Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), whose etiology is influenced by genetic and clinical risk factors, considerably impacts women's quality of life. However, the genetic underpinnings in non-European populations and comprehensive risk models integrating genetic and clinical factors remain underexplored. This study constructed the first polygenic risk score (PRS) for POP in the Chinese population by utilizing 20 disease-associated variants from the largest existing genome-wide association study. We analyzed a discovery cohort of 576 cases and 623 controls and a validation cohort of 264 cases and 200 controls. Results showed that the case group exhibited a significantly higher PRS than the control group. Moreover, the odds ratio of the top 10% risk group was 2.6 times higher than that of the bottom 10%. A high PRS was significantly correlated with POP occurrence in women older than 50 years old and in those with one or no childbirths. As far as we know, the integrated prediction model, which combined PRS and clinical risk factors, demonstrated better predictive accuracy than other existing PRS models. This combined risk assessment model serves as a robust tool for POP risk prediction and stratification, thereby offering insights into individualized preventive measures and treatment strategies in future clinical practice.
Humans ; Female ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Assessment/methods* ; China/epidemiology* ; Multifactorial Inheritance ; Aged ; Risk Factors ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Case-Control Studies ; Adult ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Genetic Risk Score ; East Asian People

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the expression,function,and molecular mechanisms of ZNF384 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC),as well as its role in tumor progression and chemoresistance.Methods The expression of ZNF384 in ESCC cell lines and tissues was assessed using RT-qPCR.Correlations with TNM stage,invasion depth,lymph node metastasis,and prognosis were evaluated.In vitro assays were performed to examine the effects of ZNF384 on ESCC cell proliferation,migration,invasion,and chemosensitivity.Dual-luciferase reporter assays were conducted to determine the interaction between ZNF384 and FZD3,and to assess the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway.Results ZNF384 expression was significantly upregulated in ESCC cell lines and tissues(P＜0.01).Elevated ZNF384 expression was associated with advanced TNM stage,greater invasion depth,lymph node metastasis,and poor prognosis(P＜0.05).Functional assays demonstrated that ZNF384 overexpression promo-ted ESCC cell proliferation,migration,and invasion(all P＜0.01),whereas ZNF384 knockdown inhibited these processes and enhanced chemosensitivity to cisplatin(all P＜0.01).Mechanistic studies showed that ZNF384 directly bound to the FZD3 promoter,upregulated FZD3 expression,and activated the Wnt signaling pathway(P＜0.05).Overexpression of FZD3 partially reversed the inhibitory effects of ZNF384 knockdown on cell malignancy and chemore-sistance(P＜0.05).Conclusion ZNF384 promotes ESCC progression and reduces chemosensitivity through activa-tion of the FZD3/Wnt signaling pathway,suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target in ESCC.

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the expression,function,and molecular mechanisms of ZNF384 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC),as well as its role in tumor progression and chemoresistance.Methods The expression of ZNF384 in ESCC cell lines and tissues was assessed using RT-qPCR.Correlations with TNM stage,invasion depth,lymph node metastasis,and prognosis were evaluated.In vitro assays were performed to examine the effects of ZNF384 on ESCC cell proliferation,migration,invasion,and chemosensitivity.Dual-luciferase reporter assays were conducted to determine the interaction between ZNF384 and FZD3,and to assess the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway.Results ZNF384 expression was significantly upregulated in ESCC cell lines and tissues(P＜0.01).Elevated ZNF384 expression was associated with advanced TNM stage,greater invasion depth,lymph node metastasis,and poor prognosis(P＜0.05).Functional assays demonstrated that ZNF384 overexpression promo-ted ESCC cell proliferation,migration,and invasion(all P＜0.01),whereas ZNF384 knockdown inhibited these processes and enhanced chemosensitivity to cisplatin(all P＜0.01).Mechanistic studies showed that ZNF384 directly bound to the FZD3 promoter,upregulated FZD3 expression,and activated the Wnt signaling pathway(P＜0.05).Overexpression of FZD3 partially reversed the inhibitory effects of ZNF384 knockdown on cell malignancy and chemore-sistance(P＜0.05).Conclusion ZNF384 promotes ESCC progression and reduces chemosensitivity through activa-tion of the FZD3/Wnt signaling pathway,suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target in ESCC.

Objective To investigate the imaging features of ultrasound,CT and air enema in children with intestinal duplications,and to improve the preoperative diagnosis rate.Methods The imaging data of 22 cases with intestinal duplications confirmed by operation and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results Fifteen cases underwent ultrasound,in which 12 cases showed cystic lesions,and the cyst wall showed typical"double ring sign"and"Y sign".12 cases underwent enhanced CT examination,in which 11 cases showed cystic lesions,and the enhancement pattern of the cyst wall was similar to that of intestinal wall.8 cases underwent CT plain scan examination,but only 3 cases showed cystic lesions and no characteristic signs were found.3 patients of secondary intussusceptions underwent air enema,in which 1 case of recurrent intussusceptions was unsuccessful,and 2 cases still showed masses in the ileocecal region after successful reduction.Conclusion CT plain scan has low diagnostic value for intestinal duplications in children,and the combination of ultrasound and CT enhanced examination can improve the preoperative diagnosis rate.For patients with recurrent intussusceptions and successful air enema reductions,if masses are still seen in the ileocecal region,the possibility of intestinal duplications should be considered.

Objective:To observe any effect of environmental enrichment on depressive behavior and the expression of the neuroplasticity-related protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats subjected to chronic, unpredictable mild stress (CUMS).Methods:Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided at random into a blank group, a model control group, a no-music-environmental enrichment (NMEE) group and a music-environmental enrichment (MEE) group, each of 10. CUMS was induced in all except the blank group. After successful modeling, the rats in the blank and model control groups were housed in conventional cages for 21 days, while the MEE group received 21 days of environmental enrichment with music and the NMEE group was similarly housed without the music. After the intervention, all groups underwent a sugar water preference experiment, an open field experiment, and a forced swimming experiment. They were then sacrificed and hippocampal PKA, CREB, p-CREB and BDNF protein expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry and western blotting.Results:After the intervention there were significant differences between the model control and blank groups in their sugar water preference, the total distance of their open field activities, the central area distance of their activities, their time spent standing up, and the duration of immobility during swimming. Those indicators were also significantly different between the MEE and model control groups. The average duration of swimming immobility of the NMEE group was significantly longer than the MEE group′s average. The percentage the hippocampus positive for CREB, p-CREB or BDNF protein had decreased significantly in the model control group compared to the blank group, while those percentages in the NMEE and especially the MEE group were significantly different from those of the model control group. PKA, CREB, p-CREB and BDNF protein expression in the model control group was significantly different from that in the blank group, while those levels in the NMEE group were significantly higher than in the model control group on average. The levels in the MEE group were the highest of all.Conclusions:Environmental enrichment can significantly improve depressive behavior resulting from CUMS, at least in rats. Adding music to an enriched environment can enhance its anti-depressant efficacy. The anti-depressant mechanism of environmental enrichment may be related to its upregulation of PKA, CREB, p-CREB and BDNF protein expression.

Objective:To observe any effect of environmental enrichment on depressive behavior and the expression of the neuroplasticity-related protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats subjected to chronic, unpredictable mild stress (CUMS).Methods:Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided at random into a blank group, a model control group, a no-music-environmental enrichment (NMEE) group and a music-environmental enrichment (MEE) group, each of 10. CUMS was induced in all except the blank group. After successful modeling, the rats in the blank and model control groups were housed in conventional cages for 21 days, while the MEE group received 21 days of environmental enrichment with music and the NMEE group was similarly housed without the music. After the intervention, all groups underwent a sugar water preference experiment, an open field experiment, and a forced swimming experiment. They were then sacrificed and hippocampal PKA, CREB, p-CREB and BDNF protein expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry and western blotting.Results:After the intervention there were significant differences between the model control and blank groups in their sugar water preference, the total distance of their open field activities, the central area distance of their activities, their time spent standing up, and the duration of immobility during swimming. Those indicators were also significantly different between the MEE and model control groups. The average duration of swimming immobility of the NMEE group was significantly longer than the MEE group′s average. The percentage the hippocampus positive for CREB, p-CREB or BDNF protein had decreased significantly in the model control group compared to the blank group, while those percentages in the NMEE and especially the MEE group were significantly different from those of the model control group. PKA, CREB, p-CREB and BDNF protein expression in the model control group was significantly different from that in the blank group, while those levels in the NMEE group were significantly higher than in the model control group on average. The levels in the MEE group were the highest of all.Conclusions:Environmental enrichment can significantly improve depressive behavior resulting from CUMS, at least in rats. Adding music to an enriched environment can enhance its anti-depressant efficacy. The anti-depressant mechanism of environmental enrichment may be related to its upregulation of PKA, CREB, p-CREB and BDNF protein expression.

Objective:To investigate the prognosis and influencing factors in critically ill surgical patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 354 critically ill surgical patients who were admitted to 69 medical centers in the Chinese Critical Care Nutrition Trials Group -NEED database from March 2018 to July 2019 were selected. There were 247 males and 107 females, aged 58(46,68)years. According to the trajectory model of feeding intolerance change, 354 patients were divided into 3 categories as feeding intolerance, decreased feeding intolerance, continuous feeding intolerance, including 164, 49, 141 cases respectively. Observation indicators: (1) general situations of patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories; (2) treatment of patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories; (3) survival of patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories; (4) analysis of pro-gnostic factors in critically ill surgical patients. Measurement data of normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD, and one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between groups. Measurement data of skewed distribution were expressed as M( Q1, Q3), and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used for comparison between groups. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages, and chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Ordinal data were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test. Bonferroni correction was used for pairwise comparison. Group-based trajectory model was constructed according to Traj plug-in in Stata17.0 statistical software, and the optimal trajectory model was evaluated by Bayesian information criterion and average posterior probability parameter. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve and calculate the survival rate, and Log-Rank test was used for survival analyses. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using the COX proportional hazard regression model. Results:(1) General situations of patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories. Of 354 critically ill surgical patients, 257 cases underwent enteral nutrition and 97 cases underwent enteral plus parenteral nutrition. The acute physiological and chronic health score (APACHEII) was 17(13,21), and the sequential organ failure score (SOFA) was 6(5,8). The modified Critical Illness Nutritional risk score (mNUTRIC) was 4 (2,5), the number of complications was 2(1,3). There were 293, 55 and 6 patients with grade Ⅰ, grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅲ acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI), and there were 224, 17 and 61 patients who were treated with mechanical ventilation, continuous renal replacement therapy and vasoactive drugs, respectively. The incidence of feeding intolerance in 354 patients increased first and then decreased, reaching a peak of 25.42%(90/354) on the third day and 53.67%(190/354) within 7 days. Of 354 critically ill surgical patients, cases with no feeding intolerance, decreased feeding intolerance, continuous feeding intolerance had the APACHE Ⅱ as 16(12,20), 17(14,25), 18(13,22), mNUTRIC as 3(2,5), 4(3,6), 4(3,5), the number of complications as 2(1,2), 2(2,3), 2(2,3). There were 152, 27, 114 cases with grade Ⅰ AGI, 12, 22, 27 cases with grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ AGI, 95, 39, 90 cases with mechanical ventilation. There were significant differences in the above indicators among the three groups ( H=6.14, 13.11, 28.05, χ2=37.96, 7.65, P< 0.05). Further analysis showed that compared with patients with no feeding intolerance, patients with decreased feeding intolerance and continuous feeding intolerance had the higher number of complications and grade of AGI ( Z=60.32, 54.69, χ2=39.72, 9.52, P<0.05), patients with decreased feeding intolerance had the higher mNUTRIC scores and ratio of mechanical ventilation ( Z=53.41, χ2=7.59, P<0.05). (2) Treatment of patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories. Cases with prokinetic drugs use and post-pyloric feeding were 36, 13 of patients with no feeding intolerance, 25 and 10 of patients with decreased feeding intolerance, 46 and 19 of patients with continuous feeding intolerance, respectively, showing significant differences in the above indicators among the three groups ( χ2=15.76, 6.20, P<0.05). Further analysis showed that compared with patients with no feeding intolerance, patients with decreased feeding intolerance had higher ratio of prokinetic drugs use and ratio of post-pyloric feeding ( χ2=15.60, 6.10, P<0.05). (3) Survival of patients of different feeding intolerance trajectories. The 28-day overall survival rates of patients with no feeding intolerance, decreased feeding intolerance, and continued feeding intolerance were 96.96%, 95.92%, and 87.94%, respectively, showing a significant difference ( χ2=10.39, P<0.05). Further analysis showed a significant difference between patents with no feeding intolerance and patients with continuous feeding intolerance ( χ2=9.19, P<0.05). (4) Analysis of prognostic factors in critically ill surgical patients. Multivariate analysis showed that continuous feeding intolerance was an independent risk factor for 28-day death in critically ill surgical patients ( hazard ratio=3.92, 95% confidence interval as 1.43-10.79, P<0.05). Conclusion:For surgical critically ill patients, patients with continuous feeding intolerance have a higher 28-day mortality than patients with no feeding intolerance, and the continuous feeding intolerance is an independent risk factor for 28-day death in critically ill surgical patients.

BACKGROUND: Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are a small subset of cells in tumors that exhibit self-renewal and differentiation properties. CSCs play a vital role in tumor formation, progression, relapse, and therapeutic resistance. B7-H3, an immunoregulatory protein, has many protumor functions. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying the role of B7-H3 in regulating gastric cancer (GC) stemness. Our study aimed to explore the impacts of B7-H3 on GC stemness and its underlying mechanism. METHODS: GC stemness influenced by B7-H3 was detected both in vitro and in vivo . The expression of stemness-related markers was examined by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and flow cytometry. Sphere formation assay was used to detect the sphere-forming ability. The underlying regulatory mechanism of B7-H3 on the stemness of GC was investigated by mass spectrometry and subsequent validation experiments. The signaling pathway (Protein kinase B [Akt]/Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 [Nrf2] pathway) of B7-H3 on the regulation of glutathione (GSH) metabolism was examined by Western blotting assay. Multi-color immunohistochemistry (mIHC) was used to detect the expression of B7-H3, cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), and Nrf2 on human GC tissues. Student's t -test was used to compare the difference between two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between two molecules. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. RESULTS: B7-H3 knockdown suppressed the stemness of GC cells both in vitro and in vivo . Mass spectrometric analysis showed the downregulation of GSH metabolism in short hairpin B7-H3 GC cells, which was further confirmed by the experimental results. Meanwhile, stemness characteristics in B7-H3 overexpressing cells were suppressed after the inhibition of GSH metabolism. Furthermore, Western blotting suggested that B7-H3-induced activation of GSH metabolism occurred through the AKT/Nrf2 pathway, and inhibition of AKT signaling pathway could suppress not only GSH metabolism but also GC stemness. mIHC showed that B7-H3 was highly expressed in GC tissues and was positively correlated with the expression of CD44 and Nrf2. Importantly, GC patients with high expression of B7-H3, CD44, and Nrf2 had worse prognosis ( P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS B7-H3 has a regulatory effect on GC stemness and the regulatory effect is achieved through the AKT/Nrf2/GSH pathway. Inhibiting B7-H3 expression may be a new therapeutic strategy against GC.
Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms

Objective To explore the early predictors of the development of the novel coronavirus infection(COVID-19)into severe and critical forms.Methods COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the Department of Intensive Care Medicine,Infection ward,Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from December 2022 to March 2023 were selected as the study objects,and were divided into mild/medium group,severe group,and critical group according to the severity of illness during hospitalization.General clinical data and early laboratory results of the three groups were collected and compared.Results A total of 242 patients with novel coronavirus infection were included,including 117 mild/medium patients,55 severe patients,and 70 critically severe patients.There were 165 males and 77 females with a median age of 70(59,80)years.The age,sex,diabetes,heart disease,stroke,combined pneumonia,combined bloodstream infection,APACHE Ⅱ score,respiratory rate on admission,systolic blood pressure,and early white blood cell count(WBC),lymphocyte count(LYM),urea,creatinine,albumin,C-reactive protein,D-dimer,interleukin-6(IL-6),and calcium reduction of patients in the three groups had significant(all P<0.05).Ordered logistic regression shows,previous heart disease,stroke,combined bloodstream infection,WBC,high IL-6 level,and low LYM level were independent risk factors for severe and critical COVID-19 infection[odds ratio(OR)and 95%confidence interval(95%CI)were 3.253(1.694～6.246),5.251(2.378～11.592),respectively.6.920(2.499～19.189),1.111(1.041～1.186),1.003(1.001～1.006),0.571(0.353～0.926)].ROC curve analysis showed that WBC,LYM,IL-6 and their combined detection had certain predictive value for the severity of COVID-19(all P<0.05),and the combined detection of WBC,LYM and IL-6 had better predictive value than a single indicator(P<0.05).Conclusion Previous heart disease,cerebrovascular disease,early combination of bloodstream infection,high levels of IL-6,white blood cell count,and low lymphocyte levels at admission were independent risk factors that helped to predict the severity of COVID-19 infection early.The combined detection of WBC,LYM and IL-6 has certain predictive value for the development of severe and critical COVID-19.