Objectives To investigate the relationship between self-reported occupational noise exposure and levels of plasma inflammatory cytokines in asthmatic patients. Methods A total of 910 adult asthmatic patients were selected as the study subjects, and their occupational noise exposure history and other related information were collected. The peripheral blood samples were collected from the patients, and the expression levels of plasma soluble CD14 (sCD14), complement factor D (CFD), Eotaxin-11 (CCL11), and IL-9 were determined. The relationship between self-reported occupational noise exposure and the expression levels of the four inflammatory cytokines in patients’ plasma were analyzed using multiple linear regression models. The interactions between confounding factors and self-reported occupational noise exposure were further analyzed by interaction analysis. Results The plasma CCL11, sCD14 and CFD expressions in asthmatic patients with self-reported occupational noise exposure were significantly higher than those in patients without the exposure (P<0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, compared with patients reporting no occupational noise exposure, the plasma CFD expression was increased by 0.17 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.31) natural logarithm units in patients with self-reported occupational noise exposure. During remission, the levels of plasma CCL11 and sCD14 in asthmatic patients with self-reported occupational noise exposure were increased by 0.27 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.49) and 0.22 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.41) natural logarithm units, respectively, when compared with patients without the exposure. Interaction analysis showed that self-reported occupational noise exposure had significant multiplicative interaction with smoking or pet ownership on plasma CCL11 or CFD expressions in asthmatic patients (all P<0.05). Conclusion Self-reported occupational noise exposure is significantly associated with increased expression levels of plasma CFD, CCL11, and sCD14 in adult asthmatic patients.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the imaging manifestations and pathological classification of congeni-tal cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung(CCAM).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and radiologic data of nine patients with pathologically confirmed CCAM,and all data were compared with Stocker pathological classification,respec-tively.Results The CT images of all nine patients demonstrated cysts filled with either gas or fluid,which corresponded exactly with their gross pathological outcomes.Four cases of large cystic CCAM(cyst diameter exceeding 2 cm)were consistent with Stocker type Ⅰ.CT findings showed single or multiple capsular cavities occupying the thoracic cavity,with gas or fluid mainly in the cyst.Two cases exhibited mass effect and expansion of the involved lung lobes,while two cases showed localized decreased density around the lesion.The pathological features of these large cystic CCAM included single or multiple thick-walled cysts,with pseudostratified ciliated colum-nar epithelium lining the cyst lumen observed under microscopy.The other five cases of small cystic CCAM(cyst diameter less than 2 cm)matched Stocker type Ⅱ.CT findings showed multiple thin-walled cellular cysts confined to a single lung lobe,and none of these patients had significant mass effect or expansion of the involved lung lobes.Pathologically,these cases were characterized by multiple small cysts with septa,and the cysts were primarily lined with ciliated columnar or cuboidal epithelium upon microscopy.Conclusion CT imaging of CCAM has specific manifestations,with accurately displaying the distribution range and morphological characteristics of the lesions and reflecting the internal histological characteristics.There is a significant correlation between the CT manifestations of CCAM and their pathological classification.

Objective To analyze three-dimensional(3D)radiographic characterizations of bone island(BI)in jaw using cone-beam computed tomography(CBCT).Methods CBCT data from four thousand patients were selected,reconstructed and analyzed using NNT 10.0 software.The sagittal,coronal and axial planes were used to analyze the 3D radiographic characteristics of BIs,including the localization,shape,density,boundary,the relationship between BIs and tooth and bone cortex,diameter and anatomical structures and complications involved.Their relationship with gender were analyzed.Results A total of 803 people had BIs,with the prevalence rate of 20.08%,including 338 males with 389 BIs and 465 females with 526 BIs.Both males and females had a dominant BI,and the ratio between male and female was 1∶1.38,but the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The BIs of both male and female mostly occurred in the mandibular premolars and molars area,and appeared irregular in shape,dense and contact with lingual bone cortex.Mostly BIs were apical type and with unclear boundary.The mean maximum diameter of mesial/distal direction was greater than buccal/lingual direction(P＜0.05).The most commonly involved anatomy structure was the inferior alveolar neural canal,cortical infil-tration and mental foramen.Conclusion There are no significant differences between males and females in the three-dimensional image characteristics of BIs in Chinese populations.CBCT can accurately and comprehensively analyze the 3D radiographic characteris-tics of BI and its relationship with the surrounding teeth and bone.

Objective The existing dyeing methods of myocardial fibrosis were optimized to make up for the problems of missing and misreading of collagen fibers in the quantitative analysis of the current common dyeing methods of myocardial fibers,and to provide a reference for the semi-quantitative and diagnosis of myocardial fibrosis.Methods Paraffin sections of cardiac tissue were prepared using a transgenic mouse model of cardiomyopathy with a specific laboratory-constructed cTnTR141W gene mutation.Four staining method were performed for comparative observations:Masson's trichrome(Masson)staining,picrosirius red(PSR)staining,van Gieson(VG)staining,and Sirius red/fast green(SR/FG)staining.Image J 2.1.0 software was used to quantitatively compare the areas of collagen fibers.SR/FG was optimized from three aspects:dye concentration,staining time,and acid solution prestaining,and the quantitative analysis of collagen fibers was then verified.Results The collagen fiber distribution was observed by the four staining method,among which SR/FG was notable.It involved prestaining with a 0.1%Sirius red-picric acid acidic solution for 5 min,adjusting the concentration of the dye solution to 0.1%Sirius red-picric acid and 0.04%fast green mixture,and incubating the sections in the mixed staining solution for 1 h.This method exhibited the lowest incidence of missed readings and loss in determining the proportion of collagen fibers.Conclusions Compared with other traditional collagen fiber staining method,the optimized SR/FG technique described in this paper produces bright coloring of collagen fibers and myocardial tissue,obvious color contrast,and high stability,convenience,and speed.It is suitable for subsequent quantitative analysis and determination of the collagen fiber proportion.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are endogenous non-coding RNAs with covalently closed structures, which have important functions in plants. However, their biogenesis, degradation, and function upon treatment with gibberellins (GAs) and auxins (1-naphthaleneacetic acid, NAA) remain unknown. Here, we systematically identified and characterized the expression patterns, evolutionary conservation, genomic features, and internal structures of circRNAs using RNase R-treated libraries from moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) seedlings. Moreover, we investigated the biogenesis of circRNAs dependent on both cis- and trans-regulation. We explored the function of circRNAs, including their roles in regulating microRNA (miRNA)-related genes and modulating the alternative splicing of their linear counterparts. Importantly, we developed a customized degradome sequencing approach to detect miRNA-mediated cleavage of circRNAs. Finally, we presented a comprehensive view of the participation of circRNAs in the regulation of hormone metabolism upon treatment of bamboo seedlings with GA and NAA. Collectively, our study provides insights into the biogenesis, function, and miRNA-mediated degradation of circRNAs in moso bamboo.
RNA, Circular/metabolism* ; Multiomics ; Poaceae/metabolism* ; Seedlings/genetics* ; Hormones/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant

Background: Primary small intestinal lymphoma is an insidious onset gastrointestinal tumor with a high probability of perforation and poor prognosis. Aims: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and the factors related to perforation and prognosis in primary small intestinal lymphoma patients. Methods: The clinical data of patients with primary small intestinal lymphoma admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2014 to January 2022 were collected retrospectively. The clinical features of patients with different pathological types were compared, and factors related to perforation and prognosis were identified by Logistic regression analysis and Cox regression analysis, respectively. Results: Ninety patients with primary small intestinal lymphoma were enrolled, the male to female ratio was 2∶1, and the median age was 52.5 years old. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom complained by patients (74.4%). All patients were diagnosed as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma pathologically, of which 70 were B-cell lymphoma and 20 were T-cell lymphoma; diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was the most common histological type. Patients with T-cell lymphoma had a higher incidence of gastrointestinal complications than those with B-cell lymphoma (78.6% vs. 48.6%, P=0.001). Perforation was more commonly seen in T-cell lymphoma, and intestinal obstruction was more commonly seen in B-cell lymphoma. Multivariate Logistic analysis demonstrated that multisite involvement, elevation of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and T-cell lymphoma were the independent risk factors for perforation, while in univariate Cox regression analysis, decreased albumin, increased LDH, T-cell lymphoma, perforation and surgical treatment without chemotherapy were associated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that only surgical treatment without chemotherapy was an independent risk factor for death (HR=8.332, 95% CI: 1.453-47.772, P= 0.017). Conclusions: T - cell originated primary small intestinal lymphoma and those with increased LDH or involving multisite of gastrointestinal tract has a higher incidence of perforation. Surgical treatment without chemotherapy is strongly correlated with adverse outcomes. A regular chemotherapy after surgical treatment is highly recommended for primary small intestinal lymphoma patients complicated with perforation.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) alone versus AIP with IgG4 sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC). MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 40 patients with type 1 AIP who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2015 to January 2020, among whom 29 patients had AIP alone and 11 had AIP with IgG4-SC. The two groups were compared in terms of clinical manifestations, laboratory examination, imaging findings, treatment, and prognosis. The t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups; the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate recurrence rate and plot recurrence curve, and the log-rank test was used for univariate analysis. ResultsCompared with the AIP group, the AIP+IgG4-SC group had significantly higher number of affected organs ［3.0(3.0-4.0) vs 3.0(1.5-3.5), Z=-2.172, P=0035］ and response index before treatment ［12.0(12.0-15.0) vs 12.0(9.0-13.5), Z=-2.157, P=0.032］. The AIP+IgG4-SC group had a significantly higher median serum IgG level than the AIP group ［21.0(15.8-23.7) g/L vs 14.8(13.3-15.7) g/L, Z=-2.711, P=0.004］. During the median follow-up time of 15.8 (6.5-31.3) months, the AIP+IgG4-SC group had a significantly higher recurrence rate than the AIP group (χ2=8.155, P=0.004). ConclusionPatients with AIP and IgG4-SC tend to have higher serum IgG4 level, number of affected organs, and recurrence rate than those with AIP alone. Early identification, diagnosis, and treatment can reduce the recurrence rate of AIP.

Objective:To investigate the pathogenic spectrum of enteroviruses associated with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in the Yantai region of Shandong province in 2016, and analyze the evolution of epidemic strains of coxsackie virus group A type 6 (CV-A6) in the pathogenic spectrum of HFMD enteroviruses and the variations of important amino acid sites in the VP1 region.Methods:A total of 738 samples were collected from the patients with HFMD in Yantai region in 2016 to conduct DNA and serotype tests of enterovirus (EV) by real-time RT-PCR and further count the number and proportion of each type of enterovirus positive specimens. Based on the predominant serotype of enteroviruses, eight serotypes of the CV-A6 strains were selected to carry out VP1 regions amplification for the determination and analysis of nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.Results:A total of 460 enteroviruses strains were isolated from 738 samples, including pathogens strains: 258 CV-A16 (56.09%), 62 EV-A71 (13.48%), 49 CV-A10 (10.65%), 44 CV-A6 (9.57%) and 9 CV-A4 (1.96%). Eight CV-A6 positive specimens were isolated from the viruses and the nucleotide-sequence analysis of the whole VP1 region was conducted. The sequence analysis of eight CV-A6 strains demonstrated that the homologies of nucleotide and amino acid were 96.12% - 100% and 97.78% - 100% respectively. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the eight CV-A6 strains were subdivided into the genotype D subtype D3. Compared with the reference strain, CVA6-Gdula-AY421764, amino acids of CV-A6 strains in Yantai city observed at sites 10, 14, 174, 194, 279, 283 and 305 in VP1 region appeared mutant.Conclusions:CV-A16, EV-A71, CV-A10 and CV-A6 were the main common pathogens of HFMD in Yantai region in 2016. All the CV-A6 strains isolated in this study belonged to subtype D3 in genotype D.

Objective:To investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of circular RNA-UBXN7 (circ_UBXN7) on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.Methods:Circ_UBXN7 expression in the tissues and cells of hepatocellular cancer was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the relationship between circ_UBXN7 expression and clinicopathological features, including age, gender, tumor volume, pathological classification, staging, and lymph node metastasis was analyzed. The full-length sequence of circ_UBXN7 with lentivirus carrying lenti circ_UBXN7 and lenti circ_UBXN7 shRNA was constructed to transfect hepatocellular cell lines (HepG2 and Huh-7), respectively. CCK-8 experiments were performed to detect the ability of up- or down-regulation of circ_UBXN7 on the proliferation of HEPG2 and HUH-7 cells. Annexin V / PI experiment was used to detect the changes in apoptosis of HEPG2 and HUH-7 cells after up-regulation or down-regulation of circ_UBXN7 expression. JC-1 assay was used to detect the changes in mitochondrial potential energy of HEPG2 and HUH-7 cells after up-regulation or down-regulation of circ_UBXN7 expression. Transwell was used to detect the migration ability of HEPG2 and HUH-7 cells after up-regulation or down-regulation of circ_UBXN7 expression. Western blotting was used to detect the expressional change of TWIST, E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin. Statistical analysis: The expression levels of circ_UBXN7 and clinicopathological features were measured by chi-square test. Two groups were compared by t-test and three groups and above were compared by single factor analysis of variance. LSD method was used for comparison between groups.Results:The expression of circ_UBXN7 in liver cancer tissues was significantly higher than adjacent tissues, and its expression level was significantly positively correlated with tumor volume, stage, and lymph node metastasis ( P < 0.05). Lenti-circ_UBXN7 had up-regulated the expression of circ_UBXN7 in HEPG2 and HUH-7 cells and promoted cell proliferation. Lenti-circ_UBXN7-shRNA had down-regulated the expression of circ_UBXN7 and induced apoptosis. Lenti-circ_UBXN7-shRNA had reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential of cells. Lenti-circ_UBXN7 had promoted cell migration, while lenti-circ_UBXN7-shRNA had inhibited cell migration. Lenti-circ_UBXN7 had induced increased expression of Twist, N-cadherin, and Vimentin proteins, and reduced the expression of E-cadherin protein. Lenti-circ_UBXN7-shRNA had opposite effects on the expression levels of each protein. Starbase V2.0 software showed that miR-203a and circ_UBXN7 had potential binding sites, and miR-203a and circ_UBXN7 expression levels were negatively correlated in HEP ??G2 and HUH-7 cells. Conclusion:circ_UBXN7 plays an important role in promoting the occurrence and development of liver cancer, and is expected to become a potential target for the treatment of liver cancer.

Objective To investigate the role and mechanism of circular RNA-vimentin (circ-VIM) in the proliferation and apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells.Methods From December 2016 to December 2017, at Department of General Surgery of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, the clinical data of 100 patients who underwent radical resection of colorectal cancer and were confirmed by pathological examination after operation were collected.The tumor tissues and corresponding paracancerous tissues (negative control) were also collected.The expression of circ-VIM in the colorectal cancer tissues was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).The proliferation of HCT-116 and HT29 colorectal cancer cells was detected by cell counting kit-8 assay.The ratio of apoptosis of HCT-116 and HT29 cells was measured by annexin Ⅴ/propidium iodide double staining assay.The mitochondrial membrane potential of HCT-116 and HT29 cells was examined by 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) assay.The expression changes of protein kinase B and mammalian target of rapamycin were tested by Western blotting.The target miRNA of circ-VIM was predicted by miRDB software.T-test and chi-square test were performed for statistical analysis. Results The expression of circ-VIM in colorectal cancer tissues was 2.387 ±0.536, which was higher than that in corresponding paracancerous tissues (1.110 ±0.134), and the difference was statistically significant (t =23.096, P <0.01).And the expression levels of circ-VIM were significantly different in patients with different tumor size, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (all P <0.05).The proliferation of HCT-116 cells and HT29 cells in lenti-circ-VIM group was 0.737 ±0.023 and 0.835 ±0.025, respectively, which were both higher than those in control group (0.449 ±0.020 and 0.531 ±0.019), and the differences were statistically significant (t =20.706 and-15.374, both P <0.01).The proliferation of HCT-116 cells and HT29 cells in lenti-circ-VIM-shRNA group was 0.236 ±0.027 and 0.243 ±0.019, which were lower than those in control group, and the differences were statistically significant (t =24.557 and -23.197, both P <0.01).The ratio of apoptosis of HCT-116 cells and HT29 cells in lenti-circ-VIM-shRNA group was (18.00 ±1.82)％ and (20.80 ±0.61)％, which was higher than those in control group ((6.64 ±2.01)％ and (7.35 ±1.36)％), and the differences were statistically significant (t =8.826 and 17.454, both P <0.01).The fluorescence intensity ratio of JC-1 aggregate and JC-1 monomer of HCT-116 cells and HT29 cells in lenti-circ-VIM-shRNA group was 2.21 ±0.12 and 1.40 ±0.11, which was lower than those in control group (14.54 ±1.00 and 9.24 ±1.18), and the differences were statistically significant (t =-19.558 and-15.685, both P <0.01), which indicated mitochondrial membrane potential decreased.After treated with lenti-circ-VIM-shRNA, the expression of phosphorylated protein kinase B, phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin, B-cell lymphoma-2 and mitochondrial cytochrome C at protein level were all down-regulated, however the expression of cytoplasmic cytochrome C, B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein and cleaved caspase-3 at protein level were all up-regulated.When the expression of circ-VIM was up-regulated, the expression of miRNA-147b, miRNA-4447 and miRNA-3656 was down-regulated.When the expression of circ-VIM was down-regulated, the expression of miRNA-147b, miRNA-4447 and miRNA-3656 was up-regulated.Conclusion The expression of circ-VIM in colorectal cancer is abnormally increased, which is involved in the proliferation and apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells.