Chronic alcohol consumption causes liver steatosis, cell death, and inflammation. Melatonin (MLT) is reported to alleviate alcoholic liver disease (ALD)-induced injury. However, its direct regulating targets in hepatocytes are not fully understood. In the current study, a cell-based screening model and a chronic ethanol-fed mice ALD model were used to test the protective mechanisms of MLT. MLT ameliorated ethanol-induced hepatocyte injury in both cell and animal models (optimal doses of 10 μmol/L and 5 mg/kg, respectively), including lowered liver steatosis, cell death, and inflammation. RNA-seq analysis and loss-of-function studies in AML-12 cells revealed that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) was a key downstream effector of MLT. Biophysical assay found that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the hepatocyte surface was a direct binding and regulating target of MLT. Liver specific knock-down of Tert or Egfr in the ALD mice model impaired MLT-mediated liver protection, partly through the regulation of nuclear brahma-related gene-1 (BRG1). Long-term administration (90 days) of MLT in healthy mice did not cause evident adverse effect. In conclusion, MLT is an efficacious and safe agent for ALD alleviation. Its direct regulating target in hepatocytes is EGFR and downstream BRG1-TERT axis. MLT might be used as a complimentary agent for alcoholics.

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) are an ILC subset that is characterized by the expression of retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear receptor γt (RORγt) and interleukin 22 (IL-22). This review summarizes the role of ILC3 in coordinating innate immunity and adaptive immunity based on current research and elaborate the significance of ILC3 from the perspective of immune system evolution. In addition, based on immune-related functions, we propose a possible time when ILC3 appears in the evolution of the immune system. And then, the research limitations and prospects are discussed.
Immunity, Innate ; Lymphocytes ; Tretinoin

The mechanisms underlying autophagic defects in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remain largely unknown. We aimed to elucidate the roles of hepatic cyclooxygenase 1 (COX1) in autophagy and the pathogenesis of diet-induced steatohepatitis in mice. Human nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) liver samples were used to examine the protein expression of COX1 and the level of autophagy. Cox1^Δhepa mice and their wildtype littermates were generated and fed with 3 different NASH models. We found that hepatic COX1 expression was increased in patients with NASH and diet-induced NASH mice models accompanied by impaired autophagy. COX1 was required for basal autophagy in hepatocytes and liver specific COX1 deletion exacerbated steatohepatitis by inhibiting autophagy. Mechanistically, COX1 directly interacted with WD repeat domain, phosphoinositide interacting 2 (WIPI2), which was crucial for autophagosome maturation. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated rescue of WIPI2 reversed the impaired autophagic flux and improved NASH phenotypes in Cox1^Δhepa mice, indicating that COX1 deletion-mediated steatohepatitis was partially dependent on WIPI2-mediated autophagy. In conclusion, we demonstrated a novel role of COX1 in hepatic autophagy that protected against NASH by interacting with WIPI2. Targeting the COX1-WIPI2 axis may be a novel therapeutic strategy for NASH.

AIM: To explore the role and mechanism of silent mating type information regulator 2 homolog 3 (SIRT3) in attenuation of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury by dexmedetomidine in mice. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy male C57BL mice were divided into 4 groups randomly (n=6): sham operation group (Sham group), intestinal ischemia-reperfusion group (I/R group), dexmedetomidine group (Dex group), SIRT3 inhibitor 3-TYP group (3-TYP group). Superior mesenteric artery was clamped for 45 min followed by reperfusion for 2 h to establish intestinal I/R model in I/R group, Dex group, and 3-TYP group. Sham group received sole sham operation. 1 h prior to onset of ischemia, 3-TYP was injected into mice in 3-TYP group intraperitoneally (5 mg/kg, diluted to 0.3 mL), and 0.3 mL normal saline into mice in Dex group intraperitoneally. 30 min prior to onset of ischemia, dexmedetomidine was injected into mice in 3-TYP group and Dex group intraperitoneally (25 μg/kg, diluted to 0.3 mL). 1 h and 30 min prior to onset of ischemia, 0.3 mL normal saline was injected into mice in Sham group and I/R group intraperitoneally, respectively. 2 h of after reperfusion, the mice were sacrificed under anesthesia. Intestinal tissues were took and observed for pathological changes under light microscope after HE staining, and the injury was assessed via the Chiu's score method, and activities of SIRT3 and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) were detected via spectrophotometry, and malondialdehyde (MDA) via spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The pathological injury was exacerbated, and the Chiu's score, the MDA level elevated remarkably, while the activity level of SIRT3 and SOD2 declined remarkably in I/R group, Dex group and 3-TYP group compared to Sham group (P<0.05). The pathological injury was alleviated, and the Chiu's score declined remarkably in Dex group and 3-TYP group compared to I/R group (P<0.05); and the MDA level declined remarkably, while activity level of SIRT3 and SOD2 elevated remarkably in Dex group compared to I/R group (P<0.05); and there was no significant difference both in the activity level of SIRT3 and SOD2 and in the MDA level between 3-TYP group and I/R group. The pathological injury was exacerbated, and the Chiu's score, the MDA level elevated remarkably, while the activity level of SIRT3 and SOD2 declined remarkably in 3-TYP group compared to Dex group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: SIRT3 and its downstream SOD2 are involved in mediating the effect of attenuation of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury through inhibiting oxidative stress response by dexmedetomidine.

Objective:To analyze the cancer incidence and mortality in Yixing City， Jiangsu Province in 2019. Methods:The cancer incidence and mortality in Yixing residents in 2019 were collected. Based on the data， the incidence and mortality rate， standardized incidence and mortality rate and age-specific incidence and mortality rate of cancer were calculated， and the incidence and death of major malignant tumors were also analyzed. Life table method was used to calculate life expectancy and life expectancy without cause of death. Results:The crude incidence of cancer in Yixing in 2019 was 308.61/10⁵， the ASR China was 175.24/10⁵， and the ASR World was 134.56/10⁵. The crude mortality of cancer was 258.78/10⁵， the ASR China was 125.19/10⁵， and the ASR World was 93.01/10⁵. The cancer incidence rate and mortality rate in males were higher than those in females. The top 5 cancers in incidence were lung， gastric， colorectal， thyroid， and esophageal cancers. The top 5 cancer deaths were lung， gastric， liver， esophageal， and colorectal cancers. In 2019， the life expectancy of Yixing residents was 82.53 years old， and the life expectancy without cause of cancer death was 86.15 years old. The biggest loss of life expectancy in the population was caused by lung cancer， followed by gastric cancer and liver cancer. Conclusion:The mortality rate of malignant tumors in Yixing is at a high level. Cancer prevention and treatment should be focused on lung cancer， thyroid cancer and malignant tumors of the digestive tract.

microRNA (miRNA) is a class of 19-25 nucleotide highly conserved single-stranded non-coding RNA that is widely found in plants and animals. Their biological effect is to negatively regulate target gene expression at the post-transcriptional level through complementary pairing with mRNA. Intestinal I/R injury is more common in clinical practice, and ischemia-reperfusion will cause intestinal mucosal barrier damage, and it is related to the occurrence, development, and outcome of many clinical diseases. Many studies have shown that the miRNA subtype genes miR-34a-5p, miR-351-5p, miR-682, miR-21, etc. affect the intestinal I/R injury process to some extent by regulating a series of signal transduction. Therefore, revealing the role of miRNA in intestinal I/R injury and providing a new direction for the diagnosis and treatment of I/R.

BACKGROUND:Studies have suggested that interleukin-6 is crucial for inducing cel apoptosis after acute spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s to treat acute spinal cord injury in rats. METHODS:Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group (spinal cord injury group), treatment group 1 (interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody transplantation group), treatment group 2 (bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation group), treatment group 3 (bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel+interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody group), with six rats in each group. In the sham group, the spinal cord was only exposed with no injury, and in the other four groups, rat models of acute spinal cord injury were made using modified Al en’s method. Local injection treatment was performed in al the groups at 28 days after modeling. Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scoring and improved Tarlov scoring were used at 1 day before treatment and 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 days after treatment to test the hindlimb function. At 28 days after treatment, TUNEL method was used to detect cel apoptosis in the spinal cord. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the sham group, BBB scores and improved Tarlov scores were decreased significantly in the other four groups (P<0.05). At 7 days after treatment, the BBB scores and improved Tarlov scores in the treatment group 3 were significantly higher than those in the model group (P<0.05). At 14 days after treatment, the BBB scores and improved Tarlov scores in the treatment groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher than those in the model group (P<0.05);compared with the treatment group 2, the BBB score and improved Tarlov score were significantly increased in the treatment group 3 (P<0.05). Compared with the sham group, the number of apoptotic cel s was significantly increased in the other four groups (P<0.05);compared with the model group, the number of apoptotic cel s was significantly decreased in the three treatment groups (P<0.05);compared with the treatment group 2, the number of apoptotic cel s was significantly lower in the treatment group 3 (P<0.05). These findings indicate that the combined use of interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation is better than bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation alone in the treatment of spinal cord injury, and interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody reduces cel apoptosis in spinal cord injury, which is of positive significance for preventing against acute spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the learning curve of gastric bypass procedure on rats model by a single operator.

METHODSFrom June 2013 to September 2013, two groups (group A and group B) of rats model were performed gastric bypass surgery, 60 rats for each group. Each group was divided into 3 stages according to sequence. The operative time and postoperative survival rate were compared between A group and B group at first, then among stages of each group.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between A and B group in operative time and postoperative survival rate. However, the operative time significantly decreased in group AII( and AIII( compared with AI(, [(78.5±2.5) and (73.3±1.4) with (127.3±3.2) min, P<0.01]. The postoperative survival rate was increased in group AII( and AIII( than in the group AI(, [75%(15/20) and 85%(17/20) with 30%(6/20), P<0.05]. All results of 3 stages in group B was similar to group A.

CONCLUSIONFor an efficient and stable rate of successful model establishment, the researcher needs to operate about 20 rats to pass the learning curve of gastric bypass procedure.

Objective To investigate the impact of thyrotropic hormone (TSH) on recurrence rate of common bile duct stone (CBDS).Methods The clinical data of 268 cases of primary or recurrent CBDS undergoing surgery was analyzed.According to whether screening preoperative TSH level routinely,we assigned the patients into two groups,unchecked group with 171 cases and screened group with 97 cases.The postoperative recurrence rates in 36 months between two groups were compared.Results The recurrence rates of unchecked group and screened group were 3.5％,12.9％,16.9％ and 0.0％,5.2％,8.2％ respectively in 12-,24-,36-months,there was statistically significant difference between two groups (x2 =4.029,P ＜ 0.05).In unchecked group,patients ≥ 60 years had a significant higher recurrence rate than ＜ 60 years patients (x2 =6.485,P ＜ 0.05).In screened group,there was no statistically significant difference between ≥60 and ＜ 60 patients (x2 =0.142,P ＞ 0.05).In those 34 patients with a high TSH level in the screened group,normalizing the level from (6.23 ± 1.44) μIU/ml to (2.91 ±0.74) μIU/ml by oral intake of thyroid hormone postoperatively,led to the recurrence rates of 0％,5.9％,8.8％ in 12-,24-,36-months,which was not significantly different from those with normal TSH (x2 =0.022,P ＞ 0.05).And that,there was not statistically different between the young and elder patients in those 34 cases for the 12-,24-,36-month recurrence rates (x2 =0.086,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Some CBDS patients may be with high level of TSH.Normalizing TSH level may be conducive to a reduced postoperative recurrence rate of CBDS.

Objective To understand the study habits of medical postgraduates in basic cours-es so as to provide references for the reformation of teaching methods. Methods Totally 250 postgra-duates of grade 2010 in our university were investigated with self-made questionnaire. The contents of the questionnaire included basic condition of postgraduates, study methods and suggestions for teaching methods. Rate, percentage and Chi-square test were applied to do statistical analysis. Results Accor-ding to the results of the collected 246 copies of questionnaire, 91.5%(225/246) did not preview lessons before class, 93.5%(230/246) took notes in class, 78.9%(194/246) simply took notes in the book, 60.6%(149/246) preferred more detailed courseware and 27.2%(67/246) reviewed lessons after class. The percentage of simply taking notes in the book of local students (86.5%) was significantly higher than that of army ones (73.2%) (P=0.030), but the percentages of preferring more detailed courseware and reviewing lessons after class of local students were significantly lower than those of army ones (P=0.008, P=0.016). Conclusions The proportion of previewing before class is low among postgrauates. Postgraduates depend heavily on teachers and do not review after class in time. There are differences between local students and army students in taking notes and review habits. It is important to cultivate postgraduates’good study habits.