Novel antibacterial drug target against Gram-negative bacteria: lipopolysaccharide transport protein LptDE and its inhibitors / 药学学报

The outer membrane composed predominantly of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an essential biological barrier for most Gram-negative (G-) bacteria. Lipopolysaccharide transport protein (Lpt) complex LptDE is responsible for the critical final stage of LPS transport and outer membrane assembly. The structure and function of LptDE are highly conserved in most G- bacteria but absent in mammalian cells, and thus LptDE complex is regarded as an attractive antibacterial target. In recent 10 years, the deciphering of the three-dimensional structure of LptDE protein facilities the drug discovery based on such "non-enzyme" proteins. Murepavadin, a peptidomimetic compound, was reported to be the first compound able to target LptD, enlightening a new class of antibacterial molecules with novel mechanisms of action. This article is devoted to summarize the molecular characteristics, structure-function of LptDE protein complex and review the development of murepavadin and related peptidomimetic compounds, in order to provide references for relevant researches.

Small incision lenticule extraction for the treatment of myopic anisometropia / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To explore the clinical effect of small incision lenticule extraction(SMILE)on the treatment of myopic anisometropia.METHODS: Clinical data of 76 patients(146 eyes)with myopic anisometropia who received SMILE or femtosecond assisted laser in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK)in our hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into SMILE group(39 cases, 77 eyes)and FS-LASIK group(37 cases, 69 eyes)according to surgical methods. Uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), diopter, anisometropia, corneal aberration and occurrence of postoperative complications were compared between the two groups at 1 wk, 1 and 3 mo after surgery.RESULTS: The UCVA of the two groups was improved after surgery compared with that before surgery, and the coma, trefoil, spherical aberration and total higher-order aberration were significantly increased compared to those before surgery(P<0.05), and the coma, trefoil, spherical aberration and total higher-order aberration in the FS-LASIK group were significantly higher than those in the SMILE group(P<0.05). After follow-up to 3 mo after surgery, the incidence of postoperative complications was significantly lower in the SMILE group than that in the FS-LASIK group(5.2% vs 15.9%, P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Both SMILE and FS-LASIK can effectively enhance the UCVA and improve the visual quality in patients with myopic anisometropia, but SMILE has lower corneal higher order aberrations, lower incidence of postoperative complications and better overall effect.

The ERF transcription factor LTF1 activates DIR1 to control stereoselective synthesis of antiviral lignans and stress defense in Isatis indigotica roots

Lignans are a powerful weapon for plants to resist stresses and have diverse bioactive functions to protect human health. Elucidating the mechanisms of stereoselective biosynthesis and response to stresses of lignans is important for the guidance of plant improvement. Here, we identified the complete pathway to stereoselectively synthesize antiviral (-)-lariciresinol glucosides in Isatis indigotica roots, which consists of three-step sequential stereoselective enzymes DIR1/2, PLR, and UGT71B2. DIR1 was further identified as the key gene in respoJanuary 2024nse to stresses and was able to trigger stress defenses by mediating the elevation in lignan content. Mechanistically, the phytohormone-responsive ERF transcription factor LTF1 colocalized with DIR1 in the cell periphery of the vascular regions in mature roots and helped resist biotic and abiotic stresses by directly regulating the expression of DIR1. These systematic results suggest that DIR1 as the first common step of the lignan pathway cooperates with PLR and UGT71B2 to stereoselectively synthesize (-)-lariciresinol derived antiviral lignans in I. indigotica roots and is also a part of the LTF1-mediated regulatory network to resist stresses. In conclusion, the LTF1-DIR1 module is an ideal engineering target to improve plant Defenses while increasing the content of valuable lignans in plants.

Protective effect of Liujing Toutong Tablets on rats with permanent cerebral ischemia via NF-κB signaling pathway / 中国中药杂志

This study investigated the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanism of Liujing Toutong Tablets(LJTT) on a rat model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO). The pMCAO model was established using the suture method. Eighty-four male SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a nimodipine group(0.020 g·kg~(-1)), and high-, medium-, and low-dose LJTT groups(2.8, 1.4, and 0.7 g·kg~(-1)). The Longa score, adhesive removal test and laser speckle contrast imaging technique were used to evaluate the degree of neurological functional impairment and changes in local cerebral blood flow. The survival and mortality of rats in each group were recorded daily. After seven days of continuous administration following the model induction, the rats in each group were euthanized, and brain tissue and blood samples were collected for corresponding parameter measurements. Nissl staining was used to examine pathological changes in brain tissue neurons. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), IL-1β, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP), beta-endorphin(β-EP), and endogenous nitric oxide(NO) in rat serum were measured using specific assay kits. The entropy weight method was used to analyze the weights of various indicators. The protein expression levels of nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB), inhibitor kappaB alpha(IκBα), phosphorylated IκBα(p-IκBα), and phosphorylated inhibitor of NF-κB kinase alpha(p-IKKα) in brain tissue were determined using Western blot. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of chemokine-like factor 1(CKLF1) and C-C chemokine receptor 5(CCR5) in rat brain tissue. Compared with the sham operation group, the model group showed significantly higher neurological functional impairment scores, prolonged adhesive removal time, decreased cerebral blood flow, increased neuronal damage, reduced survival rate, significantly increased levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CGRP, and NO in serum, significantly decreased levels of VEGF and β-EP, significantly increased expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-IκBα/IκBα, and p-IKKα in rat brain tissue, and significantly upregulated protein expression of CKLF1 and CCR5. Compared with the model group, the high-dose LJTT group significantly improved the neurological functional score of pMCAO rats after oral administration for 7 days. LJTT at all doses significantly reduced adhesive removal time and restored cerebral blood flow. The high-and medium-dose LJTT groups significantly improved neuronal damage. The LJTT groups at all doses showed reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CGRP, and NO in rat serum, increased VEGF and β-EP levels, and significantly decreased expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-IκBα/IκBα, p-IKKα, and CCR5 protein in rat brain tissue. The entropy weight analysis revealed that CGRP and β-EP were significantly affected during the model induction, and LJTT exhibited a strong effect in reducing the release of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-1β. LJTT may exert a neuroprotective effect on rats with permanent cerebral ischemia by reducing neuroinflammatory damage, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the regulation of the CKLF1/CCR5 axis. Additionally, LJTT may exert certain analgesic effects by reducing CGRP and NO levels and increasing β-EP levels.

Application of Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise combined with direct observation of procedural skills in standardized training of emergency medicine guided by professional physician qualification examination / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To investigate the application effect of Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX) combined with direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) in standardized training of emergency medicine guided by professional physician qualification examination.Methods:Based on the time of emergency medicine teaching reform in Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 32 standardized training residents in Emergency Department before September 2020 were included as control group and were given traditional teaching, and 32 standardized training residents after September 2020 were included as observation group and were given Mini-CEX combined with DOPS teaching under the guidance of professional physician qualification examination. The two groups were compared in terms of Mini-CEX score, DOPS score, assessment score of comprehensive emergency skills, pass rate of professional physician qualification examination, and comprehensive teaching quality. SPSS 25.00 was used to perform the t-test and the chi-square test. Results:Compared with the control group after training, the observation group had significantly higher scores of Mini-CEX, DOPS, and comprehensive emergency skill assessment ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the pass rates of theoretical and practical examinations in professional physician qualification examination, and the observation group had a significantly higher total pass rate than the control group ( P<0.05). The observation group had significantly higher comprehensive teaching quality scores than the control group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Mini-CEX combined with DOPS guided by professional physician qualification examination can help to improve the teaching effectiveness of standardized training residents in emergency, enhance their comprehensive skills and emergency professional skills, achieve a relatively high pass rate of professional physician qualification examination, and improve their post competency, and thus it holds promise for clinical application.

Analysis of biochemical and genetic screening results for neonatal methylmalonic acidemia / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To investigate the incidence rate and gene variation of methylmalonic academia (MMA) in Ji′nan city by analyzing biochemical and genetic screening results, and to explore the carrier frequency of MMA-related pathogenic genes in the population in Ji′nan.Methods:The children diagnosed with MMA by tandem mass spectrometry screening in Ji′nan Neonatal Disease Screening Centre from May 2011 to May 2022 were enrolled in this study.Their genetic test results were retrospectively analyzed and summarized.The dried heel blood tablets collected from 6 800 newborns were tested for neonatal gene screening. MMAA, MMAB, MMACHC and MMUT genes in 4 800 cases were detected by high-throughput sequencing+ target area capture technology.Ultra-multiplex polymerase chain reaction+ target gene locus capture technology was used to detect 174 target loci of 8 genes related to MMA in 2 000 cases.The hotspot mutation and related gene carrier rate of MMA were analyzed. Results:A total of 367 452 newborns were screened by tandem mass spectrometry, and 103 cases (56 males and 47 females) were diagnosed with MMA by screening.The estimated incidence of MMA was 1∶3 567.Among the 103 MMA cases, 76 were genetically diagnosed, and 4 gene variants of MMA ( MMAHC, MMUT, MMAA, MMADHC) were identified.A total of 6 800 neonates underwent neonatal genetic screening.Three of them were diagnosed with MMA.About 318 infants carried pathogenic variants of MMA, with a total carrier rate of 4.68%.Specifically, the carrier rates of MMACHC and MMUT gene variants were 3.09%(210/6 800) and 1.43% (97/6 800), respectively. Conclusions:MMA is the most common organic acid metabolism disorder in our country.The incidence and carrier rate of this disease are high in Jinan city.Neonatal genetic screening is an important supplement to neonatal biochemical screening.Carrier screening for MMA-related pathogenic genes is recommended for couples of childbearing age in Jinan.

Effect of Fugan Huaxian Decoction （扶肝化纤汤） on Th17/Treg Balance and Related Transcription Factors in Hepatic Fibrosis with Healthy Qi Deficiency and Toxin Accumulation Pattern Model Rats / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Fugan Huaxian Decoction （扶肝化纤汤， FHD） against hepatic fibrosis （HF） from the perspective of immunity. MethodsForty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， colchicine group， FHD high-， medium- and low-dose group， with eight rats in each group. Except for the blank group， the disease-syndrome combined model of HF with healthy qi deficiency and toxin accumulation pattern was established during six weeks in the other five groups. After successful modeling， the high-， medium- and low-dose FHD groups were respectively given 37.5， 18.75 and 9.38 g/（kg·d） of FHD granules by gavage， while the colchicine group received 2 mg/ （kg·d） of colchicine tablets by gavage， and the blank group and the model group were given 10 ml/（kg·d） of purified water， all for 3 weeks. The general condition of the rats was recorded. After the treatment， the histopathological morphology of the liver was observed by HE staining， and the levels of interleukin 10 （IL-10） and interleukin 17 （IL-17） in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The expression of helper T cells 17 （Th17） and regulatory T cells （Treg） in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry， and the Th17/Treg value was calculated. The mRNA expression of retinoic acid-related nuclear orphan receptor γ （RORγt） and fork-head/wing-like helix transcription factor （FoxP3） in liver tissue were detected by qRT-PCR. ResultsCompared to the general condition of rats in the blank group， those in the model group were listless， less active， stretched and pushed， arched and prone， having no resistance to gavage， significantly reduced food intake， loose stools， dirty anus， slow weight gain， dry and dull hair， purple and darkening skin of the limbs with ecchymoses， purple and black spots with varying degrees of the skin of the tail； hepatic fibrosis and hyperplasia of rats in model group were more obvious； serum IL-17， peripheral blood Th17 expression and Th17/Treg value， RORγt mRNA expression in the liver tissue significantly increased in the model group， while expression of IL-10， Treg and FoxP3 mRNA significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to those in the model group， the general condition of the rats and the liver fibrosis of HE stained liver tissue were improved in all the medication groups； the expression of IL-17 and Th17， Th17/Treg， and RORγt mRNA expression significantly decreased， while expression of IL-10， Treg， and FoxP3 mRNA increased in the high- and medium-dose FHD groups and the colchicine group； the expression of IL-17， Th17， and RORγt mRNA decreased， while the expression of IL-10 and FoxP3 mRNA increased in the low-dose FHD group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. And more improvements were found in the FHD high-dose group than FHD medium- and low-dose groups and colchicine group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionFHD can may regulate immune balance and act against fibrosis by regulating the expression of specific transcription factors FoxP3 and RORγt， affecting the differentiation of Th17 and Treg cells and Th17/Treg balance， and regulating the secretion of IL-10 and IL-17.

Role of S1PR1 in dorsal root ganglion in remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in rats with incisional pain / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the role of sphingosine-1-phospho-1 receptor(S1PR1)in the dorsal root ganglion in remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in rats with incisional pain.Methods:Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats with successful intrathecal and caudal vein catheterization, weighing 260-280 g, aged 2-3 months, were divided into 6 groups ( n= 8 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), S1PR1 antagonist (FTY720) group (group F), remifentanil group (group R), remifentanil + S1PR1 antagonist (FTY720) group (group R+ F), remifentanil + incisional pain group (group R+ I), and remifentanil + incisional pain + S1PR1 antagonist (FTY720) group (group R+ I+ F). In C group, normal saline 0.1 μg·kg -1·min -1 was intravenously infused for 60 min. In R group, remifentanil 1.0 μg· kg -1·min -1 was infused for 60 min through the caudal vein. In F group, FTY720 3 nmol was intrathecally injected, and 10 min later normal saline 1.0 μg· kg -1·min -1 was infused for 60 min via the caudal vein. In R+ F group, FTY720 3 nmol was intrathecally injected, and 10 min later remifentanil 1.0 μg· kg -1·min -1 was infused for 60 min through the caudal vein. In R+ I group, remifentanil 1.0 μg·kg -1·min -1 was infused for 60 min through the caudal vein while the model of incisional pain was developed. In R+ I+ F group, FTY720 3 nmol was intrathecally injected, 10 min later the incisional pain model was prepared, and remifentanil 1.0 μg·kg -1·min -1 was injected for 60 min through the caudal vein at the same time. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured at 24 h before remifentanil or normal saline infusion (T 0) and 2, 6, 24 and 48 h after stopping remifentanil or normal saline infusion (T 1-4). Rats were sacrificed after the last measurement of pain threshold, and the L 4-6 segments of dorsal root ganglion were taken for determination of the expression of S1PR1, NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-associated protein 3 (NLRP3), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) protein and mRNA (by Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction). Results:Compared with C group, the MWT was significantly decreased and TWL was shortened at T 1-4, the expression of S1PR1, NLRP3 and IL-1β protein and mRNA in dorsal root ganglion was up-regulated, and the expression of GLT-1 protein and mRNA in dorsal root ganglion was down-regulated in R group ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group F ( P>0.05). Compared with R group, MWT was significantly decreased and TWL was shortened at T 1-4, the expression of S1PR1, NLRP3 and IL-1β protein and mRNA in dorsal root ganglion was up-regulated, and GLT-1 protein and mRNA expression in dorsal root ganglion was down-regulated in R+ I group, and MWT was significantly increased and TWL was prolonged at T 1-4, the expression of S1PR1, NLRP3 and IL-1β protein and mRNA in the dorsal root ganglion was down-regulated, and GLT-1 protein and mRNA expression in the dorsal root ganglion was up-regulated in R+ F group ( P<0.05). Compared with R+ I group, MWT was significantly increased and TWL was prolonged at T 1-4, the expression of S1PR1, NLRP3 and IL-1β protein and mRNA in the dorsal root ganglion was down-regulated, and the expression of GLT-1 protein and mRNA in the dorsal root ganglion was up-regulated in R+ I+ F group( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which remifentanil induces hyperalgesia is associated with up-regulation of S1PR1 expression, activation of inflammatory factors, and down-regulation of GLT-1 expression in the rats with incisional pain.

Association of bone lesions distribution with prognosis in renal cell carcinoma bone metastasis / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the association between bone lesions distribution and survival outcome and prognostic risk stratification in renal cell carcinoma bone metastasis (RCC-BM).Methods:The data of 122 RCC-BM patients admitted to Peking University People's Hospital between January 2009 and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 100 males and 22 females, with a baseline age of (59.87±11.33) years old. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)/Motzer score, patients were stratified into different risk groups using profiles at first bone metastasis diagnosis, with 20 (16.4%), 74 (60.6%) and 28 (23.0%) patients in favorable, intermediate and poor group, respectively. The spatial distribution of bone metastasis was investigated at the first bone metastasis diagnosis. The overall distribution patterns were as follows: locoregional group (lesions only involved thoracic and/or lumbar vertebrates) in 26 cases (21.3%), stochastic group (bone lesions randomly distributed) in 69 cases (56.6%), extensive group (with concomitant visceral metastasis) in 27 cases (22.1%). Metastatic site involvement was as follows: spine in 48 cases(39.3%), pelvis in 43 cases (35.2%), upper extremities in 22 cases (18.0%), and lower extremities in 20 cases (16.4%). Half (61 cases) of the enrolled patients had synchronous bone metastasis as their first bone metastases were diagnosed simultaneously with their renal tumors. Of all the patients, 99 (81.1%) accepted radical nephrectomy, 6 (4.9%) accepted partial nephrectomy, and the other 17 patients (13.9%) accepted the treatment of ablation or embolization. Eighty-two patients (67.2%) received definitive treatment for bone metastatic lesions, respectively. Forty patients (32.8%) accepted the palliative tumor reduction therapy. Thirty-two patients (26.2%) received tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) or immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) medication, and 12 patients (9.8%) received local radiotherapy. Distribution variation and therapeutic strategies throughout the disease course until the last follow-up were recorded. Univariate analysis (chi-squared test, Mantel-Haenszel test), Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and multivariate ordinal logistic regression were performed for the possible association.Results:Patients from the locoregional group (30.8%, 8/26) were prone to have higher risk stratification at first diagnosis than patients in the stochastic and extensive groups ( 20.8%, 20/96, P=0.107) as the marginal difference was found. At first bone metastasis diagnosis, RCC-BM patients with spinal involvement were more likely to have higher MSKCC risk stratification than those without spinal involvement [20.3%(15/48) vs. 17.6%(13/74), P<0.05]. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression showed that after adjusting for general data, bone metastasis sites, and concomitant visceral metastasis, RCC-BM patients with spinal involvement at first bone metastasis diagnosis were 3.3 times (95% CI 1.195-9.091, P<0.05)more likely to fall into the higher MSKCC risk group than those without spinal involvement.In those 93 cases with follow-up records, 20 (21.5%), 53 (57.0%), and 20 (21.5%) cases were in the locoregional group, stochastic group, and extensive group, respectively. The median overall survival time (mOS) of patients with pelvic involvement (36 cases) throughout the disease course was 32.0 months (95% CI 6.0-58.0), which was shorter than that of patients without pelvic involvement (57 cases, mOS 49.0 months, 95% CI 20.4-77.5, P<0.05). Conclusions:Spinal involvement (especially limited to thoracic and/or lumbar vertebrates) at first bone metastasis diagnosis and pelvic involvement throughout the disease course were associated with poor prognosis.

"Shapeshifter of the mycobacterial world" : Discuss the mechanism of morphological transformation of Mycobacterium abscesses / 中华临床感染病杂志

Mycobacterium abscessesus (MAB) is the most common species of rapidly growing pathogenic nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). MAB is also an opportunistic pathogen with high drug resistance. The unique structure of cell wall enables it to exist in different forms and to undergo morphological transformation, making it the "shapeshifter of the mycobacterial world" , which facilitates its survival in natural environment in a saprophytic manner; and also facilitates its invasion into the host with long-term survival and being pathogenic. This article reviews research progress on the specific deformability of MAB and the mechanism associated with its phenotypic transformation; discusses the evolutionary characteristics of MAB to adapt environmental changes to provide reference for better understanding the biological characteristics and pathogenicity of MAB.

Anesthetic Management and Outcomes of Endovascular Treatment of Basilar Artery Occlusion: Results From the ATTENTION Registry / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Background@#and Purpose To examine the clinical and safety outcomes after endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) with different anesthetic modalities. @*Methods@#This was a retrospective analysis using data from the Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion (ATTENTION) registry. Patients were divided into two groups defined by anesthetic modality performed during EVT: general anesthesia (GA) or non-general anesthesia (non-GA). The association between anesthetic management and clinical outcomes was evaluated in a propensity score matched (PSM) cohort and an inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) cohort to adjust for imbalances between the two groups. @*Results@#Our analytic sample included 1,672 patients from 48 centers. The anesthetic modality was GA in 769 (46.0%) and non-GA in 903 (54.0%) patients. In our primary analysis with the PSM-based cohort, non-GA was comparable to GA concerning the primary outcome (adjusted common odds ratio [acOR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82 to 1.25; P=0.91). Mortality at 90 days was 38.4% in the GA group and 35.8% in the non-GA group (adjusted risk ratio, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.08; P=0.44). In our secondary analysis with the IPTW-based cohort, the anesthetic modality was significantly associated with the distribution of modified Rankin Scale at 90 days (acOR: 1.45 [95% CI: 1.20 to 1.75]). @*Conclusion@#In this nationally-representative observational study, acute ischemic stroke patients due to BAO undergoing EVT without GA had similar clinical and safety outcomes compared with patients treated with GA. These findings provide the basis for large-scale randomized controlled trials to test whether anesthetic management provides meaningful clinical effects for patients undergoing EVT.

Clinical application and research progress of angle Kappa in ophthalmic surgery / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

The human eye has various axes and angles, of which the angle Kappa is an important indicator of the centrality of the human eye and is widely used in ophthalmic surgery. Proper preoperative evaluation and application of the angle Kappa facilitated the achievement of optimal postoperative visual quality. Chord mu is a new term that has emerged recently to better express the angle Kappa. The two concepts are not well understood clinically, limiting their usefulness. Therefore, to better understand the angle Kappa and chord mu, the definitions and connections between them are presented separately in this paper. Meanwhile, the application of angle Kappa in strabismus surgery was summarized, the method for compensating large angle Kappa in corneal refractive surgery and the clinical significance of angle Kappa in predicting postoperative centrality of multifocal intraocular lens(MIOL)in phacoemulsification combined with MIOL implantation were discussed, with a view to providing references for clinical work.

PANoptosis： Molecular Mechanism of Action and Effects on Blinding Eye Diseases / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

Previous studies focused on the unique regulatory mechanisms of different cell death pathways. However， recent studies highlight crosstalk and co-ordination between these pathways and initiate a new cell death process called PANoptosis （pyroptosis， apoptosis， necroptosis）. PANoptosis is an inflammatory programmed cell death pathway regulated by the PANoptosome complex with critical features of pyroptosis， and/or necroptosis but cannot be characterized by any of the death modes of pyroptosis， apoptosis or necroptosis alone. By activating the PANoptosis pathway， some triggers like bacterial， viral， and fungal infections can cause death of the host. This review explains the PANoptosis-related routes， regulators and their potential effects on blinding eye diseases.

Diagnosis and treatment of four cases of asymptomatic and non-hydrous ureteral calculi / 北京大学学报(医学版)

This paper analyzed the clinical data, diagnosis and treatment of 4 asymptomatic patients with ureteral calculi without hydrops in our hospital from October 2018 to January 2019, and comprehensively discussed the previous literature. The 4 patients in this group had no obvious clinical symptoms, no positive stones were found in the B-ultrasound of the urinary system, and no hydroureter and hydroureter of the affected side was found. Urinary CT scan confirmed ureteral stones. They were all located in the lower ureter, and the stones obstructed the lumen. The stones were round and smooth, and there was no obvious hyperplasia and edema in the surrounding mucosa. The lithotripsy was completed in the first-stage operation, and the DJ catheter was left behind for one month after the operation. Based on the clinical diagnosis and treatment process of the 4 cases of asymptomatic calculi in this group and the analysis of previous studies, these patients were mostly detected by imaging examinations or other systematic imaging examinations during the regular review of urinary calculi. Ureteral stones with obstruction did not necessarily have stone-related symptoms. The onset of renal colic involved an increase in intraluminal pressure, related stimulation of nerve endings, smooth muscle spasms caused by stretching of the ureteral wall, and systemic changes in cytokines and related hormones. Cascade reactions, etc., were associated with the movement of stones down. Ureteral stones without hydrops were mostly located in the lower ureter, which had a certain buffering effect on obstructive pressure. Asymptomatic ureteral calculi could also induce irreversible damage to renal function, and the proportion of damage increased with the diameter of the stone. Patients with a history of urinary calculi, especially those with asymptomatic stones for the first time, should be paid attention to during clinical follow-up. At present, there are few research reports on asymptomatic and non-accumulating ureteral calculi. We analyze the clinical diagnosis and treatment process and characteristics of this group of patients combined with previous literature to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of such patients.

Association between gestational diabetes mellitus and preterm birth subtypes / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To investigate the association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preterm birth subtypes. Methods: Based on the cohort of pregnant women in Anqing Prefectural Hospital, the pregnant women who received prenatal screening in the first or second trimesters were recruited into baseline cohorts; and followed up for them was conducted until delivery, and the information about their pregnancy status and outcomes were obtained through electronic medical record system and questionnaire surveys. The log-binomial regression model was used to explore the association between GDM and preterm birth [iatrogenic preterm birth, spontaneous preterm birth (preterm premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor)]. For multiple confounding factors, the propensity score correction model was used to compute the adjusted association. Results: Among the 2 031 pregnant women with a singleton delivery, the incidence of GDM and preterm birth were 10.0% (204 cases) and 4.4% (90 cases) respectively. The proportions of iatrogenic preterm birth and spontaneous preterm birth in the GDM group (n=204) were 1.5% and 5.9% respectively, while the proportions in non-GDM group (n=1 827) were 0.9% and 3.2% respectively, and the difference in the proportion of spontaneous preterm birth between the two groups was significant (P=0.048). Subtypes of spontaneous preterm were further analyzed, and the results showed that the proportions of preterm premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor in the GDM group were 4.9% and 1.0% respectively, while the proportions in the non-GDM group were 2.1% and 1.1% respectively. It showed that the risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes in GDM pregnant women was 2.34 times (aRR=2.34, 95%CI: 1.16-4.69) higher than that in non-GDM pregnant women. Conclusions: Our results showed that GDM might increase the risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes. No significant increase in the proportion of preterm labor in pregnant women with GDM was found.

Preliminary study of PPARA regulate the ferroptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma to prevent disease deterioration / 中华预防医学杂志

To explore whether PPARA is involved in the process of ferroptosis in hepatoma cells, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPARA) was comprehensively analyzed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through public database and experimental data, including the expression, the functions and the potential roles of tumor progression. The research design is experimental research,data analysis based on bioinformatics and cell experiment. From January 2022 to August 2022, relevant cell experiments were conducted in the Basic Medical Laboratory of the General Hospital of the Southern Theatre of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The expression and the correlation with clinicopathologic features of PPARA in HCC were analyzed by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. To study the protein expression of PPARA in HCC and normal tissues through the Human Protein Atlas (HPA). The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network between PPARA and the core factor of ferroptosis was constructed based on Search Tool for the Retrival of Interacting Genes/Protein (STRING) database, then, the correlation between PPARA and the core gene Glutamate-cysteine Ligase Catalytic Subunit (GCLC) was analyzed by Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA). Assessed the expression of PPARA in HCC cell lines SK-HEP-1, SMMC-7721, MHCC-97H, BEL-7402 and normal liver cell L02 by Western Blot (WB) and the changes of PPARA expression after 48h treatment with ferroptosis inducer Erastin were observed. Single factor analysis of variance was used to compare the expression of PPARA between groups in GEPIA database. The expression of PPARA in GSE25097 and GSE112790 data was compared by rank sum test. Survival analysis was performed using time series test method. The difference of PPARA expression between clinical and pathological features was compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The correlation between the expression of GCLC and PPARA was compared by the method of Spearman correlation. The expression of PPARA in cell lines was compared by paired T test. The results showed that the RNA and protein expression of PPARA in HCC was lower than that in normal tissues (P<0.05). PPARA alterations were correlated with patient clinicopathological features and prognosis (P<0.05). The PPI constructed by STRING database suggests that PPARA interact with the key factors of ferroptosis, such as NFE2 like bZIP transcription factor 2 (NFE2L2), Heme Oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), Tumor Protein P53 (TP53), GCLC, Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 (DPP4), Citrate Synthase (CS), Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase (ALOX15) and Acyl-CoA Synthetase Long Chain Family Member 4 (ACSL4). Furthermore, the PPARA was significantly associated with GCLC validated via GEPIA database(R=0.6, P<0.05). The expression of PPARA increased after treatment with ferroptosis inducer Erastin for 48 h by WB. In conclusion, the expression of PPARA is lower in HCC with a poor prognosis. PPARA interacts with GCLC in regulating ferroptosis in HCC.

Needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training for post-stroke cognitive impairment: a multi-center randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVES@#To compare the efficacy of needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training and electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training in the treatment of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).@*METHODS@#A total of 206 patients with PSCI were randomized into a needle retaining group (103 cases, 9 cases dropped out) and an electroacupuncture group (103 cases, 6 cases dropped out). In addition to the conventional basic medical treatment and the rehabilitation treatment, in the needle retaining group, electroacupuncture at Shenting (GV 24) and Baihui (GV 20) was applied, with continuous wave of 50 Hz in the first 15 min and with disperse-dense wave of 2 Hz/50 Hz in the last 15 min, the needles were continuously retained for 1 h after electroacupuncture, during which cognitive training was adopted; in the electroacupuncture group, cognitive training was performed after the same electric stimulation exerted for 30 min, without additional needles retaining. The treatment was given once a day, 5 times a week for totally 8 weeks in the two groups. Before and after 8-week treatment, the TCM syndrome score was observed; before and after 4,8-week treatment, the scores of mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and ability of daily living were observed in the two groups. The clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated after 8-week treatment.@*RESULTS@#After 8-week treatment, the TCM syndrome scores were increased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05); the TCM syndrome score in the needle retaining group was higher than that in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05).After 4,8-week treatment, the scores of MMSE, MoCA and ability of daily living were increased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05); MMSE, MoCA scores after 4,8-week treatment and ability of daily living score after 8-week treatment in the needle retaining group were higher than those in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.4% (85/94) in the needle retaining group, which was superior to 82.5% (80/97) in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Both needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training and electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training can effectively treat PSCI, improve the clinical symptom, cognitive function and ability of daily living in PSCI patients. Needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training has a better therapeutic effect.

Occupational Burnout and Turnover Intention of Social Workers under the Context of Epidemic Prevention and Control: The Moderating Effect of Professional Self-care / 中国医学伦理学

To understand the current situation of occupational burnout, turnover intention, and professional self-care among social workers under the context of epidemic prevention and control, and the role of professional self-care in the relationship between occupational burnout and turnover intention, this study investigated 1 066 social workers in Fujian Province with Professional Self-Care Practice Scale, and the Burnout Scale. SPSS 26.0 and its PROCESS plug-in analysis were used, the results showed that the proportion of social workers with moderate and severe occupational burnout accounted for 44.22% and 29.99% respectively, the proportion with turnover intention in the past year accounted for 25.67%, and the average score of professional self-care was (22.57±5.98) points. There was a significant positive correlation between occupational burnout and turnover intention (r=0.29, P<0.01). Professional self-care of social workers was significant negatively correlated with occupational burnout (r=-0.46, P<0.01) and turnover intention (r=-0.16, P<0.01). Professional self-care played a moderating role in the relationship between occupational burnout and turnover intention (β=-0.01, P<0.05). This paper indicated that social workers had a high degree of occupational burnout and turnover intention, low level of professional self-care under the context of epidemic prevention and control, and the attention should be paid to the protective role of professional self-care.

Computer Vision in Medical Imaging and its Impact on the Rare Musculoskeletal Diseases / 罕见病研究

There are over 6000 rare diseases in the world, affecting more than 300 million people. Early and precise diagnosis of rare diseases has always been the goal in clinical medicine. Emerging computer vision technology now greatly enhance medicine and healthcare and shows the potential in assisting the diagnosis and treatment for rare diseases. The technology can be a useful tool for extracting disease-relevant patterns from medical imaging. However, the effectiveness of its application depends on the complexity of the medical cases. In this paper, we summarize the challenges and emerging solution for the application of computer vision in diagnosis, rehabilitation as well as management of rare musculoskeletal diseases.

Establishment and evaluation of predictive models of platelet transfusion effect in multi-center tumor patients / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To study the platelet transfusion predictive models in tumor patients and evaluate its application effect. 【Methods】 A retrospective study was conducted on 944 tumor patients, including 533 males and 411 females who received platelet transfusion in the Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Xinjiang Medical University, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University and Kailuan General Hospital from August 2022 to January 2023. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to establish the platelet transfusion predictive models, and Medcalc15.8 software was used to draw the receiver operating curve (ROC) to evaluate the application effect of the prediction model. The actual application effect of models was verified through 162 female clinical cases and 172 male clinical cases. 【Results】 The incidence of platelet transfusion refractoriness in tumor patients was 28.9% (273/944), with 33.2% (177/533) in males, significantly higher than that in females [23.4% (96/411)] (P<0.05). Platelet transfusion predictive models: Y1 (female) =-8.546+ (0.581×number of pregnancies) + (0.964×number of inpatient transfusion bags) + number of previous platelet transfusion bags (5-9 bags: 1.259, ≥20 bags: 1.959) + clinical diagnosis (lymphoma: 2.562, leukemia: 3.214); Y2 (male) =-7.600+ (1.150×inpatient transfusion bags) + previous platelet transfusion bags (10-19 bags: 1.015, ≥20 bags: 0.979) + clinical diagnosis (lymphoma: 1.81, leukemia: 3.208, liver cancer: 1.714). Application effect evaluation: The AUC (area under the curve), cut-off point, corresponding sensitivity and specificity of female and male platelet transfusion effect prediction models were 0.868, -0.354, 68.75%, 89.84% and 0.854, -0.942, 81.36%, 77.53%, respectively. Actual application results showed that the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of female and male model were 89.47%, 92.74%, 91.98% and 83.72%, 91.47%, 89.53%, respectively. 【Conclusion】 There is high incidence of platelet transfusion refractoriness in tumor patients, and the predictive model has good prediction effect on platelet transfusion refractoriness in tumor patients, which can provide reliable basis for accurate platelet transfusion in tumor patients.