Objective To clone and express the heat shock cognate protein 20 (SjHsc20) of Schistosoma japonicum, and to preliminarily investigate its biological characteristics. Methods The target fragment of the SjHsc20 gene was amplified using PCR assay and cloned into the pET-28a(+) expression plasmid to generate the recombinant expression vector pET-28a(+)-SjH-sc20, which was then transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) competent cells. The recombinant SjHsc20 (rSjHsc20) protein was induced with isopropyl β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and purified, and the expression of the rSjHsc20 protein was checked with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The immunogenicity of the rSjHsc20 protein was detected using Western blotting, and the transcriptional levels of SjHsc20 were quantified in S. japonicum worms at different developmental stages and in male and female adult worms using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay. Thirty female BALB/c mice at ages 6 to 8 weeks were divided into three groups, including the rSjHsc20 immunization group, the PBS control group, and the ISA 206 adjuvant group, of 10 mice in each group. Mice in the rSjHsc20 immunization group were subcutaneously immunized with 20 μg rSjHsc20 on days 1, 15 and 31, and animals in the PBS control group were subcutaneously injected with the same volume of PBS on days 1, 15 and 31, while mice in the ISA 206 adjuvant group were subcutaneously immunized with the same volume of ISA 206 adjuvant on days 1, 15 and 31, respectively. All mice in each group were infected with (40 ± 2) S. japonicum cercariae via the abdomen 14 day following the last immunization. Levels of serum specific IgG and its subtypes IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies against rSjHsc20, and the serum titers of anti-rSjHsc20 antibody were detected in mice using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All mice were sacrifice 42 days post-infection, and S. japonicum worms were collected from the hepatic portal vein and counted. The eggs per gram (EPG), worm burden reductions and egg burden reductions were estimated to evaluate the protective efficacy of the rSjHsc20 protein. Results The SjHsc20 gene had an open reading frame (ORF) with 756 bp in length and encoded 252 amino acids, and the rSjHsc20 protein had a relative molecular mass of approximately 29 kDa. The rSjHsc20 protein was recognized by the serum of mice infected with S. japonicum and the serum of mice immunized with the rSjHsc20 protein, indicating that rSjHsc20 had a good immunogenicity. There was a significant difference in the transcriptional levels of the SjHsc20 gene among the 7-day (1.001 4 ± 0.065 7), 12-day (2.268 3 ± 0.129 2), 21-day (1.378 5 ± 0.160 4), 28-day (1.196 4 ± 0.244 0), 35-day (1.646 3 ± 0.226 1), 42-day worms of S. japonicum (1.758 0 ± 0.611 1) (F = 38.45, P < 0.000 1), and the transcriptional level of the SjHsc20 gene was higher in the 12-day worms than in worms at other developmental stages (all P values < 0.000 1). The serum levels of anti-rSjHsc20 IgG antibody were 0.106 6 ± 0.010 7, 0.108 3 ± 0.010 4, and 0.553 2 ± 0.069 1 in the PBS control group, ISA 206 adjuvant group, and rSjHsc20 immunization group following the last immunization, respectively, and the serum levels of IgG1 antibody were 0.137 3 ± 0.054 0, 0.181 1 ± 0.096 8, and 1.765 8 ± 0.221 1, while the levels of IgG2a antibody were 0.280 3 ± 0.197 6, 0.274 0 ± 0.146 3, and 1.560 4 ± 0.106 0, respectively. There were significant differences in the serum levels of anti-rSjHsc20 IgG (F = 397.70, P < 0.000 1), IgG1 (F = 401.00, P < 0.000 1) and IgG2a antibodies (F = 229.70, P < 0.000 1) among the three groups, and the serum levels of anti-rSjHsc20 IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies were higher in the rSjHsc20 immunization group than in the PBS control group and the ISA 206 adjuvant group (all P values < 0.000 1). There was a significant difference in the IgG1/IgG2a ratio among the rSjHsc20 immunization group (1.177 2 ± 0.143 6), the PBS control group (0.428 4 ± 0.199 8) and the ISA 206 adjuvant group (0.559 9 ± 0.181 1) (F = 43.97, P < 0.000 1), and the IgG1/IgG2a ratio was > 1 in the rSjHsc20 immunization group, which was higher than in the PBS control group and the ISA 206 adjuvant group (both P values < 0.000 1). The titers of serum anti-rSjHsc20 antibody were all above 1∶16 384 in the rSjHsc20 immunization group following immunizations on days 1, 15 and 31, indicating that the rSjHsc20 protein had a strong immunogenicity. The mean worm burdens were (16.60±5.75), (15.80±5.58) worms per mouse and (14.40±5.75) worms per mouse in the PBS control group, the ISA 206 adjuvant group and the rSjHsc20 immunization group 42 days post-infection with S. japonicum cercariae (F = 0.50, P > 0.05), and the EPG were 68 370 ± 22 690, 67 972 ± 19 502, and 41 075 ± 13 251 in the PBS control group, the ISA 206 adjuvant group and the rSjHsc20 immunization group (F = 4.55, P < 0.05), with lower EPG in the PBS control group and the ISA 206 adjuvant group than in the rSjHsc20 immunization group (both P values < 0.05). Immunization with the rSjHsc20 protein resulted in a worm burden reduction of 13.25% and an egg burden reduction of 39.92% relative to the PBS control group. Conclusions SjHsc20 is successfully cloned and expressed, and the rSjHsc20 protein induces partial immunoprotective effects in mice, which provides a basis for deciphering the biological functions of SjHsc20 and assessing the potential of SjH-sc20 as a vaccine candidate.

【Objective】 To investigate the association between genetic variations in the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) gene and BP responses to sodium and potassium intake. 【Methods】 A total of 514 subjects from 124 families were recruited in Meixian County, Shaanxi Province, in 2004, resulting in the establishment of a "salt-sensitive hypertension study cohort" . The subjects followed a dietary regimen which involved a normal diet for 3 days, a low-salt diet for 7 days, a high-salt diet for 7 days, and a high-salt potassium-supplemented diet for 7 days. BP measurement was conducted at different intervention periods, and peripheral blood samples were collected. Additionally, eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the GLP-1R gene were genotyped using the MassARRAY detection platform. 【Results】 The GLP-1R gene SNP rs9462472 exhibited a significant association with systolic BP, diastolic BP, and mean arterial pressure response to high-salt intervention. Similarly, SNP rs2268637 showed a significant association with systolic BP response to high-salt intervention. Furthermore, SNP rs2268637 was significantly associated with systolic BP and mean arterial pressure responses to high-salt plus potassium supplementation intervention. 【Conclusion】 Our findings indicate a significant association of genetic variations in the GLP-1R gene with BP responses to sodium and potassium intake. This suggests that the GLP-1R gene plays a role in the regulation of BP salt sensitivity and potassium sensitivity.

[摘 要] 目的：研究芳香烃受体（AHR）在乳腺癌中的表达及其对乳腺癌细胞增殖、凋亡和药物敏感性的调控机制。方法：通过GEPIA数据库数据分析乳腺癌组织及癌旁组织中AHR的表达水平，探讨其与患者生存期的关联。利用基因敲低和过表达技术构建AHR表达变化的乳腺癌细胞，采用CCK-8实验、细胞计数和流式细胞分析等方法评估AHR对细胞增殖、凋亡和药物敏感性的影响，通过免疫印迹法验证相关分子机制。此外，利用AHR激动剂6-甲酰基吲哚并[3,2-B]咔唑（FICZ）研究外源性激活AHR对乳腺癌细胞多柔比星（DOX）敏感性的影响。结果：GEPIA数据库数据分析结果显示，乳腺癌组织中AHR呈明显低表达（P < 0.05）；对155例乳腺癌患者的生存期进行统计分析也显示AHR低表达与不良预后呈正相关（P < 0.05）。敲低AHR促进细胞增殖（P < 0.05），过表达则能抑制其增殖（P < 0.05）并促进其凋亡（P < 0.05）。外源激活AHR能增强乳腺癌细胞对DOX的敏感性（P < 0.05）。AHR可与MYC基因启动子结合，抑制MYC表达（P < 0.05），从而影响乳腺癌的进展。结论：AHR在乳腺癌中通过调控MYC表达影响细胞增殖和凋亡，外源激活AHR可能成为提高乳腺癌细胞对DOX敏感性的治疗策略。

Objective Experimental animal facilities account for a significant proportion of the energy consumption by scientific research institutions;however,the energy consumption characteristics of these facilities differ from those of ordinary buildings,and thus require specialized monitoring and management.Methods A set of energy consumption monitoring systems was designed for experimental animal facilities and deployed in the specific pathogen-free-level experimental animal facility of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.Results The system achieved real-time collection and recording of the facility's electricity consumption data,and proposed energy-saving measures for three application scenarios.Conclusions This energy consumption monitoring system designed for experimental animal facilities is reliable,efficient,and user-friendly,and has the potential to guide and promote energy management programs at experimental animal facilities.

Objective:To explore the application value of qualitative characteristics and quantitative parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and non-PDAC presenting as pancreatic solid focal lesions.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 64 cases of PDAC(the PDAC group) and 52 cases of non-PDAC(the non-PDAC group) who underwent CEUS examination at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from July 2022 to June 2023. Clinical characteristics, two-dimensional ultrasound features, CEUS qualitative characteristic, and quantitative parameters were compared between the two groups. ROC curves were plotted, and the Delong test was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of qualitative and quantitative analyses in distinguishing PDAC from non-PDAC. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the independent predictors of PDAC.Results:①There were significant differences in serum CA19-9, lesion size, boundary, the main pancreatic duct (MPD) diameter, degree of enhancement and enhancement pattern between the PDAC group and the non-PDAC group (all P<0.05). ②The relative peak intensity (rPE), and relative wash-in and wash-out area under the curve (rWiWoAUC) were lower in the PDAC group than the non-PDAC group, with statistically significant differences(all P<0.001). ③The areas under the curve (AUC) for diagnosing PDAC using enhancement pattern, venous phase(VP) enhancement degree, rPE, and rWiWoAUC were 0.698, 0.707, 0.863, and 0.867, respectively. The AUCs of quantitative parameters were superior to those of qualitative characteristics, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). Using CEUS mode B, low VP enhancement, rPE<72.44, and rWiWoAUC<86.59 as cut-off values, the accuracies for diagnosing PDAC were 0.698, 0.741, 0.828, and 0.802, respectively. ④Serum CA19-9, lesion size, MPD diameter, rPE, and rWiWoAUC were independent predictors of PDAC (all P<0.05). Conclusions:CEUS qualitative and quantitative analyses are helpful in the differential diagnosis of PDAC and non-PDAC, with rPE and rWiWoAUC being useful indicators for diagnosing PDAC.

Objective:To explore the relationship between glycosylated hemoglobin A 1c/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (HbA 1c/HDL-C) and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) in Chinese adults. Methods:In this cross-sectional study, the clinical data of 43 820 community residents (age>40 years) from the Risk Evaluation of Cancers in Chinese Diabetic Individuals (REACTION study; March-December 2012) across eight centers (Liaoning, Guangdong, Shanghai, Gansu, Guangxi, Henan, Hubei, and Sichuan) in China were collected and analyzed. Participants were divided into three groups based on UACR levels:<10 mg/g, 10-30 mg/g, and >30 mg/g. The HbA 1c/HDL-C ratio was divided into four groups according to quartile division of the subjects: 1st quartile (Q1<3.79), 2nd quartile (3.79≤Q2<4.59), 3rd quartile (4.59≤Q3≤5.66), and 4th quartile (Q4>5.66). Multivariate ordinal logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between HbA 1c/HDL-C and UACR. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to explore the predictive value of HbA 1c/HDL-C to UACR. Results:The 43 820 subjects included 13 452 (30.70%) male and 30 378 (69.30%) female patients, with an average age of (58.00±0.05) years. According to results of one-way analysis of variance analysis, the HbA 1c/HDL-C ratio was significantly associated with the risk of increased UACR ( F=495.73, P<0.001). After adjusting for clinically relevant confounding variables in logistic regression model, compared with participants with the lowest HbA 1c/HDL-C ratio (Q1), women with the highest HbA 1c/HDL-C ratio (Q4) had a 1.483-fold (95% CI 1.376-1.598, P<0.001) and men had a 1.161-fold (95% CI 1.019-1.323, P<0.001) increased risk of UACR. The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of HbA 1c/HDL-C for predicting increased UACR was 0.623 (95% CI 0.597-0.606), with a sensitivity of 60.18% and a specificity of 54.91%. The HbA 1c/HDL-C ratio showed the highest predictive value of all glycemic and lipidemic parameters. In individuals with well-controlled blood glucose (HbA 1c<6.5%) or lipid levels (HDL-C≥1.0 mmol/L), the HbA 1c/HDL-C ratio was still independently associated with the risk of increased UACR after adjusting for confounding variables [ OR(95% CI) of quartile 4: 1.563 (1.210-2.019, P=0.001) in participants with HbA 1c<6.5% and 1.822 (1.687-1.968, P<0.001) in participants with HDL-C≥1.0 mmol/L]. Conclusion:As a novel compound indicator for evaluating glucose homeostasis and dyslipidemia, the HbA 1c/HDL-C ratio was independently associated with increased UACR in the general population aged>40 years in China, which was superior to both glycemic and lipid parameters alone.

Objective:To predict the clinical value of World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology (WHO/ISUP) grading of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) pre-scholarly based on ultrasound imaging group.Methods:Clinical and ultrasound imaging data of patients with surgically pathologically confirmed ccRCC at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institue and Hospital from January 2021 to October 2022 were retrospectively collected and divided into a low grade group (grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ, 105 cases) and a high grade group (grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ, 70 cases) using WHO/ISUP pathological grading criteria. The clear image of the largest diameter of the tumor was selected and imported into ITK-SNAP software for manual segmentation of the image and extraction of ultrasonographic radiomics features. The patients were randomly divided into a training group and a test group in the ratio of 7∶3, with 122 cases in the training group and 53 cases in the test group. Stable radiomics features were obtained by dimensionality reduction. The support vector machines (SVM) algorithm was applied to predict the pathological grading of ccRCC. Finally, a clinical-ultrasound imaging model, an ultrasonographic radiomics model and a comprehensive model combining the two were constructed. The predictive effects of the three models were analyzed by the area under the ROC curve (AUC). The performance of each model was evaluated by applying the calibration curve. The net benefit of patients was obtained by applying the decision curve.Results:A total of 873 radiomics features were extracted, and 10 features were finally obtained for model construction after dimensionality reduction. Final test results showed that the AUC, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the clinical-ultrasound imaging model were 0.68, 0.47, 0.78, 0.66. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the ultrasonographic radiomics model were 0.74, 0.53, 0.88, 0.74. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the comprehensive model were 0.84, 0.63, 0.86, 0.77. The AUC of the comprehensive model being larger than that of the clinical-ultrasound imaging model ( Z=-3.224, P=0.001) and ultrasonographic radiomics model ( Z=-2.594, P=0.009). The calibration curves showed that the comprehensive model was more stable than the other two models. The decision curve showed a higher net clinical benefit for the comprehensive model than for the other two models within a threshold of 0.1-1.0. Conclusions:The preoperative prediction of ccRCC pathological grading by the radiomics model based on ultrasound images is effective. The comprehensive model constructed by combining relevant clinical and ultrasound parameters has better performance, which can help predict ccRCC pathological grading preoperatively to a certain extent. It is crucial to help physicians choose the best management plan in the era of personalized medicine.

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the risk features of postoperative tumor recurrence of medullary thyroid carcinoma.Methods:One hundred and seventy two patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma diagnosed at Tianjin Cancer Hospital between Jan 2010 and Jan 2018 were enrolled in this study. Based on the follow-up results, patients were divided into tumor recurrence and non-tumor recurrence group. US features,clinicopathological characteristics and somatic RET mutations were evaluated between the two groups. The cut-off values of pre-and post-operative serum calcitonin were calculated by ROC curve.Univariate and multivariate analysis were adopted between the two groups to determine independent risk factors for tumor recurrence of MTC.Tumor-free survival was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results:Univariate analysis showed that preoperative serum calcitonin≥1 367 pg/ml ( χ2=18.909, P=0.000), postoperative serum calcitonin ≥61 pg/ml ( χ2=72.278, P=0.000), mulifocality ( χ2=11.787, P=0.001),lesions in both lobes ( χ2=10.452, P=0.003), extrathyroidal invasion ( χ2=14.511, P=0.000), T3+T4-staging ( χ2=11.920, P=0.001)、TNMⅢ+Ⅳ-staging ( χ2=18.915, P=0.000), ACR TI-RADS 5 ( χ2=7.162, P=0.006) and RET mutation ( χ2=10.937, P=0.001) were significantly related to tumor recurrence of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that postoperative serum calcitonin≥61 pg/ml ( OR=22.323, 95%CI: 6.370-78.236) and RET mutation ( OR=4.054, 95%CI: 1.354-12.139) were the independent factors related to tumor recurrence of medullary thyroid carcinoma.The survival curves of MTC patients showed a significantly lower percentage of surviving patients in the group with postoperative serum calcitonin ≥61 pg/ml ( P=0.000) or RET mutations ( P=0.001). Conclusions:Postoperative serum calcitonin ≥61 pg/ml and oncogenic RET mutation were the independent risk factors for tumor recurrence of MTC.Patients with postoperative serum calcitonin ≥61 pg/ml or a RET mutation tended to have a shorter tumor-free survival.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of ultrasound-based radiomics for liver metastasis in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNEN).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical, pathological, and ultrasound data of 269 pNEN patients confirmed by pathology at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2012 to June 2022, including 94 patients with liver metastasis and 175 without liver metastasis. The regions of interest (ROI) were delineated on the maximum diameter section of the tumor using ITKSNAP software, and radiomics features were extracted using Pyradiomics. Radiomics features with an intra-group correlation coefficient greater than 0.90 were retained, and the optimal features were selected using the maximum relevance minimum redundancy (MRMR) algorithm. The dataset was randomly divided into a training set and a validation set in a ratio of 7∶3, and the random forest algorithm (Rfs) was used to predict pNEN liver metastasis. Three models were constructed, including the clinical ultrasound model, the radiomics model, and the comprehensive model that combined clinical ultrasound and radiomics features. The predictive performance of different models for pNEN liver metastasis was analyzed using the ROC curve, and the predictive performance of different models was compared using the Delong test.Results:A total of 874 features were extracted from the ROI, and 12 highly robust radiomics features were retained for model construction based on inter- and intra-observer correlation grading and feature selection. The area under curve(AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the radiomics model, the clinical ultrasound model, and the comprehensive model for predicting liver metastasis in pNEN patients were 0.800, 0.574, 0.789, 0.714; 0.780, 0.596, 0.874, 0.777; and 0.890, 0.694, 0.874, 0.810, respectively. The Delong test showed that the comprehensive model had the best predictive performance, with an AUC superior to that of radiomics model ( Z=3.845, P=0.000 12) and clinical ultrasound model ( Z=3.506, P=0.000 45). Conclusions:The radiomics model based on ultrasound has good performance in predicting liver metastasis in pNEN, and the comprehensive model that combines clinical ultrasound and radiomics features can further improve the predictive performance of the model.

Objective:To understand the current situation of knowledge, attitude and practice about target temperature management (TTM) in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) among intensive care unit ICU nurses and analyze the influencing factors, so as to provide a reference for conducting ICU nurses′ TTM training for patients with STBI.Methods:Applying the method of cross-sectional study, from November to December 2022, a stratified whole-group sampling method was used, stratified by first-, second-, and third-level hospitals, and a self-designed questionnaire on the current status of ICU nurses′TTM for patients with STBI was used to investigate the current status of knowledge, attitude, and practice of neurosurgical ICU, emergency ICU, and comprehensive ICU nurses in 22 second- and third-level hospitals in 11 cities in Gansu Province, and multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing ICU nurses′ knowledge, attitude, and practice scores.Results:A total of 543 valid questionnaires were returned, and the scores of ICU nurses on the TTM total score, knowledge, attitude and practice dimensions of STBI patients were (76.75 ± 10.42), (7.38 ± 2.74), (39.57 ± 4.87), (29.80 ± 7.18) points respectively. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the factor influencing ICU nurses′ scores on the TTM knowledge dimension for STBI patients was having attended TTM-related training ( t = 2.16, P<0.05); the factors influencing ICU nurses′ scores on the TTM attitude dimension for STBI patients were college, bachelor′s degree and the position of nurse practitioner ( t = 2.65, 2.91, 2.14, all P<0.05); and the factors influencing ICU nurses′ scores on the TTM practice dimension for STBI patients were the age group of 36 to 45 years old, the department having TTM-related criteria and having knowledge of TTM-related guidelines ( t = -2.46, 2.64, 3.85, all P<0.05). Conclusions:ICU nurses have a more positive attitude toward TTM in patients with STBI, but the level of knowledge and practice needs to be improved. Managers should conduct relevant training according to the current situation and influencing factors to improve ICU nurses′ knowledge and practice of TTM in patients with STBI, ensuring the effectiveness and safety of TTM.