Objective To investigate the expression of CD40,CD40L and MMP9 in carotid atherosclerotic plaques and evaluate their roles in carotid atherosclerotic plaque stability.Methods Carotid atherosclerotic plaques were isolated in carotid eversion endarterectomy (GEE) in 37 patients with high-grade stenosis (>70%) including 20 stroke (A group) and 17 non-stroke patients (B group).The control group included samples of normal carotid artery from 11 normal individuals,The RNA expression levels of CD40,CD40 L and MMP9 in all A,B and control groups were quantitatively detected by real-time quantification polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the protein expression levels were detected by Western blotting analysis.The expression and distribution of CD40,CD40L and MMP9 in carotid atherosclerotic plaques were detected by immunohistochemistry staining.Then correlations between CD40-CD40L and MMP9 were statistically analyzed.Results The relative CD40 mRNA level in high-grade stenosis of A group,B group and normal control were 2.41±0.43,1.03±0.38 and 0.31±0.12,respectively,and MMP9 mRNA 6.88±1.57,1.90±0.44 and 0.39±0.12,respectively.The levels of CD40 and MMP9 mRNA in A group were significantly higher than those in B group (P=0.000),the levels of CD40 and MMP9 in B group were significantly higher than those in controls (P=0.000).There was a linear correlation between CD40 and MMP9 mRNA (r=0.929,P=0.000).However,there were no significantly difference in mRNA levels of CD40L between carotid atherosclerosis and controls.The protein expression levels of CD40,CD40L and MMP9 in A group were significantly higher than those in B group (FCD40=104.100,P=0.000;FCD40L=129.932,P=0.000;FMMP9=13.565,P=0.021) and B group higher than normal controls (FCD40=115.848,P = 0.000;FCD40L= 30.482,P=0.005;FMMP9=35.557,P=0.004).The areas of positive staining of CD40,CD40L and MMP9 in immunochemistry study in A group were significantly higher than those in B group and B group was significantly higher than controls.There were linear correlations between positive staining areas Of CD40 and CD40L,CD40 and MMP9,CD40L and MMP9 (r=0.963,0.959,0.929,P=0.000).Expressions of CD40,CD40L and MMP9 were significantly higher in the shoulder areas of the atherosclerotic plaques than in other areas.Conclusions The CD40-CD40L has an important role in the formation of carotid atherosclerosis and plaque instability,probably by up-regulating MMP9.The expression of CD40L may be regulated by post-transcriptional modification to exert biological effects.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Esophagitis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Objective To explore the CT dominant phase and optimal classification model in differenting clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) from fat‐poor angiomyolipoma (fpAML) through quantitative multiple‐phase CT radiomic features analysis. Methods Clinical and imaging data of 195 cases pathologically confirmed ccRCC (n=131) and fpAML (n=64) were retrospectively studied. All the patients underwent non‐contrast enhanced CT scans and dynamic multi‐phase (corticomedullary phase, medullary phase and excretion phase) contrast‐enhanced CT scans. Regions of interest (ROIs) were manually delineated based on the selected image slices with the maximal diameter of the lesion using ITK‐SNAP software, followed by the acquisition of candidate CT radiomic feature sets from each phase with statistically significant differences by using Mann‐Whitney U test. Then, using the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE), 232 classification models which are composed of 29 different feature selection algorithms (top 10 features were chosen by the backward elimination method) and 8 different classifiers were constructed. Employing the 5‐fold cross‐validation method, the performance of each classification models for each phase was evaluated using accuracy (ACC), sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE) and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), to acquire dominant CT phases and the optimal classification models for distingushing ccRCC and fpAML, along with the key imaging radiomic features. Results In this study, the mean maximal diameter of ccRCC and fpAML lesions were (3.9±1.4) cm, and (3.5±1.7) cm, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference in the size of the tumor between two groups (P>0.05). From 102 initial imaging feature sets, the total number of candidate imaging feature sets (P<0.05) were:non‐enhanced phase (n=26), corticomedullary phase (n=71), medullary phase (n=68), excretion phase (n=62). Among the 232 classification models through different combination of classifiers and feature selectors, the amount of classification models which achieved the maximum of AUC value (AUCmax) from different CT phases were: non‐enhanced phase (n=106, 45.7%), corticomedullary phase (n=94, 40.5%), medullary phase (n=23, 9.9%), excretion phase (n=9, 3.9%). Imaging features from non‐enhanced phase and corticomedullary phase yielded higher performance compared with medullary phase and excretion phase, with the corresponding optimal prediction models were SVM‐fisher_score (AUC: 0.897, ACC: 83%, SEN: 84%, SPE:80%) and Logistic Regression‐RFS (AUC: 0.891, ACC: 83%, SEN: 81%, SPE: 89%), respectively. Conclusions The quantitative imaging features from non‐enhanced and corticomedullary phase have better performance among proposed classification models than that from medullary phase and excretion phase. Furthermore, it is feasible to acquire proper combination of feature selection and classifiers to achieve high performance in identifying ccRCC and fpAML.

Objective: To explore the expression and prognostic significance of miR-223 in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and to investigate the possible mechanism. Methods: Twenty-one newly diagnosed MCL patients with bone marrow involvement were enrolled in the present study, 20 healthy donors as normal control. The expression level of miR-223 and SOX11 mRNA was determined by RQ-PCR. CCK-8 and flow cytometer assays were used to analyze cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of the constructed miR-223 overexpressing MCL cell line, Granta519 cells. SOX11 protein expression level was determined by Western blot. The target gene of miR-223 was confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay. Results: ①Of the 21 newly diagnosed MCL patients, 15 were male and 6 female, the median age was 58 (37-72) years. The expression level of miR-223 was significantly down regulated in MCL patients compared with that of healthy donors (14.7±10.5 vs 1 244.1±1 935.2, P<0.001). The lower expression of miR-223 was inversely correlated with high-risk mantle international prognostic index (P=0.001), elevated LDH (P=0.001), ECOG score ≥2 (P=0.035). ②Using the median relative expression level of miR-223 as the cutoff value, 21 MCL patients were divided into high-expression group (n=10) and low-expression group (n=11) and found that the high-expression group had a significantly superior OS (median OS: 36 vs 12 months, P=0.021). ③In vitro results showed that compared with the control group, the proliferation of miR-223 overexpressed Granta519 cells was inhibited (the most significant reduction on 96h, P<0.001), manifested by lower proportion of cells in G2/M phase (P<0.001) and increased apoptosis (P<0.001), and the expression level of SOX11 protein in Granta519 cells was significantly lower than that of the control group. ④miR-223 could inhibited the 3′ untranslated region of SOX11, and the expression level of miR-223 was significantly negatively correlated with mRNA level of SOX11 in MCL patients (r=-0.81, P<0.001). Conclusions The expression of miR-223 was repressed in MCL and was associated with poor clinical outcomes, which may be probably attributed to its direct targeting SOX11.

Acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester (AD-1) is a synthetic peptide composed of acetic acid and cetyl alcohol with arginine and tyrosine, which has certain anti-inflammatory and skin barrier enhancement effects, has been used in cosmetics for sensitive skin.Meanwhile, the ingredient has also been used in anti-aging cosmetics, but there is a lack of published scientific evidence on anti- senescence aspect.In this study, we investigated the related effects of AD-1 by evaluating its in vitro antioxidant and antiglycation efficacies.Furthermore, we established a photoaging model on primary rat dermal fibroblasts by repeated exposures to UVA irradiation.MTT assay was used to detect the effects of AD-1 on the cell viability.RT-qPCR was used to determine the effects of AD-1 on the mRNA levels of senescence-related p21, p53, MMPs, IL6, Col1, Col3 and autophagy-related p62, ATG5, ATG7.Western blot was used to detect the effects of AD-1 on the protein levels of p16, p21, p53, Col1, LC3B and p62.SA-β-gal was performed to indicate senescence level of the cell.MDC was performed to indicate autophagy level.Intracellular reactive oxygen species were monitored by fluorescent probes DCFH-DA.The results showed that AD-1 could reduce UVA-induced the cell damage and regulate the abnormal expression of mRNA levels. It alleviated the abnormal protein levels of p16, p21, p53, Col1, LC3B and p62 induced by UVA. These results suggested that AD-1 has not only antioxidant and antiglycation effects but also can activate autophagy to achieve anti-senescence effect.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of total flavonoid glycosides from Fructus Aurantii Immaturus (Immature Bitter Orange,Zhishi)on visceral hypersensitivity in rats with functional dyspepsia (FD).Methods Forty ten-day-old male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups:nor-mal group,model group,total flavonoid glycosides of Zhishi(TFGZ)high-dose group,mid-dose group and low-dose group (each n =8).FD model rats were induced by intragatrical administration of iodoacet-amide with tail-clamping stress.When the rats were 8 weeks old,they were intragstrically administered corresponding dosage of TFGZ for consecutive 14 days.Then abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR)score, electromyographic (EMG)activity of Musculus trapezius cervicalis and gastric accommodation during gas-tric balloon distention were recorded.The optimal dose of TFGZ was screened for the next study.Fifteen more ten-day-old male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups—normal group,model group and TFGZ group at optimal dosage.The method of modeling and treatment were as same as before.After treatment,the expression of 5-HT in gastric and spinal cord tissue and c-fos mRNA in spinal cord tissue were measured.Results Under the intragastric balloon pressure of 40,50 and 60 mmHg,AWR score and change rate of root-mean-square (RMS)of EMG of rats in TFGZ high-dose group and mid-dose group were significantly lower than those of model group (P <0.05),while gastric accommodation was higher than that of model group (P <0.05).While there was no significant difference between the mid-dose group and high-dose group (P >0.05),so middle dose was confirmed to be optimal.TFGZ middle dose significantly decreased 5-HT and c-fos mRNA expression of rats with FD (P <0.05),and there was no significant difference with those in normal group (P >0.05).Conclusion Total flavonoid glycosides from Zhishi could effectively reduce the visceral hypersensitivity in rats with functional dyspepsia.Its mechanism may through the way of lowering the level of 5-HT and c-fos in gastric and spinal cord tissue.

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of expression level of thyroid hormone receptor interactors 13 (TRIP13) gene to probe its function and downstream molecular mechanism in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) . Methods: Real-time quantitative PCR method was used to detect the expression levels of TRIP13 mRNA of CD19⁺ B lymphocytes in 30 cases of patients with CLL and 12 cases of peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell donors (normal control group) . Lentivirus mediated shRNA was used to interference the mRNA and TRIP13 protein in CLL cells JVM-2. Scramble sequence was used as control. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium colorimetric assay (MTT) and flow cytometry was used to detect the cell proliferation and apoptosis in TRIP13 knocked-down and negative control JVM-2 cells. Results: TRIP13 mRNA level was significantly higher in 30 cases of CLL patients (2^-△Ct= 0.014 89) compared with 12 healthy donors (2^-△Ct= 0.000 19) (P<0.001) . Validated TRIP13 shRNA target was achieved in JVM2 cell. Compared with the control group, down-regulation of TRIP13 expression could significantly inhibit the proliferation of JVM-2 cells and induce apoptosis. The expressions of Myc and Bcl-2 protein in JVM-2 cells decreased significantly after interference with TRIP13 (P<0.001) , and the expressions of Bax, caspase 3 and Bad protein increased significantly (P<0.001) . Conclusion TRIP13 mRNA significantly over-expressed in CLL patients CD19⁺ B lymphocytes. TRIP13 could influence JVM2 cell proliferation and apoptosis through proliferation- and apoptosis-related proteins.

OBJECTIVE：To establish QAMS method for simultaneou s determination of 7 effective components in Yao medicine Yueli yaomi spray ，such as α-cyperone，α-pinene，β-pinene，limonene，β-elemene，caryophyllene oxide and ligustilide ， so as to provide method reference for the quality control of the preparation. METHODS ：GC method was adopted. The determination was performed on DB- 1701P capillary column ，using nitrogen as carrier gas. The temperature of the hydrogen flame ion detector was 240 ℃. The temperature was programmed ，the inlet temperature was 240 ℃，the injection volume was 1 μL and the split ratio was 20 ∶ 1. Using limonene as internal reference ，the relative correction factors of other 6 components were calculated，the contents of them were calculated with relative correction factors ，and then compared with the results of internal standard method （using naphthalene as internal standard ）. RESULTS ：The mass concentration linear range of α-cyperone， α-pinene，β-pinene，limonene，β-elemene，caryophyllene oxide and ligustilide were 0.008 9-1.110 0，0.028 3-3.540 0，0.020 5- 2.560 0，0.023 0-2.880 0，0.016 3-2.035 0，0.013 1-1.640 0，0.008 3-1.040 0 mg/mL（all r＞0.999 0）；the limits of quantification were 0.005 6，0.013 1，0.011 4，0.018 6，0.010 8，0.008 9，0.004 5 mg/mL；the detection limits were 0.001 9，0.004 1，0.003 7， 0.006 2，0.003 5，0.002 9，0.001 5 mg/mL；RSDs for precision ，stability（24 h），and repeatability tests were all less than 2％ （n＝5 or n＝6）； the average recoveries were 98.48％ ， 014） 101.37％，97.96％，99.80％，102.79％，97.77％，102.14％， and RSDs were all lower than 2％（n＝9），respectively. The average relative correction factors of α-cyperone，α-pinene， β-pinene，β-elemene，caryophyllene oxide and ligustilide were 1.045 8，0.621 0，0.488 5，0.382 9，0.708 9，0.956 9 respectively，and the RSDs were all lower than 2％（n＝6）. There wa s no statistical significance in contents of 7 components between QAMS method and internal standard method （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS ：The established QAMS method is simple ， accurate，stable and reproducible ，and can be used for simultaneous determination for 7 components in Yueli yaomi spray.

Pulmonary blast injury has become the main type of trauma in modern warfare, characterized by externally mild injuries but internally severe injuries, rapid disease progression, and a high rate of early death. The injury is complicated in clinical practice, often with multiple and compound injuries. Currently, there is a lack of effective protective materials, accurate injury detection instrument and portable monitoring and transportation equipment, standardized clinical treatment guidelines in various medical centers, and evidence-based guidelines at home and abroad, resulting in a high mortality in clinlcal practice. Therefore, the Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association and the Editorial Committee of Chinese Journal of Trauma organized military and civilian experts in related fields such as thoracic surgery and traumatic surgery to jointly develop the Clinical treatment guideline for pulmonary blast injury ( version 2023) by combining evidence for effectiveness and clinical first-line treatment experience. This guideline provided 16 recommended opinions surrounding definition, characteristics, pre-hospital diagnosis and treatment, and in-hospital treatment of pulmonary blast injury, hoping to provide a basis for the clinical treatment in hospitals at different levels.