BACKGROUND:Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth are widely used in the field of tissue repair and regeneration,but the tissue regeneration effect has limitations in practical applications.Using miRNA to intervene in the directional differentiation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth is an important development direction fortissue repair and regeneration in the future.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of miR-26b on the neurogenic and angiogenic differentiation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth.METHODS:Dental pulp stem cells were isolated and extracted from human exfoliated deciduous teeth,and induced to differentiate into nerves and blood vessels.The expressions of neurogenic markers Nestin,NSE,βⅢ-Tubu lin,and angiogenic markers CD31,VEGFR2,ANG-1 and miR-26b were detected.Dental pulp stem cells were divided into blank control group,miR-26 overexpression group,and negative control group.RT-qPCR,cell immunofluorescence staining,and western blot assay were used to detect the expression changes of related markers of neurogenic and angiogenic induction of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth in each group.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth had multi-directional differentiation potential and could differentiate into osteogenesis,adipogenesis,neurogenesis,and vasculogenesis.(2)The expression level of miR-26b increased during the neurogenic and angiogenic differentiation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth.(3)Compared with the blank control group and negative control group,the mRNA expression of neuroblast-related genes βⅢ-Tubulin,Nestin,NSE and angiogenesis-related genes CD31,VEGFR2,and ANG-1 in stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth in the miR-26b overexpression group was significantly increased(P＜0.01),βⅢ-Tubulin,Nestin,CD31,and VEGFR2 protein expression was significantly increased(P＜0.01).The above results show that overexpression of miR-26b can promote the neurogenic and angiogenic differentiation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth.

Objectives:To investigate the predictive value of epicardial fat volume(EFV)and atrioventricular groove fat thickness(AVGT)—morphological biomarkers of epicardial adipose tissue—for major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM).Methods:This study enrolled 216 DCM patients.EFV and AVGT were obtained from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging(CMR).Patients were divided into event-free group(n=142)and event group(n=74)based on MACE occurrence during follow-up.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was used to determine optimal cutoff values.Survival differences were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis,Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors,and restricted cubic spline(RCS)models were used to evaluate dose-response relationships.Results:AVGT and EFV were significantly higher in the event group than in event-free group(both P<0.05).ROC analysis identified optimal MACE-predicting cutoffs as follows:AVGT≥7.74 mm(area under the curve[AUC]=0.57)and EFV≥78.6 ml(AUC=0.62).Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly lower MACE-free survival rates in patients with AVGT≥7.74 mm and EFV≥78.6 ml(both P<0.05).Cox regression analysis confirmed that AVGT(HR=2.18,95%CI:1.34-3.54)and EFV(HR=1.81,95%CI:1.11-2.96)were independent MACE risk factors(both P<0.05)in this patient cohort.RCS models demonstrated the significant linear associations between EFV/AVGT and MACE risk(bothoverall P<0.05).Conclusions:EFV and AVGT,the non-invasive imaging biomarkers quantifying and characterizing fat distribution,are independently correlated with elevated MACE risk in DCM patients.These metrics serve as potential prognostic indicators,enriching risk stratification indicators for early identification of high-risk patients and guiding personalized medication strategies.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of haploidentical high-dose in vitro non-T-cell-depleted peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HDPSCT) in treating adult patients with Ph + acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph + ALL) . Method:This retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical efficacy of 25 adult patients with Ph + ALL who underwent haplo-HDPSCT from July 2011 to June 2022 at our hospital. Results:This study included 25 patients with a median age of 27 (16-61) years, consisting of 12 males and 13 females. CR1 and ≥CR2 before transplantation were found in 23 and 2 cases, positive and negative minimal residual lesions were observed in 8 and 17 cases, and myeloablative conditioning and reduced-intensity conditioning were reported in 21 and 4 cases, respectively. Hematopoietic function was restored in all 25 patients after stem cell infusion. Of the 25 patients who underwent transplantation, 16 developed acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). The cumulative incidence rates of Ⅱ-Ⅳ and Ⅲ-Ⅳ aGVHD were (40.4±11.3) % and (4.8±4.6) %, respectively. Four patients experienced relapse after transplantation, the cumulative relapse rates at 1 and 2 years after transplantation were (4.0±3.9) % and (14.5±7.9) %, respectively. The 2-year overall survival rate after transplantation was (81.3±8.5) % and the disease-free survival rate was (77.1±9.1) %.Conclusion:This study reveals that the unique haplo-HDPSCT protocol achieves good clinical efficacy in Ph + ALL treatment.

The circadian clock plays a critical role in regulating various physiological processes, including gene expression, metabolic regulation, immune response, and the sleep-wake cycle in living organisms. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial regulatory mechanisms to maintain the precise oscillation of the circadian clock. By modulating the stability, activity, cell localization and protein-protein interactions of core clock proteins, PTMs enable these proteins to respond dynamically to environmental and intracellular changes, thereby sustaining the periodic oscillations of the circadian clock. Different types of PTMs exert their effects through distincting molecular mechanisms, collectively ensuring the proper function of the circadian system. This review systematically summarized several major types of PTMs, including phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation and oxidative modification, and overviewed their roles in regulating the core clock proteins and the associated pathways, with the goals of providing a theoretical foundation for the deeper understanding of clock mechanisms and the treatment of diseases associated with circadian disruption.
Protein Processing, Post-Translational/physiology* ; Circadian Rhythm/physiology* ; Humans ; Animals ; CLOCK Proteins/physiology* ; Circadian Clocks/physiology* ; Phosphorylation ; Acetylation ; Ubiquitination ; Sumoylation

Objective:To investigate the status and influencing factors of substantial weight retention in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in early postpartum.Methods:This cross-sectional study employed a convenience sampling method to select 373 patients with GDM who underwent a 6-week postpartum health check at the Postpartum Health Clinic of Women′s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from February to July in 2023. According to postpartum weight retention (PPWR) on the survey day, the participants were divided into a substantial PPWR group (≥5 kg, 139 cases) and a non-substantial PPWR group (<5 kg, 234 cases). Independent sample t-tests and χ2 tests were used to compare differences in demographic data, clinical data, and biochemical indicators between the two groups. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of early substantial postpartum weight retention in patients with GDM. Results:A total of 37.27% (139/373) of GDM patients experienced substantial postpartum weight retention at 6 weeks postpartum. The rates of diabetes in family history, excessive gestational weight gain, gestational hypertension, and infant neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission in substantial PPWR group were all significantly higher than those in the non-substantial PPWR group (32.37% vs 23.08%, 73.38% vs 20.09%, 13.67% vs 5.56%, 21.58% vs 9.83%) (all P<0.05); but the proportion of overweight or obese before pregnancy and postpartum self-monitoring of blood glucose were both lower in the substantial PPWR group than those in the non-substantial PPWR group (25.18% vs 41.03%, 17.99% vs 27.78%)(all P<0.05). Binary logistic regression indicated that family history of diabetes ( OR=2.826, 95% CI: 1.517-5.265), excessive gestational weight gain ( OR=19.240, 95% CI: 10.360-35.732), and infant NICU admission ( OR=2.447, 95% CI: 1.150-5.205) were positively related to the occurrence of substantial weight retention in patients with GDM in early postpartum, whereas pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity ( OR=0.189, 95% CI: 0.100-0.360) was negatively correlated to substantial weight retention in patients with GDM in early postpartum (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Substantial weight retention is prevalent among GDM patients in early postpartum, which is significantly influenced by family history of diabetes, pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity, excessive gestational weight gain, and infant NICU admission history.

Objective:To explore the relationship between urinary cadmium levels and thyroid hormone levels in people aged 40-89 years old in selected areas of China.Methods:Based on the "Investigation of the Impact of Soil Quality of Agricultural Land on Human Health in Typical Areas" project from October 2019 to August 2020, a multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to include 6 588 middle-aged and older adults aged 40-89. Demographic characteristics, dietary frequency and disease status were collected through the questionnaire and physical examination. Urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine were detected by random midstream urine. Fasting venous blood was collected for the detection of Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). The linear mixed effects model was used to explore the association of urine cadmium levels with thyroid hormone levels. Its dose-response relationship was explored by using the restricted cubic spline.Results:The age of the subjects was (63.48±12.18) years, with males accounting for 51.28%. The M ( Q 1,Q 3) of urinary cadmium level, T3 and T4 was 2.48 (1.36, 4.42) μg/g·creatinine, (1.96±0.51) nmol/L and (113.75±29.11) nmol/L, respectively. The linear mixed effects model showed that the changes of T3 and T4 were 0.027 (0.009, 0.044) nmol/L and 2.019 (1.084, 2.953) nmol/L for each one-unit increase (natural logarithm transformed) of urinary cadmium. The restricted cubic spline showed that there was a positive nonlinear association between urinary cadmium and T3 as well as T4 (all Pnonlinear<0.05). Conclusion:In selected areas of China, the urinary cadmium level of middle-aged and older adults aged 40-89 years is positively associated with T3 and T4.

Objective:To evaluate the role of hippocampal activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5) in cognitive impairment induced by neuropathic pain and the relationship with mitochondrial unfolded protein response(mtUPR) in mice.Methods:This study was conducted in 2 parts. Experiment Ⅰ Twenty-four SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 2 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S1 group) and neuropathic pain group (NP group). Neuropathic pain was induced by chronic constriction injury to the sciatic nerve. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured before developing the model and at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after developing the model. Mouse cognitive function was assessed using the novel object recognition test from 30-31 days after developing the model. After the end of the novel object recognition test, mice were sacrificed and the hippocampal CA1 region was harvested for determination of the expression of ATF5 (by Western blot) and the expression of ATF5 in neurons, microglia and astrocytes (by immunofluorescence double staining). Experiment Ⅱ Thirty-six SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S2 group), neuropathic pain + ATF5 up-regulation group (NA group), and neuropathic pain + empty virus group (NE group). On day 14 after developing the model, a virus that specifically up-regulated ATF5 expression in neurons and empty virus were injected into the hippocampal CA1 region. The MWT and TWL were measured at days 28 and 35 after developing the model. The novel object recognition test was performed on day 36 after developing the model to evaluate the cognitive function. After the end of the behavioral test, mice were sacrificed and the hippocampal CA1 region was harvested for detection of the expression of ATF5 and mtUPR marker proteins (Lon protease [LONP1] and heat shock protein 60 [HSP60]) by Western blot. Results:Experiment Ⅰ Compared with S1 group, no statistically significant change was found in the MWT and TWL before developing the model ( P>0.05), the MWT and TWL were significantly decreased on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after developing the model, the discrimination index (DI) was decreased at day 31 after developing the model, the expression of ATF5 was down-regulated, the expression of ATF5 in neurons was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and no statistically significant change was found in the expression of ATF5 in mircrolia and astrocytes in NP group ( P>0.05). Experiment Ⅱ Compared with S2 group, the MWT and TWL were significantly decreased on days 28 and 35 after developing the model in NE group and NA group, DI was decreased, and the expression of ATF5, LONP1 and HSP60 was down-regulated in NE group ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in NA group ( P>0.05). Compared with NE group, no significant change was found in the MWT and TWL in NA group ( P>0.05), DI was significantly increased, and the expression of ATF5, LONP1 and HSP60 was up-regulated in NA group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Down-regulated ATF5 in the hippocampus is involved in the process of cognitive impairment caused by neuropathic pain, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of mtUPR.

Objective:To explore the relationship between urinary cadmium levels and thyroid hormone levels in people aged 40-89 years old in selected areas of China.Methods:Based on the "Investigation of the Impact of Soil Quality of Agricultural Land on Human Health in Typical Areas" project from October 2019 to August 2020, a multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to include 6 588 middle-aged and older adults aged 40-89. Demographic characteristics, dietary frequency and disease status were collected through the questionnaire and physical examination. Urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine were detected by random midstream urine. Fasting venous blood was collected for the detection of Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). The linear mixed effects model was used to explore the association of urine cadmium levels with thyroid hormone levels. Its dose-response relationship was explored by using the restricted cubic spline.Results:The age of the subjects was (63.48±12.18) years, with males accounting for 51.28%. The M ( Q 1,Q 3) of urinary cadmium level, T3 and T4 was 2.48 (1.36, 4.42) μg/g·creatinine, (1.96±0.51) nmol/L and (113.75±29.11) nmol/L, respectively. The linear mixed effects model showed that the changes of T3 and T4 were 0.027 (0.009, 0.044) nmol/L and 2.019 (1.084, 2.953) nmol/L for each one-unit increase (natural logarithm transformed) of urinary cadmium. The restricted cubic spline showed that there was a positive nonlinear association between urinary cadmium and T3 as well as T4 (all Pnonlinear<0.05). Conclusion:In selected areas of China, the urinary cadmium level of middle-aged and older adults aged 40-89 years is positively associated with T3 and T4.

Objective:To evaluate the role of hippocampal activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5) in cognitive impairment induced by neuropathic pain and the relationship with mitochondrial unfolded protein response(mtUPR) in mice.Methods:This study was conducted in 2 parts. Experiment Ⅰ Twenty-four SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 2 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S1 group) and neuropathic pain group (NP group). Neuropathic pain was induced by chronic constriction injury to the sciatic nerve. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured before developing the model and at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after developing the model. Mouse cognitive function was assessed using the novel object recognition test from 30-31 days after developing the model. After the end of the novel object recognition test, mice were sacrificed and the hippocampal CA1 region was harvested for determination of the expression of ATF5 (by Western blot) and the expression of ATF5 in neurons, microglia and astrocytes (by immunofluorescence double staining). Experiment Ⅱ Thirty-six SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S2 group), neuropathic pain + ATF5 up-regulation group (NA group), and neuropathic pain + empty virus group (NE group). On day 14 after developing the model, a virus that specifically up-regulated ATF5 expression in neurons and empty virus were injected into the hippocampal CA1 region. The MWT and TWL were measured at days 28 and 35 after developing the model. The novel object recognition test was performed on day 36 after developing the model to evaluate the cognitive function. After the end of the behavioral test, mice were sacrificed and the hippocampal CA1 region was harvested for detection of the expression of ATF5 and mtUPR marker proteins (Lon protease [LONP1] and heat shock protein 60 [HSP60]) by Western blot. Results:Experiment Ⅰ Compared with S1 group, no statistically significant change was found in the MWT and TWL before developing the model ( P>0.05), the MWT and TWL were significantly decreased on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after developing the model, the discrimination index (DI) was decreased at day 31 after developing the model, the expression of ATF5 was down-regulated, the expression of ATF5 in neurons was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and no statistically significant change was found in the expression of ATF5 in mircrolia and astrocytes in NP group ( P>0.05). Experiment Ⅱ Compared with S2 group, the MWT and TWL were significantly decreased on days 28 and 35 after developing the model in NE group and NA group, DI was decreased, and the expression of ATF5, LONP1 and HSP60 was down-regulated in NE group ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in NA group ( P>0.05). Compared with NE group, no significant change was found in the MWT and TWL in NA group ( P>0.05), DI was significantly increased, and the expression of ATF5, LONP1 and HSP60 was up-regulated in NA group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Down-regulated ATF5 in the hippocampus is involved in the process of cognitive impairment caused by neuropathic pain, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of mtUPR.