ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the mechanism of action of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang in treating rheumatoid arthritis （RA）-associated sarcopenia by regulating autophagy and improving skeletal muscle homeostasis based on network pharmacology，bioinformatics，machine learning，and animal experiments. MethodsActive ingredients and targets of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP），PubChem，and SwissTargetPrediction databases. RA-related datasets were retrieved from the GEO database，and differential genes were screened. Sarcopenia-related targets were searched through GeneCards and the Comparative Toxicology Database （CTD），and autophagy-related gene sets were downloaded from the Human Autophagy Database （HADb）. Their intersection was analyzed to identify autophagy-related therapeutic targets，followed by enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was constructed using the STRING database，and key targets were selected using multiple methods. Machine learning was applied to predict models based on the expression profiles of intersecting targets，and nomogram models were constructed based on key targets. Molecular docking of the top four active ingredients with key targets was performed using AutoDockVina. A collagen-induced arthritis （CIA） rat model was established using bovine type Ⅱ collagen，with SD rats divided into groups including a blank group，a model group，and low-，medium-，and high-dose groups of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang （2.44，4.88，and 9.76 g·kg^-1） and administered for five consecutive weeks. Joint scores and gastrocnemius muscle mass were recorded and analyzed after modeling. Hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining and Masson's staining were used to observe pathological changes in muscle tissue. Immunofluorescence staining was applied to observe the protein expression levels of myosin heavy chain （MYHC） and insulin-like growth factor-1 （IGF-1） in skeletal muscle. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of autophagy-related proteins ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，muscle-specific proteins （MuRF1），MaFbx，and MYHC. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR （Real-time PCR） was performed to measure the mRNA expression levels of ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，MuRF1，MaFbx，and MYHC in muscle tissue. ResultsNetwork pharmacology revealed that Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang shared 25 common targets with autophagy genes related to RA-associated sarcopenia. The PPI network and machine learning identified six key targets，which were primarily involved in autophagy and inflammatory pathways. Animal experiments showed that compared to the blank group，the model group had significantly higher joint scores （P<0.01） and lower gastrocnemius muscle index （P<0.01）. HE staining indicated a significant reduction in the cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius muscle fibers，with notable inflammatory cell infiltration and muscle atrophy in the model group. Masson's staining revealed obvious collagen fiber proliferation and deposition，with significant muscle fibrosis in the model group. The protein and mRNA expression levels of ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，MuRF1，and MaFbx were significantly increased （P<0.01），while the protein expression of MYHC and IGF1 was significantly downregulated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group，the high-dose group of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang showed significantly reduced protein and mRNA expression levels of ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，MuRF1，and MaFbx （P<0.01） and increased protein expression levels of MYHC and IGF1 （P<0.01）. The cross-sectional area of muscle fibers increased，and the muscle cell morphology approached normal. Moreover，pathological abnormalities in the gastrocnemius muscle were significantly improved，with reduced collagen fiber proliferation （P<0.01）. ConclusionHuangqi Guizhi Wuwutang can mediate autophagy by regulating the expression of ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，and IGF1，thereby reducing skeletal muscle catabolism and improving skeletal muscle homeostasis，which contributes to the treatment of RA-associated sarcopenia. The findings provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the effects of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang in the treatment of RA-related sarcopenia and offer a reference for its enhanced clinical application.

Cough variant asthma is a distinct subtype of asthma characterized by chronic irritant dry cough as the sole or predominant clinical manifestation. It is one of the primary causes of chronic cough in children. In traditional Chinese medicine, it belongs to the category of " spasmodic cough", " wind-induced cough", " chronic cough", and " asthmatic cough". At present, Western medicine treatment approaches mainly focus on symptomatic treatment, but fail to fully deal with its complex systemic mechanisms, and have limitations such as poor control of clinical symptoms and rebound exacerbation upon treatment cessation. Based on the theory of " systemic qi stagnation", this paper proposes that the core pathogenesis of cough variant asthma in children is qi stagnation, intermingling of phlegm and blood stasis, and obstruction of collaterals. Disease progression is fundamentally driven by exogenous pathogen activation of endogenous predispositions, particularly dysregulation of sanjiao qi movement, which serves as the primary disease-inducing factor. During the acute phase, the treatment principle focuses on dispelling wind and ventilating lung to restore physiological qi. As the disease progresses to the progressive phase, the focus shifts toward smoothing liver and purging lung to resolve qi counterflow. In the chronic phase, therapeutic strategy prioritizes dissipating phlegm and eliminating blood stasis to smooth collaterals. Finally, during the remission phase, treatment emphasizes strengthening spleen and kidney to consolidate the foundation and cultivate the vitality. This integrative approach synergizes the external elimination of latent pathogens, internal harmonization of qi movement, and dredging collaterals by dispelling blood stasis. It also incorporates the theory of " gentle dispersion to expel pathogens and moistening dryness to harmonize collaterals", aiming to provide a theoretical basis and effective prescriptions for the integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment of cough variant asthma in children.

Objective To explore the effect of methylene blue combined with ropivacaine for sa-phenous nerve block on the postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.Methods Sixty patients were selected for elective TKA,24 males and 36 females,aged 60-75 years,BMI 18.5-30.0 kg/m2,ASA physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ.The patients were divided into two groups using randomized nu-merical table method:methylene blue combined with ropivacaine group(group MR)and ropivacaine group(group R),30 patients in each group.Ultrasound-guided saphenous nerve block was performed with 0.10％methylene blue+0.25％ropivacaine composite 20 ml in group MR,and ultrasound-guided saphenous nerve block was performed with 0.25％ropivacaine 20 ml in group R before the combined spinal-epidural anesthe-sia.The VAS pain scores at rest and during activity at 6,12,24,48,and 72 hours postoperatively,the maximum range of motion mobility(ROM)of the knee joint of the affected limb,the quadriceps unarmed manual muscle test(MMT)scores at 24,48,and 72 hours postoperatively,the effective number of analge-sic pump presses,and the time of the first additional time of the remedial analgesic were recorded.The com-plications related to nerve block,such as bleeding,infection,local anesthetic poisoning,nerve injury,and peripheral tissue injury were recorded.Results Compared with group R,the VAS pain score at rest was significantly lower in group MR at 12,24,48,and 72 hours postoperatively(P＜0.05).Compared with group R,the VAS pain scores during activity were significantly lower in the group MR at 48 and 72 hours postoperatively(P＜0.05).Compared with group R,ROM of the knee joint of the affected limb was signif-icantly greater in group MR at 24,48,and 72 hours postoperatively(P＜0.05).The effective number of analgesic pump presses and the rate of remedial analgesia were significantly lower in the group MR compared with group R(P＜0.05).There were no complications related to nerve block during hospital stay in both groups.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided methylene blue combined with ropivacaine for saphenous nerve block can enhance the postoperative analgesic effect,prolong the duration of analgesia,reduce the use of postoperative analgesics,and facilitate the functional exercise of the knee joint in the early postoperative pe-riod.

Objective:To investigate the molecular genetic etiology of two fetuses with short rib-polydactyly syndrome type Ⅲ (SRPS Ⅲ).Methods:Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to detect 226 known genes related to inherited skeletal dysplasia in two fetuses with SRPS Ⅲ diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in August 2015 and June 2020. Suspect pathological variants were verified in the pedigree members using Sanger sequencing. The prenatal genetic diagnosis of the high-risk fetus in pedigree one was conducted to identify the confirmed pathogenic variation.Results:The homozygous mutation of DYNC2H1 gene c.5881A>G(p.Lys1961Glu) was identified in the proband in pedigree one, and the parents were the carriers. The proband in pedigree two carried compound heterozygous mutations in the DYNC2H1 gene with c.10606C>T(p.Arg3536*) inherited from the father and c.8954T>G(p.Val2985Gly) from the mother. Autosomal recessive inheritance was confirmed in both pedigrees. Mutations of c.5881A>G(p.Lys1961Glu) and c.8954T>G(p.Val2985Gly) in the DYNC2H1 gene were likely pathogenic variants and had not been reported before. The prenatal diagnosis did not identify the DYNC2H1 gene c.5881A>G(p.Lys1961Glu) mutation in the fetus (Ⅱ-7) in pedigree one, which was confirmed by the umbilical cord blood sample after birth. Conclusion:DYNC2H1 gene mutation underlies the fetal skeletal dysplasia in the two pedigrees.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a Chinese pedigree with two individuals suffering from congenital blindness. METHODS: Clinical data and peripheral blood samples of the pedigree were collected. Whole exome sequencing was carried out. Suspected variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. Pathogenicity of candidate variants was validated through searching of PubMed and related databases, and analyzed with bioinformatics software. RESULTS: Both patients had congenital blindness and a history of multiple fractures. Other features have included microphthalmia and cornea opacity. One patient had normal intelligence, whilst the other had a language deficit. Both patients were found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of the LRP5 gene, namely c.1007_1015delGTAAGGCAG (p.C336X), c.4400G>A (p.R1467Q) and c.4600C>T (p.R1534X). The first one was derived from their mother, whilst the latter two were derived from their father. None of the three variants was detected in their elder sister. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants of c.1007_1015delGTAAGGCAG (p.C336X) and c.4600C>T (p.R1534X) of the LRP5 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of the Osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome in this pedigree. The clinical significance of the c.4400G>A (p.R1467Q) variant has remained uncertain. Above finding has enriched the mutational spectrum of Osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome.
Aged ; China ; Humans ; Language ; Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5/genetics* ; Mutation ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta/genetics* ; Pedigree

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child featuring congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP). METHODS: Targeted capture and next generation sequencing (NGS) was carried out for the proband. Suspected pathogenic variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing of the proband and his parents. RESULTS: The proband was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of SCN9A gene, namely c.1598delA (p.N533Ifs*31) and c.295_296delCGinsAT (p.R99I), which were respectively inherited from his father and mother. Both variants were predicted to be pathogenic, and neither was reported previously. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants of the SCN9A gene probably underlay the CIP in this child. Above finding has enabled genetic counseling for this family.
Channelopathies ; Child ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Mutation ; NAV1.7 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel/genetics* ; Pain Insensitivity, Congenital/genetics*

Objective:To analyze the genetic test results and ultrasonographic markers of 41 fetuses with short femurs and their relationship.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed 41 fetuses who were diagnosed with short femurs by ultrasound during 19-37 gestational weeks and underwent prenatal genetic examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to June 2019. According to the results of genetic examination, these cases were divided into three groups after excluding three cases of variants of unknown significance: genetically normal group, chromosome variation (including chromosomal aneuploidy and pathogenic or likely pathogenic copy number variations) group, and gene mutation (including pathogenic or likely pathogenic gene mutations) group. According to the head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL), Z FL, FL/HC, FL/AC, ΔZ H-F and ΔZ H+A-2F for each fetus were calculated. One-way ANOVA and LSD- t test were used for statistical analysis. Results:(1) Among the 41 fetuses with short femurs, there were 28 in the genetically normal group, five in the chromosome variation group, three with chromosome variations of unknown significance and five in the gene mutation group. (2) In the genetically normal, chromosome variation and gene mutation groups, Z FL values were -2.78±0.77, -4.36±0.69 and -4.69±0.70; FL/HC ratios were 0.178±0.011, 0.170±0.010 and 0.131±0.022; FL/AC ratios were 0.197±0.013, 0.186±0.011 and 0.151±0.017; ΔZ H-F values were 2.49±1.09, 3.53±1.28 and 8.17±1.30; ΔZ H+A-2F values were 4.44±2.00, 6.78±2.20 and 14.28±1.26, respectively. The differences in Z FL values between the genetically normal group and the chromosome variation group as well as the gene mutation group were statistically significant (both P<0.05); so were the differences in FL/HC, FL/AC and ΔZ H-F values between the gene mutation group and the genetically normal group as well as the chromosome variation group (all P<0.05) and in any pairwise comparison of ΔZ H+A-2F among the three groups (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The genetic etiology of fetal short femurs is mainly related to chromosomal variations (including chromosomal aneuploidy and pathogenic or likely pathogenic copy number variations) and gene mutation. In fetuses with chromosome variation and gene mutation, the degree of the femoral development delay relative to the development of HC and AC is worse than that in the normal genetic results group.

Objective:To establish a three-level clinical grade human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) bank, including seed cell bank (SCB), master cell bank (MCB) and working cell bank (WCB), and provide hUC-MSCs with controllable quality for clinical research and application.Methods:247 human umbilical cord tissues were isolated, cultured, amplified, subcultured and frozen in GMP laboratory, and the biological characteristics, safety and stability of hUC-MSCs were tested in accordance with the requirements of relevant quality management control specifications.Results:247 strains of hUC-MSCs were isolated and prepared. The prepared hUC-MSCs have good purity and homogeneity without tumorigenicity, show good differentiation ability in biological efficacy, and have strong immunosuppressive effect in the process of co-culture with immune cells. These cells have passed the quality check of National Institute for Food and Drug Control. In this study, a three-level hUC-MSCs bank was established, and it was included into the National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center.Conclusions:A three-level clinical hUC-MSCs bank was successfully established and preliminarily applied to clinical research, which effectively promoted the standardized development of clinical stem cell resource bank and the clinical transformation and application of stem cells in China.

Objective:To evaluate the role of long-chain non-coding RNA-lung cancer metastasis-related transcript 1/microRNA-145/Bcl-2 and adenovirus E1B19k Da interacting protein 3 (Lnc-MALAT1/miRNA-145/BNIP3) signaling pathway in sufentanil preconditioning-induced cardioprotection in rats.Methods:Rat H9C2 cells were inoculated in 6-well culture plates or flasks at a density of 1×10 6 cells/ml and divided into 5 groups ( n=30 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) group, sufentanil preconditioning group (S group), eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.0 group (pcDNA group) and pcDNA-MALAT1 group (MALAT1 group). Cells were incubated with 10 μmol/L sufentanil for 2 h, and then the H/R injury model was established in group S. In pcDNA group and MALAT1 group, cells were transfected with pcDNA3.0 and pcDNA-MALAT1, respectively, and then incubated with 10 μmol/L sufentanil for 2 h starting from 24 h after transfection, and then the H/R injury model was established.At 2 h after reoxygenation, the expression of Lnc-MALAT1, miRNA-145 and BNIP3 mRNA was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction, the cell survival rate was detected by CCK-8, the apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry, the malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and amount of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) released were detected, and the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and cleaved-caspase-3 was detected by Western blot. Results:Compared with group C, the survival rate was significantly decreased, apoptosis rate was increased, the MDA level and amount of LDH released were increased, SOD levels were decreased, the expression of LncRNA-MALAT1, BNIP3 mRNA, Bax, and cleaved-caspase-3 was up-regulated, and miRNA-145 and Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated in the other four groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group H/R, the cell survival rate was significantly increased, apoptosis rate was decreased, the MDA level and amount of LDH released were decreased, SOD levels were increased, the expression of LncRNA-MALAT1, BNIP3 mRNA, Bax, and cleaved-caspase-3 was down-regulated, and miRNA-145 and Bcl-2 expression was up-regulated in S and pcDNA groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group S, the survival rate was significantly decreased, apoptosis rate was increased, MDA level and amount of LDH released were increased, SOD levels were decreased, the expression of LncRNA-MALAT1, BNIP3 mRNA, Bax, and cleaved-caspase-3 was up-regulated, and miRNA-145 and Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated in group MALAT1 ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The mechanism of sufentanil preconditioning-induced cardioprotection is related to inhibiting Lnc-MALAT1/miRNA-145/BNIP3 signaling pathway in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To detect variants of EXT1 and EXT2 genes among five pedigrees affected with multiple osteochondromas and provide prenatal diagnosis for the families based on the results. METHODS: The EXT1 and EXT2 genes of the probands were analyzed by targeted next generation sequencing (NGS). Suspected pathological variants were validated by Sanger sequencing in the probands, their family members and 200 unrelated healthy controls. Multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to confirm the presence of gross deletions. Prenatal diagnosis was provided for 2 couples carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. RESULTS: Five variants were detected in the pedigrees, which included EXT1 exon 2-3 deletion, c.1468dupC (p.Leu490ProfsX31), c.2084delC (p.Pro695LeufsX11), and EXT2 c.187delT (p.Phe63SerfsX29) and c.1362T>G (p.Tyr454X). Among these, EXT1 exon 2-3 deletion, c.2084delC (p.Pro695LeufsX11) and EXT2 c.187delT (p.Phe63SerfsX29) were unreported previously. The three novel variants were not found among unaffected members of the pedigree and the 200 healthy controls. Upon prenatal diagnosis, the two fetuses were found to carry the same variants of the the probands. CONCLUSION Pathological variants of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes probably underlie the multiple osteochondromas among the 5 pedigrees. Prenatal diagnosis based on the results can effectively reduce the birth of further offspring affected with the disease.