BACKGROUND:Wogonin is a flavonoid extracted from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis.Previous studies have shown that baicalein has protective effects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury,and can also reduce blood sugar and complications in diabetic mice,but its role and mechanism in diabetic cerebral infarction remain unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of wogonin on nerve injury in rats with diabetic cerebral infarction and its mechanism. METHODS:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups:control group,model group,low-dose wogonin group,medium-dose wogonin group,high-dose wogonin group,and high-dose wogonin+Ras homolog gene family member A(RhoA)activator group.Except for the control group,the other rats were established with diabetes and cerebral ischemia models using intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and middle cerebral artery occlusion.Low,medium-and high-dose wogonin groups were intragastrically given 10,20,40 mg/kg wogonin,respectively;high-dose wogonin+RhoA activator group was intragastrically given 40 mg/kg wogonin and intraperitoneally injected 10 mg/kg lysophosphatidic acid;control group and model group were given the same amount of normal saline once a day for 7 consecutive days.Rats in each group were evaluated for neurological deficits and their blood glucose levels were measured after the last dose.TTC staining was applied to detect the volume of cerebral infarction.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was applied to observe pathological changes in brain tissue.ELISA kit was applied to detect tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,malondialdehyde,and superoxide dismutase levels in brain tissue.Western blot was applied to detect the protein expression of RhoA and Rho-associated protein kinase(ROCK)2 in brain tissue. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,the neuronal structure of rats in the model group was severely damaged,with cell necrosis and degeneration,the neurological deficit score,blood glucose level,and infarct volume were significantly elevated(P<0.05),the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,and malondialdehyde,and the protein expression of RhoA and ROCK2 in brain tissue were significantly increased(P<0.05),and the superoxide dismutase level was decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the low-,medium-,and high-dose wogonin groups showed improved neuronal damage,reduced cell degeneration and necrosis,a significant reduction in neurological deficit score,blood glucose level,infarct volume,and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,and malondialdehyde,and the protein expression of RhoA and ROCK2 in brain tissue,and an increase in the superoxide dismutase level(P<0.05).Compared with the high-dose wogonin group,the high-dose wogonin+RhoA activator group significantly weakened the improvement in the above indexes of rats with diabetic cerebral infarction(P<0.05).To conclude,wogonin can improve the blood glucose level in rats with diabetic cerebral infarction,reduce cerebral infarction and nerve injury,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the anti-fatigue effect of chicory polysaccharide(CP)on mice exposed to simulated hypobaric hypoxia.METHODS Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the control group,model group,model+CP 150,300 and 600 mg·kg-1 groups.The control and model groups were given normal saline,while the CP groups were given drugs of different doses.After a 14 d pre-administration period,all the mice except the control group were exposed to a simulated alti-tude of 7 000 m in a hypobaric and hypoxic animal experimental chamber.After 7 d,a treadmill fatigue test was conducted to assess exercise endurance.The body weight and organ indexes were evaluated.The pathological changes in organs and tissues were observed via HE staining.The levels of fatigue-related and oxidative stress-related indicators were measured.The expression levels of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase(p-AMPK),peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha(PGC-1α),and cytochrome c oxidase Ⅳ(COXⅣ)were determined using Western blotting anal-ysis.RESULTS Compared with model group,exercise endurance was significantly enhanced,body weight and organ indexes improved,and pathological damage to the lung,liver and skeletal muscle mitigated in the model+CP 600 mg·kg-1 group.Compared with model group,the model+CP 600 mg·kg-1 group had the contents of serum lactate and blood urea nitrogen reduced,but the contents of glycogen and the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)in the liver and skeletal muscle were increased.The malondialdehyde content was lowered,but the expressions of p-AMPK,PGC-1α,and COXⅣ in skeletal muscle were significantly increased.CONCLUSION CP can alleviate altitude-induced fatigue by reducing the metabolite accumulation,increasing glycogen storage,and lowering oxidative stress levels.The underlying mechanism may involve the activation of the AMPK/PGC-1αsignaling pathway.

Immunogenic cell death(ICD)is a form of cell death that can activate the immune system,especially in the treatment of cancer.ICD can enhance the recognition of tumors by the immune system and the release of damage associated molecular patterns(DAMPs),to achieve tumor cell death.Oncolytic viruses(OVs)can selectively infect and kill tumor cells without damaging normal cells.OVs are type Ⅱ ICD inducers that induce ICD in tumor cells by targeting the endoplasmic reticulum.Here,we review the characteristics of ICD and the mechanism of ICD induction by OVs.We also review the latest clinical progress involving ICD and discuss future treatment strategies for tumors.

Objectives:This study aims to investigate the relationship between neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio(NHR)and incidence of cardiovascular disease(CVD)among individuals with metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD).Methods:We conducted a prospective cohort study utilizing health check-up data from 2006 to 2007 at Kailuan General Hospital and its 10 affiliated hospitals.The study population consisted of employees and retirees diagnosed with MAFLD,excluding those with incomplete neutrophil and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol data or a history of heart failure,myocardial infarction,cerebral hemorrhage,or cerebral infarction.CVD was defined as the presence of heart failure,myocardial infarction,cerebral hemorrhage,or cerebral infarction.Annual follow-ups were conducted from 2006,new-onset CVD cases identified through discharge records from the 11 Kailuan Group hospitals and records from municipal social insurance agencies,the final follow up date was December 31,2022.NHR was calculated as the ratio of neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,and the MAFLD cohort(n=28 952)was stratified into four groups by NHR quartiles:Q1 group(NHR<1.97,n=7 241),Q2 group(1.97≤NHR<2.57,n=7 235),Q3 group(2.57≤NHR<3.36,n=7 240),and Q4 group(NHR≥3.36,n=7 236).The Kaplan-Meier method was employed to plot survival curves for new-onset CVD,and the cumulative incidences of CVD across different NHR quartiles groups were determined.Intergroup comparisons were made using the log-rank test,and a multifactorial Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between NHR quartiles and the risk of new-onset CVD in the MAFLD population.Results:The average follow-up duration was(14.03±3.99)years,during which 4 666 new CVD cases were recorded among the study population.The number of CVD cases across Q1 group to Q4 group were 1 061,1 167,1 186 and 1 252,respectively,with an overall incidence density of 11.5 cases per 1 000 person-years.The incidence densities for Q1 group to Q4 group were 10.4,11.4,11.7 and 12.5 cases per 1 000 person-years,respectively.The multifactorial Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that higher NHR quartiles were associated with an increased relative risk of new-onset CVD(Q2 group:HR=1.13,95%CI:1.04-1.23;Q3 group:HR=1.15,95%CI:1.05-1.25;Q4 group:HR=1.22,95%CI:1.12-1.33).Conclusions:The risk of new-onset cardiovascular disease in individuals with MAFLD escalates with increasing NHR.

In line with the rising global incidence of cancer,tumor metastasis has become the leading cause of mortality among cancer patients.Formation of the pre-metastatic niche(PMN)creates an optimal microenvironment for tumor cell colonization and metastasis,thus facilitating tumor dissemination.In this context,cancer-associated fibroblasts(CAFs)have garnered significant attention as a result of their multifaceted roles in tumor progression.CAFs enhance the formation of the PMN and promote the invasive behavior of tumor cells by remodeling the extracellular matrix,inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition,stimulating angiogenesis and modulating the tumor immune microenvironment.These processes not only expedite metastasis but also enable tumor immune evasion.This paper reviews the fundamental mechanisms and functions of CAFs in tumor metastasis,examines their potential applications in cancer research and therapy,and offers new perspectives and directions for the development of anti-tumor metastasis strategies.

Under stress,the cold-inducible RNA-binding protein(CIRP)is translocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and subsequently released outside the cell.Extracellular CIRP(eCIRP),acting as a damage-associated mo-lecular pattern,amplifies inflammation through various mechanisms and leads to an uncontrolled inflammatory response,thereby contributing to the occurrence and progression of sepsis and other critical pathological processes.Certain CIRP-tar-geting drugs have demonstrated promising anti-sepsis effects through the reduction of CIRP expression,the decrease of eCIRP release,the neutralization of eCIRP,or the intervention in receptor binding.This review examines the release mechanism of CIRP and the role of eCIRP in the development of sepsis,with the aim of providing new insights for the pre-vention and treatment of sepsis by targeting eCIRP.

Objective To investigate CBX2 and TIM3 in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma(SACC)tissue and their relationship with clinical pathological features and prognosis.Methods 80 patients with SACC who underwent surgical treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January 2016 to January 2020 were selected.Immunohistochemistry was used to measure CBX2 and TIM3 in tissues.The relationship between CBX2 and TIM3 in SACC tissue and prognosis was discussed though Kaplan-Meier method.The factors influencing the prognosis of SACC were discussed using multivariate Cox regression.Results The positive rates of CBX2 and TIM3 in SACC tissues were clearly higher than those in normal glandular tissues adjacent to cancer(χ2=11.237,8.229,P<0.05).The CBX2 and TIM3 were associated with nerve invasion and distant metastasis(P<0.05).After a 5-year follow-up,26 cases died and 54 cases survived,with an overall 5-year survival rate of 67.50%(54/80).The death group had higher positive rates of CBX2 and TIM3 in SACC tissues than the survival group(P<0.05).Patients with positive CBX2 and TIM3 in SACC tissues had clearly lower 5-year survival rate than patients with negative CBX2 and TIM3(Log Rank χ2=6.564,5.197,P<0.05).CBX2,TIM3 positivity,nerve invasion,and distant metastasis were risk factors affecting prognosis(P<0.05).Conclusion The positive expression of CBX2 and TIM3 in SACC tissues is closely related to the clinical pathological features and prognosis of patients.

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most common malignant life-threatening tumors,with serious impacts on patient quality of life.Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase(SHP2)has recently become a hot topic in the field of cancer research,and has demonstrated a close relationship with CRC.SHP2,encoded by the PTPN11 gene,is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase commonly present in various tissues and cells of the human body.Existing research shows that SHP2 plays a crucial role in regulating CRC and colitis-associated colon cancer(CAC),and the emergence of SHP2 allosteric inhibitors has identified SHP2 as a potential new therapeutic target for patients with CRC.Here we review the structure of SHP2 and its roles in CRC and CAC.

Cubital tunnel syndrome is a common peripheral nerve entrapment disorder, which may lead to significant functional impairment in severe cases due to intrinsic hand muscle atrophy. As the disease progresses, clinical prognosis of cubital tunnel syndrome tends to decline, particularly in functional recovery. Traditional treatment strategies have been proven ineffective in restoring intrinsic hand muscle function postoperatively in severe cases. Transposition of motor branch of pronator quadratus surgery has emerged as a solution, offering a better therapeutic option for the patients. This procedure involves end-to-side anastomosis of the pronator quadratus muscle branch with the deep branch of ulnar nerve, introducing additional axons to promote nerve regeneration and providing a novel strategy for functional recovery. Transposition of motor branch of pronator quadratus surgery significantly improves strengths in gripping and pinching as well as fine motor function in patients with severe cubital tunnel syndrome, with notable enhancements in postoperative electrophysiological indicators and improvement of quality of life. The mechanism of it is based on the principles of nerve regenerative biology, utilizing collateral sprouting of axons from the pronator quadratus muscle branch and the supportive microenvironment of distal Schwann cells to achieve reinnervation of target muscles. This article reviews the definition, mechanism, anatomical basis, classification of cubital tunnel syndrome, surgical indications and clinical efficacy of transposition of motor branch of pronator quadratus surgery, intended to provide reference opinions for clinical doctors to gain a deeper understanding and rational application of transposition of motor branch of pronator quadratus.

Objective:To analyze the seroepidemiological characteristics of common respiratory pathogens in patients screened at a tertiary hospital in Zhangjiakou from 2018 to 2024.Methods:This single-center cross-sectional study utilized data from the laboratory information management system (LIS) of The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University. We collected clinical data and serum-specific IgM antibody test results for 11 common respiratory pathogens ( influenza A virus, influenza B virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, mycoplasma pneumoniae, chlamydia pneumoniae, legionella pneumophila, coxsackie A virus, coxsackie B virus, echovirus and adenovirus), excluding SARS-CoV-2, from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2024. Comparative analyses were conducted across three periods: 2018-2019, 2020-2022, and 2023-2024. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0, with categorical data presented as percentages and compared using χ2 tests. Results:From 2018 to 2024, a total of 35 665 patients with respiratory tract infection were screened, of which 10 531 were positive for at least one pathogen, with a total positive rate of 29.53% (10 531/35 665). Age-adjusted positive rates were highest in 2023-2024 compared to 2018-2019 and 2020-2022 ( χ2=690.789, P<0.001). The specific data are as follows: 21.35% (2 476/11 598) in 2018-2019, 24.35% (2 942/12 081) in 2020-2022, and 35.73% (4 283/11 986) in 2023-2024. Among the 11 pathogens, mycoplasma pneumoniae had the highest overall positivity rate (11.99%, 4 278/35 665), followed by influenza B virus (10.83%, 3 861/35 665), the other nine pathogens showed lower rates (0.88%-4.97%). At different time stages, the positive rates of serum IgM antibodies of various pathogens showed different changing characteristics: in 2023-2024, the positive rates of serum specific IgM antibodies against mycoplasma pneumoniae, influenza B/A virus and adenovirus increased significantly compared with those in 2020-2022, from 10.35%, 11.91%, 3.68%, 0.43% to 12.11%, 14.97%, 5.37%, 4.43% respectively ( χ2=59.150, P<0.001; χ2=579.484, P<0.001; χ2=116.263, P<0.001; χ2=654.125, P<0.001). The positive rates of serum IgM antibody in patients of different age groups also showed different changing trends. In 2023-2024, the proportion of people in 18 to 60 and ≥60 age groups increased compared with that in 2018-2019 ( χ2=325.069, P<0.001; χ2=593.612, P<0.001), while the 0 to 3, 3 to 6, and 6 to 12 age groups showed declines ( χ2=382.067, P<0.001; χ2=252.835, P<0.001; χ2=285.888, P<0.001). Regarding the composition of serum IgM antibodies in different infection patterns, the proportion of single-pathogen infections decreased in 2023-2024 compared with that in 2018-2019 ( χ2=130.19, P<0.001), while the proportion of two and three pathogen co-positive increased ( χ2=65.533, P<0.001; χ2=46.836, P<0.001).The most common single-pathogen infections were mycoplasma pneumoniae, influenza B/A virus and legionella pneumophila; the predominant dual-pathogen combinations were influenza A+B viruses, influenza B virus+ mycoplasma pneumoniae, and mycoplasma pneumoniae+ legionella pneumophila. Conclusion:From 2018 to 2024, the seroepidemiological characteristics of common respiratory pathogens changed significantly with different time stages. The positive rate of serum-specific IgM antibodies were influenced by the social environment and public health intervention measures. Serological testing is an important means for the monitoring of respiratory pathogens and the prevention and control of infections in this region.