Objective: To investigate the effect of neurite outgrowth inhibitor extracellular peptide residues 1-40 (NEP1-40) combined with poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and gelatin electrospun fiber membrane on facial nerve repair in rats. Methods: According to the principle of random grouping, 108 male SD rats were divided into four groups (n = 27 in each group, approved by the ethics committee), namely, the sham group, control group, PLGA group, and NEP1-40 + PLGA group. A facial nerve fracture model was established for all of the groups except for the sham group. The control group received no further treatment, the PLGA group and the NEP1-40+PLGA group were supported by PLGA membrane, and the NEP1-40+PLGA group received one immediate local injection of NEP1-40 (5 μg/μL) at a dose of 10 μL. Facial nerve function analysis, electrophysiological examination, transmission electron microscope observation, HE staining, and immunohistochemical staining of myelin marker S100β and axonal marker β3-tubulin were used to evaluate the recovery of injured facial nerves of rats at 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Results : At 8 weeks, the facial nerve function score of the NEP1-40+PLGA group was better than that of the control group and PLGA group (P < 0.001), and facial nerve function was significantly restored. Electrophysiological examination of nerve action potentials at the injured facial nerve showed that the amplitude in the NEP1-40+PLGA group was higher than that of the control group and PLGA group (P < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in latency and conduction velocity results between the groups (P > 0.05). At 2, 4, and 8 weeks, transmission electron microscopy showed that the number of myelinated nerve fibers and myelin sheath thickness in the cross-section of the injured facial nerve in the NEP1-40+PLGA group were greater than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). At 8 weeks, HE staining showed that the facial nerves in the control group had partially recovered, but the overall cell distribution was uneven and the boundary with surrounding tissues was slightly blurred. In contrast, the NEP1-40+PLGA group had a relatively uniform cell distribution and a clearer boundary with surrounding tissues. At 2, 4, and 8 weeks, the immunohistochemical results showed that in the cross-section of the injuried facial nerve, NEP1-40 increased the expression of neural markers S100 β and β3-tubulin, especially β3-tubulin, which was close to normal levels (P > 0.05) Conclusion NEP1-40 is beneficial for the generation of new myelin sheaths and axons at the site of injury, and it can promote the repair and regeneration of injured facial nerves to a certain extent, thus accelerating the recovery of injured nerve function.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of the hypertension chronic disease management platform-assisted traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） comprehensive antihypertensive regimen on blood pressure control in the real world， and evaluate patients' satisfaction with this regimen. MethodsA total of 160 patients with primary hypertension were recruited， and the patients were asked to use the hypertension chronic disease management platform for self-management and to decide whether to apply TCM comprehensive antihypertensive regimen （including Baduanjin for lowering blood pressure， acupoint massage， and Chinese medicinal tea）. One month later， the changes in patients' blood pressure and the application rate of each treatment regimen were investigated. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the correlation between each regimen and blood pressure changes. Sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding some patients with comorbidities that might affect the use of the regimens to verify the reliability of the research results. Interaction analysis was conducted to explore whether there was a synergistic effect between the regimens， and patient satisfaction was also surveyed. ResultsA total of 149 patients were finally included. Compared with patients who did not use TCM comprehensive antihypertensive regimen regularly， those who used it regularly had a more significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure （P＜0.05）. The results of Logistic regression analysis showed that the decrease in systolic blood pressure was associated with the use of TCM decoctions， and the decrease in diastolic blood pressure was associated with the use of TCM decoctions and regular use of TCM comprehensive antihypertensive regimen （P＜0.05）. Sensitivity analysis suggested that the above research results were stable. The results of interaction analysis showed that there was no interactive effect between antihypertensive Baduanjin and acupoint massage， antihypertensive Baduanjin and Chinese medicinal tea， or acupoint massage and Chinese medicinal tea on systolic and diastolic blood pressure （P＞0.05）. One hundred and thirty patients （130/149， 87.25%） thought the hypertension chronic disease management platform was helpful or very helpful， and 111 patients （111/149， 74.50%） thought TCM comprehensive antihypertensive regimen was helpful or very helpful. ConclusionRegular use of TCM comprehensive antihypertensive regimen helps reduce the diastolic blood pressure level in patients with primary hypertension， and patients have a high degree of satisfaction with the use of the hypertension chronic disease management platform and TCM comprehensive antihypertensive regimen.

ObjectiveTo explore the biological mechanism of bone loss caused by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) through transcriptomic analysis, and to provide new insights into regulating perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) applications and the prevention of hazards affecting bone health. MethodsMouse embryonic osteoblast precursor cells (MC3T3-E1) were exposed to 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μmol·L^-¹ PFOA for 24 hours to assess the effects on cell viability and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and to determine the critical concentration of PFOA toxicity. The transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by PFOA. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were conducted to identify significantly affected gene pathways. Additionally, Seahorse XF metabolic phenotyping and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to validate the key pathways. ResultsExposure to 10 and 100 μmol·L^-¹ PFOA significantly reduced the cell viability and ALP activity of MC3T3-E1 cells. Therefore, the results of transcriptomic analysis for 10 μmol‧L^-1 PFOA exposure found that a total of 80 DEGs were identified, including 32 upregulated genes and 48 downregulated genes. According to GO analysis, PFOA mainly affected cellular components such as mitochondrion and nucleus, molecular functions involving GTPase activity and GTP binding, as well as biological process related to mRNA processing. GSEA identified the downregulation of the β-oxidation of fatty acid pathway in mitochondria. Metabolic phenotyping reserches showed that PFOA indeed reduced mitochondrial aerobic respiration capacity and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, and the ratio of ATP production from cellular aerobic respiration to glycolysis was significantly decreased as well. The mRNA expression of glucose metabolism-related genes (GK, G6PD, and CS), as well as fatty acid metabolism-related genes (CPT1A and CPT2), were significantly downregulated. ConclusionPFOA reduces bone formation by inhibiting energy metabolism and β-oxidation of fatty acid pathways in osteoblasts, whihc lays the foundation for revealing the mechanism of PFOA exposure induced bone loss.

Objective The volume and cortical thickness of gray matter in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) were compared and analyzed by voxel⁃based morphometry (VBM) and surface⁃based morphometry (SBM), and the differences in the structural changes of gray matter in the two diseases were discussed. Methods A total of 21 MS patients, 16 NMO patients and 19 healthy controls were scanned by routine MRI sequence. The data were processed and analyzed by VBM and SBM method based on the statistical parameter tool SPM12 of Matlab2014a platform and the small tool CAT12 under SPM12. Results Compared with the normal control group (NC), after Gaussian random field (GRF) correction, the gray matter volume in MS group was significantly reduced in left superior occipital, left cuneus, left calcarine, left precuneus, left postcentral, left central paracentral lobule, right cuneus, left middle frontal, left superior frontal and left superior medial frontal (P<0. 05). After family wise error (FWE) correction, the thickness of left paracentral, left superiorfrontal and left precuneus cortex in MS group was significantly reduced (P<0. 05). Compared with the NC group, after GRF correction, the gray matter volume in the left postcentral, left precentral, left inferior parietal, right precentral and right middle frontal in NMO group was significantly increased (P<0. 05). In NMO group, the volume of gray matter in left middle occipital, left superior occipital, left inferior temporal, right middle occipital, left superior frontal orbital, right middle cingulum, left anterior cingulum, right angular and left precuneus were significantly decreased (P<0. 05). Brain regions showed no significant differences in cortical thickness between NMO groups after FWE correction. Compared with the NMO group, after GRF correction, the gray matter volume in the right fusiform and right middle frontal in MS group was increased significantly(P<0. 05). In MS group, the gray matter volume of left thalamus, left pallidum, left precentral, left middle frontal, left middle temporal, right pallidum, left inferior parietal and right superior parietal were significantly decreased (P<0. 05). After FWE correction, the thickness of left inferiorparietal, left superiorparietal, left supramarginal, left paracentral, left superiorfrontal and left precuneus cortex in MS group decreased significantly (P<0. 05). Conclusion The atrophy of brain gray matter structure in MS patients mainly involves the left parietal region, while NMO patients are not sensitive to the change of brain gray matter structure. The significant difference in brain gray matter volume between MS patients and NMO patients is mainly located in the deep cerebral nucleus mass.

Objective:To understand the commercial homosexual behavior characteristics of men who have sex with men (MSM) and the factors associated with unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) in this population, and provide reference for the development of intervention strategy in MSM.Methods:Men who were aged ≥16 years and had anal sex with men in the past 6 months were recruited through internet in Fuzhou from January to December 2023 for a cross-sectional study with a sample size of 283. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors associated with the incidence of UAI in the past 6 months in MSM. The SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results:In 4 484 MSM, the proportion of those with commercial homosexual behaviors was 9.59% (430/4 484), the average age was (27.00±9.07) years. In the MSM with commercial homosexual behaviors, 70.00% (301/430) had anal sex in the past one week, and 43.02% (185/430) had anal sex with more than 10 partners in the past 6 months. The proportion of MSM with UAI was 75.58% (325/430) in the past 6 months. The results of multivariate analysis showed showed that in MSM with commercial homosexual behaviors in the past 6 months, compared with those who were students, age >18 years at the first sexual intercourse, had not anal sex in the past one week, and anal sex with less than 10 partners in the past 6 months, the risk for UAI was higher in those who were not students (a OR=1.99,95% CI:1.18-3.36), those who were aged ≤18 years at first sexual intercourse sex (a OR=2.04,95% CI:1.26-3.29), those who had anal sex in the past one week (a OR=2.04,95% CI:1.25-3.33), and those who had anal sex with more than 10 partners in the past 6 months (a OR=1.97,95% CI:1.16-3.35). Conclusions:The risk for UAI was high in MSM with commercial homosexual behaviors in Fuzhou, so it is necessary to improve the awareness of safe sex and promote sex with regular partners and condom use, and preventing drug abuse in MSM.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between urinary metals copper (Cu), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) and grip strength. Methods We used linear regression models, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the relationship between metals and grip strength.Results In the multimetal linear regression, Cu (β=-2.119), As (β=-1.318), Sr (β=-2.480), Ba (β=0.781), Fe (β= 1.130) and Mn (β=-0.404) were significantly correlated with grip strength (P < 0.05). The results of the quantile g-computation showed that the risk of occurrence of grip strength reduction was -1.007 (95％ confidence interval:-1.362, -0.652; P < 0.001) when each quartile of the mixture of the seven metals was increased. Bayesian kernel function regression model analysis showed that mixtures of the seven metals had a negative overall effect on grip strength, with Cu, As and Sr being negatively associated with grip strength levels. In the total population, potential interactions were observed between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn (Pinteractions of 0.003 and 0.018, respectively).Conclusion In summary, this study suggests that combined exposure to metal mixtures is negatively associated with grip strength. Cu, Sr and As were negatively correlated with grip strength levels, and there were potential interactions between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn.

AIM:This study was performed to investigate the impact of neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)on scar formation following urethral trauma.METHODS:(1)Clinical samples were derived from patients of Department of Urology,The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University,from June 2021 to December 2022.Levels of NETs in the blood and urine were compared between patients with urethral trauma(n=20)and those without urethral trauma(controls,n=20).The relationship between NETs and scar formation was analyzed.(2)Urethral fibroblasts were isolated from urethral scar tissues,and neutrophils were induced to produce NETs in vitro.The urethral fibroblasts were treated with normal saline,0.5 mg/L NETs,or 1.5 mg/L NETs to investigate the effects of NETs on activation and collagen syn-thesis of urethral fibroblasts.Additionally,a rabbit model of urethral trauma was established and the animals were dioided into four groups to explore the therapeutic potential of deoxyribonuclease I(DNase I)in preventing urethral scar forma-tion:control,operation + transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),operation + normal saline,and operation+DNase I.RESULTS:The level of NETs in urine increased after urethral trauma(P<0.05),but the level of NETs in blood did not change(P>0.05).In the animal models,the urethral scar became more severe as the level of NETs in the urine increased(P<0.05).At the cellular level,NETs promoted the viability,migration,and collagen synthesis of urethral fibroblasts(P<0.05)..Additionally,urethral injection of DNase I after trauma reduced the level of NETs and inhibited the formation of urethral scar tissue in the animal models(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Infiltration of NETs promotes activation of urethral fibroblasts and scar formation after urethral trauma.

Objective To evaluate the value of miniprobe endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)in guiding endoscopic treatment of small-diameter(maximum diameter less than 1 cm)and low-grade(G1 grade)rectum neuroendocrine neoplasm(R-NEN),and to provide evidence and clues for its clinical application and further research.Methods The clinical data of 85 cases of low-grade(G1 grade)R-NEN with a maximum diameter of less than 1 cm who underwent endoscopic treatment in our center from January 2014 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into the EUS group(37 cases)and control group(48 cases)according to whether EUS was performed before endoscopic treatment.The positive rate of incision margin,the incidence of complications,the recurrence rate,the hospital stay,the cost of hospitalization and endoscopic therapy were compared between the two groups.Results The positive rate of incision margin in the EUS group was significantly lower than that in control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications,tumor recurrence rate,hospital stay or hospital costs between the two groups(P>0.05).There was statistically significant difference in the endoscopic therapy between the two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion Evaluating the lesion depth of small-diameter and low-grade(G1 grade)R-NEN before surgery by miniprobe EUS and selecting endoscopic surgery according to its results of can significantly reduce the residual risk of resection margin tumors.

Objective To construct a lentiviral vector for overexpression of bone morphogenetic protein 7(BMP7)in mice,and the effect of BMP7 overexpression on the expression of Jagged1 in mouse aortic endothelial cells and the calcification of the co-cultured vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs)were analyzed.Methods According to the target gene information Mouse-BMP7(NM_007557.3)and plasmid information pLVX-zsGreen-C1,gene sequence synthesis was carried out to construct BMP7 overexpression lentivirus.The efficiency of BMP7 overexpression lentivirus infection was detected by qPCR;the expression of Jagged1 protein in aortic endothelial cells from infected mice was detected by Western blot.The endothelial cells with lentivirus overexpressing BMP7 were co-cultured with VSMCs,and the calcification of VSMCs was observed by alizarin red staining.Results BMP7 overexpression lentiviral vector was successfully constructed and transfected into aortic endothelial cells.qPCR test results showed that the expression level of BMP7 mRNA was significantly increased in the BMP7 overexpression group than that in the normal control group(P<0.01),while there was no significant difference in the expression of BMP7 mRNA between the empty vector control group and the normal control group(P>0.05).Western blot results showed that the expression level of Jagged1 protein in endothelial cells of mouse in the BMP7 overexpression group was significantly lower than that in the normal control group(P<0.01),while there was no significant difference in the expression level of Jagged1 protein in endothelial cells between the empty vector control group and the normal control group(P>0.05).The results of alizarin red staining showed that the calcification of VSMCs was significantly increased after co-cultured with endothelial cells infected with BMP7 lentivirus.Conclusion Mouse BMP7 overexpression lentiviral vector was successfully constructed,and overexpression of BMP7 can reduce the expression of Jagged1 in mouse aortic endothelial cells and promote the calcification of co-cultured VSMCs.

Objective To improve the efficiency and quality of end-to-end anastomosis,a novel degradable vascular anastomotic device was designed,and the relationship between pressure distances and biomechanical properties of the anastomotic stoma was explored.Methods The three-dimensional(3D)structure of the vascular anastomotic device was designed and the prototype was fabricated with extruded high-purity magnesium.The finite element model of the end-to-end vascular anastomosis was established to study the stress distributions of the anastomotic end face under different pressure distances(0.4,0.5,0.6,0.7,and 0.8 mm)and their change rules.In vitro experiments were conducted to verify the rationality of the finite element results as well as the feasibility and effectiveness of the vascular anastomotic device.Results When the pressure distance was 0.6 mm,the anastomotic tensile force,and burst pressure could reach(11.79±0.64)N and(39.32±2.99)kPa,respectively,meeting the clinical requirement for the strength of vascular anastomosis,and with the minimal mechanical damages to tissues.Conclusions The device designed in this study can be used for vascular anastomosis by adjusting the pressure distance,and it can improve operation efficiency,reduce mechanical damage to tissues,and further improve the quality of anastomosis.These results provide an essential reference for the design of degradable vascular anastomotic devices.