Objective: To investigate the objective characteristics of tongue manifestation in different stages of damp-heat syndrome in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 134 patients with DKD G3-5 stages who met the diagnostic criteria for damp-heat syndrome in DKD. The patients were treated at Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, from May 2023 to January 2024. The patients were divided into three groups: DKD G3, DKD G4, and DKD G5 stage, with 53, 33, and 48 patients in each group, respectively. Clinical general data (gender, age, and body mass index) and damp-heat syndrome scores were collected from the patients. The YZAI-02 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) AI Tongue Image Acquisition Device was used to capture tongue images from these patients. The accompanying AI Open Platform for TCM Tongue Diagnosis of the device was used to analyze and extract tongue manifestation features, including objective data on tongue color, tongue quality, coating color, and coating texture. Clinical data and objective tongue manifestation characteristics were compared among patients with DKD G3-5 based on their DKD damp-heat syndrome status. Results: No statistically significant difference in gender or body mass index was observed among the three patient groups. The DKD G3 stage group had the highest age (P<0.05). The DKD G3 stage group had a lower score for symptoms of poor appetite and anorexia(P<0.05) than the DKD G5 group. No statistically significant difference was observed in damp-heat syndrome scores among the three groups. Compared with the DKD G5 stage group, the DKD G3 stage group showed a decreased proportion of pale color at the tip and edges of the tongue (P<0.05). The DKD G4 stage group exhibited an increased proportion of crimson at the root of the tongue, a decreased proportion of thick white tongue coating at the root, a decreased proportion of pale color at the tip and edges of the tongue, an increased hue value (indicating color tone) of the tongue color in the middle, an increased brightness value (indicating color lightness) of the tongue coating color in the middle, and an increased thickness of the tongue coating (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in other tongue color proportions, color chroma values, body characteristics, coating color proportions, coating color chroma values, and coating texture characteristics among the three groups. Conclusion Tongue features differ in different stages of DKD damp-heat syndrome in multiple dimensions, enabling the inference that during the DKD G5 stage, the degree of qi and blood deficiency in the kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and stomach is prominent. Dampness is more likely to accumulate in the lower jiao, particularly in the kidneys, whereas heat evil in the spleen and stomach is the most severe. These insights provide novel ideas for the clinical treatment of DKD.

Objective:To investigate the impact of various mutations in the gD protein of PRV-2022 strain on its binding to the Nectin-1 receptor.Methods:We employed PCR, RT-qPCR and gene sequencing techniques for identification of the PRV-2022 strain. Furthermore, bioinformatics method were utilized to analyze the genetic evolution of the gD gene in PRV-2022 strain. Recombinant expression plasmid containing mutations at amino acids positions 69 and 82 within the extracellular domain of gD protein from PRV-2022 strain was constructed and expressed in vitro. The binding ability between different mutant forms of recombinant gD protein and Nectin-1 receptor was compared using His-pull down and biolayer interference techniques. Results:The gD gene of the PRV-2022 strain was obtained, and genetic evolution analysis revealed that the PRV-2022 strain belonged to the same branch as strains isolated prior to 2011, with a close genetic distance. The expression plasmids for gD extracellular domain containing A69V and S82N amino acid mutations were successfully constructed, enabling the expression and purification of recombinant PRV gD extracellular domain protein. Interaction studies demonstrated that gD-69, gD-82, gD-2022, and gD-Bartha proteins interacted with human Nectin-1. Notably, compared to the classical PRV vaccine strain Bartha, double mutation of amino acids 69 and 82 in the gD protein exhibited the highest affinity to human Nectin-1 receptor, whereas individual mutations at either site decreased this affinity.Conclusions:Introduction of A69V and S82N mutations in the gD protein significantly affected its binding ability to human Nectin-1 receptor. Simultaneous occurrence of A69V and S82N mutations resulted in the highest affinity towards human Nectin-1 receptor.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a porcine herpesvirus that exhibits cross-species infectivity, primarily affecting pigs as its natural host. Since its initial discovery, PRV has rapidly disseminated worldwide and inflicted substantial economic losses on the swine industry. In recent years, sporadic cases of human infections with PRV have been reported, highlighting the potential risk of interspecies transmission to humans. With further analysis of the pathogenic characteristics of PRV and a deeper understanding of its pathogenic mechanism, preventing PRV from becoming a human infectious disease has become a focus of current research and prevention and control work. To comprehensively understand the variant characteristics of PRV, this study presents an overview of cutting-edge advancements in terms of its genetic variations and epidemiological characteristics, aiming to establish a foundation for more effective implementation of relevant prevention and control work.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a porcine herpesvirus that exhibits cross-species infectivity, primarily affecting pigs as its natural host. Since its initial discovery, PRV has rapidly disseminated worldwide and inflicted substantial economic losses on the swine industry. In recent years, sporadic cases of human infections with PRV have been reported, highlighting the potential risk of interspecies transmission to humans. With further analysis of the pathogenic characteristics of PRV and a deeper understanding of its pathogenic mechanism, preventing PRV from becoming a human infectious disease has become a focus of current research and prevention and control work. To comprehensively understand the variant characteristics of PRV, this study presents an overview of cutting-edge advancements in terms of its genetic variations and epidemiological characteristics, aiming to establish a foundation for more effective implementation of relevant prevention and control work.

Objective To establish a drosophila reproductive dysfunction model and observe whether Danggui Shaoyao San(DSS)has an improving effect.Methods Tripterygium glycosides were used to establish the drosophila reproductive dysfunction model.The number of offspring pupae,the parental superoxide dismutase(SOD)and catalase(CAT)activities,the parental reproductive-related gene expression,the F1 generation body weight,and the F1 generation development-related genes were measured to evaluate the efficacy of DSS.Results Tripterygium glycosides in a dose of 20 mg·mL-1 significantly inhibited the quantity of offspring(P<0.01)and were suitable for establishing the drosophila reproductive dysfunction model.Compared with the model control group,medium(10 mg·mL-1)and high(20 mg·mL-1)dose DSS significantly increased the number of offspring pupae(P<0.01,P<0.05).High-dose DSS significantly increased the SOD and CAT activities of the parent drosophila(P<0.01).Medium and high doses of DSS promoted the expression of drosophila parental reproduction-related genes,among which the medium dose DSS increased the mRNA expression of DEAD-Box helicase 4(VASA)and factor in the germline alpha(Figla)(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the high dose DSS increased the mRNA expression of VASA,Figla and forkhead box O(FoxO)(P<0.01).The medium dose of DSS significantly increased the body weight of F1-generation female drosophila(P<0.05),and the high dose of DSS significantly increased the body weight of both F1-generation female and male drosophila(P<0.05,P<0.01).Both the medium and high dose DSS increased the mRNA expression of the F1 generation development-related gene mammalian target protein of rapamycin(mTOR)(P<0.01).Conclusions DSS improves the reproductive function injury of drosophila induced by tripterygium glycosides.

【Objective】 To explore the effects of status of lymph vascular invasion (LVI) on the survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis (SCCP). 【Methods】 Data of patients diagnosed as SCCP during Jan.1, 2010 and Dec.31, 2019 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve of patients with different LVI statuses, and log-rank test was conducted in parallel. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to assess the effects of LVI status on the overall survival. Patients were divided into different subgroups based on stage (localized, regional, and distant metastasis) and grade (well, moderately and poorly differentiated) of tumor, and the effects of LVI status on the overall survival of patients in different subgroups were assessed. 【Results】 A total of 1 435 patients were involved, including 1 102 (76.8%) without LVI and 333 (23.2%) with LVI. Median survival time of patients without LVI and with LVI were 27.5 months and 17.0 months, respectively (χ²=55.028, P<0.001). Cox regression analyses showed LVI was a significant prognostic factor in SCCP patients (HR=1.280, 95%CI:1.044-1.569, P=0.018). In the subgroup analysis, LVI was an independent risk factor affecting the overall survival of patients with localized tumor (HR=1.446, 95%CI:1.009-2.110, P=0.046) and regional tumor (HR=1.323, 95%CI:1.018-1.720, P=0.036);it was also an independent risk factor affecting the overall survival of SCCP patients with well differentiated tumor (HR=2.797, 95%CI:1.573-4.971, P=0.046) and moderately differentiated tumor (HR=1.431, 95%CI:1.071-1.914, P=0.015). 【Conclusion】 LVI status is a significant factor affecting the prognosis of SCCP patients. LVI is an independent risk factor for the overall survival of SCCP patients with localized and regional tumor, moderately differentiated and well differentiated tumor.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between maternal serum neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and placental inflammatory response (PIR) in late pregnancy.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical and follow-up data of 478 pregnant women undergoing routine prenatal examination and delivery in our hospital in the year 2016. According to the placental pathological results, the women were divided into PIR group (238 cases) and control group (240 cases). The levels of serum inflammatory makers including leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP) and NLR were compared between the two groups to analyze the association of these markers with PIR. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the independent risk factors of PIR. Logistic regression model was established and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used for analyzing the prognostic value of these makers in late pregnancy.

RESULTSThe areas under the curve (AUC) of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, CRP and NLR were 0.698 (95%: 0.485-0.766), 0.716 (95%: 0.453-0.783), 0.329 (95%: 0.228-0.431), 0.725 (95%: 0.677-0.765) and 0.801 (95%: 0.742-0.856), respectively. After adjusting the confounders, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preterm labor (OR=2.446, 95%: 1.003-4.590), premature rupture of membranes (OR=2.304, 95%: 1.049-4.161), NLR > 7 (OR=3.268, 95%: 2.071-6.920), and CRP > 15 mg/L (OR=2.137, 95%: 1.412-8.236) were independent risk factors for PIR.

CONCLUSIONSAn increased NLR in late pregnancy can serve as an effective indicator for predicting the risk of PIR.

Background Researches showed that triterpenoids,with a similar structure to lanosterol,has therapeutical effect on many systemic diseases,and lanosterol was determined to have a therapeutical effect on cataract recently.However,how the lanosterol plays effects on other eye diseases is still unelucidated.Understanding the distribution of lanosterol in ocular tissue is helpful for us to elucidate the relationship of lanosterol with eye diseases.Objective This study attempted to investigate the distribution of lanosterol synthase (LSS) and lanosterol in cornea,lens and retina tissue of rats and offer a basis for the targeting treatment of eye diseases.Methods Fifteen SPF male SD rats were sacrificed by excessive anesthesia to obtain the eyeballs.The relative expressions of LSS protein and gene in the cornea,lens and retina tissue of the rats were detected by Western blot and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR,respectively.Immunofluorescence staining technology was used to locate the distribution of LSS in cornea,lens and retina tissue.The contents of lanosterol in the cornea,lens and retina tissue were analyzed by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC-MS).Results No LSS protein and mRNA was expressed in the retinal tissue in normal rats.The mean relative expression of LSS protein in the lens and cornea was 0.43±0.05 and 0.25±0.03,respectively,showing a significant difference between them (t =-5.35,P＜ 0.01).The relative expression of LSS mRNA was 0.51 ±0.04 and 0.29 ±0.02 in the lens and cornea,respectively,with a stronger expression in the lens in comparison with the cornea (t =-8.34,P＜0.01).Immunofluorescence staining showed that LSS primarily located in corneal epithelial layer,stromal layer and endothelial layer as well as lens epithelial cells and shallow cortex layer and hardly expressed in retina,and no co-expression of LSS with the neuron marked by NeuN and the Müller cell marked by glutamine synthetase (GS) in retinal tissue.LC-MS analysis revealed that the contents of lanosterol in lens and cornea was (24.37 ±2.91) ng/mg and (5.31 ±0.58) ng/mg,respectively,with a significant difference between them (t =-11.13,P＜0.01).Conclusions LSS and lanosterol extensively distribute in cornea and lens of normal rats,but not in retina tissue.These results offer new strategies for the target treatment of relevant eye diseases.

Objective To explore the values of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)measurements in various lesions of multiple sclerosis(MS).Methods Sixty patients with clinically diagnosed remitting-relapsing MS(RRMS)were included to undergo conventional brain MRI and DWI scans.the lesions were included when the diameter was more than 5 mm.mean ADC values were measured for various lesions of MS.The statistical analyses were performed to determine the differences of mean ADC values among various lesions of MS.and to compare the correlation between ADC values of lesions and Expanded Disability Status Scale(EDSS)scores.Results (1)The ADC value of hypointense lesions was significantly higher than that of isointense lesions(F=55.90,P<0.05),the ADC values were(127.5 ±9.3)×10-5mm2/s and(95.7 ±6.3)×10-5mm/s respectively.The nodular enhancing lesions had a significantly lower ADC value than the ring-enhancing lesions(F=64.18,P<0.01).the ADC values were(114.7 ±12.3)×10-5mm2/s and(140.7 ±11.0)×10-5mm2/s respectively.The ADC value of confluent lesions was substantially higher that of discrete lesions(t=9.04,P<0.01).the ADC values were(141.4±6.5)×10-5mm2/s and(105.4±13.9)×10-5mm2/s respectively.(2)No correlation between ADC of lesions and EDSS scores was found(r=0.35,P>0.05).Conclusion DWI and quantitative ADC are useful to explain the pathological changes in different lesions and to monitor the disease duration of MS.

Objective To investigate the brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)findings in 33 patients with neuromyelitis optica(NMO).Methods Patients who fulfilled the latest diagnostic criteria of NMO and whose brain MRI did not satisfied with diagnostic criteria of multiple sclerosis(MS)were enrolled.All the patients underwent brain MRI and spinal cord scannings and subsequent images analysis.Results Thirty-three patients with NMO were included to study.Five out of 33(15.2%)patients did not have brain parenchymal abnormalities,28 out of 33 patients(84.8%)were detected to have brain abnormal findings.Brain parenchymal lesions were well-defined in 22 patients(66.7%),no non-specific or atypical brain parenchymal lesions were found in the supratentorium or infratentorium in the other 6 cases(18.2%).However,brain MRI disclosed macroscopic,symmetrical diffuse FLAIR and T2-visible hyperintensity in deep white matter.Fifteen cases had more than one lesion(≥2 lesions),and the other 7 cases had single lesion.Supratentorial lesions were mostly punctate or small dots in nonspecific hyperintensity in juxtacortical,subcortical and deep white matter regions,a few were atypical patches.In the infratentorium,brainstem was an easily involved region(14/33,42.4%),especially in medulla(7/33,21.2%).Conclusions Brain MRI abnormalities are common in Chinese NMO,and brain lesions do not exclude the diagnosis of NMO.The observations of brain lesions are helpful to improve and revise diagnostic criteria of NMO.