Objective To investigate the value of peripheral blood soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R),CD4+lymphocyte percentage/CD8+lymphocyte percentage ratio(hereinafter referred to as CD4+/CD8+)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy in elderly patients with newly treated active pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods A total of 102 elderly patients with newly treated active tu-berculosis admitted to the hospital from December 2019 to December 2022 were enrolled in the study as the observation group,and 102 healthy people aged 60 and older who underwent physical examination in the hos-pital during the same period were enrolled as the control group.The levels of sIL-2R,TNF-α and CD4+/CD8+in peripheral blood were compared between the two groups,and the correlations between sIL-2R,TNF-α and CD4+/CD8+were analyzed.The observation group was treated with 2HRZE/4HR anti-tuberculosis treatment regimen.The levels of sIL-2R,TNF-α and CD4+/CD8+in peripheral blood of patients with different efficacy before treatment,1 month and 6 months after treatment in the observation group were compared.The correla-tion between sIL-2R,CD4+/CD8+,TNF-α levels and therapeutic effect was analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the efficacy of indicators in evaluating the efficacy of chemo-therapy in elderly patients.Results The levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,while CD4+/CD8+was lower than that in the control group,and the differ-ences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).In the observation group,sIL-2R and TNF-α were negatively correlated with CD4+/CD8+(P＜0.05),sIL-2R was positively correlated with TNF-α(P＜0.05).After 1 month and 6 months of treatment,the levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α in patients with apparent efficacy were low-er than those in patients with efficacy,and the latter were lower than those in patients with no effect,while the CD4+/CD8+in patients with apparent efficacy was higher than that in patients with efficacy,and the latter was higher than that in patients with no efficacy,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α were negatively correlated with the efficacy(P＜0.05),and CD4+/CD8+was positively correlated with the efficacy(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of sIL-2R,CD4+/CD8+,and TNF-α used in combination to assess efficacy was significantly greater than the AUCs of the single indicators used in the assessment at each time point of treatment(P＜0.05),and the AUC of the combination of the indicators was greater after 6 months of treatment than after 1 month of treatment(P＜0.05).Conclusion The levels of sIL-2R,CD4+/CD8+and TNF-α are closely related to the ef-ficacy of chemotherapy in elderly patients with newly treated active pulmonary tuberculosis,and the combina-tion of the above indicators has certain reference value in evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)is known to modulate the expression of genes related to cell transformation,proliferation,and survival,making it a significant target for cancer therapy.Recent research has also highlighted the crucial involvement of aberrant STAT3 activation in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease(DKD).Accordingly,this article focuses on the therapeutic potential of targeting STAT3 in DKD.The structure of STAT3,its mechanisms of activity regulation,mechanisms of abnormal STAT3 activation in DKD,and a summary of the current research is provided.The review aims provide a reference for research into the pathogenesis of DKD and the development of new drugs.

Objective:To explore the relationship between ultrasound characteristics and invasiveness in the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC), and to integrate multiple ultrasound parameters for visual assessment of predictive outcomes by using Nomogram.Methods:A total of 312 FVPTC patients who were pathologically confirmed through surgery in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital and Zhejiang Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2013 to December 2023 were retrospectively collected.Based on defined criteria, FVPTC patients were categorized into high-invasion and low-invasion groups. The dataset was divided into a training set and a validation set in a ratio of 7 to 3. Clinical information and ultrasound feature parameters were collected. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed on the training set. A predictive model for FVPTC invasiveness was constructed based on ultrasound features. The model′s discriminative ability and calibration were evaluated in the validation set, and a nomogram was generated.Results:The training set included a total of 218 patients with FVPTC, among which 131 were classified as high invasive.The validation set consisted of 94 patients, with 53 cases of high invasive FVPTC patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis on the training set revealed that tumor multifocality ( OR=6.505, P=0.016), hypoechoic ( OR=3.235, P=0.103), shape ( OR=0.521, P=0.049), and microcalcifications ( OR=2.479, P=0.004) were independent influencing factors for predicting invasiveness in FVPTC. In the training set, the area under the curve (AUC) of the ultrasound predictive model was 0.704 (95% CI=0.634-0.771), and in the validation set, the AUC was 0.650 (95% CI=0.531-0.770), indicated good discriminative ability.The calibration curve showed good alignment with the ideal curve, demonstrating favorable calibration performance. Conclusions:Ultrasound features provide valuable information for assessing the invasiveness of FVPTC, and the model constructed by combining ultrasound features demonstrates good predictive efficacy for the invasiveness of FVPTC.

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Yishen tongluo formula （YSTLF） in improving abnormal lipid metabolism based on the sterol regulatory element binding proteins （SREBPs） pathway. METHODS Using C57BLKS/J （db/db） mice as model and C57BLKS/J （db/m） mice as normal control， the mechanism of 1， 2.5 and 5 g/kg YSTLF improving abnormal lipid metabolism of db/db mice was investigated by determining the liver coefficient， the contents of serum total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL） and high-density lipoprotein （HDL）， observing steatosis and lipid accumulation in liver tissue of mice， detecting the protein expressions of SREBP-1 and SREBP-2 as well as mRNA transcription levels of Srebp- 1c， Srebp-2 and their downstream lipid metabolism-related target genes （Fasn， Acc1， Scd5， Fads1， Hmgcr， Dhcr24， Insig-1， Fdps） in liver tissue of mice. Using low-fat cultured human liver cancer cell HepG2 as an in vitro cell model for abnormal lipid metabolism， and 25-HC （SREBPs inhibitor， 10 μmol/L） as the control， the effects of 125， 250 and 500 μg/mL YSTLF on protein expressions of SREBP-1 and SREBP-2 as well as mRNA transcription of SREBP-1c， SREBP-2 and their downstream lipid metabolism-related target genes were investigated to verify the mechanism in vitro. RESULTS 1， 2.5， 5 g/kg YSTLF significantly reduced the levels of TC， TG and LDL， the percentage of lipid droplet-positive region in liver tissue and liver coefficient， significantly down-regulated protein expressions of Pre-SREBP-1， n-SREBP-1， Pre-SREBP-2 and n-SREBP-2， and mRNA transcription of Srebp-1c， Srebp-2 and their downstream target genes in liver tissue， while significantly increased HDL level， with statistical significance （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. In the cell experiment in vitro， the expressions of the above-mentioned proteins and genes in the cells treated with YSTLF at 125， 250 and 500 μg/mL for 24 hours were consistent with those in the animal experiment； there was no significant difference in the expressions of the above-mentioned proteins and genes between inhibitor control group and 250， 500 μg/mL YSTLF groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS YSTLF can regulate the expression of transcription factor SREBPs， so as to inhibit the high expression of fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis-related genes， promote the degradation of TC and TG， improve the abnormality of lipid metabolism and inhibit lipid accumulation， thus playing the role of lipid-lowering.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) assay in detection of Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae in freshwater fish samples, so as to provide insights into standardization and field application of this assay. METHODS: Wild freshwater fish samples were collected in the rivers of administrative villages where C. sinensis-infected residents lived in Jiangyan District, Xinghua County and Taixing County of Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province from June to September 2022. Genomic DNA was extracted from six freshwater fish specimens (5 g each) containing 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 C. sinensis metacercariae for fluorescent RAA assay, and the diagnostic sensitivity was evaluated. Fluorescent RAA assay was performed with genomic DNA from C. sinensis, Metorchis orientalis, Haplorchis pumilio and Centrocestus formosanus metacercariae as templates to evaluate its cross-reactions. In addition, the detection of fluorescent RAA assay and direct compression method for C. sinensis metacercariae was compared in field-collected freshwater fish samples. RESULTS: Positive amplification was found in fresh-water fish specimens containing different numbers of C. sinensis metacercariae, and fluorescent RAA assay was effective to detect one C. sinensis metacercaria in 5 g freshwater fish specimens within 20 min. Fluorescent RAA assay tested negative for DNA from M. orientalis, H. pumilio and C. formosanus metacercariae. Fluorescent RAA assay and direct compression method showed 5.36% (93/1 735) and 2.88% (50/1 735) detection rates for C. sinensis metacercariae in 1 735 field-collected freshwater fish samples, with a statistically significant difference seen (χ² = 478.150, P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the detection of C. sinensis metacercariae in different species of freshwater fish by both the direct compression method (χ² = 11.20, P < 0.05) and fluorescent RAA assay (χ² = 20.26, P < 0.001), and the detection of C. sinensis metacercariae was higher in Pseudorasbora parva than in other fish species by both the direct compression method and fluorescent RAA assay (both P values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Fluorescent RAA assay has a high sensitivity for detection of C. sinensis metacercariae in freshwater fish samples, and has no cross-reactions with M. orientalis, H. pumilio or C. formosanus metacercariae. Fluorescent RAA assay shows a higher accuracy for detection of C. sinensis infections in field-collected freshwater fish than the direct compression method.
Animals ; Clonorchis sinensis/genetics* ; Metacercariae/genetics* ; Recombinases ; Fresh Water ; Fishes ; DNA ; Fish Diseases/diagnosis*

OBJECTIVE: To detect variants of IVD gene among 4 neonates with suspected isovalerate acidemia in order to provide a guidance for clinical treatment. METHODS: 111 986 newborns and 7461 hospitalized children with suspected metabolic disorders were screened for acyl carnitine by tandem mass spectrometry. Those showing a significant increase in serum isovaleryl carnitine (C5) were analyzed for urinary organic acid and variants of the IVD gene. RESULTS: Four cases of isovalerate acidemia were detected, which included 2 asymptomatic newborns (0.018‰, 2/111 986) and 2 children suspected for metabolic genetic diseases (0.268‰, 2/7461). The formers had no obvious clinical symptoms. Analysis of acyl carnitine has suggested a significant increase in C5, and urinary organic acid analysis has shown an increase in isovaleryl glycine and 3-hydroxyisovalerate. Laboratory tests of the two hospitalized children revealed high blood ammonia, hyperglycemia, decreased red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and metabolic acidosis. The main clinical manifestations have included sweaty foot-like odor, feeding difficulty, confusion, drowsiness, and coma. Eight variants (5 types) were detected, which included c.158G>A (p.Arg53His), c.214G>A (p.Asp72Asn), c.548C>T (p.Ala183Val), c.757A>G (p.Thr253Ala) and 1208A>G (p.Tyr403Cys). Among these, c.548C>T and c.757A>G were unreported previously. None of the variants was detected by next generation sequencing of 2095 healthy newborns, and all variants were predicted to be likely pathogenic based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. CONCLUSION The incidence of isovalerate acidemia in Liuzhou area is quite high. Screening of metabolic genetic diseases is therefore recommended for newborns with abnormal metabolism. The discovery of novel variants has enriched the mutational spectrum of the IVD gene.
Infant, Newborn ; Child ; Humans ; Acidosis ; Carnitine ; Erythrocytes ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing

Objective:To observe the antibacterial effect of Ag +-loaded TiO 2 (Ag -TiO 2) and Ag -TiO 2 coated endotracheal tube (ETT) on the bacterial biofilm (BF) of Staphylococcus aureus. Methods:2, 3-bis-(2-methoxy- 4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) colorimetric method was used to detect minimal inhibitory concertation (MIC) of Ag-TiO 2 for inhibition of BF of Staphylococcus aureus. The Ag -TiO 2 coated ETT were prepared, and divided into 11 mg/L, 8 mg/L, 5 mg/L, 2 mg/L and 0 mg/L ETT group, according to the concentration gradient, then impregnated in the liquid with Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 1.0×10 9cfu/L. The influence of antibacterial coated ETT on the formation of Staphylococcus aureus BF was determined by detecting the colonies of bacteria and BF on the ETT. Results:Ag-TiO 2 had a significant inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus BF in a concentration -dependent manner, and its MIC was 10 mg/L. Ag -TiO 2 coated ETT has significant anti -Staphylococcus aureus BF effect, and the higher the concentration, the stronger the effect. The absorbance ( A) values of Ag -TiO 2 5 mg/L, 8 mg/L, 11 mg/L ETT groups were significantly lower than that in control group (0.176±0.004, 0.147±0.002, 0.094±0.002 vs. 0.267±0.045, all P < 0.05). The inhibitory rates of Ag -TiO 2 2 mg/L, 5 mg/L, 8 mg/L ETT groups were increased gradually, and 11 mg/L Ag -TiO 2 coated ETT group had the highest inhibitory rate for BF, the inhibitory rates were 6.4%, 34.1%, 44.9% and 64.8%, respectively. Conclusion:Both Ag-TiO 2 and Ag-TiO 2 coated ETT have significant inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus BF.

Objective:To identify and analyze different proteins expression in the periosteum of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) using tandem mass tags (TMT) proteomics.Methods:The samples were divided into three groups, namely CPT with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) group (NF1-CPT group), CPT without NF1 group (nonNF1-CPT group) and control group (patients with open tibial fracture). A fold change ≥1.5 or ≤0.66 and P-value <0.05 was regarded as the threshold to screen differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Subsequently, bioinformatics resources such as online tools DAVID and STRING were used to conduct GO annotation, KEGG pathways enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network with DEPs. Results:A total of 347 proteins differentially expressed in NF1-CPT group, 212 of which were up-regulated and 135 down-regulated. We identified 467 DEPs in nonNF1-CPT group, including 281 up-regulated and 186 down-regulated. Among of them, NF1-CPT group and nonNF1-CPT group shared 231 DEPs, except for HLA-DRB1 which increased in NF1-CPT group but decreased in nonNF1-CPT group. The remaining 230 DEPs showed the same expression trend in the two positive groups, including 117 up-regulated and 113 down-regulated. In particular, a total of 116 proteins were altered only in NF1-CPT group, including 94 up-regulated and 22 down-regulated. However, there were 236 proteins altered only in nonNF1-CPT group, including 164 up-regulated and 72 down-regulated. The results indicated that the pathogenesis of NF1-CPT was similar as nonNF1-CPT largely with a few differences. Finally, compared with nonNF1-CPT, there were 47 proteins changed 1.5-fold and P-value <0.05 in NF1-CPT group. Conclusion:The proteins expression in the periosteum of CPT is different from that of normal tibia. The expression of periosteal protein is also different between NF1-CPT and nonNF1-CPT. The present study will deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of CPT in the protein level.

Objective:To explore the effect of recombinant human syntaxin-4(STX4) on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced injury in islet β-cells(INS-1).Methods:Pancreatic islet β-cells(INS-1) were divided into Control (blank control), LPS (LPS treatment), LPS+ NC (transfection of negative control vector, LPS treatment), and LPS+ STX4 (transfection of pcDNA-STX4, LPS treatment) groups. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect STX4 mRNA and protein expression, flow cytometry to detect apoptosis, DCFHDA method to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS) level, xanthine oxidation method to detect superoxide orgotein dismutase(SOD) level, colorimetric method to detect glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) level, ammonium molybdate colorimetric method to detect catalase(CAT) level, thiobarbituric acid method to detect malonaldehyde(MDA) level, ELISA method to detect the level of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and insulin secretion levels under glucose conditions secreted by cells, Western blot method to detect Cleared Caspase-3, Bcl-2 Associated X Protein(Bax), p65 protein expression. After treatment with NF-κB signaling pathway activator, STX4 up-regulated islet β-cell INS-1 was given LPS stimulation, and the same method was used to measure apoptosis, ROS, SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, MDA levels and secreted IL-1β, TNF-α, insulin levels and Cleaved Caspase-3, Bax, p65 protein levels.Results:Compared with the Control group, the expression of STX4 mRNA and protein in islet β cells of the LPS group decreased, the apoptosis rate, ROS level, and MDA levels increased, and the levels of SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT decreased, the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α increased, the level of insulin secreted by the cells decreased, and the expression levels of Cleaved Caspase-3, Bax, and p65 also increased. NF-κB pathway activator treatment reversed the effect of up-regulated STX4 on islet β-cell apoptosis, ROS, SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, MDA levels and secreted IL-1β, TNF-α levels, and Cleaved Caspase-3 , Bax and p65 protein levels.Conclusion:Up-regulation of STX4 alleviated LPS-induced islet β cell oxidative damage, apoptosis and inflammatory factor release. The underlying mechanism might be related to the inhibition of activated NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To compare the sonographic features as well as clinical histopathological features of follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma(FVPTC) and conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma (CPTC) in pediatric patients.Methods From Jan.2006 to Dec.2017,26 FVPTC patients and 82 CPTC patients were enrolled in this study.The clinical histopathological findings and the sonographic features were compared between the two groups.FVPTCs and CPTCs were divided into PTC-like and follicular neoplasm(FN)-like based on sonographic characteristics.Results The mean nodule size of FVPTCs was larger than that of conventional PTCs.Extrathyroid invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis did not have significant difference between CPTC and FVPTC patients(53.8％ vs 62.2％ and 76.9％ vs 82.9％,respectively).Multiple nodules(P=0.000)and distant pulmonary metastases(P=0.024) were more frequent in CPTCs than in FVPTCs(P＜0.05).The rate of an ill-defined margin (P=0.000) and calcification (P=0.003)in terms of sonographic features were lower in FVPTCs than conventional PTCs(P＜0.05).A Ⅴ+Ⅵ diagnosis of PTC on FNAC of FVPTCs was less common than that of conventional PTCs (P=0.014).Multifocality(P=0.000),extrathyroidal invasion (P=0.000),and lymph node metastasis (P=0.000) were significantly different between PTC-like FVPTCs and FN-like FVPTCs.Conclusion FVPTC in children and adolescents shows a relatively larger size,more benign sonographic features,and a lower diagnostic rate of PTC by FNAC compared with conventional PTCs in pediatric patients.