BACKGROUND:Observations from several clinical studies suggest a close relationship between hypertension and osteoporosis,but the causal relationship between hypertension and osteoporosis is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To determine whether there is a causal relationship between hypertension and osteoporosis,multisite bone mineral density and osteoporosis with fractures in Asian and European populations,respectively,using a comprehensive two-sample Mendelian randomized analysis. METHODS:Data of osteoporosis in Asian populations were obtained through Japan biological bank. Data of osteoporosis in European populations were obtained from UK Biobank,a British biological bank. Data of hypertension,multisite bone mineral density and osteoporosis with fractures were all from FinnGen R10 database. Inverse variance weighted method,MR-Egger regression method,weighted median method,weighted model method and simple model method were used to study the causal relationship between hypertension and osteoporosis,multisite bone mineral density and osteoporosis with fracture in Asian and European populations. Comprehensive sensitivity analysis was used to verify the robustness,heterogeneity and level pleiotropy of the results. Stsiger test was used to determine whether there was a reverse causal relationship between osteoporosis and hypertension. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In Asian populations,there was no significant genetic predictive causal relationship between hypertension and osteoporosis,and there was a positive causal relationship between hypertension and calcaneal bone mineral density. In European populations,hypertension had a negative causal relationship with osteoporosis,and there was no significant causal relationship between hypertension and systemic bone mineral density,calcaneal bone mineral density,forearm bone mineral density and osteoporosis with fracture. According to the stsiger test,there was no reverse causal relationship between osteoporosis,multiplesite bone mineral density,osteoporosis with fracture and hypertension in Asian and European populations. These results indicate that there is a causal relationship between hypertension and osteoporosis,that is,in Asian populations,hypertension and calcaneal bone mineral density show a positive causal relationship;in European populations,hypertension and osteoporosis show a negative causal relationship,but no reverse causal relationship.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of cathepsin B(CTSB)/NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3)pathway on the polarization of macrophages induced by LPS.Methods:The well-growing RAW264.7 mouse mononuclear macrophage lines were cultured in vitro and divided into 3 groups(n=6)according to the random number table method:control group(C group),LPS group(L group)and LPS+CA074-me(CTSB inhibitors)group(B group).C group was cultured normally for 24 h,L group was cultured with LPS concentration of 1 μg/ml medium for 24 h.B group was pretreated with CTSB inhibitor CA074-me 30 μmol/L for 1 h before LPS induction,and co-cultured with LPS concentration of 1 μg/ml medium for 24 h.After 24 hours,the morphological changes of the cells were observed by microscope,the concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in the supernatant were determined by ELISA.The ex-pressions of cathepsin B precursor(pro-CTSB),mature cathepsin B(mature-CTSB),NLRP3,apoptosis-related speck protein(ASC)and apoptosis-related speck protein-1(caspase-1)were detected by Western blot.The mRNA expression levels of CD32,inducible ni-tric oxide synthase(iNOS),arginase 1(Arg-1)and CD206 were detected by qRT-PCR.The positive expression rates of M1 macro-phage surface marker CD86 and M2 macrophage surface marker CD206 were detected by flow cytometry.Results:Compared with group C,the morphology of cells in groups L and B became larger and pseudopodia appeared.The concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatant were increased,the expressions of pro-CTSB,mature-CTSB,NLRP3,ASC and caspase-1 were increased,and the expressions of CD32,iNOS mRNA were up-regulated and the positive rates of CD86 and CD206 were increased(P<0.01).Arg-1 and CD206 mRNA in group B were up-regulated(P<0.01).Compared with group L,the pseudopodia of group B were reduced,and the morphology was closer to group C.The concentration of IL-1β and IL-18 in the supernatant,the expression of mature-CTSB,NLRP3,ASC and caspase-1,CD32 and iNOS mRNA and the positive rate of CD86 were down-regulated in group B.The expression of pro-CTSB,Arg-1 and CD206 mRNA and the positive rate of CD206 were increased(P<0.01).Conclusion:Inhibition of CTSB/NLRP3 pathway can reduce the inflammatory response,reduce the LPS-induced polarization of RAW264.7 cells to M1 macrophages,and pro-mote their polarization to M2 macrophages.

BACKGROUND:Observations from several clinical studies suggest a close relationship between hypertension and osteoporosis,but the causal relationship between hypertension and osteoporosis is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To determine whether there is a causal relationship between hypertension and osteoporosis,multisite bone mineral density and osteoporosis with fractures in Asian and European populations,respectively,using a comprehensive two-sample Mendelian randomized analysis. METHODS:Data of osteoporosis in Asian populations were obtained through Japan biological bank. Data of osteoporosis in European populations were obtained from UK Biobank,a British biological bank. Data of hypertension,multisite bone mineral density and osteoporosis with fractures were all from FinnGen R10 database. Inverse variance weighted method,MR-Egger regression method,weighted median method,weighted model method and simple model method were used to study the causal relationship between hypertension and osteoporosis,multisite bone mineral density and osteoporosis with fracture in Asian and European populations. Comprehensive sensitivity analysis was used to verify the robustness,heterogeneity and level pleiotropy of the results. Stsiger test was used to determine whether there was a reverse causal relationship between osteoporosis and hypertension. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In Asian populations,there was no significant genetic predictive causal relationship between hypertension and osteoporosis,and there was a positive causal relationship between hypertension and calcaneal bone mineral density. In European populations,hypertension had a negative causal relationship with osteoporosis,and there was no significant causal relationship between hypertension and systemic bone mineral density,calcaneal bone mineral density,forearm bone mineral density and osteoporosis with fracture. According to the stsiger test,there was no reverse causal relationship between osteoporosis,multiplesite bone mineral density,osteoporosis with fracture and hypertension in Asian and European populations. These results indicate that there is a causal relationship between hypertension and osteoporosis,that is,in Asian populations,hypertension and calcaneal bone mineral density show a positive causal relationship;in European populations,hypertension and osteoporosis show a negative causal relationship,but no reverse causal relationship.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), when released extracellularly, plays a pivotal role in the development of spinal cord synapses and exacerbates autoimmune diseases within the central nervous system. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a condition that models multiple sclerosis, the levels of extracellular HMGB1 and interleukin-33 (IL-33) have been found to be inversely correlated. However, the mechanism by which IL-33 deficiency enhances HMGB1 release during EAE remains elusive. Our study elucidates a potential signaling pathway whereby the absence of IL-33 leads to increased binding of P300/CBP-associated factor with HMGB1 in the nuclei of astrocytes, upregulating HMGB1 acetylation and promoting its release from astrocyte nuclei in the spinal cord of EAE mice. Conversely, the addition of IL-33 counteracts the TNF-α-induced increase in HMGB1 and acetylated HMGB1 levels in primary astrocytes. These findings underscore the potential of IL-33-associated signaling pathways as a therapeutic target for EAE treatment.
Animals ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/metabolism* ; Astrocytes/metabolism* ; Interleukin-33/metabolism* ; HMGB1 Protein/metabolism* ; Acetylation ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; p300-CBP Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Mice ; Spinal Cord/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Signal Transduction

Objective: To explore the core features of trait aggression in children and adolescents, so as to provide a theoretical basis for behavioral interventions targeting the central psychological characteristics of aggression in children and adolescents. Methods: From March to May 2020, a simple random convenience sampling method was employed to recruit 39 165 students from grades 4 to 12 in Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, and Shandong. Data were collected via online questionnaires, with all participants completing the Chinese Version of the Aggression Questionnaire. Psychometric network analysis was utilized for data processing. Results: Trait aggression among Chinese children and adolescents was at a moderately low level. The core nodes of the network structure included physical aggression [if someone intentionally causes trouble for me, I will hit them severely (AGG6); if someone hits me, I will retaliate (AGG11)] and self aggression [When I am very irritable, I think of hurting myself (AGG5); when I am in a bad mood, I engage in behaviors that harm my health, such as overeating (AGG25)]. Across grade levels, core nodes primarily originated from the anger dimension [When I m angry, I feel like a powder magazine that could explode at any moment (AGG13); I can t control my temper (AGG18); I am prone to getting angry when I see things that are not pleasing to the eye (AGG23); I will get angry for no reason (AGG27)]. Except for grades 7 and 9, core nodes in other grades included the verbal aggression dimension [I am prone to arguments with people (AGG22)]. Before grade 8, core nodes incorporated the self aggression dimension (AGG 5, AGG 25); after grade 8, core nodes included the physical aggression dimension [AGG 6, AGG 11, I fight slightly more than others (AGG16), and if people around me make things difficult for me to a certain extent, I will fight with them (AGG26)]. No statistically significant differences were found in the trait aggression network structures across grades, genders, or within gender comparisons of different grades. Conclusion These findings broaden our understanding of aggression in children and adolescents, suggesting that behavioral interventions can effectively reduce aggressive behaviors in this population.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of cathepsin B(CTSB)/NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3)pathway on the polarization of macrophages induced by LPS.Methods:The well-growing RAW264.7 mouse mononuclear macrophage lines were cultured in vitro and divided into 3 groups(n=6)according to the random number table method:control group(C group),LPS group(L group)and LPS+CA074-me(CTSB inhibitors)group(B group).C group was cultured normally for 24 h,L group was cultured with LPS concentration of 1 μg/ml medium for 24 h.B group was pretreated with CTSB inhibitor CA074-me 30 μmol/L for 1 h before LPS induction,and co-cultured with LPS concentration of 1 μg/ml medium for 24 h.After 24 hours,the morphological changes of the cells were observed by microscope,the concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in the supernatant were determined by ELISA.The ex-pressions of cathepsin B precursor(pro-CTSB),mature cathepsin B(mature-CTSB),NLRP3,apoptosis-related speck protein(ASC)and apoptosis-related speck protein-1(caspase-1)were detected by Western blot.The mRNA expression levels of CD32,inducible ni-tric oxide synthase(iNOS),arginase 1(Arg-1)and CD206 were detected by qRT-PCR.The positive expression rates of M1 macro-phage surface marker CD86 and M2 macrophage surface marker CD206 were detected by flow cytometry.Results:Compared with group C,the morphology of cells in groups L and B became larger and pseudopodia appeared.The concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatant were increased,the expressions of pro-CTSB,mature-CTSB,NLRP3,ASC and caspase-1 were increased,and the expressions of CD32,iNOS mRNA were up-regulated and the positive rates of CD86 and CD206 were increased(P<0.01).Arg-1 and CD206 mRNA in group B were up-regulated(P<0.01).Compared with group L,the pseudopodia of group B were reduced,and the morphology was closer to group C.The concentration of IL-1β and IL-18 in the supernatant,the expression of mature-CTSB,NLRP3,ASC and caspase-1,CD32 and iNOS mRNA and the positive rate of CD86 were down-regulated in group B.The expression of pro-CTSB,Arg-1 and CD206 mRNA and the positive rate of CD206 were increased(P<0.01).Conclusion:Inhibition of CTSB/NLRP3 pathway can reduce the inflammatory response,reduce the LPS-induced polarization of RAW264.7 cells to M1 macrophages,and pro-mote their polarization to M2 macrophages.

Objective:The triply periodic minimal surface(TPMS)Gyroid porous scaffolds were built with identical porosity while varying pore sizes were used by fluid mechanics finite element analysis(FEA)to simulate the in vivo microenvironment.The effects of scaffolds with different pore sizes on cell adhesion,proliferation,and osteogenic differentiation were evaluated through calculating fluid velocity,wall shear stress,and permeability in the scaffolds.Methods:Three types of gyroid porous scaffolds,with pore sizes of 400,600 and 800 μm,were established by nTopology software.Each scaffold had di-mensions of 10 mm × 10 mm × 10 mm and isotropic internal structures.The models were imported to the ANSYS 2022R1 software,and meshed into over 3 million unstructured tetrahedral elements.Boun-dary conditions were set with inlet flow velocities of 0.01,0.1,and 1 mm/s,and outlet pressure of 0 Pa.Pressure,velocity,and wall shear stress were calculated as fluid flowed through the scaffolds using the Navier-Stokes equations.At the same time,permeability was determined based on Darcy's law.The compressive strength of scaffolds with different pore sizes was evaluated by ANSYS 2022R1 Static struc-tural analysis.Results:A linear relationship was observed between the wall shear stress and fluid veloci-ty at inlet flow rates of 0.01,0.1 and 1 mm/s,with increasing velocity leading to higher wall shear stress.At the flow velocity of 0.1 mm/s,the initial pressures of scaffolds with pore sizes of 400,600 and 800 μm were 0.272,0.083 and 0.079 Pa,respectively.The fluid pressures were gradually decreased across the scaffolds.The average flow velocities were 0.093,0.078 and 0.070 mm/s,the average wall shear stresses 2.955,1.343 and 1.706 mPa,permeabilities values 0.54 × 10-8 1.80 × 10-8 and 1.89 × 10-8 m2 in the scaffolds with pore sizes of 400,600 and 800 μm.The scaffold surface area proportions according with optimal wall shear stress range for cell growth and osteogenic differentiation were calcula-ted,which was highest in the 600 μm scaffold(27.65％),followed by the 800 μm scaffold(17.30％)and the 400 μm scaffold(1.95％).The compressive strengths of the scaffolds were 23,26 and 34 MPa for the 400,600 and 800 μm pore sizes.Conclusion:The uniform stress distributions appeared in all gyroid scaffold types under compressive stress.The permeabilities of scaffolds with pore sizes of 600 and 800 μm were significantly higher than the 400 μm.The average wall shear stress in the scaffold of 600μm was the lowest,and the scaffold surface area proportion for cell growth and osteogenic differentiation the largest,indicating that it might be the most favorable design for supporting these cellular activities.

Objective:By conducting a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 14 patients diagnosed with invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (IFRS) confirmed by metagenomics next generation sequencing (mNGS) technology, we aim to explore the rapid diagnosis value of mNGS in IFRS.Methods:The clinical data of 14 IFRS patients admitted to TianJin First Central Hospital were retrospectively analyzed from February 2021 to October 2023. The study cohort comprised 8 males and 6 females, with ages ranging from 14 to 77 years. All patients were diagnosed as IFRS by performing mNGS sequencing technology of nasal sinus lesion biopsy specimens. Clinical data such as laboratory examination, imaging examination, histopathological examination results, treatment plan and prognosis were summarized and analyzed.Results:All 14 patients were diagnosed as IFRS, with mNGS detecting pathogens such as Rhizopus (7 cases), Aspergillus (5 cases), Trichoderma (1 case), and Scedosporium apiospermum (1 case). Follow-up evaluations were conducted for a period ranging from 2 months to 2 years post-treatment. At the end of follow-up, 11 out of 14 IFRS patients achieved a complete cure with no signs of recurrence, while the symptoms of the remaining 3 patients significantly improved with comprehensive treatment. Conclusion:mNGS emerges as a highly effective diagnostic tool for IFRS, providing valuable microbiological evidence for clinical diagnosis and demonstrating promising clinical utility.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between inositol-requiring enzyme 1α-X box-binding protein 1 (IRE1α-XBP1) signaling pathway in endoplasmic reticulum and neutrophil extracellular traps during endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice.Methods:Forty-eight SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 25-30 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: control group (C group), STF-083010 group (ST group), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI group (ALI group) and LPS-induced ALI + STF-083010 group (ALI+ ST group). The ALI model was established by inhaling aerosolized LPS in ALI group and ALI+ ST group. The equal volume of aerosolized normal saline was inhaled in C and ST groups. IRE1α inhibitor STF-083010 50 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 1 h before developing the model in ST and ALI+ ST groups, and the equal volume of normal saline was intraperitoneally injected in the other two groups. The mice were sacrificed after anesthesia at 24 h after developing the model. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were collected for determination of the pathological changes (by light microscopy) which were scored, wet/dry lung weight (W/D) ratio, concentrations of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-18 and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the BALF supernatant, and expression of phosphorylated IRE1α(p-IRE1α), XBP1s and citrullinated histone H3 (Cit H3) in lung tissues (using Western blot). Results:Compared to group C, the lung injury scores and W/D ratio were significantly increased at 24 h after developing the model, the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-18 and MPO in BALF were increased, and the expression of p-IRE1α, XBP1s and Cit H3 in lung tissues was up-regulated in ALI and ALI+ ST groups. Compared to group L, the lung injury scores and W/D ratio were significantly decreased at 24 h after developing the model, the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-18 and MPO in BALF were decreased, and the expression of p-IRE1α, XBP1s and Cit H3 in lung tissues was down-regulated in group ALT+ ST ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The IRE1α-XBP1 signaling pathway in endoplasmic reticulum is involved in endotoxin-induced ALI by up-regulating the expression of neutrophil extracellular traps in mice.

Objective:Based on bioinformatics,new immune-related LncRNAs related to the prognosis of gastric cancer were screened,and a prognostic risk model of immune-related LncRNA was further constructed,in order to be used as a new indicator for early diagnosis and prognostic status of gastric cancer.Methods:The gastric cancer transcriptome data and corresponding clinical prog-nosis data were downloaded from multiple data platforms,and the immune-related LncRNAs of gastric cancer were screened by bioin-formatics methods.Cox regression analysis was used to screen LncRNAs related to immune prognosis in gastric cancer,and LncRNAs related to immune prognosis with independent prognostic significance were identified to construct a prognostic risk model,and the risk score of each patient was calculated.Patients were divided into low-risk and high-risk groups according to the cutpoint.Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed for survival analysis and survival curves were drawn,nomograms were drawn and internal validation was per-formed,and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between risk scores and clin-icopathological characteristics and survival prognosis of gastric cancer patients.Results:Three immune prognosis-related LncRNAs(UCA1,MIR4435-1HG,RP11-617F23.1)were identified by Cox regression analysis,and a predictive scoring model was constructed to divide the patients into high-risk group and low-risk group according to the prognosis score.There was a statistically significant dif-ference in the prognosis of patients between the two groups(P<0.05).The multivariate Cox regression analysis risk score was an inde-pendent risk factor for the prognosis of gastric cancer,and the internal verification of the nomogram showed good reliability.Conclu-sion:Three immune-related LncRNAs in gastric cancer are significantly correlated with the prognosis of gastric cancer patients,and the predictive scoring model constructed based on them can effectively predict the prognosis and can be used as their independent prog-nostic biomarkers.