Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and osteoporosis (OP) are two very common metabolic diseases. A growing body of experimental evidence supports a pathophysiological link between MAFLD and OP. MAFLD is often associated with the development of OP. Rutaecarpine (RUT) is one of the main active components of Chinese medicine Euodiae Fructus. Our previous studies have demonstrated that RUT has lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects, and can improve the OP of rats. However, whether RUT can improve both fatty liver and OP symptoms of MAFLD mice at the same time remains to be investigated. In this study, we used C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 months to construct a MAFLD model, and gave the mice a low dose (5 mg·kg^-1) and a high dose (15 mg·kg^-1) of RUT by gavage for 4 weeks. The effects of RUT on liver steatosis and bone metabolism were then evaluated at the end of the experiment [this experiment was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (approval number: IMB-20190124D₃03)]. The results showed that RUT treatment significantly reduced hepatic steatosis and lipid accumulation, and significantly reduced bone loss and promoted bone formation. In summary, this study shows that RUT has an effect of improving fatty liver and OP in MAFLD mice.

Based on the literature study,the thoughts and possible therapeutic mechanism in treating male infertility from the perspective of spleen and kidney by regulating intestinal flora were explored.Disturbance of intestinal flora is one of the important factors leading to the development of male infertility,and the spleen and kidney have certain similarities to intestinal flora in the physiological function and pathological changes.Moreover,tonifying the kidney and strengthening the spleen can regulate the intestinal flora by fostering the growth of beneficial bacteria,inhibiting the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria,and protecting the barrier of the intestinal mucosa.Therefore,the possible therapeutic mechanisms in treating male infertility with the prescriptions for tonifying the kidney and strengthening the spleen to regulate intestinal flora are as follows:inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors to reduce the inflammatory reaction of testicular tissues;improving the antioxidant capacity to alleviate the damage of spermatozoa caused by oxidative stress,and improving the bad mood to alleviate the impact of psychological stress on the reproductive system.The exploration of the thoughts for treating male infertility from the perspective of spleen and kidney by regulating intestinal flora may provide a new entry point for modern Chinese medicine clinical treatment of male infertility.

Objective To investigate the role of complement C3 in early predicting pregnancy outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer(F-ET).Methods A total of 378 F-ET cycles were prospectively collected and divided into group A(complement C3≤1.05,120 cycles)and group B(complement C3>1.05,258 cycles)based on the best cutoff value of complement C3 for predicting F-ET pregnancy outcomes.The outcomes of the two groups were compared,and the best cutoff value of complement C3 for predicting F-ET spontaneous abortion was analyzed in group B.Results Age was a risk factor for successful F-ET pregnancy(P<0.05),and complement C3 and embryo type were protective factors for successful F-ET pregnancy(P<0.05).The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve(ROC)of complement C3 for predicting F-ET pregnancy outcome was 0.702,and the best cutoff value was 1.05 g/L,with a clinical pregnancy sensitivity of 87.60%and a specificity of 52.00%.The clinical pregnancy rate and embryo implantation rate in group B were both significantly higher than those in group A(67.05%vs.52.75%,P<0.05).The best cutoff value of complement C3 for predicting spontaneous abortion after F-ET was 1.32 g/L,with an area under the ROC curve of 0.760,a sensitivity of 69.00%,and a specificity of 81.20%.Conclusions Complement C3 is of significance in the early prediction of F-ET pregnancy outcome.When complement C3 exceeds the level of 1.32 g/L,it may lead to an increase in the rate of spontaneous abortion.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of budesonide combined with pulmonary surfactant(PS)in the treatment of meconium aspiration syndrome(MAS)in neonates.Methods PubMed,Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials(Central),Embase,Web of Science,SinoMed,VIP,WanFang Data and CNKI databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of budesonide combined with PS in the treatment of neonatal MAS from inception to September 2,2023.Two researchers independently screened literature,extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies,meta-analyses were performed by using the RevMan 5.4 software.Results A total of 6 RCTs involving 544 patients were included.The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with PS group,budesonide combined with PS group had higher overall effective rate(RR=1.29,95％CI 1.17 to 1.41,P＜0.001),shorter hospital stay(MD=-6.35,95％CI-9.25 to-3.46,P＜0.001)and shorter time of oxygen inhalation(MD=-1.61,95％CI-2.23 to-0.98,P＜0.001),shorter the duration of ventilator use(MD=-26.46,95％CI-35.98 to-16.95,P＜0.001),improved the blood gas analysis indexes at each time after treatment(P＜0.05);In terms of safety,the incidence of total complications and adverse reactions in budesonide combined with PS group was significantly lower(RR=0.35,95％CI 0.25 to 0.47,P＜0.001).Subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn(PPHN)in the budesonide combined with PS group was decreased(RR=0.38,95％CI 0.19 to 0.74,P=0.004),and the incidence of pneumorrhagia was decreased(RR=0.26,95％CI 0.10 to 0.69,P=0.007),and the difference was statistically significant;the incidence of heart failure and sepsis was not statistically significant compared with the PS group(P＞0.05).Conclusion Current evidence shows that budesonide combined with PS in the treatment of neonatal meconium aspiration syndrome can improve the symptoms and signs of MAS children,improve the blood gas analysis index,accelerate disease rehabilitation,shorten the course of the disease,can help reduce the risk of complications and PPHN,pneumorrhagia,and doesn't increase the incidence of heart failure,sepsis.Due to the limited quantity of the included studies,more high-quality and large-sample RCTs are needed to further validate the above conclusions.

Objective:To study the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) genotype of Yersinia pestis and its regional distribution characteristics in natural plague focus of Tibet Autonomous Region. Methods:A total of 125 representative Yersinia pestis strains isolated from natural plague focus in Tibet Autonomous Region at different times, regions, hosts and vectors were selected as experimental strains, and the phenol chloroform mixed extraction method was used to extract Yersinia pestis DNA. Three pairs of CRISPR primers (for YPa, YPb, YPc locus) were used to amplify the DNA of the experimental strains, and the CRISPR genotype of Yersinia pestis was determined by sequencing. Results:All 125 strains of Yersinia pestis had three CRISPR locus: YPa, YPb, and YPc. A total of 18 spacer were found, including 8 in YPa loci, 6 in YPb loci, and 4 in YPc loci. Two new types of spacers had been discovered, namely b52 and c14. CRISPR typing revealed 10 genotypes, including G1, G7, G7-b4''', G7-b52, G7-c2 -, G8, G22, G22-a4 -, G22-b4''', and G22-c14, of which 6 were newly discovered genotypes. Among the 125 experimental strains, G7 was the main genotype, accounting for 65.6% (82/125), which was distributed in 6 prefecture level citys and 1 region of Tibet Autonomous Region. Next were G22 and G7-c2 - genetypes, accounting for 14.4% (18/125) and 11.2% (14/125), respectively. G22 gene type was distributed in Nagqu, Changdu, Lhasa citys, and Ngari Prefecture, while G7-c2 - genetype was distributed in Shigatse and Shannan cities. Conclusion:The CRISPR locus of Yersinia pestis in natural plague focus of Tibet Autonomous Region is highly polymorphic, and the Yersinia pestis strains with different genotypes have obvious regional distribution characteristics.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of treadmill exercise against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on the regulator effects of exercise on ferroptosis. MethodsEight 8-week-old male m/m mice were used as control group (Con, n=8), and db/db mice of the matched age were randomly divided into T2DM model group (db/db, n=8), exercise group (db+Exe, n=8), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor group (db+SB203580, n=8) and exercise combined with p38 MAPK inhibitor group (db+Exe+SB203580, n=8). After one-week adaptive feeding, the mice in the db+Exe group and db+Exe+SB203580 group underwent moderate intensity treadmill exercise for 40 min/d, 5 d/week lasting 8 weeks. The db+SB203580 group and db+Exe+SB203580 group were treated with SB203580 (a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK) with a dose of 5 mg/kg, 5 d/week for 8 weeks. And the exercise intervention was performed 2 h later after the intraperitoneal injection of SB203580. The body weight and fasting blood glucose of mice were measured regularly every week during the experiment. After 24 h of the last intervention, the mice were weighted, the liver tissues were taken, weighted and the liver index was calculated. The pathological changes of liver were determined by Oil Red O and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The levels of blood lipids, liver function, Fe²⁺ and oxidative stress markers of liver were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The related mRNA expression levels of lipogenesis and inflammation were evaluated by quantitative reverse transcriptase-mediated PCR (qRT-PCR). The related protein expression levels of lipogenesis and ferroptosis in liver were determined by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and Western blot. ResultsThe body weight, fasting blood glucose, liver index, blood lipid and transaminase levels in the db/db group were significantly increased compared with the Con group. HE and Oil Red O staining showed severe lipid accumulation and ballooning change in the liver of db/db mice. Biochemical tests showed that Fe²⁺ and MDA level of liver constitution homogenate increased, while GSH level decreased significantly. The results of qRT-PCR showed that the mRNA levels of MCP-1, IL-6, SREBF1 and ACC1 in liver tissue of db/db mice were all significantly increased. Western blot results showed that the expression levels of SREBF1, ACC1 increased, ferroptosis relative proteins were significantly decreased. The 8 weeks of exercise significantly reduced the rise in body weight, blood glucose, liver index and blood lipid levels in db/db mice. Exercise intervention also alleviated hepatic steatosis and reduced the expression levels of Fe²⁺, MDA, MCP-1, IL-6, ACC1 and SREBF1, upregulated the expression levels of GSH, NRF2, HO-1, SLC7A11 and GPX4 in liver tissue of db/db mice. The intervention of exercise combined with SB203580 significantly down-regulated the mRNA expression levels of ACC1, MCP-1, IL-6, reduced the levels of Fe²⁺ and MDA, and up-regulated the level of GSH in db/db mice. Compared with the db+Exe group, the expression of Fe²⁺, MDA, MCP-1, and SREBF1 in the liver of the db+Exe+SB203580 group mice significantly increased, while the expression level of GSH and expression levels of ferroptosis relative proteins also significantly decreased. In addition, compared with db+SB203580 group, the iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation in the liver of db+Exe+SB203580 group were significantly improved. ConclusionThe8-week treadmill exercise can effectively alleviate liver injury and steatosis, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of hepatocyte ferroptosis through p38 MAPK signal.

Objective To investigate the incidence rate,clinical characteristics,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China.Methods Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital,the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022.The incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed.Results The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137,1/6 060,and 1/7 704,respectively.Ischemic stroke accounted for 75％(27/36);boys accounted for 64％(23/36).Among the 36 neonates,31(86％)had disease onset within 3 days after birth,and 19(53％)had convulsion as the initial presentation.Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates(61％)had left cerebral infarction and 13(36％)had basal ganglia infarction.Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates,among whom 9(75％)had involvement of the middle cerebral artery.Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates,with sharp waves in 21 neonates(72％)and seizures in 10 neonates(34％).Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals.Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates(33％,12/36),with a mean score of(32±4)points.The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age,with 44％(12/27)of the neonates having a good prognosis.Conclusions Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke,often with convulsions as the initial presentation,involvement of the middle cerebral artery,sharp waves on electroencephalography,and a relatively low neurodevelopment score.Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method,and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.

Objective:To learn about the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) population structure and regional distribution characteristics of Yersinia pestis in the natural focus of plague in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Methods:A total of 319 representative strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from natural focus of plague in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 1954 to 2020 were selected, and 2 298 SNP loci included in the global Yersinia pestis phylogenetic tree were compared by whole genome sequencing technology. MEGA 6.0 software was used to construct phylogenetic trees of 319 strains of Yersinia pestis from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, determine the SNP population structure of Yersinia pestis in the focus, and describe its regional distribution characteristics. Results:The 319 strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau natural plague foci were distributed in 5 clades, namely 1.IN, 2.ANT, 3.ANT, 0.PE and 2.MED. The 1.IN clade contained 209 strains (65.52%, 209/319), which was the dominant population of strains in Qinghai Province, accounting for 90.51% (143/158). The 2.ANT clade contained 83 strains (26.02%, 83/319), which was the dominant population in Tibet Autonomous Region, accounting for 67.24% (78/116). The 3.ANT, 0.PE, and 2.MED clades contained 12 (3.76%, 12/319), 9 (2.82%, 9/319) and 6 strains (1.88%, 6/319), respectively, which were scattered in Qinghai Province, Gansu Province, Sichuan Province, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region under the jurisdiction of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Conclusion:The SNP population structure of Yersinia pestis in natural focus of plague in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is relatively rich, and the strains are distributed in 5 clades: 1.IN, 2.ANT, 3.ANT, 0.PE and 2.MED, showing the distribution characteristics of specific regions.

Interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase 4(IRAK4)plays a crucial role in signal transduction and regulation in the TLRs/IL-1R signaling pathway,coordinating multiple inflammatory pathways involving immune system activation,cytokine production,and cell proliferation and differentiation.IRAK4 is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of hematological malignancies,including myelodysplastic syndrome,acute myeloid leukemia,chronic lymphocytic leukemia,and lymphoma.Therefore,IRAK4 may serve as an effective therapeutic target for hematologic malignancies.This review summarizes the research advances in the structure and function of IRAK4,as well as its mechanism of action and therapeutic implications in hematological malignancies,aiming to provide insights into pathogenesis of related diseases and targeted therapy research.

Objective To explore the cell subsets and characteristics related to the prognosis of osteosarcoma by analyzing the cellular composition of tumor tissue samples from different osteosarcoma patients.Methods The single-cell sequencing data and bulk sequencing data of different osteosarcoma patients were downloaded.We extracted the information of cell samples for dimensionality reduction,annotation,and cell function analysis,so as to identify the cell subsets and clarify the cell characteristics related to the prognosis of osteosarcoma.The development trajectory of macrophages with prognostic significance was analyzed,and the prognostic model of osteosarcoma was established based on the differentially expressed genes of macrophage differentiation.Results The cellular composition presented heterogeneity in the patients with osteosarcoma.The infiltration of mononuclear phagocytes in osteosarcoma had prognostic significance(P=0.003).Four macrophage subsets were associated with prognosis,and their signature transcription factors included RUNX3(+),ETS1(+),HOXD11(+),ZNF281(+),and PRRX1(+).Prog_Macro2 and Prog_Macro4 were located at the end of the developmental trajectory,and the prognostic ability of macrophage subsets increased with the progression of osteosarcoma.The prognostic model established based on the differentially expressed genes involved in macrophage differentiation can distinguish the survival rate of osteosarcoma patients with different risks(P<0.001).Conclusion Macrophage subsets are closely related to the prognosis of osteosarcoma and can be used as the key target cells for the immunotherapy of osteosarcoma.
Humans ; Prognosis ; Osteosarcoma/genetics* ; Immunotherapy ; Macrophages ; Transcription Factors ; Bone Neoplasms/genetics* ; Homeodomain Proteins ; Repressor Proteins