Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is severe respiratory failure in clinical practice, with a mortality rate as high as 40%. Injury of pulmonary endothelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells occurs during ARDS, and pulmonary endothelial injury results in endothelial barrier disruption, which usually occurs before epithelial injury. Especially, when harmful factors enter the blood, such as sepsis and hemorrhagic shock, the pulmonary endothelial cells are affected firstly. The injured endothelial cells may loss cell-to-cell connections and even die. After the endothelial barrier is disrupted, fluid and proteins cross the endothelial barrier, causing interstitial edema. The alveolar epithelium is more resistant to injury, and when the tight barrier of the epithelium is broken, fluids, proteins, neutrophils, and red blood cells in the interstitium enter the alveolar space. From this process, it is easy to find that the endothelium is the first barrier to prevent edema, therefore, the protection of endothelium is the key to the prevention and treatment of ARDS. In addition, the injured endothelial cells express selectin and cell adhesion molecules, promoting the recruitment of immune cells, which exacerbate the inflammatory response and pulmonary endothelial cell injury. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be derived from umbilical cord, bone marrow, adipose and so on. Because of low immunogenicity, MSCs can be used for allogeneic transplantation and have great application potential in tissue repairing. Through paracrine effect, MSCs can promote cell survival and balance inflammatory response. MSCs infused intravenously can locate in lungs rapidly and interact with endothelial cells directly, thus MSCs have advantages in protecting pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. Animal experiments and clinical trials have found that MSC transplantation can significantly improve the symptoms of ARDS and reduce inflammatory reactions and endothelial permeability. Mechanically, MSCs acts mainly through paracrine and immunomodulatory effects. Paracrine cytokines from MSCs can not only promote pulmonary endothelial proliferation, but also reduce inflammatory response and promote cell survival to maintain endothelial integrity. In addition to paracrine cytokines, extracellular vesicles of MSCs are rich in RNAs, proteins and bioactive substances, which can protect pulmonary endothelial cells by intercellular communication and substance transport. Furthermore, MSCs may protect pulmonary endothelial cells indirectly by regulating immune cells, such as reducing the formation of extracellular trapping network of neutrophils, regulating macrophage polarization and regulating Th17/Treg cell balance. Although the beneficial effects of MSCs are verified, much work still needs to be done. MSCs from different tissues have their own characteristics and the scope of application. Different lung diseases possess different endothelial injury mechanisms. Thus, determining the indications of MSCs derived from different tissues is the direction of pulmonary disease clinical trials. From the perspective of transplantation route, intravenous injection of MSCs may have better clinical application in pulmonary endothelial injury caused by endogenous harmful factors in blood. Previous reviews mostly focused on the protective effects of MSCs on alveolar epithelium. In this article, we focused on endothelial cells and reviewed the direct protective effects and mechanisms of MSCs on endothelium through paracrine cytokines and extracellular vesicles, and summarize the mechanisms by which MSCs may indirectly protect pulmonary endothelial cells by regulating immune cells.

Root rot severely restricts the sustainable development of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (AMM) industry. Resistance breeding is an economical and environmentally safe way to manage the disease and its key lies in the obtaining of resistance indicators. This study aimed to quickly and accurately screen the resistance-related (RR) metabolites so as to provide reference for the screening of indicators of AMM breeding for resistance. LC-MS-based targeted metabolomics and real-time quantitative PCR technology were employed, in combination with multivariate statistical analysis, in analyzing the dynamic changes of phenylpropanoid metabolites in AMM in response to root rot pathogen Fusarium solani (FS) infection and identifying the differential metabolites. The LC-MS method established showed high sensitivity; each metabolite had a good linear relationship (R² ≥ 0.968 9) in the corresponding linear range of the respective standard curve; the recoveries and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) (n = 6) ranged from 70% to 107% and from 1.2% to 9.9%, respectively. Obvious disturbances were observed in the changes of the targeted metabolites in AMM infected by FS. These metabolites, compared with the mock-inoculated (CK) group, showed different up or down regulation with time series. Calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, ononin, calycosin and formononetin were identified as differential metabolites, and they all belong to flavonoids. The first three compounds were significantly negatively correlated (r ≤ -0.97, P < 0.05) with the content of FS in the root of AMM. As potential RR metabolites, they are helpful in obtaining promising resistance indicators for AMM against FS infection.

Objective: To explore the epidemiological characteristic of a COVID-19 outbreak caused by 2019-nCoV Omicron variant BF.7 and other provinces imported in Shenzhen and analyze transmission chains and characteristics. Methods: Field epidemiological survey was conducted to identify the transmission chain, analyze the generation relationship among the cases. The 2019-nCoV nucleic acid positive samples were used for gene sequencing. Results: From 8 to 23 October, 2022, a total of 196 cases of COVID-19 were reported in Shenzhen, all the cases had epidemiological links. In the cases, 100 were men and 96 were women, with a median of age, M (Q₁, Q₃) was 33(25, 46) years. The outbreak was caused by traverlers initial cases infected with 2019-nCoV who returned to Shenzhen after traveling outside of Guangdong Province.There were four transmission chains, including the transmission in place of residence and neighbourhood, affecting 8 persons, transmission in social activity in the evening on 7 October, affecting 65 persons, transmission in work place on 8 October, affecting 48 persons, and transmission in a building near the work place, affecting 74 persons. The median of the incubation period of the infection, M (Q₁, Q₃) was 1.44 (1.11, 2.17) days. The incubation period of indoor exposure less than that of the outdoor exposure, M (Q₁, Q₃) was 1.38 (1.06, 1.84) and 1.95 (1.22, 2.99) days, respcetively (Wald χ²=10.27, P=0.001). With the increase of case generation, the number and probability of gene mutation increased. In the same transmission chain, the proportion of having 1-3 mutation sites was high in the cases in the first generation. Conclusions: The transmission chains were clear in this epidemic. The incubation period of Omicron variant BF.7 infection was shorter, the transmission speed was faster, and the gene mutation rate was higher. It is necessary to conduct prompt response and strict disease control when epidemic occurs.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemics ; China/epidemiology*

In order to judge the future development trend of science and technology, plan ahead and lay out the frontier technology fields and directions, China Association of Chinese Medicine(CACM) has launched consultation projects for collecting "major scienti-fic issues and engineering technology difficulties in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)" for the industry for three consecutive years since 2019. Up to now, 18 projects have been selected as major issues for research, and some experience and achievements have been made. These projects have been applied in important scientific and technological work such as scientific and technological planning and deployment at all levels of national, local, and scientific research institutions, the selection and cultivation of major national scientific and technological projects, and the construction of innovation bases, giving full play to the role of the think tank advisory committee of CACM. This study reviewed the selection of major issues for the first time, systematically combed its application in the national layout of science and technology, and put forward the existing problems and improvement suggestions, aiming to provide new ideas for further improving the selection of major issues and research direction, providing a theoretical basis and decision support for the national scientific and technological layout in the field of TCM, and promoting scientific and technological innovation to facilitate the high quality development of TCM.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Inventions ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

Humans ; Cerebral Cortex ; Hallucinations/pathology* ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/pathology* ; Atrophy/pathology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective: To provide a new solution for the digital design of nasal prostheses, this study explores the three-dimensional (3D) facial morphology completion method for external nasal defects based on the non-rigid registration process of 3D face template. Methods: A total of 20 male patients with tooth defect and dentition defect who visited the Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from June to December 2022 were selected, age 18-45 years old. The original 3D facial data of patients were collected, and the 3D facial data of the external nose defect was constructed in Geomagic Wrap 2021 software. Using the structured 3D face template data constructed in the previous research of the research group, the 3D face template was deformed and registered to the 3D facial data of external nose defect (based on the morphology of non-defective area) by non-rigid registration algorithm (MeshMonk program), and the personalized deformed data of the 3D face template was obtained, as the complemented facial 3D data. Based on the defect boundary of the 3D facial data of the external nose defect, the complemented external nose 3D data can be cut out from the complemented facial 3D data. Then the nasofacial angle and nasolabial angle of the complemented facial 3D data and the original 3D facial data was compared and analyzed, the ratio between the nose length and mid-face height, nose width and medial canthal distance of the complemented facial 3D data was measured, the edge fit between the edge curve of the complemented external nose 3D data and the defect edge curve of the 3D facial data of external nose defect was evaluated, and the morphological difference of the nose between the complemented external nose 3D data and the original 3D facial data was analyzed. Results: There was no significant statistically difference (t=-0.23, P=0.823; Z=-1.72, P=0.086) in the nasofacial angle (28.2°±2.9°, 28.4°±3.5° respectively) and nasolabial angle [95.4°(19.2°), 99.9°(9.5°) respectively] between the 20 original 3D facial data and the complemented facial 3D data. The value of the ratio of nose length to mid-face height in the complemented facial 3D data was 0.63±0.03, and the value of the ratio of nose width to medial canthal distance was 1.07±0.08. The curve deviation (root mean square value) between the edge curve of the complemented external nose 3D data and the defect edge curve of the 3D facial data of external nose defect was (0.37±0.09) mm, the maximum deviation was (1.14±0.32) mm, and the proportion of the curve deviation value within±1 mm was (97±3)%. The distance of corresponding nose landmarks between the complemented facial 3D data and the original 3D facial data were respectively, Nasion: [1.52(1.92)] mm; Pronasale: (3.27±1.21) mm; Subnasale: (1.99±1.09) mm; Right Alare: (2.64±1.34) mm; Left Alare: (2.42± 1.38) mm. Conclusions: The method of 3D facial morphology completion of external nose defect proposed in this study has good feasibility. The constructed complemented external nose 3D data has good facial coordination and edge fit, and the morphology is close to the nose morphology of the original 3D facial data.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a user-friendly risk score for older mitral regurgitation (MR) patients, referred to as the Elder-MR score. METHODS: The China Senile Valvular Heart Disease (China-DVD) Cohort Study functioned as the development cohort, while the China Valvular Heart Disease (China-VHD) Study was employed for external validation. We included patients aged 60 years and above receiving medical treatment for moderate or severe MR (2274 patients in the development cohort and 1929 patients in the validation cohort). Candidate predictors were chosen using Cox's proportional hazards model and stepwise selection with Akaike's information criterion. RESULTS: Eight predictors were identified: age ≥ 75 years, body mass index < 20 kg/m², NYHA class III/IV, secondary MR, anemia, estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m², albumin < 35 g/L, and left ventricular ejection fraction < 60%. The model displayed satisfactory performance in predicting one-year mortality in both the development cohort (C-statistic = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.69-0.77, Brier score = 0.06) and the validation cohort (C-statistic = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.68-0.78, Brier score = 0.06). The Elder-MR score ranges from 0 to 15 points. At a one-year follow-up, each point increase in the Elder-MR score represents a 1.27-fold risk of death (HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.21-1.34, P < 0.001) in the development cohort and a 1.24-fold risk of death (HR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.17-1.30, P < 0.001) in the validation cohort. Compared to EuroSCORE II, the Elder-MR score demonstrated superior predictive accuracy for one-year mortality in the validation cohort (C-statistic = 0.71 vs. 0.70, net reclassification improvement = 0.320, P < 0.01; integrated discrimination improvement = 0.029, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The Elder-MR score may serve as an effective risk stratification tool to assist clinical decision-making in older MR patients.

Aim To explore the inhibitory effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on the inflammatory response in the hippocampus of brain tissues of CIRI rats by regulating SIRT1 and the underlying mechanism. Methods The middle cerebral artery embolization (MCAO) model was prepared in rats and divided into sham operation group (Sham), model group (MCAO/R), Buyang Huanwu Decoction group (BYHWT),and BYHWT + SIRT1 inhibitor group (BYHWT + EX527). Zea Longa was used to detect the neurological function score of rats in each group; TTC staining was used to determine the volume of cerebral infarction; HE staining was used to observe the pathological damage of the hippocampus; Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of SIRT1 and IL-6; immunohistochemistry was used to detect TNF-α, IL-1β expression level. Results Compared with the sham group,the neurological function score of the MCAO/R group increased (P < 0.05); the volume of cerebral infarction increased (P < 0.05); the nerve cells in hippocampus were severely damaged, arranged disorderly, and the nucleus was broken; Western blot showed that the expression of SIRT1 decreased, IL-6 expression increased (P <0.05); immunohistochemistry showed that TNF-α,IL-1β expression increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the MCAO/R group, the neurological function score of the BYHWT group decreased (P <0.05); the volume of cerebral infarction decreased (P < 0.05); the damage of nerve cells in hippocampus was reduced; Western blot showed that the expression of SIRT1 increased and IL-6 expression decreased (P < 0.05); immunohistochemistry showed that TNF-α, IL-1β expression decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the BYHWT group, the neurological function score of the BYHWT + EX527 group increased (P < 0.05); the volume of cerebral infarction was raised (P <0.05); the damage of nerve cells in hippocampus was aggravated; Western blot showed that the expression of SIRT1 decreased and IL-6 expression increased (P < 0.05); immunohistochemistry showed that TNF-α, IL-1β expression increased (P < 0.05). Conclusions Preliminary discussion of Buyang Huanwu Decoction can activate SIRT1 in hippocampus of rat brain tissues to reduce the inflammatory response after CIRI and play a role in brain protection.

The incidence of Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) is increasing year by year. Due to its special anatomical location and biological behavior, the treatment of AEG is still controversial in terms of lymph node dissection, the esophageal resection margin, range of gastrectomy, and the choice of reconstruction modality for postoperative gastrointestinal tract. The advent of the minimally invasive era has brought the treatment of Siewert type II AEG to a stage of gradual improvement and standardization. Experts of China are also actively exploring the value of minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of AEG through multicenter trials (CLASS-10, etc.). It is believed that based on the active development of many clinical studies, basic experimental studies and large prospective clinical studies, the strengthening of communication and cooperation among various disciplines and the innovative application of new technologies can bring greater survival benefits to patients.
Adenocarcinoma/pathology* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Esophagogastric Junction/surgery* ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*

Aim To investigate the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction on the expression of silencing regulation factor 1(SIRT1)protein in cortical area and the possible mechanism of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(CIRI)via establishing middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)model. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into sham group(Sham), model group(MCAO/R), Buyang huanwu decoction group(BYHWT), and atorvastatin group(Atorvastatin), with 15 rats in each group. After 2 h ischemia/reperfusion for 72 h and drug intervention, the model was successfully constructed by using laser speckle blood flow monitoring video system. Zea Longa neurological function score was used to evaluate the neurological defects of rats after modeling. TTC staining was used to detect infarct volume. Nissl staining was used to observe the injury of nerve cells. Western blot was employed to detect the SIRT1 protein expression level. Immunofluorescence was applied to detect the fluorescence expression of SIRT1. Results Compared with sham group, the neurological deficits of MCAO/R group were serious(P<0.05). Cerebral infarction volume increased(P<0.05). The nerve cells were severely damaged, disordered, with the nucleus pyknosis(P<0.05). SIRT1 protein expression was reduced(P<0.05). The fluorescence intensity of SIRT1 decreased(P<0.05). Compared with MCAO/R group, the neurological impairment degree of rats in BYHWT and Atorvastatin groups was reduced(P<0.05). The proportion of cerebral infarction volume decreased(P<0.05). The injury of nerve cells was significantly reduced and the number of nerve cells increased(P<0.05). The expression of SIRT1 protein was up-regulated(P<0.05). Fluorescence intensity of SIRT1 increased(P<0.05). Conclusions Buyang huanwu decoction can effectively alleviate brain injury in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rats, and its protective effect may be related to the increase of SIRT1 protein expression in the ischemic cortical region.