OBJECTIVE: Paridis Rhizoma (Chonglou in Chinese), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been shown have strong anti-tumor effects. Paris saponin VII (PSVII), an active constituent isolated from Paridis Rhizoma, was demonstrated to significantly suppress the proliferation of BxPC-3 cells in our previous study. Here, we aimed to elucidate the anti-pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) effect of PSVII and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Cell viability was determined by CCK-8, colony formation, and cell migration assays. Cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were measured by flow cytometry with annexin V/propidine iodide (Annexin V/PI) and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), respectively. Pyroptosis was evaluated by morphological features, Hoechst 33342/PI staining assay, and release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). JC-1 fluorescent dye was employed to measure mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to determine the levels of proteins or mRNAs. The effect in vivo was assessed by a xenograft tumor model. RESULTS: PSVII inhibited the viability of PDAC cells (BxPC-3, PANC-1, and Capan-2 cells) and induced gasdermin E (GSDME) cleavage, as well as the simultaneous cleavage of Caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP). Knockdown of GSDME shifted PSVII-induced pyroptosis to apoptosis. Additionally, the effect of PSVII was significantly attenuated by Z-Asp(OMe)-Glu(OMe)-Val-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (Z-DEVD-FMK), on the induction of GSDME-dependent pyroptosis. PSVII also elevated intracellular ROS accumulation and stimulated Bax and Caspase-3/GSDME to conduct pyroptosis in PDAC cells. The ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) suppressed the release of LDH and inhibited Caspase-9, Caspase-3, and GSDME cleavage in PDAC cells, ultimately reversing PSVII-induced pyroptosis. Furthermore, in a xenograft tumor model, PSVII markedly suppressed the growth of PDAC tumors and induced pyroptosis. CONCLUSION These results demonstrated that PSVII exerts therapeutic effects through Caspase-3/GSDME-dependent pyroptosis and may constitute a novel strategy for preventing chemotherapeutic resistance in patients with PDAC in the future.

Objective:To investigate the value of CT radiomic model based on analysis of primary gastric cancer and the adipose tissue outside the gastric wall beside cancer in differentiating stage T1-2 from stage T3-4 gastric cancer.Methods:This study was a case-control study. Totally 465 patients with gastric cancer treated in Affiliated People′s Hospital of Jiangsu University from December 2011 to December 2019 were retrospectively collected. According to postoperative pathology, they were divided into 2 groups, one with 150 cases of T1-2 tumors and another with 315 cases of T3-4 tumors. The cases were divided into a training set (326 cases) and a test set (139 cases) by stratified sampling method at 7∶3. There were 104 cases of T1-2 stage and 222 cases of T3-4 stage in the training set, 46 cases of T1-2 stage and 93 cases of T3-4 stage in the test set. The axial CT images in the venous phase during one week before surgery were selected to delineate the region of interest (ROI) at the primary lesion and the extramural gastric adipose tissue adjacent to the cancer areas. The radiomic features of the ROIs were extracted by Pyradiomics software. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator was used to screen features related to T stage to establish the radiomic models of primary gastric cancer and the adipose tissue outside the gastric wall beside cancer. Independent sample t test or χ2 test were used to compare the differences in clinical features between T1-2 and T3-4 patients in the training set, and the features with statistical significance were combined to establish a clinical model. Two radiomic signatures and clinical features were combined to construct a clinical-radiomics model and generate a nomogram. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the efficacy of each model in differentiating stage T1-2 from stage T3-4 gastric cancer. The calibration curve was used to evaluate the consistency between the T stage predicted by the nomogram and the actual T stage of gastric cancer. And the decision curve analysis was used to evaluate the clinical net benefit of treatment guided by the nomogram and by the clinical model. Results:There were significant differences in CT-T stage and CT-N stage between T1-2 and T3-4 patients in the training set ( χ2=10.59, 15.92, P=0.014, 0.001) and the clinical model was established. After screening and dimensionality reduction, the 5 features from primary gastric cancer and the 6 features from the adipose tissue outside the gastric wall beside cancer established the radiomic models respectively. In the training set and the test set, the AUC values of the primary gastric cancer radiomic model were 0.864 (95% CI 0.820-0.908) and 0.836 (95% CI 0.762-0.910), and the adipose tissue outside the gastric wall beside cancer radiomic model were 0.782 (95% CI 0.731-0.833) and 0.784 (95% CI 0.702-0.866). The AUC values of the clinical model were 0.761 (95% CI 0.705-0.817) and 0.758 (95% CI 0.671-0.845), and the nomogram were 0.876 (95% CI 0.835-0.917) and 0.851 (95% CI 0.781-0.921). The calibration curve reflected that there was a high consistency between the T stage predicted by the nomogram and the actual T stage in the training set ( χ2=1.70, P=0.989). And the decision curve showed that at the risk threshold 0.01-0.74, a higher clinical net benefit could be obtained by using a nomogram to guide treatment. Conclusions:The CT radiomics features of primary gastric cancer lesions and the adipose tissue outside the gastric wall beside cancer can effectively distinguish T1-2 from T3-4 gastric cancer, and the combination of CT radiomic features and clinical features can further improve the prediction accuracy.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of iron death induced by TRPC6/NF-κB in glomerular podiocytes mediated by high homocysteine(Hcy).Methods Mouse glomerulopocytes were cultured in vitro and divided into Control group(0 μmol/L Hcy)and Hcy group(80 μmol/L Hcy).After 48h of intervention,Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of iron death related proteins GPX4 and SLC7A11 and TRPC6 and NF-κ B.Real-time quantitative fluorescence PCR(qRT-PCR)and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of TRPC6.The level of podocyte apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.Malondialdehyde(MDA)assay kit was used to determine intracellular MDA levels.After transfection of TRPC6 interference fragment and TRPC6 negative control(NC),qRT-PCR was divided into Control,si-NC and si-TRPC6(Si-TRPC6-1,Si-TRPC6-2,Si-TRPC6-3).Western Blot was divided into Control,Hcy,si-NC+Hcy,si-TRPC6+Hcy.The expression of TRPC6 mRNA was detected by qRT-PCR.The expression levels of GPX4,SLC7A11,NF-κB and TRPC6 were detected by Western Blot.The level of podocyte apoptosis after interference was detected by flow cytometry.Results(1)Compared with Control group,the expression levels of iron death related proteins GPX4 and SLC7A11 in Hcy group were decreased,and the apoptosis rate was increased(P<0.05).(2)Compared with Control group,TRPC6 protein,mRNA levels and immunofluorescence expression were increased in Hcy group.The level of MDA and the expression of NF-κB signaling pathway protein increased in Hcy group,and the comparison between the two groups had statistical significance(P<0.05).(3)Compared with the si-NC group,the mRNA expression level of TRPC6 in si-TRPC6(Si-TRPC6-1,Si-TRPC6-2,Si-TRPC6-3)group was decreased,and the interference effect of Si-TRPC6-3 was the best(P<0.05).After transfecting TRPC6 NC and TRPC6 interference fragment and administering Hcy,there was no difference in GPX4,SLC7A11,NF-κB and TRPC6 expression in si-NC+Hcy group compared with Hcy group.Compared with the si-NC+Hcy group,the si-TRPC6+Hcy group had higher expression of iron death related proteins,GPX4 and SLC7A11,lower expression of NF-κB and TRPC6,and decreased apoptosis rate(P<0.05).Conclusion This study confirmed that TRPC6/NF-κB can regulate iron death of renal podocytes under the induc-tion of Hcy,which is one of the mechanisms leading to kidney injury.

Lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome is aggressive with rapid progression, particularly in NK/T cell lymphoma. The MINE regimen is a salvage treatment for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In our center, the modified MINE regimen was applied to treat three patients with hemophagocytic syndrome secondary to aggressive NK cell leukemia and T-cell lymphoma. The modified MINE regimen showed good efficacy against NK/T cell lymphoma, control of the inflammatory state of secondary hemophagocytic syndrome, and good tolerability.

Research on the mechanisms of depression is currently a focus of the field of neuroscience.The degeneration of brain plasticity(e.g.,decrease in volume,structural degradation,and functional disorder of the hippocampus,PFC,and CG)leads to depression.Exercise is an important means of improving the symptoms of depression.Current research confirms the importance of improving the volume,structure,and function of the hippocampus,PFC,and CG,in this process,but related research has focused solely on changes to the volume of certain brain regions or connectivity functions.Thus,we lack a comprehensive understanding of the antidepressant mechanisms that improve brain plasticity with exercise.Therefore,this study aimed to explore the roles of brain plasticity in the occurrence of depression and improvements to depression through exercise,promoting a more comprehensive understanding the role of brain plasticity in depression.We also provide new ideas for exercise intervention in depression.

Objective To investigate the effects of acute sleep deprivation on the behavior and synaptic protein expression of rats.Methods Seventy healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups,a Control group and sleep deprivation groups(24,48,72,96,120 and 144 hours).The sleep deprivation rat model was established by the modified multiplatform water environment sleep deprivation method.Spatial learning and memory were assessed by the Morris water maze.Anxiety was assessed by the open field test.The morphology and quantity of hippocampal neurons were observed by Nissl staining.Western blot and Real-time PCR were used to determine the expression of synaptophysin(SYN),post-synaptic density protein-95(PSD-95),and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)in rats.Results Compared with the Control group,the numbers of standing and modification were significantly increased by prolongation of the sleep deprivation time(P＜0.05).The escape latency and path length were significantly increased in 120 and 144 h groups(P＜0.05),whereas the number of platform crossings and the percentage of the target quadrant time were significantly decreased(P＜0.01)and negatively correlated to the sleep deprivation time.The expression levels of BDNF,SYN,and PSD-95 were significantly decreased with the prolongation of sleep deprivation time(P＜0.01).Conclusions With the increase in sleep deprivation time,cognitive dysfunction and anxiety gradually deteriorated,which may be related to decreases in the expression of synaptic biomarkers.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to conduct genomic characterization of Salmonella strains carrying the bla _NDM-1 gene in the intestinal tract of healthy individuals. The objectives were to underscore the importance of genomic surveillance for drug resistance in both commensal and pathogenic bacteria among healthy populations, and to establish protocols for regulating drug resistance plasmids based on the completion of a comprehensive map of drug resistance plasmid genomes. METHODS: We performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing and employed second- and third-generation sequencing techniques to analyze Salmonella strains harboring the bla _NDM-1 gene, to surveil drug-resistant bacteria in the intestines of healthy subjects. Sequence comparison was conducted using both core- and pan-genome approaches. Concurrently, conjugation experiments were carried out to assess the efficiency of plasmid transfer. RESULTS: We isolated a carbapenem-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain from a healthy food worker in China. This strain harbored an IncHI2/IncHI2A plasmid carrying bla _NDM-1 along with multiple antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Our findings highlight the potential for asymptomatic carriers to facilitate the transmission of ARGs. Pan-genomic analysis revealed that bla _NDM-1-positive plasmids could traverse bacterial species barriers, facilitating cross-host transmission. CONCLUSION This study marks the first detection of bla _NDM-1 in Salmonella strains isolated from healthy individuals. We underscore the risk associated with the transmission of conjugative hybrid plasmids carrying bla _NDM-1, which have the potential to be harbored and transmitted among healthy individuals. Enhanced surveillance of drug-resistant pathogens and plasmids in the intestinal microbiota of healthy individuals could provide insights into the risk of ARG transmission and pathways for population-wide dissemination via ARG transfer factors.
beta-Lactamases/genetics* ; Plasmids/genetics* ; Humans ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; China ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Salmonella typhimurium/isolation & purification* ; Salmonella/isolation & purification* ; Salmonella Infections/microbiology*

Objective:To analyze the in vitro inhibitory effects of resveratrol on rabies virus. Methods:The challenge virus standard (CVS)-11 strain of rabies virus and BHK-21 cells were used to establish the infection model. In vitro inhibitory effects of resveratrol on rabies virus were analyzed at different stages of infection by direct immunofluorescence and cell fluorescence focus unit assay. Results:Without affecting cell growth, resveratrol could block the adsorption of virus, interfere with the entry of virus into cells and inhibit virus proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition rate could reach up to about 95%. The results of co-incubation experiment showed that 40 μmol/L resveratrol could directly kill the virus.Conclusions:This study indicated that resveratrol inhibited the activity of rabies virus in a concentration-dependent manner.

Objective:To analyze common respiratory pathogens epidemiology in hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in a single center in Shanghai, and to provide the basic data support for clinical diagnosis and treatment of children with LRTI in Shanghai.Methods:Children with LRTI in Children′s Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019, and respiratory samples were collected and tested by direct immunofluorescence assay and real time polymerase chain reaction. The epidemiological characteristics of different respiratory pathogens were analyzed. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 18 716 children were included, the total detection rate of respiratory pathogens was 36.96% (6 918/18 716), and the most frequent detected pathogen was Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) (15.31%(2 866/18 716)), followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (10.40%(1 946/18 716)) and parainfluenza virus Ⅲ (PIV-Ⅲ) (4.65%(871/18 716)). The detection rate of pathogens in female was significantly higher than that in male (38.48%(2 936/7 630) vs 35.92%(3 982/11 086), χ2=12.72, P<0.001). RSV and influenza virus A (Flu-A) infections peaked in winter. The detection rates of influenza virus B (Flu-B) and human metapneumovirus (MPV) were higher in winter and spring. PIV-Ⅲ infection peaked in spring and summer. The peak of PIV-Ⅱ infection occurred in summer and autumn. The infections of adenovirus (ADV), MP, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and PIV-Ⅰ were prevalent throughout the year without significant seasonality. The detection rate of RSV declined with age, while the detection rate of MP increased with age. The co-infection rate was 1.65%(309/18 716), and the predominant co-infection type was MP and RSV (0.37%(70/18 716)). Conclusions:A variety of pathogens lead to children′s LRTI in Shanghai from 2015 to 2019, with the common infection of MP, RSV and PIV-Ⅲ. Different pathogens showed different epidemiological characteristics in age and season distributions.