BACKGROUND:Traditional methods of urinary tract reconstruction are limited by donor scarcity,high complication rates,and suboptimal functional recovery.Tissue engineering strategies offer new directions in this field.Since the urinary tract is mainly composed of muscle tissue,the key is to find suitable seed cells and efficiently induce them to differentiate into smooth muscle cells.Comparative studies on the efficacy of different smooth muscle cell induction regimens are still lacking. OBJECTIVE:To isolate,culture,and identify human urine-derived stem cells,and to compare the effects of two different induction protocols. METHODS:Human urine-derived stem cells were isolated from urine samples of 11 healthy adult volunteers by multiple centrifugations.Surface markers were identified by flow cytometry.The multi-directional differentiation potential of human urine-derived stem cells was verified through osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation.Differentiation was induced by transforming growth factor-β1 or transforming growth factor-β1 combined with platelet derived growth factor for 14 days.Immunofluorescence staining and western blot assay were employed to compare the expression differences of smooth muscle-specific proteins(α-SMA and SM22). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Urine-derived stem cells were successfully isolated from the eight urine samples of healthy people.These cells exhibit a"rice grain"-like morphology and possess a robust proliferative capacity.(2)Urine-derived stem cells exhibited high expression of mesenchymal stem cell surface markers(CD73,CD90,and CD44)and extremely low expression of hematopoietic stem cell surface markers(CD34 and CD45).These cells did not express CD19,CD105,and HLA-DR.(3)After osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation,the formation of calcium nodules and lipid droplets was observed,with positive staining results from Alizarin Red S and Oil Red O staining.(4)After 14 days of smooth muscle induction culture,immunofluorescence staining revealed that the smooth muscle differentiation rate of urine-derived stem cells treated with a combination of transforming growth factor-β1 and platelet derived growth factor was significantly higher compared to those treated with transforming growth factor-β1 alone(P<0.005).(5)After 14 days of smooth muscle induction culture,western blot assay further demonstrated that the expression levels of α-SMA and SM22 in the transforming growth factor-β1/platelet derived growth factor group were significantly elevated compared to those in the transforming growth factor-β1 only group(P<0.005).These findings confirm that urine-derived stem cells can be non-invasively isolated using multiple rounds of centrifugation.Compared with transforming growth factor-β1 alone,the combination of transforming growth factor-β1 and platelet derived growth factor can improve the efficiency of inducing urine-derived stem cells to differentiate into smooth muscle cells.

Objective To investigate the changes in eosinophil counts and the activation of microglial cells in the brain tissues of mice at different stages of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection, and to examine the role of microglia in regulating the progression of angiostrongyliasis and unravel the possible molecular mechanisms. Methods Fifty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-day and 25-d infection groups, of 10 mice in each group. All mice in infection groups were infected with 30 stage III A. cantonensis larvae by gavage, and animals in the control group was given an equal amount of physiological saline. Five mice were collected from each of infection groups on days 7, 14, 21 d and 25 d post-infection, and 5 mice were collected from the control group on the day of oral gavage. The general and focal functional impairment was scored using the Clark scoring method to assess the degree of mouse neurological impairment. Five mice from each of infection groups were sacrificed on days 7, 14, 21 d and 25 d post-infection, and 5 mice from the control group were sacrificed on the day of oral gavage. Mouse brain tissues were sampled, and the pathological changes of brain tissues were dynamically observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Immunofluorescence staining with eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) was used to assess the degree of eosinophil infiltration and the counts of microglial cells in mouse brain tissues in each group, and the morphological parameters of microglial cells (skeleton analysis and fractal analysis) were quantified by using Image J software to determine the morphological changes of microglial cells. In addition, the expression of M1 microglia markers Fcγ receptor III (Fcgr3), Fcγ receptor IIb (Fcgr2b) and CD86 antigen (Cd86), M2 microglia markers Arginase 1 (Arg1), macrophage mannose receptor C-type 1 (Mrc1), chitinase-like 3 (Chil3), and phagocytosis genes myeloid cell triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (Trem2), CD68 antigen (Cd68), and apolipoprotein E (Apoe) was quantified using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay in the mouse cerebral cortex of mice post-infection. Results A large number of A. cantonensis larvae were seen on the mouse meninges surface post-infection, and many neuronal nuclei were crumpled and deeply stained, with a large number of bleeding points in the meninges. The median Clark scores of mouse general functional impairment were 0 (interquartile range, 0), 0 (interquartile range, 0.5), 6 (interquartile range, 1.0), 14 (interquartile range, 8.5) points and 20 (interquartile range, 9.0) points in the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-d and 25-d groups, respectively (H = 22.45, P < 0.01), and the median Clark scores of mouse focal functional impairment were 0 (interquartile range, 0), 2 (interquartile range, 2.5), 7 (interquartile range, 3.0), 18 (interquartile range, 5.0) points and 25 (interquartile range, 6.5) points in the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-d and 25-d groups, respectively (H = 22.72, P < 0.01). The mean scores of mice general and focal functional impairment were all higher in the infection groups than in the control group (all P values < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed a significant difference in the eosinophil counts in mouse brain tissues among the five groups (F = 40.05, P < 0.000 1), and the eosinophil counts were significantly higher in mouse brain tissues in the 14-d (3.08 ± 0.78) and 21-d infection groups (5.97 ± 1.37) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.28) (both P values < 0.05). Semi-quantitative analysis of microglia immunofluorescence showed a significant difference in the counts of microglial cells among the five groups (F = 17.66, P < 0.000 1), and higher Iba1 levels were detected in mouse brain tissues in 14-d (5.75 ± 1.28), 21-d (6.23 ± 1.89) and 25-d infection groups (3.70 ± 1.30) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.30) (all P values < 0.05). Skeleton and fractal analyses showed that the branch length [(162.04 ± 34.10) μm vs. (395.37 ± 64.11) μm; t = 5.566, P < 0.05] and fractal dimension of microglial cells (1.30 ± 0.01 vs. 1.41 ± 0.03; t = 5.266, P < 0.05) were reduced in mouse brain tissues in the 21-d infection group relative to the control group. In addition, there were significant differences among the 5 groups in terms of M1 and M2 microglia markers Fcgr3 (F = 48.34, P < 0.05), Fcgr2b (F = 55.46, P < 0.05), Cd86 (F = 24.44, P < 0.05), Arg1 (F = 31.18, P < 0.05), Mrc1 (F = 15.42, P < 0.05) and Chil3 (F = 24.41, P < 0.05), as well as phagocytosis markers Trem2 (F = 21.19, P < 0.05), Cd68 (F = 43.95, P < 0.05) and Apoe (F = 7.12, P < 0.05) in mice brain tissues. Conclusions A. cantonensis infections may induce severe pathological injuries in mouse brain tissues that are characterized by massive eosinophil infiltration and persistent activation of microglia cells, thereby resulting in progressive deterioration of neurological functions.

Objective To investigate the transcriptome differences of ovarian cancer cells after cisplatin(DDP)resistance,and to find potential antagonists based on this screening.Methods DDP-resistant cell line A2780-DDP was constructed with A2780 cells as the research object.Through transcriptome sequencing anal-ysis,the key factors of DDP resistance were found and verified by quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR)and Western blot experiments.Through the screening of small molecule inhibitors,CCK-8 cell viability assay was used to find potential antagonists.Results A2780-DDP were successfully constructed,and it was found that there was no difference in cell proliferation after drug resistance,but the ability of cell invasion and migration was enhanced.Through transcriptome sequencing analysis,it was found that ITGB7 and Akt may be the key genes of A2780-DDP,and qPCR and Western blot showed that they were highly expressed in A2780-DDP.CCK-8 results showed that triptolide(TPL)and Olaparib had good inhibitory effects in DDP-resistant cell lines.Conclusion The ITGB7/Akt pathway plays an important role in DDP resistance,and potential DDP re-sistance antagonists such as TPL can provide new ideas for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Objective To investigate the effect of Nutlin-3a,a mouse double minute 2 homolog(MDM2)inhibitor,on lipid metabolism of mouse adipose.Methods High-fat diet-induced obesity(DIO)C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group injected with DMSO and an experimental group injected with Nutlin-3a.Then we conducted glucose tolerance(GTT)and insulin tolerance(ITT)tests.The epididymal white adipose tissue(eWAT),inguinal white adipose tissue(iWAT)and brown adipose tissue(BAT)of animals were isolated and microscopy of WATs with hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was performed to observe the morphological changes of adipocytes.The expression of lipid metabolism related gene cell death-inducing DFF45-like effector C(CIDEC)in eWAT were detected by qPCR and Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,Nutlin-3a was found to promote the body weight(P＜0.001),but no effect on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in DIO mice.Nutlin-3a treatment decreased the size of adipocytes and fat deposition in adipose tissue and downregulated the mRNA and protein levels of CIDEC in eWAT.Conclusions Nutlin-3a inhibits the formation of lipid droplets by downregulating expression of CIDEC in white adipose tissue.

Chronic liver disease(CLD)tends to have a high incidence rate and impose a serious burden on society and families.Studies have shown that metal ion metabolism is closely associated with CLD,and some Chinese herbal medicines can play a role in the prevention and treatment of CLD by regulating metal ion metabolism.At present,the synthetic drugs currently used for the treatment of CLD fail to achieve a satisfactory effect,and therefore,a variety of Chinese herbal medicines are being used as supplementary and alternative therapies for CLD.This article introduces the role of metal ion metabolism in CLD and the regulatory effect of Chinese herbal medicines and their active components on CLD,and the analysis shows that metal ion metabolism is expected to provide new ideas for the research on CLD and a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of CLD.For the role of metal ion metabolism in the treatment of CLD,more prospective clinical study data are needed in the future to provide effective and safe treatment regimens for patients with CLD.

Objective To compare the cortical activation characteristic in the healthy subjects and hemiplegia patients during execut-ing treadmill walking with visual feedback(TWVF). Methods From August to November,2021,eight stroke patients with right hemiplegia(patient group)and eight healthy subjects(healthy group)in Fifth Hospital of Xiamen were recruited.Both groups wore functional near-infrared spectroscopy(fNIRS)caps and executed TWVF,respectively.Experimental block design for walking modes in-cluded the preparation period(10 s)and task period(five cycles of"step 30 s-rest 30 s").The cortical activation(β values)were measured.The regions of interest(ROI)included the pre-motor cortex(PMC),supplementary motor area(SMA),primary motor cortex(M1),primary somatosensory cortex(S1)and sensorimotor cortex(SMC,M1+S1). Results No activation in bilateral M1,and some significant activation(P<0.05)in the left hemisphere SAM,PMC and S1,were found during walking in the healthy group.M1 was activated more in the unaffected(right)hemisphere than in the affected(left)hemisphere during walking in the patient group(P<0.05),and less PMC activation was found(P<0.05).M1 in bilateral hemispheres,SMA in the unaffected hemisphere and PMC in the affected hemi-sphere were activated more in the patient group than in the healthy group(P<0.05). Conclusion The locomotor network of SMC-PMC-SMA are activated more in the hemiplegic patients than in the healthy pepole during walking.M1 are almost not activated in the healthy people during walking,and compensa-torily activated in M1 of the unaffected side in the hemiplegic patients.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and associated risk of cardiovascular event of resistant hypertension in treated outpatients.Methods:This study was a nationwide multi-center prospective cohort study. The participants were treated outpatients enrolled in the China Nationwide Ambulatory and Home Blood Pressure Registry study of 42 hospitals in 19 provinces across the country from August 2009 to October 2017. Apparent resistant hypertension was defined as uncontrolled office blood pressure (≥140/90 mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) in spite of the use of three antihypertensive drugs or controlled office blood pressure (<140/90 mmHg) with four antihypertensive drugs or more. Subjects diagnosed with uncontrolled office blood pressure were further subdivided as pseudo-resistant hypertension and true resistant hypertension based on 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The primary endpoint was fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, which was a composite endpoint consisting of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular death, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, coronary artery revascularization, unstable angina, heart failure, and coronary artery stenosis≥50% confirmed by coronary angiography. Secondary outcomes included fatal and non-fatal stroke or cardiac events. Patients with controlled office blood pressure after taking only 1 or 2 antihypertensive drugs were included as control. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log-rank test, and Cox proportional risk model were used to evaluate the risk of apparent refractory hypertension in relation to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular prognosis.Results:A total of 2 782 treated hypertensive patients, aged (58.1±12.3) years were enrolled, including 1 403 (50.4%) men. The prevalence of apparent and true resistant hypertension was 15.1% (420/2 782) and 10.5% (293/2 782), respectively. Among patients with apparent resistant hypertension, during a median of 5 years follow-up, the cumulative incidence rate was 28.2, 11.2 and 19.1 per 1 000 person-years for fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events ( n=58), stroke ( n=24) and cardiac events ( n=40), respectively. The Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank test showed that those patients with true resistant hypertension, had the highest cumulative incidence rate of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, stroke, and cardiac events. Multivariable Cox regression analyses showed that true resistant hypertension was associated with a significantly higher risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events ( HR=1.73, 95% CI 1.17-2.56, P=0.006) and stroke ( HR=2.81, 95% CI 1.53-5.17, P=0.001). Conclusion:Resistant hypertension, especially true resistant hypertension, is associated with a higher risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiac and cerebrovascular events.

Objective:To investigate effect of trimetazidine(TMZ)on immune function of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)pneumonia rats through cyclic guanylate adenylate synthase(cGAS)-stimulator of interferon gene(STING)pathway.Methods:Rats were randomly separated into model group,TMZ group and DMXAA group(cGAS-STING signaling pathway activator).SP pneumonia rat model was replicated by intranasal instillation of SP,while rats in control group were infused with an equal amount of physiological saline.ELISA was applied to detect IL-1β and IL-10 levels.Flow cytometry was applied to detect CD4+T and CD8+T levels.Spleen and thymus indexes of rats in each group were compared.Transmission turbidity method was applied to detect IgG and IgA levels.HE staining was applied to observe pathological changes in lung tissue.Western blot was applied to detect cGAS-STING pathway proteins expressions.Results:Compared with control group,rats in model group showed an increase in alveolar wall and lung interstitium,accompanied by edema,bleeding and inflammatory cell infiltration,IL-1β,CD8+T cells levels,lung tissue pathological injury score,cGAS,STING expressions were increased,IL-10,CD4+T cells levels,CD4+T/CD8+T,spleen and thymus indexes,IgG,IgA levels were decreased(P<0.05).Compared with model group,rats in TMZ group showed reduced thickening of alveolar walls,great improve-ment in alveolar structure,and less infiltration of inflammatory cells,IL-1β,CD8+T cells levels,lung tissue pathological injury score,cGAS,STING expressions were decreased,IL-10,CD4+T cells levels,CD4+T/CD8+T,spleen and thymus indexes,IgG,IgA levels were increased(P<0.05).Compared with TMZ group,IL-1β,CD8+T levels,pathological injury score of lung tissue,cGAS and STING expressions in DMXAA group were increased,while IL-10,CD4+T cells levels,CD4+T/CD8+T,spleen and thymus index,IgG and IgA levels were decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:TMZ may inhibit inflammation by inhibiting cGAS-STING signaling pathway,and enhance immune function of rats with SP pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported that polygenic risk scores (PRSs) can enhance risk prediction of coronary artery disease (CAD) in European populations. However, research on this topic is far from sufficient in non-European countries, including China. We aimed to evaluate the potential of PRS for predicting CAD for primary prevention in the Chinese population. METHODS: Participants with genome-wide genotypic data from the China Kadoorie Biobank were divided into training ( n = 28,490) and testing sets ( n = 72,150). Ten previously developed PRSs were evaluated, and new ones were developed using clumping and thresholding or LDpred method. The PRS showing the strongest association with CAD in the training set was selected to further evaluate its effects on improving the traditional CAD risk-prediction model in the testing set. Genetic risk was computed by summing the product of the weights and allele dosages across genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Prediction of the 10-year first CAD events was assessed using hazard ratios (HRs) and measures of model discrimination, calibration, and net reclassification improvement (NRI). Hard CAD (nonfatal I21-I23 and fatal I20-I25) and soft CAD (all fatal or nonfatal I20-I25) were analyzed separately. RESULTS: In the testing set, 1214 hard and 7201 soft CAD cases were documented during a mean follow-up of 11.2 years. The HR per standard deviation of the optimal PRS was 1.26 (95% CI:1.19-1.33) for hard CAD. Based on a traditional CAD risk prediction model containing only non-laboratory-based information, the addition of PRS for hard CAD increased Harrell's C index by 0.001 (-0.001 to 0.003) in women and 0.003 (0.001 to 0.005) in men. Among the different high-risk thresholds ranging from 1% to 10%, the highest categorical NRI was 3.2% (95% CI: 0.4-6.0%) at a high-risk threshold of 10.0% in women. The association of the PRS with soft CAD was much weaker than with hard CAD, leading to minimal or no improvement in the soft CAD model. CONCLUSIONS In this Chinese population sample, the current PRSs minimally changed risk discrimination and offered little improvement in risk stratification for soft CAD. Therefore, this may not be suitable for promoting genetic screening in the general Chinese population to improve CAD risk prediction.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/genetics* ; Biological Specimen Banks ; East Asian People ; Risk Assessment/methods* ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics* ; Risk Factors ; Genome-Wide Association Study

Objective:To retrieve, evaluate and summarize the relevant evidence of subcutaneous injection in patients to reduce pain at the injection site, so as to provide reference for clinical practice.Methods:According to the evidence pyramid "6S" model, all evidence on subcutaneous injection and injection site pain, including guidelines, expert consensus, summary of evidence, clinical decision, systematic review, etc were retrieved from domestic and international guideline networks and databases. The search period was from database establishment to October 2, 2022. The literature quality evaluation and evidence grading system of Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Evidence-based Health Care Center was used to evaluate the literature quality and classify the evidence level.Results:A total of 12 articles were included, including 2 expert consensus, 6 systematic reviews, 2 best evidence summaries and 2 clinical guidelines. A total of 21 pieces of best evidence were summarized from 8 aspects, including pre-subcutaneous injection assessment, injection site, injection needle, injection position, injection method, precautions, personnel training and health education.Conclusions:This study summarized a comprehensive and practical subcutaneous injection method. Clinical practitioners can use evidence to administer subcutaneous injection to patients, reduce pain and improve patients ′ comfort.