Background::Findings on the association of genetic factors and colorectal cancer (CRC) survival are limited and inconsistent, and revealing the mechanism underlying their prognostic roles is of great importance. This study aimed to explore the relationship between functional genetic variations and the prognosis of CRC and further reveal the possible mechanism.Methods::We first systematically performed expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Then, the Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to filter out the survival-related eQTL target genes of CRC patients in two public datasets (TCGA and GSE39582 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus database). The seven most potentially functional eQTL single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with six survival-related eQTL target genes were genotyped in 907 Chinese CRC patients with clinical prognosis data. The regulatory mechanism of the survival-related SNP was further confirmed by functional experiments.Results::The rs71630754 regulating the expression of endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 ( ERAP1) was significantly associated with the prognosis of CRC (additive model, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.88, P = 0.012). The results of dual-luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that the A allele of the rs71630754 could increase the binding of transcription factor 3 (TCF3) and subsequently reduce the expression of ERAP1. The results of bioinformatic analysis showed that lower expression of ERAP1 could affect the tumor immune microenvironment and was significantly associated with severe survival outcomes. Conclusion::The rs71630754 could influence the prognosis of CRC patients by regulating the expression of the immune-related gene ERAP1. Trial Registration::No. NCT00454519 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/)

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of body acupuncture combined with FANG's scalp acupuncture in treating limb dysfunction in the remission stage of stroke and explore the mechanism. Methods:Sixty patients in the remission stage of stroke with limb dysfunction were divided into a control group and a treatment group using the random number table method,with 30 cases in each group.The control group was treated with ordinary acupuncture based on the conventional rehabilitation treatment,and the treatment group was additionally offered FANG's scalp acupuncture.The interventions were conducted once daily with 10 sessions as 1 course.The Fugl-Meyer assessment(FMA)and Barthel index(BI)scores and serum malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)levels were compared after 2 treatment courses,and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results:After treatment,the FMA and BI scores increased in both groups(P<0.05)and were higher in the treatment group than in the control group(P<0.05).Both groups showed a decreased MDA level and an increased SOD level after the intervention,all showing statistical significance(P<0.05);there were significant differences between the two groups(P<0.05). Conclusion:Based on the conventional rehabilitation treatment,ordinary acupuncture used alone or in combination with FANG's scalp acupuncture can lower the oxidative stress level and improve limb function in treating limb dysfunction in the remission stage of stroke;body acupuncture plus FANG's scalp acupuncture can produce better results.

Objective:To explore the MRI features of fetal coronal cleft vertebrae, and to compare the efficacy of MRI and ultrasound in the diagnosis of fetal coronal cleft vertebrae, and to analyze the outcome of fetal coronal cleft vertebrae.Methods:From September 2019 to June 2021, 40 fetuses suspected of fetal vertebral deformities by ultrasound were retrospectively collected in Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, who were diagnosed as coronal cleft vertebrae after MRI examination. Five cases of induced labor and 14 cases lost to follow-up were excluded, and 21 fetuses who underwent MRI after delivery were finally included. The gestational weeks were 25-34 (29.1±2.6) weeks, and there were 19 males and 2 females. Fetal spine MRI includes susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) and T 2-true fast imaging with steady-state (True-FISP). The MRI features and outcome of fetal coronal cleft vertebrae were explored. The image quality scores of SWI, T 2-True-FISP and ultrasound were compared with Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The diagnostic accuracy of fetal coronal cleft vertebrae of SWI, T 2-True-FISP and ultrasound was calculated. Cochran test was used to compare the efficiency of 3 kinds of images, and the modified McNemar test was used for pairwise comparison between groups. Results:There were 10 cases of single and 11 cases of multiple fetal coronal cleft vertebrae, 16 cases of simple lumbar vertebrae, 2 cases of simple thoracic vertebrae, and 3 cases of thoracolumbar vertebrae. The common SWI features of 21 cases show longitudinal strip or dot high signal on the sagittal plane, and transverse fissure like high signal on axial plane. Anterior part of vertebral body was larger than posterior part in 19 cases of them. The image quality scores of SWI, T 2-True-FISP and ultrasound were 4 (3, 4), 2 (2, 2), 2 (2, 2), and the difference was statistically significant in general (χ2=34.24, P<0.001). Pairwise comparison showed that the image quality of SWI was better than those of T 2-True-FISP and ultrasound ( Z=-4.04, P<0.001; Z=-4.11, P<0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference between T 2-True-FISP and ultrasound ( Z=-0.58, P=0.388). The diagnostic accuracy of SWI, T 2-True-FISP and ultrasound was 100% (21/21), 66.7% (14/21), 47.6% (10/21). The diagnostic accuracy of SWI was better than those of T 2-True-FISP and ultrasound (χ2=5.14, P=0.008; χ2=9.09, P<0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference between T 2-True-FISP and ultrasound (χ2=0.75, P=0.194). MRI showed that coronal cleft vertebrae disappeared in all 21 fetuses after birth, including 1 case of syringomyelia and 1 case of fatty filum terminal. Conclusions:MRI, especially SWI, plays an important role in the diagnosis of fetal coronal cleft vertebrae. Fetal coronal cleft vertebrae disappeared in the follow-up after birth, which proved to be a normal physiological variation from the radiographic perspective.

Four compounds were isolated from the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaeli by Al2O3,silica gel and preparative HPLC.Their structures were identified as:(13R,15S,19S)-13,15,19-triol-hetisan (1),fuziline (2),neoline (3) and beiwutine (4),by methods of NMR,MS spectroscopy as well as single crystal X-ray crystallography.Among them,compound 1 was considered as a new diterpenoid alkaloid.

Objective To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (677C→T) of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and Alzheimer′s disease(AD) in south China Han people. Methods By applying polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), MTHFR 677C→T mutation was detected in 45 AD patients and 48 healthy controls. Results The frequency of MTHFR 677C→T mutation of patients showed no significant difference to that of healthy controls (P > 0.05). There is no statistic significance between AD group and controls in C, T gene frequency(P>0.05). But T gene frequency is higher in AD group than in control group. Conclusion MTHFR C 677T is not the pathogenic factor for AD, but could have some effects on AD.

Objective To investigate the role of Th17 cells and related cytokines in Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) infection.Methods To establish a mouse model of H.pyloriinfectious gastritis.Meanwhile,a treatment group and control group were set up.The histological changes in the gastric mucosa were observed and scored under light microscopy;The expression of IL-17 and IL-23 mRNAs as well as protein in gastric tissue was detected by RT-PCR and ELISA,respectively;Th17 cells in mice splenocyte were evaluated using the flow cytometry (FCM) method.Results We found significantly higher levels of IL-17 and IL-23 protein and mRNA levels in supernatant of gastric tissue homogenates of infection group as compared to controls and Th17 cells in spleen from mice of H.pylori infection group were all obviously higher than that of control group;IL-17 mRNA,IL-23 mRNA and the ratio of Th17 cells in mice splenocyte of H.pylori infection group mice increased gradually with the time prolonged;The levels of both mRNA and protein levels of IL-17and IL-23 decreased significantly in the treatment group compared with pre-treatment;There was a positive correlation between IL-17 and IL-23 expression levels of mice gastric mucosa and gastric inflammation degree.Conclusion H.pylori infection induced the immune response of Th17 cells;The levels of IL-17 and IL-23 increased in gastric mucosa of mice after H.pyloriinfection;The degree of H.pylori-infected mice gastric inflammation was positive correlation with the levels of IL-17 and IL-23 of gastric mucosa.

Objective To explore neural plasticity around an injured region of the spinal cord and the effects of step training on functional recovery after incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats ( n = 24) were induced with spinal cord contusion at T10 and divided into a step training group and a control group ( 12 rats in each). Training started from the 7th day post-injury and lasted for (20 ± 10)min per day, 5 days per week, for 9 weeks. Treadmill speeds were 3 m/min at the beginning, and adjusted daily according to each rat's tolerance up to 11 m/min or more. The functional recovery was measured weekly with the open-field locomotor rating scale of Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB score). The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament protein (NF) and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in the spinal cord around the injured region were detected. Results After 70 days of step training, the average BBB score of the step training group reached ( 12.86 ± 0.94 ), significantly higher than that of the control group ( 10.71 ± 0.95 ). The expression of NF and GAP-43 around the injured region increased significantly more in the step training group than among the controls. Conclusions Step training can promote functional recovery and neural plasticity in rats after incomplete SCI.

The neurotransmitter plays an important role in the neurologic functional recovery of animals and patients with spinal cord injury. This article reviews the neurotransmitters in spinal cord injured of rats and the effect of some therapy on them.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of early rehabilitation on motor function, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1（IL-1） and interleukin-6（IL-6） in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods160 patients with ACI were randomly divided into rehabilitation group (n=80) and control group (n=80), who accepted early rehabilitation and routine medicine or medicine only, respectively. They were assessed with modified Edinburgh-Scandinavian Stroke Scale (MESSS) and their peripheral level of hs-CRP, IL-1 and IL-6 were detected before and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after treatment. Results4 and 8 weeks after treatment, the level of hs-CRP, IL-1 and IL-6 were lower in rehabilitation group than in control group（P＜0.05）, as well as the scores of the MESSS （P＜0.01）. The incidence of improvement is more in rehabilitation group than in control group（P＜0.05）. ConclusionEarly rehabilitation can reduce the expression of hs-CRP, IL-1 and IL-6, and improve the neurological function in patients with ACI.

Objective To explore the effect of olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC) transplantation combined with walking training on neurofunction recovery in rats after spinal cord contusion. Methods Forty adult female rats aged (75 ± 1 ) days were subjected to experimental spinal cord contusion at the T10 level using a New York University impactor at a height of 25 mm. They were then divided into 4 groups: ( 1 ) an OEC transplantation combined with walking training (OEC-walking training) group, (2) an OEC transplantation (OEC) group, (3) a walking training combined with Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium injection (DMEM) (walking training-DMEM) group, and (4) aDMEM injection (SCI-DMEM) group. The OEC transplants and DMEM injections were performed 2 weeks post-injury. Walking training began at the 7th day post-injury and consisted of daily sessions (once daily, 5 days a week for 10 weeks) of quadrupedal treadmill training, starting from 15 min and gradually increasing to 30 min daily, at speeds starting from 3 m/min and gradually increasing in accordance to the condition of the rats. Locomotor function recovery of the rats' hindlimbs was evaluated weekly using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale.The expression of tyrosine hydroxylase ( TH ) was detected in the injured region of the lumbar spinal cord. Results The BBB scores of rats in the OEC-walking training group and the walking training-DMEM group improved significantly from the 4th week post-injury compared to the SCI-DMEM injection group. Rats in the OEC transplantation group had a significant improvement in BBB scores at the 5th to 8th weeks post-injury. At the end of the 11th week post-injury, the average BBB scores were 13.14 ± 0.24 in the OEC-walking training group, 11. 64 ± 0.56 in the OEC transplantation group, 12.29 ±0.64 in the walking training-DMEM group and 11.07 ± 0.84 in the SCI-DMEM group.The OEC-walking training group scored significantly higher than the other 3 groups. Although the number of TH-positive neurons in the lumbar spinal cord was not significantly different among the groups, the morphology of TH-positiveneurons in the OEC-walking training group and the walking training-DMEM group was different from those in the OEC transplantation group and the SCI-DMEM group. Conclusions OEC transplantation combined with walking training can effectively promote the functional recovery of the hindlimb. The plasticity of the descending TH system and of motoneurons of the ventral horn of the lumbar spinal cord might mediate the changes.