Supernatural Beliefs-Based Intervention to Improve Type-2 Diabetes Self-Management: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial from China.

China has over 100 million people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Interventions framed around pre-existing personal beliefs in the supernatural may improve T2DM self-management, but such interventions are lacking in China. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessed the feasibility of a full-scale RCT to evaluate the efficacy of a supernatural beliefs-based intervention on T2DM management self-efficacy in China. In 2019, 62 T2DM patients were enrolled at two hospitals in Suzhou, China. Participants were randomly assigned to view a 30-s control or intervention video at baseline. The control video showed general diabetes self-management information. The intervention video showed identical information, but also indicated that some diabetics with supernatural beliefs (chao ziran xinnian) have lower glycemic levels, because their beliefs enhance their confidence in diabetes self-management. Development of the intervention was guided by the theory of planned behavior and literature on spiritual framing health interventions. Baseline and follow-up measures after two weeks were assessed by interviewer administered surveys in-person and by telephone, respectively. Diabetes management self-efficacy was assessed with the diabetes management self-efficacy scale. Randomization of intervention allocation appeared to be successful. However, follow-up retention was low, especially for the intervention group (3% vs. 31%). A full-size efficacy RCT using the current study design is unlikely to succeed. T2DM patients shown the supernatural beliefs-based intervention had significantly higher loss to follow-up that was insurmountable. T2DM patients in Suzhou, China may not be receptive to brief, non-tailored supernatural beliefs-based interventions delivered to a general population in clinical settings.

The Evolution of Antibody-Drug Conjugates: Toward Accurate DAR and Multi-specificity.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are consisted of antibodies, linker and payloads. They offer targeted delivery of potent cytotoxic drugs to tumor cells, minimizing off-target effects. However, the therapeutic efficacy of ADCs is compromised by the heterogeneity in the drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR), which impacts both cytotoxicity and pharmacokinetics (PK). Additionally, the emergence of drug resistance poses significant challenges to the clinical advancement of ADCs. To overcome these limitations, a variety of strategies have been developed, including the design of multi-specific drugs with accurate DAR. This review critically summarized the current challenges faced by ADCs, categorizing key issues and evaluating various innovative solutions. We provide an in-depth analysis of the latest methodologies for achieving homogeneous DAR and explore the design strategies for multi-specific drugs aimed at combating drug resistance. Our discussion offers insights into the progress made in refining ADC technologies, with a focus on enhancing therapeutic outcomes.

Expression of GCaMP6s in the dentate gyrus induces tonic-clonic seizures.

GCaMP is a genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI) widely used in neuroscience research. It measures intracellular Ca2+ level by fluorescence changes as it directly binds to Ca2+. In this process, the effect of this calcium buffer on the intracellular calcium signaling and cell physiology is often not taken into consideration. However, growing evidence from calcium imaging studies shows GCaMP expression under certain conditions can generate aberrant activity, such as seizures. In this study, we examined the effect of GCaMP6 expression in the dentate gyrus (DG) on epileptogenesis. We found that viral expression of GCaMP6s but not GCaMP6f in the DG induces tonic-clonic seizures several weeks after viral injection. Cell-type specific expression of GCaMP6s revealed the granule cells (GCs) as the key player in GCaMP6s-induced epilepsy. Finally, by using slice electrophysiology, we demonstrated that GCaMP6s expression increases neuronal excitability in the GCs. Together, this study highlights the ability of GCaMP6s in DG-associated epileptogenesis.

Investigating the effects of Laggera pterodonta on H3N2-Induced inflammatory and immune responses through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation in a mice model.

For centuries, Laggera pterodonta (LP), a Chinese herbal medicine, has been widely employed for treating respiratory infectious diseases; however, the mechanism underlying LP's effectiveness against the influenza A/Aichi/2/1968 virus (H3N2) remains elusive. This study aims to shed light on the mechanism by which LP combats influenza in H3N2-infected mice. First, we conducted quasi-targeted metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify LP components. Subsequently, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and simulation were conducted to screen candidate targets associated with AKT and NF-κB. In addition, we conducted a series of experiments including qPCR, hematoxylin-eosin staining, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to provide evidence that LP treatment in H3N2-infected mice can reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and MCP-1) while increasing T cells (CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+) and syndecan-1 and secretory IgA expression. This, in turn, aids in the prevention of excessive inflammation and the fortification of immunity, both of which are compromised by H3N2. Finally, we utilized a Western blot assay to confirm that LP indeed inhibits the AKT/NF-κB signaling cascade. Thus, the efficacy of LP serves as a cornerstone in establishing a theoretical foundation for influenza treatment.

Integrated analysis of intestinal microbiota and transcriptome reveals that a coordinated interaction of the endocrine, immune system and gut microbiota response to heat stress in Litopenaeus vannamei.

Due to the ongoing global warming, the risk of heatwaves in the oceans is continuously increasing while our understanding of the physiological response of Litopenaeus vannamei under extreme temperature conditions remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the physiological responses of L. vannamei under heat stress. Our results indicated that as temperature rose, the structure of intestinal and hepatopancreatic tissues was damaged sequentially. Activity of immune-related enzymes (acid phosphatase/alkaline phosphatase) initially increased before decreased, while antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S transferase) activity and malondialdehyde content increased with rising temperature. In addition, the total antioxidant capacity decreased with rising temperature. With the rising temperature, there was a significant increase in the expression of caspase-3, heat shock protein 70, lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-α, transcriptional enhanced associate domain and yorkie in intestinal and hepatopancreatic tissues. Following heat stress, the number of potentially beneficial bacteria (Rhodobacteraceae and Gemmonbacter) increased which maintain balance and promote vitamin synthesis. Intestinal transcriptome analysis revealed 852 differentially expressed genes in the heat stress group compared with the control group. KEGG functional annotation results showed that the endocrine system was the most abundant in Organismal systems followed by the immune system. These results indicated that heat stress leads to tissue damage in shrimp, however the shrimp may respond to stress through a coordinated interaction strategy of the endocrine system, immune system and gut microbiota. This study revealed the response mechanism of L. vannamei to acute heat stress and potentially provided a theoretical foundation for future research on shrimp environmental adaptations.

Retinitis pigmentosa with or without skeletal abnormalities due to homozygous mutations in the CWC27 gene: A case report.

RATIONALE: Retinitis pigmentosa with or without skeletal abnormalities (RPSKA) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the CWC27 gene. Skeletal dysplasia and non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa are typical manifestations, and most patients present with retinopathy such as retinitis pigmentosa and limited visual field. Its clinical manifestations are complex and diverse, often involving multiple systems. Examples include short finger deformities, peculiar facial features, short stature, and neurodevelopmental abnormalities, and it is easy to misdiagnose clinically, and early diagnosis is crucial for prognosis. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 2-year and 2-month-old female child was admitted to the hospital due to "unsteady walking alone and slow reaction for more than half a year." After admission, the child was found to have delayed motor development, accompanied by special face, abnormal physical examination of the nervous system, cranial MRI Dandy-Walker malformation, considering developmental delay. DIAGNOSES: Whole exome sequencing of the family line revealed the presence of a c.617(exon7)C>A pure mutation in the CWC27 gene in the affected child (this locus has been reported in the clinical literature); the final diagnosis is RPSKA. INTERVENTIONS: Unfortunately, there is no specific drug for the disease; we give children rehabilitation training treatment. OUTCOMES: During follow-up process we found that children's condition is better than before. LESSONS SUBSECTIONS AS PER STYLE: We reported a case of RPSKA caused by mutations in the CWC27 gene. This study adds to our understanding of the clinical phenotype of TBL1XR1 mutations and provides a realistic and reliable basis for clinicians.

Development and validation of the thyroid cancer self-perceived discrimination scale to identify patients at high risk for psychological problems.

Objective: To develop a Thyroid Cancer Self-Perceived Discrimination Scale (TCSPDS) to identify patients at high risk for psychological problems and to test its reliability, validity and acceptability. Methods: Using classical test theory, a total of 176 thyroid cancer patients from November 2021 to October 2022 were recruited to develop the TCSPDS. Item analysis was used to improve the preliminary TCSPDS. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation model (SEM) were used to test the construct validity of the final TCSPDS. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the validity coefficient between TCSPDS and EORTC QLQ-C30 to test the criterion-related validity (CRV) of the final TCSPDS. The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha coefficient), split half reliability (Spearman-Brown coefficient) and test-retest reliability were used to verify the reliability of the final TCSPDS. The questionnaire completion time and effective response rate were used to validate the acceptability of the final TCSPDS. Results: The TCSPDS consisted of 20 items and was divided into 3 subscales: 8 items for stigma, 6 items for self-deprecation, and 6 items for social avoidance. The TCSPDS had good validity (χ2/df=1.971, RMSEA=0.074, GFI=0.921, CFI= 0.930, IFI=0.932, TLI=0.901, Validity coefficient=0.767), reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.867, Spearman-Brown coefficient=0.828, test-retest reliability coefficient=0.981) and acceptability [average completion time (15.01 ± 1.348 minutes) and an effective response rate of 95.14%]. Patients with higher TCSPDS scores reported a lower quality of life (P<0.05). Conclusion: The TCSPDS could be used for early identification and assessment of the level of self-perceived discrimination in patients with thyroid cancer, which may provide a scientific basis for health education, social support and psychosocial oncology services in the future, especially in Southwest China.

A case of Sandhoff disease caused by a novel ß-hexosaminidase B (HEXB) mutation c.118delG (p.A40fs*24): A case report from China.

BACKGROUND: Sandhoff disease (SD, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man: 268800) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by variants of the ß-hexosaminidase B (HEXB) gene (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man: 606873). The HEXB gene has been mapped to chromosome 5q13 and contains 14 exons. The symptoms of SD include progressive weakness, intellectual disability, visual and hearing impairment, exaggerated startle response, and seizures; the patients usually die before the age of 3 years.[1]. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of SD caused by a homozygous frameshift mutation in the HEXB gene, c.118delG (p.A40fs*24). The male child, aged 2 years 7 months, showed movement retrogression with orbital hypertelorism at age 2 years, accompanied by seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed cerebral atrophy and delayed myelination of the white matter of the brain. CONCLUSION: A novel homozygous frameshift c.118delG (p.A40fs*24) variant of HEXB has caused SD in the child. The major symptoms are intellectual disability, visual and hearing impairment, and seizures. Investigation will be continued in the future to comprehensively describe the genotype/phenotype and gain information on other associated features to understand the variable expressivity of this condition.

A case of West syndrome and global developmental delay in a child with a heterozygous mutation in the TBL1XR1 gene: A case report.

BACKGROUND: TBL1XR1, also known as IRA1 or TBLR1, encodes a protein that is localized in the nucleus and is expressed in most tissues. TBL1XR1 binds to histones H2B and H4 in vitro and functions in nuclear receptor-mediated transcription. TBL1XR1 is also involved in the regulation of the Wnt-ß-catenin signaling pathway. Mutations in the TBL1XR1 gene impair the Wnt-ß-catenin signaling pathway's ability to recruit Wnt-responsive element chromatin, affecting brain development. Mutations in this gene cause various clinical phenotypes, including Pierpont syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, speech and motor delays, mental retardation, facial dysmorphism, hypotonia, microcephaly, and hearing impairment. CASE SUMMARY: A 5-month-old female child was admitted with "episodic limb tremors for more than 1 month." At the time of admission, the child had recurrent episodes of limb tremors with motor retardation and a partially atypical and hypsarrhythmic video electroencephalogram. It was determined that a heterozygous mutation in the TBL1XR1 gene caused West syndrome and global developmental delay. Recurrent episodes persisted for 6 months following oral treatment with topiramate; the addition of oral treatment with vigabatrin did not show any significant improvement, and the disease continued to recur. The child continued to have recurrent episodes of limb tremors at follow-up until 1 year and 3 months of age. Additionally, she developed poor eye contact and a poor response to name-calling. CONCLUSION: We report the case of a child with West syndrome and a global developmental delay caused by a heterozygous mutation in the TBL1XR1 gene. This study adds to our understanding of the clinical phenotype of TBL1XR1 mutations and provides a realistic and reliable basis for clinicians.

Thyroid hormone resistance resulting from a novel mutation in the THRB gene in a Chinese child: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Thyroid hormone resistance (RTH) (mim # 188570) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by reduced thyroid hormone response in target tissues. The clinical manifestations of RTH vary from no symptoms to symptoms of thyroid hormone deficiency to symptoms of thyroid hormone excess. PATIENT CONCERN AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 24-month-old girl presented with growth retardation, tachycardia, and persistently elevated thyroid hormones despite antithyroid treatment. DIAGNOSIS/INTERVENTION/OUTCOMES: The patient was diagnosed with RTH, after whole exon gene sequencing, found a de novo missense mutation (c.1375T > G,p.Phe459Val) in a novel locus of the thyroid hormone receptor beta gene. She had only mild growth retardation, so the decision was made to monitor her development without intervention. At her last follow-up at 5 years and 8 months of age, she continued to show growth retardation (-2 standard deviation below age-appropriate levels), in addition to delayed language development. Her comprehension ability and heart rate have remained normal. CONCLUSIONS: We report a mild case of RTH caused by a novel thyroid hormone receptor beta gene mutation. RTH should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abnormal serum thyroxine levels during neonatal screening.

A nonsense mutation in the CUL3 gene in a Chinese patient with autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy: A case report.

RATIONALE: CUL3 (OMIM: 603136) encodes cullin-3, a core component of ubiquitin E3 ligase. Existing medical research suggests that CUL3 mutations are closely related to neurodevelopmental disorder with or without autism or seizures (neurodevelopmental disorder with autism and seizures, OMIM: 619239). However, the number of published case reports of autism spectrum disorder due to CUL3 gene mutations is limited. PATIENT CONCERN: A four-year-old Chinese girl presented with generalized epilepsy, and then exhibited developmental regression, including loss of her speaking ability, eye contact aversion, and stereotyped behavior. DIAGNOSES: Whole-exome sequencing identified a nonsense mutation in the CUL3 gene, being c.2065A > T (p.Lys689*); no previous similar case was reported. The final diagnosis was autism, epilepsy, and motor growth retardation. INTERVENTION: In order to improve quality of life of the patient, she was provided with exercise rehabilitation training and autism behavioral guidance therapy for 3 months. OUTCOMES: The patient's exercise capacity had improved, and improvements in autism symptoms were not obvious. LESSONS: For clinicians, patients with developmental regression accompanied with concurrent epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder should be advised that relevant genetic tests are necessary to clarify the diagnosis.

Children with infectious pneumonia caused by Ralstonia insidiosa: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Ralstonia is a Gram-negative non-fermentative bacterium widespread in nature, and includes four species, Ralstonia pickettii, Ralstonia solanacearum, Ralstonia mannitolilytica, and Ralstonia insidiosa, which were proposed in 2003. Ralstonia is mainly found in the external water environment, including municipal and medical water purification systems. This bacterium has low toxicity and is a conditional pathogen. It has been reported in recent years that infections due to Ralstonia are increasing. Previous studies have shown that most cases of infection are caused by Ralstonia pickettii, a few by Ralstonia mannitolilytica, and infections caused by Ralstonia insidiosa are rare. CASE SUMMARY: A 2-year-old Chinese child suffered from intermittent fever and cough for 20 d and was admitted to hospital with bronchial pneumonia. Bronchoscopy and alveolar lavage fluid culture confirmed Ralstonia insidiosa pneumonia. The infection was well controlled after treatment with meropenem and azithromycin. CONCLUSION: Ralstonia infections are increasing, and we report a rare case of Ralstonia insidiosa infection in a child. Clinicians should be vigilant about Ralstonia infections.

Deciphering in vivo metabolic profile and pharmacological mechanisms of Jitongning Tablet for the treatment of Ankylosing spondylitis.

Jitongning tablet (JTNT) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) prescription used for the treatment of Ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Currently, it is in phase II clinical trial (NCT03932019) for patients with active axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA), showing great promise for the treatment of AS. However, the potential material basis and the underlying mechanisms for JTNT to treat AS remain elusive. Here, we performed UPLC-Q-TOF-MS to determine the in vivo metabolic profile of JTNT in rats and conducted in vivo studies including acetic acid-induced writhing, hot plate models, and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats to evaluate and validate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of JTNT, two main symptoms for AS. Additionally, network pharmacology combined with molecular docking was performed to investigate the potential underlying mechanisms. As a result, a total of 116 xenobiotics were identified from the plasma, urine, and brain tissues of rats after oral administration of JTN extracts. Pharmacological evaluation revealed that fractions JTN-3 and JTN-4 exerted significant analgesic activities by reducing the number of writhes in an acetic acid-induced writhing mice model. JTN extract also exerted excellent therapeutic effects in the CIA model by ameliorating paw edema and decreasing systemic manifestation of inflammation and the level of circulating immune complex (CIC) and interferon γ (IFN-γ). Fractions of JTN extract, especially JTN-2 and JTN-4, on the other hand, ameliorated the secondary lesions caused by chicken type II collagen (CII) to a certain extent. Further, network pharmacology combined with molecular docking suggested crucial roles of inflammation and immune-related genes such as MAPK1, MAPK14, NOS3, and RELA in the treatment of AS by JTNT. In conclusion, our studies suggest that the isoquinoline and diterpenoid alkaloids from Corydalis Rhizoma and Aconiti Radix Cocta, along with coumarins from Angelicae Pubescentis Radix, may be the main bioactive components, and the AS treatment mechanism may mainly involve immune regulation of JTNT. These results help clarify the potential material basis and underlying mechanisms of JTNT for the treatment of AS, facilitating the broad application of this TCM in clinical practice.

Platinum-resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer: an interplay of epithelial-mesenchymal transition interlinked with reprogrammed metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer worldwide. Chemotherapy resistance represents a significant clinical challenge and is the main reason for poor ovarian cancer prognosis. We identified novel expression of markers related to epithelial mesenchymal transitions (EMT) in a carboplatin resistant ovarian cancer cell line by proteomics. This was validated in the platinum resistant versus sensitive parental cell lines, as well as platinum resistant versus sensitive human ovarian cancer patient samples. The prognostic significance of the different proteomics-identified marker proteins in prognosis prediction on survival as well as their correlative association and influence on immune cell infiltration was determined by public domain data bases. METHODS: We explored the proteomic differences between carboplatin-sensitive OVCAR5 cells (parental) and their carboplatin-resistant counterpart, OVCAR5 CBPR cells. qPCR and western blots were performed to validate differentially expressed proteins at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively. Association of the identified proteins with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) prompted the investigation of cell motility. Cellular bioenergetics and proliferation were studied to delineate any biological adaptations that facilitate cancer progression. Expression of differentially expressed proteins was assessed in ovarian tumors obtained from platinum-sensitive (n = 15) versus platinum-resistant patients (n = 10), as well as matching tumors from patients at initial diagnosis and following relapse (n = 4). Kaplan-Meier plotter and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) databases were used to determine the prognostic significance and influence of the different proteomics-identified proteins on immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment (TME). RESULTS: Our proteomics study identified 2422 proteins in both cell lines. Of these, 18 proteins were upregulated and 14 were downregulated by ≥ twofold (p < 0.05) in OVCAR5 CBPR cells. Gene ontology enrichment analysis amongst upregulated proteins revealed an overrepresentation of biological processes consistent with EMT in the resistant cell line. Enhanced mRNA and/or protein expression of the identified EMT modulators including ITGA2, TGFBI, AKR1B1, ITGAV, ITGA1, GFPT2, FLNA and G6PD were confirmed in OVCAR5 CBPR cells compared to parental OVCAR5 cell line. Consistent with the altered EMT profile, the OVCAR5 CBPR cells demonstrated enhanced migration and reduced proliferation, glycolysis, and oxidative phosphorylation. The upregulation of G6PD, AKR1B1, ITGAV, and TGFß1 in OVCAR5 CBPR cells was also identified in the tumors of platinum-resistant compared to platinum-sensitive high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) patients. Matching tumors of relapsed versus newly diagnosed HGSOC patients also showed enhanced expression of AKR1B1, ITGAV, TGFß1 and G6PD protein in relapsed tumors. Among the identified proteins, significant enhanced expression of GFPT2, FLNA, TGFBI (CDGG1), ITGA2 predicted unfavorable prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. Further analysis suggested that the expression of TGFBI to correlate positively with the expression of identified and validated proteins such as GFPT2, FLNA, G6PD, ITGAV, ITGA1 and ITGA2; and with the infiltration of CD8+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells in the TME. CONCLUSIONS: Our research demonstrates proteomic-based discovery of novel EMT-related markers with an altered metabolic profile in platinum-resistant versus sensitive ovarian cancer cell lines. The study also confirms the expression of selected identified markers in the tumors of platinum-resistant versus sensitive, and in matching relapsed versus newly diagnosed HGSOC patients. The study provides insights into the metabolic adaptation of EMT-induced carboplatin resistant cells that confers on them reduced proliferation to provide effective migratory advantage; and the role of some of these identified proteins in ovarian cancer prognosis. These observations warrant further investigation of these novel target proteins in platinum-resistant patients.

Two novel mutations in the VPS33B gene in a Chinese patient with arthrogryposis, renal dysfunction and cholestasis syndrome 1: A case report.

BACKGROUND: The VPS33B (OMIM: 608552) gene is located on chromosome 15q26.1. We found a female infant with autosomal recessive arthrogryposis, renal dysfunction and cholestasis syndrome 1 (ARCS1) caused by mutation in VPS33B. The child was diagnosed with ARCS1 (OMIM: 208085) after the whole exome sequencing revealed two heterozygous mutations (c.96+1G>C, c.242delT) in the VPS33B gene. CASE SUMMARY: We report a Chinese female infant with neonatal cholestasis disorder, who was eventually diagnosed with ARCS1 by genetic analysis. Genetic testing revealed two new mutations (c.96+1G>C and c.242delT) in VPS33B, which is the causal gene. The patient was compound heterozygous, and her parents were both heterozygous. CONCLUSION: This study extends the mutational spectrum of the VPS33B gene to provide a molecular basis for the etiological diagnosis of ARCS1 and for genetic counseling of the family.

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Elucidating the interannual variation of soil organic nitrogen fractions and its response to straw returning is of great significance for rational regulation of soil organic nitrogen pool and sustainable soil utilization. We conducted a field microcosm experiment with typic hapludoll soil at the National Field Observation and Research Station of Shenyang Agroecosystems. Three treatments were set, including nitrogen fertilizer addition (200 kg N·hm-2, the same in other treatments), nitrogen fertilizer addition with 50% straw return, and nitrogen fertilizer addition with 100% straw return. We classified soil organic nitrogen fractions in the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 9th years of the experiment by using the Bremner acid hydrolysis method. The results showed that the content of amino acid nitrogen increased with the tillage years, with an increase rate of 39.8% compared with 1st year. The content of hydrolyzable unknown nitrogen increased by 10.8% compared with 1st year, which reached the highest in the 3rd year. The content of total soil nitrogen and other organic nitrogen fractions showed limited variation with tillage years. The proportion of hydrolyzable total nitrogen that is relatively easy to mineralize in the total soil nitrogen gradually increased with the tillage years, and that of relatively stable acid insoluble nitrogen to total soil nitrogen gradually decreased, indicating that soil nitrogen availability increased with the tillage years, which would facilitate the soil nitrogen supply capacity. Compared with the treatment without straw returning, adding straw improved soil total nitrogen and each hydrolyzable nitrogen contents, with such positive effect be stronger under the treatment with heavier straw returning. The effect of straw returning on hydrolyzable nitrogen fractions mainly occurred in the 6th and 9th years. The components of soil total nitrogen that have been increased were mainly the amino acid nitrogen and hydrolyzed unknown nitrogen, resulting in increased proportion of hydrolyzable nitrogen. Straw returning could increase soil nitrogen pool and improve soil nitrogen conservation and supply capacity.

Novel compound heterozygous variants in the LHX3 gene caused combined pituitary hormone deficiency: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Combined pituitary hormone deficiency 3 (CPHD3; OMIM: 221750) is caused by mutations within the LHX3 gene (OMIM: 600577), which located on the subtelomeric region of chromosome 9 at band 9q34.3, has seven coding exons and six introns. LIM homeobox (LHX) 3 protein is the key regulator of pituitary development in fetal life. CASE SUMMARY: We have diagnosed and treate an 11-year-old boy with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD). The main clinical manifestations were pituitary hormone deficiency, hydrocele of the tunica vaginalis, pituitary dwarfism, gonadal dysplasia, micropenis, clonic convulsion, and mild facial dysmorphic features. We collected peripheral blood from the patient, the patient's older brother, as well as their parents, and sequenced them by using high-throughput whole-exosome sequencing, which was verified by Sanger sequencing. The results showed that there were two compound heterozygous variants of c.613G>C (p.V205L) and c.220T>C (p.C74R) in the LHX3 gene. c.613G>C (p.V205L) was inherited from his mother and c.220T>C (p.C74R) from his father. His brother also has both variants and symptoms. CONCLUSION: This study reported ununreported genetic mutations of LHX3, and recorded the treatment process of the patients, providing data for the diagnosis and treatment of CPHD.

Retroperitoneal leiomyoma located in the broad ligament: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Retroperitoneal leiomyoma is a rare benign tumor. Retroperitoneal leiomyomas located in the latissimus uterine ligament are even rarer. Retroperitoneal leiomyomas have similar characteristics to uterine leiomyomas in terms of tissue, which results in confusion during diagnosis. CASE SUMMARY: A 47-year-old female with 3 years of pain in the right lower quadrant and discovery of a pelvic mass 13 d ago underwent open abdominal exploration. In the right broad ligament, a solid mass with well circumscribed boundaries, approximately 15 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm in size was bluntly peeled off. The pathological result was a spindle cell tumor, morphologically considered to originate from smooth muscle. Immunohistochemical results supported a deep soft tissue leiomyoma. CONCLUSION: Retroperitoneal leiomyoma is a rare benign tumor, and surgical treatment can have a good therapeutic effect.

Efficacy of WWQ-131, a highly selective JAK2 inhibitor, in mouse models of myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Hyperactivation of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) signaling pathway leads to myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and targeting JAK2 can be used as an effective strategy for the treatment of MPNs. Here, our study indicated that WWQ-131 was a highly selective JAK2 inhibitor (IC50 =2.36 nM), with 182-fold and 171-fold more selective to JAK1 and JAK3, respectively. In JAK2V617F-dependent cell lines, WWQ-131 efficaciously inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and apoptosis, and blocked the aberrant activation of JAK2 signaling pathway. In a mouse Ba/F3_JAK2V617F driven disease model, WWQ-131 effectively suppressed STAT5 phosphorylation in spleen and liver, and inhibited Ba/F3_JAK2V617F cells spreading and proliferation in vivo. In addition, WWQ-131 suppressed rhEPO-induced extramedullary erythropoiesis and polycythemia in mice, as well as hematocrits and spleen sizes, especially had no effect on white blood cell count. Furthermore, WWQ-131 (75 mg/kg) exhibited stronger therapeutic effects than fedratinib (120 mg/kg) in these two MPN models. Taken together, this study suggests that WWQ-131 will be a promising candidate for the treatment of MPNs.

VARS2 gene mutation leading to overall developmental delay in a child with epilepsy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: The mitochondrial respiratory chain defects have become the most common cause of neurometabolic disorders in children and adults, which can occur at any time in life, often associated with neurological dysfunction, and lead to chronic disability and premature death. Approximately one-third of patients with mitochondrial disease have biochemical defects involving multiple respiratory chain complexes, suggesting defects in protein synthesis within the mitochondria. We here report a child with VARS2 gene mutations causing mitochondrial disease. CASE SUMMARY: A girl, aged 3 years and 4 mo, had been unable to sit and crawl alone since birth, with obvious seizures and microcephaly. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed symmetrical, flaky, long T1-weighted and low T2-weighted signals in the posterior part of the bilateral putamen with a high signal shadow. T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging showed a slightly high signal and diffusion-weighted imaging showed an obvious high signal. Whole-exome gene sequencing revealed a compound heterozygous mutation in the VARS2 gene, c.1163(exon11)C>T and c.1940(exon20)C>T, which was derived from the parents. The child was diagnosed with combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency type 20. CONCLUSION: In this patient, mitochondrial disorders including Leigh syndrome and MELAS syndrome (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) were ruled out, and combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency type 20 was diagnosed, expanding the phenotypic spectrum of the disease.