Background Air pollution remains a critical public health issue, with persistent exposure to air pollutants continuing to pose significant health risks. Currently, research investigating the association between air pollution and myocardial infarction mortality in Shenzhen remains inadequate. Objective To quantitatively assess the association between air pollutants and myocardial infarction mortality in residents. Methods Based on the mortality surveillance system of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study of 10089 permanent residents who died from myocardial infarction in Shenzhen between 2013 and 2022. Using residential address information, we obtained individual-level exposure data for air pollutants from the China High Air Pollutants dataset and meteorological factors from the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System. A time-stratified case-crossover study design was employed to construct a conditional logistic regression model to assess the association between short-term exposure to air pollutants and myocardial infarction mortality. The exposure-response relationship was visualized, and a comprehensive health risk assessment was performed. Results This study included a total of 10 089 cases of myocardial infarction deaths in Shenzhen. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), inhalable particulate matter (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O₃) in Shenzhen from 2013 to 2022 were 24.59 (20.19) μg·m⁻³, 42.85 (28.42) μg·m⁻³, 8.53 (3.39) μg·m⁻³, 29.47 (13.56) μg·m⁻³, 0.77 (0.27) mg·m⁻³, and 86.53 (51.39) μg·m⁻³, respectively. The moving average concentrations of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ over the current day and the previous 2 days (lag02) showed the highest risk of myocardial infarction mortality, with an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 1.004 (1.001, 1.007) and 1.004 (1.002, 1.006), respectively. At lag05, SO₂ demonstrated the strongest association with the risk of myocardial infarction mortality, with an OR (95%CI) of 1.042 (1.019, 1.065). The exposure-response relationships of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and SO₂ with myocardial infarction mortality were approximately linear, whereas NO₂ exhibited a nonlinear relationship. At lag05, the highest risk of myocardial infarction mortality associated with NO₂ exposure was observed when the NO₂ concentration was ≤21.92 μg·m⁻³, with an OR (95% CI) of 1.024 (1.003, 1.046). The health risk assessment indicated that, using the WHO Air Quality Guidelines as the reference, the local PM_2.5 and NO₂ exposure led to an excess mortality of 398 and 298 cases, respectively. The sensitivity analysis revealed that after adjusting for O₃ and restricting the study period to 2013—2019, the effect estimates for PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂ on myocardial infarction mortality slightly increased. Conclusion Short-term exposure to air pollutants, including PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂, could increase the risk of myocardial infarction mortality. This study provides important scientific evidence for environmental health risk assessment and environmental management in Shenzhen.

Objective:To explore mechanism of Caspase-11/GSDMD non-classical cell pyroptosis pathway in inflammatory response of RAW264.7 monocyte macrophages induced by ricin toxin.Methods:Cell pyroptosis model induced by LPS+Nigericin was used as a positive control,and cells were induced with 40 ng/ml and 80 ng/ml of ricin toxin for 8 hours.Cell release of lactate dehydro-genase(LDH)was measured by LDH cell release assay;cell viability was assessed by flow cytometry(Annexin Ⅴ/PI double staining);gene expressions of Caspase-11,GSDMD,IL-1β and IL-18 were measured by RT-qPCR;protein levels of Caspase-11 and GSDMD were measured by Western blot;secretion levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatant were measured by ELISA.Results:Compared with normal control group,RAW264.7 cells treated with ricin toxin showed swelling,cell membrane rupture,significantly increased LDH release(P<0.001),significantly increased pyroptosis rate(P<0.001),significantly increased expression of pyroptosis-related genes Caspase-11,GSDMD,IL-1β and IL-18(P<0.05),significantly increased protein expressions of Caspase-11 and GSDMD(P<0.05),and significantly increased secretion levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatant(P<0.05).Results of ricin toxin treatment group were consistent with LPS+Nigericin cell pyroptosis positive control group.Conclu-sion:Ricin toxin may induce cell pyroptosis in RAW264.7 cells through Caspase-11/GSDMD non-classical pathway,thereby promoting inflammatory response.

Objective:To explore mechanism of Caspase-11/GSDMD non-classical cell pyroptosis pathway in inflammatory response of RAW264.7 monocyte macrophages induced by ricin toxin.Methods:Cell pyroptosis model induced by LPS+Nigericin was used as a positive control,and cells were induced with 40 ng/ml and 80 ng/ml of ricin toxin for 8 hours.Cell release of lactate dehydro-genase(LDH)was measured by LDH cell release assay;cell viability was assessed by flow cytometry(Annexin Ⅴ/PI double staining);gene expressions of Caspase-11,GSDMD,IL-1β and IL-18 were measured by RT-qPCR;protein levels of Caspase-11 and GSDMD were measured by Western blot;secretion levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatant were measured by ELISA.Results:Compared with normal control group,RAW264.7 cells treated with ricin toxin showed swelling,cell membrane rupture,significantly increased LDH release(P<0.001),significantly increased pyroptosis rate(P<0.001),significantly increased expression of pyroptosis-related genes Caspase-11,GSDMD,IL-1β and IL-18(P<0.05),significantly increased protein expressions of Caspase-11 and GSDMD(P<0.05),and significantly increased secretion levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatant(P<0.05).Results of ricin toxin treatment group were consistent with LPS+Nigericin cell pyroptosis positive control group.Conclu-sion:Ricin toxin may induce cell pyroptosis in RAW264.7 cells through Caspase-11/GSDMD non-classical pathway,thereby promoting inflammatory response.

Breast cancer (BC) is most commonly diagnosed worldwide. Liquiritigenin is a flavonoid found in various species of the Glycyrrhiza genus, showing anti–tumor activity. This article was to explore the influences of liquiritigenin on the biological behaviors of BC cells and its underlying mechanism. BC cells were treated with liquiritigenin alone or transfected with oe-HSP90 before liquiritigenin treatment. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were employed to examine the levels of HSP90, Snail, E-cadherin, HSC70, and LAMP-2A. Cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated by performing MTT, colony formation, scratch, and Transwell assays, respectively. Liquiritigenin treatment reduced HSP90 and Snail levels and enhanced E-cadherin expression as well as inhibiting the proliferation, migration, and invasion of BC cells. Moreover, liquiritigenin treatment decreased the expression of HSC70 and LAMP-2A, proteins related to chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). HSP90 overexpression promoted the CMA, invasion, and migration of BC cells under liquiritigenin treatment. Liquiritigenin inhibits HSP90-mediated CMA, thereby suppressing BC cell growth.

Due to the limited self-repair ability of neurons after injury, there has been a lack of effective treatments for nerve injury in clinical practice. So, to find drugs that promote the repair after nerve injury has become a research hotspot. Schwann cells and neurons play an important role in regeneration of the peripheral nerves after injury. This review summarizes the classification of peripheral nerve injury, the signaling pathways related to peripheral nerve regeneration in Schwann cells and neurons as well as diseases related to peripheral nerve injury, and provides a basis for further exploration of the regeneration mechanism after peripheral nerve injury.

Objective:To investigate the clinical manifestation, genetic characteristics, treatment and prognosis of Crouzon-like syndrome.Methods:Clinical data of one case of Crouzon-like syndrome diagnosed in Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University in May 2019 were collected, including clinical test, treatment plan, follow-up outcomes. The clinical characteristics and the mutation characteristics of IL11RA-related Crouzon-like syndrome were analyzed combined with the literature.Results:The male proband, five years and four months old, was admitted with the main clinical manifestations including headache, vomiting, exophthalmos, ocular hypertelorism, nasal root flat and scaphocephaly. CT showed that the cerebellar tonsil moved down slightly, the occipital magnum was full, the bilateral cranial plates were locally thinner, the bilateral cranial diameters were increased, and the cranial seams were closed. Magnetic resonance imaging showed ChiariⅠmalformation. The mutation c.40_63del and splice site mutation c.811-2A>G of the patient′s IL11RA gene were screened by whole exome sequencing. Sanger sequencing showed that the mutations are compound heterozygous and both are first reported. The mutation c.811-2A>G was derived from the patient′s mother, and the other one is de novo.Conclusions:The main clinical manifestations of Crouzon-like syndrome are craniosynostosis and midface hypoplasia and ocular deformity. The study identified two novel mutations in the Crouzon-like syndrome related IL11RA gene. Genetic sequencing is helpful for accurate diagnosis and timely surgical treatment.

Objective:To summarize the genetic diagnosis of two fetuses with clinically suspected Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) and to provide information for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis of BBS.Methods:Case one had prenatal care on October 2018 in Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital and was clinically suspected of fetal BBS as bilateral renal parenchyma echo enhancement as well as polydactyly (six toes on each foot) were shown on ultrasonic examination at 18 +1 gestational weeks. Case two was another suspected fetal BBS for enlarged kidneys with echo enhancement as well as polydactyly (six fingers and toes on each hand and foot) on ultrasonic examination at 26 +4 gestational weeks on August 2016 and the parent requested for termination. Parents of both cases requested for genetic analysis. Amniotic fluid sample was obtained in case one at 19 +6 weeks through amniocentesis, and umbilical cord specimen of case two and peripheral blood samples of the parents were collected. Genetic analysis of the fetuses and their parents was performed using exon capture and next-generation sequencing and the results were validated using Sanger sequencing. Results:Case one carried paternally inherited c.718G>A (p.Gly240Ser) (possible pathogenic) mutation and maternally inherited c.497C>A(p.Ala166Asp) (possible pathogenic) mutation in BBS7 gene. While one paternally inherited mutation c.1002delT(p.N335Ifs*47) (pathogenic) and one maternally inherited heterozygous mutation c.728G>A (p.Cys243Tyr) (possible pathogenic) were identified in BBS7 gene of case two. The three unreported missense mutations were predicted to be harmful by bioinformatics software and the mutation sites were conservative after comparing with multiple species-based protein sequences. Conclusions:Enlarged kidneys with echo enhancement and polydactyly may indicated a BBS fetus caused by BBS7 gene mutation. Whole exome sequencing could provide relevant information for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling in these cases.

OBJECTIVE： To study effective component kinds and content difference of Scutellaria baicalensis with different harvesting periods collected in spring and autumn， and to determine the optimal harvesting time. METHODS： IR-IL was used to analyze the constitutions change of the components in S. baicalensis collected in different harvesting periods （annual， biennial and triennial， in spring and autumn， respectively）. HPLC-MS method was used to analyze the contents change of 6 flavonoids （qroxylin A， chrysin， wogonin， wogonoside， baicalin， baicalein）. RESULTS： Results of IR-TL analysis showed that S. baicalensis contained different components such as flavonoids， glycosides， saccharides， easters in different growth stages， among which the contents of glycosides in biennial S. baicalensis were the highest with more stable quality. The results of content determination of 6 flavonoids showed that different harvesting periods had a great influence on the contents of the above indicators. The overall content of biennial samples collected in spring was higher than that of autumn samples collected in the same year. CONCLUSIONS： This study provides a reliable analytical method for the quality control of S. baicalensis； spring harvest in two-year growth period may be the best harvesting time for S. baicalensis.

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of G-banded karyotyping in combination with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) as a tool for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities in fetuses with congenital heart defects.

METHODSThe combined method was used to analyze 104 fetuses with heart malformations identified by ultrasonography. Abnormal findings were confirmed with chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA).

RESULTSNineteen (18%) fetuses were found to harbor chromosomal aberrations by G-banded karyotyping and MLPA. For 93 cases, CMA has detected abnormalities in 14 cases including 10 pathogenic copy number variations (CNVs) and 4 CNVs of uncertain significance (VOUS). MLPA was able to detect all of the pathogenic CNVs and 1 VOUS CNV.

CONCLUSIONCombined use of G-banded karyotyping and MLPA is a rapid, low-cost and effective method to detect chromosomal abnormalities in fetuses with various heart malformations.

Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Banding ; Chromosome Disorders ; diagnosis ; genetics ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; methods ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; methods ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To quantify the contents of baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, chrysim and oroxylinA in the Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi with different storage time by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry( LC-MS) and determine the stability of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. Methods The LC system consisted of an Agilent Zorbax XDB-C18 column (2. 1 mm×150 mm,3. 5 μm) with acetonitrile and water (0. 1% formic acid) in linear gradient condition. The flow rate was 0. 2 mL·min-1 and the wavelength of detection was 276 nm. The mass spectrometer was operated under the positive ion mode with the ESI source. The precursor-to-product ion pair was 447/271 for baicalin,461/285 for wogonoside,271/123 for baicalein, 285/270 for wogonin, 255/153 for chrysim and 285/270 for oroxylinA, respectively. Results The contents of baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, chrysim and oroxylin A had a linear relationship with their peak areas within the ranges of 8. 86-177. 2, 2. 33-46. 5, 2. 6-52. 0, 0. 52-10. 4, 0. 04-0. 8 and 0. 04-0. 8 μg · mL-1 , respectively. The contents of baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, chrysim, and oroxylin A were overall decreased over the first 3 months of storage,but remained relatively stable between 0 and 18 months. Conclusion The results provides basis for the establishment of quality standard.