Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and potential mechanism of persimmon leaf （PL） extract against ferroptosis induced by H2O2 in IEC-6 cells. METHODS Using IEC-6 cells as object， the effects of ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 on IEC-6 cell viability induced by H2O2 were investigated； IEC-6 cells were divided into control group， H2O2 group， H2O2+PL 25 μg/mL group and H2O2+PL 50 μg/mL group. The levels of oxidant stress indexes [content of malondialdehyde （MDA）， activity of superoxide dismutase （SOD）， and levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS）]， mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP） as well as mRNA and protein expressions of nuclear factor-erythroid-2 related factor 2 （Nrf2）， heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， NADPH/quinone oxidoreductase-1 （NQO-1）， cystine/glutamate anti-porter （xCT）， glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4） and ferritin heavy chain （FTH） were detected. RESULTS Ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 could significantly increase the survival rate of H2O2-induced cells （P＜ 0.01）. Compared with the control group， MDA content， ROS level， mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and NQO-1 as well as protein expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 were increased or up-regulated significantly， while SOD activity， MMP， mRNA expressions of xCT， GPX4 and FTH as well as protein expressions of GPX4 and FTH were decreased or down-regulated significantly （P＜0.01 or P＜0.05）. Compared with the H2O2 group， oxidative stress Δ indexes of H2O2+PL 25， 50 μg/mL groups were reversed to different extents， MMP level was increased significantly， as well as mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2， HO-1， NQO-1，xCT， GPX4 and FTH were up-regulated to different extents；there were statistical significances in some indexes between groups （P＜0.01 or P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS PL extract can alleviate mitochondrial membrane damage and abnormal accumulation of ROS caused by H2O2， which may be related to the inhibition of ferroptosis by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Background/Aims: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches. Results: DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Objective To investigate the gene expression profile of cervical exfoliated cells from woman treated by artificial cycle,and their potential association with endometrial receptivity in order to screen specific biomarkers closely related to the receptivity.Methods A total of 19 female patients were enrolled from those preparing for frozen embryo transfer(FET)at the Reproductive Center of First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from February 2024 to October 2024.Under the artificial cycle frozen embryo transfer protocol,the endometrial tissues were collected on the 4th day after progesterone administration(P+4)to verify their endometrial receptivity status.Additionally,cervical exfoliated cells were collected on the 4th day(P+4)and the 6th day(P+6)after progesterone administration.RNA sequencing(RNA-Seq)was used to detect gene expression profiles.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified using the criteria of|log2fold change|＞1 and a false discovery rate(FDR)＜0.05,followed by bioinformatics analysis.The protein-protein interaction(PPI)network of DEGs was constructed using R software(4.4.1)and analyzed with gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)analyses.The candidate genes were identified based on the PPI network using Cytoscape software.Quantitative reverse transcription PCR(RT-qPCR)was employed to validate the target candidate genes both in vitro and in vivo.Results The rsERT confirmed that all 19 women were in state of endometrial receptivity at P+6.RNA-Seq identified 3 458 DEGs in cervical exfoliated cells between P+4 and P+6.The up-regulated DEGs were mainly enriched in the pathways associated with immune response and cell differentiation,and the down-regulated ones were mainly enriched in the pathways associated with lipid metabolism and cell proliferation.Using maximal clique Centrality(MCC)algorithm in the PPI network,the top 20 genes were selected.Among them,6 genes,such as IFIT2,OASL,MX1,RSAD2,IFIT1 and IFIT3,tied for the first place,and the 6 genes all belong to interferon-stimulated genes(ISGs).qRT-PCR indicated that the above 6 genes showed significantly higher expression levels in the cervical exfoliated cells at the P+4 stage than the cells at the P+6 stage(P＜0.05).Conclusion There are changes in the expression levels of the genes related to immunity and cytoskeleton remodeling in cervical exfoliated cells during the endometrial receptivity phase.The decrease in the expression of ISGs may serve as a potential biomarker for endometrial receptivity.

Objective:To evaluate the contents and transfer rates of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in Hirudo, decoction pieces, standard decoction, intermediates, and formula granules; To provide a basis for the safety evaluation of formula granules of Hirudo.Methods:The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography-Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) were employed for determining the contents of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in Hirudo and its scald product. Then the contents, transfer rates, and proportions of inorganic arsenic in total arsenic were analyzed to inform the change rules of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic after processing and decocting. Clustering analysis (CA) was applied by analyzing fifteen batches of Hirudo for identifying the distinction among different producing areas.Results:After processing the Hirudo into Hirudo scald product, the content of arsenic was basically unchanged, arsenite and arsenate were presenting a different variation, the content of arsenite and its proportion in total arsenic decreased, while the content of arsenate and its proportion in total arsenic increased. The total arsenic content was exceeding the standard easily, meanwhile the transfer rate of total arsenic was at high level. The transfer rates of arsenite and arsenate were more than 100%, and the proportions of arsenite and arsenate in total arsenic increased since the decoction pieces were decocted into standard decoction, intermediates and formula granules. CA results showed that producing areas have a certain impact on the arsenic content in Hirudo.Conclusion:This study revealed the change rules of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in Hirudo after processing and decocting into standard decoction,intermediates, and formula granules, which can providing reference for the production and quality standard formulation of formula granules of Hirudo.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of polypoid lesion of gallbladder(PLG)of soldiers stationed on an island.Methods A total of 687 soldiers stationed on an island who underwent annual physical examination from October to December 2020 were selected.They took transabdominal ultrasound and blood biochemical examination,and filled out the questionnaire.There were 62 cases with PLG(PLG group)and 625 cases without PLG(non-PLG group).Age,body mass index(BMI),blood pressure,smoking,eating habits,blood biochemical indexes,and self-rating depression scale(SDS)scores were compared between the two groups.Logistic regression analysis was performed to obtain the independent risk factors for the prevalence of PLG of the soldiers.Results There were significant differences in age,BMI,blood pressure,smoking,irregular diet,total cholesterol(TC),triacylglycerol(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and SDS scores between the two groups(all P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age,high BMI,smoking,irregular diet,high TC,high TG,high LDL-C,and high SDS scores were independent risk factors for PLG(all P<0.05).Conclusion There is a high overall prevalence of PLG in the soldiers of this island,which is related to age,high BMI,smoking,irregular diet,high TC,high TG,high LDL-C,and high SDS scores.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound(LIPUS)was first introduced in clinic for the treatment of fracture because of its safety,ef-fectiveness and non-trauma.Then,a large number of subsequent studies have used LIPUS as a synergistic factor in bone,cartilage,joint,cancer treatment and oral clinical research,jointly revealing the powerful synergistic effect of LIPUS.This paper summarizes the synergistic effect of LIPUS in the above research fields,in order to broaden the possible clinical application scope of LIPUS.