Fluoxetine Ameliorates the Aggravation of UC Symptoms in C57BL/6 Mice Induced by CUMS

Objective Patients with chronic ulcerative colitis(UC)often have mental symptoms such as depression and anxiety,and stress can lead to gastrointestinal diseases.However,the correlation between mental stress and UC is unclear.In this paper,chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)was utilized to evaluate the involvement of mental factors in the pathogenesis of UC.Methods The CUMS model was used to evaluate the direct/indirect involvement of mental factors in the pathogenesis of UC.The behavior was evaluated by the open field,forced swimming,and tail suspension tests.Body weight,the disease activity index(DAI)score,colon length,and HE staining of colon tissue were used to evaluate the action of CUMS and fluoxetine.Results The results showed that weight loss and the DAI score increased in CUMS mice,but they had no meaningful effect on colon length and morphological structure of colon tissue.However,CUMS aggravated dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced colon length shortening and colon morphological structure damage.Fluoxetine significantly improved the DAI score,shortened colon length,and damaged morphology and structure of the colons induced by CUMS combined with DSS in mice.Fluoxetine also decreased the level of IL-6 in the serum and the TNF-αand IFN-γlevels of colon tissue.Fluoxetine simultaneously improved behavioral abnormalities induced by CUMS combined with DSS in mice.Conclusion CUMS aggravated the UC symptoms induced by DSS,and fluoxetine could improve the UC symptoms due to its improvement in the inflammatory level and behavioral abnormalities.

利用PACS系统提高临床专业医学生的影像诊断思维能力

医学影像存档与通信系统(picture archiving andcommunication system, PACS)已在临床工作中广泛应用。中南大学湘雅医院尝试将PACS 充分运用到临床专业医学生影像诊断教学的各个环节中,取得了良好的效果。

脓毒症合并急性呼吸窘迫综合征患者外周血脂质运载蛋白-2及其受体的表达及其临床意义

目的探讨脓毒症合并急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)患者外周血脂质运载蛋白-2(LCN-2)及其受体(NGALR)的表达及其临床意义。方法选取2020年1月—2022年1月南通市第一人民医院收治的脓毒症合并ARDS患者98例作为脓毒症合并ARDS组。根据病情严重程度分为轻度组(30例)、中度组(42例)和重度组(26例),另选取同期该院收治的82例单纯脓毒症患者和74例健康体检者作为单纯脓毒症组和对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附试验测定外周血LCN-2及NGALR水平,采用Pearson分析脓毒症合并ARDS患者外周血LCN-2及NGALR水平与氧合指数(OI)的相关性。随访21 d,统计脓毒症合并ARDS患者生存情况;采用单因素分析影响脓毒症合并ARDS患者死亡的因素;并对其影响因素进行多因素Logistic回归分析;采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析外周血LCN-2及NGALR水平,预测脓毒症合并ARDS患者死亡的价值。结果脓毒症合并ARDS组、单纯脓毒症组外周血LCN-2、NGALR水平高于对照组,脓毒症合并ARDS组高于单纯脓毒症组(P<0.05)。重度组和中度组外周血LCN-2、NGALR水平高于轻度组,重度组高于中度组(P<0.05)。Pearson相关性分析显示,脓毒症合并ARDS患者外周血LCN-2、NGALR水平与OI均呈负相关(r=-0.390和-0.487,均P<0.05)。死亡组与存活组性别、年龄、基础疾病、机械通气、WBC、PCT、FBG、TG、TNF-α、Cr、UA、TC比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),死亡组多器官衰竭患者多于存活组,CRP、LCN-2、NGALR高于存活组,OI低于存活组(P<0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示:多器官衰竭[OR=4.112(95%CI:1.246,13.569)]、OI≤300 mmHg[OR=-3.473(95%CI:1.053,11.459)]、LCN-2[OR=3.904(95%CI:1.183,12.882)]、NGALR[OR=4.031(95%CI:1.222,13.301)]是脓毒症合并ARDS患者死亡的危险因素(P<0.05)。ROC曲线分析显示,外周血LCN-2及NGALR水平预测脓毒症合并ARDS患者死亡的最佳截断点分别为66.92 ng/mL、63.38 ng/mL,敏感性分别为84.37%(95%CI:0.672,0947)、81.25%(95%CI:0.636,0.928),特异性分别为78.79%(95%CI:0.670,0.879)、77.27%(95%CI:0.653,0.867),曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.851(95%CI:0.765,0.915)、0.818(95%CI:0.727,0.888),两者联合敏感性、特异性和AUC分别为78.12%(95%CI:0.600,0.907)、96.97%(95%CI:0.895,0.996)和0.925(95%CI:0.853,0.968)。结论脓毒症合并ARDS患者外周血LCN-2、NGALR水平均异常升高,临床检测外周血LCN-2、NGALR水平可作为预测脓毒症合并ARDS患者死亡的敏感指标。

Design of wide-range energy material beamline at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility

We report the design of a wide-range energy material beamline(E-line) with multiple experimental techniques at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility.The undulators consisted of an elliptically polarizing undulator and in-vacuum undulator that generate the soft and hard X-rays, respectively. The beamline covered a wide energy range from 130 to 18 ke V with both a high photon flux([ 10^(12) phs/s with exit silt 30 lm in soft X-ray and [ 5 9 10^(12) phs/s in hard X-ray within 0.1%BW bandwidth) and promising resolving power(maximum E/DE [ 15,000 in soft X-ray with exit silt 30 lm and [6000 in hard X-ray). Moreover, the beam spots from the soft and hard X-rays were focused to the same sample position with a high overlap ratio, so that the surfaces, interfaces, and bulk properties were characterized in situ by changing the probing depth.

Effect of fluoxetine on depression-induced changes in the expression of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and corticotrophin releasing factor in rat duodenum

AIM: To investigate changes in vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) in the plasma and duodenum of chronic stress- induced depressed rats and the effects of fluoxetine hydrochloride (fluoxetine) treatment on depression- induced changes in VIP and CRF. METHODS: A Sprague-Dawley rat model of chronic stress-induced depression was produced. Thirty experimental rats were randomly divided into the following groups: control group, saline-treated depressed group, and fluoxetine-treated depressed group. Open- f ield testing was performed to assess the rats’ behavior. VIP and CRF levels in plasma were measured by ELISA. Immunofluorescence techniques combined with laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) were used to investigate VIP and CRF expression in the duodenum. RESULTS: The open-field behavior, both crossing and rearing, of depression model rats, decreased signif icantly compared with those of normal control rats over 5 min. Defecation times increased significantly. Compared to the control group, FITC fluorescence of duodenal CRF expression and plasma CRF levels in the depressed rats increased significantly (fluorescence intensity of duodenal CRF: 11.82 ± 2.54 vs 25.17 ± 4.63; plasma CRF: 11.82 ± 2.54 ng/L vs 25.17 ± 4.63 ng/L, P < 0.01), whereas duodenal VIP expression and plasma VIP levels decreased signif icantly (fluorescence intensity of duodenal VIP: 67.37 ± 18.90 vs 44.51 ± 16.37; plasmaVIP: 67.37 ± 18.90 ng/L vs 44.51 ± 16.37 ng/L, P < 0.01). Fluoxetine improved depressed behavior, increased VIP expression and decreased CRF expression in plasma and the duodenal tissue of depressed rats. CONCLUSION: Chronic stress can induce injury to the duodenum, accompanied by increasing CRF and decreasing VIP in the plasma and duodenum. Treatment with fluoxetine can ameliorate pathological changes in the duodenum of depressed rats, which suggests that antidepressants are an effective therapeutic agent for some duodenal diseases caused by chronic stress. VIP is a potential therapeutic strategy.

Preparation and properties of GAGG:Ce/glass composite scintillation material

The translucent GGAG:Ce/glass composites are prepared successfully by ball-milling,tableting,and pressureless sintering.The thickness of composites is about 400μm.The x-ray diffraction(XRD),differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),density of composite materials are measured and discussed systematically.The scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS)elemental mapping are employed to analyze the particle size,the shape of powders,and the distribution of GGAG:Ce particles in the glass matrix,respectively.The decay time,ultraviolet,(UV),x-ray excitation luminescence spectra,and temperature spectra are studied.The results show that the composite materials have high light output,good thermostability,and short decay time.The method adopted in this work is an effective method to reduce the preparation time and cost of the sample.The ultralow afterglow indicates that the composite materials have an opportunity to be used for x-ray detection and imaging.

Effects of fluoxetine on mast cell morphology and protease-1 expression in gastric antrum in a rat model of depression

AIM: To investigate the effects of fluoxetine on depression-induced changes of mast cell morphology and protease-1 (rMCP-1) expression in rats. METHODS: A Sprague-Dawley rat model of chronic stress-induced depression was established. Fifty experimental rats were randomly divided into the following groups: normal control group, fluoxetine + normal control group, depressed model group, saline + depressed model group, and fluoxetine + depressed model group. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) immunofluorecence and RT-PCR techniques were used to investigate rMCP-1 expression in gastric antrum. Mast cell morphology was observed under transmission electron microscopy. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis among groups.RESULTS: Morphologic observation indicated that depression induced mast cell proliferation, activation, and granule hyperplasia. Compared with the normal control group, the average immunofluorescence intensity of gastric antrum rMCP-1 significantly increased in depressed model group (37.4 ± 7.7 vs 24.5 ± 5.6, P < 0.01) or saline + depressed model group (39.9 ± 5.0 vs 24.5 ± 5.6, P < 0.01), while there was no significant difference between fluoxetine + normal control group (23.1 ± 3.4) or fluoxetine + depressed model group (26.1 ± 3.6) and normal control group.The average level of rMCP-1mRNA of gastric antrum significantly increased in depressed model group (0.759 ± 0.357 vs 0.476 ± 0.029, P < 0.01) or saline + depressed model group (0.781 ± 0.451 vs 0.476 ± 0.029, P < 0.01 ), while no significant difference was found between fluoxetine + normal control group (0.460 ± 0.027) or fluoxetine + depressed model group (0.488 ± 0.030) and normal control group. Fluoxetine showed partial inhibitive effects on mast cell ultrastructural alterations and de-regulated rMCP-1 expression in gastric antrum of the depressed rat model.CONCLUSION: Chronic stress can induce mast cell proliferation, activation, and granule hyperplasia in gastric antrum. Fluoxetine counteracts such changes in the depressed rat model.

酶联免疫吸附试验在诊断HIV感染并发结核病患者中的价值

目的探讨酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)在HIV感染并发结核病患者中的临床诊断价值。方法收集2015年1月至2018年9月在湖南省胸科医院临床确诊的HIV感染并发结核病患者95例,HIV感染并发非结核性肺疾病患者19例。分析采用GeneXpertMTB/RIF检测技术(简称“GeneXpert”)、BACTECMGIT960检测技术(简称“MGIT960”)及ELISA法检测全血标本诊断结核病的阳性检出率;以临床诊断为标准,分析3种检测技术诊断HIV感染并发结核病患者的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值和阴性预测值。结果GeneXpert、MGIT960法及ELISA3种检测技术对95例HIV感染并发结核病患者的检测阳性率分别为42.11%(40/95),47.37%(45/95),67.37%(64/95)。ELISA检测的阳性率明显高于GeneXpert和MGIT960,差异有统计学意义(χ2=50.031,P=0.000)。19例HIV并发非结核性肺疾病患者中GeneXpert检测阳性者0例;MGIT960检测阳性者0例;ELISA检测阳性者3例。以临床诊断为标准,GeneXpert检测的敏感度为42.11%(40/95),特异度为100.00%(19/19),阳性预测值为100.00%(40/40),阴性预测值为25.68%(19/74);MGIT960法检测的敏感度为47.37%(45/95),特异度为100.00%(19/19),阳性预测值为100.00%(45/45),阴性预测值为27.54%(19/69);ELISA法检测的敏感度为73.56%(64/87),特异度为84.21%(16/19),阳性预测值为95.52%(64/67),阴性预测值为41.03%(16/39)。结论ELISA方法有着较高的敏感度且检测快速便捷,适用于临床上对HIV感染并发结核病患者进行辅助诊断。

A stable and reliable animal model for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus

To the Editor:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most common cancers worldwide[1,2].Portal vein tumor thrombus(PVTT)has been demonstrated to be a poor prognostic indicator for HCC[3-5].However,effective treatment for the condition is still limited.Un-derstanding the insight into the molecular mechanisms behind PVTT development may help to establish a new therapeutic strat-egy.

Experimental observation of the significant difference between surface and bulk Kondo processes in Kondo lattice YbCu_(2)Si_(2)

Synchrotron-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy was employed to investigate the temperature evolution of the Yb 4 f spectral for surface and bulk in the Kondo lattice YbCu_(2)Si_(2).Our study quantitatively distinguishes between the surface and bulk hybridization processes,revealing that the onset temperatures for both surface and bulk hybridization processes are significantly higher than the Kondo temperature.Additionally,we found that the effective surface Kondo temperature is much lower than that of the bulk.These findings offer valuable insights into the understanding of heavy fermion physics.

Liver resection versus intensity-modulated radiation therapy for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatic vein tumor thrombus:a propensity score matching analysis

Background:The presence of hepatic vein tumor thrombus(HVTT)is a major determinant of survival outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients.This study compared survival outcomes between liver resection(LR)and intensity-modulated radiation therapy(IMRT)in HCC patients with HVTT.Methods:Data from patients who underwent LR or IMRT for HCC with HVTT at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.Their survival outcomes were compared before and after propensity score matching(PSM).Results:Three hundred and seven HCC patients with HVTT who underwent either LR(n=140)or IMRT(n=167)were enrolled.PSM matched 82 pairs of patients.The overall survival(OS)and recurrence-free survival(RFS)rates were significantly higher for patients in the LR group than those in the IMRT group.On subgroup analysis,significantly better survival outcomes were obtained after LR than IMRT in patients with peripheral type of HVTT(pHVTT)and major type of HVTT(mHVTT).However,similar survival outcomes were obtained after LR and IMRT when the HVTT had developed into inferior vena cava tumor thrombus(IVCTT).Conclusions:LR resulted in significantly better survival outcomes in HCC patients with HVTT when compared to IMRT.Once the HVTT had developed IVCTT,LR and IMRT resulted in similarly bad survival outcomes.

A new classification for hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatic vein tumor thrombus

Background:Hepatic vein tumor thrombus(HVTT)is a significant poor risk factor for survival outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients.Currently,the widely used international staging systems for HCC are not refined enough to evaluate prognosis for these patients.A new classification for macroscopic HVTT was established,aiming to better predict prognosis.Methods:This study included 437 consecutive HCC patients with HVTT who underwent different treatments.Overall survival(OS)and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve area analysis were used to determine the prognostic capacities of the new classification when compared with the different currently used staging systems.Results:The new HVTT classification was defined as:type I,tumor thrombosis involving hepatic vein(HV),including microvascular invasion;type II,tumor thrombosis involving the retrohepatic segment of inferior vena cava;and type III,tumor thrombosis involving the supradiaphragmatic segment of inferior vena cava.The numbers(percentages)of patients with types I,II,and III HVTT in the new classification were 146(33.4%),143(32.7%),and 148(33.9%),respectively.The 1-,2-,and 3-year OS rates for types I to III HVTT were 79.5%,58.6%,and 29.1%;54.8%,23.3%,and 13.8%;and 24.0%,10.0%,and 2.1%,respectively.The time-dependent-ROC curve area analysis demonstrated that the predicting capacity of the new HVTT classification was significantly better than any other staging systems.Conclusions:A new HVTT classification was established to predict prognosis of HCC patients with HVTT who underwent different treatments.This classification was superior to,and it may serve as a supplement to,the commonly used staging systems.

A new staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma associated with portal vein tumor thrombus

Background:A new staging system for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)associated with portal vein tumor thrombus(PVTT)was developed by incorporating the good points of the BCLC classification of HCC,and by improving on the currently existing classifications of HCC associated with PVTT.Methods:Univariate and multivariate analysis with Waldχ2 test were used to determinate the clinical prognostic factors for overall survival(OS)in patients with HCC and PVTT in the training cohort.Then the conditional inference trees analysis was applied to establish a new staging system.Results:A training cohort of 2,179 patients from the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital and a validation cohort of 1,550 patients from four major liver centers in China were enrolled into establishing and validating a new staging system.The system was established by incorporating liver function,general health status,tumor resectability,extrahepatic metastasis and extent of PVTT.This staging system had a good discriminatory ability to separate patients into different stages and substages.The median OS for the two cohorts were 57.1(37.2-76.9),12.1(11.0-13.2),5.7(5.1-6.2),4.0(3.3-4.6)and 2.5(1.7-3.3)months for the stages 0 to IV,respectively(P<0.001)in the training cohort.The corresponding figures for the validation cohort were 6.4(4.9-7.9),2.8(1.3-4.4),10.8(9.3-12.4),and 1.5(1.3-1.7)months for the stages II to IV,respectively(P<0.001).The mean survival for stage 0 to 1 were 37.6(35.9-39.2)and 30.4(27.4-33.4),respectively(P<0.001).Conclusions:A new staging system was established which provided a good discriminatory ability to separate patients into different stages and substages after treatment.It can be used to supplement the other HCC staging systems.

Single-cell transcriptomic profiling of the hypothalamic median eminence during aging

Aging is a slow and progressive natural process that compromises the normal functions of cells,tissues,organs,and systems.The aging of the hypothalamic median eminence(ME),a structural gate linking neural and endocrine systems,may impair hormone release,energy homeostasis,and central sensing of circulating molecules,leading to systemic and reproductive aging.However,the molecular and cellular features of ME aging remain largely unknown.Here,we describe the transcriptional landscape of young and middleaged mouse ME at single-cell resolution,revealing the common and cell type-specific transcriptional changes with age.The transcriptional changes in cell-intrinsic programs,cell-cell crosstalk,and cellextrinsic factors highlight five molecular features of ME aging and also implicate several potentially druggable targets at cellular,signaling,and molecular levels.Importantly,our results suggest that vascular and leptomeningeal cells may lead the asynchronized aging process among diverse cell types and drive local inflammation and cellular senescence via a unique secretome.Together,our study uncovers how intrinsic and extrinsic features of each cell type in the hypothalamic ME are changed by the aging process,which will facilitate our understanding of brain aging and provide clues for efficient anti-aging intervention at the middle-aged stage.

The role of hyaluronic acid in biomineralization

Hyaluronic acid has been extensively investigated due to intrinsic properties of natural origin and strong ability to bind ions in water. Hyaluronic acid is an excellent crystal modifier because its abundant negatively charged carboxyl groups can bind the cations protruding from the crystal lattice. In this review, we mainly present the latest work focus on the role of hyaluronic acid in controlling the crystallization, breaking the symmetry of crystal, and the surface funtionalization of nanocrystals.