AIM: To investigate the effect of silymarin on homocysteine-induced cell viability and apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: Cell viability was analyzed by using MTT and LDH assay. Apoptotic cells were detected by using DNA fragmentation and flow cytometric analysis. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the potential of mitochondrial membrane were determined by flow cytometric assay. The activity of caspase-3, -6 and -9 were measured with microplate spectrofluorometer. Protein levels were examined by Western blotting. RESULTS: Treatment of cultured HUVECs with HCY for 48 h induced a significant decrease in cell viability, and the percentage of apoptosis increased to 76.8%. The level of intracellular ROS and activity of caspase-3, -6 and -9 enhanced, and the red/green ratios of mitochondrial membrane decreased. However, simultaneous treatment with silymarin exhibited cytoprotective effects, reduced formation of the DNA ladder, prevented the levels of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins and the accumulation of ROS as well as caspase-3, -6 and -9 activation, reconverted the potential of mitochondrial membrane, and the percentage of apoptosis/necrosis was significantly decreased to 12.7% in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that silymarin has the protective capacity to antagonize HCY-induced apoptosis in HUVECs. The antiapoptotic action of silymarin may be partially dependent on an anti-oxidative stress effects, inhibition of caspases activity, and maintenance of mitochondria function.

AIM:To investigate the effects of grasp seed procyanidins(GSP) on homocysteine-induced proliferation and migration in vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC) and related molecular mechanisms.METHODS: Cell count and -TdR assay were used for detecting cell proliferation and DNA synthesis,ELISA assay was used for detecting inflammatory response,DCFH-DA assay for examining the levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS),Western blotting for detecting protein expression.RESULTS: Homocysteine(0.1-1 mmol/L) increased VSMC proliferation and migration,and the levels of ROS were in a dose-dependent manner.The results of Western blotting showed that homocysteine significantly increased the expression of MCP-1,IL-6 and TNF-?.However,Compared with control group,in GSP(5-20 g/L) group,the increased VSMC proliferation,migration and the production of ROS and the expression of MCP-1,IL-6 and TNF-? mediated by homocysteine were markedly suppressed.EMSA showed that in GSP treatment group,the NF-?B activation was also almost completely inhibited.CONCLUSION: GSP inhibits homocysteine-induced VSMC proliferation,migration and inflammatory response through interfering with ROS dependent on NF-?B signal pathway.

Objective:To identify the influencing factors affecting the cosmetic facial injection treatments for cosmetic patients.Methods:Based on the purposeful sampling principle with maximum diversity and data saturation principle, patients who underwent facial injection cosmetic surgery in Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from June to September 2022 were selected for cross-sectional study. The qualitative study method was used to conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews with patients and collect data. After the interview, the 7-step analysis method of Colaizzi phenomenological data was used to extract the topic concepts.Results:A total of 16 patients were included, and their influencing factors for medical treatment could be divided into 5 related topics: (1) age-related; (2) occupation-related; (3) surrounding social-environment-related; (4) social media platforms contacted; (5) experience of negative appearance evaluation during adolescence.Conclusion:Many factors affect the treatment of injection patients. In the course of medical treatment, the influencing factors should be identified accurately, so as to guide patients to seek medical treatment scientifically.

Objective:To identify the influencing factors affecting the cosmetic facial injection treatments for cosmetic patients.Methods:Based on the purposeful sampling principle with maximum diversity and data saturation principle, patients who underwent facial injection cosmetic surgery in Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from June to September 2022 were selected for cross-sectional study. The qualitative study method was used to conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews with patients and collect data. After the interview, the 7-step analysis method of Colaizzi phenomenological data was used to extract the topic concepts.Results:A total of 16 patients were included, and their influencing factors for medical treatment could be divided into 5 related topics: (1) age-related; (2) occupation-related; (3) surrounding social-environment-related; (4) social media platforms contacted; (5) experience of negative appearance evaluation during adolescence.Conclusion:Many factors affect the treatment of injection patients. In the course of medical treatment, the influencing factors should be identified accurately, so as to guide patients to seek medical treatment scientifically.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of a family clustering of COVID-19. Methods Field epidemiological survey was conducted. Result Case 1 of the long-term residents from Hubei province was the source of infection of this family clustering. There were 6 cases (from case 2 to case 7) infected in the whole incubation period. The incubation period was more than 14 days for 3 of the second-generation cases. Routes of transmission include respiratory droplets (from case 1 transmitted to case 6, from case 1 to her family members) and closecontact (from case 1 to other cases in her family). All the age groups were generally susceptible, while elderly were easier to progress to critically ill. Besides respiratory symptoms, there were also gastrointestinal symptoms, of which diarrhea was the most common one. Conclusion Family clustering had been an important part for COVID-19 cases.