Psoriasis is an incurable chronic inflammatory disease that requires new interventions. Here, we found that fibroblasts exacerbate psoriasis progression by promoting macrophage recruitment via CCL2 secretion by single-cell multi-omics analysis. The natural small molecule celastrol was screened to interfere with the secretion of CCL2 by fibroblasts and improve the psoriasis-like symptoms in both murine and cynomolgus monkey models. Mechanistically, celastrol directly bound to the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) β-chain and abolished its binding to the transcription factor c-Jun in the nucleus, which in turn inhibited CCL2 production by skin fibroblasts, blocked fibroblast-macrophage crosstalk, and ameliorated psoriasis progression. Notably, fibroblast-specific LRP1 knockout mice exhibited a significant reduction in psoriasis like inflammation. Taken together, from clinical samples and combined with various mouse models, we revealed the pathogenesis of psoriasis from the perspective of fibroblast-macrophage crosstalk, and provided a foundation for LRP1 as a novel potential target for psoriasis treatment.

Objective To screen and analyze 23 mutation sites of deafness susceptibility genes in newborns in Shenzhen using microfluidic chip technology,aiming to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of early diagnosis of congenital deafness.Methods A total of 10 561 newborns delivered in 19 hospitals in Shenzhen between November 2021 and January 2023 were selected.Heel blood samples were collected from them,and 23 key mutation sites within four core deafness susceptible genes(GJB2,SLC26A4,12S rRNA and GJB3)were detected using microfluidic chip technology.Results The results revealed that 21.87%(2 310/10 561)of the newborns carried at least one mutation in deafness susceptibility genes,with the mutation carrier rate of the GJB2 gene reaching as high as 20.42%(2 157/10 561),57 newborns were found to has compound heterozygous mutations.To further verify the accuracy of the screening results,1 203 newborns out of the 2 310 initially screened as deafness gene carriers were recalled for Sanger sequencing,the gold standard,for verification.The verification results were fully consistent with the initial screening results.Conclusion The method combining microfluidic chip technology with Sanger sequence verification significantly improves the detection efficiency and accuracy of neonatal deafness genes,providing scientific evidence and practical guidance for implementing the three-level prevention strategy for congenital deafness.

Objective:To investigate the effect of circular RNA bromodomain PHD finger transcription factor (circBPTF) targeting microRNA (miR)-224-3p on the damage of human retinal vascular endothelial cells (HRECs) induced by high glucose.Methods:HRECs were divided into control group and high glucose group, which were cultured with medium containing 5.5 mmol/L glucose and 30 mmol/L glucose for 48 hours, respectively.HRECs were transfected with siRNA negative control (si-NC), siRNA of circBPTF (si-circBPTF), miRNA mimic control (miR-NC), and miR-224-3p by Lipofectamine 2000, followed by cultured in 30 mmol/L glucose medium for 48 hours and were recorded as si-NC group, si-circBPTF group, miR-NC group and miR-224-3p group, respectively.HRECs were transfected with si-circBPTF and anti-miR-NC or si-circBPTF and anti-miR-224-3p by double transfection method, and then treated with 30 mmol/L glucose medium for 48 hours and were recorded as anti-miR-NC group and anti-miR-224-3p group, respectively.The expression of circBPTF and miR-224-3p was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was determined by 2′, 7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate probe.Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected by colorimetric method.Expression of cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 proteins was detected by Western blot.The interaction between circBPTF and miR-224-3p was identified by the dual luciferase reporter method.Results:Compared with the control group, the apoptosis rate, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 protein expression, cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 protein expression, ROS level, MDA content, and circBPTF relative expression were significantly increased and SOD activity and miR-224-3p expression were decreased in the high glucose group (all P<0.05).Compared with the si-NC group, circBPTF relative expression, ROS level, MDA content, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 protein expression, cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 protein expression, and cell apoptosis rate were significantly reduced and SOD activity was significantly increased in the si-circBPTF group (all P<0.05).Compared with the miR-NC group, miR-224-3p relative expression and SOD activity were significantly enhanced and ROS level, MDA content, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 protein expression, cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 protein expression and cell apoptosis rate were significantly reduced in the miR-224-3p group (all P<0.05).The relative luciferase activity of HRECs after co-transfection of wild type circBPTF and miR-224-3p mimic was 0.43±0.04, which was significantly decreased compared with 0.99±0.06 after co-transfection of wild type circBPTF and miR-NC ( t=23.297, P<0.05).Compared with anti-miR-NC group, the relative expression of miR-224-3p and SOD activity were significantly decreased and ROS level, MDA content, cell apoptosis rate, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 protein expression, and cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 protein expression were significantly increased in the anti-miR-224-3p group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Interfering with circBPTF can inhibit high glucose induced HRECs apoptosis and oxidative stress damage by targeting miR-224-3p.

Objective:To investigate the effect of circular RNA bromodomain PHD finger transcription factor (circBPTF) targeting microRNA (miR)-224-3p on the damage of human retinal vascular endothelial cells (HRECs) induced by high glucose.Methods:HRECs were divided into control group and high glucose group, which were cultured with medium containing 5.5 mmol/L glucose and 30 mmol/L glucose for 48 hours, respectively.HRECs were transfected with siRNA negative control (si-NC), siRNA of circBPTF (si-circBPTF), miRNA mimic control (miR-NC), and miR-224-3p by Lipofectamine 2000, followed by cultured in 30 mmol/L glucose medium for 48 hours and were recorded as si-NC group, si-circBPTF group, miR-NC group and miR-224-3p group, respectively.HRECs were transfected with si-circBPTF and anti-miR-NC or si-circBPTF and anti-miR-224-3p by double transfection method, and then treated with 30 mmol/L glucose medium for 48 hours and were recorded as anti-miR-NC group and anti-miR-224-3p group, respectively.The expression of circBPTF and miR-224-3p was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was determined by 2′, 7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate probe.Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected by colorimetric method.Expression of cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 proteins was detected by Western blot.The interaction between circBPTF and miR-224-3p was identified by the dual luciferase reporter method.Results:Compared with the control group, the apoptosis rate, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 protein expression, cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 protein expression, ROS level, MDA content, and circBPTF relative expression were significantly increased and SOD activity and miR-224-3p expression were decreased in the high glucose group (all P<0.05).Compared with the si-NC group, circBPTF relative expression, ROS level, MDA content, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 protein expression, cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 protein expression, and cell apoptosis rate were significantly reduced and SOD activity was significantly increased in the si-circBPTF group (all P<0.05).Compared with the miR-NC group, miR-224-3p relative expression and SOD activity were significantly enhanced and ROS level, MDA content, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 protein expression, cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 protein expression and cell apoptosis rate were significantly reduced in the miR-224-3p group (all P<0.05).The relative luciferase activity of HRECs after co-transfection of wild type circBPTF and miR-224-3p mimic was 0.43±0.04, which was significantly decreased compared with 0.99±0.06 after co-transfection of wild type circBPTF and miR-NC ( t=23.297, P<0.05).Compared with anti-miR-NC group, the relative expression of miR-224-3p and SOD activity were significantly decreased and ROS level, MDA content, cell apoptosis rate, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 protein expression, and cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 protein expression were significantly increased in the anti-miR-224-3p group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Interfering with circBPTF can inhibit high glucose induced HRECs apoptosis and oxidative stress damage by targeting miR-224-3p.

Objective To screen and analyze 23 mutation sites of deafness susceptibility genes in newborns in Shenzhen using microfluidic chip technology,aiming to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of early diagnosis of congenital deafness.Methods A total of 10 561 newborns delivered in 19 hospitals in Shenzhen between November 2021 and January 2023 were selected.Heel blood samples were collected from them,and 23 key mutation sites within four core deafness susceptible genes(GJB2,SLC26A4,12S rRNA and GJB3)were detected using microfluidic chip technology.Results The results revealed that 21.87%(2 310/10 561)of the newborns carried at least one mutation in deafness susceptibility genes,with the mutation carrier rate of the GJB2 gene reaching as high as 20.42%(2 157/10 561),57 newborns were found to has compound heterozygous mutations.To further verify the accuracy of the screening results,1 203 newborns out of the 2 310 initially screened as deafness gene carriers were recalled for Sanger sequencing,the gold standard,for verification.The verification results were fully consistent with the initial screening results.Conclusion The method combining microfluidic chip technology with Sanger sequence verification significantly improves the detection efficiency and accuracy of neonatal deafness genes,providing scientific evidence and practical guidance for implementing the three-level prevention strategy for congenital deafness.

Objective:To investigate the effect and the neural mechanisms of Apelin-13 on the behavior changes of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) model mice.Methods:Totally 32 SPF grade male C57BL/6J mice aged 6 weeks were divided into 4 groups randomly ( n=8 in each group): control group, model group, normal saline group and Apelin-13 group.The mice model of PTSD was established by single-prolonged stress (SPS) method. The mice in normal saline group and Apelin-13 group were respectively given lateral ventricular microinjection of 0.9% sodium chloride solution (2 μL) and Apelin-13 (1.5 μg/μL, 2 μL)after PTSD modeling. The behaviors of mice were evaluated by open field test, elevated plus maze test and Morris water maze test.The morphological structure and numerical changes of hippocampal neurons were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.The expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K), phosphorylated-PI3K(p-PI3K), protein kinase B(Akt), phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt), forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a), phosphorylated-FoxO3a(p-FoxO3a), autophagy-related proteins including microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3) and sequestosome 1(p62) were detected by Western blot. SPSS 26.0 software was used for data analysis.The escape latency data of repeated learning training in Morris water maze was conducted by repetitive measurement ANOVA.The comparison of other data among multiple groups was conducted by one-way ANOVA and further pairwise comparisons were conducted by LSD test and Tamhane test. Result:(1) Open field test results showed statistically significant differences in the central area activity distance and residence time in central area among mice in the four groups ( F=15.37, 9.63, both P<0.05). The central area activity distance ((0.06±0.03) m) and residence time ((2.48±1.02) s) of the mice in model group were lower than those of the control group ((0.19±0.05) m, (15.00±8.91) s)(both P<0.05). And the central area activity distance((0.12±0.04)m)and the residence time((13.56±7.64)s)were higher than those of model group((0.06±0.03)m, (2.48±1.02)s)and normal saline group((0.06±0.02)m, (2.82±1.52)s)(all P<0.05). Elevated plus maze test results showed statistically significant differences in the numbers and time entering open arms among the four groups ( F=10.74, 19.12, both P<0.05). The numbers((4.50±2.51) times) and the time ((26.95±17.48) s) entering the open arm of mice in model group were both lower than those of the control group ((13.75±4.71) times, (103.75±42.43)s) and Apelin-13 group ((10.00±5.18) times, (55.98±19.49) s) (all P<0.05). Morris water maze test results showed that in the 4-day learning and training phase, the time and group interaction of escape latency was not significant among the four groups ( F=1.15, P=0.34), but time main effect and group main effect were significant ( F=131.65, 16.98, both P<0.05). On the 2nd to 4th day, mice in model group showed significantly increased escape latency than mice in control group and Apelin-13 group(both P<0.05). And the numbers crossing original platform and the time in the target quadrant of Apelin-13 group were both higher than those of model group and normal saline group (all P<0.05). (2) HE staining results showed that neurons in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 area of mice in model group and normal saline group were swollen and arranged loosely.The hippocampal neurons in control group and Apelin-13 group were arranged neatly and densely. (3) Western blot results showed statistically significant differences in the protein expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-FoxO3a, p62 and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ among the four groups ( F=21.37, 37.35, 20.71, 13.26, 37.65, all P<0.05). The protein expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-FoxO3a and p62 in Apelin-13 group((0.92±0.07), (0.90±0.09), (0.89±0.13), (1.03±0.08)) were higher than those in model group((0.59±0.04), (0.50±0.07), (0.49±0.11), (0.68±0.04)) and normal saline group((0.61±0.06), (0.50±0.08), (0.53±0.11), (0.70±0.05))(all P<0.05), and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ in Apelin-13 group(0.60±0.06) was lower than those in model group(0.92±0.10) and normal saline group(0.99±0.05) (both P<0.05). Conclusion:Apelin-13 can alleviate the anxiety-like behavior and impaired spatial learning and memory in PTSD model mice. The mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of PI3K/Akt/FoxO3a autophagy pathway.

The essence of clinical practice guidelines lies in their recommendations. It is common to find strong recommendations supported by low-quality evidence in current published guidelines. There is a typical misunderstanding among medical professionals that without high-quality evidence, it is impossible to develop high-quality guidelines or only expert consensus can be developed. Based on the GRADE approach, this paper explains the concept and clinical significance of low-quality evidence, and introduces the methods for formulating recommendations based on low-quality evidence in guidelines, with the aim to provide reference for guideline developers and users in China.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has its own unique features in the treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD). The kidney is the congenital foundation and is closely related to the brain. Kidney deficiency runs through the entire course of stroke. Liver regulates the normal operation of qi in the human body, which is closely related to depression syndrome. Kidney deficiency and liver depression affect each other. The treatment of PSD with the Bushen Shugan (tonifying the kidney and soothing the liver) method has achieved good efficacy in clinic. The method of tonifying kidney and soothing liver can not only reflect the holistic view of TCM and the association of viscera, but also coordinate the relationship between body and spirit. In the future, the development direction of PSD in TCM research should be to further strengthen the concept of co-regulation of body and spirit and integration of brain and viscera.

BACKGROUND: Amygdala plays an important role in the neurobiological basis of panic disorder (PD), and the amygdala contains different subregions, which may play different roles in PD. The aim of the present study was to examine whether there are common or distinct patterns of functional connectivity of the amygdala subregions in PD using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and to explore the relationship between the abnormal spontaneous functional connectivity patterns of the regions of interest (ROIs) and the clinical symptoms of PD patients. METHODS: Fifty-three drug-naïve, non-comorbid PD patients and 70 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analyses were conducted using the bilateral amygdalae and its subregions as the ROI seed. Two samples t test was performed for the seed-based Fisher's z -transformed correlation maps. The relationship between the abnormal spontaneous functional connectivity patterns of the ROIs and the clinical symptoms of PD patients was investigated by Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: PD patients showed increased rsFC of the bilateral amygdalae and almost all the amygdala subregions with the precuneus/posterior cingulate gyrus compared with the HC group (left amygdala [lAMY]: t  = 4.84, P  <0.001; right amygdala [rAMY]: t  = 4.55, P  <0.001; left centromedial amygdala [lCMA]: t  = 3.87, P  <0.001; right centromedial amygdala [rCMA]: t  = 3.82, P  = 0.002; left laterobasal amygdala [lBLA]: t  = 4.33, P  <0.001; right laterobasal amygdala [rBLA]: t  = 4.97, P  <0.001; left superficial amygdala [lSFA]: t  = 3.26, P  = 0.006). The rsFC of the lBLA with the left angular gyrus/inferior parietal lobule remarkably increased in the PD group ( t  = 3.70, P  = 0.003). And most of the altered rsFCs were located in the default mode network (DMN). A significant positive correlation was observed between the severity of anxiety and the rsFC between the lSFA and the left precuneus in PD patients ( r  = 0.285, P  = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS Our research suggested that the increased rsFC of amygdala subregions with DMN plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PD. Future studies may further explore whether the rsFC of amygdala subregions, especially with the regions in DMN, can be used as a biological marker of PD.
Humans ; Panic Disorder ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Amygdala ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Comorbidity

Meige syndrome is one of the rare Diseases of neurology. It is a part of the group of segmental cranial dystonia, which affects more than two cranial muscle groups. Especially, blepharospasm is associated with another cranial dystonia. Currently, the etiology and pathogenesis of this disorder are not well-understood. Based on the theory of collaterals and the relationship between collateral disease and five zang organs,we try to classify the disease into the category of collateral disease, and hold that the mechasnism of disease is not only linked to brain, but also the five zang organs. The disorder of qi and blood leads to the "deficiency of qi and blood", "phlegm-damp" and "stagnant blood" in collateral. These pathological changes cause the deficiency of both qi and blood in brain marrow and tendon.We think that "unblocking and regulating the collterals"is the general program. Adjusting the five zang organs to heel the brain is the key point of the treatment. What's more, we create Tongmai Heluo Decoction to regulate qi and blood of the collateral. This decoction is composed of Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction with some herbal medicine for tonifying qi and activating blood. By adjusting the middle energizer, the qi and the qi movement of five zang organs are well regulated. We use this decoction effectively on refractory Meige syndrome.