Objective The study aimed to investigate the impact of rare earth elements(REEs)exposure on pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET)by analyzing samples from spouses. Methods A total of 141 couples were included.Blood and follicular fluid from the wives and semen plasma from the husbands,were analyzed for REEs using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS).Spearman's correlation coefficients and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to assess correlations and compare REE concentrations among three types of samples,respectively.Logistic models were utilized to estimate the individual REE effect on IVF-ET outcomes,while BKMR and WQS models explored the mixture of REE interaction effects on IVF-ET outcomes. Results Higher La concentration in semen(median 0.089 ng/mL,P=0.03)was associated with a lower fertilization rate.However,this effect was not observed after artificial selection intervention through intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)(P=0.27).In semen,the REEs mixture did not exhibit any significant association with clinical pregnancy. Conclusion Our study revealed a potential association between high La exposure in semen and a decline in fertilization rate,but not clinical pregnancy rate.This is the first to report REEs concentrations in follicular fluid with La,Ce,Pr,and Nd found at significantly lower concentrations than in serum,suggesting that these four REEs may not accumulate in the female reproductive system.However,at the current exposure levels,mixed REEs exposure did not exhibit reproductive toxicity.

Objective To observe the correlations of pontine biological indicators on fetal brain median sagittal MRI with gestational week.Methods Data of head MRI of 226 normal fetuses without obvious abnormalities of central nervous system(normal group)and 17 fetuses with abnormalities(abnormal group)at gestational age of 23 to 38 weeks were retrospectively analyzed.Pontine biological indicators based on median sagittal MRI were obtained,including pons anteroposterior diameter(PAD),total pons area(TPA),pontine basal anteroposterior length(AP),pontine basal cranio-caudal length(CC),basis pontis area(BPA)and pontine angle of midbrain(MAP).According to the gestational week,the fetuses of normal group were divided into 8 subgroups.The distributing ranges of pontine biological indicators at different gestational weeks were analyzed,and the correlations of pontine biological indicators with gestational week in normal group were explored,and the developmental status of fetal pons in abnormal group were assessed.Results In normal group,PAD,TPA,AP,CC and BPA all showed linear positive correlation(r=0.887,0.914,0.787,0.866,0.865,all P＜0.001),while MAP was not significantly correlated with gestational week(P＞0.05).Among 17 fetuses in abnormal group,abnormal PAD or TPA was found each in 8 fetuses,abnormal AP was observed in 14,abnormal CC was noticed in 3 and abnormal BPA was found in 11 fetuses.Conclusion Fetal pontine biological indicators such as PAD,TPA,AP,CC and BPA on median sagittal MRI were positively correlated with gestational week,hence being able to be used for evaluating fetal pontine development.

Objective:A subunit vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 variant was prepared by prokaryotic expression system and its immunogenicity was evaluated.Methods:The recombinant plasmid of BA.2 variant RBD and the tandem of RBD and TT-P2 epitopes was constructed by molecular cloning technology, and recombinant proteins So and Sot were obtained by protein purification technology. Mice were immunized by intramuscular injection after mixing protein So/Sot as immunogens with Al(OH) 3 adjuvant to evaluate the effect of cellular and humoral immunity. Results:High purity soluble protein were obtained by dialysis and renaturation after expressed by prokaryotic system. The number of antigen-specific T lymphocytes secreting IFN-γ and IL-4 (213.7±0.6 and 311.7±1.5) in the Sot group induced by mice was significantly higher than that in the So group (94.3±16.8 and 185.7±4.2) ( P<0.001). The serum antibody level induced by Sot group was higher than that in the So group, the geometric mean titer (GMT) of neutralizing antibodies against BA.2 strain were 588 and 337, respectively ( P<0.05). Sot protein induced Th1/Th2 mixed type immune response with the predominance of Th2 type. Conclusions:The protein subunit vaccine expressed by the prokaryotic system have excellent cellular and humoral immunogenicity, which provides a strong theoretical basis for the development of the protein subunit vaccines of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

Objective To investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of asparaginase-loaded sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin supramolecule lipidic nanoparticles (ASLN) in rats and its inhibitory effect on the proliferation of small cell lung cancer cells. Methods ASLN were prepared by a reverse phase evaporation method,and their physicochemical properties,including morphology,particle size,zeta potential,and drug entrapment efficiency,were characterized. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups,with 6 rats in each group. After intravenous injection of ASLN and free asparaginase (Aase) 2 kU/kg,the activity of Aase in plasma samples was measured at different time points in 48 h,and the activity-time curve was drawn. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by software DAS 2.1.1. The cytotoxicity of ASLN on H446 cells was explored by the MTT method. Results ASLN showed a spherical shape with a mean particle size of (321.27±1.42) nm,zeta potential of (-9.31±0.42) mV,and entrapment efficiency of (66.46±1.57)％. Pharmacokinetic parameters of ASLN and Aase were as follows:the area under curve (AUC(0-48 h)) (199.48±2.18) U·mL-1·h,(57.63±3.89) U·mL-1·h;the mean residence time (MRT(0-48 h)) (4.40±0.05) h,(2.09±0.07) h;and the peak concentration (Cmax) (35.49±1.11) U/mL,(27.58±1.28) U/mL. The relative bioavailability of ASLN to Aase was 325.96％. The cytotoxicity results indicated that ASLN had a proliferation inhibitory effect on H446 cells,and there was a positive correlation between the inhibition rate and the dose. Conclusion ASLN can improve the pharmacokinetics of Aase,enhance the bioavailability of Aase,and inhibit the proliferation of small cell lung cancer cells.

Objective: We previously elucidated that long non-coding RNA Promoter of CDKN1A Antisense DNA damage Activated RNA (PANDAR) as a p53-dependent oncogene to promote cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer (OC). Intriguingly, high level of p53-independent PANDAR was found in cisplatin-resistant patients with p53 mutation. Here, our study probed the new roles and the underlying mechanisms of PANDAR in p53-mutant OC cisplatin-resistance. Methods: A2780 and A2780-DDP cells were served as OC cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatinresistant cells. HO-8910PM cells were subjected to construct chemotherapy-induced extracellular vesicles (Chemo-EVs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis were employed to evaluate Chemo-EVs. Cell viability was assessed using cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was assessed using Annexin V and propidium iodide staining. The relationships between PANDAR, serine and arginine-rich premRNA splicing factor 9 (SRSF9) were verified by RNA immunoprecipitation and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Tumor xenograft experiment was employed to evaluate the effects of PANDAR-Chemo-EVs on OC cisplatin-resistance in vivo. Immunofluorescent staining and immunohistochemistry were performed in tumor tissue. Results: PANDAR level increased in OC patients with p53-mutation. PANDAR efflux enacted via exosomes under cisplatin conditions. Additionally, exosomes from OC cell lines carried PANDAR, which significantly increased cell survival and chemoresistance in vitro and tumor progression and metastasis in vivo. During cisplatin-induced stress, SRSF9 was recruited to nuclear bodies by increased PANDAR and muted apoptosis in response to cisplatin. Besides, SRSF9 significantly increased the ratio of SIRT4/SIRT6 mRNA in OC. Conclusion Cisplatin-induced exosomes transfer PANDAR and lead to a rapid adaptation of OC cell survival through accumulating SRSF9 following cisplatin stress exposure.

Objective: We previously elucidated that long non-coding RNA Promoter of CDKN1A Antisense DNA damage Activated RNA (PANDAR) as a p53-dependent oncogene to promote cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer (OC). Intriguingly, high level of p53-independent PANDAR was found in cisplatin-resistant patients with p53 mutation. Here, our study probed the new roles and the underlying mechanisms of PANDAR in p53-mutant OC cisplatin-resistance. Methods: A2780 and A2780-DDP cells were served as OC cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatinresistant cells. HO-8910PM cells were subjected to construct chemotherapy-induced extracellular vesicles (Chemo-EVs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis were employed to evaluate Chemo-EVs. Cell viability was assessed using cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was assessed using Annexin V and propidium iodide staining. The relationships between PANDAR, serine and arginine-rich premRNA splicing factor 9 (SRSF9) were verified by RNA immunoprecipitation and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Tumor xenograft experiment was employed to evaluate the effects of PANDAR-Chemo-EVs on OC cisplatin-resistance in vivo. Immunofluorescent staining and immunohistochemistry were performed in tumor tissue. Results: PANDAR level increased in OC patients with p53-mutation. PANDAR efflux enacted via exosomes under cisplatin conditions. Additionally, exosomes from OC cell lines carried PANDAR, which significantly increased cell survival and chemoresistance in vitro and tumor progression and metastasis in vivo. During cisplatin-induced stress, SRSF9 was recruited to nuclear bodies by increased PANDAR and muted apoptosis in response to cisplatin. Besides, SRSF9 significantly increased the ratio of SIRT4/SIRT6 mRNA in OC. Conclusion Cisplatin-induced exosomes transfer PANDAR and lead to a rapid adaptation of OC cell survival through accumulating SRSF9 following cisplatin stress exposure.

Objective: We previously elucidated that long non-coding RNA Promoter of CDKN1A Antisense DNA damage Activated RNA (PANDAR) as a p53-dependent oncogene to promote cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer (OC). Intriguingly, high level of p53-independent PANDAR was found in cisplatin-resistant patients with p53 mutation. Here, our study probed the new roles and the underlying mechanisms of PANDAR in p53-mutant OC cisplatin-resistance. Methods: A2780 and A2780-DDP cells were served as OC cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatinresistant cells. HO-8910PM cells were subjected to construct chemotherapy-induced extracellular vesicles (Chemo-EVs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis were employed to evaluate Chemo-EVs. Cell viability was assessed using cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was assessed using Annexin V and propidium iodide staining. The relationships between PANDAR, serine and arginine-rich premRNA splicing factor 9 (SRSF9) were verified by RNA immunoprecipitation and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Tumor xenograft experiment was employed to evaluate the effects of PANDAR-Chemo-EVs on OC cisplatin-resistance in vivo. Immunofluorescent staining and immunohistochemistry were performed in tumor tissue. Results: PANDAR level increased in OC patients with p53-mutation. PANDAR efflux enacted via exosomes under cisplatin conditions. Additionally, exosomes from OC cell lines carried PANDAR, which significantly increased cell survival and chemoresistance in vitro and tumor progression and metastasis in vivo. During cisplatin-induced stress, SRSF9 was recruited to nuclear bodies by increased PANDAR and muted apoptosis in response to cisplatin. Besides, SRSF9 significantly increased the ratio of SIRT4/SIRT6 mRNA in OC. Conclusion Cisplatin-induced exosomes transfer PANDAR and lead to a rapid adaptation of OC cell survival through accumulating SRSF9 following cisplatin stress exposure.

Purpose: The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is extremely poor, and systemic therapy is currently the mainstream treatment. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib combined with anti–programmed cell death-1 antibodies and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (triple therapy) in patients with HCC and PVTT. Materials and Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included patients with HCC and PVTT who received triple therapy, were aged between 18 and 75 years, classified as Child-Pugh class A or B, and had at least one measurable lesion. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rates, and disease control rates were analyzed to assess efficacy. Treatment-related adverse events were analyzed to assess safety profiles. Results: During a median follow-up of 11.23 months (range, 3.07 to 34.37 months), the median OS was greater than 24 months, and median PFS was 12.53 months. The 2-year OS rate was 54.9%. The objective response rate and disease control rate were 69.8% (74/106) and 84.0% (89/106), respectively; 20.8% (22/106) of the patients experienced grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events and no treatment-related deaths occurred. The conversion rate to liver resection was 31.1% (33/106), with manageable postoperative complications. The median OS was not reached in the surgery group, but was 19.08 months in the non-surgery group. The median PFS in the surgery and non-surgery groups were 20.50 and 9.00 months, respectively. Conclusion Triple therapy showed promising survival benefits and high response rates in patients with HCC and PVTT, with manageable adverse effects.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.