ObjectiveTo investigate microbial contamination status and distribution characteristics in laboratory animal barrier facilities, so as to provide a scientific basis for environmental quality control in barrier facilities. MethodsIn accordance with the national standard "Laboratory Animals—Environment and Housing Facilities" and the "Standard Operating Procedures" of the barrier facility, bacterial monitoring was performed on samples of air-settling bacteria, materials, and personnel gloves in the single-corridor barrier facility of the Animal Core Facility, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CEMCS). The monitoring data from January 2020 to December 2024 were collected, organized and statistically analyzed, and partial samples were subjected to species identification using PCR and sequencing methods. ResultsA total of 7 898 samples were collected from 2020 to 2024, including 3 175 air-settling bacteria samples, 3 353 material samples, and 1 370 glove samples. The overall compliance rate was 95.7% (7 559/7 898), among which the compliance rate of air-settling bacteria was 97.1% (3 084/3 175), that of materials was 93.2% (3 125/3 353), and that of personnel gloves was 98.5% (1 350/1 370). Over the five years, the compliance rates of all three types of monitored samples were above 90%. There were statistically significant differences in the compliance rates of air-settling bacteria and material samples among different quarters (P<0.05). Further investigation was conducted on samples collected from January to March 2024, and 190 bacterial strains were obtained through isolation and culture, including 126 strains from air-settling bacteria, 52 strains from materials, and 12 strains from personnel gloves. The strains were identified by PCR amplification and sequencing, and the 190 bacterial strains belonged to 9 genera and 20 species. Gram-positive bacteria accounted for the majority, with Staphylococcus as the dominant genus, accounting for 77.9% (148/190). ConclusionMicroorganisms carried by air, materials, and personnel gloves in barrier facilities are mainly Gram-positive bacteria. Regular monitoring of air-settling bacteria, materials, and personnel gloves in barrier facilities enables timely detection and control of potential risks during husbandry management and facility operation, which is of great significance for maintaining the sound operation of the barrier facility system and ensuring the quality of animal experiments.

Background Both productive dust and noise are occupational hazards, and each can induce changes in blood glucose levels among workers. Objective To explore the potential interactive effects of exposure to productive dust and noise on the risk of hyperglycemia among automobile manufacturing workers. Methods Using a cluster sampling method, workers undergoing occupational health examination from three automobile manufacturing plants in Wuhan in 2022 were selected. Basic information was collected using a questionnaire designed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Exposure history was obtained through occupational history interviews. Clinic indicators such as blood pressure, blood lipids, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and fatty liver status, were retrieved from examination records. Hyperglycemia was defined as FBG > 6.1 mmol·L^-1. Logistic regression models analyzed the independent effects of occupational noise and dust exposure, while additive and multiplicative interaction models assessed their interactive effects on hyperglycemia. Results The prevalence of hyperglycemia among the 1223 participants was 7.7%. Logistic regression showed that using workers without exposure as reference, the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for hyperglycemia among workers exposed only to dust, only to noise, and to both were 2.15 (1.90, 4.23), 2.23 (1.40, 5.08), and 3.75 (1.95, 7.24), respectively. A linear association was observed between the duration of noise exposure and blood glucose levels (P<0.05). Interaction analysis showed no multiplicative interaction or additive interaction. Conclusion Exposure to productive dust and noise are independent risk factors for hyperglycemia among workers. While both contribute to increased risk, no significant synergistic interaction is observed.

BACKGROUND:Psoralen has a strong anti-osteoporotic activity and may have a restorative effect on chemotherapy-induced osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE:To explore the restorative effect of psoralen on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in mice inhibited by cyclophosphamide and its mechanism. METHODS:C57BL/6 mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured.Effect of psoralen on viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was detected by MTT assay.Osteogenic induction combined with alkaline phosphatase staining was used to determine the optimal dose of psoralen to restore the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells inhibited by cyclophosphamide.The mRNA expression levels of Runx2,alkaline phosphatase,Osteocalcin,osteoprotegerin,and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related genes Wnt1,Wnt4,Wnt10b,β-catenin,and c-MYC were measured by RT-qPCR at different time points under the intervention with psoralen.The protein expression of osteogenic specific transcription factor Runx2 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway related genes Active β-catenin,DKK1,c-MYC,and Cyclin D1 was determined by western blot assay at different time points under the intervention with psoralen. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no significant effect of different concentrations of psoralen on the viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.The best recovery of the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells caused by cyclophosphamide was under the intervention of psoralen at a concentration of 200 μmol/L.(2)Psoralen reversed the reduction in osteogenic differentiation marker genes Runx2,alkaline phosphatase,Osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin mRNA expression and Runx2 protein expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells caused by cyclophosphamide conditioned medium.(3)Psoralen reversed the decrease in Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related genes Wnt4,β-catenin,c-MYC mRNA and Active β-catenin,c-MYC,and Cyclin D1 protein expression and the increase in DKK1 protein expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells caused by cyclophosphamide conditioned medium.(4)The results showed that cyclophosphamide inhibited osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in mice,and psoralen had a restorative effect on it.The best intervention effect was achieved at a concentration of 200 μmol/L psoralen,and this protective effect might be related to the activation of Wnt4/β-catenin signaling pathway by psoralen.

(+)-Strebloside, a significant bioactive compound isolated from the roots of Streblus asper Lour., demonstrates inhibitory effects against multiple malignancies. However, its specific function and underlying mechanistic pathways in Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) remain unexplored. This investigation sought to elucidate the role and potential mechanisms of (+)-strebloside-induced NHL cell death. The results demonstrated that (+)-strebloside significantly induced apoptosis and ferroptosis in NHL cells, including those from Raji cell-derived xenograft models. Mechanistic analyses revealed that (+)-strebloside enhanced six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 3 (STEAP3)-induced ferroptosis in NHL, and STEAP3 inhibition reduced the proliferation-inhibitory effects of (+)-strebloside. Furthermore, (+)-strebloside suppressed NHL proliferation through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibition diminished the proliferation-inhibitory activity induced by (+)-strebloside. These findings indicate that (+)-strebloside presents promising therapeutic potential for NHL treatment.
Humans ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/physiopathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Mice ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Male ; Mice, Nude

OBJECTIVE: Patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently develop central nervous system damage, yet the mechanisms driving this pathology remain unclear. This study investigated the primary pathways and key factors underlying brain tissue damage induced by the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant (lineage B.1.351). METHODS: K18-hACE2 and C57BL/6 mice were intranasally infected with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant. Viral replication, pathological phenotypes, and brain transcriptomes were analyzed. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed to identify altered pathways. Expression changes of host genes were verified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RESULTS: Pathological alterations were observed in the lungs of both mouse strains. However, only K18-hACE2 mice exhibited elevated viral RNA loads and infectious titers in the brain at 3 days post-infection, accompanied by neuropathological injury and weight loss. GO analysis of infected K18-hACE2 brain tissue revealed significant dysregulation of genes associated with innate immunity and antiviral defense responses, including type I interferons, pro-inflammatory cytokines, Toll-like receptor signaling components, and interferon-stimulated genes. Neuroinflammation was evident, alongside activation of apoptotic and pyroptotic pathways. Furthermore, altered neural cell marker expression suggested viral-induced neuroglial activation, resulting in caspase 4 and lipocalin 2 release and disruption of neuronal molecular networks. CONCLUSION These findings elucidate mechanisms of neuropathogenicity associated with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant and highlight therapeutic targets to mitigate COVID-19-related neurological dysfunction.
Animals ; COVID-19/genetics* ; Mice ; Brain/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology* ; Pyroptosis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Transcriptome ; Male ; Female

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of Dengue virus (DENV) infection among voluntary blood donors in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, and to evaluate the necessity of implementing nucleic acid testing (NAT) for blood donors during the rainy season (May-October). Methods: Prior to initiating donor screening, the Xishuangbanna Central Blood Center conducted in-house validation of reagent performance and participated in external quality assessment (EQA) organized by the National Center for Clinical Laboratories (NCCL). During the surveillance period (August-October 2024), a total of 2 919 donor samples were screened using a 6-sample mini-pool NAT strategy. Daily internal quality controls were recorded. Samples that tested positive in pooled screening were deconvoluted and retested in duplicate; only those reactive in both replicate wells were sent to the NCCL for confirmatory testing. At NCCL, samples underwent re-testing using five domestic NAT reagents, as well as serological assays for NS1 antigen and DENV-specific IgG/IgM. Confirmed positive samples were further characterized by serotyping, envelope (E) gene sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis using the maximum likelihood method. Results: The DENV NAT reagent demonstrated consistent detection of 40 copies/mL controls in individual donor (ID)-NAT test (mean CT: 35.61±0.40). During the 63-day quality control monitoring, DENV detection remained stable (mean CT: 22.53±0.72). The center achieved full marks in EQA assessments for 2023 and 2024. Three reactive pools were identified in initial screening, and subsequent individual testing confirmed three DENV RNA-positive donors (sample numbers: 2401, 2402, and 2403). The confirmatory test results from NCCL were: all five NAT platforms consistently detected DENV RNA in the three samples; for serological tests, 2 samples (2402, 2403) were positive for NS1 antigen, while all three samples were negative for both IgG and IgM antibodies. DENV serotyping reagents identified DENV-2 in all cases, which were further confirmed as DENV-2 Genotype Ⅱ-Cosmopolitan by E gene sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that samples 2401 and 2402 clustered with Southeast Asian strains (Thailand/MZ636802.1, Laos/PQ775621.1), while sample 2403 closely matched a previously reported local Yunnan strain (PV544686.1). Conclusion: DENV-2 infection was detected among blood donors in Xishuangbanna during the rainy season, indicating concurrent risks of imported and local transmission. We recommend implementing pooled NAT screening for blood donors in high-risk areas during dengue epidemic seasons, along with strengthened laboratory quality control, to enhance blood safety.

Objective:To investigate the important clinical features and prognosis of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome(FIRES).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed for the data of 15 children with FIRES who were hospitalized and treated in Peking University First Hospital from March 2022 to June 2024,including clinical features,treatment regimens,and prognosis,and follow-up was performed by telephone.Results:The median duration of status epilepticus was 15 days for all children.Of all 15 children,14(93.3%)were comorbid with disturbance of consciousness,8(53.3%)were comorbid with respiratory failure and underwent endotra-cheal incubation,and 13(86.7%)had been admitted to the intensive care unit.In the acute stage,7 children underwent the examination of various inflammatory factors in blood and cerebrospinal fluid,including interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,and tumor necrosis factor-α,and all 7 children had significant increases in the levels of inflammatory factors in cerebrospinal fluid,which were significantly higher than the levels of inflammatory factors in serum.Of all 15 children,12(80%)had diffuse slow wave changes on electroencephalography,and migrating focal seizures were detected in 7 children(46.7%).Cranial magnetic resonance im-aging(MRI)manifestations in the acute stage included temporal and insular cortical edema(60%),abnormal white matter signal(33.3%),and claustrum sign(13.3%),and MRI features in the chronic stage included the deepening of cerebral sulci(75%)and ventricular dilatation(33.3%).The treatment in the acute stage in-cluded intravenous drip of gamma-globulin and high-dose methyl-prednisolone in 15 children(effective in 2 children),ketogenic diet in 4 children(effective in 1 child),tocilizumab in 5 children(effective in 3 children),and anakinra in 2 children(effective in 1 child).As of the last follow-up,the median duration of disease was 14.0 months(4-65 months)for all patients,and only 2 children achieved complete seizure control,while the remaining 13 children had refractory epilepsy.Cognitive impairment was observed in 93.3%of the children.Conclusion:FIRES often has acute and severe conditions,and first-line immunotherapies often have a poor therapeutic ef-fect.Tocilizumab and anakinra may be effective in some patients with seizures in the acute stage.

Objective:To investigate the cranial magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)characteristics of children with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome(FIRES).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed for the imaging characteristics of children with FIRES who were admitted to Department of Pediatrics,Peking University First Hospital,from November 2020 to August 2024,includ-ing the characteristic manifestation of claustrum sign on cranial MRI.Results:A total of 86 children with a confirmed diagnosis of FIRES were included,among whom there were 65 boys(75.6%)and 21 girls(24.4%),with a median age of onset of 6.35(4.4,8.32)years.Among these children,14(16.3%)had normal cranial MRI findings in the acute stage,with T2 FLAIR changes as the most common abnormal manifestation(39.5%),and 30 children(34.9%)experienced brain atrophy,with a median time of 44(34,72)days for the onset of brain atrophy for the first time.There were 22 children(25.6%)with positive bilateral claustrum sign on cranial MRI,which manifested as symmetrical T2 FLAIR hyperintensity with limited diffusion in the bilateral claustrum,and the median time to the first appearance of claustrum sign was 11(7,15)days,while the median time to negative conversion of claustrum sign was 33(24,50)days.The claustrum sign disappeared after the relief of status epilepticus in the acute stage in most children.Among the children in this study,71 entered the chronic stage during follow-up,3 had normal cranial MRI results during the course of the disease,and 34 had brain atrophy for the first time in the chronic stage,with a median time of 186(115,429)days to the first appearance of brain atrophy on cranial MRI,while of all 86 children,64(80.0%)experienced brain atrophy on cranial MRI in the acute stage and the chronic stage.Conclusion:Children with FIRES have diverse cranial MRI characteristics.There might be normal MRI manifestations at the beginning of the disease,and positive bilateral claustrum sign might be the specific manifestation in the acute stage.Changes in the claustrum disappear after the relief of status epilepticus in most cases,and most patients may progress to brain atrophy in the chronic stage.

Objective:To characterize fine motor function in middle-aged and elderly individuals utilizing a novel wearable inertial motion capture device.Additionally, it seeks to investigate the relationship between fine motor deficits and overall cognitive function, as well as various cognitive dimensions.Methods:Participants aged 50 years and older were recruited between November 2022 and April 2023.The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale(MoCA)was employed to evaluate the cognitive function of the subjects, and a radar chart was utilized to illustrate the extent of impairment across different cognitive dimensions.An independent computerized fine motor evaluation system was developed using the motion capture technology of a novel wearable microelectromechanical system(MEMS)inertial sensor, enabling a quantitative assessment of fine motor skills.The differences in fine motor function characteristics between the two groups were compared.Spearman's correlation analysis and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to examine the relationship between fine motor deficits and cognitive dysfunction.Results:A total of 289 participants were recruited, among whom 140(48.4%)were classified into the cognitive impairment group.The mean MoCA scores for the cognitive impairment group and the non-cognitive impairment group were 22.2 ± 2.79 and 27.7 ± 1.19, respectively( P<0.001).The electronic assessment of fine motor function revealed that the motion parameters of hand function in the cognitive impairment group were significantly poorer across all three numerical evaluation tasks.Spearman's correlation analysis demonstrated a robust correlation between deficits in fine motor function and cognitive dysfunction.Furthermore, in the multiple logistic regression model, after adjusting for potential confounding factors including age, gender, and education level, a significant association between cognitive dysfunction and fine motor dysfunction persisted. Conclusions:A novel wearable motion capture technology was employed to facilitate the digital assessment of fine motor function.The findings revealed a significant correlation between deficits in fine motor function and cognitive dysfunction among middle-aged and elderly populations.