Objective To understand the current situation of human brain donation in Hebei Province by analyzing the basic information of Human Brain Bank samples of Hebei Medical University in order to provide basic data support for subsequent scientific research.Methods The samples collected from the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University were analyzed(from December 2019 to February 2024),including gender,age,cause of death,as well as quality control data such as postmortem delay time,pH value of cerebrospinal fluid and and RNA integrity number and result of neuropathological diagnosis.Results Until February 2024,30 human brain samples were collected and stored in the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University,with a male to female ratio of 9∶1.Donors over 70 years old accounted for 53％.Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases(36.67％)and nervous system diseases(23.33％)accounted for a high proportion of the death causes.The location of brain tissue donors in Shijiazhuang accounted for 90％donations,and the others were from outside the city.The postmortem delay time was relatively short,90％within 12 hours and 10％more than 12 hours.69.23％of the brain samples had RNA integrity values greater than 6.Cerebrospinal fluid pH values ranged from 5.8 to 7.5,with an average value of 6.60±0.45.Brain weights ranged from 906-1496 g,with an average value of(1210.78±197.84)g.Three apolipoprotein E(APOE)alleles were detected including five genotypes(ε2/ε3,ε2/ε4,ε3/ε3,ε3/ε4,ε4/ε4).Eleven staining methods related to neuropathological diagnosis had been established and used.A total of 12 cases were diagnosed as neurodegenerative diseases(including Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,multiple system atrophy,corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy,etc.),accounting for 40％donated brains.The comorbidity rate of samples over 80 years old was 100％.Conclusion The summary and analyses of the data of brain donors in the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University can reflect the current situation of the construction and operation of the brain bank in Hebei Province,and it can also be more targeted to understand and identify potential donors.Our information can provide reference for the construction of brain bank and provides more reliable materials and data support for scientific research.

To evaluate the application value of metal clip combined with suture and rubber coil as a simple traction device in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for intestinal mucosal lesions, a total of 56 patients with early colonic cancer and precancerous lesions who received ESD in Jiangyin People's Hospital from January 2021 to July 2022 were randomly divided into the control group ( n=28, conventional ESD) and the traction group ( n= 28, suture and rubber coil as a simple traction device). The total time of ESD, mucosal dissection time, number of submucosal injections, complete resection rate and complications were compared between the two groups. The operation time of the traction group was shorter than that of the control group (74.64±33.25 min VS 117.18±35.75 min, t=4.61, P<0.001). The desection time of mucosa in the traction group was shorter than that in the control group (51.61±24.87 min VS 99.11±32.73 min, t=6.11, P<0.001). The number of submucosal injection in the traction group was less than that of the control group with significant difference (1.68±1.16 VS 4.96±1.41, t=9.57, P<0.001). There was no significant differences in operation area, complete resection rate or complication between the two groups ( P>0.05). The traction assistance technology of metal clip combined with suture and rubber coil can reduce the technical difficulty of colonic ESD and shorten the operation time.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the intellectual landscape and emerging research trends of Chinese medicine (CM) in the management of pediatric asthma through a scientometric study. METHODS: Publications related to CM in the management of pediatric asthma were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using relevant keywords. A scientometric study was performed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. RESULTS: A total of 1,673 original articles and reviews from 1991 to 2019 were included in the analysis. The amount of annual publications had a gradual increase with time. USA was the major contributor both in country and institution analyses. Based on the co-citation, the published journals were grouped into 4 clusters. Keyword analysis indicated that the main hotspots were: (1) comprehensive management; (2) risk factors, mechanism, and prevalence; (3) prevention and treatment; (4) inflammation; and (5) environmental research. Lastly, we predicted that three emerging trends were quality of life promotion, immune response, and combination therapy. CONCLUSIONS CM research in the management of pediatric asthma will maintain the current trend of steady growth. This scientometric analysis may help scientists to identify the areas of interests and future directions in the field.
Asthma/drug therapy* ; Bibliometrics ; Child ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Publications ; Quality of Life

The pathogenesis of very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency is highly heterogeneous and still unclear. Additional novel variants have been recently detected in the population. The molecular and cellular effects of these previously unreported variants are still poorly understood and require further characterization. To address this problem, we have evaluated the various functions and biochemical consequences of six novel missense variants that lead to mild VLCAD deficiency. Marked deficiencies in fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and other mitochondrial defects were observed in cells carrying one of these six variants (c.541C>T, c.863T>G, c.895A>G, c.1238T>C, c.1276G>A, and c.1505T>A), including reductions in mitochondrial respiratory-chain function and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, and increased levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Intriguingly, higher apoptosis levels were found in cells carrying the mutant VLCAD under glucose-limited stress. Moreover, the stability of the mutant homodimer was disturbed, and major conformational changes in each mutant VLCAD structure were predicted by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The data presented here may provide valuable information for improving management of diagnosis and treatment of VLCAD deficiency and for a better understanding of the general molecular bases of disease variability.

Background: Esophageal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (Tim-3) has been shown to be implicated in the tumor immune escape, and associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in a variety of malignancies. Aims: To investigate the expression of Tim-3 in esophageal tumorigenesis and its clinical significance. Methods: Paraffin-embedded tissues from 103 esophageal cancer, 21 high-grade esophageal intraepithelial neoplasia, 16 low-grade esophageal intraepithelial neoplasia, and 20 chronic esophagitis were collected in this study. Using immunohistochemistry, the expression level of Tim-3 was evaluated; and the correlation of Tim-3 expression in cancerous tissue with the clinicopathological parameters of esophageal cancer was analyzed. Results: Tim-3 expression was increased from chronic esophagitis, low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia to esophageal cancer (0.271±0.138, 0.368±0.198, 0.443±0.147, and 0.639±0.119, P<0.05). Moreover, Tim-3 expression was significantly correlated with depth of tumor invasion, regional lymph node metastasis and TNM staging of esophageal cancer (P<0.05), whereas no relationship was found between Tim-3 expression and gender, age and tumor location of esophageal cancer (P>0.05). Conclusions: Tim-3 expression is increased in esophageal tumorigenesis; overexpression of Tim-3 in esophageal cancer is closely correlated with tumor progression. Tim-3 might be served as a biomarker for development, progression and prognosis of esophageal cancer.

Auditory function in vertebrates depends on the transduction of sound vibrations into electrical signals by inner ear hair cells. In general, hearing loss resulting from hair cell damage is irreversible because the human ear has been considered to be incapable of regenerating or repairing these sensory elements following severe injury. Therefore, regeneration and protection of inner ear hair cells have become an exciting, rapidly evolving field of research during the last decade. However, mammalian auditory hair cells are few in number, experimentally inaccessible, and barely proliferate postnatally in vitro. Various in vitro primary culture systems of inner ear hair cells have been established by different groups, although many challenges remain unresolved. Here, we briefly explain the structure of the inner ear, summarize the published methods of in vitro hair cell cultures, and propose a feasible protocol for culturing these cells, which gave satisfactory results in our study. A better understanding of in vitro hair cell cultures will substantially facilitate research involving auditory functions, drug development, and the isolation of critical molecules involved in hair cell biology.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Hair Cells, Auditory/physiology* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Eight kinds of provenance of Rheum palmatum collected from 4 provinces Sichuan, Ningxia, Gansu, Shannxi as test materials, which were transplanted under 3 different environments by using complete randomized block design with three replicates. The contents of the chemical components was determined by HPLC. This study aimed at analyzing the effect of genotype, environment and their interactions on the 4 kinds of functional components (phenolic acids, bianthrone, free anthraquinones and combined anthraquinones) in 14 kinds of active components of R. palmatum, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the selection of cultivated R. palmatum in high quality producing area and excellent provenance. The functional components of R. palmatum were influenced by genotype and environment. The content of phenolic acids was mainly influenced by environment, and the other three kinds of functional components were affected by environment and their interactions. The proportion of environment was larger. The cultivation quality of R. palmatum should give priority to environment, then choose a provenance. Sichuan may be beneficial in accumulation of free anthraquinones in R. palmatum, Gansu may facilitate the binding of combined anthraquinone, phenolic acids and bianthrone content. Preliminary inference based on the content and proportion of efficacy components, P2 could be potential special medicinal germplasm that have function of heat-clearing and detoxifying drugs. P6 could be potential special medicinal germplasm that activate blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis. P7 and P1 could all be potential specialmedicinal germplasms that exist diarrhea attack characters. The results of this study have important guiding significance for the production of rhubarb precision medicinal materials.

Ferroptosis is a new form of regulated cell death which is different from apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy, and results from iron-dependent lipidperoxide accumulation. Now, it is found that ferroptosis is involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes, such as cancer, arteriosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, antiviral immune response, acute renal failure, hepatic and heart ischemia/reperfusion injury. On the one hand, it could be found the appropriate drugs to promote ferroptosis to clear cancer cells and virus infected cells, etc. On the other hand, we could inhibit ferroptosis to protect healthy cells. China has a wealth of traditional Chinese medicine resources. Chinese medicine contains a variety of active ingredients that regulate ferroptosis. Here, this paper reported the research of ferroptosis pathway, targets of its inducers and inhibitors that have been discovered, and the regulatory effects of the discovered Chinese herbs and its active ingredients on ferroptosis to help clinical and scientific research.
Apoptosis ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Iron ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the clinical significance and difference in the expression of endostatin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with different response to recombinant human endostatin (rh-endostatin) combined with chemotherapy.Methods Serum levels of endostatin and VEGF in peripheral blood of 30 patients with stage Ⅳ NSCLC (NSCLC group) and 30 healthy controls (control group) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Two cycles of chemotherapy combined with rh-endostatin were provided to NSCLC patients to evaluate the efficacy of the regimen.Simultaneously,serum levels of endostatin and VEGF were measured before and after treatment.Results The level of serum endostatin was (37.96 ± 9.01) ng/ml and (40.12 ± 12.11)ng/ml in NSCLC patients and healthy controls,respectively,which was lower in the former than that of the latter,without statistical difference (P ＞ 0.05).Furthermore,the level of serum VEGF was (127.98 ± 33.88) pg/ml and (36.33 ± 15.43) pg/ml in NSCLC patients and healthy controls,respectively,which was higher in the former than that of the latter,with statistical difference (t =13.48,P ＜ 0.05).Besides,levels of endostatin and VEGF in serum were not correlated with the sex,age,tumor pathological type and differentiation of NSCLC patients (P ＞ 0.05).After two cycles of chemotherapy combined with rh-endostatin treatment,the level of serum endostatin in partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) patients was (76.22 ± 20.41) ng/ml,higher than that of progressive disease (PD) patients,which was (31.24 ± 13.09) ng/ml (t =7.143,P ＜ 0.05).In addition,the level of serum VEGF in PR or SD patients was (93.28 ± 21.33) pg/ml,which was lower than (155.81 ± 48.38) pg/ml of the PD patients (t =3.503,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The levels of endostatin and VEGF are associated with the efficacy of anti-angiogenesis combined with chemotherapy in NSCLC patients.

PURPOSEWe once reported blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) in confined space. Here, bTBI was studied again on goats in the open air using 3.0 kg trinitrotoluene.

METHODSThe goats were placed at 2, 4, 6 and 8 m far from explosion center. Trinitrotoluene (TNT) was used as the source of the blast wave and the pressure at each distance was recorded. The systemic physiology, electroencephalogram, serum level of S-100 beta, and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were determined pre and post the exposure. Neuroanatomy and neuropathology were observed 4 h after the exposure.

RESULTSSimple blast waveforms were recorded with parameters of 702.8 kPa-0.442 ms, 148.4 kPa-2.503 ms, 73.9 kPa-3.233 ms, and 41.9 kPa-5.898 ms at 2, 4, 6 and 8 m respectively. Encephalic blast overpressure was on the first time recorded in the literature by us at 104.2 kPa-0.60 ms at 2 m, where mortality and burn rate were 44% and 44%. Gross examination showed that bTBI was mainly manifested as congestive expansion of blood vessels and subarachnoid hemorrhage, which had a total incidence of 25% and 19% in 36 goats. Microscopical observation found that the main pathohistological changes were enlarged perivascular space (21/36, 58%), small hemorrhages (9/36, 25%), vascular dilatation and congestion (8/36, 22%), and less subarachnoid hemorrhage (2/36, 6%). After explosion, serum levels of S-100b and NSE were elevated, and EEG changed into slow frequency with declined amplitude. The results indicated that severity and incidence of bTBI is related to the intensity of blast overpressure.

CONCLUSIONBlast wave can pass through the skull to directly injure brain tissue.

Animals ; Blast Injuries ; complications ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic ; etiology ; pathology ; Electroencephalography ; Goats ; Male ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; blood