ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of icariin （ICA） on steroid-induced ferroptosis in bone microvascular endothelial cells （BMECs）. MethodsRat BMECs were selected and treated with 500 mg·L^-1 hydrocortisone for 1.5 h to establish a ferroptosis model of BMECs. The experimental cells were divided into a blank group， hormone group （500 mg·L^-1 hydrocortisone）， ICA group （500 mg·L^-1 hydrocortisone + 34 mg·L^-1 ICA）， and ferroptosis agonist group （500 mg·L^-1 hydrocortisone + 34 mg·L^-1 ICA + 2.7 mg·L^-1 erastin）. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8. The levels of ferrous ion， glutathione （GSH）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， and reactive oxygen species （ROS） were detected by related kit species. The ferroptosis-related proteins， such as glutathione peroxidase 4（GPX4）， ferritin light chain （FTL）， and transferrin receptor protein1 （sTfR） were detected by Western blot， as well as autophagy-related proteins including microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B （LC3B）， Beclin1， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， and Caspase-3. Results500 mg·L^-1 hydrocortisone intervention for 1.5 h could effectively induce ferroptosis in BMECs， and ferroptosis levels could reach a peak as the intervention continued. In terms of cellular antioxidant capacity， compared with those in the blank group， the cell vitality， GSH in the hormone group decreased significantly， and the levels of ROS， SOD， MDA， and ferrous ions were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the hormone group， the cell viability， GSH were significantly increased， and the levels of ROS， SOD， MDA， and ferrous ions were decreased in the ICA group （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the ICA group， the cell vitality， GSH in the ferroptosis agonist group decreased significantly， and the levels of ROS， SOD， MDA， and ferrous ions increased significantly （P<0.01）. In terms of the relationship between ferroptosis and autophagy， compared with the blank group， the hormone group had significantly increased expression levels of LC3B， sTfR， Beclin1， and FTL and significantly decreased expression levels of GPX4 （P<0.01）. Compared with the hormone group， The ICA group had significantly decreased expression levels of LC3B， sTfR， and FTL and significantly increased expression levels of Beclin 1 and GPX4 （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the ICA group， the expression levels of LC3B， sTfR， and FTL increased in the rapamycin group， and those of Beclin 1 and GPX4 decreased （P<0.01）. In terms of cell ferroptosis and apoptosis，compared with the blank group， the hormone group had significantly increased expression levels of FTL， sTfR and Caspase-3 and significantly decreased expression levels of GPX4， and Bcl-2 （P<0.01）. Compared with the hormone group， the ICA group had significantly decreased expression levels of FTL， sTfR and Caspase-3 and significantly increased expression levels of GPX4， and Bcl-2 （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the ICA group， the expression levels of FTL， sTfR and Caspase-3 in the ferroptosis agonist group were increased， and the expression levels of GPX4， and Bcl-2 were decreased （P<0.01）. In terms of cell function，compared with that in the blank group， the ability of cell migration and tube formation was significantly decreased in the hormone group （P<0.01）. Compared with that in the hormone group， the cell migration and tube formation ability in the ICA group were significantly increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionFerroptosis is involved in steroid-induced damage in BMECs. ICA can inhibit steroid-induced ferroptosis in BMECs， and the mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of ferroptosis by regulating autophagy.

Objective Genotypes(G)1,3,and 5 of the Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV)have been isolated in China,but the dominant genotype circulating in Chinese coastal areas remains unknown.We searched for G5 JEV-infected cases and attempted to elucidate which JEV genotype was most closely related to human Japanese encephalitis(JE)in the coastal provinces of China. Methods In this study,we collected serum specimens from patients with JE in three coastal provinces of China(Guangdong,Zhejiang,and Shandong)from 2018 to 2020 and conducted JEV cross-neutralization tests against G1,G3,and G5. Results Acute serum specimens from clinically reported JE cases were obtained for laboratory confirmation from hospitals in Shandong(92 patients),Zhejiang(192 patients),and Guangdong(77 patients),China,from 2018 to 2020.Seventy of the 361 serum specimens were laboratory-confirmed to be infected with JEV.Two cases were confirmed to be infected with G1 JEV,32 with G3 JEV,and two with G5 JEV. Conclusion G3 was the primary infection genotype among JE cases with a definite infection genotype,and the infection caused by G5 JEV was confirmed serologically in China.

Objective:To analyze the growth characteristics of different genotypes of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in different cell lines, and to provide scientific basis for the selection of cell lines in the study of JEV.Methods:BHK-21, Vero, C6/36, PK-15, DF-1, N2a, SH-sy5y and MDCK cell lines were selected. The proliferation ability of genotype 1 (NX1889 strain), genotype 3 (P3 strain) and genotype 5 (XZ0934 strain) JEV in these cell lines was evaluated by plaque assay and RT-qPCR.Results:Significant cytopathogenic effects (CPE) were observed in BHK-21, Vero, C6/36, DF-1, N2a and PK-15 cell lines across all three JEV genotypes. However, no significant differences in CPE characteristics were observed within the same cell line. SH-sy5y and MDCK cell lines did not show significant CPE, but virus proliferation was detected in SH-sy5y cell line, while MDCK cell line were found to be insensitive to JEV. No significant difference was observed in the proliferation curves of G1, G3 and G5 JEV in BHK-21, Vero and SH-sy5y cell lines. In C6/36 and PK-15 cell lines, the titer of G1 JEV was higher than that of G3 and G5. In DF-1 cell line, G5 demonstrated a higher titer than the other two genotypes, whereas in N2a cell line, G5 showed a lower titer than the other two.Conclusions:There are differences in the proliferation of three different genotypes of JEV in different cell lines, which can provide reference for the study of JEV in different directions.

Hearing loss is one of the common radiotherapy-induced complications of head and neck tumors, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma. These side reactions can be classified into acute or delayed types, which affect all structures of the auditory organs, resulting in conductive, sensorineural or mixed hearing loss. Up to 40% of patients develop acute middle ear side effects during radical radiotherapy, while approximately 1/3 develop late sensorineural hearing loss. The total radiation dose and tumor site appear to be the most important factors associated with the risk of hearing loss. The mechanisms of conductive and sensorineural hearing impairment are different. New radiotherapy techniques (three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, intensity modulated radiotherapy, proton therapy) enable better dose distribution, lower dose to non-target organs, and gradually increase the feasibility of protecting normal tissues. The present article illustrates recent progress in radiotherapy-induced hearing loss, specially focusing on the occurrence, the mechanisms and related factors of ear toxicity, detection and diagnosis, and treatment.

Objective　To establish a dual droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay for herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Methods The specific primers and probes were derived based on the conserved regions of HSV-1 and VZV genome. The primer-probe combinations were screened, and the annealing temperatures and primer-probe concentration ratios of the dual-droplet digital PCR reaction were optimized to establish a dual-droplet digital PCR reaction system for HSV-1 and VZV, which was tested for other viruses and validated for clinical samples. The sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of the established dual microtiter digital PCR method were analyzed. Results The optimal concentrations of primers and probes for the dual ddPCR detection method of HSV-I and VZV were determined to be 800 nmol/L and 250 nmol/L, respectively, with an optimal annealing temperature of 56 ℃. The correlation coefficient (R2) of the standard curve of the dual ddPCR assay was 0.99, showing a clear linear relationship. The method showed high sensitivity, with the lowest detection limit of herpes simplex virus type I being 2.97 copies/μL, and for VZV being 2.73 copies/μL. The repeatability was high with a small coefficient of variation and stable detection results; the specificity was excellent, and no cross-reaction was found with herpes simplex virus type Ⅱ, Epstein-Barr virus, Adenovirus, Coxsackievirus (CA6/CA10/CA16), Cytomegalovirus, Human Cytomegalovirus, Human enterovirus 71, Japanese Encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, Measles virus, Mumps virus, and human nucleic acids. Conclusions The dual droplet digital PCR assay for herpes simplex virus type I and varicella-zoster virus established in this experiment has strong sensitivity, specificity, and high repeatability, and can provide a solution for rapid quantitative detection of the two viruses in different scenarios.

Abstract： Objective　To elucidate the antigenic antibody reaction of recombinant expression of non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus with various mosquito-borne flaviviruses, including JE virus, and the antigenic antibody reaction of serum samples of patients infected with JE virus in acute stage. Methods　In this study, Escherichia coli prokaryotic expression vector (pET) system was used to recombinant express Japanese encephalitis virus NS1 gene. Western Blot assay was performed to detect the antibody responses of the recombinantly expressed protein against a variety of mosquito-transmitted flaviviruses, including JE virus, as well as antigen-antibody reactions of serum from patients with acute JE virus infection. Results　The NS1 gene expression product of JE virus (P3 strain) was in the form of an inclusion body, and the denatured and renatured expression product was displayed as a single band in the denatured gel (polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, PAGE), with a molecular weight of about 45 000. The results of further antigen-antibody analysis showed that the antigen/antibody hybridization reaction of the expression product with polyclonal or monoclonal antibody of JE virus (mosquito isolates, encephalitis isolates) and serum samples of patients with acute JE virus infection could be completely consistent. The recombinant product showed negative antigen/antibody hybridization reactions with mosquito-transmitted flaviviruses, such as dengue virus and yellow fever virus polyclonal antibodies, but positive reactions with polyclonal antibodies to West Nile virus and Murray Valley encephalitis virus. Conclusions　In this study, the recombinant expression of the NS1 protein of JE virus was successfully obtained, and the antigen/antibody reaction between the recombinant protein and samples of patients infected with mosquito-borne flavivirus and JE virus was analyzed. The study results provide important basic data for elucidating the antigen-antibody reaction between the NS1 protein of JE virus and mosquito-borne flavivirus. The recombinant expression protein obtained in this study provides an important material basis for further research on the function of JE virus NS1 protein.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between S-nitrosylation of spinal divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) modification and mechanism of remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in rats.Methods:Forty pathogen-free healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 2-3 months, weighing 240-260 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=10 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), remifentanil group (group R), L-NAME group (group C+ L) and remifentanil+ L-NAME group (group R+ L). Normal saline was infused at a rate of 0.1 ml·kg -1·min -1 for 60 min via the caudal vein in C group. Remifentanil was infused at a rate of 1.0 μg·kg -1·min -1 for 60 min via the caudal vein in R group. L-NAME 30 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected, and 10 min later normal saline was infused at a rate of 0.1 ml·kg -1·min -1 for 60 min in C+ L group. L-NAME 30 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected, and 10 min later remifentanil was infused at a rate of 1.0 μg·kg -1·min -1 for 60 min in R+ L group. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured at 24 h before iv infusion and 6, 24 and 48 h after the end of infusion (T 0-3). All the rats were sacrificed under anesthesia after the last measurement of pain thresholds, and the L 4-6 segments of the spinal cord were removed for determination of the expression of neuronal nitric oxide sythases (nNOS) and DMT1 mRNA (using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction), extraction of nitrosylated proteins (by biotin switch assay), expression of nNOS, total DMT1 and S-nitrosylation of DMT1 (by Western blot), nitric oxide (NO) content (by spectrophotometry) and iron content (using atomic absorption spectrophotometer). Results:Compared with group C, the MWT was significantly decreased, and the TWL was shortened at T 1-3 in group R ( P<0.05), and the expression of nNOS protein and mRNA and S-nitrosylation of DMT1 was significantly up-regulated, and contents of NO and iron were increased in R and R+ L groups ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in each index in group C+ L ( P>0.05). Compared with group R, the MWT was significantly increased, and the TWL was prolonged at T 1-3, and the expression of nNOS protein and mRNA and S-nitrosylation of DMT1 was down-regulated, and contents of NO and iron were decreased in group R+ L ( P<0.05). Compared with group C+ L, the MWT was significantly decreased, and the TWL was shortened at T 1-3, and the expression of nNOS protein and mRNA and S-nitrosylation of DMT1 was up-regulated, and the contents of NO and iron were increased in group R+ L ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the expression of DMT1 mRNA and total DMT1 in spinal cord among all the groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Activation of nNOS induces an increase in NO generation in the spinal cord and mediates the S-nitrosylation of DMT1, which may be related to the mechanism of remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in rats.

【Objective】 M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor(M3 receptor), encoded by CHRM3 gene, is widely distributed in the cardiovascular system and plays an important role in cardiac regulation. The aim of this study was to assess the association of genetic variants in M3 receptor with blood pressure(BP) responses to controlled dietary sodium and potassium interventions. 【Methods】 A total of 333 subjects from 124 families were recruited from the rural areas of northern China. After a three-day baseline observation, they were sequentially on a seven-day low-salt diet, a seven-day high-salt diet, and a seven-day high-salt diet plus potassium supplementation. Thirteen CHRM3 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) were selected for analysis. 【Results】 SNP rs10802811 of the CHRM3 was significantly associated with diastolic BP(DBP) and mean arterial pressure(MAP) responses to both low-salt and high-salt diets while SNPs rs6429147, rs373288072, rs114677844 and rs663148 showed significant associations with systolic BP(SBP) and MAP responses to high-salt diet. In addition, SNP rs6692904 was significantly associated with SBP, DBP and MAP responses to high-salt diet with potassium supplementation. 【Conclusion】 Genetic variants in M3 receptor are significantly associated with BP responses to sodium and potassium intervention, suggesting that M3 receptor may be mechanistically involved in BP salt and potassium sensitivity.

Objective:This study contrasts the immune efficacy of the varicella zoster virus glycoprotein E (VZV gE)using Al/CpG combined adjuvants and AS01 adjuvant in BALB/c mice.Methods:BALB/c mice were immunized at 0 and 21 days respectively, and serum antibodies were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Detection of neutralizing antibodies in mouse serum using varicella zoster virus; enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay was used to detect cellular immune response.Results:Following two intramuscular immunizations, mice in the experimental groups (Shingrix, gE+ Al/CpG, and gE+ AS01) demonstrated elevated neutralizing antibody titers and an augmented count of lymphocytes releasing IFN-γ and IL-4. The gE+ Al/CpG group displayed the highest neutralizing antibody titer (1943), yet the AS01-adjuvanted groups (Shingrix and gE+ AS01) showed increased lymphocyte counts secreting IFN-γ and IL-4 compared to the Al/CpG group (gE+ Al/CpG). In comparison to the AS01 adjuvant, Al/CpG adjuvants triggered a humoral immune response favoring Th2 in mice. The proportions of CD4 + T and CD8 + T cells were not significantly different among the experimental groups. Conclusions:Al/CpG adjuvant combined with gE protein resulted in high neutralizing antibody titers, while the intensity of the induced cellular immune response was inferior to that of AS01 adjuvant.

Objective:To establish a rapid method for the detection of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) by recombinase-aid amplification (RAA).Methods:The whole genome sequences of VZV were downloaded from the global shared database for comparison and analysis. Specific primers and probe were designed for the four conserved genes respectively and the optimal combination was selected. The optimal reaction system was selected through the concentration gradient of primers and probes, and a fluorescence RAA detection method was established. The sensitivity of the method was evaluated with VZV positive plasmid standard and clinical samples with gradient dilution, the repeatability of the method was evaluated with the lowest detectable limit concentration of positive plasmid standard, and the specificity of other viral nucleic acid method was evaluated. At the same time, this method and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) were used to detect clinical samples and the result were compared.Results:The optimal combination of primer pair F2/R2 and probe P2 targeting open reading frame (ORF) 28 gene was selected. Considering the cost factor, the optimal primer concentration was set at 500 nmol/L and the optimal probe concentration was 280 nmol/L. The minimum detection limit was 10 1 copies/μL, and the minimum clinical positive samples with a Ct value of 36.027 could be detected, and the result of repeated experiments were consistent. The method has no cross-reaction with other viral nucleic acids. The detection rate of clinical positive samples was 93.33%, which was almost identical to that of qPCR. Conclusions:This method is simple to operate with high sensitivity, strong specificity, low requirements for experimental conditions, visual detection result, and can detect VZV nucleic acid in samples within 20 minutes, which is a rapid VZV detection method that can be considered for clinical use for detection.