Objective This study investigated the regulatory effect of high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in the peripheral blood of patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) on myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) and Th17/regulatory T cells (Treg) balance. Methods The study enrolled 30 newly diagnosed ITP patients and 30 healthy controls.Flow cytometry was used to measure the proportion of mDC, Th17, and Treg cells in the peripheral blood of ITP patients and healthy controls. ELISA was conducted to quantify the serum levels of HMGB1, interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-23, IL-17, and transforming growth factor β(TGF-β). The mRNA levels of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt(RORγt) and forehead box P3(FOXP3) were detected by real-time PCR. The correlation between the abovementioned cells, cytokines, and platelet count was assessed using Pearson linear correlation analysis. Results The proportion of Th17 cells and the expression levels of HMGB1, IL-6, IL-23, IL-17 and the level of RORγt mRNA in the peripheral blood of ITP patients were higher than those in healthy controls. However, the Treg cell proportion and TGF-β level were lower in ITP patients than those in healthy controls. In patients with ITP, the proportion of mDC and the level of FOXP3 mRNA did not show significant changes. The proportion of mDC cells was significantly correlated with the expression of IL-6 and IL-23. Moreover, the expression of HMGB1 showed a significant correlation with the expression of mDC, IL-6, IL-23, RORγt mRNA, and IL-17. Notably, both the proportion of mDC cells and the expression of HMGB1 were negatively correlated with platelet count. Conclusion The high expression of HMGB1 in peripheral blood of ITP patients may induce Th17/Treg imbalance by promoting the maturation of mDC and affecting the secretion of cytokines, thereby potentially playing a role in the immunological mechanism of ITP.
Humans ; Th17 Cells/cytology* ; HMGB1 Protein/genetics* ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/cytology* ; Female ; Male ; Dendritic Cells/metabolism* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/genetics* ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3/genetics* ; Young Adult ; Interleukin-23/blood* ; Interleukin-17/blood* ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Myeloid Cells/cytology* ; Aged

Objective To investigate the auditory effects of cochlear implantation in quiet and noisy environ-ments in children with different bilateral intervention modes,as well as the factors influencing these effects.Methods A total of 185 children with bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss were divided into three groups:bimodal hearing mode group(BIM,n=55),simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation group(SCI,n=70),and sequential bilateral cochlear implantation group(SBCI,n=60).The Parents' Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children(PEACH)was used to assess the PEACH scores of the three groups in quiet and noisy environments one year after binaural hearing aid intervention.Additionally,the effects of cochlear implantation age,preoperative residual hearing,hearing aid usage,rehabilitation training mode,family system,and other factors on auditory per-formance in quiet and noisy environments were analyzed.Results The PEACH scores in quiet environments were higher than those in noisy environments for all three groups(all P＜0.05).The SCI group had higher PEACH scores in both quiet and noisy environments compared to the BIM group(P＜0.05).Multifactorial analysis revealed differences in factors influencing auditory performance in quiet and noisy environments among the three groups.First cochlear implantation before 3 years of age,preoperative hearing aid usage,and home-based rehabilitation training mode were common favourable influencing factors for auditory performance in both environments.Preopera-tive residual hearing below 95 dB HL was an favourable influencing factor for auditory performance in quiet environ-ments in the BIM group.The higher the level of parental education,the better auditory performance in both quiet and noisy environments for the SCI and SBCI groups.Implantation interval of 24 months or less and hearing aid usage during the inter-implantation period were favourable influencing factors for auditory performance in both envi-ronments for the SBCI group.Conclusion Children with severe to profound prelingual deafness after simultaneous bilateral CI implantation had better hearing performance than bimodal listening in quiet and noise environments.Ear-ly implantation,preoperative or inter-implantation hearing aid usage are recommended to improve auditory perform-ance in noisy environments,regardless of the bilateral intervention mode.The interval between bilateral cochlear im-plantations should be less than 12 months.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of attention network function and its related factors in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) patients.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. 116 patients with binaural severe or higher SNHL who were hospitalized in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January to July 2023 were selected by the objective sampling method, including 54 males and 62 females, aged from 4 to 56 years old. Demographic data such as patient gender, age, education level, place of residence, per capita monthly family income, caregiver′s education level and audiological and clinical data such as air conduction pure tone hearing threshold, age when hearing loss was first detected, whether hearing loss was gradually aggravated, hearing compensation mode, hearing compensation time, whether to participate in rehabilitation training, and rehabilitation time were collected through the general data questionnaire. The Attention Network Test was used to investigate three attention network functions in SNHL patients: alertness, orientation and executive control. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results:Univariate analysis showed that patients with postlingual deafness had lower executive control network score, patients with postlingual deafness, hearing loss gradually aggravated, hearing aid compensation, compensation time >5 years, and no rehabilitation learning had faster average response time, and patients with postlingual deafness, compensation time >5 years, and no rehabilitation learning had higher average accuracy ( P<0.05 for all). The results of multivariate analysis showed that patients aged 13-18 years, postlingual deafness and compensation time >5 years had faster average response time, and patients with compensation time >5 years and no rehabilitation learning had higher average accuracy ( P<0.05 for all). Conclusions:There is a general decline in attentional function and delayed development in patients with severe and above SNHL. No matter what mode of hearing compensation, timely and long-term hearing compensation intervention after hearing loss can effectively improve the attention network function, while the patients who do not participate in rehabilitation learning may improve their response accuracy by inhibiting interference and enhancing audio-visual interaction.

Objective To investigate the auditory effects of cochlear implantation in quiet and noisy environ-ments in children with different bilateral intervention modes,as well as the factors influencing these effects.Methods A total of 185 children with bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss were divided into three groups:bimodal hearing mode group(BIM,n=55),simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation group(SCI,n=70),and sequential bilateral cochlear implantation group(SBCI,n=60).The Parents' Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children(PEACH)was used to assess the PEACH scores of the three groups in quiet and noisy environments one year after binaural hearing aid intervention.Additionally,the effects of cochlear implantation age,preoperative residual hearing,hearing aid usage,rehabilitation training mode,family system,and other factors on auditory per-formance in quiet and noisy environments were analyzed.Results The PEACH scores in quiet environments were higher than those in noisy environments for all three groups(all P＜0.05).The SCI group had higher PEACH scores in both quiet and noisy environments compared to the BIM group(P＜0.05).Multifactorial analysis revealed differences in factors influencing auditory performance in quiet and noisy environments among the three groups.First cochlear implantation before 3 years of age,preoperative hearing aid usage,and home-based rehabilitation training mode were common favourable influencing factors for auditory performance in both environments.Preopera-tive residual hearing below 95 dB HL was an favourable influencing factor for auditory performance in quiet environ-ments in the BIM group.The higher the level of parental education,the better auditory performance in both quiet and noisy environments for the SCI and SBCI groups.Implantation interval of 24 months or less and hearing aid usage during the inter-implantation period were favourable influencing factors for auditory performance in both envi-ronments for the SBCI group.Conclusion Children with severe to profound prelingual deafness after simultaneous bilateral CI implantation had better hearing performance than bimodal listening in quiet and noise environments.Ear-ly implantation,preoperative or inter-implantation hearing aid usage are recommended to improve auditory perform-ance in noisy environments,regardless of the bilateral intervention mode.The interval between bilateral cochlear im-plantations should be less than 12 months.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of attention network function and its related factors in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) patients.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. 116 patients with binaural severe or higher SNHL who were hospitalized in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January to July 2023 were selected by the objective sampling method, including 54 males and 62 females, aged from 4 to 56 years old. Demographic data such as patient gender, age, education level, place of residence, per capita monthly family income, caregiver′s education level and audiological and clinical data such as air conduction pure tone hearing threshold, age when hearing loss was first detected, whether hearing loss was gradually aggravated, hearing compensation mode, hearing compensation time, whether to participate in rehabilitation training, and rehabilitation time were collected through the general data questionnaire. The Attention Network Test was used to investigate three attention network functions in SNHL patients: alertness, orientation and executive control. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results:Univariate analysis showed that patients with postlingual deafness had lower executive control network score, patients with postlingual deafness, hearing loss gradually aggravated, hearing aid compensation, compensation time >5 years, and no rehabilitation learning had faster average response time, and patients with postlingual deafness, compensation time >5 years, and no rehabilitation learning had higher average accuracy ( P<0.05 for all). The results of multivariate analysis showed that patients aged 13-18 years, postlingual deafness and compensation time >5 years had faster average response time, and patients with compensation time >5 years and no rehabilitation learning had higher average accuracy ( P<0.05 for all). Conclusions:There is a general decline in attentional function and delayed development in patients with severe and above SNHL. No matter what mode of hearing compensation, timely and long-term hearing compensation intervention after hearing loss can effectively improve the attention network function, while the patients who do not participate in rehabilitation learning may improve their response accuracy by inhibiting interference and enhancing audio-visual interaction.

Objective To investigate cyclin D2(CCND2)expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)and its association with the clinicopathological features.Methods The public databases TCGA,TIMER 2.0 and UALCAN were used to explore CCND2 expression level in PTC and adjacent tissues,and its diagnostic value for PTC was analyzed using ROC curves.GO enrichment analysis of CCND2-related differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in PTC was performed,and tumor immune infiltration of CCND2 in thyroid cancer was analyzed using TIMER database and CIBERSORT data source.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect CCND2 expression in normal human thyroid cell line Nthy-ori-3-1 and human PTC cell lines TPC-1 and BCPAP.CCND2 expression was also detected in clinical specimens of PTC and adjacent tissues by immunohistochemistry,and its correlation with clinicopathological features of the patients were analyzed.Results Informatic analysis revealed significantly higher CCND2 mRNA expression in thyroid cancer than in the adjacent tissues(P<0.001)in close correlation with tumor stage,gender,age,pathological subtype,and lymph node involvement(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that at the cutoff value of 4.983,the diagnostic sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of CCND2 expression for PTC was 83.6%,94.9%,and 78.5%,respectively.CCND2 expression was positively correlated with B cells,CD4+T cells,and macrophages(P<0.001)and negatively with CD8+T cells(P<0.01),and also correlated with memory B-cell infiltration,CD4+T-cell memory activation,M2 macrophages,resting mast cells,and mast cell activation(P<0.05).RT-qPCR,Western blot and immunohistochemistry showed significantly higher CCND2 expression in the PTC cells than in Nthy-ori-3-1 cells(P<0.01)and also in clinical PTC tissues than in the adjacent tissues(P<0.05)in correlation with tumor size,lymph node metastasis and TNM stage(P<0.05).Conclusion CCND2 overexpression is closely correlated with tumor progression and immune cell infiltration in PTC patients..

Objective To investigate cyclin D2(CCND2)expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)and its association with the clinicopathological features.Methods The public databases TCGA,TIMER 2.0 and UALCAN were used to explore CCND2 expression level in PTC and adjacent tissues,and its diagnostic value for PTC was analyzed using ROC curves.GO enrichment analysis of CCND2-related differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in PTC was performed,and tumor immune infiltration of CCND2 in thyroid cancer was analyzed using TIMER database and CIBERSORT data source.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect CCND2 expression in normal human thyroid cell line Nthy-ori-3-1 and human PTC cell lines TPC-1 and BCPAP.CCND2 expression was also detected in clinical specimens of PTC and adjacent tissues by immunohistochemistry,and its correlation with clinicopathological features of the patients were analyzed.Results Informatic analysis revealed significantly higher CCND2 mRNA expression in thyroid cancer than in the adjacent tissues(P<0.001)in close correlation with tumor stage,gender,age,pathological subtype,and lymph node involvement(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that at the cutoff value of 4.983,the diagnostic sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of CCND2 expression for PTC was 83.6%,94.9%,and 78.5%,respectively.CCND2 expression was positively correlated with B cells,CD4+T cells,and macrophages(P<0.001)and negatively with CD8+T cells(P<0.01),and also correlated with memory B-cell infiltration,CD4+T-cell memory activation,M2 macrophages,resting mast cells,and mast cell activation(P<0.05).RT-qPCR,Western blot and immunohistochemistry showed significantly higher CCND2 expression in the PTC cells than in Nthy-ori-3-1 cells(P<0.01)and also in clinical PTC tissues than in the adjacent tissues(P<0.05)in correlation with tumor size,lymph node metastasis and TNM stage(P<0.05).Conclusion CCND2 overexpression is closely correlated with tumor progression and immune cell infiltration in PTC patients..

Objective:To investigate the role of autophagy mediated by mTOR signaling pathway in the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) induced by cadmium.Methods:HBMSCs were divided into 0, 2.5 or 5.0 μmol/L groups according to the exposure dose of cadmium chloride (CdCl 2), and each group was treated for 1 day, 4 days and (or) 7 days. The ALP activity and mRNA and protein expression levels of osteogenesis markers (ALP, RUNX2 and OSTERIX), autophagy-related proteins (LC3 and Beclin-1) and mTOR signaling pathway related proteins (mTOR, p-mTOR and p-p70S6K) expression, alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining were detected. MHY 1485 was selected as the signaling pathway activator. The control group, CdCl 2 group (5.0 μmol/L), MHY 1485 group and CdCl 2+MHY 1485 combined treatment group were set. After 7 days of treatment, the expression levels of autophagy related proteins and mTOR signaling pathway related proteins of hBMSCs in each group were detected. Results:There was no significant difference in ALP activity between 0, 2.5 and 5.0 μmol/L groups on day 1 and 4 ( P>0.05); On day 7, compared with the 0 μmol/L group, the ALP activity, expression of osteogenic markers (ALP, RUNX2, OSTERIX) and mTOR signaling pathway related proteins (mTOR, p-mTOR, p-p70S6K) expression decreased in the 2.5 and 5.0 μmol/L group ( P<0.05). Compared with the 0 μmol/L group, the staining of the 2.5 and 5.0 μmol/L groups became lighter, and the formation of ALP and mineralized nodules was reduced. Compared with the CdCl 2 group, the autophagy related protein expression in the CdCl 2+MHY 1485 combined treatment group decreased, and the mTOR signaling pathway related protein expression increased. The difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The inhibition of osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs by cadmium may be related to autophagy mediated by mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the role of autophagy mediated by mTOR signaling pathway in the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) induced by cadmium.Methods:HBMSCs were divided into 0, 2.5 or 5.0 μmol/L groups according to the exposure dose of cadmium chloride (CdCl 2), and each group was treated for 1 day, 4 days and (or) 7 days. The ALP activity and mRNA and protein expression levels of osteogenesis markers (ALP, RUNX2 and OSTERIX), autophagy-related proteins (LC3 and Beclin-1) and mTOR signaling pathway related proteins (mTOR, p-mTOR and p-p70S6K) expression, alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining were detected. MHY 1485 was selected as the signaling pathway activator. The control group, CdCl 2 group (5.0 μmol/L), MHY 1485 group and CdCl 2+MHY 1485 combined treatment group were set. After 7 days of treatment, the expression levels of autophagy related proteins and mTOR signaling pathway related proteins of hBMSCs in each group were detected. Results:There was no significant difference in ALP activity between 0, 2.5 and 5.0 μmol/L groups on day 1 and 4 ( P>0.05); On day 7, compared with the 0 μmol/L group, the ALP activity, expression of osteogenic markers (ALP, RUNX2, OSTERIX) and mTOR signaling pathway related proteins (mTOR, p-mTOR, p-p70S6K) expression decreased in the 2.5 and 5.0 μmol/L group ( P<0.05). Compared with the 0 μmol/L group, the staining of the 2.5 and 5.0 μmol/L groups became lighter, and the formation of ALP and mineralized nodules was reduced. Compared with the CdCl 2 group, the autophagy related protein expression in the CdCl 2+MHY 1485 combined treatment group decreased, and the mTOR signaling pathway related protein expression increased. The difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The inhibition of osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs by cadmium may be related to autophagy mediated by mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the expression of microRNA-21(miR-21)in breast cancer cell lines and serum of patients with breast cancer and the impact on the invasion and migration of breast cancer cells.Methods From Jan 2013 to Feb 2014, miR-21 expression were determined by fluorescent quantity polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) in 4 breast cell lines (HBL-100, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468) and in serum from breast cancer patients ( n =56 ) , breast benign disease patients ( n =39 ) andhealth controls ( n =45 ) . The characteristics of cell invasion and migration were examined by transwellinvasion and migration assay afterbreast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 were transfectedwith miR-21 inhibitor or negative control by lipofectamin.The t test was used to analysis the normal distribution data. Results FQ-PCR results showed that the relative expression of miR-21 in the normal breast epithelial cell line HBL-100 was 1.01 ±0.04, in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 were 1.99 ±0.11,4.02 ±0.38 and 3.73 ±0.79 respectively.Compared with the normal controls, miR-21 were highly expressed in the three breast cancer cell lines, the difference was statistically significant (t=9.01, 9.20 and 4.55, respectively, P<0.01); and the miR-21 was highly expressed in invasive and metastatic breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468),compared with weakly invasive breast cancer cell line MCF-7, the difference was statistically significant ( t values were 6.14 and 2.91, P<0. 05), suggesting that miR-21 is highly expressed in breast cancer cells, and is closely related to the invasion and metastasis.The relative expression of miR-21 in serum of breast cancer was 2.63 (1.57-4.59), in benign breast disease group was 1.34 (1.01-1.78), in healthy control group was 0.81 (0.52-1.59), the miR-21 expression in the serum of breast cancer patients was significantly higher than in patients with benign lesions and normal control group (U values were 208 and 279, P<0.01), whereas no significant difference in serum in patients with benign lesions and normal control group, the miR-21 expression in the serum of breast cancer patients with lymph node metastasis (U=95 , P=0.19) was 3.55 (2.44-5.26), significantly higher than those without lymph node metastasis [2.11(1.59-3.25), U=216,P=0.021]. The results of invasion and migration assay showed that cells treated with miR-21 inhibitor invasion was:44 ±18, the number of cell migration was:98 ±22, while the negative control treated cells after invasion was:133 ±44, migration cell number:255 ±35;miR-21 inhibitor treatment compared with the negative control, cell invasion and migration was also significantly decreased( t values were 5.46 and 9.08, P<0. 01) .The cell invasion and migration assay indicated the numbers of MDA-MB-231 cells, which invaded or migrated to lower chamber, were 44 ±18 and 98 ±22 respectively after miR-21 inhibitor was applied, The numbers of invaded or migrated cells were 133 ±44 and 255 ±35 when the negative control was applied.The ability of cell invasion and migration was decreased significantly in the inhibitor group compared with the negative group(tvalue separately was 5.46, 9.08, P<0.01).The capacity of breast cancer cell invasion and migrationwas significantly decreased after transfection ofmiR-21 inhibitor.Conclusions MiR-21 is highly expressed in breast cancer cell lines and breast cancer patients′serum.Altered expression of miR-21 maybeplays an important role in breast cancer invasion and migration.MiR-21 may serve as new biomarker to early detectionand prognosis estimation of breast cancer.