BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with common pathophysiological processes, such as inflammation and fibrosis, in both the heart and the kidney. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that drive these processes are not yet fully understood. Therefore, this study focused on the molecular mechanism of heart and kidney injury in CKD. METHODS: We generated an microRNA (miR)-26a knockout (KO) mouse model to investigate the role of miR-26a in angiotensin (Ang)-II-induced cardiac and renal injury. We performed Ang-II modeling in wild type (WT) mice and miR-26a KO mice, with six mice in each group. In addition, Ang-II-treated AC16 cells and HK2 cells were used as in vitro models of cardiac and renal injury in the context of CKD. Histological staining, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and Western blotting were applied to study the regulation of miR-26a on Ang-II-induced cardiac and renal injury. Immunofluorescence reporter assays were used to detect downstream genes of miR-26a, and immunoprecipitation was employed to identify the interacting protein of LIM and senescent cell antigen-like domain 1 (LIMS1). We also used an adeno-associated virus (AAV) to supplement LIMS1 and explored the specific regulatory mechanism of miR-26a on Ang-II-induced cardiac and renal injury. Dunnett's multiple comparison and t -test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Compared with the control mice, miR-26a expression was significantly downregulated in both the kidney and the heart after Ang-II infusion. Our study identified LIMS1 as a novel target gene of miR-26a in both heart and kidney tissues. Downregulation of miR-26a activated the LIMS1/integrin-linked kinase (ILK) signaling pathway in the heart and kidney, which represents a common molecular mechanism underlying inflammation and fibrosis in heart and kidney tissues during CKD. Furthermore, knockout of miR-26a worsened inflammation and fibrosis in the heart and kidney by inhibiting the LIMS1/ILK signaling pathway; on the contrary, supplementation with exogenous miR-26a reversed all these changes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that miR-26a could be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiorenal injury in CKD. This is attributed to its ability to regulate the LIMS1/ILK signaling pathway, which represents a common molecular mechanism in both heart and kidney tissues.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Angiotensin II/toxicity* ; Mice ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/chemically induced* ; Mice, Knockout ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Signal Transduction/genetics* ; LIM Domain Proteins/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Cell Line ; Humans

HDAC7, a member of class IIa HDACs, plays a pivotal regulatory role in tumor, immune, fibrosis, and angiogenesis, rendering it a potential therapeutic target. Nevertheless, due to the high similarity in the enzyme active sites of class IIa HDACs, inhibitors encounter challenges in discerning differences among them. Furthermore, the substitution of key residue in the active pocket of class IIa HDACs renders them pseudo-enzymes, leading to a limited impact of enzymatic inhibitors on their function. In this study, proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology was employed to develop HDAC7 drugs. We developed an exceedingly selective HDAC7 PROTAC degrader B14 which showcased superior inhibitory effects on cell proliferation compared to TMP269 in various diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Subsequent investigations unveiled that B14 disrupts BCL6 forming a transcriptional inhibition complex by degrading HDAC7, thereby exerting proliferative inhibition in DLBCL. Our study broadened the understanding of the non-enzymatic functions of HDAC7 and underscored the importance of HDAC7 in the treatment of hematologic malignancies, particularly in DLBCL and AML.

Objective To understand the prevalence and risk factors of hyperuricemia in electronics factory workers in Wuhan, and to provide evidence for the health protection of electronics factory workers. Methods A total of 1 415 employees in an electronics factory in Wuhan were selected as the research subjects, and the physical examination and determination of various biochemical indicators, as well as questionnaire survey were carried out. Results The detection rate of hyperuricemia among workers in the electronics factory in Wuhan was 32.43%, with 36.33% for men and 14.11% for women, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ²＝46.077，P＜0.001). The detection rate of hyperuricemia was the highest (33.77%) among those with university or college education, followed by graduate students and above (31.50%). Compared with subjects with good lifestyle habits, people with drinking habits had higher hyperuricemia detection rate (49.38%), and the difference was statistically significant (P =0.001). The detection rates of hyperuricemia in those with central obesity and elevated alanine aminotransferase were 48.23% and 61.29%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the subjects without the above diseases (26.91% and 27.21%, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant (P <0.001). Obese people had the highest detection rate of hyperuricemia (66.95%), followed by overweight people (43.75%), and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.001). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that alcohol drinking (OR=1.836, 95% CI=1.139-2.961, P =0.013) and body mass index ≥ 24 kg/m² (OR=2.175, 95% CI=1.686 -2.806, P <0.001) were risk factors for hyperuricemia in electronic factory workers. Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significantly correlated with hyperuricemia (OR=2.964, 95%CI=2.146-4.095 , P <0.001). Female gender was a protective factor for hyperuricemia in workers in the electronics factory (OR=0.441, 95%CI=0.297-0.653 , P <0.001). Conclusion The detection rate of hyperuricemia among workers in an electronics factory in Wuhan is high, and the detection rate of hyperuricemia in men is higher than that in women. Alcohol consumption, overweight and obesity will increase the risk of hyperuricemia. Elevated ALT is associated with hyperuricemia. Maintaining an ideal body mass index and establishing a good lifestyle play an important role in preventing hyperuricemia.

Objective: To understand the current situation and influencing factors of sexual assault among middle school students, and to provide a basis for promoting healthy psychosocial environment for children and adolescents. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 1 471 middle school students in one city of Sichuan Province from April to May 2020 using multi stage stratified cluster sampling. Results: The proportion of middle school students who have been raped, indecent assault and sexual assault was 1.6%, 3.7% and 9.4%, respectively. About 23.8% of them had suffered two or more types of sexual assault; 75.1 % to 82.1% of sexual assault occurred between the ages of 9 and 15. Between 36.3% and 62.3% of sexual assault subjects were acquaintances of the same generation. Pornography exposure was the same risk factor for the three types of sexual assault (rape: OR= 9.93, 95%CI =3.09-27.57; sexual obscenity: OR=7.83, 95%CI =3.95-15.53; sexual harassment: OR=5.22, 95%CI= 3.52- 7.73, P <0.01). Low gender identity was the same risk factor for both suffering sexual obscenity and sexual harassment (sexual obscenity: OR=2.37, 95%CI =1.31-4.29; sexual harassment: OR=1.73, 95%CI=1.16-2.58, P <0.01). The long term absence of mothers was a risk factor for suffering sexual rape among middle school students ( OR=3.10, 95%CI =1.31-7.30), as well as father s sex education was a risk factor for suffering sexual obscenity among middle school students ( OR=2.52, 95%CI = 1.26 - 5.03 )( P <0.01). Conclusion Pornography exposure is the same risk factor for all types of sexual assault among middle school students. Low gender identity is the same risk factor for indecent assault and sexual harassment. Sexual education capabilities of families and schools should be improved, and attention should be paid to the gender identity and sexual mental health of middle school students.

Objective:To analyze the cognitive dysfunction and its influencing factors in patients with multisystem atrophy(MSA).Methods:A total of 143 hospitalized patients with MSA in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2020 were selected as the research objects.The cognitive function was evaluated by Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)and Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)scales, meanwhile, the influencing factors of cognitive function were analyzed.Results:The average score of MMSE scale of 143 MSA patients ranged from 9 to 30 points, and the MMSE test identified 86 patients(60.1%)with cognitive impairment, including 58 cases(40.6%)with mild cognitive impairment, 27 cases(18.9%)with moderate cognitive impairment and 1 case(0.7%)with severe cognitive impairment.The average score of MoCA scale of 143 MSA patients ranged from 5 to 30 points, among which 111 cases(77.6%)had cognitive impairment, including 69 cases with mild cognitive impairment(48.3%), 35 cases with moderate cognitive impairment(24.5%)and 7 cases with severe cognitive impairment(4.9%). Both the total scores of MMSE and MoCA scores of MSA patients were not correlated with age of onset, old age, gender, disease duration, type of MSA(MSA-C), orthostatic hypotension(OH), urinary retention, positivity of anal sphincter electromyography(ASEMG), triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin, serum uric acid and residual urine volume(all P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that fasting blood glucose was a risk factor for cognitive impairment identified by MMSE( OR=2.224, 95% CI: 1.108-4.462, P=0.024); MSA-C( OR=3.905, 95% CI: 1.302-11.713, P=0.015)and TG( OR=3.494, 95% CI: 1.061-11.501, P=0.040)were risk factors for cognitive impairment identified by MoCA.There were no significant differences in above clinical characteristics between moderate to severe cognitive impairment patients and mild cognitive impairment patients identified by MMSE scale( P>0.05). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the above clinical characteristics between moderate to severe cognitive impairment patients and mild cognitive impairment patients by MoCA scale( P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that TG was a risk factor for moderate to severe cognitive impairment identified by MMSE( OR=17.624, 95% CI: 2.596-119.669, P=0.003), while TC was a protective factor( OR=0.006, 95% CI: 0.000-0.714, P=0.036). Logistic regression analysis did not find the influencing factors of moderate to severe cognitive impairment as suggested by MoCA score. Conclusions:There is a high incidence of cognitive impairment in MSA patients.The type of MSA(MSA-C), blood glucose and blood lipid may be influence factors of cognitive impairment in MSA patients.Age of onset, old age, gender, disease duration, autonomic dysfunction, and uric acid have no significant correlation with cognitive impairment of MSA.

Objective To understand genetic mutation sites in linezolid (LZD)-sensitive and inducible resistant strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using whole-genome sequencing,and realize mutation sites of LZD-resistant gene.Methods MRSA-MS4 with explicit genotype and whole-genome sequences was induced by LZD of different concentration gradients,LZD-resistant strain MRSA-MS4-LZD100 was obtained,minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) was detected,domain V of 23S rRNA and ribosomal proteins L3/L4 gene in MRSAMS4-LZD100 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR),the sequenced products obtained the corresponding mutation site in contrast with the wild-type strain;Illumina PE library was constructed through paired-end sequencing by Illumina HiSeq 2000 technique,and whole genome sequencing was completed based on bioinformatics.Results MRAS-MS4-LZD100 strain was induced after 32 passages,MIC of LZD was 96 μg/mL.Sequencing of PCR products indicated the genetic variations were G2447T mutation in multiple copies of domain V of 23S rRNA gene,and Gly113Val mutation in L3 protein respectively;the whole genome of MRSA-MS4-LZD100 contained 2 744 315 bp,annotation of the whole genome found a total of 2 509 genes,11 tRNA-encoding genes and 2 entire rRNA-encoding operons.The data were submitted to the PubMed,and the GeneBank accession number JXMJ00000000 was assigned;a total of 101 SNPs and 6 Small indels were found,16 of 101SNP mutations occurred in exon,of which the variant proteins with anmino acid sequence alterations included IstB ATP binding domain-containing protein,clumping factor A,IS1272 transposase and so on;3 of 6 Small indel mutations occurred in exon,of which the variant proteins with anmino acid sequence alterations included hypothetical protein,30S ribosomal protein S1,and clumping factor A.Conclusion LZD-resistant strain MRSA-MS4-LZD100 was successfully induced by LZD;beside 23S rRNA V domain and ribosomal L3 protein,the other mutant site exist in this resistant strain,which provide some direction for subsequent study of recessive LZD resistance mechanism.

Background Fungal corneal ulcer is a visual-threatening eye disease,and drug therapy has a limiting efficacy.Corneal transplantation or eye enucleation sometimes is necessary to the severe patients.Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) is an effective method for some corneal diseases,but the study on CXL for fungal corneal ulcer is lack.Objective This study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety CXL for fungal corneal ulcer.Methods Fifteen 8-week-old healthy New Zealand white rabbits were used in this study and other 5 rabbits served as normal controls.Fungal corneal ulcer models were established in the right eyes of other 10 rabbits by infecting sickle bacteria liquid after corneal scratching and removing corneal epithelium,then decellularized ostrich corneal patch covered the defected cornea.The models were randomly divided into the non-treatment group and the CXL treatment group.Corneal lesions were examined under the slit lamp microscope every day,and cornea was pictured by laser scanning confocal microscope on the 3rd,7th,14th,21st and 28th day individually after CXL.All rabbits were sacrificed and corneal tissues were obtained 4 weeks after treatment,and the collagen fiber diameter and fibrocytes were observed under the scanning electron microscope.Results Fungal corneal ulcer models were successfully established by corneal scratching and decellularized ostrich cornea covering.The gray ulcer lesions and hypbae like bean pod were seen by slit lamp microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope 3 days after modeling.Corneal ulcer deepened and expanded 1 week later,and there were a large number of spore and hyphae criss-crossing as short rod in shallow stroma.Inflammatory cells were observed in corneal endothelial cells and ocular anterior chamber.In the CXL treatment group,the range of corneal epithelial deficiency was less than that in the nontreatment group on the 3rd,7th,14th,and 21st (all at P＜ 0.05).The diameters of collagen fibers were (24.6± 1.8) nm,(24.9 ± 1.9) nm and (43.0 ± 7.4) nm in the normal control group,non-treatment group and CXL treatment group,showing a significant difference among the 3 groups (F =27.05,P =0.00),and the collagen diameters were thicker in the CXL treatment group than those in the normal control group and non-treatment group (t =5.40,-5.30,both at P＜0.05),and fibrocytes were seen among the collagen fibers.No significant difference was found in the collagen diameters between the non-treatment group and normal control group,and the fibrocytes were less in the non-treatment group.Conclusions CXL therapy can treat fungal corneal ulcer by enhancing collagen,promoting fibrocytes proliferation,suppressing fungus and inflammatory response and accelerating tissue repair.

Objective To investigate the feature of Th1 cytokines induced by Mtb-specific antigen in patients with refractory pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods 28 patients with refractory pulmonary tuberculosis,67 patients with first-treated pulmonary tuberculosis,and 25 healthy controls with positive T.spot (LTBI group) were enrolled.IFN-γ,IL-2 and TNF-α in supernatants from PBMCs stimulated with ESAT-6 and CFP-10 were analyzed with Bender Flowcytomix on flow cytometry.Results The levels of the three cytokines were utmost high in patients with first-treated pulmonary tuberculosis.The lowest level of IFN-γ and IL-2 were induced in patients with refractory pulmonary tuberculosis,and were significantly lower than the LTBI group(Mann-Whitney U ＝ 105.5,162.5,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The immunotherapy with IFN-γ and IL-2 may play a role in treatment for refractory pulmonary tuberculosis but not for most of first-treated pulmonary tuberculosis.