Objective To measure and compare the cerebral blood flow(CBF)of children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD),global developmental delay(GDD),and ASD with GDD groups via arterial spin labeling(ASL)technique,and to evaluate the diag-nostic value of CBF values.Methods ASL images of ASD,GDD,and ASD with GDD groups of children were firstly acquired,and the CBF values of frontal lobe,temporal lobe,parietal lobe,occipital lobe,striatum and thalamus region of interest(ROI)were fur-ther measured,respectively.One-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare the differences in CBF values among these three groups,and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the efficacy of CBF values in distinguishing ASD with GDD from without GDD.Results ASD with GDD had significantly lower CBF values in the left and right frontal lobes than those with ASD or GDD alone,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The CBF values in the left and right frontal lobes effectively distinguished ASD with GDD from without GDD[area under the curve(AUC)>0.7].Conclusion ASL technique can noninvasively assess CBF in children with or without GDD,helping to understand the pathophysiology of ASD with GDD and improving diagnostic accuracy.

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf is a well-established traditional Chinese botanical and culinary resource. It has found widespread application in the management of diabetes. The bioactive constituents of mulberry leaf, specifically mulberry leaf flavonoids (MLFs), exhibit pronounced potential in the amelioration of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This potential is attributed to their ability to safeguard pancreatic β cells, enhance insulin resistance, and inhibit α-glucosidase activity. Our antecedent research findings underscore the substantial therapeutic efficacy of MLFs in treating T2D. However, the precise mechanistic underpinnings of MLF's anti-T2D effects remain the subject of inquiry. Activation of brown/beige adipocytes is a novel and promising strategy for T2D treatment. In the present study, our primary objective was to elucidate the impact of MLFs on adipose tissue browning in db/db mice and 3T3-L1 cells and elucidate its underlying mechanism. The results manifested that MLFs reduced body weight and food intake, alleviated hepatic steatosis, improved insulin sensitivity, and increased lipolysis and thermogenesis in db/db mice. Moreover, MLFs activated brown adipose tissue (BAT) and induced the browning of inguinal white adipose tissue (IWAT) and 3T3-L1 adipocytes by increasing the expressions of brown adipocyte marker genes and proteins such as uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and beige adipocyte marker genes such as transmembrane protein 26 (Tmem26), thereby promoting mitochondrial biogenesis. Mechanistically, MLFs facilitated the activation of BAT and the induction of WAT browning to ameliorate T2D primarily through the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) signaling pathway. These findings highlight the unique capacity of MLF to counteract T2D by enhancing BAT activation and inducing browning of IWAT, thereby ameliorating glucose and lipid metabolism disorders. As such, MLFs emerge as a prospective and innovative browning agent for the treatment of T2D.
Mice ; Animals ; Adipose Tissue, Brown ; Sirtuin 1/pharmacology* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Morus/metabolism* ; Flavonoids/metabolism* ; Prospective Studies ; Signal Transduction ; Adipose Tissue, White ; Plant Leaves ; Uncoupling Protein 1/metabolism* ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha/metabolism*

Objective:To explore the independent influencing factors of patients with spontaneous rupture hemorrhage of primary liver cancer (PLC).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 128 patients with PLC spontaneous rupture hemorrhage in Ningxia Medical University General Hospital from January 2017 to March 2022 were analyzed, including 108 males and 20 females, aged (53.4±10.6) years. According to different treatment, 128 patients were divided into liver resection group (LR, n=28), interventional group [ n=39, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE)], and conservative group ( n=61). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression was performed to analyze prognostic factors. The LR and TACE groups were subdivided into LR (aLR, n=15), TACE/TAE (aTACE, n=33) and LR+ TACE ( n=19) groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed, and the survival rate was compared by log-rank test. Results:The median survival time of LR group and TACE group was 23 months and 21 months, respectively, with no statistical significance ( P>0.05). The median survival time (38 months) in LR+ TACE group was significantly longer than that in aLR group (10 months) and aTACE group (9 months), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that Barcelona Clinical Liver Cancer (BCLC)staging, tumor length ≥10.0 cm, vascular invasion, α-fetoprotein ≥400 μg/L, total bilirubin, prothrombin time and treatment affected overall survival of PLC spontaneous rupture hemorrhage patients (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that BCLC staging, tumor length ≥10.0 cm, Child-Pugh grade and treatment were independent influencing factors for overall survival of PLC spontaneous rupture hemorrhage patients (all P<0.05). Conclusion:BCLC stage, tumor length ≥10.0 cm, Child-Pugh grade and treatment method are independent predictors of overall survival in patients with spontaneous rupture of PLC. LR combined with TACE therapy can improve the survival and prognosis of patients with spontaneous rupture of primary liver cancer.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: There has been an increased interest in determining calcium magnesium, sodium, and potassium's distinct effects on hypertension over the past decade, yet they simultaneously regulate blood pressure. We aimed at examining the association of dietary calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium independently and jointly with hypertension using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2007 to 2014.MATERIALS/METHODS: The associations were examined on a large cross-sectional study involving 16684 US adults aged>20 years, using multivariate analyses with logistical models. RESULTS: Sodium and calcium quartiles assessed alone were not associated with hypertension. Potassium was negatively associated with hypertension in the highest quartile, 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48–0.87). When jointly assessed using the high and low cut-off points, low sodium and corresponding high calcium, magnesium, and potassium intake somewhat reduced the odds of hypertension 0.39 (95% CI, 0.20–0.76). The sodiumto-potassium ratio was positively associated with hypertension in the highest quartile1.50 (95% CI, 1.11–2.02). When potassium was adjusted for sodium intake and sodium-topotassium ratio assessed among women, increased odds of hypertension were reported in the highest quartile as 2.02 (95% CI, 1.18–3.34) and 1.69 (95% CI, 1.12–2.57), respectively. The association of combined minerals on hypertension using dietary goals established that men meeting the reference intakes for calcium and exceeding for magnesium had reduced odds of hypertension 0.51 (95% CI, 0.30–0.89). Women exceeding the recommendations for both calcium and magnesium had the lower reduced odds of 0.30 (95% CI, 0.10–0.69). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the studied minerals' association on hypertension is stronger when jointly assessed, mostly after gender stratification. As compared to men, women increased their risk of hypertension even with a low sodium intake. Women would also reasonably reduce their risk of developing hypertension by increasing calcium and magnesium intake. In comparison, men would somewhat be protected from developing hypertension with calcium intake meeting the dietary goals and magnesium exceeding the nutritional goals.

Background: Chronic exposure to elevated levels of saturated fatty acids results in pancreatic β-cell senescence. However, targets and effective agents for preventing stearic acid-induced β-cell senescence are still lacking. Although melatonin administration can protect β-cells against lipotoxicity through anti-senescence processes, the precise underlying mechanisms still need to be explored. Therefore, we investigated the anti-senescence effect of melatonin on stearic acid-treated mouse β-cells and elucidated the possible role of microRNAs in this process. Methods: β-Cell senescence was identified by measuring the expression of senescence-related genes and senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining. Gain- and loss-of-function approaches were used to investigate the involvement of microRNAs in stearic acid-evoked β-cell senescence and dysfunction. Bioinformatics analyses and luciferase reporter activity assays were applied to predict the direct targets of microRNAs. Results: Long-term exposure to a high concentration of stearic acid-induced senescence and upregulated miR-146a-5p and miR- 8114 expression in both mouse islets and β-TC6 cell lines. Melatonin effectively suppressed this process and reduced the levels of these two miRNAs. A remarkable reversibility of stearic acid-induced β-cell senescence and dysfunction was observed after silencing miR-146a-5p and miR-8114. Moreover, V-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog A (Mafa) was verified as a direct target of miR-146a-5p and miR-8114. Melatonin also significantly ameliorated senescence and dysfunction in miR-146a-5pand miR-8114-transfected β-cells. Conclusion These data demonstrate that melatonin protects against stearic acid-induced β-cell senescence by inhibiting miR-146a- 5p and miR-8114 and upregulating Mafa expression. This not only provides novel targets for preventing stearic acid-induced β-cell dysfunction, but also points to melatonin as a promising drug to combat type 2 diabetes progression.

Objective:To investigate the application value of preoperative clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) targetoid enhancement combined with alpha-fetoprotein in evaluating the expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) in patients undergoing radical resection for single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without macrovascular invasion.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 220 patients who underwent radical resection for single HCC without macrovascular invasion in the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from January 2016 to December 2020 were collected. There were 171 males and 49 females, aged (56±11)years. Of the 220 patients, 52 cases showed positive CK19 expression, while 168 cases showed negative CK19 expression. Observation indicators: (1) MRI and immunohistochemical staining results of patients with different status of CK19 expression; (2) comparison of clinical features of patients with different status of CK19 expression; (3) comparison of MRI features in patients with different status of CK19 expression; (4) analysis of influencing factors for CK19 expression in patients and predictive value. The normality of continuous variables was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were expressed as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers and (or) percentages, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. Comparison of ordinal data was analyzed by the non-parameter rank sum test. The relevant clinical and imaging features with P<0.05 were included in the binary Logistic regression model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn and the area under curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the predictive efficiency of the model. Results:(1) MRI and immunohistochemical staining results of patients with different status of CK19 expre-ssion. Results of MRI examination in patients with positive CK19 expression showed the tumors with low-signal intensity on plain T1-weighted imaging, annular high enhancement in the arterial phase, clear boundaries in the portal venous phase, central enhance-ment in the delayed phase and targetoid high signals on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Immuno-histochemical staining revealed a positive CK19 expression. Results of MRI examination in patients with negative CK19 expression showed the tumors with low-signal intensity on plain T1-weighted imaging, non-annular high enhancement in the arterial phase, unclear boundaries in the portal venous phase, low signals compared with peripheral liver tissue in the delayed phase and uniform high signals on DWI. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a negative CK19 expression. (2) Clinical features of patients with different status of CK19 expression. The neutrophil count and cases with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥400 μg/L were 3.07(2.21,4.41)×10 9/L and 26 in patients with positive CK19 expression, versus 2.72(2.05, 3.51)×10 9/L and 48 in patients with negative CK19 expression, showing significant differences between them ( Z=?2.06, χ2=8.17, P<0.05). (3) Compari-son of MRI features in patients with different status of CK19 expression. Cases with tumor diameter ≥ 5 cm and cases with tumor showing targetoid enhancement were 34 and 22 in patients with positive CK19 expression, versus 82 and 24 in patients with negative CK19 expression, showing significant differences between them ( χ2=4.38, 18.86, P<0.05). (4) Analysis of influencing factors for CK19 expression in patients and predictive value. Results of multivariate analysis showed that AFP ≥ 400 μg/L and targetoid enhance-ment were independent risk factors for positive CK19 expression in HCC patients [ odds ratio=2.09, 3.23, 95% confidence interval ( CI) as 1.06?4.13, 1.49?6.99, P<0.05]. Results of ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of targetoid enhancement for predicting positive CK19 expression was 0.64 (95% CI as 0.57?0.71), with the sensitivity and specificity as 42.31% and 85.71%. The AUC of AFP ≥400 μg/L for predicting positive CK19 expression was 0.61 (95% CI as 0.53?0.68), with the sensitivity and specificity as 51.00% and 71.43%. The AUC of targetoid enhancement combined with AFP ≥400 μg/L for predicting positive CK19 expression was 0.69 (95% CI as 0.61?0.77), with the sensitivity and specificity as 67.31% and 63.10%, respectively. Conclusions:Targetoid enhancement and AFP ≥400 μg/L are independent risk factors for positive CK19 expression in patients with single HCC without macrovascular invasion. Their combination has clinical value for preoperative evaluation of CK19 expression.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter genicular artery embolization (GAE) for moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods:This prospective study included 13 patients (17 knees) with KOA who were treated with GAE from October 2020 to March 2021. The Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade was 2-3 for 11 knees, and 4 for 6 knees. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) assessments were performed for all the subjects before operation. The success rate, clinical efficacy and complications were recorded after operation. Clinical outcomes were evaluated at 1 day, 1week and 1, 3, 6 months after the operation.Results:The success rate of GAE in 17 cases was 100%, and the success rate of target artery superselection was 98.4%(63/64). The baseline WOMAC pain score was 11(10, 13) and total score was 44(38, 58) for 17 knees. Post-operation follow-up WOMAC pain score were 4(3, 7), 2(1, 5), 2(1, 6) and 4(2, 6) at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Post-operation follow-up WOMAC total score were 22 (15, 34),20 (12, 24),17 (12, 26) and 20 (12, 31) at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. There were 16 knees with 6 month follow-up assessment, with the WOMAC pain score of 2.5(2, 5), and the total score of 15(12, 26). Significant difference was found in the WOMAC pain score between baseline and the 1 day, 1 week, 1, 3 and 6 months follow up ( Z=-3.631, -3.623, -3.622, -3.622, -3.532, all P<0.001); also, the total score was statistically significant different between the baseline and the 1 day, 1 week, 1, 3 and 6 months follow up ( Z=-3.639, -3.634, -3.646, -3.527, -3.532, all P<0.001). At 3 months follow-up, there was 1 knee recognized clinical failure. Post-operative adverse reaction in this group included skin ecchymosis in femoral artery puncture area ( n=3), knee joint stiffness and pain within 1 week ( n=4),and clanging joints during postoperative activities ( n=6). Conclusion:GAE is a feasible and safe procedure with obvious short-term curative effect, which can alleviate pain symptoms and improve restricted movement in patients with KOA.

Objective To investigate the impact of various distribution of bone cement on the early clinical outcomes in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) patients treated with percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP).Methods A total of 312 patients (54 males and 258 females,mean age 69.37 years) who diagnosed as OVCF and received PKP treatment from January 2015 to July 2017 were enrolled in the present study.All subjects were divided into two groups according to different distribution of bone cement:the shaped "O" distribution (group O,113 cases),in which bone cement in the vertebral body presented whole crumb,no separation or loss of bone cement,and the shaped "H" distribution (group H,199 cases),in which bone cement in the vertebral body presented two briquettes,connected with or without a small amount of bone cement.Demographic data,surgical details,radiographic data,and clinical outcomes (at preoperatively,two-days and one-year follow-up) were compared between the two groups.Results There was no significant difference in bone mineral density (BMD),operation duration,blood loss,and occurrence of leakage of bone cement between two groups.In comparison with group O,group H was accompanied with higher volume of injected bone cement and higher proportion of bilateral approach (P＜0.05).Both groups achieved significant improvement of VAS scores after surgery,while the group H had a dramatical reduction of VAS scores at one-year follow-up compared with two-days follow-up (P＜0.05).In addition,group H had a better restoration of VAS scores at one-year follow-up than group O (P＜0.05),though no significant difference was observed at preoperative and two-days follow-up.Both groups achieved significant improvement of radiographic data after surgery (P＜0.05) with similar effects of correction.Conclusion Either shaped "H" or shaped"O" distribution of bone cement can obtain satisfied early clinical effects of PKP for the treatment of OVCF.Compared with shaped "O" distribution,shaped "H" distribution can achieve better pain relief at early follow-up.

Objective To investigate the expression of microRNA-1290 in pancreatic cancer and its role in invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.Methods The expression of microRNA-1290 in pancreatic cancer tissue microarray and pancreatic cancer cell lines (AsPC-1,BxPC-3,Capan-2,Panc-1,and MIA PaCa-2) were detected by immunohistochemistry and QT-PCR.The pancreatic cancer cell lines Panc-1 and MIA PaCa-2 in logarithmic growth phase were treated with microRNA-1290 inhibitor,and the invasion and metastasis ability of pancreatic cancer cells were detected by Transwell and wound healing asssay.Western Blot was used to detect the expression of invasion and metastasis-associated proteins cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP-2) in pancreatic cancer cell lines.Results (1) The expression of microRNA-1290 in pancreatic cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in normal pancreatic tissues and adjacent tissues (P ＜ 0.05).(2) Compared with pancreatic normal epithelial cells (HPDE),the expression of microRNA-1290 was significantly higher in different pancreatic cancer cell lines (P ＜ 0.05).The expression level of MicroRNA-1290 in Panc-1 and MIAPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells was significantly higher than that in other pancreatic cancer cell lines (P ＜ 0.05).(3) The number of invasive and metastatic cells was significantly decreased after treatment with microRNA-1290 inhibitor (P ＜0.05).(4) The expression of MMP-2 and COX-2 were decreased in Panc-1 and MIAPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells treated with MicroRNA-1290 inhibitor.Conclusion The expression of MMP-2 and COX-2 may be involved in the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cell by regulating the expression of microRNA-1290 in pancreatic cancer.

The human gastro-intestinal tract is not only the habitat of gut microbiota, but also the main place that the body gets available nutrients. Therefore, the gut microbiota of human can be inseparable associated with the human nutrition. The common technologies used among gut microbiota research included metageonomic, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, and metabolomics. The research of gut microbiota based on above omics methods confirmed that diets were the main factors influencing the composition and expression of gut microbiota. The proportion, quantity, stable state, and metabolic changes of gut microbiota were closely related to obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and other nutritional-related diseases. Reasonable dietary intervention can adjust the disorders of gut microbiota, which can achieve prevention and treatment of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other nutritional-related diseases. Although the single omics methods can be used to study the problems of some aspects of gut microbiota, the combination of multi-omics is needed to achieve the above objectives.