AIM: To investigate the potential inhibitory effect of pterostilbene on the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EndMT)induced by high glucose conditions in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs).METHODS: The optimal concentration of pterostilbene for treating HRMECs was determined using the CCK-8 assay, with 12.5 and 25 μmol/L concentrations selected for subsequent experiments. Four experimental groups were established: control group, high glucose group, high glucose combined with 12.5 μmol/L pterostilbene treatment group, and high glucose combined with 25 μmol/L pterostilbene treatment group. The expression levels of HDAC7 and EndMT-associated markers were detected via Western blot analysis. Cell migration ability was assessed using Transwell migration assays and scratch wound healing tests, while vasculogenic capability was evaluated through tube formation assays.RESULTS: The CCK-8 assay revealed that pterostilbene at a concentration of 22.07 μmol/L inhibited 50% of cell viability in HRMECs. Western blot analysis demonstrated that compared with the control group, the expression levels of HDAC7, ZEB1, Vimentin, and Snail were significantly upregulated in HRMECs cultured in high glucose(all P<0.01), while the expressions of VE-cadherin and CD31 were significantly reduced(all P<0.01). Compared to the high glucose group, the treatment with 12.5 and 25 μmol/L pterostilbene significantly reduced the expression of HDAC7, ZEB1, Vimentin, and Snail under high glucose conditions(all P<0.01). Notably, 25 μmol/L pterostilbene enhanced the expression of VE-cadherin and CD31(all P<0.01). Scratch wound healing tests revealed that HRMECs treated with high glucose exhibited a significantly increased cell migration rate compared to the control group(P<0.05), while the application of 25 μmol/L pterostilbene significantly suppressed HRMECs migration under high glucose conditions(P<0.01). Transwell migration assays demonstrated that the cell migration rate in the high glucose group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.01), with cell migration rate markedly reduced following treatment with both of 12.5 and 25 μmol/L pterostilbene(all P<0.01). The tube formation assay revealed that the ability of HRMECs to form tubular structures was significantly enhanced under high glucose conditions(P<0.01), and both 12.5 and 25 μmol/L of pterostilbene effectively inhibited this effect(all P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Pterostilbene can inhibit HDAC7 expression, suppress EndMT-mediated migration of HRMECs, and impair tube formation under high-glucose conditions.

AIM: To investigate the potential inhibitory effect of pterostilbene on the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EndMT)induced by high glucose conditions in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs).METHODS: The optimal concentration of pterostilbene for treating HRMECs was determined using the CCK-8 assay, with 12.5 and 25 μmol/L concentrations selected for subsequent experiments. Four experimental groups were established: control group, high glucose group, high glucose combined with 12.5 μmol/L pterostilbene treatment group, and high glucose combined with 25 μmol/L pterostilbene treatment group. The expression levels of HDAC7 and EndMT-associated markers were detected via Western blot analysis. Cell migration ability was assessed using Transwell migration assays and scratch wound healing tests, while vasculogenic capability was evaluated through tube formation assays.RESULTS: The CCK-8 assay revealed that pterostilbene at a concentration of 22.07 μmol/L inhibited 50% of cell viability in HRMECs. Western blot analysis demonstrated that compared with the control group, the expression levels of HDAC7, ZEB1, Vimentin, and Snail were significantly upregulated in HRMECs cultured in high glucose(all P<0.01), while the expressions of VE-cadherin and CD31 were significantly reduced(all P<0.01). Compared to the high glucose group, the treatment with 12.5 and 25 μmol/L pterostilbene significantly reduced the expression of HDAC7, ZEB1, Vimentin, and Snail under high glucose conditions(all P<0.01). Notably, 25 μmol/L pterostilbene enhanced the expression of VE-cadherin and CD31(all P<0.01). Scratch wound healing tests revealed that HRMECs treated with high glucose exhibited a significantly increased cell migration rate compared to the control group(P<0.05), while the application of 25 μmol/L pterostilbene significantly suppressed HRMECs migration under high glucose conditions(P<0.01). Transwell migration assays demonstrated that the cell migration rate in the high glucose group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.01), with cell migration rate markedly reduced following treatment with both of 12.5 and 25 μmol/L pterostilbene(all P<0.01). The tube formation assay revealed that the ability of HRMECs to form tubular structures was significantly enhanced under high glucose conditions(P<0.01), and both 12.5 and 25 μmol/L of pterostilbene effectively inhibited this effect(all P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Pterostilbene can inhibit HDAC7 expression, suppress EndMT-mediated migration of HRMECs, and impair tube formation under high-glucose conditions.

ObjectiveA qualitative analysis method was established for the composition of Astragali Radix（AR） before and after rice stir-frying. On the basis of systematic characterization of the chemical compositions in AR and stir-fried AR with rice（ARR）， the structures of their major compounds were deduced and identified， and the differential compositions between them were analyzed. MethodsUltra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS） was used to detect the samples of AR and ARR in positive and negative ion modes， respectively. The compounds were analyzed and identified through self-constructed databases， literature， and reference standards， etc. And the data were analyzed by chemometrics， in order to screen for the differential components between AR and ARR. ResultsA total of 123 compounds were identified in AR and ARR， including 41 flavonoids， 19 terpenoids， 26 organic acids， 8 amino acids， 5 nucleotides， 5 carbohydrates and 19 other compounds. Among them， there were 95 common components in both， 18 unique components in AR， and 10 unique components in ARR. Principal component analysis（PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） results both showed that there were significant differences in the chemical constituents of AR before and after rice stir-frying， and a total of 26 constituents with differences in the content were screened out， including L-canavanine， L-pyroglutamic acid， L-phenylalanine， cis-caffeic acid， and malonylastragaloside Ⅰ. Among them， 19 constituents of ARR were down-regulated and 7 constituents were up-regulated by comparing with AR. ConclusionThis study clarifies that the chemical composition of AR and ARR is mainly composed of flavonoids， terpenoids， and organic acids， and analyzes the components with significant differences in content between the two in combination with chemometrics， and the differential components are dominated by amino acids， organic acids and terpenoids， which can provide reference for the subsequent quality control and material basis research.

Objective To validate the efficacy of the prediction model for difficulty of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) through an independent cohort. Methods A total of 617 patients with achalasia who underwent POEM at the Endoscopy Center of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from January 2021 to December 2023 were included. The general data of patients were collected, and the predictive value of the prediction model for POEM difficulty in the validation cohort was estimated. The stratified analysis was undergone according to the difficulty risk scores. Results In 617 consecutive patients, technical difficulty was observed in 90 cases (14.6%). The predictive model demonstrated moderate discriminatory capacity with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.711 (95%CI 0.643-0.780). Patients were stratified into three risk categories according to the difficulty risk scores: low-risk (＜0.1), medium-risk (0.1-0.25), and high-risk (≥0.25). The corresponding technical difficulty rates were 7.3%, 16.9%, and 51.6%, respectively. Conclusion The prediction model for POEM difficulty built by our center shows good stability and discrimination, and has good clinical application value.

AIM: To observe the clinical outcomes of Phorcides analytic engine-assisted topography-guided personalized laser assisted in situ keratomileusis(LASIK)for the treatment of myopia and astigmatism in virgin eyes with the refractive astigmatism significantly deviating from corneal topography.METHODS: Retrospective clinical study. A total of 32 cases(42 eyes)with myopia and astigmatism that received corneal topography-guided personalized LASIK in the Ophthalmology Refractive Surgery Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from December 2019 to March 2021 were selected. The uncorrected distance visual acuity(UDVA), best corrected distance visual acuity(CDVA), refractive state and aberrations before and at 6 mo after surgery were recorded.RESULTS: There were 15 males and 17 females, with an age of 23.00(18.00, 29.25)years old; preoperative sphere was -5.75(-6.25, -4.00)D, and cylinder was -0.75(-1.38, -0.25)D. At 6 mo postoperatively, the UDVA exceeded the preoperative CDVA in 19 eyes(45%). The spherical equivalent(SEQ)of all eyes(100%)was -0.50 to +0.50 D at 6 mo postoperatively, and the postoperative SEQ of 23 eyes(55%)was -0.13 to +0.13 D. There were 33 eyes(79%)had a postoperative astigmatism ≤ 0.25 D, the target-induced astigmatism(TIA)was 0.94±0.96 D, and the surgically induced astigmatism(SIA)was 0.94±0.86 D, with no statistical significance between TIA and SIA(P>0.05). The astigmatism axial deviation ranged from -5° to +5° in 33 eyes(79%)at 6 mo postoperatively. Compared to pre-operation, the total higher-order aberrations and spherical aberrations within the central 6 mm diameter of the anterior corneal surface increased at 6 mo postoperatively(Z=-3.778, P<0.001; Z=-4.929, P<0.001); the postoperative coma aberrations had no change(Z=-1.763, P=0.078); the postoperative trefoil aberrations decreased(Z=-2.490, P=0.013). Compared to pre-operation, the Strehl ratio of the anterior corneal surface increased significantly at 6 mo after surgeries(t=-5.401, P=0.013).CONCLUSION: Using the Phorcides analytic engine to assist topography-guided personalized LASIK for the treatment of myopia and astigmatism in virgin eyes with the refractive astigmatism significantly deviating from topography-measured astigmatism can achieve good therapeutic effects. Postoperative UDVA exceeded preoperative CDVA in nearly half of the eyes, and the quality of postoperative corneal imaging was improved.

AIM: To assess the consistency of the new anterior segment analyzer, MS-39, the Sirius and Pentacam in measuring corneal white-to-white(WTW)and central anterior chamber depth(ACD), and to compare their differences in guiding implantable collamer lens(ICL)size selection.METHODS: Retrospective case study. A total of 210 consecutive patients(420 eyes)who treated at the Ophthalmology Refractive Surgery Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between September 2019 and September 2020 were enrolled. Three anterior segment analysis systems, MS-39, Sirius, and Pentacam, were utilized to assess the WTW and ACD, with comparative analysis of the results. The sizing of the ICL V4c was simulated using the method recommended by the STAAR company. Data correlation and consistency were evaluated.RESULTS: The WTW measurement results obtained from MS-39, Sirius, and Pentacam were 11.39±0.35, 11.42±0.36, and 11.46±0.35 mm, respectively. Notably, the WTW measurement value from MS-39 was significantly lower than that from Pentacam(P=0.002), while no statistically significant differences were observed between MS-39 and Sirius, or between Sirius and Pentacam(all P>0.05). The WTW measurements from the three devices exhibited a strong positive correlation, with correlation coefficients(r)of 0.942 between MS-39 and Sirius, 0.925 between MS-39 and Pentacam, and 0.882 between Sirius and Pentacam(all P<0.0001). The ACD measurements values from the MS-39, Sirius and Pentacam were 3.28±0.22, 3.28±0.24, and 3.21±0.23 mm, respectively. While, no statistically significant difference was found between MS-39 and Sirius(P>0.05), both measurements were significantly higher than that of Pentacam(both P<0.0001). The ACD measurements also demonstrated a strong positive correlation, with r values of 0.959 between MS-39 and Sirius, 0.947 between MS-39 and Pentacam, and 0.932 between Sirius and Pentacam(all P<0.0001). In terms of ICL size selection based on the measurements from the three devices, the 12.6 mm size was the most frequently selected, while the 13.7 mm size was the least common, the distribution of size selections across the devices was similar.CONCLUSION: MS-39 demonstrated strong positive correlation with both Sirius and Pentacam for WTW and ACD measurements, indicating that the results can be considered clinically interchangeable. Furthermore, the outcomes derived from MS-39 for ICL size selection were closely aligned with those from Sirius and Pentacam, suggesting its clinical feasibility.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Lkb1 regulated epithelial regeneration in asthma by airway organoid culture.Methods Lkb1f/f(the control group,n=10)and Scgb1a1CreER;Lkb1f/fmice(the Lkb1 knockout group,n=9)were taken to establish allergic asthma models by aerosol inhalation of ovalbumin(OVA).Bronchial lavage fluid(BALF)and lung tissue were collected.The number of inflammatory cells in BALF were counted.The amount of CLCA3 positive cells was compared by immunofluorescence staining of lung tissue sections.Club cells were selected by flow cytometry for organoid culture.The average diameter of organoids and organoid formation rate were calculated.Expression levels of goblet cell marker CLCA3,cilia cell markers FOXJ1 and AMPK in Club cells were detected by RT-PCR.Results There were no significant differences in the number of macrophages,eosinophils,neutrophils and lymphocytes in BALF between the control group and the Lkb1 knockout group.The number of CLCA3 positive cells were decreased after Lkb1 knockout.Results of organoid culture showed that the average diameter of organoids derived from Club cells and organoid formation rate were decreased after the absence of Lkb1.The expression of FOXJ1 was reduced.After Lkb1 deletion,the expression of AMPKα in Club cells were decreased and the proliferation of Club cells was inhibited.Activation of AMPK,the downstream signaling pathway of Lkb1,could attenuate the effect of Lkb1 deficiency on the regeneration of Club cells.Conclusion Lkb1 promotes the proliferation of airway progenitor cells by AMPK pathway.

Objective:To disclose phylogenetic and antigenic characteristics of hemagglutinin (HA) gene of influenza B virus (Victoria) (BV) in the 2023-2024 influenza surveillance season in Beijing, and understand the matching with influenza vaccine component strain.Methods:Pharyngeal swab specimens from influenza like-illness (ILI) in the 2023-2024 influenza surveillance season were collected from surveillance network labs in Beijing and BV strains were isolated through MDCK or chicken embryo culture. After extracting nucleic acid, HA gene was amplified and sequenced. The nucleotide and amino acid sequence identity were conducted and the maximum likelihood method in Mega 5.0 software was used to construct the phylogenetic tree of HA gene. N-glycosylation sites of HA were performed online. Furthermore, three-dimensional structure of HA was available from SWISS-MODEL homologous modeling. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests were performed to analyze antigenic characteristics of HA of BV strains.Results:Fifty-four BV strains were randomly selected to be analyzed further. Compared with the HA gene of this influenza season vaccine strain (B/Austria/1359417/2021), there are three amino acid mutations among all BV strains, two of which are located in two different antigenic determinants. Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that only one subgroup of 1A.3a.2 was circulating simultaneously. All BV strains are located in Clade 1A.3a.2 subgroup, and in the same subgroup with that of the vaccine component BV strain in 2023-2024. All BV strains have the same glycosylation sites as that of the vaccine component BV strain in 2023-2024. Antigenic analysis showed that all BV strains were antigenically similar with its vaccine strain.Conclusions:In the 2023-2024 influenza surveillance season, the prevalent BV strains in the population in Beijing city are located in Clade 1A. 3a. 2 subgroup. The antigen matching between BV epidemic strains and vaccine BV components is relatively high during this surveillance season.

Objective To investigate the effect of plasma microRNA(miR)-93-5p on ovarian granulosa cell proliferation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)and its possible mechanism.Methods A total of 120 PCOS patients of childbearing period who were treated at Jiaozuo People's Hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 were selected as the PCOS group,and 18 healthy women of childbearing period who were physically examined at the same hospital during the same period were selected as the control group.The age,body weight and height of the subjects in the two groups were recorded,and the body mass index(BMI)was calculated.Fasting venous blood was collected from the subjects during the follicular phase of the natural menstrual cycle or the progesterone-induced withdrawal bleeding phase,and serum levels of luteinizing hormone(LH),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),total testosterone(TT),anti-Mullerian hormone(AMH),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),fasting insulin(FINS),and fasting blood glucose(FBG)were measured by using the electrochemical method;and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)was calculated.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the expression level of miR-93-5p in plasma of patients in the two groups.Human ovarian granulosa cells(KGN cells)in logarithmic growth phase were cultured in 6-well plates with 3 × 105 cells per well,and they were randomly divided into the miR-93-5p mimics group,LY294002+miR-93-5p group,AZD5363+miR-93-5p group,negative control(NC)group,and blank control group.The KGN cells in the miR-93-5p group were transfected with miR-93-5p mimics;the KGN cells in the LY294002+miR-93-5p group were transfected with miR-93-5p mimics and treated with 50 mmol·L-1 LY294002 one hour before transfection;the KGN cells in the AZD5363+miR-93-5p group were transfected with miR-93-5p mimics and treated with 50 μmol·L-1 AZD5363 one hour before transfection;the KGN cells in the NC group were transfected with the negative control plasmids;and the KGN cells in the blank control group were not treated at all.The expression of miR-93-5p in the KGN cells in each group was detected by qRT-PCR,and the proliferation of the KGN cells in each group was detected by cell counting kit-8.Results There was no significant differences in age,FSH,ALT,and AST levels of patients between the PCOS group and the blank control group(P＞0.05).The BMI,TT,AMH,LH,FINS,FBG,and HOMA-IR of patients in the PCOS group were significantly higher than those in the blank control group(P＜0.05).The relative expression of miR-93-5p in plasma of patients in the PCOS group was significantly higher than that in the blank control group(t=-5.549,P＜0.001).miR-93-5p was moderately positively correlated with TT,FINS and HOMA-IR(r=0.434,0.622,0.586;P＜0.001)and was mildly positively correlated with FBG and LH(r=0.398,0.398;P＜0.001).The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the optimal cut-off value for plasma miR-93-5p in diagnosing PCOS was 1.380,the area under the curve was 0.906(95％confidence interval:0.839-0.973,P＜0.001),the sensitivity was 0.858,the specificity was 0.833,and the Youden index was 0.691.The relative expression of miR-93-5p in the KGN cells in the miR-93-5p mimics group,LY294002+miR-93-5p group and AZD5363+miR-93-5p group was significantly higher than that in the blank control group and NC group(P＜0.05).After 24,48 and 72 hours of culture,the proliferation of the KGN cells in the miR-93-5p mimics group,LY294002+miR-93-5p group and AZD5363+miR-93-5p group was significantly higher than that in the blank control group and the NC group(P＜0.05);the proliferation of the KGN cells in the LY294002+miR-93-5p group and AZD5363+miR-93-5p group was significantly lower than that in the miR-93-5p mimics group(P＜0.05).Conclusion miR-93-5p in plasma is overexpressed in PCOS patients,and it may be involved in the occurrence and development of PCOS by mediating the proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells through the phosphoinositide 3 kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway.The miR-93-5p level in plasma has a certain diagnostic value for PCOS.

Objective To explore the expression level of microRNA(miR)-320a-3p in peripheral blood in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)and its possible mechanism for regulating PCOS.Methods A total of 149 PCOS patients admitted to the Jiaozuo People's Hospital from July 2021 to July 2022 were selected as the research subjects(PCOS group),and 18 healthy volunteers with a regular menstrual cycle(28-35 d),no clinical or biochemical manifestations of hyperandrogenism,and no polycystic ovary changes detected by ultrasonography were selected as the control group.Clinical data of the subjects in the two groups were collected and compared.The expression level of miR-320a-3p in plasma of subjects in the two groups was detected by using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The correlation between plasma miR-320a-3p expression and clinical indexes was evaluated by using the Pearson partial correlation analysis.The predictive value of miR-320a-3p for PCOS was analyzed by using the receiver operating characteristic curve.The relationship between miR-320a-3p and androgen receptor was evaluated by using the dual luciferase reporter gene assay.Results There was no significant difference in age,hip circumference,follicle stimulating hormone(FSH),prolactin(PRL),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)between the two groups(P＞0.05).The body mass index,waist circumference,total testosterone(TT),anti-Miillerian hormone(AMH),luteinizing hormone(LH),fasting insulin(FINS),fasting blood glucose(FBG),2-hour postprandial blood glucose(2 h BG),homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR),total cholesterol,triglycerides(TG),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)of patients in the PCOS group were significantly higher than those in the control group,while the level of estradiol(E2)was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).The relative expression level of miR-320a-3p in plasma of patients in the PCOS group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).The expression level of miR-320a-3p was moderately negatively correlated with TT(r=-0.594,P＜0.05)and slightly negatively correlated with waist circumference,FINS,2 h BG,HOMA-IR,and LDL-C(r=-0.293,-0.208,-0.227,-0.208,-0.208;P＜0.05),and showed no significant correlation with hip circumference,AMH,FSH,E2,PRL,FBG,TG,and HDL-C(r=-0.079,0.020,-0.042,0.089,0.005,-0.141,-0.116,0.059;P＞0.05).The area under the curve of miR-320a-3p for predicting PCOS was 0.968(95％confidence interval:0.922-1.000,P＜0.05),with a cut-off value of 0.515,a sensitivity of 0.917,a specificity of 0.789,and a Jordon index of 0.706.miR-320a-3p negatively regulated androgen receptors.Conclusion miR-320a-3p is abnormally low expressed in peripheral blood of PCOS patients and may participate in the occurrence and development of PCOS by negatively regulating androgen receptors to increase TT levels.It has high predictive value for diagnosing PCOS.