Objective: To explore the efficacy of a novel injectable hydrogel (GelMA/P11/IL4@LIP) loaded with P11 bacteriophages and interleukin-4 (IL-4) liposomes (LIP) in preventing relapse after maxillary expansion in mice, providing experimental evidence for its clinical application. Methods: This study was approved by the experimental animal ethics committee of our hospital. First, 15 7-week-old C57BL/6 mice were used to establish a maxillary expansion model and divided into 5 groups (3 mice in each group): a control group, post expansion day 3 group (PED3 group), post expansion day 7 group (PED7 group), retention for 14 days group (RET group), and relapse for 7 days group (REL group). The mice in each group were sacrificed at their designated time points (day 0, 3, 7, 21, 28), and their maxilla and anterior cranial regions were collected. Bone parameters and the inter-crestal distance (ICD) of maxillary incisor mesial alveolar ridge were measured using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Histological staining was performed to evaluate bone formation and resorption, while immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for macrophage markers (CD86 and CD206), mesenchymal stem cell markers (glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 [Gli1]), and osteogenic markers (Runt-related transcription factor 2 [Runx2] and Osterix [OSX]). Next, GelMA/P11/IL4@LIP was synthesized and administered to mouse models of maxillary expansion. A total of 24 7-week-old C57BL/6 mice were divided into 4 groups (6 mice in each group): a blank control group, GelMA group, GelMA/P11 group, and GelMA/P11/IL4@LIP group. All mice underwent palatal expansion. On PED7, the expanders of all 24 mice were cemented with resin to initiate the 14-day retention period. On day 1 of the retention phase, the mice in each group received injections of saline, GelMA, GelMA/P11, or GelMA/P11/IL4@LIP at the midpalatal suture. After the 14-day retention period, three mice in each group were randomly selected and sacrificed, while the other three had their expanders removed and underwent a 7-day relapse before being sacrificed on day 28 (REL). Micro-CT, histological staining, and IHC were performed to evaluate the preventive effect of GelMA/P11/IL4@LIP on post-expansion relapse. Results: The mice maxillary expansion model exhibited a decreased ICD at REL compared to RET in micro-CT analysis (P = 0.008). IHC analysis demonstrated prolonged M1 macrophage infiltration, scarce Gli1+ mesenchymal stem cells, and insufficient expression of osteogenic markers (RUNX2 and OSX) (P < 0.001). Compared to the blank control and GelMA groups, GelMA/P11/IL4@LIP hydrogel injection in the midpalatal suture led to increased ICD at REL, promoted the timely M2 polarization of macrophages, recruited Gli1+ mesenchymal stem cells, and upregulated the expression of RUNX2 and OSX (P < 0.05). Conclusion The mechanism of relapse after maxillary expansion involves the persistent infiltration of M1 macrophages, as well as the inadequate recruitment and insufficient osteogenic differentiation of MSCs in the midpalatal suture. The GelMA/P11/IL4@LIP composite enhanced orofacial mesenchymal stem cell recruitment and promoted the M2 polarization of macrophages, thereby enhancing osteogenesis in the midpalatal suture and preventing post-expansion relapse.

Objective:To investigate the interventional and protective effect of low-dose L-carnitine(LC)against reproductive system damage in male Wistar rats during acute exposure to simulated high-altitude environment.Methods:A total of 24 specific pathogen-free male Wistar rats,aged 12 weeks,were randomly divided into control group,high-altitude model group,and LC intervention group[intraperitoneal injection of LC at a dose of 50 mg/(kg·d)],with 8 rats in each group.The rats in the control group were fed under normal conditions(at an altitude of approximately 1 500 m),those in the high-altitude model group,and those in the LC intervention group were fed in a hypobaric oxygen chamber(at a simulated alti-tude of 6 000 m).The rats were sacrificed after 3 days.The testis was collected to calculate testicular index;the semen was collected from the epididymis,and the Weili sperm quality analysis system was used to assess sperm quality;blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta,and ELISA kits were used to measure the serum levels of testosterone(T),luteinizing hormone(LH),and follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH);testicular tissue samples were collected,and biochemical kits were used to measure the activity of reactive oxygen species(ROS),malondialdehyde(MDA),and superoxide dismutase(SOD);testicular tissue was collected to prepare HE and electron microscopy sections,and a light microscope and a transmission electron microscope were used for observation.Results:Com-pared with the blank control group,the high-altitude model group had significant increases in the levels of T,LH,and FSH(P<0.01),testicular tissue damage under the light microscope,and changes in the morphology of spermatogenic cells,including mitochondrial al-terations,membrane edema,loss of cristae,swelling of the matrix,and local dissolution,as well as significant increases in the levels of ROS and MDA(P<0.01)and a significant reduction in SOD activity(P<0.01).Compared with the high-altitude model group,the LC intervention group had a significant increase in the level of T(P<0.01),significant reductions in the levels of FSH and LH(P<0.01),and significant improvements in the pathological changes of testicular tissue,with no marked mitochondrial injury,and there were sig-nificant reductions in the levels of ROS and MDA(P<0.01)and a significant increase in SOD activity(P<0.01).There was no signifi-cant difference in testicular index between groups(P>0.05).The high-altitude model group had a significantly lower sperm count than the blank control group(P<0.05),while there was no significant difference in sperm count between the LC intervention group and the blank control group(P>0.05);there was no significant difference in sperm motility between groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Low-dose LC can improve reproductive system damage in rats during acute exposure to simulated high-altitude environment,possibly by alleviat-ing oxidative stress response.

Objective To explore the effects of miR-373 and Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (JAK2/STAT6) signaling pathways on the M2 polarization of tumor associated macrophages (TAM) in rectal cancer. Methods THP-1 cells were induced into M0/M1/M2 macrophages, M0 macrophages were cocultured with Caco-2 cells to obtain TAM, Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of CD86 and CD206, Real-time quantitative qPCR and Western blot were used to detect miR-373, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), arginase 1 (Arg1), chitinase 3-like 1 (Ym1), resistin like α (Fizz1), IL-10 mRNA and protein levels. TAM were transfected and divided into overexpressing miR-373 group (miR-373-TAM) and control group (miR-NC-TAM), overexpressing miR-373+JAK2-TAM group (miR-373 combined with JAK2-TAM) and control group (miR-373 combined with NC-TAM), and then cocultured with Caco-2 cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of CD206 in TAM; Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect miR-373, Arg1, Ym1, Fizz1, IL-10, JAK2, STAT6 mRNA and protein levels in TAM; CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, and Transwell assay were used to detect the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of Caco-2 cells. Thirty nude mice were randomly divided into Caco-2 cells group, Caco-2 cells combined with miR-NC-TAM group, and Caco-2 cells combined with miR-373-TAM group, with 10 mice in each group. Rats in each group were subcutaneously injected with pure Caco-2 cells, Caco-2 cells combined with TAM, and Caco-2 cells combined with TAM overexpressing miR-373. After 4 weeks of cell inoculation, immunofluorescence staining was used to detect F4/80⁺CD206⁺cells level in tumor tissue; Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect miR-373, JAK2, STAT6, Arg1, Ym1, Fizz1, IL-10 mRNA and protein levels in tumor tissues. Results TAM tended to M2 polarization. After overexpression of miR-373, miR-373 level in TAM was increased, while Arg1, Ym1, Fizz1, IL-10, JAK2, STAT6 mRNA and protein levels were decreased, proliferation, migration, invasion ability of Caco-2 cells were decreased; Overexpression of JAK2 could partially reverse the effect of overexpression of miR-373 on the M2 polarization of TAM and proliferation, migration, invasion ability of Caco-2 cells. TAM could promote tumor growth; Overexpression of miR-373 could inhibit tumor growth and inhibit M2 polarization of TAM. Conclusion miR-373 could inhibit M2 polarization of TAM in rectal cancer, and miR-373 might inhibit proliferation and metastasis of rectal cancer cells by regulating the JAK2/STAT6 pathway.
MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Humans ; STAT6 Transcription Factor/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/genetics* ; Animals ; Janus Kinase 2/genetics* ; Mice ; Tumor-Associated Macrophages/metabolism* ; Rectal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Caco-2 Cells ; Mice, Nude ; THP-1 Cells ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Cell Polarity ; Male

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms distinguishing metabolically healthy from unhealthy phenotypes within the same BMI categories remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between regional fat distribution and metabolically unhealthy phenotypes in Chinese adults across different BMI categories. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involving 11833 Chinese adults aged 20 years and older. Covariance analysis, adjusted for age, compared the percentage of regional fat (trunk, leg, or arm fat divided by whole-body fat) between metabolically healthy and unhealthy participants. Trends in regional fat percentage with the number of metabolic abnormalities were assessed by the Jonckheere-Terpstra test. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by logistic regression models. All analyses were performed separately by sex. RESULTS: In non-obese individuals, metabolically unhealthy participants exhibited higher percent trunk fat and lower percent leg fat compared to healthy participants. Additionally, percent trunk fat increased and percent leg fat decreased with the number of metabolic abnormalities. After adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors, as well as BMI, higher percent trunk fat was associated with increased odds of being metabolically unhealthy [highest vs. lowest quartile: ORs (95%CI) of 1.64 (1.35, 2.00) for men and 2.00 (1.63, 2.46) for women]. Conversely, compared with the lowest quartile, the ORs (95%CI) of metabolically unhealthy phenotype in the highest quartile for percent arm and leg fat were 0.64 (0.53, 0.78) and 0.60 (0.49, 0.74) for men, and 0.72 (0.56, 0.93) and 0.46 (0.36, 0.59) for women, respectively. Significant interactions between BMI and percentage of trunk and leg fat were observed in both sexes, with stronger associations found in individuals with normal weight and overweight. CONCLUSIONS Trunk fat is associated with a higher risk of metabolically unhealthy phenotype, while leg and arm fat are protective factors. Regional fat distribution assessments are crucial for identifying metabolically unhealthy phenotypes, particularly in non-obese individuals.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Surveys ; Phenotype

Objective:To explore the moderating and mediating roles of psychological resilience in the relationship between job satisfaction and depressive symptoms among petrochemical workers.Methods:In April 2022, a cluster sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey among 1087 in-service employees of a petrochemical enterprise in Henan Province. A total of 861 questionnaires were recovered, including 857 valid ones, with an effective rate of 99.54%. Data on job satisfaction, psychological resilience, and depressive symptoms were collected using the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Spearman rank correlation analysis was applied to analyze the relationships among the scores of job satisfaction, psychological resilience, and depressive symptoms. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to test the moderating effect of psychological resilience, and the Bootstrap method was employed to verify the mediating effect of psychological resilience.Results:The scores of job satisfaction, psychological resilience, and depressive symptoms among petrochemical workers were 36.00 (31.00, 36.00) points, 36.00 (30.00, 41.00) points, and 7.00 (3.00, 9.00) points. The detection rate of depressive symptoms was 65.7% (563/857). Results of Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that job satisfaction of petrochemical workers was positively correlated with psychological resilience ( rs=0.270, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with depressive symptoms ( rs=-0.386, P<0.01), psychological resilience was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms ( rs=-0.515, P<0.01). Results of hierarchical linear regression analysis indicated that psychological resilience had no moderating effect on the relationship between job satisfaction and depressive symptoms of petrochemical workers ( b=0.001, P>0.05). Results of the mediating effect test showed that psychological resilience played a partial mediating effect in the relationship between job satisfaction and depressive symptoms ( P<0.01), with a mediating effect value of -0.071 (95% CI: -0.125, -0.045), accounting for 20.16% of the total effect. Conclusion:Psychological resilience exerts a partial mediating effect rather than a moderating effect in the relationship between job satisfaction and depressive symptoms among petrochemical workers.

Objective:To analyze the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomeric dome-like receptor protein 6 (NLRP6) in patients with cerebral hemorrhage of different severity and its relationship with the degree of nerve injury.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to select 73 patients with cerebral hemorrhage admitted to Huzhou Rehabilitation Hospital from September 2021 to May 2023 as the study objects, including 20 patients with primary cerebral hemorrhage (primary group) and 53 patients with secondary cerebral hemorrhage (secondary group). The relative expression level of NLRP6 mRNA in the two groups was compared. Pearson test was used to analyze its relationship with the degree of nerve function injury.Results:The relative expression of NLRP6 mRNA in the secondary group was higher than that in the primary group: 3.14 ± 0.58 vs. 2.21 ± 0.41, there was a statistical difference ( P<0.05). The proportion of mild neurological impairment in the secondary group was lower than that in the primary group: 13.21%(7/53) vs. 50.00%(10/20), and the proportion of severe neurological impairment was higher than that in the primary group: 56.60%(30/53) vs. 30.00%(6/20), there were statistical differences ( χ2 = 4.74, 4.11, P<0.05). The relative expression of NLRP6 mRNA in mild, moderate, and severe patients in both groups was gradually increased, and the Pearson test results showed that NLRP6 was positively correlated with the degree of neurological function injury in both groups ( r = 0.614, 0.603, P<0.05). Conclusions:The relative expression of NLRP6 mRNA in patients with secondary intracerebral hemorrhage is higher than that in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage, and NLRP6 in patients with different types of intracerebral hemorrhage is correlated with the degree of nerve function injury.

Objective:To design a set of simulation system for surgical operation based on virtual reality(VR)technique and intelligent scoring functions,so as to assess its clinical application effect.Methods:The Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine(DICOM)images of typical patients were collected.Materialise Interactive Medical Image Control System(MIMICS)software was adopted to reconstruct the three-dimensional(3D)model of diseased organs.Surgical instrument models were constructed by using 3D Max software.Unity 3D software was adopted to construct simulation system for surgical operation with VR+intelligent scoring.A total of 40 surgical resident physicians,who were employed with 3 years since 2019 in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University,were selected.They were divided into observation group and control group,with 20 cases in each group.The observation group used simulation system for surgical operation to conduct intelligent scoring for cholecystectomy under laparoscope,and the control group used conventional scoring for surgical operation.The scores of surgical operation and test between the two groups were compared.Results:The mean value of surgical operation time of the observation group was(1.72±0.41)h,and the average incidence of complication was(0.03±0.02)%,both of them of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group[(2.25±0.42)h and(0.05±0.03)%].The differences of them between two groups were statistically significant(t=9.00,4.08,P<0.05).The test scores of surgical operation of the observation group was also significantly higher than that of the control group(t=5.26,P<0.001).Conclusion:The developed simulation system for surgical operation with VR+intelligent scoring can significantly enhance users'surgical operation skills and improve learning outcomes,which has favorable prospects in future applications.

Objective To investigate the role of CCCTC-binding factor(CTCF)in the development of oxaliplatin(OXA)-induced gastric cancer drug-tolerant cells(DTCs)and to preliminarily elucidate its underlying mechanisms.Methods The DTCs model of gastric cancer was established by treating MGC803 cells with OXA.Overexpression and knockdown of CTCF in MGC803 cells were performed to observe their effects on the formation of DTCs in gastric cancer.Additionally,Bcl2-like protein 1(BCL2L1)was knocked down in CTCF-overexpressing cells,and its impact on DTCs formation was evaluated.Flow cytometry was used to analyze the effects of varying CTCF/BCL2L1 expression levels on the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells under OXA treatment.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)was employed to detect the expression levels of CTCF/BCL2L1 in gastric cancer tissues,and the therapeutic outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with different CTCF/BCL2L1 expression levels were assessed.Results Gastric cancer DTCs can be obtained following a regimen of continuous treatment of MGC803 cells with a specific concentration of oxaliplatin(OXA,1.5 μmol/L)for 5 days,followed by an additional 5-day culture period post-treatment cessation.The upregulation of CTCF has been shown to facilitate the formation of DTCs in gastric cancer,whereas its downregulation inhibits this process(P<0.05).In MGC803 gastric cancer cells,the expression level of BCL2L1 is positively correlated with that of CTCF.Knockdown of BCL2L1 in MGC803 cells overexpressing CTCF can reverse the pro-DTC formation effect of CTCF(P<0.05).Overexpression of CTCF confers resistance to OXA-induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells,and this anti-apoptotic effect can be reversed by BCL2L1 knockdown in MGC803 cells overexpressing CTCF(P<0.05).In the tumor tissues of the majority of gastric cancer patients,the expression levels of BCL2L1 are positively correlated with those of CTCF,and the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is notably reduced in patients with high expression of the CTCF/BCL2L1 axis compared to those with low expression(P<0.05).Conclusion CTCF promotes the formation of OXA-related gas-tric cancer DTCs by upregulating BCL2L1 expression and inhibiting apoptosis,making the CTCF/BCL2L1 axis a potential therapeutic target for DTCs in gastric cancer.

Objective:To explore the moderating and mediating roles of psychological resilience in the relationship between job satisfaction and depressive symptoms among petrochemical workers.Methods:In April 2022, a cluster sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey among 1087 in-service employees of a petrochemical enterprise in Henan Province. A total of 861 questionnaires were recovered, including 857 valid ones, with an effective rate of 99.54%. Data on job satisfaction, psychological resilience, and depressive symptoms were collected using the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Spearman rank correlation analysis was applied to analyze the relationships among the scores of job satisfaction, psychological resilience, and depressive symptoms. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to test the moderating effect of psychological resilience, and the Bootstrap method was employed to verify the mediating effect of psychological resilience.Results:The scores of job satisfaction, psychological resilience, and depressive symptoms among petrochemical workers were 36.00 (31.00, 36.00) points, 36.00 (30.00, 41.00) points, and 7.00 (3.00, 9.00) points. The detection rate of depressive symptoms was 65.7% (563/857). Results of Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that job satisfaction of petrochemical workers was positively correlated with psychological resilience ( rs=0.270, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with depressive symptoms ( rs=-0.386, P<0.01), psychological resilience was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms ( rs=-0.515, P<0.01). Results of hierarchical linear regression analysis indicated that psychological resilience had no moderating effect on the relationship between job satisfaction and depressive symptoms of petrochemical workers ( b=0.001, P>0.05). Results of the mediating effect test showed that psychological resilience played a partial mediating effect in the relationship between job satisfaction and depressive symptoms ( P<0.01), with a mediating effect value of -0.071 (95% CI: -0.125, -0.045), accounting for 20.16% of the total effect. Conclusion:Psychological resilience exerts a partial mediating effect rather than a moderating effect in the relationship between job satisfaction and depressive symptoms among petrochemical workers.

Objective:To analyze the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomeric dome-like receptor protein 6 (NLRP6) in patients with cerebral hemorrhage of different severity and its relationship with the degree of nerve injury.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to select 73 patients with cerebral hemorrhage admitted to Huzhou Rehabilitation Hospital from September 2021 to May 2023 as the study objects, including 20 patients with primary cerebral hemorrhage (primary group) and 53 patients with secondary cerebral hemorrhage (secondary group). The relative expression level of NLRP6 mRNA in the two groups was compared. Pearson test was used to analyze its relationship with the degree of nerve function injury.Results:The relative expression of NLRP6 mRNA in the secondary group was higher than that in the primary group: 3.14 ± 0.58 vs. 2.21 ± 0.41, there was a statistical difference ( P<0.05). The proportion of mild neurological impairment in the secondary group was lower than that in the primary group: 13.21%(7/53) vs. 50.00%(10/20), and the proportion of severe neurological impairment was higher than that in the primary group: 56.60%(30/53) vs. 30.00%(6/20), there were statistical differences ( χ2 = 4.74, 4.11, P<0.05). The relative expression of NLRP6 mRNA in mild, moderate, and severe patients in both groups was gradually increased, and the Pearson test results showed that NLRP6 was positively correlated with the degree of neurological function injury in both groups ( r = 0.614, 0.603, P<0.05). Conclusions:The relative expression of NLRP6 mRNA in patients with secondary intracerebral hemorrhage is higher than that in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage, and NLRP6 in patients with different types of intracerebral hemorrhage is correlated with the degree of nerve function injury.