Osteoporosis can be induced by various factors including prolonged glucocorticoid usage, diminished estrogen levels, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and alterations in the microenvironment of bone tissue. The bone metabolism imbalance(osteogenic-lipogenic imbalance) plays a crucial role in the development of osteoporosis. This imbalance is primarily driven by an increase in the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into adipocytes and a decrease in their differentiation into osteoblasts, thus forming the core of the osteogenic-lipogenic imbalance observed in osteoporosis. The bone morphogenesis protein(BMP) plays a crucial role in the regulation of the osteogenic-lipid balance in osteoporosis. This regulatory function is accomplished through both the Smad-dependent and Smad-independent pathways. This review centers on the Smad-dependent and Smad-independent pathways facilitated by BMP, offering a comprehensive overview of the potential mechanisms through which BMP-2, 4, 6, 7, and 9 contribute to the regulation of osteogenesis and lipid metabolism in osteoporosis via these pathways. In order to present novel insights for the identification of efficacious targets for clinical anti-osteoporosis medications.

Objective:To explore the value of amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) imaging and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging for diagnosing and evaluating the pathological differentiation of cervix squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).Methods:This study was a diagnostic trial. Totally 56 patients pathologically diagnosed with CSCC at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from October 2021 to October 2022 were retrospectively collected, as the CSCC group. And 36 female healthy volunteers who underwent physical examinations at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from October 2021 to October 2023 were recruited as the control group. CSCC patients were divided into well-moderately differentiated ( n=34) and poorly differentiated groups ( n=22). The region of interest was placed in the lesions of CSCC group and normal cervical stroma of control group, and the quantitative parameters for asymmetric magnetization transfer ratio (MTR asym) of APTw imaging and pure diffusion coefficient (D), false diffusion coefficient (D *) and perfusion fraction (f) for IVIM were obtained. The independent sample t test was used to compare the differences in quantitative parameters between the two groups, the logistic regression model was used to establish combined parameters for the quantitative parameters with statistical significance between the two groups. The receiver operator characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of single quantitative parameters and combined parameters to distinguish the CSCC group from the control group, and the well-moderately differentiated group from the poorly differentiated group in CSCC patients. The area under the curve (AUC) was compared using the DeLong test. Results:There were significant differences in MTR asym, D and f between CSCC group and control group ( t=-9.79, 10.09, 11.35, P<0.001). Also, significant differences were found for MTR asym and D between the well-moderately differentiated and poorly differentiated group ( t=4.11, -3.76, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in other quantitative parameters ( P>0.05). When comparing the CSCC group and control group, the AUC (95% CI) of MTR asym, D, f and combined parameter (MTR asym+D+f) were 0.887 (0.804-0.944), 0.940 (0.871-0.979), 0.968 (0.909-0.993), 0.995 (0.950-1.000). The AUC of the combined parameter was higher than those of MTR asym and D, with statistical significance ( Z=3.07, 2.06, P=0.002, 0.040). When comparing the well-moderately differentiated and poorly differentiated group, the AUC (95% CI) of MTR asym, D, and combined parameter (MTR asym+D) were 0.789 (0.660-0.887), 0.775 (0.644-0.876), 0.852 (0.731-0.932). There was no significant difference between each two AUCs ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The quantitative parameters of APTw and IVIM imaging can be used to diagnose and preliminarily evaluate the pathological differentiation of CSCC. Joint parameters can improve the diagnostic efficiency of CSCC.

Recent studies have shown that stress can substantially facilitate breast cancer metastasis,which can be reduced by nonselective β1/β2-adrenergic receptor(β1/β2-AR)blocker.However,several side effects were identified.Thus,it is extremely warranted to explore more effective and better-tolerated β2-AR blocker.Currently,we demonstrated that baicalin(BA),a major bioactive component of Scutellaria bai-calensis Georgi,could significantly attenuate stress hormones especially epinephrine(Epi)-induced breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro.Mechanistically,we identified that β2-AR was a direct target of BA via the drug affinity responsive target stability(DARTS)combined with mass spectrum assay,and BA photoaffinity probe with pull-down assay,which was further confirmed by a couple of bio-physical and biochemical assays.Furthermore,we demonstrated that BA could directly bind to the Phe-193 and Phe-289 of β2-AR,subsequently inhibit cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A-focal adhesion kinase(cAMP-PKA-FAK)pathway,and thus impede epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT),thereby hindering the metastatic progression of the chronic stress coupled with syngeneic and xenograft in vivo orthotopic and tail vein mouse model.These findings firstly identify BA as a potential β2-AR inhibitor in the treatment of stress-induced breast cancer metastasis.

The development of high-throughput sequencing techniques enabled a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of environmental microbiology. Specifically, the third-generation sequencing techniques represented by nanopore sequencing have greatly promoted the development of environmental microbiology research due to its advantages such as long sequencing reads, fast sequencing speed, real-time monitoring of sequencing data, and convenient machine carrying, as well as no GC bias and no PCR amplification requirement. This review briefly summarized the technical principle and characteristics of nanopore sequencing, followed by discussing the application of nanopore sequencing techniques in the amplicon sequencing, metagenome sequencing and whole genome sequencing of environmental microorganisms. The advantages and challenges of nanopore sequencing in the application of environmental microbiology research were also analyzed.
Environmental Microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metagenome ; Nanopore Sequencing ; Nanopores

Objective:To observe the effects of four prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) receptors (EP 1-4R) on the activation of inflammasomes and cell damage in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (hRMEC) in a high glucose environment. Methods:The hRMEC were divided into normal group and high glucose group, and they were cultured in Dulbecco modified Eagle medium containing 5.5 and 30.0 mmol/L glucose, respectively. Flow cytometry was used to observe the apoptosis rate of the high glucose group and the normal group; enzyme chain immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the level of PGE2 in the culture supernatant of hRMEC cells. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of cyclooxyganese (COX2) and EP 1-4R in hRMEC. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of EP 1-4R mRNA in hRMEC. After 72 h of culture, the cells in the high glucose group were divided into control group, PGE2 group, EP 1-4R agonist group, PGE2+EP 1-4R inhibitor group, and dimethylsulfoxide group. According to the group, each group was given the corresponding agonist or inhibitor to continue the culture for 24 h. QRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization structure-like receptor protein (NLRP3) and pro-interleukin (IL)-1β mRNA in each group of cells. ELISA was used to detect the content of IL-1β and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the cell culture supernatant. Western blot was used to detect the expression of cleaved Caspase-1 in each group of cells. At the same time, hRMEC in a high glucose environment was given IL-1β stimulation for 24 h, and the activity of LDH in the supernatant of the cell culture medium was detected. Results:The apoptotic rate, COX2 protein expression, and PGE2 protein content in hRMEC in the high glucose group were significantly higher than those in the normal group, and they were time-dependent. Compared with the normal group, the expression levels of EP 1R, EP 2R, EP 4R protein and mRNA in hRMEC in the high glucose group were higher than those in the normal group ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, PGE2 group ( t=4.627, P<0.01), EP 1-4R agonist group ( t=3.889, 3.583, 2.445, 3.216; P<0.05) hRMEC NLRP3 mRNA expression level was significantly increased; the expression level of pro-IL-1β mRNA increased, however the difference was not statistically significant (PGE2 group: t=1.807, P>0.05; EP 1-4R agonist group: t=1.807, 1.477, 0.302, 1.926, P>0.05). Compared with the PGE2 group, the expression of NLRP3 mRNA in hRMEC in the PGE2+EP 2R inhibitor group was significantly reduced ( t=2.812, P<0.05); the expression of pro-IL-1β mRNA in hRMEC in the PGE2+EP 3R inhibitor group was significantly increased ( t=4.113, P<0.01). The protein content of IL-1β in the cell culture supernatant of the PGE2 group, EP 1R agonist group and EP 2R agonist group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( t=5.155, 4.136, 4.817; P<0.01). Compared with PGE2 group, the protein content of IL-1β in the cell culture supernatant of the PGE2+EP 2R inhibitor group and the PGE2+EP 4R inhibitor group were significantly lower than that of the PGE2 group ( t=1.964, 4.765; P<0.05). The expression of cleaved Caspase-1 in hRMEC in the PGE2 group and EP 2R agonist group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( t=5.332, 4.889; P<0.05). The expression of cleaved Caspase-1 in hRMEC in the PGE2+EP 2R inhibitor group was significantly lower than that of the PGE2 group ( t=6.699, P<0.01). The LDH activity in the cell culture supernatant of the PGE2 group and the EP 2R agonist group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( t=4.908, 4.225; P<0.05). The activity of LDH in the cell culture supernatant of the PGE2+EP 2R inhibitor group was significantly lower than that of the PGE2 group ( t=5.301, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the LDH activity in the culture supernatant of hRMEC cells in the high glucose environment was significantly increased ( t=3.499, P<0.05). Conclusions:The four receptors of PGE2 can activate NLRP3 and its effector molecules to varying degrees. EP 2R mainly mediates hRMEC damage under high glucose environment.

Objective To conduct a retrospective study about drug-induced hyperthermia (DIH) based on DIH data obtained in medical practice,and elucidate the relationship between DIH incidence and antibacterials overuse.Methods To investigate successively the medical records of inpatients from orthopaedics department in Fudan university affiliated Jinshan hospital at two different periods,and data of DIH cases were extracted to perform a comparative study.The period for 229 effective cases of group Ⅰ was from Feb.1 to Apr.30,2011,before significant improvement on antibacterials use.The period for 342 effective cases of group Ⅱ was from Jul.1 to Sep.30,2012,after the effective enforcements of regulation on antibacterials use.Inclusion criteria for DIH were:①an oral temperature ≥37.6 ℃ since postoperative day 4,②no evidence of infection,③a time relationship between fever and the administration of causative drugs:a fever occurring with drug administration and disappearing after drug cessation within 3 days,④no other causes for the fever,⑤oral temperature ≤ 37.6 ℃ until leaving hospital.Exclusion criteria for DIH were listed below:①possible pathological fever,e.g.,in cancer,②hospitalization within 3 days,③no surgery,④severe trauma,for example,visceral or central nervous system injury.Results All causative drugs were for injection.By comparison,duration of antibacterial administration is significantly shorter in group Ⅱ than in group Ⅰ (1.7 ± 1.7 vs.4.6-± 1.8days,P ＜ 0.01),and total DIH incidence and antibacterials related DIH incidence were significantly lower in group Ⅱ than in group Ⅰ (7.3％ vs.30.1％,1.5％ vs.25.3％,both P ＜0.01).Conclusion DIH incidence is related with drug type especially with antibacterials overuse,and changed with drug program.DIH was more serious for injection of antibacterials than injection of traditional Chinese medicine.Decrease of antibacterials usage is positively associated with the decreased DIH incidence.Safe medication should begin from safe usage of antibacterials.

Objective To explore the status,developing demands and directions of the education and training of military medical equipment.Methods The main problems of the PLA's medical equipment education and training were analyzed via being compared with those of foreign armies.According to the requirements on the campaign mode changing in the future war,the innovating mode under information-based military training,and the research and exploration of novel equipment and new technology,the developing directions in the future were ascertained.Results The interface was enhanced between new medical equipment development and educational training,and specifications were prepared for medical equipment application and maintenance.Conclutsion Exploring the pivot choke points and the developing directions will provide strategy guidance on the rapid and highly efficient elevation of military medical equipment supporting capacity.

Objective To explore the relationship between HHIP gene with COPD patients in Xinjiang Uygur population. Methods DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. HHIP gene (rs1828591 and rs12504628)polymorphic loci was detected by iMLDR technique in 233 cases and 292 controls in Uygur. Results There was no significant difference in the genotype,allele frequencies distribution of 2 haplotypes of HHIP (rs1828591 and rs12504628)between the disease group and the control group(P > 0.05). There was no differ? ence in 2 haplotypes of HHIP gene between the disease group and the control group(P > 0.05). Rs1828591 and rs12504628 gene showed significance with predicted FEV1%(P < 0.05). Conclusion Rs1828591 and rs12504628 gene are related with predicted FEV1%.

Our study aims to determine the metabolism and excretion of novel pulmonary-targeting docetaxel liposome (DTX-LP) using the in vitro and in vivo animal experimental models. The metabolism and excretion of DTX-LP and intravenous DTX (DTX-IN) in New Zealand rabbits were determined with ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. We found DTX-LP and DTX-IN were similarly degraded in vitro by liver homogenates and microsomes, but not metabolized by lung homogenates. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry identified two shared DTX metabolites. The unconfirmed metabolite M(un) differed structurally from all DTX metabolites identified to date. DTX-LP likewise had a similar in vivo metabolism to DTX-IN. Conversely, DTX-LP showed significantly diminished excretion in rabbit feces or urine, approximately halving the cumulative excretion rates compared to DTX-IN. Liposomal delivery of DTX did not alter the in vitro or in vivo drug metabolism. Delayed excretion of pulmonary-targeting DTX-LP may greatly enhance the therapeutic efficacy and reduce the systemic toxicity in the chemotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer. The identification of M(un) may further suggest an alternative species-specific metabolic pathway.
Animal Experimentation ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Drug Therapy ; Feces ; In Vitro Techniques ; Liposomes* ; Liver ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolism* ; Microsomes ; Models, Animal ; Rabbits* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective To analyze the value of dual-source computed tomography (DSCT)in the diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease(CCHD).Methods DSCT angiography and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)were retrospectively assessed in 46 patients who were confirmed by surgery with 107 deformities.Results There were 49 intracardiac deformities and 58 extracardiac deformities.The diagnostic accuracies in detection of intracardiac malformation were 81.63%(40/49)on DSCT and 93.88%(46/49) on TTE,those in detection of extracardiac malformation were 94.83%(55/58)on DSCT and 58.62%(34/58)on TTE,and the overall accuracies of cardiovascular malformations were 88.79%(95/107)on DSCT and 74.77%(80/107)on TTE,respectively,exhibting statistical differences.The diagnostic accuracy of DSCT in combination with TTE in detection of intracardiac and extracardiac malformation was 94.39%(101/107),which was higher than DSCT or TTE with statistical differences.Conclusion The combination of TTE and DSCT is helpful to improve the diagnostic accuracy of CCHD.