AIM:To investigate the role of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hsCRP)in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic retinopathy(DR)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).METHODS:A nested case-control study was conducted involving 187 T2DM patients(187 eyes)who attended at Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from June 2017 to October 2024. Patients were categorized into three groups: the diabetes mellitus(DM)group, non-proliferative DR(NPDR)group, and proliferative DR(PDR)group. Baseline information was collected, including age, sex, duration of DM, and duration of hypertension. All patients underwent fasting biochemical tests and comprehensive ophthalmic examinations.RESULTS: A positive correlation was observed between hsCRP and fasting blood glucose(FBG; P=0.004)and glycated hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c; P=0.048)by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analysis. After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariable Logistic regression identified hsCRP as a significant risk factor for DR(OR=2.67, 95% CI: 1.19-5.96, P=0.017). CONCLUSION:Serum hsCRP is positively correlated with FBG and HbA1c and can serve as an important predictor of the severity of DR.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of dietary intervention on blood pressure and renal function in patients with hypertensive nephropathy, so as to provide dietary and nutritional guidances for this population. Methods: Hypertensive nephropathy patients who were treated at Zhucheng People's Hospital from March 2023 to February 2024 were selected as the study subjects and randomly divided into the intervention group and the control group. The control group received routine antihypertensive treatment and health lifestyle guidance. On the basis of the treatment and guidance received by the control group, the intervention group implemented dietary intervention in accordance with the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nutritional Therapy of Chronic Kidney Disease in China (2021 edition) for a period of 3 months. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured before and after the intervention, and serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), cystatin and β2-microglobulin were detected. Differences of indicators before and after intervention between the two groups were compared using generalized estimation equation. Results: A total of 83 patients with hypertensive nephropathy were followed up, including 43 cases in the intervention group and 40 cases in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, body mass index, duration of hypertension, family history of hypertension, hypertension grade, physical activity index, or smoking status between the two groups (all P>0.05). The differences in SBP, DBP, Scr, BUN, and UA between the two groups, as well as the differences before and after the intervention, were statistically significant, and there was an interaction between the groups and the intervention time (all P<0.05). After intervention, the levels of SBP, DBP, Scr, BUN, and UA in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The differences in cystatin and β2-microglobulin between the two groups and before and after the intervention were not statistically significant, and there was no interaction between the groups and the intervention time (all P>0.05). Conclusion Dietary intervention has a certain effect on reducing blood pressure and improving renal function indicators in patients with hypertensive nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate early effectiveness of posterior 180-degree decompression via unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) combined with Michigan State University (MSU)-1 lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 33 patients with LSS combined with MSU-1 LDH, who met selection criteria and were treated between March 2022 and January 2024. All patients underwent UBE-assisted 180-degree spinal canal decompression. The cohort comprised 17 males and 16 females, aged 37-82 years (mean, 67.1 years). Preoperative presentations included bilateral lower limbs intermittent claudication and radiating pain, with disease duration ranging from 5 to 13 months (mean, 8.5 months). Affected segments included L _{3, 4} in 4 cases, L _{4, 5} in 28 cases, and L ₅, S ₁ in 1 case. LSS was rated as Schizas grade A in 4 cases, grade B in 5 cases, grade C in 13 cases, and grade D in 11 cases. LDH was categorized as MSU-1A in 24 cases, MSU-1B in 2 cases, and MSU-1AB in 7 cases. Intraoperative parameters (operation time, blood loss) and postoperative hospitalization length were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to assess the lower limb pain and functional outcomes after operation. Clinical efficacy was evaluated at last follow-up via modified MacNab criteria. Quantitative radiological assessments included dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCA) measurements and spinal stenosis grading on lumbar MRI. Morphological classification of lumbar canal stenosis was determined according to the Schizas grading, categorized into four grades. RESULTS: The operation time was 60.4-90.8 minutes (mean, 80.3 minutes) and intraoperative blood loss was 13-47 mL (mean, 29.9 mL). The postoperative hospitalization length was 3-5 days (mean, 3.8 days). All patients were followed up 12-16 months (mean, 13.8 months). The VAS score and ODI improved at immediate and 3, 6, and 12 months after operation compared to before operation, and the differences between different time points were significant ( P<0.05). At last follow-up, the clinical efficacy assessed by the modified MacNab criteria were graded as excellent in 23 cases, good in 9 cases, and poor in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 96.97%. Postoperative lumbar MRI revealed the significant decompression of the dural sac in 32 cases, with 1 case showing inadequate dural expansion. DSCA measurements confirmed progressive enlargement and stenosis reduction over time. The differences were significant ( P<0.05) before operation, immediately after operation, and at 6 months after operation. At 6 months after operation, Schizas grading of spinal stenosis improved to grade A in 27 cases and grade B in 6 cases. CONCLUSION Posterior 180-degree decompression via UBE is a safe and feasible strategy for treating LSS combined with MSU-1 LDH, achieving effective neural decompression while preserving intervertebral disc integrity.
Humans ; Spinal Stenosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/complications* ; Decompression, Surgical/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological effect of medical recombinant human-derived collagen functional dressings in wound healing. METHODS: MTT assay and RTCA assay were used to detect cell toxicity and proliferation. Scratch assay and Transwell cell migration assay were used to detect cell motility and migration ability. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the contents of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CD31) in the supernatant of four types of cells. After animal surgery, the surgical wound was taken at 1 week, 4 weeks and 13 weeks, respectively, for hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry to observe the inflammatory response and CD31 expression of the wound. RESULTS: Medical recombinant human-derived collagen functional dressing promotes cell proliferation and migration, enhances wound angiogenesis by upregulating the expression of VEGF, FGF, and CD31 in human dermal vascular endothelial cells (HDVEC) and human vascular endothelial cells (HVEC), thereby improving local blood supply to the wound, regulating the inflammatory response of the wound, and accelerating wound healing. CONCLUSION Recombinant type Ⅲ humanized collagen plays an important role in wound healing.
Humans ; Wound Healing/drug effects* ; Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Movement ; Collagen/pharmacology* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Bandages ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism* ; Endothelial Cells ; Fibroblast Growth Factors/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DMQ) for alleviating dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. METHODS: Eighteen male C57BL/6J mice were equally randomized into control group, DSS group and DMQ treatment group. In DSS and DMQ groups, the mice were treated with DSS in drinking water to induce UC, and received intraperitoneal injections of sterile PBS or DMQ (20 mg/kg) during modeling. The changes in body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, spleen weight, and colon histological scores of the mice were examined, and the percentages of Th17 and IFN-γ⁺ CD8⁺ T cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen were analyzed using flow cytometry. The expressions of tight junction proteins (Occludin and ZO-1), proteins associated with inflammasome activation (caspase-1 and p20), IL-1β and TNF-α in the colon tissues were detected using Western blotting or ELISA. In the cell experiment, mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) primed with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were treated with DMQ, followed by stmulation with nigericin to activate the classical NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. In cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated with either LPS alone or LPS plus nigericin, the effects of DMQ on inflammasome activation, pyroptosis, and cytokine release were evaluated via Western blotting, ELISA, and flow cytometry. RESULTS: In DSS-treated mice, DMQ treatment significantly alleviated DSS-induced body weight loss, colon shortening, spleen enlargement, and colon inflammation. The DMQ-treated mice showed significantly reduced percentages of Th17 cells and IFN-γ⁺ CD8⁺ T cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen, with increased occludin and ZO-1 expressions and decreased caspase-1 expression in the colon tissue. DMQ obviously inhibited classical NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mouse BMDMs and both the classical and alternative pathways of NLRP3 activation in human PBMCs, causing also suppression of caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis. CONCLUSIONS DMQ ameliorates DSS-induced UC in mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Animals ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Colitis, Ulcerative/metabolism* ; Dextran Sulfate/adverse effects* ; Male ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; Mice ; Benzoquinones/therapeutic use* ; Th17 Cells ; Caspase 1/metabolism*

The escalating pressure from global population growth, climate change, and resource consumption is intensifying the burden on traditional agricultural production. Against this backdrop, soil degradation and pollution present increasingly severe challenges, creating a vicious cycle with rising food demands. Maintaining soil health and its ecosystem services has thus become a critical prerequisite for achieving sustainable agriculture in the future. This review explores the impacts of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics on soil microbial communities and their interactions. Soil C and N are key determinants of microbial diversity and community structure, intrinsically linked to soil C/N cycling, crop productivity, and ecological balance. Environmental factors such as nitrogen fertilizer application, organic matter amendment application, litter decomposition, elevated CO₂ concentrations, and nitrogen deposition significantly influence soil C and N dynamics. Changes in soil C and N content regulate microbial community dynamics and the synergistic, competitive, and antagonistic interactions among microorganisms. Meanwhile, microbial communities actively respond to alterations in soil C and N availability. The resulting shifts in microbial communities and their interactions subsequently regulate soil C/N cycling and ecosystem stability, ultimately influencing ecosystem functions. By elucidating the mechanisms underlying soil carbon-nitrogen-microbial interactions, this review significantly advances our understanding of soil ecosystem responses and feedback mechanisms in the context of global change, while also providing crucial practical guidance for enhancing soil fertility and promoting sustainable agricultural development through microbial regulation.
Soil Microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism* ; Carbon/metabolism* ; Soil/chemistry* ; Bacteria/growth & development* ; Fungi/metabolism* ; Ecosystem ; Fertilizers ; Agriculture

OBJECTIVE To prepare berberine/piperine co-loaded self-microemulsion drug delivery system （BBR/PIP- SMEDDS）， evaluate its physicochemical properties， in vitro release and pharmacokinetic characteristics. METHODS The drug loading mass ratio of berberine （BBR） and piperine （PIP） in the preparation was determined by the everted intestinal sac method. The oil-phase， emulsifier and co-emulsifier were determined by solubility detection， compatibility evaluation and pseudo-ternary phase diagram， respectively. The formulation of blank self-microemulsion drug delivery system （SMEDDS） was optimized and verified by central composite design-response surface methodology with the amount of oil-phase and the mass ratio of emulsifier to co-emulsifier as factors， and the comprehensive score of particle size and Zeta potential as response value. According to the optimal prescription， BBR/PIP-SMEDDS was prepared by adding excessive BBR and PIP raw materials under magnetic stirring， and its physicochemical properties， in vitro release behavior and pharmacokinetic characteristics in rats were investigated. RESULTS The drug loading mass ratio of BBR and PIP was 1∶1. The optimal prescription included oil-phase （ethyl oleate） accounted for 18.54%， emulsifier （Tween-80） accounted for 52.16%， and co-emulsifier （polyethylene glycol 400） accounted for 29.30%. Three verification experiments showed that the average particle size of blank SMEDDS was （16.49±0.49） nm； the Zeta potential was （－16.22±0.77） mV； the comprehensive score was 0.97， the relative deviation of which from the predicted value （0.95） was 2.11%. The prepared BBR/PIP-SMEDDS was an oil-in-water microemulsion， which was a golden yellow oily liquid with a spherical shape. The average particle size was （32.90±0.38） nm， and the Zeta potential was （－19.17±0.70） mV. The encapsulation efficiency of BBR was （90.44±0.88）% ， and the drug loading was （10.18±0.17） mg/g. The encapsulation efficiency of PIP was （87.48±1.13）%， and the drug loading was （9.41±0.17） mg/g. BBR/PIP-SMEDDS had good stability at low temperature （4 ℃ ） in the dark， centri-fugation and dilution. The results of in vitro release showed that the cumulative release percentage of BBR in simulated intestinal fluid for 24 h was significantly higher than that of the raw drug after the preparation of SMEDDS. The pharmacokinetic results in rats showed that the peak concentration and area under the drug- concentration time curve （AUC0－）t of BBR/PIP-SMEDDS were 4.61 and 7.07 times higher than those of the raw drug respectively， and the relative bioavailability was 707.484%. CONCLUSIONS BBR/PIP-SMEDDS is successfully prepared， and the in vitro release and bioavailability of the preparation are greatly improved compared with the raw material.

Objective Magnetic resonance simulator(MR Sim)is a novel type of simulation equipment utilized in radiotherapy.Acceptance testing is an essential quality assurance procedure prior to the clinical use of the MR Sim.The report provides the detailed procedures and result analysis of acceptance testing for an MR Sim.Methods The acceptance testing scheme was developed following the recently published AAPM TG284 report and the NCC/T-RT 002-2023 guidelines.Quality control equipments such as ACR(American College of Radiology)large phantom and geometric distortion measurement phantom were used for evaluating various aspects of the MR Sim,including the effectiveness of shielding,the functionality of imaging system,the image quality,the performance of radio frequency coils,the geometric accuracy of large field imaging,the precision of external laser markings,the couch movement accuracy,and the image transmission accuracy.Results The shielding effectiveness at a frequency of 150 MHz exhibited an average value of 105 dB.All of 8 image quality indices,namely geometric accuracy,slice position accuracy,slice thickness accuracy,image uniformity,artifact ratio,signal-to-noise ratio,high-contrast spatial resolution,and low-contrast resolution,fell within recommended tolerances.The maximum geometric distortion observed across a 25 cm field of view was less than 2 mm.The errors in external laser markings and couch movement accuracy were both less than 1 mm.The couch levelness was less than 1°.Both radio frequency coils and image transmission passed the required tests.Conclusion MR Sim is high-precision and complex.To ensure its precise application in radiotherapy,the acceptance testing for an MR Sim should be meticulously designed and executed following the established guidelines and accounting for its unique performance characteristics.

Aim To explore the role of the ten-eleven translocation 2(TET2)/ubiquinol-cytochrome C reductase hinge protein(UQCRH)axis in the inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC)apoptosis by fibroblast growth fac-tor-2(FGF-2).Methods Cultured VSMCs were divided into control group,FGF-2 group,and FGF-2+fibroblast growth factor receptor(FGFR)pan-inhibitor LY2874455 group.VSMCs overexpressing TET2(OETET2)or UQCRH(OEUQCRH)were divided into control group,FGF-2 group,and OETET2+FGF-2 or OEUQCRH+FGF-2 group.Ho-echst33342 and PI staining were used to detect cell apoptosis,CCK-8 assay was employed to measure cell proliferation,and Western blot was used to examine the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins pro-Caspase-3,cleaved Caspase-3,Bax,Bcl-2,as well as TET2 and UQCRH.The NCBI and methprimer websites were utilized for predicting and analyzing CpG island sites in the UQCRH gene promoter.Results FGF-2 could inhibit VSMC apoptosis,promote proliferation,downregulate apoptosis-related proteins cleaved Caspase-3,Bax,TET2,and UQCRH expression,and upregulate anti-ap-optotic protein Bcl-2 expression(compared with control group,P＜0.05).However,it did not affect pro-Caspase-3 ex-pression(compared with control group,P＞0.05).LY2874455 could counteract the effects of FGF-2(compared with FGF-2 group,P＜0.05).Overexpression of TET2 or UQCRH could reverse the anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative effects of FGF-2 on VSMC,with upregulation of apoptosis-related protein expression and downregulation of anti-apoptotic protein expression(compared with FGF-2 group,P＜0.05).The UQCRH gene promoter region contained three CpG islands.Overexpression of TET2 could upregulate UQCRH expression in VSMC treated with FGF-2(compared with FGF-2 group,P＜0.05).Conclusion FGF-2,by inhibiting TET2 expression and UQCRH expression,reduces VSMC apoptosis and promotes its proliferation.

Currently,human health due to corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has been seriously threatened.The coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)spike(S)protein plays a crucial role in virus transmission and several S-based therapeutic approaches have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19.However,the efficacy is compromised by the SARS-CoV-2 evolvement and mutation.Here we report the SARS-CoV-2 S protein receptor-binding domain(RBD)inhibitor licorice-saponin A3(A3)could widely inhibit RBD of SARS-CoV-2 variants,including Beta,Delta,and Omicron BA.1,XBB and BQ1.1.Furthermore,A3 could potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus in Vero E6 cells,with EC50 of 1.016 pM.The mechanism was related to binding with Y453 of RBD deter-mined by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry(HDX-MS)analysis combined with quan-tum mechanics/molecular mechanics(QM/MM)simulations.Interestingly,phosphoproteomics analysis and multi fluorescent immunohistochemistry(mIHC)respectively indicated that A3 also inhibits host inflammation by directly modulating the JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)path-ways and rebalancing the corresponding immune dysregulation.This work supports A3 as a promising broad-spectrum small molecule drug candidate for COVID-19.