Objective To investigate the effect of obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)on behavioral problems in children and the association between them.Methods A simple random sampling method was used to select 100 children aged 4 to 12 years for the case group.All of them were diagnosed with OSA through overnight polysomnography at the Sleep Medicine Center,West China Fourth Hospital,Sichuan University between October 2022 and October 2023.An additional 100 children without snoring symptoms and clinically evaluated and confirmed as not having OSA were enrolled as the control group.General demographic data of the participants were collected.The Caregiver Report Form of the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist(CBCL)was used for behavioral problem assessment,and polysomnography data were collected.The chi-square/t test was used to analyze the inter-group differences in general data,the total score of behavioral problems,and scores for each dimension.Linear regression was performed to analyze the relationship between OSA and the total score for children's behavioral problems and those for the different dimensions.Logistic regression was applied to analyze the relationship between the obstructive apnoea-hypopnea index(OAHI)and behavioral problems in children with OSA.A logistic regression model integrating the OAHI×sex interaction term was constructed to evaluate the moderating effect of sex on the association between OAHI and behavioral problems.Results No significant differences were observed in general demographic data between the case and control groups.The total score for behavioral problems and those for each dimension were higher in the case group than those in the control group,with the total score of the case group being 24.60±1.55 and that of the control group being 8.85±0.75(P<0.001).The results of the linear regression analysis showed a positive association between OSA and both the total score for behavioral problems(b=16.01;95%CI,12.56-19.47)and those for each dimension.The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that,after adjusting for covariates,OAHI was a risk factor for behavioral problems in children with OSA(odds ratio[OR]=1.17;95%CI,1.04-1.31).After stratification by sex and adjustment for covariates,the OR value of the effect of OAHI on behavioral problems was slightly higher in female participants(1.57)than that in male participants(1.21).The interaction effect analysis showed that sex moderated the association between OAHI and behavioral problems(OR=1.64;95%CI,1.02-2.64;P=0.04).Conclusion Children with OSA are prone to developing behavioral problems.OAHI is a risk factor for behavioral problems in children with OSA,with a potentially greater effect observed in girls.

Objective To investigate the effects of BMSCs treatment on neuropathic pain in rats with SCI and explore the underlying mechanism.Methods The rats were randomly divided into the following groups(n=15 per group):sham-operated(sham)group,spinal cord injury model(SCI)group,SCI+BMSCs group,and SCI+BMSCs+LY294002 group.An SCI model was established using Sprague-Dawley rats,followed by intraspinal administration of BMSCs and the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 to the injured spinal cord of SCI rats.The BBB score,pMWT,and pTWL values under thermal stimulation were measured.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe pathological changes in the injured spinal cord of rats.The effects of BMSCs transplantation on SCI rats were explored through hematoxylin-eosin staining,immunofluorescence staining,ELISA,and Western Blot experiments.RSCN were induced using LPS and co-cultured with BMSCs and their exosomes.The effects of BMSCs and their exosomes on RSCN were investigated through Annexin V-FITC/PI kit,ELISA,and Western Blot assays.Results The SCI model was considered successfully established when the following criteria were met on post-operative day 5:BBB locomotor score≤5,accompanied by a BBB score<10 on day 20,along with histopathological evidence of spinal cord tissue loosening,extensive vacuolation,and neuronal atrophy observed via HE staining.Compared with the sham group,the SCI group exhibited significantly lower BBB scores,pMWT,and pTWL values(P<0.001).Concurrently,increased immunofluorescence intensity of IBA1,elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines,and pain-related factors were detected in the spinal cord(P<0.001).Furthermore,activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was significantly suppressed.BMSCs transplantation protected SCI rats by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway(P<0.001).BMSC-mediated spinal cord repair was attenuated by LY294002 administration.LPS-induced RSCNs showed increased apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine release(P<0.001).Co-culture with MSCs or BMSCs-derived exosomes activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,thereby reducing LPS-induced apoptosis and proinflammatory cytokine production(P<0.05).Conclusion BMSCs activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in neurons through exosomes,suppressing the levels of TNF-α,SP,NE,and 5-HT,and promoting functional recovery in SCI rats.

Aim To explore the relationship between serum levels of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK9),macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF)and the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with coro-nary heart disease(CHD).Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 139 patients with CHD and 69 control subjects who underwent coronary angiography during the same period,all of whom were admitted to the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from November 2023 to May 2024.Clinical data and coronary angiography results were collected,and the severity of coronary artery stenosis was quantitatively assessed using the Gensini score.Pa-tients with the Gensini scores＞0 were classified into three groups based on tertiles:the mild stenosis group(1～18 points,54 cases),the moderate stenosis group(19～36 points,54 cases),and the severe stenosis group(＞36 points,54 ca-ses).Serum levels of PCSK9 and MIF were measured by ELISA kit.Results Serum levels of PCSK9 and MIF were significantly higher in the CHD group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).Multivariable Logistic regression analy-sis revealed that high levels of serum PCSK9 and MIF were independent risk factors for CHD.Spearman correlation analy-sis showed that serum PCSK9 and MIF levels were positively correlated with Gensini score(rs=0.619 6 and r,=0.411 4,both P＜0.001).Further subgroup analysis showed that serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol lev-els were significantly increased in patients with high-level PCSK9,while patients with high-level MIF had higher inflamma-tory coefficients such as systemic inflammatory response index(SIRI)and systemic immune-inflammation index(SII)(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Serum levels of PCSK9 and MIF are positively correlated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis.High levels of serum PCSK9 and MIF are independent risk factors for CHD.

AIM:To elucidate the pharmacody-namic and network pharmacological mechanisms of total flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.,to ex-plore their key targets and related pathways,and to clarify their mechanism of action against hepatic fibrosis.METHODS:The total flavonoids of Cartha-mus tinctorius L.were determined by LC-MS/MS and analysed for their compositions;the active in-gredients were screened by TCMSP database,SWISS ADME database and literature search;the targets related to total flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.were screened by Swiss Target Predic-tion database;and the targets related to hepatic fi-brosis were screened by GeneCards database;the anti-hepatic fibrosis targets of total flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.were obtained by taking the intersection of Venny.2.1.0;the protein interac-tions were analysed by STRING database;the visu-alization analysis was carried out by Cytoscape soft-ware;the GO function and KEGG pathway analysis was carried out by Metascape platform;and molec-ular docking was verified by using AutoDock soft-ware for the core targets and active ingredients.The mechanism of anti-hepatic fibrosis of total fla-vonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.was verified by animal model and in vitro cell experiments.RE-SULTS:A total of 41 flavonoid components were identified in Carthamus tinctorius L.Through the network pharmacological analysis,149 anti-hepatic fibrosis targets of total flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.were obtained,including 23 core tar-gets.The GO enrichment analyses involved a total of three aspects,namely,biological process(BP),cellular component(CC),and molecular function(MF).KEGG enrichment results showed that PI3K/Akt and MAPK are pathways involved in the devel-opment of hepatic fibrosis.Molecular docking veri-fied that the active ingredients Quercetin,Acacetin and Glabridin were tightly bound to Akt1 and HI-FIA,respectively.In animal model experiments,it was observed by HE and Masson staining that fibro-plasia was reduced,collagen deposition was re-duced,inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced,and fibrotic liver tissues were improved in total fla-vonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.administration group.In isolated cell experiments:Western blot-ting results suggested that total flavonoids of Car-thamus tinctorius L.could decrease the hepatic fi-brosis marker factor α-SMA,Collagen1(P＜0.01)and PI3K,Akt protein expression(P＜0.01).CONCLU-SION:Total flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.ex-erted anti-hepatic fibrosis effects through multi-components,multi-targets and multi-pathways,and their mechanism of action may be achieved by regulating the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway.

Aim To explore the relationship between serum levels of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK9),macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF)and the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with coro-nary heart disease(CHD).Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 139 patients with CHD and 69 control subjects who underwent coronary angiography during the same period,all of whom were admitted to the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from November 2023 to May 2024.Clinical data and coronary angiography results were collected,and the severity of coronary artery stenosis was quantitatively assessed using the Gensini score.Pa-tients with the Gensini scores＞0 were classified into three groups based on tertiles:the mild stenosis group(1～18 points,54 cases),the moderate stenosis group(19～36 points,54 cases),and the severe stenosis group(＞36 points,54 ca-ses).Serum levels of PCSK9 and MIF were measured by ELISA kit.Results Serum levels of PCSK9 and MIF were significantly higher in the CHD group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).Multivariable Logistic regression analy-sis revealed that high levels of serum PCSK9 and MIF were independent risk factors for CHD.Spearman correlation analy-sis showed that serum PCSK9 and MIF levels were positively correlated with Gensini score(rs=0.619 6 and r,=0.411 4,both P＜0.001).Further subgroup analysis showed that serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol lev-els were significantly increased in patients with high-level PCSK9,while patients with high-level MIF had higher inflamma-tory coefficients such as systemic inflammatory response index(SIRI)and systemic immune-inflammation index(SII)(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Serum levels of PCSK9 and MIF are positively correlated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis.High levels of serum PCSK9 and MIF are independent risk factors for CHD.

AIM:To elucidate the pharmacody-namic and network pharmacological mechanisms of total flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.,to ex-plore their key targets and related pathways,and to clarify their mechanism of action against hepatic fibrosis.METHODS:The total flavonoids of Cartha-mus tinctorius L.were determined by LC-MS/MS and analysed for their compositions;the active in-gredients were screened by TCMSP database,SWISS ADME database and literature search;the targets related to total flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.were screened by Swiss Target Predic-tion database;and the targets related to hepatic fi-brosis were screened by GeneCards database;the anti-hepatic fibrosis targets of total flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.were obtained by taking the intersection of Venny.2.1.0;the protein interac-tions were analysed by STRING database;the visu-alization analysis was carried out by Cytoscape soft-ware;the GO function and KEGG pathway analysis was carried out by Metascape platform;and molec-ular docking was verified by using AutoDock soft-ware for the core targets and active ingredients.The mechanism of anti-hepatic fibrosis of total fla-vonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.was verified by animal model and in vitro cell experiments.RE-SULTS:A total of 41 flavonoid components were identified in Carthamus tinctorius L.Through the network pharmacological analysis,149 anti-hepatic fibrosis targets of total flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.were obtained,including 23 core tar-gets.The GO enrichment analyses involved a total of three aspects,namely,biological process(BP),cellular component(CC),and molecular function(MF).KEGG enrichment results showed that PI3K/Akt and MAPK are pathways involved in the devel-opment of hepatic fibrosis.Molecular docking veri-fied that the active ingredients Quercetin,Acacetin and Glabridin were tightly bound to Akt1 and HI-FIA,respectively.In animal model experiments,it was observed by HE and Masson staining that fibro-plasia was reduced,collagen deposition was re-duced,inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced,and fibrotic liver tissues were improved in total fla-vonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.administration group.In isolated cell experiments:Western blot-ting results suggested that total flavonoids of Car-thamus tinctorius L.could decrease the hepatic fi-brosis marker factor α-SMA,Collagen1(P＜0.01)and PI3K,Akt protein expression(P＜0.01).CONCLU-SION:Total flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.ex-erted anti-hepatic fibrosis effects through multi-components,multi-targets and multi-pathways,and their mechanism of action may be achieved by regulating the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway.

AIM:To investigate whether the expression of perilipin 2(PLIN2)in renal tubular cells could predict a decline in renal function in diabetic kidney disease(DKD)patients,and to explore the potential mechanisms in-volved in renal tubular cell injury induced by PLIN2 during the progression of DKD.METHODS:Control individuals(n=12)and DKD patients(n=51)were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study.Demographic and laboratory data were col-lected.A simplified linear mixed-effects model was applied to assess the estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)slope.The relationship between PLIN2 and renal function decline in DKD patients was predicted by Spearman correlation analysis and a generalized linear model.BKS-db/db diabetic mice and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were used.Primary renal tubular cells were treated with glucose and transfected with small interfering RNA or plasmid.Western blot-ting and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect PLIN2 expression.Lipid droplets were stained with oil red O.The oxygen consumption rate(OCR)of mitochondria was measured using an extracellular flux analyser.RESULTS:The expression of PLIN2 was markedly higher in the tubules of DKD patients than in those of control subjects.After 24(12,39)months of follow-up,the eGFR slope of DKD patients was-7.42(-19.77,-2.09)mL/(min·1.73 m2·year).An in-crease in the baseline percentage of PLIN2-positive tubules was significantly associated with the eGFR slope during the fol-low-up period[hazard ratio(HR)=1.90,95%confidence interval(CI):1.00～3.58],indicating that tubular PLIN2 could predict a decrease in renal function in DKD patients.Both the accumulation of lipid droplets and the expression of PLIN2 were markedly greater in the tubules of diabetic mice than in those of control mice.Glucose treatment induced lipid droplet accumulation and PLIN2 expression in renal tubular cells.Knockdown of PLIN2 significantly alleviated glucose-in-duced lipid droplet accumulation,whereas PLIN2 overexpression aggravated glucose-induced lipid droplet accumulation.The decrease in mitochondrial OCR in renal tubular cells induced by glucose treatment was alleviated after PLIN2 knock-down.However,overexpression of PLIN2 directly decreased the mitochondrial OCR.CONCLUSION:The PLIN2 ex-pression in tubules predicts a decline in renal function in patients with DKD.The PLIN2 suppresses mitochondrial aerobic respiration and contributes to the accumulation of lipid droplets in renal tubular cells to promote the progression of DKD.

Anti N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a rare autoimmune encephalitis, and its diverse etiology and clinical manifestations have attracted attention. However, the etiology and pathogenesis of anti NMDAR encephalitis are not yet fully understood, and its diagnosis and treatment still have certain limitations. This review mainly explores the environmental genetic factors that drive the occurrence of diseases and the biological indicators that are beneficial for diagnosis. It also elaborates on the current immune regulation and emerging treatment pathways, points out potential targeted interventions, and looks forward to the challenges and future development directions they face.

Objective:To explore the adverse outcomes of pregnant women with overt diabetes mellitus(ODM).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 1321 pregnant women delivered in Peking Universi-ty International Hospital.Pregnant women were divided into normal blood glucose group(NGDM),gestational di-abetes mellitus group(GDM)and overt diabetes mellitus group(ODM).Maternal and neonatal adverse out-comes were compared.Results:The age,early pregnancy glycosylated hemoglobin,uric acid,triglycerides and late pregnancy glycosylated hemoglobin levels of women in ODM group were significantly higher than those in NGDM group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.01).The risk of developing gestation hyper-tension(OR 6.32,P＜0.01)and cesarean section(OR 1.87,P＜0.05)in the ODM group was significantly high-er than that in the NGDM group.The rate of preterm birth(OR 2.73,P＜0.05)and macrosomia(OR 3.45,P＜0.01)in the ODM group was significantly higher than that in the NGDM group.Compared with the GDM group,the ODM group did not significantly increase the risk of hypertension,eclampsia or preeclampsia,shoulder dysto-cia,premature rupture of placenta,cesarean section,preterm birth,macrosomia,and low body mass infants(P＞0.05).Conclusion:Pregnant women with ODM increase the risk of gestational hypertension,cesarean section,preterm birth and macrosomia.Active management is needed in pregnant women with ODM.

Objective:To explore the adverse outcomes of pregnant women with overt diabetes mellitus(ODM).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 1321 pregnant women delivered in Peking Universi-ty International Hospital.Pregnant women were divided into normal blood glucose group(NGDM),gestational di-abetes mellitus group(GDM)and overt diabetes mellitus group(ODM).Maternal and neonatal adverse out-comes were compared.Results:The age,early pregnancy glycosylated hemoglobin,uric acid,triglycerides and late pregnancy glycosylated hemoglobin levels of women in ODM group were significantly higher than those in NGDM group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.01).The risk of developing gestation hyper-tension(OR 6.32,P＜0.01)and cesarean section(OR 1.87,P＜0.05)in the ODM group was significantly high-er than that in the NGDM group.The rate of preterm birth(OR 2.73,P＜0.05)and macrosomia(OR 3.45,P＜0.01)in the ODM group was significantly higher than that in the NGDM group.Compared with the GDM group,the ODM group did not significantly increase the risk of hypertension,eclampsia or preeclampsia,shoulder dysto-cia,premature rupture of placenta,cesarean section,preterm birth,macrosomia,and low body mass infants(P＞0.05).Conclusion:Pregnant women with ODM increase the risk of gestational hypertension,cesarean section,preterm birth and macrosomia.Active management is needed in pregnant women with ODM.