Objective Narcolepsy type 1 （NT1） is known to be associated with low levels of hypocretin-1 （Hcrt-1） in cerebrospinal fluid （CSF）. The standard method for Hcrt-1 measurement is radioimmunoassay （RIA） with imported reagents， but this antibody-dependent method is limited to radiation safety-certified lab， gradual radioactivity degradation， and slow turn-around time. The purpose of this study is to explore a non-radioactive， faster， and antibody independent domestic method in China for Hcrt-1 detection. Methods Repeated testing of cerebrospinal fluid from 14 clinically diagnosed NT1 patients and 10 non-narcolepsy patients was performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS）technology，including the establishment and optimization of fundamental methodological procedures. The main steps involved the addition of non-radioactive isotope-labeled internal standards to the cerebrospinal fluid， followed by solid-phase extraction， mass spectrometry signal acquisition， and quantitative analysis. The results were then compared with the corresponding radioimmunoassay（RIA） findings. Results The LC-MS/MS method showed faster speed， and good linearity across a wider range of synthesized standard（5~2 500 pg/ml）， and good repeatability. Although this absolute-quantitation-based LC-MS/MS method and RIA method have different reading values in Hcrt-1 quantitation， they both can segregate NT1 group from non-NT1 group well. Conclusion Although larger cohorts are needed to set up a standard method in China，LC-MS/MS method is proved to be an easier， safer， faster， and possibly more accurate method for Hcrt-1 quantitation and detection for NT1 diagnosis.
Narcolepsy ; Radioimmunoassay

To investigate the effect of Xuebijing injection (XBJ) on cGAS/STING pathway in alleviating sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI), the mouse sepsis-induced ALI model was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and the cell inflammation model was constructed by LPS stimulating RAW264.7 cells. The effects of XBJ on lung tissue injury and cGAS/STING pathway-related protein expression in septic mice were investigated by HE staining, ELISA, and Western blot. The results showed that XBJ intervention could alleviate lung tissue injury, reduce serum IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-β, IL-1-β levels, and the expression of cGAS, STING, p-TBK1, and p-IRF3 proteins in lung tissue in vivo, and reduce the mRNA level of related inflammatory factors in RAW264.7 cells and the expression of cGAS/STING pathway proteins in vitro. The results showed that XBJ could play a role in the prevention and treatment of sepsis-induced ALI by inhibiting the inflammatory response via inhibition of the activation of cGAS/STING pathway. This study provides a new molecular mechanism for the clinical prevention and treatment of sepsis-induced acute lung injury with XBJ.

OBJECTIVE To construct an evaluation index system for the core competencies of ethics committee members of drug clinical trial institution， providing a basis for optimizing the training system for committee members， improving the quality of ethical review， and fully safeguarding the safety and rights of subjects. METHODS Using methods such as literature research and expert consultation， a preliminary core competency evaluation index system was constructed. The Delphi method was employed to revise and validate it， ultimately forming an evaluation index system for the core competencies of ethics committee members. Based on this system， a questionnaire survey was conducted among 90 ethics committee members from 29 drug clinical trial institutions nationwide， comparing their importance rating and self-assessment scores of the core competency indexes. RESULTS The evaluation system constructed included 4 primary indicators （ethics and professional knowledge， ethics review ability， communication and expression ability， moral integrity and work style） and 39 secondary indicators （familiarity with the content of clinical trial-related laws and regulations， ability to complete project ethics review and identify ethical defects in research protocols within a short period of time， ability to judge the scientific value of clinical research， etc.）. The results of questionnaire survey showed that the interviewed ethics committee members had significant capability gaps in dimensions such as regulatory knowledge， ethical norms， review efficiency， risk judgment， and problem analysis. The differences between the importance rating scores of corresponding secondary indicators and the self-assessment scores were all no less than 0.38. CONCLUSIONS This study has developed a quantifiable and stratified core competency assessment tool for ethics committee members. It can provide a scientific framework for committee member training， qualification certification， and standardized management of ethics committees.

Oxidative stress due to aberrant metabolism is considered as a crucial contributor to diabetes and its complications. Hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia boost excessive reactive oxygen species generation by elevated mitochondrial respiration, increased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity, and enhanced pro-oxidative processes, including protein kinase C pathways, hexosamine, polyol, and advanced glycation endproducts, which exacerbate oxidative stress. Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the onset of diabetes and its associated complications by impairing insulin production, increasing insulin resistance, maintaining hyperglycemic memory, and inducing systemic inflammation. A more profound comprehension of the molecular processes that link oxidative stress to diabetes is crucial to new preventive and therapeutic strategies. Therefore, this review discusses the mechanisms underlying how oxidative stress contributes to diabetes mellitus and its complications. We also summarize the current approaches for prevention and treatment by targeting the oxidative stress pathways in diabetes.
Oxidative Stress/physiology* ; Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus/physiopathology* ; Diabetes Complications/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Glycation End Products, Advanced/metabolism* ; Animals

Autophagy is a fundamental biological metabolic process involved in immune defense, material metabolism, and homeostasis and closely linked to immune regulation. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a widespread connective tissue disorder primarily resulting from immune system imbalance. Due to the immune system's failure to recognize its own substances, it generates autoantibodies that can affect various tissues and organs, leading to diverse clinical manifestations. The pathogenesis and treatment of SLE are currently under extensive investigation. In normal metabolic processes, autophagy engages in both innate and adaptive immunity, regulates the immune response, and is crucial for maintaining normal immune function and the body's internal homeostasis. Research has indicated that SLE patients exhibit immune dysfunction and altered autophagy levels. Modulating autophagy expression can influence immune system functionality and alleviate SLE symptoms. Additionally, autophagy aids in the innate immune response and adaptive immunity by clearing metabolites and regulating the life cycle of immune cells. Studies suggest that drugs targeting autophagy can positively influence the progression of SLE. This article reviews advancements in research regarding the impact of autophagy on the pathogenesis of SLE through the regulation of immune system functions.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/pathology* ; Autophagy/immunology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Immunity, Innate ; Adaptive Immunity ; Disease Progression ; Immune System/immunology*

The biological nitrogen removal technology utilizing heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) bacteria has shown effectiveness in wastewater treatment. However, the nitrogen removal efficiency of HN-AD bacteria significantly decreases as the salinity increases. To tackle the challenge of treating high-salt and high-nitrogen wastewater, we isolated a moderately halophilic HN-AD strain 5505 from a salt lake in Xinjiang. The strain was identified based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics and the 16S rRNA gene sequence. Single-factor experiments were carried out with NH₄⁺-N, NO₃^--N, and NO₂^--N as sole or mixed nitrogen sources to study the nitrifying effect, denitrifying effect, and nitrogen metabolism pathway of the strain. The strain was identified as Halomonas sp.. It can grow in the presence of 1%-25% (W/V) NaCl and exhibited efficient nitrogen removal ability in the presence of 3%-8% NaCl. At the optimal NaCl concentration (8%), the strain showed the NH₄⁺-N, NO₃^--N and NO₂^--N removal rates of 100.0%, 94.11% and 74.43%, respectively. Strain 5505 removed inorganic nitrogen mainly by assimilation, which accounted for over 62.68% of total nitrogen removal. In the presence of mixed nitrogen sources, strain 5505 showed a preference for utilizing ammonia, with a potential HN-AD pathway of NH₄⁺→NH₂OH→NO₂^-→NO₃^-→NO₂^-→NO/N₂O/N₂. The findings provide efficient salt-tolerant bacterial resources, enhance our understanding of biological nitrogen removal, and contribute to the nitrogen removal efficiency improvement in the treatment of high-salt and high-nitrogen wastewater.
Halomonas/classification* ; Nitrogen/isolation & purification* ; Denitrification ; Nitrification ; Wastewater/microbiology* ; Aerobiosis ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Salinity

Objective Based on meteorological factors, the prediction of the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases(CVD) and the analysis of its correlation with the incidence rate. Methods The research utilizes six years of data on CVD incidence from Xingyi, from 2017 to 2022, as the subject of study. The incidence risk levels are categorized based on the 25%, 50%, 75%, and 95% quantiles of the cumulative probability of the number of cases. The study is conducted based on the relationship between meteorological factors and the risk of incidence of CVD. Results The incidence of CVD shows a significant correlation with temperature, vapor pressure, atmospheric pressure, and relative humidity. It is negatively correlated with temperature and vapor pressure, among which the correlation with the daily minimum temperature is the highest at -0.504 (P < 0.05), and positively correlated with atmospheric pressure and relative humidity. Meteorological factors that have a significant correlation with the incidence rate are selected as input factors for the machine prediction model. It was found that the random forest model performs best in predicting the risk of incidence of CVD, with a comprehensive score of 0.851. Analysis of Relative Risk (RR) values found that there is a lagged association between exposure levels to meteorological factors and the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. A temperature drop of more than 11°C and an increase in atmospheric pressure of more than 8 hPa can significantly increase the risk of incidence. Conclusion The study revealed significant correlations between the incidence of CVD and meteorological parameters including temperature, water vapor pressure, atmospheric pressure, and relative humidity. Utilizing machine learning models, the research effectively predicted the risk of these diseases, uncovering that extreme weather conditions significantly elevate the risk of incidence. These findings provide a basis for meteorological risk assessment in public health interventions, emphasizing the importance of taking preventative measures in the context of extreme climate changes.

Objective:To explore the differences in tumor-specific growth factors, cellular immune function and efficacy of olaparib and platinum-containing regimen for treatment of platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer patients with BRCA mutation.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 100 platinum-sensitive relapsed BRCA-mutant ovarian cancer patients in Baoding Second Central Hospital from September 2017 to March 2020 were retrospectively selected. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed, and they were divided into the olaparib group (treated with olaparib tablets) and the platinum-containing regimen group (treated with paclitaxel and platinum drugs for 6 cycles, followed by olaparib tablets maintenance therapy), with 50 patients in each group. The clinical efficacy, tumor specific growth factor [carbohydrate antigen (CA) 125, CA199, human epididymal protein 4 (HE4)] levels, cellular immune function-related indicators [T-cell subsets (proportions of CD3 + cells and CD4 + cells), CD4 + cells/CD8 + cells ratio (CD4 +/CD8 +)], and quality of life scores before treatment and after 2, 4 and 6 cycles of treatment of the two groups were compared, as well as the safety of the two groups. The data of three years of follow-up were obtained, Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients in the two groups, and log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. Results:The age of patients in the olaparib and platinum-containing regimen groups was (53±7) years old and (56±7) years old, respectively. The differences in compositions of patients with different age, body mass index, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score, primary tumor location, lesion size, pathological stage, pathological type, germline BRCA mutation, and previous chemotherapy response between the two groups were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). The objective response rate (ORR) [58.0% (29/50) vs. 38.0% (19/50)] and disease control rate (DCR) [80.0% (40/50) vs. 56.0% (28/50)] of the olaparib group after treatment were higher than those of the platinum-containing regimen group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). Serum CA125, CA199 and HE4 levels were gradually decreased in both groups before treatment and after 2, 4 and 6 cycles of treatment (all P < 0.05); serum CA125, CA199 and HE4 levels in the olaparib group after 2, 4 and 6 cycles of treatment were lower than those in the platinum-containing regimen group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The CD3 + cells ratio, CD4 + cell ratio and CD4 +/CD8 + in the olaparib group gradually increased before treatment and after 2, 4 and 6 cycles of treatment (all P < 0.05), while those in the platinum-containing regimen group all gradually decreased (all P < 0.05); the CD3 + cells ratio, CD4 + cells ratio and CD4 +/CD8 + in the olaparib group were higher than those in the platinum-containing regimen group after 2, 4 and 6 cycles of treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The quality of life scores of both groups increased before treatment and after 2, 4 and 6 cycles of treatment (all P < 0.05), and the quality of life scores of the olaparib group were higher than those of the platinum-containing regimen group after 2, 4 and 6 cycles of treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The incidence of nausea, fatigue and malaise, vomiting, anemia, and diarrhea at all levels in the olaparib group was lower than those in the platinum-containing regimen group (all P < 0.05). By follow-up for 3 years, there was no statistically significant difference in PFS between the olaparib group and the platinum-containing regimen group ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:The efficacy of olaparib treatment in platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer patients with BRCA mutation is superior to platinum-containing regimen, and it can increase the level of T cells, inhibit the expression of tumor-specific growth factors, improve the quality of life, and have a positive effect on improving the safety of treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the intervention effectiveness of broken window effect combined with narrative nursing on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents, so as to provide the basis for NSSI prevention in adolescents. Methods: Totally 134 adolescents with NSSI admitted to Mental Health Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Anhui West Health Vocational College from January 2022 to December 2023 were enrolled and randomly assigned into the control and treatment group. All were given narrative nursing and routine care, and the adolescents in the treatment group were given additional intervention based on broken window effect. The effects were evaluated using Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Self-Rating Idea of Suicide Scale (SIOSS), Ottawa Self-injury Inventory-Functions (OSI-F) and Nursing Satisfaction Scale, and the two groups were compared before and after intervention. Results: The treatment and control groups comprised 67 cases each, had a median age of 14.12 (interquartile range, 2.01) years and 14.10 (interquartile range, 1.52) years, included 71.64% and 68.66% girls, and 79.10% and 74.63% junior high school students, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the treatment and control groups in terms of gender, age or educational level (all P>0.05). The results of analysis of variance for repeated measures showed that there were interactions between time and group for SDS, HAMD and SIOSS scores (all P<0.05), and the decrease in scores before and after intervention was greater in the treatment group than in the control group. After intervention, the SDS, HAMD, SIOSS score and incidence of suicidal behaviors in the treatment group were all lower than the control group [SDS: (32.54±1.27) vs. (44.25±2.23); HAMD: (10.54±1.83) vs. (18.73±1.89); SIOSS: (10.37±2.20) vs. (15.76±1.62); incidence of suicidal behavior: 14.93% vs. 32.84%; all P<0.05]. The nursing satisfaction rate was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (98.51% vs. 88.06%, P<0.05). Conclusion The broken window effect combined with narrative nursing would improve the depressive symptoms in adolescents with NSSI, and reduce the suicidal ideation and self injury.

Objective:To explore the differences of gene expression profiles of precursors of exhausted T cells (Tpex) and terminal exhausted T cells (Tex) in the peripheral blood of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (ATB).Methods:Twenty-five cases of ATB, 13 cases of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and 10 health controls were enrolled from January 2021 to October 2022 in the Fifth People′s Hospital of Wuxi. The proportions of Tpex and Tex in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of the three groups were detected by flowcytometry. PBMCs of ATB were separated into Tpex and Tex by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. RNA-sequencing was performed and up-regulated and down-regulated genes were screended. Differently expressed genes were analyzed by gene set enrichment analysis of gene ontology (GO) to find regulatory pathways affecting cell metabolism and function. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn multiple comparsion test were used for statistical analysis.Results:The proportion of Tpex in ATB group was 2.86%(1.74%), which was lower than 7.93%(6.16%) of Tex, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-3.91, P<0.001). The proportions of Tpex and Tex in LTBI group were 9.47%(6.26%) and 7.43%(5.48%), respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant ( Z=-0.93, P=0.345). The proportions of Tpex and Tex in healthy control group were 8.42%(2.69%) and 6.49%(5.14%), respectively, with no statistical significance ( Z=-1.36, P=0.170). There was statistical difference of the proportion of Tpex among the three groups ( H=21.93, P<0.001), and the proportion of Tpex in ATB group was lower than those in LTBI and heathy control groups, and the differences were both statistically significant ( Z=4.16, P<0.001 and Z=3.34, P=0.003, respectively), while the proportions of Tex in these three groups were not statistically different ( H=2.17, P=0.338). Compared with Tex, the gene expressions of memory markers, such as B-cell lymphoma 2 of Tpex were up-regulated, and the gene expressions of exhausted markers, such as lymphocyte activation gene 3 were down-regulated. In terms of cellular metabolism, the gene expressions of mitochondrial protein complex, mitochondrial matrix and oxidative phosphorylation of Tpex were up-regulated, and the gene expressions of glycolysis were down-regulated. The gene expressions of pyruvate metabolism in Tex were up-regulated, and the gene expressions of CD4 + T lymphocyte activation and differentiation and glycolytic process in Tpex were down-regulated. Conclusions:Tpex in ATB express more characteristics of memory cells and less features of exhausted markers compared with Tex, and the function of mitochondria of Tpex preserves well.