Objective:To investigate the effects of glimepiride on cerebral edema and apoptosis in a rat model of sub-arachnoid hemorrhage(SAH).Methods:An SAH model was established in rats using the internal carotid artery punc-ture method.Low-dose glimepiride was administered via intraperitoneal injection.Neurological deficits were assessed u-sing the modified Neurological Severity Score(mNSS),and brain water content was evaluated by measuring the wet-dry weight ratio of brain tissue.Cortical tissue from the surgical side was collected to measure the mRNA expression of sul-fonylurea receptor 1(SUR1)and transient receptor potential melastatin 4(TRPM4)using RT-qPCR,while the protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by Western blot.Results:SAH rats exhibited impaired neurological function,increased brain water content,upregulation of SUR1 and TRPM4 mRNA expression,and a decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio.Low-dose glimepiride did not affect blood glucose levels but significantly improved neurological function and reduced cerebral edema in SAH rats.Although glimepiride had no significant effect on SUR1 and TRPM4 mRNA expression,it increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio.Conclusion:Glimepiride alleviates cerebral edema and inhibits apoptosis in SAH model rats by suppressing the SUR1-TRPM4 channel.

Objective To explore the the detection of MMP-2,-7,-9,and-12 enzymatic activity using the CEACAM1-derived fluorescent peptide substrate Site 84,investigating the application of substrate Site 84 to distinguishing between MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the gelatinase spectrum of MMPs.Methods The fluorescent enzymatic method was employed to observe the detection of MMP-2,-7,-9,and-12 enzymatic activity using substrate Site 84;further observations were made on the sensitivity and specificity of substrate Site 84 to enzymatic activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 within the gelatinase spectrum;the kinetic parameters(Km and Kcat)of the enzymatic reaction between substrate Site 84 and MMP-2 were obtained.Results Using Site 84 as a substrate,enzymic kinetics curves for MMP-12,-7,-2 were obtained,but no enzymatic activity curve for MMP-9 was observed.Furthermore,Site 84 specifically detected the enzymatic activity of MMP-2 within the gelatinase spectrum,capable of detecting low concentration(0.6 μM)of MMP-2 enzymatic activity,but no obvious enzymatic reaction was observed for high concentration(6 μM)of MMP-9;the kinetics parameters for the enzymatic reaction between Site 84 and MMP-2 were Km=315 μM,Kcat/Km=2 565/MS.Conclusion The CEACAM1-derived substrate Site 84 serves as a novel fluorescent peptide substrate,enabling the acquisition of enzymatic activity curves for MMP-12,-7 and-2,and specifically detecting the enzymatic activity of MMP-2 within the MMP gelatinase spectrum.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of standard pulsed radiofrequency for treating rare-site glomus tumors.Methods A prospective self before-and-after control study was conducted and 6 pa-tients diagnosed as glomus tumors in the pain department of Yongkang Municipal First People's Hospital from June 2022 to January 2023 served as the study subjects.Among them,1 case was located in the outer beam of deltoid muscle in the upper arm,and 5 cases were located under the nail beds of the hands/feet.All subjects underwent the standard pulsed radiofrequency treatment under ultrasound guidance and were fol-lowed up for at least 12 months.The changes in the preoperative and postoperative Numerical Rating Scale(NRS)scores were observed,and the changes in the"typical triad",healing degree of the nail growth matrix and recurrence of pain were recorded.Results The postoperative follow-up results showed that all patients had significant decreases in NRS scores,indicating that the pain degree obtained the effective control.Among them,4 patients did not experience the pain recurrence after adopting the standard pulsed radiofrequency;1 pa-tient had pain recurrence in postoperative 6 months and the tumor body was ultimately removed by surgery.Apart from the patient 2 developing transient subungual congestion,no significant adverse events were observed.Conclusion The standard pulsed radiofrequency treatment is a safe and effective therapeutic method for pain caused by rare-site glomus tumors.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of coptisine on endogenous metabolites in a dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-in-duced ulcerative colitis(UC)mouse model,and to explore its potential mechanisms of action employing non-targeted metabolomics technology.METHODS SPF-grade male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group,a model group,a sulfasalazine group(100 mg·kg-1),and low and high dose groups of coptisine groups(25,50 mg·kg-1).To induce ulcerative colitis(UC),all groups except the control group had free access to a 2.5%DSS solution for 7 days.At the same time,they also received daily intragastric ad-ministration of their corresponding treatments until the 10th day.Body weight changes,stool characteristics,and bloody stool occur-rence were recorded daily,and the disease activity index(DAI)was calculated.After the experiment,colon tissues were collected for pathological examination.Through UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS,non-targeted metabolomic analysis was performed to identify differential metabolites,and metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was conducted using the KEGG database.RESULTS Compared to the model group,coptisine significantly ameliorated weight loss,DAI scores,and pathological damage in colon tissues of UC mice(P<0.05,P<0.01).Metabolomic analysis identified 56 differential metabolites,mainly involved in purine metabolism,tryptophan metabo-lism,niacin and nicotinamide metabolism,glutathione metabolism,and the biosynthesis of phenylalanine,tyrosine,and tryptophan.Coptisine intervention significantly reversed the abnormal expression of these metabolites.CONCLUSION Coptisine can markedly improve metabolic disorders in DSS-induced UC mice by modulating multiple key metabolic pathways,thereby exerting a therapeutic effect.

Objective:To investigate the effects of glimepiride on cerebral edema and apoptosis in a rat model of sub-arachnoid hemorrhage(SAH).Methods:An SAH model was established in rats using the internal carotid artery punc-ture method.Low-dose glimepiride was administered via intraperitoneal injection.Neurological deficits were assessed u-sing the modified Neurological Severity Score(mNSS),and brain water content was evaluated by measuring the wet-dry weight ratio of brain tissue.Cortical tissue from the surgical side was collected to measure the mRNA expression of sul-fonylurea receptor 1(SUR1)and transient receptor potential melastatin 4(TRPM4)using RT-qPCR,while the protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by Western blot.Results:SAH rats exhibited impaired neurological function,increased brain water content,upregulation of SUR1 and TRPM4 mRNA expression,and a decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio.Low-dose glimepiride did not affect blood glucose levels but significantly improved neurological function and reduced cerebral edema in SAH rats.Although glimepiride had no significant effect on SUR1 and TRPM4 mRNA expression,it increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio.Conclusion:Glimepiride alleviates cerebral edema and inhibits apoptosis in SAH model rats by suppressing the SUR1-TRPM4 channel.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of coptisine on endogenous metabolites in a dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-in-duced ulcerative colitis(UC)mouse model,and to explore its potential mechanisms of action employing non-targeted metabolomics technology.METHODS SPF-grade male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group,a model group,a sulfasalazine group(100 mg·kg-1),and low and high dose groups of coptisine groups(25,50 mg·kg-1).To induce ulcerative colitis(UC),all groups except the control group had free access to a 2.5%DSS solution for 7 days.At the same time,they also received daily intragastric ad-ministration of their corresponding treatments until the 10th day.Body weight changes,stool characteristics,and bloody stool occur-rence were recorded daily,and the disease activity index(DAI)was calculated.After the experiment,colon tissues were collected for pathological examination.Through UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS,non-targeted metabolomic analysis was performed to identify differential metabolites,and metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was conducted using the KEGG database.RESULTS Compared to the model group,coptisine significantly ameliorated weight loss,DAI scores,and pathological damage in colon tissues of UC mice(P<0.05,P<0.01).Metabolomic analysis identified 56 differential metabolites,mainly involved in purine metabolism,tryptophan metabo-lism,niacin and nicotinamide metabolism,glutathione metabolism,and the biosynthesis of phenylalanine,tyrosine,and tryptophan.Coptisine intervention significantly reversed the abnormal expression of these metabolites.CONCLUSION Coptisine can markedly improve metabolic disorders in DSS-induced UC mice by modulating multiple key metabolic pathways,thereby exerting a therapeutic effect.

Objective To explore the value of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2)in the diagnostic grading and prog-nostic assessment of pneumonia-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome(p-ARDS).Methods The study was a prospective ob-servational study.Fifty-seven patients with p-ARDS admitted to the ICU ward of Tianjin Hospital from January 2022 to August 2023 were included as the research subjects.Twenty-six pneumonia patients admitted to the general respiratory ward during the same period and 10 healthy individuals undergoing medical examinations were selected as the control group.Their serum samples were collected,and the samples from p-ARDS and pneumonia patients were obtained within 24 hours of admission.The levels of serum Lp-PLA2,in-terleukin 6(IL-6),and IL-8 were detected using the Luminex? multiplex test kit.The baseline data and laboratory test results,inclu-ding routine blood parameters,biochemical markers,C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),and D-dimer at admission,were collected from the patients with p-ARDS or pneumonia.The levels of serum Lp-PLA2 were compared by grouping based on clinical diagnosis,severity of ARDS,and clinical outcomes on day 28 after admission.The diagnostic and prognostic value of serum Lp-PLA2 in p-ARDS was evaluated by plotting the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,Spearman correlation analysis,and Logistic regression analysis.Results The levels of serum Lp-PLA2 in the p-ARDS group([233.67±83.49]ng/mL)were significantly higher than that in the pneumonia group([150.86±39.48]ng/mL,P＜0.05),while those in the pneumonia group were significantly higher than that in the healthy control group([150.86±39.48]ng/mL vs[92.07±12.89]ng/mL,P＜0.05).The analysis results of the ROC curve showed that serum Lp-PLA2 had a better ability to distinguish p-ARDS from pneumonia than indicators such as IL-6,IL-8,CRP,and PCT,with an area under the ROC curve(AUCROC)of 0.781(95％CI:0.685-0.878).The diagnostic value of serum Lp-PLA2 combined with D-dimer was higher,with an AUCROC of 0.897(95％CI:0.832-0.963).Subgroup analysis found that as lung inju-ry worsened,the levels of serum Lp-PLA2 increased,and that serum Lp-PLA2 levels were negatively correlated with the PaO2/FiO2 ra-tio in p-ARDS patients(r=-0.549)and positively correlated with the sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)scores at admission(r=0.412).The levels of serum Lp-PLA2 in the death group of p-ARDS were significantly higher than that in the survival group([314.5±43.1]ng/mL vs[174.9±48.9]ng/mL,P＜0.001).Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for the SOFA score,serum Lp-PLA2 was independently associated with the mortality risk on day 28 after admission(OR=1.099,95％CI:1.026-1.178,P=0.007).Similar results were obtained after adjusting for IL-8 or the PaO2/FiO2 ratio.Conclusion Serum Lp-PLA2 may be used as a biomarker to aid in the diagnostic grading and prognostic assessment of p-ARDS.

Objective:To explore the impact of digital technology in constructing a three-dimensional (3D) symmetry reference plane (SRP) for esthetic restoration of anterior teeth and to evaluate its clinical applicability.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2024, involving 20 patients [11 males and 9 females, aged (36.8±11.4) years] who underwent anterior esthetic restorations at the Department of Stomatology, People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Symmetrical reference planes of patients′ 3D facial models were constructed using three different algorithms: weighted Procrustes analysis (WPA), Procrustes analysis (PA) based on the ontology-mirror correlation method, and iterative closest point (ICP). The SRP defined by an associate chief physician served as the control (true-value group). The angular errors between each algorithm group and the true-value group were compared. The optimal algorithm was selected and combined with a three-dimensional digital smile design (DSD) to create virtual patients, followed by designing anterior restorations. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used by patients to score the aesthetic restoration results of the conventional design (control group) and the algorithm-based design (algorithm group).Results:The angular errors of the WPA, PA, and ICP groups were 1.43°±0.66°, 1.82°±0.88°, and 4.74°±2.03° respectively, with statistically significant differences among the groups ( F=41.10, P<0.001). Pairwise comparisons showed that the WPA group had significantly smaller angular errors compared to the PA and ICP groups ( P<0.05). The VAS scores for aesthetic restoration were significantly higher in the algorithm group (8.09±0.74) compared to the control group (6.30±1.38) ( t=-5.49, P<0.001). Conclusions:The SRP constructed using the WPA algorithm demonstrated minimal angular error when compared to the expert-defined SRP and is considered the optimal choice in clinical practice, yielding high patient satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE To observe the auxiliary analgesic effect of electroacupuncture at Hegu and Neiguan combined with in-domethacin suppository in patients undergoing transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval(TUGOR and its effect on the outcome of in vitro fertilization(IVF.METHODS 64 IVF-ET patients undergoing TUGOR were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,32 cases in each group.One case dropped out of the treatment group during the treatment.The control group was given indomethacin suppository rectal administration,and the treatment group was given electroacupuncture at Hegu and Neiguan in addition to the treatment of the control group.The patients'tenderness threshold,VAS score,pain grade score,respiratory rate,and pulse rate were evaluated before and after TUGOR operation.The number of oocytes obtained,the rate of two pronuclei(2PN,embryo utiliza-tion rate,and high-quality embryo rate were evaluated after TUGOR operation.The adverse reactions of the two groups were monitored during and after operation.RESULTS After TUGOR operation,the VAS score and pain grade of the treatment group were signifi-cantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.01;the tenderness threshold of the two groups was significantly reduced after opera-tion(P<0.05,P<0.01,and the treatment group was better than the control group(P<0.05;the incidence of nausea during opera-tion,abdominal distension and nausea 48 h after operation in the treatment group were better than those in the control group(P<0.05;the high-quality embryo rate in the treatment group was better than that in the control group(P<0.05.CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture at Hegu and Neiguan combined with indomethacin suppository can effectively assist in analgesia,and can reduce the incidence of adverse reactions during and after TUGOR to varying degrees,and may have certain advantages in improving the rate of high-quality embryos.

Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) is a multi-step process in a bioreactor, which completes hydrolase production, enzymatic hydrolysis, and microbial fermentation. It is considered to be the most promising process for the production of second-generation biofuels because of its simple steps and low cost. Due to the complexity of lignocellulose degradation and the butanol synthesis pathway, few wild microorganisms can directly utilize lignocellulose to synthesize butanol. With the development of synthetic biology, single-bacterium directly synthesizes butanol using lignocellulose by introducing a butanol synthesis pathway in the cellulolytic Clostridium. However, there are still some problems such as heavy metabolic load of single bacterium and low butanol yield. Co-culture can relieve the metabolic burden of single bacterium through the division of labor in different strains and can further improve the efficiency of butanol synthesis. This review analyzes the recent research progress in the synthesis of biobutanol using lignocellulose by consolidated bioprocessing from both the single-bacterium strategy and co-culture strategy, to provide a reference for the research of butanol and other biofuels.
1-Butanol ; Biofuels ; Butanols ; Fermentation ; Lignin/metabolism*