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BackgroundSika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck, 1838) antler is a highly esteemed tonic renowned for its abundant assortment of polypeptides, polysaccharides, amino acids, and minerals, and is recognized for its multifarious pharmacological properties. However, limited research has been conducted regarding the variation in composition of deer antlers between the upper and basal sections, as well as their pharmacological effects on immunological activity and anti-fatigue in mice. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive analysis on the appearance, chemical composition, and pharmacological effects of different components within sika deer antlers. This investigation aims to elucidate the disparities in quality among various parts of antlers and establish a theoretical foundation for the precise utilization of sika deer antlers.MethodsThe contents of protein, amino acids, polysaccharides, phospholipids, minerals and nucleotides in wax, powder, gauze and bone slices were determined by different nutrient assays. Then, 100 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups. The mice in control group were administered 0.3 mL of saline solution per day. The mice in experimental groups were administered 0.3 mL enzymatic hydrolysate of the wax slice, powder slice, gauze slice, bone slice separately per day, continuously for 14 days from the first day. The effect of antler on boosting immunity was evaluated by testing organ indices and assessing immunoglobulin levels by ELISA. Anti-fatigue effects were assessed by a mouse swimming test. Finally, the correlation between composition and pharmacological effects was analysed.ResultsThe content of each marker substance gradually decreases from the upper to the basal of deer antler. The protein and uracil content in the wax slice were significantly higher than the other three groups (p < 0.05), and the phospholipid and inosine content were strongly significantly higher than the other three groups (p < 0.01). The content of polysaccharides and hypoxanthine in the wax slice group and powder slice group was significantly higher than that in the gauze slice group and bone slice group (p < 0.05). The amino acid content decreases from the upper to the basal section. Among, the content of Glu, Gly, His, and Pro wax slice was significantly higher than the other three groups (p < 0.01). The content of other minerals except Fe and Mg in the wax slice group was significantly higher than the other three groups (p < 0.01), and the content of Fe and Mg in the bone slice was the highest. Additionally, the immune organ index, immunoglobulin, and glycogen contents displayed a significant increase in comparison to both the control group and the other experimental groups (p < 0.05). And the swimming endurance of mice in the wax slice group was significantly prolonged (p < 0.01). The skeletal muscle state of the wax group mice exhibited superior characteristics, characterized by distinct horizontal stripes and tightly arranged muscle fibers. In contrast, the bone group displayed noticeable yet relatively less compact horizontal stripes. Among the organic and inorganic compositions of deer antler, the highest degree of correlation with the content of IgA, IgM, and IgG was found to be protein (r2 = 0.999), uracil (r2 = 0.987), and inosine (r2 = 0.999), respectively. The proteins (r2 = 0.997) appear to exert a significant influence on the anti-fatigue effect, while polysaccharides (r2 = 0.865) demonstrate the least relevance.ConclusionThese outcomes indicated that the wax slice yielded optimal results among the tested parts and demonstrated the highest efficacy.

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), a prevalent inflammatory skin disease, is elicited upon repeated skin contact with protein-reactive chemicals through a complex and poorly characterized cellular network between immune cells and skin resident cells. Here, single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the murine hapten-elicited model of ACD reveals that upon elicitation of ACD, infiltrated CD4+ or CD8+ lymphocytes were primarily the IFNγ-producing type 1 central memory phenotype. In contrast, type 2 cytokines (IL4 and IL13) were dominantly expressed by basophils, IL17A was primarily expressed by δγ T cells, and IL1β was identified as the primary cytokine expressed by activated neutrophils/monocytes and macrophages. Furthermore, analysis of skin resident cells identified a sub-cluster of dermal fibroblasts with preadipocyte signature as a prominent target for IFNγ+ lymphocytes and dermal source for key T cell chemokines CXCL9/10. IFNγ treatment shifted dermal fibroblasts from collagen-producing to CXCL9/10-producing, which promoted T cell polarization toward the type-1 phenotype through a CXCR3-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, targeted deletion of Ifngr1 in dermal fibroblasts in mice reduced Cxcl9/10 expression, dermal infiltration of CD8+ T cell, and alleviated ACD inflammation in mice. Finally, we showed that IFNγ+ CD8+ T cells and CXCL10-producing dermal fibroblasts co-enriched in the dermis of human ACD skin. Together, our results define the cell type-specific immune responses in ACD, and recognize an indispensable role of dermal fibroblasts in shaping the development of type-1 skin inflammation through the IFNGR-CXCR3 signaling circuit during ACD pathogenesis.

Abstract Background The management of small gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) originating from the muscularis propria layer (SMT-MPs) remains a subject of debate. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is currently considered the optimal treatment for resection. However, high expenses, complex procedures, and the risk of complications have limited its application. Our previously proposed novel operation, precutting endoscopic band ligation (precutting EBL), has been demonstrated in a long-term, single-arm study to be an effective and safe technique for removing small gastric SMTs. However, the absence of a pathological examination and the potential for delayed perforation have raised concerns. Thus, we modified the precutting EBL by adding endoscopic resection to the snare after ligation and closure, yielding the precutting endoscopic band ligation-assisted resection (precutting EBLR). Moreover, the initial pilot study confirmed the safety and efficacy of the proposed approach and we planned a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to further validate its clinical feasibility. Methods This was a prospective, single-center, open-label, parallel group, and randomized controlled trial. Approximately 40 patients with SMT-MPs will be included in this trial. The patients included were allocated to two groups: ESD and precutting EBLR. The basic clinical data of the patients were collected in detail. To better quantify the difference between ESD and precutting EBLR, the primary outcome was set as the operation duration. The secondary outcomes included total operation cost and hospitalization, intraoperative adverse events, and postoperative recurrence. The primary outcome was tested for superiority, while the secondary outcomes were tested for noninferiority. SPSS is commonly used for statistical analysis. Discussion This study was designed to validate the feasibility of a novel operation for removing gastric SMT-MPs. To intuitively assess this phenomenon, the operation durations of precutting EBLR and ESD were compared, and other outcomes were also recorded comprehensively. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200065473 . Registered on November 5, 2022.

Summary: Dermal adipocyte lineage cells are highly plastic and can undergo reversible differentiation and dedifferentiation in response to various stimuli. Using single-cell RNA sequencing of developing or wounded mouse skin, we classify dermal fibroblasts (dFBs) into distinct non-adipogenic and adipogenic cell states. Cell differentiation trajectory analyses identify IL-1-NF-κB and WNT-β-catenin as top signaling pathways that positively and negatively associate with adipogenesis, respectively. Upon wounding, activation of adipocyte progenitors and wound-induced adipogenesis are mediated in part by neutrophils through the IL-1R-NF-κB-CREB signaling axis. In contrast, WNT activation, by WNT ligand and/or ablation of Gsk3, inhibits the adipogenic potential of dFBs but promotes lipolysis and dedifferentiation of mature adipocytes, contributing to myofibroblast formation. Finally, sustained WNT activation and inhibition of adipogenesis is seen in human keloids. These data reveal molecular mechanisms underlying the plasticity of dermal adipocyte lineage cells, defining potential therapeutic targets for defective wound healing and scar formation.

BackgroundThe postpartum period is critical for maternal health status after childbirth. The traditional Chinese postpartum confinement practice, "doing-the-month", is considered especially effective in helping mothers recover during the postpartum period. However, research has not provided evidence to confirm its benefits. Postpartum depression is a common postpartum disease that seriously threatens maternal health. The systematic review aims to explore the association between "doing-the-month" and postpartum depression in the Chinese female population and to provide a scientific foundation for evidence-based postpartum maternal care.MethodsFive databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were searched according to the protocol (INPALSY202320102). The JBI assessment tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies.ResultsSixteen quantitative studies from China and Chinese female immigrants in other countries, including 15 cross-sectional studies and 1 randomized controlled study, were identified. Four studies indicated that "doing-the-month" rituals reduced postpartum depression risk while 2 studies showed opposite results; 10 studies did not show a significant association between "doing-the-month" practices and postpartum depression.ConclusionThere is conflicting evidence regarding the association between "doing-the-month" and the likelihood of developing postpartum depression. Some studies have explored the impact of family ties, particular rituals, and specific stressors during the postpartum period on the occurrence of postpartum depression in Chinese women. According to current research, "doing-the-month" practice failed to show a significant protective effect on postpartum depression in the Chinese maternal population. Evidence-based medical health education for the Chinese postpartum female community is urgently needed.

ObjectivesTo analyze obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-related quality of life (QoL), the statuses of depression and anxiety, and to reveal the correlation between OSA-related QoL and two mental statuses in Chinese adolescent patients with cleft palate (CP).MethodsThe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Questionaire-18 (OSA-18), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were applied to assess OSA-related QoL and the statuses of anxiety and depression in Chinese adolescent patients with CP, respectively. Non-CP adolescents were also included in the control group. OSA-related QoL and the two mental statuses were compared between the study and control groups. The correlation between the OSA-related QoL and two mental statuses was estimated in Chinese adolescent patients with CP.ResultsA total of 8.7% patients showed a moderate or high impact of OSA on QoL, while all the adolescents from the control group showed little impact. The mean total OSA-18 score of the study group (36.261 ± 13.500) was significantly higher than the control (28.435 ± 8.934). The mean PHQ-9 scores of the study group and the control group were statistically different (3.957 vs. 2.113). The GAD-7 score in the study group was slightly higher than the control group (3.043 vs. 2.194), while the proportion of moderate-severe anxiety in the study group was relatively larger than that in the control group (6.5% vs. 1.6%). Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the OSA-related QoL and the statuses of anxiety and depression respectively, and the differences in GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores between the moderate or high impact group and the little impact group were statistically significant.ConclusionChinese adolescents with CP reported a rate of moderate or high impact of OSA on QoL of 8.7%, which was significantly higher than adolescents without CP. The OSA-related QoL was worse and depression was severer in Chinese CP adolescents than in the control, while anxiety and depression in Chinese CP adolescents were associated with OSA-related QoL.

Pollen, as an important component of Eucommia ulmoides (EUP), is rich in nutrients and is receiving increasing attention. At present, there are no reports on research related to the chemical composition and quality standards of EUP, and there are significant quality differences and counterfeit phenomena in the market. This study used a UPLC-QTOF-MS system to identify 49 chemical components in EUP for the first time. In the second step, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-HPLC antioxidant activity screening technology was used to identify the main active components of EUP, quercetin-3-O-sophoroside (QSH), quercetin-3-O-sambubioside (QSB), and quercetin 3-O-neohesperidoside (QNH), and their purification, preparation, and structure identification were carried out. Third, molecular docking was used to predict the activity of these components. Fourth, the intracellular ROS generation model of RAW264.7 induced by H2O2 was used to verify and evaluate the activity of candidate active ingredients to determine their feasibility as Q-markers. Finally, a quality control method for EUP was constructed using the three selected components as Q-markers. The identification of chemical components and the discovery, prediction, and confirmation of characteristic Q-markers in EUP provide important references for better research on EUP and the effective evaluation and control of its quality. This approach provides a new model for the quality control of novel foods or dietary supplements.

ObjectivesTo preliminarily analyze factors that affected the prevalence of anxiety in Chinese patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P).MethodsThe Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) was used to screen anxiety in Chinese CL/P patients. Non-CL/P individuals were also included as the control group. Sociodemographic and clinical data consisting of diagnosis, gender, only child or not, monthly household income, and current family location were collected to analyze possible factors that could affect the anxiety of this patient population.ResultsOne hundred forty-two and 78 valid questionnaires were collected from the study and control groups, respectively. The mean GAD-7 score of the study group (3.092 ± 3.381) was significantly lower than the control (3.987 ± 2.505). Moreover, the proportion of patients presenting with moderate-severe anxiety was larger in the study group than in the control group (6.6 vs. 0.0%). Statistically significant differences in GAD-7 scores were observed between the study and control groups when the patient was the only child, living in an urban area, or the monthly household income was between 1,000 and 5,000 yuan.ConclusionAlthough the severity of anxiety in Chinese CL/P patients was not severer than those without CL/P, there was a relatively high incidence of moderate-severe anxiety in CL/P patients, while the only child, current family location and the monthly household income played significant roles in affecting anxiety psychology.

Obesity is a growing epidemic worldwide, and it is also considered a major environmental factor contributing to the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis (PSO) and atopic dermatitis (AD). Moreover, obesity worsens the course and impairs the treatment response of these inflammatory skin diseases. Emerging evidence highlights that hypertrophied adipocytes and infiltrated immune cells secrete a variety of molecules, including fatty acids and adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, and a panel of cytokines/chemokines that modulate our immune system. In this review, we describe how adipose hypertrophy leads to a chronic low-grade inflammatory state in obesity and how obesity-related inflammatory factors are involved in the pathogenesis of PSO and/or AD. Finally, we discuss the potential role of antimicrobial peptides, mechanical stress and impairment of epidermal barrier function mediated by fast expansion, and dermal fat in modulating skin inflammation. Together, this review summarizes the current literature on how obesity is associated with the pathogenesis of PSO and AD, highlighting the potentially important but overlooked immunomodulatory role of adipose tissue in the skin.

To explore the role of metastasis-related long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) signature for predicting the prognosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients. Firstly, metastasis-associated genes were identified to establish a metastasis-related lncRNA signature by statistical analysis. Secondly, the ccRCC patients were grouped into high-risk or low-risk group according to the established signature, and the different pathways between the 2 groups were identified by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Finally, investigations involving PCR, transwell migration and invasion assay were carried out to further confirm our findings. The metastasis-related lncRNA signature was successfully constructed according to 7-metastasis-related genes (ADAM12, CD44, IL6, TFPI2, TGF-β1, THBS2, TIMP3). The diagnostic efficacy and the clinically predictive capacity of the signature were evaluated. Most of the values of the area under the time‐dependent receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) were greater than 0.70. The nomogram constructed by integrating clinical data and risk scores confirmed that the risk score calculated from our signature was a good prognosis predictor. GSEA analysis showed that some tumor-related pathways were enriched in the high-risk group, while metabolism-related pathways were enriched in the low-risk group. In carcinoma tissues, the SSR3-6, WISP1-2 were highly expressed, but the expression of UBAC2-6 was low there. Knocking down SSR3-6 decreased the ability of migration and invasion in ccRCC cells. In conclusion, we successfully constructed a metastasis-related lncRNA signature, which could accurately predict the survival and prognosis of ccRCC patients.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor; its standard treatment includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with surgery. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has significantly improved the 5-year survival and limb salvage rates in osteosarcoma since the 1870s. The survival rate of patients with limb salvage was not inferior to that of amputees, and therefore, limb salvage has become the main surgical option for patients with osteosarcoma. The 5-year survival rate for osteosarcoma has plateaued. However, new advances in limb salvage therapy in osteosarcoma, including adjuvant chemotherapy, ablation techniques, bone transport techniques, and computer navigation techniques, are now available. This report summarizes the recent advances in limb salvage therapy for osteosarcoma over the past decade.

Objectives: Although DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3A) gene mutations have been widely reported in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), the prognostic significance of DNMT3A mutations is still controversial. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis to determine the prognostic effect of DNMT3A mutations in patients with MDS. Methods: Eligible studies from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Clinical Trials and the Cochrane Library were searched. Hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) were pooled to assess the effect of DNMT3A mutations on the prognosis in MDS patients. Results: A total of 12 studies with 2236 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled HRs for OS and LFS revealed that MDS patients with DNMT3A mutations had a significantly poor prognosis as compared with those without mutations (OS: HR = 1.654, 95% CI = 1.387–1.973, p < 0.001; LFS: HR = 4.624, 95% CI = 3.121–6.851, p < 0.001). Discussion and Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed an adverse prognostic effect of DNMT3A mutations in patients with MDS, which will contribute to risk stratification and prognostic assessment in the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]