Aim To investigate the effect of thioredox-in-interacting protein(TXNIP)on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods Littermate male wild(WT)mice and TXNIP gene whole-body knock-out(KO)mice were randomly divided into two groups:(1)normal diet(ND)group,and(2)The high-fat group,which was fed a high-fat diet(HFD)containing 60％fat for 12 weeks.Serum lipid-related indexes,liver injury indicators and hepatic fat content were detected using commercial kits.The protein lev-els of TXNIP,SLC25A1,SLC13A5,ACLY,CPT1a and PPARα were detected by Western blot.The gene ex-pressions of SLC25A1,SLC13A5 and ACLY were de-tected by RT-PCR.Results High fat diet increased TXNIP protein expression in the liver tissue.Compared with WT-HFD mice,the biochemical indexes in the se-rum and the liver of KO-HFD mice were improved.There was no significant difference in mRNA and pro-tein levels of SLC25A1 between the four groups of mice.For SLC13A5 and ACLY,the mRNA and protein levels of WT-HFD mice were up-regulated compared with WT mice,and these alterations were significantly restored in KO-HFD mice.Besides,compared with WT mice,the protein expressions of the fatty acid oxidation-related protein PPARα and CPT1a proteins in WT-HFD mice decreased,while the protein expressions of PPARα and CPT1 a in KO-HFD mice were significantly enhanced.Conclusion TXNIP gene knockout can improve hepatic steatosis and delay the progression of NAFLD by inhibiting the carbon flux of fatty acid syn-thesis and promoting fatty acid oxidation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a hospital-made resuscitation pack, a Chinese medicinal herbal compound formula designed to enhance recovery in post-bronchoscopy patients. METHODS: In this randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, eligible patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to either the treatment or control groups. The patients in the treatment group applied the resuscitation pack, which contained aromatic compounded Chinese herbs. The patients in the control group applied a hospital-made, single herb placebo pack. Packs were placed on the Tiantu (CV 22) acupuncture point for 4 h as soon as the bronchoscopy finished. Efficacy indicators, such as recovery time, patients' symptoms including nausea and dizziness, and adverse events (AEs) were observed and compared. The outcome indices were evaluated at baseline, 1 and 24 h after the bronchoscopy. Subgroup analysis was further performed by patients' age and depth of sedation. RESULTS: When applying generalized estimating equations (GEE) to evaluate the intensity of post-bronchoscopy nausea and vomiting, the intensity was lower in the treatment group (163 cases) compared with the control group (162 cases; 95% CI: 0.004, 0.099, P=0.03]. Also, significantly lower intensity of nausea was observed in the 60-70 years of age subgroup (95% CI: 0.029, 0.169, P=0.006) and deep sedation subgroup (95% CI: 0.002, 0.124; P=0.04). There was no significant difference in dizziness between two groups by GEE (95% CI: -0.134, 0.297; P=0.459). In addition, no serious AEs were observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS Our study found that the resuscitation pack markedly improved patients' symptoms by reducing nausea and vomiting after bronchoscopy without AEs, compared with placebo in the perioperative period. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR2000038299).
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Bronchoscopy/adverse effects* ; Single-Blind Method ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Treatment Outcome ; Resuscitation ; Adult ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide. The blood‒brain barrier (BBB) is the first line of defense after ischemic stroke. Disruption of the BBB induced by brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) dysfunction is a key event that triggers secondary damage to the central nervous system, where blood-borne fluids and immune cells penetrate the brain parenchyma, causing cerebral edema and inflammatory response and further aggravating brain damage. Here, we develop a novel artificial mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) extracellular vesicles by integrating MSC membrane proteins into liposomal bilayers, which encapsulated miR-132-3p with protective effects on BMECs. The artificial extracellular vesicles (MSCo/miR-132-3p) had low immunogenicity to reduce non-specific clearance by the mononuclear phagocytosis system (MPS) and could target ischemia-injured BMECs. After internalization into the damaged BMECs, MSCo/miR-132-3p escaped the lysosomes via the H_II phase transition of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) and decreased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis levels by regulating the RASA1/RAS/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) models, MSCo/miR-132-3p targeted impaired brain regions (approximately 9 times the accumulation of plain liposomes at 12 h), reduced cerebral vascular disruption, protected BBB integrity, and decreased infarct volume (from 44.95% to 6.99%).

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to evaluate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5) among < 5-year-old children in three provinces of China during 2020-2024 via a propensity score-matched test-negative case-control study. METHODS: Electronic health records and immunization information systems were used to obtain data on acute gastroenteritis (AGE) cases tested for rotavirus (RV) infection. RV-positive cases were propensity score matched with RV-negative controls for age, visit month, and province. RESULTS: The study included 27,472 children with AGE aged 8 weeks to 4 years at the time of AGE diagnosis; 7.98% (2,192) were RV-positive. The VE (95% confidence interval, CI) of 1-2 and 3 doses of RV5 against any medically attended RV infection (inpatient or outpatient) was 57.6% (39.8%, 70.2%) and 67.2% (60.3%, 72.9%), respectively. Among children who received the 3rd dose before turning 5 months of age, 3-dose VE decreased from 70.4% (53.9%, 81.1%) (< 5 months since the 3rd dose) to 63.0% (49.1%, 73.0%) (≥ 1 year since the 3rd dose). The three-dose VE rate was 69.4% (41.3%, 84.0%) for RVGE hospitalization and 57.5% (38.9%, 70.5%) for outpatient-only medically attended RVGE. CONCLUSION Three-dose RV5 VE against rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) in children aged < 5 years was higher than 1-2-dose VE. Three-dose VE decreased with time since the 3rd dose in children who received the 3rd dose before turning five months of age, but remained above 60% for at least one year. VE was higher for RVGE hospitalizations than for medically attended outpatient visits.
Humans ; Rotavirus Vaccines/immunology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Case-Control Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Rotavirus Infections/epidemiology* ; Male ; Propensity Score ; Female ; Vaccine Efficacy ; Gastroenteritis/virology* ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; Rotavirus

Objective To investigate the association between baseline depression and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)in middle-aged and elderly people in Chengguan District of Lanzhou.Methods A total of 4471 residents who were followed up in Chengguan District,Lanzhou City from August 2014 to July 2016 in the 2011 REACTION study were selected as the research subjects.According to the 9-item patient health questionnaire(PHQ-9),they were divided into the non-depression group with a score of 0～4 points(ND,n=3827),the mild depression group with a score of 5～10 points(MD,n=546)and the moderate to severe depression group with a score of≥10 points(MSD,n=98).The general data and biochemical indicators of the three groups were compared.The correlation between depression status and glycolipid metabolism indicators was analyzed.The follow-up results of the three groups with different baseline glucose metabolism status populations were compared.Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of progression in different glucose metabolism populations.Results The married rate in the ND,MD and MSD groups decreased sequentially(P<0.05),while the rate of living alone and the PHQ-9 score increased(P<0.05).The female population,family history of DM,coronary heart disease,LDL-C and TC in the MD group were higher than those in the ND group(P<0.05),while the age,BMI,WHR,FPG and 2 hPG in the MD group were lower than those in the ND group(P<0.05).The family history of DM in the MSD group was higher than those in the ND group(P<0.05),drinking and LDL-C in the MSD group were higher than those in the MD group(P<0.05),the BMI was lower than that in the ND group(P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that the baseline PHQ-9 score was negatively correlated with FPG level(r=-0.039,P<0.05),and positively correlated with HDL-C and TC(r=0.049,0.031,P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of pre-DM and T2DM at the end of follow-up among the three groups with different baseline glucose metabolism(P>0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors,the risk of pre-DM and T2DM in normal glucose tolerance people with different depression status and the risk of T2DM in pre-DM patients were not increased.Conclusions Depressive state may not be the main factor affecting the occurrence of T2DM in middle-aged and elderly people in Chengguan District of Lanzhou.

Managing look-alike/sound-alike medications is important to medical institutions'pharmaceutical manage-ment and pharmacy services.Based on national policies and regulations,this standard focuses on the whole life cycle of look-alike/sound-alike medications in medical institutions.It is developed based on the principles of scientific validity,universality,guidance,and applicability,formed by sorting out problems,soliciting opinions,expert argumentation,and deliberation.It is the first group standard to standardize the management of look-alike/sound-alike medications.This paper introduced and analyzed the team com-position,problem sorting and compilation process,and various elements of the standard in the process of formulating the standard,to provide a reference for medical institutions to use this standard.

Background and Aims:Complete situs inversus(SIT)is a rare congenital abnormality of organ mirror-image arrangement,presenting certain challenges for abdominal surgical procedures.The Da Vinci robotic system,with its high-definition 3D vision and flexible operation,holds potential for application in patients with anatomical variations.This report presents the diagnosis and treatment process of a patient with rectal mass and SIT who underwent robotic-assisted surgery.Additionally,relevant literature is reviewed to provide insights for individualized surgical strategies in patients with complex anatomical variations and to promote the further clinical application of robotic-assisted surgery systems.Methods:A case from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University is reported,in which a patient with rectal mass and SIT successfully underwent lesion resection using the Da Vinci robotic system with an unconventional"five-port"technique.A systematic literature review was also conducted(including 35 case reports),to summarize the surgical characteristics of colorectal procedures in SIT patients and the advantages of robotic system application.Results:The patient was a 74-year-old male who presented with rectal bleeding.Imaging confirmed the diagnosis of SIT,and colonoscopy revealed a large polypoid mass with ulceration at the apex,located 13-18 cm from the anal verge.The patient subsequently underwent Da Vinci robotic-assisted resection of the rectal lesion.The robotic system effectively overcame the challenges posed by mirror-image anatomy,enabling complete excision of the lesion.The operation lasted 183 minutes,with intraoperative blood loss of less than 20 mL.Postoperative pathology confirmed a villous tubular adenoma with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia.The patient had an uneventful recovery,and no recurrence was observed during the 9-month follow-up.Literature analysis demonstrated that the robotic system,through magnified 3D visualization,flexible instrument articulation,and tremor filtration,significantly improves surgical precision in patients with anatomical anomalies.Conclusion:The Da Vinci robotic system effectively addresses the challenges of anatomical variations related to SIT in low rectal surgery.Its stability and precision offer a new technical option for tumor resection under complex anatomical conditions,demonstrating clinical value for widespread application.

Objective:To anatomically and phenotypically characterize the insular cortex(IC)-nucleus tractus soli-tarii(NTS)neural pathway.Methods:Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experimental cohorts for neural circuit tracing.Anterograde labeling was achieved by injecting anterograde self-complementary adeno-associated viruses(scAAVs)into the IC.Retrograde tracing involved NTS injections of either retrograde scAAVs or FluoroGold(FG),combined with immunofluorescence histochemical staining to identify IC-originating projection neurons.For postsynaptic neurochemical phenotype characterization,IC was injected with AAV2/1-CaMKII-Cre,while a mixture of AAV2/9-Syn-DIO-mCherry and AAV2/9-VGAT1-EGFP was injected into the NTS.The rats were allowed to survive for one week following scAAVs or FG injection or four weeks after recombinase-dependent systems injection.Then the rats were sacrificed,and serial brain sections were prepared for immunofluorescence histochemical staining(brain section containing FG)and subsequent fluorescence/confocal microscopic analysis.Results:(1)Anterograde viral tracing re-vealed dense axonal terminals from the IC projecting to the medial subnucleus of the NTS,while retrograde tracing re-vealed that IC neurons projecting to the NTS were predominantly localized within the dysgranular layer;(2)IC-NTS projection neurons were exclusive glutamatergic(100%,n=3);(3)NTS neurons receiving IC inputs were mainly lo-calized in the medial subnucleus,and were predominantly GABAergic(79.8±3.2%,n=3).Conclusion:The pres-ent results indicate that a descending pathway from excitatory neurons of the IC terminates onto inhibitory neurons of the NTS,which might represent a potential neuromodulatory target for visceral pain disorders.

Intelligence encompasses various abilities, including logical reasoning, comprehension, self-awareness, learning, planning, creativity, and problem-solving. Extensive research and practical experience suggest that there are sex differences in intellectual development, with females typically maturing earlier than males. However, the key genes and molecular network mechanisms underlying these sex differences in intellectual development remain unclear. To date, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have identified 507 genes that are significantly associated with intelligence. This study first analyzed RNA sequencing data from different stages of brain development (from BrainSpan), revealing that during the late embryonic stage, the average expression levels of intelligence-related genes are higher in males than in females, while the opposite is observed during puberty. This study further constructed interaction networks of intelligence-related genes with sex-differential expression in the brain, including the prenatal male network (HELP-M: intelligence genes with higher expression levels in prenatal males) and the pubertal female network (HELP-F: intelligence genes with higher expression levels in pubertal females). The findings indicate that the key genes in both networks are Ep300 and Ctnnb1. Specifically, Ep300 regulates the transcription of 53 genes in both HELP-M and HELP-F, while Ctnnb1 regulates the transcription of 45 genes. Ctnnb1 plays a more prominent role in HELP-M, while Ep300 is more crucial in HELP-F. Finally, this study conducted sequencing validation on rats at different developmental stages, and the results indicated that in the prefrontal cortex of female rats during adolescence, the expression levels of the intelligence genes in HELP-F, as well as key genes Ep300 and Ctnnb1, were higher than those in male rats. These genes were also involved in neurodevelopment-related biological processes. The findings reveal a sex-differentiated intelligence gene network and its key genes, which exhibit varying expression levels during the neurodevelopmental process.
Female ; Intelligence/physiology* ; Male ; Sex Characteristics ; Animals ; Brain/growth & development* ; E1A-Associated p300 Protein/physiology* ; beta Catenin/physiology* ; Transcriptome ; Rats ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome-Wide Association Study