The role of SLC39A4 in the prognosis, immune microenvironment, and contribution to malignant behavior in vivo and in vitro of cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) are becoming more common in younger women. Solute carrier family 39 member 4 (SLC39A4) produces a zinc ion transporter involved in metastasis and invasion of tumors. METHODS: The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA-seq data was used to investigate the expression of SLC39A4 and its prognostic potential. The assessment of the effect of SLC39A4 on cell growth and migration in CESC was conducted using MTT, colony formation, and Transwell assays. SLC39A4 was studied in vivo using a xenograft mouse model, and its functional involvement in oncogenesis was investigated by identifying the associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We evaluated the relationships among SLC39A4 levels, chemosensitivity, radiosensitivity and immune infiltration. RESULTS: SLC39A4 was upregulated in CESC samples, and individuals with greater SLC39A4 mRNA expression had shorter overall survival. SLC39A4 has been identified to be a regulator of tumor cell metastasis and proliferation in vivo and in vitro, with an area under the curve of 0.874 for diagnosing CESC. In total, 948 DEGs were discovered to be enriched in key CESC progression-related signaling pathways. Additionally, intratumoral immune checkpoint and infiltration activity were associated with SLC39A4 expression. High SLC39A4 expression exhibited poor chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity profiles. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, SLC39A4 is a key regulator of CESC development, prognosis, and the composition of the tumor immune microenvironment. SLC39A4 could be used as a prognostic or diagnostic screening tool and as a potential target for CESC treatment.

S100A10 Overexpression Correlates with Adverse Prognosis, Tumor Microenvironment, and Aggressive Behavior In Vitro and In Vivo of Cervical Cancer.

Background: The incidence of cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) is increasing in women. S100A10 overexpression is commonly reported in various malignancies and is closely associated with tumor cell characteristics and prognosis. Methods: The expression of S100A10 and its prognostic relevance were assessed utilizing RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. S100A10 regulation of CESC cell growth and migration was investigated using CCK-8, colony-forming, and Transwell-based approaches. Xenograft model mice were used to examine the in vivo effects of S100A10, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) linked to S100A10 were identified to explore its functional role in oncogenesis. Associations between S100A10 levels, chemosensitivity, and the immune microenvironment were assessed, and the mutational and methylation status of S100A10 was evaluated using the cBioPortal and MethSurv databases, respectively. Results: S100A10 was upregulated in CESC samples, and higher S100A10 mRNA levels were associated in poor prognostic outcomes. The area under the curve for S100A10 when diagnosing CESC was 0.935, and S100A10 was found to regulate tumor cell proliferation and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, 1125 DEGs enriched in crucial CESC progression-associated signaling pathways were identified. S100A10 expression was also associated with the intratumoral immune microenvironment and immune checkpoint activity. Patients expressing elevated S100A10 levels exhibited distinct chemotherapeutic susceptibility, and methylation of the S100A10 gene was correlated with patient survival outcomes. Conclusion: In summary, this research demonstrated that S100A10 plays a crucial role in regulating CESC development, prognosis, and the intratumoral immune microenvironment. Thus, S100A10 shows potential as a prognostic or diagnostic tool and as a potential target for CESC immunotherapy.

Proliferation Inhibitory Activity of Quinones from Blaps rynchopetera Defense Secretion on Colorectal Tumor Cells.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the proliferation inhibitory effect of quinones from Blaps rynchopetera defense secretion on colorectal tumor cell lines. METHODS: Human colorectal cancer cell HT-29, human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell Caco-2 and normal human colon epithelial cell CCD841 were chosen for the evaluation of inhibitory activity of the main quinones of B. rynchopetera defense secretion, including methyl p-benzoquinone (MBQ), ethyl p-benzoquinone (EBQ), and methyl hydroquinone (MHQ), through methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. The tumor-related factors, cell cycles, related gene expressions and protein levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assy, flow cytometry, RT-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: MBQ, EBQ, and MHQ could significantly inhibit the proliferation of Caco-2, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 7.04 ± 0.88, 10.92 ± 0.32, 9.35 ± 0.83, HT-29, with IC50 values of 14.90 ± 2.71, 20.50 ± 6.37, 13.90 ± 1.30, and CCD841, with IC50 values of 11.40 ± 0.68, 7.02 ± 0.44 and 7.83 ± 0.05 µg/mL, respectively. Tested quinones can reduce the expression of tumor-related factors tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-6 in HT-29 cells, selectively promote apoptosis, and regulate the cell cycle which can reduce the proportion of cells in the G1 phase and increase the proportion of the S phase. Meanwhile, tested quinones could up-regulate mRNA and protein expression of GSK-3ß and APC, while down-regulate that of ß-catenin, Frizzled1, c-Myc, and CyclinD1 in the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway of HT-29 cells. CONCLUSION: Quinones from B. rynchopetera defense secretion could inhibit the proliferation of colorectal tumor cells and reduce the expression of related factors, which would be functioned by regulating cell cycle, selectively promoting apoptosis, and affecting Wnt/ß-catenin pathway-related mRNA and protein expressions.

A Novel Robotic Bronchoscopic Surgical System / 中国医疗器械杂志

Transbronchil biopsy has the characteristic of less trauma and quick recovery compared to percutaneous aspiration biopsy. In order to automate this procedure, it requires the development of a robotic surgical system that combines electromagnetic navigation and flexible endoscope. The robotic surgical system introduced herein consists of flexible endoscope, remote-control handle, electromagnetic navigation and dexterous manipulators. The robotic system supports lung bronchial model segmentation and reconstruction, automatic bronchial path planning, real-time navigation and visual biopsy. In the control of the endoscopic catheter, an elasticity compensation algorithm was proposed to improve the location accuracy of the catheter and operational efficiency. Clinical trials proved that the robotic system had high positioning accuracy, was intuitive to operate, and could improve the biopsy efficiency, shorten the learning time, reduce the burden of surgical operations, and lower radiation exposure and infection rate.

A Novel Single-arm Single-port Micro-traumatic Laparoscopic Robotic Surgical System / 中国医疗器械杂志

As the robotic assisted single port surgery arousing attention, a novel single-arm single-port micro-traumatic laparoscopic robotic surgical system is proposed in this study. From the perspective of the mechanics, joints with high rigidity and high reliability were utilized to realize the remote center of motion (RCM). Besides, the cost of consumables was reduced by adding the support of the rigid endoscope. From the perspective of the algorithm, high-precision motion control method and feedback force protection mechanism were implemented. The effectiveness of the aforementioned characteristics were verified by five clinical experiments of cholecystectomy. The results showed that the system is able to reduce the amount of bleeding, accelerate the patient recovery, reduce the infection risk and shorten the learning period. The robotic surgical system had significant clinical application value.

Testicular exosomes disturb the immunosuppressive phenotype of testicular macrophages mediated by miR-155-5p in uropathogenic Escherichia coli-induced orchitis / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Male reproductive infections are known to shape the immunological homeostasis of the testes, leading to male infertility. However, the specific pathogenesis of these changes remains poorly understood. Exosomes released in the inflammatory microenvironment are important in communication between the local microenvironment and recipient cells. Here, we aim to identify the immunomodulatory properties of inflammatory testes-derived exosomes (IT-exos) and explore their underlying mechanisms in orchitis. IT-exos were isolated using a uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)-induced orchitis model and confirmed that IT-exos promoted proinflammatory M1 activation with increasing expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in vitro. We further used small RNA sequencing to identify the differential miRNA profiles in exosomes and primary testicular macrophages (TMs) from normal and UPEC-infected testes, respectively, and identified that miR-155-5p was highly enriched in IT-exos and TMs from inflammatory testes. Further study of bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) transfected with miR-155-5p mimic showed that macrophages polarized to proinflammatory phenotype. In addition, the mice that were administrated IT-exos showed remarkable activation of TM1-like macrophages; however, IT-exos with silencing miR-155-5p showed a decrease in proinflammatory responses. Overall, we demonstrate that miR-155-5p delivered by IT-exos plays an important role in the activation of TM1 in UPEC-induced orchitis. Our study provides a new perspective on the immunological mechanisms underlying inflammation-related male infertility.

Proliferation Inhibitory Activity of Quinones from Blaps rynchopetera Defense Secretion on Colorectal Tumor Cells / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the proliferation inhibitory effect of quinones from Blaps rynchopetera defense secretion on colorectal tumor cell lines.@*METHODS@#Human colorectal cancer cell HT-29, human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell Caco-2 and normal human colon epithelial cell CCD841 were chosen for the evaluation of inhibitory activity of the main quinones of B. rynchopetera defense secretion, including methyl p-benzoquinone (MBQ), ethyl p-benzoquinone (EBQ), and methyl hydroquinone (MHQ), through methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. The tumor-related factors, cell cycles, related gene expressions and protein levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assy, flow cytometry, RT-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively.@*RESULTS@#MBQ, EBQ, and MHQ could significantly inhibit the proliferation of Caco-2, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 7.04 ± 0.88, 10.92 ± 0.32, 9.35 ± 0.83, HT-29, with IC50 values of 14.90 ± 2.71, 20.50 ± 6.37, 13.90 ± 1.30, and CCD841, with IC50 values of 11.40 ± 0.68, 7.02 ± 0.44 and 7.83 ± 0.05 µg/mL, respectively. Tested quinones can reduce the expression of tumor-related factors tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-6 in HT-29 cells, selectively promote apoptosis, and regulate the cell cycle which can reduce the proportion of cells in the G1 phase and increase the proportion of the S phase. Meanwhile, tested quinones could up-regulate mRNA and protein expression of GSK-3β and APC, while down-regulate that of β-catenin, Frizzled1, c-Myc, and CyclinD1 in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway of HT-29 cells.@*CONCLUSION@#Quinones from B. rynchopetera defense secretion could inhibit the proliferation of colorectal tumor cells and reduce the expression of related factors, which would be functioned by regulating cell cycle, selectively promoting apoptosis, and affecting Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related mRNA and protein expressions.

Phase Difference of Traditional Chinese Medicine Compound Decoction： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Decoction is a traditional clinical way of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） compound. A series of complex physical and chemical changes are often involved in the process of decoction， which presents a mixed-phase system. In most studies on the TCM compound decoction， it has always focused on the amounts of chemical substances in decoction， while the phase properties and existence forms of these components are neglected. Most of the chemical components exist in the mixed-phase system as molecules， ions or other particles. According to the particle size of the contained particles， the differences among the phases， including true solution phase， colloidal phase， suspended phase and precipitated phase， lead to their differences in pharmaceutical and biological effects. Based on the above research background， this paper takes the phase state differences of decoction as the breakthrough point， and systematically reviews the physicochemical properties， the physical structures of the active components and the biological effects of the decoction caused by the phase state differences. The phase state differences of TCM compound decoction have been found to be closely related to their efficacy， which might be a good perspective to investigate the possible mechanism. It might provide a beneficial reference for the exploration of related basic research on TCM compounds.

Experimental Study on Respiratory Mechanical Parameters of the Patient with Aute Respiratory Distress Syndrome under High Flow Nasal Cannula / 医用生物力学

Objective T o analyze the influence of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) on trespiratory mechanical parameters of the patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) based on ventilation experiment, and investigate the therapeutic and side effects of the HFNC. Methods The HFNC ventilation system model based on MATLAB and the physical experiment platform based on active simulated lung ASL5000 were developed to simulate the respiratory movement of ARDS patients with different lung compliance, and a series of the HFNC ventilation experiments were carried out. Both experimental results in MATLAB and physical platform were compared and analyzed. Results The results from the Matlab model-based simulation experiment and physical platform based-physical experiment uniformly showed that increasing the output flow of HFNC would decrease the relevant respiratory mechanical parameters of respiratory flow and tidal volume, but increase the intrapulmonary pressure and the functional residual capacity (FRC). Under the condition of small flow, the output flow from HFNC might be smaller than the inspiratory flow required by the patient, and an inspiratory compensation flow was necessary to make up for the inspiratory flow. Conclusions The necessary reliable compensation flow in inspiration will promote the security of HFNC. Understanding the changes in respiratory mechanical parameters of ARDS patient will be beneficial to pre-evaluate the HFNC, improve the ventilation effect and reduce the ventilation risks.

Quantitative analysis of active ingredient content of Rhodiola rosea at different harvest months / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To establish a method for quantitative analysis of the active ingredients including salidroside, rosarin and rosavin and content determination in Rhodiola rosea at different harvest months. Methods:HPLC was used on an X selectHSS T3 (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) column with mobile phase consisting of methol-acetonitrile-phosphoric acid (0.05%) aqueous solution for gradient elution at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The wavelength was detected at 275 nm (salidroside) and 254 nm (rosarin, rosavin). The column temperature was set at 30 ℃ and the injection volume was 5 μl.Results:The peak areas of Salidroside, rosarin and rosavin showed good linear relationships ( r > 0.999) with the content in the ranges of 44-1 420, 10-307 and 18-573 μg, respectively. The method was precise, stable, repeatable and the sample recovery test all well satisfied the requirements of quantitative analysis. The highest accumulation of the active ingredients was observed in Rhodiola rosea in September and the content of salidroside, rosarin and rosavin were 0.66, 0.07 and 0.53 mg/g, respectively. Conclusion:This method is simple and rapid to evaluate the content of active ingredients in Rhodiola rosea.

Thymosin alpha-1 therapy improves postoperative survival after curative resection for solitary hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score matching analysis.

ABSTRACT: Thymosin alpha-1 (Tα1) is an immunomodulatory and antiviral agent with potential effects on chronic hepatitis B and liver cancer. Its impact on solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial, so we aimed to investigate the efficacy of Tα1 in solitary HBV-related HCC patients after curative resection.Between May 2010 and April 2016, 468 patients with solitary HBV-related HCC after curative resection were analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to minimize confounding variables. Risk factors were identified by the Cox proportional hazards model. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates, overall survival (OS) rates, immunological, and virologic response were compared.The median follow up was 60.0 months. Immunological response improved in the Tα1 group compared with the control group (P < .001) but the virologic response was similar between 2 groups after 24 months. Patients with Tα1 therapy had better RFS and OS before (P = .018 and P < .001) and after (P = .006 and P < .001) propensity matching. Multivariate analysis revealed that Tα1 therapy was an independent prognostic factor for both OS (P < .001, HR = 0.308, 95% CI: 0.175-0.541) and RFS (P < .001, HR = 0.381, 95% CI: 0.229-0.633).Tα1 as an adjuvant therapy improves the prognosis of solitary HBV-related HCC patients after curative liver resection.

Clinical efficacy of liraglutide combined with metformin in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus / 中华全科医师杂志

One hundred and twenty four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) admitted to the Department of Endocrinology of Chuzhou First People's Hospital from April to October 2019 whose blood glucose levels were not controlled after treatment with metformin (2.0 g/d) for more than 3 months were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly divided into oral drug group and liraglutide group with 62 cases in each group. On the basis of metformin, the oral drug group was treated with acarbose (300 mg/d); the liraglutide group was treated with liraglutide (1.2 mg/d). The course of treatment was 3 months. The body weight, fasting blood glucose (FPG), 2-h postprandial blood glucose (2 hPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels were compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and the gastrointestinal symptoms and the incidence of hypoglycemia were analyzed. After 3-month treatment the body weight, FPG, 2 hPG, HbA1c of the two groups were lower than the baseline levels ( P<0.05). Compared with the oral group, the body weight, FPG, 2 hPG, HbA1c and TG in liraglutide group were more markedly decreased ( P<0.05). The gastrointestinal reaction of liraglutide group was significantly higher than that of the oral drug group, and there was no hypoglycemia in both groups. The data indicate that liraglutide combined with metformin can significantly improve the blood glucose, blood lipid and body weight of T2DM patients and no hypoglycemia occurs during the treatment.

Analysis of epidemic characteristics of outbreak of infectious diseases reported in schools of Shanghai， 2014‒2019 / 上海预防医学

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of outbreak of infectious diseases reported in schools in Shanghai from 2014 to 2019， and to suggest related strategies for efficient response to public health emergencies. Methods:Descriptive epidemiology method was used to analyze the outbreak of infectious diseases reported in schools in Shanghai from 2014 to 2019. Results:A total of 82 infectious disease emergencies were reported in schools in Shanghai during 2014 and 2019， involving 1 760 disease cases and 2 deaths. The incidence peaks in each year were from March to June and from September to December. The events mainly occurred in kindergartens and primary schools， with 35 and 25 incidences respectively. The main types of events were hand-foot-and-mouth disease and chickenpox， accounting for 48.78% and 46.34% of public health emergencies of infectious diseases in school， respectively. The time it took to report the events was positively correlated to the duration and the scale of the events. The sooner the epidemic was reported， the shorter it lasted． Conclusion:The kindergartens and primary schools are the places with a high incidence of infectious diseases reported in schools. Measures such as regular surveillance， vaccination management， early reporting and effective handling should be executed at the early stage so as to prevent the spread of the epidemics.

Spatio-temporal clustering of varicella in Shanghai from 2006 to 2015 / 上海预防医学

Objective:Using a spatio-temporal clustering analysis of varicella in Shanghai from 2006 to 2015 at a subdistrict level， we aim to provide decision support for formulating a reasonable varicella prevention strategy. Methods:Based on the data of varicella cases in Shanghai from 2006 to 2015， SaTScan was employed to detect and analyze the spatial pattern of varicella clusters. Moreover， field investigation was combined to infer and explain the risk factors of varicella clusters. Results:The spread of varicella in Shanghai from 2006 to 2015 had an obvious annual change and spatial differentiation at a subdistrict level. The findings of SaTScan showed that with a confidence level of 99.9%， there were totally 7 spatio-temporal clustering events in Shanghai from 2006 to 2015， in which 3 events were regional events and 4 were independent events. Independent events usually lasted for 2-4 years， while regional events in the "Jiading-Chongming district" and "Songjiang-Minhang district" areas had a longer duration and a larger impact. Conclusions:From 2006 to 2015， there is an obvious temporal and spatial clustering pattern of varicella in Shanghai. Majority of abnormal spatio-temporal clusters occur in rural areas rather than urban areas， which may be related to increasing floating population and migration of susceptible population caused by the implementation of large-scale construction projects.

Selective Ferroptosis Inhibitor Liproxstatin-1 Attenuates Neurological Deficits and Neuroinflammation After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / 神经科学通报·英文版

Ferroptosis is a form of iron-dependent regulated cell death. Evidence of its existence and the effects of its inhibitors on subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is still lacking. In the present study, we found that liproxstatin-1 protected HT22 cells against hemin-induced injury by protecting mitochondrial functions and ameliorating lipid peroxidation. In in vivo experiments, we demonstrated the presence of characteristic shrunken mitochondria in ipsilateral cortical neurons after SAH. Moreover, liproxstatin-1 attenuated the neurological deficits and brain edema, reduced neuronal cell death, and restored the redox equilibrium after SAH. The inhibition of ferroptosis by liproxstatin-1 was associated with the preservation of glutathione peroxidase 4 and the downregulation of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 as well as cyclooxygenase 2. In addition, liproxstatin-1 decreased the activation of microglia and the release of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. These data enhance our understanding of cell death after SAH and shed light on future preclinical studies.

Teaching practice of EEG and EMG recording based on flipped classroom / 中华医学教育探索杂志

EEG and EMG, as important classical techniques in electrophysiology, play a special role in both basic scientific research and clinical application. Based on the mature application of EEG and EMG recording technology of the school, the authors have carried out an experimental course for postgraduate students on the topic of "practice of EEG/EMG recording based on flipped classroom". And this teaching method has been introduced from three aspects of experiments design, implementation significance and practical reflection, aiming at cultivating active knowledge-seeking practice and rigorous scientific thinking of students, and improving the comprehensive teaching quality of teachers. At the same time, the experience reflection can provide beneficial reference for other courses to implement the teaching model of "technology+flipped classroom".

Self-reported taste and smell disorders in patients with COVID-19: distinct features in China

ObjectivesWe aimed to explore the frequencies of nasal symptoms in patients with COVID-19, including loss of smell and taste, as well as their presentation as the first symptom of the disease and their association with the severity of COVID-19. MethodsIn this retrospective study, 1,206 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients were included and followed-up by telephone call one month after discharged from Tongji Hospital, Wuhan. Demographic data, laboratory values, comorbidities, symptoms, and numerical rating scale scores (0-10) of nasal symptoms were extracted from the hospital medical records, and confirmed or reevaluated by the telephone follow-up. ResultsFrom COVID-19 patients (N = 1,172) completing follow-up, 199 (17%) subjects had severe COVID-19 and 342 (29.2%) reported nasal symptoms. The most common nasal symptom was loss of taste (20.6%, median score = 6), while 11.4% had loss of smell (median score = 5). The incidence of nasal symptom including loss of smell and loss of taste as the first onset symptom was <1% in COVID-19 patients. Loss of smell or taste scores showed no correlation with the scores of other nasal symptoms. Loss of taste scores, but not loss of smell scores, were significantly increased in severe vs. non-severe COVID-19 patients. Interleukin (IL)-6 and lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) serum levels positively correlated with loss of taste scores. About 80% of COVID-19 patients recovered from smell and taste dysfunction in 2 weeks. ConclusionIn the Wuhan COVID-19 cohort, only 1 out of 10 hospital admitted patients had loss of smell while 1 out 5 reported loss of taste which was associated to severity of COVID-19. Most patients recovered smell and taste dysfunctions in 2 weeks.

Effectiveness evaluation of health belief model-based health education intervention for patients with hypertension in community settings / 中华预防医学杂志

To evaluate the effectiveness of health belief model-based health education intervention in improving blood pressure control of patients with hypertension in community settings. From September 2016 to September 2017, 400 newly diagnosed patients with hypertension were recruited from 6 community healthcare centers with comparable population size and health services in the Shunyi District of Beijing. All community healthcare centers were randomly assigned to the intervention group (206 patients) and the control group (194 patients). Patients in the intervention group received 3 lectures (20-30 min for each) of health belief model-based health education. Patients in the control group received usual care. The basic characteristics, health beliefs, and health literacy were collected, and blood pressure was measured before and after the intervention, respectively. The difference-in-difference model was used to analyze the change of blood pressure and the influencing factors between two groups before and after the intervention. A total of 134 patients in the intervention group and 129 patients in the control group completed the study. After adjusting for the age, gender, family income, medical insurance, chronic diseases and family history, the score of perceived barriers was increased by 1.65 (0.016), and perceived seriousness was decreased by 0.73 (0.018). The systolic blood pressure of patients was decreased by 7.37 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa, 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure was decreased by 4.07 mmHg (0.014), respectively. The β (95) values were -7.37 (-11.88,-2.86) and -4.07 (-7.30, -0.84). The perceived susceptibility and self-efficacy had a significant influence on the blood pressure of patients (0.05). Health belief model-based health education intervention could significantly improve the blood pressure control of patients with hypertension in the community settings.

Preparation，optimization and antibacterial activity of luteolin nanostructured lipid carriers / 中国药科大学学报

@#To prepare and optimize luteolin nanostructured lipid carriers (Lut-NLCs) and investigate their antibacterial activity in vitro. Lut-NLCs were prepared by hot melt emulsification-ultrasonic method. The solid lipid concentration (X1),liquid lipid concentration (X2) and surfactant concentration (X3) were used as independent variables,with the average particle size (Y1) and the encapsulation efficiency (Y2) as the dependent variables. The optimal formulation of Lut-NLCs was obtained through Box-Behnken experiment design. The microstructure of Lut-NLCs was observed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The in vitro release characteristics of Lut-NLCs were investigated. Furthermore, the in vitro antibacterial activities of luteolin and Lut-NLCs were compared. The formulation composition of Lut-NLCs was optimized as follows:the concentration of the solid lipid, liquid lipid and surfactant were 13.0 mg/mL,15.0 mg/mL,and 15.0 mg/mL,respectively. Three batches of Lut-NLCs were prepared with an average particle size of (210.4±17.3) nm,and an encapsulation efficiency of (88.4±1.2)%. Lut-NLCs were observed to be spheroidal,with a smooth surface and a uniform particle size distribution by TEM. The drug release profiles of Lut-NLCs showed a bursting release in the early stage and a slow and stable release in the later stage. Moreover, the cumulative release amount of drug reached 95% in 12 hours. The results of antibacterial circle experiment showed that the antibacterial effect of Lut-NLCs on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was higher than that of luteolin raw materials. In this study,the formulation of Lut-NLCs prepared by simple preparation process is reasonable,and Lut-NLCs also exhibited the significant in vitro antibacterial activity. It is expected to be an effective way for external application of luteolin.

Extract of Naotaifang, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, protects neuron ferroptosis induced by acute cerebral ischemia in rats / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Our previous research showed that Naotaifang (a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine) extract (NTE) has clinically beneficial effects on neurological improvement of patients with acute cerebral ischemia. In this study, we investigated whether NTE protected acute brain injury in rats and whether its effects on ferroptosis could be linked to the dysfunction of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and iron metabolism.@*METHODS@#We established an acute brain injury model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats, in which we could observe the accumulation of iron in neurons, as detected by Perl's staining. Using assay kits, we measured expression levels of ferroptosis biomarkers, such as iron, glutathione (GSH), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malonaldehyde (MDA); further the expression levels of transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1), divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and GPX4 were determined using immunohistochemical analysis, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assays.@*RESULTS@#We found that treatment with NTE reduced the expression levels of TFR1 and DMT1, reduced ROS, MDA and iron accumulation and reduced neurobehavioral scores, relative to untreated MCAO rats. Treatment with NTE increased the expression levels of SLC7A11, GPX4 and GSH, and the number of Nissl bodies in the MCAO rats.@*CONCLUSION@#Taken together, our data suggest that acute cerebral ischemia induces neuronal ferroptosis and the effects of treating MCAO rats with NTE involved inhibition of ferroptosis through the TFR1/DMT1 and SCL7A11/GPX4 pathways.