AIM:To elucidate the possible biological mechanism of silica-induced acute lung injury in rats.METHODS:Sixteen Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control and acute silicosis model groups,and instilled intratracheally with 1 mL of normal saline and 50 g/L silica suspension,respectively.After 7 d,the rats were sacrificed for collection of lung tissue and serum.The serum levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were measured by using ELISA.The protein expression levels of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)and gasdermin D(GSDMD)were measured by immunohistochemistry.Bacterial DNA was ex-tracted from the lung tissue for 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to characterize changes in the composition of lung flo-ra.The differences in the structure of bacterial flora between control and model groups were analyzed by bioinformatic analy-ses.RESULTS:Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the protein expression levels of NLRP3 and GSDMD were higher in the lungs of the rats in model group.In addition,serum cytokine profiling showed that IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in model group.The most abundant bacterial genera in the lung flora of the rats in model group were Bifidobacterium,Clostridium sensu stricto 1,and Parasutterella.The NLRP3 and GSDMD levels in the lung tissue and IL-1β and TNF-α levels in serum were positively correlated with the abundance of Parasutterella.CONCLU-SION:The alterations in lung flora structure and increased inflammation levels may be the actual biological mechanisms underlying silica-induced acute lung injury.The modulation of lung flora may provide a basis for the prevention and treat-ment of silica-induced acute lung injury.

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.

AIM:This study aims to explore the impact of Escherichia coli(E.coli)high-pathogenicity island(HPI)on pyroptosis and intestinal inflammation.METHODS:Kunming mice and IPEC-J2 cells(porcine small intesti-nal epithelial cells)were treated with HPI-containing E.coli strain(HPI+),HPI-deleting E.coli strain(ΔHPI),or lipo-polysaccharide(LPS).The intestinal lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)activity,superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity,IgA expression and secretory IgA(SIgA)content were assessed in mice.The expression of key regulatory factors in the nucleo-tide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)/caspase-1 signaling pathway-related proteins in mouse intestinal tract and IPEC-J2 cells was analyzed by RT-qPCR,immunohistochemical staining and Western blot.The levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and IL-18 in mouse serum and IPEC-J2 cell culture supernatants were measured by ELISA.The pivotal role of NLRP3 in HPI+infection was confirmed by silencing NLRP3 in IPEC-J2 cells using siRNA.RE-SULTS:The HPI+infection markedly decreased SOD activity,increased IgA+B cell count,and induced the LDH release and SIgA secretion in the mouse intestine compared with ΔHPI infection.The results of ELISA,HE staining and TUNEL staining indicated that E.coli HPI triggered DNA damage,tissue injury and inflammation in mouse intestinal epithelial cells.Western blot revealed an increase in intestinal gasdermin D N-terminal fragment(GSDMD-N)protein level with HPI+infection compared with ΔHPI infection.E.coli HPI significantly up-regulated mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3,apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β and IL-18 in mouse intestinal tissues and IPEC-J2 cells,accompanied by the elevated secretion of IL-1β and IL-18.The confo-cal microscopy demonstrated an enhanced assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome with HPI+infection compared with ΔHPI infection,leading to colocalization of NLRP3 and caspase-1.Furthermore,NLRP3 silencing in IPEC-J2 cells attenuated E.coli HPI-induced cell inflammation,damage,and NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway activation.CONCLUSION:The presence of HPI enhances the virulence of E.coli and exacerbates intestinal inflammation.Moreover,pyroptosis,regu-lated by the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway,plays a pivotal role in the intestinal injury induced by E.coli HPI.

Depressive disorder seriously affects people's physical and mental health.Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for depression,yet,its mechanism is unclear.Therefore,acupuncture's action mechanism in intervening depression was summarized from several perspectives,including morphology and ultrastructure of neurons in depression-related brain areas,function and structure of glial cells,brain functional and structural connectivity,and neuroelectrophysiology.It's discovered that acupuncture can repair the morphological and ultrastructural damage of neurons in the hippocampus and prefrontal lobe,mitigate the functional and structural injuries of glial cells in the hippocampus and prefrontal lobe,strengthen functional connectivity and heal structural connection,and promote neuroelectrophysiological activities,which possibly are the principal mechanisms of how acupuncture works in intervening depressive disorder.

Objective    To compare the outcomes following emergency surgery or conservative treatment for patients with acute type A aortic intramural hematoma (IMH). Methods    Clinical data of consecutive patients diagnosed with acute type A aortic IMH in our hospital from September 2014 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients who met our surgical indications received surgery (an operation group) and other patients received strict conservative treatment (a conservative treatment group). Results    Finally 127 patients were enrolled, including 112 males and 15 females with an average age of 53.6±13.0 years. Of 127 patients, 85 (66.9%) patients accepted emergency surgery and 42 (33.1%) patients accepted strict conservative treatment. There was no difference between the two groups in early mortality or complications (P>0.05). The 5-year survival rate was 90.4% in the operation group and 74.3% in the conservative treatment group (P=0.010). A maximum aortic diameter in the ascending aorta and aortic arch≥45 mm and maximum thickness of IMH in the same section≥8 mm were risk factors for IMH-related death in patients undergoing conservative treatment (P<0.001). Conclusion    The mortality associated with emergency surgery for patients with acute type A aortic IMH is satisfactory. In clinical centers with well-established surgical techniques and postoperative management, emergency surgical treatment may provide a better outcome than conservative treatment for patients with acute type A aortic IMH.

This study was aimed to investigate the expression of miR-651-3p in breast cancer and its role in regulating the expression of immunosuppressive factors IL-10 and TGFβ1 as well as the apoptosis level of breast cancer cells.qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression level of miR-651-3p in MCF-7 cells.miR-651-3p-over-expressng/-silencing plasmids and SP2-silencing plasmid were used to transfect MCF-7 cells.The expression levels of SP2,IL-10 and TGFβ1 were detected by Western blot assays.The apoptosis level of MCF-7 cells was detected by flow cytometry.The binding between miR-651-3p and SP2 was verified by dual luciferase gene report,and the binding of SP2 to IL-10 and TGFβ1 promoter region was verified by ChIP assay.Our results showed that miR-651-3p was down-regulated in breast cancer cells(P<0.05).The over-expression of miR-651-3p and the knockdown of SP2 significantly down-regulated the expression levels of IL-10 and TGFβ1 and promoted the apoptosis of breast cancer cells,while silenced miR-651-3p had the opposite effect.miR-651-3p binds to the SP2-3'-UTR end and down-regulates its expression.Based on the silencing of miR-651-3p,the silencing of SP2 can significantly reduce the influence of silenced miR-651-3p on the expression of IL-10 and TGFβ1 and apoptosis level in breast cancer cells.SP2 promotes the expression levels of IL-10 and TGFβ1 by binding to their promoters,respectively.Taken together,down-regulated miR-651-3p in breast cancer inhibited the expression of SP2 by binding to its 3'-UTR region,reduced the up-regulation effect of SP2 on the expression of IL-10 and TGFβ1,thus inhibiting the expression of immunosuppressive factors IL-10 and TGFβ1 and promoting apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

Objective:To explore the risk factors and outcomes of central nervous system(CNS)complications associated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT).Methods:A total of 550 recipient after HSCT in the department of hematology of Tongji Hospital affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 1 2019 to August 31 2021were enrolled.According to the occurrence of CNS complications, they were divided into the CNS group(24 cases)and the non CNS group(526 cases). The clinical information and prognosis were compared.We further analyzed the risk factors associated with CNS complications, and conducted multivariate logistic regression on statistically significant indicators.Cox regression analysis is conducted on prognostic factors such as age, gender and risk degree.Results:A total of 550 recipients were enrolled, of which 330 underwent allo-HSCT, and others received auto-HSCT.A total of 24 cases (4.36%)had CNS complications, of which 4 cases had 2 types of CNS complications.The type of CNS complications included intracranial infection(8 cases, 28.57%), transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy(TA-TMA)(6 cases, 21.43%), central tumor invasion(4 cases, 14.29%), intracranial hemorrhage(4 cases, 14.29%), leucodystrophy(2 cases, 7.14%)and unexplained encephalopathy(4 cases, 14.29%). Logistic regression analysis of risk factors related to CNS complications showed that, Platelet implantation time( β=0.084, OR=1.088, P=0.048), CMV infection( β=1.295, OR=3.65, P=0.008)is positively correlated with the occurrence of CNS complications in HSCT recipients but age( β=-0.052, OR=0.949, P=0.004)is negatively correlated with it.Nine of the 24 cases(37.50%)who experienced CNS complications died, including 3 cases of intracranial infection, 3 cases of cerebral hemorrhage, 2 cases of TMA, and 1 case of unexplained encephalopathy.Platelet implantation time is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis of CNS complications in HSCT recipients. Conclusions:Our results indicated that, age, CMV infection and platelet implantation time were associated with the occurrence of CNS complications after HSCT.Platelet implantation time is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis of CNS complications in HSCT recipients.

Persistent neurogenesis exists in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the ventricles and the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in the adult mammalian brain. Adult endogenous neurogenesis not only plays an important role in the normal brain function, but also has important significance in the repair and treatment of brain injury or brain diseases. This article reviews the process of adult endogenous neurogenesis and its application in the repair of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or ischemic stroke, and discusses the strategies of activating adult endogenous neurogenesis to repair brain injury and its practical significance in promoting functional recovery after brain injury.
Adult ; Animals ; Humans ; Brain/physiopathology* ; Hippocampus/physiopathology* ; Mammals/physiology* ; Neurogenesis/physiology* ; Brain Hemorrhage, Traumatic/therapy* ; Ischemic Stroke/therapy* ; Recovery of Function ; Spinal Cord/physiopathology*

Objective:To understand the willingness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use to prevent HIV infection and related factors in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Yunnan Province.Methods:Cross-sectional study method and snowball sampling method was used to carry out the survey in 14 cities (autonomous prefectures) in Yunnan from April to June 2021. According to national sentinel surveillance program, the sample size was 400 at national sentinel sites and 100 at provincial sentinel sites. The related factors of PrEP use willingness were analyzed by multiple logistic regressions with software SPSS 22.0.Results:A total of 2 450 questionnaires were completed, the rate of having heard of PrEP was 68.5% (1 677/2 449), the willingness rate of PrEP use was 56.7% (1 343/2 368), the willing rate of PrEP use at their own expense was 30.6% (724/2 368), and the willingness rate of free PrEP use was 56.2% (1 330/2 367). The of multivariate logistic analysis results showed that related factors of low willingness to use PrEP included aged 40-49 years and 50 years or above (a OR=2.49 and a OR=4.48), Han ethnic group (a OR=1.47), residence in other provinces (a OR=1.64), education level of senior high school (a OR=1.96) and college or above (a OR=3.49), sample source of bath house (a OR=3.53), online recruiting (a OR=2.53) and voluntary counseling and testing (a OR=1.42), local living time for 3-6 months and 7-12 months (a OR=0.18 and a OR=0.25) ,class 2 and 3 of survey areas (a OR=3.63 and a OR=1.71), having no anal sex with men in the past week (a OR=2.60), having no commercial homosexual behavior in the past six months (a OR=13.32) and self-perceived higer risk for HIV infection (a OR=0.50). Conclusions:There was more than half of MSM with willingness to use PrEP. The health education to promote PrEP use should be strengthen in MSM who had low willingness to use PrEP from underdeveloped areas, in Han ethnic group, with older age, from other provinces, with shorter local living time and self-perceived low risk for HIV infection.

ObjectiveTo explore the molecular mechanism of "transmission between the lung and brain" of influenza based on Janus kinase 1/signal transducer and activator of transcription 1（JAK1/STAT1） signaling pathway and further investigate the intervention effect of Maxing Shigantang （MXSGT）. MethodA total of 100 SPF BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a normal group，a model group，an oseltamivir group （21.63 mg·kg^-1·d^-1），an antiviral granules group（3.9 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and an MXSGT group（6.05 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 20 mice in each group. The pneumonia model was induced in mice except for those in the normal group by intranasal infection of influenza A virus（IAV）. Twenty-four hours after modeling，mice were treated with corresponding drugs， while those in the normal group and the model group received the same amount of normal saline by gavage， once a day for 3 and 7 days. The pathological changes in the lung and brain were observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE）staining. The mRNA expression of IAV nucleoprotein（NP），JAK1， and STAT1 in the lung and brain was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）， and the protein expression of JAK1 and STAT1 in the lung and brain was detected by Western blot. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated（p）-STAT1 in the lung and brain tissues， and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to detect the serum levels of interleukin-1β（IL-1β） and interleukin-10（IL-10）. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed obvious pathological changes in the lung tissues and cerebral cortex， increased relative mRNA expression of IAV NP in the lung （P<0.01）， elevated mRNA and protein expression of JAK1 and STAT1 in the lung and brain tissues （P<0.05，P<0.01），up-regulated expression level of p-STAT1 in lung tissues and cerebral cortex （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and increased serum level of IL-1β （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the MXSGT group showed alleviated pathological damage to lung tissues and cerebral cortex， decreased relative mRNA expression of IAV NP in lung tissues（P<0.01），reduced mRNA and protein expression levels of JAK1 and STAT1 in lung tissues and brain tissues（P<0.05，P<0.01）， and increased serum level of IL-10（P<0.01）. ConclusionThe abnormal activation of the JAK1-STAT1 signaling pathway may be one of the molecular mechanisms of "transmission between the lung and brain" of influenza. As an effective compound prescription against the influenza virus，MXSGT can alleviate the pathological damage of brain tissues in mice infected with IAV by regulating the level of cytokines mediated by this pathway.