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Jinni Hong,1,2 Tingting Fu,1,2 Weizhen Liu,1,2 Yu Du,1,2 Junmin Bu,1,2 Guojian Wei,1,2 Miao Yu,1,2 Yanshan Lin,1,2 Cunyun Min,1,2 Datao Lin3 1Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People’s Republic of China; 2Guangdong Provincial Institute of Geriatric, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jinni Hong, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 02083827812, Email hongjinni@gdph.org.cn Datao Lin, Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 02087330118, Email lindt5@mail.sysu.edu.cnAbstract: Ruminococcus gnavus (R. gnavus) is a gram-positive anaerobe commonly resides in the human gut microbiota. The advent of metagenomics has linked R. gnavus with various diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, and diabetes mellitus (DM), which has become a growing area of investigation. The initial focus of research primarily centered on assessing the abundance of R. gnavus and its potential association with disease presentation, taking into account variations in sample size, sequencing and analysis methods. However, recent investigations have shifted towards elucidating the underlying mechanistic pathways through which R. gnavus may contribute to disease manifestation. In this comprehensive review, we aim to provide an updated synthesis of the current literature on R. gnavus in the context of IBD, obesity, and DM. We critically analyze relevant studies and summarize the potential molecular mediators implicated in the association between R. gnavus and these diseases. Across numerous studies, various molecules such as methylation-controlled J (MCJ), glucopolysaccharides, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), interleukin(IL)-10, IL-17, and capric acid have been proposed as potential contributors to the link between R. gnavus and IBD. Similarly, in the realm of obesity, molecules such as hydrogen peroxide, butyrate, and UDCA have been suggested as potential mediators, while glycine ursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA) has been implicated in the connection between R. gnavus and DM. Furthermore, it is imperative to emphasize the necessity for additional studies to evaluate the potential efficacy of targeting pathways associated with R. gnavus as a viable strategy for managing these diseases. These findings have significantly expanded our understanding of the functional role of R. gnavus in the context of IBD, obesity, and DM. This review aims to offer updated insights into the role and potential mechanisms of R. gnavus, as well as potential strategies for the treatment of these diseases. Keywords: Ruminococcus gnavus, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes mellitus

Jinni Hong,1,2 Tingting Fu,1,2 Weizhen Liu,1,2 Yu Du,1,2 Junmin Bu,1,2 Guojian Wei,1,2 Miao Yu,1,2 Yanshan Lin,1,2 Cunyun Min,1,2 Datao Lin3 1Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People’s Republic of China; 2Guangdong Provincial Institute of Geriatric, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jinni HongDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 2083827812, Fax +86 2083827812, Email hongjinni@gdph.org.cnDatao LinDepartment of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 2087330118, Fax +86 2087330118, Email lindt5@mail.sysu.edu.cnPurpose: This study aimed to elucidate the impact of Jiangtang decoction (JTD) on diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and its association with alterations in the gut microbiota.Methods: Using a diabetic mouse model (KK-Ay mice), daily administration of JTD for eight weeks was undertaken. Weekly measurements of body weight and blood glucose were performed, while kidney function, uremic toxins, inflammation factors, and fecal microbiota composition were assessed upon sacrifice. Ultra-structural analysis of kidney tissue was conducted to observe the pathological changes.Results: The study findings demonstrated that JTD improve metabolism, kidney function, uremic toxins and inflammation, while also exerting a modulatory effect on the gut microbiota. Specifically, the genera Rikenella, Lachnoclostridium, and unclassified_c_Bacilli exhibited significantly increased abundance following JTD treatment, accompanied by reduced abundance of norank_f_Lachnospiraceae compared to the model group. Importantly, Rikenella and unclassified_c_Bacilli demonstrated negative correlations with urine protein levels. Lachnoclostridium and norank_f_Lachnospiraceae were positively associated with creatinine (Cr), indoxyl sulfate (IS) and interleukin (IL)-6. Moreover, norank_f_Lachnospiraceae exhibited positive associations with various indicators of DKD severity, including weight, blood glucose, urea nitrogen (UN), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) levels, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), p-cresyl sulfate (pCS), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (Nod)-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) and IL-17A production.Conclusion: These findings suggested that JTD possess the ability to modulate the abundance of Rikenella, Lachnoclostridium, unclassified_c_Bacilli and norank_f_Lachnospiraceae within the gut microbiota. This modulation, in turn, influenced metabolic processes, kidney function, uremic toxin accumulation, and inflammation, ultimately contributing to the amelioration of DKD.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: Chinese herbal medicine, gut microbiota, diabetic kidney disease, inflammation, uremic toxins

Meng-Yu Fu,1 Jie Hao,2 Lun-Hui Ye,3 Wei Jiang,2 Ying-Wen Lv,1 Jie-Liang Shen,2 Tao Fu1 1Department of Orthopaedics, The Thirteenth People’s Hospital of Chongqing (The Geriatric Hospital of Chongqing), Chongqing, 400053, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Anesthesiology, The Thirteenth People’s Hospital of Chongqing (The Geriatric Hospital of Chongqing), Chongqing, 400053, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jie-Liang Shen; Tao Fu, Email 18996078008@qq.com; cqsdssrmyyft@163.comBackground: Since the application of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in 2016, the approach has been gradually applied to perioperative analgesia in various surgeries. In recent years, more and more studies have focused on the effect of ESPB in perioperative analgesia of lumbar spinal surgery, but its clinical effect remains controversial.Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to explore the efficacy and safety of ESPB used for perioperative pain management in lumbar spinal surgery.Methods: The Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases were comprehensively searched for relevant articles from inception to March 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ESPB with placebo or without ESPB in lumbar spinal surgery were included. The Review Manager 5.3 software was employed for this meta-analysis.Results: Nineteen RCTs with 1381 participants were included for final analysis. ESPB group exhibited lower intraoperative consumption of sufentanil and remifentanil, lower total opioid consumption within 24 h and 48 h after surgery, lower incidence of rescue analgesia, longer time to first rescue analgesic and lower number of PCA button presses compared to the control group (P< 0.05). Moreover, the ESPB group had significantly lower pain scores at rest and on movement within 48 h after surgery compared with the control group (P< 0.05). In terms of opioid-related adverse reactions, ESPB reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea, vomitting, somnolence and itching in comparison to the control group (P< 0.05). ESPB-related serious complications were not reported in included studies.Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrated that ESPB used in lumbar spinal surgery was effective in relieving postoperative pain, decreasing the perioperative consumption of opioids, as well as decreasing the incidence of postoperative opioid-related adverse reactions.Keywords: erector spinae plane block, lumbar spinal surgery, perioperative analgesia, randomized controlled trial, meta-analysis

Jiazheng Li,1,&ast; Can Kong,1,&ast; Wei Song,1,&ast; Tao Fu1,2 1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of General Surgery, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Tao Fu, Email tfu2050@163.comPurpose: Cuproptosis is a newly identified form of programmed cell death. We aimed to comprehensively discuss the correlation of cuproptosis with gastric cancer (GC) using bioinformatic methods.Patients and Methods: This study selected GC bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing profiles from public databases. Based on the enrichment pattern of cuproptosis-related gene sets (CRGSs), GC patients were classified into different cuproptosis subtypes. A series of systematic analyses was performed to investigate the correlation of cuproptosis subtype with biological function and immune cell infiltration. In addition, we established a CRGS risk score signature to quantify GC patients’ risk level, and analyzed the signature’s relationship with clinical features, tumor microenvironment (TME) and treatment responses. Genes used for the construction of the risk score model were also detected in GC tumor and normal tissues by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).Results: First, analysis of scRNA-seq data revealed the alterations in CRGS enrichment scores for patients with GC and precancerous diseases. Then, based on large GC patient cohorts, two cuproptosis subtypes with significant differences in survival, biological function and TME were identified. Furthermore, we established a CRGS risk score signature. High-risk patients on the CRGS risk score signature with worse overall survival were characterized by higher immune and stromal contents in the TME, more advanced clinicopathological features, and better sensitivity to a wider range of anti-tumor drugs. Low-risk patients were correlated with higher tumor purity, and demonstrated more favorable clinical outcomes and higher sensitivity to immunotherapy.Conclusion: The current work elucidated that cuproptosis plays an important role in the regulation of TME landscapes in GC. Two cuproptosis subtypes with distinct TME characteristics were identified. In addition, the establishment of a CRGS risk score signature could provide novel insights into accurate prediction and personalized treatment for GC patients.Keywords: gastric cancer, cuproptosis, single-cell RNA sequencing, molecular subtype, prognostic model, tumor microenvironment

Meishan Liu,&ast; Danfeng Yin,&ast; Ying Wang, Wenjun Wang, Tingting Fu, Yuting Duan, Mengjia Hu, Kewu Huang Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Kewu Huang, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8, Gongti South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-010-85231167, Email kewuhuang@126.comPurpose: Screening questionnaires can help identify individuals at a high risk of COPD. This study aimed to compare the performance of the COPD population screener (COPD-PS) and COPD screening questionnaire (COPD-SQ) on the general population as a full cohort and stratified by urbanization.Methods: We recruited subjects who underwent a health checkup at urban and rural community health centers in Beijing. All eligible subjects completed the COPD-PS and COPD-SQ, then spirometry. Spirometry-defined COPD was defined as a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC< 70%. Symptomatic COPD was defined as a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC< 70% and respiratory symptoms. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis compared the discriminatory power of the two questionnaires, and stratified by urbanization.Results: We identified 129 spirometry-defined and 92 symptomatic COPD cases out of 1350 enrolled subjects. The optimal cut-off score for the COPD-PS was 4 for spirometry-defined and 5 for symptomatic COPD. The optimum cut-off score for the COPD-SQ was 15 for both spirometry-defined and symptomatic COPD. The COPD-PS and COPD-SQ had similar AUC values for spirometry-defined (0.672 vs 0.702) and symptomatic COPD (0.734 vs 0.779). The AUC of the COPD-SQ tended to be higher in rural areas than that of the COPD-PS for spirometry-defined COPD (0.700 vs 0.653, P = 0.093).Conclusion: The COPD-PS and COPD-SQ had comparable discriminatory power for detecting COPD in the general population while the COPD-SQ performed better in rural areas. A pilot study for validating and comparing the diagnostic accuracy of different questionnaires is required when screening for COPD in a new environment.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, screening, general population, urbanization, COPD-SQ, COPD-PS

The AgMnFe2O4-MgO composite coatings with the Ag/(Mn+Fe) atomic ratio of 0, 0.3%, 1% and 3%, respectively were prepared by sol-gel method to improve antibacterial property and biocompatibility of titanium for orthopaedic implants. SEM observation shows rare cracks of the films due to the gelling effect of MgO and silver nanoparticles precipitation at the surface. XRD analysis reveals the decreased crystallinity of MnFe2O4 by the addition of MgO. XPS analysis indicates metallic Ag, high-valence manganese, Fe3+ and Mg2+ species in the composite film. Contact angle measurement and potentiodynamic polarization test show that the coating samples have higher contact angles and better corrosion resistance than the polished titanium. The bonding strength of the coating is relatively low tested by the pull-out method (2.6 MPa for sample with 1%Ag). Plate counting test demonstrates the silver content dependent antibacterial activity of the coating samples against E. coli, and the antibacterial rate reaches 100% at 1%Ag. MTT assay shows good compatibility with MC3T3-E1 cells for the samples with Ag ratio up to 1%. Silver, manganese ferrite and degradable MgO together determine the biological properties of the composite coatings. Highlights: The coatings are nearly crack-free due to the gelling effect of MgO. The coating samples have better corrosion resistance than polished titanium. The antibacterial rate of the samples with ≥1% Ag is 100% against E. coli. The samples with ≤1% Ag show good compatibility with MC3T3-E1 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ru Liu,1,2 Yinjiang Tang,2 Ting Fu,2 Jianli Zhou,2 Lijiao Ma,2 Jinqing Yuan,1 Ou Xu2 1Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pulmonary Vascular and General Medicine, Fuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital, Yunnan Provincial Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Medical Center, Kunming, Yunnan Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ou XuFuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital, Yunnan Provincial Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Medical Center, No. 528 North Shahe Road, Wuhua District, Kunming, 650102, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-10-15901098523Email fwxuou@163.comJinqing YuanFuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 167 North Lishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100037, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-10-88322457Email dr_jinqingyuan@sina.comAbstract: Dasatinib was identified to be associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension, also called dasatinib-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension. There was still little data on clinical characteristics of this rare but severe complication during hematological therapy in China. A 40-year-old female with worsening dyspnoea was diagnosed with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension and progressive right heart failure, and stabilized by standardized comprehensive management, including replacement of other tyrosine kinase inhibitor, administration of pulmonary vasodilators according to the right-heart catheterization-based risk stratification and traditional anti-heart failure drug therapy. Our case suggests that dasatinib-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension may be partially reversible, with a relatively good prognosis under formal target therapy of pulmonary arterial hypertension, providing new insight into its treatment algorithm.Keywords: dasatinib-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension, right heart failure, pulmonary vasodilator, tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Hongzhu Zhang,1,* Tingting Fu,1,* Cuiping Zhang2 1Department of Gastroenterology, Jinan Jigang Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, 250101, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266000, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Cuiping ZhangDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, Shandong, 266000, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail zhangcuiping66@sohu.comAim: The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of miR-1249 in gastric cancer.Methods: By analyzing the data obtained from TCGA database, the expression and prognosis of miR-1249 in gastric cancer patients were analyzed. Then, CCK8, colony forming and transwell assays were used to test cell proliferation and motility. The cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The Pearson correlation coefficient analyzed was applied to analyze the correlation between GNA11 and miR-1249. qRT-PCR and Western blotting assays were employed to detect the mRNA and protein levels.Results: We discovered that miR-1249 was highly expressed and was associated with a worse prognosis in gastric cancer patients. Besides, miR-1249 was up-regulated in gastric cancer cell lines (AGS, MKN45 and SNU1). More interestingly, miR-1249 exerted facilitating impacts on gastric cancer cell proliferation and motility, whereas miR-1249 acted as a suppressing effect on gastric cancer apoptosis. G protein subunit alpha 11 (GNA11) was a target gene of miR-1249 and was negatively correlated with miR-1249. Furthermore, GNA11 was negatively regulated by miR-1249. Additionally, GNA11 was lowly expressed in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines, as well as low GNA11 expression, was related to poor overall survival results in gastric cancer patients. The promoting influences of miR-1249 over-expression on AGS cell proliferation and motility was rescued by GNA11 over-expression, which might be achieved by regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway.Conclusion: Above all, we concluded that miR-1249 was concerned with the progression of gastric cancer through regulating GNA11, suggesting that miR-1249 and GNA11 might serve as predictive biomarkers for gastric cancer therapy.Keywords: gastric cancer, miR-1249 mimic/inhibitor, G protein subunit alpha 11, target, proliferation, apoptosis, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Currently, computed tomography and conventional X-ray radiography usually generate a micro-artifact around metal implants. This metal artifact frequently causes false positive or negative diagnoses of bone maturation or pathological peri-implantitis around implants. In an attempt to repair the artifacts, a highly specific nanoprobe, an osteogenic biomarker, and nano-Au-Pamidronate were designed to monitor the osteogenesis. In total, 12 Sprague Dawley rats were included in the study and could be chategorized in 3 groups: 4 rats in the X-ray and CT group, 4 rats in the NIRF group, and 4 rats in the sham group. A titanium alloy screw was implanted in the anterior hard palate. The X-ray, CT, and NIRF images were taken 28 days after implantation. The X-ray showed that the tissue surrounded the implant tightly; however, a gap of metal artifacts was noted around the interface between dental implants and palatal bone. Compared to the CT image, a fluorescence image was noted around the implant site in the NIRF group. Furthermore, the histological implant-bone tissue also exhibited a significant NIRF signal. In conclusion, this novel NIRF molecular imaging system precisely identifies the image loss caused by metal artifacts and can be applied to monitoring bone maturation around orthopedic implants. In addition, by observing the new bone formation, a new principle and timetable for an implant osseointegrated with bone can be established and a new type of implant fixture or surface treatment can be evaluated using this system.

Ruibin Zhang,1,* Tingting Fu,2,* Xin Zhao,3 Yao Qiu,4 Xiaolin Hu,5 Hongyan Shi,4 Xiao Yin5 1Department of Medicine, Shandong University Affiliated Jinan Central Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Medicine, Qilu College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong University Affiliated Jinan Central Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Surgery, Shandong University Affiliated Jinan Central Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong University Affiliated Jinan Central Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiao YinDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong University Affiliated Jinan Central Hospital, Linong Road 8, 5-1-801, Jinan 250013, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-15318816220Email yinxiao@sdu.edu.cnObjective: The myokine irisin has been proposed to affect obesity and metabolism disorders. However, data about the association of irisin with obesity and glucose metabolic status in humans remains controversial, and limited data are available concerning the Chinese population. This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum irisin concentrations and obesity, as well as glucose metabolic and cardiovascular factors in the middle-aged physical activity-matched Chinese Han race population.Methods: A total of 740 participants were included in this cross-sectional study, who were divided into a normal weight (NW) group, overweight/obese (OB) group, normal weight type 2 diabetes (DM-NW) group and overweight/obese diabetes (DM-OB) group, and physical activity was evaluated and matched for the four groups. Circulating irisin levels were analyzed and compared among the groups with different adiposity and glucose status. Linear regression analysis was performed to test the relationship between serum irisin and adiposity indices, glucose metabolic and other cardiovascular risk factors.Results: Circulating irisin levels were significantly correlated with higher levels of direct and indirect adiposity markers, including BMI, waist circumference and fat mass, and other cardiovascular risk factors, such as plasma triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (p < 0.01). Diabetes patients had lower irisin levels compared to non-diabetes participants, in either normal weight and obese group, resulting in a correlation of irisin with HbA1c, HOMA-IR and HOMA-IS (p < 0.01). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that irisin serum concentrations were independently associated with sex, BMI, HbA1c, HOMA-IR and HOMA-IS (R2 = 0.465).Conclusion: These data indicated that circulating irisin was affected by adiposity and glucose metabolism condition in the middle-aged Chinese population. The increase of irisin under conditions of obesity may indicate its physiological function to improve glucose tolerance which is often impaired in obese subjects, but this compensatory secretion of irisin seems likely to be progressing to a secretion failure once diabetes developed.Keywords: irisin, obesity, type 2 diabetes, Chinese

Biaoxue Rong,1 Tian Fu,2 Wenlong Gao,3 Min Li,4 Congxue Rong,5 Wen Liu,6 Hua Liu7 1Department of Oncology and Gerontology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Respiratory Medicine, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, People’s Republic of China; 3Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Nursing Department, Binhe New District Branch, Shenmu Hospital, Yulin City, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China; 5Comprehensive Medical Department, Zhangye Second People Hospital, Zhangye, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Respiratory Medicine, Minqin County People’s Hospital, Minqin, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of Respiratory Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Biaoxue RongDepartment of Oncology and Gerontology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Medical University, 48 Fenghao West Road, Xi’an 710077, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 29-87679300Email research568rbx@yeah.netBackground: The aim of this study was to reveal the correlations between serum concentration of Clara cell secretory protein (CC16) and clinical parameters of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Patients and Methods: Serum concentration of CC16 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlations between serum concentration of CC16 and clinical parameters was performed by linear correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of serum CC16 for differential diagnosis of COPD were determined by receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC).Results: The serum concentration of CC16 was down-regulated in stable COPD patients compared with healthy control group (p < 0.05). The decreased serum CC16 was negatively related to smoking (p < 0.05), GOLD grading (p < 0.005), mMRC score (p < 0.05) and medical history (p < 0.05) of patients, but positively correlated with pulmonary function (p < 0.05). The smoking, FEV1/FVC values, COPD grading and mMRC scores all affected the concentration of CC16 (p < 0.05). The decreased CC16 was an independent risk factor in the process of deterioration of lung function. The sensitivity and specificity of serum CC16 for identifying COPD reached to 65.3% and 75%.Conclusion: Decreased serum concentration of CC16 correlated with the disease progression of COPD, suggesting that it can be used as an indicator contributing to the diagnosis and assessment of COPD.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, Clara cell secretory protein 16, CC16

In the literature, no detailed description is reported about how to detect if a miscibility gap exists in terms of interaction parameters analytically. In this work, a method to determine the likelihood of the presence of a miscibility gap in a binary substitutional solution phase is proposed in terms of interaction parameters. The range of the last interaction parameter along with the former parameters is analyzed for a set of self-consistent parameters associated with the miscibility gap in assessment process. Furthermore, we deduce the first and second derivatives of Gibbs energy with respect to composition for a phase described with a sublattice model in a binary system. The Al-Zn and Al-In phase diagrams are computed by using a home-made code to verify the efficiency of these techniques. The method to detect the miscibility gap in terms of interaction parameters can be generalized to sublattice models. At last, a system of equations is developed to efficiently compute the Gibbs energy curve of a phase described with a sublattice model.

As a type of main meat food, pork is widely accepted, and has been used over a long time by residents in China. However, its high cholesterol is the primary unfavourable factor that influences human health. The reduction of cholesterol content in pork through fermentation using probiotics may be a promising candidate approach. In the present work, the probiotic strains were obtained from traditional naturally fermented foods, and identified via monoclonal culture, morphological observation, biochemical detection, and 16S rRNA sequencing. The dominant strain was used to produce sour pork, which was applied to regulate lipid metabolism in mice. Results showed that a total of 31 strains were identified from the traditional naturally fermented foods, of which four strains had similar characteristics to Lactobacillus plantarum, and displayed good capacity for cholesterol degradation with metabolism efficiencies of 75.31% (DC2 strain), 68.01% (PC1 strain), 60.49% (SC1 strain), and 58.02% (DC1 strain). The dominant strain DC2 had 99.93% homology with L. plantarum. Following fermentation with DC2 strain (4 × 106 CFU/g inoculum size, 20-day incubation), the cholesterol in sour pork was significantly reduced with 77.2% efficiency. The serum lipids in mice that were fed with sour pork were significantly lower than those in mice that were fed with normal pork. In summary, a L. plantarum strain with good capacity for cholesterol degradation was obtained (CCTCC NO: M 2019121). The strain can be used to produce fermented sour pork. Dietary sour pork may be beneficial for lowering blood lipid levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chuntao Wang,1 Yanliang Liu,1 Wenyi Guo,1 Xu Zhu,1 Nita Ahuja,2 Tao Fu11Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USABackground: The methylation of microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) was first described in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, we aim to determine if MAPT promoter CpG island is hypermethylated and whether this signature could work as a prognostic marker for patients with stage II colorectal cancer (CRC).Methods: MAPT methylation level and CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) status were examined. The prognostic value of MAPT methylation was analyzed using Cox regression analysis.Results: Amongst stage II CRC patients (n=107), hypermethylation of MAPT promoter CpG island was seen in 23.4% of them. MAPT methylation was much more frequent in patients with age ≥60 compared to age

Lin Wang,1,2 Xianzi Wen,1 Fengming Luan,1 Tao Fu,2 Chao Gao,2 Hong Du,1 Ting Guo,1 Jing Han,1 Longtao Huangfu,1 Xiaojing Cheng,1 Jiafu Ji1,21Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xiaojing ChengKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 108 819 6760Email chengli@bjmu.edu.cnJiafu JiKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 108 819 6048Email jijiafu@hsc.pku.edu.cnPurpose: Eukaryotic translation initiation factor (EIF) plays a vital role in protein synthesis. EIF3B is a core subunit of the EIF3 family, and is overexpressed in many tumors. EIF3B is associated with an unfavorable prognosis, as well as the genesis and development of tumors. However, the potential role of EIF3B in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. In the current study, we explored the clinical significance and the possible mechanism of EIF3B in the progression of GC.Methods: EIF3B expression was analyzed in 78 GC tissue samples through quantitative PCR and in 94 GC tissue samples through immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. The correlation between EIF3B and clinicopathological features was analyzed in GC tissues. The role of EIF3B in GC progression was investigated through in vitro and in vivo assays.Results: EIF3B expression was upregulated in GC tissues (73.4%, IHC). High expression of EIF3B was significantly correlated with the depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P=0.000, 0.000 and 0.000, respectively). Multivariate analysis indicated that GC patients with high EIF3B expression suffered a poorer 5-year survival. EIF3B promoted GC cell proliferation and was strongly associated with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in GC samples (P=0.009). It also enhanced tumor cell migration and invasion, which were affected through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the Stat3 signaling pathway. Knockdown of EIF3B in GC cells suppressed the growth of xenograft tumors and lung metastatic colonization in vivo. Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and Western blot results demonstrated that EIF3B activated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.Conclusion: Our results suggest that EIF3B plays an oncogenic role in GC progression and serves as an independent prognostic factor for GC patients.Keywords: EIF3B, gastric cancer, prognosis, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Biaoxue Rong,1 Yufang Liu,2 Min Li,3 Tian Fu,4 Wenlong Gao,5 Hua Liu6 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China; 2Comprehensive Medicine Department, Shenmu Hospital, Shenmu, China; 3Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shenmu Hospital, Shenmu, China; 4Department of Respiratory Medicine, Jining No 1 People’s Hospital, Jining, China; 5Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; 6Department of Respiratory Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China Background: The aim of this study was to disclose the correlation between the serum levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) and IL-19 and stable COPD.Methods: The serum levels of HIF-1α and IL-19 were tested by ELISA. The relationships between their levels and clinical parameters of stable COPD patients were analyzed by linear regression methods.Results: Patients with stable COPD showed higher serum levels of HIF-1α and IL-19 compared with healthy control group (P

Yafei Cui,1–3,* Lin Li,2,4,* Ling Xia,1,* Qian Zhao,2 Shengnan Chen,2 Ting Fu,1 Juan Ji,1 Zhifeng Gu1 1Department of Rheumatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China; 2School of Nursing, Nantong University, Nantong, China; 3Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; 4Department of Nursing, Changzhou 2nd People’s Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China *These authors contributed equally to this work Objective: The primary purpose of the present study was to survey the quality of life (QoL) in primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) and to analyze the relationships between disease activity, anxiety/depression, fatigue, pain, age, oral disorders, impaired swallowing, sicca symptoms, and QoL.Patients and methods: A survey was conducted on 185 pSS patients and 168 healthy individuals using the Short Form 36 health survey for QoL. Disease activity was assessed using the European League Against Rheumatism Sjögren’s Syndrome Disease Activity Index. We examined these data using independent samples t-tests, Mann–Whitney U test, chi squared analysis, and linear regression.Results: The result for each domain in Short Form 36 health survey was lower in pSS patients than in healthy controls, especially the score in the dimension of role physical function. In the bivariate analysis, age, pain, fatigue, disease activity, disease complication, anxiety/depression, oral disorders, and impaired swallowing correlated with QoL. Also, in the linear regression model, pain, fatigue, disease activity, impaired swallowing, and anxiety/depression remained the main predictors of QoL.Conclusion: pSS patients had a considerably impaired QoL compared to the controls, and pSS could negatively affect the QoL of patients. Measuring QoL should be considered as a vital part of the comprehensive evaluation of the health status of pSS patients, which could contribute some valuable clues in improving the management of disease and treatment decisions. Keywords: primary Sjögren’s syndrome, quality of life, disease activity, depression

Hongzhi Qiao,1,2,* Lihua Chen,3,* Tianqi Rui,1,2 Jingxian Wang,1,2 Ting Chen,1,2 Tingming Fu,1,2 Junsong Li,1,2 Liuqing Di1,2 1College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 2Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Efficient Delivery System of TCM, Nanjing, 3Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Andrographolide (ADG) is a diterpenoid isolated from Andrographis paniculata with a wide spectrum of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer and hepatoprotective effects. However, its poor water solubility and efflux by P-glycoprotein have resulted in lower bioavailability. In this study, ADG nanosuspensions (ADG-NS) were prepared using a wet media milling technique followed by freeze drying. D-α-Tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS), a surfactant that inhibits P-glycoprotein function, and sodium lauryl sulfate were used as surface stabilizers. A Box–Behnken design was used to optimize the nanosuspension preparation. The products of these optimal preparation conditions were amorphous and possessed much faster dissolution in vitro than a coarse powder of ADG. The particle size and redispersibility index of the freeze-dried ADG-NS were 244.6±3.0 nm and 113%±1.14% (n=3), respectively. A short-term stability study indicated that the freeze-dried ADG-NS could remain highly stable as nanosuspensions during the testing period. A test of transport across a Caco-2 cell monolayer revealed that the membrane permeability (Papp) of ADG-NS was significantly higher than the permeability of the ADG coarse powder or ADG-NS without TPGS (P

Jing Wang,1,* Chunxia Qiao,1,* He Xiao,1 Zhou Lin,1 Yan Li,1 Jiyan Zhang,1 Beifen Shen,1 Tinghuan Fu,2 Jiannan Feng1 1Department of Molecular Immunology, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 2First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: According to the three-dimensional (3D) complex structure of (hIL-6·hIL-6R·gp 130)2 and the binding orientation of hIL-6, three compounds with high affinity to hIL-6R and bioactivity to block hIL-6 in vitro were screened theoretically from the chemical databases, including 3D-Available Chemicals Directory (ACD) and MDL Drug Data Report (MDDR), by means of the computer-guided virtual screening method. Using distance geometry, molecular modeling and molecular dynamics trajectory analysis methods, the binding mode and binding energy of the three compounds were evaluated theoretically. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis demonstrated that all the three compounds could block IL-6 binding to IL-6R specifically. However, only compound 1 could effectively antagonize the function of hIL-6 and inhibit the proliferation of XG-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas it showed no cytotoxicity to SP2/0 or L929 cells. These data demonstrated that the compound 1 could be a promising candidate of hIL-6 antagonist. Keywords: virtual screening, structural optimization, human interlukin-6, small molecular antagonist, XG-7 cells, apoptosis