OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the genetic differences of thalassemia gene mutations among ethnic groups in Hechi, Guangxi. METHODS: A total of 15 595 whole blood samples of residents of Hechi from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023 were screened for thalassemia, and the Gap-PCR method and RDB-PCR method were used to perform genetic testing on the positive samples. Gene sequencing was performed on the samples with positive screening results but negative genotyping results. RESULTS: Among the 15 595 samples, 10 501 cases were screened positively, and 8 506 cases were thalassemia gene carriers among the positive samples, with a positive coincidence rate of 81.00%. Among them, there were 5 374 cases of α-thalassemia, 2 531 cases of β-thalassemia, and 601 cases of α+β compound thalassemia. A total of 13 mutant types were detected in α-thalassemia, including --^SEA (48.57%), -α ^3.7 (31.31%), α ^CS (8.57%) and -α ^4.2 (8.07%). A total of 17 mutant types were detected in β-thalassemia, mainly CD17 (48.27%) and CD41-42 (41.24%). The thalassemia gene carriers were mainly from the Zhuang (6 106 cases), Han (969 cases), Yao (793 cases), Mulam (275 cases), and Maonan (228 cases) ethnic groups. The comparison of constituent ratios within the above five ethnic groups demonstrated that there were differences in the proportions of -- ^SEA, -α ^3.7, α ^CS , and -α ^4.2 among the Zhuang, Han, and Yao ethnic groups (P < 0.005). The proportion of α ^CS in the Mulam ethnic group was not significantly different from -α ^3.7 and -α ^4.2. The proportions of -- ^SEA, -α^3.7, and α ^CS in the Maonan ethnic group were not significantly different. There were no significant differences in the proportion of CD17 and CD41-42 among the Han, Yao, Mulam and Maonan ethnic groups. The proportion of --^SEA was the highest in the Mulam ethnic group (56.68%), which was statistically different from 35.92% in the Maonan ethnic group. The proportion of -α ^3.7 was the highest in the Zhuang ethnic group (33.25%), and the difference was statistically significant compared to the Mulam ethnic group which had the lowest proportion (18.72%). The proportion of α ^CS was the highest in the Maonan ethnic group (27.46%), and the differences were statistically significant compared with other ethnic groups. The proportions of CD17 in the Zhuang and Maonan ethnic groups (50.79%, 55.68%) were higher than those in the Han (39.12%), Yao (39.63%) and Mulam (30.00%), and the differences were statistically significant. There was no significant difference in the proportion of CD41-42 among the above five ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS The mutation type and distribution differences of genes causing thalassemia among main ethnic groups in the minority inhabited areas of Hechi, Guangxi, show the characteristics of ethnic differentiation. The result is helpful to develop a special prevention and control plan for thalassemia in line with the population distribution characteristics, and provide reference for revealing the genetic background and geographical distribution of thalassemia in this area.
Humans ; China ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Ethnicity/genetics* ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Mutation ; Genotype ; Retrospective Studies ; Asian People/genetics* ; Thalassemia/genetics* ; Male

Objective : To analyze the correlation between different laboratory biomarkers and disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis and to compare their specificity and sensitivity in assessing disease activity. Methods : Spearman correlation or Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between disease activity and laboratory biomarkers. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) was used to compare the sensitivity and specificity of each laboratory biomarker in evaluating disease activity. Results : Hypersensitive C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, D-dimer, erythrocyte sediment rate, C-reactive protein, immuno-inflammatory index(platelet count×neutrophil count/lymphocyte count), fibrinogen/albumin ratio, albumin and pro-albumin were correlated with disease activity. The ratio of fibrinogen to albumin, fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, immuno-inflammatory index, C-reactive protein and hypersensitive C-reactive protein had good values in determining the disease activity. Conclusion Different laboratory biomarkers are correlated with the disease activity of ankylosing spondylitis, and some of them have better discriminating values for the disease activity.

Objective To investigate the impacts of different levels(1,3 and 5)of iDream reconstruction on CT quantitative analysis of lung function parameters,providing references for quantitative measurement of emphysema indicators by iDream reconstruction technology.Methods A retrospective study was performed for 50 patients who underwent noncontrast chest CT scan in some hospital from December 2021 to January 2022,and the images were reconstructed using four methods:fittered back projection(FBP)and level 1,3 and 5 iDream techniques.For the four groups of images,the main tracheal CT values and standard deviation(SD)values were measured,the signal to noise ratio(SNR)was calculated and the total lung volume(TLV),emphysema volume(EV),emphysema index(EI),15th percentile of lung attenuation(Perc 15)and pulmonary density 15％(PD15％)were detected with quantitative lung function analysis software.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0 software.Results The four groups did not have significant differences in the main tracheal CT value and TLV(P＞0.05),while did in SD,SNR,EV,EI,PD15％and Perc 15(P＜0.05).As the reconstruction level of iDream increased,the main tracheal SD value,EV and EI decreased gradually,and level 3 and 5 iDream reconstruction groups had no significant differences in EV and El(P＞0.05);as the reconstruction level of iDream increased,PD15％and Perc 15 rose gradually,and level 3 and 5 iDream reconstruction groups had no significant differences in PD15％and Perc 15(P＞0.05).Conclusion Increase of the level of iDream reconstruction algorithm affects the results of CT quantitative analysis of lung function by reducing image noise.Level 3 and 5 iDream reconstruction ensures the stability of EV,EI,PD15％and Perc 15,which are not influenced by the strength of the iterative reconstruction algorithm.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(9):57-61]

Objective Data mining method was used to analyze the Chinese herbal prescriptions for oral use in treating venomous snake bites collected from the major domestic literature databases and the surgery volume of Zhong Hua Yi Fang(Chinese Medical Prescriptions),so as to explore their potential prescription and medication rules,and to provide references for the treatment of venomous snake bites in the primary hospitals.Methods The Chinese herbal prescriptions for oral use in treating venomous snake bites were retrieved from the CNKI,VIP and Wanfang databases,and the ancient formulas for treating venomous snake bites were screened in the surgery volume of Zhong Hua Yi Fang(Chinese Medical Prescriptions).Excel software was used to extract the relevant information of the formulas,and R language was used to analyze the medication frequency,properties,flavors and meridian tropism of the herbs as well as their association rules and clustering analysis.Results A total of 187 prescriptions for oral use in treating venomous snake bite were obtained,involving 284 Chinese herbal medicines.The top 15 Chinese herbal medicines in decreasing sequence of medication frequency were Lobeliae Chinensis Herba,Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Angelicae Dahuricae Radix,Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Paridis Rhizoma,Rehmanniae Radix,Coptidis Rhizoma,Scutellariae Radix,Lonicerae Japonicae Flos,Paeoniae Radix Rubra,Moutan Cortex,Hedyotis Diffusae Herba,Imperatae Rhizoma,Plantaginis Herba,and Scutellariae Barbatae Herba.The flavor of herbs in the prescription for the treatment of venomous snakebite was usually bitter,pungent and sweet,and their property was relatively cold.Most of the herbs had the meridian tropism of the liver meridian and lung meridian.The core prescription mainly composed of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Lobeliae Chinensis Herba,and Paridis Rhizoma was obtained after association rule analysis and cluster analysis.Conclusion The herbs for the treatment of venomous snake bites often have the actions of clearing heat and removing toxins,and the prescription is usually composed of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Lobeliae Chinensis Herba,Paridis Rhizoma together with the compatibility of medicines for clearing heat and cooling blood,extinguishing wind and arresting convulsion,clearing heat and promoting urination.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether monotropein has an anticancer effect and explore its potential mechanisms against colorectal cancer (CRC) through network pharmacology and molecular docking combined with experimental verification. METHODS: Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict potential targets of monotropein against CRC. Cell counting kit assay, plate monoclonal assay and microscopic observation were used to investigate the antiproliferative effects of monotropein on CRC cells HCT116, HT29 and LoVo. Flow cytometry and scratch assay were used to analyze apoptosis and cell cycle, as well as cell migration, respectively in HCT116, HT29, and LoVo cells. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of proteins related to apoptosis, cell cycle, and cell migration, and the expression of proteins key to the Akt pathway. RESULTS: The Gene Ontology and Reactome enrichment analyses indicated that the anticancer potential of monotropein against CRC might be involved in multiple cancer-related signaling pathways. Among these pathways, RAC-beta serine/threonine-protein kinase (Akt1, Akt2), cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), cell division control protein 42 homolog (CDC42) were shown as the potential anticancer targets of monotropein against CRC. Molecular docking suggested that monotropein may interact with the 6 targets (Akt1, Akt2, CDK6, MMP9, EGFR, CDC42). Subsequently, cell activity of HCT116, HT29 and LoVo cell lines were significantly suppressed by monotropein (P<0.05). Furthermore, our research revealed that monotropein induced cell apoptosis by inhibiting Bcl-2 and increasing Bax, induced G₁-S cycle arrest in colorectal cancer by decreasing the expressions of CyclinD1, CDK4 and CDK6, inhibited cell migration by suppressing the expressions of CDC42 and MMP9 (P<0.05), and might play an anticancer role through Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Monotropein exerts its antitumor effects primarily by arresting the cell cycle, causing cell apoptosis, and inhibiting cell migration. This indicates a high potential for developing novel medication for treating CRC.
Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Cell Cycle ; ErbB Receptors ; Apoptosis ; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia in the elderly. Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) plays a neuroprotective role in AD. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of MKP-1 on AD have not been extensively studied. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, thereby repressing mRNA translation. Here, we reported that the microRNA-429-3p (miR-429-3p) was significantly increased in the brain of APP23/PS45 AD model mice and N2A^APP AD model cells. We further found that miR-429-3p could downregulate MKP-1 expression by directly binding to its 3'-untranslated region (3' UTR). Inhibition of miR-429-3p by its antagomir (A-miR-429) restored the expression of MKP-1 to a control level and consequently reduced the amyloidogenic processing of APP and Aβ accumulation. More importantly, intranasal administration of A-miR-429 successfully ameliorated the deficits of hippocampal CA1 long-term potentiation and spatial learning and memory in AD model mice by suppressing extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2)-mediated GluA1 hyperphosphorylation at Ser831 site, thereby increasing the surface expression of GluA1-containing α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs). Together, these results demonstrate that inhibiting miR-429-3p to upregulate MKP-1 effectively improves cognitive and synaptic functions in AD model mice, suggesting that miR-429/MKP-1 pathway may be a novel therapeutic target for AD treatment.

Objective Using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA)to explore the key genes of aging associated with Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods GSE132903 was selected from GEO database as the analysis dataset.The differential expressed genes(DEGs)of AD were screened,and visualized with volcano and heat map.Aging and senescence-associated genes(ASAGs)were downloaded from MsigDB,Aging Altas and CellAge databases.WGCNA screened the gene modules with the highest correlation with AD,and genes of key modules subsequently performed with gene ontology(GO),Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis.AD age-related differential expressed genes(ARDEGs)were obtained by taking intersection genes of DEGs,key module genes of WGCNA and ASAGs.Protein-protein interaction(PPI)network analysis was performed using the STRING database to find key node genes.The co-expression networks and associated functions of key genes were analyzed using the GeneMANIA database.The key genes were validated in Alzdata database.Results 226 DEGs,606 ASAGs and 8 ARDEGs were obtained.The top 5 key genes selected by PPI were SYP,STXBP1,VAMP2,CPLX1 and STX1A.Alzdata database verified that the expressions of 5 key genes in other brain regions of AD were down-regulated,except for no significant changes of VAMP2 in hippocampus and STXBP1 in frontal cortex,as well as no expression of CPLX1 in frontal cortex.The differential expression of VAMP2,STXBP1 and STX1A appeared in the early stage of AD,and CPLX1 was related to the pathological process of Tau.SYP and STXBP1 were related to the pathological processes of amyloid β-protein and Tau.Conclusion SYP,STXBP1,VAMP2,CPLX1 and STX1A are ARDEGs,which are expected to be potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for AD.

Endometriosis is a common chronic gynecological disease with endometrial cell implantation outside the uterus.Angiogenesis is a major pathophysiology in endometriosis.Our previous studies have demon-strated that the prodrug of epigallocatechin gallate(ProEGCG)exhibits superior anti-endometriotic and anti-angiogenic effects compared to epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG).However,their direct binding targets and underlying mechanisms for the differential effects remain unknown.In this study,we demonstrated that oral ProEGCG can be effective in preventing and treating endometriosis.Additionally,1D and 2D Proteome Integral Solubility Alteration assay-based chemical proteomics identified metadherin(MTDH)and PX domain containing serine/threonine kinase-like(PXK)as novel binding targets of EGCG and ProEGCG,respectively.Computational simulation and BioLayer interferometry were used to confirm their binding affinity.Our results showed that MTDH-EGCG inhibited protein kinase B(Akt)-mediated angiogenesis,while PXK-ProEGCG inhibited epidermal growth factor(EGF)-mediated angiogenesis via the EGF/hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF-1a)/vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)pathway.In vitro and in vivo knockdown assays and microvascular network imaging further confirmed the involvement of these signaling pathways.Moreover,our study demonstrated that ProEGCG has superior therapeutic effects than EGCG by targeting distinct signal transduction pathways and may act as a novel anti-angiogenic therapy for endometriosis.

Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus, characterized by neurodegeneration and microangiopathy. Currently, the treatment of DR is mainly focused on the management of late complications and has not achieved the desired clinical outcome. Evidence suggests that the PI3K/AKT pathway, as one of the important intracellular signaling pathways during the cell cycle, is involved in the whole process of DR pathogenesis. This article focuses on the structural composition, activation and blocking pathways, conduction pathways, regulatory mechanisms and biological functions of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to review its role in DR and to explore the potential of targeting the PI3K/AKT pathway for the treatment of DR.