Chronic, unresolved inflammation correlates with persistent hepatic injury and fibrosis, ultimately progressing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) demonstrates therapeutic potential against HCC, yet its mechanism in preventing hepatic "inflammation-carcinoma transformation" remains incompletely understood. In the current research, clinical HCC specimens underwent analysis using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to evaluate the expression of fibrosis markers, M2 macrophage markers, and CXCL12. In vitro, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced LX-2 cells and a co-culture system of LX-2, THP-1, and HCC cells were established. Cell functions underwent assessment through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), flow cytometry, and Transwell assays. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blotting and immunofluorescence evaluated the differential expression of molecules. The interaction between β-catenin/TCF4 and CXCL12 was examined using co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), dual luciferase, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. A DEN-induced rat model was developed to investigate BDMC's role in liver fibrosis-associated HCC (LFAHCC) development in vivo. Our results showed that clinical HCC tissues exhibited elevated fibrosis and enriched M2 macrophages. BDMC delayed liver fibrosis progression to HCC in vivo. BDMC inhibited the inflammatory microenvironment induced by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Furthermore, BDMC suppressed M2 macrophage-induced fibrosis and HCC cell proliferation and metastasis. Mechanistically, BDMC repressed TCF4/β-catenin complex formation, thereby reducing CXCL12 transcription in LX-2 cells. Moreover, CXCL12 overexpression reversed BDMC's inhibitory effect on macrophage M2 polarization and its mediation of fibrosis, as well as HCC proliferation and metastasis. BDMC significantly suppressed LFAHCC development through CXCL12 in rats. In conclusion, BDMC inhibited LFAHCC progression by reducing M2 macrophage polarization through suppressing β-catenin/TCF4-mediated CXCL12 transcription.
Animals ; Liver Neoplasms/etiology* ; Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/immunology* ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications* ; Macrophages/drug effects* ; Male ; Rats ; Chemokine CXCL12/genetics* ; Diarylheptanoids/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; beta Catenin/genetics*

Objective To explore the molecular mechanism of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)on the contraction of pregnant uterine smooth muscle at tissue and cellular levels.Methods C57BL/6J mice at 16 days of gestation were randomly divided into control group and LPS group.The mice in LPS group were intraperitoneally injected with 20 μg in LPS solution to establish the model of preterm birth,and the mice in control group were intraperitone-ally injected with the same amount of normal saline.Isolated uterine muscle strips were used to detect changes in the contractile function of the tissue,as well as changes in the expression and function of the contraction key signa-ling molecule TWIK-related K+channel 1(TREK-1).Primary cultured pregnant mouse uterine smooth muscle cells were used to detect the expression of TREK-1 under the regulation of LPS.Results The contractility of mouse u-terine tissues was significantly enhanced by LPS,and the protein expression of TREK-1,a key signal for contrac-tion,was significantly reduced,and activation of TREK-1 resulted in a significant down-regulation of the enhanced contractility of mouse uterine tissues in the LPS group.However,there was no significant difference in the expres-sion of TREK-1 protein,which was highly expressed in the smooth muscle of pregnant mice,when LPS acted on the primary uterine smooth muscle cells of pregnant mice.Conclusion Uterine contractility is enhanced in pregnant mice uterine tissues by inhibiting TREK-1 expression and function in response to LPS,and it may be one of the mechanisms by which LPS induces preterm labor.However,the effect of LPS on TREK-1 on mouse pregnant uter-ine smooth muscle cells may be realized through intercellular signaling and not directly on uterine smooth muscle cells.This further suggests that the animal and histological experiments cannot be completely replaced by isolated cell experiments in the study of inflammatory preterm labor.

Background::Hypothermia therapy has been suggested to attenuate myocardial necrosis; however, the clinical implementation as a valid therapeutic strategy has failed, and new approaches are needed to translate into clinical applications. This study aimed to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a novel selective intracoronary hypothermia (SICH) device in mitigating myocardial reperfusion injury.Methods::This study comprised two phases. The first phase of the SICH was performed in a normal porcine model for 30 minutes ( n = 5) to evaluate its feasibility. The second phase was conducted in a porcine myocardial infarction (MI) model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion which was performed by balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 60 minutes and maintained for 42 days. Pigs in the hypothermia group ( n = 8) received hypothermia intervention onset reperfusion for 30 minutes and controls ( n = 8) received no intervention. All animals were followed for 42 days. Cardiac magnetic resonance analysis (five and 42 days post-MI) and a series of biomarkers/histological studies were performed. Results::The average time to lower temperatures to a steady state was 4.8 ± 0.8 s. SICH had no impact on blood pressure or heart rate and was safely performed without complications by using a 3.9 F catheter. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein (CRP), and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were lower at 60 min post perfusion in pigs that underwent SICH as compared with the control group. On day 5 post MI/R, edema, intramyocardial hemorrhage, and microvascular obstruction were reduced in the hypothermia group. On day 42 post MI/R, the infarct size, IL-6, CRP, BNP, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were reduced, and the ejection fraction was improved in pigs that underwent SICH.Conclusions::The SICH device safely and effectively reduced the infarct size and improved heart function in a pig model of MI/R. These beneficial effects indicate the clinical potential of SICH for treatment of myocardial reperfusion injury.

[Objective]To evaluate the clinical outcomes of combining electroacupuncture with rectal function training for treating post-stroke constipation(PSC).[Methods]A total of sixty patients of PSC were enrolled in the study at the Rehabilitation Department of Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital from December 2021 to March 2023.They were randomly assigned using a random number table method to enter the treatment group(29 cases,with 1 case dropped out)or the control group(29 cases,with 1 case dropped out).The control group received comprehensive and individualized rectal function training,and the treatment group received electroacupuncture therapy on the basis of the control group,all of which were treated for 4 weeks.The study involved assessing the Cleveland Clinic Score(CCS),pelvic floor surface electromyography,and therapeutic outcomes before and after treatment.[Results]No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups prior to treatment(P>0.05).Following 4 weeks of treatment,both groups experienced a significant decrease in CCS scores(P<0.001),with the treatment group displaying a lower CCS score compared with the control group(P<0.01).After treatment,the electromyographic values significantly increased in both groups during the rapid contraction,tension contraction,and endurance contraction stages(P<0.001),and the electromyographic values of the above stages in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).The total effective rate of the treatment group(93.10%)was higher than that of the control group(72.41%),and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).[Conclusion]Electroacupuncture combined with rectal function training in the treatment of PSC can improve the defecation frequency and accompanying symptoms of patients,improve the muscle strength of pelvic floor fast and slow muscles and the endurance of slow muscles,and improve the therapeutic effect.

In vitro studies have established the prevalent theory that the mitochondrial kinase PINK1 protects neurodegeneration by removing damaged mitochondria in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, difficulty in detecting endogenous PINK1 protein in rodent brains and cell lines has prevented the rigorous investigation of the in vivo role of PINK1. Here we report that PINK1 kinase form is selectively expressed in the human and monkey brains. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deficiency of PINK1 causes similar neurodegeneration in the brains of fetal and adult monkeys as well as cultured monkey neurons without affecting mitochondrial protein expression and morphology. Importantly, PINK1 mutations in the primate brain and human cells reduce protein phosphorylation that is important for neuronal function and survival. Our findings suggest that PINK1 kinase activity rather than its mitochondrial function is essential for the neuronal survival in the primate brains and that its kinase dysfunction could be involved in the pathogenesis of PD.

OBJECTIVE:To prepare redox-responsive pluronic F127 micelles with high drug-loading efficiency. METHODS:The thiol derivative F127-SH with strong hydrophobicity was synthesized by introducing tert-butyl methacrylate and cysteamine to the hydrophobic segments of F127. Paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded redox-responsive pluronic F127 micelles with high drug-loading effi-ciency(F127-SS/PTX)were prepared by film-hydration method as well as oxidation reaction of thiol groups. The diameter,encap-sulation efficiency and drug-loading amount were detected,and the change of diameter and drug release behavior of micelles were investaged under reducing environment or non-reducing environment. RESULTS:Mean diameter of F127-SS/PTX micelles was about(77.87±1.79)nm,and encapsulation efficiency and drug-loading amount were(92.73±2.35)% and(16.25±0.99)%,re-spectively. The diameter of the micelles increased rapidly and drug release rate of PTX increased significantly in the presence of 10 mmol/L dithiothreitol. CONCLUSIONS:The redox-responsive pluronic F127 micelles with high drug-loading efficiency are pre-pared successfully.

Objectives This study aimed to understand the attitude of medical students at the undergraduate level towards the learning of first-aid skills and knowledge as well as pre-hospital first-aid services.Furthermore,this study helped to design a more effective strategy of first-aid education in medical schools.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 1219 undergraduates in medical university,using stratified and cluster proportion sampling method.Results When an accident was met,81.26％ of the undergraduates would voluntarily offer pre-hospital first-aid assistance;77.76％ students had studied first aid knowledge through various channels.However,most students did not have a systematic comprehension of first-aid knowledge and skills.Conclusion Undergraduates in medical university have a positive attitude to offering pre-hospital first-aid assistance;however,the majority of students lack the ability to provide correct and effective assistance.Therefore,medicinal university needs to provide the students with more effective first-aid education.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mental health level of entrants.MethodsThe status of mental health of entrants in 05 class of Ningbo University was investigated with the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). The 8405 available samples were analyzed.ResultsThe prevalence of psychological symptoms of this group was 9.42%, while the levels of obsessive-compulsive, phobia and psychopathic deviate were significantly higher than that of the Chinese module. To the average level of mental health, female was inferior to male, non-single child in family was inferior to single child, students from towns and countries were inferior to those from cities; students with medical history or psychosis history in family had higher levels of symptomatology; students satisfied with their majority and received satisfied entrance education were superior to the ones who were not satisfied.ConclusionThe education of mental health for the entrants should be enhanced to raise their mental health level.