[Objective] To study the molecular biological mechanism for a case of ABO blood group B subtype, and perform three-dimensional modeling of the mutant enzyme. [Methods] The ABO phenotype was identified by the tube method and microcolumn gel method; the ABO gene of the proband was detected by sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP), and the exon 6 and 7 of the ABO gene were sequenced and analyzed. Homologous modeling of Bw.03 glycosyltransferase (GT) was carried out by Modeller and analyzed by PyMOL2.5.0 software. [Results] The weakening B antigen was detected in the proband sample by forward typing, and anti-B antibody was detected by reverse typing. PCR-SSP detection showed B, O gene, and the sequencing results showed c.721 C>T mutation in exon 7 of the B gene, resulting in p. Arg 241 Trp. Compared with the wild type, the structure of Bw.03GT was partially changed, and the intermolecular force analysis showed that the original three hydrogen bonds at 241 position disappeared. [Conclusion] Blood group molecular biology examination is helpful for the accurate identification of ambiguous blood group. Homologous modeling more intuitively shows the key site for the weakening of Bw.03 GT activity. The intermolecular force analysis can explain the root cause of enzyme activity weakening.

This study investigated the effect of Wuling San on transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)-induced fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in human renal tubular epithelial cells(HK-2) and its mechanism of antioxidant stress injury. HK-2 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into a control group, a TGF-β1 model group, and three treatment groups receiving Wuling San-containing serum at low(2.5%), medium(5.0%), and high(10.0%) doses. TGF-β1 was used to establish the model in all groups except the control group. CCK-8 was used to analyze the effect of different concentrations of Wuling San on the activity of HK-2 cells with or without TGF-β1 stimulation. The expression of key fibrosis molecules, including actin alpha 2(Acta2), collagen type Ⅰ alpha 1 chain(Col1α1), collagen type Ⅲ alpha 1 chain(Col3α1), TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1(Timp1), and fibronectin 1(Fn1), was detected using qPCR. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-8(IL-8), and interleukin-4(IL-4), were measured using ELISA kits. Glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), malondialdehyde(MDA), catalase(CAT), and superoxide dismutase(SOD) biochemical kits were used to analyze the effect of Wuling San on TGF-β1-induced oxidative stress injury in HK-2 cells, and the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1(HO-1), and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1) was analyzed by qPCR and immunofluorescence. The CCK-8 results indicated that the optimal administration concentrations of Wuling San were 2.5%, 5.0%, and 10.0%. Compared with the control group, the TGF-β1 model group showed significantly increased levels of key fibrosis molecules(Acta2, Col1α1, Col3α1, Timp1, and Fn1) and inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-4). In contrast, the Wuling San administration groups were able to dose-dependently inhibit the expression levels of key fibrosis molecules and inflammatory cytokines compared with the TGF-β1 model group. Wuling San significantly increased the activities of GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD enzymes in TGF-β1-stimulated HK-2 cells and significantly inhibited the level of MDA. Furthermore, compared with the control group, the TGF-β1 model group exhibited a significant reduction in the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 genes and proteins. After Wuling San intervention, the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 genes and proteins was significantly increased. Correlation analysis showed that antioxidant stress enzymes(GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD) and Nrf2 signaling were significantly negatively correlated with key fibrosis molecules and inflammatory cytokines in the TGF-β1-stimulated HK-2 cell model. In conclusion, Wuling San can inhibit TGF-β1-induced fibrosis in HK-2 cells by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, improving oxidative stress injury, and reducing inflammation.
Humans ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism* ; Fibrosis/genetics* ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Epithelial Cells/immunology* ; Inflammation/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between white matter injury (WMI) and cerebral perfusion in preterm infants using arterial spin labeling (ASL). METHODS: A total of 293 preterm infants (gestational age <34 weeks) hospitalized at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between June 2022 and June 2024 were included. After achieving clinical stability, the infants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ASL. Based on MRI findings, infants were classified into WMI (n=66) and non-WMI (n=227) groups. Cerebral perfusion parameters were compared between groups, and the association between WMI and perfusion alterations was evaluated. RESULTS: The WMI group showed a higher incidence of mild intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) than the non-WMI group (P<0.05). Significantly lower cerebral perfusion was observed in the WMI group across bilateral frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes, as well as the basal ganglia and thalamus (P<0.05). After adjusting for gestational age, corrected gestational age at ASL scan, and mild IVH, WMI remained significantly associated with reduced regional perfusion (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS WMI in preterm infants correlates with localized cerebral hypoperfusion. ASL-detected perfusion abnormalities may provide novel insights into WMI pathogenesis.
Humans ; White Matter/blood supply* ; Infant, Newborn ; Spin Labels ; Infant, Premature ; Female ; Male ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Disruption of the intestinal mucosal barrier caused by gut dysbiosis and metabolic imbalance is the underlying pathology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Traditional Chinese medicine Wuji Wan (WJW) is commonly used to treat digestive system disorders and showed therapeutic potential for IBD. In this interdisciplinary study, we aim to investigate the pharmacological effects of WJW against experimental colitis by combining functional metabolomics and gut-microbiota sequencing techniques. Treatment with WJW altered the profile of the intestinal microbiota and notably increased the abundance of Lactobacillus, thereby facilitating the conversion of tryptophan into indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indoleacrylic acid (IA). These indole derivatives activated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway, which reduced colonic inflammation and restored the expression of intestinal barrier proteins. Interestingly, the beneficial effects of WJW on gut barrier function improvement and tryptophan metabolism were disappeared in the absence of gut microbiota. Finally, pre-treatment with the AhR antagonist CH-223191 confirmed the essential role of IAA-mediated AhR activation in the therapeutic effects of WJW. Overall, WJW enhanced intestinal barrier function and reduced colonic inflammation in a murine colitis model by modulating Lactobacillus-IAA-AhR signaling pathway. This study provides novel insights into colitis pathogenesis and presents an effective therapeutic and preventive approach against IBD.

Objective To develop a predictive model for postoperative mortality risk in patients with acute aortic dissection(AAD)using the Extreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)algorithm combined with Shapley Additive Explanation(SHAP),and to establish a prediction website to serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic support platform for clinicians and patients.Methods A retrospective cohort study design was adopted.Data from 782 AAD patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2013 to December 2023 were collected,including basic information and initial serum biomarker test results.Patients were randomly divided into training and test sets at a 7:3 ratio.An external validation set consisting of 313 AAD patients admitted to the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2020 to December 2023 was also established for further model validation.Variables were screened using LASSO regression,and an XGBoost machine learning model was constructed and interpreted using SHAP.The predictive performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Using the Shiny package,the XGBoost model was deployed to shinyapps.io to create a prediction website for postoperative mortality risk in AAD patients.One patient was selected by simple random sampling from the test set and the external validation set respectively for the prediction example on the Shiny webpage.Results The XGBoost model demonstrated high predictive performance for postoperative mortality in AAD patients,with area under the ROC curve(AUC)values of 0.928(95%CI 0.901-0.956)in the training set,0.919(95%CI 0.891-0.949)in the test set,and 0.941(95%CI 0.915-0.967)in the external validation set.SHAP values indicated the following order of variable importance in the model(from highest to lowest):"lactate dehydrogenase""blood chlorine""multiple organ injury""carbon dioxide combining power""prothrombin time""α-hydroxybutyric acid""creatine kinase isoenzyme""Stanford classification""combined use of bedside blood purification""gender""acute kidney injury""gastrointestinal bleeding""brain injury"and"shock".A risk prediction website for adverse postoperative outcomes in AAD patients was developed using XGBoost-SHAP method(https://dun-dunxiaolu.shinyapps.io/document/)and validated with examples.One randomly selected patient from each of the test and external validation sets was applied:the predicted mortality risk value for patient 1(who died postoperatively)was 0.9539,and that for patient 2(who survived postoperatively)was 0.0206.Conclusions The XGBoost-SHAP model demonstrates high accuracy in predicting postoperative mortality risk for AAD patients.The online prediction tool established based on this model enhances the identification efficiency of high-risk postoperative mortality patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism of a case with RhD-- phenotype. METHODS: A proband with RhD-- phenotype who attended the clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University on January 29, 2024 was selected as the study subject. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the proband (8 mL) and her close relatives (father, mother and brother; 3 mL each) for Rh phenotyping and irregular antibodies testing with gel card and test tube methods. Direct agglutination reaction and absorption-elution test were used to detect the c antigen on the red blood cells of the proband. PCR-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) typing and gene sequencing were used to determine the RHCE gene of the proband and her relatives. The origin of the proband's variant was traced by pedigree analysis. Three-dimensional structural models of the wild-type RhCE*cE protein and the RhD-- phenotype protein were constructed to predict the alterations of the RhD-- phenotype protein caused by the variant. The procedures of this study were approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethics No.: 2023-KY-0870-003). RESULTS: The red blood cells of the proband did not agglutinate with anti-C, anti-c, anti-E, and anti-e. The result of the serum irregular antibody test was negative. The results of direct agglutination reaction and absorption-elution test of the proband were both negative. Her Rh blood group was identified as RhD--. The results of the Rh blood grouping of her close relatives were normal. PCR-SSP detection showed that the RHCE genotypes of the proband and her close relatives were cE/cE and Ce/cE, respectively. Gene sequencing analysis showed that the RHCE genotypes of the proband and her close relatives were RHCE*cE (c.365C>A)/RHCE*cE (c.365C>A) and RHCE*Ce/RHCE*cE (c.365C>A), respectively. Pedigree analysis revealed that the variants in the proband were inherited from her father and mother, respectively. Homology modeling of RhCE*cE protein showed that the RhD-- type peptide chain with a significantly shortened C-terminal was encoded by only 121 amino acid resides, which was 296 amino acid resides shorter compared to the wild-type RhCE*cE peptide chain encoded by 417 amino acid residues. CONCLUSION Above results revealed the molecular biological mechanism of a RhD-- phenotype. The c.365C>A variant in the RHCE gene has rendered the RHCE*cE alleles invalid, which ultimately led to the RhD-- phenotype.
Humans ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System/chemistry* ; Female ; Phenotype ; Male ; Alleles ; Pedigree ; Base Sequence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Adult

This paper summarized the experience in treating flat warts by Professor XU Xian based on the theory of Bai Qi （白气） micro-discharge. Flat warts is considered as a minor skin disease. Wind-damp attacking the exterior and contention between the muscles are the prerequisites for its occurrence， and failure to diffuse due to wei （卫） constraint， and qi discharge to striae and interstices are the core pathogenesis. For treatment， the core principle is to treat minor diseases with minor adjustment， and therefore， the method of dispelling wind and overcoming dampness is used to produce slight sweating and relieve the symptoms， and by taking advantage of the situation， the constraint is unblocked with diffusion and dispersion. Simultaneously， it is paid attention to not over-damaging blood vessels during treatment to avoid causing other symptoms. Self-made Modified Maxing Yigan Decoction （麻杏薏甘汤） is recommended as the basic formula for flat warts， together with self-made Xi You Formula （洗疣方） in external administration to restore defense qi， eliminate pathogenic qi and remove the warts.

Objective To investigate whether norepinephrine (NE) regulates the oxidative stress in human endom-etrial epithelial cells (hEECs) by activating nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/ heme oxygenase -1(HO-1) signal pathway.Methods Cultured hEECs were used.The expression of α and β adrenergic receptors was detec-ted by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay was applied to test the effect of NE on cell viability, then the cells were divided into Control group and NE treatment group, and the appropriate concentrations were chosen.The expression of tight junction proteins Occludin and zona occludens-1(ZO-1), apoptosis-related proteins apoptosis-related protein B-cell lymphoma-2 protein(Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associ-ated X protein(Bax) , antioxidant proteins Nrf2 and HO-1 were examined by Western blot.The apoptosis was de-tected by flow cytometry.The malonaldehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) in the cell culture medium were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays kit (ELISA).Results The mRNA expression of α1 a,α1 b,α2 a,α2 b,α2 c,β1, β3 was detected in the hEECs.After the NE treatment, no significant change in cell viability was observed in low concentration (5 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L) groups, while 15 μmol/L and 20μmol/L NE treatments for 6 h or 24 h promoted the cell viability significantly.The expression of ZO-1 and Occlu-din increased significantly in 15 μmol/L group after 24 h treatment, the expression of ZO-1 decreased in 6 h treat-ment group, significant down regulation was observed after 15 μmol/L NE application, the expression of Occludin increased in 6 h group.The cell apoptosis increased compared with the control group after NE stimulation, espe-cially a significantly increase in 6 h 15 μmol/L group was detected,while the fall in increased apoptosis was ob-served after 24 h treatment.The ration of Bcl-2/Bax>1.The expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 was elevated by NE.There was no obvious change in MDA level while significant elevation in SOD was detected in cell culture medium.Conclusion Nrf2/HO-1 signal is activated after application of NE to the hEECs, which may responsible for the upregulation of SOD, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effect in the hEECs.

Objective:To examine the application of a novel pedagogical approach multidimensional supportive psychological intervention(MSPI)in the clinical practice teaching of andrological nursing care.Methods:Using the Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),we assessed the psychology of 100 nursing interns about to enter clinical practice in the Department of Andrology from De-cember 2021 to December 2022.We equally randomized the subjects into an experimental and a control group,the former receiving MSPI and the latter trained on the conventional teaching model without any psychological support intervention.Results:Compared with the baseline,the HAMD scores were significantly decreased in the experimental group after intervention(12.4±2.1 vs 8.9±2.4,P＜0.01),but increased in the controls(13.1±1.8 vs 14.7±1.9,P＜0.01);the skill scores dramatically increased in the experimental group(82.6±4.7 vs 91.2±2.4,P＜0.01),but decreased in the control group after intervention(81.0±3.5 vs 80.4±2.7,P=0.28).Conclusion:MSPI can significantly enhance the learning enthusiasm of nursing students in a short period,re-duce their psychological stress and improve teaching outcomes.This approach,combining psychology with teaching,can also strength-en the mental resilience of nursing students and better confront them with future professional challenges.

Objective:To study the molecular basis for a proband with A subtype B of the ABO blood group and explore the influence of amino acid variant on the activity of glycosyltransferase (GT).Methods:A proband who had presented at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University on July 2, 2020 was selected as the study subject. Serological identification of the ABO blood groups of the proband and her family members were performed by gel card and test tube methods. The ABO gene of the proband was identified by PCR-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) and DNA sequencing. A 3D molecular homologous model was constructed to predict the impact of the variant on the stability of α-(1→3)-D-N-acetylgalactosamine transferase (GTA). Results:The red blood cells of the proband, her mother and two younger brothers showed weak agglutination with anti-A and strong agglutination with anti-B. The sera showed 1~2+ agglutination with Ac and no agglutination with Bc. Based on the serological characteristics, the proband was identified as AwB subtype. Pedigree analysis suggested that the variant was inherited from her mother. The blood group of the proband was identified as A223B type by PCR-SSP. ABO gene sequencing analysis showed that the proband has harbored heterozygous variants of c. 297A>G, c. 467C>T, c. 526C>G, c. 657C>T, c. 703G>A, c. 796C>A, c. 803G>C, c. 930G>A and c. 1055insA. Based on the results of clone sequencing, it was speculated that the genotype was ABO* A223/ ABO* B.01. There were c. 467C>T and c. 1055insA variants compared with ABO* A1.01, and c. 1055insA variant compared with ABO* A1.02. Homologous modeling showed that the C-terminal of A223 GT was significantly prolonged, and the local amino acids and hydrogen bond network have changed. Conclusion:Above results revealed the molecular genetics mechanism of A223B subtype. The c. 1055insA variant carried by the proband may affect the enzymatic activity of GTA and ultimately lead to weakening of A antigen.