcomings of graduate education quality, and to put forward corresponding suggestions.Methods:From October to November 2023, a self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate the evaluation of school management, supervisor team construction, graduate training process, and graduate training results by 6 025 medical graduate supervisors from 37 universities in China. SPSS 26.0 was used to conduct t-test and analysis of variance to explore the differences in scores given by different supervisor groups for various aspects. Results:The scores given by medical graduate supervisors for school management, supervisor team construction, graduate training process, and graduate training results were (4.63±0.60), (4.59±0.62), (4.58±0.59), and (4.54±0.62), respectively. Supervisors who work in clinical medicine, aged 46-55 years, with 5 or fewer years of teaching experience, supervising master's students, instructing only professional degree students, instructing three or fewer students, holding a bachelor's degree as their highest degree, with the title of professor, holding an administrative position, and working an average of 8-9 hours per day on weekdays and 4 or fewer hours per day on holidays, gave higher scores on all aspects of graduate education quality ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The supervisors gave high scores on the quality of medical graduate education. It is suggested that the quality of graduate education should be continuously improved by optimizing school management systems, strengthening the construction of supervisory teams, and focusing on the process and results of graduate education.

Objective:To investigate the current status of and relationship between practice efficacy, professional identity, and anxiety among public health master's graduates.Methods:From a national survey on the satisfaction with education of fresh medical master's graduates conducted from June to July, 2022, we selected 461 master's graduates of public health with internship experience from 49 institutions. With the use of SPSS 21.0, we compared the scores of practice efficacy, professional identity, and self-rated anxiety by personal characteristics through t-tests and analysis of variance; and explored the mediating role of anxiety in the relationship between practice efficacy and professional identity through stratified regression analysis. Results:The public health master's graduates scored (3.47±1.23) points for anxiety, (3.92±0.88) points for practice efficacy, and (4.33±0.77) points for professional identity. The score of anxiety differed significantly by sex, the degree of being affected by public health emergencies/major outbreaks, and internship initiative (all P<0.05). The score of practice efficacy was significantly different by sex, the type of institution, the degree of being affected by public health emergencies/major outbreaks, and internship initiative (all P<0.05). The score of professional identity differed significantly by sex, the type of institution, major transfer, the degree of being affected by public health emergencies/major outbreaks, internship initiative, and internship duration (all P<0.05). Professional identity was positively correlated with practice efficacy ( r=0.652, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with anxiety ( r=-0.213, P<0.05). The stratified regression results showed that practice efficacy positively influenced professional identity ( β=0.782, P<0.001), and anxiety partially mediated the relationship between the two ( β=-0.104, P<0.05). Conclusions:Anxiety plays a mediating role in the relationship between practice efficacy and professional identity, suggesting that reducing anxiety can help enhance practice efficacy to promote the professional identity of public health master's graduates.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of modified biliary-intestinal anasto-mosis by pancreaticoduodenectomy and influencing factors of postoperative biliary leakage.Methods:The propensity score matching and retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopatholo-gical data of 165 patients with benign and malignant diseases around the ampullary who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy in the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from June 2014 to October 2020 were collected. There were 92 males and 73 females, aged (59±10)years. Of the 165 patients, 44 patients undergoing modified biliary-intestinal anastomosis within pancreatico-duodenectomy were divided into the modified group, and 121 patients undergoing traditional biliary-intestinal anastomosis within pancreaticoduodenectomy were divided into the traditional group. Observation indicators: (1) propensity score matching and comparison of general data of patients between the two groups after matching; (2) intraoperative and postoperative situations; (3) analysis of influencing factors of biliary leakage after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Propensity score matching was done by the 1:1 nearest neighbor matching method, with the caliper setting as 0.05. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Univariate analysis was conducted using the corresponding statistical methods based on data type. All indicators in univariate analysis were included in multivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis was conducted using the Logistic regression model. Results:(1) Propensity score matching and comparison of general data of patients between the two groups after matching. Of the 165 patients, 72 cases were successfully matched, including 36 cases in the modified group and 36 cases in the traditional group, respectively. The elimination of jaundice, preoperative reduction of jaundice and hypertension confounding bias ensured comparability between the two groups after propensity score matching. (2) Intraoperative and postoperative situations. All patients in the two groups underwent surgery successfully. The operation time, postoperative pathological type (lower bile duct cancer, pancreatic head cancer, pancreatic cystic tumor, chronic pancreatitis, duodenal cancer), time of no drainage fluid in the drainage tube around biliary-intestinal anastomosis were 371(270,545)minutes, 6, 12, 1, 2, 15, (12±7)days in patients of the modified group, versus 314(182,483) minutes, 13, 14, 1, 4, 4, (16±8)days in patients of the traditional group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( Z=-3.54, χ2=10.01, t=-2.34, P<0.05). Cases with postoperative grade A biliary leakage was 0 in patients of the modified group, versus 6 in patients of the traditional group, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.05). Cases with postoperative grade B biliary leakage, cases with postoperative grade B pancreatic fistula, cases with postoperative bleeding, cases with abdominal infection, cases with incision infection, cases with delayed gastric emptying, cases undergoing unplanned readmission were 1, 0, 1, 4, 1, 5, 1 in patients of the modified group, versus 0, 1, 2, 5, 2, 5, 2 in patients of the traditional group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( P>0.05). Cases with postoperative grade A pancreatic fistula, cases with overall complications, cases with Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ complications, cases with Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ complications were 6, 12, 6, 6 in patients of the modified group, versus 7, 14, 8, 6 in patients of the traditional group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( χ2=0.09, 0.24, 0.36, 0.00, P>0.05). None of patient in the two groups had postoperative grade C biliary leakage and postoperative grade C pancreatic fistula. (3) Analysis of influencing factors of biliary leakage after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Results of multivariate analysis showed that preoperative reduction of jaundice and traditional biliary-intestinal anastomosis were independent risk factors for biliary leakage after pancreaticoduodenectomy ( odds ratio=11.37, 12.27, 95% confidence interval as 1.76-73.35, 1.14-131.23, P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with traditional biliary-intestinal anastomosis, modified biliary-intestinal anastomosis within pancreaticoduodenectomy is safe and feasible. Preoperative reduction of jaundice and traditional biliary-intestinal anastomosis are independent risk factors for biliary leakage after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Objective:To grasp the distribution of fine antigenic epitope profiles of nucleoprotein (NP) and glycoprotein (GP) fragments of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and to clarify the value of dominant antigenic epitopes in laboratory testing of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF).Methods:In a minimal synthetic short peptide consisting of 8 amino acids was segmentally expressed by CCHFV YL04057 strain using a modified bio-peptide synthesis method from 2014 to 2021 in the laboratory of Xinjiang University, College of Life Sciences. Using CCHFV polyclonal antibody or monoclonal antibody 14B7 (IgM) or CCHFV-positive sheep serum as antibodies, the minimal antigenic epitopes (BCEs) with antigenic activity on NP and GP fragments were identified by immunoblotting, and the obtained BCEs with sequence polymorphism were spatially clustered with CCHFV from different regions using the neighbor-joining method to determine the combination mode of BCEs with geographical correlation of regional distribution, to explore its application in establishing serological diagnosis. A prokaryotic expression plasmid (pET-32a), an E. coli expression plasmid (pGEX-KG) and a prokaryotic expression plasmid with an incomplete glutathione (GST188) tag (pXXGST-ST-1) were used to construct and express six dominant antigenic epitopes of different peptide lengths on NP fragments, and an indirect Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was established. CCHF sheep serum identified by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was used as a control, and the specificity, sensitivity and overall compliance of the recombinant proteins with different peptide lengths of antigenic epitopes with IFA assay results were statistically analyzed. Results:CCHFV, NP and GP fragments had a total of 30 antigenically active BCEs, among which the core intermediate fragment NP2 (aa 170 th-305 th), which had a concentration of antigenic epitopes in the NP fragment, has 6 BCEs, and the NP1 (aa 1 st-200 th) and NP3 (aa 286 th-482 nd) at both ends have 9 BCEs; the Gc (aa 1 st-558 th) and Gn (aa 533 th-708 th) fragments of the GP fragment have 14 BCEs and a long antigenic peptide (AP) containing 15 amino acids, and the amino acid sequence homology of the NP fragment BCEs was 97.1% and that of the GP fragment BCEs was 89.1%. There was a significant difference ( P=0.0281, P<0.05). Among the 9 BCEs with sequence polymorphism in the GP fragment, 6 combined BCEs from GnEc1, GnE2, GnE4, GcE3, GcE6 and GcAP-4 (Ap) could cluster 15 CCHFV strains from different regions of the world into 5 geographical taxa, AsiaⅠ, AsiaⅡ, AficaⅠ, AficaⅡ and Europe. The constructs expressing PET-32a-NP (full length), PGEX-KG-NP2 (aa 170 th-305 th), pGEX-KG-NP2-1 (aa 235 th-275 th), PGEX-KG-NP2-1-1 (aa 237 th-256 th), pXXGST-1-NP2-1-2 (aa 250 th-265 th) and PGEX KG-NP2-1-3 (aa 260 th-276 th), six recombinant proteins CCHFV NP rabbit polyclonal antiserum (pAb) Western Blotting reaction positive, 33 sheep sera tested by IFA XHF as a reference, the sensitivity of the assay established by indirect ELISA using the recombinant proteins constructed from two fragments of NP2 and NP2-1 as antigens. The sensitivity, specificity and overall compliance were the best, with 73.4% (11/15) and 66.7% (10/15) for sensitivity, 100% (18/18) and 94.4% (17/18) for specificity, and 87.9% (29/33) and 81.8% (27/33) for overall compliance. Conclusion:CCHFV NP and GP are distributed with a high number of BCEs with antigenic immunoreactivity, among which the dominant antigenic epitopes are of high value in the laboratory serological diagnosis of CCHF.

Objective To investigate the effects of microRNA497 (miR-497) on the metastasis of gastric cancer and its possible molecular mechanism. Methods SGC-7901 gastric cancer parent cells were cultured in an ultra-low adhesion environment, and the anoikis resistance model of SGC-7901 cells was created after re-adhesion. Clone formation assay, flow cytometry, Transwell^TM test and scratch healing test were used to detect the differences of biological behavior compared with their parent cells. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was performed to detect the expression of miR-497. Western blot analysis was used to detect the changes of key proteins of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) related proteins such as vimentin and E-cadherin. Parent cells and anoikis resistant SGC-7901 cells were transfected with miR-497 inhibitor or miR-497 mimic, and CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation activity. Transwell^TM invasion assay was performed to detect the invasion ability of cells. Transwell^TM migration test and scratch healing assay was used to determine the migration ability. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expressions of Wnt1, β-catenin, vimentin and E-cadherin. By transfecting miR-497 mimic into the anoikis resistance SGC-7901 cells and inoculating them subcutaneously in nude mice, the changes in the volume and mass of tumor tissues were measured and recorded. Western blot analysis was used to determine the expressions of Wnt1, β-catenin, vimentin and E-cadherin of tumor tissues. Results Compared with the parent cells, the anoikis resistance SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells had faster proliferation rate, stronger colony formation, lower apoptosis rate, stronger invasion and migration ability. The expression of miR-497 was significantly decreased. After down-regulation of miR-497, the proliferation ability, invasion and migration ability were significantly enhanced. The expressions of Wnt1, β-catenin and vimentin increased significantly, while E-cadherin decreased notably. The results of up-regulation miR-497 were the opposite. The tumor growth rate, tumor volume and mass of miR-497 overexpression group were significantly lower than those of control group. The expressions of Wnt1, β-catenin and vimentin decreased significantly, while the expression of E-cadherin increased significantly. Conclusion The expression of miR-497 is low in the anoikis resistance SGC-7901 cells. miR-497 can inhibit the growth and metastasis of gastric cancer cells by blocking Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and EMT.
Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; beta Catenin/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Vimentin/metabolism* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Anoikis/genetics* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway/genetics* ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Cadherins/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics* ; Cell Movement/genetics*

Abstract: Objective　To explore the distribution characteristics of protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) in the proximal and distal lesions of liver tissue in patients with alveolar echinococcosis (AE), and to clarify the relationship between the positive nerve fiber density of PGP9.5 in the proximal lesion of liver tissue of patients with AE and clinical pathological features and biochemical indexes. Methods　From July 2019 to July 2022, 59 patients with AE who were hospitalized in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were selected, and their liver tissues at the proximal and distal ends of the lesion were collected, and their clinicopathological data and biochemical index information were collected at the same time. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the density of PGP9.5 positive nerve fibers in the proximal and distal liver tissues of 59 patients with AE, and to analyze the difference between the density of PGP9.5 positive nerve fibers in the proximal and distal liver tissues of patients with AE, and to further analyze the relationship between the density of PGP9.5 positive nerve fibers in the proximal liver tissues of patients with AE and clinicopathological features and biochemical indexes. Results　The nerves in the proximal lesion of the liver tissue in patients with AE increased, mainly distributed in the outer layer of the fibrous capsule enclosing the lesion, and no obvious abnormalities were observed in the distal nerves. The density of PGP9.5 positive nerve fibers in the liver tissue of patients with AE was significantly higher than that in the distal part of the lesion, with statistical significance (Z=-4.237, P<0.05). The density of PGP9.5 positive nerve fibers in the liver tissue of patients with AE was correlated with the increase of liver volume (Z=-2.632, P<0.05). Conclusions　The area of PGP9.5 positive nerve fibers in the proximal liver tissue of patients with alveolar echinococcosis increases, suggesting that PGP9.5 positive nerve is involved in the pathogenesis of AE, and its specific role needs further study.

Objective: To compare body composition of girls aged 10 to 15 years with or without onset of menarche in Nanyang, and to provide a reliable basis for effective adolescent health care. Methods: From August to December 2020 and from March to October 2021, cluster random sampling was adopted in 13 areas of Nanyang City to select 1 523 girls. Questionnaire survey and body composition (Japan Bailida MC-180) were conducted. Results: BMI, body fat percentage, trunk fat percentage, muscle mass and bone mass of girls aged 10 to 15 years in Nanyang City gradually increased with age, the water content in the body decreased with age. BMI, fat percentage, trunk fat percentage, muscle mass and bone mass in girls experienced menarche were higher, while water content in the body was lower than those without menarche. Significant difference in BMI between the menarche and without menarche of girls were found in those aged 11 to 15 years( t =2.07, 2.03, 2.43, 2.45, 2.52, P <0.05). Significant differences in fat rate, trunk fat rate, muscle mass and bone mass between the menarche and without menarche were found in girls aged 12 to 15 years fat percentage, trunk fat percentage muscle mass bone mass( P <0.05). Among girls aged 10, 14 and 15 year old, significant difference in body water percentage were observed in the two groups of girls with or without menarche( t =2.75, 2.35, 2.37 , P <0.05). Average age at menarche showed significant urban rural differences among girls aged 10, 11 and 14 year old ( χ 2=4.34, 3.45, 6.73, P <0.05). Conclusion Changes in body composition including BMI, body fat percentage, muscle mass, bone mass and body water percentage during the transition to menarche in girls is helpful to predict menarche in girls. Age of menarche is related to nutritional status, BMI, physical exercise, snack and beverage intake.