Advances in the investigation of N6-isopentenyl adenosine i6A RNA modification.

Prenylation (isopentenylation), a key post-transcriptional modification with a hydrophobic prenyl group onto the biomacromolecules such as RNA and proteins, influences their localization and function. Prenyltransferases mediate this process, while cytokinin oxidases degrade the prenylated adenosine in plants. This review summarizes current progress in detecting prenylation modifications in RNA across species and their effects on protein synthesis. Advanced methods have been developed to label and study these modifications in vitro and in vivo, despite challenges posed by the inert chemical properties of prenyl groups. Continued advancements in bioorthogonal chemistry promise new tools for understanding the precise biological functions of prenylated RNA modifications and other related proteins.

The expression and clinical significance of UHRF1 in soft tissue sarcomas and its prognostic value.

To explore the expression and prognostic value of UHRF1 gene in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and its related molecular mechanism. The expression data and clinicopathological parameters of STS were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The expression level of UHRF1 in STS and adjacent tissues and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. The expression level of UHRF1 in STS tissues was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues (P < .001), and the overall survival (OS) time of patients with high UHRF1 expression was significantly shorter than that of patients with low UHRF1 expression (P = .002). The expression of UHRF1 was correlated with tumor necrosis, histological type and metastasis, and the differences were statistically significant (P = .013; P = .001; P = .002). The area ratio under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve between STS tissue and adjacent tissue of UHRF1 expression was 0.994. Number of tumors (HR = 0.416, 95%CI = 0.260-0.666, P < .001), depth of tumor (HR = 2.888, 95%CI = 0.910-9.168, P = .033), metastasis (HR = 2.888, 95% CI = 1.762-4.732, P < .001), residual tumor (HR = 2.637, 95% CI = 1.721-4.038, P < .001) and UHRF1 expression (HR = 1.342, 95% CI = 1.105-1.630, P = .003) were significantly associated with OS, and high expression of UHRF1 (HR = 1.387, 95%CI = 1.008-1.907, P = .044) was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of STS patients. The results of the nomogram exhibited that UHRF1 expression level had a significant effect on the total score value. GSEA enrichment analysis suggested that UHRF1 was involved in 14 signaling pathways regulating mRNA spliceosome, cell cycle, P53 signaling pathway were identified. Single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) exhibited that the expression of UHRF1 in STS was positively correlated with the level of Th2 cell infiltration, and negatively correlated with plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), natural killer cells (NK), Eosinophils, Mast cells, etc. UHRF1 expression is involved in the immune microenvironment of HCC and affects the occurrence and development of HCC. UHRF1 is highly expressed in STS tissues. It is involved in the regulation of multiple tumor-related signaling pathways and immune cell microenvironment, suggesting that UHRF1 may be a potential molecular marker for prognosis prediction and targeted therapy of STS patients.

A controlled study of the hygienic technical evaluation of the transaxillary approach for inflation-free single-port lumpectomy versus conventional transcervical anterior open surgery in radical thyroid cancer resection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sanitary techniques for radical thyroid cancer surgery via the transaxillary approach without inflation single-port endoscopic surgery (TAWISES) and the conventional open anterior cervical approach (COACAS) in a controlled manner. METHODS: This work was a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 60 patients admitted to our hospital for unilateral radical thyroid cancer surgery between 01/2021 and 12/2022. The control group underwent COACAS (30 patients), and the experimental group underwent TAWISES (30 patients). The patients' operative time, intraoperative bleeding volume, 24-h postoperative pain index, drainage tube carrying time, hospitalization duration and complication rate were compared and analyzed. The patients were followed up for 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively and evaluated based on numbness, muscular tightness, pain and other discomfort in the neck, as well as satisfaction with social adaptation and cosmetic incisions. The recurrence status was assessed for 1 year in both groups of patients. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess patient acceptance of the two surgical approaches. The economic characteristics (cost-effectiveness and cost-utility) of the different approaches in our region were evaluated comprehensively. RESULTS: The length of the incision, drainage tube carrying time and hospitalization duration were greater in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The differences in complication rate, intraoperative bleeding volume, 24-h postoperative pain index and recurrence rate were not statistically significant between the two groups (P > 0.05). Neck discomfort was greater in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant at the 3-month postoperative follow-up (P < 0.05). The differences at the 6- and 12-month postoperative follow-ups were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). However, mild discomfort was significantly more common in the experimental group (63.33% > 36.67%, 80% > 53.33%, P < 0.05). The experimental group had better social adaptability, greater total medical costs, and better overall patient medical satisfaction than did the control group (P < 0.05). The acceptance of TAWISL was greater than that of COACAS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with COACLAS, TAWISES is safe and effective and better meets the cosmetic, psychological and social adaptation needs of patients. TAWISES is also more cost effective and can be better utilized for the population in our region, filling the gap in surgical modalities for thyroid cancer in in our region.

Comparative Efficacy of Micro-Needle-Knife Therapy and Acupuncture in Acute Ankle Sprains: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND Micro-needle knife (MNK) therapy releases the superficial fascia to alleviate pain and improve joint function in patients with acute ankle sprains (AAS). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MNK therapy vs that of acupuncture. MATERIAL AND METHODS This blinded assessor, randomized controlled trial allocated 80 patients with AAS to 2 parallel groups in a 1: 1 ratio. The experimental group received MNK therapy; the control group underwent conventional acupuncture treatment at specified acupoints. Clinical efficacy differences between the 2 groups before (time-point 1 [TP1]) and after treatment (TP2) were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Kofoed ankle score. Safety records and evaluations of adverse events were documented. One-month follow-up after treatment (TP3) was conducted to assess the intervention scheme's reliability. RESULTS VAS and Kofoed ankle scores significantly improved in both groups. No patients dropped due to adverse events. At TP1, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of VAS and Kofoed scores (P>0.05). However, at TP2, efficacy of MNK therapy in releasing the superficial fascia was significantly superior to that of acupuncture treatment (P<0.001). At TP3, no significant differences in scores existed between the groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that 6 sessions of MNK therapy to release the superficial fascia safely and effectively alleviated pain and enhanced ankle joint function in patients with AAS, surpassing the efficacy of conventional acupuncture treatment. Future studies should increase the sample size and introduce additional control groups to further validate the superior clinical efficacy of this intervention.

Mechanism of Modified Tianwang Buxindan on Skin of Sleep-deprived Mice Through PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of modified Tianwang Buxindan （MTBD） on the skin of sleep-deprived （SD） mice and investigate its mechanism. MethodSixty 2-month-old female Kunming mice were randomly divided into a blank group， a model group， a vitamin C （VC， 0.08 g·kg-1）， and MTBD low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （6.5， 12.5， 25 g·kg-1）. Except for the blank group， the other groups were subjected to SD mouse model induction （using multiple platform water environment method for 18 hours of sleep deprivation daily from 15：00 to next day 9：00）， continuously for 14 days， and caffeine （CAF， 7.5 mg·kg-1） was injected intraperitoneally from the 2nd week onwards， continuously for 7 days. While modeling， the blank group and the model group were administered with normal saline （0.01 mL·g-1）， and the other groups received corresponding drugs for treatment. On the day of the experiment， general observations were recorded （such as body weight， spirit， fur， and skin）. After sampling， skin tissue pathological changes were observed under an optical microscope using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and Masson staining methods. Skin thickness and skin moisture content were measured. Biochemical assay kits were used to detect skin hydroxyproline （HYP） content， skin and serum superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity， and malondialdehyde （MDA） content. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect serum interleukin （IL）-6， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， and IL-1β levels in mice. Western blot was used to detect skin tissue type Ⅰ collagen （ColⅠ）， type Ⅲ collagen （ColⅢ）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， phosphorylated （p）-PI3K， protein kinase B （Akt）， p-Akt， nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， heme oxygenase （HO）-1， and nuclear factor （NF）-κB protein expression. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group showed varying degrees of changes. In general， signs of aging such as reduced body weight （P<0.01）， listlessness， dull fur color， and formation of wrinkles on the skin appeared. Tissue specimen testing revealed skin thinning， flattening of the dermoepidermal junction （DEJ）， and reduced collagen fibers under the optical microscope. Skin thickness and moisture content decreased， skin tissue HYP content significantly decreased （P<0.01）， skin and serum SOD activity significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and MDA content significantly increased （P<0.01）. Serum IL-6， TNF-α， and IL-1β levels significantly increased （P<0.01）. Skin ColⅠ， ColⅢ， p-PI3K/PI3K， p-Akt/Akt， Nrf2， and HO-1 protein expression significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and NF-κB expression increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the VC group and the MTBD low-dose group showed increased skin moisture content， HYP content， SOD activity， and ColⅠ， ColⅢ， p-PI3K/PI3K protein expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased serum MDA content （P<0.05）. In addition， a decrease in serum IL-6 and IL-1β levels was detected in the MTBD low-dose group （P<0.05）， while the above indicators in the MTBD medium- and high-dose groups improved （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionSleep deprivation accelerates the aging process of the skin in SD model mice. MTBD can improve this phenomenon， exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects， and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Structural design and experimental verification of flexible manipulator based on metal weaving technology / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective:To develop a skeleton structure for the flexible manipulator of a robotic system used in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), meeting the performance requirements of surgical actuators.Methods:A flexible manipulator structure and a control strategy for the corresponding structure were designed based on metal braiding technology. Geometric relationship formulas were derived according to the mechanical structure characteristics of the flexible manipulator. A theoretical model was established using the chained beam-constraint-model (CBCM) and mechanical spring theory. The finite element model of the mechanical structure was established, and simulation analysis was performed to verify the accuracy of the theoretical model. The bending stiffness of the metal-braided structure was tested to verify the load capacity of the flexible manipulator.Results:A flexible manipulator structure and a control strategy for the corresponding structure were designed based on metal braiding technology. With proper constraints, the maximum strain of the metal ring as a single stressed unit was about 1.49% when subjected to an axial force of 0.5 N. At this time, the material was in the linear elastic phase and the maximum deformation was about 0.308 9 mm, which was 3.26% higher than the theoretical value. The maximum strain of the manipulator skeleton was about 0.21% in the linear elastic phase. The maximum total deformation was about 7.135 5 mm, which was 6.30% higher than the theoretical value. The flexural stiffness of the manipulator skeleton was calculated to be 3.19 N·mm 2, which was comparable to a flexible manipulator made of shape memory polymers (SMPs) of the same magnitude and size. Conclusions:A skeleton structure for application to NOTES robotic flexible manipulators is developed that meets the support stiffness requirements for performing NOTES surgical tasks.

Molecular docking analysis of the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Cibotium barometz and Epimedium for rheumatoid arthritis:animal experiment validation / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:In clinical practice,Cibotium barometz and Epimedium have shown significant efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,but the complex active ingredients contained in the two have an unclear mechanism of action at the molecular level for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. OBJECTIVE:Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology,to establish a collagen-induced arthritis model and to verify the potential targets and pathways of Cibotium barometz and Epimedium in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,providing reliable experimental evidence for the use of clinical formulas with Cibotium barometz and Epimedium as the main components. METHODS:Utilizing traditional Chinese medicine research platforms,traditional Chinese medicine encyclopedias,and databases of traditional Chinese medicine and chemical components from the Shanghai Institute of Organic,effective ingredients were retrieved and identified.3D molecular formulas were obtained from the PubChem platform and target predictions were made using PharmMapper and SwissTargetPrediction.Disease targets for rheumatoid arthritis were obtained from gene databases such as DrugBank,GeneCards,and OMIM.The intersections of targets and Cibotium barometz and Epimedium were plotted using VENNY 2.1 after calibration with the Uniport database.A protein-protein interaction network graph was constructed using the STRING platform.Gene Ontology function analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis were performed using the Metascape platform for data visualization.A four-layered network model of traditional Chinese medicine,ingredients,targets,diseases,and pathways was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.0.The main effective ingredients were docked with core targets using AutoDock-Vina software to explore the best binding targets.A type II collagen+adjuvant-induced arthritis rat model was established,and the effects of Cibotium barometz and Epimedium on relevant pathway targets and inflammatory cell factors were observed after 21 days of intervention. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 28 active ingredients from Cibotium barometz and Epimedium were selected,yielding 288 intersection targets for rheumatoid arthritis.The main ingredients included isobavachalcone,cibotium,and epimedium.The main targets included protein kinase 1 for serine/threonine(AKT1),tumor necrosis factor,and vascular endothelial growth factor A.Gene ontology analysis yielded 2 232 biological processes,mainly related to serine protein phosphorylation,positive regulation of serine/threonine protein kinase,and reactive oxygen metabolism.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis yielded 202 pathways,mainly involving the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway,which may exert therapeutic effects by regulating synovial cell apoptosis and proliferation and suppressing inflammatory factors.Molecular docking results showed the strongest binding activity and stable structure of Cibotium barometz and Epimedium with AKT1 and estrogen receptor transcription factor 1,which was closely related to apoptosis and proliferation and inflammatory signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT.Cibotium barometz and Epimedium reduced the expression of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α in the serum of collagen-induced arthritis rat models.Cibotium barometz and Epimedium reduced the expression of p-PI3K,p-AKT,and p-FOXO1 in the synovium of collagen-induced arthritis rat models.The results indicate that the combination of Cibotium barometz and Epimedium may exert therapeutic effects by inhibiting the proliferation of synovial cells and suppressing the expression of inflammatory factors via the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway.This may be closely related to the occurrence of inflammation and bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis,and provides a reference for the rational use and development of new drugs in clinical practice.

Causal effects of serum trace elements and nutrients on osteonecrosis:a Mendelian randomization analysis / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Multiple clinical observational studies have suggested a close relationship of serum trace elements and nutrients with osteonecrosis,but it remains unclear whether there is a genetic causal effect between serum trace elements and nutrients on osteonecrosis. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the causal effects of serum trace elements and nutrients on osteonecrosis using the Mendelian randomization approach. METHODS:The exposure factors of serum trace elements and vitamins with mononucleotide polymorphisms were obtained from the published UK Biobank database and publicly available databases of genome-wide association studies.The outcome event of osteonecrosis was derived from the FinnGen Biobank database.Mendelian randomization methods were employed to explore the causal relationship between seven trace elements and three nutrients with osteonecrosis.Causal inference was conducted using inverse variance weighting,MR-Egger,and weighted median methods.F-statistic was calculated to ensure the robustness of instrumental variables.Cochran's Q test and leave-one-out method were used for heterogeneity testing.MR-Egger regression and MR-PRESSO were employed for horizontal pleiotropy testing.PhenoScanner database was utilized to remove mononucleotide polymorphisms with horizontal pleiotropy to ensure the reliability of the results. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Causal relationships were found between serum selenium,phosphate,vitamin C,vitamin E,and osteonecrosis through Mendelian randomization analysis.Serum selenium,vitamin C,and vitamin E were found to have a protective effect on osteonecrosis,while excessive intake of phosphate increased the risk of osteonecrosis.No heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was observed during the study,and Mendelian randomization statistical power(Power value>80%)indicated the reliability of the aforementioned four results.These findings have important clinical implications for the development of targeted preventive and therapeutic measures for osteonecrosis.

Anmeidan Regulates Hepatic Neurotransmitters and Circadian Rhythm in Rat Model of Insomnia via OX1R/PLCβ-1/PKCα/ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the effect and mechanism of the classic famous prescription Anmeidan （AMD） developed in the Qing Dynasty in regulating the hepatic neurotransmitters and circadian rhythm in the rat model of insomnia via the orexin-1 receptor （OX1R）/phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase Cβ-1 （PLCβ-1）/protein kinase Cα （PKCα）/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2） signaling pathway. MethodSixty SPF-grade SD rats were randomized into blank， model， suvorexant （30 mg·kg-1·d-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （4.55， 9.09， 18.09 g·kg-1·d-1， respectively） AMD groups， with 10 rats in each group. The rats in other groups except the blank group were modeled by intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine （PCPA） and administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage， and the blank group received an equal volume of normal saline. The general condition， body mass， and 24 h autonomic activity of each group were observed. The pathological changes of the liver tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE）staining and Masson staining. The expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid （GABA）， 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）， epinephrine （EPI）， norepinephrine （NE）， and acetylcholine （ACh） in the liver tissue was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The glutamate （Glu） expression in the liver tissue was detected by the biochemical method. The mRNA levels of biological clock genes Per1， Per2， Cry1， Cry2， Bmal1， and Bmal2 in the liver were determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）. The protein and mRNA levels of factors in the OX1R/PLCβ-1/PKCα/ERK1/2 signaling pathway in the liver were determined by Western blot and Real-time PCR， respectively. ResultCompared with the blank group， the modeling decreased the body mass （P<0.05， P<0.01） and caused mania and disturbed resting rhythms （P<0.01）， hepatic muscle fiber fracture， and edema with inflammatory cell infiltration. In addition， the modeling decreased the GABA， 5-HT， EPI， NE， and ACh content， increased Glu content （P<0.01）， down-regulated the mRNA levels of Per1， Per2， Cry1， and Cry2 （P<0.01）， up-regulated the mRNA levels of Bmal1 and Bmal2 （P<0.01）， and promoted the expression of OX1R， PLCβ-1， PKCα， and ERK1/2 at both protein and mRNA levels （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， suvorexant and AMD increased the body mass （P<0.05， P<0.01）， alleviated the mania， and increased the resting time and frequency （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， the medications elevated the levels of GABA， 5-HT， EPI， NE， and ACh， lowered the Glu level， up-regulated the mRNA levels of Per1， Per2， Cry1， and Cry2 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， down-regulated the mRNA levels of Bmal1 and Bmal2， and inhibited the expression of OX1R， PLCβ-1， PKCα， and ERK1/2 at both mRNA and protein levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionAMD can regulate hepatic neurotransmitters and improve circadian rhythm in insomniac rats by inhibiting the OX1R/PLCβ-1/PKCα/ERK1/2 signaling pathway， and high-dose AMD demonstrated the strongest effect.

Correlation between lung allocation score and early death risk of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis after lung transplantation / 器官移植

Objective To analyze the correlation between the lung allocation score (LAS) and the risk of early death and complications in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) after lung transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 275 patients with IPF were retrospectively analyzed. The correlation between LAS and the risk of early death in IPF patients after lung transplantation and the correlation between LAS and complications at postoperative 1 year was assessed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results Among 275 recipients, 62, 83, 95 and 108 cases died within postoperative 30, 90, 180 and 365 d, respectively. LAS was correlated with 30-, 90-, 180- and 365-d fatality of IPF patients (all P<0.05), whereas it was not correlated with the incidence of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) at 365 d after lung transplantation (both P>0.05). Conclusions LAS is correlated with the risk of early death of IPF patients after lung transplantation. While, it is not correlated the incidence of PGD and AKI early after lung transplantation. Special attention should be paid to the effect of comprehensive factors upon PGD and AKI.

A pair of siblings with congenital short bowel syndrome and intestinal malrotation caused by a novel variation in the CLMP gene / 中华围产医学杂志

This paper reports a pair of siblings with congenital short-bowel syndrome (CSBS) complicated with intestinal malrotation. Case 1 was born with a birth weight of 2 550 g and a length of 48 cm. On September 10, 2017, emergency Ladd's procedure and appendectomy were performed on the infant 23 days after birth due to intestinal obstruction at the Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University. The small intestine of the infant had a total length of 65 cm. Postoperative enteral and parenteral nutrition supports were provided for six months. Whole exome sequencing revealed a homozygous variant (NM 024769; nucleotide deletion in the exon 3-5) in the CLMP gene (chr11:122953792-122955421), with the parents being the heterozygous carriers but without phenotype. Case 2, the younger sibling of Case 1, was born in the same hospital on March 20, 2020, with a birth weight of 2 932 g and a body length of 49 cm. Prenatal single-gene sequencing on the amniotic fluid identified the same gene variation as his sister's. The baby boy received Ladd's procedure and appendectomy on the second day after birth which found the length of his small intestine was 51 cm. Full enteral nutrition was achieved six months after the operation. Both cases were followed up for 12 months. The body weight and length of Case 1 were both below the first percentile (< P1). The body weight of Case 2 was 8.03 kg ( P3- P5) and the length was 76.0 cm ( P25- P50).

A pervasive phosphorylation cascade modulation of plant transcription factors in response to abiotic stress.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Transcriptional regulation of stress-responsive genes is a crucial step in establishing the mechanisms behind plant abiotic stress tolerance. A sensitive method of regulating transcription factors activity, stability, protein interaction, and subcellular localization is through phosphorylation. This review highlights a widespread regulation mechanism that involves phosphorylation of plant TFs in response to abiotic stress. Abiotic stress is one of the main components limiting crop yield and sustainability on a global scale. It greatly reduces the land area that is planted and lowers crop production globally. In all living organisms, transcription factors (TFs) play a crucial role in regulating gene expression. They participate in cell signaling, cell cycle, development, and plant stress response. Plant resilience to diverse abiotic stressors is largely influenced by TFs. Transcription factors modulate gene expression by binding to their target gene's cis-elements, which are impacted by genomic characteristics, DNA structure, and TF interconnections. In this review, we focus on the six major TFs implicated in abiotic stress tolerance, namely, DREB, bZIP, WRKY, ABF, MYB, and NAC, and the cruciality of phosphorylation of these transcription factors in abiotic stress signaling, as protein phosphorylation has emerged as one of the key post-translational modifications, playing a critical role in cell signaling, DNA amplification, gene expression and differentiation, and modification of other biological configurations. These TFs have been discovered after extensive study as stress-responsive transcription factors which may be major targets for crop development and important contributors to stress tolerance and crop production.

Lycium barbarum Ameliorates Neural Damage Induced by Experimental Ischemic Stroke and Radiation Exposure.

Ischemic stroke and cranial radiotherapy may induce brain inflammatory response, oxidative stress, apoptosis and neuronal loss, and impairment of neurogenesis. Lycium barbarum has anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-aging properties, may produce both neuroprotective and radioprotective effects. In this narrative review paper, we described the neuroprotective effect of Lycium barbarum in different animal models of experimental ischemic stroke and limited studies in irradiated animal models. Relevant molecular mechanisms are also summarized. It has been shown that in experimental ischemic stroke models, Lycium barbarum produces neuroprotective effects by modulating neuroinflammatory factors such as cytokines and chemokines, reactive oxygen species, and neurotransmitter and receptor systems. In irradiation animal models, Lycium barbarum prevents radiation-induced loss of hippocampal interneurons. Given its minimal side-effects, these preclinical studies suggest that Lycium barbarum may be a promising radio-neuro-protective drug that can be used as an adjunct treatment to radiotherapy for brain tumor and in the treatment of ischemic stroke. At molecular levels, Lycium barbarum may regulate PI3K/Akt/GSK-3ß, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, PKCε/Nrf2/HO-1, keap1-Nrf2/HO-1, and NR2A and NR2B receptor- related signal transduction pathways to produce neuroprotective effects.

Based on probe near-infrared autofluorescence imaging technique of parathyroid gland application in thyroid surgery / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness of probe-based near-infrared autofluorescence imaging (NIRAF) of the parathyroid gland.Methods:A total of 71 patients with thyroid cancer eligible for admission from May 4, 2023 to May 26, 2023 were selected, including 42 patients with thyroid cancer enrolled in the Department of Thyroid (hernia), Department of General Surgery, PLA General Hospital, including 29 females and 13 males, with a median age of 41 years, ranging from 21 to 76 years. A total of 29 patients with thyroid cancer were enrolled in the Department of Thyroid Surgery of Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, including 22 females and 7 males. The median age was 42.5 years, ranging from 24 to 72 years. The follow-up period was 1 month.Results:Among them, 196 suspicious parathyroid tissues were identified by the naked eye, and 207 suspicious parathyroid tissues were identified by probe NIRAF technology. Naked eye identification sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 84.86%, 56% and 81.89%. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of parathyroid tissue identification by probe NIRAF were 92.66%, 80.00% and 90.53%, which were better than that of naked eye identification, and had a good coincidence rate with the results of immunocolloidal gold test or intraoperative freezing pathology (Kappa=0.61, P<0.001) . Conclusion:The probe-based NIRAF technique has a good ability to identify parathyroid tissue.

Application of case-based learning combined with online teaching in standardized residency training of rheumatology and immunology / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness of case-based learning (CBL) combined with online teaching in standardized residency training of rheumatology and immunology.Methods:A total of 78 individuals who participated in standardized residency training in Department of Rheumatology and Immunology in our hospital from June 2019 to August 2020 were included and divided into observation group and control group. The individuals in the control group received traditional teaching, and those in the observation group received CBL combined with online teaching. The physicians receiving standardized residency training were evaluated by theoretical examination, clinical operation skill assessment, and instructor rating, and the degree of satisfaction with teaching, degree of satisfaction with teaching methods, and classroom learning atmosphere were also evaluated.Results:The observation group had a theoretical examination score of (94.10±2.01) and a clinical operation skill assessment score of (90.44±1.57), which were significantly higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05), and the observation group had a significantly better instructor rating (89.36±1.33) than the control group ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had significantly higher degree of satisfaction with teaching (3.79±0.41), degree of satisfaction with teaching methods (3.92±0.27), and evaluation of classroom learning atmosphere (3.90±0.31) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:CBL combined with online teaching can help to improve learning efficiency, stimulate the enthusiasm for learning, expand clinical thinking, promote the growth of teaching and learning, and form a virtuous cycle among trainees receiving standardized residency training, which holds promise for further exploration.

Effect of 28-day administration of Psoraleae Fructus water extract on early liver injury in rats / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to investigate the hepatotoxicity of Psoraleae Fructus water extract and the underlying mechanism in rats. Forty-eight rats were randomly assigned into four groups: a blank group and low-(BZGL, 6.25 g·kg~(-1)), medium-(BGZM, 12.5 g·kg~(-1)), and high-dose(BGZH, 25 g·kg~(-1)) Psoraleae Fructus water extract groups. The rats were treated for 28 days, and toxicity and mortality were observed daily. After 28 days, the rats were sacrificed, and the body weight, liver index, and liver-to-brain ratio were calculated. The morphological changes in the liver tissue were observed, and the serum levels of related biochemical indicators were measured. The results showed that compared with the blank group, Psoraleae Fructus water extracts of different doses decreased the body weight, increased the liver index and liver-to-brain ratio, and caused liver hypertrophy and pathological changes. Pathological examination revealed that the rats in Psoraleae Fructus water extract groups had bile duct hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, and liver cell fibrosis. Compared with the blank group, BGZL elevated the levels of alanine transaminase(ALT), α-glutathione S-transferase(α-GST), and total bile acid(TBA)(P<0.05), and BGZM and BGZH elevated the levels of ALT, TBA, α-GST, γ-glutamyl transferase(γ-GT), purine nucleoside phosphorylase(PNP), ornithine carbamoyltransferase(OCT), and arginase(ArgI)(P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, Psoraleae Fructus water extracts of different doses down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of bile salt export pump(BSEP) and farnesoid X receptor(FXR) and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), nuclear factor kappaB(NF-κB), and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase(CYP7A1)(P<0.05). The results suggested that Psoraleae Fructus water extract caused toxicity in rats, showing a dose-toxicity relationship. Psoraleae Fructus water extract may cause liver damage, which may be due to its effect on liver bile acid secretion and induction of inflammation.

Research status of insect infestation of Chinese medicinal materials during storage / 中国中药杂志

During the storage process, Chinese medicinal materials are susceptible to insect infestation due to their own nature and external storage factors. Infestation by insects can have varying impacts on the materials. In mild cases, it affects the appearance and reduces consumer purchasing power, while in severe cases, it affects the quality, reduces medicinal value, and introduces impurities such as insect bodies, excrement, and secretions, resulting in significant contamination of the medicinal materials. This study reviewed the rele-vant factors influencing insect infestation in Chinese medicinal materials and the compositional changes that occur after infestation and summarized maintenance measures for preventing insect infestation. Additionally, it provided an overview of detection techniques applicable to identifying insect infestation during the storage of Chinese medicinal materials. During the storage process, insect infestation is the result of the combined effects of biological factors(source, species, and population density of insects), intrinsic factors(moisture, chemical composition, and metabolism), and environmental factors(temperature, relative humidity, and oxygen content). After infestation, there are significant changes in the content of constituents in the medicinal materials. By implementing strict pre-storage inspections, regular maintenance after storage, and appropriate storage and maintenance methods, the occurrence of insect infestation can be reduced, and the preservation rate of Chinese medicinal materials can be improved. The storage and maintenance of Chinese medicinal materials are critical for ensuring their quality. Through scientifically standardized storage and strict adherence to operational management standards, the risk of insect infestation can be minimized, thus guaranteeing the quality of Chinese medicinal materials.

Comparison of early clinical effects between direct superior approach and posterolateral approach in hemiarthroplasty of femoral neck fracture in the elderly / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To compare and analyze the early clinical effect of direct superior approach(DSA) and posterior lateral approach (PLA) in hemiarthroplasty for elderly patients with femoral neck fracture.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 72 elderly patients with femoral neck fracture who underwent hemiarthroplasty from January 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 36 patients were operated through minimally invasive DSA including 10 males and 26 females with an average age of (82.82±4.05) years old; the other 36 patients underwent traditional PLA including 14 males and 22 females with an average age of (82.79±3.21) years old. The perioperative related indexes and Harris scores during follow-up between two groups were compared.@*RESULTS@#Comparison of operation time between two groups, (79.41±17.39) min of DSA group was shorter than(98.45±26.58) min of PLA group;incision length (8.33±2.69) cm was shorter than (11.18±1.33) cm of PLA group;intraoperative blood loss (138.46±71.58) ml was less than (173.51±87.17) ml of PLA group, initial landing time (3.04±0.95) d was earlier than (4.52±1.10) d of PLA group, hospitalization time (8.70±1.89) d was shorter than (10.67±2.35) d of PLA group(P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in Harris score between two groups before operation(P>0.05), but Harris score in DSA group was higher than that of PLA group at 1 month after operation(P<0.05), but at 12 months after operation, the difference was not statistically significant between two groups(P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Compared with PLA, DSA is superior in clinical indexes such as operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, first landing time, length of hospitalization and Harris score in the first month after operation in hemi hip replacement, and has comparative advantages in promoting early postoperative rehabilitation of elderly patients with femoral neck.

Effect of Shionone on Neuron Apoptosis After Spinal Cord Injury in Mice / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To explore the effect of shionone(SHI)on motor function in the mouse model of spinal cord injury(SCI)and probe into the underlying molecular mechanism.Methods C57BL/6 mice were treated to induce the SCI model and then assigned into a model group(SCI group),a SCI+SHI group,and a sham surgery(control)group.The Basso mouse scale(BMS)score was determined to evaluate the recovery of motor function in SCI mice.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,Nissl staining,and immunofluorescence staining were employed to examine the fibrosis,morphological changes of neurons,and neuron apoptosis in the spinal cord tissue of SCI mice,respectively.The mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line HT22 was cultured in vitro and then classified into tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)induction and SHI groups.Western blotting was employed to determine the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins.Network pharmacology,gene ontology annotation,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment were employed to predict the possible molecular targets and signaling pathways of SHI in promoting functional recovery from SCI.Furthermore,the prediction results were verified by in vitro and in vivo experiments.Results Compared with the SCI group,the SCI+SHI group showed increased BMS score on days 21,28,35,and 42(P=0.003,P=0.004,P=0.023,and P=0.007,respectively),reduced area of spinal cord fibrosis(P=0.021),increased neurons survived(P=0.001),and down-regulated expression of cleaved cysteine aspastic acid-specific protease 3(cleaved Caspase-3)(P=0.017).Compared with the TNF-α group,the SHI group presented down-regulated expression levels of cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax(P=0.010,P=0.001)and up-regulated expression level of Bcl-2(P=0.001).The results of bioinformatics analysis showed that SHI might improve the motor function of SCI mice via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)signaling pathway.The results of in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that SHI inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt in SCI mice or HT22 cells exposed to TNF-α(all P<0.05).The number of apoptotic HT22 cells after treatment with insulin-like growth factor 1 was higher than that in the SHI group(P=0.003).Conclusion SHI may inhibit neuron apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,thereby promoting the recovery of motor function in SCI mice.