Clinical practice and research advances in artificial liver support therapy / 临床肝胆病杂志

Artificial liver support system is one of the important therapies for liver failure， and in recent years， the role of non-bioartificial liver support system in the treatment of liver failure has been gradually recognized， with wide application in non-liver failure diseases. In clinical practice， various factors should be considered to reasonably select the timing and mode of non-bioartificial liver support therapy， and standardized， individualized， and precise treatment and optimal combination of different modes are the trend of the clinical application of artificial liver support therapy. There have been constant improvements in the key techniques of bioartificial liver support system such as seed cell source and bioreactor， and some of them have entered the stage of clinical trial. Although remarkable progress has been made in the clinical practice and research of artificial liver support therapy， there are still many challenges， and it is urgently needed to solve the problems of how to further improve its efficacy and safety through technological innovation and combination optimization and how to obtain higher-level evidence-based medical evidence through high-quality clinical trials.

Evaluation of the measles surveillance system performance in Jiading District， Shanghai from 2020 to 2022 / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo evaluate the measles surveillance system （MSS） in Jiading District， Shanghai from 2020 to 2022， and to provide evidence for the elimination of measles. MethodsDescriptive methods were used to analyze the MSS data and confirmed measles cases from 2020 to 2022 and to evaluate MSS performance indicators. ResultsA total of 120 suspected cases were reported through the MSS from 2020 to 2022， of which 12 were classified as measles， 9 as rubella， and 99 as non-measles /rubella. The incidence of reported non-measles /rubella was 1.44 per 100 000 population in 2020， 2.01 per 100 000 population in 2021， and 1.99 per 100 000 population in 2022. The rates of complete investigation within 48 hours， blood samples and etiology collection， timely delivery， and timely reporting were all 100%. Among the 12 confirmed measles cases from 2020 to 2022， seven routine immunization subjects completed the required doses of measles vaccines， while two out five adult cases had a history of measles vaccine-related immunization. The confirmed cases comprised six with fever accompanied by rash， five with rash alone， and one with fever alone. ConclusionThe MSS results in Jiading District， Shanghai are overall satisfactory. However， there is a need to improve sensitivity， especially in detecting and reporting cases with atypical symptoms. It is imperative to maintain high vaccination coverage for age-appropriate children， promote supplementary immunization activities， and elevate the overall immunity of the entire population.

Effects of traditional Chinese medicine on treatment outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients: a single-centre study / 中国天然药物

As the search for effective treatments for COVID-19 continues, the high mortality rate among critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) presents a profound challenge. This study explores the potential benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a supplementary treatment for severe COVID-19. A total of 110 critically ill COVID-19 patients at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Vulcan Hill Hospital between Feb., 2020, and April, 2020 (Wuhan, China) participated in this observational study. All patients received standard supportive care protocols, with a subset of 81 also receiving TCM as an adjunct treatment. Clinical characteristics during the treatment period and the clinical outcome of each patient were closely monitored and analysed. Our findings indicated that the TCM group exhibited a significantly lower mortality rate compared with the non-TCM group (16 of 81 vs 24 of 29; 0.3 vs 2.3 person/month). In the adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, TCM treatment was associated with improved survival odds (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the analysis also revealed that TCM treatment could partially mitigate inflammatory responses, as evidenced by the reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and contribute to the recovery of multiple organic functions, thereby potentially increasing the survival rate of critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Advances in mesenchymal stem cells therapy for tendinopathies / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Tendinopathies are chronic diseases of an unknown etiology and associated with inflammation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a viable therapeutic option to combat the pathological progression of tendinopathies, not only because of their potential for multidirectional differentiation and self-renewal, but also their excellent immunomodulatory properties. The immunomodulatory effects of MSCs are increasingly being recognized as playing a crucial role in the treatment of tendinopathies, with MSCs being pivotal in regulating the inflammatory microenvironment by modulating the immune response, ultimately contributing to improved tissue repair. This review will discuss the current knowledge regarding the application of MSCs in tendinopathy treatments through the modulation of the immune response.

An examination of the carbon metabolic pathways in Acinetobacter sp. TAC-1 in the context of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) utilization / 生物工程学报

The present study aimed to unravel the carbon metabolism pathway of Acinetobacter sp. TAC-1, a heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) strain that utilizes poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) as a carbon source. Sodium acetate was employed as a control to assess the gene expression of carbon metabolic pathways in the TAC-1 strain. The results of genome sequencing demonstrated that the TAC-1 strain possessed various genes encoding carbon metabolic enzymes, such as gltA, icd, sucAB, acs, and pckA. KEGG pathway database analysis further verified the presence of carbon metabolism pathways, including the glycolytic pathway (EMP), pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), glyoxylate cycle (GAC), and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in the TAC-1 strain. The differential expression of metabolites derived from distinct carbon sources provided further evidence that the carbon metabolism pathway of TAC-1 utilizing PHBV follows the sequential process of PHBV (via the PPP pathway)→gluconate (via the EMP pathway)→acetyl-CoA (entering the TCA cycle)→CO2+H2O (generating electron donors and releasing energy). This study is expected to furnish a theoretical foundation for the advancement and implementation of novel denitrification processes based on HN-AD and solid carbon sources.

DJ1 Ameliorates AD-like Pathology in the Hippocampus of APP/PS1 Mice / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#To explore whether the protein Deglycase protein 1 (DJ1) can ameliorate Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like pathology in Amyloid Precursor Protein/Presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double transgenic mice and its possible mechanism to provide a theoretical basis for exploring the pathogenesis of AD.@*METHODS@#Adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) of DJ1-overexpression or DJ1-knockdown were injected into the hippocampus of 7-month-old APP/PS1 mice to construct models of overexpression or knockdown. Mice were divided into the AD model control group (MC), AAV vector control group (NC), DJ1-overexpression group (DJ1 +), and DJ1-knockdown group (DJ1 -). After 21 days, the Morris water maze test, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were used to evaluate the effects of DJ1 on mice.@*RESULTS@#DJ1 + overexpression decreased the latency and increased the number of platform traversals in the water maze test. DJ1 - cells were cured and atrophied, and the intercellular structure was relaxed; the number of age spots and the expression of AD-related proteins were significantly increased. DJ1 + increased the protein expression of Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), light chain 3 (LC3), phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK), and B cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), as well as the antioxidant levels of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), while decreasing the levels of Kelch-like hydrates-associated protein 1 (Keap1), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), p62/sequestosome1 (p62/SQSTM1), Caspase3, and malondialdehyde (MDA).@*CONCLUSION@#DJ1-overexpression can ameliorate learning, memory, and AD-like pathology in APP/PS1 mice, which may be related to the activation of the NRF2/HO-1 and AMPK/mTOR pathways by DJ1.

Effect of down-regulation of let-7c/g on triggering a double-negative feedback loop and promoting restenosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Excessive proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the main causes of restenosis (RS) in diabetic lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). However, the relevant pathogenic mechanisms are poorly understood.@*METHODS@#In this study, we introduced a "two-step injury protocol" rat RS model, which started with the induction of atherosclerosis (AS) and was followed by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry staining were used to verify the form of RS. Two-step transfection was performed, with the first transfection of Lin28a followed by a second transfection of let-7c and let-7g, to explore the possible mechanism by which Lin28a exerted effects. 5-ethynyl-2΄-deoxyuridine (EdU) and Transwell assay were performed to evaluate the ability of proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were performed to detect the expression of Lin28a protein and let-7 family members.@*RESULTS@#Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo experiments, we discovered that let-7c, let-7g, and microRNA98 (miR98) were downstream targets of Lin28a. More importantly, decreased expression of let-7c/let-7g increased Lin28a, leading to further inhibition of let-7c/let-7g. We also found an increased level of let-7d in the RS pathological condition, suggesting that it may function as a protective regulator of the Lin28a/let-7 loop by inhibiting the proliferation and migration of VSMCs.@*CONCLUSION@#These findings indicated the presence of a double-negative feedback loop consisting of Lin28a and let-7c/let-7g, which may be responsible for the vicious behavior of VSMCs in RS.

Effects of catgut embedding and PGLA embedding at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on skin mast cells, substance P and histamine in healthy rats / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of catgut embedding and polyglycolic acid/poly-lactic acid (PGLA) embedding at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on the activation of local skin mast cells (MC), and expression of substance P (SP) and histamine (HA), and to explore the mechanism of the temporal stimulation effect of acupoint catgut embedding and provide a foundation for further research on the initiation mechanism of acupoint catgut embedding.@*METHODS@#One hundred and sixty male SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group (10 rats), a sham-embedding group (50 rats), a catgut group (50 rats), and a PGLA group (50 rats). Each intervention group was further randomly divided into five subgroups according to the time points after intervention: 8 hours, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days, with 10 rats in each subgroup. One-time sham-embedding, catgut embedding and PGLA embedding was given at left "Zusanli" (ST 36) in each intervention group, respectively. The skin and subcutaneous connective tissue of the left "Zusanli" (ST 36) were collected at the corresponding time points after intervention, except for the blank group (only one day before intervention). Toluidine blue staining was used to detect MC count and degranulation, and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of SP and HA positive cells.@*RESULTS@#There was no significant difference in MC count between the subgroups of each intervention group and the blank group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in MC count between the subgroups of the catgut group and the PGLA group (P>0.05). The MC count in the 8-hour subgroup of PGLA group was higher than that in the 8-hour subgroup of catgut group (P<0.05), while the MC count in the 21-day subgroup of PGLA group was lower than that in the 21-day subgroup of catgut group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the degranulation rates of MC were increased in the 8-hour and 3-day subgroups of sham-embedding group, 8-hour, 3-day, and 7-day subgroups of catgut group, and 8-hour, 3-day, 7-day, and 14-day subgroups of PGLA group (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the degranulation rate of MC between the subgroups of the catgut group and the PGLA group (P>0.05), and no significant difference in the degranulation rate of MC between the two embedding groups at the same time point (P>0.05). Compared with the blank group, the expression of SP positive cells was increased in the 8-hour subgroup of sham-embedding group, 8-hour, 3-day, 7-day, and 14-day subgroups of catgut group, and 3-day, 7-day, and 14-day subgroups of PGLA group (P<0.001, P<0.05). The expression of SP positive cells in the 7-day subgroup of catgut group was higher than that in the 8-hour subgroup of catgut group (P<0.05), while the expression of SP positive cells in the 14-day subgroup of catgut group was lower than that in the 7-day subgroup of catgut group (P<0.001). The expression of SP positive cells in the 7-day subgroup of PGLA group was higher than that in the 3-day subgroup of PGLA group (P<0.05), while the expression of SP positive cells in the 14-day subgroup of PGLA group was lower than that in the 7-day subgroup of PGLA group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the expression of SP positive cells between the subgroups of the two embedding groups at the same time point (P>0.05). Compared with the blank group, the expression of HA positive cells was increased in the 8-hour, 3-day subgroups of sham-embedding group, 8-hour, 3-day, 7-day, and 14-day subgroups of catgut group, and 8-hour, 3-day, 7-day, 14-day, and 21-day subgroups of PGLA group (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05). The expression of HA positive cells in the 14-day subgroup of catgut group was lower than that in the 7-day subgroup of catgut group (P<0.05), while the expression of HA positive cells in the 3-day subgroup of PGLA group was higher than that in the 8-hour subgroup of PGLA group (P<0.05), and the expression of HA positive cells in the 14-day subgroup of PGLA group was lower than that in the 7-day subgroup of PGLA group (P<0.05). The expression of HA positive cells in the 3-day subgroup of PGLA group was higher than that in the 3-day subgroup of catgut group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Catgut and PGLA embedding at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in healthy rats could induce changes in local skin MC, SP, and HA, which may be one of the mechanisms of the temporal stimulation effect after acupoint embedding. There are certain differences between different suture materials. A moderate inflammatory response in the acupoint area, mediated by MC and involving SP and HA, may be one of the initiating factors for the effect of acupoint catgut embedding.

Effects of acupuncture on pulmonary function and airway smooth muscle spasm in asthma rats / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of acupuncture at "Kongzui" (LU 6) and "Yuji" (LU 10) on the latent period of inducing asthma, pulmonary function and the expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and metallothionein-2 (MT-2) in asthma rats, and to explore the possible mechanism of acupuncture in alleviating airway smooth muscle spasm and improving the acute attack of asthma.@*METHODS@#A total of 40 male SD rats of SPF-grade were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a medication group and an acupuncture group, 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, ovalbumin sensitization method was used to establish the asthma model in the other 3 groups. Salbutamol nebulization was adopted in the medication group, while acupuncture was applied at bilateral "Kongzui" (LU 6) and "Yuji" (LU 10) in the acupuncture group. The intervention was given once a day for 14 days in the two groups. The latent period of inducing asthma and pulmonary function were observed, the levels of ET-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by ELISA method, the morphology of the airway was observed by Masson staining, the ultrastructure of the airway smooth muscle was observed by transmission electron microscopy, the mRNA and protein expression of ET-1 and MT-2 in lung tissue was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot methods.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal group, in the model group, the latent period of inducing asthma was shortened (P<0.01); the airway resistance (RL) was increased while the dynamic compliance (Cdyn) was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); the levels of ET-1 and TNF-α in serum and BALF were increased (P<0.01); collagen fibers and collagen depositions were found around the bronchi, airway smooth muscle was thickened, the cell damage was severe and mitochondria were swollen; the mRNA and protein expression of ET-1 was increased while the mRNA and protein expression of MT-2 was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the acupuncture group, the latent period of inducing asthma was prolonged (P<0.05), the RL was decreased while the Cdyn was increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, in the medication group and the acupuncture group, the levels of ET-1 and TNF-α in serum and BALF were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); collagen fibers and collagen depositions around the bronchi were reduced, the thickened airway smooth muscle was lightened, the cell damage was improved; the mRNA and protein expression of ET-1 was decreased while the mRNA and protein expression of MT-2 was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the medication group, the mRNA expression of MT-2 was increased in the acupuncture group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture at "Kongzui" (LU 6) and "Yuji" (LU 10) can improve the pulmonary function and alleviate the airway smooth muscle spasm in rats with asthma. Its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of ET-1 expression and up-regulation of MT-2 expression.

Predictive value of isoform -2 proprostate-specific antigen and its derived indexes for prostate cancer patients with PSA 4-20 ng/mL / 现代泌尿外科杂志

【Objective】 To evaluate the predictive value of isoform [-2] proprostate-specific antigen, p2 PSA (p2PSA) and its derived indexes for prostate cancer in a Chinese cohort with PSA 4-20 ng/mL. 【Methods】 A total of 139 males scheduled for biopsy were enrolled in the prospective study from Nov.2021 to Jun.2022. The total PSA (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA), fPSA/tPSA (f/t) and p2PSA were collected, and the percentage of p2PSA(%p2PSA) and prostate health index(PHI) were calculated. The predictive value of p2PSA and its derived indexes were compared with traditional indexes with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Logistic analysis. 【Results】 Prostate cancer was found in 54 cases (38.8%). There were significant statistical differences in tPSA(10.68 vs.8.14, P=0.021), f/t(0.13 vs.0.16, P=0.006), p2PSA(30.25 vs.19.81, P<0.001), %p2PSA(21.52 vs.13.15, P<0.001) and PHI(64.3vs.38.2, P<0.001) between prostate cancer patients and non-prostate cancer patients. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of tPSA, fPSA, %fPSA, p2PSA, %p2PSA and PHI were 0.63, 0.51, 0.63, 0.71, 0.73, and 0.80, respectively. The inclusion of %p2PSA and PHI significantly increased the prediction efficiency of the basic prediction model (AUCbase+PHI=0.81, AUCbase+%p2PSA=0.78, AUCbase=0.67). With 35 as the recommended cut-off value of PHI, the incidence of meaningless puncture was reduced by 25.8%(36/139). 【Conclusion】 The application of p2PSA and its derived indexes have good predictive value for patients with PSA 4-20 ng/mL. The combined detection of %p2PSA and PHI can significantly increase the detection efficiency of prostate cancer and reduce the incidence of meaningless prostate puncture by 25.8%.

Association between dietary quality and bone mass among middle-aged and elderly people in Gansu Province / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 To evaluate the dietary quality with the dietary balance index (DBI_16) and the association between dietary quality and bone mass among middle-aged and elderly people in Gansu Province so as to provide evidence for improving dietary quality and bone health status of Gansu population. 【Methods】 Based on the information of the type and quantity of food intake and the bone mass of middle-aged and elderly people aged 35 years and above collected by the Gansu Project in the Regional Ethnic Cohort Study in Northwest China, DBI_16 was used to evaluate the intake level of cereals, vegetables, fruits, milk, beans, fish and shrimp, eggs and other foods, and the degree of inadequate, excessive and unbalanced dietary intake of the participants. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the associations of three component indexes of DBI_16, high bound score (DBI_HBS), low bound score (DBI_LBS), diet quality distance (DBI_DQD), and seven single indexes of DBI_16 with bone mass. 【Results】 Analyses of the dietary and bone mass data of 11,840 participants showed that 44.8% of participants consumed excessive amounts of cereals compared to the dietary recommendation. 96.3%, 90.6%, 90.1%, 71.9%, 95.1% and 60.3% of participants’ intake of vegetables, fruits, milk, soybeans, fish and shrimp, and eggs, respectively, were inadequate. 47.7% participants consumed less than 10 types of food. 2.3% participants’ DBI_LBS levels were appropriate. 54.7% participants’ DBI_HBS levels were appropriate. Only 1.2% participants’ DBI_DQD reached a balanced level. The bone mass level in the study population was (2.5±0.6) kg [(2.8±0.5) kg for men and (2.3±0.5) kg for women]. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, total dietary energy intake and body mass index, DBI_LBS and DBI_DQD were negatively associated with bone mass [β and 95% CI was -0.002 01 (-0.003 62--0.000 40) and -0.001 76 (-0.003 09--0.000 43), respectively]. 【Conclusion】 Dietary intake imbalance is common among middle-aged and elderly people in Gansu Province, and the more severe the dietary intake imbalance, the lower the bone mass level.

Prevalence, associated factors and patterns of multimorbidity of non-communicable diseases among adults in Shaanxi Province / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 To estimate the prevalence, associated factors and patterns of multimorbidity of non-communicable diseases among adults in Shaanxi Province so as to provide evidence for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. 【Methods】 We used the data of adults aged 18 years and older collected in the baseline survey of Shaanxi Project in the Regional Ethnic Cohort Study in Northwest China. Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the associated factors for multimorbidity. Exploratory factor analysis was used to extract patterns of multimorbidity. 【Results】 The prevalence of multimorbidity was 10.7% among the 44 442 participants. Age increase, being males, urban residence, and being overweight or obesity were positively associated with multimorbidity. Compared with women, men had a higher risk of multimorbidity. The OR and 95% CI was 1.25 (1.12-1.39). The risk of multimorbidity increased with age among adults. Compared with participants aged 18.0-34.9 years, the ORs and 95% CIs of those aged 35.0-44.9, 45.0-54.9, 55.0-64.9, and ≥65.0 years were 4.73 (3.47-6.46), 15.61 (11.60-21.00), 41.39 (30.76-55.70) and 90.04 (66.58-121.77), respectively. The primary multimorbidity patterns among adults in Shaanxi were cardiovascular-metabolic multimorbidity (5.4%), viscero-articular multimorbidity (1.0%), and respiratory multimorbidity (0.3%). 【Conclusion】 More than one in ten adults in Shaanxi Province had multimorbidity, and the predominant pattern of multimorbidity was cardiovascular-metabolic multimorbidity. The prevention and control of non-communicable diseases should be reinforced in middle-aged and older people, males, people living in the urban, and overweight or obese people. More attention should be paid to the prevention and control of cardiovascular-metabolic diseases.

Method establishment of component identification and content determination of 7 components in Mongolian medicine Ixeris chinensis / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To establish the methods to identify the chemical components of Ixeris chinensis， and determine the contents of 7 components （chlorogenic acid， luteolin， quercetin， rutin， protocatechuic acid， isochlorogenic acid A， luteoloside）. METHODS HPLC-Q-Exactive-MS was used to identify the chemical components of I. chinensis. The contents of 7 components in I. chinensis， including chlorogenic acid， were determined by HPLC-MS/MS. RESULTS A total of 45 components were identified in I. chinensis， including 20 organic acids， 13 flavonoids， 4 fatty acids， 4 amino acids， 3 nucleosides， and 1 coumarin. The linear range of chlorogenic acid， luteolin， quercetin， rutin， protocatechuic acid， isochlorogenic acid A and luteoloside were 503.00- 25 150.00， 42.00-2 100.00， 5.05-252.50， 20.05-1 002.50， 25.10-1 255.00， 750.00-37 500.00， 196.00-9 800.00 ng/mL （r≥0.999 2）， respectively. RSDs of precision， stability and reproducibility tests were all less than 3.00% （n＝6）， and average recovery ranged from 96.72% to 105.84% （all RSD＜4.00%， n＝6）. The contents of 7 components in 3 batches of I. chinensis were 1 145.77- 3 261.25， 23.75-97.90， 0.92-2.12， 1.06-23.18， 9.35-21.85， 833.25-1 045.58， 199.56-1 869.78 μg/g， respectively. CONCLUSIONS The established methods for identification and content determination are rapid and simple， and can be used for the identification of chemical components and the content determination of 7 components in I. chinensis.

Effect of estradiol regulating sortilin-related receptor A expression on hippocampal spine density and synaptic protein expression via estrogen receptor of mouse / 解剖学报

Objective To study the effect and mechanism of estradiol (E

Changes of Nogo-A expression in hippocampus and striatum of rats under low estrogen condition / 解剖学报

[Abstract] Objective To elucidate the important role of Nogo-A in climacteric neurodegeneration such as memory impairment by observing memory function and the expression of Nogo-A in hippocampus and striatum of rats under low estrogen condition. Methods Fouthy-five female SD rats were divided into sham operation group, ovariectomized group and ovariectomized estrogen treatment group with 15 rats in each group. Medication was given 2 weeks after ovariectomized. Estrogen treatment group was subcutaneously injected in groin with estrogen [25 μg/ (kg.d)] dissolved in sterile sesame oil. The sham operation group and the ovariectomized group were given the same amount of aseptic sesame oil. Samples were collected after 6 weeks of drug treatment. The difference of memory function of rats in three groups was observed by conditioned fear training experiment, and the expression of Nogo-A in hippocampus and striatum was observed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results Compared with the sham and estrogen treatment group, memory function in ovariectomized group decreased significantly and the number of Nogo-A positive neurons in hippocampus and striatum of ovariectomized rats was significantly higher than that of sham operation group (P 0. 05). The result of immunoblotting was consistent with the above-mentioned immunohistochemical result. Conclusion The increased expression of Nogo-A in hippocampus and striatum under low estrogen condition may be one of the key reasons for memory impairment in climacteric women.

Comparison of two child growth standards in assessing the nutritional status of children under 6 years of age / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To compare the application of China growth standard for children under 7 years of age (China standards) and World Health Organization child growth standards (WHO standards) in evaluating the prevalence of malnutrition in children aged 0-<6 years in China. Methods: The research data came from the national special program for science & technology basic resources investigation of China, named "2019-2021 survey and application of China's nutrition and health system for children aged 0-18 years". Multi-stage stratified random sampling was used to recruit 28 districts (regions) in 14 provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities across the country. Children (n=38 848) were physically measured and questionnaires were conducted in the guardians of the children. The indicators of stunting, underweight, wasting, overweight and obesity were evaluated by China standards and WHO standards respectively. Chi-square test was used to comparing the prevalence of each nutritional status between the two standards, as well as the comparison between the two standards by gender and age. Results: Among the 38 848 children, 19 650 were boys (50.6%) and 19 198 were girls (49.4%), 19 480 urban children (50.1%) and 19 368 rural children (49.9%). The stunting, underweight and wasting cases in the study population were 2 090 children (5.4%), 1 354 children (3.5%) and 1 276 children (3.3%) according to the China standards, and 1 474 children (3.8%), 701 children (1.8%) and 824 children (2.1%) according to the WHO standards, respectively; the above rates according to the China standards were slightly higher than those to the WHO standards (χ2=111.59, 213.14, and 99.99, all P<0.001). The overweight and obesity cases in the study population were 2 186 children (5.6%) and 1 153 children (3.0%) according to the China standards, and 2 210 children (5.7%) and 1 186 children (3.1%) according to the WHO standards, with no statistically significant differences (χ2=0.14 and 0.48, P=0.709 and 0.488, respectively). Compared to the results based on WHO standards, the China standards showed a lower prevalence of overweight and obesity in boys (χ2=14.95 and 5.85, P<0.001 and =0.016, respectively), and higher prevalence of overweight in girls (χ2=12.60, P<0.001); but there was no statistically significant differences in girls' obesity prevalence between the two standards (χ2=2.62, P=0.106). Conclusions: In general, the prevalence of malnutrition among children aged 0-<6 years based on China standards is slightly higher than that on WHO standards. To evaluate the nutritional status of children, it is advisable to select appropriate child growth standards based on work requirements, norms or research objectives.

Efficacy and Safety of Flumatinib in Treatment of Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the efficacy and safety of flumatinib in the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 56 CML patients treated with flumatinib from January 2020 to December 2021 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups: 35 new diagnosed CML patients treated with flumatinib (group A), 10 patients with imatinib/dasatinib intolerance (group B) and 11 patients with imatinib/dasatinib resistance (group C) switched to flumatinib treatment, respectively. The molecular response and adverse effects of flumatinib treatment were evaluated.@*RESULTS@#In group A, the early molecular response (EMR) at 3 months was 40.0%, and the major molecular response (MMR) at 6 and 12 months was 43.7% and 46.2%, respectively. In group B, the EMR was 50.0% at 3 months, and the MMR was 70.0% and 66.2% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Among evaluable patients, 6 cases in group B achieved molecular response of 4.5 (MR4.5) at 12 months after switching to flumatinib treatment. In group C, 3 cases who switched from imatinib resistance to flumatinib achieved MR4.5 at 12 months, but 2 cases who switched from dasatinib resistance to flumatinib failed. Subgroup analysis showed significant differences in EUTOS long-term survival (ELTS) scores for patients in the medium-risk/high-risk group compared with those in the low-risk group for 3-month EMR (18.8% vs 57.9%), 6-month MMR (15.4% vs 63.2%) and 12-month MR4.5 (15.4% vs 69.2%) (P =0.036, P =0.012,P =0.015). The most common adverse effect in group A was thrombocytopenia, accounting for 54.5%, and 22.8% (8/35) patients discontinued the drug due to haematological adverse effects. Compared with patients who did not discontinue the drug or whose recovery time from discontinuation due to haematological toxicity was <1 month, patients whose recovery time from discontinuation was ≥1 month had a significantly worse 3-month EMR, 6-month MMR and 12-month MR4.5 (P =0.028, P =0.021, P =0.002).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Flumatinib has better molecular response and tolerance in patients with primary, imatinib/dasatinib-intolerant or resistant CML. Medium-risk/high-risk in ELTS score and time to recovery from discontinuation due to haematological toxicity ≥1 month are important factors influencing achievement of better molecular response in flumatinib treatment.

Phenotype and genotype characteristics of children with cardiomyopathy associated with MYH7 gene mutation: a retrospective analysis / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the clinical phenotype and genotype characteristics of children withcardiomyopathy (CM) associated with MYH7 gene mutation.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical data of five children with CM caused by MYH7 gene mutation who were diagnosed and treated in the Department of Cardiology, Hebei Children's Hospital.@*RESULTS@#Among the five children with CM, there were three girls and two boys, all of whom carried MYH7 gene mutation. Seven mutation sites were identified, among which five were not reported before. Among the five children, there were three children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, one child with dilated cardiomyopathy, and one child with noncompaction cardiomyopathy. The age ranged from 6 to 156 months at the initial diagnosis. At the initial diagnosis, two children had the manifestations of heart failure such as cough, shortness of breath, poor feeding, and cyanosis of lips, as well as delayed development; one child had palpitation, blackness, and syncope; one child had fever, runny nose, and abnormal liver function; all five children had a reduction in activity endurance. All five children received pharmacotherapy for improving cardiac function and survived after follow-up for 7-24 months.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The age of onset varies in children with CM caused by MYH7 gene mutation, and most children lack specific clinical manifestations at the initial diagnosis and may have the phenotype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy or noncompaction cardiomyopathy. The children receiving early genetic diagnosis and pharmacological intervention result in a favorable short-term prognosis.

Effect mechanism of acupuncture for anti-asthmatic airway remodeling based on TGF-β1 / Smad3 signaling pathway / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) + "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) and "Kongzui" (LU 6) + "Yuji" (LU 10) for the airway remodeling in asthma rats based on the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/ Smad family member 3 (Smad3) signaling pathway; and explore the efficacy difference between the two acupoint combinations.@*METHODS@#Forty SPF male SD rats, aged 4 weeks, were randomly divided into a blank group (n = 10) and a modeling group (n = 30). The ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization method was used to establish asthma model in the modeling group. After successful model preparation, the rats of the modeling group were randomized into a model group, an acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) + "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) (AAF) group, and acupuncture at "Kongzui" (LU 6)+"Yuji" (LU 10) (AAK) group, with 10 rats in each one. Starting from day 15 of the experiment, 5 min after motivating, acupuncture was applied to "Feishu" (BL 13) + "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) and "Kongzui" (LU 6)+"Yuji" (LU 10) in the AAF group and the AAK group respectively. The intervention was delivered for 30 min each time, once daily, lasting 3 weeks consecutively. Using lung function detector, the airway resistance (RL) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) of the lungs were detected. The histomorphology of lung tissues was detected with HE staining and Masson staining, and the mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 in lung tissues was detected with the real-time PCR and Western blot methods.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the blank group, RL was increased and Cdyn was decreased in the rats of the model group (P<0.01); and RL was reduced and Cdyn was increased in the AAF group and the AAK group when compared with those in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The rats of the model group had bronchial lumen stenosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fibre hyperplasia and thickened smooth muscle in the lung tissues when compared with those in the blank group; and in comparison with the model group, all of the above morphological changes were attenuated in the AAF group and the AAK group. Besides, these morphological changes of the lung tissues were more alleviated in the AAF group when compared with those in the AAK group. In comparison with the blank group, the mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 of the lung tissues was increased in the model group (P<0.01), and it was reduced in the AAF group and the AAK group when compared with that in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 was lower in the AAF group when compared with that in the AAK group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture at either "Feishu" (BL 13)+"Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) or "Kongzui" (LU 6)+"Yuji" (LU 10) reduces the airway remodeling in the rats with asthma, which may be related to the down-regulation of mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3. The better efficacy is obtained with acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13)+"Dingchuan" (EX-B 1).

The traditional Chinese medicines treat chronic heart failure and their main bioactive constituents and mechanisms

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a severe public health problem with increasing morbidity and mortality, any treatment targeting a single session is insufficient to tackle this. CHF is characterized by reduced cardiac output resulting from neurohumoral dysregulation and cardiac remodeling, which might be related to oxidative stress, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis, autophagy, mitochondrial function, and angiogenesis. These molecular mechanisms interact with each other through crosstalk. Historically, Chinese medicinal herbs have been widely applied in the treatment of CHF, and therapeutic effects of Chinese medicinal herbs and their ingredients have been scientifically confirmed over the past decades. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with multiple components can confront the different pathogenesis of CHF through multiple targets. This review analyzes commonly used TCM patent drugs and TCM decoctions that are applicable to different stages of CHF based on clinical trials. Diverse bioactive ingredients in Chinese medicinal herbs have been found to treat CHF via multiple molecular mechanisms. This review comprehensively covers the key works on the effects and underlying mechanisms of TCM, herbal ingredients and synergistic effects of constituent compatibility in treating CHF, providing additional ideas to address this threat.