OBJECTIVE To investigate the targeting effect of folic acid-modified crebanine nanoparticles （FA-Cre@PEG- PLGA NPs， hereinafter referred to as “NPs”） combined with ultrasound irradiation on M109 cells in vitro and in vivo after administration， and explore the anti-tumor mechanism. METHODS CCK-8 assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation on the proliferation of M109 cells， and the best ultrasound time was selected. Using human lung cancer A549 cells as a control， the targeting of NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation to M109 cells was evaluated by free folic acid blocking assay and cell uptake assay. The effects of NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation on the migration， invasion， apoptosis， cell cycle and reactive oxygen species （ROS） levels of M109 cells were detected by cell scratch test， Transwell chamber test and flow cytometry at 1 h after 958401536@qq.com administration； the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP） were observed by fluorescence inverted microscope. A mouse subcutaneous tumor model of M109 cells was constructed， and the in vivo tumor targeting of NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation was investigated by small animal in vivo imaging technology. RESULTS NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation could significantly inhibit the proliferation of M109 cells， and the optimal ultrasound time was 1 h after administration. The free folic acid could antagonize the inhibitory effect of NPs on the proliferation of M109 cells， and combined with ultrasound irradiation could partially reverse this antagonism. Compared with A549 cells， the uptake rate of NPs in M109 cells was significantly higher （P＜0.01）， and ultrasound irradiation could promote cellular uptake. NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation could inhibit the migration and invasion of M109 cells and block the cell cycle in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases. Compared with control group， the apoptosis rate of M109 cells and ROS level were increased significantly （P＜0.01）， while the MMP decreased significantly （P＜0.01） in the different concentration （100， 200， 300 μg/mL） groups of M109 cells. Compared with the mice in non-ultrasound group， the fluorescence intensity and tumor-targeting index of the tumor site in the 0 h ultrasound group were significantly enhanced （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation have a strong targeting effect on M109 cells in vitro and in vivo， the anti-tumor mechanism includes inhibiting cell migration and invasion， blocking cell cycle， and inducing apoptosis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the structural changes of rat thoracic aorta and changes in expression levels of Bmal1 and cyclins in thoracic aorta endothelial cells following heat stress. METHODS: Twenty male SD rats were randomized equally into control group and heat stress group. After exposure to 32 ℃ for 2 weeks in the latter group, the rats were examined for histopathological changes and Bmal1 expression in the thoracic aorta using HE staining and immunohistochemistry. In the cell experiments, cultured rat thoracic aortic endothelial cells (RTAECs) were incubated at 40 ℃ for 12 h with or without prior transfection with a Bmal1-specific small interfering RNA (si-Bmal1) or a negative sequence. In both rat thoracic aorta and RTAECs, the expressions of Bmal1, the cell cycle proteins CDK1, CDK4, CDK6, and cyclin B1, and apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blotting. TUNEL staining was used to detect cell apoptosis in rat thoracic aorta, and the changes in cell cycle distribution and apoptosis in RTAECs were analyzed with flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared with the control rats, the rats exposed to heat stress showed significantly increased blood pressures and lowered heart rate with elastic fiber disruption and increased expressions of Bmal1, cyclin B1 and CDK1 in the thoracic aorta (P<0.05). In cultured RTAECs, heat stress caused significant increase of Bmal1, cyclin B1 and CDK1 protein expression levels, which were obviously lowered in cells with prior si-Bmal1 transfection. Bmal1 knockdown also inhibited heat stress-induced increase of apoptosis in RTAECs as evidenced by decreased expression of Bax and increased expression of Bcl-2. CONCLUSIONS Heat stress upregulates Bmal1 expression and causes alterations in expressions of cyclins to trigger apoptosis of rat thoracic aorta endothelial cells, which can be partly alleviated by suppressing Bmal1 expression.
Animals ; ARNTL Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Male ; Aorta, Thoracic/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Cells, Cultured ; Heat-Shock Response ; Cyclin B1/metabolism* ; CDC2 Protein Kinase/metabolism* ; Cyclins/metabolism* ; RNA, Small Interfering ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism*

Gene regulation relies on the precise binding of transcription factors (TFs) at regulatory elements, but simultaneously detecting hundreds of TFs on chromatin is challenging. We developed cFOOT-seq, a cytosine deaminase-based TF footprinting assay, for high-resolution, quantitative genome-wide assessment of TF binding in both open and closed chromatin regions, even with small cell numbers. By utilizing the dsDNA deaminase SsdAtox, cFOOT-seq converts accessible cytosines to uracil while preserving genomic integrity, making it compatible with techniques like ATAC-seq for sensitive and cost-effective detection of TF occupancy at the single-molecule and single-cell level. Our approach enables the delineation of TF footprints, quantification of occupancy, and examination of chromatin influences on TF binding. Notably, cFOOT-seq, combined with FootTrack analysis, enables de novo prediction of TF binding sites and tracking of TF occupancy dynamics. We demonstrate its application in capturing cell type-specific TFs, analyzing TF dynamics during reprogramming, and revealing TF dependencies on chromatin remodelers. Overall, cFOOT-seq represents a robust approach for investigating the genome-wide dynamics of TF occupancy and elucidating the cis-regulatory architecture underlying gene regulation.
Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Humans ; Chromatin/genetics* ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Mice ; DNA Footprinting/methods*

Objective: To analyze the demographic characteristics of patients with red blood cell transfusion reactions, the usage of red blood cell preparations, and the differences in the composition ratio of adverse reactions based on multi-center data from the Haemovigilance Network, in order to reveal the clinical characteristics of red blood cell transfusion and its underlying issues. Methods: Clinical data of patients who experienced transfusion reactions after red blood cell transfusion in the Haemovigilance Network from 2018 to 2023 were collected. The demographic characteristics of patients who experienced transfusion reactions with different types of red blood cell preparations, the utilization of these preparations, and the differences of the composition ratios of transfusion reactions were analyzed. Count data were expressed as numbers (n) or percentages (%), and comparisons between groups were performed using the Chi-square test. Results: Red blood cell transfusion reactions were more common in females (53.56%), with the majority of patients aged 50-69 years (35.54%). The Han polulation accounted for the vast majority of patients (92.77%), and patients in the hematology and obstetrics/gynecology departments had a relatively high proportion of transfusion reactions (13.26% and 14.26%, respectively). Leukocyte-reduced red blood cells and suspended red blood cells were the most common types of transfusion reactions reported among red blood cell preparations. Allergic reactions and non-hemolytic febrile reactions were the most common transfusion reactions, and there were significant differences in the composition ratios of allergic reactions (χ =869.89, P<0.05) and non-hemolytic febrile reactions (χ =812.75, P<0.05) across various types of red blood cell preparations. Conclusion: There are differences in the demographic characteristics and composition ratio of transfusion reactions among different red blood cell preparations. The management of red blood cell transfusion reactions should be tailored to patient characteristics and conditions, and the selection and use of blood products should be optimized to reduce or avoid the occurrence of transfusion reactions, such as considering the use of washed red blood cells for patients with a history of transfusion allergies or those prone to allergies.

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of CD4 + T cell subsets and cytokines in patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and the correlation of MCTD disease activity, laboratory data, and clinical symptoms with cytokines. Methods:A total of 48 MCTD patients (including 24 newly diagnosed patients and 24 treated patients) were enrolled from the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from 2018 to 2021. Meanwhile, 49 healthy subjects who underwent physical examination were recruited (healthy control group). The absolute counts of CD4 + T cell subsets in peripheral blood samples were analyzed by flow cytometry. The levels of serum cytokines were detected by flow bead array. Analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the differences between groups. Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze related factors. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to detect the best cut-off value and effectiveness. Results:The absolute counts of Th1 ( P<0.01), Th2 ( P<0.01) and Treg cells ( P<0.01) in the newly diagnosed MCTD patients and the treated MCTD patients were lower than those in the healthy subjects. The levels of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) in the two MCTD groups were higher than those in the healthy control group ( P<0.01). Further analysis revealed that the cardiac enzymes in MCTD patients included creatine kinase, creatine kinase-MB, aspartate aminotransferase, α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase were positively correlated with cytokines ( P<0.05). In addition, it was found that IL-2 was positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( r=0.477, P<0.001), but it was negatively correlated with complement C3 ( r=-0.546, P=0.002) and complement C4 ( r=-0.422, P=0.02). IL-10 was correlated with the myositis symptoms in MCTD patients and the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.745 (95% CI: 0.576-0.915, P<0.05). Conclusions:This study provides insights into the unique immunological characteristics of CD4 + T lymphocyte subsets and cytokines in patients with MCTD, and also reveals a close correlation between cytokines and cardiac enzymes in MCTD patients. IL-2 has been shown to be associated with disease activity in MCTD patients. The level of IL-10 may be related to the occurrence of myositis symptoms in MCTD.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Heilongjiang province, to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of TBE.Methods:The epidemiological characteristics of TBE were systematically analyzed by the data of TBE cases reported in Disease Surveillance Information Reporting System.Results:A total of 1 127 TBE cases were reported from 2006 to 2020. The average age was 45.8 year, and the case fatality rate was 1.2%. Most TBE cases occurred from April to August, with a peak in June.Conclusions:This research elucidated the epidemiological characteristics of TBE in Heilongjiang province, and provides important basic data for the disease prevention and control.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of liposomal bupivacaine (LB) for sciatic nerve block in mice.Methods:Twenty-four healthy adult male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 25-30 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: 1.33% LB 80 μl group (group A), 1.33% LB 40 μl group (group B), 0.66% LB 80 μl group (group C), and 0.66% LB 40 μl group (group D). The sciatic nerve block was performed using the corresponding concentration of LB or the equal volume of LB in each group. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) was measured using Von Frey filaments immediately after sciatic nerve block, at 5 min of block, and every 1 h until MWT recovered to the baseline level. The sciatic nerve block time-MWT curve was plotted to calculate the area under the curve (AUC). Results:The time-MWT curves exhibited similar bimodal characteristics in each group. From the time point immediately after the blockade to the first MWT peak after the blockade, there were no statistically significant differences in the AUC among the four groups ( P>0.05). From the first MWT peak to the first trough, the AUC was significantly greater in A group than in B, C and D groups and in B and C groups than in D group ( P<0.05). From the first trough to the second MWT peak, there was no significant difference in the AUC between A group and D group ( P>0.05), and the AUC was significantly greater in B and C groups than in A and D groups ( P<0.05). From the second MWT peak to the baseline level, the AUC was significantly greater in A group than in B, C and D groups ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the AUC among B, C and D groups ( P>0.05). In the total duration of the sciatic nerve block, the AUC was significantly greater in A group than in B, C and D groups and in B and C groups than in D group ( P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the AUC between B group and C group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:LB exhibits characteristic bimodal changes when used for sciatic nerve block; higher concentrations and volume of LB result in stronger and longer-lasting block effects in mice.

In May 2023, the Chinese Stomatological Association promulgated the group standard of "Clinical Practice Specifications for Permanent Tooth Extraction". These specifications were formulated after repeated discussions and revisions guided by relevant literature and the opinions of well-known experts in the field across the country. However, the content of the group standard is not elaborated and is limited to its writing form and requirements. As a consequence, medical workers might not easily understand and comprehend its content and knowledge points, which also limits its dissemination and wide use in primary medical units. This study aims to sort out and interpret the content of the 2023 edition of the "Clinical Practice Specification for Permanent Tooth Extraction" to help medical staff understand and apply it in clinical practice.
Tooth Extraction/standards* ; Humans ; China ; Dentition, Permanent ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of folic acid-modified crebanine polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid hydroxyacetic acid copolymer（PEG-PLGA） nanoparticles（FA-Cre@PEG-PLGA NPs， hereinafter referred to as NPs） combined with ultrasonic irradiation on subcutaneous tumor of liver cancer in Kunming（KM） mice. MethodsEighty-four healthy male KM mice were utilized to establish a subcutaneous tumor model of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma with H22 cells， then mice were randomly divided into model group， placebo group， hydroxycamptothecin group（8 mg∙kg^-1）， low， medium and high dose crebanine raw material groups（2， 2.5， 3 mg∙kg^-1， hereinafter referred to as the low， medium and high dose crebanine groups， respectively）， low， medium and high dose NPs groups（2， 2.5， 3 mg∙kg^-1）， and low， medium and high dose NPs combined with ultrasonic irradiation groups（2， 2.5， 3 mg∙kg^-1， hereinafter referred to as the low， medium and high dose combination groups， respectively）. The corresponding doses of drugs were administered via tail vein injection， the model group received no treatment， while the placebo group was injected with an equivalent amount of normal saline. Dosing was conducted for a total of 10 times on alternate days. The body mass of the mice was monitored， and parameters such as body mass change rate， thymus index， spleen index， tumor volume， tumor weight， relative tumor growth rate（T/C）， and tumor inhibition rate（TGI） were calculated. Pathological changes in liver and kidney tissues as well as the tumor were observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining. Additionally， the levels of aspartate aminotransferase（AST）， alanine aminotransferase（ALT）， blood urea nitrogen（BUN） and creatinine（CREA） in serum of mice were detected by biochemical method. Furthermore， the effect of ultrasound on the distribution of NPs in subcutaneous tumors of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma was observed by in vivo imaging technique. ResultsAmong different treatment methods， the combination of NPs and ultrasound irradiation had the best therapeutic effect. Compared with the model group， the body mass growth rates of mice in the medium and high combination groups decreased， while the thymus index and spleen index increased， but there was no statistically significant difference in serum AST， ALT， BUN and CREA levels， indicating that NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation had little effect on the normal physiological state of the body， oth groups had TGI>40% and T/C<60%， indicating a clear anti-tumor effect. Pathological analysis showed that compared with the NPs groups， the combination groups exhibited varying degrees of necrosis in tumor cells， accompanied by less damage to the liver and kidneys. In vivo imaging of small animals showed that compared with the high dose NPs group， the high dose combination group had stronger tumor targeting ability（P<0.01）. ConclusionNPs combined with ultrasonic irradiation can not only effectively targeted the drug to the tumor site， inhibit the subcutaneous tumor growth of mouse liver cancer， but also decrease damage to liver and kidney tissues.

Objective:To analyze the gene chip related to dermatomyositis based on bioinformatics,to explore the immune in-filtration mechanism of key genes in dermatomyositis by CIBERSORT deconvolution algorithm,and to predict the therapeutic targets of dermatomyositis by network pharmacology.Methods:The gene microarray of dermatomyositis was searched in GEO database,and the differentially coexpressed genes were screened and analyzed.The differentially coexpressed genes were analyzed by GO analysis,KEGG analysis,protein interaction network construction(PPI)by R software package.Verify the expression levels of key genes,and the correlation of immune cell infiltration was analyzed by CIBERSORT deconvolution method.Through the medical ontology informa-tion retrieval platform Coremine medical database,the traditional Chinese medicine treatment targets of dermatomyositis were screened and summarized.Results:A total of 196 differentially expressed genes were screened.GO enrichment analysis showed that these differentially expressed genes were mainly concentrated in defense response to virus,blood particles,double-stranded RNA binding,polypeptide antigen binding,and so on.KEGG enrichment analysis showed that it was enriched in RIG-Ⅰ-like receptor sig-nal pathway,Toll-like receptor signal pathway and other signal pathways related to the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis.Finally,four key genes of dermatomyositis,STAT1,ISG15,IRF7 and IRF9 were obtained.Through CIBERSORT algorithm,M1 macrophages,M2 macrophages and CD8+T cells were the three kinds of cells with the highest average proportion and the most obvious immune infil-tration,and there was a significant positive correlation between activated natural killer cells and activated dendritic cells,while there was a significant negative correlation between resting mast cells and activated mast cells.The therapeutic targets of traditional Chinese medicine such as fish brain stone were predicted based on Coremine medical database;through channel analysis,it could be found that these traditional Chinese medicines are mainly attributed to liver meridian,lung meridian,spleen meridian;efficacy analysis is mainly focused on clearing heat,detoxification,promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis,relieving cough and resolving phlegm and so on.Conclusion:Four key genes and some key signal pathways of dermatomyositis,STAT1,ISG15,IRF7 and IRF9 were obtained by bioinformatics method,the immune infiltration mechanism was analyzed by CIBERSORT algorithm,and the thera-peutic potential targets of traditional Chinese medicine were screened out to provide direction for the pathogenesis and treatment of der-matomyositis.