Objective: To explore the longitudinal associations between dietary macronutrients and lung function in schoolaged children, so as to provide the nutritional research evidence for promoting children s lung health. Methods: In November 2021, two primary schools located in Chengdu, Sichuan Province were selected from the Southwest China Childhood Nutrition and Growth (SCCNG) cohort by a stratified cluster random sampling method, enrolling a total of 1 112 school aged children aged 8 to 13 years. At baseline, the dietary and sociodemographic characteristics of the children were assessed. One year later, the forced vital capacity (FVC) of the children was measured and converted into Z scores (FVC- Z ), while the vital capacity index (VCI) was also calculated. Generalized linear regression analysis was employed to examine the associations between dietary macronutrients and lung function, considering interactions with gender and age, followed by stratified analysis. Results: After adjusting for confounding factors, the analysis results of the generalized linear regression model showed that the carbohydrate energy ratio was negatively correlated with FVC- Z ( β =-0.02) and VCI ( β =-0.16), while the fat energy ratio showed a positive correlation with FVC- Z ( β =0.03) and VCI ( β =0.23) ( P <0.05). The protein energy ratio was positively correlated with FVC- Z ( β =0.09) and VCI ( β =0.60) specifically in girls ( P <0.05). Additionally, there was an interaction effect of age on the associations between macronutrients and lung function ( P <0.01); in children aged 8-9 and 10-11, the carbohydrate energy supply ratio was negatively correlated with FVC- Z ( β =-0.04, -0.03) and VCI ( β =-0.29, -0.21), and fat energy supply ratio was positively correlated with FVC- Z ( β =0.07, 0.05) and VCI ( β =0.46, 0.32) ( P <0.05). Conclusions There are age and sex differences in the association of dietary macronutrients with lung function, with a low carbohydrate, high fat diet promoting lung function in children. Additionally, protein intake appears to have a positive influence on the lung function of girls. The early school age period may represent a critical window for dietary interventions aimed at promoting lung health.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Erianin on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells, providing a research foundation for the clinical treatment of OSCC. Methods: Erianin was applied to OSCC cells (CAL27 and SCC9) at concentrations of 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 μmol/L. The inhibitory effect of Erianin on OSCC cell proliferation was evaluated using CCK-8 and soft agar colony formation assays. Western blotting (WB) was employed to analyze the expression levels of anti-apoptotic proteins B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), and apoptotic protein cleaved-Caspase 3 (c-Caspase 3) in OSCC cells. Caspase 3 activity was further assessed using a caspase 3 activity detection kit to examine the pro-apoptotic effect of Erianin in OSCC cells. Mcl-1 overexpression was induced in CAL27 cells via plasmid transfection, and the influence of Mcl-1 on the effects of Erianin in CAL27 cells was analyzed by WB and caspase 3 activity measurement. All animal experiments were approved by the Ethics Committee of Hunan Cancer Hospital. A CAL27 xenograft mouse model was established and randomly divided into two groups (n = 5): the treatment group received intraperitoneal injection of Erianin (25 mg/kg), while the control group was injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as the vehicle. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression levels of Ki67 and Mcl-1 in the tumor tissues. Results: Erianin inhibited the proliferation of CAL27 and SCC9 cells in a dose-dependent manner and downregulated the protein expression of Mcl-1, with minimal effects on Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Furthermore, Erianin induced apoptosis in OSCC cells, as evidenced by increased expression of c-Caspase 3 and enhanced caspase 3 activity (P<0.001). Overexpression of Mcl-1 inhibited the Erianin-induced increase in c-Caspase 3 protein levels and caspase 3 activity. In vivo results were consistent with the in vitro findings. After Erianin treatment, CAL27 cell growth in nude mice was suppressed (P<0.001), and the expression levels of the proliferation marker Ki67 and the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 in the tumor tissues were downregulated (P<0.001). Conclusion Erianin exhibits potent anti-tumor effects, effectively inhibiting the proliferation of OSCC cells and inducing apoptosis. The underlying mechanism may involve the downregulation of the pro-survival protein Mcl-1.

[Objective] To determine the blood group of a patient with ABO forward and reverse typing discrepancies using PacBio third-generation sequencing (TGS) technology, and to explore the application of serological methods and molecular biological methods in identifying chimeric blood groups. [Methods] The blood group serology testing was utilized. PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing of exons 1-7 of the ABO gene were conducted. The full-length sequencing of the ABO gene and haplotype analysis were carried out by PacBio third-generation sequencing technology. Short tandem repeat typing was also performed. [Results] Serological testing suggested a suspected B subtype, which appeared mixed field of vision with anti-B antibodies and showed 2+mf strength agglutination. Sanger sequencing revealed a homozygous ABO^* O. 01. 01 genotype with the c. 261delG mutation in exon 6. PacBio TGS identified a predominant ABO^* O. 01. 01/ABO^* O. 01. 01 genotype and a low proportion of ABO^* B. 01. Nine locis of twenty short tandem repeat (STR) locis showed three or four types of genotypes in STR analysis, confirming chimerism. [Conclusion] The sample was a B/O blood group chimerism. The low proportion of ABO^* B. 01 chimerism was the true cause for the serological mixed field of vision. The PacBio third-generation sequencing technology can not only determine the ABO gene haplotype but also detect a low proportion gene chimerism in ABO blood groups.

AIM: To investigate the current status of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP)in premature infants in Xiamen and analyze its influencing factors, aiming to provide a scientific basis for clinical treatment and preventive strategies.METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on the case data of 363 preterm infants with a gestational age of <32 wk who underwent fundus examination at Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University from February 11, 2020 to February 25, 2023. The incidence of ROP was statistically analyzed based on the screening results. All premature infants were divided into ROP group(37 cases, 64 eyes)and non-ROP group(326 cases, 652 eyes). General clinical data and perinatal-related information of the two groups were compared, and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing the occurrence of ROP in premature infants.RESULTS: A total of 363 premature infants were included in this study. The fundus screening results showed that a total of 37 cases(64 eyes)of premature infants were detected with ROP, including 10 cases(10 eyes)monocular and 27 cases(54 eyes)binocular, with an overall incidence of 10.2%(37/363). The severity was determined according to the ROP international classification standard(ROP is divided into 5 stages, with stage I being the least severe and stage V the most severe). Among the 64 eyes, 30 eyes(46.9%)were in stage I, 20 eyes(31.3%)were in stage II, 10 eyes(15.6%)were in stage III, 4 eyes(6.3%)were in stage IV, and there were no cases in stage V. By comparing the clinical data of the two groups, no significant differences were found in gender, mode of delivery, singleton or multiple births, premature rupture of membranes, history of asphyxia, patent ductus arteriosus(PDA), or neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(NRDS)between the two groups(all P>0.05). However, premature infants in the ROP group had significantly younger gestational age and lower birth weight compared to those in the non-ROP group(all P<0.05). Additionally, the ROP group had higher proportions of longer hospital stays, bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD), neonatal sepsis, anemia, oxygen therapy for more than 1 wk, oxygen concentration above 40%, and blood transfusion treatment(all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that combined neonatal sepsis(OR=166.985, 95% CI: 35.239-791.277, P<0.001), anemia(OR=8.111, 95% CI: 2.064-31.871, P=0.003), oxygen use time >1 wk(OR=10.216, 95% CI: 2.543-41.039, P=0.001), oxygen therapy concentration >40%(OR=7.647, 95% CI: 1.913-30.566, P=0.004), and receiving blood transfusion therapy(OR=5.879, 95% CI: 1.412-24.470, P=0.015)were the main risk factors affecting the occurrence of ROP in preterm infants, and the higher birth weight of preterm infants was a protective factor for ROP(OR=0.093, 95% CI: 0.022-0.394, P=0.001).CONCLUSION: The incidence of ROP in premature infants is relatively high, and there are multiple influencing factors. Low birth weight, neonatal sepsis, anemia, oxygen therapy, and blood transfusion treatment are high-risk factors for ROP in premature infants. Clinical attention should be given to such infants, and fundus screening should be conducted in a standardized manner to provide early treatment, thereby further reducing the risk of ROP in premature infants.

Objective: To explore the correlation between allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) during the perioperative period. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort of 1,170 patients undergoing isolated CABG was analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were employed to explore the nonlinear association between perioperative RBC transfusion (from intraoperative period to 72 hours postoperatively) and HAIs. Results: Among the 1,170 CABG patients, 109 patients (9.2%) received RBC transfusion during the operation or within 3 days after the operation. The risk of HAIs in those who received ≥4 units of RBCs during and within 3 days after the operation was 6.89 times higher than that in the non-transfusion group (95% CI: 3.65-17.20). Furthermore, there was a nonlinear threshold effect between the blood transfusion volume and postoperative HAIs (inflection point: 7.8 units). When the transfusion volume was ≤7.8 units, the risk of HAIs increased by 61% for each additional unit transfused (OR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.21-2.15). Beyond this threshold, no statistically significant association was observed (P=0.289). Conclusion: Perioperative RBC transfusion in CABG patients is associated with an increased incidence of HAIs. The perioperative blood transfusion volume has a curvilinear relationship with the risk of postoperative HAIs. When the blood transfusion volume is ≤7.8 units, the blood transfusion volume has a dose-dependent relationship with postoperative infection, with higher blood transfusion volumes correlating with greater postoperative infection risk. When the blood transfusion volume is >7.8 units, the relationship between the two is not statistically significant. The preventive effect of reducing RBC transfusion on HAIs requires further validation in the future.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of "olfactory three needles" on cognition, learning and memory abilities, as well as hippocampal microglia (MG) phagocytic activity in vascular dementia (VD) rats, and explore the mechanisms of acupuncture in regulating MG activation and improving remyelination, so as to ameliorate VD. METHODS: Among 38 SD rats meeting experimental requirements, 9 rats were randomly assigned to a sham-operation group, and the remaining rats underwent permanent bilateral common carotid artery ligation to establish VD model. Eighteen successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group and an electroacupuncture (EA) group, with 9 rats in each one. In the EA group, EA was performed at "olfactory three needles" ("Yintang" [GV24⁺] and bilateral "Yingxiang" [LI20]), at disperse-dense wave, the frequency of 2 Hz/15 Hz and the current intensity of 1 mA, for 15 min per intervention, once daily. One course was composed of 7 days, and 2 courses were required, with the interval of 2 days. The novel object recognition test was employed to assess the cognition of rats, and the Morris water maze was adopted to observe learning and memory abilities. Luxol fast blue (LFB) staining was performed to evaluate myelin sheath loss in the hippocampus, the Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) and proteolipid protein (PLP) in the hippocampus; and the immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the positive expression of PLP, sex determining region Y-box 10 (SOX10), ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1)⁺ TREM2⁺ and Iba1⁺ lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1)⁺ in the hippocampus. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operation group, the rats in the model group exhibited the prolonged escape latency on day 3 and 4 (P<0.05, P<0.01), the increase of the total distance traveling (P<0.01) and the decrease of the recognition index (RI) and platform crossing frequency (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the rats in the EA group showed the shortened escape latency on day 3 and 4 (P<0.05), the decrease of total distance traveling (P<0.01) and the increase of RI and platform crossing frequency (P<0.05, P<0.01). When compared with the sham-operation group, the rats of the model group presented uneven staining, sparse arrangement of myelin sheath fibers, unclear contours, and prominent vacuole-like changes in the hippocampal CA1 region. When compared with the model group, the EA group showed more dense staining, the increase of myelin sheath fibers with more orderly alignment, and fewer vacuolar changes in the hippocampal CA1 region. Compared with the sham-operation group, the model group exhibited the increase of TREM2 protein expression and the decrease of PLP protein expression in the hippocampus (P<0.01), whereas the EA group showed the up-regulation of TREM2 and PLP protein expression when compared with the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The positive expression of the hippocampal PLP, SOX10, and Iba1⁺LAMP1⁺ in the model group was reduced in comparison with the sham-operation group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the positive expression of Iba1⁺ TREM2⁺ was elevated (P<0.05). In the EA group, the positive expression of PLP, SOX10, Iba1⁺TREM2⁺, and Iba1⁺ LAMP1⁺ was higher compared with that in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION "Olfactory three needles" can improve the learning and memory, and cognitive functions of VD rats, and its mechanism may be associated with the up-regulation of TREM2 and LAMP1 to adjust MG phagocytic activity and intracellular degradation, and promote remyelination.
Animals ; Dementia, Vascular/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Male ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Remyelination ; Memory ; Hippocampus/cytology* ; Cognition ; Electroacupuncture ; Needles

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) have become prominent global health threats, escalating the burden on public health systems. The increasing occurrence of invasive fungal infections is due primarily to the extensive application of chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapies, and broad-spectrum antifungal agents. At present, therapeutic practices utilize multiple categories of antifungal agents, such as azoles, polyenes, echinocandins, and pyrimidine analogs. Nevertheless, the clinical effectiveness of these treatments is progressively weakened by the emergence of drug resistance, thereby substantially restricting their therapeutic utility. Consequently, there is an imperative need to expedite the discovery of novel antifungal agents. This review seeks to present an exhaustive synthesis of novel antifungal drugs and candidate agents that are either under current clinical investigation or anticipated to progress into clinical evaluation. These emerging compounds exhibit unique benefits concerning their modes of action, antimicrobial spectra, and pharmacokinetic characteristics, potentially leading to improved therapeutic outcomes relative to conventional antifungal regimens. It is anticipated that these novel therapeutic agents will furnish innovative treatment modalities and enhance clinical outcomes in managing invasive fungal infections.

Epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1(ESRP1)is an epithelial cell-specific splicing factor that in-volved in selective splicing and translation of multiple genes.ESRP1 regulates signaling pathways that affect cell proliferation and tumor growth via mediating target genes and regulating cyclic RNA cyclization and biogenesis in a variety of cancers,including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma,carcinoma of colon,and prostate cancer.Through integrating and analyzing the link between ESRP1 and related cancers,provide new ideas for the treatment of tumor cells in which ESRP1 as a key factor.

Caveolin-1(CAV1)is a structural protein of caveolae on the plasma membrane and is an important regulatory factor for liver function.CAV1 regulates hepatic lipid deposition,lipid and glucose metabolism,mitochondrial function,and hepatocyte proliferation through various molecular pathways.Therefore,CAV1 plays a crucial role in maintaining liver physiology during the metabolic regulatory processes such as hepatic steatosis and hepatocyte proliferation.Furthermore,CAV1 is also involved in the development and progression of different types of liver injury,hepatitis,and liver cirrhosis.This article reviews the role of CAV1 in liver-related diseases and its mechanism in the regulation of liver macrophages,so as to provide a theoretical basis for targeting CAV1 in the treatment of liver-related diseases.

Objective To investigate the associations between thyroid hormone sensitivity indices in euthyroid patients with hypertension and the risk of ischemic stroke,as well as gender difference in this association.Methods We selected 760 hypertensive patients admitted to the Geriatric Neurology Department and outpatient clinic in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between April 2021 and May 2022.We collected their basic characteristics,blood biochemical parameters,thyroid indices,and brain magnetic resonance imaging information.All the patients were divided into two groups based on the clinical manifestations and brain magnetic resonance imaging:hypertension combined with ischemic stroke(n=526)and control(n=234)groups.Independent sample t-tests or non-parametric tests were used to compare the differences in thyroid hormone sensitivity indicators between the two groups.Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum thyroid indices and ischemic stroke.Multivariate conditional Logistic regression analysis was made to estimate odds ratios(ORs)and 95％confidence intervals(CIs)for thyroid indices and ischemic stroke.Results There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age,gender,TC,LDL-c,HDL-c,systolic blood pressure,FT3/FT4,TFQI,and PTFQI(all P＜0.05).However,there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in weight,smoking,drinking,history of diabetes,TG,FBG,diastolic blood pressure,TSHI,or TT4RI(all P＞0.05).The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between FT3/FT4 and ischemic stroke(P＜0.05),but a positive correlation of TFQI and PTFQI with ischemic stroke(P＜0.05)in euthyroid patients with hypertension.Logistic regression analysis showed that FT3/FT4 was significantly associated with ischemic stroke in euthyroid patients with hypertension(P=0.001),with OR(95％CI)of 0.001(0.000,0.058).After stratifying by gender,Logistic regression analysis found that FT3/FT4,TFQI,and PTFQI were associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke in female patients,with OR(95％CI)of 0.000(0.000,0.001),3.132(1.415,6.930),and 3.010(1.406,6.445),respectively.Conclusion Lower serum FT3/FT4 ratio is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke in euthyroid patients with hypertension,and the significant association of TFQI and PTFQI with the risk of ischemic stroke is found in females.