New records of Chrysochroinae Laporte de Castelnau, 1835 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) from China.

Background: Chrysochroinae Laporte de Castelnau, 1835 is the very colourful subfamily of Buprestidae. There are 127 species and subspecies of the subfamily which have been recorded in China. New information: In this paper, we reported three genera, two subgenera and five species of the subfamily Chrysochroinae Laporte de Castelnau, 1835 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) which are all newly recorded from China. These reported taxa belong to two tribes and four genera: Chrysochroa (Chroodema) corbetti (Kerremans, 1893), Chrysochroa (Pyranthe) fulgens ephippigera White, 1843, Demochroa (Demoxantha) gratiosa indica Csiki, 1900, Xanthocatabonvouloirii (Deyrolle, 1861) (all the above four being Chrysochroini) and Cardiaspismouhotii E. Saunders, 1866 (Dicercini). The five newly-recorded species are briefly described, illustrated and supplemented with relevant biological information.

Soil N2 O emissions from specialty crop systems: A global estimation and meta-analysis.

Nitrous oxide (N2 O) exacerbates the greenhouse effect and thus global warming. Agricultural management practices, especially the use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers and irrigation, increase soil N2 O emissions. As a vital sector of global agriculture, specialty crop systems usually require intensive input and management. However, soil N2 O emissions from global specialty crop systems have not been comprehensively evaluated. Here, we synthesized 1137 observations from 114 published studies, conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of agricultural management and environmental factors on soil N2 O emissions, and estimated global soil N2 O emissions from specialty crop systems. The estimated global N2 O emission from specialty crop soils was 1.5 Tg N2 O-N year-1 , ranging from 0.5 to 4.5 Tg N2 O-N year-1 . Globally, soil N2 O emissions exponentially increased with N fertilizer rates. The effect size of N fertilizer on soil N2 O emissions generally increased with mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, and soil organic carbon concentration but decreased with soil pH. Global climate change will further intensify the effect of N fertilizer on soil N2 O emissions. Drip irrigation, fertigation, and reduced tillage can be used as essential strategies to reduce soil N2 O emissions and increase crop yields. Deficit irrigation and non-legume cover crop can reduce soil N2 O emissions but may also lower crop yields. Biochar may have a relatively limited effect on reducing soil N2 O emissions but be effective in increasing crop yields. Our study points toward effective management strategies that have substantial potential for reducing N2 O emissions from global agricultural soils.

Revision of the rare Buprestis subgenus Akiyamaia Kurosawa, 1988 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Buprestinae), with description of two new species.

In this paper, two new species of Buprestis subgenus Akiyamaia Kurosawa, 1988 are described: B. (A.) gengmini Qi & Song, new species from Yunnan Province, China and B. (A.) wenii Qi & Song, new species from Yen Bai Province, Vietnam. The descriptions and illustrations of two new species are provided, and the diagnostic characters are provided to distinguish the two new species from other related species. A key is given for identification of all Akiyamaia species.The holotype of B. (A.) costipennis (Fairmaire, 1891) and pictures of living individuals are illustrated for the first time.

Elaeagnus umbellata Fruit Extract Protects Skin from Ultraviolet-Mediated Photoaging in Hairless Mice.

Photoaging refers to the accumulation of skin damage which includes wrinkle formation, loss of elasticity, and epidermal thickening due to repeated ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The present study investigated the protective effects of Elaeagnus umbellata fruit extract (Elaea) on UV-mediated photoaged skin of SKH1 hairless mice and compared the effects of Elaea with ascorbic acid. Although there was no difference in body weight between groups during experimental period, oral administration of 50-200 mg/kg Elaea once daily for 15 weeks significantly prevented an increase in skin weight, epithelial thickening of epidermis, and apoptosis caused by UV irradiation. Skin replica and histopathological analyses revealed that Elaea dose-dependently decreased wrinkle and microfold formation. In addition, Elaea administration restored UV-mediated reduction in type I collagen and hyaluronan through the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase expression. Moreover, Elaea suppressed UV-dependent increases in superoxide anion production, fatty acid oxidation, and protein nitration by up-regulating antioxidant system. Furthermore, Elaea alleviated infiltration of inflammatory cells in UV-irradiated skin. The preventive effects of 100 mg/kg Elaea administration against UV-induced photoaging were similar to those by 100 mg/kg ascorbic acid. Collectively, the present study suggests that the E. umbellata fruit is a promising edible candidate to prevent skin photoaging.

Glyphosate exposure affected longevity-related pathways and reduced survival in asian honey bees (Apis cerana).

Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, GLY) ranks among the most extensively used and effective herbicides globally. However, excessive GLY utilization poses a substantial threat to the survival of honey bees (Apis cerana). Here we monitored the survival status of A. cerana treated with GLY, and conducted transcriptome sequencing of the bee gut and head to further explore potential GLY influences at the molecular level. We observed that the mortality rate of bees increased as GLY concentration escalated. Pivotal pathways emerged in response to the GLY treatment, with a substantial number of differentially expressed genes enriched in the longevity regulating pathway - multiple species. This strongly suggested that GLY may influence the physiological behavior of bees by impacting this particular pathway. Moreover, our analysis revealed a notable reduction in the enzymatic activities of CYP450 and AChE in both the bee head and intestines of when exposed to GLY. Conversely, the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the head remained unaffected, whereas in the intestines, it exhibited a significant increase. Additionally, prophenol oxidase (PPO) and glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) displayed contrasting trends in enzymatic activity in both organs. This study offers valuable insights into how GLY impacted the survival of A. cerana.

Caveolin-1 is critical for hepatic iron storage capacity in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with disordered lipid and iron metabolism. Our previous study has substantiated the pivotal role of Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in protecting hepatocytes and mediating iron metabolism in the liver. This study aimed to explore the specific mechanisms underlying the regulation of iron metabolism by Cav-1 in NAFLD. METHODS: Hepatocyte-specific Cav-1 overexpression mice and knockout mice were used in this study. Cav-1-knockdown of RAW264.7 cells and mouse primary hepatocytes were performed to verify the changes in vitro. Moreover, a high-fat diet and palmitic acid plus oleic acid treatment were utilized to construct a NAFLD model in vivo and in vitro, respectively, while a high-iron diet was used to construct an in vivo iron overload model. Besides, iron concentration, the expression of Cav-1 and iron metabolism-related proteins in liver tissue or serum were detected using iron assay kit, Prussian blue staining, Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, immunohistochemical staining and ELISA. The related indicators of lipid metabolism and oxidative stress were evaluated by the corresponding reagent kit and staining. RESULTS: Significant disorder of lipid and iron metabolism occurred in NAFLD. The expression of Cav-1 was decreased in NAFLD hepatocytes (P < 0.05), accompanied by iron metabolism disorder. Cav-1 enhanced the iron storage capacity of hepatocytes by activating the ferritin light chain/ferritin heavy chain pathway in NAFLD, subsequently alleviating the oxidative stress induced by excess ferrous ions in the liver. Further, CD68+CD163+ macrophages expressing Cav-1 were found to accelerate iron accumulation in the liver, which was contrary to the effect of Cav-1 in hepatocytes. Positive correlations were also observed between the serum Cav-1 concentration and the serum iron-related protein levels in NAFLD patients and healthy volunteers (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that Cav-1 is an essential target protein that regulates iron and lipid metabolic homeostasis. It is a pivotal molecule for predicting and protecting against the development of NAFLD.

Revision of the Lucanus boileaui group and notes on L . takeoi Adachi, 2020 from the L . maculifemoratus group (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Lucaninae).

A new stag beetle is described from Yunnan Province, China: Lucanus jiaozishanus Qi, He, Su & Song, new species. It is the third species of the L. boileaui group which are distributed only in Southwestern China and Northeastern Myanmar. The differences of the new species with the more related taxa (L. boileaui Planet, 1897, L. ludivinae Boucher, 1998 and L. takeoi Adachi, 2020) are discussed. A new synonymy, L. bidentis Schenk, 2013 = L. boileaui, is proposed. Keys to males and females of the L. boileaui group are provided. The variation of males, the female and the host plant of L. takeoi (L. maculifemoratus group) are illustrated for the first time.

Relationship between the gross motor function classification system and hip and lumbar spine development in children with spastic cerebral palsy / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the relationship among the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS)and the development of hip joint and lumbar spine in children with spastic cerebral palsy.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 125 children with spastic cerebral palsy admitted from January 2018 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 85 males and 40 females, aged from 4 to 12 years old with an average of (8.4±2.9) years. According to GMFCS, the patients were divided into gradeⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ groups. There were 27 cases in gradeⅠgroup, 40 cases in gradeⅡgroup, 35 cases in grade Ⅲ group and 23 cases in grade Ⅳ group. The migration percentage(MP), central edge angle(CE), neck-shaft angle(NSA), acetabular index(AI) were measured by the radiograph of pelvis, abnormal parameters were selected to evaluate the relationship between different GMFCS grades and hip joint development. Lumbar sagittal Cobb angle, lumbar sacral angle, lumbar lordosis index and apical distance were measured by lateral lumbar radiographs to evaluate the relationship between different GMFCS grades and lumbar spine development.@*RESULTS@#①Among the 125 spastic cerebral palsy children, there were 119 cases of pelvic radiographs that met the measurement standards. In the four groups with gradeⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, MP was (22.72±3.88), (26.53±4.36), (33.84±4.99), and (49.54±7.87)%, CE was(30.10±6.99) °, ( 22.92±4.19) °, ( 17.91±5.50) °, and (-0.70±17.33)°, AI was (16.41±2.77) °, (20.46±4.63) °, (23.76±5.10) °, and ( 29.15±7.35)°, respectively, there were significant differences between the two comparisons (P<0.05). And the higher GMFCS grade, the greater MP and AI, and the smaller CE.The NSA was(142.74±10.03) °, (148.66±9.09) °, (151.66±10.52) °, and (153.70±8.05)° in four groups with gradeⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, respectively. The differences between the two comparisons of the GMFCS gradeⅠgroup and the other three groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). NSA of GMFCSⅠgroup was significantly lower than that of the others, there was no significant difference among other groups(P>0.05). ② Among the 125 spastic cerebral palsy children, there were 88 cases of lumbar spine radiographs that met the measurement standards. ③The lumbar sagittal Cobb angle was(32.62±11.10) °, (29.86±9.90) °, (31.70±11.84) °, and (39.69±6.80)° in the four groups with gradeⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, respectively;GMFSS of grade Ⅳ group was significantly higher than that of other three groups, there was significant difference between the two comparisons (P<0.05);there were no significant differences between other groups (P>0.05). In the four groups with gradeⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, the lumbosacral angle was (31.02±9.91) °, ( 26.57±9.41) °, (28.08±8.56) °, and ( 27.31±11.50)°, the lumbar lordosis index was (4.14±12.89), (8.83±13.53), (13.00±11.78), and (10.76±9.97) mm, the arch apex distance was (9.50±6.80), (6.68±3.20), (7.16±4.94), and (6.62±4.13) mm, respectively, there were no significant differences between the two comparisons(P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#①In children with GMFCS gradeⅠ-Ⅳ, the higher the GMFCS grade, the worse the hip develops. ② Children with GMFCS grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ may be at greater risk for lumbar kyphosis.

Effect of CYFIP2 overexpression on biological function and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway of bladder cancer cell line T24 / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective:To investigate the effects of cytoplasmic fragile X mental retardation protein 1 binding protein 2 (CYFIP2) overexpression on the biological functions and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways of bladder cancer T24 cells.Methods:The control group was T24 cells transfected with the empty pcDNA3 vector, and the overexpression group was T24 cells transfected with the CYFIP2 overexpression vector. The expression of CYFIP2 mRNA and protein was detected by reverse transcriptase, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and Western Blot. The effect of CYFIP2 overexpression on T24 cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8. The effect of CYFIP2 overexpression on T24 cell migration and invasion was detected by Transwell. The effects of CYFIP2 overexpression on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in T24 cells were detected by Western Blot.Results:Compared with the control group, the expression levels of CYFIP2 mRNA and protein were increased in the overexpression group (all P < 0.001), and the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities were reduced (all P < 0.01). β-catenin, c-Myc, and Cyclin D1 protein expression were down-regulated in CYFIP2 overexpressed T24 cells (all P < 0.05), while the protein levels of p-β-catenin were increased ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:CYFIP2 overexpression can inhibit T24 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and its possible molecular mechanism is related to the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Notes on the genus Chrysodema from China (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Chrysochroinae), with one new species and one new record.

The genus Chrysodema currently recorded from China contains 6 species/subspecies: C. (Chrysodema) aurostriata Saunders, 1866 from Yunnan, C. (C.) lewisii nakatai Frank Sekerka, 2020, C. (C.) eximia berliozi Descarpentries, 1948, C. (Pseudochrysodema) dalmanni dalmanni (Mannerheim, 1837), C. (P.) dalmanni penghuensis Hattori Ong, 2020 and C. (P.) yasumatsui Kurosawa, 1954 all from Taiwan. In this study, one new species, Chrysodema (Chrysodema) hainanensis sp. nov. from Hainan Island, China is described, illustrated, and the variation is given. The host plant Toona ciliata is new for the genus Chrysodema. The differences of the new species to its related species and subspecies are discussed and keyed. C. (C.) aurostriata from Yunnan probably belonged toC. (C.)vrabeci and still need verification. C. (C.) tonkinea Kerremans, 1909 was recorded from Guangxi (new country record). All Chrysodema species and subspecies recorded from China except C. (P.) dalmanni penghuensis and the unverified C. (C.) aurostriata were examined, and a key is given for identification.

Prolucanus beipiaoensis gen. et sp. nov.: The First Fossil Species of Lucaninae (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) from the Early Cretaceous of Northeastern China.

A new stag beetle fossil is described from the Yixian Formation in northeastern China. A new genus is established based on this well-preserved specimen. Prolucanus beipiaoensis gen. et sp. nov. is firmly placed in the extant lucanid subfamily Lucaninae based on its broad prosternal process and geniculate antennae. Our discovery represents the first fossil record of Lucaninae from the Late Mesozoic of China and the oldest reliable record belonging to the subfamily. We also summarize the fossil species of stag beetles found in China and the described fossil species of the subfamily Lucaninae found in the world. A key to all fossil genera of Lucanidae from China is provided.

T lymphocyte subsets combined with inflammatory indicators for auxiliary diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of sepsis / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective: To explore the application value of T lymphocyte subsets combined with procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and white blood cell count (WBC) in the auxiliary diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of sepsis. Methods: In a retrospective study, seventy-two patients with sepsis diagnosed and treated in Tianjin First Central Hospital from June 2018 to April 2021 were selected as the research objects, and included in the sepsis group were 46 males and 26 females, aged 68 (57.3, 80.3) years. In addition, 111 patients with local infection admitted to hospital during the same period were included in the local infection group, including 62 males and 49 females, aged 68 (51, 77) years. Sepsis patients were divided into survival group (43 cases) and death group (29 cases) according to the 28-day outcome. CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio were detected by flow cytometry within 24 h after admission, PCT was detected by ELISA, CRP was detected by immunoturbidimetry, blood routine examination, blood lactic acid (Lac) and oxygen partial pressure (PO2) were detected by instrumental method. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between each indicator and sepsis, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic value of each indicator for sepsis. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis and Kaplan Meier survival analysis were used to evaluate the prognostic value of each index for patients with sepsis. Results: Peripheral blood CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and PLT in sepsis group were significantly lower than those in local infection group(Z=-8.184,P<0.001;Z=-7.210,P<0.001;Z=-5.936,P<0.001;Z=-2.700,P=0.007;Z=-6.381,P<0.001); PCT, CRP, NLR and Lac levels were significantly higher than those in local infection group(Z=-8.262,P<0.001;Z=-3.094,P=0.002;Z=-9.004,P<0.001;Z=-4.770,P<0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression model showed that PCT, NLR, CD3+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ were independent risk factors for sepsis. According to ROC curve analysis, AUC of sepsis patients diagnosed by each indicator were 0.862, 0.894, 0.858, 0.760 and 0.618, respectively. The cut-off values were 3.075 ng/ml, 10.715, 44.935×109/L, 27.463×109/L and 0.750, respectively. The NLR sensitivity was 80.6%, and the CD3+ specificity was 94.6%. The AUC of combined detection of PCT and NLR was 0.947, sensitivity was 87.5% and specificity was 91.9%. The combined detection AUC of PCT, NLR, CD3+, CD4+/CD8+ was 0.958, the sensitivity and specificity were 90.3% and 91.0% respectively(P<0.001). PCT and Lac in death group were significantly higher than those in survival group(Z=-2.302,P=0.021;Z=-3.095,P=0.002);Peripheral blood CD4+/CD8+ levels were significantly lower than those in survival group(Z=-3.691,P<0.001),Multivariate Logistic regression model showed that CD4+/CD8+ ratio was an independent risk factor for 28 d mortality in patients with sepsis (P<0.001). The ROC curve showed that the AUC was 0.758, and the Youden index reached the maximum when the cut-off value was 1.27, the sensitivity and specificity were 79.3% and 60.5%, respectively. Compared with patients with CD4+/CD8+ ≥1.27, 28-day mortality was significantly increased in patients with CD4+/CD8+<1.27 (P=0.032). Conclusion: The combined detection of PCT, NLR, CD3+ and CD4+/CD8+ can improve the auxiliary diagnostic efficiency of sepsis, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in peripheral blood may have certain predictive value for the prognosis of sepsis.

Oridonin Alters Hepatic Urea Cycle via Gut Microbiota and Protects against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury.

Acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the western world. Oridonin (OD), which is the major active ingredient of the traditional Chinese medicine Rabdosia rubescens, reportedly exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. Here, we first find that OD protects against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. The results of hepatic tissue-associated RNA-seq and metabolomics showed that the protective effects of OD were dependent upon urea cycle regulation. And such regulation of OD is gut microbiota partly dependent, as demonstrated by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Furthermore, using 16S rRNA sequencing, we determined that OD significantly enriched intestinal Bacteroides vulgatus, which activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway to regulate redox homeostasis against APAP by urea cycle. In conclusion, our study suggests that the Bacteroides vulgatus-urea cycle-Nrf2 axis may be a potential target for reducing APAP-induced liver injury, which is altered by OD.

Clinical Observation on Orthopedics No.1 Prescription Combined with Celecoxib in Treating Knee Osteoarthritis with Middle Stage of Cold-dampness Syndrome / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To study the clinical efficacy of orthopedics No.1 prescription combined with celecoxib in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis （KOA） with middle stage of cold-dampness syndrome and investigate its effect on serum cytokines levels. Method:The 72 patients were randomly divided into control group and observation group， with 36 cases each. Patients in both groups were given basic treatment with oral celecoxib capsules （0.2 g/ time， 1 time/day）. On the basis of western medicine treatment， patients in observation group were treated with orthopedics No.1 prescription decoction-free granules by fumigation， 1 bag/time， 1 time/day， 5 times/week. Both groups received treatment for 4 weeks. The visual analog pain score （VAS）， American knee society knee score （KSS）， serum interleukin-1<italic>β </italic>（IL-1<italic>β</italic>）， tumor necrosis factor-<italic>α </italic>（TNF-<italic>α</italic>）， and transforming growth factor-<italic>β</italic>₁（TGF-<italic>β</italic>₁） levels were observed before and after treatment， and their clinical efficacy was evaluated. Result:After treatment， VAS score significantly decreased in both groups （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and KSS score significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， with better clinical effect in observation group. After treatment， serum IL-1<italic>β</italic> and TNF-<italic>α</italic> levels decreased significantly in both groups （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and the levels in observation group were lower than those in control group after treatment （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. TGF<italic>-β</italic>₁content was significantly higher than that before treatment in two groups （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:Orthopedics No.1 prescription combined with celecoxib for the treatment of KOA with middle stage of cold-dampness syndrome can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms of patients with KOA， improve joint function， improve quality of life， reduce the contents of inflammatory factors IL-1<italic>β</italic> and TNF-<italic>α</italic> in serum， and increase the expression of TGF-<italic>β</italic>₁ level.

Effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation on Lower-limb and Trunk Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Meta-analysis / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and long-term effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on cerebral palsy. Methods:Literature retrieval was carried out in the electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine Disc (CBM), CNKI, Wanfang Database and VIP. The time limit was from the establishment of these databases to March 26th, 2020. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, randomized controlled trials about FES for children with cerebral palsy were included. At least two evaluators extracted the data independently and used Cochrane 5.1.0 bias risk assessment tool to evaluate the quality of included studies. The data was analyzed with Review Manager 5.3 software. Results:A total of eleven studies with 513 children were included. The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) D/E scores (MD = 8.14, 95%CI 6.26 to 10.02, P < 0.001), GMFM-88 B score (MD = 8.77, 95%CI 4.00 to 13.53, P < 0.001), modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score (MD = -1.05, 95%CI -1.25 to -0.84, P < 0.001), Kyphosis angle (MD = -10.67, 95%CI -12.21 to -9.13, P < 0.001), Cobb's angle (MD = -2.66, 95%CI -3.38 to -1.93, P < 0.001), step length (MD = 3.35, 95%CI 1.81 to 4.90, P < 0.001), walking speed (MD = 0.09, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.14, P < 0.001) and GMFM score at six weeks follow-up (MD = 4.84, 95%CI 1.90 to 7.77, P = 0.001) were better in FES group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in MAS score between two groups after six weeks of follow-up (MD = 0.04, 95%CI -0.30 to 0.37, P = 0.84). Conclusion:FES could improve the lower-limb and trunk function of children with cerebral palsy, however, the long-term effect of relieving muscle spasm was not significant.

Geniposide Enhances Macrophage Autophagy through Downregulation of TREM2 in Atherosclerosis.

Macrophage autophagy defect is closely related to the progression of atherosclerosis (AS) and is regulated by the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell 2 (TREM2). TREM2 is a key factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the deficiency of which leads to anomalous autophagy in microglia. However, the role of TREM2 in the autophagy of plaque macrophages is still unclear. Geniposide (GP) can inhibit AS progression and enhance macrophage autophagy, although the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We found that high-fat diet (HFD) feeding significantly increased TREM2 levels and inhibited autophagy in the macrophages of ApoE[Formula: see text] mice. TREM2 overexpression in RAW264.7 macrophages decreased autophagy via activation of mTOR signaling. GP inhibited the progression of AS in ApoE[Formula: see text] mice, reinforced macrophage autophagy, and downregulated TREM2 by inhibiting mTOR signaling. Taken together, augmenting the autophagy levels in plaque macrophages by inhibiting the TREM2/mTOR axis can potentially impede atherosclerotic progression. The promising therapeutic effects of GP seen in this study should be validated in future trials, and the underlying mechanisms have to be elucidated in greater detail.

MiR-34a suppresses osteoblast differentiation through glycolysis inhibition by targeting lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDHA).

Bone formation (osteogenesis) is mediated through recruitment of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with capacity to differentiate into osteoblasts, a process which is regulated by transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Multiple studies have suggested that miRNAs might have important roles in osteoblast differentiation. Expressions of miR-34a were detected by qRT-PCR. Cellular glucose metabolism was assessed by measurements of glucose uptake and lactate production. mRNA expressions of glycolysis enzymes were detected by qRT-PCR. Osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs (hMSCs) was analyzed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and Alizarin red staining. Here, we report that microRNA-34a is upregulated during the osteoblast differentiation from hMSCs. miR-34a overexpressing inhibited late osteoblast differentiation of hMSCs in vitro. The ALP activity and Alizarin red staining were significantly decreased by miR-34a in hMSCs. Target prediction analysis reveals that the lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDHA) is a potential target of miR-34a. We hypothesized that miR-34a inhibits osteoblast differentiation through targeting the LDHA-mediated cellular glycolysis. Results from Western blotting and luciferase assay validated that miR-34a could directly target 3'UTR of LDHA mRNA. In addition, we demonstrated that overexpression of miR-34a inhibits cellular anaerobic glycolysis through targeting LHDA. The protein and mRNA expressions of glycolysis enzymes, Hexokinase 2 (HK2), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), and LDHA were significantly downregulated by miR-34a overexpression in hMSCs. Furthermore, we showed that LDHA restoration in miR-34a overexpressing hMSCs successfully rescued the osteoblast differentiation of hMSCs. This study demonstrated the roles of miR-34a in regulating osteoblast differentiation, suggesting that miR-34a inhibition could be a new therapeutic strategy for improving bone formation.

6-Gingerol ameliorates sepsis-induced liver injury through the Nrf2 pathway.

Sepsis-induced liver injury is very common in intensive care units. Here, we investigated the effects of 6-gingerol on sepsis-induced liver injury and the role of the Nrf2 pathway in this process. 6-Gingerol is the principal ingredient of ginger that exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce polymicrobial sepsis and related liver injury, we found that mice pre-treated with 6-Gingerol showed less incidences of severe liver inflammation and death than untreated CLP groups. 6-Gingerol administration also inhibited the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins, including NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), IL-1ß, and caspase-1. Consistent with these findings, 6-gingerol reduced the effects of pyroptosis induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) in RAW 264.7 cells, as evidenced by IL-1ß and caspase-1 protein levels in the supernatant and propidium iodide (PI) staining. 6-Gingerol was shown to activate the Nrf2 pathway in vivo and in vitro. Notably, Nrf2 siRNA transfection nullified the inhibitory effects of 6-gingerol on pyroptosis in vitro. In summary, these findings suggested that 6-gingerol alleviated sepsis-induced liver injury by inhibiting pyroptosis through the Nrf2 pathway.

Role of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in microglia activation after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage / 中国骨伤

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is the leading cause of neonatal death and neurodevelopmental disorders in infants. Part of patients have different degrees of neurological sequelae, such as cerebral palsy, cognitive and motor function development disorders. Hypoxia-ischemia may activate JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, which leads to the microglia activation and neuroinflammation. Down-Regulating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway can inhibit microglia activation and regulate the inflammatory injury of nervous system. At present, the treatment of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is limited, so the study of regulatory mechanism about microglia activation has important value for the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. This paper summarizes the role of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in microglia activation and analyzes the relationship between them, in order to provide new ideas and strategies for treatment on hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Advances on selective posterior rhizotomy for lower limb function in patients with cerebral palsy / 中国骨伤

Cerebral palsy is a common clinical syndrome of neurological disability in childhood, which seriously affects the quality of life of children and their families, and brings a heavy economic burden to the society. Domestic and foreign scholars had a long history of the application of selective posterior rhizotomy for the treatment of spastic cerebral palsy or mixed cerebral palsy with limb paralysis. It is effective in improving the lower extremity spasm of patients with cerebral palsy, and there are few cases with recurrences. After rehabilitation therapy, the muscle strength of patients with cerebral palsy was significantly improved compared with the previous one. The range of motion was significantly improved after operation, and there is no rebounded in aspect of joint activety in the long-term follow-up. The overall gait of the patient was significant improved. The author thought that selective posterior rhizotomy is effective in improving the motor function of lower limbs in patients with cerebral palsy, and it is worth being spread. However, it has to follow the principle of selecting appropriate cases before surgery, precise operation during operation, and timely and effective rehabilitation treatment after surgery, in order to achieve a better curative effect.