Abstract:Objective To examine the neuroanatomical substrates underlying the effects of minocycline in alleviating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation. Methods Forty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly and equally divided into eight groups. Over three conse-cutive days, saline was administered to four groups of mice and minocycline to the other four groups. Immediately after the administration of saline or minocycline on the third day, two groups of mice were additionally injected with saline and the other two groups were injected with LPS. Six or 24 hours after the last injection, mice were sacrificed and the brains were removed. Immunohistochemical staining across the whole brain was performed to detect microglia activation via Iba1 and neuronal activation via c-Fos. Morphology of microglia and the number of c-Fo-positive neurons were analyzed by Image-Pro Premier 3D. One-way ANOVA and Fisher’s least-significant differences were employed for statistical analyses. Results Minocycline alleviated LPS-induced neuroinflammation as evidenced by reduced activation of microglia in multiple brain regions, including the shell part of the nucleus accumbens (Acbs), paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), locus coeruleus (LC), and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). Minocycline significantly increased the number of c-Fo-positive neurons in NTS and area postrema (AP) after LPS treatment. Furthermore, in NTS-associated brain areas, including LC, lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB), periaqueductal gray (PAG), dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), amygdala, PVN, and bed nucleus of the stria terminali (BNST), minocycline also significantly increased the number of c-Fo-positive neurons after LPS administration. Conclusion Minocycline alleviates LPS-induced neuroinflammation in multiple brain regions, possibly due to increased activation of neurons in the NTS-associated network.
Abstract:Background Ultrasound-guided continuous thoracic paravertebral block can provide pain-relieving and opioid-sparing effects in patients receiving open hepatectomy. We hypothesize that these effects may improve the quality of recovery (QoR) after open hepatectomy. Methods Seventy-six patients undergoing open hepatectomy were randomized to receive a continuous thoracic paravertebral block with ropivacaine (CTPVB group) or normal saline (control group). All patients received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with morphine postoperatively for 48 hours. The primary outcome was the global Chinese 15-item Quality of Recovery score on postoperative day 7, which was statistically analyzed using Student’s t-test. Results Thirty-six patients in the CTPVB group and 37 in the control group completed the study. Compared to the control group, the CTPVB group had significantly increased global Chinese 15-item Quality of Recovery scores (133.14 ± 12.97 vs. 122.62 ± 14.89, P = 0.002) on postoperative day 7. Postoperative pain scores and cumulative morphine consumption were significantly lower for up to 8 and 48 hours (P < 0.05; P = 0.002), respectively, in the CTPVB group. Conclusion Perioperative CTPVB markably promotes patient’s QoR after open hepatectomy with a profound analgesic effect in the early postoperative period.
Keywords:thoracic paravertebral block;hepatectomy;quality of recovery;ropivacaine
Abstract:Background Anosmia is one of the symptoms in individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In anosmic patients, SARS-CoV-2 temporarily alters the signaling process in olfactory nerve cells and olfactory bulb (OB), which eventually damages the structure of the olfactory epithelium, leading to a permanent disorder in the olfactory pathway that this damaged structure is showed in MRI imaging Method Two investigators independently searched four databases consisting of PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science for relevant records as of November 11, 2020 with no time, space, and language restrictions. Google Scholar was also searched for the related resources within the time limit of 2020. All the found articles were reviewed based on the PRISMA flow diagram. Qualitative studies, case reports, editorials, letters, and other non-original studies were excluded from this systematic analysis. Results Initial search yielded 434 records. After reviewing the titles and abstracts, we selected 74 articles; finally, 8 articles were depicted to be investigated and read in full text. The obtained results showed an increase in the width and volume of the olfactory cleft (OC), complete or partial destruction of OC, and complete occlusion of OC in COVID-19 patients. Deformation and degeneration as well as a subtle asymmetry were evident in the OBs. Computed tomography (CT), meganetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) were used to detect the outcomes of anosmia in these studies. Conclusions The changes in OC are greater than those in OB in patients with COVID-19, mainly due to the inflammatory and immune responses in OC. However, fewer changes in OB are due to neurological or vascular disorders. Topical steroid therapy and topical saline can be helpful.
Abstract:Objective Many studies have revealed the crucial roles of miRNA in multiple human cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In this study, we sought to explore new miRNA-mRNA pairs that are associated with LUAD prognosis. Methods A novel miRNA-mRNA regulatory network associated with prognosis in LUAD was identified and validated using the bioinformatic tools including OncomiR database, StarBase, miRnet, GEPIA2, UALCAN. Results Twenty key miRNAs were compiled after the analysis of the expression and prognostic value in OncomiR and StarBase. Targeted mRNAs of these key miRNAs were predicted in miRnet, and the resulting mRNAs were also analyzed for their prognostic values and expression patterns in GEPIA2 and UALCAN, respectively. Further expression correlation analysis was performed in StarBase. Subsequently, a new miRNA-mRNA network was built, of which each RNA pair showed negative expression correlation, opposite expression pattern, and prognostic value. Protein-protein interaction network was under construction for the mRNAs, and 19 hub genes were determined. Enrichment analysis showed that “Cell Cycle, Mitotic” was the most significantly enriched term. Then, a miRNA-hub gene sub-network was built. We selected and validated the regulatory relationship of some miRNA-hub pairs, including hsa-miR-1976/RFC2, hsa-let-7c-5p/RFC2, hsa-let-7c-5p/ESPL1, hsa-let-7c-5p/CDC25A, and hsa-miR-101-3p/KIF2C. Moreover, over-expression of hsa-miR-1976 and hsa-let-7c-5p resulted in significant cell cycle arrest. Conclusions Our results determined new prognosis-associated miRNA-mRNA pairs and might shed further light on the mechanism via which miRNA-mRNA network influences prognosis in LUAD.
Abstract:Objective To evaluate the gastric microbiome in patients with chronic superficial gastritis (CSG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) and investigate the influence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) on the gastric microbiome. Methods Gastric mucosa tissue samples were collected from 54 patients with CSG and IM, and the patients were classified into the following four groups based on the state of H. pylori infection and histology: H. pylori-negative CSG (n=24), H. pylori-positive CSG (n=14), H. pylori-negative IM (n=11), and H. pylori-positive IM (n=5). The gastric microbiome was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results H. pylori strongly influenced the bacterial abundance and diversity regardless of CSG and IM. In H. pylori-positive subjects, the bacterial abundance and diversity were significantly lower than in H. pylori-negative subjects. The H. pylori-negative groups had similar bacterial composition and bacterial abundance. The H. pylori-positive groups also had similar bacterial composition but different bacterial relative abundance. The relative abundance of Neisseria, Streptococcus, Rothia, and Veillonella were richer in the I-HP group than in G-HP group, especially Neisseria (t=175.1, P<0.001). Conclusions The gastric microbial abundance and diversity are lower in H. pylori- infected patients regardless of CSG and IM. Compared to H. pylori-positive CSG group and H. pylori-positive IM, the relative abundance of Neisseria, Streptococcus, Rothia, and Veillonella is higher in H. pylori-positive patients with IM than in H. pylori-positive patients with CSG, especially Neisseria.
Abstract:Objective This study was designed to determine the methylation profile of four CpGs and the genotypes of two CpG-SNPs located in promoter region of DIO2 in patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD). We also analyzed the interaction between the CpGs methylations and CpG-SNPs. Methods Whole blood specimens were collected from 16 KBD patients and 16 healthy subjects. Four CpGs and two CpG-SNPs in the promoter regions of DIO2 were detected using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The CpGs methylation levels were compared between samples from KBD patients and healthy subjects. The methylation levels were also analyzed in KBD patients with different CpG-SNP genotypes. Results The mRNA expression of DIO2 in whole blood of KBD patients was significnatly lower than in healthy controls (P <0.05). The methylation levels of DIO2-1_CpG_3 in KBD patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (P <0.05). The methylation levels of four CpGs were not significantly different between KBD patients and healthy controls. The methylation level of DIO2-1_CpG_3 in the promoter region of DIO2 in KBD patients with GA/AA genotype was significantly higher than that of KBD patients with GG genotype (P <0.05). Conclusion The methylation level of DIO2 increases in KBD patients. Similar trends exist in KBD carriers of variant genotypes of CpG-SNPs DIO2 rs955849187.
Abstract:This data article describes data acquired from the Database of Youth Health (DYH) program. The DYH program consisted of a multi-wave survey conducted annually in the academic year 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, and 2020/2021 to investigate the status quo of health and health-related behaviors of Chinese junior and senior high school students. A total of 99,327 students from 186 secondary schools in 17 cities of Shandong province participated in the survey. The dataset is longitudinal and consists of rich parameters in aspects of individual information, social-economic status, social interaction, nutrition and diet, psychological cognition, mental health, school adaptation, quality of life, spare-time physical activity, risk behaviors, and physical fitness evaluation results based on the National Student Physical Fitness and Health 2014. It is the first open shared dataset about Chinese adolescents’ health and health-related behaviors. It would be valuable and beneficial for policy makers, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to generate or adjust the existing strategies for improving Chinese adolescents’ wellbeing.
Abstract:Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of syphilis remains a leading cause of stillbirth and death among neonates in many developing countries. In 2007, World Health Orgernization launched the global elimination of MTCT (EMTCT) of syphilis. Given the high burden of congenital syphilis, China subsequently released the specific national EMTCT policies and programs to reduce MTCT of syphilis. The congenital syphilis incidence rate per 100,000 live births in China has markedly decreased from 69.9 in 2013 to 11.9 in 2019. However, due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, the current measures for eliminating MTCT of syphilis are greatly challenged. In this article, we summarize the strategies and measures for the EMTCT of syphilis in China in the past 20 years, the remarkable achievements by the policy support under the leadership of the government. In the context of COVID-19 pandemics, strengthening emergency response to the regional outbreaks of COVID-19, adopting safe, rapid, early and high-quality clinical care for 100% of pregnant women to receive prenatal syphilis testing services, ensuring the availability of Benzathine penicillin for the treatment, and strengthening the closed-loop management of pregnant women and newborns infected with syphilis are the key measures to determine the effectiveness of MTCT for syphilis. Lessons from China may be valuable for other countries that are planning to eliminate MTCT of syphilis.
Abstract:The incidence and mortality rates of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer remain high. Despite constant improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, the early diagnosis, mid- and late-stage treatment, drug tolerance, and cancer recurrence and metastasis in GI cancer remain challenging. In this review article we summarize the recent research advance in the roles of keratins in GI cancer, with the hope that they will become efficient biomarkers for the prediction, diagnosis, or treatment of these malignancies.
Abstract:Hemophilia is an X-linked recessive inherited bleeding disorder. Despite the improved treatment in recent years with the advent of replacement therapies, the progression of atherosclerosis is not slowed down after the reduction of clotting factors in hemophilia. As life expectancy increases, more hemophilia patients will suffer from age-related cardiovascular diseases. Since cardiac surgery needs heparinization and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), it is extremely challenging to balance hemostasis and coagulation in patients with hemophilia. Here we report three cases of hemophilia patients who underwent cardiac surgery successfully.
Abstract:Atypical polypoid adenomyoma (APA) is an uncommon type of polypoid characterized by fibroid stroma and endometrial glands. It occurs mostly in premenopausal women and rarely in postmenopausal women with irregular vaginal bleeding. In our current case, a 76-year-old woman presented with irregular vaginal bleeding. The final pathological diagnosis of the mass was APA. APA is not easy to diagnose before surgery. On the one hand, there was no obvious particularity in imaging features and clinical features, especially for uncomfortably identifying endometrial cancer. On the other hand, APA has a pedicle, attaching to any part of the uterine cavity, which can cause pseudocoel between the mass with the uterine cavity wall. So, when it comes to getting the pathological tissue in the absence of hysteroscopy, it is easy to access to the pseudocoel and obtain endometrial tissue rather than the pathological tissue of the mass. Therefore, preoperative imaging examination is of great significance diagnosis way of thinking to clinicians for APA. In the meantime, pathological tissue of APA can be obtained by hysteroscopy in visual conditions.