The life-course changes in muscle mass using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry: The China BCL study and the US NHANES study.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is an important indicator of ill health and is linked to increased mortality and a reduced quality of life. Age-associated muscle mass indices provide a critical tool to help understand the development of sarcopenia. This study aimed to develop sex- and age-specific percentiles for muscle mass indices in a Chinese population and to compare those indices with those from other ethnicities using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. METHODS: Whole-body and regional muscle mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in participants of the China Body Composition Life-course (BCL) study (17 203 healthy Chinese aged 3-60 years, male 48.9%) and NHANES (12 663 healthy Americans aged 8-59 years, male 50.4%). Age- and sex-specific percentile curves were generated for whole-body muscle mass and appendicular skeletal muscle mass using the Generalized Additive Model for Location Scale and Shape statistical method. RESULTS: Values of upper and lower muscle mass across ages had three periods: an increase from age 3 to a peak at age 25 in males (with the 5th and 95th values of 41.5 and 66.4 kg, respectively) and age 23 in females (with the 5th and 95th values of 28.4 and 45.1 kg, respectively), a plateau through midlife (30s-50s) and then a decline after their early 50s. The age at which muscle mass began to decline was 52 years in men with the 5th and 95th percentile values of 43.5 and 64.6 kg, and 51 years in women with the 5th and 95th percentile values of 31.6 and 46.9 kg. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass decreased earlier than whole body muscle mass, especially leg skeletal muscle mass, which decreased slightly after age 49 years in both sexes. In comparison with their US counterparts in the NHANES, the Chinese participants had lower muscle mass indices (all P < 0.001) and reached a muscle mass peak earlier with a lower muscle mass, with the exception of similar values compared with adult Mexican and White participants. The muscle mass growth rate of Chinese children decreased faster than that of other races after the age of 13. CONCLUSIONS: We present the sex- and age-specific percentiles for muscle mass and appendicular skeletal muscle mass by DXA in participants aged 3-60 from China and compare them with those of different ethnic groups in NHANES. The rich data characterize the trajectories of key muscle mass indices that may facilitate the clinical appraisal of muscle mass and improve the early diagnosis of sarcopenia in the Chinese population.

S-Allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) inhibits copper-induced apoptosis and cuproptosis to alleviate cardiomyocyte injury.

Cardiomyocyte injury is closely related to various myocardial diseases, and S-Allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) has been found to have myocardial protective effects, but its mechanism is currently unclear. Meanwhile, copper also has various physiological functions, and this study found that copper inhibited cell viability in a concentration and time-dependent manner, and was associated with multiple modes of death. Elesclomol plus CuCl2 (ES + Cu) significantly inhibited cell viability, and this effect could only be blocked by copper chelator TTM, indicating that "ES + Cu" induced cuproptosis in cardiomyocytes. SAC reduced the inhibitory effects of high concentration copper and "ES + Cu" on cell viability in a concentration and time-dependent manner, indicating that SAC plays a cardioprotective role under stress. Further mechanism study showed that high concentration of copper significantly induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and increased the levels of LDH, MDA and ROS, while SAC inhibited the apoptosis and injury of cardiomyocytes induced by copper. "ES + Cu" significantly increased intracellular copper levels and decreased the expression of FDX1, LIAS, Lip-DLST and Lip-DLAT; FDX1 siRNA did not affect the expression of LIAS, but further reduced the expression of Lip-DLST and Lip-DLAT; SAC did not affect the expression of these genes, but enhanced the effect of "ES + Cu" in down-regulating these gene expression and restored intracellular copper levels. In addition, "ES + Cu" reduced ATP production, weakened the activity of mitochondrial complex I and III, inhibited cell viability, and increased the contents of injury markers LDH, MDA, CK-MB and cTnI, while SAC significantly improved mitochondrial function injury and cardiomyocyte injury induced by "ES + Cu". Therefore, SAC can inhibit apoptosis and cuproptosis to play a cardioprotective role.

Bone volume and height changes for lateral window sinus floor elevation using two types of deproteinized bovine bone mineral: A retrospective cohort study of 1-4 years.

OBJECTIVE: To compare bone volume and height changes of two types of deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) for lateral window sinus floor elevation (LSFE) with simultaneous implant placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study involved 72 patients who underwent LSFE using low-temperature sintered cancellous bone-derived DBBM (C-DBBM) or high-temperature two-step sintered epiphyseal-derived DBBM (E-DBBM). Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was acquired preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, 6 months and 1-4 years post-surgery. Bone volume (BV), apical bone height (ABH), endo-sinus bone gain (ESBG), and crestal bone level (CBL) were evaluated through three-dimensional fitting and superimposition. Linear mixed models (LMM) were employed to analyze factors influencing the reduction of BV (ΔBV) and ESBG (ΔESBG). RESULTS: The E-DBBM group showed no significant change in BV 1-4 years post-surgery, while the C-DBBM group demonstrated a significant reduction (p = .006) with volume stability of 85.86%. Bone height in the E-DBBM group increased at 6 months and subsequently decreased at 1-4 years (p = .003). In the C-DBBM group, it decreased at 6 months (p = .014), then further decreased at 1-4 years (p = .001). ΔESBG was lower in the E-DBBM group than the C-DBBM group from immediate postoperative to 1-4 years (p = .009). LMM showed graft material type was the primary factor influencing ΔBV (p = .026) and ΔESBG (p = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, both types of DBBM could achieve favorable clinical outcomes. E-DBBM demonstrated enhanced stability in maintaining bone volume and height.

[Melatonin alleviates autophagy in cortical neurons of neonatal rats with hypoxic- ischemic brain damage via the PI3K/AKT pathway]. / è¤ªé»‘ç´ é€šè¿‡PI3K/AKTé€šè·¯å‡è½»ç¼ºæ°§ç¼ºè¡€æ€§è„‘æŸä¼¤æ–°ç”Ÿå¤§é¼ å¤§è„‘çš®å±‚ç¥žç»ç»†èƒžè‡ªå™¬çš„ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effects of melatonin on autophagy in cortical neurons of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) and to explore its mechanisms via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, aiming to provide a basis for the clinical application of melatonin. METHODS: Seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, an HIBD group, and a melatonin group (n=9 each). The neonatal rat HIBD model was established using the classic Rice-Vannucci method. Neuronal morphology in the neonatal rat cerebral cortex was observed with hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining. Autophagy-related protein levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin-1 were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis. Phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (p-PI3K) and phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT) protein expression levels were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The correlation between autophagy and the PI3K pathway in the melatonin group and the HIBD group was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-four hours post-modeling, neurons in the sham operation group displayed normal size and orderly arrangement. In contrast, neurons in the HIBD group showed swelling and disorderly arrangement, while those in the melatonin group had relatively normal morphology and more orderly arrangement. Nissl bodies were normal in the sham operation group but distorted in the HIBD group; however, they remained relatively intact in the melatonin group. The average fluorescence intensity of LC3 and Beclin-1 was higher in the HIBD group compared to the sham operation group, but was reduced in the melatonin group compared to the HIBD group (P<0.05). The number of p-PI3K+ and p-AKT+ cells decreased in the HIBD group compared to the sham operation group but increased in the melatonin group compared to the HIBD group (P<0.05). LC3 and Beclin-1 protein expression levels were higher, and p-PI3K and p-AKT levels were lower in the HIBD group compared to the sham operation group (P<0.05); however, in the melatonin group, LC3 and Beclin-1 levels decreased, and p-PI3K and p-AKT increased compared to the HIBD group (P<0.05). The correlation analysis results showed that the difference of the mean fluorescence intensity of LC3 and Beclin-1 protein in the injured cerebral cortex between the melatonin and HIBD groups was negatively correlated with the difference of the number of p-PI3K+ and p-AKT+ cells between the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin can inhibit excessive autophagy in cortical neurons of neonatal rats with HIBD, thereby alleviating HIBD. This mechanism is associated with the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Construction of a predictive model for acute liver failure after hepatectomy based on neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and albumin-bilirubin score.

BACKGROUND: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a common cause of postoperative death in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is a serious threat to patient safety. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a common inflammatory indicator that is associated with the prognosis of various diseases, and the albumin-bilirubin score (ALBI) is used to evaluate liver function in liver cancer patients. Therefore, this study aimed to construct a predictive model for postoperative ALF in HCC tumor integrity resection (R0) based on the NLR and ALBI, providing a basis for clinicians to choose appropriate treatment plans. AIM: To construct an ALF prediction model after R0 surgery for HCC based on NLR and ALBI. METHODS: In total, 194 patients with HCC who visited The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang to receive R0 between May 2018 and May 2023 were enrolled and divided into the ALF and non-ALF groups. We compared differences in the NLR and ALBI between the two groups. The risk factors of ALF after R0 surgery for HCC were screened in the univariate analysis. Independent risk factors were analyzed by multifactorial logistic regression. We then constructed a prediction model of ALF after R0 surgery for HCC. A receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the value of the prediction model. RESULTS: Among 194 patients with HCC who met the standard inclusion criteria, 46 cases of ALF occurred after R0 (23.71%). There were significant differences in the NLR and ALBI between the two groups (P < 0.05). The univariate analysis showed that alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and blood loss volume (BLV) were significantly higher in the ALF group compared with the non-ALF group (P < 0.05). The multifactorial analysis showed that NLR, ALBI, AFP, and BLV were independent risk factors for ALF after R0 surgery in HCC. The predictive efficacy of NLR, ALBI, AFP, and BLV in predicting the occurrence of ALT after R0 surgery for HCC was average [area under the curve (AUC)NLR = 0.767, AUCALBI = 0.755, AUCAFP = 0.599, AUCBLV = 0.718]. The prediction model for ALF after R0 surgery for HCC based on NLR and ALBI had a better predictive efficacy (AUC = 0.916). The calibration curve and actual curve were in good agreement. DCA showed a high net gain and that the model was safer compared to the curve in the extreme case over a wide range of thresholds. CONCLUSION: The prediction model based on NLR and ALBI can effectively predict the risk of developing ALF after HCC R0 surgery, providing a basis for clinical prevention of developing ALF after HCC R0 surgery.

Effects and microbiota changes following oral lyophilized fecal microbiota transplantation in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Background and purpose: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders that is characterized by core features in social communication impairment and restricted, repetitive sensory-motor behaviors. This study aimed to further investigate the utilization of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in children with ASD, both with and without gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, evaluate the effect of FMT and analyze the alterations in bacterial and fungal composition within the gut microbiota. Methods: A total of 38 children diagnosed with ASD participated in the study and underwent oral lyophilized FMT treatment. The dosage of the FMT treatment was determined based on a ratio of 1 g of donor stool per 1 kg of recipient body weight, with a frequency of once every 4 weeks for a total of 12 weeks. In addition, 30 healthy controls (HC) were included in the analysis. The clinical efficacy of FMT was evaluated, while the composition of fecal bacteria and fungi was determined using 16S rRNA and ITS gene sequencing methods. Results: Median age of the 38 children with ASD was 7 years. Among these children, 84.2% (32 of 38) were boys and 81.6% (31 of 38) exhibited GI symptoms, with indigestion, constipation and diarrhea being the most common symptoms. Sample collections and assessments were conducted at baseline (week 0), post-treatment (week 12) and follow-up (week 20). At the end of the follow-up phase after FMT treatment, the autism behavior checklist (ABC) scores decreased by 23% from baseline, and there was a 10% reduction in scores on the childhood autism rating scale (CARS), a 6% reduction in scores on the social responsiveness scale (SRS) and a 10% reduction in scores on the sleep disturbance scale for children (SDSC). In addition, short-term adverse events observed included vomiting and fever in 2 participants, which were self-limiting and resolved within 24 h, and no long-term adverse events were observed. Although there was no significant difference in alpha and beta diversity in children with ASD before and after FMT therapy, the FMT treatment resulted in alterations in the relative abundances of various bacterial and fungal genera in the samples of ASD patients. Comparisons between children with ASD and healthy controls (HC) revealed statistically significant differences in microbial abundance before and after FMT. Blautia, Sellimonas, Saccharomycopsis and Cystobasidium were more abundant in children with ASD than in HC, while Dorea were less abundant. After FMT treatment, levels of Blautia, Sellimonas, Saccharomycopsis and Cystobasidium decreased, while levels of Dorea increased. Moreover, the increased abundances of Fusicatenibacter, Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG-003, Saccharomyces, Rhodotorula, Cutaneotrichosporon and Zygosaccharomyces were negatively correlated with the scores of ASD core symptoms. Conclusions: Oral lyophilized FMT could improve GI and ASD related symptoms, as well as sleep disturbances, and alter the gut bacterial and fungal microbiota composition in children with ASD. Clinical Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200055943. Registered 28 January 2022, www.chictr.org.cn.

Optimization of Diagnosis-Related Groups for 14,246 Patients with Uterine Leiomyoma in a Single Center in Western China Using a Machine Learning Model.

Background: Uterine leiomyoma (UL) is one of the most common benign tumors in women, and its incidence is gradually increasing in China. The clinical complications of UL have a negative impact on women's health, and the cost of treatment poses a significant burden on patients. Diagnosis-related groups (DRG) are internationally recognized as advanced healthcare payment management methods that can effectively reduce costs. However, there are variations in the design and grouping rules of DRG policies across different regions. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the factors influencing the hospitalization costs of patients with UL and optimize the design of DRG grouping schemes to provide insights for the development of localized DRG grouping policies. Methods: The Mann-Whitney U-test or the Kruskal-Wallis H-test was employed for univariate analysis, and multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was utilized to identify the primary influencing factors of hospitalization costs for UL. Case combination classification was conducted using the exhaustive chi-square automatic interactive detection (E-CHAID) algorithm within a decision tree framework. Results: Age, occupation, number of hospitalizations, type of medical insurance, Transfer to other departments, length of stay (LOS), type of UL, admission condition, comorbidities and complications, type of primary procedure, other types of surgical procedures, and discharge method had a significant impact on hospitalization costs (P<0.05). Among them, the type of primary procedure, other types of surgical procedures, and LOS were the main factors influencing hospitalization costs. By incorporating the type of primary procedure, other types of surgical procedures, and LOS into the decision tree model, patients were divided into 11 DRG combinations. Conclusion: Hospitalization costs for UL are mainly related to the type of primary procedure, other types of surgical procedures, and LOS. The DRG case combinations of UL based on E-CHAID algorithm are scientific and reasonable.

Combined effects of binary mixtures of 17ß-estradiol and testosterone in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) after full life-cycle exposure.

Estrogens and androgens are typical steroid hormones and often occur together in contaminated aquatic environments, but their mixed effects in aquatic organisms have been less well reported. In this study, the endocrine disrupting effects of binary mixtures of 17ß-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) were assessed by analyzing the sex ratio, secondary sex characteristics, gonadal histology, and transcriptional expression of target genes related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in G. affinis (from embryos) continuously exposed to E2 (50 ng/L), T (T1: 50 ng/L; T2: 200 ng/L), and mixtures of both (E2 + T1: 50 + 50 ng/L; E2 + T2: 50 + 200 ng/L) for 119 d. The results showed that exposure to E2 + T1 and E2 + T2 reduced the length ratio of ray 4/6 ratio in male G. affinis, suggesting feminized phenomenon in male G. affinis. Furthermore, 16.7-38.5 % of female G. affinis showed masculinized anal fins and hemal spines when exposed to T alone and in combination with E2. Importantly, the transcriptional levels of certain target genes related to the HPG axis were significantly altered in G. affinis following exposure to E2 and T alone and in combinations. Moreover, exposure to E2 and T in combinations can lead to combined effects (such as synergistic and antagonistic effects) on the transcriptional levels of some genes. These results collectively suggest that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of E2 and T alone and in mixtures can impact the endocrine system of G. affinis, and may pose potential risks in aquatic systems.

Interaction of 17α-ethinylestradiol and methyltestosterone in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) across two generations.

The interactions between estrogen and androgen in aquatic animals remain largely unknown. In this study, two generations (F0 and F1) of western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) were continuously exposed to 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2, 10 ng/L), methyltestosterone (MT, 10 ng/L (MTL); 50 ng/L (MTH)), and mixtures (EE2+MTL and EE2+MTH). Various endpoints, including sex ratio (phenotypic and genetic), secondary sex characteristics, gonadal histology, and transcriptional profile of genes, were examined. The results showed that G. affinis exposed to MTH and EE2+MTH had a > 89.7 % of phenotypic males in F1 generation, with 34.5 and 50.0 % of these males originated from genetic females, respectively. Moreover, females from F0 and F1 generations exposed to MTH and EE2+MTH exhibited masculinized anal fins and skeletons. The combined effect of MT and EE2 on most endpoints was dependent on MT. Furthermore, significant transcriptional alterations in certain target genes were observed in both the F0 and F1 generations by EE2 and MT alone and by mixtures, showing some degree of interactions. These findings that the effects of EE2+MTH were primarily on the phenotypic sex of G. affinis in offspring generation suggest that G. affinis under chronic exposure to the binary mixture contaminated water could have sex-biased populations.

[Clinical Analysis of Philadelphia Chromosome-Like Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics, molecular characteristics, treatment and prognosis of pediatric Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL) with a therapeutic target. METHODS: A total of 27 patients of Ph-like ALL with targeted drug target were initially diagnosed in Children's Hospital of Soochow University from December 2017 to June 2021. The data of age, gender, white blood cell (WBC) count at initial diagnosis, genetic characteristics, molecular biological changes, chemotherapy regimen, different targeted drugs were given, and minimal residual disease (MRD) on day 19, MRD on day 46, whether hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) were retrospective analyed, and the clinical characteristics and treatment effect were summarized. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The intensity of chemotherapy was adjusted according to the MRD level during induced remission therapy in 27 patients, 10 patients were treated with targeted drugs during treatment, and 3 patients were bridged with HSCT, 1 patient died and 2 patients survived. Among the 24 patients who did not receive HSCT, 1 patient developed relapse, and achieved complete remission (CR) after treatment with chimeric antigen receptors T cells (CAR-T). The 3-year overall survival, 3-year relapse-free survival and 3-year event-free survival rate of 27 patients were (95.5±4.4)%, (95.0±4.9)% and (90.7±6.3)% respectively. CONCLUSION: Risk stratification chemotherapy based on MRD monitoring can improve the prognosis of Ph-like ALL in children, combined with targeted drugs can achieve complete remission as soon as possible in children whose chemotherapy response is poor, and sequential CAR-T and HSCT can significantly improve the therapeutic effect of Ph-like ALL in children whose MRD is continuously positive during induced remission therapy.

Anoikis-related CTNND1 is associated with immuno-suppressive tumor microenvironment and predicts unfavorable immunotherapeutic outcome in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Immunotherapy has greatly changed the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Anoikis is a programmed cell death process associated with cancer. However, the correlation between anoikis-related genes and the tumor microenvironment (TME) features and immunotherapeutic outcome in NSCLC has not been fully explored. Methods: The bulk and single-cell transcriptome data of NSCLC were downloaded from TCGA and GEO databases. The distribution of anoikis-related genes on different cell types at the single-cell level was analyzed, and these genes specifically expressed by tumor cells and immunotherapy-related were further extracted. Next, the candidate gene CTNND1 was identified and its correlations with the TME features and immunotherapeutic outcome in NSCLC were explored in multiple public cohorts. Finally, an in-house cohort was used to determine the CTNND1 expression and immuno-correlation in NSCLC. Results: At single-cell atlas, we found that anoikis-related genes expressed specifically in tumor cells of NSCLC. By intersecting anoikis-related genes, immunotherapy-associated genes, and the genes expressed in tumor cells, we obtained a special biomarker CTNND1. In addition, cell-cell communication analysis revealed that CTNND1+ tumor cells communicated with immune subpopulations frequently. Moreover, we found that high expression of CTNND1 was related to immuno-suppressive status of NSCLC. The expression of CTNND1 and its immuno-correlation were also validated, and the results showed that CTNND1 was highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and tumors with high CTNND1 expression accompanied with low CD8+ T cells infiltration. Conclusions: Overall, our study reported that CTNND1 can be considered as a novel biomarker for the predication of immunotherapeutic responses and a potential target for NSCLC therapy.

Identification of Additives in Disposable Face Masks and Evaluation of Their Toxicity Using Marine Medaka (Oryzias melastigma).

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in huge amounts of face masks worldwide. However, there is a lack of awareness on the additives and their potential risk to aquatic ecosystems of face masks. To address this issue, the additives and their toxicity in 13 face masks (e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene, and polylactic acid) were determined using nontarget analysis and bioassays. A total of 826 organic additives including intermediates (14.8%), surfactants (9.3%), plasticizers (8.2%), and antioxidants (6.1%) were tentatively identified, with 213 compounds being assigned confidence levels of 1 and 2. Interestingly, polylactic acid masks contained more additives than most polypropylene or polyethylene masks. Among these additives, the concentration of tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate in masks was 9.4-978.2 ng/g with a 100% detection frequency. Furthermore, 13 metals such as zinc (up to 202.0 µg/g), copper (32.5 µg/g), and chromium (up to 5.7 µg/g) were detected in the face masks. The methanol extracts of the masks showed the developmental toxicity, swimming behavior, and/or endocrine disruption in embryos/larvae of Oryzias melastigma. The findings demonstrate that face masks contain various toxic additives to marine medaka, which deserves close attention to pollution by face masks.

[Prediction of quality markers and medicinal value of sea buckthorn leaves based on network pharmacology, content determination, and activity evaluation].

The leaves of sea buckthorn(Hippophae rhamnoides), considered as common food raw materials, have records of medicinal use and diverse pharmacological activities, showing a potential medicinal value. However, the active substances in the sea buckthorn leaves and their mechanisms of action remain unclear. In addition, due to the extensive source and large variety variations, the quality evaluation criteria of sea buckthorn leaves remain to be developed. To solve the problems, this study predicted the main active components, core targets, key pathways, and potential pharmacological effects of sea buckthorn leaves by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Furthermore, ultra-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection(UPLC-DAD) was employed to determine the content of active components and establish the chemical fingerprint, on the basis of which the quality markers of sea buckthorn leaves were predicted and then verified by the enzyme activity inhibition method. The results indicated that sea buckthorn leaves had potential therapeutic effects on a variety of digestive tract diseases, metabolic diseases, tumors, and autoimmune diseases, which were consistent with the ancient records and the results of modern pharmacological studies. The core targets of sea buckthorn leaves included PTPN11, AKT1, PIK3R1, ESR1, and SRC, which were mainly involved in the PI3K-AKT, MAPK, and HIF-1 signaling pathways. In conclusion, the active components of sea buckthorn leaves are associated with the rich flavonoids and tannins, among which quercitrin, narcissoside, and ellagic acid can be used as the quality markers of sea buckthorn leaves. The findings provide a reference for the quality control and further development and utilization of sea buckthorn leaves as medicinal materials.

Isaacs syndrome with LGI1 and CASPR2 antibodies after HPV vaccination: A case report.

RATIONALE: Isaacs syndrome is peripheral nerve hyperexcitability characterized by spontaneous muscle twitching and rigidity and is often associated with antibodies to CASPR2 (contactin-associated protein-like 2) and LGI1 (leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1). But it is a rare Isaacs syndrome with LGI1 and CASPR2 antibodies after human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient presented with limb pain, muscle twitching, numbness in the extremities and around the mouth, and hand rash after the second dose of HPV vaccine. DIAGNOSES: Laboratory tests indicated positive for LGI1 antibodies, CASPR2 antibodies, anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies and anti-sulfatide antibodies, TPO and ATG, IgG E. The patient post-M-wave discharges were seen on F-wave examination of the posterior tibial nerve in both lower limbs. We diagnosis the patient with Isaacs syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: Treatment with the intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment, after 5 days of IVIG therapy (0.4 mg/kg/day), the rash on the hand disappeared, the pain was relieved, the sleep improved. OUTCOMES: After 3 Courses of treatment, the clinical manifestations of the nervous system disappeared and negative responsibility antibodies profile. LESSONS: This case report suggests a possible adverse reaction to HPV vaccination, which could be treated by attempting several periods of IVIG therapy. The underlying immune mechanisms need to be studied with further extensive data.

Investigation of the acicular aragonite growth behavior in AOD stainless steel slag during slurry-phase carbonation.

This study presents a novel method for producing acicular aragonite using argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) slag while controlling the reaction temperature, reaction time, stirring speed, and the magnesium-to­calcium stoichiometric ratio. This approach provides steel plants with an opportunity to decrease their CO2 emissions and promote efficient resource utilization and CO2 storage through the production of high-quality value-added products. The experimental results showed that reaction temperature was the most significant factor affecting the carbonation efficiency of AOD slag, followed by reaction time, stirring speed, CO2 partial pressure, and the liquid-to-solid ratio (L/S). The study also found that elevated temperature and prolonged reaction duration favored the preferential precipitation of aragonite. Additionally, raising the temperature and the magnesium-to­calcium stoichiometric ratio was shown to enhance the formation of aragonite, affecting its crystal growth orientation and dimensions. The optimal combination of reaction parameters for the preparation of acicular aragonite was found to be the reaction time of 8 h, the magnesium-to­calcium stoichiometric ratio of 0.8, the reaction temperature of 120 °C, and the stirring speed of 200 r·min-1. Under these conditions, the resulting acicular aragonite exhibited excellent overall uniformity, a large aspect ratio, and a smooth crystal surface, with a content of 91.49 %, a single crystal length ranging from 9.86 to 32.6 µm, and a diameter ranging from 0.63 to 2.15 µm. This study provides valuable insights into the efficient production of acicular aragonite from steel slag while reducing CO2 emissions and promoting the sustainable use of resources.

[Effect of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Dose in Grafts on CMV Infection after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) dose in grafts and the occurrence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: The clinical data of 80 children who received allo-HSCT in Children's Hospital of Soochow University from August 20, 2020 to June 11, 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Proportions of DC subsets and T-cell subsets in grafts were detected by flow cytometry in order to calculate infused cell dose of each cell. Weekly monitoring of CMV-DNA copies in peripheral blood for each child were performed after transplantation. The last follow-up date was December 31, 2021. RESULTS: All the children gained hematopoietic reconstitution. CMV infection was observed in 51 children (63.8%±5.4%) within the first 100 days after transplantation, including 2 cases developing CMV disease. Univariate analysis indicated that infused doses of DC and pDC were significantly associated with CMV infection within 100 days after allo-HSCT (P <0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that a high dose infusion of pDC was an independent protective factor for CMV infection within 100 days after allo-HSCT (P <0.05). By the end of follow-up, 7 children died of transplantation-related complications, including 2 deaths from CMV disease, 2 deaths from extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease, and 3 deaths from capillary leak syndrome. The overall survival rate was 91.2%. CONCLUSION: The pDC in grafts may be associated with early infection of CMV after allo-HSCT, while a high infused pDC dose may serve as a protective factor for CMV infection after transplantation.

Association between urinary 2-hydroxyethyl mercapturic acid and dyslexia among school-aged children.

Ethylene oxide is commonly used in industrial synthesis and medical disinfection. It is a known human carcinogen and has neurotoxicity. However, the association between ethylene oxide exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between urinary concentrations of 2-hydroxyethyl mercapturic acid (HEMA; metabolite of ethylene oxide) and dyslexia among school-aged children. A total of 355 dyslexic children and 390 controls from three cities in China were enrolled in this case-control study from November 2017 to December 2020. Urinary HEMA was detected in 100% of the urine samples, suggesting widespread exposure to ethylene oxide in the children. Notably, the children with dyslexia had higher concentrations of urinary HEMA compared to the controls (geometric mean: 2.92 vs. 2.47 ng/mL) (P = 0.004). In the multivariable-adjusted model, urinary concentrations of HEMA were significantly associated with dyslexia risk. The individuals within the highest HEMA concentration demonstrated a 1.97-fold increased odds of dyslexia compared to those within the lowest quartile (95% confidence interval: 1.20-3.23). Thus, these findings suggested the possible link between HEMA levels and the risk of dyslexia. Further studies are warranted to validate this finding and illustrate the underlying mechanism.

Highly expressed miR-210 in the peripheral blood is closely associated with asphyxiated neonates.

Background: In the present study, we aimed to detect microRNA-210 (miR-210) expression in the peripheral blood of neonates with asphyxia and determine the correlation between miR-210 and clinical manifestations and indicators related to pathological changes. Further, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of the potential target genes of miR-210 to examine their related diseases and network interactions. Methods: In total, 27 neonates with asphyxia were included in the asphyxia group and 26 healthy neonates were included in the normal group. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure miR-210 expression in the peripheral blood. Furthermore, the correlation between miR-210 expression and asphyxia-related clinical indicators was determined, and the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of miR-210 was conducted. Moreover, GO and KEGG analyses were conducted to identify the target genes of miR-210. Lastly, the association between miR-210 target genes and autism and epilepsy was elucidated and network interaction analysis was performed to determine the involvement of the target genes of miR-210 in neurological or cardiovascular diseases. Results: miR-210 was highly expressed in the peripheral blood of neonates with asphyxia. Furthermore, the mode of normal delivery, cord potential of hydrogen, and Apgar scores were elevated in these neonates. Additionally, we identified 142 miR-210 target genes, which were associated with both neurodevelopmental and cardiovascular diseases. These genes were associated with the metabolic, cancer, and phosphatidylinositol3-kinase/serine/threonine kinase and mitogen-activated kinase-like protein pathways. Furthermore, 102 miR-210 target genes were associated with autism and epilepsy. Conclusions: High miR-210 expression in the peripheral blood of neonates with asphyxia may be associated with anoxic cerebral injury. The miR-210 target genes are associated with neurodevelopmental and cardiovascular diseases and autism and epilepsy.

Endocrine disruptor responses in the embryos of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) after exposure to aged plastic leachates.

The issue of the additives leached from plastics has attracted widespread attention. More crucially, endocrine disruptor status for several leached additives has been established. However, little is known about the overall endocrine disrupting effects of aged plastic leachates. Therefore, the transcriptional responses of endocrine-related genes were assessed in the embryos of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma), which were exposed to the leachates from aged plastics that were immersed into the simulated seawater (SW) or fish digest (FD). The results revealed that there was a great difference between the SW and FD leachates in the transcripts of endocrine-related genes. With the exception of cyp1a, all target genes had their transcripts potentially down-regulated by the FD leachates. Chgl (a biomarker for estrogens), pparß (related to lipid metabolism), and cyp19a (related to sexual differentiation and reproduction) transcripts tended to be repressed by the SW leachates, while pparα, pparγ and cyp1a (mediating metabolism of xenobiotics) transcripts were stimulated. In addition, a redundancy analysis was carried out to determine the relationship between the leached additives and the transcriptional changes. However, the additives only partially explained the variation in the transcripts of endocrine-related genes (24.8%), indicating that other leached additives may have an impact on target gene transcription. This study provided molecular evidence of the aged plastic leachates' endocrine disrupting effects. Exploring the primary factors that affect the transcriptional alterations would require more research.

Network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis identifies potential therapeutic targets of Naringenin against COVID-19/LUSC.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious respiratory disease that has posed a serious threat to people's daily lives and caused an unprecedented challenge to public health and people's health worldwide. Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is a common type of lung malignancy with a highly aggressive nature and poor prognosis. Patients with LUSC could be at risk for COVID-19, We conducted this study to examine the potential for naringenin to develop into an ideal medicine and investigate the underlying action mechanisms of naringenin in COVID-19 and LUSC due to the anti-viral, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory activities of naringenin. Methods: LUSC related genes were obtained from TCGA, PharmGKB, TTD,GeneCards and NCBI, and then the transcriptome data for COVID-19 was downloaded from GEO, DisGeNET, CTD, DrugBank, PubChem, TTD, NCBI Gene, OMIM. The drug targets of Naringenin were revealed through CTD, BATMAN, TCMIP, SymMap, Chemical Association Networks, SwissTargetPrediction, PharmMapper, ECTM, and DGIdb. The genes related to susceptibility to COVID-19 in LUSC patients were obtained through differential analysis. The interaction of COVID-19/LUSC related genes was evaluated and demonstrated using STRING to develop a a COX risk regression model to screen and evaluate the association of genes with clinical characteristics. To investigate the related functional and pathway analysis of the common targets of COVID-19/LUSC and Naringenin, KEGG and GO enrichment analysis were employed to perform the functional analysis of the target genes. Finally, The Hub Gene was screened and visualized using Cytoscape, and molecular docking between the drug and the target was performed using Autodock. Results: We discovered numerous COVID-19/LUSC target genes and examined their prognostic value in LUSC patients utilizing a variety of bioinformatics and network pharmacology methods. Furthermore, a risk score model with strong predictive performance was developed based on these target genes to assess the prognosis of LUSC patients with COVID-19. We intersected the therapeutic target genes of naringenin with the LUSC, COVID-19-related targets, and identified 354 common targets, which could be used as potential target genes for naringenin to treat COVID-19/LUSC. The treatment of COVID-19/LUSC with naringenin may involve oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antiviral, apoptosis, immunological, and multiple pathways containing PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, and VEGF, according to the results of the GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of these 354 common targets. By constructing a PPI network, we ascertained AKT1, TP53, SRC, MAPK1, MAPK3, and HSP90AA1 as possible hub targets of naringenin for the treatment of COVID-19/LUSC. Last but not least, molecular docking investigations showed that naringenin has strong binding activity in COVID-19/LUSC. Conclusion: We revealed for the first time the pharmacological targets and potential molecular processes of naringenin for the treatment of COVID-19/LUSC. However, these results need to be confirmed by additional research and validation in real LUSC patients with COVID-19.