Search

Wenjing Zhang,1,2,* Xiaoyang Ma,1,2,* Kaiyu Qin,1,2 Cheng Kou,1,2 Canglin Song,1,2 Dongmei Xu1,2 1National Center for Infectious Disease, Beijing Ditan Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurology, Beijing Ditan Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Dongmei Xu, Department of Neurology, Beijing Ditan Hospital Capital Medical University, No. 8. Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100015, People’s Republic of China, Email xdmlb@163.comBackground and Objectives: This study aims to report the clinical, biological, and imaging features of cross-sectional study of neurosyphilis patients with leptomeningeal enhancement of spinal cord. Here, 51 neurosyphilis patients with leptomeningeal enhancement of spinal cord positivity are described, offering a promise in terms of early diagnosis, thereby enabling timely detection and treatment.Methods: We retrospectively included all neurosyphilis patients enrolled in this study from December 2019 to January 2024. We identified 51 included patients with leptomeningeal enhancement of spinal cord positivity. Their neuroimaging, socio-demographical, clinical status, presentations, and laboratory manifestations were reported retrospectively.Results: Magnetic resonance imaging showed lumbar or conus medullaris and cauda equina radial enhancement in 72.7%, leptomeningeal enhancement of cervical spine in 65.9%, and thoracic involvement in 55.3%. Twenty of 51 neurosyphilis patients completed the follow-up. Among the 20 patients, the lesioned region in half of patients was decreased or disappeared after therapy. The predominant phenotype was tabes dorsalis. Median age at onset was 51 years, and 72.5% were male. Urinary incontinence was found in 33.3% of patients, and memory deterioration in 39.2%. The most frequent physical sign was Argyll Robertson pupil (45.1%). The levels of white blood cells (25/28, 89.3%) and protein concentration (23/28, 82.9%) of cerebrospinal fluid were reduced in more patients after therapy.Conclusion: In this study, we first concurrently investigated the clinical course and the biological and imaging features of leptomeningeal enhancement of spinal cord. Leptomeningeal enhancement of spinal cord is common with neurosyphilis. Our findings can be useful for raising clinical awareness to select patients with symptoms of myelopathy in whom MRI images should be investigated.Keywords: neurosyphilis, leptomeningeal enhancement of spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid, spine MRI

Juyi Li,1,2 Yang Ge,3 Yuwei Chai,1 Chunjia Kou,1 Tian Tian Sun,4 Jia Liu,3,5– 7 Haiqing Zhang1,3,5– 7 1Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University; Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose & Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging, Ministry of Education, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Endocrinology, Geriatrics Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Infectious Diseases, Jinan People’s Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, 271100, People’s Republic of China; 5Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, People’s Republic of China; 6Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, People’s Republic of China; 7Shandong Engineering Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jia Liu; Haiqing Zhang, Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250021, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 18653155865 ; Tel +86 15168888303, Email liujia_625@163.com; zhanghq@sdu.edu.cnPurpose: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) has been identified as an independent risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), TSH binds to the TSH receptor (TSHR) to exert its function. However, the underlying mechanisms by which TSHR influences NAFLD development remain unclear. This study investigates the role of miR374b in NAFLD progression.Methods: Firstly, a rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver was constructed and divided into a normal group and a model group. The liver tissue pathology and fat accumulation were detected by Oil Red O staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Western blot and Real time PCR were used to detect for the impact of TSHR/miR-374b/C/EBP β/ FoxO1 pathway in the NAFLD model, and the expression of relevant inflammatory factors in each group was detected by ELISA assay. A NAFLD cell model was constructed using HepG2 cells, TSHR overexpression and interference, combined with miR-374b inhibitor and mimics, were transfected simultaneously to demonstrate TSHR/miR-374b/C/EBP β/ The mechanism of FoxO1 adipogenesis in vitro.Results: TSHR stimulates miR374b secretion in human liver cancer cells (HepG2) and promotes lipid accumulation in the liver. Deficiency of miR374b in HepG2 cells attenuated NAFLD progression. Mechanistically, TSH increases miR374b expression, which then suppresses the transcription of its target genes, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-b (C/EBP β) and Forkhead Box Protein O1 (FOXO1). This suppression influences the expression of downstream lipid metabolism proteins, including PPARγ, SREBP2, and SREBP1c. Additionally, miR374b directly targets the 3′UTR of C/EBP β and FOXO1, establishing a negative feedback loop in lipid metabolism.Conclusion: These findings suggest that TSHR-induced upregulation of miR374b accelerates NAFLD progression by modulating lipid metabolism pathways through C/EBP β and FOXO1. Keywords: NAFLD, miR374b, TSHR

Juyi Li,1,2 Chunjia Kou,1 Tiantian Sun,3 Jia Liu,3– 5 Haiqing Zhang1,3– 5 1Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Endocrinology, Geriatrics Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021, People’s Republic of China; 4Shandong Clinical Medical Center of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 5Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jia Liu, No. 324, Five-Jing Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China, Email liujia_625@163.com Haiqing Zhang, No. 324, Five-Jing Road, Jinan, Shandong Province, China, Email haiqingzhang7576@163.comBackground: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common progressive liver disease worldwide. It can cause liver cancer and possibly death. Abnormal immune infiltration is involved in the progression of NAFLD. The aim of this study was to identify and validate the hub immune-related genes in NAFLD.Methods: Microarray data were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus, and immune-related differentially expressed genes (IRDEGs) were obtained. A protein–protein interaction network was used to further screen. The diagnostic value of the IRDEGs was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves. Differences in immune infiltration levels were analyzed using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis. Hub IRDEGs were identified by correlation analysis with immune infiltration levels. Finally, molecular experiments were used to confirm the expression of the hub IRDEGs and explore their roles in NAFLD.Results: We obtained 18 IRDEGs. Five hub genes were further identified by protein–protein interaction network, receiver operating characteristic curves and correlation analysis: AQP9, BACH2, CD4, IL17RE and S100A9. Based on functional enrichment analysis, the hub genes were enriched primarily in many immune-related pathways. In NAFLD, AQP9, CD4, and IL17RE expression was significantly reduced, whereas BACH2 and S100A9 expression was elevated. PCR, oil red O staining and triglyceride detection revealed that the knock-down of BACH2 and S100A9 reduced lipid accumulation in NAFLD cells.Conclusion: This study provided insight into the profile of immune infiltration underlying NAFLD and identified AQP9, BACH2, CD4, IL17RE and S100A9 as ancillary diagnostic indicators of NAFLD. And BACH2 and S100A9 might be therapeutic targets for NAFLD.Keywords: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, immune infiltration, BTB domain and CNC homolog 2, BACH2, S100 calcium binding protein A9, S100A9

Objective To discuss the preoperative application of arginine for inducing autophagy to alleviate postoperative liver damage in patients undergoing liver resection. Methods Out of 90 hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） patients treated with liver resection in Xuzhou Central Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020, there were 30 patients with normal liver resection （control group） and 60 patients with preoperative application of arginine （experiment group）. In experiment group, continuous intravenous arginine infusion was given for 1 week in 30 cases （experiment group 1）, and intravenous infusion every other day was given in other 30 cases （experiment group 2）. Postoperative liver function was monitored, and western blot was used to detect changes in autophagy-related protein and apoptotic-related protein expressions. Length of hospital stay was recorded and compared. Results The values of liver function indicators in experiment groups were significantly lower than those in control group, and they were lower in experiment group 2 than those in experiment group 1（P＜0.05＝. The expressions of autophagy proteins in normal liver tissues of experiment group were higher than those in control group （P＜0.05＝, and there were no significant differences in them between experiment group 2 and experiment group 1（P＞0.05）. In experiment group, the expression of apoptosis protein in normal liver tissues was lower than that in control group, and it in experiment group 2 was superior to that in experiment group 1. HE staining showed that there were different degrees of liver cells necrosis and fatty degeneration in control group and experiment group, however, HE staining scores in experiment group 2 were lower than those in experiment group 1 and control group （P＜0.05＝. Length of hospital stay was （16.1±3.8） d in experiment group 1, （15.3±3.1） d in experiment group 2 and （18.0±2.8） d in control group （F=5.428, P＜0.01＝. The hospitalization time in two experiment groups were significantly shorter than that in control group （P＜0.05＝. Conclusion Preoperative application of arginine can induce the expression of autophagy protein, which can alleviate the liver injury in patients with liver resection to a certain degree. Moreover, the interval use of arginine before surgery shows better protective effect for liver function.

A two-step treatment by argon (Ar) and hydrogen plasma beam scanning was developed to modify the surface bonds of a hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) film on indium tin oxide glass. The modified a-C:H film is an excellent layer for liquid crystal alignment, on which the pretilt angle of a nematic liquid crystal (ZLI-2293) can be adjusted by the two-step scanning treatment. The chemical bonding characteristics of the as-scanned a-C:H films were measured using micro-Raman and x-ray photoemission spectroscopies. The antiparallel cells were filled with the nematic liquid crystal on the as-scanned a-C:H film to measure the pretilt angle. Experimental results indicate that the carbon dangling bonds are generated through a bond-breaking process during the Ar plasma beam scanning step (first step). The hydrogen plasma beam scanning step (second step) can passivate some of the carbon dangling bonds that are generated in the first step. The pretilt angle decreases as the hydrogen plasma beam scanning time increases. The decrease of pretilt angle is due to the formation of C–H bonds that passivate the a-C:H film and limit the formation of C–O bonds in air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A plasma beam scanning treatment has been developed to modify the surface of the hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) film on the indium tin oxide glass. The plasma beam scanning treatment makes the a-C:H film an excellent layer for liquid-crystal alignment. The qualities of a-C:H films were characterized by using atomic force microscope, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscope. The ultrathin a-C:H films were deposited at 50% CH4/(H2+CH4) gas ratio, 100 W radio-frequency power, and a gas pressure of 10 mtorr for 15 min by capacitive-coupled plasma chemical-vapor deposition method. The twist nematic cells were filled with liquid crystal (ZLI-2293) on the a-C:H film treated with different nitrogen plasma beam scanning time. The grooving mechanism is considered not responsible for the liquid-crystal (LC) alignment. Raman spectra suggest that a bond-breaking process of aromatic rings occurs in the a-C:H film. The O1s, C1s, and N1s core-level spectra support that the nitrogen plasma beam scanning treatment induces a bond-breaking process of aromatic rings to create available carbon dangling bonds for the formation of C–O bonds. The newly formed C–O bonds are “directional,” which favor the LC alignment on the a-C:H film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous-carbon (a-C) nanotips were directly grown on copper substrates by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor deposition. The length of a typical a-C nanotip is ∼250 nm and its tip diameter is ∼25 nm. The in-plane correlation length La, equivalent to the size of the sp[sup 2] clusters, is determined to be 1.2 nm through the intensity ratio of the D and G peaks in the Raman spectrum, which is about in the optimum range for field emission. A low turn-on field of 1.6 V/μm at 10 μA/cm2, a threshold field of 3.8 V/μm at 10 mA/cm2, and a high current density of 32.42 mA/cm2 at 4.0 V/μm are achieved. The field emission characteristics of a-C nanotips are close to those of carbon nanotubes, and much better than what has been reported for flat diamond-like carbon or a-C:H coated cathodes. The roles of the sp[sup 2] cluster size, electron confinement and conductivity in the field emission of a-C nanotips are discussed. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unconventional Ni-P alloy-catalyzed, high-throughput, highly reproducible chemical vapor deposition of ultralong carbon microcoils is described by using acetylene precursor. The initial coil parameters have shown that the mechanical model has accounted for the geometric nonlinearity of the spring constants for carbon micro- and nanocoils.

Seven Glu-A1m allelic variants of the Glu-A1mx genes in Triticum monococcum ssp. monococcum, designated as 1Ax2.1a, 1Ax2.1b, 1Ax2.1c, 1Ax2.1d, 1Ax2.1e, 1Ax2.1f, and 1Ax2.1g were characterized. Their authenticity was confirmed by successful expression of the coding regions in E. coli, and except for the 1Ax2.1a with the presence of internal stop codons at position of 313 aa, all correspond to the subunit in seeds. However, all the active six genes had a same DNA size although their encoding subunits showed different molecular weight. Our study indicated that amino acid residue substitutions rather than previously frequently reported insertions/deletions played an important role on the subunit evolution of these Glu-A1mx alleles. Since variation in the Glu-A1x locus in common wheat is rare, these novel genes at the Glu-A1mx can be used as candidate genes for further wheat quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]