Objective:To investigate the effect of nefazodone on excessive activation of microglia and its regulatory mechanism, as well as its effect on neurological injury in mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).Methods:(1) BV2 cell line was routinely cultured in vitro, and primary microglia from the cortex of neonatal C57BL/6J mice were cultured. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was employed to assess the effects of nefazodone (0, 10, 20, 30, 50 μmol/L) on viability of BV2 cells and primary microglia to determine the working concentration. BV2 cells and primary microglia were divided into a normal control group, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, and a nefazodone group; cells in the nefazodone group were pretreated with 20 μmol/L nefazodone for 2 h; cells in the LPS group and nefazodone group were stimulated with LPS (0.5 μg/mL for BV2 cells and 0.1 μg/mL for primary microglia) for 24 h; cells in the normal control group received an equivalent volume of solvent. Immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the expressions of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) and CD68. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to measure interleukin ( IL) -1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α), nitric oxide synthase 2 ( Nos2), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 ( CCL2), and β-hexosaminidase subunit β ( Hexb) mRNA expressions. ELISA was used to quantify the concentrations of supernatant IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in BV2 cells. Western blotting was applied to detect the protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in BV2 cells. Griess reagent assay was used to measure supernatant nitric oxide (NO) level in BV2 cells. Western blotting was also used to assess the protein expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphorylated (p)-ERK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p-JNK, p38, p-p38, nuclear factor kappa B p65 and p-p65 in BV2 cells. (2) Thirty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal control group, a MCAO group, and a nefazodone group, with 10 mice in each group. MCAO model in the MCAO group and nefazodone group was established using suture method; the nefazodone group received an intraperitoneal injection of nefazodone (15 mg/kg) 30 min after modeling, while the normal control group received an equivalent volume of solvent. Three days after modeling, neurological deficits were evaluated using modified neurological severity score (mNSS), and behavioral changes were evaluated by paw grip strength test and foot-fault test. Cerebral infarction volume was assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Iba1 protein expression in the ischemic penumbra was detected by Western blotting. Results:(1) CCK-8 assay showed no significant difference in viability of BV2 cells between the normal control group and 10 or 20 μmol/L nefazodone groups ( P>0.05), and viability of BV2 cells in 30 and 50 μmol/L nefazodone groups was statistically lower than that of normal control group ( P<0.05). Immunofluorescent staining revealed that compared with the normal control group, the LPS group had significantly increased fluorescent intensities of CD68 and Iba1; compared with the LPS group, the nefazodone group had significantly decreased fluorescent intensities of CD68 and Iba1 ( P<0.05). RT-qPCR results indicated that compared with those in the normal control group, the Nos2, CCL2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA expressions in both BV2 cells and primary microglia of the LPS group were significantly increased; compared with the LPS group, the nefazodone group had significantly decreased CCL2, IL-1β, and IL-6 mRNA expressions in BV2 cells, and significantly decreased Nos2, CCL2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA expressions in primary microglia ( P<0.05). ELISA showed that compared with those in the normal control group, the supernatant IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels significantly increased in the BV2 cells of LPS group; compared with those in the LPS group, supernatant IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels statistically decreased in the nefazodone group ( P< 0.05). Western blotting demonstrated that compared with those in the normal control group, the iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions significantly increased in BV2 cells of the LPS group ( P<0.05); compared with those in the LPS group, the iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions in BV2 cells of the nefazodone group statistically decreased ( P<0.05). Griess assay showed that compared with the normal control group, BV2 cells in the LPS group had significantly increased supernatant NO concentration ( P <0.05); compared with the LPS group, BV2 cells in the nefazodone group had significantly decreased supernatant NO concentration ( P<0.05). Western blotting revealed that compared with those in the normal control group, the p-ERK/ERK and p-JNK/JNK ratios significantly increased in BV2 cells of the LPS group ( P<0.05); compared with the LPS group, the p-p65/p65, p-ERK/ERK and p-JNK/JNK ratios significantly decreased in BV2 cells of the nefazodone group ( P<0.05). (2) Behavioral tests showed that compared with the normal control group, the MCAO group had significantly decreased forelimb grip strength and increased foot-fault rate ( P<0.05); compared with the MCAO group, the nefazodone group had significantly decreased mNSS score, increased forelimb grip strength and decreased foot-fault rate ( P<0.05). The percentage of cerebral infarction volume in the nefazodone group was significantly lower than that in the MCAO group ([9.56±1.81]% vs. [21.71±12.26]%, P< 0.05). The MCAO group had statistically higher Iba1 protein expression in ischemic penumbra (7.27±2.88) than the normal control group (1.00±0.64), and the nefazodone group had significantly lower Iba1 protein expression in ischemic penumbra (1.75±0.86) than the MCAO group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Nefazodone can improve neurological function impairment in MCAO mice by inhibiting the excessive activation of microglia; cytological experiments suggest that its mechanism may be related to the negative regulation of ERK/JNK/NF-κB p65 signaling axis.

Objective:To investigate the effect of nefazodone on excessive activation of microglia and its regulatory mechanism, as well as its effect on neurological injury in mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).Methods:(1) BV2 cell line was routinely cultured in vitro, and primary microglia from the cortex of neonatal C57BL/6J mice were cultured. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was employed to assess the effects of nefazodone (0, 10, 20, 30, 50 μmol/L) on viability of BV2 cells and primary microglia to determine the working concentration. BV2 cells and primary microglia were divided into a normal control group, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, and a nefazodone group; cells in the nefazodone group were pretreated with 20 μmol/L nefazodone for 2 h; cells in the LPS group and nefazodone group were stimulated with LPS (0.5 μg/mL for BV2 cells and 0.1 μg/mL for primary microglia) for 24 h; cells in the normal control group received an equivalent volume of solvent. Immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the expressions of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) and CD68. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to measure interleukin ( IL) -1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α), nitric oxide synthase 2 ( Nos2), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 ( CCL2), and β-hexosaminidase subunit β ( Hexb) mRNA expressions. ELISA was used to quantify the concentrations of supernatant IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in BV2 cells. Western blotting was applied to detect the protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in BV2 cells. Griess reagent assay was used to measure supernatant nitric oxide (NO) level in BV2 cells. Western blotting was also used to assess the protein expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphorylated (p)-ERK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p-JNK, p38, p-p38, nuclear factor kappa B p65 and p-p65 in BV2 cells. (2) Thirty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal control group, a MCAO group, and a nefazodone group, with 10 mice in each group. MCAO model in the MCAO group and nefazodone group was established using suture method; the nefazodone group received an intraperitoneal injection of nefazodone (15 mg/kg) 30 min after modeling, while the normal control group received an equivalent volume of solvent. Three days after modeling, neurological deficits were evaluated using modified neurological severity score (mNSS), and behavioral changes were evaluated by paw grip strength test and foot-fault test. Cerebral infarction volume was assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Iba1 protein expression in the ischemic penumbra was detected by Western blotting. Results:(1) CCK-8 assay showed no significant difference in viability of BV2 cells between the normal control group and 10 or 20 μmol/L nefazodone groups ( P>0.05), and viability of BV2 cells in 30 and 50 μmol/L nefazodone groups was statistically lower than that of normal control group ( P<0.05). Immunofluorescent staining revealed that compared with the normal control group, the LPS group had significantly increased fluorescent intensities of CD68 and Iba1; compared with the LPS group, the nefazodone group had significantly decreased fluorescent intensities of CD68 and Iba1 ( P<0.05). RT-qPCR results indicated that compared with those in the normal control group, the Nos2, CCL2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA expressions in both BV2 cells and primary microglia of the LPS group were significantly increased; compared with the LPS group, the nefazodone group had significantly decreased CCL2, IL-1β, and IL-6 mRNA expressions in BV2 cells, and significantly decreased Nos2, CCL2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA expressions in primary microglia ( P<0.05). ELISA showed that compared with those in the normal control group, the supernatant IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels significantly increased in the BV2 cells of LPS group; compared with those in the LPS group, supernatant IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels statistically decreased in the nefazodone group ( P< 0.05). Western blotting demonstrated that compared with those in the normal control group, the iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions significantly increased in BV2 cells of the LPS group ( P<0.05); compared with those in the LPS group, the iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions in BV2 cells of the nefazodone group statistically decreased ( P<0.05). Griess assay showed that compared with the normal control group, BV2 cells in the LPS group had significantly increased supernatant NO concentration ( P <0.05); compared with the LPS group, BV2 cells in the nefazodone group had significantly decreased supernatant NO concentration ( P<0.05). Western blotting revealed that compared with those in the normal control group, the p-ERK/ERK and p-JNK/JNK ratios significantly increased in BV2 cells of the LPS group ( P<0.05); compared with the LPS group, the p-p65/p65, p-ERK/ERK and p-JNK/JNK ratios significantly decreased in BV2 cells of the nefazodone group ( P<0.05). (2) Behavioral tests showed that compared with the normal control group, the MCAO group had significantly decreased forelimb grip strength and increased foot-fault rate ( P<0.05); compared with the MCAO group, the nefazodone group had significantly decreased mNSS score, increased forelimb grip strength and decreased foot-fault rate ( P<0.05). The percentage of cerebral infarction volume in the nefazodone group was significantly lower than that in the MCAO group ([9.56±1.81]% vs. [21.71±12.26]%, P< 0.05). The MCAO group had statistically higher Iba1 protein expression in ischemic penumbra (7.27±2.88) than the normal control group (1.00±0.64), and the nefazodone group had significantly lower Iba1 protein expression in ischemic penumbra (1.75±0.86) than the MCAO group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Nefazodone can improve neurological function impairment in MCAO mice by inhibiting the excessive activation of microglia; cytological experiments suggest that its mechanism may be related to the negative regulation of ERK/JNK/NF-κB p65 signaling axis.

Metabolic heterogeneity plays a central role in sustaining uncontrolled cancer cell proliferation and shaping the tumor microenvironment(TME),which significantly compromises the clinical outcomes and responses to therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)patients.This highlights the urgent need to delineate the intrinsic heterogeneity and biological roles of metabolic vulnerabilities to advance precision oncology.The metabolic heterogeneity of malignant cells was identified using single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)profiles and validated through bulk transcriptomes.Serine-glycine-one-carbon(SGOC)metabolism was screened out to be responsible for the aggressive malignant properties and poor prognosis in HNSCC patients.A 4-SGOC gene prognostic signature,constructed by LASSO-COX regression analysis,demonstrated good predictive performance for overall survival and therapeutic responses.Patients in the low-risk group exhibited greater infiltration of exhausted CD8+T cells,and demonstrated better clinical outcomes after receiving immunotherapy and chemotherapy.Conversely,high-risk patients exhibited characteristics of cold tumors,with enhanced IMPDH1-mediated purine biosynthesis,resulting in poor responses to current therapies.IMPDH1 emerged as a potential therapeutic metabolic target.Treatment with IMPDH inhibitors effectively suppressed HNSCC cell proliferation and metastasis and induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo by triggering GTP-exhaustion nucleolar stress.Our findings underscore the metabolic vulnerabilities of HNSCC in facilitating accurate patient stratification and individualized precise metabolic-targeted treatment.

Metabolic heterogeneity plays a central role in sustaining uncontrolled cancer cell proliferation and shaping the tumor microenvironment(TME),which significantly compromises the clinical outcomes and responses to therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)patients.This highlights the urgent need to delineate the intrinsic heterogeneity and biological roles of metabolic vulnerabilities to advance precision oncology.The metabolic heterogeneity of malignant cells was identified using single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)profiles and validated through bulk transcriptomes.Serine-glycine-one-carbon(SGOC)metabolism was screened out to be responsible for the aggressive malignant properties and poor prognosis in HNSCC patients.A 4-SGOC gene prognostic signature,constructed by LASSO-COX regression analysis,demonstrated good predictive performance for overall survival and therapeutic responses.Patients in the low-risk group exhibited greater infiltration of exhausted CD8+T cells,and demonstrated better clinical outcomes after receiving immunotherapy and chemotherapy.Conversely,high-risk patients exhibited characteristics of cold tumors,with enhanced IMPDH1-mediated purine biosynthesis,resulting in poor responses to current therapies.IMPDH1 emerged as a potential therapeutic metabolic target.Treatment with IMPDH inhibitors effectively suppressed HNSCC cell proliferation and metastasis and induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo by triggering GTP-exhaustion nucleolar stress.Our findings underscore the metabolic vulnerabilities of HNSCC in facilitating accurate patient stratification and individualized precise metabolic-targeted treatment.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental pathogenic bacteria associated with a series of infections. NTM infection can cause pathological changes of related tissues and organs, namely NTM disease. With the further improvement of examination methods, there is more profound understanding of NTM disease, and its epidemiological significance. This article summarizes the research progress on the cell structure, physiological characteristics, pathogenicity, distribution characteristics of NTM; and the morbidity and prevalence, transmission routes and risk factors of NTM disease, to provide information for effective control and treatment of NTM infections.

To evaluate the value of prenatal ultrasound in the diagnosis of single umbilical artery( SUA ) and fetal malformation . Methods T he characteristics of the prenatal ultrasound findings of 143 fetuses with SU A in different gestational weeks were retrospectively analyzed ,and the missing side of SU A were checked . Different types of SUA combined with fetal malformation were analyzed as well as chromosomal abnormalities and so on . Results For 143 fetuses with SU A ,there were 83 cases ( 58 .0% ) with absent left umbilical artery and 60 cases ( 42 .0% ) with absent right umbilical artery ,there was no statistical difference between the two groups ( P ＞0 .05 ) . Six cases ( 4 .2% ,6/143 ) were detected at and before 20 weeks of gestation ,and the rest 137 cases were detected after 20 weeks( 95 .8% ,137/143) . T here were 121 cases ( 84 .6% ) of isolated SUA ,22 cases ( 15 .4% ) were complicated with other malformations , including 10 cases ( 45 .5% ) with absent left umbilical artery and 12 cases ( 54 .5% ) with absent right umbilical artery . T here was no statistical difference between left and right umbilical artery deletion combined with fetal malformation( χ2 ＝1 .692 ,ν＝1 , P ＞0 .05) . T here were 11 cases( 7 .7% ,11/143) with cardiovascular malformation and nine cases ( 6 .3% , 9/143 ) with digestive system malformation . Chromosome examination was performed in 23 cases . One case of trisomy 18‐trisomy and 1 case of trisomy 13‐trisomy were found to be with missing right umbilical artery and all of them were complicated with multiple deformities . Conclusions The absence of left and right umbilical artery can be combined with abnormal fetal malformation . Prenatal ultrasonography can accurately diagnose SU A and fetal malformation .

Osteoarthritis (OA),a common chronic degenerative joint disease,rises gradually with age,which seri-ously affects the quality of life of middle-aged and elderly patients. Currently,the therapeutic medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)and analgesics might improve OA symptoms,but cannot prevent the development of OA. The active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)have unique advantages in the treatment of OA. This article reviews the research progress of active ingredients of TCM in the prevention and treatment of OA reported by domestic and foreign journals in the past five years from the aspects of inhibition of the secretion of inflammation-related factors,improvement of cartilage matrix synthesis and catabolic imbalance, inhibition of chondrocyte apoptosis,promotion of chondrocyte proliferation,and regulation of estrogen levels,with an attempt to provide a theoretical basis for the development of new drugs for OA.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of modifiedXiaochengqi decoction in treatment of gastroparesis syndrome (GS).Methods A total of 81 patients with GS from 2010 July to 2013 July in HuiZhou Municipal Central Hospital were selected and randomly recruited into a control group and a treatment group. The control group was treated with domperidone, 15-30 min before the meal, while the treatment group was additionally treated with modifiedXiaochengqi decoction on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The clinical curative effect, and the symptoms in both groups were observed. The serum motilin and gastrin concentration were measured by radio-immunity, the preprandial and postprandial electrogastrography was performed.Results The total effective rate in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (72.5%vs. 31.7%;χ2=11.911,P=0.000). The serum levels of motilin (treatment group: 532.8±16.7 ng/Lvs. 355.2±14.3 ng/L,t=51.089,P=0.000; control group: 505.1 ± 21.3 ng/Lvs. 372.9 ± 18.4 ng/L,t=30.074,P=0.000) and gastrin (treatment group: 69.8 ± 15.3 ng/Lvs. 54.3 ± 13.8 ng/L, t=4.758,P=0.000; control group: 62.6 ± 14.2 ng/Lvs. 53.4 ± 12.3 ng/L,t=3.136,P=0.002) were significantly reduced, and their decrease in the treatment group were greater than those in the control group (t values were 6.503, 2.196, allP<0.05). After the treatment, the dominant power (preprandial period: 84.5 ± 14.8μVvs. 72.3 ± 15.0μV, t=3.684,P<0.01; postprandial period: 100.5 ± 17.3μVvs.89.3 ± 15.9μV,t=5.713,P=0.000) and dominant frequency (preprandial period: 4.3 ± 0.4 cpmvs. 3.9 ± 0.2 cpm,t=3.035,P=0.000; postprandial period: 4.7 ± 0.5 cpmvs. 4.4 ± 0.5 cpm,t=2.700,P=0.000) were significantly higher, while the percentage of bradygastria (preprandial period: 50.6% ± 16.6%vs. 60.1% ± 16.3%,t=2.599,P=0.000;postprandial period: 36.6% ± 14.8%vs. 57.4% ± 15.3%,t=6.217, P=0.000) was significantly lower in the treatment group compared with the control group at preprandial and postprandial periods.ConclusionXiaochengqi decoction can obviously promote the gastric motility, and reduce the serum levels of motilin and gastrin in patients with GS.

Objective To investigate the relationship between inflammation and blood coagulation function in the patients with acute exacerbation of chronic cor pulmonale (AECCP) and discuss the potential mechanism and influence on the patients. Methods The present study was based on 30 healthy controls and 141 cases of AECCP in our hospital from January 2011 to June 2014.Levels of white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (NEUT), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP, Complement 3 (C3), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB) and thrombin time (TT) in the patients were determined. Results Compared with the healthy controls, the patients had higher levels of WBC, NEUT, hs-CRP, PT, APTT, FIB, TT (all P < 0.001) and lower level of C3 (P < 0.001). Significant positive correlations were found between the levels of WBC, NEUT and FIB (r = 0.196 and r = 0.199, both P < 0.05); hs-CRP and APTT, FIB(r = 0.234, P < 0.01 and r = 0.466, P < 0.001); C3 and FIB(r = 0.466, P < 0.001), and significant negative correlations were observed between the levels of C3 and PT, APTT, TT (r=-0.258, P<0.01;r=-0.279, P < 0.01 and r = -0.168, P < 0.05, respectively). Compared with the survival patients, the cases of death had higher levels of WBC and NEUT (both P < 0.01). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of WBC and NEUT, predicting the prognosis, was 0.666 (95% CI 0.552, 0.780; P < 0.01) and 0.695 (95% CI 0.558, 0.801; P = 0.001) respectively. Conclusions Inflammation and blood coagulation function disorder usually coexist in the patients with AECCP, and are closely associated with the severity. Levels of both WBC and NEUT can be used as prognosis predictors for the patients.

Aim To investigate the mechanism of demethylation on adenosine (ADO )and homocysteine (HCY)-induced apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells .Methods HepG 2 cells were treated with differ-ent concentrations of ADO (1.0、2.0、4.0 mol · L-1 ) alone or in combination with HCY for 6h,12h and 24h,5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR)as a positive control.Cell viabilities were assessed by CCK8 assay. Cell apoptosis was observed by AnnexinV-FITC/PI staining.The mitochondrial membrane potentials(ΔΨ) were measured by flow cytometry.The mRNA and pro-tein expressions of caspase-3,caspase-8,caspase-9, MDM-2,p53,Cytochrome C,DNMT1,DNMT3a,DN-MT3 b were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot re-spectively.Results ADO alone or in combination with HCY significantly reduced the viability of HepG2 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner.The apoptotic rates of HepG2 cells after combination treatment with ADO and HCY at 1 .0,2.0,4.0 mol · L-1 for 24 h were (1 8.63 ± 1.25 )%,(29.42 ±2.37 )% and (42.47 ±3.09 )%,compared with the control group (1.30 ±0.82 )%,P <0.01;and the mitochondrial membrane potentials were decreased from 674.15 ± 82.8%(black control group)to (428.38 ±54.5)%, (297.78 ±30.5)%,(74.45 ±5.73)%,P<0.01, respectively.The expressions of caspase-3,caspase-8, caspase-9,MDM-2,p53,Cytochrome C were up-regula-ted and MDM-2 were down-regulated after combination treatment of ADO and HCY.The mRNA expressions of DNMT1 ,DNMT3 a and DNMT3 b were down-regulated after combination treatment with ADO and HCY or 5-Aza-CdR alone.Conclusion Combination treatment of ADO and HCY can cause cellular methylation chan-ges.The effects of demethylation of ADO and HCY may activate p53 gene and mitochondrial pathway, which at last leads to HepG2 cell apoptosis.