The P2X7 receptor,a ligand-gated ion channel in the purinergic receptor family,is widely ex-pressed in various tissues and organs.Its structure is significantly different from other subtypes.This struc-tural specificity confers low adenosine triphosphate(ATP)binding affinity and two distinct characteristics:ion channel function under short-term/low-concentration ATP stimulation,and formation of non-selective pores with current facilitation during prolonged/high-concentration ATP exposure.Inflammatory responses are in-volved in the pathophysiological processes of various cardiovascular diseases.Substantial evidence indicates that P2X7 receptor activation participates in the pathophysiological processes of myocardial infarction,athero-sclerosis,hypertension,and cardiomyopathy..Receptor activation potentiates chronic inflammatory cascades,mechanistically contributing to myocardial infarction,atherosclerosis,hypertension,and cardiomyopathy pro-gression.This review summarizes the structure and function of P2X7 receptors and their mechanisms in vari-ous cardiovascular diseases.

Objective To investigate the application value of bedside ultrasound measurement of gastric antrum cross-sectional area(CSA)combined with acute gastrointestinal injury ultrasound(AGIUS)score in guiding early individualized enteral nutrition therapy for sepsis patients.Methods From January 2023 to July 2024,61 sepsis patients meeting diagnostic criteria were enrolled and divided into an observation group(n=30)and a control group(n=31).The observation group underwent bedside ultrasound monitoring of gastric antrum CSA to calculate gastric residual volume(GRV)and AGIUS score for formulating individualized en-teral nutrition strategies.The control group used gastric tube withdrawal method for GRV measurement to guide enteral nutrition.Clinical baseline characteristics,enteral nutrition-related complications,nutritional/in-fection indicators,and disease severity parameters were compared between groups.Predictive efficacy was ana-lyzed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and area under the curve(AUC).Results Both groups showed gradual increases in enteral nutrition feeding rates and total volumes over time,with the obser-vation group demonstrating significantly higher values than the control group at each time point(P＜0.05).The observation group started nasogastric feeding earlier than the control group(P＜0.05).Target calorie a-chievement rates on day 3,5,and 7 were better in the observation group(P＜0.05).The incidence of feeding intolerance progressively decreased in the observation group but increased in the control group over day 1,3,and 5,with significant intergroup differences at each time point(P＜0.05).By day 7,the observation group exhibited significantly higher prealbumin(PA),albumin(ALB),and transferrin(TF)levels compared to day 1 and the control group(P＜0.05).Both groups showed reductions in APACHE Ⅱ,SOFA,and AGI scores by day 7,with the observation group displaying significantly lower scores than the control group(P＜0.05).The observation group had shorter ICU stays[(10.83±3.26)d vs.(14.55±3.14)d,P＜0.05].The combination of gastric antrum CSA measurement and AGIUS scoring demonstrated excellent predictive value for feeding intolerance(AUC=0.920,95％CI:0.848-0.963),with 95.50％sensitivity and 82.50％specificity,achieving 87.60％predictive accuracy.Conclusion Bedside ultrasound measurement of gastric antrum cross-sectional area(CSA)combined with AGIUS scoring shows good effect as a safe and effective monitoring modality for guiding early individualized enteral nutrition therapy in sepsis patients.

Objective:To compare the curative effects between modified double-reverse traction technique and traditional open reduction in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 70 patients with Schatzker type Ⅳ-Ⅴ tibial plateau fracture who had undergone surgical treatment at The Third Department of Orthopaedics, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2017 to December 2022. The patients were divided into an observation group treated with modified double-reverse traction and a control group treated with traditional open reduction. In the observation group of 37 cases, there were 20 males and 17 females with an age of (44.6±13.5) years, and 9 cases of type Ⅳ and 28 cases of type V by the Schatzker classification; in the control group of 33 cases, there were 18 males and 15 females with an age of (45.9±13.7) years, and 10 cases of type Ⅳ and 23 cases of type Ⅴ by the Schatzker classification. The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time, length of main incision, intraoperative blood loss, Rasmussen imaging score before discharge, and knee function score of American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), fracture healing and complications at 6 months postoperatively.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing group comparability ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up for (14.3±1.4) months. The observation group was significantly better than the control group in operation time [(113.9±11.4) min versus (151.82±10.37) min], length of main incision [4 (4, 5) cm versus 6 (6, 7) cm], intraoperative blood loss [30 (20, 35) mL versus 55 (50, 65) mL], VAS [0 (0, 0) point versus 0 (0, 1) points] and HSS score [(89.8±3.1) points versus (86.0±3.5) points] ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in Rasmussen imaging score before discharge, or fracture healing rate or complication rate at 6 months postoperatively ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of Schatzker type Ⅳ-Ⅴ tibial plateau fractures, modified double-reverse traction technique is worthy of clinical application and promotion, because it is advantageous over traditional open reduction in terms of shorter operation time, smaller surgical incision, less intraoperative blood loss, less postoperative pain and better knee function.

Objective:To detect the cystic fibrosis transmembrane transduction regulator(CFTR)gene mutations and congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens(CBAVD)susceptibility gene mutations in pa-tients with CBAVD,and to explore their association with the risk of CBAVD.Methods:Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing validation were conducted on the pathogenic genes CFTR,adhesion G protein-coupled receptor G2(ADGRG2),sodium channel epithelial 1 subunit beta(SCNN1B),carbonic anhydrase 12(CA12),and solute carrier family 9 member A3(SLC9A3)in thirteen cases of isolated CBAVD patients.The polymorphic loci,intron and flanking sequences of CFTR gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)followed by Sanger sequencing.Bioinformatics methods were employed for conservative analysis and deleterious prediction of novel susceptibility gene mutations in CBAVD.Ge-netic analysis was performed on the pedigree of one out of thirteen patients with CBAVD to evaluate the risk of inheritance in offspring.Results:Exome sequencing revealed CFTR gene exon mutations in only six of the thirteen CBAVD patients,with six missense mutations c.2684G＞A(p.Ser895Asn),c.4056G＞C(p.Gln1352His),c.2812G＞(p.Val938Leu),c.3068T＞G(p.Ile1023Arg),c.374T＞C(p.Ile125Thr),c.1666A＞G(p.Ile556Val)),and one nonsense mutation(c.1657C＞T(p.Arg553Ter).Among these six patients,two also had the CFTR homozygous p.V470 site,additional-ly,mutations in CFTR gene exon regions were not detected in the remaining seven patients.Within the thirteen CBAVD patients,three carried the homozygous p.V470 polymorphic site,four carried the 5T al-lele,two carried the TG13 allele,and ten carried the c.-966T＞G site.Four CBAVD patients simulta-neously carried 2-3 of the aforementioned CFTR gene mutation sites.Susceptibility gene mutations in CBAVD among the thirteen patients included one ADGRG2 missense mutation c.2312A＞G(p.Asn771Ser),two SLC9A3 missense mutations c.2395T＞C(p.Cys799Arg),c.493G＞A(p.Val165Ile),one SCNN1B missense mutation c.1514G＞A(p.Arg505His),and one CA12 missense mutation c.1061C＞T(p.Ala354Val).Notably,the SLC9A3 gene c.493 G＞A(p.Val165Ile)mutation site was first identi-fied in CBAVD patients.The five mutations exhibited an extremely low population mutation frequency in the gnomAD database,classifying them as rare mutations.Predictions from Mutation Taster and Poly-phen-2 software indicated that the harmfulness level of the SLC9A3 gene c.493G＞A(p.Val165Ile)site and the SCNN1B gene c.1514G＞A(p.Arg505His)site were disease causing and probably damaging.The genetic analysis of one pedigree revealed that the c.1657C＞T(p.Arg553Ter)mutation in the proband was a de novo mutation,as neither the proband's father nor mother carried this mutation.The proband and his spouse conceived a daughter through assisted reproductive technology,and the daughter inherited the proband's pathogenic mutation c.1657C＞T(p.Arg553Ter).Conclusion:CFTR gene mutations remain the leading cause of CBAVD in Chinese patients;however,the distribution and fre-quency of mutations differ from data reported in other domestic and international studies,highlighting the need to expand the CFTR mutation spectrum in Chinese CBAVD patients.The susceptibility genes ADGRG2,SLC9A3,SCNN1B,and CA12 may explain some cases of CBAVD without CFTR mutations.Given the lack of specific clinical manifestations in CBAVD patients,it is recommended that clinicians conduct further physical examinations and consider scrotal or transrectal ultrasound before making a defi-nitive diagnosis.It is advisable to employ CFTR gene mutation testing in preconception genetic screening to reduce the risk of CBAVD and cystic fibrosis in offspring.

Objective:To explore the clinical value of N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in diagnosing or predicting heart failure in peridialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) population.Methods:It was a single-center retrospective study. Patients with peridialysis CKD who visited the Department of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2021 to June 2021 were collected and divided into 4 groups according to the presence or absence of heart failure and the level of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), namely the non-heart failure group, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) group (LVEF<40%), heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) group (40％≤LVEF<50％), and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) group (LVEF≥50％). The NT-proBNP, echocardiography and other indicators of the 4 groups were compared. The value of plasma NT-proBNP in diagnosing heart failure, HFpEF, HFmrEF and HFrEF was analyzed by drawing receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve). Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the related factors of heart failure in peridialysis CKD patients.Results:A total of 508 patients were included, including 11 cases in the HFrEF group, 29 cases in the HFmrEF group, 152 cases in the HFpEF group, and 316 cases without heart failure. The differences in age, 24-h urine volume, hemodialysis proportion, non-dialysis proportion, serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, serum albumin, C-reactive protein, NT-proBNP, cardiac troponin I, left ventricular internal diameter, LVEF, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, E/A value, septal thickness, and left ventricular posterior wall thickness among the four groups were statistically significant ( P < 0.05, respectively). A two-pair comparison (all P values corrected by Bonferroni method) revealed that the 24-h urine volume was higher in the non-heart failure group than in the other three groups (corrected P<0.05, respectively), while the proportion of hemodialysis patients and the levels of NT-proBNP and C-reactive protein were lower in the non-heart failure group than in the other three groups (corrected P<0.001, respectively); the levels of hemoglobin and serum albumin were lower in the HFpEF group than in the non-heart failure group (corrected P<0.001, respectively); troponin I was lower in the non-heart failure group than in the HFpEF group (corrected P<0.001), HFmrEF group (corrected P=0.001) and HFrEF group (corrected P<0.001), and troponin I was lower in the HFpEF group than in the HFrEF group (corrected P=0.008); LVEF was higher in the non-heart failure group than in the other three groups (corrected P<0.001, respectively), and LVEF in the HFpEF group was higher than in the HFmrEF and HFrEF groups (corrected P<0.001, respectively). For patients with peridialysis CKD, the cut-off values of plasma NT-proBNP for diagnosing or predicting heart failure, HFpEF, HFmrEF and HFrEF were 4 943.33 ng/L, 4 976.83 ng/L, 14 964.5 ng/L and 17 847.55 ng/L, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NT-proBNP (every 500 ng/L increase, OR=1.390, 95% CI 1.287-1.501, P<0.001), LVEF ( OR=0.747, 95% CI 0.656-0.851, P<0.001) and 24-h urine volume (every 100 ml increase, OR=0.842, 95% CI 0.763-0.929, P=0.001) were independently correlated with heart failure. Conclusions:The cut-off value of plasma NT-proBNP for diagnosing or predicting heart failure in peridialysis CKD patients is much higher than that in patients with normal renal function. NT-proBNP, LVEF and 24-h urine volume are independently associated with heart failure in peridialysis CKD patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of FLT3 expression on the prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by cell experiment and clinical data analysis. METHODS: Models for FLT3 over-expression and interference-expression in AML cells were constructed. The level of BAK gene expression and its protein product was determined, along with the proliferation and apoptosis of leukemia cells. FLT3 gene expression and FLT3-ITD variant were determined among patients with newly diagnosed AML. RESULTS: Compared with the interference-expression group, the level of BAK gene expression and its protein in FLT3 over-expression AML cells was significantly lower (P < 0.001), which also showed significantly faster proliferation (P < 0.001) and lower rate of apoptosis (P < 0.001). The expression level of FLT3 gene among patients with newly diagnosed AML was also significantly higher compared with the healthy controls (P < 0.001). The FLT3 gene expression of FLT3-ITD positive AML patients was higher than that of FLT3-WT patients (P = 0.002). Survival analysis showed that AML patients with high FLT3 expression in the medium-risk group had a lower complete remission rate and overall survival rate compared with those with a low FLT3 expression (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Over-expression of FLT3 may influence the course of AML by promoting the proliferation of leukemia cells and inhibiting their apoptosis, which in turn may affect the prognosis of patients and serve as a negative prognostic factor for AML.
Humans ; Apoptosis/genetics* ; Data Analysis ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics* ; Gene Expression ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3/genetics*

Objective:To investigate the effects of Ureaplasma urealyticum GrpE ( Uu-GrpE) on the maturation of dendritic cells and the polarization of T cells. Methods:Uu-GrpE was expressed and purified, and then identified by Western blot. The cytotoxicity of Uu-GrpE to mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) was analyzed by LDH kit. After stimulating BMDCs with Uu-GrpE, the expression of costimulatory molecules, CD80, CD86 and major histocompatibility complex Ⅱ (MHCⅡ), on the surface of BMDCs was detected by flow cytometry, and ELISA was used to detect the cytokines such as IL-12p70, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. CD4 + Na?ve T cells were isolated from mouse spleen tissues by magnetic beads. A co-culture system of BMDCs and Na?ve T cells was constructed to analyze the effects of GrpE-stimulated mature BMDCs (GrpE-BMDCs) on T cell proliferation and polarization towards Th1/Th2. Mice were immunized with GrpE-BMDCs through the tail vein, and the induced humoral and cellular immune responses were detected by ELISA and flow cytometry. Results:Uu-GrpE was successfully express and high purity BMDCs were isolated. Uu-GrpE could stimulate BMDCs to secrete cytokines such as IL-12p70, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 without having cytotoxicity. Uu-GrpE significantly increased the expression of CD80 [mean flourscence indensity (MFI): (324.00±22.11) vs (91.03±10.95), P<0.01], CD86 [MFI: (1 176.00±51.39) vs (217.00±14.93), P<0.01] and MHCⅡ [MFI: (708.70±56.32) vs (185.70±16.77), P<0.01] on BMDCs. Compared to the GrpE-BMDCs only group and GrpE (boiled)-BMDCs+ T cell group, the GrpE-BMDCs+ T cell group showed significantly increased T cell proliferation [stimulation index: (7.25±0.21) vs(6.55±0.23) and (6.09±0.35), both P<0.05], and dramatically promoted T cell secretion of IL-2 and IFN-γ [IL-2: (145.60±14.67) pg/ml vs(55.92±3.12) pg/ml and (26.05±2.40) pg/ml, P<0.05 and P<0.01; IFN-γ: (267.20±37.80) pg/ml vs(146.70±20.65) pg/ml and(27.84±6.69) pg/ml, both P<0.05]. However, no significant change was observed in the expression of Th2-type cytokines. Moreover, the adoptive transfer of GrpE-BMDCs induced a Th1-type immune response. Conclusions:Uu-GrpE could stimulate the maturation and polarization of BMDCs. Moreover, it could induce Th1 immune response as a candidate protein vaccine for Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Objective:To study the effects of broad-spectrum antibiotics and induced antibiotic-resistant bacteria on the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy for mice with colon cancer and to investigate the underlying mechanisms associated with anti-tumor immune responses.Methods:BALB/c mice were subcutaneously injected with CT26 colon cancer cells and randomized into four groups: tumor-bearing control group, antibiotic group treated with ampicillin, streptomycin and colistin, 5-FU group and anitibiotic+ 5-FU group. Tumor volumes and body weights were measured and recorded. Seven days after the last 5-FU treatment, the percentages of splenic immune cell subpopulations and proliferated CD8 + T cells after co-culturing with CT26 were analyzed by flow cytometry. Gut microbiota composition was detected by 16S rRNA sequencing and the bacteria in mesenteric lymph nodes (mLN) were isolated and cultured. Bone marrow-derive macrophages were stimulated with identified bacteria and the expression of M1 and M2 polarization markers were assessed by quantitative PCR. The proliferation of CD8 + T cells co-cultured with bacteria-treated macrophages was analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, tumor-bearing mice were treated with 5-FU and oral gavage of bacteria isolated from antibiotic+ 5-FU group or PBS. Tumor volumes, gut microbiota composition and the percentages of proliferated CD8 + T cells co-cultured with CT26 were assessed. Results:Tumor volumes were larger and body weights were lower in the antibiotic+ 5-FU group than in the 5-FU group. The percentages of CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells and neutrophils did not varied significantly after using antibiotics, however, the percentage of monocytes was increased in the antibiotic group. The percentage of proliferated tumor-specific CD8 + T cells in the antibiotic+ 5-FU group was decreased compared with that in the 5-FU group. Compared with the control group and 5-FU group, antibiotic usage was associated with the changes in gut microbiota composition with decreased α diversity indexes. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Proteus mirabilis were isolated from mLNs of the antibiotic group, 5-FU group and antibiotic+ 5-FU group, respectively. Bone marrow-derived macrophages stimulated with Proteus mirabilis expressed arginase at a high level, which was a M2 polarization marker of macrophage, and associated with the decreased percentage of proliferated CD8 + T cells after co-culturing. Bacteria of the genus Proteus were enriched in the gut microbiota of 5-FU-treated tumor-bearing mice with the oral gavage of Proteus mirabilis. Although no significant inhibitory effect on tumor growth was observed, the oral gavage of Proteus mirabilis was associated with the decreased percentage of proliferated tumor-specific CD8 + T cells in vitro. Conclusions:Broad-spectrum antibiotics inhibited the efficacy of chemotherapy and the proliferation of tumor-specific CD8 + T cells, in which antibiotic-resistant bacteria might be involved.

Background: The present investigation explored the therapeutic actions of oleuropein along with the possible signaling pathway involved in attenuating neuropathic pain in chronic constriction injury (CCI) and vincristine-induced neuropathic pain in male rats. Methods: Four loose ligatures were placed around the sciatic nerve to induce CCI, and vincristine (50 μg/kg) was injected for 10 days to develop neuropathic pain.The development of cold allodynia, mechanical allodynia, and mechanical hyperalgesia was assessed using different pain-related behavioral tests. The levels of H2S, cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), orexin, and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were measured in the sciatic nerve. Results: Treatment with oleuropein for 14 days led to significant amelioration of behavioral manifestations of neuropathic pain in two pain models. Moreover, oleuropein restored both CCI and vincristine-induced decreases in H2S, CSE, CBS, orexin, and Nrf2 levels. Co-administration of suvorexant, an orexin receptor antagonist, significantly counteracted the pain-attenuating actions of oleuropein and Nrf2 levels without modulating H2S, CSE and CBS. Conclusions Oleuropein has therapeutic potential to attenuate the pain manifestations in CCI and vincristine-induced neuropathic pain, possibly by restoring the CSE, CBS, and H2S, which may subsequently increase the expression of orexin and Nrf2 to ameliorate behavioral manifestations of pain.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the main cause of severe visual impairment in diabetic patients. Most of the existing treatments are aimed at patients with intermediate and advanced stages of vision impairment, and are invasive treatments with limited effects. Therefore, it is urgent for non-invasive new therapies and new targets to prevent the risk of DR or delay the progress of DR. Early optimization of metabolic therapies, which are strict control of blood glucose, blood pressure and blood lipid in the early stage of diabetes, may prevent or improve potential and reversible microangiopathy, however, there is still a lack of comprehensive and effective drug targeted therapy and unified clinical application standards. Therefore, this study summarizes the application of new hypoglycemic drugs and some antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs in the prevention and treatment of DR in recent years, in order to provide some reference for the clinical early prevention and treatment of this disease.