OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes of the plasma metabolic phenotype in rats with chronic restraint stress (rats with syndrome of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency), so as to reveal the biological features of the syndrome of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency, and to examine potential application of metabonomic analysis in studies of syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: group A, 7 d normal control group; group B, 21 d normal control group; group C, 7 d stress group; and group D, 21 d stress group, with 6 rats in each group. Chronic restraint was used to induce stress in rats. Blood was collected from the cardio-ventricle under anesthesia on the 8th (groups A and C) or 22nd day (groups B and D) and detected by using the Fourier variable superconducting nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer (Varian UnityInova 600 M). Free induction decay signals were transferred into one-dimensional NMR spectrogram via 32 k Fourier transformation. Segmental integral calculus (0.04 ppm per segment) was performed from 4.5-0.5 ppm (Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill, CPMG) or 6.0-0 ppm (longitudinal eddy-delay, LED) as defaulted 1H spectra values by using the VNMR software. Data were saved as text or excel files after normalization and then used for pattern recognition analyses. All the data were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) using the SIMCA-P 10.0 software (Umetrics AB, Umea, Sweden). RESULTS: The PCA analysis of rat plasma (1)H NMR spectra revealed different metabolic spectra between stress and control groups, which were consistent with alterations of in vivo metabolisms in rats under stress stimuli. Compared with the normal control group, rats with repeated stress displayed significant changes in spectral peak shapes of acetate, lactate, tyrosine, low-density lipoprotein, and unknown compounds (3.44 ppm). These altered metabolites can be used as biomarkers of syndrome of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency for further studies. CONCLUSION: The (1)H NMR spectra of metabolites in the rat blood are differentially changed after chronic stress. Specific, characteristic metabolic products can be identified by analyses of metabonomics, which lead to interpretation of biological feature of Chinese medicine syndromes. Therefore, metabonomic analysis is an approach with good development prospects to studies of TCM syndromes.

Objective:To investigate the application of side branch protection technique in interventional treatment of intracranial arteriosclerosis stenosis.Methods:We reviewed the patients who underwent interventional treatment of intracranial arteriosclerosis stenosis from November 2018 to May 2021 in Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, and analyzed the role of side branch protection technique in the prevention and treatment of complications. Relevant evaluation indicators including: (1) imaging: patency of blood flow in target vessels and branch vessels; (2) clinical presentation: ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) events within 72 hours and one month follow-up results.Results:A total of 9 patients underwent side branch protection during interventional treatment for intracranial arteriosclerosis stenosis, the blood flow of target vessels was improved obviously after operation, and the blood flow of the affected branches was not affected; no stroke or TIA events occurred in 72 hours after operation and one month follow up.Conclusions:Proper application of side branch protection technique can reduce the perioperative complications effectively during the interventional treatment for intracranial arteriosclerosis stenosis.

Objective:To investigate the effect of the number of retrieval attempts on the outcomes after successful recanalization of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:Patients with acute large vessel occlusive ischemic stroke underwent mechanical thrombectomy and successful postoperative recanalization in the Stroke Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from January 2019 to May 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. According to the number of retrieval attempts during the procedure, the patients were divided into <3-attempt group and ≥3-attempt group. The demographic data, procedure-related indexes, periprocedural complications and outcomes at 90 d after the procedure were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 106 patients, aged 69.8±1.3 years, were enrolled, and 55 were males (51.9%). Eight-three patients (78.3%) were in the <3-attempt group, and 23 (21.7%) were in the ≥3-attempt group. Forty-one patients (38.7%) had good outcomes (the modified Rankin Scale score ≤2) at 90 d, and 11 (10.4%) died. There were no significant differences in the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage (30.4% vs. 20.5%; χ2=1.019, P=0.313), the good outcome rate at 90 d (34.8% vs. 39.8%; χ2=0.188, P=0.665) and mortality (8.7% vs. 10.8%; P=0.999) between the ≥3-attempt group and <3-attempt group, but the incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was significantly higher than that in the <3-attampt group (13.0% vs. 1.2%; P=0.031). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the number of retrieval attempts was not significantly associated with poor outcome. Conclusion:The more retrieval attempts may be related to symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, but it does not affect the clinical outcomes of patients with successful recanalization at 3 months.

Objective:To explore the effects of enriched environment combined with melatonin on learning and memory function and DNA oxidative damage in senescence accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice.Methods:Twenty-four 6-month-old SPF healthy male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into model group, enriched environment group, melatonin group and enriched environment+ melatonin group, with 6 mice in each group. Six homologous SAMR1 mice of the same age were used as the control group. The mice in the enriched environment group and the enriched environment+ melatonin group were fed in the enriched environment. At the same time, the mice in the melatonin group and the enriched environment+ melatonin group were subcutaneously injected with melatonin (8 mg /(kg·d)) once a day for 28 d. The mice in the model group, the control group and the enriched environment group were subcutaneously injected with an equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution once a day for 28 days. Aging score was used to evaluate the aging of mice. Morris water maze and Y maze tests were used to evaluate the learning and memory ability of mice. The cell morphology of hippocampus in mice was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the level of Aβ 1-42 protein in hippocampus of mice was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The levels of γ-H2A histone family member X(γ-H2AX) and 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG) proteins in hippocampus of mice were detected by Western blot and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SPSS 25.0 statistical software was used to process the data. One-way analysis of variance was used for comparison among multiple groups, and LSD- t test was used for further pairwise comparison. Results:(1)There was a statistical difference in aging scores among the 5 groups of mice after intervention ( F=126.4, P<0.01). After intervention, the aging scores of mice in the enriched environment group, melatonin group, and enriched environment+ melatonin group were lower than that in the model group (all P<0.05), and the score of the enriched environment+ melatonin group was significantly lower than that in the enriched environment group ( P<0.05). (2)The time and group interaction, group main effect and time main effect of the escape latency among the 5 groups of mice were statistically significant ( F=11.2, 799.9, 121.8, all P<0.01). From day 2 to day 4, the escape latencies of mice in the enriched environment group, melatonin group and enriched environment+ melatonin group were significantly lower than that in the model group (all P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the target quadrant residence time and cross-platform times among the 5 groups ( F=70.38, 48.83, both P<0.01). The target quadrant residence time and cross-platform times of mice in the enriched environment group, melatonin group, and enriched environment+ melatonin group were significantly higher than that in the model group (all P<0.05). (3) There were significant differences in the total number of alternations and correct rates among the 5 groups ( F=291.328, 113.482, both P<0.01). The total numbers of alternations and correct rates in melatonin group ((29.46±3.75)times, (53.16±3.47)%) and the enriched environment+ melatonin group((32.57±3.52)times, (58.60±4.13)%)were significantly higher than those in the model group ((18.62±3.96)times, (43.61±3.92) %)(all P<0.05). (4)The results of hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry staining showed that compared with the model group, the cell structure and morphology of the hippocampus of mice in enriched environment group, melatonin group, and enriched environment+ melatonin group were significantly improved, and the expression of Aβ 1-42 was significantly reduced (all P<0.05). (5) There were statistically significant differences in the levels of γ-H2AX and 8-OHdG proteins in the hippocampus of the 5 groups of mice ( F=78.09, 117.20, both P<0.01). The levels of γ-H2AX and 8-OHdG of mice in the enriched environment+ melatonin group ((1.37±0.26), (4.79±0.35)pg/μg) were significantly lower than those in the enriched environment group ((2.83±0.25), (7.23±0.41)pg/μg) and the melatonin group ((2.43±0.22), (6.69±0.28)pg/μg) (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Both enriched environment and melatonin can significantly improve the learning and memory function of SAMP8 mice, and the combined treatment effect is more significant.The mechanism may be related to the reduction of DNA oxidative damage in hippocampus.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a new Chinese-made surgical biopatch for atrial septum under the establishment of atrial septal defect animal model in miniature pigs.Methods:From June 2018 to April 2019, 26 pigs were divided into experimental group (15 pigs) and the control group (11 pigs). Animal models of atrial septal defect were established by traditional surgical methods. The to-be-evaluated and listed surgical biological patches (with a diameter of 10 mm) were implanted in the experimental group and the control group to repair the atrial septal defect. Cardiac ultrasound and blood examination of all animals were performed before and at 7, 30, 90, 180 days after operation, the results were analyzed with repetitive measurement and analysis of variance. At 90 days and 180 days after the operation, tissue samples were taken from animals after euthanasia. Pathological examination of heart and major organs were conducted. The independent sample t test and rank sum test were used to compare the data between the two groups, and the nonparametric was used to compare the patch calcification score between the two groups. Results:In total of 26 animals, 14 animals in the experimental group(6 at 90 days, 8 at 180 days) and 9 animals in the control group(4 at 90 days, 5 at 180 days) reached the end of the experiment. The other 3 animals (1 in the experimental group and 2 in the control group) died of arrhythmia, whole heart failure and right heart failure, the results of pathological examination showed that the causes of death were unrelated to the experimental materials. Cardiac ultrasound showed no patch leakage in all animals. There was no statistically significant difference in cardiac ultrasound and blood examination between the two groups at different time points after operation (all P>0.05). The pathological results showed that all the implants were intact and had good biocompatibility. There was no significant difference in the mean endothelialization rate between the experimental group and the control group at 90 and 180 days after operation ((80.8±29.1)% vs. (82.5±23.6)%, t=0.095, P=0.927; (78.8±36.4)% vs. (82.0±19.2)%, t=0.182, P=0.859) on 90 and 180 days, there was no significant difference in the patch calcification score between the two groups (1.00(1.25) vs. 2.00(0.75), Z=6.500, P=0.214; 0(0.75) vs. 1.00(2.00), Z=12.000, P=0.139). Conclusion:The new Chinese-made surgical biopatch for atrial septum has comparable safety and efficacy to that of the marketable patch in miniature pig atrial septal defect animal model.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential therapeutic effect of the sporoderm-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore tablet "Xianzhi No.3" from the perspective of immunomodulation and cardioprotection. METHODS Chemical components of the sporoderm-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore tablet "Xianzhi No.3" were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and colorimetric methods. Examined tablet’s effects on zebrafish models of macrophage reduction, heart failure, H2O2-induced oxidative stress in myocardial and endothelial cells, and a microglial inflammation model induced by lipopolysaccharide. Immune regulation and cardioprotective effects were evaluated through multiple indicators, including macrophage formation and phagocytosis abilities, anti-neuroinflammation ability, cardiac systolic and diastolic functions, and anti-oxidative stress injury ability in myocardial and endothelial cells. RESULTS The sporoderm-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore tablet "Xianzhi No.3" improved macrophage formation and phagocytosis, cardiac systolic and diastolic functions, reduced neuroinflammation, and alleviated oxidative stress in myocardial and endothelial cells, resulting in immunomodulatory and cardioprotective effects. CONCLUSION The sporoderm-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore tablet "Xianzhi No.3" maybe a potential therapeutic agent for regulating the immune system and protecting cardiac function.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the application value of a modified tragus edge incision and transmasseteric anteroparotid approach to condyle reconstruction. METHODS: Condyle reconstruction was performed in 16 patients (9 females and 7 males) with modified tragus edge incision and transmasseteric anteroparotid approach. After regular follow-up, the function of condyle reconstruction was evaluated by clinical indicators, such as parotid salivary fistula, facial nerve function, mouth opening, occlusal relationship, and facial scar. The morphology of rib graft rib cartilage was evaluated by imaging indicators, such as panoramic radiography, CT, and three-dimensional CT image reconstruction. RESULTS: At 6-36 months postoperative follow-up, all patients had good recovery of facial appearance, concealed incisional scar, no parotid salivary fistula, good mouth opening, and occlusion. One case had temporary facial paralysis and recovered after treatment. Radiographic evaluation further showed that costochondral graft survived in normal anatomic locations. CONCLUSIONS The modified tragus edge incision and transmasseteric anteroparotid approach can effectively reduce parotid salivary fistula and facial nerve injury in condylar reconstruction. The surgical field was clearly exposed, and the incision scar was concealed without increasing the incidence of other complications. Thus, this approach is worthy of clinical promotion.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Mandibular Condyle/surgery* ; Cicatrix/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Mandibular Fractures/surgery* ; Oral Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Treatment Outcome