Currently,human health due to corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has been seriously threatened.The coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)spike(S)protein plays a crucial role in virus transmission and several S-based therapeutic approaches have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19.However,the efficacy is compromised by the SARS-CoV-2 evolvement and mutation.Here we report the SARS-CoV-2 S protein receptor-binding domain(RBD)inhibitor licorice-saponin A3(A3)could widely inhibit RBD of SARS-CoV-2 variants,including Beta,Delta,and Omicron BA.1,XBB and BQ1.1.Furthermore,A3 could potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus in Vero E6 cells,with EC50 of 1.016 pM.The mechanism was related to binding with Y453 of RBD deter-mined by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry(HDX-MS)analysis combined with quan-tum mechanics/molecular mechanics(QM/MM)simulations.Interestingly,phosphoproteomics analysis and multi fluorescent immunohistochemistry(mIHC)respectively indicated that A3 also inhibits host inflammation by directly modulating the JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)path-ways and rebalancing the corresponding immune dysregulation.This work supports A3 as a promising broad-spectrum small molecule drug candidate for COVID-19.

Objective:To analyze the influencing factors of thyroid volume in children aged 8 - 10 in Yunnan Province, and provide scientific basis for improving iodine deficiency disorders monitoring.Methods:From March to July 2020, in 129 counties (cities, districts) under the jurisdiction of Yunnan Province, each county (city, district) was divided into 5 sampling areas based on east, west, south, north, and middle. One township was selected from each area, and 40 non-boarding children aged 8 - 10 from one primary school were selected from each township (age balanced, half male and half female) as survey subjects. One random urine sample and household edible salt samples were collected for urine iodine and salt iodine testing, and physical examination and thyroid volume measurement were conducted for children. The influencing factors of thyroid volume were analyzed using Pearson correlation.Results:A total of 24 934 urine samples were collected from children, with a median urine iodine of 233.2 μg/L. A total of 24 933 household edible salt samples were collected from children, the median salt iodine was 24.17 mg/kg, and the qualified rate of iodized salt was 96.63% (24 003/24 839); A total of 24 937 children were examined of their thyroid gland, with a median thyroid volume of 2.62 ml and a goiter rate of 1.12% (280/24 937). Among them, there were 12 410 boys and 12 527 girls, with thyroid volumes of 2.61 and 2.64 ml, respectively. The thyroid volume of boys was positively correlated with age, height, weight, body mass index, body surface area, and salt iodine ( r = 0.15, 0.21, 0.26, 0.18, 0.25, 0.03, P < 0.001). The thyroid volume of girls was positively correlated with age, height, weight, body mass index, and body surface area ( r = 0.17, 0.26, 0.28, 0.17, 0.27, P < 0.001). Conclusion:Children aged 8 - 10 in Yunnan Province are at an iodine excess level; the age, weight, height, body mass index, and body surface area are influencing factors of thyroid volume.

Objective:To investigate the necessity of adaptive re-planning during radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its impact on dose improvement.Methods:Clinical data of 89 NPC patients admitted to Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from July 2014 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received 25+7 rounds of adaptive re-planning during radiotherapy. Plan-A was defined as the initial CT scan-based 25-fraction radiotherapy plan, while plan-B was defined as the re-planned 7-fraction radiotherapy plan based on a subsequent CT scan. The changes in the target and parotid gland volumes were compared between plan-A and plan-B. Plan-I was a one-time simulation of plan-A extended to 32 fraction radiotherapy plan, and plan-II was generated through registration and fusion of the plan-A and plan-B for adaptive re-planning. The differences in dose metrics, homogeneity index (HI), conformity index (CI), and dose to organs at risk (OAR) were compared between plan-I and plan-II. Statistical analysis was performed by using paired t-test. Results:Compared with plan-A, the gross tumor volume of massive bleeding lesions (GTV nx) and parotid gland volume of plan-B were decreased by 13.14% and 11.12%, respectively (both P<0.001). While planning clinical target volume of metastatic lymph nodes (PCTV nd) of plan-B was increased by 7.75%( P<0.001). There were significant changes in the lymph nodes of plan-A and plan-B. The D mean, D 5%, D 95% of massive bleeding lesions planning target volume (PTV nx) and D 5% of high risk planning target volume (PTV1) in plan-II were all significantly higher than those in plan-I (all P<0.05). The CI of PTV nx and PTV1 in plan-II was closer to 1 than that in plan-I. In all assessed OAR, the D mean, D 50%, and D max of plan-II were significantly lower than those of plan-I (all P<0.05). Conclusions:During radiotherapy, NPC patients may experience varying degrees of primary tumor shrinkage, parotid gland atrophy, and lymph node changes. It is necessary to deliver re-planning and significantly improve the dose of target areas and OAR.

Objective:To investigate the effect of tripartite motif-containing protein 59 (TRIM59) on glucose metabolism in macrophages and its role in regulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/IL-10 axis in macrophages under inflammatory conditions.Methods:The differentially expressed genes between macrophages with high expression of TRIM59 and control cells transfected with empty TRIM59 plasmid were analyzed by GO and KEGG. The expression of HIF-1α by RAW264.7 macrophages with high expression of TRIM59 was detected at different time points after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Bone marrow was isolated from TRIM59-cKO and TRIM59 flox/flox mice and induced to differentiate into bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). These BMDMs were stimulated with LPS and the supernatants of cell culture were collected at 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after stimulation to detect IL-10 level by ELISA. In addition, mouse models of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) were established, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected at the same time points to detect IL-10 level by ELISA. Histopathological changes in lung tissues were observed after HE staining. Results:There was a significant change in glucose metabolism-related genes in macrophages with high expression of TRIM59, and the content of lactic acid increased significantly. Compared with the control group, the expression of HIF-1α at mRNA level in BMDMs from TRIM59-cKO mice decreased after LPS stimulation ( P<0.05); the level of IL-10 increased at 3 h and 24 h in the TRIM59-cKO group, but there was no significant difference in IL-10 level at 6 h or 12 h between the two groups. In the TRIM59-cKO mouse model of CLP, the levels of IL-10 in the BALF samples increased with time, but decreased at 24 h. The level of IL-10 was higher in the TRIM59-cKO mouse model group than that in the control group at each time point ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions:TRIM59 can inhibit inflammation and lung injury by decreasing HIF-1α-mediated lactate secretion and IL-10 expression in macrophages. This study provides a new idea for developing novel anti-sepsis drugs based on TRIM59.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of ibrutinib for the treatment of newly treated and relapsed refractory (R/R) lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) /Waldenstr?m macroglobulinemia (WM) .Methods:Retrospectively collected clinical data of 98 cases of newly treated and R/R LPL/WM patients who received ibrutinib treatment at the Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from March 2016 to June 2023, and analyzed their efficacy and safety.Results:A total of 98 LPL/WM patients were included, which consisted of 45 newly treated patients and 53 R/R patients. Of these, 74 were males (75.5%) and the cohort had a median age of 64 (42-87) years. Eighty-eight patients were eligible for efficacy evaluation with a median treatment time of 20.8 (2.1-55.0) months, a major remission rate (MRR) of 78.4%, and an overall response rate (ORR) of 85.2%. The MRR and ORR of the newly treated patients were 78.4% and 86.5%, respectively, whereas the MRR and ORR of the R/R patients were 78.4% and 84.3%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in MRR and ORR between the initial treatment and R/R patients (all P values >0.05) . The median follow-up period was 29.1 (2.9-50.3) months and the median overall survival time for newly treated and R/R patients was not reached. The median progression-free survival time was 23.5 (95% CI 10.5-36.5) months and 45.0 (95% CI 34.0-56.0) months, respectively, with no statistically significant differences (all P values >0.05) . There were 25 deceased patients and no deaths were related to ibrutinib treatment. The main adverse reactions of ibrutinib were thrombocytopenia (5.1%) , pneumonia (8.1%) , and hyperuricemia (21.4%) . The incidence of atrial fibrillation was 2.0%. Conclusion:Ibrutinib exhibits good efficacy and safety for newly treated and R/R LPL/WM patients.

Objective:To investigate the impact of peak pressure upon different bone densities during autonomous puncture by orthopedic robot on puncture path deviation and bone cement leakage.Methods:A spinal surgery robot system was designed for autonomous vertebral puncture and bone cement injection, and six porcine spine specimens were used for single-segment or double-segment simulated percutaneous vertebral augmentation surgery. The accuracy of puncture path (Gertzbein-Robbins grading), bone cement leakage classification, and peak bone drill pressure were measured to assess the accuracy of autonomous vertebral puncture and bone cement leakage in vertebral cortical and cancellous bone of different densities.Results:A total of 64 porcine vertebrae were simulated for puncture, among which 53 vertebrae were classified as Grade A, 8 as Grade B, and 3 as Grade C according to the Gertzbein-Robbins grading. The cortical bone pressure of Grade A vertebrae was 6.663±0.319 N which was lower than that of Grade B (8.348±0.418 N) and Grade C (11.500±0.600 N), with significant differences ( F=341.000, P<0.001). The cancellous bone pressure of Grade A, B, and C vertebrae were 3.660±0.317, 3.594±0.608, and 4.117±0.257 N, respectively, with no significant difference ( F=2.496, P=0.091). There were 40 cases of no leakage, 20 cases of Type I leakage (leakage into the surrounding vertebrae), and 3 cases of Type II leakage (leakage into the vertebral canal), with an overall leakage rate of 36% (23/64). The peak cortical bone pressure for no leakage, Type I, and Type II leakage was 6.638±0.301, 6.792±0.404, and 6.753±0.473 N, respectively, and the peak cancellous bone pressure was 3.634±0.279, 3.783±0.423, and 3.920±0.255 N, respectively, with no significant difference ( F=1.521, P=0.227; F=2.106, P=0.131). Conclusion:During the autonomous puncture process of the novel orthopedic robot, the accuracy of autonomous puncture path decreased when the puncture pressure through the cortical bone was high, and the probability of invading the pedicle increased. The puncture pressure of cortical and cancellous bone had no significant effect on the occurrence rate of bone cement leakage.

[Objective]To investigate the biological basis of the theory of"heart corresponding to summer"by observing the differences in the secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP),brain natriuretic peptide(BNP)and amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)in the myocardial tissues of the rats at the summer solstice and the winter solstice.[Methods]Specific pathogen free grade male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups,which were treated as normal control group,chronic heart failure(CHF)group,pineal gland removal group and composite model(CHF+pineal gland removal)group,and the contents of ANP,BNP and NT-proBNP were detected in myocardial tissues of the rats in each group at the winter solstice and summer solstice time points.[Results]Under normal physiological conditions,the secretion of ANP,BNP and NT-proBNP in rat myocardial tissues showed seasonal rhythmic changes of low in summer and high in winter;after the removal of the pineal gland,the seasonal rhythmic differences of ANP,BNP and NT-proBNP disappeared,and even appeared to be inverted;under the condition of CHF,the secretion of ANP,BNP and NT-proBNP in rat myocardial tissues showed seasonal rhythmic changes of high in summer and low in winter,and the original rhythm disappeared after the removal of the pineal gland.[Conclusion]Myocardial tissue ANP,BNP,NT-proBNP is the important biological material basis of the"heart corresponding to summer",their secretion of summer and winter seasonal rhythm changes,and the pathological state of CHF show the opposite of the normal state of the seasonal rhythm.At the same time,the pineal gland is involved in the seasonal regulation of the heart corresponding to summer.

OBJECTIVES: The excretion of urinary vitamin D-binding protein (uVDBP) is related to the occurrence and development of early-stage renal damage in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study aims to explore the significance of detecting uVDBP in T2DM patients and its relationship with renal tubules, and to provide a new direction for the early diagnosis of T2DM renal damage. METHODS: A total of 105 patients with T2DM, who met the inclusion criteria, were included as a patient group, and recruited 30 individuals as a normal control group. The general information and blood and urine biochemical indicators of all subjects were collected; the levels of uVDBP, and a marker of tubular injury [urine kidney injury molecule 1 (uKIM-1), urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and urine retinol-binding protein (uRBP)] were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were corrected by urinary creatinine (Cr) to uVDBP/Cr, uKIM-1/Cr, uNGAL/Cr and uRBP/Cr. The Pearson's and Spearman's correlation tests were used to analyze the correlation between uVDBP/Cr and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and markers of tubular injury, and multivariate linear regression and receiver operating characteristic curve were used to analyze the correlation between uVDBP/Cr and UACR or eGFR. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the uVDBP/Cr level in the patient group was increased (P<0.05), and which was positively correlated with UACR (r=0.774, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with eGFR (r=-0.397, P<0.01). There were differences in the levels of uKIM-1/Cr, uNGAL/Cr, and uRBP/Cr between the 2 groups (all P<0.01). The uVDBP/Cr was positively correlated with uKIM-1/Cr (r=0.752, P<0.01), uNGAL/Cr (r=0.644, P<0.01) and uRBP/Cr (r=0.812, P<0.01). The sensitivity was 90.0% and the specificity was 82.9% (UACR>30 mg/g) for evaluation of uVDBP/Cr on T2DM patients with early-stage renal damage, while the sensitivity was 75.0% and the specificity was 72.6% for evaluation of eGFR on T2DM patients with early-stage renal damage. CONCLUSIONS The uVDBP/Cr can be used as a biomarker in early-stage renal damage in T2DM patients.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications* ; Creatinine ; Vitamin D-Binding Protein/urine* ; Lipocalin-2/urine* ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Biomarkers

Humans ; Pyriform Sinus/surgery* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Fistula/surgery* ; Diagnostic Errors ; Pharyngeal Diseases/surgery*

Objective:To investigate the genetic safety of allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation in traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods:(1) In vivo experiment: BMSCs from male SD rats were isolated and cultured. Moderate TBI models were prepared by implanting and fixing micro-drug injection cannula into the left ventricle of 12 female SD rats, and 3 d after that, striking the right cerebral cortex of the rats with pneumatic precision percussion device was performed. Four h, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 d after modeling, TBI rats were given a single/multiple BMSCs infusion (2.5×10 5/time, total volume 10 μL) by cannula; 48 and 72 h, and 10 and 14 d after modeling, brain tissues of TBI rats (3 at each time point) were prepared into paraffin specimens. Immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the microglia activation, and RNAscope ? technology was used to detect the co-localization of astrocytes, neurons, microglia and transplanted BMSCs to observe whether the allogeneic BMSCs were integrated with the host brain cells after transplantation into TBI host. (2) In vitro experiment: the frozen and revived microglial cell line BV2 was transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive lentiviral particles, and then, BMSCs prelabeled with pHrodo RED probe and BV2 cells pretreated with lipopolysaccharide were co-cultured in a certain ratio (BV2:BMSCs=1:1, 1:2, 2:1); after 36 and 72 h of co-culture, the phagocytosis between the 2 kinds of cells was observed under confocal fluorescence inverted microscope to observe the specific action forms of microglia on BMSCs. Results:(1) In vivo experiment: 48 and 72 h, and 10 and 14 d after modeling, no colocalization of transplanted BMSCs with astrocytes or neurons was found in paraffin sections of brain tissue in TBI rats; however, 10 and 14 d after modeling, microglia in TBI rats were obviously activated and migrated to the left lateral ventricle and choroid plexus, and co-localization of microglia with transplanted BMSCs was observed. (2) In vitro experiment: phagocytosis occurred after co-culture of BV2 cells at different proportions with BMSCs for 36 and 72 h. Conclusion:After transplantation, allogeneic BMSCs do not integrate with astrocytes or neurons of the TBI host, but they could be phagocytosed by microglia, indicating that allogeneic BMSCs transplantation for TBI is genetically safe.