The transcriptome sequencing based on Illumina Novaseq 6000 Platform was performed with the untreated seed embryo(DS), stratified seed embryo(SS), and germinated seed embryo(GS) of Zanthoxylum nitidum, aiming to explore the molecular mechanism regulating the seed dormancy and germination of Z. nitidum and uncover key differentially expressed genes(DEGs). A total of 61.41 Gb clean data was obtained, and 86 386 unigenes with an average length of 773.49 bp were assembled. A total of 29 290 DEGs were screened from three comparison groups(SS vs DS, GS vs SS, and GS vs DS), and these genes were annotated on 134 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathways. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the plant hormone signal transduction pathway is the richest pathway, containing 226 DEGs. Among all DEGs, 894 transcription factors were identified, which were distributed across 34 transcription factor families. These transcription factors were also mainly concentrated in plant hormone signal transduction and mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathways. Further real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) validation of 12 DEGs showed that the transcriptome data is reliable. During the process of seed dormancy release and germination, a large number of DEGs involved in polysaccharide degradation, protein synthesis, lipid metabolism, and hormone signal transduction were expressed. These genes were involved in multiple metabolic pathways, forming a complex regulatory network for dormancy and germination. This study lays a solid foundation for analyzing the molecular mechanisms of seed dormancy and germination of Z. nitidum.
Zanthoxylum/metabolism* ; Plant Dormancy/genetics* ; Seeds/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Transcriptome ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Germination ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Plant Growth Regulators/genetics* ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of minimally invasive technique in the treatment of moderate and severe gluteal muscle contracture. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 85 patients (170 sides) with bilateral gluteal muscle contracture admitted from January 2016 to December 2019. All patients were treated with minimally invasive release of tendon knife. There were 32 males and 53 females, ranging in age from 15 to 37 years old, with an average age of (22.3±6.3) years old. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, first postoperative ambulation time, complication rate, recurrence rate, and Harris hip score (HHS) were analyzed and evaluated. RESULTS: The average follow-up time was (16.2±4.6) months, ranging from 12 to 30 months. The operation time ranged from 7 to 15 min, with an average of (10.2±3.1) min. Intraoperative blood loss ranged from 2 to 20 ml, with an average of (8.4±2.2) ml. The incision length ranged from 0.6 to 2.0 cm, with an average of (0.8±0.3) cm. The time to postoperative ambulation ranged from 12 to 28 h, with an average of (20.0±3.2) h. All patients achieved primary wound healing without sciatic nerve injury or recurrence. HHS hip function scores ranged from 90 to 98, with an average score of (96.2±1.4). Complications included intraoperative tendon blade tip fracture in two cases (removed under fluoroscopic guidance) and subcutaneous hematoma in three cases-two resolved with compression and one with open evacuation.. Twenty-nine patients exhibited transient swaying gait postoperatively, of which 24 patients returned to normal after 4 weeks and 5 patients returned to normal after 6 weeks. CONCLUSION Minimally invasive tendon blade release is a safe and effective technique for treating gluteal muscle contracture, offering minimal trauma, rapid recovery, and excellent cosmetic and functional outcomes. However, it exhibits a low risk of blade tip fracture and sciatic nerve injury, warranting experienced surgical handling.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Adolescent ; Retrospective Studies ; Buttocks/surgery* ; Young Adult ; Contracture/surgery* ; Tendons/surgery* ; Muscle, Skeletal/surgery*

OBJECTIVES: To assess the changes in body composition and nutritional risks faced by children with different stages of acute leukemia (AL). METHODS: Bioelectrical impedance analysis combined with anthropometric measurements was used to detect body composition. This prospective study was conducted from August 2023 to July 2024 at Shandong Provincial Hospital, examining the body composition and physical balance of children with various stages of AL and healthy children. RESULTS: The non-fat components of children with AL and healthy children both showed a linear increase with age. In the younger age group, there were no significant differences in body composition between children with AL and healthy children. However, in the older age group, the body composition of children undergoing chemotherapy for AL was significantly lower than that of healthy children (P<0.05), and muscle mass recovered first after the completion of AL chemotherapy. The proportion of children with increased trunk fat in AL children who completed chemotherapy was significantly lower than that in healthy children (P<0.05), while the incidence rate of severe left-right imbalance in body composition was significantly higher (P<0.05). Muscle distribution in children with AL primarily showed insufficient limb and overall muscle mass, whereas healthy children mainly exhibited insufficient upper limb muscle mass. CONCLUSIONS The body composition of children with AL varies at different treatment stages, indicating that nutritional status is affected by both the disease itself and the treatment. Early screening can provide a basis for reasonable nutritional intervention.
Humans ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Body Composition ; Prospective Studies ; Adolescent ; Leukemia/metabolism* ; Infant ; Nutritional Status ; Acute Disease ; Electric Impedance

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics, co-mutated genes in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with NRAS and KRAS gene mutations, and the impact of NRAS and KRAS mutations on prognosis. METHODS: The clinical data and next-generation sequencing results of 80 newly diagnosed AML patients treated at our hospital from December 2018 to December 2023 were collected. The clinical characteristics, co-mutated genes of NRAS and KRAS , and the impact of NRAS and KRAS mutations on prognosis in newly diagnosed AML patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 80 newly diagnosed AML patients, NRAS mutations were detected in 20 cases(25.0%), and KRAS mutations were detected in 9 cases(11.3%). NRAS mutations predominantly occurred at codons 12 and 13 of exon 2, as well as codon 61 of exon 3, while KRAS mutations were most commonly occurred at codons 12 and 13 of exon 2, all of which were missense mutations. There were no statistically significant differences observed in terms of age, sex, white blood cell count(WBC), hemoglobin(Hb), platelet count(PLT), bone marrow blasts, first induction chemotherapy regimen, CR1/CRi1 rates, chromosome karyotype, 2022 ELN risk classification and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT) among the NRAS mutation group, KRAS mutation group and NRAS/KRAS wild-type group (P >0.05). KRAS mutations were significantly correlated with PTPN11 mutations (r =0.344), whereas no genes significantly associated with NRAS mutations were found. Survival analysis showed that compared to the NRAS/KRAS wild-type group, patients with NRAS mutation had a relatively higher 5-year overall survival (OS) rate and relapse-free survival (RFS) rate, though the differences were not statistically significant (P =0.097, P =0.249). Compared to the NRAS/KRAS wild-type group, patients with KRAS mutation had a lower 5-year OS rate and RFS rate, with no significant differences observed (P =0.275, P =0.442). There was no significant difference in the 5-year RFS rate between the KRAS mutation group and NRAS mutation group (P =0.157), but the 5-year OS rate of patients with KRAS mutation was significantly lower than that of patients with NRAS mutation (P =0.037). CONCLUSION In newly diagnosed AML patients, KRAS mutation was significantly correlated with PTPN11 mutation. Compared to patients with NRAS/KRAS wild-type, those with NRAS mutation showed a more favorable prognosis, while patients with KRAS mutation showed a poorer prognosis; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Notably, the prognosis of AML patients with KRAS mutation was significantly inferior compared to those with NRAS mutation.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis* ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics* ; GTP Phosphohydrolases/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged

Stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1) catalyzes the rate-limiting step of de novo lipogenesis and modulates lipid homeostasis. Although numerous SCD1 inhibitors were tested for treating metabolic disorders both in preclinical and clinic studies, the tissue-specific roles of SCD1 in modulating obesity-associated metabolic disorders and determining the pharmacological effect of chemical SCD1 inhibition remain unclear. Here a novel role for intestinal SCD1 in obesity-associated metabolic disorders was uncovered. Intestinal SCD1 was found to be induced during obesity progression both in humans and mice. Intestine-specific, but not liver-specific, SCD1 deficiency reduced obesity and hepatic steatosis. A939572, an SCD1-specific inhibitor, ameliorated obesity and hepatic steatosis dependent on intestinal, but not hepatic, SCD1. Mechanistically, intestinal SCD1 deficiency impeded obesity-induced oxidative stress through its novel function of inducing metallothionein 1 in intestinal epithelial cells. These results suggest that intestinal SCD1 could be a viable target that underlies the pharmacological effect of chemical SCD1 inhibition in the treatment of obesity-associated metabolic disorders.

Objective:To report the results of national surveillance on the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of clinical Gram-negative bacteria isolates from bloodstream infections in China in 2022.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria from blood cultures in member hospitals of national bloodstream infection Bacterial Resistant Investigation Collaborative System（BRICS）were collected during January 2022 to December 2022. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted by agar dilution or broth dilution methods recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 software were used to analyze the data.Results:During the study period，9 035 strains of Gram-negative bacteria were collected from 51 hospitals，of which 7 895（87.4%）were Enterobacteriaceae and 1 140（12.6%）were non-fermenting bacteria. The top 5 bacterial species were Escherichia coli（ n=4 510，49.9%）， Klebsiella pneumoniae（ n=2 340，25.9%）， Pseudomonas aeruginosa（ n=534，5.9%）， Acinetobacter baumannii complex（ n=405，4.5%）and Enterobacter cloacae（ n=327，3.6%）. The ESBLs-producing rates in Escherichia coli， Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus spp. were 47.1%（2 095/4 452），21.0%（427/2 033）and 41.1%（58/141），respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli（CREC）and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae（CRKP）were 1.3%（58/4 510）and 13.1%（307/2 340）；62.1%（36/58）and 9.8%（30/307）of CREC and CRKP were resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam combination，respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii（CRAB）complex was 59.5%（241/405），while less than 5% of Acinetobacter baumannii complex was resistant to tigecycline and polymyxin B. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa（CRPA）was 18.4%（98/534）. There were differences in the composition ratio of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections and the prevalence of main Gram-negative bacteria resistance among different regions，with statistically significant differences in the prevalence of CRKP and CRPA（ χ2=20.489 and 20.252， P<0.001）. The prevalence of CREC，CRKP，CRPA，CRAB，ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were higher in provinicial hospitals than those in municipal hospitals（ χ2=11.953，81.183，10.404，5.915，12.415 and 6.459， P<0.01 or <0.05），while the prevalence of CRPA was higher in economically developed regions（per capita GDP ≥ 92 059 Yuan）than that in economically less-developed regions（per capita GDP <92 059 Yuan）（ χ2=6.240， P=0.012）. Conclusions:The proportion of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections shows an increasing trend，and Escherichia coli is ranked in the top，while the trend of CRKP decreases continuously with time. Decreasing trends are noted in ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Low prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Escherichia coli and high prevalence in CRAB complex have been observed. The composition ratio and antibacterial spectrum of bloodstream infections in different regions of China are slightly different，and the proportion of main drug resistant bacteria in provincial hospitals is higher than those in municipal hospitals.

Microplastics pose a serious threat to the environment and human health,but the circulating distribution and transport processes of microplastics in organisms have not been fully assessed.Therefore,it is of great significance to construct a probe that can image trace microplastics and visually monitor their circulation and transport in vivo.Afterglow semiconducting polymers are attractive for applications in biological imaging as they do not contain heavy metal ions,are easy to biodegrade and allow high signal-to-noise ratio afterglow imaging without continuous excitation.In this study,with styrene as reaction monomer,polyvinylpyrrolidone as surfactant,and sodium persulfate as initiator,afterglow polystyrene microspheres for in vivo imaging of microplastics were prepared.During the polymerization process,poly[(9,9-di(2-ethylhexyl)-9H-fluo-rene-2,7-vinylene)-co-(1-methoxy-4-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-2,5-phenylenevinylene)](PF-MEHPPV)and photosensitizer silicon 2,3-naphthalocyanine bis(trihexylsilyloxide)(NCBS)were co-doped into polystyrene microspheres.The prepared afterglow polystyrene microspheres exhibited an afterglow duration of 96 h and a tissue penetration depth of 1.8 cm.It was found that co-doping of PF-MEHPPV and NCBS had little effect on the particle size and Zeta potential of the microspheres,and allowed to monitor the afterglow luminescence signal in vivo for 24 h.Imaging of mouse organs after anatomy showed that the afterglow signal was still observed in the stomach of mice 48 h after gavage.This study provided a new method for imaging and tracing microplastics in vivo.

Objective To develop a portable field infusion kit for first aid to meet the treatment requirements in field conditions.Methods The infusion kit had its frame made of third-generation carbon fiber material and was composed of a lid and a body.The lid was equipped with embedded handles on the outer surface,a medicine module consisting of 12 mesh bags on the inner surface and LED lights on the inner and outer front side walls.The kit body had three storage layers in its upper,middle and lower parts,of which the upper layer was for supplies of infusion and hemostatic dressing,the middle layer was for medical instruments and soft bags of liquid for first aid,and the lower layer was for medical waste and sharp instruments,and the bottom of the kit was provided with telescopic drawbars and invisible rollers.Results The first-aid infusion kit facilitated the storage and utilization of kinds of infusion supplies,and lowered time consumption and workloads for transport.Conclusion The first-aid infusion kit gains advantages in reasonable layout,comprehensive functions and convenient operation,and thus is worhty promoting for casualty treatment in field conditions.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(7):115-117]

Objective To compare the repair effects of different doses of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(hUC-MSCs)on white matter injury(WMI)in neonatal rats.Methods Two-day-old Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats were randomly divided into five groups:sham operation group,WMI group,and hUC-MSCs groups(low dose,medium dose,and high dose),with 24 rats in each group.Twenty-four hours after successful establishment of the neonatal rat white matter injury model,the WMI group was injected with sterile PBS via the lateral ventricle,while the hUC-MSCs groups received injections of hUC-MSCs at different doses.At 14 and 21 days post-modeling,hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe pathological changes in the tissues around the lateral ventricles.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the quantitative expression of myelin basic protein(MBP)and glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)mRNA in the brain tissue.Immunohistochemistry was employed to observe the expression levels of GFAP and neuron-specific nuclear protein(NeuN)in the tissues around the lateral ventricles.TUNEL staining was used to observe cell apoptosis in the tissues around the lateral ventricles.At 21 days post-modeling,the Morris water maze test was used to observe the spatial learning and memory capabilities of the neonatal rats.Results At 14 and 21 days post-modeling,numerous cells with nuclear shrinkage and rupture,as well as disordered arrangement of nerve fibers,were observed in the tissues around the lateral ventricles of the WMI group and the low dose group.Compared with the WMI group,the medium and high dose groups showed alleviated pathological changes;the arrangement of nerve fibers in the medium dose group was relatively more orderly compared with the high dose group.Compared with the WMI group,there was no significant difference in the expression levels of MBP and GFAP mRNA in the low dose group(P＞0.05),while the expression levels of MBP mRNA increased and GFAP mRNA decreased in the medium and high dose groups.The expression level of MBP mRNA in the medium dose group was higher than that in the high dose group,and the expression level of GFAP mRNA in the medium dose group was lower than that in the high dose group(P＜0.05).Compared with the WMI group,there was no significant difference in the protein expression of GFAP and NeuN in the low dose group(P＞0.05),while the expression of NeuN protein increased and GFAP protein decreased in the medium and high dose groups.The expression of NeuN protein in the medium dose group was higher than that in the high dose group,and the expression of GFAP protein in the medium dose group was lower than that in the high dose group(P＜0.05).Compared with the WMI group,there was no significant difference in the number of apoptotic cells in the low dose group(P＞0.05),while the number of apoptotic cells in the medium and high dose groups was less than that in the WMI group,and the number of apoptotic cells in the medium dose group was less than that in the high dose group(P＜0.05).Compared with the WMI group,there was no significant difference in the escape latency time in the low dose group(P＞0.05);starting from the third day of the latency period,the escape latency time in the medium dose group was less than that in the WMI group(P＜0.05).The medium and high dose groups crossed the platform more times than the WMI group(P＜0.05).Conclusions Low dose hUC-MSCs may yield unsatisfactory repair effects on WMI in neonatal rats,while medium and high doses of hUC-MSCs have significant repair effects,with the medium dose demonstrating superior efficacy.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(4):394-402]