OBJECTIVE To explore the role of clinical pharmacists in identifying paroxysmal spasms caused by drugs， and provide reference for rational drug use. METHODS Retrospective analysis was conducted on pharmaceutical care provided by clinical pharmacists for a patient with ceftazidime-avibactam （CZA-AVI） induced paroxysmal spasms. The clinical pharmacists identified， analyzed and summarized the clinical manifestations， risk factors and treatment methods of the nervous system toxicity caused by antibacterial drugs. According to the patient’s clinical symptoms and test results， the clinical pharmacists recommended temporarily discontinuing the use of polymyxin B and montelukast sodium， and halving the dose of CZA-AVI. The physicians did not adopt the recommendation to halve the dose of CZA-AVI， and when the patient’s neurologic toxicity did not improve， the clinical pharmacists again recommended discontinuing CZA-AVI， which was accepted by the physicians. RESULTS Clinical pharmacists analyzed the condition and checked related drugs that caused paroxysmal spasms of extremities one by one， and finally determined that CZA-AVI might be the drug that caused paroxysmal spasms of extremities in the patient. After stopping the drug， the patient’s symptoms improved and was transferred to a community hospital for rehabilitation treatment. CONCLUSIONS The dose of CZA-AVI should be adjusted according to the renal function and the neurotoxicity should be guarded against， especially for patients with advanced age， renal insufficiency， and the combined use of multiple drugs related to nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity.

Objective To investigate the effect of Yantiao Fang on apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells in mice with acute gastrointestinal injury caused by sepsis by regulating the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway.Methods Seventy BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal,sham,and model groups.Except for normal and sham groups,mice were subjected to cecal ligation and perforation to establish a mouse model of acute gastrointestinal injury caused by sepsis.The mouse models were randomly divided into model,Low,Medium,and High dose of Yantiao Fang,and ROCK inhibitor groups.Histopathological changes of the ileum were observed by HE staining.Serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,and IL-10 were measured by ELISA.PCNA and Ki-67 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry.Cleaved caspase3 and Bax expression was detected by Western blot.ROCK and MLC mRNA expression in the ileum was measured by RT-qPCR.Results Compared with normal and sham groups,Chiu's pathological score,proinflammatory factor(IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α)levels,cleaved caspase3 and Bax protein expression,and ROCK and MLC mRNA levels were increased in the model group(P＜0.05).Moreover,anti-inflammatory mediator IL-10 and expression of PCNA and Ki-67 in the ileum were decreased in the model group(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,histopathological changes of the ileum in all Yantiao Fang groups were improved by various degrees with the increase in dose.Chiu's pathological score,IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α serum levels,cleaved caspase3 and Bax protein expression,and ROCK and MLC mRNA levels were decreased in Yantian Fang groups(P＜0.05).The IL-10 level and expression of PCNA and Ki-67 in the ileum were increased in Yantian Fang groups(P＜0.05).Conclusions Yantiao Fang may inhibit apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells in mice with acute gastrointestinal injury due to sepsis by regulating the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway,thereby alleviating intestinal tissue inflammation and ultimately preventing intestinal mucosal tissue injury.

Objective:To develop and verify a nomogram to predict disease-free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS)for patients undergoing cervical cancer surgery,which may provide reference for evaluating the prognosis of cervical cancer patients undergoing surgery.Methods:The clinical,pathological and follow-up data of patients who underwent radical operation for cervical cancer in Xijing Hospital,Air Force Medical University from March 2013 to October 2018 were analyzed retrospectively.Based on Cox regression analysis,Bayesian Informa-tion Criterion(BIC)backward stepwise selection method and R square screening variables,Net Reclassification Index(NRI)and Integrated Discrimination Improvement(IDI)were used to compare the predictive efficiency of the model,and a nomogram with better predictive efficiency was selected.The consistency index(C-index)and the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)were used to test the efficiency of the nomogram.Results:A total of 950 patients with cervical cancer were enrolled in this study.The risk factors for constructing the DFS nomogram were FIGO stage(2018),parametrium invasion,invasion depth,and maximum tumor diameter.The C-index for DFS in the training cohort and the verification cohort were 0.754 and 0.720,respectively.The area under ROC of the training cohort for 1-,3-and 5-years was 0.74(95%CI 0.65-0.82),0.77(95%CI 0.71-0.83)and 0.79(95%CI0.74-0.85),and the areas under ROC of verification cohort 1-,3-and 5-years were 0.72(95%CI 0.58-0.87),0.75(95%CI 0.64-0.86)and 0.72(95%CI 0.61-0.84),respectively.The risk factors for con-structing the OS nomogram were FIGO stage(2018),histological type,LVSI,parametrium invasion,surgical mar-gin,and invasion depth.The C-index for OS in the training cohort and the verification cohort were 0.737 and 0.759,respectively.The area under ROC of the 3-and 5-year training cohort were 0.76(95%CI 0.69-0.83)and 0.78(95%CI 0.72-0.84),and the areas under ROC of verification cohort 3-and 5-years were 0.76(95%CI 0.65-0.87)and 0.79(95%CI 0.69-0.88),respectively.Conclusions:This study is based on real-world big data to construct nomogram of DFS for 1,3,and 5 years and OS for 3,and 5 years for cervical cancer,which have ideal predictive effects and help clinical physicians correctly evaluate the prognosis of cervical cancer surgery patients.It provides strong reference basis for diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis evaluation.

The incidence of breast cancer is increasing year by year,and its pathogenesis is highly complex.The dysregulation of gut microbiota function is closely related to the occurrence and development of breast cancer.The estrogen levels through enterohepatic circulation is regulated by β-glucuronidase produced by the gut microbiota,thereby influencing the occurrence and development of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and leading to tamoxifen resistance.The metabolites from the gut microbiota,such as short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)and lithocholic acid(LCA),can participate in regulating the tumor cell cycles and cell proliferation.The colonization of gut microbiota maintains the integrity of the intestinal barrier and regulates the anti-tumor immunity mediated by T lymphocytes.Maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis can enhance the efficacy of tumor chemotherapy and immunotherapy and reduce the adverse reactions in anti-tumor treatments.The targeted action of engineered probiotics in immunotherapy can improve the precision of drug treatment.The effect of gut microbiota on radiotherapy is not yet clear,but regulating gut microbiota can aid in the treatment of radiation enteritis.This review discusses the correlation and effect of gut microbiota on breast cancer and analyzes its role in the treatment of breast cancer.

Background and purpose:Silent information regulator proteins(sirtuins,SIRT)are a class Ⅲ histone deacetylases with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD+)as coenzyme.YME1 like 1 ATPase(YME1L1)is essential for the maintenance of mitochondrial morphology,function and plasticity.Optic atrophy 1(OPA1)mainly mediates mitochondrial fusion.The aim of this study was to explore the expression of SIRT3 in the endocrine resistance of breast cancer,the relationship between SIRT3 and YME1L1 and OPA1,and the mechanism of SIRT3 in the endocrine resistance of breast cancer.Methods:4-hydroxytamoxifen was used to induce tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7/TAM cells.cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)was used to detect cell proliferation and verify drug resistance.The mitochondrial morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and immunofluorescence staining.The expressions of SIRT3 and OPA1 were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RTFQ-PCR)and Western blot.JC-1 staining was used to detect mitochondrial membrane potential,and dihydroethidium(DHE)staining was used to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS)to verify mitochondrial function.SIRT3 was knocked down in drug-resistant cells by RNA interference,and SIRT3 and YME1L1 wild type(WT),simulated acetylation state mutant(MUT K237Q),and simulated deacetylation state mutant(MUT K237R)were overexpressed in parental cells by overexpression plasmid.Immunoprecipitation assay(IP)and immunofluorescence(IF)were used to verify the interaction between SIRT3 and YME1L1.Results:RTFQ-PCR and Western blot results showed that SIRT3 gene expression and protein level was significantly higher in drug-resistant cells than in parental cells.Overexpression of SIRT3 in parental cells decreased the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to tamoxifen.Knockdown of SIRT3 in drug-resistant cells enhanced the sensitivity of drug-resistant cells to tamoxifen.DHE staining showed that the ROS level was lower in tamoxifen resistant cells than in parental cells at the same concentration.Transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence staining showed that the mitochondria of the drug-resistant cells were elongated compared with the parental cells.Western blot results showed that the expression level of L-OPA1 protein was higher in drug-resistant cells than in parental cells.Overexpression of SIRT3 in the parental cells resulted in enhanced mitochondrial function and longer mitochondrial morphology compared with the control cells.Western blot showed that the expression of L-OPA1 was upregulated.When SIRT3 was knocked down in drug-resistant cells,the opposite result was obtained.We further verified how SIRT3 regulated OPA1 protein,affected the morphology and function of mitochondria,and promoted drug resistance of breast cancer.Overexpression of YME1L1(wild-type and mutant plasmids)in parental cells showed that overexpression of YME1L1 in the simulated deacetylation state resulted in similar results as overexpression of SIRT3,and overexpression of YME1L1 in the acetylated state resulted in similar results as knockdown of SIRT3.IP assay confirmed the interaction between SIRT3 and YME1L1 in breast cancer cells.The acetylation level of YME1L1 was different at different SIRT3 expression levels.IF assay showed that YME1L1 was co-localized with SIRT3 in MCF-7 cells.Conclusion:SIRT3 is highly expressed in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells.SIRT3 upregulates L-OPA1 expression by deacetylating YME1L1,thereby promoting mitochondrial fusion and enhancing mitochondrial function,and promotes tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and the collective brain responses of acupuncture for post-stroke limb numbness.Methods A total of 24 patients with post-stroke limb numbness and 23 matched healthy participants were recruited.Both groups received coordinated acupuncture treatment to regulate their physical and mental state,three times a week for 4 weeks.Changes in limb numbness assessed by the visual analog scale(VAS)were observed before and after acupuncture.Functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI)scans were conducted on the participants during the scanning process with acupuncture intervention.Blood oxygen level-dependent(BOLD)data were collected in three states:resting state,acupuncture task state,and needle retention state.Data processing was performed using software such as fMRIPrep and brainIAK.Intersubject correlation(ISC)analysis was conducted to compare the ISC values of different brain regions between the two groups under different conditions.Results Acupuncture treatment significantly reduced the VAS scores of limb numbness.No significant changes in ISC values in both groups during resting state.Under acupuncture conditions,the patient group exhibited significantly increased ISC values in the left precentral gyrus,left paracentral lobule,left postcentral gyrus,left insula,left anterior cingulate gyrus,right middle frontal gyruss and right anterior cingulate gyrus.Under the needle retention condition,a slight negative activation was observed in the bilateral precentral gyrus of the control group.In the patient group,the ISC values of the left superior frontal gyrus,left precentral gyrus,left paracentral lobule,left precuneus,left postcentral gyrus,left insula,left anterior cingulate gyrus,left thalamus,right superior frontal gyrus,right middle frontal gyrus,right precentral gyrus,and right anterior cingulate gyrus showed a significant increase compared to the resting state.Conclusion Acupuncture can improve post-stroke limb numbness symptoms and induce a specific pattern of collective brain activation in patients.This activation involves the precentral gyrus,postcentral gyrus,thalamus,insula,frontal lobe and cingulate gyrus.Acupuncture may enhance the processing of sensory information by activating the somatosensory-motor network and the cortical-thalamic-cortical loop.It may also modulate the central executive network and the descending pain control pathway to promote the relief of pain symptoms.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) in the etiological diagnosis of patients with spinal infection, so as to provide reference for timely diagnosis and treatment.Methods:A total of 40 patients with suspected spinal infection admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2020 to July 2022 were included. The results of tissue culture, histopathological examination and tissue mNGS detection were analyzed retrospectively. According to the clinical diagnose, the patients were divided into the spinal infection group (28 cases) and the non-spinal infection group (12 cases). The positive rate, sensitivity and specificity of mNGS and tissue culture in the pathogen detection of patients with spinal infection were compared. McNemar test was used for statistical analysis.Results:There were 23 males and 17 females in 40 patients. The positive rate of mNGS was higher than that of tissue culture (75.0%(30/40) vs 12.5%(5/40)), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=0.08, P<0.001). Based on clinical diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity of mNGS in the diagnosis of spinal infection was higher than that of tissue culture (82.1% vs 17.9%), with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=0.02, P<0.001), while the specificity compared to the tissue culture (33.3% vs 100.0%), the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:mNGS has a high pathogen detection rate and sensitivity in the etiological diagnosis of patients with spinal infection, which could provide clinical guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with spinal infection.

Self-organized blastoids from extended pluripotent stem (EPS) cells possess enormous potential for investigating postimplantation embryo development and related diseases. However, the limited ability of postimplantation development of EPS-blastoids hinders its further application. In this study, single-cell transcriptomic analysis indicated that the "trophectoderm (TE)-like structure" of EPS-blastoids was primarily composed of primitive endoderm (PrE)-related cells instead of TE-related cells. We further identified PrE-like cells in EPS cell culture that contribute to the blastoid formation with TE-like structure. Inhibition of PrE cell differentiation by inhibiting MEK signaling or knockout of Gata6 in EPS cells markedly suppressed EPS-blastoid formation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that blastocyst-like structures reconstituted by combining the EPS-derived bilineage embryo-like structure (BLES) with either tetraploid embryos or tetraploid TE cells could implant normally and develop into live fetuses. In summary, our study reveals that TE improvement is critical for constructing a functional embryo using stem cells in vitro.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Animals ; Mice ; Tetraploidy ; Blastocyst ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Cell Differentiation ; Embryonic Development

Ketone bodies have beneficial metabolic activities, and the induction of plasma ketone bodies is a health promotion strategy. Dietary supplementation of sodium butyrate (SB) is an effective approach in the induction of plasma ketone bodies. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms are unknown. In this study, SB was found to enhance the catalytic activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2), a rate-limiting enzyme in ketogenesis, to promote ketone body production in hepatocytes. SB administrated by gavage or intraperitoneal injection significantly induced blood ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in mice. BHB production was induced in the primary hepatocytes by SB. Protein succinylation was altered by SB in the liver tissues with down-regulation in 58 proteins and up-regulation in 26 proteins in the proteomics analysis. However, the alteration was mostly observed in mitochondrial proteins with 41% down- and 65% up-regulation, respectively. Succinylation status of HMGCS2 protein was altered by a reduction at two sites (K221 and K358) without a change in the protein level. The SB effect was significantly reduced by a SIRT5 inhibitor and in Sirt5-KO mice. The data suggests that SB activated HMGCS2 through SIRT5-mediated desuccinylation for ketone body production by the liver. The effect was not associated with an elevation in NAD⁺/NADH ratio according to our metabolomics analysis. The data provide a novel molecular mechanism for SB activity in the induction of ketone body production.
Mice ; Animals ; Butyric Acid/metabolism* ; Ketone Bodies/metabolism* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Hydroxybutyrates/metabolism* ; Down-Regulation ; Sirtuins/metabolism* ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Synthase/metabolism*

The transcription factor nuclear factor of kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) is expressed in brown adipocytes, but its role remains largely unknown in the cells. This issue was addressed in current study by examining NF-κB in brown adipocytes in vitro and in vivo. NF-κB activity was increased by differentiation of brown adipocytes through elevation of p65 (RelA) expression. The transcriptional activity of NF-κB was induced by the cold stimulation with an elevation in S276 phosphorylation of p65 protein. Inactivation of NF-κB in brown adipocytes made the knockout mice [uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1)-CreER-p65^f/f, U-p65-KO] intolerant to the cold environment. The brown adipocytes exhibited an increase in apoptosis, a decrease in cristae density and uncoupling activity in the interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) of p65-KO mice. The alterations became severer after cold exposure of the KO mice. The brown adipocytes of mice with NF-κB activation (p65 overexpression, p65-OE) exhibited a set of opposite alterations with a reduction in apoptosis, an increase in cristae density and uncoupling activity. In mechanism, NF-κB inhibited expression of the adenine nucleotide translocase 2 (ANT2) in the control of apoptosis. Data suggest that NF-κB activity is increased in brown adipocytes by differentiation and cold stimulation to protect the cells from apoptosis through down-regulation of ANT2 expression.