ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism by which Zhiqiao Gancao Decoction （枳壳甘草汤， ZGD） delays intervertebral disc degeneration （IDD） based on the Hippo-yes-associated protein （YAP）/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif （TAZ） signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 50 SD rats were randomly divided into sham surgery group， model group， low-dose ZGD group， high-dose ZGD group， and high-dose ZGD + inhibitor group， with 10 rats in each group. In the sham surgery group， the rats were pierced in the skin and muscle at the Co6/7/8 segments of the tail with a 21G needle （depth approximately 2 mm） without damaging the intervertebral disc. In the other groups， rats were injected with a 21G needle at the Co6/7/8 segments of the tail to establish an IDD model by piercing the tail intervertebral disc 5 mm. One week after modeling， rats in the low-dose and high-dose ZGD groups were given 6.24 and 12.24 g/（kg·d） of the decoction via gastric gavage， respectively. The high-dose ZGD + inhibitor group was given 12.24 g/（kg·d） of the decoction and an intraperitoneal injection of YAP/TAZ inhibitor Verteporfin 10 mg/kg. The sham surgery and model groups were given 5 ml/（kg·d） of normal saline via gavage. The gavage was given once a day， and the intraperitoneal injection was given every other day. After 4 weeks of continuous intervention， the pathological changes of the tail intervertebral discs were observed using HE staining， Oil Red O-Green staining， and Toluidine Blue staining. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of aggrecan and MMP3 in the nucleus pulposus. TUNEL fluorescence staining was performed to detect apoptosis in the nucleus pulposus， and the apoptosis rate was calculated. Western blot was used to detect the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway， including YAP， phosphorylated YAP （p-YAP）， phosphorylated MST1/2 （p-MST1/2）， phosphorylated TAZ （p-TAZ） and apoptosis-related proteins， such as Cleaved Caspase 3， P53， Bcl-2 and Bax. ResultsCompared with sham surgery group， the rats in the model group showed significant degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc. The levels of aggrecan， Bcl-2， and YAP proteins in the nucleus pulposus decreased， while the levels of p-MST1/2， p-YAP， p-TAZ， P53， Bax， Cleaved Caspase 3， MMP3 proteins， and the apoptosis rate increased （P < 0.01）. Compared with the model group， the drug intervention groups showed partial recovery in intervertebral disc degeneration. The levels of aggrecan， Bcl-2， and YAP proteins increased， while the levels of p-MST1/2， p-YAP， p-TAZ， P53， Bax， Cleaved Caspase 3， MMP3 proteins， and the apoptosis rate decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The high-dose ZGD group showed more significant recovery in intervertebral disc degeneration compared to the low-dose ZGD group， with a decrease in the levels of p-MST1/2， p-YAP， p-TAZ， P53， Bax， Cleaved Caspase 3， MMP3 proteins， and apoptosis rate， and an increase in the levels of aggrecan， Bcl-2， and YAP proteins （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the high-dose ZGD group， the high-dose ZGD + inhibitor group showed a reduced recovery in intervertebral disc degeneration， with an increase in the levels of p-MST1/2， p-YAP， p-TAZ， P53， Bax， Cleaved Caspase 3， MMP3 proteins， and apoptosis rate， and a decrease in the levels of aggrecan， Bcl-2， and YAP proteins （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionZGD may delay intervertebral disc degeneration by inhibiting the phosphorylation of YAP in the nucleus pulposus， maintaining the function of the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway， and reducing apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells.

Lipotoxicity is a pivotal factor that initiates and exacerbates liver injury and is involved in the development of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). However, there are few reported lipotoxicity inhibitors. Here, we identified a natural anti-lipotoxicity candidate, HN-001, from the marine fungus Aspergillus sp. C1. HN-001 dose- and time- dependently reversed palmitic acid (PA)-induced hepatocyte death. This protection was associated with IRE-1α-mediated XBP-1 splicing inhibition, which resulted in suppression of XBP-1s nuclear translocation and transcriptional regulation. Knockdown of XBP-1s attenuated lipotoxicity, but no additional ameliorative effect of HN-001 on lipotoxicity was observed in XBP-1s knockdown hepatocytes. Notably, the ER stress and lipotoxicity amelioration was associated with PLA2. Both HN-001 and the PLA2 inhibitor MAFP inhibited PLA2 activity, reduced lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) level, subsequently ameliorated lipotoxicity. In contrast, overexpression of PLA2 caused exacerbation of lipotoxicity and weakened the anti-lipotoxic effects of HN-001. Additionally, HN-001 treatment suppressed the downstream pro-apoptotic JNK pathway. In vivo, chronic administration of HN-001 (i.p.) in mice alleviated all manifestations of MAFLD, including hepatic steatosis, liver injury, inflammation, and fibrogenesis. These effects were correlated with PLA2/IRE-1α/XBP-1s axis and JNK signaling suppression. These data indicate that HN-001 has therapeutic potential for MAFLD because it suppresses lipotoxicity, and provide a natural structural basis for developing anti-MAFLD candidates.

ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristics and changing trend of injury cause of mortality of residents in Qingpu District from 2002 to 2020， and to provide scientific reference for formulating regional prevention and control measures. MethodsThe injury mortality data of the registered residents in Qingpu District from 2002 to 2020 were collected. The indicators such as crude mortality rate， standardized mortality rate， and the ranking of causes of death were calculated. ResultsFrom 2002 to 2020， the average annual crude mortality rate was 50.27/100 000， the age-standardized mortality rate based on the world standard population（ASRW） was 30.08/100 000， and the age-standardized mortality rate based on the 2010 Chinese census（ASMRC） was 35.58/100 000. The average annual crude mortality rate of males was higher than that of females ［Z=54.402， Mantel-Hanszel χ²=1 742.509， P<0.01）. The overall injury mortality rate showed a downward trend with an average annual percent change（AAPC）of -4.07% （95%CI： -5.23%‒-2.90%）， P<0.001］. The top four causes of injury death were transportation accident， indeliberate fall， drowning， and suicide. The leading causes of death in 0‒ years old， 15‒ years old and ≥65 years old were drowning， transportation accident and indeliberate fall， respectively. The ASRW of transportation accident， drowning and suicide all showed a decreasing trend， and the AAPC were -8.22% （95%CI： -10.16%‒-6.24%）， -6.99% （95%CI： -9.68%‒-4.22%） and -6.21% （95%CI： -9.38%‒-2.94%）， respectively. ConclusionThe injury death rate of residents in Qingpu District shows a decreasing trend， and the distribution characteristics of injury death are different among different genders and age groups. Corresponding prevention and control strategies should be adopted for different populations.

ObjectiveTo analyze the trends in life expectancy and cause-eliminated life expectancy of the registered residents in Qingpu District, Shanghai from 2002 to 2021, and to identify the major diseases causing life expectancy loss in the area, so as to provide a theoretical basis for strengthening disease prevention and interventions and optimizing health resources allocation. MethodsUsing the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 classification of death causes, average life expectancy and cause-eliminated life expectancy were calculated with the abbreviated life table and the cause-eliminated life expectancy table. A trend forecast of life expectancy from 2022 to 2029 was made. ResultsFrom 2002 to 2021, the life expectancy of Qingpu District residents showed an increasing trend, with an average annual growth of 0.32 years (AAPC=0.39%, P<0.001). Among the seven major causes of death, the cause-eliminated expected life expectancy for circulatory system diseases showed the most significant upward trend (AAPC=0.53%, P<0.001), rising from the third leading cause of death in 2002 to the first in 2021. The life expectancy loss rate due to circulatory system diseases increased from 3.79% to 7.97%. Respiratory system diseases showed the largest decline, decreasing from the first leading cause of death in 2002 to the fourth in 2021, with the life expectancy loss rate decreasing from 6.83% to 0.99%. ConclusionLife expectancy of the registered residents in Qingpu District has reached a leading level in China. Future efforts should focus on effectively increasing the life expectancy of male residents, strengthening the comprehensive prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, and malignant tumors, and improving health promotion policies for residents to achieve a steady long-term increase in regional life expectancy.

Objective To compare the early embryonic developmental potential and clinical outcomes of oocytes matured in vivo and those matured by modified in vitro maturation(LVM)technology during the same controlled ovarian hyperstimulation(COH)cycle,and to explore the clinical application of melatonin-supplemented IVM technology.Methods 159 patients were recruited into the study.920 mature oocytes were collected during their COH cycles processed for conventional IVF/ICSI protocols,while 1 283 immature oocytes from the same cycles were matured in a melatonin-supplemented IVM medium before ICSI was performed.A retrospective analysis was conducted to compare the impact of conventional assisted reproductive technology and improved IVM technology on the outcomes of assisted reproductive therapy and pregnancy outcomes.Results Compared with mature oocytes collected from COH cycles treated with conventional IVF/ICSI,oocytes promoted by improved melatonin-supple-mented IVM technology had a lower rate of high-quality blastocyst formation.However,after embryo transfer,there was no significant difference in the clinical outcomes of mature oocytes obtained through two methods,including clinical pregnancy rate,full-term birth rate,neonatal length,and neonatal Apgar score.Conclusion The applica-tion of melatonin-supplemented IVM significantly increases the utilization of immature oocytes collected from COH cycles,improving the pregnancy outcomes of patients assisted by assisted reproductive technology.

Objective:To investigate the impact of donor human leukocyte antigen (HLA) -Bw4 expression on natural killer (NK) cell reconstitution and transplant outcomes in recipients undergoing haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from maternal or related donors without ex vivo T-cell depletion.Methods:This study prospectively enrolled 32 patients who received T-replete haploidentical HSCT from maternal or collateral donors (cohort 1) to evaluate the facilitating effect of donor HLA-Bw4 expression on NK cell reconstitution. Furthermore, a retrospective analysis was conducted on 278 patients who underwent T-replete haploidentical HSCT from maternal or collateral donors (cohort 2) to analyze the impact of donor HLA-Bw4 expression on HSCT outcomes. Thus, a comparison was made between the effects of donor HLA-Bw4 expression on HSCT outcomes in patients receiving or not receiving post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) conditioning.Results:Donors expressing HLA-Bw4 alleles facilitated NK cell reconstitution and functional recovery, which remained unaffected by PT-Cy. Donors with HLA-Bw4 expression were associated with reduced transplant-related mortality (TRM), particularly mortality related to infections. The use of PT-Cy did not impact the ability of donor HLA-Bw4 to decrease TRM.Conclusion:In haploidentical HSCT from maternal or related donors without ex vivo T-cell depletion, the presence of donor HLA-Bw4 expression promotes rapid NK cell reconstitution and functional recovery and is significantly associated with lower TRM, especially infection-related mortality. These findings underscore the clinical significance of donor HLA-Bw4 expression in patients who underwent HSCT. Hence, the consideration of donor HLA-Bw4 in recipient selection and HSCT strategies holds important clinical implications.

Objective:To describe the prevalence of food allergy among children aged 0-5 years in China and to explore related influencing factors.Methods:Multistage stratified random sampling method was used to collect data from 275 surveillance sites of the China National Nutrition and Health Survey of Chinese children and lactating mothers programs in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) of China in 2016-2017. A total of 70 107 participants aged 0-5 years were included in this study. The study collected information of participants' demographic characteristics and food allergies by face-to-face questionnaire. The prevalence of food allergy was analyzed, using the complex data weighting method. The logistic regression models were used to analyze the influencing factors related to food allergy.Results:The overall prevalence of self-reported food allergy among children aged 0-5 years was 4.81%. Prevalence rates in infants aged 0-5 months, and 6-23 months and preschool children aged 2-5 years were 0.81%, 4.68% and 5.26%, respectively. The results of logistic analysis showed that there was a significantly positive correlation between factors including children from 6 months to 5 years old, urban area, southwest area, first-born, mothers with college education or above, and the prevalence of food allergy in children. Shrimp, poultry eggs, crab shellfish, fruit, milk and fish appeared the common allergic foods in children aged 0-5 years, with prevalence rates of self-reported food allergy as 1.55%, 1.25%, 0.99%, 0.97%, 0.87% and 0.86%, respectively. The proportion of single food allergy in children with allergies was 69.85%.Conclusions:Among children aged 0-5 years, the prevalence of self-reported food allergy increases with age, in China. Foods that is prone to allergies include fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish, poultry eggs, milk and fruits, etc. Most allergies were only caused by single food in children, under observation.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) on the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) with chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy.Methods:A retrospective cohort study. The clinical data of 168 patients with RRMM who underwent CAR-T therapy at the Department of Hematology, Xuzhou Medical University Hospital from 3 January 2020 to 13 September 2022 were analyzed. Patients were classified into a transplantation group (TG; n=47) and non-transplantation group (NTG; n=121) based on whether or not they had undergone ASCT previously. The objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and the levels of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD56 and natural killer (NK) cells before CAR-T infusion were analyzed by χ2 test, Kaplan-Meier method and independent sample t-test. Results:Among 168 patients with RRMM, 98 (58.3%) were male. The median age of onset was 57 (range 30-70) years. After CAR-T therapy, the ORR of patients was 89.3% (92/103) in the NTG and 72.9% (27/73) in the TG. The ORR of the NTG was better than that of the TG ( χ2=5.71, P=0.017). After 1 year of CAR-T therapy, the ORR of the NTG was 78.1% (75/96), and that of the TG was 59.4% (19/32). The ORR of the NTG was better than that of the TG ( χ2=4.32, P=0.038). The median OS and PFS in the NTG were significantly longer than those in the TG (OS, 30 vs. 20 months; PFS, 26 vs. 12 months; both P<0.05). The CD4 level before CAR-T infusion in the TG was significantly lower than that in the NTG (25.65±13.56 vs. 32.64±17.21; t=-2.15, P=0.034), and there were no significant differences in the counts of CD3, CD8, CD19, CD56, and NK cells between the TG and NTG (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Among patients suffering from RRMM who received CAR-T therapy, patients who did not receive ASCT had significantly better outcomes than those who had received ASCT previously, which may have been related to the CD4 level before receiving CAR-T therapy.

Objective:To investigate the changes of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and its clinical significance.Methods:The clinical data of 99 DLBCL patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from January 2022 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood before and after treatment were detected by using flow cytometry. According to the disease status at the time of blood collection and detection, the patients were divided into the newly-diagnosed DLBCL group (28 cases), and the newly-treated remission DLBCL group (71 cases); and 40 healthy volunteers undergoing the physical examination during the same period were selected as the healthy control group. The proportion and absolute count differences of T lymphocytes and the related subsets in 3 groups were compared. Besides, the correlation among T lymphocyte subsets, the correlation of each subset with international prognostic index (IPI) score and treatment response in newly-diagnosed DLBCL patients were further analyzed.Results:The proportion of CD3 + T cells in newly-diagnosed DLBCL group was decreased compared with that in the healthy control group [(58±14)% vs. (67±7)%, P < 0.05]. The absolute count of CD3 + T cells in both newly-diagnosed group and the newly-treated remission group was reduced compared with that in the healthy control group [(875±483) /μl and (808±553) /μl vs. (1 374±279) /μl, P < 0.001]. The absolute count of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in newly-diagnosed group was decreased compared with that in the healthy control group [(478±313) /μl vs. (695±154) /μl, (316±181) /μl vs. (525±193) /μl, all P < 0.001]. Both the proportion and absolute count of CD4 + T cells in the newly-treated remission DLBCL group were decreased compared with those in the newly-diagnosed DLBCL group and the healthy control group [(40±14)% vs. (53±14)% and (51±9)%, (313±247) /μl vs. (478±313) /μl and (695±154) /μl, all P < 0.05]. The porportion of CD8 + T cells was increased compared with that in the other two groups [(51±15)% vs. (37±12)% and (38±9)%, all P < 0.001]. Compared with the healthy control group, the effect/memory subsets proportion of regulatory T cell (Treg) and conventional T cell (Tcon) were increased in both newly-diagnosed DLBCL group and the newly-treated remission DLBCL group [(79±16)% and (84±12)% vs. (71±11)%,(72±16)% and (76±14)% vs. (62±13)%, all P < 0.05], and the proportion of CD127 + memory Tcon and CD8 + T cell subsets was reduced [(73±14)% and (66±20)% vs. (85±8)%,(39±15)% and (25±21)% vs. (62±16)%, all P < 0.05]. In newly-diagnosed DLBCL group, the absolute counts of CD3 + T and CD4 + T cells were negatively correlated with the proportion of effector Treg ( r = -0.379, P = 0.049; r = -0.384, P = 0.040, respectively). IPI score of DLBCL patients was correlated with the proportion of CD8 + T cells ( Eta2 = 0.15, P = 0.038). The proportion of CD127 + memory Tcon in patients with non-complete remission was increased compared with that in patients with complete remission after treatment ( P = 0.020). Conclusions:The proportion and absolute count of T lymphocyte cells in peripheral blood of newly-diagnosed DLBCL patients is decreased, and the differentiation state of T lymphocyte cells shows change trend, which is related to the clinical characteristics and treatment response of DLBCL patients. Even if DLBCL patients have achieved treatment remission, T lymphocyte cells are not completely return to the normal.

ObjectiveTo test the inter-tester reliability and test-retest reliability of MyotonPRO for evaluating neck and shoulder muscle performance parameters in patients with unilateral chronic neck pain, observe the difference of muscle performance between the healthy and affected sides of patients with chronic neck pain, and analyze the factors that cause the imbalance of muscle performance in patients with chronic neck pain. MethodsFrom January to June, 2023, 32 patients with unilateral chronic neck pain in Guangdong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital were selected. Two testers used the same MyotonPRO equipment to measure the muscle tone, muscle hardness and muscle elasticity on both sides of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the upper trapezius muscle in the relaxed position. Tester 1 repeated the measurement after an interval of 30 minutes, and Tester 2 was measured within the time interval between the two measurements of Tester 1. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of mean (SEM) and minimum detectable change (MDC) were calculated simultaneously. The measurement results were plotted into Bland-Altman diagram and systematic bias analysis was performed. The difference in muscle characteristics between the affected side and the healthy side was compared. At the same time, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects were collected for correlation analysis. ResultsExcept the sternocleidomastoid muscle elasticity of the affected side (ICC = 0.697), the inter-tester reliability of all other parameters was high to very high (ICC = 0.719 to 0.952, SEM = 0.04 to 6.53, MDC = 0.12 to 18.11). The test-retest reliability of all parameters was high (ICC = 0.883 to 0.981, SEM = 0.03 to 5.72, MDC = 0.09 to 15.84). Bland-Altman plot analysis showed that the scatter distribution was consistent. The muscle tone, muscle hardness and muscle elasticity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and upper trapezius muscle were higher on the affected side than on the healthy side (t > 2.846, P < 0.05). The asymmetry index of tension, hardness and elasticity of upper trapezius muscle and sternocleidomastoid muscle was significantly positively correlated with VAS score and BMI (r > 0.385, P < 0.05). ConclusionMyotonPRO has good inter-tester reliability and retest reliability in evaluating the muscle performance of both sides of patients with chronic neck pain. The muscle tone, muscle hardness and muscle elasticity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and upper trapezius muscle on the affected side were higher than on the healthy side, and the difference of muscle performance was positively correlated with pain and BMI.