Objective To explore the infection status and clinical characteristics of human parvovirus B19 (HPV-B19) in patients with hematological disease. Methods A total of 94 patients with benign hematological disease, 128 patients with hematological malignancy, and 89 healthy individuals at Shanghai Eighth People’s Hospital from February 2019 to February 2020 were selected. The levels of specific IgM and nucleic acid of HPV-B19 in the plasma were detected using ELISA and PCR. The infection rates among the 3 groups and clinical characteristics between HPV-B19 positive and negative patients with hematological disease were compared. Results The positive rate of HPV-B19 IgM was 9.6% (9/94), the positive rate of nucleic acid was 11.7% (11/94), and the overall infection rate of HPV-B19 (IgM and/or nucleic acid positive) was 14.9% (14/94) in benign group of patients. The positive rate of HPV-B19 IgM was 18.0% (23/128), the positive rate of nucleic acid was 19.5% (25/128), and the overall infection rate of HPV-B19 was 26.6% (34/128) in malignant group of patients. The positive rate of HPV-B19 IgM was 1.1% (1/89), the positive rate of nucleic acid was 2.2% (2/89), and the overall infection rate of HPV-B19 was 2.2% (2/89) in healthy controls. The overall HPV-B19 infection rate in benign group of patients was higher than that in healthy controls (P＝0.006). The overall HPV-B19 infection rate was higher in malignant group of patients than that in benign group of patients (P＝0.037) and healthy controls (P＜0.001). In the benign group, the HPV-B19 infection rates in patients with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and aplastic anemia (AA) were higher, with 44.4% (4/9), 27.3% (3/11), 25.0% (4/16), and 21.4% (3/14), respectively. In the malignant group, the HPV-B19 infection rates in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were higher, with 42.9% (9/21) and 37.5% (6/16), respectively. The HPV-B19 positive patients in both hematological disease groups were older (P＜0.05). In patients with NHL, CLL or multiple myeloma (MM), HPV-B19 infection decreased the reticulocyte ratio (P＜0.05); in patients with NHL, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), HPV-B19 infection prolonged bone marrow suppression time after chemotherapy (P＜0.05). Conclusions HPV-B19 infection rate in patients with hematological disease is elevated and HPV-B19 infection may influence the condition and treatment efficiency of these patients.

BACKGROUND:It has been proved clinically that adhesion of fibrous scar with the dura mater or nerve root after lumbar operation is an important factor for postoperative symptoms,such as postoperative pain and numbness. OBJECTIVE:To verify the inhibitory effect of autologous ligamentum flavum on the formation of epidural fibrous scar after lumbar surgery and explore the possible molecular biological mechanism. METHODS:Forty-eight Japanese white rabbits(6-8 months old)were randomly divided into three groups:a ligamentum flavum preservation group,a ligamentum flavum non-preservation group,and an autologous fat reposition group.A lumbar laminectomy model was established in all the three groups of rabbits,and rabbit epidural tissues were collected at 3 and 6 weeks after modeling.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe histological changes and the number and density of fibroblasts,VG staining was used to observe the percentage of collagen fiber area,and immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expression of transforming growth factor β1 and Smad3 proteins. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Hematoxylin-eosin staining results revealed that fibroblasts in the ligamentum flavum preservation group were few and loosely arranged,while the cells in the ligamentum flavum non-preservation and autologous fat reposition groups were more numerous and closely arranged.The number density of fibroblasts in the ligamentum flavum preservation group was lower than that in the ligamentum flavum non-preservation and autologous fat reposition groups at 3 and 6 weeks after surgery(P＜0.05);however,there was no significant difference between the latter two groups.VG staining results showed that the collagen fibers in the ligamentum flavum preservation group were sparse and distributed unevenly,while a lot of red collagen fibers were gathered in the ligamentum flavum non-preservation and autologous fat reposition groups.The area percentage of collagen fibers in the ligamentum flavum preservation group was lower than that in the ligamentum flavum non-preservation and autologous fat reposition groups at 3 and 6 weeks after surgery(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the latter two groups.The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the degree of positive staining of retained histone the ligamentum flavum preservation group was significantly lower than that of the other two groups.The absorbance value of transforming growth factor β1 and Smad3 in the ligamentum flavum preservation group was significantly lower than that in the other two groups at 3 and 6 weeks after surgery(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the latter two groups.To conclude,there are different degrees of epidural fibrous scar formation after lumbar surgery.If the ligamentum flavum is preserved,it can help to reduce the number of epidural fibroblasts as well as the formation of collagen fibers,thus reducing the adhesion of the fibrous scar tissue to the dural sac and nerve root.The mechanism is not only a purely mechanical blockade,but also to reduce the formation of epidural fibrous scar by interfering with the transforming growth factor β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of Gandou Fumu Granules （GDFMG） combined with sodium dimercaptosulphonate （DMPS） on liver fibrosis in Wilson disease （WD） patients with the syndrome of phlegm and blood stasis， evaluate its effect on cuproptosis-related indicators， and explore the possible mechanisms of cuproptosis in WD-related liver fibrosis. MethodsSixty WD patients diagnosed with the syndrome of phlegm and blood stasis between January 2023 and December 2023 were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group， with 30 patients in each group. The control group received the copper chelator DMPS for the first 6 days， followed by calcium gluconate injection for the next 2 days， completing an 8-day treatment cycle. The observation group received GDFMG in addition to the treatment regimen of the control group， with both groups treated for 21 cycles. A Beckman fully automated biochemical analyzer was used to detect levels of type Ⅳ collagen （CⅣ）， hyaluronic acid （HA）， laminin （LN）， N-terminal propeptide of type Ⅲ procollagen （PⅢ-NP）， and serum copper （SCu） before and after treatment in both groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure levels of ferredoxin 1 （FDX1）， lipoic acid synthetase （LIAS）， and dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase （DLAT）. Atomic absorption spectroscopy measured 24-hour urine copper levels before treatment and after the 7， 14， and 21 treatment cycles in both groups. An Fibro Touch （FT） non-invasive liver fibrosis diagnostic device was used to measure liver stiffness （LSM） in both groups before and after treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score （TCMSS） was evaluated at the same intervals. Clinical efficacy， adverse events， and safety indicators were also compared. ResultsAfter treatment， levels of CⅣ， HA， LN， and PⅢNP significantly decreased in both groups compared to pre-treatment levels （P<0.01）. The observation group showed a more pronounced reduction compared to the control group （P<0.05）. There were no statistically significant differences in SCu levels in both groups before and after treatment. After treatment， levels of FDX1，LIAS and DLAT significantly increased in both groups（P<0.01）. The observation group showed more notable improvements in these indicators than the control group （P<0.05）. After the 7， 14， 21 treatment cycles， 24-hour urine copper levels significantly increased in both groups compared to pre-treatment levels （P<0.01）. The observation group had a greater increase in 24-hour urine copper levels than the control group after treatment （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and although 24-hour urine copper levels increased after 7 cycles， a gradual decline was observed in subsequent cycles. After treatment， LSM levels significantly decreased in both groups compared to pre-treatment levels （P<0.01）， with the observation group showing a greater reduction than the control group （P<0.05）. Clinical efficacy was significantly better in the observation group than the control group （P<0.05）. No significant differences in the incidence of adverse events or safety indicators were observed between the two groups after treatment. ConclusionGDFMG combined with DMPS can reduce LSM in WD patients with liver fibrosis and the syndrome of phlegm and blood stasis， inhibit cuproptosis， and improve clinical efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) presents a significant health burden in Asia and remains a critical challenge. This study aims to delineate the PAH burden in Asia from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: Using the latest data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021, we evaluated and analyzed the distributions and patterns of PAH disease burden among various age groups, sexes, regions, and countries in Asia. Additionally, we examined the associations between PAH disease burden and key health system indicators, including the socio-demographic index (SDI) and the universal health coverage (UHC) index. RESULTS: In 2021, there were 25,989 new PAH cases, 103,382 existing cases, 13,909 PAH-associated deaths, and 385,755 DALYs attributed to PAH in Asia, which accounted for approximately 60% of global PAH cases. The age-standardized rates (ASRs) for prevalence and deaths were 2.05 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 1.66-2.52) per 100,000 population and 0.31 (95% UI: 0.23-0.38) per 100,000 population, respectively. From 1990 to 2021, Asia reported the lowest ASRs for PAH prevalence but the highest ASRs for deaths compared to other continents. While the ASRs for prevalence increased slightly, ASRs for mortality and DALYs decreased over time. This increasing burden of PAH was primarily driven by population growth and aging. The burden was especially pronounced among individuals aged ≥60 years and <9 years, who collectively accounted for the majority of deaths and DALYs. Moreover, higher SDI and UHC levels were linked to reduced incidence, but higher prevalence rates. CONCLUSIONS Although progress has been made in reducing PAH-related mortality and DALYs, the disease continues to impose a substantial burden in Asia, particularly among older adults and young children. Region-specific health policies should focus on improving early diagnosis, expanding access to treatment, and effectively addressing the growing PAH burden in the region.
Humans ; Global Burden of Disease ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Asia/epidemiology* ; Prevalence ; Aged ; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension/mortality* ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation between bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolic markers in preschool children and the influencing factors for BMD, and to provide a clinical basis for promoting bone health in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the data of 127 preschool children who underwent physical examination in the Department of Child Health Care of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, from June to December 2024. BMD and bone metabolic markers were measured, and physical examination was performed. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate the effect of general information on BMD Z-score in preschool children. Spearman's rank correlation test was used to investigate the correlation of BMD Z-score with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), serum bone Gla protein (BGP), and parathyroid hormone (PTH). RESULTS: BMD Z-score significantly differed by ethnicity, weight category, and height category (all P<0.05). The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that weight and height significantly influenced BMD Z-score (P<0.05), whereas sex, age, ethnicity, and parental education level did not (P>0.05). In children, BMD Z-score was positively correlated with 25-OHD level (r_s=0.260, P<0.001) and BGP level (r_s=0.075, P=0.025) and was negatively correlated with PTH level (r_s=-0.043, P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS Weight, height, 25-OHD, BGP, and PTH are influencing factors for BMD in preschool children. In clinical practice, combined measurement of bone metabolic markers may provide a scientific basis for early identification of children with abnormal BMD and prevention of osteoporosis and osteomalacia.
Humans ; Bone Density ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamin D/blood* ; Parathyroid Hormone/blood* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Osteocalcin/blood* ; Bone and Bones/metabolism* ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/blood* ; Linear Models ; Matrix Gla Protein ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins/blood* ; Body Weight ; Infant

Dry eye disease (DED) is a prevalent and intractable ocular disease induced by a variety of causes. Elevated sphingomyelin (SM) levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected on the ocular surface of DED patients, particularly in the meibomian glands. Sphingomyelin synthase 2 (SMS2), one of the proteins involved in SM synthesis, would light a novel way of developing a DED therapy strategy. Herein, we report the design and optimization of a series of novel thiophene carboxamide derivatives to afford 14l with an improved highly potent inhibitory activity on SM synthesis (IC_{50, SMS2} = 28 nmol/L). Moreover, 14l exhibited a notable protective effect of anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis on human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) under TNF-α-hyperosmotic stress conditions in vitro, with an acceptable ocular specific distribution (corneas and meibomian glands) and pharmacokinetics (PK) profiles (t _{1/2, cornea} = 1.11 h; t _{1/2, meibomian glands} = 4.32 h) in rats. Furthermore, 14l alleviated the dry eye symptoms including corneal fluorescein staining scores and tear secretion in a dose-dependent manner in mice. Mechanically, 14l reduced the mRNA expression of Tnf-α, Il-1β and Mmp-9 in corneas, as well as the proportion of very long chain SM in meibomian glands. Our findings provide a new strategy for DED therapy based on selective SMS2 inhibitors.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the inhibitory effect of Zheng GanDecoction (ZGF) on tumor progression in a rat model of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore the possible mechanism. METHODS: Seventy SD rats were subjected to regular intraperitoneal injections of DEN (50 mg/kg) for 12 weeks to induce HCC tumorigenesis, with another 10 rats receiving saline injections as the normal control. After successful modeling, the rats were randomized into 5 groups (n=10) for daily treatment with distilled water ( model group), Huaier Granules (4 g/kg; positive control group), or ZGF at low, medium, and high doses (2, 4, and 8 g/kg, respectively) via gavage for 17 weeks. Body weight changes of the rats were monitored, and after completion of the treatments, the rats were euthanized for measurement of liver, spleen and thymus indices and morphological and histopathological examinations of the liver tissues using HE staining. The expressions of YAP, p-YAP, MST1, LATS1 and p-LATS1 in the liver tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control rats, the rat models with DEN-induced HCC exhibited much poorer general condition with a significantly reduced survival rate, increased body weight and liver and spleen indices, and a lowered thymus index. ZGF treatment obviously reduced liver and spleen indices, increased the thymus index, and improved pathologies of the liver tissues of the rat models. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting showed a dose-dependent reduction of YAP expression and an increment of p-YAP expression in ZGF-treated rats, which also exhibited significantly upregulated hepatic expressions of MST1, LATS1 and p-LATS1. CONCLUSIONS ZGF inhibits DEN-induced HCC in rats by activating the Hippo/YAP pathway via upregulating MST1 and LATS1 expression, which promotes YAP phosphorylation and degradation to suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis of the tumor cells.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Diethylnitrosamine ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy* ; YAP-Signaling Proteins ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Hippo Signaling Pathway ; Male ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism*

Geriatric oral health care encounters significant challenges with the increase in the proportion of older individuals. Age-related changes in the dentition, muscles, and joints result in a decline in objective masticatory function, subjective restoration requirements, and acceptability among the elderly population, with individual variations influenced by systemic health. Considering functional requirements, the adaptability of stomatognathic and systemic health conditions, health economics and other factors, the authors believe that it should not be limited to the conventional "one-to-one" strategy for replacing missing teeth in geriatric prosthodontics. There is an urgent need for a precise and adaptable restoration strategy that is more suitable for older individuals. The proposal of a new concept of functional tooth loss updates the minimal restoration standards for elderly patients and establishes the theory of age-friendly functional restoration. Based on the restoration strategy of functional tooth loss, this paper proposes a new concept termed "age-friendly functional restoration of the stomatognathic system", which integrates treatment considerations including endodontics, periodontology, mucosa, muscles, temporomandibular joint, and systemic health. Efforts should be made in four areas as follows. Firstly, the "assessment of accessible function" should be enhanced by considering the interrelationship between stomatognathic and systemic health. Secondly, the "evaluation of appropriate function" is supposed to be optimised in view of subjective needs and objective evaluation of the stomatognathic system. Moreover, the "formulation of treatment plans" needs to be accomplished with the aid of assistive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to accurately exert appropriate functional restoration. Lastly, the "management and maintenance of health" is likely to be strengthened through follow-ups, propaganda and education, and preventive healthcare, so as to improve quality of life and ultimately achieve healthy ageing among older individuals.
Humans ; Tooth Loss/therapy* ; Aged ; Stomatognathic System ; Oral Health ; Dental Care for Aged ; Dental Restoration, Permanent/methods*

Collagen, a vital matrix protein for various tissue and functions in animals, is widely applied in biomaterials. In type Ⅰ collagen, missense mutations of glycine (Gly) in the Gly-Xaa-Yaa triplet of the triple helix are a major cause of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Clinical manifestations exhibit marked heterogeneity, spanning a broad disease spectrum from mild skeletal fragility (Type Ⅰ) to severe limb deformities (Type Ⅲ) and perinatal lethal forms (Type Ⅱ). This study utilized recombinant collagen as a model to further elucidate whether Gly→Ala/Val mutations at the N-terminus of the integrin-binding sequence GFPGER affect collagen structure and function, and to explore the underlying mechanisms by which missense mutations impact the biological function of collagen. By introducing Ala and Val substitutions at seven Gly positions N-terminal to the GFPGER sequence, we systematically assessed the effects of these amino acid replacements on the triple-helical structure, thermal stability, integrin-binding ability, and cell adhesion of recombinant collagen. All constructs formed a stable triple-helix structure, with slightly compromised thermal stability. Gly→Val substitutions increased the susceptibility of recombinant collagen to trypsin, which suggested local conformational perturbations in the triple helix. In addition, Gly→Val substitutions significantly reduced the integrin-binding affinity and decreased HT1080 cell adhesion, with the effects stronger than Gly→Ala substitutions. Compared with Gly→Ala substitutions, substitution of Gly with the larger residue Val had enhanced negative effects on the structure and function of recombinant collagen. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of osteogenesis imperfecta and offer theoretical references and experimental foundations for the design of collagen sequences and the development of collagen-based biomaterials.
Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis* ; Glycine/genetics* ; Humans ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta/genetics* ; Integrins/metabolism* ; Collagen/metabolism* ; Collagen Type I/metabolism* ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense