Objective:To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of HEMO-FISS-QoL(HF-QoL) questionnaire (HF-QoL-C) in the Chinese population with hemorrhoids.Methods:From November 2021 to November 2022, a self-constructed general information questionnaire, HF-QoL-C, and the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), Goligher classification, and Giordano severity of hemorrhoid symptom questionnaire (GSQ) were used to conduct a questionnaire survey on 760 hemorrhoid patients in the anorectal department of six hospitals. The data was analyzed for reliability and validity using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 26.0 software.Results:The Cronbach's α coefficient of HF-QoL-C and its dimension ranged from 0.831 to 0.960, and the split coefficient was 0.832-0.915. Four common factors were extracted through principal component exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable structural validity( χ2/ df=8.152, RSMEA=0.097, CFI=0.881, IFI=0.881, NFI=0.867). HF-QoL-C was correlated with SF36 and GSQ( r=-0.694, 0.501, both P<0.01). There were differences in the total score and dimensional scores of HF-QoL-C between surgical and drug treated patients, different grades of Goligher classification for hemorrhoidal disease, and different ranges of hemorrhoid prolapse (all P<0.001). No ceiling effect was found in the total score and the scores of each dimension(0.3%-2.0%). There was a floor effect in both psychological function and sexual activity dimensions (16.7%, 35.1%). Conclusion:HF-QoL-C has good reliability and validity, which can be used to measure the quality of life of Chinese hemorrhoid patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of total flavones of Dracocephalum moldavica L.(TFDM)on oxida-tive damage to retinal ganglion cells(RGCs)induced by high glucose(HG)and its mechanism.Methods RGCs of mice were taken as the research subjects.RGCs were inoculated in 24-well plates(with 2.5 × 104 cells in each well)and divided into control group(cultured with medium containing 10％fetal bovine serum for 48 h),HG group(cultured with medium containing 30 mmol·L-1 glucose for 48 h),HG+TFDM-L group(cultured with medium containing 30 mmol·L-1 glucose and 25 mg·L-1 TFDM for 48 h),HG+TFDM-M group(cultured with medium containing 30 mmol·L-1 glucose and 50 mg·L-1 TFDM for 48 h),HG+TFDM-H group(cultured with medium containing 30 mmol·L-1 glucose and 100 mg·L-1 TFDM for 48 h),miR-NC group(transfected with miR-NC and then cultured with medium containing 30 mmol·L-1 glu-cose for 48 h),miR-93-5p group(transfected with miR-93-5p mimics and then cultured with medium containing 30 mmol·L-1 glucose for 48 h),anti-miR-NC group(transfected with anti-miR-NC and then cultured with medium containing 100 mg·L-1 TFDM and 30 mmol·L-1 glucose for 48 h),and anti-miR-93-5p group(transfected with anti-miR-93-5p and then cultured with medium containing 100 mg·L-1 TFDM and 30 mmol·L-1 glucose for 48 h).Levels of RGCs oxidative stress indexes in each group were detected according to the kit instructions.The thiobarbituric acid method was used to measure the level of malondialdehyde(MDA),the colorimetric method was adopted to detect the levels of catalase(CAT)and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine(8-OHdG),apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry,the messenger ribonucleic acid(mR-NA)expressions were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction,the targeting regulation of miR-93-5p and E2F transcription factor 1(E2F1)were verified by dual luciferase reporter assay,and the protein expressions were de-tected by Western blot.Statistical analysis was conducted on the data of each group.Results In the HG group,the lev-els of MDA and 8-OHdG,apoptosis rate and Bax protein expression of RGCs were higher than those in the control group(all P＜0.05);the CAT level and Bcl-2 protein expression were lower than those in the control group(both P＜0.05).In the HG+TFDM-L group,HG+TFDM-M group and HG+TFDM-H group,the levels of MDA and 8-OHdG,apoptosis rate and Bax protein expression of RGCs were lower than those in the HG group(all P＜0.05);the CAT level and Bcl-2 protein expression were higher than those in the HG group,and those indexes gradually tended to those in the control group with the increase of TFDM concentrations(all P＜0.05).In the HG group,the miR-93-5p expression in RGCs was lower than that in the control group,and the mRNA and protein expressions of E2F1 were higher than those in the control group(all P＜0.05).In the HG+TFDM-L group,HG+TFDM-M group and HG+TFDM-H group,the miR-93-5p expression in RGCs was higher than that in the HG group,and the mRNA and protein expressions of E2F1 were lower than those in the HG group(all P＜0.05).The protein expression of E2F1 in RGCs of the miR-93-5p group was lower than that in the miR-NC group,and the protein expression of E2F1 in RGCs of the anti-miR-93-5p group was higher than that in the anti-miR-NC group(both P＜0.05).In the miR-93-5p group,the miR-93-5p expression was higher than that in the miR-NC group,the levels of MDA and 8-OHdG,apoptosis rate,and protein expressions of Bax and E2F1 were lower than those in the miR-NC group,and the CAT level and Bcl-2 protein expression were higher than those in the miR-NC group(all P＜0.05).Con-clusion TFDM can inhibit oxidative stress and cell apoptosis,and then reduce the damage to RGCs induced by HG.The mechanism may involve the regulation of miR-93-5p/E2Fl expression.

Objective: To observe the effects of Danggui Shaoyao powder (DSP) on hepatic lipid metabolism and further explore its mechanism of action by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ)-liver X receptor (LXRα)-adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) pathway regulation. Methods: Eight C57BL/6J male mice were selected as the control group, and 24 ApoE−/− male mice were randomly divided into the atherosclerosis model (AS) group, atorvastatin calcium (AC) group, and DSP group (n = 8 each group). To establish an AS model, ApoE−/− mice were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. Pathologic changes in the aortic vasculature and liver were identified using Oil Red O staining. Triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were determined in the livers using a single-reagent GPO-PAP method. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to observe and evaluate the mRNA and protein expression of the PPARγ-LXRα-ABCA1 intermediates in the liver. Results: After 16 weeks of a high-fat diet, ApoE−/− mice showed more Oil Red O staining in the aorta and liver compared to the CONT group. Compared to the AS group, the DSP and AC treatment reduced aortic plaque and hepatic lipid deposition to varying degrees. Furthermore, DSP significantly reduced the hepatic lipid area in ApoE−/− mice (P < .001) and decreased the levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C in liver (P < .001, P = .027, P < .001, respectively). DSP also significantly increased the levels of PPARγ, LXRα, ABCA1, and ABCG1 mRNA expression, as well as the PPARγ, LXRα, ABCA1, and ABCG1 protein expression in liver. Conclusion DSP improved hepatic lipid metabolism via PPARγ-LXRα-ABCA1 pathway modulation for AS treatment.

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with auricular acupoints patches and nicotine transdermal patch in treating moderate to severe nicotine dependence. MethodsIn a rando-mized controlled trial， 64 quit smoking voluntary subjects with moderate to severe nicotine dependence were randomly divided at a ratio of 1∶1 into a treatment group and a control group， with 32 cases in each group. The treatment group was given acupuncture combined with auricular acupoints patches， twice weekly， four weeks as a course for two courses. The control group was given nicotine transdermal patch， one patch per day for 24 hours， 8 weeks. The cure rate was assessed after treatment and at follow-up （the 16th week after treatment）.The daily smoking volume， exhaled carbon monoxide （CO） value， Nicotine Dependence Scale （FTND）， Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms Scale （MNWS）， and Pittsburgh Sleepiness Index Inventory （PSQI） were evaluated before and after treatment and at follow-up， and adverse effects were recorded. ResultsIn terms of the cure rate， there were both six cured cases （20%） after treatment and at follow-up in the treatment group， while in the control group， seven （23.3%） and five （16.7%） patients were cured after treatment and at follow-up， respectively， with no statistically significant differences between the two groups both after treatment and at follow-up （P＞0.05）. The daily smoking volume and exhaled CO value significantly decreased after treatment and at follow-up in both groups （P＜0.05）， but were not significantly different between the groups after treatment and at follow-up （P＞0.05）. After treatment and at follow-up， FTND， MNWS， and PSQI scores were significantly reduced in both groups compared with those before treatment （P＜0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in the FTND scale scores between the two groups after treatment and at follow-up （P＞0.05）， while the MNWS and PSQI scale scores were lower in the treatment group than in the control group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionAcupuncture combined with auricular acupoint patches for moderate to severe nicotine dependence has comparable effect with the first-line drug nicotine patch in terms of increasing the cure rate and decreasing the degree of nicotine dependence， and is superior to nicotine patch in terms of relieving withdrawal symptoms and improving sleep， with stable long-term effect.

Objective: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT is often used for detecting malignancy in patients with newly diagnosed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), with acceptable sensitivity but relatively low specificity. The aim of this study was to improve the diagnostic ability of 18F-FDG PET/CT in identifying malignancy in patients with HLH by combining 18F-FDG PET/CT and clinical parameters. Materials and Methods: Ninety-seven patients (age ≥ 14 years) with secondary HLH were retrospectively reviewed and divided into the derivation (n = 71) and validation (n = 26) cohorts according to admission time. In the derivation cohort, 22 patients had malignancy-associated HLH (M-HLH) and 49 patients had non-malignancy-associated HLH (NM-HLH). Data on pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT and laboratory results were collected. The variables were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test or Pearson’s chi-square test, and a nomogram for predicting M-HLH was constructed using multivariable binary logistic regression. The predictors were also ranked using decision-tree analysis. The nomogram and decision tree were validated in the validation cohort (10 patients with M-HLH and 16 patients with NM-HLH). Results: The ratio of the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the lymph nodes to that of the mediastinum, the ratio of the SUVmax of bone lesions or bone marrow to that of the mediastinum, and age were selected for constructing the model. The nomogram showed good performance in predicting M-HLH in the validation cohort, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.875 (95% confidence interval, 0.686–0.971). At an appropriate cutoff value, the sensitivity and specificity for identifying M-HLH were 90% (9/10) and 68.8% (11/16), respectively. The decision tree integrating the same variables showed 70% (7/10) sensitivity and 93.8% (15/16) specificity for identifying M-HLH. In comparison, visual analysis of 18F-FDG PET/CT images demonstrated 100% (10/10) sensitivity and 12.5% (2/16) specificity. Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT may be a practical technique for identifying M-HLH. The model constructed using 18F-FDG PET/CT features and age was able to detect malignancy with better accuracy than visual analysis of 18F-FDG PET/CT images.

Objective:To explore the genetic etiology of a child suspected for peroneal muscular atrophy.Methods:The child and his parents were analyzed by using next generation sequencing.Results:The child was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of c. 52G>T (p.Glu18X) and c. 1390C>T (p.Arg464X) of the PRX gene, which were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. Among these, the c. 52G>T variant was previously unreported. Based on the standards and guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, both variants were predicted to be pathogenic (PVS1+ PM2+ PM3, PVS1+ PM3-Strong+ PM2+ BS2). Conclusion:The compound heterozygous variants of the PRX gene probably underlay the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4F in this child. Above finding has enriched the mutational spectrum of the PRX gene.

Objective:To observe the effect of silicon dioxide (SiO 2) on the polarization of alveolar macrophages (AMs) , and to explore the expressions and the significance of signal transducer and activator of transcription-6 (STAT-6) /Krüppel-like factor-4 (KLF-4) /peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors-γ (PPAR-γ) signaling molecules in AMs. Methods:In November 2020, C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into crystalline SiO 2 group and normal saline (NS) group, and 12 mice in each group. Mice were intratracheally instillated with 100 μl crystalline SiO 2 suspension (20 mg/ml) or 100 μl NS, and were sacrificed after 28 days. Masson staining was used to observe the degree of pulmonary fibrosis of mice and hydroxyproline (HYP) level were assessed. The proportions of M1-typed and M2-typed AMs in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BLAF) were analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA relative expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) , arginidase-1 (Arg-1) , interleukin (IL) -1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) , IL-6, IL-10, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) , STAT-6, KLF-4 and PPAR-γ were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Activities of iNOS and Arg-1, as well as contents of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β were assessed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent. The protein relative expression levels of phosphorylation-signal transducer and activator of transcription-6 (p-STAT-6) , KLF-4 and PPAR-γ were evaluated by immunofluorescence. Results:After 28 days of treatment, the structure of the lung tissue of the mice was destroyed, and the deposition of collagen was significantly increased in the crystalline SiO 2 group. Compared with NS group, HYP level of lung tissue in crystalline SiO 2 group were increased, the proportion of M2-typed AMs in crystalline SiO 2 group was increased, the proportion of M1-typed AMs in crystalline SiO 2 group was decreased, the mRNA relative expressions and contents of Arg-1, IL-10, TGF-β in crystalline SiO 2 group were significantly increased, the mRNA relative expressions and contents of iNOS, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 in crystalline SiO 2 group were significantly decreased, the mRNA of STAT-6, KLF-4, PPAR-γ and the protein relative expression levels of p-STAT-6, KLF-4, PPAR-γ were significantly increased in crystalline SiO 2 group, and the the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Crystalline SiO 2 may mediate the process of pulmonary fibrosis through promote AMs polarization toward M2-typed by activating the STAT-6/KLF-4/PPAR-γ signaling pathway.

Objective:To observe the effect of silicon dioxide (SiO 2) on the polarization of alveolar macrophages (AMs) , and to explore the expressions and the significance of signal transducer and activator of transcription-6 (STAT-6) /Krüppel-like factor-4 (KLF-4) /peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors-γ (PPAR-γ) signaling molecules in AMs. Methods:In November 2020, C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into crystalline SiO 2 group and normal saline (NS) group, and 12 mice in each group. Mice were intratracheally instillated with 100 μl crystalline SiO 2 suspension (20 mg/ml) or 100 μl NS, and were sacrificed after 28 days. Masson staining was used to observe the degree of pulmonary fibrosis of mice and hydroxyproline (HYP) level were assessed. The proportions of M1-typed and M2-typed AMs in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BLAF) were analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA relative expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) , arginidase-1 (Arg-1) , interleukin (IL) -1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) , IL-6, IL-10, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) , STAT-6, KLF-4 and PPAR-γ were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Activities of iNOS and Arg-1, as well as contents of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β were assessed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent. The protein relative expression levels of phosphorylation-signal transducer and activator of transcription-6 (p-STAT-6) , KLF-4 and PPAR-γ were evaluated by immunofluorescence. Results:After 28 days of treatment, the structure of the lung tissue of the mice was destroyed, and the deposition of collagen was significantly increased in the crystalline SiO 2 group. Compared with NS group, HYP level of lung tissue in crystalline SiO 2 group were increased, the proportion of M2-typed AMs in crystalline SiO 2 group was increased, the proportion of M1-typed AMs in crystalline SiO 2 group was decreased, the mRNA relative expressions and contents of Arg-1, IL-10, TGF-β in crystalline SiO 2 group were significantly increased, the mRNA relative expressions and contents of iNOS, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 in crystalline SiO 2 group were significantly decreased, the mRNA of STAT-6, KLF-4, PPAR-γ and the protein relative expression levels of p-STAT-6, KLF-4, PPAR-γ were significantly increased in crystalline SiO 2 group, and the the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:Crystalline SiO 2 may mediate the process of pulmonary fibrosis through promote AMs polarization toward M2-typed by activating the STAT-6/KLF-4/PPAR-γ signaling pathway.

Lipids are important components of living organisms that participate in and regulate a variety of life activities. Lipids in plants also play important physiological functions in response to a variety of abiotic stresses (e.g. salt stress, drought stress, temperature stress). However, most research on lipids focused on animal cells and medical fields, while the functions of lipids in plants were overlooked. With the rapid development of "omics" technologies and biotechnology, the lipidomics has received much attention in recent years because it can reveal the composition and function of lipids in a deep and comprehensive way. This review summarizes the recent advances in the functions and classification of lipids, the development of lipidomics technology, and the responses of plant lipids against drought stress, salt stress and temperature stress. In addition, challenges and prospects were proposed for future lipidomics research and further exploration of the physiological functions of lipids in plant stress resistance.
Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lipids ; Plants ; Stress, Physiological

Objective:To explore the value of radiomics based on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in predicting the Children′s Oncology Group (COG) risk stratification of neuroblastoma (NB). Methods:From March 2018 to November 2019, the 18F-FDG PET/CT images of 125 NB children (51 males, 74 females, age: 0.5-10.5 years) confirmed pathologically in Beijing Friendship Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. According to the COG classification, patients were divided into high-risk group and non-high-risk group (including low- and intermediate-risk). Imaging radiomics features were extracted from PET and CT images and screened. Logistic regression was used to build the first model based on radiomics features (R_model) and calculate radiomics score (Rad_score), then build the second model (RD_model) based on Rad_score and demographic features and at last build the third model (RDC_modle) based on Rad_score, demographic features and clinical features. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of these models. Results:The training set contained 94 NB cases (63 high-risk cases, 31 non-high-risk cases), and the validation set contained 31 NB cases (21 high-risk cases, 10 non-high-risk cases). Four radiomics features were obtained by screening, of which two features were based on CT images and the other two features were based on PET images. The area under the curves (AUCs) of the R_model, RD_model and RDC_model in training or validation set were 0.91, 0.94, 0.98 or 0.86, 0.92, 0.95, respectively. The accuracies of the R_model, RD_model and RDC_model in training or validation set were 86%(81/94), 89%(84/94), 93%(87/94) or 84%(26/31), 84%(26/31), 87%(27/31), respectively.Conclusions:Radiomics based on 18F-FDG PET/CT can accurately predict the COG risk stratification of NB. Prediction model of radiomics features combined with demographic and clinical characteristics can further improve the accuracy of predicting NB COG risk stratification, which can help personalized and precise therapy protocol management in NB.