Diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in tuberculous meningitis / 中华传染病杂志

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in tuberculous meningitis (TBM).Methods:From August 1, 2020 to August 31, 2022, 99 patients with suspected TBM admitted to the Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Hangzhou Chest Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine were enrolled. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was tested for mNGS, GeneXpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampin (GeneXpert MTB/RIF) and mycobacterium culture. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, agreement rate, Kappa value of the diagnostic efficacy of the three test methods were compared.The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the diagnostic efficacy of mNGS was drawn. Chi-square test and rank sum test were used for statistical analysis. Results:Among the 99 suspected patients with TBM, 67 were diagnosed with TBM and 32 were non-TBM. Based on the results of 67 cases clinically diagnosed with TBM, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, agreement rate and Kappa value of mNGS for the diagnosis of TBM were 82.1%, 100.0%, 100.0%, 72.7%, 87.9% and 0.748, respectively. The sensitivity of mNGS was higher than that of GeneXpert MTB/RIF (50.7%) and mycobacterium culture (28.4%). The differences were statistically significant ( χ2=12.61 and 32.42, respectively, both P<0.01). The detection time of mNGS was 1.0 (1.0, 2.0) day, which was shorter than 42.0 (42.0, 42.0) days of mycobacterium culture with statistical significance ( Z=10.80, P<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that mNGS had the best diagnostic efficacy when the number of Mycobacterium tuberculosis sequences in CSF was one. Conclusions:The sensitivity and specificity of mNGS in the diagnosis of TBM are high, and the detection time is shorter, which could be used in the early diagnosis of TBM.

Mechanism of hepatotoxicity induced by ethanol extract of Dysosma versipellis based on "quantity-weight-evidence" network toxicology / 中国中药杂志

In this study, the toxicological/pharmacological research method of "quantity-weight-evidence" network was first proposed and practiced to supplement the existing methodology of network toxicology. We transformed the traditional qualitative network into a quantitative network in this study by attributing weights to toxic component content and target frequency, which improved the reliability of data and provided a research idea for the systematic safety evaluation and toxicological research of Chinese medicinal herbs. Firstly, 50% ethanol extract of Dysosma versipellis(DV) was administrated to rats via gavage and the potential hepatotoxic components were identified by serum pharmacochemistry. Then, the component targets were obtained from SwissTargetPrediction, PharmMapper and other online databases, and the target weights were given according to the relative content of components and target fishing frequency. Meanwhile, the targets of hepatotoxicity were predicted from online databases such as Comparative Toxicology Database(CTD) and GeneCards. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment were performed with the STRING database. Finally, the quantitative network of "toxic components-weighted targets-pathways" was constructed. Eleven potential toxic compounds were predicted, including podophyllotoxin, podophyllotoxone, deoxypodophyllotoxin, and 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin. A total of 106 hepatotoxic targets and 65 weighted targets(e.g., Cdk2, Egfr, and Cyp2 c9) were identified. The results of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment showed that these targets could act on PI3 K-AKT, MAPK, and Ras signaling pathways to play a role in inflammatory response and oxidative stress. However, traditional network toxicology showed that 51 targets such as AKT1, Alb, and Stat3 may lead to hepatotoxicity by mediating inflammation and cell proliferation. In conclusion, we proposed "quantity-weight-evidence" network toxicology in this study and used it to study the mechanism of DV-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. This study confirms the feasibility of this new methodology in toxicological evaluation and further improves the systematic evaluation of the safety of Chinese medicinal herbs.

Bioinformatics study on the hub genes of glomerulopathy in type 2 diabetic nephropathy / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective:To identify the hub differentially expressed genes(DEGs)of glomerular pathological changes and potential pathways in molecular process of type 2 diabetic nephropathy(DN)based on bioinformatics technology.Methods:The differentially expressed genes of Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)dataset GSE96804 in DN and normal kidney tissues were analyzed by R 3.6.2 software. DEGs were further assessed by Gene Ontology(GO)function enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)signal pathway analysis. Subsequently, the hub genes and their associated pathways were analyzed using String 11.0 and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software.Results:A total of 168 DEGs were obtained in the dataset. Among them, seven hub genes were identified, including ALB, FN1, EGF, PTGS2, PLG, KDR, and LOX. Three hub genes, ALB, EGF, PLG, exerted a direct action on glomerulus. GO enrichment analysis of DEGs was mainly manifested in extracellular matrix organization, extracellular structure organization, platelet degranulation and other biological processes, extracellular matrix, secretory granule lumen, platelet alpha granule and other cell components, chaperone binding, copper ion binding, antioxidant activity, and other molecular functions. DEGs mainly regulated metabolic process, which was related to fatty acid degradation signal pathway, exogenous substance metabolism related to CYP enzyme and drug metabolism signal pathway.Conclusion:A bioinformatics analysis of DN from the perspective of glomerulopathy is helpful to understand the potential molecular mechanism of DN and provide reference for further validation.

The effect of radiofrequency-induced hyperthermia on the expression of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in the blood of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To explore the effect of radiofrequency-induced hyperthermia on the morphology of articular cartilage and any changes in serum-1 interleukin-1 (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the process of knee osteoarthritis in rabbits.Methods Fifty-four male rabbits were selected and knee osteoarthritis was introduced to their right hind limbs using the modified Huhh model.They were then randomly divided into a model group,a cervus and cucumis polypeptide (CCP) group and a radiofrequency thermotherapy (RT) group,each of 18.The CCP group was injected with deer melon peptide intramuscularly.The RT group was given radiofrequency hyperthermia treatment.The model group was not provided with any special treatment.On the 7th,13th and 19th day of the treatment,6 rabbits in each group were sacrificed to resect the right medial femoral condyle cartilage.The morphological characteristics of the cartilage were evaluated using the modified Mankins score,while the content of IL-1βand TNF-α in the serum were detected using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISAs).Results At the same time points,the average Mankins score and the average content of IL-1βand TNF-α in the serum of the model group were significantly higher than in the CCP group,with the values in the latter group significantly higher than in the RT group.In the RT group,the average Mankins score,as well as the IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha levels in the serum,decreased significantly with longer treatment.Conclusion Radiofrequency-induced hyperthermia is superior to deer melon polypeptide in treating knee osteoarthritis,at least in rabbits.Its therapeutic mechanism may be related to the control of serum IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha levels.

The effects of radiofrequency heating on type Ⅱ collagen formation in the osteoarthritic knee / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To explore the effect of radiofrequency heating on type Ⅱ collagen expression in a rabbit model of osteoarthritis.Methods Knee osteoarthritis was induced in the right hind legs of 54 male rabbits using modified Hulth modeling.The rabbits were randomly divided into a model group which was not given any special treatment,a Lugua polypeptide group and a radiofrequency hyperthermia group.The Lugua polypeptide group was injected with Lugua polypeptide;the radiofrequency hyperthermia group was treated with radiofrequency irradiation.Six,12 and 18 days after the treatment,the morphological condition of the rats' right femoral medial condyle cartilages were evaluated using modified Mankins scoring and the type Ⅱ collagen content of the cartilage was detected using a quantitative PCR technique.Results At the same time points after treatment,the average Mankins scores were decreased in all the 3 groups,with that of the model group was significantly higher than those of both of the other groups,and the radiofrequency hyperthermia group's average score was significantly better than that of the Lugua polypeptide group.The average type Ⅱ collagen content was significantly increased in all the 3 groups to various extent (the radiofrequency hyperthermia group ＞ Lugua polypeptide group ＞ model group).For the radiofrequency hyperthermia group,the average Mankins score decreased significantly and the average type Ⅱ collagen content increased significantly as the treatment continued.Conclusion Radiofrequency hyperthermia is superior to Lugua polypeptide for treating knee osteoarthritis,at least in rabbits.Its therapeutic effectiveness may be related to a significant increase of type Ⅱ collagen in the cartilage.

The role of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B in tumorigenesis and progression / 肿瘤

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a major non-transmembrane protein tyrosinephosphatase and plays an important role in signaling pathway. PTP1B also acts as an essential regulatorin numerous physiological processes and it has a vital role in cell growth, differentiation, metabolism,migration, gene transcription and apoptosis through modulating intracellular tyrosine phosphorylation.Evidence has demonstrated that PTP1B is associated with tumor. Although many conflicting resultssuggested that PTP1B has two contradictory effects (supressing or promoting ) on tumor, the real effectdepends on the substrate involved and the cellular context. This review describes different mechanismsof PTP1B in tumorigenesis and progression in breast cancer, colon cancer, hepatic carcinoma, lymphoma,ovarian cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer and gastric cancer. These results further theunderstanding of PTP1B function and highlight the great prospective of PTP1B inhibitors in tumor therapy. Copyright© 2011 by TUMOR.