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Abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a major cause of morbidity in the recipients of organ transplants and in the congenitally infected infants. HCMV vaccine has emerged as an effective approach to prevent HCMV infection particularly for the development of multiple viral antigens vaccination and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted polyepitope technology. As the Chinese population makes up more than one fifth of the population worldwide, it is important to develop HCMV vaccines more specific for the Chinese population by targeting Chinese-restricted HLA alleles and antigens. In the present study, we designed a novel chimeric polyepitope vaccine based on the replication-deficient adenovirus Ad5F35, which encodes 83 HCMV T cell epitopes from 15 different HCMV antigens, restricted to 14 HLA I and 7 HLA II alleles that cover 92% of the Chinese population. Our results show that the recombinant adenovirus vaccine Ad5F35-CTL·Th can be efficiently transfected and expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with little cytopathic activity. Ad5F35-CTL·Th can also be endogenously processed and presented by PBMCs. Ad5F35-CTL·Th-stimulated HCMV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) showed strong cytolytic activity against HCMV polyepitope-sensitized target cells. The CTL activity was accompanied by high levels of IFN-γ production after Ad5F35-CTL·Th stimulation. The specificity and vigorous response to the recombinant adenovirus vaccine in vitro makes it a potential candidate to be used for transplantation recipients or congenitally infected infants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been confirmed to be involved in sepsis-induced organ injury. Here, we first investigated the functional role and the underlying mechanism of lncRNA LINC00472 in sepsis-induced acute hepatic injury (AHI). Human liver THLE-3 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic sepsis-induced AHI in vitro; intraperitoneal injection of LPS in rats were used as an in vivo model of AHI induced by sepsis. The expressions of LINC00472, miR-373-3p, and TRIM8 mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR. The effects of LINC00472 and miR-373-3p on the viability of THLE-3 cells were assessed by CCK-8 assay. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were performed to determine the binding relationship between LINC00472 and miR-373-3p as well as between miR-373-3p and TRIM8. The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins and TRIM8 were detected by Western blot; the levels of ALT, AST, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in the serum of rats were measured using ELSA assay. LINC00472 and TRIM8 were significantly upregulated in liver tissues and THLE-3 cells in sepsis-induced AHI models, while miR-373-3p was downregulated. Silencing of LINC00472 promoted cell viability and suppressed cell apoptosis in LPS-treated THLE-3 cells, whereas upregulation of LINC00472 had the opposite effect. Moreover, LINC00472 served as a sponge for miR-373-3p and negatively regulated its expression. miR-373-3p mimics could promote THLE-3 cell viability and suppress cell apoptosis. Additionally, TRIM8 was a direct target of miR-373-3p, which was downregulated in LINC00472-silenced cells and upregulated by the miR-373-3p inhibitor. Further, the co-transfection of miR-373-3p inhibitor reversed the effects of LINC00472 knockdown on cell viability and apoptosis. Downregulation of LINC00472 in rats restored the levels of ALT, AST, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α. Downregulation of LINC00472 ameliorates sepsis-induced AHI by regulating the miR-373-3p/TRIM8 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute liver injury (ALI) is associated with high mortality rates. Despite its severity, there are currently no effective interventions, underscoring the urgent need for research on the mechanisms driving ALI progression. Irisin, a hormone derived from its precursor FNDC5, has been shown to play a critical role in some chronic liver diseases. In this study we investigated the role of hepatic FNDC5/Irisin in a mouse model of AILI induced by acetaminophen (APAP, 400 mg/kg, i.p.). The mice were euthanized at 6, 12 and 24 h after APAP injection, then the blood and liver tissues were collected for analyses. By conducting transcriptome sequencing, we identified that both the expression and release of FNDC5/Irisin were significantly increased and highly correlated with AILI. We showed that knockout of Irisin significantly improved APAP-induced tissue damage and hepatocyte death in mouse liver. Conversely, preinjection of recombinant Irisin protein (1 mg·kg -1 ·d - 1 , i.p., for 3 days) exacerbated the AILI in FNDC5 knockout mice. RNA-seq analysis revealed that knockout of FNDC5/Irisin reduced inflammatory responses and JNK/NF-κB activation in APAP-treated mouse liver, while exogenous Irisin administration aggravated JNK/NF-κB-mediated inflammation. In primary mouse hepatocytes treated with APAP (15 mM), application of Irisin (100 ng/mL) activated the integrin αV/JNK/NF-κB axis, driving inflammation and oxidative stress. In summary, this study highlights Irisin as a critical regulator in AILI progression. Circulating Irisin could be a novel biomarker for AILI diagnosis, and targeting FNDC5/Irisin could hold promise for the development of novel treatments for AILI., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Pharmacological Society.)

A flexible 3D plasmonic starch aerogel substrate was fabricated for susceptible detection of thiabendazole (TBZ) and doxycycline hydrochloride (DH). Based on the unique structure features of starch, an aerogel with high porosity and a large specific surface area was formed without any extra cross-linking agents. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) uniformly distribute throughout starch aerogel and generate dense hot spots while aerogel structure collapses, which leads to significant SERS enhancement. The as-prepared aerogel substrate exhibits good SERS activity with a low detection limit of 1 × 10 -10  M for rhodamine 6G and 1 μg/L for 4-Aminothiophenol (4-ATP). In practical application for real sample, the TBZ residue on the surface of citrus was successfully detected by wipe sampling, with a good recovery rate of 96.2 %-98.8 % and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.031 mg/L range from 0.1 to 100 mg/L. The substrate also exhibited excellent performance in detecting DH in chicken, with recovery rates ranging from 96.9 % to 98.1 %. The LOD was 0.066 mg/L, and the detection range spanned from 0.1 to 100 mg/L. Results demonstrate that the prepared aerogel is an ideal material as a SERS substrate due to its unique properties such as strong adsorption capacity, dense hot spot, and ease of use. Therefore, the developed SERS platform-based flexible 3D plasmonic aerogel substrate paves a new avenue for highly sensitive SERS detection in the field of food safety., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims: This study applied exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) to identify risk factors associated with exercise intolerance in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS)., Methods and Results: 90 CCS patients underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test and ESE, assessing exercise capacity, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, and systolic reserve. The patients were divided into two groups according to the percentage of predicted oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) at peak (≥85%, normal exercise tolerance group; <85%, exercise intolerant group). The left ventricular ejection fraction, average mitral valve S', and left ventricular global longitudinal strain were lower in the exercise intolerant group than in the normal group, but no significant differences were observed in myocardial work parameters at rest. The average mitral valve E/e', EDVi/E/e', and proportion of abnormal diastolic function at the peak were higher in the exercise intolerant group than in the normal group. Moreover, the Δ SVi and flow reserve were lower, but the Δ average mitral valve E/e' was higher in the exercise-intolerant group. From univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, only peak EDVi/E/e' and Δ SVi correlated independently with exercise intolerance in CCS patients. With cutoff values of 8.64 ml/m 2 for peak EDVi/E/e' and 12.17 ml/m 2 for Δ SVi, the combination of these factors had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.906 (95% confidence interval, 0.820-0.960) for the prediction of exercise intolerance in CCS patients., Conclusion: Hemodynamic changes during exercise in CCS patients were effectively evaluated using ESE. An elevated peak EDVi/E/e' and a decreased Δ SVi are independent risk factors for exercise intolerance in patients with CCS., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could potentially create a conflict of interest., (© 2024 Zhu, Tian, Guo, Lin, Cai, Qin, Ding and Lv.)

Background: The expression pattern of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunits are commonly altered in patients with schizophrenia, which may lead to nerve excitation/inhibition problems, affecting cognition, emotion, and behavior., Aim: To explore GABA receptor expression and its relationship with schizophrenia and to provide insights into more effective treatments., Methods: This case-control study enrolled 126 patients with schizophrenia treated at our hospital and 126 healthy volunteers who underwent physical examinations at our hospital during the same period. The expression levels of the GABA receptor subunits were detected using 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The recognized cognitive battery tool, the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery, was used to evaluate the scores for various dimensions of cognitive function. The correlation between GABA receptor subunit downregulation and schizophrenia was also analyzed., Results: Significant differences in GABA receptor subunit levels were found between the case and control groups ( P < 0.05). A significant difference was also found between the case and control groups in terms of cognitive function measures, including attention/alertness and learning ability ( P < 0.05). Specifically, as the expression levels of GABRA1 (α1 subunit gene), GABRB2 (β2 subunit gene), GABRD (δ subunit), and GABRE (ε subunit) decreased, the severity of the patients' condition increased gradually, indicating a positive correlation between the downregulation of these 4 receptor subunits and schizophrenia ( P < 0.05). However, the expression levels of GABRA5 (α5 subunit gene) and GABRA6 (α6 subunit gene) showed no significant correlation with schizophrenia ( P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Downregulation of the GABA receptor subunits is positively correlated with schizophrenia. In other words, when GABA receptor subunits are downregulated in patients, cognitive impairment becomes more severe., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: At present, cyclosporine (CsA) is the first-line treatment for Pure Red Cell Aplasia (PRCA), but CsA administration can be associated with a number of side effects due to its high toxicity. Therefore, it is urgent to explore a safe and effective treatment for elderly patients who cannot be treated with conventional doses of CsA, especially those with multiple complications. Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) for PRCA is a promising treatment, but reports of using umbilical cord blood (UCB) are very rare., Case Presentation: In this report, UCB and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) combined with low-dose CsA (1-3mg/kg/d) were used to treat 3 elderly patients who were diagnosed with PRCA combined with multiple complications in heart, lung, and renal. The treatments were successful without complications, and 12 months after stem cell infusion, the blood tests of the patients came normal. Moreover, the function of the liver, heart, and kidney continued to be stable., Conclusion: This report provides an effective regimen of using UCB and UC-MSCs combined with low-dose CsA (1-3 mg/kg/d) to treat PRCA, especially for elderly patients with multiple complications who cannot use the conventional dosage., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a potentially malignant disorder of the oral mucosa; however, whether and how the fibrotic matrix of OSF is involved in the malignant transformation of epithelial cells remains unknown. Herein, oral mucosa tissue from patients with OSF, OSF rat models, and their controls were used to observe the extracellular matrix changes and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) in fibrotic lesions. Compared with controls, oral mucous tissues from patients with OSF showed an increased number of myofibroblasts, a decreased number of blood vessels, and increased type I and type III collagen levels. In addition, the oral mucous tissues from humans and OSF rats showed increased stiffness, accompanied by increased EMT activities of epithelial cells. The EMT activities of stiff construct-cultured epithelial cells were increased significantly by exogenous piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 (Piezo1) activation, and decreased by yes-associated protein (YAP) inhibition. During ex vivo implantation, oral mucosal epithelial cells of the stiff group showed increased EMT activities and increased levels of Piezo1 and YAP compared with those in the sham and soft groups. These results indicate that increased stiffness of the fibrotic matrix in OSF led to increased proliferation and EMT of mucosal epithelial cells, in which the Piezo1-YAP signal transduction is important., (Copyright © 2023 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Obesity is an important independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, remaining an important health concern worldwide. Evidence shows that saturated fatty acid-induced inflammation in cardiomyocytes contributes to obesity-related cardiomyopathy. Dapagliflozin (Dapa), a selective SGLT2 inhibitor, exerts a favorable preventive activity in heart failure. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of Dapa against cardiomyopathy caused by high fat diet-induced obesity in vitro and in vivo. Cultured rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells were pretreated with Dapa (1, 2.5 μM) for 1.5 h, followed by treatment with palmitic acid (PA, 200 μM) for 24 h. We showed that Dapa pretreatment concentration-dependently attenuated PA-induced cell hypertrophy, fibrosis and apoptosis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that inhibition of PA-activated MAPK/AP-1 pathway contributed to the protective effect of Dapa in H9c2 cells, and this was confirmed by anti-p-cJUN fluorescence staining assay. Using surface plasmon resonance analysis we found the direct binding of Dapa with NHE1. Gain and loss of function experiments further demonstrated the role of NHE1 in the protection of Dapa. In vivo experiments were conducted in mice fed a high fat diet for 5 months. The mice were administered Dapa (1 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 , i.g.) in the last 2 months. Dapa administration significantly reduced the body weight and improved the serum lipid profiles. Dapa administration also alleviated HFD-induced cardiac dysfunction and cardiac aberrant remodeling via inhibiting MAPK/AP-1 pathway and ameliorating cardiac inflammation. In conclusion, Dapa exerts a direct protective effect against saturated fatty acid-induced cardiomyocyte injury in addition to the lowering effect on serum lipids. The protective effect results from negative regulating MAPK/AP-1 pathway in a NHE1-dependent way. The current study highlights the potential of clinical use of Dapa in the prevention of obesity-related cardiac dysfunction., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Pharmacological Society.)

Background: X-ray fluoroscopy has been the primary cardiac imaging modality in permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) operations, but it inevitably results in radiation exposure for both operators and patients. Fluoroscopy is considered a contraindication, especially in certain circumstances, such as gestation, during which the fetus is most sensitive to radiation exposure. Therefore, measures to avoid radiation exposure are necessary, and a more safe and feasible approach is needed for this procedure. Since the EnSite NavX mapping system (ENMS) can create the required geometric contours of those relevant cardiac structures and chambers, it can be used as an alternative to X-ray fluoroscopy in PPI. In addition, because the displacement of atrial leads is a common complication of PPI, lead displacement may occur more readily without fluoroscopic guidance. Therefore, reliable measures are required to prevent leads from displacement., Case Introduction: A 41-year-old woman at the 15th week of gestation was referred to our department with recurrent episodes of syncope and amaurosis fugax for 2 years. Holter monitoring showed sinus rhythm, Mobitz Type II atrioventricular block and high-grade atrioventricular block with ventricular arrest up to 4945 ms. A dual-chamber PPI was performed successfully for the patient under the guidance of the ENMS instead of fluoroscopy. Displacement of atrial lead was effectively avoided by bending the top of atrial lead before implantation and making it a U-shape during operation, which left space for possible subsequent external pulling stress., Conclusions: For PPI, ENMS is a feasible and reliable alternative to traditional X-ray fluoroscopy, especially when performing operations on pregnant patients. By bending the top of the active-fixation atrial lead into a U-shape during operation, the displacement of atrial lead may be avoided., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

As an important precursor for DNA synthesis, the four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dATP, dTTP, dGTP, and dCTP) are necessary raw materials for DNA replication, recombination, and repair in cells. The correct synthesis and integrity of DNA are important manifestations of the genome stability, so the stability of the dNTP library state is essential to maintain the stability of the genome and the cell. In terms of the quality of the dNTP library, the incorporation of some heterogeneous dNTPs, such as oxidized dNTPs, into DNA can easily cause base substitutions and even DNA breaks and rearrangements, which will greatly damage the stability of the genome. At the same time, the cell has also evolved the corresponding NTP pyrophosphatase to remove it, and to correct the damaged DNA and repair the DNA gap by forming a DNA damage repair network. In terms of the number of dNTP libraries, the imbalance of the dNTP concentration and ratio will also cause base and frameshift mutations, which will also cause genome instability. As a result, cells have evolved a huge enzyme-controlled network to carry them out under precise control. This article mainly reviews the potential harm of damage to dNTP library components in cells, the clearance of damaged dNTPs, the regulation on the balance between dNTP library components, and finally discusses clinical diseases related to dNTP library homeostasis. It provides insights on the research of the correlation between the stability of the cellular dNTP library and the genome, and finally provides some theoretical basis for the treatment of related diseases.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Compound Chamomile and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Gel for postoperative hypospadias in children., Methods: From January to December 2020, we treated 116 children with distal hypospadias in the Department of Urology, Department of Pediatrics and the Seventh Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, 58 by primary Snodgrass urethroplasty only (the control group) and the other 58 with Compound Chamomile and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Gel smeared on the penis postoperatively in addition (the trial group). We compared the operation time and postoperative pain score, edema regression and incidence of infection between the two groups, followed by statistical analysis using T test and Chi-square test., Results: All the operations were successfully completed by the same surgeon under general anesthesia. There were no statistically significant differences between the trial and control groups in age (［2.5 ± 0.8］ vs ［2.4 ± 0.6］ yr, P > 0.05) or operation time (［95.6 ± 14.5］ vs ［97.1 ± 15.2］ min, P > 0.05). No incision infection occurred in any of the cases. The pain scores at dressing removal were remarkably lower in the trial than in the control group at 2 hours (1.4 ± 1.0 vs 2.6 ± 1.3, P < 0.05), 24 hours (2.2 ± 1.3 vs 3.9 ± 1.6, P < 0.05), 48 hours (1.2 ± 0.7 vs 1.6 ± 0.9, P < 0.05) and 72 hours after surgery (2.5 ± 0.8 vs 3.7 ± 1.8, P < 0.05). Significantly more cases of edema regression were achieved in the trial than in the control group at 2 weeks postoperatively (35 vs 19, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Compound Chamomile and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Gel can effectively relieve pain, reduce edema and accelerate edema regression after surgery in children with hypospadias, and therefore deserves wide clinical application.、.

Background: The mortality risk of chronic interstitial lung disease (ILD) is currently assessed using the ILD-GAP score. The present study evaluates whether the addition of cardiopulmonary ultrasound parameters to the ILD-GAP score can further improve the predictive value of ILD-GAP., Methods: Medical records from 91 patients with ILD hospitalized from June 2015 to March 2016 were retrospectively examined. The Lung ultrasound (LUS) score, right ventricular (RV) function, and mechanics were obtained from the cardiopulmonary ultrasound. The ILD-GAP score was calculated from demographic characteristics and pulmonary function parameters. Patients were followed up with until May 2020. The primary endpoint was all-cause death., Results: After exclusions, 74 patients with ILD were included in the analysis. During the follow-up period, 36 patients with ILD survived (ILD s ), and 38 patients died (ILD d ). Compared to ILD s , the ILD d cases exhibited a higher number of B-lines, LUS score, and RV end-diastolic base dimension (RVD), but lower RV function. In multivariate analysis, the ILD-GAP score (hazard ratio, 2.88; 95% CI 1.38-5.99, P = 0.005), LUS score (hazard ratio 1.13; 95% CI 1.04-1.24, P = 0.006), and RVD (hazard ratio 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.16, P = 0.004) were significantly related to the risk of death. Adding the LUS score and RVD to the ILD-GAP score significantly improved the predictive value compared to the ILD-GAP score alone (C statistics 0.90 vs 0.76, P = 0.018)., Conclusion: We investigated the utility of a new prognostic model for ILD that includes both cardiopulmonary ultrasound parameters (LUS score and RVD) and the ILD-GAP score. This model better reflects the severity of pulmonary fibrosis and cardiac involvement, and has incremental predictive value over the ILD-GAP score alone., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The present study investigated the changes of biventricular mechanics at rest and during exercise and examined the association between exercise capacity and biventricular mechanics and functional reserve in nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (NHCM) patients. A total of 50 NHCM patients and 25 controls were consecutively recruited for this study. Using echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging, an experienced echocardiographer determined the following indices: RV free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS), LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), strain rate (SR), and functional reserve of strain values. We also investigated the relationships between biventricular mechanics and exercise capacity using metabolic equivalents (METs). NHCM patients had lower RVFWLS, LVGLS, systolic SR, early diastolic SR, and systolic and diastolic reserve during exercise compared to controls. An association of biventricular mechanics (LVGLS, RVFWLS) with exercise capacity at rest and during exercise was established. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that RVFWLS and LVE/e' during exercise (RVFWLS-exe, E/e'-exe) were independent predictors of exercise intolerance. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that LVE/e'-exe had a higher area under the curve for predicting exercise intolerance in NHCM patients. In hierarchical analysis, RVFWLS-exe provided an incremental predictive value of exercise intolerance over LVGLS during exercise (LVGLS-exe) and LVE/e'-exe. LVE/e'-exe also changed incrementally compared to LVGLS-exe and RVFWLS-exe. NHCM patients have decreased biventricular mechanics at rest and during exercise and impaired biventricular functional reserve, and biventricular mechanics are associated with functional capacity. We propose that simultaneous evaluation of biventricular function should provide incremental predictive value for exercise intolerance.

Background: The distribution and functional integrity of members of the tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family are essential for cell proliferation, development and apoptosis, and TRIM proteins have been linked to various cancers. To explore the diagnostic potential and mechanisms of TRIM27 in human spermatogenesis and oogenesis, we analyzed its localization pattern and putative roles in human testes and ovaries., Methods: TRIM27 mRNA and protein levels in human testes and ovaries were investigated using RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. TRIM27 was abundantly transcribed in human testes and ovaries, particularly during the early stages of spermatogenesis, and localized in the nuclei of primary spermatocytes. Immunofluorescence also revealed a diffuse distribution in the cytoplasm of round spermatids, and the protein was abundant in ovary tissue during various stages of oogenesis development., Results: TRIM27 mRNA and protein was abundantly transcribed in male and female human germ cells by RT-PCR and western blotting in the human testes followed by the ovary. Immunohistochemical results revealed TRIM27 protein was abundant in the sex body of primary spermatocytes undergoing meiotic prophase during the first cycle of spermatogenesis. Moreover, Trim27 was diffusely localized in the cytoplasm of spermatids and round spermatids. Furthermore, TRIM27 was localized to both the nucleus and cytoplasm of human ovary cells., Conclusions: TRIM27 as a gametogenesis-related protein could play multiple roles in the regulation of sex body formation and germ cell proliferation during spermatogenesis and oogenesis. The identification and characterization of TRIM27 enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning its functions, and provides insight into its potential role in the pathogenesis of germ cell differentiation and infertility., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2017.)

The aims of this study were to apply integrative cardiopulmonary ultrasound (thoracic ultrasound) to the evaluation of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and to determine the relationship between lung ultrasound signs and echocardiographic parameters such as systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) and various right ventricular parameters. ILD patients and healthy controls underwent lung ultrasound (LUS) and echocardiographic tests. In addition to traditional echocardiographic parameters, right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVLS&#95;FW) was measured using 2-D speckle-tracking echocardiography. The degree of pulmonary fibrosis or the disease severity of each ILD patient was scored with a semiquantitative scoring method, taking into account multiple LUS signs. Statistical analyses were performed to compare various parameters between ILD patients with and those without pulmonary hypertension. Correlations between the different parameters were then evaluated, and the LUS scores were used to predict pulmonary hypertension using a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Among the 90 patients who qualified for entry into this study, 30% (n = 27) had pulmonary hypertension. The patients with pulmonary hypertension had larger right ventricular dimensions, lower RVLS&#95;FW and higher LUS scores. An effective correlation was found between ILD LUS scores and echocardiographic parameters, especially SPAP (r = 0.735, p < 0.001). The groups were comparable with respect to most echocardiographic parameters, with mild, moderate and severe pulmonary fibrosis, whereas SPAP was significantly higher in the moderate and severe groups. RVLS&#95;FW was obviously reduced in the group with severe pulmonary fibrosis. Although RVLS&#95;FW in the mild pulmonary fibrosis group was in the normal range, it was slightly reduced compared with that of the controls. A cutoff of more than 16 LUS points had 85.2% sensitivity and 80.3% specificity in predicting elevated SPAP (>36 mm Hg). Thoracic ultrasound is useful in the assessment of ILD. As ILD progresses, the structure or function of the right ventricle gradually deteriorates. LUS not only detects lung conditions in ILD, but also indirectly reflects SPAP and right ventricular function. Integrated use of LUS and echocardiography will provide an invaluable point-of-care imaging modality to facilitate the diagnosis, management and treatment of patients with ILD., (Copyright © 2016 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a complex syndrome disorder with high mortality rate. Camel milk (CM) contains antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties and protects against numerous diseases. This study aimed to demonstrate the function of CM in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ARDS in rats. Camel milk reduced the lung wet:dry weight ratio and significantly reduced LPS-induced increases in neutrophil infiltration, interstitial and intra-alveolar edema, thickness of the alveolar wall, and lung injury scores of lung tissues. It also had antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects on LPS-induced ARDS. After LPS stimulation, the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-10, and IL-1β) in serum and oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, and total antioxidant capacity) in lung tissue were notably attenuated by CM. Camel milk also downregulated mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Given these results, CM is a potential complementary food for ARDS treatment., (Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare the adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes of multiple pregnancy and singleton pregnancy from multiple medical centers in Beijing., Methods: Data concerning maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in multiple and singleton pregnancies were collected from 15 hospitals in Beijing by a systemic cluster sampling survey conducted from 20 June to 30 November 2013. The SPSS software (version 20.0) was used for data analysis. The χ 2 test was used for statistical analyses., Results: The rate of caesarean deliveries was much higher in women with multiple pregnancies (85.8%) than that in women with singleton pregnancies (42.6%, χ 2  = 190.8, P  < 0.001). The incidences of anemia (χ 2  = 40.023, P  < 0.001), preterm labor (χ 2  = 1021.172, P  < 0.001), gestational diabetes mellitus (χ 2  = 9.311, P  < 0.01), hypertensive disorders (χ 2  = 122.708, P  < 0.001) and post-partum hemorrhage (χ 2  = 48.550, P  < 0.001) was significantly increased with multiple pregnancy. In addition, multiple pregnancy was associated with a significantly higher rate of small-for-gestational-age infants (χ 2  = 92.602, P  < 0.001), low birth weight (χ 2  = 1141.713, P  < 0.001), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (χ 2  = 340.129, P  < 0.001)., Conclusions: Multiple pregnancy is a significant risk factor for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in Beijing. Improving obstetric care for multiple pregnancy, particularly in reducing preterm labor, is required to reduce the risk to mothers and infants.

Aim: To implement high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing to study microbial diversity in the fecal matter of rats with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS)., Methods: Intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide was used to induce ALI, and the pathological changes in the lungs and intestines were observed. D-lactate levels and diamine oxidase (DAO) activities were determined by enzymatic spectrophotometry. The fragments encompassing V4 16S rDNA hypervariable regions were PCR amplified from fecal samples, and the PCR products of V4 were sequenced by Illumina MiSeq., Results: Increased D-lactate levels and DAO activities were observed in the model group (P < 0.01). Sequencing results revealed the presence of 3780 and 4142 species in the control and model groups, respectively. The percentage of shared species was 18.8419%. Compared with the control group, the model group had a higher diversity index and a lower number of species of Fusobacteria (at the phylum level), Helicobacter and Roseburia (at the genus level) (P < 0.01). Differences in species diversity, structure, distribution and composition were found between the control group and early ARDS group., Conclusion: The detection of specific bacteria allows early detection and diagnosis of ALI/ARDS.

Pine liquefaction (PL) and re-liquefaction of its liquefaction residues in sub- and supercritical methanol, water or methanol/water mixed solvents (MWMSs) was investigated. The results show that isometric MWMS has the highest synergic effect on PL. Moreover, the total yield of bio-oil (BO) and conversion from pine and its residue both liquefied in the MWMS were obvious higher than those from PL in methanol (water) and re-liquefaction of its residue in water (methanol), suggesting that the interaction between the two solvents is responsible for synergic effect. This approach facilitates understanding the mechanism for biomass liquefaction in mixed solvents and developing efficient utilization process of biomass., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To explore relevant between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection and college students' neurobehaviors., Methods: 87 college students were enlisted. They were tested with Bole. Neurobehavioral evaluation system (B. NES), and HCMV IgG antibody was detected after separation of serum. We analyzed the test results of B. NES by SPSS software., Results: 76 college students were infected by HCMV in the past and 11 college students were not infected. The infected group scored 8.89 +/- 6.60 in depression aspect of emotion state test, while control group got 15.73 +/- 9.00. There was Significant difference between infection group and control (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in other aspects of emotion states, study and memory, perception and mental movement (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: HCMV infection is associated with depression status.

Objective: The hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy caused by asphyxia in peripartum is a serious disease in newborn infants, with a high disability and mortality rate. Lack of regenerative ability in central nervous system after injury is considered as the fundamental cause. However, in recent years many studies have revealed that there are myelin-associated neurite growth inhibitory factors that exert inhibiting effect through the Nogo receptor (NgR). This study aimed to investigate the expression level of NgR and the possible neuroprotective effect of NEP1-40 in newborn rats with hypoxic ischemic brain damage (HIBD)., Method: Eighty healthy Wistar rats aged 7 days were randomly divided into 4 groups; 8 in control group, 24 in HIBD model group, 24 in GM-1 group and 24 in NEP1-40 group. The rats of the control group and HIBD group were injected with normal saline (0.25 ml/kg) intraperitoneally, while those in NEP1-40 group and GM-1 group with NEP1-40 12.5 microg/d, GM-1 10 mg/(kg.d) for continuous 3 days of 72-hour group or 7 days of 168-hour group, respectively. In situ hybridization was adopted for detecting the expression of NgR in the brain of the rats at the time point of 24 hours, 72 hours and 7 days. Meanwhile histopathological changes of neurons and axon were detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The SPSS statistical software package for Windows, version 10.0, was used to run Chi-square tests and least significance difference (LSD-t) on the data presented, and P value of less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant., Result: The expression level of Nogo-A receptor in the control group was higher than that of the other groups at different time point (t value was 5.48, 6.11, 6.96, 8.24, 5.99 and 5.34, respectively, and all P values were less than 0.05). There were no significant differences in Nogo-A receptor level among the HIBD group, the GM-1 group and the NEP1-40 at 24 hours (t was 1.48, 2.76 and 1.29, respectively, and all P > 0.05), while the expression of Nogo-A receptor of NEP1-40 at 72 hours and 7 days was lower than that of the HIBD group and the GM-1 group at the same time point, respectively (all P < 0.05). Repair of neurons in damaged brain to some extent was found after GM-1 treatment and satisfactory repair of neurons and axon regeneration was obtained with NEP1-40 administration as shown by TEM., Conclusion: Hypoxic ischemic brain damage can down-regulate the expression of Nogo-A receptor in the central nervous system. NEP1-40 contributes to the regeneration of axon and repair of brain damage, thus exerts neuroprotective effect.

In the simulation experiments in vitro of the formation of gallstone, adenosine-triphosphate(ATP)-Co(2+)-deoxycholic acid(DC) gel system was chosen to study the periodic precipitation progress. The effect of ATP on the Co(2+)-DC gel system was also determined, and the structure of the periodic precipitation formed was characterized by FTIR. The results show that the patterns formed in the systems with ATP are different, ATP affected the rate and structure of precipitation through its variable participation in the metal coordination complexes as judged by the phosphate P=O bands and the deoxycholate COO- symmetric and asymmetric vibration bands as measured by FTIR Theses spectroscopic differences were correlated with color and pattern differences in the precipitates. ATP has a more remarkable function than AMP to the modes of patterns, meanwhile the system patterns transform from fractal to periodic precipitation. There is a complex interaction among ATP, sodium deoxycholic and Co2+ with a transparent crystal produced. The crystal is deoxycholic acid and the periodic precipitation is composed of ATP and DC covalent to Co2+. These results indicate that stone formation and remodeling is a dynamic, nonlinear progress. Much of the precipitate, as judged by local differences in composition, is not in equilibrium with the general gel environment. The authors conclude that the formation of gallstone features complex and nonlinear chemical character, in which nucleotides as living material play a very important role.