Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver injury resulting from factors like viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cholestatic liver disease. Liver transplantation is currently the gold standard for treating severe liver diseases. However, it is limited by a shortage of donor organs and the necessity for lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into various liver cells and enhance liver function when transplanted into patients due to their differentiation and proliferation capabilities. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative therapy for treating liver diseases, especially for liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver transplant complications. However, due to the potential tumorigenic effects of MSCs, researchers are exploring a new approach to treating liver fibrosis using extracellular vesicles (exosomes) secreted by stem cells. Many studies show that exosomes released by stem cells can promote liver injury repair through various pathways, contributing to the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms by which stem cell exosomes affect liver fibrosis through different pathways and their potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, we discuss the advantages of exosome therapy over stem cell therapy and the possible future directions of exosome research, including the prospects for clinical applications and the challenges to be overcome.

Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver injury resulting from factors like viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cholestatic liver disease. Liver transplantation is currently the gold standard for treating severe liver diseases. However, it is limited by a shortage of donor organs and the necessity for lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into various liver cells and enhance liver function when transplanted into patients due to their differentiation and proliferation capabilities. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative therapy for treating liver diseases, especially for liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver transplant complications. However, due to the potential tumorigenic effects of MSCs, researchers are exploring a new approach to treating liver fibrosis using extracellular vesicles (exosomes) secreted by stem cells. Many studies show that exosomes released by stem cells can promote liver injury repair through various pathways, contributing to the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms by which stem cell exosomes affect liver fibrosis through different pathways and their potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, we discuss the advantages of exosome therapy over stem cell therapy and the possible future directions of exosome research, including the prospects for clinical applications and the challenges to be overcome.

Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver injury resulting from factors like viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cholestatic liver disease. Liver transplantation is currently the gold standard for treating severe liver diseases. However, it is limited by a shortage of donor organs and the necessity for lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into various liver cells and enhance liver function when transplanted into patients due to their differentiation and proliferation capabilities. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative therapy for treating liver diseases, especially for liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver transplant complications. However, due to the potential tumorigenic effects of MSCs, researchers are exploring a new approach to treating liver fibrosis using extracellular vesicles (exosomes) secreted by stem cells. Many studies show that exosomes released by stem cells can promote liver injury repair through various pathways, contributing to the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms by which stem cell exosomes affect liver fibrosis through different pathways and their potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, we discuss the advantages of exosome therapy over stem cell therapy and the possible future directions of exosome research, including the prospects for clinical applications and the challenges to be overcome.

ObjectiveTo evaluate some properties of scutellarin-phospholipid complex nanoemulsion（SCU-PC-NE）， such as release， cell uptake and tissue distribution， and to investigate its effect on ameliorating lipopolysaccharide（LPS）-induced vascular endothelial injury. MethodSCU-PC-NE was prepared by weighting SCU-PC， ethyl oleate， Kolliphor HS15， 1，2-propylene glycol（50， 400， 514.3， 85.7 mg）， respectively. And the appearance of SCU-PC-NE was observed by transmission electron microscope， the average paticle size and Zeta potential were measured by nanopotential particle size analyzer. The cumulative release of SCU-PC-NE in vitro was measured by dynamic dialysis， thiazolyl blue（MTT） colorimetric assay was used to investigate the effect of SCU-PC-NE on the viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells（HUVECs）， the inverted fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry were used to investigate cell uptake of HUVECs by SCU-PC-NE in vitro using coumarin 6 as a fluorescent probe， the tissue distribution of DiR/SCU-PC-NE labeled by near infrared fluorescent dyes was obeserved by small animal in vivo imaging system. The inflammation injury model was established by co-incubation with LPS（1 mg·L^-1） and HUVECs， the effect of SCU-PC-NE on the levels of interleukin（IL）-1β and IL-6 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）， 18 Kunming male mice were randomly divided into blank group， model group， blank preparation group（equivalent to high dose group）， SCU group and SCU-PC-NE low and high dose groups（5， 10 mg·kg^-1）， 3 mice in each group， and the drug administration groups were administered once in the tail vein at the corresponding dose every 48 h， equal volume of normal saline was given to the blank group and the model group， and the drug was administered for 4 consecutive times. Except for the blank group， the endothelial inflammatory injury was induced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS（10 mg·kg^-1） at 12 h before the last administration in each group. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to investigate the effect of SCU-PC-NE on the histopathological changes in the thoracic aorta of mice. ResultThe appearance of SCU-PC-NE displayed pale yellow milky light， mostly spherical with rounded appearance and relatively uniform particle size distribution， with the average particle size of 35.31 nm， Zeta potential of 7.23 mV， and the encapsulation efficiency of 75.24%. The cumulative release in vitro showed that SCU-PC-NE exhibited sustained release properties compared with SCU. The cell viability of SCU-PC-NE was >90% at a concentration range of 1.05-8.4 mg·L^-1. The results of cellular uptake experiments showed that the cellular uptake ability of SCU-PC-NE was significantly enhanced when compared with the SCU group（P<0.01）. Compared with normal mice， the results of tissue distribution showed that the fluorescence intensity of DiR/SCU-PC-NE was significantly enhanced in the spleen， kidney， brain and thoracic aorta of mice at different time points after intraperitoneal injection of LPS（P<0.05， P<0.01）， especially in thoracic aorta. ELISA results showed that the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the model group were significantly increased when compared with the blank group（P<0.05， P<0.01）， and compare with the model group， all administration groups significantly down-regulated IL-1β level， with the strongest effect in the SCU-PC-NE high-dose group（P<0.01）， and all administration groups significantly down-regulated IL-6 level， with the strongest effect in the SCU-PC-NE low-dose group（P<0.05）. Compare with the blank group， the results of HE staining showed that the endothelial cells were damaged， the elastic fibers were broken and arranged loosely in the model group， although similar vascular injury could be observed in the blank preparation group， SCU group and SCU-PC-NE low-dose group， the vascular endothelial damage was significantly reduced in the high-dose group of SCU-PC-NE， which had a better effect than that in the SCU group. ConclusionSCU-PC-NE can promote the uptake of drugs by endothelial cells and effectively enriched in the site of vascular endothelial injury caused by LPS， suggesting that it has a protective effect on vascular endothelial injury and is a good carrier of SCU.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of alveolar lavage combined with montelukast in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and its effect on oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in patients.Methods:A prospective study was conducted involving 90 patients with AECOPD who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Shan County Central Hospital from December 2021 to December 2022. The patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 45 patients in each group, using the random number table method. The control group received conventional treatment, while the observation group was additionally treated with alveolar lavage combined with montelukast. Symptom score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, overall response rate, serum levels of oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal, and superoxide dismutase), and serum levels of inflammatory factors (C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and procalcitonin) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.Results:After treatment, the symptom scores for both groups decreased significantly compared with their respective scores before treatment ( t = 6.68, 11.32, both P < 0.05). After treatment, the symptom score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group [(8.69 ± 0.84) points vs. (15.39 ± 1.18) points, t = 8.75, P < 0.05]. After treatment, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group ( t = 9.19, P < 0.05). The overall response rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [93.33% (42/45) vs. 75.56% (34/45), t = 4.56, P < 0.05]. After treatment, serum levels of 4-hydroxynonenal and malondialdehyde in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t = 4.20, 5.15, both P < 0.05), while serum level of superoxide dismutase in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( t = 5.23, P < 0.05). After treatment, serum levels of C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and procalcitonin in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t = 6.86, 5.60, 8.75, 4.89, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Alveolar lavage combined with montelukast can reduce clinical symptoms in patients with AECOPD, promote recovery, enhances clinical efficacy, decreases oxidative stress responses, increases the body's antioxidant capacity, lowers the expression of inflammatory factors, and reduces inflammatory responses.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of low-dose tirofiban in stent-assisted coil embolization(SAC)for ruptured intracranial aneurysms.Methods From April 2011 to September 2020,335 patients of ruptured intracranial aneurysms with subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH)admitted in the First People's Hospital of Changzhou were retrospectively analyzed.All cases underwent stent-assisted coil embolization within 24-48 h and antiplatelet medications.The patients were divided into dual antibody group(89 cases)and tirofiban group(246 cases).Baseline and clinical data of all patients were collected for comparison between groups,including age,sex,hypertension,diabetes mellitus,Hunt-Hess grade at admission,modified Fisher scale score at admission,aneurysm diameter(＞5 mm,≤5 mm),aneurysm location(anterior circulation,posterior circulation),postoperative acute hydrocephalus or intraventricular hemorrhage,postoperative complete embolization rate of ruptured aneurysm.All patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysm with SAH were confirmed by emergency cerebral CT scan after admission.The Raymond grading criteria were used to evaluate the embolization effect after operation:grade Ⅰ refers to no development(complete embolization),grade Ⅱ refers to only aneurysm neck development(incomplete embolization),and grade Ⅲ refers to aneurysm body development,in which Raymond grading Ⅰ orⅡ indicates effective embolization.Tirofiban group:4.2 μg/kg tirofiban was intravenously injected after the coil was placed in the aneurysm lumen and the stent was released,followed by maintenance dose 0.07 μg/(kg·min)for 6-8 h,and aspirin 100 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg were given as sequential dual antiplatelet therapy 2 hours before the tirofiban infusion was stopped.Dual antiplatelet group:a loading dose of aspirin 300 mg and clopidogrel 300 mg was given at least 2 hours before stent implantation,and then transferred to aspirin 100 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg given on the second day after operation.All patients received aspirin(100mg/d)for 6 months and clopidogrel(75 mg/d)for 3 months after operation.The efficacy indicators,safety indicators,adverse events and other complications of the two groups were collected and compared.The efficacy indicators were the incidence of thrombotic events during operation and within 72 hours after operation.The safety indicators were the incidence of intraoperative and early postoperative intracranial hemorrhage(within 48 hours after operation),the incidence of late postoperative intracranial hemorrhage(over 48 hours after operation),and the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage related to external ventricular drainage(symptomatic and asymptomatic).The adverse event was the occurrence of drug-related thrombocytopenia.Other complications were delayed ischemic events.The modified Rankin scale(mRS)score was used to evaluate the clinical prognosis of patients at 180 days after operation.mRS score ≤2 was defined as good prognosis,mRS score＞2 was defined as poor prognosis,of which 6 was defined as death.Results(1)There were no significant differences in baseline and clinical data between the tirofiban group and the dual antibody group(all P＞0.05).(2)There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with good outcome(75.2％[185/246]vs.74.2％[66/89],P=0.845)and death(10.2％[25/246]vs.12.4％[11/89],P=0.566)at 180 days after operation between the tirofiban group and the dual antiplatelet group.(3)There was no significant difference in the incidence of intraoperative(0.8％[2/246]vs.4.5％[4/89],P=0.075)and postoperative thrombotic events(11.0％[27/246]vs.13.5％[12/89],P=0.527)between the tirofiban group and the dual antiplatelet group.(4)Results about safety comparison between this two antiplatelet regimens showed that the incidence of early postoperative intracranial hemorrhage were lower in the tirofiban group than that in the dual antiplatelet group(2.8％[7/246]vs.10.1％[9/89],P=0.014).There were no significant differences in the symptomatic external ventricular drainage related intracranial hemorrhage(0 vs.2/15,P=0.050),incidences of intraoperative intracranial hemorrhage(1.6％vs.3.4％,P=0.580),late postoperative intracranial hemorrhage(3.3％vs.4.5％,P=0.836),and drug-related thrombocytopenia(0.4％vs.1.1％,P=0.461)between the two groups.Conclusion Low-dose tirofiban infusion in SAC for ruptured aneurysms may prevent perioperative thromboembolic events without high risk of intracranial hemorrhage.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum basic helix-loop-helix transcription fac-tor family member E40(BHLHE40)levels and subclinical atherosclerosis(SAS)in patients with type 2 dia-betes mellitus(T2DM).Methods A total of 145 T2DM patients admitted to the Department of General Prac-tice of Suzhou Municipal Hospital from January 2021 to January 2023 were selected as the study objects.Pa-tients were divided into SAS group(n=80)and non-SAS group(n=65)according to whether SAS occurred.Serum BHLHE40 level and clinical data of the two groups were compared.The correlation between serum BHLHE40 level and carotid intima media thickness(CIMT)was analyzed by Pearson correlation.The risk factors of SAS in T2DM patients were analyzed by multi-factor Logistic regression.The value of serum BHL-HE40 level in the diagnosis of SAS in T2DM patients was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results The age,duration of diabetes,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),CIMT and serum BHLHE40 levels in SAS group were significantly higher than those in non-SAS group,with statistical differ-ence(P＜0.001).Correlation analysis showed that serum BHLHE40 level was positively correlated with CI-MT(r=0.671,P＜0.001).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that duration of diabetes,age,CIMT,LDL-C and serum BHLHE40 level were all risk factors for SAS in T2DM patients(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis indicated that the area under the curve(AUC)of serum BHLHE40 for the diagnosis of SAS in T2DM patients was 0.742,the sensitivity was 75.0％,and the specificity was 73.9％.Conclusion Serum BHLHE40 expression level is closely related to the occurrence of SAS in T2DM patients,and is of great diag-nostic value for the occurrence of SAS in T2DM patients.

Objective:To observe the occurrence of perioperative adverse events of carotid endarterectomy in patients with carotid artery stenosis, and analyze the influencing factors of perioperative adverse events.Methods:The clinical data of 120 carotid artery stenosis patients underwent carotid endarterectomy from October 2021 to October 2022 in Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 42 patients experienced perioperative adverse events (adverse events group), and 78 patients did not experience perioperative adverse events (non-adverse events group). The baseline data, imaging findings, laboratory indexes, surgical indexes and postoperative complications were recorded. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of perioperative adverse events of carotid endarterectomy in patients with carotid artery stenosis.Results:The rates of history of cerebrovascular disease, severe stenosis or occlusion of anterior cerebral artery, patch repair and plaque ulceration in adverse events group were significantly higher than those in non-adverse events group: 35.71% (15/42) vs. 15.38% (12/78), 52.38% (22/42) vs. 26.92% (21/78), 50.00% (21/42) vs. 20.51% (16/78) and 61.90% (26/42) vs. 24.36% (19/78), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05 or <0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis result showed that the severe stenosis or occlusion of anterior cerebral artery, patch repair and plaque ulceration were the independent risk factors of perioperative adverse events of carotid endarterectomy in patients with carotid artery stenosis ( OR = 2.874, 2.632 and 3.214; 95% CI 1.421 to 3.654, 1.748 to 3.287 and 2.101 to 4.697; P<0.05 or <0.01). Conclusions:The severe stenosis or occlusion of anterior cerebral artery, patch repair and plaque ulceration are the independent risk factors of perioperative adverse events of carotid endarterectomy in patients with carotid artery stenosis. Identifying and taking effective measures to prevent the perioperative adverse events can effectively reduce disability and mortality rates.

Objective:To analyze the radiographic parameters of shoulder balance that affect the postoperative satisfaction of Lenke type 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).Methods:A total of 98 patients with AIS who underwent posterior pedicle screw fusion in Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University from August 2017 to July 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 26 males and 72 females, aged 15.2±5.3 years (range, 10-24 years). Distribution of upper instrumented vertebrae: T 2 58 cases (59%), T 3 25 cases (26%), T 4 15 cases (15%); Distribution of lower instrumented vertebrae: T 12 63 cases (64%), L 1 28 cases (29%), L 2 4 cases (4%), L 3 3 cases (3%). Clavicle angle (CA), radiographic shoulder height (RSH), and coracoid height difference (CHD), clavicle-rib cage intersection difference (CRID), T 1 tilt angle, first rib tilt angle, clavicle chest angle difference(CCAD) and Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) scale were compared before and after operation. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the radiographic indicators of shoulder balance that affected the postoperative satisfaction of Lenke type 1 AIS. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to determine the threshold value of the imaging index. Results:All operations were successfully completed. The operation time was 260±80 min (range, 220-320 min), and the intraoperative blood loss was 360±110 ml (range, 300-700 ml). There was no nerve, dural or vascular injury during operation. RSH, CHD, CRID, T 1 tilt angle, first rib tilt angle, and CCAD at the final follow-up were 4.0 (0, 13.9) mm, 7.0 (0, 12.9) mm, 4.0 (0, 10.0) mm, 4.8° (3.3°, 8.2°), 5.3°±3.9°, and 5.5° (3.0°, 8.9°), respectively, which were less than the preoperative 10.6 (2.0, 20.3) mm, 10.3 (2.5, 15.9) mm, 8.0 (1.0, 15.2) mm, 7.6° (3.5°, 12.2°), 7.5°±6.9°, 8.5° (3.6°, 18.3°), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The SRS-22 function, pain, appearance, and psychological scores at the final follow-up were 4.6 (4.0, 4.9), 4.1±0.5, 4.1±0.7, and 4.2 (3.9, 4.8) points, respectively, which were greater than the preoperative scores of 4.2 (3.8, 4.6), 4.0±0.7, 3.5±0.7, and 4.0 (3.5, 4.4) points, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Binary logistic regression showed that CCAD was an independent radiographic indicator of shoulder balance that affected the satisfaction of AIS patients after orthopaedic surgery ( OR=0.826, P=0.040). ROC curve showed that the area under the curve and 95% CI was 0.726 (0.572, 0.865), and the threshold was 6.6°. Conclusion:CCAD is an independent radiographic parameter of shoulder balance that affects the postoperative satisfaction of AIS. Patients are more likely to achieve a satisfactory outcome when their postoperative CCAD is ≤6.6°, which can be used clinically as a radiographic parameter to assess the efficacy of orthopaedic spine surgery.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors for postoperative cardiovascular events (PCE) after renal transplantation and their impact on transplant kidney function.Methods:The clinical data of 120 patients who underwent kidney transplant at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from March 2020 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 23 cases occurred PCE (PCE group), and 97 cases did not occur PCE (non-PCE group). The relevant preoperative and postoperative data were recorded. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of PCE in kidney transplant patients.Results:The incidence rate of PCE in kidney transplant patients was 19.17% (23/120). There were no statistical differences in the gender composition, preoperative dyslipidemia rate, preoperative hypertension rate and immunosuppressant use between two groups ( P>0.05); the age, preoperative body mass index>30 kg/m 2 rate, preoperative dialysis time>12 months rate, preoperative diabetes rate, preoperative cardiovascular disease rate, preoperative diabetic nephropathy rate, cadaver kidney transplant rate, postoperative dyslipidemia rate, postoperative serum creatinine >200 μmol/L rate, postoperative new-onset diabetes rate, postoperative delayed failure rate and postoperative acute reaction rate in PCE group were significantly higher than those in non-PCE group, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 or <0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age, preoperative diabetes, preoperative cardiovascular disease, preoperative diabetic nephropathy, postoperative serum creatinine >200 μmol/L and postoperative acute reaction were independent risk factors of PCE in kidney transplant patients ( OR = 2.40, 3.42, 3.85, 1.98, 2.62 and 2.11; 95% CI 1.67 to 3.58, 1.61 to 7.05, 2.61 to 5.55, 1.05 to 3.85, 1.25 to 4.52 and 1.20 to 4.78; P<0.01 or <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in serum creatinine 3 months after surgery between two groups ( P>0.05); the serum creatinine 6 and 12 months after surgery in PCE group was significantly higher than that in non-PCE group: (139.58 ± 31.54) μmol/L vs. (105.36 ± 21.05) μmol/L and (198.32 ± 40.12) μmol/L vs. (107.63 ± 24.64) μmol/L, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). Conclusions:The incidence of PCE in kidney transplant patients is higher, and there are many risk factors for PCE. If relevant measures are taken to correct or remove risk factors, it may reduce the incidence of PCE and prolong survival time in kidney transplant patients.