Objective:To explore the effect of fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2)on ferroptosis of renal fibrotic cells and its po-tential molecular mechanisms.Methods:Rat NRK-52E cells were randomly divided into control group,renal fibrosis model group,FGF2 cytokine stimulation group,knockdown empty plasmid group,si-FGF2 group,overexpression empty plasmid group,overexpres-sion FGF2 group,Fer-1 treatment group.The model group was treated with TGF-β1 to obtain a renal fibrosis cell model.Cellular im-munofluorescence method was used to measure the level of cell fibrosis.Western blot was used to detect ferroptosis-related proteins(Nrf2,GPX4 and SLC7A11)and pathway proteins(STAT3,p-STAT3)expression level in the cells.Results:Knockdown of FGF2 could alleviate the increase in α-SMA and Collagen Ⅲ proteins caused by TGF-β1 stimulation of renal tubular cells(P<0.05).FGF2 could promote the activation of STAT3 protein into p-STAT3.The expression level of SLC7A11 protein was significantly increased after FGF2 cytokine stimulation(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expressions of Nrf2 and GPX4 in renal fibrotic cells in the si-FGF2 group and Fer-1 treated group were significantly reduced(P<0.05).In addition,knockdown of FGF2 significantly reduced in-terstitial fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells(P<0.05).Conclusion:FGF2 may mediate TGF-β1-induced renal ferroptosis through the STAT3/SLC7A11 signaling pathway,and knock down of FGF2 can improve fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells.

Objective:To explore the effect of fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2)on ferroptosis of renal fibrotic cells and its po-tential molecular mechanisms.Methods:Rat NRK-52E cells were randomly divided into control group,renal fibrosis model group,FGF2 cytokine stimulation group,knockdown empty plasmid group,si-FGF2 group,overexpression empty plasmid group,overexpres-sion FGF2 group,Fer-1 treatment group.The model group was treated with TGF-β1 to obtain a renal fibrosis cell model.Cellular im-munofluorescence method was used to measure the level of cell fibrosis.Western blot was used to detect ferroptosis-related proteins(Nrf2,GPX4 and SLC7A11)and pathway proteins(STAT3,p-STAT3)expression level in the cells.Results:Knockdown of FGF2 could alleviate the increase in α-SMA and Collagen Ⅲ proteins caused by TGF-β1 stimulation of renal tubular cells(P<0.05).FGF2 could promote the activation of STAT3 protein into p-STAT3.The expression level of SLC7A11 protein was significantly increased after FGF2 cytokine stimulation(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expressions of Nrf2 and GPX4 in renal fibrotic cells in the si-FGF2 group and Fer-1 treated group were significantly reduced(P<0.05).In addition,knockdown of FGF2 significantly reduced in-terstitial fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells(P<0.05).Conclusion:FGF2 may mediate TGF-β1-induced renal ferroptosis through the STAT3/SLC7A11 signaling pathway,and knock down of FGF2 can improve fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells.

Objective:To report 8 patients of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) with real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) positive and analyze their clinical characteristics.Methods:The medical records of patients discharged from Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2018 to May 2021 who were diagnosed with clinically probable sCJD and had RT-QuIC test were retrospectively analyzed. General information (gender, age, initial symptom, main clinical manifestations), accessory examination [brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalogram, cerebrospinal fluid 14-3-3 protein, prion protein gene, antibodies related to autoimmune encephalitis and paraneoplastic syndrome] were collected. By a telephone-based follow-up survey, data about morality and total duration of course were collected. The patients were divided into two groups according to electroencephalogram, 14-3-3 protein, duration of disease and MRI results, and the differences of fluorescence peak time and fluorescence peak value in RT-QuIC results between groups were compared.Results:Among 8 patients, 7 patients had subacute onset and 1 patient had chronic onset. Main clinical manifestations included progressive cognitive decline (8/8), pyramid sign (5/8), walking instability (4/8), mental and behavior disorder (4/8), myoclonus (4/8), akinetic mutism (4/8), dizziness (3/8), limb shaking (2/8), dysarthria (2/8), visual hallucination (1/8), impaired vision (1/8). All cases had abnormal electroencephalogram and typical periodic sharp slow compound waves (PSWCs) were observed in 5 cases. Brain MRI showed high signal intensity in the cerebral cortex and/or basal ganglia on diffusion-weighted imaging in 7 cases, of which 6 cases involved bilateral basal ganglia. Cerebrospinal fluid 14-3-3 protein was positive in 2 cases, and RT-QuIC was positive in all cases. The fluorescence peak time of RT-QuIC was shorter in patients with PSWCs [(7.617±2.164) h vs (10.602±2.247) h, t=2.84, P=0.010] and high total MRI score [ (7.600±1.907) h vs (9.760±2.457) h, t=2.26, P=0.032]. Conclusions:RT-QuIC detection is a reliable method for early diagnosis of sCJD. RT-QuIC results were related to PSWCs and degree of MRI involvement.

Objective:To summarize the clinical and imaging features of 10 patients with genetically diagnosed neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) to avoid clinical misdiagnosis and mismanagement of NIID.Methods:Ten patients with NIID, admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to March 2022, were chosen in our study. All patients were confirmed as having NIID by NOTCH2NLC gene assay. Their clinical data, gene detection results and skin pathological results were collected and anlyzed. Results:These patients aged from 57 to 84 years, including 8 females. The episodic symptoms as main symptoms were noted in 6 patients, including 3 patients with encephalopathy, 1 patient with TGA, 1 patient with stroke-like episode, and 1 patient with migraine-like symptoms. Chronic progressive symptoms as main symptoms were noted in 4 patients, including 3 patients with dementia and 1 patient with Parkinson's disease. There were characteristic linear hyper-intensities in diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in the corticomedullary junction predominantly in the frontal lobes. White matter lesions appeared in T2 Flair might have been noted years before lesions appeared in DWI, with wider ranges. All had GGC repeated expansion in NOTCH2NLC gene in non-coding area, with mutation number>60. Skin biopsy was performed in 6 patients, showing the formation of intranuclear inclusion bodies in different cells; and ubiquitin and P62 were found positive in immunohistochemical staining. Conclusions:NIID patients have large clinical heterogeneity; most patients have episodic symptoms as main manifestations, often accompanied by chronic progressive symptoms; stroke attack and migraine are rare clinical phenotypes of NIID. The high signal at the cortical medullary junction in DWI is a characteristic imaging change.

Objective:To analyze the clinical phenotype, imaging characteristics and genetic characteristics of a family of early-onset dementia caused by a new mutation in the triggerring receptor expressing on myeloid cells 2 gene (TREM2).Methods:Clinical data were collected from a patient with early-onset dementia. Then whole exome sequencing was performed for the proband, followed by Sanger sequencing for the family members.Results:The clinical manifestations of the proband (a 49-year-old female) was personality changes, mental and behavioral abnormalities, memory loss, ataxia, and seizures. Whole-exon sequencing revealed a novel homozygous mutation in exon 2 of TREM2, namely c.154C>T (p.R52C) heterozygosity in four family members, and one patient with similar clinical manifestations was deceased. The proband′s brain magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral frontotemporal atrophy, bilateral white matter hyperintensity, thin corpus callosum. No bone cysts of the hands and feet were found by digital radiographic imaging.Conclusions:A homozygous mutation in TREM2 gene was detected in a patient with frontotemporal dementia-like dementia, epilepsy, but without bone cysts. This mutation is probably pathogenic. This research highlights the importance of TREM2 gene mutation screening in early-onset dementia, especially in those with atypical presentations.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fasudil on vasospasm caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage in elderly patients.Methods:A total of 100 elderly patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage admitted to our hospital from January 2015 to May 2018 were enrolled as research objects.They were randomly divided into the Fasudil group(n=50, receiving the Rho kinase inhibitor Fasudil therapy)and the Nimodipine group(n=50, receiving Nimodipine therapy). The cerebral vasospasm and cerebral infarction lesions, the ability of daily life, clinical prognostic score, the incidence of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm and adverse reactions during treatment were evaluated and compared between the two groups.Results:After treatment, the incidences of cerebral vasospasm and cerebral infarction in Fasudil group were 2.04%(1/49)and 6.12%(3/49), respectively, which were lower than those in the Nimodipine group[12.50%(6/48)and 20.83%(10/48), respectively]( χ2=6.134 and 6.794, P=0.047 and 0.033). The scores of daily living ability was better in the Fasudil group than in the Nimodipine group(16.09±1.06 vs.22.91±1.66, t=7.721, P=0.026). The incidence of adverse reactions was lower in the Fasudil group than in the Nimodipine group(4.08% or 2/49 vs.16.7% or 8/48, χ2=6.362, P=0.040). There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients with good prognosis between Fasudil group and Nimodipine group. Conclusions:Rho kinase inhibitor Fasudil can effectively prevent and improve cerebral vasospasm caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is beneficial for improving the clinical prognosis and quality of life of the elderly patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective: To explore the inhibitory effect of exosomes secreted by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(HUCMSC) on apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC) after model group(oxygen-glucose deprivation reoxygenation), and to clarify its possible mechanism. Methods: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were cultured. The collected cell supernatant was stored in a centrifugal tube. The exosomes secreted by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were extracted by ultracentrifugation and identified. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were randomly divided into control group, model group and different concentrations of HUCMSC-EXO(20 μg/ml, 40 μg/ml, 60 μg/ml) treatment groups(adding HUCMSC-EXO into the model group) . The morphological changes of HUVEC cells in each group were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope, and the proliferation inhibition rate of HUVEC in each group was measured by CCK-8 reagent. Western blot was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2 and hypoxia-associated protein hypoxia inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α). Inhibitor(HIF-1α inhibitor) + model group and HUCMSC-EXO + inhibitor + model group were added on the basis of the above experiments. Western blot analysis was performed to observe the effects of HUCMSC-EXO, inhibitor and both of them on HIF-1α and Bax expressions in HUVEC. Results: HUCMSC-EXO was successfully extracted and identified. Compared with the control group, the volume of HUVEC in the model group and the HUCMSC-EXO group with different concentrations decreased, became round, connected and evacuated, and the growth state was poor under the inverted phase contrast microscope.CCK-8 detection showed that the cell viability in the HUCMSC-EXO group was significantly higher than that in the model group, the difference was statistically significant (t=9.23, P<0.05). Western blot analysis showed that compared with the control group, the expression levels of Caspase-3 ((0.296±0.038), (0.879±0.088); t=14.92, P<0.05), Bax((0.234±0.034), (0.762±0.084); t=14.36, P<0.05) of HUVEC in the model group were up-regulated, and the expression level of Bcl-2 was down-regulated ((0.863±0.103), (0.387±0.059); t=9.85, P<0.05), with statistically significant differences. Compared with the model group, the expression levels of Caspase-3( (0.586±0.075); t=6.24, P<0.05), Bax((0.311±0.055); t=11.01, P<0.05) and Bcl-2((0.665±0.071); t=7.45, P<0.05) of HUVEC in the HUCMSC-EXO treatment group were down-regulated and the differences were statistically significant. Inhibitor intervention experiments showed that there were no significant differences between the inhibitor+ model group and HUCMSC-EXO+ inhibitor+ model group in the expression of HIF-1α protein ((0.348±0.055), (0.388±0.077); t=1.04, P>0.05)and Bax protein ((0.363±0.069), (0.370±0.064); t=0.18, P>0.05). But both of them were down-regulated compared with the model group (HIF-1α protein (0.919±0.064), Bax protein (0.902±0.071)), the differences were significant( t=13.56, t=13.03, both P<0.05). Conclusion HUCMSC-EXO has a protective effect on OGD/R model of HUVEC, and its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of HIF-1α expression.

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations,imaging features,molecular genetic characteristics and possible pathogenic mechanisms of hereditary cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) caused by heterozygous mutation of HtrA serine protease-1 (HTRA1) gene.Methods The clinical data of a Chinese Han family with CSVD carrying a heterozygous mutation of HTRA 1 gene,which came from the Department of Neurology,Henan Provincial People's Hospital in March 2018,were analyzed retrospectively.The clinical and radiographic features were summarized.Several high-throughput whole exon high-throughput sequencing was used to capture the mutation sites and the Sanger sequencing was used to validate the results.The family diagram was drawn and the 3D model construction and mutation function prediction were performed using silico tools.The relevant literature was reviewed and the pathogenesis was explored.Results The pedigree map showed that the family had an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.Three generations of the family were investigated,and three family members in the same generation suffered from the disease.The first symptom of the proband was diplopia at the age of 39,accompanied by recurrent stroke,cognitive impairment and mood disorders,without alopecia.Head magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral diffuse,symmetric lesions,multiple lacunar infarcts,perivascular space,and microbleeds.The elder sister of the proband developed symptoms of left limb weakness at the age of 46,whose other clinical and imaging features were similar to those of the proband.The proband's mother died at the age of 59 due to repeated strokes.Whole exon sequencing indicated heterozygous missense mutation at c.821G＞A locus of HTRA1 gene in the proband and her 4th elder sibling,which was a new pathogenic mutation after consulting several mutation sites of databases.Function prediction suggested pathogenicity.Conclusions The heterozygous mutation of c.821G＞A in HTRA1 gene may lead to autosomal dominant CVSD.This genetic type should be given clinical attention.

Objective To observe the expression of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) in glioma cells of different grades,and evaluate the application value of a novel molecular probe(USPIO-PEG-tLyP-1)in the grading diagnosis of heterotopic glioma in nude mice by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods Expression levels of NRP-1 in glioma cell lines of different grades were detected by Western-Blot.USPIO-PEG-tLyP-1 was synthesized by carbon diimine method.The U87-MG tumor-bearing mice model (U87-MG group) and CHG-5 tumor-bearing mice model(CHG-5 group) were established with 10 mice in each group.Six tumorbearing mice with a tumor volume about 0.6 cm3 were selected from each group,and they were given with 2mg/kg molecular probes via tail vein respectively and was detected by MRI at 0 h,6 h,12 h and 24 h,then R2 values were calculated.After the imaging,tumor-bearing mice were sacrificed,and tumor tissue sections were made.The iron particles in the sections was detected by Prussian blue staining.The binding ability of molecular probes and tumor tissues in the two groups was compared.Results The expression of NRP-1 in U87-MG and CHG-5 cell lines was significantly higher than that in HA.In addition,the expression of NRP-1 in U87-MG was higher than that in CHG-5 cell(P＜0.01).MRI results showed that R2 values of tumor tissues in the two groups were compared,and the difference was not statistically significant before the injection of molecular probe(U87-MG group(10.35±0.52)vs CHG-5 group(9.86±0.43),t=1.779,P=0.106).The R2 value of tumor tissue in the U87-MG group was higher than that in the CHG-5 group after the injection of molecular probe (6 h:U87-MG group (11.63±0.85)vs CHG-5 group (10.51 ±0.49),t=2.796,P=0.019;12h:U87-MG group(14.23±0.68)vs CHG-5 group(12.29±0.28),t=6.462,P=0.000;24 h:U87-MG group (13.36±0.92) vs CHG-5 group(11.32±0.64),t=4.459,P=0.001).The results of Prussian blue staining showed that there were significantly more blue staining particles in tumor tissues of the U87-MG group than that of the CHG-5 group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion The NRP-1 targeted molecular probe can be used for grading diagnosis of high and low grade heterotopic brain glioma in nude mice.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of intravenous immunoglobulin combined with oral glucocorticoid in the treatment of myasthenia gravis in elderly patients.Methods A total of 235 elderly patients diagnosed as myasthenia gravis in our hospital were enrolled in our study from January 2012 to December 2016,and randomly divided into observation group (intravenous immunoglobulin combined with oral glucocorticoid n =118) and control group (oral glucocorticoid only,n =117).The clinical curative effect,immune function index,QMG scale,symptom remission time,length of hospitalization,and adverse reactions in both groups were recorded and analyzed after two-week treatment.Results The total effective rate was significantly higher in observation group (106/117,90.6％) than in control group (84/118,71.2％) (x2=5.621,P=0.000).The levels of serum IgG1,IgG3,and complement C3 were significantly higher in observation group than in control group (P ＜0.05).The QMG scale,symptom remission time,and length of hospitalization were lower in observation group [(9.2 ± 4.0) score,(6.2 ± 1.6) d,(14.4 ± 3.3) d]than in the control group [(13.4 ± 6.1) score,(11.6 ± 2.4) d,(25.1 ± 4.8) d] (t =6.158,19.797,and 20.078,P=0.000,0.002 and 0.009).No serious adverse reaction was observed in both groups.Conclusions The combined therapies of intravenous immunoglobulin and oral glucocorticoid for myasthenia gravis in the elderly have remarkable effectiveness.It is close to an ideal treatment because it effectively inhibits a disease progression in time,regulates an immune function,and shortens a hospitalization time.