Background Arsenic is an environmentally harmful substance that causes hepatic insulin resistance and liver damage, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Objective To explore whether the insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) is involved in insulin resistance in HepG2 cells after arsenic exposure through the peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) / glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) pathway. Methods Cell viability was determined using cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) and an appropriate NaAsO₂ infection dose was determined. A cellular arsenic exposure model of HepG2 cells was established by four concentrations of NaAsO₂ solution for 24 h (the experiment was divided into four groups: 0, 2, 4, and 8 μmol·L⁻¹); HepG2 cells were firstly treated with pcDNA3.1-IGF2BP2 and pcDNA3.1-NC respectively for 6 h, then with 8 μmol·L⁻¹ NaAsO₂ for 24 h to establish a IGF2BP2 overexpression cell model (the experiment was divided into 4 groups: control, NaAsO₂, NaAsO₂+pcDNA3.1-IGF2BP2, and NaAsO₂+pcDNA3.1-NC); finally the cells were subject to 100 nmol·L⁻¹ insulin stimulation for 30 min. Glycogen and glucose in HepG2 cells were determined by glycogen and glucose assay kits; mRNA expression levels of IGF2BP2 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR; protein expression levels of IGF2BP2, PPAR-γ, and GLUT4 in HepG2 were detected by Western blot (WB); and the binding of IGF2BP2 to PPAR-γ and PPAR-γ to GLUT4 was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) experiment. Results The results of CCK8 experiment showed a dose-effect relationship between NaAsO₂ concentration and cell viability. When the concentration of NaAsO₂ was ≥4 μmol·L⁻¹ , the cell viabilities were lower than that of the control group (P <0.05). With the increasing dose of NaAsO₂ infection, reduced glucose consumption and glycogen levels in HepG2 cells were found in the 2, 4, and 8 μmol·L⁻¹ NaAsO₂ treatment groups compared to the control group (P <0.05). The difference between the mRNA expression level of IGF2BP2 in the HepG2 cells treated with 4 or 8 μmol L⁻¹ NaAsO₂ and the control group was significant (P <0.05). In the IGF2BP2 overexpression cell model, compared with the control group, glucose consumption and glycogen levels were lowered in the NaAsO₂ group (P <0.05), the mRNA expression level of IGF2BP2 and the protein expression levels of IGF2BP2, PPAR-γ, and GLUT4 in the cell membrane were all decreased (P <0.05). Compared with the NaAsO₂ group, the glucose consumption and glycogen levels were increased in the NaAsO₂+pcDNA3.1-IGF2BP2 group (P <0.05), and the mRNA expression level of IGF2BP2 and the protein expression levels of IGF2BP2, PPAR-γ, and GLUT4 in the cell membrane were all increased (P <0.05). The results of CO-IP experiments showed that IGF2BP2 interacted with PPAR-γ as well as PPAR-γ with GLUT4 protein. Conclusion IGF2BP2 is involved in arsenic exposure-induced insulin resistance in HepG2 cells by acting on the PPAR-γ/GLUT4 pathway.

In 2024,the American College of Gastroenterology released the recommendations for the diagnosis and management of common focal liver lesions based on the optimal evidence-based medicine evidence,including both solid and cystic liver lesions,making a comprehensive update to the 2014 edition of the guidelines for focal liver lesions.The guidelines introduce 51 key concepts and 18 detailed recommendations and provides a certain reference for the diagnosis and treatment of benign liver lesions in China.However,given the insidious onset and complex conditions of focal liver lesions,the difficulties in diagnosis,and the lack of high-grade evidence-based medicine evidence,the recommendations in the guidelines should serve as general guidelines rather than rigid protocols and should be used with reference to the situation of China.The guidelines set a benchmark for high-quality evidence-based hepatobiliary surgery guidelines,and the moderate-to low-grade evidence-based medicine evidence and controversies listed in the guidelines provide future directions for the research on focal liver lesions.

Objective:To screen differential proteins in the serum of workers with rare earth samarium oxide pneumoconiosis, in order to provide new ideas for finding its early diagnostic biomarkers.Methods:In April 2019, three male workers diagnosed with samarium oxide pneumoconiosis at a rare earth factory in Baotou City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were selected as the observation group, and three male workers who were not exposed to dust were selected as the control group. The serum was sequenced using the Label-free proteomic method to screen for differentially expressed proteins, followed by cluster of orthologous groups of proteins (COG) annotation, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. The interaction gene library retrieval tool database and Cytoscape 3.9.1 software were used to draw protein-protein interaction networks. CytoHubba plugin was used to screen for differentially expressed proteins with high scores, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT/q-PCR) was used to validate the proteomic sequencing results.Results:A total of 45 up-regulated differentially expressed proteins and 5 down-regulated differentially expressed proteins were screened out in the serum of workers with rare earth samarium oxide pneumoconiosis. In the COG functional classification, post-translational modifications, protein turnover, and chaperones were the most numerous. GO enrichment included 25 entries for biological processes such as complement activation (classical pathways), 15 entries for cellular components such as extracellular recombinants, and 10 entries for molecular functions such as protein binding. The pathways identified by KEGG enrichment analysis mainly included infectious diseases, immune system, signal transduction, and immune related diseases. The top 10 scoring proteins were haptoglobin, complement C1r subcomponent, complement C1s subcomponent, apolipoprotein C-Ⅲ, apolipoprotein A-Ⅱ, prothrombin, afamin, complement component C8 gamma chain, complement component C6, complement component C7. The RT/q-PCR validation results showed that the mRNA expression levels of haptoglobin, prothrombin and complement C1s subcomponent in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Ten differentially expressed proteins in the serum of workers with rare earth samarium oxide pneumoconiosis are screened, which provides a good idea for the screening of biomarkers for early diagnosis of samarium oxide pneumoconiosis.

Objective:To screen differential proteins in the serum of workers with rare earth samarium oxide pneumoconiosis, in order to provide new ideas for finding its early diagnostic biomarkers.Methods:In April 2019, three male workers diagnosed with samarium oxide pneumoconiosis at a rare earth factory in Baotou City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were selected as the observation group, and three male workers who were not exposed to dust were selected as the control group. The serum was sequenced using the Label-free proteomic method to screen for differentially expressed proteins, followed by cluster of orthologous groups of proteins (COG) annotation, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. The interaction gene library retrieval tool database and Cytoscape 3.9.1 software were used to draw protein-protein interaction networks. CytoHubba plugin was used to screen for differentially expressed proteins with high scores, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT/q-PCR) was used to validate the proteomic sequencing results.Results:A total of 45 up-regulated differentially expressed proteins and 5 down-regulated differentially expressed proteins were screened out in the serum of workers with rare earth samarium oxide pneumoconiosis. In the COG functional classification, post-translational modifications, protein turnover, and chaperones were the most numerous. GO enrichment included 25 entries for biological processes such as complement activation (classical pathways), 15 entries for cellular components such as extracellular recombinants, and 10 entries for molecular functions such as protein binding. The pathways identified by KEGG enrichment analysis mainly included infectious diseases, immune system, signal transduction, and immune related diseases. The top 10 scoring proteins were haptoglobin, complement C1r subcomponent, complement C1s subcomponent, apolipoprotein C-Ⅲ, apolipoprotein A-Ⅱ, prothrombin, afamin, complement component C8 gamma chain, complement component C6, complement component C7. The RT/q-PCR validation results showed that the mRNA expression levels of haptoglobin, prothrombin and complement C1s subcomponent in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Ten differentially expressed proteins in the serum of workers with rare earth samarium oxide pneumoconiosis are screened, which provides a good idea for the screening of biomarkers for early diagnosis of samarium oxide pneumoconiosis.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis in children, which is defined in TCM terms as a syndrome of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung.Methods:This was a block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial.From January 2022 to September 2023, 359 children aged 3 to 7 years old diagnosed as acute bronchitis (lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome) were enrolled from 21 participating hospitals and randomly assigned to the experimental group and placebo group in a 3︰1 ratio, and respectively treated with Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules and its matching placebo.Cough resolution/general resolution rate after 7 days of treatment was used as the primary efficacy outcome for both groups.Results:(1)On the seventh day of treatment, the rate of cough disappearance/basically disappearance in the experimental group and placebo group were 73.95% and 57.61% retrospectively, which had statistically significance ( P=0.001).(2)After 7 days of treatment, the median duration of cough disappearance/basic disappearance were 5 days and 6 days in the two groups , with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.006).The area under the curve of cough symptom severity time was 7.20 ± 3.79 in the experimental group and 8.20±4.42 in the placebo group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.039).(3) After 7 days of treatment, the difference between TCM syndrome score and baseline was -16.0 (-20.0, -15.0) points in the experimental group and -15.0 (-18.0, -12.0) points in the placebo group, with significant difference between the two groups ( P=0.004).In the experimental group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 49.04%, 28.35%, 16.48% and 6.13% severally; and in the placebo group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 38.04%, 26.09%, 29.35%, and 6.52% separately, which had statistically significant ( P=0.014).(4) There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or adverse reactions during the trial between both groups.Moreover, while adverse reactions in the form of vomiting and diarrhea were occasionally reported, no serious drug-related adverse event or adverse reaction was reported.(5)The tested drug provided good treatment compliance, showing no statistically significant difference from the placebo in terms of compliance rate. Conclusions:Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules provides good safety, efficacy, and treatment compliance in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis, and lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome, in children.

Objective:Explore the relationship among maternal age,risk factors and pregnancy outcomes.Methods:All childbirth women in Zhujiang hospital of Southern medical university from January 1,2015 to October 31,2016 were recruited and divided into 4 groups according to age:543 cases(13.76％) in ≤24 years old,1648 cases in 25-29 years old(41.18％),1208 cases in 30-34 years old(30.61％),547 cases in ≥35 years old (13.86％).Data of 4 groups about pregnancy complications and outcomes were collected.Set group 20-29 years old as the control group(OR =1).Use x 2 test and binary-logistic regression to analyze data.Results:The elder groups had a higher rate in pregnancy complications and abnormal neonatal situation compared to other age groups.The group ≤24 years old and the group in 30-34 years old had a higher risk on preeclampsia and birth defects,respectively.In the group age ＞30 years old,OR ＞ 1 in following items:the histories of abnormal pregnancy,IVF-ET postoperative,pregnancy with uterine fibroid,gestationaldiabetes and scar uterus,and with the increase of age,the OR value increased.In the group age ＞50 years old,OR ＞ 1 in placenta previa,multiple pregnancy and postpartum hemorrhage,macroscopic delivery and low birth weight,premature infants.In the group 30-34 years old,OR ＞ 1 in birth detects.Conclusions:Different specific targeted examinations and health care work should be taken to pregnant women according to the age.Intervention for high risk factors,active treatment related to congenital disorders and prevention of complications are needed to timely choose the best way of delivery,comprehensive security maternal and child health.

Objective:Explore the relationship among maternal age,risk factors and pregnancy outcomes.Methods:All childbirth women in Zhujiang hospital of Southern medical university from January 1,2015 to October 31,2016 were recruited and divided into 4 groups according to age:543 cases(13.76％) in ≤24 years old,1648 cases in 25-29 years old(41.18％),1208 cases in 30-34 years old(30.61％),547 cases in ≥35 years old (13.86％).Data of 4 groups about pregnancy complications and outcomes were collected.Set group 20-29 years old as the control group(OR =1).Use x 2 test and binary-logistic regression to analyze data.Results:The elder groups had a higher rate in pregnancy complications and abnormal neonatal situation compared to other age groups.The group ≤24 years old and the group in 30-34 years old had a higher risk on preeclampsia and birth defects,respectively.In the group age ＞30 years old,OR ＞ 1 in following items:the histories of abnormal pregnancy,IVF-ET postoperative,pregnancy with uterine fibroid,gestationaldiabetes and scar uterus,and with the increase of age,the OR value increased.In the group age ＞50 years old,OR ＞ 1 in placenta previa,multiple pregnancy and postpartum hemorrhage,macroscopic delivery and low birth weight,premature infants.In the group 30-34 years old,OR ＞ 1 in birth detects.Conclusions:Different specific targeted examinations and health care work should be taken to pregnant women according to the age.Intervention for high risk factors,active treatment related to congenital disorders and prevention of complications are needed to timely choose the best way of delivery,comprehensive security maternal and child health.

Data were collected through questionnaire from 505 women enrolled during early pregnancy.Based on soy intake frequency,the subjects were divided into three groups:frequent (three or more times per week),conventional ( more than twice per month but less than three times per week),and occasional ( two or fewer times per month).Serum TSH and FT4 were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay.The urinary concentrations of two primary isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) and creatinine were further assessed in 95 subjects from the three groups.The percentages of frequent,conventional,and occasional consumers were 18.6％,62.6％,and 18.8％,respectively.No difference was found in age,medical records,family history of thyroid diseases,serum FT4,TSH,and prevalence of thyroid dysfunctions among three groups. Both urinary daidzein and genistein levels were significantly higher in the frequent consumers compared with the other two groups.No correlations were found between urinary isoflavone levels and serum FT4 or TSH.These findings suggest that dietary soy consumption during early pregnancy seems not to be associated with the development of thyroid dysfunction.

Objective To investigate the effects of permissive hypercapnia (PHC) strategy used in ventilated newborn swine with respiratory failure on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and tissue metabolism. Method Eighteen newborn swine were randomly (random number) divided into 3 groups (n = 6): PHC, normocapnia (NC) and normal control groups. In PHC (PaCO2 50～60 mmHg) and NC (PaCO2 35 ～ 45 mmHg) groups, newborn swine were ventilated for treating respiratory failure induced by meconium aspiration. CBF was measured by using colored microsphere tracking technique. Cerebral oxygen metabolism rate (CMRO2), cerebral glucose metabolism rate (CMRGlu), and cerebral lactate production (CLP) were measured. Results After ventilation for 6 hours and 12hours, CBF in NC group decreased more significantly than those did in control group, and CMRGlu and CLP increased more significantly than those did in control group. In NC group, CMRO2 decreased more prominently than it did in control group 12 hours later. The CBF/CMRGlu and CBF/CLP ratios in NC group were lower than those in control(P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in CBF/CMRO2 ratio between NC and control groups. After ventilation for 6 hours, CBF in PHC group was lower than those in control group. But after ventilation for 12hours, CBF in PHC group increased and there was no significant difference in CBF between PHC group and control group (P＞O.05). There were no significant differences in CMRGlu, CLP and CMRO2 between PHC group and control group. The CBF/CMRGlu and CBF/CLP ratios in PHC group were lower than those in control, but higher then those in NC group (P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in CBF/CMRO2 ratio between PHC and control groups. Conclusions The reduction of cerebral blood flow and the disturbance of CBF autoregulation disturbance occur in ventilated newborn swine with hypoxemia respiratory failure. PHC may attenuate the reduction in CBF and the disturbance of CBF autoregulation.

Objective To investigate the effect of treatment with levothyroxine in early maternal subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) on the neural development of the progeny. Methods 75 thyroidectomized female Wistar rats were divided randomly into groups of hypothyroidism (CH), SCH, SCH treated with levothyroxine at embryonic day 10 (E10), E13, and E17. There were 15 sham operated controls. Body weight,thyroid function, and the development of progeny by morris water maze, immunohistochemistry, and Nissl's staining of progeny were made. Results Pups from SCH or CH group had significantly lower body weight than euthyroid group ( P＜0. 05 ). Pups from E10, E13 or E17 groups had normal body weight compared to pups of control (P＞0.05). The levels of TSH and total T4( TT4 ) of all pups were normal. The mean latencies were longer in pups from CH, SCH, and E17 group than the control (P＜0.05). The mean escape latencies did not differ between the control and E10 group pups and between the control and E13 pups (P＞0.05). There were changes in the cytoarchitecture of the barrel cortex and of the hippocampus ( toluidine blue-stained sections) in CH, SCH, and E17 pups. The barrel cortex of E10 or E13 pups was similar to that of control pups. The distribution of BrdUlabeled cells was more widespread in CH, SCH, and E17 pups than in control, E10, and E13 progeny.Conclusion Maternal SCH disturbs learning and memory performances, cytoarchitecture and cell migration of the pups. Treatment with levothyroxine in early maternal SCH before E13 improves the cell migration in the developing brain of the progeny.