Molecular characterization, expression analysis and function identification of Pf_IL-12p35, Pf_IL-23p19 and Pf_IL-12p40 genes in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco).

The interleukin-12 (IL-12) family is a class of heterodimeric cytokines that play crucial roles in pro-inflammatory and pro-stimulatory responses. Although some IL-12 and IL-23 paralogues have been found in fish, their functional activity in fish remains poorly understood. In this study, Pf_IL-12p35a/b, Pf_IL-23p19 and Pf_IL-12p40a/b/c genes were cloned from yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco), four α-helices were found in Pf_IL-12p35a/b and Pf_IL-23p19. The transcripts of these six genes were relatively high in mucus and immune tissues of healthy individuals, and in gill leukocytes. Following Edwardsiella ictaluri infection, Pf_IL-12p35a/b and Pf_IL-23p19 mRNAs were induced in brain and kidney (or head kidney), Pf_IL-12p40a mRNA was induced in gill, and Pf_IL-12p40b/c mRNAs were induced in brain and liver (or skin). The mRNA expression of these genes in PBLs was induced by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), while lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced the mRNA expression of Pf_IL-12p35a and Pf_IL-12p40b/c in PBLs. After stimulation with recombinant (r) Pf_IL-12 and rPf_IL-23 subunit proteins, either alone or in combination, mRNA expression patterns of genes related to T helper cell development exhibited distinct differences. The results suggest that Pf_IL-12 and Pf_IL-23 subunits may play important roles in regulating immune responses to pathogens and T helper cell development.

Inhibition of TAF1B impairs ribosome biosynthesis and suppresses cell proliferation in stomach adenocarcinoma through promoting c-MYC mRNA degradation.

Hyperactivation of ribosome biosynthesis (RiBi) is a hallmark of cancer, and targeting ribosome biogenesis has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy. The depletion of TAF1B, a major component of selectivity factor 1 (SL1), disrupts the pre-initiation complex, preventing RNA polymerase I from binding ribosomal DNA and inhibiting the hyperactivation of RiBi. Here, we investigate the role of TAF1B, in regulating RiBi and proliferation in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD). We disclosed that the overexpression of TAF1B correlates with poor prognosis in STAD, and found that knocking down TAF1B effectively inhibits STAD cell proliferation and survival in vitro and in vivo. TAF1B knockdown may also induce nucleolar stress, and promote c-MYC degradation in STAD cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that TAF1B depletion impairs rRNA gene transcription and processing, leading to reduced ribosome biogenesis. Collectively, our findings suggest that TAF1B may serve as a potential therapeutic target for STAD and highlight the importance of RiBi in cancer progression.

Long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on five mental and psychological disorders: in terms of the number of disease visits, drug consumption, and scale scores.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 caused mild to severe infections in humans. The long-term epidemic environment harms people's mental health. To explore the impact of the epidemic on people's mental and psychological conditions, we surveyed in Wenzhou. METHODS: We collected the data of people who visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University for five types of mental and psychological diseases from January 2018 to December 2021. Then, taking December 2019 as the cut-off point, the 48-month data were divided into the pre-epidemic group and the dur-epidemic group. Based on the above data, statistical analysis was done. RESULTS: From 2018 to 2021, the number of initial diagnoses, the number of disease visits, and drug consumption for these five types of mental and psychological diseases were all on the rise. Compared with the number of disease visits for all disorders in both psychiatry and neurology departments, it was found that the growth rate of these five diseases was higher than the growth rate of all disorders. We found that the number of disease visits, drug consumption, and scale scores after the COVID-19 outbreak were significantly different from those before the outbreak (P < 0.05). And the number of disease visits positively correlated with drug consumption (P < 0.0001, r = 0.9503), which verified the stability of the data. CONCLUSION: The epidemic environment has had a long-term and negative impact on people's mental and psychological conditions. Therefore, whether or not the epidemic is receding, we still need to be concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on mental and psychological health.

The ratio of superior mesenteric artery diameter to superior mesenteric vein diameter based on non-enhanced computed tomography in the early diagnosis of spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous isolated superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection (SISMAD) is a rare cause of abdominal pain. The aim of the study is to investigate the role of a new parameter, the ratio of the SMA diameter to the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) diameter (SMA/SMV) based on non-enhanced computed tomography (CT), in the early diagnosis of SISMAD. METHODS: In a registry study from December 2013 to June 2021, 97 abdominal pain SISMAD patients (SISMAD group) admitted to our hospital were enrolled. Meanwhile, the matched sex and age abdominal pain non-SISMAD patients at 1:2 were collected in reverse chronological order as the control group. Student's t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and Chi-square test were used to compare differences between the SISMAD and control groups. MedCalc was used to generate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: A total of 291 abdominal pain patients, including 97 SISMAD patients and 194 non-SISMAD patients, were included in the current study. The maximum SMA diameter, perivascular exudation, and SMA/SMV based on non-enhanced CT were significant between the two groups (all P<0.05). ROC curves showed that for the maximum SMA diameter, the area under the curve (AUC), cut-off, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.926, 9.80, 93.8%, and 79.4%, respectively. For SMA/SMV, its AUC, cut-off, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.956, 0.83, 88.7%, and 92.3%, respectively. The diagnostic efficiency of SMA/SMV was better than that of the maximum SMA diameter (P<0.05). The combined parameters of SMA/SMV and maximum SMA diameter had the best diagnostic efficiency (AUC=0.970). CONCLUSION: SMA/SMV may be a potential marker for SISMAD.

Factors influencing outcomes after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in emergency department.

BACKGROUND: The outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) may depend on a variety of factors related to patient status or resuscitation management. To evaluate the factors influencing the outcome of CPR after cardiac arrest (CA) will be conducive to improve the effectiveness of resuscitation. Therefore, a study was designed to assess these factors in the emergency department (ED) of a city hospital. METHODS: A CPR registry conforming to the Utstein-style template was conducted in the ED of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College from January 2005 to December 2011. The outcomes of CPR were compared in various factors groups. The primary outcomes were rated to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), 24-hour survival, survival to discharge and discharge with favorable neurological outcomes. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate factors associated with survival. RESULTS: A total of 725 patients were analyzed in the study. Of these patients, 187 (25.8%) had ROSC, 100 (13.8%) survived for 24 hours, 48 (6.6%) survived to discharge, and 23 (3.2%) survived to discharge with favorable neurologic outcomes. A logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the independent predictors of ROSC included traumatic etiology, first monitored rhythms, CPR duration, and total adrenaline dose. The independent predictors of 24-hour survival included traumatic etiology, cardiac etiology, first monitored rhythm and CPR duration. Previous status, cardiac etiology, first monitored rhythms and CPR duration were included in independent predictors of survival to discharge and neurologically favorable survival to discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Shockable rhythms, CPR duration ≤15 minutes and total adrenaline dose ≤5 mg were favorable predictors of ROSC, whereas traumatic etiology was unfavorable. Cardiac etiology, shockable rhythms and CPR duration ≤15 minutes were favorable predictors of 24-hour survival, whereas traumatic etiology was unfavorable. Cardiac etiology, shockable rhythms, CPR duration ≤15 minutes were favorable predictors of survival to discharge and neurologically favorable survival to discharge, but previous terminal illness or multiple organ failure (MOF) was unfavorable.

Effects of Hemin on neuroglobin expression after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in rats.

BACKGROUND: Despite a large amount of resuscitation research, the survival rate after cardiac arrest remains low, and brain injury is the key issue. Neuroglobin (NGB) is an oxygen-binding heme protein found in the brain with a protection role against ischemic-hypoxic brain injury. Hemin is an effective activator of neuroglobin. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of hemin on expression of neuroglobin (NGB) in the cerebral cortex, neuro-deficit score (NDS) and pathological changes after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in rats. METHODS: A total of 120 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group (A), a CPR group (B) and a Hemin group (C). The animal model of cardiac arrest (CA) induced by asphyxia and CPR was established. NGB expression in the cerebral cortex with immunohistochemistry, NDS and pathological changes in the cerebral cortex were examined at 3, 6, 12, 24 hours after recovery of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in each group. Experimental data were treated as one-factor analysis of variance and the Tukey test. RESULTS: In comparison with group A, NGB expression was increased significantly at 12 and 24 hours after ROSC (P<0.05 or P<0.01), NDS was decreased significantly at each time point after ROSC (P<0.01), and pathological changes were severe at each time point after ROSC in group B. In comparison with group A, NGB expression was increased significantly at 6, 12, 24 hours after ROSC (P<0.05 or P<0.01), NDS was decreased significantly at 3, 6, 12 hours after ROSC (P<0.01) in group C. In comparison with group B, NGB expression was increased significantly at 12 and 24 hours after ROSC, NDS was increased significantly at 12 and 24 hours after ROSC, and pathological changes were milder in group C. CONCLUSION: There were increased NGB expression in the cerebral cortex, decreased NDS, and severe pathological changes after CPR in rats. Hemin treatment up-regulated expression of NGB, improved NDS, mitigated pathological changes, and alleviated cerebral injury after CPR.

Effect of exogenous phosphocreatine on cardiomycytic apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in rats.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion injury in the myocardium after cardiac arrest (CA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important pathologic basis of post-cardiac arrest of syndrome (PCAS), and apoptosis is one of the major mechanisms in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. To lessen myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury after cardiac arrest and CPR, it is important to reduce energy consumption and to increase energy supply in the myocardium. This study aimed to observe changes of cell apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein on the myocardium after CPR in rats, and the protective effects of different doses of exogenous phosphocreatine (creatine phosphate, CP) on them. METHODS: A total of 32 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (group A), CPR group (group B), low-dose CP group (group C, CP 0.5 g/kg at beginning of CPR and 1.0 g/kg at 2 hours after CPR) and high-dose CP group (group D, CP 1.0 g/kg at beginning of CPR and 2.0 g/kg at 2 hours after CPR). Cardiac arrest was induced by asphyxiation and CPR started at 7 minutes after asphyxiation in groups B, C and D. Myocardium samples were taken at 24 hours after CPR. Cardiomycytic apoptosis was detected by the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein was measured by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Cardiomyocytic apoptosis index (AI) and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein increased more significantly in groups B, C and D than in group A (P<0.01), but Bcl-2/Bax ratio significantly decreased (P<0.01). Cardiomyocytic AI and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein decreased more significantly in groups C and D than in group B (P<0.01), but Bcl-2/Bax ratio increased more significantly (P<0.01). Cardiomyocytic AI and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein decreased more significantly in group D than in group C (P<0.05), but Bcl-2/Bax ratio increased more significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Exogenous phosphocreatine, especially at a large dose, could inhibit cardiomyocytic apoptosis and alleviate myocardial injury after CPR in rats.

[Protective effect of ulinastatin on myocardium after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in serum creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels and the ultrastructure of myocardium, and the effect of ulinastatin after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in rats. METHODS: One hundred and twenty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, CPR group and ulinastatin group. And each group was divided into five subgroups (n=8) according to time points of 0.5, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours after tracheostomy in sham operation group or after restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in CPR group and ulinastatin group. Cardiac arrest (CA) and CPR models were reproduced by asphyxia in CPR group and ulinastatin group, with injection of ulinastatin 100 kU/kg via carotid 2 minutes after ROSC in ulinastatin group. Normal saline was given in the same dosage as ulinastatin in CPR group. Serum samples was taken at each time point of subgroups for measuring serum levels of CK-MB and cTnI. The ultrastructure changes in myocardium were observed under the electron microscope. RESULTS: The serum levels of CK-MB and cTnI were increased from 0.5 hours after ROSC in CPR group and ulinastatin group compared with sham operation group ( all P<0.01), and CK-MB peaked at 12 hours, then decreased. The serum CK-MB or cTnI levels started to decreased from 3 hours or 0.5 hours after ROSC in ulinastatin group compared with CPR group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were milder pathological changes of ultrastructure of myocardium in ulinastatin group than in CPR group. CONCLUSION: Ulinastatin could decrease serum levels of CK-MB and cTnI, and alleviate myocardial injury after CPR in rats.

[Expression of mRNA of matrix metalloproteinase and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase after cardiopulmonary resuscitation for asphyxial cardiac arrest in rat].

OBJECTIVE: To study the change in mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) and tissue inhibitor-1 of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) in brain after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for asphyxial cardiac arrest in rat. METHODS: The animal model of cardiac arrest was reproduced by clamping endotracheal tube at the expiration. Eighty male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group and resuscitation group, and they were again divided into 0, 0.5, 3, 6, 9 hours subgroups (n=8). Evans blue content and mRNA expressions of MMPs and TIMP-1 in the brain after CPR were determined respectively. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was up-regulated 3 hours after restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). At 6 hours after ROSC, they were markedly high, and the ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1 was higher too. The mRNA expression of MMP-2 showed no significant change at 9 hours after ROSC. CONCLUSION: The mRNA expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 are increased at early stage after CPR, but the mRNA expression of MMP-2 shows no significant change.

[Correlations of serous levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) to invasion and metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is a common carcinoma in thyroid without ideal hematological biomarkers to indicate its biological feature. This study was to explore the correlation of serous levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) to invasion and metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: Serous levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 of 74 patients with pathologically confirmed papillary thyroid carcinoma were measured by zymography. All patients were treated with modified radical operation in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College from 1999 to 2003. RESULTS: Serous levels of activated MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastases than in patients without lymph node metastases (71.9+/-11.7 vs. 35.2+/-6.6, P < 0.001; 15.5+/-6.1 vs. 7.3+/-2.3, P < 0.001), and were significantly higher in patients with carcinoma invaded in and through integument than in patients with carcinoma invaded within integument (70.5+/-13.0 vs. 35.4+/-7.9, P < 0.001; 14.7+/-6.1 vs. 8.0+/-4.2, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in serous levels of activated MMP-2 and MMP-9 between patients with carcinoma diameter of > or =1 cm and < 1 cm (55.4+/-20.4 vs. 59.3+/-20.8, 10.8+/-5.7 vs. 13.7+/-6.8). There was also no significant difference in serous levels of total MMP-2 and MMP-9 between every 2 groups mentioned above (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serous levels of activated MMP-2 and MMP-9 relate with invasion and metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma, but not relate with tumor size.