Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), the most commonly-occurring form of hearing loss, is caused mainly by injury to or the loss of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons in the cochlea. Numerous environmental and physiological factors have been shown to cause acquired SNHL, such as ototoxic drugs, noise exposure, aging, infections, and diseases. Several programmed cell death (PCD) pathways have been reported to be involved in SNHL, especially some novel PCD pathways that have only recently been reported, such as ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. Here we summarize these PCD pathways and their roles and mechanisms in SNHL, aiming to provide new insights and potential therapeutic strategies for SNHL by targeting these PCD pathways.
Humans ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/metabolism* ; Necroptosis/drug effects* ; Pyroptosis/drug effects* ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Animals

【Objective】 To understand factors associated with children′s attendance at nursery care institutions (NCIs) and the basic characteristics of the NCIs children were enrolled in, so as to provide scientific evidence for policymakers. 【Methods】 During November 2020 and January 2021, parents who visited the Department of Child Health Care in six selected maternal and children′s hospitals, as well as nearby NCIs in Zhejiang were invited to finish an online questionnaire. Information such as children′s sociodemographic characteristics, parents′ knowledge, attitude and practice regarding nursery and feeding, etc. were collected. A total of 1 756 questionnaires were collected. 【Results】 Compared to children who were not in NCIs, children enrolled in NCIs were older (94.4% of children ≥24 months vs. 30.1%, χ²=835.27), more likely to be from the local area (87.2% vs. 81.4%,χ²=12.25), more likely to have parents with a college degree (mother: 83.6% vs. 74.2%, χ²=35.29; father: 79.9% vs. 70.0%, χ²=27.01), had a higher prevalence of family annual income >200 000 CNY (49.5% vs. 28.2%, χ²=110.49), and were less likely to have their grandparents available to take care of them (16.7% vs. 26.8%, χ²=31.4) The difference all have great significant.(P<0.05). In a multivariate Logistic regression model, the older the child, the more likely they were to attend an NCI (for children aged 6 - 23 months, OR=6.70; for children aged 24 - 35 months, OR=134.03; and for children aged 36 - 42 months, OR=699.33; P<0.05). Family annual income was positively associated with children′s attendance at NCIs (for those earning 100 000 - 200 000 CNY/year, OR=1.63; for those earning 200 000 - 500 000 CNY/year, OR=2.96; and for those earning >500 000 CNY/year, OR=4.62, P<0.05). Conversely, the higher the level of grandparent involvement in daily care, the lower the attendance at NCIs (for children cared for by both parents and grandparents, OR=0.57; for those primarily cared for by grandparents, OR=0.26, P<0.05). For children who used to stay at NCIs, 82.8% stayed at institutions that only recruited children aged 0 - 3 years, 97.4% spent their whole day in NCIs, and 71.4% spent less than 3 000 CNY per month for NCI services. Additionally, over 95% of parents were satisfied with the food and care services in NCIs, as well as their children′s physical development in NCIs. However, 32.1% of NCIs were reported by parents as having no room for breastfeeding. 【Conclusions】 Children′s age, grandparent involvement in routine care, and family annual income are the main factors associated with children′s attendance at NCIs. There is a greater need for more affordable and community-based NCIs, particularly for children under 2 years old. Additionally, more attention should be paid to the quality surveillance, assessment and management of NCIs.

In recent years， neurotoxicity caused by traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has frequently occurred and has become one of the important factors restricting the development and application of TCM. TCM contains active components and its dosage-effect relationship is the key to determine its pharmacological activity and toxic effects. Among them， the endogenous toxic components include alkaloids， glycosides， diterpenoids， animal and plant toxic proteins and heavy metals， and so on； exogenous toxic components mainly refer to some harmful elements and pesticide residues during the cultivation， processing， transportation and storage of medicinal materials that are not synthesized by themselves. Effect on the processes such as oxidative stress， inflammation， ion exchange， and energy metabolism may be important mechanisms of TCM-induced neurotoxicity. Neural cells， myelin cells， axons and neurotransmitter systems are common targets of TCM-induced neurotoxicity. In the future， we can use modern research methods and big data mining means to establish a safety evaluation mode of “toxic symptoms-poisoning dose-toxic original agent-detoxification scheme” with the basic component group of toxic substances as the core， so as to provide support for development and clinical intervention of neurotoxic traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective To establish a quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR)method for the analysis of human-derived SRY DNA in mouse tissues,and to study the tissue distribution of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(HUCMSCs)in immunodeficient NOG mice after a single intravenous injection.Methods We established a quantitative PCR method for the analysis of human SRY DNA in mouse tissues,and validated the standard curve,linear range,accuracy,precision,and stability.Thirty-six NOG mice(18 male,18 female)were administered 3.5×107 HUCMSCs/kg by single intravenous injection.Six mice were then anesthetized and dissected after blood collection(EDTA anticoagulation)at 6,12,24,and 72 h,and at 1 and 2 weeks,respectively.DNA was extracted from lung,kidney,heart,liver,brain,spinal cord,stomach,small intestine,fat,skin,spleen,testis,uterus,and ovary tissues,and the distribution of HUCMSCs in each tissue was determined by the validated quantitative PCR method for detecting the human-derived SRY gene in mouse tissues.In addition,18 NOG mice(9 male,9 female)were divided into control(n = 6)and treatment groups(n = 12)injected intravenously with 0.9%sodium chloride and 3.5×107 cells/kg,respectively.Acute toxic reactions were observed during the administration period,and four animals were dissected at 72 h and at 2 and 4 weeks after administration to observe the gross organs.Mitochondrial protein expression was detected in paraffin sections of lung tissues by immunohistochemistry to analyze the colonization of HUCMSCs in lung tissues.Results The established RT-qPCR method for human-derived SRY DNA in mouse tissues met the validation criteria for each index.After a single intravenous injection in NOG mice,HUCMSCs were mainly distributed in the lungs and blood within 1 week after administration,with higher concentrations in lung tissues than in blood.The concentrations of HUCMSCs in lung tissue and blood remained relatively stable within 6～24 h and 6～72 h,respectively,and then decreased over time.The distribution of HUCMSCs in other tissues was not measured at all sampling points.The colonization result showed that HUCMSCs were detected in lungs 72 h after intravenous injection,but not at 2 and 4 weeks.No obvious acute toxicity was observed in NOG mice after single intravenous administration of HUCMSCs.Conclusions The above method for analyzing the distribution of HUCMSCs in mouse tissue is reliable and feasible.HUCMSCs were mainly distributed in lung and blood in NOG mice within 1 week after a single intravenous injection,and mainly colonized lung tissue at 72 h.A single intravenous administration of HUCMSCs has a good safety profile.

OBJECTIVE: To perform gene mutation analysis in a Chinese pedigree with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa (DEB-Pr), and explore phetotype, genotype, and genotypes-phenotypes relationship of DEB-Pr. METHODS: Potential variants of the COL7A1 gene were detected by skin targeted sequencing panel and verified by Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity of the variation was analyzed. RESULTS: Compound heterozygous variants, c.4128delT and c.8234G>A, were detected in the COL7A1 gene of the two patients. The c.4128delT(p.Pro1376fs) variant was derived from their mother and unreported previously. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Standards and Guidelines, it was suggested to be a pathogenic mutation. The c.8234G>A(p.Arg2745Gln) variant was derived from their father, and possibly is a pathogenic variation. CONCLUSION In this study, the compound heterozygous variants of c.4128delT(p.Pro1376fs) and c.8234G>A(p.Arg2745Gln) of the COL7A1 gene probably underlies the disease in this patient and his sister. And our study expands the database on mutations of DEB-Pr.
Collagen Type VII/genetics* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica/genetics* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype

Objective:To investigate the relationship between CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell subsets and the therapeutic effect of programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) inhibitor pembrolizumab in treatment of uterine cervical cancer. Methods:The data of 105 patients with uterine cervical cancer who received pemblizumab therapy based on chemotherapy in the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao from January 2018 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Flow cytometry was used to detect the ratio of CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell in peripheral blood of patients. The efficacy and safety were analyzed. According to the efficacy, all patients were divided into remission group (complete remission + partial remission) and non-remission group (stable disease + progressive disease). The clinical characteristics and CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell ratio of the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors for the efficacy. The efficacy of CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell ratio predicting the therapeutic effect of patients was analyzed by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:The objective remission rate of all patients was 17.14% (18/105), and the incidence of adverse reaction was 39.05% (41/105). The proportion of patients with a family history of cervical cancer in the remission group was lower than that than in the non-remission group [5.56% (1/18) vs. 34.48% (30/87)], and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=6.00, P=0.014). The proportion of CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell of 105 patients before and after treatment was (0.83±0.21)% and (0.77±0.10)%, respectively; the proportion of CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell before and after treatment in the remission group was (0.55±0.26)%, (0.31±0.12)%, respectively; the proportion of CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell before and after treatment in the non-remission group was (0.89±0.30)%, (0.87±0.28)%, respectively. The proportion of CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell after treatment in the remission group was lower than that before treatment ( P < 0.05); there was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell before and after treatment in the non-remission group ( P>0.05). The proportion of CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell before and after treatment in the non-remission group was higher than that in the remission group (all P<0.001). The proportion of CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell higher than the mean value of both groups before treatment and the proportion of CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell higher than the mean value of both groups after treatment were independent risk factor of disease remission ( OR=2.542, 95% CI 1.649-3.918, P<0.001; OR=2.936, 95% CI 2.154-4.002, P<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell ratio predicting the disease remission before treatment was 0.720, and its best cut-off value was 0.77%, the senfitivity was 77.78%, the specificity was 70.11%. Conclusions:Early detection of CD8 +FoxP3 +CD25 + T cell ratio helps to predict the effect of PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab therapy for uterine cervical cancer.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)/programmed death receptor ligand-1 (PD-L1) immunotherapy combined with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC).Methods:From November 2018 to October 2019, 51 LACC patients in Qinhuangdao First Hospital who received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) combined with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy [intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)+ TP (taxol+ carboplatin) chemotherapy] were selected as the observation group. 51 LACC patients who received concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy were selected as the control group. The objective remission rate, disease control rate, tumor markers [squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCAg), soluble cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125)], proliferation and apoptosis indicators [survivin (Survivin), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Caspase-3 (Caspase-3), apoptosis-promoting substance (Bax)], PD-1/PD-L1 [soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1), CD4 + T cell surface PD-1 expression (PD-1 CD4 + T cells), CD8 + T cell surface PD-1 expression (PD-1 CD8 + T cell) and CD14 + monocyte surface PD-L1 expression (PD-L1 CD14 + monocyte)], safety and survival rate within 1 year were compared between the two groups. Results:(1) Disease control and safety: the objective response rate and disease control rate of the observation group were 80.39%(41/51) and 92.16%(47/51), respectively, which were higher than those of the control group by 39.22%(20/51) and 70.59%(36/51) (all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the incidence of side effects between the groups (all P>0.05). (2) Tumor markers and proliferation and apoptosis indexes: compared with those before treatment, the levels of serum SCCAg, CYFRA21-1, CEA, CA125, survivin and Bcl-2 in the two groups after treatment were significantly lower, and the levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were significantly higher; the above indexes in the observation group were better than those in the control group after treatment (all P<0.05). (3) PD-1/PD-L1: after treatment, sPD-L1, PD-1 CD4 + T cells, PD-1 CD8 + T cells and PD-L1 CD14 + monocytes in the observation group were significantly lower than those before treatment (all P<0.05). After treatment, the sPD-L1, PD-1 CD4 + T cells, PD-1 CD8 + T cells, PD-L1 CD14 + monocytes in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). (4) Survival: the survival rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group within 1 year ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The clinical effect of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy combined with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of LACC is significant. It can effectively inhibit the progression of the disease by regulating tumor markers, proliferation and apoptosis indicators and PD-1/PD-L1 expression without increasing the risk of treatment, and has a positive effect on improving the survival rate of patients.

Objective:To investigate the role of follicular helper T(Tfh) cells and galactose deficiency IgA 1(Gd-IgA 1) in the children that were suffering from Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura(HSP) and Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura nephritis(HSPN)and the correlation between them. Methods:According to the presence or absence of renal injury, 62 children with HSP were divided into HSP group with 32 children and HSPN group with 30 children.Twenty children who underwent physical examination at outpatients were known as the healthy control group.Flow cytometry was used to measure the proportion of Tfh(CD4 + CXCR5 + PD-1 + ) in peripheral blood.Immunoturbidimetry and ELISA were used to measure the serum levels of IgA 1 and Gd-IgA 1 respectively. Results:(1) The proportion of Tfh cells in peripheral blood and the serum levels of Gd-IgA 1 in both HSP group and HSPN group had significantly increased than those in healthy control group( P<0.01). Compared result of the HSPN group with HSP group, the proportion of Tfh cells in peripheral blood and the serum levels of Gd-IgA 1 in HSPN group were higher than that in HSP group( P<0.05). (2) In the HSPN group, the proportion of peripheral blood Tfh cells and the serum levels of Gd-IgA 1 in group of renal pathology ≥ grade Ⅲ and heavy proteinuria were significantly elevated compared with group of renal pathology < grade Ⅲ and non-heavy proteinuria(<0.01). (3) In the healthy control group, the serum levels of Gd-IgA 1 was positively correlated with the proportion of Tfh cells in peripheral blood and the serum levels of Gd-IgA 1( P<0.05). Conversely, a non-positive correlation was shown in HSP and HSPN groups( P>0.05). Conclusion:The excessive activation of Tfh cells and the serum levels of Gd-IgA 1 may be one of the pathogenesis of HSP/HSPN, the degree of increment of the two factors may be related to the activity and severity of the disease.The mechanism of Tfh cells potentially leading to an increase of Gd-IgA 1 production requires further study.

Objective:To study the amino acid and codon usage profile of HIV-1 Env gene in donors whose serum exhibit highly broad cross-neutralizing activity. Methods:The samples were divided into highly broad cross-neutralizing activity group (hBCN + group) and non-highly broad cross-neutralizing activity group (hBCN - group) based on whether the neutralization breadth was higher than 90% or not. Full-length Env genes were amplified by single genome amplification (SGA) method from patients′ plasma samples, and the characteristics of Env sequences in hBCN + group were compared with hBCN - group. The correspondence analysis (COA) on relative amino acid usage (RAAU), adaptability to host based on similarity index D( A, B) and relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) values of Env genes (hBCN + and hBCN -) with respect to human host RSCU were analyzed. Results:Correspondence analysis showed that the RAAU data of hBCN + group and hBCN - group were distributed along the two main axes to form two relatively separated clusters, indicating that the Env genes of the two groups had relatively unique amino acid usage patterns; the similarity index calculation results showed that hBCN + group (0.097) was lower than the hBCN - group (0.102), in addition, the Env gene of the hBCN + group had less frequency of similarly selected codons with human host system compared to hBCN - group. Conclusions:Env genes in hBCN + group and hBCN - group may have relatively unique amino acid usage patterns, and virus strains in hBCN + group are less adaptable to the host than those in hBCN - group.

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of miRNA-5193 (miR-5193) on the sensitivity of cervical cancer Caski cells to cisplatin.Methods:The expression of miR-5193 in cervical cancer cell lines C33A, SiHa, Caski and normal cervical cell line Ect1/E6E7 were determined by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Caski cells were divided into control group (no transfection, normally cultured), miR-5193-negative control (miR-NC) group (transfected with miR-NC mimic), miR-5193 group (transfected with miR-5193 mimic), miR-NC+cisplatin group (transfected with miR-NC mimic and treated with 10 μg/ml cisplatin), miR-5193+cisplatin group (transfected with miR-5193 mimic and treated with 10 μg/ml cisplatin), miR-5193+cisplatin+NC group (cotransfected with Foxp3-negative control vector and miR-5193 mimic, and treated with 10 μg/ml cisplatin), and miR-5193+cisplatin+Foxp3 group (cotransfected with Foxp3 overexpression vector and miR-5193 mimic, and treated with 10 μg/ml cisplatin). Proliferation was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), cell cycle was detected by PI single staining method, cell apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining method, and expressions of CDK2, p27 and C-caspase-3 proteins in cells were detected by Western blot. Bioinformatics software was used to predict miR-5193 target genes, and the luciferase reporting system was used to identify the targeting relationship.Results:The relative expression of miR-5193 in cervical cancer C33A, SiHa and Caski cells was lower than that in normal cervical Ect1/E6E7 cells (0.56±0.06, 0.41±0.03, 0.23±0.02 vs. 1.00±0.10, all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group and miR-NC group, the cell proliferation activity (absorbance value) in miR-5193, miR-NC+cisplatin and miR-5193+cisplatin groups decreased (0.58±0.06, 0.59±0.07 vs. 0.38±0.04, 0.40±0.05, 0.23±0.02, all P < 0.05), the cell apoptosis rate increased [(2.5±0.2)%, (2.7±0.3)% vs. (12.6±1.2)%, (11.9±1.5)% , (18.9±1.7)%, all P < 0.05], and the proportion of cells in G 0/G 1 phase increased [(50.4±4.2)%, (51.3±6.3)% vs. (62.3±3.2)%, (61.9±5.8)%, (71.4±5.4)%, all P < 0.05]. The expression levels of p27 and C-caspase-3 proteins increased, and the expression level of CDK2 protein decreased. The software predicted that the target gene of miR-5193 was Foxp3, which was confirmed by the luciferase reporting system. Compared with the miR-5193+cisplatin+NC group, the cell proliferation activity (absorbance value) in miR-5193+ cisplatin+Foxp3 group increased (0.24±0.03 vs. 0.65±0.05, t = 21.094, P < 0.01), the proportion of cells in G 0/G 1 phase decreased [(71.0±6.4)% vs. (60.3±4.1)%, t = 4.196, P < 0.01], the apoptosis rate of cells decreased [(19.6±1.6)% vs. (11.5±1.2)%, t = 11.880, P < 0.01], the expression levels of p27 and C-caspase-3 proteins in cells decreased, and the expression levels of CDK2 and Foxp3 proteins increased. Conclusion:The miR-5193 may increase the sensitivity of cervical cancer Caski cells to cisplatin in vitro by targeted inhibition of the Foxp3 gene.