RAFT step-growth polymerization via the Z-group approach and deconstruction by RAFT interchange.

Recycling vinyl polymers is essential to mitigate the environmental impact of plastic waste. However, typical polymerization strategies to construct vinyl polymers lack the ability to incorporate degradable linkers throughout the main chain. We report a RAFT step-growth polymerization through the Z-group approach that is directly carried out by using a common class of symmetric trithiocarbonate based RAFT agents and commercially available bismaleimide monomers. Such synthesized RAFT step-growth polymers contain embedded RAFT agents in every structural unit, allowing chain expansion of the step-growth backbone via controlled chain growth to yield linear multiblock (co)polymers. These polymers can undergo deconstruction via the RAFT interchange process with exogeneous RAFT agents, generating smaller uniform species with narrow molecular weight distribution. In addition, the telechelic bifunctional RAFT agent nature after deconstruction allows repolymerization, showing a promising method for recycling common vinyl polymers.

Evaluate the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese Medicine as the neoadjuvant treatment in reducing the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been used for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at every therapeutic stage, even before tumor formation. However, the efficacy of TCM in reducing the incidence of HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis B-related cirrhosis remains unclear. This study aims to address this gap. Methods: Publications were collected from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Sino Med, VIP, and Wan Fang Databases. Relative risk (RR) was calculated with a 95 % confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Results: 10 studies with 2702 patients showed that the combination therapy significantly reduced the incidence of HCC in patients with post-hepatitis B cirrhosis at 1, 3, and 5 years. However, the preventive effects of TCM were in compensated cirrhosis, but not the decompensated cirrhosis. Furthermore, TCM correlated with improved liver function and enhanced virological response. Conclusion: Combination therapy with TCM demonstrated the certain potential in reducing the incidence of HCC in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis. This is attrinuted to the improvement of liver function and enhancement of the viral response. However, the efficacy of TCM in the field still needs more high-quality RCTs to provide stronger evidence in the future.

Efficacy of Yisui granule on myelodysplastic syndromes in SKM-1 mouse xenograft model through suppressing Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To unmask the underlying mechanisms of Yisui granule (, YSG) for the treatment of Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). METHODS: Our study used an SKM-1 mouse xenograft model of MDS to explore the anti-tumor potential of YSG and its safety, assess its effect on overall survival (OS), and evaluate whether its mechanism is associated with the demethylation of the secreted frizzled related protein 5 (sFRP5) gene and suppressing Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Bisulfite amplicon sequencing was applied to detect the level of methylation of the sFRP5 gene; western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, and real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction were performed to detect DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), sFRP5, and other Wnt/ß-catenin pathway-related mRNA and protein expression. RESULTS: The results showed that high-dosage YSG exerted an anti-tumor effect similar to that of decitabine, improved OS, and reduced long-term adverse effects in the long term. Mechanically, YSG reduced the expression of DNMT1 methyltransferase, decreased the methylation, and increased the expression of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway antagonist-sFRP5. Furthermore, components of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, including Wnt3a, ß-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclinD1, were down-regulated in response to YSG, suggesting that YSG could treat MDS by demethylating the sFRP5 gene and suppressing the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that YSG could be used alone or in combination with decitabine to improve outcomes in the MDS animal model, providing an alternative solution for treating MDS.

Preliminary study on the computer-based optokinetic nystagmus analyzer to detect the visual acuity of preschool children.

The purpose of this study is to examine the viability, precision, and consistency of a computer-based optokinetic nystagmus analyzer (nystagmus meter) for diagnosing eyesight in preschoolers. A total of 59 subjects who could pass the log of minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) visual acuity chart were divided into three groups by age, 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old groups, and their visual acuity was tested with nystagmus meter. The percentage of children in each age group that could be detected by nystagmus was recorded along with the differences between these groups. The correlation between the test results from the two methods was found for each age group using the correlation coefficient method. Repeated measurements were used to assess the two visual acuity values of the measured nystagmus, and the repeatability of the two measurement techniques for different age groups was compared. The overall measurability of the visual acuity detected by nystagmus was 93.22%, and the measurability of the 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old groups was 90%, 95%, and 94.74%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the measurability of subjects among all age groups (P = 1.0). The outcomes of the LogMAR visual acuity chart had a negative correlation with the visual acuity measured by the nystagmus meter. The overall correlation coefficient R value was -0.80, and the correlation coefficient R value of the 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old groups was -0.79, -0.76, and -0.87, respectively. The nystagmus meter has good feasibility, accuracy, and stability in visual acuity testing and can be used for visual acuity testing in children.

Baicalin circumvents anti-PD-1 resistance by regulating the gut microbiota metabolite short-chain fatty acids.

Baicalin is a small molecule medication used to treat hepatitis. Our research group discovered that administering baicalin orally to mice following fecal microbiota transplantation from patients resistant to ICIs supported anti-PD-1 activity. However, the precise mechanisms behind this effect are presently unknown. In this present study, ATB-treated C57BL/6 J mice received FMT from patients with advanced NSCLC amenable to αPD-1. Additionally, subcutaneous LLC cells were injected into the mice. Baicalin oral gavage and αPD-1 injection were administered to the mice on days 3 and 9 after tumour inoculation. 16 S rRNA, metabolomics, and flow cytometry were utilized to clarify the mechanisms of baicalin's relief of immunosuppression. The results indicated that oral administration of baicalin enriched bacteria such as Akkermansia and Clostridia_UCG-014, resulted in an increase in SCFAs, which improved the ratio of PD-1+ (CD8+ T cell/Treg) and promoted the levels of IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cells and TNF-α+ CD8+ T cells within the tumour microenvironment. In conclusion, baicalin regulates the metabolites of the gut microbiota to improve the PD-1+ (CD8+ T cell/Treg) balance and circumvent anti-PD-1 resistance. This is achieved through the regulation of short-chain fatty acids.

Two-dimensional liquid chromatography measurement of meropenem concentration in synovial fluid of patients with periprosthetic joint infection.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a catastrophic complication following joint replacement surgery. One potential treatment approach for PJI could be the combination of one-stage revision and intra-articular infusion of antibiotics. Meropenem is one of the commonly used intra-articular antibiotics in our institution. Determining the concentration of meropenem in the joint cavity could be crucial for optimizing its local application, effectively eradicating biofilm infection, and improving PJI treatment outcomes. In this study, we developed a simple, precise, and accurate method of two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) for determining the concentration of meropenem in human synovial fluid. The method was then validated based on the guidelines of the Food and Drug Administration and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Meropenem showed good linearity in the range of 0.31-25.01 µg/mL (r ≥ .999). Selectivity, intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy, extraction recovery, and stability validation results were all within the acceptance range. This method has been successfully applied to the determination of synovial fluid samples from PJI patients, providing a useful detection method for meropenem therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in PJI patients.

Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of aspirin versus other anticoagulants in the prevention of thromboembolism after orthopedic surgery / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of aspirin versus other anticoagulants in the prevention of thromboembolism after orthopedic surgery. METHODS Retrieved from PubMed， Embase， the Cochrane Library， CNKI， Wanfang data and VIP， randomized controlled trials （RCTs） and cohort studies about aspirin （trial group） versus other anticoagulants （control group） were collected during the inception and June 1st， 2023. After literature screening， data extraction and quality evaluation， the meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS A total of 22 studies were included， involving 9 RCTs and 13 cohort studies. RCT results showed that the incidences of deep vein thrombosis （DVT） [RR＝1.81， 95%CI（1.36， 2.40）， P＜0.000 1] and postoperative pulmonary embolism （PE） [RR＝1.55， 95%CI（1.01， 2.40）， P＝0.05] in trial group were significantly higher than control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidences of postoperative massive bleeding， postoperative surgical site infection， all-cause death， or any bleeding after surgery between 2 groups. In the cohort study， the incidence of any bleeding in trial group was significantly lower than control group [RR＝0.71，95%CI （0.64， 0.79）， P＜0.000 1]， while the differences in other indicators were not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. The results of subgroup analysis based on different anticoagulants showed that in RCT， the incidences of DVT and PE after surgery in patients using low-molecular-weight heparin （LMWH） were significantly lower than using aspirin （P＜0.05）； in the cohort study， the incidences of DVT and PE after surgery were significantly lower in patients using direct oral anticoagulants （DOAC） than using aspirin （P＜0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of major bleeding between patients using aspirin and using DOAC and LWMH （P＞0.05） in both RCT and cohort study. CONCLUSIONS Aspirin is equally safe as other anticoagulants for the prevention of thromboembolism after orthopedic surgery， but its efficacy may not be as good as other anticoagulants. After orthopedic surgery， other anticoagulants should be preferred to prevent venous thromboembolism， and aspirin should be carefully considered.

Progress of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with different muscle mass levels / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To investigate the difference of the disease progression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with different muscle mass levels and the influence of related factors on the disease progression. Methods A total of 308 newly diagnosed patients with COPD from February 2021 to February 2022 were selected for this study. All patients were below moderate COPD. The patients were divided into two groups according to their muscle mass levels: sarcopenia group (98 cases) and control group (210 cases). The diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia were based on sarcopenia diagnostic thresholds: RSMI 2 in men and 2 for women. All subjects were followed up for 4 months to observe the progress of the patient's condition. The correlation between the muscle mass level and pulmonary function level, as well as the results of 6-minute walking test and CAT score was evaluated, and the influence of muscle mass level on the patient's disease progress was analyzed. At the same time, the potential influence of related factors (body fat rate, vitamin D level, etc.) on the condition of patients with different muscle mass levels was discussed. SPSS 19.0 software was used to perform statistical analysis. Results Under the same treatment intervention, the baseline and follow-up lung function improvement levels of patients in the sarcopenia group were lower than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). At the same time, the baseline and follow-up 6-minute walk test results of the patients in the sarcopenia group were also worse than those of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Further correlation analysis was carried out between the patient's muscle mass level and the post-treatment pulmonary function indicators and 6MWD test level. The results showed that the muscle mass level was positively correlated with several pulmonary function indicators (FEV1, FEV1% predict) and 6MWD (both P<0.05). Considering the possible influence of other factors on the control and progress of the patient's condition, the present study used follow-up CAT score results to distinguish the prognosis of the patient's condition improvement, and used improvement and non-improvement as dependent variables to analyze the influence of various potential influencing factors. The results of regression model analysis showed that lower baseline muscle mass, women, lower body fat percentage, and lower vitamin D level were the main risk factors. Conclusion Under the same treatment condition, COPD patients with different muscle mass levels improve more slowly when complicated with sarcopenia and have poor prognosis. Women, lower body fat percentage and lower vitamin D level are potential risk factors for poor prognosis.

Exploring Scientific Connotation of "Fried Charcoal Survivability" of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos Based on Color-composition Correlation / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the scientific connotation of fried charcoal survivability of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos（LJF） by analyzing the correlation between the color change and the intrinsic components during the processing of LJF Carbonisata（LJFC）， and taking pH， charcoal adsorption and microscopic characteristics as indexes. MethodLJFC samples with different degrees of processing were prepared according to the stir-frying time of 0.0， 1.5， 3.0， 4.5， 6.0， 7.5， 9.0， 10.5 min（numbered S1-S8）， and the contents of gallic acid， chlorogenic acid， cryptochlorogenic acid， rutin， luteoloside， isochlorogenic acid A and isochlorogenic acid C were determined by high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC）， and the L*（brightness）， a*（red-greenness） and b*（yellow-blueness） of LJFC samples with different degrees of processing were determined by spectrophotometer， and the correlation analysis and principal component analysis（PCA） between the contents of seven representative components and the color of the samples were carried out by SPSS 26. 0 and SIMCA-P 14.1. Then pH， adsorption force and characteristic structure of different samples of LJFC were detected and the processing pattern of LJFC was analyzed. ResultThe results of quantitative analysis revealed that the contents of luteoloside， rutin， chlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acid A gradually decreased， and the contents of cryptochlorogenic acid， isochlorogenic acid C and gallic acid firstly increased and then decreased. The L* and b* of the sample powders decreased， and a* showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing. The L* and b* were positively correlated with the contents of chlorogenic acid， rutin， luteoloside， isochlorogenic acid A， b* was positively correlated with the content of gallic acid， and a* was positively correlated with the contents of cryptochlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acid C. PCA revealed that samples could be clearly divided into 3 groups， S1-S2 as one group， S3-S5 as one group， and S6-S8 as one group， with S3 having the highest score. The results of regression analysis showed that only isochlorogenic acid C could be used to predict the contents of components by colorimetric values combined with regression equations. Physicochemical analysis showed that pH of LJFC increased with the increase of degree of charcoal stir-frying， while adsorption force showed a tendency of increasing and then decreasing， with the highest adsorption force in the S5 sample， and the non-glandular hairs， calcium oxalate clusters and pollen grains had a varying degree of decreasing with the deepening of processing degree， and the microstructures of S6-S8 samples were obviously charred with pollen grains almost invisible. ConclusionThe changes in chemical composition and color characteristics of LJFC during the processing have certain correlations， combined with the changes in physicochemical properties， S5 sample is found to be the optimal processed products， which can provide a reference for the processing standardization and quality evaluation of LJFC， and enrich the scientific connotation of fried charcoal survivability of LJF.

Comparison on Ameliorating Effect of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum on Allergic Asthma in Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects and difference in the effects of Arisaematis Rhizoma （AR） before and after processing （i.e.， Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum， ARP） with Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens-Alumen on allergic asthma in rats and to provide a basis for the theory of processing improving the efficacy. MethodA rat model of allergic asthma was established in 70 SD rats by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin （OVA）-aluminum hydroxide. The rats were administrated with the aqueous extracts of AR （1.2， 0.3 g∙kg-1） and ARP （1.2， 0.3 g∙kg-1） aqueous extracts by gavage， and montelukast sodium （0.001 g∙kg-1） was used as the positive drug. The T helper cell type 1/type 2 （Th1/Th2） ratio in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） and percentages of inflammatory cells in BALF were determined. Polymerase chain reaction （PCR） was employed to determine the mRNA level of mucin 5AC （MUC5AC） in the lung tissue. The pathological changes in the lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and PAS staining. Immunohistochemical assay was employed to measure the expression of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase （JNK）， extracellular signal regulated protein kinase （ERK）， and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK） in rat lung tissue. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of ERK， p-ERK， JNK， p-JNK， p38， p-p38 in the lung tissue. The effects of AR and ARP were compared based on overall desirability. ResultCompared with the blank group， the levels of interleukin-12 （IL-12） and γ interferon （IFN-γ） in serum and BALF of rats in the model group were significantly lower （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the levels of interleukin-4 （IL-4）， interleukin-5 （IL-5） and interleukin-13 （IL-13） were significantly higher （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the serum and BALF contents of IL-12 and IFN-γ in rats in the montelukast sodium group， high-dose AR group and high-dose ARP group were significantly higher （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the contents of IL-4， IL-5 and IL-13 were significantly lower （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the serum contents of IFN-γ in rats in the low-dose AR group and low-dose ARP group were in BALF was significantly higher （P<0.05） and IL-4 and IL-13 were significantly lower （P<0.05， P<0.01）， the percentages of macrophages， lymphocytes， neutrophils， and eosinophils were reduced in BALF， and the expression of JNK/ERK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway and MUC5AC protein was inhibited in lung tissues. Overall assessment of the normalized analysis revealed that the ARP group was slightly more potent than the AR group after administration of the same dose. ConclusionAR and ARP can effectively treat allergic asthma by inhibiting JNK/ERK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway， and the effect is better after concoction， which can provide data support for its "concoction efficiency".

Spatial-temporal distribution characteristics and traceability analysis of organic matter in Shahe Reservoir (Beijing, China).

Shahe Reservoir is a key node in the upstream of the North Canal, and the water quality has gradually improved after the implementation of low water operation in 2018. The organic matter(OM) in the sediment decreased from 16.66 to 14.22%.In this study, the FI index and parallel factor method were used to investigate the traceability of OM and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Shahe Reservoir before and during low water level operation(LWLO), and the results showed that the terrestrial source fraction of OM in sediments was mainly related to organic-rich terrestrial plant residues carried by tributaries and overflows/outfalls during the rainy season, and the FI index indicated that the organic matter (OM) in the Shahe Reservoir before and during LWLO in each DOM in the area is derived from authigenic sources of autotrophic microorganisms, algae, etc. The parallel factor method shows that more than most of the pollutants in the DOM are input from endogenous sources and a small proportion of pollutants are input from exogenous sources. Nutrients in both sediment and interstitial water increased during the LWLO, with TN and TP levels increasing by 262.38 and 204.45 mg·kg-1 in sediment, NH4+-N, PO43--P, TN and TP in interstitial water increasing by 0.98, 1.36, 2.07 and 4.33 mg·L-1, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis showed that OM was significantly correlated with nutrients: OM and TN (p < 0.01) and OM and TP (p < 0.05) in the pre-LWLO; OM and TN and TP (p < 0.01) in the LWLO.The results suggested that organic matter pollution control should be mainly carried out from the perspective of endogenous input, focusing on controlling the release of nutrients in sediments.

Exploration of high-performance triptycene-based thermally activated delayed fluorescence materials via structural alteration of donor fragment.

The utilization of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials in highly proficient organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) has attracted much attention. Based on TADF material TPA-QNX(CN)2, a series of three-dimensional donor-acceptor (D-A) triptycenes have been designed via structural modification of D-fragment. The influences of different D-fragments with various electron-donating strengths on the singlet-triplet energy gap (ΔEST), emission wavelength (λem), and electron/hole reorganization energy (λe/λh) are extensively studied by applying density functional theory (DFT) coupled with time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The computed results imply that as the electron-donating strength of the D-fragments increases, the ΔEST value decreases and λem is red-shifted for the molecules using the same acceptor units. Analogously, the 1CT‒3CT state splitting (ΔEST (CT)) is also decreased by enlarging the twist angle (ß) between the phenyl ring and alternative D-fragment. Therefore, efficient color tuning within a broad emission range (434-610 nm), as well as small ΔEST (CT) values (0.01-0.05 eV), has been accomplished by structural modification of the D-fragments. The greater electron-donating strength, the smaller ΔEST, and the smaller λh for PPXZ-QNX(CN)2 make it the best candidate among all the designed molecules.

The changes of neuroactivity of Tui Na (Chinese massage) at Hegu acupoint on sensorimotor cortex in stroke patients with upper limb motor dysfunction: a fNIRS study.

BACKGROUND: Tui Na (Chinese massage) is a relatively simple, inexpensive, and non-invasive intervention, and has been used to treat stroke patients for many years in China. Tui Na acts on specific parts of the body which are called meridians and acupoints to achieve the role of treating diseases. Yet the underlying neural mechanism associated with Tui Na is not clear due to the lack of detection methods. OBJECTIVE: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to explore the changes of sensorimotor cortical neural activity in patients with upper limb motor dysfunction of stroke and healthy control groups during Tui Na Hegu Point. METHODS: Ten patients with unilateral upper limb motor dysfunction after stroke and eight healthy subjects received Tui Na. fNIRS was used to record the hemodynamic data in the sensorimotor cortex and the changes in blood flow were calculated based on oxygenated hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb), the task session involved repetitive Tui Na on Hegu acupoint, using a block design [six cycles: rest (20 seconds); Tui Na (20 seconds); rest (30 seconds)]. The changes in neural activity in sensorimotor cortex could be inferred according to the principle of neurovascular coupling, and the number of activated channels in the bilateral hemisphere was used to calculate the lateralization index. RESULT: 1. For hemodynamic response induced by Hegu acupoint Tui Na, a dominant increase in the contralesional primary sensorimotor cortex during Hegu point Tui Na of the less affected arm in stroke patients was observed, as well as that in healthy controls, while this contralateral pattern was absent during Hegu point Tui Na of the affected arm in stroke patients. 2. Concerning the lateralization index in stroke patients, a significant difference was observed between lateralization index values for the affected arm and the less affected arm (P < 0.05). Wilcoxon tests showed a significant difference between lateralization index values for the affected arm in stroke patients and lateralization index values for the dominant upper limb in healthy controls (P < 0.05), and no significant difference between lateralization index values for the less affected arm in stroke patients and that in healthy controls (P = 0.36). CONCLUSION: The combination of Tui Na and fNIRS has the potential to reflect the functional status of sensorimotor neural circuits. The changes of neuroactivity in the sensorimotor cortex when Tui Na Hegu acupoint indicate that there is a certain correlation between acupoints in traditional Chinese medicine and neural circuits.

H-NMR-based metabolomics study on the effects of raw and processed radix Wikstroemia indica on endogenous metabolites in rat plasma.

Based on metabolomics, to study the mechanism of Radix Wikstroemia indica (RWI) "Sweat soaking method" processing detoxification. The raw drug group and processed products was given raw RWI and processed RWI respectively by gavage. The control group was given the same amount of 1% sodium carboxy methyl cellulose distilled water by gavage. After 7 days of continuous gavage, blood samples were collected. The blood samples of rats in each group were analyzed by 1H-NMR technology to explore the changes of endogenous metabolism and the possible metabolic pathways to rats before and after processing. Compared with the control group, the raw RWI could significantly reduce 16 metabolites and increase 10 metabolites. The processed RWI can increase the levels of most metabolites that decrease to the raw RWI, such as 13 metabolites such as alanine, L-glutamine, L-valine, L-serine, betaine and glutamic acid; At the same time, the metabolites that increased in the level of crude products were down-regulated, such as asparagine, lactic acid, 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, sucrose, glucose and D-glucose. Compared with raw products, RWI treated with "Sweat soaking method" can reversely regulate or reduce amino acid, choline metabolism, energy and carbohydrate metabolism, thereby reducing hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

A mannitol-modified emodin nano-drug restores the intestinal barrier function and alleviates inflammation in a mouse model of DSS-induced ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of the colon that is characterized by mucosal ulcers. Given its increasing prevalence worldwide, it is imperative to develop safe and effective drugs for treating UC. Emodin, a natural anthraquinone derivative present in various medicinal herbs, has demonstrated therapeutic effects against UC. However, low bioavailability due to poor water solubility limits its clinical applications. METHODS: Emodin-borate nanoparticles (EmB) were synthesized to improve drug solubility, and they modified with oligomeric mannitol into microgels (EmB-MO) for targeted delivery to intestinal macrophages that express mannose receptors. UC was induced in a mouse model using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), and different drug formulations were administered to the mice via drinking water. The levels of inflammation-related factors in the colon tissues and fecal matter were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intestinal permeability was evaluated using fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran. HE staining, in vivo imaging, real-time PCR, and western blotting were performed to assess intestinal barrier dysfunction. RESULTS: Both EmB and EmB-MO markedly alleviated the symptoms of UC, including body weight loss, stool inconsistency, and bloody stools and restored the levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, the therapeutic effects of EmB-MO on the macroscopic and immunological indices were stronger than those of EmB and similar to those of 5-aminosalicylic acid. Furthermore, EmB-MO selectively accumulated in the inflamed colon epithelium and restored the levels of the gut barrier proteins such as ZO-1 and Occludin. CONCLUSIONS: EmB-MO encapsulation significantly improved water solubility, which translated to greater therapeutic effects on the immune balance and gut barrier function in mice with DSS-induced UC. Our findings provide novel insights into developing emodin-derived drugs for the management of UC.

A randomized controlled study of a psycho-behavioral intervention combined with a non-benzodiazepine to improve perioperative sleep quality in patients undergoing knee arthroplasty.

Objective: To clarify the effectiveness and safety of psycho-behavioral intervention combined with a non-benzodiazepine to improve perioperative sleep quality in patients undergoing knee arthroplasty, and also to explore the optimal dosage of non-benzodiazepine (oral zolpidem tartrate) to form a standardized sleep quality management process to promote accelerated recovery of patients. Methods: 240 patients undergoing initial unilateral total knee arthroplasty between January and December 2016 were prospectively included and randomly divided into blank control group (group A), psycho-behavioral intervention group (group B), zolpidem tartrate 10 mg group (group C), and psycho-behavioral intervention + zolpidem tartrate 5 mg group (group D). Sleep, pain, psychological, and knee function scores were compared. Results: There were significant differences between the four groups with respect to Pittsburgh sleep quality index scores, sleep efficiency, Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores, inflammatory indices, pain, and enhanced recovery after surgery indices during hospitalization (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Psychological behavioral intervention combined with non-benzodiazepine can improve the perioperative quality of sleep. Compared with drug intervention alone, it reduces the dosage of non-benzodiazepine, alleviates anxiety, improves patient satisfaction, and enhances the quality of life.

Predictive factors and a novel nomogram for recurrence of primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma: Comprehensive analysis of 128 cases.

Since primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma (PRPLS) is rare in the clinic, related clinical studies are lacking. The present study was designed to investigate the predictive factors of short-term (≤1 year) recurrence (STR) and construct a novel nomogram of local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) for surgically resected PRPLS. A total of 128 PRPLS cases who underwent radical surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the interval from the operation to tumor recurrence, the predictors of STR were screened using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Cox proportional hazard regression models were applied to identify the predictors of LRFS. Furthermore, the independent predictors acquired from multivariate analyses were used to construct a nomogram. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age ≥55 years [odds ratio (OR)=5.607, P=0.010], operative time ≥260 min (OR=9.716, P=0.005) and tumor necrosis (OR=3.781, P=0.037) were independent risk factors of STR for PRPLS. In the Cox regression analysis, clinical symptoms [hazard ratio (HR)=1.746, P=0.017], resection method (OR=0.370, P=0.021) and de-differentiated histological subtype (HR=1.975, P=0.048) were identified as independent predictors of LRFS. Subsequently, the independent predictors acquired from multivariate analyses were used to construct a nomogram for LRFS. Age, operative time, tumor necrosis, clinical symptoms, resection method and histological subtype were related to recurrence for surgically resected PRPLS and a novel nomogram was constructed based on the above predictors.

N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine Reduces Cervical Carcinogenesis by Promoting Apoptosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women, and is one of the most common malignant tumors of the reproductive system. However, more effective treatment for cervical cancer is needed. In this study, we aim to investigate whether N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) could inhibit the proliferation of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive cells, and reduce cervical carcinogenesis. METHODS: The cervical cancer cell lines SiHa, HeLa, HPV-negative cell line C33A, and the immortalized human cervical keratinocyte cells S12 were used. The protein expression was determined using Western blot assay. mRNA expression was determined using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell proliferation was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using Annexin V-FITC apoptosis kits. The numbers of colonies were measured using colony-forming assay. Xenograft tumor necrosis and HPV16 E7 expression were determined using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Our results showed that NAC treatment at the concentration of 1.5 mM significantly promoted cell apoptosis and reduced cell growth by inhibiting HPV16 E7 expression. NAC inhibited HPV16-oncoprotein-induced hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α protein expression and Akt activation in vitro. Additionally, NAC suppressed tumor growth, as evidenced by the smaller tumor size in the xenograft mouse model and decreased HPV16 E7 expression in tumor tissues. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that NAC exhibits the potential to promote HPV-positive cell apoptosis, and suppress the proliferation of HPV-positive cells by inhibiting cell inhibitor of apoptosis protein 2 and HIF-1α.

Transcriptional and proteomic analysis.

Unintended effects of gene edit crops may pose safety issues. Omics is a useful tool for researchers to evaluate these unexpected effects. Transcriptome and proteomics analyses were performed for two gene editors, CRISPR-Cas9 and adenine base editor (ABE) gene edit rice, as well as corresponding wild-type plants (Nipponbare). Transcriptome revealed 520 and 566 rice differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the Cas9/Nip and ABE/Nip comparisons, respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis showed that most DEGs participated in metabolism of terpenoids and polyketones, plant-pathogen interactions, and plant signal transduction. It mainly belongs to environmental adaptation. Proteomics revealed 298 and 54 rice differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the Cas9/Nip and ABE/Nip comparisons, respectively. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that most DEPs participated in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolite and metabolic pathways.According to integrated transcriptomes and proteomics analysis, the results showed that no newly generated genes were identified as new transcripts of these differentially expressed genes, and gene edit tools had little effect on rice transcription levels and no new proteins were generated in the gene-edited rice.

Role of consolidative thoracic radiation in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer with first-line chemoimmunotherapy: a retrospective study from a single cancer center.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of consolidative thoracic radiation (TRT) in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) receiving first-line chemo-immunotherapy followed by immunotherapy maintenance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Outcomes of patients without disease progression after first-line chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed (January 2020 to December 2021). Based on TRT or not, patients were allocated to TRT group or non-TRT group. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and local-recurrence free survival (LRFS) were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. RESULTS: Of 100 patients, 47 received TRT and 53 non-TRT. The median follow-up was 20.3 months. The median PFS and OS in TRT were 9.1 months and 21.8 months, versus 8.8 months (p = 0.93) and 24.3 months (p = 0.63), respectively, in non-TRT. The median LRFS time in TRT was not reached, but significantly longer than 10.8 months in non-TRT (HR = 0.27, p < 0.01). Second-line chemotherapy significantly prolonged survival compared to that with chemo-free patients (mOS: 24.5 vs. 21.4 months, p = 0.026). The subgroup analysis showed a trend of patients with brain metastases benefit from TRT (21.8 versus 13.7 months, HR 0.61, p = 0.38) while liver metastases did not. Of 47 patients with TRT, only 10.6% of patients experienced grade 3 radiation-induced pneumonitis, while no grade 4 or 5 adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: Consolidative TRT in the period of immunotherapy maintenance followed first-line chemo-immunotherapy did not prolong OS and PFS but associated with improved LRFS in ES-SCLC.