Objective To investigate the correlation between the anatomical structure of patent foramen ovale(PFO)observed by transesophageal echocardiography(TEE)and the right to left shunt(RLS)grade of contrast-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography(c-TTE).Methods Ninety cases in which the presence of PFO was suggested by TEE examination as a diagnostic criterion from November 2021 to December 2022 in the First Hospital of Nanchang were retrospectively analysed.According to the c-TTE results of patients,the RLS was divided into 4 levels,and the correlation between PFO structural characteristics and RLS grading was analyzed.Results There was a positive correlation between PFO diameter size and RLS grading in resting state(r=0.381,P<0.05);The PFO diameter of patients with hypermobile interatrial septum(HIS)was larger and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);The PFO diameter of patients with persistent RLS was larger than that of excited phase patients,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);There was no significant difference in RLS shunt degree between patients with long tunnel and those without long tunnel;There was no significant difference in RLS grade and PFO diameter size under Valsalva state.Conclusion Research has shown that certain anatomical structures of PFO interact with RLS grading,and PFO anatomical structures can also interact with each other(the opening diameter of the foramen ovale with HIS is larger);At the same time,TEE can clearly show the morphological characteristics of PFO and predict the degree of RLS,so as to further evaluate the possibility of ischemic stroke in patients with PFO,and provide more evidence for the indications for foramen ovale closure.

BACKGROUND:Currently,there have been studies on the regulatory mechanism of lncRNA\miRNA\mRNA co-expression network on the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis.Our research group has screened qualified NONHSAT248596.1 and miR-146a-5p through the database in the previous stage,but the corresponding in vivo experiments to verify the above regulatory mechanisms are still lacking. OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of NONHSAT248596.1 in regulating competitive endogenous RNA of miR-146a-5p in cartilage degeneration mediated by stromal cell derived factor type 1/chemokine receptor 4 axis in vivo. METHODS:The models of osteoarthritis were established in 36 New Zealand rabbits by injecting stromal cell derived factor 1 solution into the knee joint of the right hind limb.According to the random number table method,they were divided into four groups.lncRNA group,miRNA group,ceRNA group and control group were injected with lentivirus vector overexpressing NONHSAT248596.1,lentivirus vector overexpressing miR-146a-5p,lentivirus vector overexpressing miR-146a-5p+NONHSAT248596.1 and empty lentivirus vector into the molded knee joint,respectively.At 4,8 and 12 weeks of modeling,cartilage tissues and subchondral bone tissues of the knee joint were taken for relevant detection. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Hematoxylin-eosin staining and safranin fast green staining showed different degrees of degeneration in the four groups.At 4 weeks,the cartilage tissue of the lncRNA group showed swelling of chondrocytes,loss of cell polarity,destruction of extracellular matrix,surface erosion,fracture formation and partial or full layer loss of cartilage tissue.The degree of cartilage injury was gradually aggravated with time.The progression of articular cartilage inflammation in the miRNA group was the slowest among the four groups.qRT-PCR showed that at the same time point,mRNA expression levels of NONHSAT248596.1,chemokine receptor 4,matrix metalloproteinase 3,matrix metalloproteinase 9 and matrix metalloproteinase 13 in cartilage tissue of the lncRNA group were higher than those of the other three groups(P＜0.05).The mRNA expression levels of miR-146a-5p,aggrecan and type Ⅱ collagen were lower than those of the other three groups(P＜0.05).The mRNA expression levels of NONHSAT248596.1,chemokine receptor 4,matrix metalloproteinase 3,matrix metalloproteinase 9 and matrix metalloproteinase 13 in the miRNA group were lower than those in the ceRNA group and control group at 8 and 12 weeks after the model construction(P＜0.05).The mRNA expressions of miR-146a-5p,aggrecan and type Ⅱ collagen were higher than those of the ceRNA group and control group(P＜0.05).Western blot assay showed that at the same time point,the expression levels of aggrecan and type Ⅱ collagen in cartilage tissue of the lncRNA group were always lower than those of the other three groups(P＜0.05).The expression levels of aggrecan and type Ⅱ collagen in cartilage tissue of the miRNA group at 8 and 12 weeks after modeling were higher than those of the ceRNA group and control group(P＜0.05).The results showed that miR-146a-5p,as the target of NONHSAT248596.1,could be inhibited by the effect of its ceRNA.After acting on miR-146a-5p,NONHSAT248596.1 regulates the stromal cell derived factor type 1/chemokine receptor 4 axis to affect the expression of matrix metalloprotein,type Ⅱ collagen,and aggrecan in osteoarthritis chondrocytes,resulting in the degradation of extracellular matrix and the loss of proteoglycan.

Here, we report a previously unrecognized syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder associated with biallelic loss-of-function variants in the RBM42 gene. The patient is a 2-year-old female with severe central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities, hypotonia, hearing loss, congenital heart defects, and dysmorphic facial features. Familial whole-exome sequencing (WES) reveals that the patient has two compound heterozygous variants, c.304C>T (p.R102*) and c.1312G>A (p.A438T), in the RBM42 gene which encodes an integral component of splicing complex in the RNA-binding motif protein family. The p.A438T variant is in the RRM domain which impairs RBM42 protein stability in vivo. Additionally, p.A438T disrupts the interaction of RBM42 with hnRNP K, which is the causative gene for Au-Kline syndrome with overlapping disease characteristics seen in the index patient. The human R102* or A438T mutant protein failed to fully rescue the growth defects of RBM42 ortholog knockout ΔFgRbp1 in Fusarium while it was rescued by the wild-type (WT) human RBM42. A mouse model carrying Rbm42 compound heterozygous variants, c.280C>T (p.Q94*) and c.1306_1308delinsACA (p.A436T), demonstrated gross fetal developmental defects and most of the double mutant animals died by E13.5. RNA-seq data confirmed that Rbm42 was involved in neurological and myocardial functions with an essential role in alternative splicing (AS). Overall, we present clinical, genetic, and functional data to demonstrate that defects in RBM42 constitute the underlying etiology of a new neurodevelopmental disease which links the dysregulation of global AS to abnormal embryonic development.
Female ; Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Heart Defects, Congenital/genetics* ; Facies ; Cleft Palate ; Muscle Hypotonia

Objective:To evaluate the role of lactate dehydrogenase in diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) and the relationship with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) in mice.Methods:SPF-grade healthy male C57BL/6J mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 18-22 g, were used to establish diabetes mellitus model by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) 120 mg/kg. Twenty-four mice with diabetes mellitus were divided into 2 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: DNP group and DNP + oxamate group (OXA group). Another 12 SPF-grade healthy male C57BL/6J mice were selected as control group (C group). In OXA group, oxamate 750 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 28 consecutive days. The equal volume of normal saline was given instead in C group and DNP group. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT), blood glucose and body weight were measured at 3 days before STZ injection and at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after STZ injection (T 0-4). After the last behavioural test was completed, blood samples were collected from the posterior orbits of anesthetized mice for determination of serum lactate concentrations. The animals were then sacrificed and the tissues from the prefrontal cortex of the brain were taken for determination of lactate content, mitochondrial membrane potential (by the JC-1), content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (using dihydroethidium probes), and level of histone lactylation and expression of PGC-1α (by Western blot). Results:Compared with C group, the MWT was significantly decreased at T 2-4, the serum lactate concentrations, contents of lactate and ROS and level of histone lactylation were increased, the mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased, and the expression of PGC-1α was down-regulated in DNP and OXA groups ( P<0.05). Compared with DNP group, no significant change was found in blood glucose and body weight ( P>0.05), the MWT was significantly increased at T 2-4, the serum lactate concentrations, contents of lactate and ROS and level of histone lactylation were decreased, the mitochondrial membrane potential was increased, and the expression of PGC-1α was up-regulated in OXA group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Lactate dehydrogenase promotes the development of DNP, and the mechanism is related to promotion of increase in histone lactfication and down-regulation of PGC-1α expression in the prefrontal cortex of mice.

Objective:To evaluate the association between preoperative serum β 2-microglobulin (β 2MG) concentrations and postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly patients. Methods:The study selected patients who underwent knee or hip arthroplasty under spinal-epidural anesthesia on an elective basis at Qingdao Municipal Hospital from May 2021 to November 2022. The patients were divided into a POD group and a non-POD group based on the occurrence of POD. The study was conducted as part of the Perioperative Neurocognitive Impairment and Biomarkers Lifestyle Cohort, which was a nested case-control study. The study collected baseline data from two groups of patients and analyzed the differences between them. Logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors for POD. The stability of the regression model was tested using sensitivity analysis. The mediation model was used to examine whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers mediated the relationship between β 2MG and POD. The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn and the area under the curve was calculated to evaluate the accuracy of preoperative β 2MG concentrations and CSF biomarker concentration in predicting POD. Results:There were 57 cases in POD group and 449 cases in non-POD group. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the increased β 2MG and CSF total tau protein (t-tau) concentrations were risk factors for POD, and the increased CSF β-amyloid 42 concentration was a protective factor for POD after adjustment for multiple confounders such as age, gender, education, Mini-Mental State Examination, history of hypertension and infusion volume ( P<0.05). The results of mediation analysis showed that the serum β 2MG′s effect on POD was partly mediated by t-tau (18.1%). The results of the receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the area under the curve of the β 2MG concentration combined with the CSF biomarker concentration was 0.742. Conclusions:Elevated preoperative serum β 2MG concentration is a risk factor for POD in elderly patients, and the relationship may be partly mediated by CSF t-tau.

Objective:Patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)combined with severe type Ⅱ respiratory failure have a high probability of ventilation failure using conventional non-invasive positive pressure ventilation(NPPV).This study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy of high intensity NPPV(HI-NPPV)for the treatment of AECOPD combined with severe type Ⅱ respiratory failure. Methods:The data of patients with AECOPD combined with severe type Ⅱ respiratory failure(blood gas analysis pH≤7.25)treated with NPPV in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from July 2013 to July 2023 were collected to conduct a retrospective case-control study.The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the inspired positive airway pressure(IPAP)used during the NPPV treatment:a NPPV group(IPAP<20 cmH2O,1 cmH2O=0.098 kPa)and a HI-NPPV group(20 cmH2O≤IPAP<30 cmH2O).Ninety-nine and 95 patients were included in the NPPV group and the HI-NPPV group,respectively.A total of 86 pairs of data were matched using propensity score matching(PSM)for data matching.The primary outcome indexes(mortality and tracheal intubation rate)and secondary outcome indexes[blood gas analysis pH,arterial partial pressure of oxygen(PaO2)and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO2),adverse reaction rate,and length of hospitalization]were compared between the 2 groups. Results:The tracheal intubation rates of the NPPV group and the HI-NPPV group were 6.98％and 1.16％,respectively,and the difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant(χ2=4.32,P<0.05);the mortality of the NPPV group and the HI-NPPV group was 23.26％and 9.30％,respectively,and the difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant(χ2=11.64,P<0.01).The PaO2 at 24 h and 48 h after treatment of the HI-NPPV group was higher than that of the NPPV group,and the PaCO2 of the HI-NPPV group was lower than that of the NPPV group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).The differences of pH at 24 h and 48 h after treatment between the 2 groups were not statistically significant(both P>0.05).The differences between the 2 groups in adverse reaction rate and hospitalization length were not statistically significant(both P>0.05). Conclusion:HI-NPPV can reduce mortality and tracheal intubation rates by rapidly improving the ventilation of patients with AECOPD combined with severe type Ⅱ respiratory failure.This study provides a new idea for the treatment of patients with AECOPD combined with severe type Ⅱ respiratory failure.

Purpose To evaluate the added value of time of flight(TOF)and point spread dispersion(PSF)reconstruction in mediastinal lymph node metastasis of lung cancer in 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging.Materials and Methods Sixty-eight lung cancer patients with mediastinal lymph node metastasis who underwent PET/CT examination in the First People's Hospital of Foshan from March 9,2020 to July 23,2021 were analyzed retrospectively.The different methods,including ordered subsets estimation maximization(OSEM),OSEM+TOF,OSEM+PSF,OSEM+TOF+PSF,were used to reconstruct the images.The resolution of different reconstruction algorithms for mediastinal lymph node metastasis of lung cancer,as well as the differences of signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and standard uptake value(SUV)were compared,respectively.Results The highest values of SUVmean,SUVmax and SNR were obtained via OSEM+TOF+PSF method,which increased by 21.99%,22.86%and 60.14%,compared with conventional OSEM method(t=28.321,19.11,11.059,all P<0.01).The difference percentage in smaller lesions that diameter≤22 mm was significantly higher than that in larger lesions that diameter>22 mm(24.1%vs.21.1%,25.3%vs.19.3%,70.6%vs.63.3%;Z=-3.658,-4.313,-2.154,all P<0.05),and the difference percentage in low contrast lesions that SNR≤15.31 was significantly higher than that in high contrast lesions that SNR>15.31(23.6%vs.21.4%,25.3%vs.21.1%,85.7%vs.46.0%;Z=-3.519,-2.336,-5.106,all P<0.05).Among the evaluation results of lesion detectability of different reconstruction algorithms,OSEM+TOF+PSF image showed the mediastinal lymph node metastasis most clearly(87.4%of the lesions were clearly existing),which was significantly higher than that of OSEM image(73.1%of lesions were clearly existing)(χ2=11.704,P=0.001),however,the proportion of lesions clearly existing in OSEM+PSF image did not significantly increase compared with OSEM image(73.1%vs.75.8%;χ2=0.361,P=0.548).Conclusion The combination of TOF and PSF can significantly improve the detection ability,SNR and SUV of mediastinal lymph node metastasis of lung cancer,especially in small and low contrast lesions.

Objective:To evaluate the role of spinal cord neuron Src-associated-in-mitosis-68-kDa (SAM68)-transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 channel (TRPV1) signaling pathway in diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) in mice.Methods:Forty SPF male C57BL/6 mice, aged 8 weeks, weighing 18-22 g, were used in this study. Diabetes mellitus was induced by intraperitoneal streptozotocin 0.12 mg/g, and successful DNP model was defined as decrease in the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) of the hind limb≥50% of the baseline value. Twenty-four mice with DNP at 4 weeks after developing the model were divided into 3 groups ( n=8 each) using a simple random sampling: DNP group, SAM68 knocked down group (KD group) and virus control group (VC group). Eight diabetic mice with decrease in MWT <50% were randomly selected as non-DNP group (ND group), and 8 normal mice were randomly selected as control group (NC group). At 4 weeks after developing the diabetes mellitus model, SAM68 gene silencing virus and empty virus were injected into the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord in KD group and VC group, respectively. MWT was measured before developing the diabetes mellitus model and at 4 and 6 weeks after developing the diabetes mellitus model. The mice were sacrificed after the end of MWT measurement at week 6 after developing the model, spinal cord tissues were collected and the expression of SAM68 and TRPV1 was detected by Western blot, and their localization in the spinal cord was observed by immunofluorescence. Results:Compared with NC and ND groups, the MWT was significantly decreased at 4 and 6 weeks after developing the model, and the expression of SAM68 and TRPV1 in spinal cord tissues was up-regulated in DNP group ( P<0.05). Compared with DNP group, the MWT was significantly increased at 6 weeks after developing the model, the expression of SAM68 and TRPV1 in spinal cord tissues was down-regulated, and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in VC group ( P>0.05). SAM68 and TRPV1 were expressed in neurons in the same region of the spinal cord. Conclusions:Activation of SAM68-TRPV1 signaling pathway in spinal cord neurons is involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of DNP in mice.

Objective:To assess the utility of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in predicting Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to fluoroquinolones (FQs) and to establish a quantitative relationship between resistant gene mutations and resistance levels. Methods:A total of 296 drug-resistant tuberculosis surveillance strains with various resistance profiles, preserved by the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory of the Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Center at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention between 2013 and 2020, were included as study subjects. The Sensititre? MYCOTBI microplate method and WGS were used to assess the phenotypic and genotypic drug sensitivity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to ofloxacin and moxifloxacin. Sensitivity, specificity, and concordance (Kappa value) of WGS in predicting fluoroquinolone sensitivity were calculated using phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) results as the gold standard. A summary analysis was conducted on the distribution of drug resistance mutation sites and resistance levels. The paired χ 2 test was used to compare the detection rates between the two methods, with P<0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results:Among the 296 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with different resistance profiles, 196 were rifampicin-resistant, 50 were resistant to other drugs, and 50 were fully sensitive. WGS identified 81 strains carrying FQs resistance-related mutations, primarily at gyrA codons 94, 90, and 91. Sensitivity, specificity, and consistency (Kappa value) of WGS in predicting ofloxacin resistance were 86.5%, 98.1%, and 0.87, respectively. For moxifloxacin resistance prediction, these values were 80.0%, 99.5%, and 0.83, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the phenotypic DST and WGS detection rates for ofloxacin resistance (30.1% vs 27.4%, χ 2=3.06, P=0.08). However, the phenotypic DST detection rate for moxifloxacin resistance (33.8%, 100/296) was significantly higher than that of WGS (27.4%, 81/296) (χ 2=15.43, P<0.01). Analysis of the distribution of resistance mutation sites and resistance levels showed that different mutation sites corresponded to different minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Multiple mutation combinations, including gyrA_D94G, gyrA_D94Y, and gyrA_D94N were mainly associated with high-level resistance, while gyrA_D94A, gyrA_A90V, and gyrA_S91P were primarily linked to low-level resistance. Conclusion:WGS demonstrates favorable sensitivity, specificity, and consistency in predicting FQs resistance and can partially predict resistance levels.

Objective : To investigate the effect of adeno⁃associated virus ( AAV) delivery of short hairpin RNA ( shRNA) against the Ptger3 gene in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB) on the fever induced by microinjection of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) into the LPB and the intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . Methods: AAV2⁃shRNA⁃Ptger3(EP3) ⅣEGFP ( shRNA⁃EP3) and AAV2⁃ CMV⁃ EGFP ( shRNA⁃control) viruses were constructed and transfected the rat LPB by stereotaxic injection. Four weeks later, the transfection efficiency of AAV viruses was observed by fluorescence microscopy , and the knockdown efficiency was determined by real⁃time PCR of EP3 receptor mRNA on the LPB. The effects of microinjection of saline or PGE2 in the LPB or intraperitoneal injection of LPS on body temperature (Tcore ) and energy expenditure (EE) of shRNA⁃control group and shRNA⁃EP3 group were monitored using an animal monitoring system with temperature telemetry. Results : AAV virus transfecnificant difference in basal body temperature between shRNA⁃control group and shRNA⁃EP3 group. Tcore and EE were briefly and slightly increased after microinjection of saline in the LPB , but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Compared with the shRNA⁃control group , the febrile response induced by LPB PGE2 was attenuated in the shRNA⁃EP3 group (P < 0. 05) . Furthermore , the knockdown of EP3 receptor of LPB also attenuated the LPS⁃induced fever, and the Tcore 5. 5 h post⁃LPS in the shRNA⁃EP3 rats increased compared with the baseline (P < 0. 05) , which was lower than that in the shRNA⁃control rats ( P < 0. 01) . Conclusion EP3 receptor knockdown in LPB attenuates the febrile response induced by microinjection of PGE2 in the LPB and intraperitoneal injection of LPS , suggesting that EP3 receptors of LPB mediate the pyrogenic action of LPB PGE2 and partly participate in LPS⁃induced fever.