Objective To evaluate the biochemical indicators,nutritional status,and immune levels of pa-tients with pulmonary aspergillosis(PA)and other pulmonary diseases,and to construct a predictive model for PA so as to improve the diagnostic efficacy of clinical PA.Methods A total of 40 PA patients and 39 pa-tients with other pulmonary diseases who were hospitalized in the hospital from January 2020 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The expression trends and differences of serum 1,3-β-D Glucan(G test),galac-tomannan test(GM test),biochemical indexes,blood routine indexes and immune cell subsets were analyzed and compared.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and binary Logistic regression analysis were used to construct the predictive model for PA by the combination of clinical indicators.Results Serum GM test,G test,albumin,hemoglobin,hematocrit,lymphocytes,B lymphocytes,CD44 T lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio displayed significant differences between PA patients and patients with other lung disease(P＜0.05).The levels of GM test in alveolar lavage fluid of PA patients were significantly higher than that in the serum,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The ROC curve analysis showed that the GM test,as an independent predictor of PA,had good predictive accuracy[0.85＜area under the curve(AUC)＜0.95].Besides,albumin,natural killev cells,CD4+T lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio had general predictive efficacy(0.70＜AUC＜0.85).The prediction efficacy of G test and B lymphocytes was poor(AUC＜0.70).The Logistic regression analysis showed that the combination of GM test and serum albumin could construct the optimal prediction model,and the prediction formula of the combined model was as fol-lows:Logit(P)=17.781× GM-0.131×albumin+1.394.The prediction accuracy of the combined model was 0.924(95％CI:0.865-0.982),the sensitivity was 87.5％,the specificity was 81.2％,and the cut off value was 17.781×GM-0.131×albumin-1.735.Conclusion This study retrospectively analyzed the differences in various clinical indicators between patients with PA and patients with other pulmonary diseases,and then screen the key clinical indicators as candidate predictors which displayed significantly different ex-pression between the two groups.The optimal prediction model for the diagnosis of PA is constructed by the combination of GM test and serum albumin through ROC curve and Logistic regression analysis.This model may significantly improve the diagnostic efficiency of PA in clinical,and provide the reference for the early di-agnosis and effective treatment of PA patients.

Objective:To explore the causal associations of two blood pressure phenotype and four lipid fractions with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) in European and East Asian populations using Two-Sample Mendelian randomization analysis.Methods:Blood pressure phenotype, lipid fractions and T2DM genetic loci from two ethnics were matched and combined according to single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) numbering. With SNPs closely related to the exposure phenotype as instrumental variables, the inverse variance weighting method was used to analyze the causal effects of blood pressure phenotype and lipid fractions on T2DM in different ethnic groups. The sensitivity analysis was conducted using MR-Egger regression model, Weighted Median method, MR-PRESSO, MR-robust Adjusted Profile Score, and leave-one-out method.Results:Among European populations, systolic blood pressure( OR=1.40, 95% CI 1.23-1.59, P<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure( OR =1.24, 95% CI 1.08-1.42, P=0.002)were associated with increased risk of T2DM while high density lipoprotein-cholesterol( OR=0.68, 95% CI 0.62-0.76, P<0.001) reduced the risk of T2DM. In East Asian ethnicity, elevated diastolic blood pressure( OR=0.75, 95% CI 0.59-0.95, P=0.007) reduced the risk of T2DM. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the results. Conclusion:There are differences in the effects of blood pressure phenotype and lipid composition on T2DM in different ethnic groups, which may be related to population heterogeneity and exposure sensitivity. It should be taken into consideration in extrapolation.

Objective:To investigate the effect of circadian rhythm changes on the expression of retinoic acid-related orphan receptors (RORs) and the RORs agonist SR1078 on corneal epithelial wound repair.Methods:A total of 228 SPF C57BL/6 female mice aged 6-8 weeks old were selected, and 180 mice were divided into the normal circadian rhythm group, full-day group, full-night group, 12-hour reversed circadian rhythm group and 3-week reversed circadian rhythm group, with 36 mice in each group.The remaining 48 mice were randomly divided into phosphate buffered saline (PBS) control group and SR1078 group by random number table method, with 24 mice in each group.According to grouping, the mice were placed in a light box where the light (light intensity of 300 lx) and dark time could be controlled.The light time of the normal circadian rhythm group, the PBS control group and the SR1078 group in the light box was from 7: 00 to 19: 00, and the dark time was from 19: 00 to 7: 00 the next day.According to the Zeitgeber Time method, the starting time of light at 7: 00 was recorded as ZT0, and the time of closing light at 19: 00 was recorded as ZT12.Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the relative expression levels of RORα and RORγ mRNA at ZT1, ZT5, ZT9, ZT13, ZT17, ZT21 in the five groups.In the PBS control group and SR1078 group, a golf-like knife was used to establish the mouse corneal epithelial injury model, and the model eyes were administered with drugs once every 6 hours according to the grouping.The corneal epithelial defect area was measured with Adobe Photoshop CC2019 software, and the corneal epithelial defect rate was calculated and compared between the two groups.The correlation between the relative expression levels of RORα and RORγ mRNA in mice corneal epithelium of the five groups and corneal epithelial defect rate in the PBS control group and SR1078 group was analyzed.The corneal epithelium repair was observed by whole cornea spreading and immunofluorescence staining, and the number of corneal epithelial dividing cells in the PBS control group and the SR1078 group was calculated and compared.The use and care of animals complied with the ARVO statement.This study protocol was approved by the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Jinan University (No.JN-A-2002-01).Results:Compared with the normal circadian rhythm group, the relative expression levels of RORα/RORγ mRNA in the full-day group, full-night group, 12-hour reversed cirdian rhythym group and 3-week reversed cirdian rhythym group showed an overall decreasing trend.There was a statistically significant difference in the corneal epithelial defect rate between the PBS control group and the SR1078 group at different time points after modeling ( Fgroup=74.01, P<0.001; Ftime=5 171.48, P<0.001). Twelve hours after modeling, the corneal epithelial defect rate in the SR1078 group was significantly lower than that in the PBS control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The relative expression levels of RORα and RORγ mRNA in corneal tissue was moderately positively correlated with the corneal epithelial defect rate in mice ( r=0.614, 0.537; both at P<0.01); The regression equation of the straight line between the relative expression level of RORα mRNA and the change in corneal epithelial defect rate was Y=33.153X-43.052 ( F=20.58, P<0.001), and the linear regression equation between the relative expression level of RORγ mRNA and the change of corneal epithelial defect rate was Y=2.764X-1.364 ( F=13.11, P<0.001). There was a significant overall difference in the number of corneal epithelial dividing cells at various time points following modeling between the PBS control group and the SR1078 group ( Fgroup=160.55, P<0.001; Ftime=83.57, P<0.001). The number of dividing cells in the SR1078 group was significantly less than that in the PBS control group at 24, 30, and 36 hours following modeling, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:Circadian rhythm changes reduce the expression of RORα and RORγ mRNA in the mouse cornea.SR1078 can promote the expression of RORα and RORγ mRNA in corneal epithelium to decrease the number of mouse corneal epithelial dividing cells, and inhibit the repair after corneal trauma.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of phillygenin （PHI） on the inflammation in L02 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS） and adenosine triphosphate （ATP） and the expression of purinergic 2X7 receptor （P2X7R）， NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 （NLRP3）， and nuclear factor kappa B （NF-κB） expression. MethodIn this study， the inflammation model was induced in L02 cells by 100 μg·L^-1 LPS treatment for 24 h and 5 mmoL·L^-1 ATP treatment for 5 h. The cells in the PHI groups were cultured with PHI （100， 50， 25 mg·L^-1） for 6 h in the LPS treatment period， followed by LPS treatment for another 18 h. After ATP treatment for 5 h， the mRNA and protein expression of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-18 （IL-18）， P2X7R， NLRP3， Caspase-1 precursor （pro-Caspase-1）， cleaved Caspase-1， NF-κB， and NF-κB inhibitor protein α （IκBα） in L02 cells was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. Molecular docking was used to predict whether P2X7R could bind to PHI， and DCFH-DA was employed to detect the accumulation of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in cells. P2X7R was silenced by small interfering ribonucleic acid （siRNA）， and then the mRNA expression of IL-1β， IL-18， P2X7R， NLRP3， Caspase-1， NF-κB， and IκBα was detected by Real-time PCR. ResultReal-time PCR and Western blot showed that compared with the normal group， the model group showed increased expression of IL-1β and IL-18 （P<0.05）， and compared with the model group， the PHI groups showed down-regulated IL-1β， IL-18 mRNA and protein expression （P<0.05）. Molecular docking suggested a good binding effect of PHI to P2X7R. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis showed that the expression of P2X7R in the model group was significantly up-regulated compared with that in the normal group （P<0.05）， and compared with the model group， the PHI groups showed down-regulated mRNA and protein expression of P2X7R （P<0.05）. DCFH-DA results showed that compared with the normal group， the model group showed increased content of ROS （P<0.05）， and compared with the model group， the PHI groups decreased the accumulation of ROS （P<0.05）. As demonstrated by Real-time PCR and Western blot， compared with the normal group， the model group showed increased expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB （P<0.05）， and compared with the model group， the PHI groups significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3 and cleaved Caspase-1， and up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB and IκBα （P<0.05）. Real-time PCR analysis showed that compared with the results in the model group， after silencing P2X7R by siRNA， the mRNA expression of IL-1β， IL-18， P2X7R， NLRP3， Caspase-1， NF-κB， and IκBα was decreased （P<0.05）. PHI exerted the same effect， and the mRNA expression was further reduced after the combination of them. ConclusionPHI is presumed to suppress the expression of the NLRP3/NF-κB signaling pathway by down-regulating upstream P2X7R to alleviate the LPS/ATP-induced inflammation in L02 cells， suggesting that P2X7R may be the target of PHI against inflammation.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of procalcitonin (PCT) in the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients after bee stings.Methods:A total of 105 bee stings patients admitted to Mianyang Central Hospital from May 2019 to August 2021 were enrolled and were divided into AKI group (37 cases) and non-AKI group (68 cases) according to the occurrence of AKI. Baseline demographic information [gender, age, body mass index (BMI), sting season, sting site, number of stings, underlying disease, clinical manifestations, and inflammatory factor levels] were collected and compared between the two groups. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors associated with the occurrence of AKI in bee stings patients. Pearson model was used to analyze the correlation between PCT and other indicators; the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) were drawn to analyze the predictive value of each indicator on the occurrence of AKI in bee stings patients.Results:There were significant differences in age, number of bee stings, and vomiting after admission between the two groups of patients. The levels of serum creatinine (SCr), PCT, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were significantly higher in the AKI group than those in the non-AKI patients [SCr (μmol/L): 122.36±32.45 vs. 76.74±28.52, PCT (μg/L): 1.42±1.05 vs. 0.34±0.21, IL-6 (ng/L): 277.52±120.25 vs. 112.14±73.34, hs-CRP (mg/L): 7.64±3.26 vs. 3.01±2.13, all P < 0.05]. Serum PCT levels were positively correlated with serum SCr, IL-6, and hs-CRP levels in patients with AKI after bee stings ( r values of 0.486, 0.393, and 0.425, respectively; P = 0.002, 0.016, and 0.009, respectively). Multivariate Logistic analysis showed that age, SCr, PCT, IL-6, and hs-CRP were independent risk factors for AKI in patients with bee stings. The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of age, SCr, PCT, IL-6 and hs-CRP for predicting AKI in patients with bee stings were 0.622 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.516 to 0.727], 0.722 (95% CI was 0.601 to 0.843), 0.869 (95% CI was 0.781 to 0.958), 0.739 (95% CI was 0.627 to 0.851) and 0.799 (95% CI was 0.700 to 0.900), respectively. The best cut-off value of PCT was 0.742 μg/L, the sensitivity was 75.70% and the specificity was 90.50%. Conclusions:The serum PCT level was significantly elevated in patients with AKI after bee stings, which is an independent risk factor for AKI after bee stings. Serum PCT level has better predictive efficacy for AKI after bee stings and can be used as a valid biomarker for clinical prediction.

Objective:To provide a standard protocol for the rapid quantitative analysis of neutrophils in inflamed corneas with flow cytometry.Methods:The corneal epithelium layer of 15 C57BL/6 mice (6-8 weeks old) was mechanically scraped off using a golf-like knife to generate a 2 mm wound region.The mouse corneas with intact limbus were cut out at 18 hours after abrasion.After mechanical shredding, the single cell suspension was obtained by collagenase I and DNase digestion.Then, the number of neutrophils in the corneal cells was sorted under the FACSCanto flow cytometer using the gate technique.Another 6 mice were taken and randomized into wounded group and normal group according to a random number table method, with 3 mice in each group.Corneal cell staining was performed using fluorescent-conjugated anti-mouse CD45, Ly6G, and CD11b antibodies.The number of neutrophils in the corneas of the two groups were enumerated and compared.The use and care of the animals complied with the Statement of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). The study protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Medical College of Jinan University (No.JN-A-2002-01).Results:A standard procedure for detecting neutrophils in the cornea by flow cytometry was established.The ratio of CD45 + cells in the total corneal tissue cell population was (20.93±1.72)%.The Ly6G + and CD11b + double positive neutrophil population was sorted in the wounded corneal cell population.The ratios of Ly6G + and CD116 + cells in the CD45 + cells were (75.50±3.25)% and (93.40±4.53)%, respectively, and the ratio of the Ly6G + and CD11b + double positive neutrophils in the total number of CD45 + cells was (67.33±2.80)%.In addition, the number of neutrophils recruited to the cornea at 18 hours after corneal abrasion was (151.47±10.82)%, which was higher than (15.36±1.02)% in the normal cornea ( t=21.689, P<0.01). Conclusions:Flow cytometry can quickly and accurately quantitatively analyze the neutrophil population in the wounded cornea.It provides a rapid quantitative analysis method to further evaluate the changes of neutrophils in corneal inflammation caused by different reasons.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms of paeoniflorin in protection of retinal ischemia injury.Methods Fifty-four male specefic pathogen free (SPF) degree Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group,model control group and paeoniflorin group.Retinal ischemia injury was induced by raising the intraocular pressure of right eyes of rats to 110 mmHg for 30 minutes.The rats of paeoniflorin group were administrated through intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg paeoniflorin each day for 14 days.OCT and electroretinogram (ERG) were performed to detect the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer+retinal ganglion cell layer+inner plexiform layer (NGI)and electrophysiological changes of retina,respectively.Retrograde labelling of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) was used to evaluate the survival number of RGCs.Western blot analysis was used to detect NLRP3,apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase activation and recruitment domain (ASC),cleaved caspase 1 (c-caspase 1),IL-18,and IL-1β expression.The use and care of animals complied with the statement of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The thickness of retinal NGI in model control group was (58.2 ± 1.7) μm,which was significantly lower than (84.8 ± 1.9) μm in normal control group and (71.1 ±2.4) μm in paeoniflorin group (both at P＜0.05).The amplitudes of A and B waves in paeoniflorin group and normal control group were significantly higher than those in model control group (both at P＜0.05).The number of RGC in model control group was significantly lower than that in paeoniflorin group and normal control group (both at P＜0.05).The relative expressions of NLRP3,ASC,c-caspase 1,IL-18 and IL-1β in model control group were significantly higher than those in normal control group and paeoniflorin group (all at P＜0.05).Conclusions The paeoniflorin can prevent retinal ischemia induced injury of the retina through NLRP3 inflammasomes pathway,which provides a new treatment strategy for clinical therapy.

Objective To observe the effect of reversed circadian rhythms on wound healing of mouse corneal epithelium.Methods Ninety male C57BL/6 mice were divided into LD group (12 hours light/12 hours dark) and DL group (12 hours dark/12 hours light) by random number table,and then were placed in circadian rhythm box for 12 days.The circular area was scarped and marked as 2 mm diameter area in the center of the mouse's cornea with a golf-like knife.The dynamics of epithelial healing in the wound area were observed under microscope by fluorescein staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining.Besides,being marked antibodies of anti-Ly6G-FITC,anti-γδT-PE and DAPl,dynamic changes of the dividing cells,neutrophils and γδT cells were also investigated for every 6 hours until 42 hours.All mice were treated in accordance with the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology's Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmology and Vision Research and the guidelines of the Animal Experimental Committee at Jinan University (JN-A-2002-01).Results In LD group,percentage of corneal epithelial defective area were (100.000 ± 0.000) ％,(37.677 ± 5.243) ％,(14.959 ± 1.739) ％ and (0.000 ± 0.000) ％ after wounding 0 hour,6,12,18 and 24 hours.In DL group,percentage of the corneal epithelial defective area were (100.000±0.000) ％,(10.967 ± 1.065 ％) ％,(1.985 ±0.106) ％ and (0.000±0.000) ％ after wounding 0 hour,6,12,18 and 24 hours.The healing rate in DL group was higher than that in LD group,with a significant difference between them (P＜0.05).As with the uninjured corneal,thickness of corneal epithelium was (33.983 ± 1.074)μm in DL group and (33.993±0.904)μm LD group,with no statistically significant difference between them (P＞0.05).After 24 hours,thickness of corneal epithelium in DL group was (19.473 ±0.856) μm,and was more than that in LD group [(17.485±0.718)μm],with a significant difference between them (P＜0.05).Paraffin section of wounded corneal epithelium after 24 hours by hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that corneal epithelium cells arranged loosely and disorderly and were in irregular shape in both groups.The epithelium were mainly basal cells in LD group,while epithelium included basal cell and a few pinacocytes in DL group.After corneal epithelium wounded,the number of cell division,neutrophils and corneal limbus γδT cells in two groups were statistically significant difference,respectively(P＜0.05).Conclusions Reversed circadian rhythms can significantly regulate the wound healing of corneal epithelium.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms of paeoniflorin in protection of retinal ischemia injury. Methods Fifty.four male specefic pathogen free ( SPF) degree Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group,model control group and paeoniflorin group. Retinal ischemia injury was induced by raising the intraocular pressure of right eyes of rats to 110 mmHg for 30 minutes. The rats of paeoniflorin group were administrated through intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg paeoniflorin each day for 14 days. OCT and electroretinogram ( ERG ) were performed to detect the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer+retinal ganglion cell layer+inner plexiform layer ( NGI) and electrophysiological changes of retina, respectively. Retrograde labelling of retinal ganglion cells ( RGCs ) was used to evaluate the survival number of RGCs. Western blot analysis was used to detect NLRP3,apoptosis.associated speck.like protein containing a caspase activation and recruitment domain (ASC),cleaved caspase 1 (c.caspase 1), IL.18,and IL.1β expression. The use and care of animals complied with the statement of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology ( ARVO ) and Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission. Results The thickness of retinal NGI in model control group was ( 58. 2 ± 1. 7)μm, which was significantly lower than ( 84. 8 ± 1. 9)μm in normal control group and(71. 1±2. 4)μm in paeoniflorin group (both at P<0. 05). The amplitudes of A and B waves in paeoniflorin group and normal control group were significantly higher than those in model control group ( both at P<0. 05 ) . The number of RGC in model control group was significantly lower than that in paeoniflorin group and normal control group ( both at P<0. 05). The relative expressions of NLRP3,ASC,c.caspase 1,IL.18 and IL.1β in model control group were significantly higher than those in normal control group and paeoniflorin group (all at P<0. 05). Conclusions The paeoniflorin can prevent retinal ischemia induced injury of the retina through NLRP3 inflammasomes pathway,which provides a new treatment strategy for clinical therapy.

Background To understand the distribution and development of corneal nerve in animal or human has an important significance for clinical and basic research of corneal diseases.At present,some studies on cornea nerve development and location have been performed.However,the quantified study on innervation and distribution of corneal nerve fibers as embryonic development has not been reported.Objective This study attempted to understand the distribution of corneal nerve fibers in the development of chick embryo,and to evaluate the changes of the length and density of corneal nerve fibers with aging of chick embryo.Methods Whole chick corneas with limbus were obtained from chick embryo aged 6-20 days (E6-E20),and corneal nerve fiber was labeled using immunofluorescence technique by anti-neuron-specific β-Ⅲ tubulin antibody.The corneas were radially cut into 4 parts,and the integrate corneal flat mounts were prepared with the upward epithelium and mounting with anti-fade fluorescent quenching buffer glycerin containing DAPI.Fluorescence microscope was used to capture the nerve fiber images in cornea,and cornea area and the number of nerve fiber bundles were exhibited by using Photoshop CS4.Cornea nerve fiber density and total length were measured by Imaris x64 7.4.2 software.Results Total cornea flat mounts showed that the nerve bundles grew from temporal scleral forward cornea limbus at E6-E8,and the nerve fibers formed the ring surrounding by limbus during E9-E10.Then the fibers extended forward the central cornea in E11 to E15 and developed into nerve fiber plexus on the whole cornea in E16 to E20.During the period of E6-E20,the corneal surface area,the length and density of corneal nerve fibers were gradually increased with the aging of chick embryo,showing statistically significant differences among different time points (F =127.007,227.051,67.748,all at P＜0.01).The increase of the corneal area of the chick embryo presented a strong positive correlation with the extending of length of the corneal nerve fiber (r =0.863,P＜0.01).Chick corneal nerve fiber bundle appeared at E13,with a number of (59.00 ± 1.14)/mm2 and then increased to a peak of (576.75 ±29.16)/mm2 at E 18 and reduced to (299.67± 25.46)/mm2 at E20,with a significant difference among them (F =13.759,P=0.000).Conclusions Corneal nerve starts to develop in E9 of chick embryo,and the corneal surface area,the total length of the corneal nerve fibers and the density rapidly increase concurrently with the development of chick embryo.