Bletilla striata Polysaccharide-/Chitosan-Based Self-Healing Hydrogel with Enhanced Photothermal Effect for Rapid Healing of Diabetic Infected Wounds via the Regulation of Microenvironment.

The management of diabetic ulcers poses a significant challenge worldwide, and persistent hyperglycemia makes patients susceptible to bacterial infections. Unfortunately, the overuse of antibiotics may lead to drug resistance and prolonged infections, contributing to chronic inflammation and hindering the healing process. To address these issues, a photothermal therapy technique was incorporated in the preparation of wound dressings. This innovative solution involved the formulation of a self-healing and injectable hydrogel matrix based on the Schiff base structure formed between the oxidized Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) and hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride chitosan. Furthermore, the introduction of CuO nanoparticles encapsulated in polydopamine imparted excellent photothermal properties to the hydrogel, which promoted the release of berberine (BER) loaded on the nanoparticles and boosted the antibacterial performance. In addition to providing a reliable physical protection to the wound, the developed hydrogel, which integrated the herbal components of BSP and BER, effectively accelerated wound closure via microenvironment regulation, including alleviated inflammatory reaction, stimulated re-epithelialization, and reduced oxidative stress based on the promising results from cell and animal experiments. These impressive outcomes highlighted their clinical potential in safeguarding the wound against bacterial intrusion and managing diabetic ulcers.

A Berberine-Loaded Bletilla striata Polysaccharide Hydrogel as a New Medical Dressing for Diabetic Wound Healing.

The healing process of a diabetic wound (DW) is often impeded by a series of interrelated factors, including severe infection, persistent inflammation, and excessive oxidative stress. Therefore, it is particularly crucial to develop a medical dressing that can address these issues simultaneously. To this end, different ratios of Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) and berberine (BER) were physically blended with Carbomer 940 (CBM940) to develop a composite hydrogel as a medical dressing. The BSP/BER hydrogel was characterized using SEM, FTIR, rheological testing and other techniques. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of the hydrogel were evaluated using cell and bacterial models in vitro. A DW model of ICR mice was established to evaluate the effect of the hydrogel on DW healing in vivo. The hydrogel exhibited excellent biocompatibility and remarkable antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In addition, animal experiments showed that the BSP/BER hydrogel significantly accelerated wound healing in DW mice. Among the different formulations, the LBSP/BER hydrogel (2% BSP, mBER:mBSP = 1:40) demonstrated the most remarkable efficacy. In conclusion, the BSP/BER hydrogel developed exhibited immense properties and great potential as a medical dressing for the repair of DW, addressing a crucial need in clinical practice.

Polysaccharides from Tetrastigma Hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg ameliorated inflammatory bowel disease by rebuilding the intestinal mucosal barrier and inhibiting inflammation through the SCFA-GPR41/43 signaling pathway.

In this study, the therapeutic effects of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum polysaccharide (THP) on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and its possible mechanisms were investigated based on the IBD mouse model induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Caco-2 cell model. THP significantly alleviated the signs and symptoms of DSS-induced IBD mice, including the reduced weight, shortened colonic length, and increased colitis disease activity index. In vivo, THP significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and oxidative damage, promoted intestinal mucus secretion, and restored the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier and mucus barrier. Furthermore, THP reversed the changes in the intestinal flora of colonized mice and restored the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by increasing the abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria and increasing the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria. In addition, THP upregulated the expression of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPR41 and GPR43) both in vivo and in vitro. In summary, the current investigation showed that THP effectively protected against intestinal inflammation and impairment in the intestinal barrier in the setting of DSS-induced IBD, possibly by regulating gut microbiota structure and corresponding SCFA metabolites, and the pathway of SCFAs action may be related to SCFA-GPR41/43 signaling pathway.

Archaeological evidence for initial migration of Neolithic Proto Sino-Tibetan speakers from Yellow River valley to Tibetan Plateau.

Sino-Tibetan is the second largest language family in the world. Recent linguistic and genetic studies have traced its origin to Neolithic millet farmers in the Yellow River region of China around 8,000 y ago and also suggested that initial divergence among branches of Sino-Tibetan coincided with expansion of the Neolithic Yangshao culture to the west and southwest during the sixth millennium BP. However, archaeological investigations to date have been insufficient to understand the lifeways of these migrant Proto Sino-Tibetan speakers. Here, we present the results of the interdisciplinary research on the material culture and ritual activities related to the initial southwestward migration of Yangshao populations, based on evidence from microfossil remains on ceramics at three sites in Gansu and Sichuan, regional archaeological contexts, and ethnographic accounts of modern Gyalrong Tibetans. The first Yangshao migrants may have integrated with indigenous hunter-gatherers in the NW Sichuan highlands, and adopted broad-spectrum subsistence strategies, consisting of both millet farming and foraging for local wild resources. Meanwhile, the migrants appear to have retained important ritual traditions previously established in their Yellow River homelands. They prepared qu starter with Monascus mold and rice for brewing alcoholic beverages, which may have been consumed in communal drinking festivals associated with the performance of ritual dancing. Such ritual activities, which to some extent have survived in the skorbro-zajiu ceremonies in SW China, may have then played a central role in maintaining and reinforcing cultural identities, social values, and connections with the homelands of the Proto Sino-Tibetan migrants.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Enema Therapy in a Patient With a Confirmed Negative SARS-CoV-2 Test in the Respiratory Tract but Positive in the Intestinal Tract: A Case Report.

We report the case of a 43-year-old man who was infected with SARS-CoV-2 in February 2020 and actively cooperated with treatment in the hospital. During the course of treatment, we found that the respiratory SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid became negative, but remained positive in the intestinal tract. As a result, we adjusted the treatment plan to include traditional Chinese medicine enema treatment. The patient had negative intestinal SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test within 4 days, and the subsequent repeated review of intestinal SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid was negative, and the virus was undetectable. It is suggested that traditional Chinese medicine enema treatment may be helpful to remove the SARS-CoV-2 in the intestines of patients with COVID-19 infection, and may support the treatment of patients with respiratory SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid negative and positive in the intestinal tract.

Clinical value of spectral CT in diagnosis of negative gallstones and common bile duct stones.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of spectral CT in diagnosis of negative gallstones and common bile duct stones primarily. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with negative biliary stones were analyzed and examined by spectral CT scanner retrospectively. Based on acquired raw imaging data, image series were reconstructed as described below: the optimal contrast-to-noise ratio monochromatic energy images, calcium- and fat- based material decomposition images and spectral curve images. All these imaging series were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. RESULTS: The contrast between negative stones and adjacent bile was 6.87 ± 5.48 HU on hybrid energy CT images and 47.30 ± 24.05 HU on optimal monochromatic energy CT images. The mean concentration of calcium in bile and negative stones was 19.36 ± 5.12 and 3.88 ± 6.60 mg/mL, and the fat in bile and negative stones was 998.48 ± 11.79 and 1035.68 ± 15.36 mg/mL. Effective atomic number Z of negative stones (6.60 ± 0.45) was lower than that of bile (7.65 ± 0.13). The slopes of the spectral curves for negative stones were k 90-40KeV = 1.43 ± 0.63 and k 140-90KeV = 0.19 ± 0.08, and for bile, they were k 90-40KeV = -0.27 ± 0.09 and k 140-90KeV = -0.04 ± 0.01. The same stone showed different densities in different imaging groups. The positive rate of conventional CT images was lower than that of other imaging groups. CONCLUSION: Spectral CT has a high diagnostic value for negative gallstones or bile duct stones, and material decomposition CT images and spectral curves can make an accurate diagnosis.

[Magnetic resonance imaging study of disc low back pain].

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnostic value of disc low back pain (DLBP) with lumbar disc high-intensity zone on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) . METHODS: The 21 patients of pare examination with MRI and CT discography (CTD) must have chronic low back pain without radicular pain and with no disc herniation on the CT or MRI. We have worked out the standard of CTD group and positive disc. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value that the positive disc was diagnosed with MRI was used for statistical analysis in SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: MRI showed 28 abnormal signal discs in 21 patients, including the high-intensity zone of posterior annulus in 12 discs and later- posterior annulus in 3 discs and discs degeneration in other 13 discs. The results of pare examination with MRI and CTD to 28 abnormal signal discs and 5 normal signal discs was (1)MRI showed the high-intensity zone of poster annulus in 12 discs and later- poster annulus in 2 discs and discs degeneration in 5 discs, while CTD showed 19 discs for group 2 with all positive discs. The shape of high-intensity zone showed on MRI was showed no difference with the shape of contrast agent collected under periphery disc on CTD. (2) MRI showed another high-intensity zone of later- poster annulus in 3 discs, while CTD showed one disc for group 5 with positive. (3) MRI showed the discs degeneration, while CTD showed 7 discs for group 3 with negative discs. (4) MRI showed 1 disc degeneration and 5 normal discs, while CTD showed 6 discs for group 1 with negative discs. (5)The sensitivity of diagnosis positive discs was 75%, the specificity and positive predictive value was respectively 100% with MRI. CONCLUSIONS: The high-intensity zone of poster/later- poster annulus on MRI was typical sign of disc disruption and the important clinical role for diagnosing disc low back pain.

[Evaluation of osteonecrosis of the femoral head treated with percutaneous retaining catheterization].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacies of treating osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) with percutaneous retaining catheterization. METHODS: A total of 85 patients (106 hips) of ONFH underwent percutaneous retaining catheterization with self-made instrument. There were stage I (n = 32, 40 hips), stage II (n = 41, 50 hips), stage III (n = 7, 9 hips) and stage IV (n = 5, 7 hips) by Ficat and Arlet classification. The selection criteria include bone marrow edema (BME) of the femoral head and neck and joint fluid on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).The percent method(%) of Orthopedics Branch of Association of Chinese Medical Association was used for evaluating the efficacies of ONFH with retained femoral head. A follow-up period of 2-10 years was conducted with plain radiograph.The standard was as follows: >90, excellent; 75-89, good; 60-74, passable; <60, bad. The combination of excellent and good denoted obvious effect rate; passable for valid rate; bad for invalid rate.The historical core decompression was used as control group.And χ(2) test was used for statistical analysis (P < 0.05). RESULTS: The obvious effect rate was 88%(35/40), 74%(37/50), 22%(2/9), 14%(1/7), the valid rate 7%(3/40), 12% (6/50) , 22% (2/9), 14%(1/7) and the invalid rate 5%(2/40), 14% (7/50) , 56% (5/9), 72% (5/7) respectively in Ficat I, II, III and IV stage. No statistically significant differences existed between Ficat I and II stage (P > 0.05) .But there were statistically significant differences in other groups (P < 0.01) . CONCLUSION: Percutaneous retaining catheterization is efficaciously treating ONFH in Ficat I and II stage and it may also be used for ONFH in Ficat III and IV stage.

Paleolithic human exploitation of plant foods during the last glacial maximum in North China.

Three grinding stones from Shizitan Locality 14 (ca. 23,000-19,500 calendar years before present) in the middle Yellow River region were subjected to usewear and residue analyses to investigate human adaptation during the last glacial maximum (LGM) period, when resources were generally scarce and plant foods may have become increasingly important in the human diet. The results show that these tools were used to process various plants, including Triticeae and Paniceae grasses, Vigna beans, Dioscorea opposita yam, and Trichosanthes kirilowii snakegourd roots. Tubers were important food resources for Paleolithic hunter-gatherers, and Paniceae grasses were exploited about 12,000 y before their domestication. The long tradition of intensive exploitation of certain types of flora helped Paleolithic people understand the properties of these plants, including their medicinal uses, and eventually led to the plants' domestication. This study sheds light on the deep history of the broad spectrum subsistence strategy characteristic of late Pleistocene north China before the origins of agriculture in this region.

[Clinical significance of venous return disturbance in patients with osteonecrosis of femoral head].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation of venous return disturbance (VRD), bone marrow edema (BME) and the amount of joint fluid with clinical symptoms in osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). METHODS: Twenty patients (25 hips) with ONFH proved by pathology were parallelly examined by 1.5 T MR and medullograph. RESULT: In total 25 hips VRD was observed in 16 hips with medullograph and 13 hips with the clinical symptoms (P <0.05). BME was found in 17 with MRI (P <0.01), and the was found in 15 hips with MRI (Spearman=0.949). VRD were found in 16 hydrarthrus. CONCLUSION: ONFH patients with clinical symptoms have VRD, BME and the hydrarthrus. The medullograph is of value in monitoring the development of ONFH.

Relationships among magnetic resonance imaging, histological findings, and IGF-I in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationships among magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), histological findings, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rabbits. METHODS: Thirty rabbits were randomly divided into experimental Group A (n=15) and control Group B (n=15). The 7.5 mg/kg (2 ml) of dexamethasone (DEX) and physiological saline (2 ml) were injected into the right gluteus medius muscle twice at one-week intervals in animals of Groups A and B, respectively. At 4, 8 and 16 weeks after obtaining an MRI, the rabbits were sacrificed and the femoral head from one side was removed for histological study of lacunae empty of osteocytes, subchondral vessels, and size of fat cells under microscopy, and the femoral head from the other side was removed for enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) for IGF-I. RESULTS: At 4, 8 and 16 weeks after treatment, no necrotic lesions were detected in Group B, while they were detected in Group A. Light microscopy revealed that the fat cells of the marrow cavity were enlarged, subchondral vessels were evidently decreased, and empty bone lacunae were clearly increased. The IGF-I levels in Group A were significantly higher than those in Group B. At 8 weeks after the DEX injection, the MRI of all 20 femora showed an inhomogeneous, low signal intensity area in the femoral head, and at 16 weeks, the findings of all 10 femora showed a specific "line-like sign". The MRI findings of all femora in Group B were normal. CONCLUSION: MRI is a highly sensitive means of diagnosing early experimental osteonecrosis of the femoral head. However, the abnormal marrow tissues appeared later than 4 weeks when the expression of IGF-I increased. This reparative factor has an early and important role in response to steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the pathology and designing new therapies.

Plants and people from the Early Neolithic to Shang periods in North China.

An assemblage of charred plant remains collected from 26 sites in the Yiluo valley of North China as part of an archaeological survey spans the period from the sixth millennium to 1300 calibrated calendrical years (cal) B.C. The plant remains document a long sequence of crops, weeds, and other plants in the country. The results also demonstrate the effectiveness of sediment sampling as part of an archaeological survey. Ten accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) radiocarbon dates on crop remains inform an assessment of the sequence of agricultural development in the region. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica subsp. italica) was grown during the Early Neolithic period and was the principal crop for at least four millennia. Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) was significantly less important throughout the sequence. Rice (Oryza sativa) was introduced by 3000 cal B.C. but apparently was not an important local crop. Wheat became a significant crop between 1600 and 1300 cal B.C. The weed flora diversified through time and were dominated by annual grasses, some of which were probably fodder for domesticated animals. The North China farming tradition that emphasized dry crops (millets, wheat, and legumes) with some rice appears to have been established at the latest by the Early Shang (Erligang; 1600-1300 B.C.) period.