[Objective] To explore quality issues and quality management measures in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) testing, aiming to improve consistency and accuracy of ALT test results by analyzing the outcomes from different pre-donation screening methods and different sample sources. [Methods] Data were collected from 58 blood collection and supply institutions across China. ALT test results from donor samples analyzed by dry chemistry analyzers, semi-automatic biochemical analyzers, and automatic biochemical analyzers were compared, focusing on the influence of venous versus capillary blood samples on testing accuracy. By comparing results from pre-donation screening with laboratory testing, the current state of quality management for different methods and sample types was assessed. Differences in ALT unqualified rates between laboratories were analyzed, and quality improvement strategies were proposed accordingly. [Results] No significant differences were found in laboratory ALT unqualified rates between venous and capillary blood samples during pre-donation screening across different analytical methods (P>0.05). However, laboratory ALT unqualified rates were consistently lower for venous blood compared to capillary blood, regardless of the testing method used (P<0.05). Notable differences in quality control were observed among various blood collection and supply institutions (P<0.05). [Conclusion] Minimal differences were observed between pre-donation ALT screening results obtained by the three analytical methods and laboratory test outcomes; thus, blood stations can select an appropriate testing method according to their specific conditions. Pre-donation screening using venous blood samples demonstrated superior reliability in quality control compared to capillary blood samples. Significant variations in ALT unqualified rates among blood stations suggest that blood collection and supply institutions should emphasize quality management at both the pre-donation screening and laboratory testing stages. Measures such as optimized standardized operating procedures, regular equipment calibration and maintenance, proficiency testing, internal quality control, inter-system comparisons, and enhanced personnel training and evaluation should be implemented to ensure consistent and stable screening results, thereby reducing ALT unqualified rates.

Objective: To investigate prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection among voluntary blood donors in Dalian and provide evidence for enhancing blood screening strategies. Methods: A total of 3 277 blood donor samples collected between December 2023 and February 2024 at Dalian Blood Center underwent routine blood screening (ALT, HBsAg, anti-HCV, HIV Ag/Ab, anti-TP, and HBV/HCV/HIV NAT). Subsequently, HEV antigen (Ag) was detected using chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA). HEV-Ag reactive samples were further tested for HEV RNA, IgM and IgG antibodies. Blood donors with repeated reactive HEV Ag results were followed up to clarify the status of infection. Results: Among the 3 277 blood donor samples, 6 (0.18%) were repeatedly reactive for HEV Ag. However, supplemental testing for HEV RNA, anti-HEV IgM, and anti-HEV IgG on these samples yielded non-reactive results. One of these six blood donors was successfully followed up. On day 218 after the initial detection of HEV Ag reactivity, HEV Ag, HEV RNA, HEV IgM and IgG antibody were found to be non-reactive. Conclusion: The reaction rate for HEV antigen screening among voluntary blood donors in Dalian is low. CLIA method for detecting HEV antigen is easy to operate and cost-effective, but demonstrates some false reactivity. Improving the specificity of the assay and combining it with nucleic acid testing (NAT) would be valuable for implementing a selective HEV screening strategy for blood donors.

Objective:To investigate the role of speckle-type POZ(pox virus and zinc finger protein) protein (SPOP) in enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection.Methods:Immunoprecipitation analysis was employed to examine the impact of SPOP on the ubiquitin level of EV71 non-structural protein 2A protease (2A pro), while the phosphorylation level of IFR3 protein was assessed through Western blot. Cells were either overexpressed or knockdown of SPOP, followed by infection with EV71. RT-qPCR was utilized to analyze the transcription level of IFN-β, and the transcription level and protein level of EV71 structural protein VP1 were determined using RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Results:The inhibition of EV71 infection in RD cells was observed following transfection with HA-SPOP. Additionally, it was found that the ubiquitin level of EV71-2A pro increased in a gradient-dependent manner. Subsequent transfection with shSPOP plasmid for endogenous SPOP knockdown resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the levels of melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5), mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS), and p-IRF3. Conversely, transfection with HA-SPOP plasmid led to a dose-dependent increase in the levels of MDA5, MAVS, and p-IRF3. The expression of SPOP, whether high or low, had an impact on the expression of IFN-β in cells. Additionally, the levels of VP1 mRNA or protein were found to be inhibited or increased. Conclusions:SPOP plays a role in increasing the ubiquitination level of EV71-2A pro, which in turn promotes the phosphorylation level of IRF3 and secretion of IFN-β. This effect is achieved by inhibiting the cleavage of 2A pro against key molecules MAVS and MDA5 in the RLR signaling pathway, ultimately leading to the inhibition of EV71 replication.

Objective:To investigate the correlation among physical activity,mild depressive symptoms and frontal alpha power asymmetry in college students.Methods:Seventy college students with mild depressive symp-toms who conformed to the standard of the Self-Rating Scale for Depression(SDS)of 53-62 and 70 normal col-lege students were recruited.The frontal alpha power was measured under quiet and closed-eye state,and the total physical activity(PA)was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.Results:The college students with mild depressive symptoms had lower Total PA scores,right frontal alpha power and frontal alpha a-symmetry(FAA)than the normal controls(P＜0.001).In college students with mild depressive symptoms,the to-tal PA scores(r=-0.29,P＜0.05)and FAA(r=-0.41,P＜0.001)were negatively correlated with SDS scores,and the total PA scores were positively correlated with FAA(r=0.34,P＜0.01).Conclusion:The college students with mild depressive symptoms may have reduced physical activity and asymmetric right lateralization of frontal alpha power.There is a correlation among depressive symptoms,physical activity and frontal alpha power a-symmetry in college students with mild depressive symptoms.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of male with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) autoantibody.Methods:The clinical data of 246 patients with DM and anti-MDA5 autoantibodies hospitalized by Jiangsu Myositis Cooperation Group from 2017 to 2020 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Chi-square test was performed to compared between counting data groups; Quantitative data were expressed by M ( Q1, Q3), and rank sum test was used for comparison between groups; Single factor survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test; Cox regression analysis were used for multivariate survival analysis. Results:①The male group had a higher proportion of rash at the sun exposure area [67.1%(47/70) vs 52.8%(93/176), χ2=4.18, P=0.041] and V-sign [50.0%(35/70) vs 30.7%(54/176), χ2=8.09, P=0.004] than the female group. The male group had higher levels of creatine kinase [112(18, 981)U/L vs 57 (13.6, 1 433)U/L, Z=-3.50, P<0.001] and ferritin [1 500 (166, 32 716)ng/ml vs 569 (18, 14 839)ng/ml, Z=-5.85, P<0.001] than the female group. The proportion of ILD [40.0%(28/70) vs 59.7%(105/176), χ2=7.82, P=0.020] patients and the red blood cell sedimentation rate[31.0(4.0, 101.5)mm/1 h vs 43.4(5.0, 126.5)mm/1 h, Z=-2.22, P=0.026] in the male group was lower than that of the female group, but the proportion of rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (PR-ILD) [47.1%(33/70) vs 31.3%(55/176), χ2=5.51, P=0.019] was higher than that of the female group. ②In male patients with positive anti-MDA5 antibodies,the death group had a shorter course of disease[1.0(1.0, 3.0) month vs 2.5(0.5,84) month, Z=-3.07, P=0.002], the incidence of arthritis [16.7%(4/24) vs 42.2%(19/45), χ2=4.60, P=0.032] were low than those in survival group,while aspartate aminotransferase (AST)[64(22.1, 565)U/L vs 51(14,601)U/L, Z=-2.42, P=0.016], lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) [485(24,1 464)U/L vs 352(170, 1 213)U/L, Z=-3.38, P=0.001], C-reactive protein (CRP) [11.6(2.9, 61.7) mg/L vs 4.95(0.6, 86.4) mg/L, Z=-1.96, P=0.050], and ferritin levels [2 000(681, 7 676) vs 1 125 (166, 32 716)ng/ml, Z=-3.18, P=0.001] were higher than those in the survival group, and RP-ILD [95.8%(23/24) vs 22.2%(10/45), χ2=33.99, P<0.001] occurred at a significantly higher rate. ③Cox regression analysis indicated that the course of disease LDH level, and RP-ILD were related factors for the prognosis of male anti-MDA5 antibodies [ HR (95% CI)=0.203(0.077, 0.534), P=0.001; HR (95% CI)=1.002(1.001, 1.004), P=0.003; HR (95% CI)=95.674 (10.872, 841.904), P<0.001]. Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of male anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients are different from those of female. The incidence of ILD is low, but the proportion of PR-ILD is high. The course of disease, serum LDH level, and RP-ILD are prognostic factors of male anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients.

Objective To study the distribution and trend of HIV-1 drug resistance mutation in Dalian blood donors be-tween 2011 and 2020.Methods The protease-reverse transcriptase(PR-RT)region was sequenced in Dalian blood donors tested HIV-1 positive between 2011 and 2020.Drug resistance mutation(DRM)rate and level of resistance to selected drugs were analyzed by the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database.Results DRM were detected in 17.2%(30/174)of samples,while transmitted drug resistance(TDR)was5.7%(10/174).Between2011 and2020,DRM and TDR rates in-creased significantly in 2019 and reached their highest levels in 2020(44.4%and 22.2%,respectively).DRM carriage was associated with people with college degree or above and with local residents(P<0.05).NNRTI DRMs were the most fre-quently detected(12.6%,22/174),followed by PIs(5.7%,10/174),with V179D/E/T and M46I being the main DRMs detected.Only one HIV-1strain(0.57%,1/174)carried a NRTI DRM(L74I).The overall rate of predicted high level re-sistance to antiretroviral drugs was 6.9%(12/174),with the highest proportion of NNRTI resistance(83.3%,10/12).Two samples were classified as highly resistant to EFV and NVP,accounting for 1.1%(2/174).CRF55_01B strains showed a significantly higher DRM rate than strains of other HIV-1 genotypes(P<0.05).Conclusion Between 2011 and 2020,the rate of HIV-1 DRMs in blood donors in Dalian showed a significant upward trend,particularly in 2019-2020,with NNRTI resistance being the most common.The combination of DRMs detection before and after implementation of ART un-der the latest national ART treatment plan would improve the effectiveness of HIV-1 prevention and control locally.

Objective To investigate the effect of Euphorbia helioscopia on biological behaviors of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)cells.Methods NSCLC cell lines PC-9 and A549 treated with different concentrations of Euphorbia helioscopia preparations were examined for changes in proliferation,apoptosis,invasion and migration using CCK-8 assay,colony formation assay,flow cytometry,wound healing assay and Transwell assay.Western blotting was performed to detect the changes in protein expressions of Bax,Bcl-2,E-cadherin,vimentin,MMP2,and MMP9 in the treated cells.PC-9 cells were injected subcutaneously into BALB/C nude mice to establish a nude mouse subcutaneous tumor model.According to the growth of subcutaneous tumors,mice were randomly divided into control group:gavaged daily with saline;Euphorbia helioscopia-treated group:gavaged daily with Euphorbia helioscopia 65 mg/mL,and Euphorbia helioscopia granules were dissolved in saline;cisplatin-treated group:injected intraperitoneally with cisplatin 4 mg/kg every 5 days,6 mice per group.The subcutaneous tumor volume and mass changes of mice were measured,and the toxic effects of Euphorbia helioscopia on heart,liver,spleen,lung and kidney as well as the therapeutic effects of Euphorbia helioscopia were observed in the mice bearing tumor.Results Euphorbia helioscopia granules concentration-dependently inhibited the proliferation and survival of PC-9 and A549 cells,significantly promoted cell apoptosis,suppressed invasion and migration abilities of the cells,up-regulated the expression levels of E-cadherin and Bax,and down-regulated the expressions of Bcl-2,vimentin,MMP2,and MMP9.In the tumor-bearing mice,treatment with Euphorbia helioscopia significantly inhibited tumor growth without producing obvious toxicity in the vital organs.Conclusion Euphorbia helioscopia can inhibit proliferation,invasion,and migration and induces apoptosis of NSCLC cells in vitro.

Objective To investigate the effect of Euphorbia helioscopia on biological behaviors of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)cells.Methods NSCLC cell lines PC-9 and A549 treated with different concentrations of Euphorbia helioscopia preparations were examined for changes in proliferation,apoptosis,invasion and migration using CCK-8 assay,colony formation assay,flow cytometry,wound healing assay and Transwell assay.Western blotting was performed to detect the changes in protein expressions of Bax,Bcl-2,E-cadherin,vimentin,MMP2,and MMP9 in the treated cells.PC-9 cells were injected subcutaneously into BALB/C nude mice to establish a nude mouse subcutaneous tumor model.According to the growth of subcutaneous tumors,mice were randomly divided into control group:gavaged daily with saline;Euphorbia helioscopia-treated group:gavaged daily with Euphorbia helioscopia 65 mg/mL,and Euphorbia helioscopia granules were dissolved in saline;cisplatin-treated group:injected intraperitoneally with cisplatin 4 mg/kg every 5 days,6 mice per group.The subcutaneous tumor volume and mass changes of mice were measured,and the toxic effects of Euphorbia helioscopia on heart,liver,spleen,lung and kidney as well as the therapeutic effects of Euphorbia helioscopia were observed in the mice bearing tumor.Results Euphorbia helioscopia granules concentration-dependently inhibited the proliferation and survival of PC-9 and A549 cells,significantly promoted cell apoptosis,suppressed invasion and migration abilities of the cells,up-regulated the expression levels of E-cadherin and Bax,and down-regulated the expressions of Bcl-2,vimentin,MMP2,and MMP9.In the tumor-bearing mice,treatment with Euphorbia helioscopia significantly inhibited tumor growth without producing obvious toxicity in the vital organs.Conclusion Euphorbia helioscopia can inhibit proliferation,invasion,and migration and induces apoptosis of NSCLC cells in vitro.

Objective:To analyze the predictive value of serum transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after single-port thoracoscopic radical resection.Methods:A total of 50 patients with NSCLC who underwent single-port thoracoscopic radical resection in Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from May 2018 to May 2020 were selected as the observation objects. Serum TGF-β1, VEGF levels and Karnofsky functional status (KPS) scores before and after surgery were compared, and the total incidence of complications was calculated. All subjects were followed up for 3 years, and serum levels of TGF-β1, VEGF and KPS scores were compared between relapsed group and non-relapsed group, survival group and death group. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between TGF-β1, VEGF and KPS scores. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the predictive value of serum TGF-β1 and VEGF alone and combined detection in patients with NSCLC after single-port thoracoscopic radical resection.Results:The serum levels of TGF-β1 and VEGF were (7.16±1.94) μg/L and (42.26±5.04) ng/L in 50 patients with NSCLC one month after single-port thoracoscopic radical resection, which were lower than those before surgery [ (13.62±3.52) μg/L and (136.52±20.66) ng/L, t=11.37, P<0.001; t=31.34, P<0.001]. The KPS score one month after surgery was 66.57±8.11, which was higher than that before surgery (53.62±5.62, t=9.28, P<0.001). Postoperative wound healing was delayed in 1 of the 50 patients, pulmonary infection in 1 patient, and no pulmonary embolism and other complications occurred. The total incidence of complications was 4.00%. The serum levels of TGF-β1 and VEGF in patients in the relapsed group ( n=6) were (12.95±4.26) μg/L and (72.46±6.05) ng/L respectively, which were higher than those in the non-relapsed group ( n=44) [ (6.37±1.25) μg/L and (38.14±5.37) ng/L; t=8.34, P<0.001; t=29.99, P<0.001]. The KPS score in the relapsed group was 52.16±8.16, which was lower than that in the non-relapsed group (67.55±12.67, t=2.88, P=0.006). Serum levels of TGF-β1 and VEGF in the death group ( n=5) were (13.99±6.82) μg/L and (75.95±9.05) ng/L, which were higher than those in the survival group ( n=45) [ (6.41±3.06) μg/L and (38.52±8.37) ng/L; t=4.56, P<0.001; t=21.47, P<0.001]. The KPS score in the death group was 1.25±0.34, which was lower than that in the survival group (65.11±12.94, t=10.93, P<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum levels of TGF-β1 ( r=-0.45, P<0.001) and VEGF ( r=-0.48, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with KPS scores. ROC curve analysis showed that when the optimal cut-off value of TGF-β1 was 8.14 μg/L, the AUC for predicting recurrence after single-port thoracoscopic radical resection was 0.516 (95% CI: 0.446-0.676), the sensitivity was 71.85%, and the specificity was 80.69%. When the optimal cut-off value of VEGF was 142 ng/L, the AUC was 0.659 (95% CI: 0.534-0.761), the sensitivity was 76.04%, and the specificity was 82.52%. The AUC of the combined detection was 0.828 (95% CI: 0.786-0.951), the sensitivity was 91.86%, and the specificity was 87.52%. The AUC of combined detection was higher than that of serum TGF-β1 ( Z=2.63, P=0.007), VEGF ( Z=2.32, P=0.013) single detection. Conclusion:The serum levels of TGF-β1 and VEGF are significantly decreased in NSCLC patients after one month of single-port thoracoscopic radical resection, and the combined detection of the two has predictive value for recurrence after single-port thoracoscopic radical resection.

Objective: To investigate the effect of G protein-coupled receptor 108(GPR108) gene knockout on systemic inflammation in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced sepsis mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice and GPR108 gene knockout mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: WT group, WT-LPS group, KO group, KO-LPS group. The physiological characteristics of mice in different groups were observed, and the morphological changes of liver and lung tissues were observed. Macrophages were extracted from bone marrow and subjected to flow cytometry to detect their M1 polarization status. The expression levels of IL-6 in liver and lung tissues, macrophages, and serum were also measured. Results: KO-LPS group mice showed significant liver and lung tissue damage, with a significantly greater number of bone marrow-derived macrophages polarizing towards M1 in the KO-LPS group compared to the WT-LPS group. Additionally, at the tissue, cellular, and serum levels, the expression of IL-6 in the KO-LPS group mice was significantly higher than that in the WT-LPS group mice(P<0.05). Conclusion During the systemic inflammatory infection induced by LPS in mice, the lack of GPR108 exacerbates the systemic inflammatory response. GPR108 has an inhibitory effect on the inflammatory response in mice with LPS-induced sepsis.