Objective: To investigate the effect of neurite outgrowth inhibitor extracellular peptide residues 1-40 (NEP1-40) combined with poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and gelatin electrospun fiber membrane on facial nerve repair in rats. Methods: According to the principle of random grouping, 108 male SD rats were divided into four groups (n = 27 in each group, approved by the ethics committee), namely, the sham group, control group, PLGA group, and NEP1-40 + PLGA group. A facial nerve fracture model was established for all of the groups except for the sham group. The control group received no further treatment, the PLGA group and the NEP1-40+PLGA group were supported by PLGA membrane, and the NEP1-40+PLGA group received one immediate local injection of NEP1-40 (5 μg/μL) at a dose of 10 μL. Facial nerve function analysis, electrophysiological examination, transmission electron microscope observation, HE staining, and immunohistochemical staining of myelin marker S100β and axonal marker β3-tubulin were used to evaluate the recovery of injured facial nerves of rats at 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Results : At 8 weeks, the facial nerve function score of the NEP1-40+PLGA group was better than that of the control group and PLGA group (P < 0.001), and facial nerve function was significantly restored. Electrophysiological examination of nerve action potentials at the injured facial nerve showed that the amplitude in the NEP1-40+PLGA group was higher than that of the control group and PLGA group (P < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in latency and conduction velocity results between the groups (P > 0.05). At 2, 4, and 8 weeks, transmission electron microscopy showed that the number of myelinated nerve fibers and myelin sheath thickness in the cross-section of the injured facial nerve in the NEP1-40+PLGA group were greater than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). At 8 weeks, HE staining showed that the facial nerves in the control group had partially recovered, but the overall cell distribution was uneven and the boundary with surrounding tissues was slightly blurred. In contrast, the NEP1-40+PLGA group had a relatively uniform cell distribution and a clearer boundary with surrounding tissues. At 2, 4, and 8 weeks, the immunohistochemical results showed that in the cross-section of the injuried facial nerve, NEP1-40 increased the expression of neural markers S100 β and β3-tubulin, especially β3-tubulin, which was close to normal levels (P > 0.05) Conclusion NEP1-40 is beneficial for the generation of new myelin sheaths and axons at the site of injury, and it can promote the repair and regeneration of injured facial nerves to a certain extent, thus accelerating the recovery of injured nerve function.

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors for delay in healthcare-seeking, definitive diagnosis and identification in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Minhang District, Shanghai Municipality, so as to provide the basis for effectively reducing delay in PTB patients. Methods: Data of PTB patients in Minhang District from 2017 to 2022 were collected from the Infectious Disease Reporting Information System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The prevalence rates of delay in healthcare-seeking, definitive diagnosis and identification were analyzed, and factors affecting delay in healthcare-seeking, definitive diagnosis and identification were identified using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: A total of 4 214 PTB patients were reported in Minhang District from 2017 to 2022, including 2 802 males and 1 412 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.98∶1. The majority of patients were aged 25 to <45 years (1 664 cases, 39.49%). The prevalence rates of delay in healthcare-seeking, definitive diagnosis and identification were 36.81%, 30.21% and 38.09%, respectively. Delay in healthcare-seeking was associated with the year (2018, OR=0.708; 2019, OR=0.549; 2020, OR=0.670; 2021, OR=0.682), gender (female, OR=1.199), occupation (worker, OR=1.379; housekeeping service/housework/unemployed, OR=1.481), case identification route (symptom-based consultation, OR=11.159), and level of the first-diagnosed hospital (city-level, OR=1.528). Delay in definitive diagnosis was associated with age (45 to <65 years, OR=1.476), occupation (commercial service, OR=0.687; housekeeping service/housework/unemployed, OR=0.672), household registration (non-local, OR=0.820), case identification route (symptom-based consultation, OR=0.616), pathogen test result (negative/not tested, OR=1.903), and the level of the first-diagnosed hospital (city-level, OR=0.311). Delay in identification was associated with the year (2018, OR=0.785; 2019, OR=0.647; 2020, OR=0.790; 2021, OR=0.710), occupation (commercial service, OR=0.687), household registration (non-local, OR=0.848) and level of the first-diagnosed hospital (city-level, OR=0.560) Conclusions Year, gender, occupation, case identification route and level of the first-diagnosed hospital are influencing factors for delay in healthcare-seeking in PTB patients. Age, occupation, household registration, case identification route, pathogen test result and level of the first-diagnosed hospital are influencing factors for delay in definitive diagnosis. Year, occupation, household registration and level of the first-diagnosed hospital are influencing factors for delay in identification.

Objective: To investigate the correlation of chemerin levels in the serum and intestinal mucosal with in- testinal mucosal inflammation in IBS-D mice . Methods: A total of 128 female C57BL/6J mice were randomly di- vided into IBS-D group and control group , with 64 mice in each group . Wire Restraint Stress method (WRS) was used to construct an animal model of IBS-D . Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum and co- lonic mucosal chemerin levels in mice . Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe colonic mucosal in- flammation . Geboes value was used to evaluate the severity of colonic mucosal inflammation . Results: In the IBS- D group , the concentration of serum chemerin increased and reached the peak in the first week of the experiment ( t = 6. 538 , P < 0. 001) , and the concentration of colonic mucosa chemerin increased and reached the peak in the fourth week of the experiment ( t = 8 . 104 , P < 0. 001) ; in the first week of experiment , the colonic mucosa of IBS- D mice showed inflammatory reaction , which was the most significant in the fifth week (P < 0. 05) . Geboes score was ( 1 . 75 ±0. 50) vs (0. 55 ±0. 52) . Conclusion There is a temporal sequence between the elevation of serum and intestinal mucosal chemerin levels and the severity of intestinal mucosal inflammation , and it is hypothesized that the elevated serum and intestinal mucosal chemerin levels correlate with the onset and progression of intestinal mucosal inflammation .

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether auraptene (AUR) exerts a protective effect on acute diquat (DQ)-induced liver injury in mice and explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Forty SPF-grade healthy male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control group (Control group), DQ poisoning model group (DQ group), AUR treatment group (DQ+AUR group), and AUR control group (AUR group), with 10 mice in each group. The DQ poisoning model was established via a single intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg DQ aqueous solution (0.5 mL); Control group and AUR group received an equal volume of pure water intraperitoneally. Four hours post-modeling, DQ+AUR group and AUR group were administered 0.5 mg/kg AUR aqueous solution (0.2 mL) by gavage once daily for 7 consecutive days, while Control group and DQ group received pure water. Blood and liver tissues were collected after anesthesia on day 7. Liver ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatic glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were detected using WST-1, thiobarbituric acid (TBA), and enzymatic reaction methods, respectively. Protein expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), and activated caspase-9 in liver tissues was analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Transmission electron microscopy revealed that mitochondria in the Control group exhibited mild swelling, uneven distribution of matrix, and a small number of cristae fractures. In the AUR group, mitochondria showed mild swelling, with no obvious disruption of cristae structure. In the DQ group, mitochondria demonstrated marked swelling and increased volume, matrix dissolution, loss and fragmentation of cristae, and extensive vacuolization. In contrast, the DQ+AUR group showed significantly reduced mitochondrial swelling, volume increase, matrix dissolution, cristae loss and fragmentation, and vacuolization compared to the DQ group. Compared with the DQ group, the DQ+AUR group exhibited significantly lower serum AST levels (U/L: 173.45±23.60 vs. 255.33±41.51), ALT levels (U/L: 51.77±21.63 vs. 100.70±32.35), and hepatic MDA levels (μmol/g: 12.40±2.76 vs. 19.74±4.10), along with higher hepatic GSH levels (mmol/g: 37.65±14.95 vs. 20.58±8.52) and SOD levels (kU/g: 124.10±33.77 vs. 82.81±22.00), the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Western blotting showed upregulated Nrf2 expression (Nrf2/β-actin: 0.87±0.37 vs. 0.53±0.22) and HO-1 expression (HO-1/β-actin: 1.06±0.22 vs. 0.49±0.08), and downregulated Keap1 expression (Keap1/β-actin: 0.82±0.12 vs. 1.52±0.76) and activated caspase-9 expression (activated caspase-9/β-actin: 1.16±0.28 vs. 1.71±0.30) in the DQ+AUR group compared to the DQ group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION AUR attenuates DQ-induced acute liver injury in mice by activating the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Liver/pathology* ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/drug therapy* ; Diquat/poisoning* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; Apoptosis ; Coumarins

The enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection is a major factor restricting the development of animal husbandry. However, the abuse of antibiotics will lead to the antibiotic residues and emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The existing vaccines face challenges in stimulating intestinal immunity, demonstrating limited prevention effects. Therefore, it is indispensable to develop a new vaccine that is safe and suitable as a feed additive to activate intestinal immunity. This study constructed yeast-cell microcapsules (YCM) carrying the DNA vaccine against ETEC by genetic engineering. Furthermore, animal experiments were carried out to explore the regulatory effects of feeding YCM on the intestinal immune system and intestinal microbiota. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was selected as the oral delivery vehicle (microcapsules) of the DNA vaccine. The codon-optimized nucleic acid sequence of K88, the main antigen of mammal-derived ETEC, was synthesized, and the yeast shuttle vector containing the corresponding DNA vaccine expression cassette was constructed by DNA recombination. The recombinant strain of YCM was prepared by transforming JMY1. Additionally, the characteristics of the YCM strain and its feasibility as an oral vaccine were comprehensively evaluated by the fluorescence reporter assay, gastrointestinal fluid tolerance assay, intestinal epithelial cell adhesion assay, intestinal retention assessment, antiserum detection, and intestinal microbiota detection. The experimental results showed that the DNA vaccine expression cassette was expressed in mammals, and the recombinant strain of YCM could tolerate up to 8 hours of gastrointestinal fluid digestion and had good adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells. The results of mouse feeding experiments indicated that the recombinant strain of YCM could stay in the intestinal tract for at least two weeks, and the DNA vaccine expression cassette carried by YCM entered the intestinal immune system and triggered an immune response to induce the production of specific antibodies. Moreover, feeding YCM recombinant bacteria also improved the abundance of gut microbiota in mice, demonstrating a positive effect in regulating intestinal flora. In summary, we prepared the recombinant strain of YCM carrying the DNA vaccine against ETEC and comprehensively evaluated its characteristics and feasibility as an oral vaccine. Feeding the recombinant YCM could induce specific immune responses and regulate intestinal microbiota. The findings provide a reference for the immunoprevention of ETEC-related animal diseases.
Animals ; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli/genetics* ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism* ; Vaccines, DNA/genetics* ; Mice ; Escherichia coli Infections/immunology* ; Escherichia coli Vaccines/genetics* ; Capsules ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Female

Objective To analyse phenotype and genetic variation of two congenital hypodysfibrinogenemia(Fg)caused by compound heterozygous variants and preliminary investigate their molecular pathogenic mechanisms.Metheds The proband A and B and their family members(a total of 19 members in 3 generations)who visited the First Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University on 4 May 2023 and 20 May 2023 for"parkinson's disease"and"pre-bilateral eyelid excision"were enrolled for the study.Prothrombin time(TT)and fibrinogen(Fg)activity were measured by coagulation assay and Fg antigen(Fg∶Ag)was measured by immunoturbidimetric assay for the two family members,and Fg aggregation assay was catalysed using human thrombin.FGG gene was amplified by PCR and se-quenced directly.The variant sites were analysed using Chromas software.Multiple sequence comparison was performed by ClustalX-2.1-win software.Pathogenicity analysis of the variant sites was performed using bioinformatics software.The analysis for FGG protein model was performed using PyMOL software.Results Phenotypic results showed TT of proband A and B extended to 27.5 s and 26.1 s,and plasma Fg activity reduced to 0.6 g/L and＜0.5 g/L,respectively.Genetic sequencing identified heterozygous c.1129+62_65delAATA on intron 8 of FGG gene in the both probands,resulting in the formation of aberrant amino acids at p.γGly377-Gly388 and an early ter-mination codon at p.γTyr389 site.A heterozygous missense variant c.103C＞A(p.AαArg35Ser)was found in exon 2 of the FGA gene of proband A,and a heterozygous missense variant c.569A＞G(p.BβAsn190Ser)was found in exon 4 of the FGB gene of proband B.Compared to the control group,the both probands showed significant decreases in peak and rate of Fg aggregation.Multiple sequence comparison analyses showed that all the three variant sites were conserved.Three bioinformatics software predicted both the missense variants were pathogenic.Protein modelling analysis showed that the number of hydrogen bonds in p.γGly377-Gly388 variant region was altered,resulting in steric hinderance.Conclusion All the two types of compound heterozygous variants,i.e.,c.1129+62_65delAATA and p.AαArg35Ser,c.1129+62_65delAATA and p.BβAsn190Ser,have been reported for the first time in Chi-na and worldwide to date,and the three variants may be related to the reduced Fg level and function in the two pedigree.

Objective:This study aims to simplify the Brief Patient Experience with Treatment and Self-Management (Brief PETS) by creating a Chinese version of the Brief PETS and evaluating its reliability and validity in a population of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods:Following Mapi guidelines, the simplified Chinese version of the PETS scale was translated and culturally adapted. Simplified Chinese version of PETS and the Chinese version of the Treatment Burden Questionnaire (TBQ) were administered to T2DM patients recruited from community health centers in four regions of China between June and August 2022 by cluster sampling. Validity was assessed using content, construct, criterion-related, and discriminant validity, while reliability was evaluated using internal consistency and split-half reliability.Results:The Chinese short version of the PETS consists of 11 dimensions and 32 items, namely, medical information, medication, medical appointments, health management, medication side effects, diet, exercise, medical expenses, health care system, social roles, and physical and mental exhaustion. A total of 311 questionnaires were initially collected, with 289 valid responses finally analyzed after excluding ineligible surveys. The Cronbach′s α coefficient and the split-half reliability coefficient were 0.914 and 0.818 respectively. The content validity index (CVI) was 0.60-1.00, and S-CVI/Ave=0.84. Criterion validity showed that the total score of the Chinese simplified version of PETS was significantly correlated with the total score of TBQ ( r=0.804, P<0.01); discriminant validity was good ( P<0.01); nine male factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis, which explained a total of 75.28% of the total variance, and each of the nine factors fitted different themes in the existing conceptual framework of the burden of care for T2DM with good construct validity. Conclusion:The Chinese version of the PETS scale demonstrates good reliability and validity, and can comprehensively explain the treatment burden of T2DM patients in primary healthcare settings in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular pathogenic mechanisms of a family with hereditary factor Ⅶ (FⅦ) deficiency. METHODS: A family (3 generations, 12 members) with hereditary FⅦ deficiency, in which the proband presented with menorrhagia and was admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in April 2023, was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the family members were collected. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from all 12 members for routine coagulation tests and genomic DNA extraction. All exons and flanking sequences of the F7 gene were amplified by PCR and analyzed by Sanger sequencing. Thrombin generation assay was performed to evaluate the coagulation potential of the proband and her parents. Multiple online bioinformatics software tools were used to analyze the conservation and pathogenicity of candidate variants identified in the proband. The pathogenicity of variant was classified according to the Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants released by American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) (hereinafter referred to as ACMG guidelines). Homology modeling of the variant FⅦ protein was performed using homology modeling (SWISS-MODEL). Amino acid sequence alignment between wild-type and variant FⅦ proteins was conducted using MEGA v7, and spatial conformational differences were analyzed using PyMOL to assess the potential impact of the F7 gene variants on the structure and function of the FⅦ protein. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (Ethics No.: KY2022-R193). RESULTS: Coagulation tests showed that the proband's prothrombin time (PT) was significantly prolonged to 33.1 s, and both factor Ⅶ activity (FⅦ:C) and antigen (FⅦ:Ag) levels were reduced to 2%. Her parents, eldest sister, second sister, younger brother, and four children all showed mildly prolonged PT, with FⅦ:C and FⅦ:Ag levels approximately 50% of normal. Genetic sequencing identified compound heterozygous variants in the F7 gene of the proband: a heterozygous missense variant c.722C>A (p.Thr241Asn) in exon 7, and a heterozygous deletion variant c.1261_1261delA (p.Ile421Ser*fs75) in exon 8. Retrieval from domestic and international databases found no previous reports of the latter variant, suggesting it is novel. Familial co-segregation analysis confirmed that these variants were inherited from her father and mother, respectively. The thrombin generation assay demonstrated that the proband had a significantly decreased peak thrombin height (peak ratio: 29.5%), significantly increased thrombin lag time ratio and time-to-peak ratio (3.03 and 2.93, respectively), but only a mildly decreased endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) ratio of 90.7%. Online bioinformatics analysis indicated that threonine-241 (p.Thr241) in the FⅦ protein was not conserved, while isoleucine-421 (p.Ile421) was highly conserved. Both the p.Thr241Asn and p.Ile421Serfs*75 variant sites in the proband's F7 gene were predicted to be pathogenic. According to the ACMG guidelines, the p.Thr241Asn (PM3+PP1+PP3+PP4+PP5) and p.Ile421Ser*fs75 (PM2+PM4 +PP1+PP3+PP4) variants were both classified as "likely pathogenic". Structural analysis of the FⅦ protein indicated that the p.Ile421Ser*fs75 frameshift variant led to the substitution of Cysteine-428 by Alanine, preventing the formation of a critical disulfide bond between amino acid residues 400 and 428 present in the wild-type FVII protein. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants p.Thr241Asn and p.Ile421Ser*fs75 in the F7 gene are likely the genetic etiology responsible for the reduced FⅦ levels in this hereditary FⅦ deficiency family.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; China ; Factor VII/chemistry* ; Factor VII Deficiency/genetics* ; Heterozygote ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; East Asian People/genetics*