Role of umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells in skin rejuvenation.

Aging is the main cause of many degenerative diseases. The skin is the largest and the most intuitive organ that reflects the aging of the body. Under the interaction of endogenous and exogenous factors, there are cumulative changes in the structure, function, and appearance of the skin, which are characterized by decreased synthesis of collagen and elastin, increased wrinkles, relaxation, pigmentation, and other aging characteristics. skin aging is inevitable, but it can be delayed. The successful isolation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in 1991 has greatly promoted the progress of cell therapy in human diseases. The International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) points out that the MSC is a kind of pluripotent progenitor cells that have self-renewal ability (limited) in vitro and the potential for mesenchymal cell differentiation. This review mainly introduces the role of perinatal umbilical cord-derived MSC(UC-MSC) in the field of skin rejuvenation. An in-depth and systematic understanding of the mechanism of UC-MSCs against skin aging is of great significance for the early realization of the clinical transformation of UC-MSCs. This paper summarized the characteristics of skin aging and summarized the mechanism of UC-MSCs in skin rejuvenation reported in recent years. In order to provide a reference for further research of UC-MSCs to delay skin aging.

Rigid Fe(III) Chelate with Phosphonate Pendants: A Stable and Effective Extracellular MRI Contrast Agent.

A novel Fe(III) complex, Fe-tBPCDTA, was synthesized and explored as a potential contrast agent for MRI. Compared to established agents like Fe-EDTA and Fe-tCDTA, Fe-tBPCDTA exhibited moderate relaxivity (r1 = 1.17 s-1·mmol-1) due to its enhanced second-sphere mechanism. It also displayed improved kinetic inertness, lower cytotoxicity, and enhanced redox stability. In vivo studies demonstrated its function as an extracellular fluid agent, providing tumor contrast comparable to that of Gd-DTPA at a higher dosage. Complete renal clearance occurred within 24 h. These findings suggest Fe-tBPCDTA as a promising candidate for further development as a safe and effective extracellular MRI contrast agent.

Adenosine A2A receptor antagonist SCH58261 improves the cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease model mice through activation of Nrf2 via an autophagy-dependent pathway.

AIMS: Adenosine, an important endogenous neuromodulator, contributes to a broad set of several neurodegenerative diseases. The adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) is the most involved in neuropathological effects and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the effect of A2AR antagonist and the underlying mechanism in AD model mice remains unclear. RESULTS: The amyloid beta (Aß)1-42-induced mice AD models were used in this study. Several behavioral experiments were performed to evaluate the improvement of AD mice treat with A2AR receptor antagonist. For mechanism analysis, autophagy-related proteins, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein1(Keap1)- nuclear factor erythroid-derived factor 2-related factor (Nrf2) pathway activation and synaptic function were studied by using western blot, immunofluorescence (IF), immunohistochemistry (IHC), transmission electron microscope (TEM), real-time quantitative (PCR) and patch clamp. Pharmacological blockade of adenosine A2AR by SCH58261 (SCH) ameliorated cognitive deficits and decreased expression levels of several AD biomarkers, including Aß and hyperphosphorylation of Tau. Moreover, SCH activated the Nrf2 pathway through autophagy mediated Keap1 degradation, resulting in the improvement of neurons autophagy dysfunction, synaptic plasticity, and synaptic transmission. INNOVATION: Our data clarified that the SCH58261 (an antagonist of adenosine A2A receptor) could increase the level of autophagy, promote the ability of anti-oxidative stress by the activation of Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, and improve the synaptic function in Aß1-42-induced Alzheimer's disease mice or cell model, which provided a potential therapeutic strategy for AD. CONCLUSION: A2AR antagonism represents a promising strategy for the anti-AD agents development through autophagy-dependent pathway.

MiR-99a-3p downregulates TRIM21 to promote gastric cancer development.

Gastric cancer (GC) stands as one of the most formidable malignancies worldwide. It is well-established that miRNAs play a crucial role in the initiation and progression of various human cancers. Among these, miR-99a-3p has been implicated in the pathogenesis of GC. In the context of our study, we embarked on the comprehensive examination of miR-99a-3p expression in GC cells. Additionally, we sought to establish a correlation between miR-99a-3p expression levels and the overall survival (OS) of GC patients, and our findings hinted at its potential role in predicting an unfavorable prognosis. To further investigate the functional implications of miR-99a-3p in GC, we conducted a series of cell-based experiments after successfully knocking down miR-99a-3p. These investigations uncovered a substantial inhibition of cellular events associated with tumor progression. Moreover, employing TargetScan, we identified Tripartite motif-containing protein 21 (TRIM21) as a putative target with a binding site for miR-99a-3p. Subsequent dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the direct interaction between miR-99a-3p and TRIM21. Western blot analysis validated the alteration in TRIM21 expression levels, revealing an upregulation upon miR-99a-3p knockdown. Building on these molecular findings, we extended our investigations to human GC tissues, where we observed a downregulation of TRIM21, which, notably, correlated with shorter overall survival. Lastly, to further solidify our conclusions, we conducted a series of in vitro and in vivo rescue experiments, collectively suggesting that miR-99a-3p promoted the progression of GC cells through the downregulation of TRIM21. In summary, our study comprehensively explored the role of miR-99a-3p in GC, revealing its association with unfavorable patient outcomes, functional implications in tumor progression, and a direct regulatory relationship with TRIM21. These findings collectively underscore the significance of miR-99a-3p in the pathogenesis of GC and present a potential therapeutic avenue for further investigation.

Functional mechanism of hypoxia-like conditions mediating resistance to ferroptosis in cervical cancer cells by regulating KDM4A SUMOylation and the SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway.

The discovery of ferroptosis has unveiled new perspectives for cervical cancer (CC) management. We elucidated the functional mechanism of hypoxia-like conditions in CC cell ferroptosis resistance. CC cells were subjected to normoxia or hypoxia-like conditions, followed by erastin treatment to induce ferroptosis. The assessment of cell viability/ferroptosis resistance was performed by MTT assay/Fe2+, MDA, and glutathione measurement by colorimetry. KDM4A/SUMO1/Ubc9/SENP1 protein levels were determined by Western blot. Interaction and binding sites between KDM4A and SUMO1 were analyzed and predicted by immunofluorescence/co-immunoprecipitation and GPS-SUMO 1.0 software, with the target relationship verified by mutation experiment. SLC7A11/GPX4/H3K9me3 protein levels, and H3K9me3 level in the SLC7A11 gene promoter region were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot/chromatin immunoprecipitation. H3H9me3/SLC7A11/GPX4 level alterations, and ferroptosis resistance after KDM4A silencing or KDM4A K471 mutation were assessed. Hypoxia-like conditions increased CC cell ferroptosis resistance and KDM4A, SUMO1, and Ubc9 protein levels, while it decreased SENP1 protein level. KDM4A and SUMO1 were co-localized in the nucleus, and hypoxia-like conditions promoted their interaction. Specifically, the K471 locus of KDM4A was the main locus for SUMO1ylation. Hypoxia-like conditions up-regulated SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression levels and decreased H3K9me3 protein level and H3K9me3 abundance in the SLC7A11 promoter region. KDM4A silencing or K471 locus mutation resulted in weakened interaction between KDM4A and SUMO1, elevated H3K9me3 levels, decreased SLC7A11 expression, ultimately, a reduced CC cell ferroptosis resistance. CoCl2-stimulated hypoxia-like conditions enhanced SUMO1 modification of KDM4A at the K471 locus specifically, repressed H3K9me3 levels, and up-regulated SLC7A11/GPX4 to enhance CC cell ferroptosis resistance.

Predicting response of hepatoblastoma primary lesions to neoadjuvant chemotherapy through contrast-enhanced computed tomography radiomics.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) radiomics for predicting the response of primary lesions to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in hepatoblastoma. METHODS: Clinical and CECT imaging data were retrospectively collected from 116 children with hepatoblastoma who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Tumor response was assessed according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). Subsequently, they were randomly stratified into a training cohort and a test cohort in a 7:3 ratio. The clinical model was constructed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression, while the radiomics model was developed based on selected radiomics features employing the support vector machine algorithm. The combined clinical-radiomics model incorporated both clinical and radiomics features. RESULTS: The area under the curve (AUC) for the clinical, radiomics, and combined models was 0.704 (95% CI: 0.563-0.845), 0.830 (95% CI: 0.704-0.959), and 0.874 (95% CI: 0.768-0.981) in the training cohort, respectively. In the validation cohort, the combined model achieved the highest mean AUC of 0.830 (95% CI 0.616-0.999), with a sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, and f1 score of 72.0%, 81.1%, 78.5%, 57.2%, and 63.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: CECT radiomics has the potential to predict primary lesion response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in hepatoblastoma.

Nitrogen-fixing and non-nitrogen-fixing legume plants differ in leaf nutrient concentrations and relationships between photosynthetic and hydraulic traits.

Legumes account for a significant proportion of plants in the terrestrial ecosystems. Nitrogen-fixing capability of certain legumes is a pivotal trait that contributes to their ecological dominance. Yet, the functional traits and trait relationships between N-fixer and non-N-fixer legumes are poorly understood. Here, we investigated 27 functional traits associated with morphology, nutrients, hydraulic conductance, and photosynthesis in 42 woody legumes (19 N-fixers and 23 non-N-fixers) in a common garden. Our results showed that N-fixers had higher specific leaf area, photosynthetic phosphorus (P) use efficiency, leaf nitrogen (N) and iron concentrations on both area and mass basis, N/P ratio, and carbon (C) to P ratio, but lower wood density, area-based maximum photosynthetic rate (Aa), photosynthetic N use efficiency, leaf mass- and area-based P and molybdenum and area-based boron concentrations, and C/N ratio, compared to non-N-fixers. The mass-based maximum photosynthetic rate (Am), stomatal conductance (gs), intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi), mass- and area-based leaf potassium and mass-based boron concentrations, leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf), and whole-shoot hydraulic conductance (Kshoot) showed no difference between N-fixers and non-N-fixers. Significant positive associations between all hydraulic and photosynthetic trait pairs were found in N-fixers, but only one pair (Kshoot-Aa) in non-N-fixers, suggesting that hydraulic conductance plays a more important role in mediating photosynthetic capacity in N-fixers compared to non-N-fixers. Higher mass-based leaf N was linked to lower time-integrated gs and higher WUEi among non-N-fixer legumes or all legumes pooled after phylogeny was considered. Moreover, mass-based P concentration was positively related to Am and gs in N-fixers, but not in non-N-fixers, indicating that the photosynthetic capacity and stomatal conductance in N-fixers were more dependent on leaf P status than in non-N-fixers. These findings expand our understanding of the trait-based ecology within and across N-fixer and non-N-fixer legumes in tropics.

Alterations of human CSF and serum-based mitophagy biomarkers in the continuum of Alzheimer disease.

Defective mitophagy is consistently found in postmortem brain and iPSC-derived neurons from Alzheimer disease (AD) patients. However, there is a lack of extensive examination of mitophagy status in serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and the clinical potential of mitophagy biomarkers has not been tested. We quantified biomarkers of mitophagy/autophagy and lysosomal degradation (PINK1, BNIP3L and TFEB) in CSF and serum from 246 individuals, covering mild cognitive impairment due to AD (MCI-AD, n = 100), dementia due to AD (AD-dementia, n = 100), and cognitively unimpaired individuals (CU, n = 46), recruited from the Czech Brain Aging Study. Cognitive function and brain atrophy were also assessed. Our data show that serum and CSF PINK1 and serum BNIP3L were higher, and serum TFEB was lower in individuals with AD than in corresponding CU individuals. Additionally, the magnitude of mitophagy impairment correlated with the severity of clinical indicators in AD patients. Specifically, levels of PINK1 positively correlated with phosphorylated (p)-MAPT/tau (181), total (t)-MAPT/tau, NEFL (neurofilament light chain), and NRGN (neurogranin) levels in CSF and negatively with memory, executive function, and language domain. Serum TFEB levels negatively correlated with NEFL and positively with executive function and language. This study reveals mitophagy impairment reflected in biofluid biomarkers of individuals with AD and associated with more advanced AD pathology.Abbreviation: Aß: amyloid beta; AD: Alzheimer disease; AVs: autophagic vacuoles; BNIP3L: BCL2 interacting protein 3 like; CU: cognitively unimpaired; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; LAMP1: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MCI: mild cognitive impairment; NRGN: neurogranin; NEFL: neurofilament light chain; p-MAPT/tau: phosphorylated microtubule associated protein tau; PINK1: PTEN induced kinase 1; t-MAPT/tau: total microtubule associated protein tau; TFEB: transcription factor EB; TMT: Trail Making Test.

Ring-Opening Coupling of Cyclopropanol with 1,2,3-Triazole for the Synthesis of Fused Triazoles.

A radical ring-opening arylation of cyclopropanol with 1,2,3-triazole has been achieved. This synthetic protocol provides straightforward access to a wide range of structurally diverse and chiral 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro[1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines with high efficiency from readily available chiral cyclopropanols.

Risk factors associated with ototoxicity in long-term nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors.

PURPOSE: To investigate patient-reported outcomes among long-term survivors and to analyze their associated risk factors to provide better treatment and symptom management for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study collected patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who received radical intensity-modulated radiotherapy in our hospital from June 2009 to June 2016. The patients' disease status and patient-reported outcomes were analyzed by follow-up. The ototoxicity was graded according to CTCAE 5.0. RESULTS: A total of 223 patients were included in the study. Among the enrolled patients, the median follow-up time was 8.4 (6.0-13.0) years. Based on the patient-reported outcomes, ototoxicity was the most common symptom (52.9 %). After univariable and multivariable logistic regression, age ≥ 50 years old (OR, 4.066; 95 % CI, 1.799-9.190; P = .001), diabetes (OR, 3.520; 95 % CI, 1.442-8.591; P = .006), D2 ≥ 69 Gy (OR, 3.715; 95 % CI, 1.064-12.969; P = . 040) and V35 ≥ 91.5 % (OR, 3.398; 95 % CI, 1.113-10.372; P = .032) were associated with a higher incidence of grade 3-4 ototoxicity. Then, we constructed the individual nomogram and the C index of the graph was 0.815. By univariable logistic regression, we found that grade 3-4 ototoxicity was associated with an increased risk of multiple other symptoms, dysmasesia, tongue dysfunction, hoarseness, dysphagia and ocular toxicity. CONCLUSION: In long-term survivors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients receiving IMRT, the most common patient-reported outcome was ototoxicity. Age ≥ 50 years, diabetes, ear exposure dose of D2 ≥ 69 Gy and V35 ≥ 91.5 % are independent risk factors for grade 3-4 ototoxicity.

An estrogen receptor α-derived peptide improves glucose homeostasis during obesity.

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) plays a crucial role in regulating glucose and energy homeostasis during type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here we find a ligand-independent effect of ERα on the regulation of glucose homeostasis. Deficiency of ERα in the liver impairs glucose homeostasis in male, female, and ovariectomized (OVX) female mice. Mechanistic studies reveal that ERα promotes hepatic insulin sensitivity by suppressing ubiquitination-induced IRS1 degradation. The ERα 1-280 domain mediates the ligand-independent effect of ERα on insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, we identify a peptide based on ERα 1-280 domain and find that ERα-derived peptide increases IRS1 stability and enhances insulin sensitivity. Importantly, administration of ERα-derived peptide into obese mice significantly improves glucose homeostasis and serum lipid profiles. These findings pave the way for the therapeutic intervention of T2DM by targeting the ligand-independent effect of ERα and indicate that ERα-derived peptide is a potential insulin sensitizer for the treatment of T2DM.

Chloroplast genomes in seven Lagerstroemia species provide new insights into molecular evolution of photosynthesis genes.

Lagerstroemia indica is an important commercial tree known for the ornamental value. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Lagerstroemia indica "Pink Velour" (Lagerstroemia "Pink Velour") was 152,174 bp in length with a GC content of 39.50%. It contained 85 protein coding genes (PCGs), 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNA genes. 207 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 31 codons with relative synonymous codon (RSCU)value > 1 were detected. Phylogenetic analysis divided 10 Lagerstroemia species into evolutionary branches of clade A and clade B. We conducted a comparative analysis of Lagerstroemia "Pink Velours" complete chloroplast genome with the genomes of six closely related Lagerstroemia species from different origins. The structural features of all seven species were similar, except for the deletion of ycf1 nucleobases at the JSA boundary. The large single-copy (LSC) and the small single-copy (SSC) had a higher sequence divergence than the IR region, and 8 genes that were highly divergent (trnK-UUU, petN, psbF, psbJ, ndhE, ndhD, ndhI, ycf1) had been identified and could be used as molecular markers in future studies. High nucleotide diversity was present in genes belonging to the photosynthesis category. Mutation of single nucleic acid was mainly influenced by codon usage. The value percentage of nonsynonymous substitutions (Ka) and synonymous substitutions (Ks) in 6 Lagerstroemia species revealed that more photosynthesis genes have Ka or Ks only in Lagerstroemia fauriei, Lagerstroemia limii, and Lagerstroemia subcostata. These advances will facilitate the breeding of closely related Lagerstroemia species and deepen understanding on climatic adaptation of Lagerstroemia plants.

Impact of indigenous Oenococcus oeni and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum species co-culture on Cabernet Sauvignon wine malolactic fermentation: Kinetic parameters, color and aroma.

Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is a crucial process to enhance wine quality, and the utilization of indigenous microorganisms has the potential to enhance wine characteristics distinct to a region. Here, the MLF performance of five indigenous Oenococcus oeni strains and six synthetic microbial communities (SynComs), were comparatively evaluated in Cabernet Sauvignon wine. In terms of malate metabolism rate and wine aroma diversity, the strain of O. oeni Oe114-46 demonstrated comparable MLF performance to the commercial strain of O. oeni Oe450 PreAc. Furthermore, the corresponding SynComs (Oe144-46/LpXJ25) exhibited improved fermentation properties, leading to increased viable cell counts of both species, more rapid and thorough MLF, and increased concentrations of important aroma compounds, such as linalool, 4-terpinenol, α-terpineol, diethyl succinate, and ethyl lactate. These findings highlight the remarkable MLF performance of indigenous O. oeni and O. oeni-L. plantarum microbial communities, emphasizing their immense potential in improving MLF efficiency and wine quality.

Improving Soluble Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Grape Pomace Seeds through Fungal Solid-State Fermentation.

Grape pomace seeds contain abundant phenolic compounds, which are also present in both soluble and insoluble forms, similar to many other plant matrices. To further increase the extractable soluble phenolics and their antioxidant activities, grape pomace seeds were fermented with different fungi. Results showed that solid-state fermentation (SSF) with Aspergillus niger, Monascus anka, and Eurotium cristatum at 28 °C and 65% humidity had a significantly positive impact on the release of soluble phenolics in grape pomace seeds. Specifically, SSF with M. anka increased the soluble phenolic contents by 6.42 times (calculated as total phenolic content) and 6.68 times (calculated as total flavonoid content), leading to an overall improvement of antioxidant activities, including DPPH (increased by 2.14 times) and ABTS (increased by 3.64 times) radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, substantial changes were observed in the composition and content of individual phenolic compounds in the soluble fraction, with significantly heightened levels of specific phenolics such as chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, ferulic acid, epicatechin gallate, and resveratrol. Notably, during M. anka SSF, positive correlations were identified between the soluble phenolic content and hydrolase activities. In particular, there is a strong positive correlation between glycosidase and soluble phenols (r = 0.900). The findings present an effective strategy for improving the soluble phenolic profiles and bioactivities of grape pomace seeds through fungal SSF, thereby facilitating the valorization of winemaking by-products.

[Evaluation of the feasibility of endoscopic tympanoplasty in two-person three-hand operation].

Objective:To study the difference of postoperative efficacy between two-person three-hand ear endoscopy and microscopic tympanoplasty in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media, and to explore the advantages and disadvantages of two-person three-hand ear endoscopy. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 100 patients who underwent tympanoplasty in the Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery of Hunan People's Hospital from April 2019 to March 2023, and they were divided into 2 groups with 50 cases each according to random number table method. Among them, 50 cases underwent endoscopic tympanoplasty in two-person three-hand（group A） and 50 cases underwent routine microscopic tympanoplasty（group B）. The operation and postoperative conditions of the two groups were followed up. Results:In group A, the mean operation time was（65.78±18.21） min, the mean intraoperative blood loss was（12.94±4.46） mL, the postoperative pain score was（1.82±0.60） points, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was（2.76±0.72） d. The mean operation time of group B was（89.45±20.38） min, the mean intraoperative blood loss was（22.78±5.74） mL, the postoperative pain score was（2.98±0.85） points, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was（3.82±0.75） d, which with statistical significance between the two groups（P<0.05）. Hearing in both groups was significantly improved 6 months after surgery, and the difference was statistically significant before and after surgery（P<0.05）, but there was no significant difference between the two groups before surgery and 6 months after surgery（P>0.05）. There were 2 cases in group A（4%） and 1 case in group B（2%） complicated with tympanic cord injury during operation, and the difference was not statistically significant（P>0.05）. There were 47 cases of A group（94%） of one-time healing of tympanic membrane after operation, 48 cases（96%） of group B, and the difference was not statistically significant（P>0.05）. Conclusion:There is no significant difference in cure rate and hearing improvement between two-person three-hand ear endoscopic tympanoplasty and conventional microscope surgery, and the operation time is significantly shortened, the amount of blood loss is less, and the postoperative recovery is faster. It has the advantages of clear operating field, two-person three-hand operation, minimally invasive, and can reach the range of middle ear tympanic sinus and mastoid apex, and the surgical complications are seldom, which is worth promoting.

Identifying the geospatial relationship of surface ozone pollution in China: Implications for key pollution control regions.

Surface ozone pollution, as a pressing environmental concern, has garnered widespread attention across China. Due to air mass transport, effective control of ozone pollution is highly dependent on collaborative efforts across neighboring regions. However, specific regions with strong internal interactions of ozone pollution are not yet well identified. Here, we introduced the Geospatial SHapley Additive exPlanation (GeoSHAP) approach, which primarily involves machine learning and geostatistical algorithms. Based on extensive atmospheric environmental monitoring data from 2017 to 2021, machine learning models were employed to train and predict ozone concentrations at the target location. The R2 values on the test sets of different scale regions all reached 0.98 in the overall condition, indicating that the core model has good accuracy and generalization ability. The results highlight key regions with high ozone geospatial relationship (OGR) index, predominantly located in the Northern District (ND), spanning the Fen-Wei Plain, the Loess Plateau, and the North China Plain, as well as within portions of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and the Pearl River Delta (PRD). Further investigation indicated that high geospatial relationships stem from a synergy between anthropogenic and natural factors, with anthropogenic factors serving as a pivotal element. This study revealed key regions with the most urgent need for joint control of anthropogenic sources to mitigate ozone pollution.

Rules of acupoint selection in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease with acupuncture-moxibustion based on complex network analysis. / åŸºäºŽå¤æ‚ç½‘ç»œåˆ†æžé’ˆç¸æ²»ç–—ç‚Žæ€§è‚ ç— çš„é€‰ç©´è§„å¾‹.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the rules of acupoint selection and compatibility of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) based on complex network technology and provide the reliable evidences for acupoint selection in treatment of this disease with acupuncture and moxibustion. METHODS: The clinical studies on acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of IBD were searched from the databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed and Embase. The studies were screened and the acupoint prescriptions were extracted to set up the database of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for IBD. Using Microsoft Excel 2021 software, the use times of acupoint, the use frequency (%) of acupoint, meridian tropism and the use of special point were imported. With SPSS Modeler 18.0 software adopted, the association rules were analyzed on the acupoint prescriptions. The acupoint co-occurrence network diagram, k-core network diagram, and community analysis diagram were drawn by Gephi 0.9.5 software. RESULTS: A total of 156 studies were included, composed of 175 acupoint prescriptions, 75 acupoints, with 1 378 use times in total and around 8 acupoints in one prescription. Regarding the top use frequency, Tianshu (ST25), Zusanli (ST36), Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongwan (CV12) and Pishu (BL20) were listed. The top meridians involved were the foot-yangming stomach meridian, the foot-taiyang bladder meridian and the Conception Vessel. The front-mu point had been used with the highest frequency among the special points. ST36 and ST25 were a pair of points with the highest frequency in treatment. The k-core hierarchical analysis was adopted to optimize acupoint prescriptions, and 22 core acupoints were obtained, i.e. ST25, ST36, CV4, CV12, BL20, Dachangshu (BL25), Shangjuxu (ST37), Shenshu (BL23), Qihai (CV6), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Mingmen (GV4), Xingjian (LR2), Yinlingquan (SP9), Neiting (ST44), Taichong (LR3), Xiajuxu (ST39), Shuifen (CV9), Shenque (CV8), Ganshu (BL18), Weishu (BL21), Hegu (LI4) and Quchi(LI11), which were classified into three core acupoint groups by community analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Through complex network analysis, it is found that the local acupoints on the chest and abdomen are generally selected in treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion for IBD, the combination of the nearby and distal points is considered simulta-neously, and the acupoint prescription is modified according to syndrome/pattern differentiation；and among special points, the front-mu point is widely used in treatment. All of these rules provide the ideas for the acupoint selection of acupuncture-moxibustion in treatment of IBD.

Identifying Predictors for Hypoplastic Aortic Arch (HAA) in Pediatric Patients with Complex Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA).

OBJECTIVE: HAA is a significant risk factor in complex CoA patients. We conducted a retrospective study to explore the relationship between HAA and other cardiovascular factors. METHODS: We analyzed 103 patients diagnosed with complex CoA using CT angiography and echocardiography. Aortic diameter was measured at six levels, and severe coarctation was defined as coarctation site to diaphragmatic level ratio (CDR) < 50%. Correlations between non-HAA and HAA groups were assessed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression identified HAA risk factors. RESULTS: Among 103 children with complex CoA, 55 were in the non-HAA group and 48 in the HAA group. The incidence of PDA (56.3% vs. 32.7%, p < 0.05), severe coarctation (CDR < 50%, 81.3% vs. 34.5%, p < 0.01), and collateral arteries (39.6% vs. 0, p < 0.01) were higher in the HAA group than one in the non-HAA group. The aortic arch size was positively correlated with age and negatively correlated with severe coarctation, VSD, collateral arteries, and left heart dysfunction. Logistic regression results showed that collateral arteries were risk factors for the whole aortic arch (proximal arch OR = 11.458; p < 0.01, distal arch OR = 4.211; p < 0.05, and isthmus OR = 11.744; p < 0.01), severe coarctation (OR = 6.653; p < 0.01), and left heart dysfunction (OR = 5.149; p < 0.01) associated with isthmus hypoplasia. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the prevalence of HAA in complex CoA patients and its associations with various cardiovascular factors. These insights improve diagnosis and treatment approaches.

Image-defined risk factors associated with MYCN oncogene amplification in neuroblastoma and their association with overall survival.

OBJECTIVE: The MYCN oncogene is a critical factor in the development and progression of neuroblastoma, and image-defined risk factors (IDRFs) are radiological findings used for the preoperative staging of neuroblastoma. This study aimed to investigate the specific categories of IDRFs associated with MYCN amplification in neuroblastoma and their association with overall survival. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 280 pediatric patients diagnosed with neuroblastoma, utilizing a combination of clinical and radiological data. MYCN amplification status was ascertained through molecular testing, and the assessment of IDRFs was conducted using either contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The specific categories of IDRFs associated with MYCN amplification and their association with overall survival were analyzed. RESULTS: MYCN amplification was identified in 19.6% (55/280) of patients, with the majority of primary lesions located in the abdomen (53/55, 96.4%). Lesions accompanied by MYCN amplification exhibited significantly larger tumor volume and a greater number of IDRFs compared with those without MYCN amplification (P < 0.001). Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that coeliac axis/superior mesenteric artery encasement and infiltration of adjacent organs/structures were independently associated with MYCN amplification in abdominal neuroblastoma (P < 0.05). Patients presenting with more than four IDRFs experienced a worse prognosis (P = 0.017), and infiltration of adjacent organs/structures independently correlated with overall survival in abdominal neuroblastoma (P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The IDRFs are closely correlated with the MYCN amplification status and overall survival in neuroblastoma.

Sex differences in luteinizing hormone aggravates Aß deposition in APP/PS1 and Aß1-42-induced mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibits a higher incidence rate among older women, and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis during aging is associated with cognitive impairments and the development of dementia. luteinizing hormone (LH) has an important role in CNS function, such as mediating neuronal pregnenolone production, and modulating neuronal plasticity and cognition. The sex differences in LH and its impact on Aß deposition in AD individuals remain unclear, with no reported specific mechanisms. Here, we show through data mining that LH-related pathways are significantly enriched in female AD patients. Additionally, LH levels are elevated in female AD patients and exhibit a negative correlation with cognitive levels but a positive correlation with AD pathology levels, and females exhibit a greater extent of AD pathology, such as Aß deposition. In vivo, we observed that the exogenous injection of LH exacerbated behavioral impairments induced by Aß1-42 in mice. LH injection resulted in worsened neuronal damage and increased Aß deposition. In SH-SY5Y cells, co-administration of LH with Aß further exacerbated Aß-induced neuronal damage. Furthermore, LH can dose-dependently decrease the levels of NEP and LHR proteins while increasing the expression of GFAP and IBA1 in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, these results indicate that LH can exacerbate cognitive impairment and neuronal damage in mice by increasing Aß deposition. The potential mechanism may involve the reduction of NEP and LHR expression, along with the exacerbation of Aß-induced inflammation.