BACKGROUND:Psoralen has a strong anti-osteoporotic activity and may have a restorative effect on chemotherapy-induced osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE:To explore the restorative effect of psoralen on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in mice inhibited by cyclophosphamide and its mechanism. METHODS:C57BL/6 mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured.Effect of psoralen on viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was detected by MTT assay.Osteogenic induction combined with alkaline phosphatase staining was used to determine the optimal dose of psoralen to restore the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells inhibited by cyclophosphamide.The mRNA expression levels of Runx2,alkaline phosphatase,Osteocalcin,osteoprotegerin,and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related genes Wnt1,Wnt4,Wnt10b,β-catenin,and c-MYC were measured by RT-qPCR at different time points under the intervention with psoralen.The protein expression of osteogenic specific transcription factor Runx2 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway related genes Active β-catenin,DKK1,c-MYC,and Cyclin D1 was determined by western blot assay at different time points under the intervention with psoralen. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no significant effect of different concentrations of psoralen on the viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.The best recovery of the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells caused by cyclophosphamide was under the intervention of psoralen at a concentration of 200 μmol/L.(2)Psoralen reversed the reduction in osteogenic differentiation marker genes Runx2,alkaline phosphatase,Osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin mRNA expression and Runx2 protein expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells caused by cyclophosphamide conditioned medium.(3)Psoralen reversed the decrease in Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related genes Wnt4,β-catenin,c-MYC mRNA and Active β-catenin,c-MYC,and Cyclin D1 protein expression and the increase in DKK1 protein expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells caused by cyclophosphamide conditioned medium.(4)The results showed that cyclophosphamide inhibited osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in mice,and psoralen had a restorative effect on it.The best intervention effect was achieved at a concentration of 200 μmol/L psoralen,and this protective effect might be related to the activation of Wnt4/β-catenin signaling pathway by psoralen.

This study developed a core outcome set(COS) for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) interventions in diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN), standardizing evaluation metrics for TCM efficacy and providing a new framework for DPN treatment and management. A systematic search was conducted across databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, and PubMed, targeting clinical trial literature published between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2023. The search focused on extracting outcome indicators and measurement tools used in TCM treatments for DPN. Retrospective data collection was performed from January 2018 to June 2023, involving 200 DPN patients hospitalized at the Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with inpatients, outpatients, their families, and nursing staff to further refine and enhance the list of outcome indicators. After two rounds of Delphi questionnaire survey and consensus meeting, a consensus was reached. The study initially retrieved 3 421 publications, of which 170 met the inclusion criteria after review. These publications, combined with retrospective analysis and semi-structured interviews, supplemented the list of indicators. After two rounds of Delphi surveys, experts agreed on 24 indicators and 6 measurement tools. The final COS determined by expert consensus meeting included 5 domains and 13 outcome indicators: neurological function signs, quality of life, TCM syndrome score, nerve conduction velocity, current perception threshold test, fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, complete blood count, urinalysis, liver function test, kidney function test, and electrocardiogram.
Humans ; Diabetic Neuropathies/drug therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Male ; Female

OBJECTIVE: Patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently develop central nervous system damage, yet the mechanisms driving this pathology remain unclear. This study investigated the primary pathways and key factors underlying brain tissue damage induced by the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant (lineage B.1.351). METHODS: K18-hACE2 and C57BL/6 mice were intranasally infected with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant. Viral replication, pathological phenotypes, and brain transcriptomes were analyzed. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed to identify altered pathways. Expression changes of host genes were verified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RESULTS: Pathological alterations were observed in the lungs of both mouse strains. However, only K18-hACE2 mice exhibited elevated viral RNA loads and infectious titers in the brain at 3 days post-infection, accompanied by neuropathological injury and weight loss. GO analysis of infected K18-hACE2 brain tissue revealed significant dysregulation of genes associated with innate immunity and antiviral defense responses, including type I interferons, pro-inflammatory cytokines, Toll-like receptor signaling components, and interferon-stimulated genes. Neuroinflammation was evident, alongside activation of apoptotic and pyroptotic pathways. Furthermore, altered neural cell marker expression suggested viral-induced neuroglial activation, resulting in caspase 4 and lipocalin 2 release and disruption of neuronal molecular networks. CONCLUSION These findings elucidate mechanisms of neuropathogenicity associated with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant and highlight therapeutic targets to mitigate COVID-19-related neurological dysfunction.
Animals ; COVID-19/genetics* ; Mice ; Brain/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology* ; Pyroptosis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Transcriptome ; Male ; Female

Objective To compare the biomechanical stability of three cross-bridge headless compression screws and lock-ing plates in the fixation of Mason type Ⅲ radial head fractures by finite element method.Methods Using reverse modeling technology,the radial CT data and internal fixation data of a healthy 25-year-old male were imported into the relevant software.Three-dimensional finite element model of 3 cross-bridge headless compression screws and locking plates for Mason Ⅲ radial head fractures were established,and the radial head was loaded with 100 N axial loading.The maximum displacement,maxi-mum Von Mises stress and stress distribution of the two groups were compared.Results The maximum displacements of the three cross-bridge screws group and locking plate group were 0.069 mm and 0.087 mm respectively,and the Von Mises stress peaks were 18.59 MPa and 31.85 MPa respectively.The stress distribution of the three screws group was more uniform.Con-clusion Both internal fixation methods can provide good fixation effect.CoMPared with the locking plate fixation method,the 3 cross-bridge headless compression screws fixation is more stable and the stress distribution is more uniform.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of pulpotomy in patients of different ages and to explore the occurrence and characteristics of pulpal calcification.Methods:A total of 77 patients who underwent pulpotomy for mature permanent premolars and molars with caries-derived pulp exposure in the Department of General Dentistry,Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from October 2019 to August 2022 were selected.Pulpotomies were performed in a single visit using iRoot BP Plus bioceramic material as pulp capping agent.The patients were divided into three groups according to age:25 cases in the adolescent group(11-20 years old)with a mean age of(15.88±2.19)years;27 cases in the middle-aged group(21-50 years old)with a mean age of(34.59±8.67)years;and 25 cases in the elder-aged group(51-83 years old)with a mean age of(63.84±7.40)years.The patients were reviewed 1 year after the operation to evaluate the clinical efficacy and to record the formation of calcified bridge,thickness of calcified bridge,and pulp calcification index(PCI).Results:There was no statisti-cally significant difference between the three groups in terms of gender,dentition,and tooth position(P＞0.05).The 1-year postoperative follow-up rate was 85.71％(66/77),including 88.00％(22/25)in the adolescent group,85.19％(23/27)in the middle-aged group,and 84.00％(21/25)in the elder-aged group.The 1-year follow-up clinical success rates of the three groups were 95.45％(21/22),91.30％(21/23),and 95.24％(20/21),respectively,with no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).Among the clinical success cases,calcified bridges appeared in 12 cases(57.14％,12/21)in the adolescent group,8 cases(38.10％,8/21)in the middle-aged group,and 3 cases(15.00％,3/20)in the elder-aged group,with statistically significant differences(x2=7.810,P=0.020＜0.05).The difference was statistically significant(F=4.434,P=0.020＜0.05)when comparing the thickness of calcified bridges among the three groups.Calcified bridge thickness was negatively corre-lated with age(r=-0.516,P＜0.05).The changes in pulpal calcification index ΔPCI were 0.67±0.58,0.43±0.51,and 0.25±0.52,respectively,with statistically significant differences among the three groups(F=3.404,P=0.040＜0.05).Conclusion:Pulpotomy for caries-derived pulp exposure in elderly patients could also achieve a high success rate.The incidence of calcified bri-dges after pulpotomy and the acceleration of pulpal calcification were age-related.The adolescent group was more likely to form calcified bridges and also showed more pronounced accelerated root canal calcifi-cation.

Objective To investigate the expression and potential diagnostic value of six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 1(STEAP1)in bladder transitional cell carcinoma.Methods 52 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder who underwent surgical treatment at the 940th Hospital of Joint Lo-gistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army from June 2021 to December 2022 were select-ed as the observation group.In addition,52 patients with benign tumors of the bladder who matched basic clin-ical data such as age,gender,and disease incidence were selected as the control group.The relative expression levels of STEAP1 and STEAP1 mRNA in bladder tumor tissues of patients in the two groups were deter-mined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,and the relative expression levels of STEAP1 and STEAP1 mRNA in bladder tumor tissues of patients with different patho-logical parameters were compared.Spearman correlation analysis and binary Logistic regression analysis were used to screen the risk factors for the occurrence and clinical stage of bladder transitional cell carcinoma.Re-ceiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and area under the curve(AUC)were used to evaluate the diagnos-tic and predictive value of each indicator for bladder transitional cell carcinoma.Results The relative expres-sion levels of STEAP1 and STEAP1 mRNA in bladder tumor tissues in observation group were significantly higher than those in control group,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).The relative expression levels of STEAP1 and STEAP1 mRNA in bladder tumor tissues of patients with middle and advanced bladder transi-tional cell carcinoma were significantly higher than those of patients with early bladder transitional cell carci-noma,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that the relative ex-pression level of STEAP1 and STEAP1 mRNA in bladder tumor tissues of patients were independent risk fac-tors for the development of bladder transitional cell carcinoma and middle and advanced bladder transitional cell carcinoma(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of STEAP1 and STEAP1 mRNA inde-pendently predicting the occurrence of bladder transitional cell carcinoma was 0.841(95％CI:0.760-0.922,P＜0.001)and 0.936(95％CI:0.893-0.980,P＜0.001),respectively,both of which had high predictive ef-ficacy.Conclusion The relative expression levels of STEAP1 and STEAP1 mRNA in bladder tumor tissues of patients are positively correlated with the occurrence of bladder transitional cell carcinoma and the middle and advanced bladder transitional cell carcinoma,suggesting that STEAP1 can be used as a potential marker for di-agnosis and prediction of the occurrence and development of bladder transitional cell carcinoma.

Objective:To investigate associations between cardiac biomarkers with stroke severity and short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods:Patients with AIS admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from June 2018 to February 2024 whose etiological classification was large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), small vessel occlusion (SVO) or cardioembolism (CE) were included retrospectively. According to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission, patients were divided into mild stroke group (≤8) and moderate to severe stroke group (>8). According to the modified Rankin Scale score at discharge, patients were divided into good outcome group (≤2) and poor outcome group (>2). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent correlation between cardiac biomarkers and short-term outcome. The predictive value of cardiac biomarkers for poor outcome in patients with AIS and different stroke etiology subtypes were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results:A total of 2 151 patients with AIS were enrolled, including 1 256 males (58.4%), aged 67.40±11.34 years. 1 079 patents were LAA type (50.2%), 679 were SVO type (31.6%), and 393 were CE type (18.3%); 1 223 were mild stroke (56.86%) and 928 (43.14%) were moderate to severe stroke; 1 357 patients (63.09%) had good short-term outcome, and 794 (36.91%) had poor short-term outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), NT-proBNP/creatine kinase (CK) isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) ratio, and CK-MB/CK ratio were independent risk factors for poor short-term outcome. ROC curve analysis shows that the CK-MB/CK ratio had a higher predictive value for short-term poor outcome in patients with AIS (the area under the curve, 0.859, 95% confidence interval 0.839-0.879). Various cardiac biomarkers had a higher predictive value for short-term outcome of CE type and LAA type, but the predictive value for short-term outcome of SVO type was lower. Conclusions:Cardiac biomarkers are associated with the severity and poor outcome of AIS. NT-proBNP/CK-MB and CK-MB/CK ratios have higher predictive value for short-term poor outcome of AIS, especially in patients with CE type.

Objective To discuss the application of the"rotating guidewire and correcting the filter recovery hook direction technique"("rotation-correction loop technique"for short),a technique invented by the authors in clinical practice,in the retrieval of complex inferior vena cava filter(IVCF),and to discuss its technical skills and advantages.Methods The clinical data of 417 patients carrying an IVCF,who were admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery of Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University of China to retrieve IVCF between January 2022 and December 2022,were retrospectively analyzed.Taking the time spent on the retrieval of IVCF and the intraoperative radiation dose as the evaluation indicators,the advantages and disadvantages of the standard filter retrieval technique,the"rotation-correction loop technique"and the other loop-assisted techniques were compared.Results Both the intraoperative radiation dose and the time spent on the retrieval of IVCF using"rotation-correction loop technique"were remarkably lower than those of other loop-assisted techniques(P＜0.000 1).Conclusion For the retrieval of complex IVCF,especially for the IVCF which is heavily tilted and/or its recovered hook is attached to the vascular wall,the use of"rotation-correction loop technique"can shorten the time spent on the the retrieval of IVCF and reduce the intraoperative radiation dose.This technique carries high safety and practicability,the device is simple and it can be manipulated by single physician,which is conducive to clinical application and promotion.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:289-294)

Objective:To explore the role expectations of stroke advanced practice nurses from multiple perspectives based on the framework of role theory, so as to provide clinical insights for the development of advanced practice nurse roles and the cultivation of core competencies in China.Methods:A phenomenological approach in qualitative research was used. The staffs and trainees, patients and family members in an advanced stroke center in Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University in January to February 2023 were selected by purposive sampling method. Participants included stroke specialist nurses, stroke ward physicians and nurses, stroke green channel physicians, stroke ward managers, patients, and family members, totaling seven categories. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the content was analyzed using Colaizzi ′s seven-step analysis method. Results:Finally, 28 interviewees were included. There were 9 males and 19 females, aged 29-67 years old. The role expectations for stroke advanced practice nurses were mainly focused on 4 categories:quality expectations (having leadership and execution skills), image expectations(education organizers, innovation promoters, supervisory feedback providers, and other image), obligation expectations (prescription issuance and establishment of outpatient clinics), behavior expectations (evaluation and decision-making, execution and coordination).Conclusions:Stroke advanced practice nurses were assigned multiple role expectations in actual clinical practice, and the promotion of stroke advanced practice nurses is of great relevance in promoting the quality of health care and expanding the scope of nursing practice.

Objective:To explore the effects of infusion of irritant medications on the patients with midline catheter based on propensity score matching method and provide reference for medications infusion through midline catheter.Methods:Through a retrospective cohort study, the clinical data of 1 539 patients with midline catheter placement in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from March 2019 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and the patients were divided into irritant medications group ( n=1 120) and non-irritant medications group ( n=419) according to the characteristics of the medications they were infused with, and then compared the patients of the two groups with midline catheter-related complications and catheter indwelling time based on the propensity score matching. Results:Among 1 539 patients, there were 656 males and 883 females, aged 18-92 (59.30 ± 18.76) years old. Before propensity score matching, there were statistically significant differences in age: (58.09 ± 18.72) years old, (62.55 ± 18.50) years old; hypertension:496 cases, 210 cases; diabetes:266 cases, 129 cases; white blood cell count:7.50(5.50, 9.70) × 10 9/L, 7.00(5.10, 9.50) × 10 9/L between the irritant medications group and non-irritant medications group ( t=4.18, χ2=4.18, 7.92, Z=-1.98, all P<0.05). After propensity score matching, there were 412 patients in the irritant medications group and 412 patients in the non-irritant medications group, and there was no significant difference in the general data between the two groups (all P>0.05). After propensity score matching, the rates of oozing, bleeding, catheter occlusion, catheter-related thrombosis, catheter dislodgement and total catheter complications between the two groups showed no statistically significant difference (all P>0.05). The catheter indwelling time in the irritant medications group was 10.00 (5.25, 16.75) days, which was longer than that in the non-irritant medications group for 6.00 (4.00, 11.00) days, the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-7.25, P<0.05). Conclusions:Infusion of irritant medications has no effect on the outcome of midline catheter, but monitoring and catheter maintenance should be strengthened in order to reduce the occurrence of cutheter related complications.