Clinical characteristics, survival analysis and influencing factors of distant metastasis in patients with acromelanomas: A retrospective study.

The prognosis of acromelanomas (AM) is worse. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical features of distant metastasis of AM and the factors affecting the survival and prognosis of patients. In this study, a retrospective study was conducted to select 154 AM patients admitted to Nanjing Pukou People's Hospital from January 2018 to April 2021 for clinical research. The clinical characteristics of distant metastasis were statistically analyzed, and the survival curve was drawn with 5-year follow-up outcomes. The median survival time of the patients was calculated, and the clinicopathological features and peripheral blood laboratory indexes of the surviving and dead patients were analyzed. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors affecting the prognosis of AM patients. In this study, 154 patients with AM were treated, including 88 males and 76 females, aged from 27 to 79 years old, with an average age of (59.3 ±â€…11.7) years old. Among them, 90 cases had distant metastasis. The main metastatic sites were lung (47.78%) and lymph nodes (42.22%). Among them, single site metastasis accounted for 41.11% and multiple site metastasis 58.89%. 89 cases survived and 65 cases died. The survival time was 22 months to 60 months, and the median survival time was 48.0 months. The Breslow thickness, stage at diagnosis, distant metastasis, site of metastasis and ulceration were compared between the survival group and the death group (P < .05). serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte monocyte ratio (LMR) were compared between the survival group and the death group (P < .05). The results of Logistic regression model showed that LDH ≥ 281 U/L, NLR ≥ 2.96, LMR ≤ 3.57, newly diagnosed stage > stage II, distant metastasis, multiple site metastasis and tumor ulcer were independent risk factors for poor prognosis of AM patients (P < .05). Patients with AM had a higher proportion of distant metastasis, mainly lung and lymph node metastasis. Increased LDH, increased NLR, decreased LMR, higher initial stage, distant metastasis, multiple site metastasis, and combined tumor ulcer were closely related to the poor prognosis of patients after surgery.

A Highly Sensitive and Selective Fluorescent Sensor for Folic Acid Detection Based on D-penicillamine Stabilized Ag/Cu Alloy Nanoclusters.

In this work, a highly sensitive and selective method for detecting folic acid (FA) was developed using D-penicillamine (DPA) stabilized Ag/Cu alloy nanoclusters (DPA@Ag/Cu NCs). The yellow emission of DPA@Ag/Cu NCs was found to be quenched upon the addition of FA to the system. The fluorescence intensity quenching value demonstrated a linear relationship with FA concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1200 µM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.3 nM. Furthermore, the detection mechanism was investigated through various characterization analyses, including high resolution transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence spectra, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra, and fluorescence lifetime. The results indicated that the fluorescence quenching induced by FA was a result of electron transfer from FA to the ligands of DPA@Ag/Cu NCs. The selectivity of the FA sensor was also evaluated, showing that common amino acids and inorganic ions had minimal impact on the detection of FA. Moreover, the standard addition method was successfully applied to detect FA in human serum, chewable tablets and FA tablets with promising results. The use of DPA@Ag/Cu NCs demonstrates significant potential for detecting FA in complex biological samples.

Synthesis, characterization, and efficacy evaluation of a PH-responsive Fe-MOF@GO composite drug delivery system for the treating colorectal cancer.

Luteolin is a potent anti-colorectal cancer chemical. However, its effectiveness is hindered by its poor solubility in water and fat, and it is easy to degrade by gastrointestinal enzymes. In this study, a nano-composite carrier, NH2-MIL-101(Fe)@GO (MG), based on aminated MIL-101(Fe) and graphene oxide (GO) was developed and evaluated. This carrier co-delivered luteolin and matrine, while marine was used to balance the pH for the nano-preparation. The loading capacities for luteolin and matrine were approximately 9.8% and 14.1%, respectively. Luteolin's release at pH = 5 was significantly higher than at pH = 7.4, indicating it had an acidic pH response release characteristic. Compared to MOF and GO alone, MG and NH2-MIL-101(Fe)@GO@Drugs (MGD) enhanced anti-cancer activity by inhibiting tumor cell migration, increasing ROS generation, and upregulating the expression of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9. In conclusion, this study contributes new ideas and methods to the treatment strategy of multi-component anti-colorectal cancer therapy. It also advances drug delivery systems and supports the development of more effective and targeted treatment approaches for colorectal cancer.

Identification of an 8 HPV-related RNA signature as a novel prognostic biomarker for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is a commonly detected cancer worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is emerging as an important risk factor affecting SCCHN prognosis. Therefore, identification of HPV status is essential for effective therapies in SCCHN. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of HPV-associated RNA biomarkers for SCCHN. The clinical data, survival data, and RNA-seq data of SCCHN were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Before the differential expression analysis, the heterogeneity between the 2 groups (HPV+ vs HPV-) of samples was analyzed using principal component analysis. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HPV+ and HPV- SCCHN samples were analyzed using the R edgeR package. The Gene Ontology functional annotations, including biological process, molecular function and cellular component (CC), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes And Genomes pathways enriched by the DEGs were analyzed using DAVID. The obtained matrix was analyzed by weighed gene coexpression network analysis. A total of 350 significant DEGs were identified through differential analysis, and these DEGs were significantly enriched in functions associated with keratinization, and the pathway of neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. Moreover, 72 hub genes were identified through weighed gene coexpression network analysis. After the hub genes and DEGs were combined, we obtained 422 union genes, including 65 survival-associated genes. After regression analysis, a HPV-related prognostic model was established, which consisted of 8 genes, including Clorf105, CGA, CHRNA2, CRIP3, CTAG2, ENPP6, NEFH, and RNF212. The obtained regression model could be expressed by an equation as follows: risk score = 0.065 × Clorf105 + 0.012 × CGA + 0.01 × CHRNA2 + 0.047 × CRIP3 + 0.043 × CTAG2-0.034 × ENPP6 - 0.003 × NEFH - 0.068 × RNF212. CGA interacted with 3 drugs, and CHRNA2 interacted with 11 drugs. We have identified an 8 HPV-RNA signature associated with the prognosis of SCCHN patients. Such prognostic model might serve as possible candidate biomarker and therapeutic target for SCCHN.

Study on the antitussive and expectorant activities and mechanism of platycodin D based on metabolomics method / 药学学报

In this paper, the antitussive and expectorant activity of platycodin D (PD) were studied by constructing a mouse cough induced by concentrated ammonia water and a mouse trachea phenol red excretion model. The mechanism of antitussive and expectorant effect of PD was studied by metabolomics. The animal experiment was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine (approval number: JZLLSC-20220739). Then mice were randomly divided into the normal, model, positive drug, PD low-dose, PD medium-dose and PD high-dose group. The antitussive and expectorant effects of PD were evaluated using a cough mouse model induced by concentrated ammonia water and a mouse tracheal phenol red excretion model, respectively. UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS was used to identify the metabolites of mouse lung tissue, and multivariate statistical analysis method of orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used for metabolites profile analysis. The differential metabolites were screened by variable projected importance value (VIP) and t-test results. Pathways for enrichment of differentiated metabolites were analyzed using the MetaboAnalyst platform. The comparative method was applied to analyze the differences in mechanisms of PD, Deapio-platycodin D (DPD) and total platycosides fraction. The results showed that PD at different concentrations could significantly prolong (P < 0.05) the incubation period of cough mice induced by ammonia water, reduce the coughs frequency, and significantly increase (P < 0.05) the amount of phenol red excretion in phenol red excretion model mice. PD could regulate 6 metabolic pathways of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism to exert antitussive effect. It could also regulate 8 metabolic pathways of linoleic acid metabolism, glyoxylic acid and dicarboxylic acid metabolism, glycerol phospholipid metabolism, citric acid cycle and arachidonic acid metabolism to exert an expectorant effect. However, only linoleic acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism could be regulated by the PD, total platycosides fraction and DPD, which may be ascribed to the structural difference of the platycosides and the interaction between platycosides and the intestinal microbiota. Functional analysis showed that these metabolic pathways are closely related to the regulatory mechanisms of anti-inflammatory response, immune function regulation, neurotransmitter release, cell signal transduction, energy metabolism and cell apoptosis. This study shows that PD possesses good antitussive and expectorant activities. In addition, the mechanism difference of PD, total platycosides fraction and DPD imply that the apiose in PD and the interaction between PD and intestinal microbiota could exert an important effect on the antitussive and expectorant mechanism of the platycosides.

Characteristics of retinal microcirculation after phacoemulsification and factors affecting visual acuity / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To investigate the changes of retinal microcirculation after phacoemulsification and the influencing factors of visual acuity.METHODS: Retrospective analysis. A total of 264 cataract patients(264 eyes)who underwent phacoemulsification in our hospital from January 2022 to December 2022 were selected as the study objects. Patients were divided into &#x0026;#x003C; 0.3 group(66 eyes)and ≥0.3 group(198 eyes)according to the recovery of best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)at 3 mo after surgery. The changes of retinal microcirculation indexes were compared before and after treatment. Logistic regression and LASSO regression models were used to screen the influencing factors of postoperative BCVA. A nomogram prediction model of postoperative BCVA was constructed and verified. A restricted cubic spline Logistic regression model was established to analyze the dose-response relationship between end-diastolic velocity(EDV), peak systolic velocity(PSV)and the risk of BCVA recovery.RESULTS: At 3 mo postoperatively, EDV and PSV were significantly improved compared with those before treatment, and resistance index(RI)levels were significantly lower than those before treatment(all P&#x0026;#x003C;0.05). Preoperative EDV, PSV, aqueous humor cell grade, fundus lesion grade, advanced age and Emery grade were influencing factors for poor BCVA recovery after phacoemulsification in cataract patients(P&#x0026;#x003C;0.05). The AUC before and after validation of the nomogram model by Bootstrap method were 0.869(95%CI: 0.815-0.903)and 0.866(95%CI: 0.802-0.895), respectively. The sensitivity was 88.36% and 88.27%, and the specificity was 91.82% and 91.78%, respectively. Restricted cubic spline model analysis showed no nonlinear dose-response relationship between EDV and PSV levels and the risk of poor BCVA recovery in either male or female(P&#x0026;#x003E;0.05).CONCLUSION: After phacoemulsification, retinal microcirculation in cataract patients improved significantly. EDV, PSV, aqueous humor cell grade, fundus lesion grade, advanced age and Emery grade are all factors influencing poor BCVA recovery after cataract surgery.

Ethanol extract of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall ameliorates psoriasis-like skin inflammation and promotes degradation of keratinocyte-derived ICAM-1 and CXCL9 / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#To explore whether the ethanol extract of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall (EHC), a Xizang medicinal plant traditionally used for treating liver diseases, can improve imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation.@*METHODS@#Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining were used to determine the effects of topical EHC use in vivo on the skin pathology of imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice. The protein levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in mouse skin samples were examined using immunohistochemical staining. In vitro, IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells with or without EHC treatment were used to evaluate the expression of keratinocyte-derived intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and chemokine CXC ligand 9 (CXCL9) using Western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide and proteasome inhibitor MG132 were utilized to validate the EHC-mediated mechanism underlying degradation of ICAM-1 and CXCL9.@*RESULTS@#EHC improved inflammation in the imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model and reduced the levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17A in psoriatic lesions. Treatment with EHC also suppressed ICAM-1 and CXCL9 in epidermal keratinocytes. Further mechanistic studies revealed that EHC suppressed keratinocyte-derived ICAM-1 and CXCL9 by promoting ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated protein degradation rather than transcriptional repression. Seven primary compounds including ehletianol C, dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol, herpetrione, herpetin, herpetotriol, herpetetrone and herpetetrol were identified from the EHC using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry.@*CONCLUSION@#Topical application of EHC ameliorates psoriasis-like skin symptoms and improves the inflammation at the lesion sites. Please cite this article as: Zhong Y, Zhang BW, Li JT, Zeng X, Pei JX, Zhang YM, Yang YX, Li FL, Deng Y, Zhao Q. Ethanol extract of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall ameliorates psoriasis-like skin inflammation and promotes degradation of keratinocyte-derived ICAM-1 and CXCL9. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(6): 584-592.

Xuebijing injection, a Chinese patent medicine, against severe pneumonia: Current research progress and future perspectives / 中西医结合学报

Severe pneumonia is one of the most common infectious diseases and the leading cause of sepsis and septic shock. Preventing infection, balancing the patient's immune status, and anti-coagulation therapy are all important elements in the treatment of severe pneumonia. As multi-target agents, Xuebijing injection (XBJ) has shown unique advantages in targeting complex conditions and saving the lives of patients with severe pneumonia. This review outlines progress in the understanding of XBJ's anti-inflammatory, endotoxin antagonism, and anticoagulation effects. From the hundreds of publications released over the past few years, the key results from representative clinical studies of XBJ in the treatment of severe pneumonia were selected and summarized. XBJ was observed to effectively suppress the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, counter the effects of endotoxin, and assert an anticoagulation effect in most clinical trials, which are consistent with experimental studies. Collectively, this evidence suggests that XBJ could play an important and expanding role in clinical medicine, especially for sepsis, septic shock and severe pneumonia. Please cite this article as: Zhang M, Zheng R, Liu WJ, Hou JL, Yang YL, Shang HC. Xuebijing injection, a Chinese patent medicine, against severe pneumonia: Current research progress and future perspectives. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(5): 413-422.

Sulforaphane, an NRF2 agonist, alleviates ferroptosis in acute liver failure by regulating HDAC6 activity / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Acute liver failure (ALF) is characterized by severe liver dysfunction, rapid progression and high mortality and is difficult to treat. Studies have found that sulforaphane (SFN), a nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) agonist, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer effects, and has certain protective effects on neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and liver fibrosis. This paper aimed to explore the protective effect of SFN in ALF and it possible mechanisms of action.@*METHODS@#Lipopolysaccharide and D-galactosamine were used to induce liver injury in vitro and in vivo. NRF2 agonist SFN and histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibitor ACY1215 were used to observe the protective effect and possible mechanisms of SFN in ALF, respectively. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Fe2+, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected. The expression of HDAC6, NRF2, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence.@*RESULTS@#Our results show that NRF2 was activated by SFN. LDH, Fe2+, MDA and ACSL4 were downregulated, while GSH, GPX4 and SLC7A11 were upregulated by SFN in vitro and in vivo, indicating the inhibitory effect of SFN on ferroptosis. Additionally, HDAC6 expression was decreased in the SFN group, indicating that SFN could downregulate the expression of HDAC6 in ALF. After using the HDAC6 inhibitor, ACY1215, SFN further reduced HDAC6 expression and inhibited ferroptosis, indicating that SFN may inhibit ferroptosis by regulating HDAC6 activity.@*CONCLUSION@#SFN has a protective effect on ALF, and the mechanism may include reduction of ferroptosis through the regulation of HDAC6. Please cite this article as: Zhang YQ, Shi CX, Zhang DM, Zhang LY, Wang LW, Gong ZJ. Sulforaphane, an NRF2 agonist, alleviates ferroptosis in acute liver failure by regulating HDAC6 activity. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(5): 464-473.

Single-cell profiling reveals Müller glia coordinate retinal intercellular communication during light/dark adaptation via thyroid hormone signaling

Light adaptation enables the vertebrate visual system to operate over a wide range of ambient illumination. Regulation of phototransduction in photoreceptors is considered a major mechanism underlying light adaptation. However, various types of neurons and glial cells exist in the retina, and whether and how all retinal cells interact to adapt to light/dark conditions at the cellular and molecular levels requires systematic investigation. Therefore, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to dissect retinal cell-type-specific transcriptomes during light/dark adaptation in mice. The results demonstrated that, in addition to photoreceptors, other retinal cell types also showed dynamic molecular changes and specifically enriched signaling pathways under light/dark adaptation. Importantly, Müller glial cells (MGs) were identified as hub cells for intercellular interactions, displaying complex cell‒cell communication with other retinal cells. Furthermore, light increased the transcription of the deiodinase Dio2 in MGs, which converted thyroxine (T4) to active triiodothyronine (T3). Subsequently, light increased T3 levels and regulated mitochondrial respiration in retinal cells in response to light conditions. As cones specifically express the thyroid hormone receptor Thrb, they responded to the increase in T3 by adjusting light responsiveness. Loss of the expression of Dio2 specifically in MGs decreased the light responsive ability of cones. These results suggest that retinal cells display global transcriptional changes under light/dark adaptation and that MGs coordinate intercellular communication during light/dark adaptation via thyroid hormone signaling.

Neuronal Histone Methyltransferase EZH2 Regulates Neuronal Morphogenesis, Synaptic Plasticity, and Cognitive Behavior in Mice / 神经科学通报·英文版

The histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2)-mediated trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) regulates neural stem cell proliferation and fate specificity through silencing different gene sets in the central nervous system. Here, we explored the function of EZH2 in early post-mitotic neurons by generating a neuron-specific Ezh2 conditional knockout mouse line. The results showed that a lack of neuronal EZH2 led to delayed neuronal migration, more complex dendritic arborization, and increased dendritic spine density. Transcriptome analysis revealed that neuronal EZH2-regulated genes are related to neuronal morphogenesis. In particular, the gene encoding p21-activated kinase 3 (Pak3) was identified as a target gene suppressed by EZH2 and H3K27me3, and expression of the dominant negative Pak3 reversed Ezh2 knockout-induced higher dendritic spine density. Finally, the lack of neuronal EZH2 resulted in impaired memory behaviors in adult mice. Our results demonstrated that neuronal EZH2 acts to control multiple steps of neuronal morphogenesis during development, and has long-lasting effects on cognitive function in adult mice.

Transthoracic Echocardiography Revealed Inferior Vena Cava and Right Atrial Occupation:Report of One Case / 中国医学科学院学报

One case with ascites and lower limb edema as the initial manifestations was reported.The echocardiography revealed inferior vena cava and right atrial occupation,which combined with increased alpha fetoprotein and imaging examination,suggested liver malignant tumor combined with tumor thrombus of inferior vena cava and right atrium.After targeted therapy combined with immunotherapy,the tumor shrank and alpha fetoprotein decreased significantly,suggesting that the treatment was effective.The median survival time of the patient was 3 months.This patient had a clear history of cirrhosis due to hepatitis B and was clinically diagnosed with advanced liver cancer,which suggested the importance of early liver cancer screening.

Geographic Variations in the Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Dyslipidemia among Chinese Adults in 2018-2019: A Cross-sectional Study / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the spatial patterns of the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of dyslipidemia at the provincial level in China.@*METHODS@#A national and provincial representative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 178,558 Chinese adults in 31 provinces in mainland China in 2018-2019, using a multi-stage, stratified, cluster-randomized sampling design. Subjects, as households, were selected, followed by a home visit to collect information. Both descriptive and linear regression procedures were applied in the analyses.@*RESULTS@#The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 35.6%, and wide geographic variations of prevalence, treatment, and control rates of dyslipidemia were identified among 178,558 eligible participants with a mean age of 55.1 ± 13.8 years. The highest-lowest difference regarding the provincial level prevalence rates were 19.7% vs. 2.1% for high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 16.7% vs. 2.5% for high total cholesterol, 35.9% vs. 5.4% for high triglycerides, and 31.4% vs. 10.5% for low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The treatment rate of dyslipidemia was correlated with the socio-demographic index ( P < 0.001), urbanization rate ( P = 0.01), and affordable basic technologies and essential medicines ( P < 0.001).@*CONCLUSION@#Prevailing dyslipidemia among the Chinese population and its wide geographic variations in prevalence, treatment, and control suggest that China needs both integrated and localized public health strategies across provinces to improve lipid management.

Acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking for girls aged 3-8 years with incomplete precocious puberty: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking for girls aged 3-8 years with incomplete precocious puberty (IPP).@*METHODS@#Sixty girls with IPP were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 2 cases were eliminated). The girls in the control group were treated with healthy diet and proper exercise for 12 weeks. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, the girls in the observation group were treated with acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking. The acupuncture was applied at Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Guilai (ST 29), etc., the needles were retained for 20 min, acupuncture was given twice a week (once every 3 days). The auricular point sticking was applied at Luanchao (TF2), Neishengzhiqi (TF2), Neifenmi (CO18), Yuanzhong (AT2,3,4i), etc., twice a week. The treatment was given for 12 weeks. Before treatment, after treatment and in follow-up after 12 weeks of treatment completion, the Tanner stage of breast, serum contents of sex hormone (luteinizing hormone [LH], follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], estradiol [E2]) were observed. The ovarian volume, the number of follicles with diameter>4 mm, and the uterine volume were measured by abdominal color Doppler ultrasound. In addition, the safety of the observation group was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#Compared with before treatment, the Tanner stage of breast in the observation group was improved after treatment and in follow-up (P<0.05); after treatment and in follow-up, the Tanner stage of breast in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, the serum levels of LH and E2 in the observation group were increased (P<0.05), and the volume of bilateral ovaries was larger (P<0.05) in follow-up. Compared with before treatment, the serum contents of LH, FSH and E2 in the control group were increased (P<0.05), the volume of bilateral ovaries was larger (P<0.05), and the number of follicles was increased (P<0.05) after treatment and in follow-up. The serum levels of LH, FSH and E2 in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), the volume of bilateral ovaries was smaller than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the number of follicles was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, the uterine volume in the two groups was larger in follow-up (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups after treatment and in follow-up (P>0.05). During the treatment, 3 cases in the observation group had slight abdominal pain and subcutaneous blood stasis, without serious adverse reactions.@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking could improve the Tanner stage of breast, reduce the level of sex hormone, slow down the development and maturation of ovary and follicle, and control the degree and speed of sexual development in girls aged 3-8 years with IPP.

Domestic and international research status and trend of adolescent myopia: A bibliometrics based analysis / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To explore the current research progress, hot spots and future development trends of myopia in children and adolescents at home and abroad, thus providing references for the further research on the field.METHODS: Using China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)and Web of Science(WOS)as data sources, the literature on myopia in children and adolescents from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2022 was collected. Visual analyses were conducted based on the quantity of the published articles, authors, publishing institutions, journals as well as keyword co-occurrence, clustering, timeline graph and emergence by using the VOSviewer and CiteSpace.RESULT: The number of publications on myopia research has increased steadily both articles in Chinese and English. Xian-Gui He and Saw, Seang-Mei have published the most papers, and the Chinese Journal of School Health and Investigative Ophthalmology &#x0026; Visual Science published the most related articles. Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Center, and Sun Yat-sen University are the institutions with the most publications in the area. Clinical observation is the main focus of research both domestically and internationally, with orthokeratology, outdoor activities, axial length, prevalence, and influencing factors attracting much attention.CONCLUSION: Current research on myopia in children and adolescents focuses on the epidemiology, intervention measures, and biological parameters of the condition. Future research on myopia epidemiology is likely to become a major focus of research in this area.

Effect of salidroside on choroidal thickness and expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, dopamine and its receptor in guinea pigs with myopia / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To examine the effects of salidroside on choroidal thickness, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α), dopamine(DA)and its D1 receptor expression in guinea pigs with lens-induced myopia(LIM).METHODS: A total of 18 two-week-old guinea pigs were randomly divided into the normal control(NC)group, the LIM group, and the LIM + salidroside(LIM+SA)group, with 6 guinea pigs in each group. The guinea pigs in the NC group were fed normally and intragastrically administered with 2 mL/d saline; those in the LIM group wore a -5D lens in front of their right eyes to establish a myopia model, then they were intragastrically administered with 2 mL/d saline. Finally, those in the LIM+SA group wore glasses along with intragastric administration of 2 mL/d salidroside at a dose of 100 mg/kg. The refraction, axial length, and choroidal thickness of guinea pigs in each group were measured 4wk following the establishment of the model. In addition, the relative mRNA expression and protein content of HIF-1α in the choroid and retina of guinea pigs in each group were detected by real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR)and immunohistochemistry(IHC). Finally, the DA concentration and its D1 receptor expression were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and Western blot.RESULTS: At 4wk after model establishment, guinea pigs of LIM group and LIM+SA group exhibited increased negative refraction of the right eye, prolonged axial length, and decreased choroidal thickness compared to the NC group. The relative mRNA expression and protein content of HIF-1α in the choroid and retina of the guinea pigs increased. The concentration of DA and the expression of its D1 receptor both decreased. Moreover, compared to the LIM group, the diopter of the right eye of guinea pigs in LIM+SA group significantly reduced, the axial length was shorter, the thickness of choroid increased, the relative mRNA expression and protein content of HIF-1α in the choroid and retina decreased and the concentration of DA and the expression of its D1 receptor both increased.CONCLUSION: Salidroside can delay myopia progression in myopic guinea pigs by affecting choroidal thickness and the expression of HIF-1α, DA and its D1 receptor.

Yigong Powder regulates CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling to reduce glutamate release and prevent cognitive decline in mouse model of aging / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to explore the effect of preventive administration of Yigong Powder on the learning and memory abilities of the mouse model of aging induced by D-galactose and decipher the underlying mechanism, so as to provide a basis for the application of Yigong Powder in the prevention and treatment of cognitive decline. Forty KM mice were randomized into control, model, donepezil(1.5 mg·kg~(-1)), and high-dose(7.5 g·kg~(-1)) and low-dose(3.75 g·kg~(-1)) Yigong Powder groups. The mice in other groups except the control group were injected with D-galactose(200 g·kg~(-1)) at the back of the neck for the modeling of aging. At the same time, the mice were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for one month. Morris water maze was used to examine the learning and memory abilities of the mice. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the pathological and morphological changes of the hippocampus. The immunofluorescence assay was employed to detect the expression of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(IBA1), glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), chemokine C-X-C-motif ligand 12(CXCL12), chemokine C-X-C-motif receptor 4(CXCR4) in the hippocampus and observe the positional relationship between IBA1, GFAP, and CXCR4. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of extracellular regulated kinase(ERK), p-ERK, and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1(TNFR1). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of glutamate and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α) in the brain tissue and the level of TNF-α in the serum and spleen. Yigong Powder significantly shortened the escape latency, increased the times crossing platforms, and prolonged the cumulative time in quadrants of the aging mice. It alleviated the nerve cell disarrangement, increased intercellular space, and cell degeneration or death in the hippocampus and reduced the pathology score of the damaged nerve. Moreover, Yigong Powder reduced the positive area of IBA1 and GFAP, reduced the levels of TNF-α in the brain tissue, serum, and spleen, and decreased spleen index. Furthermore, Yigong Powder decreased the average fluorescence intensity of CXCL12 and CXCR4, reduced CXCR4-positive astrocytes and microglia, down-regulated the protein levels of p-ERK/ERK and TNFR1, and lowered the level of glutamate in the brain tissue. This study showed that the preventive administration of Yigong Powder can ameliorate the learning and memory decline of the D-galactose-induced aging mice by regulating the immune function of the spleen and the CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling in the brain to reduce glutamate release. However, the mechanism of Yigong San in preventing and treating dementia via regulating spleen and stomach function remains to be studied.

Research progress in chemical constituent and pharmacological activity of Punica granatum L / 中国药科大学学报

@#Punica granatum L.(pomegranate) is a medicinal plant belonging to the genus Punica Linn..The peel, seed, flower, leaf and root of P.granatum is widely used as traditional medicine in China.Phytochemical studies showed that the major chemical constituents of P.granatum were tannins, flavonoids, terpenes, alkaloids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, fatty acids, etc.Biological studies on extracts and active ingredients of P.granatum show some bioactivities, such as antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antibacterial activities.Herein, the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of different parts of pomegranate were reviewed, providing a theoretical basis for the further research and utilization of pomegranate.

Influence of antimicrobial peptide biofunctionalized TiO2 nanotubes on the biological behavior of human keratinocytes and its antibacterial effect / 中华口腔医学杂志

Objective: To fabricate TiO2 nanotube material functionalized by antimicrobial peptide LL-37, and to explore its effects on biological behaviors such as adhesion and migration of human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and its antibacterial properties. Methods: The TiO2 nanotube array (NT) was constructed on the surface of polished titanium (PT) by anodization, and the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 was loaded on the surface of TiO2 nanotube (LL-37/NT) by physical adsorption. Three samples were selected by simple random sampling in each group. Surface morphology, roughness, hydrophilicity and release characteristics of LL-37 of the samples were analyzed with a field emission scanning electron microscope, an atomic force microscope, a contact angle measuring device and a microplate absorbance reader. HaCaT cells were respectively cultured on the surface of three groups of titanium samples. Each group had 3 replicates. The morphology of cell was observed by field emission scanning electron microscope. The number of cell adhesion was observed by cellular immunofluorescence staining. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Wound scratch assay was used to observe the migration of HaCaT. The above experiments were used to evaluate the effect of each group on the biological behavior of HaCaT cells. To evaluate their antibacterial effects, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) was respectively inoculated on the surface of three groups of titanium samples. Each group had 3 replicates. The morphology of bacteria was observed by field emission scanning electron microscope. Bacterial viability was determined by live/dead bacterial staining. Results: A uniform array of nanotubes could be seen on the surface of titanium samples in LL-37/NT group, and the top of the tube was covered with granular LL-37. Compared with PT group [the roughness was (2.30±0.18) nm, the contact angle was 71.8°±1.7°], the roughness [(20.40±3.10) and (19.10±4.11) nm] and hydrophilicity (the contact angles were 22.4°±3.1° and 25.3°±2.2°, respectively) of titanium samples increased in NT and LL-37/NT group (P<0.001). The results of in vitro release test showed that the release of antimicrobial peptide LL-37 was characterized by early sudden release (1-4 h) and long-term (1-7 d) slow release. With the immunofluorescence, more cell attachment was found on NT and LL-37/NT than that on PT at the first 0.5 and 2.0 h of culture (P<0.05). The results of CCK-8 showed that there was no significant difference in the proliferation of cells among groups at 1, 3 and 5 days after culture. Wound scratch assay showed that compared with PT and NT group, the cell moved fastest on the surface of titanium samples in LL-37/NT group at 24 h of culture [(96.4±4.9)%] (F=35.55, P<0.001). A monolayer cells could be formed and filled with the scratch in 24 h at LL-37/NT group. The results of bacterial test in vitro showed that compared with the PT group, the bacterial morphology in the NT and LL-37/NT groups was significantly wrinkled, and obvious bacterial rupture could be seen on the surface of titanium samples in LL-37/NT group. The results of bacteria staining showed that the green fluorescence intensity of titanium samples in LL-37/NT group was the lowest in all groups (F=66.54,P<0.001). Conclusions: LL-37/NT is beneficial to the adhesion and migration of HaCaT cells and has excellent antibacterial properties, this provides a new strategy for the optimal design of implant neck materials.

Evaluation of metoprolol standard dosing pathway in Chinese patients with acute coronary syndrome: a prospective multicenter single-arm interventional study / 老年心脏病学杂志（英文版）

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the feasibility and tolerability of metoprolol standard dosing pathway (MSDP) in Chinese patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).@*METHODS@#In this multicenter, prospective, open label, single-arm and interventional study that was conducted from February 2018 to April 2019 in fifteen Chinese hospitals. A total of 998 hospitalized patients aged ≥ 18 years and diagnosed with ACS were included. The MSDP was applied to all eligible ACS patients based on the standard treatment recommended by international guidelines. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients achieving the target dose at discharge (V2). The secondary endpoints included the heart rate and blood pressure at V2 and four weeks after discharge (V4), and percentage of patients experiencing bradycardia (heart rate < 50 beats/min), hypotension (blood pressure < 90/60 mmHg) and transient cardiac dysfunction at V2 and V4.@*RESULTS@#Of the 998 patients, 29.46% of patients achieved the target dose (≥ 95 mg/d) at V2. The total population was divided into two groups: target group (patients achieving the target dose at V2) and non-target group (patients not achieving the target dose at V2). There was significant difference in the reduction of heart rate from baseline to discharge in the two groups (-4.97 ± 11.90 beats/min vs. -2.70 ± 9.47 beats/min, P = 0.034). There was no significant difference in the proportion of bradycardia that occurred in the two groups at V2 (0 vs. 0, P = 1.000) and V4 (0.81% vs. 0.33%, P = 0.715). There was no significant difference in the proportion of hypotension between the two groups at V2 (0.004% vs. 0.004%, P = 1.000) and V4 (0 vs. 0.005%, P = 0.560). No transient cardiac dysfunction occurred in two groups during the study. A total of five adverse events (1.70%) and one serious adverse event (0.34%) were related to the pathway in target group.@*CONCLUSIONS@#In Chinese ACS patients, the feasibility and tolerability of the MSDP have been proved to be acceptable.