Objective To investigate G. Pentaphyllums influence on the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and catalase (CAT) in the skin of hireless photoaging mice, as well as the content of hydroxyproline (HYP). At the same time, G. Pentaphyllum's effect on the hireless photoaging mice was studied. Methods Healthy KM hireless mice were randomly divided into five groups. A skin photoaging model was established by G. Pentaphyllum administration. The changes of the activity of GSH-PX, CAT and the contents of dermal hydroxyproline in the skin were then measured by biochemical methods in each group of the experiment. Results In the model group, the activity of GSHPX, CAT and the content of HYP of skin were all decreased significantly (P＜0. 05). And there were different degrees of improvements in those of the herb given groups. Conclusion G. Pentaphyllumhas the protective effect on the skin of the photoageing in the hairless mice. The mechanism may be that G. Pentaphyllum could inhibit the oxidative damages of ultraviolet and skin photoaging by increasing the synthesis of collagen in skin.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on mitochondrial dynamics in mice with endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Methods: Thirty clean-grade healthy adult male C57BL/6 mice, weighing 20-25 g, aged 2 months, were divided into 3 groups (n=10 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), endotoxin-induced ALI group (group LPS) and endotoxin-induced ALI plus dexmedetomidine group (group LPS+ DEX). In LPS and LPS+ DEX groups, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 10 mg/kg was injected via the caudal vein to establish the model of endotoxin-induced ALI.In group LPS+ DEX, dexmedetomidine 50 μg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min before injection of LPS, while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in C and LPS groups.The mice were sacrificed at 6 h after LPS administration, and lung tissues were obtained for examination of the pathological changes (with a light microscope) which were scored and for determination of the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expression of mitochondrial fusion proteins mitofusin 1 (Mfn1), Mfn2, optic atrophy 1 (OPA1), dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and fission protein 1 (Fis1)(using Western blot). Results: Compared with group C, the lung injury scores and ROS level in lung tissues were significantly increased, the expression of Mfn1, Mfn2 and OPA1 was down-regulated, and the expression of Drp1 and Fis1 was up-regulated in LPS and LPS+ DEX groups (P<0.05). Compared with group LPS, the lung injury scores and ROS level in lung tissues were significantly decreased, the expression of Mfn1, Mfn2 and OPA1 was up-regulated, and the expression of Drp1 and Fis1 was down-regulated in group LPS+ DEX (P<0.05). Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can reduce endotoxin-induced ALI through maintaining the mitochondrial fusion-fission balance in mice.

Objective: To evaluate the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes in alveolar macrophages of rats. Methods: NR8383 cells of rat alveolar macrophages cultured in vitro were seeded in 96-well plates at a density of 4×10⁴ cells/ml and divided into 4 groups (n=48 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), group LPS (group L), LPS+ HO-1 siRNA group (group L+ HO-1 siRNA), and LPS+ Con siRNA group (group L+ Con siRNA). The cells were cultured in normal culture atmosphere in group C. NR8383 cells were stimulated with 10 μg/ml LPS in L, L+ HO-1 siRNA and L+ Con siRNA groups.Cells were transfected with HO-1 siRNA at 48 h before stimulation with LPS in group L+ HO-1 siRNA and with Con siRNA at 48 h before stimulation with LPS in group L+ Con siRNA.The cells were collected and incubated for 24 h after stimulation with LPS for measurement of the cell viability, expression of HO-1 and NLRP3 mRNA (by real-time polymerase chain reaction), expression of HO-1, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) and caspase-1 (by Western blot), and concentrations of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in the supernatant (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Results: Compared with group C, the cell viability was significantly decreased, the expression of HO-1 and NLRP3 protein and mRNA, ASC and caspase-1 was up-regulated, and the IL-1β and IL-18 concentrations were increased in L, L+ HO-1 siRNA and L+ Con siRNA groups (P<0.05). Compared with group L, the cell viability was significantly decreased, the expression of HO-1 protein and mRNA was down-regulated, and the expression of NLRP3 protein and mRNA, ASC and caspase-1 was up-regulated, and the IL-1β and IL-18 concentrations were increased in group L+ HO-1 siRNA (P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group L+ Con siRNA (P>0.05). Conclusion HO-1 is involved in LPS-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in alveolar macrophages of rats.

Objective:To determine the equilibrium solubility and n-octanol/water partition coefficients (Papp)of cinnamon acid and cinnamaldehyde. Methods:The equilibrium solubility of cinnamon acid and cinnamaldehyde in different solutions was determined by HPLC,and their n-octanol/water partition coefficients were determined by a shaking flask method combined with HPLC-DAD. Results:When the pH of solution was 7.8,the equilibrium solubility of cinnamon acid was the largest,while that of cinnamaldehyde was the largest in pH 6.8 solution. The scopes of lgPappof cinnamon acid and cinnamaldehyde in different buffer solutions(pH 1.2-7.8) were -1.04-2.27 and 0.29-1.67, respectively, while those in n-octanol/water solvent were 0.85 and 1.26, respectively. Conclusion:The method is simple,accurate and fast to predicate the absorption of chemical components. In gastrointestinal physiological environment,cinnamaldehyde has good absorption, while cinnamon acid is with poor absorption in stomach and with better absorption in intestinal.

Objective:The degree of involvement of extraocular muscles varies across different regions of retrobulbar tissue in patients with thyroid eye disease, but the mechanism is unclear. This study aims to explore the relationship between differential expression of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor(TSHR) in different parts of the extraocular muscles and the varying degrees of muscle involvement.Methods:The medial, lateral, superior, and inferior rectus muscle were separated from the retrobulbar tissue of rats, and the expression level of TSHR in four extraocular muscles was detected by immunofluorescence and qPCR. Extraocular muscle tissue of patients with strabismus was collected to detect the expression of TSHR and the cell types expressed by fluorescence.Results:The results of qPCR showed that the expression of TSHR in the medial rectus muscle was significantly higher than that in the lateral, superior, and inferior rectus muscle(medial rectus vs lateral rectus, P=0.012; medial rectus vs superior rectus, P=0.015; medial rectus vs inferior rectus, P=0.013), but there was no difference in insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1R) expression. Immunofluorescence showed that TSHR was co-expressed with PAX7, a molecular marker of muscle satellite cells, and the expression level in the medial rectus muscle of rats and humans was significantly higher than those in the other three extraocular muscles. Conclusion:The high specific expression of TSHR in the satellite cells of the medial rectus muscle may be the reason why the medial rectus muscle is most susceptible to involvement in thyroid eye disease.

Objective To evaluate the role of endogenous heme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide ( HO-1/CO) signaling pathway in endoplasmic reticulum stress during endotoxin-induced acute lung injury ( ALI) in rats. Methods Forty healthy clean-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8 weeks, weighing 190-210 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=10 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), ALI group, ALI plus ZnPP-IX group (group AZ), and ALI plus vehicle sodium bicarbonate group ( group AV) . ALI was induced by intravenously injecting lipopolysaccharide 5 mg/kg in anesthetized rats. At 30 min before establishing the model, ZnPP-IX 10μmol/kg (diluted to 1 ml in 50 mmol/L sodium bicarbonate) was intraperitoneally injected in group AZ, and 50 mmol/L sodium bicarbonate 1 ml was intra-peritoneally injected in group AV. After injecting lipopolysaccharide for 6 h, blood samples were collected from the common carotid artery for determination of plasma CO concentration, the rats were then sacrificed, and lungs were removed for microscopic examination of the pathological changes which were scored and for determination of CO level, wet to dry weight ratio ( W/D ratio) , cell apoptosis ( by TUNEL) , and expres-sion of heme oxygenase-1 ( HO-1) , glucose-regulated protein 78 ( GRP78) , phosphorylated protein kinase R-like endoplasmie reticulum kinase (p-PERK), phosphorylated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha ( p-elF2 ) , CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein ( CHOP ) and caspase-12 in lung tissues ( by Western blot) . Apoptosis index ( AI) was calculated. Results Compared with group C, the lung injury scores, W/D ratio, AI and CO levels in plasma and lung tissues were significantly increased, and the expression of HO-1, GRP78, p-PERK, p-elF2, CHOP and caspase-12 was up-regulated in the other three groups ( P＜0. 05) . Compared with group ALI, lung injury scores, W/D ratio and AI were sig-nificantly increased, CO levels in plasma and lung tissues were decreased, the expression of HO-1 was down-regulated, and the expression of GRP78, p-PERK, p-elF2, CHOP and caspase-12 was up-regula-ted in group AZ (P＜0. 05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group AV ( P＞0. 05) . Conclusion HO-1/CO signaling pathway produces endogenous protection possibly through inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress during endotoxin-induced ALI in rats.

ObjectiveTo clarify the protective effect of Danlou tablet， a representative traditional Chinese medicine of the stagnation of phlegm and blood stasis co-treatment method， on vascular endothelial function in patients with atherosclerosis （AS）. MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted. From September 2023 to November 2023， a total of 72 patients who were diagnosed at Guang'anmen Hospital， China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for carotid atherosclerosis （CAS） combined with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease （CHD） and stable angina pectoris （SAP） were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into a control group （receiving conventional Western medicine treatment） and an observation group （receiving Danlou tablet combined with conventional Western medicine treatment）， with 36 cases in each group. The intervention lasted for 12 weeks. The frequency of angina pectoris attacks was recorded to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Danlou tablet. Peripheral blood samples were collected from patients， and the expression levels of serum endothelial injury markers before and after treatment were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The nitrate reductase method was employed to evaluate the protective effect of Danlou tablet on vascular function. The expression levels of serum inflammatory factors and lipoproteins were determined by ELISA and an automatic biochemical analyzer （dynamic timed scatter turbidimetry and enzymatic method） to assess the anti-inflammatory and lipid-regulating effects of Danlou tablet. ResultsIn terms of angina pectoris attacks， compared with that in the control group， the frequency of attacks in the observation group was reduced （P<0.05）. In terms of endothelial injury markers， compared with the levels before treatment within the same group， the levels of endothelin-1 （ET-1）， intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1）， and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 （VCAM-1） in the peripheral blood of the observation group were decreased （P<0.05）， while the levels of nitric oxide （NO） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） were increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the differences in ET-1， NO， ICAM-1， and VCAM-1 were significant （P<0.05）. In terms of serum inflammatory factors， after treatment， the interleukin-6 （IL-6） level in the observation group was decreased significantly （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the IL-6 level in the observation group was decreased significantly （P<0.01）. In terms of serum lipoproteins， after treatment， the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） in the observation group was decreased （P<0.05）. After treatment， the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group （P<0.05）. In terms of safety evaluation， no serious adverse events occurred in either group during the intervention period. ConclusionDanlou tablet applied to patients with CAS combined with CHD can improve endothelial function， reduce inflammatory indicators， alleviate symptoms， improve the quality of life of patients， and demonstrate good safety.

ObjectiveTo clarify the protective effect of Danlou tablet， a representative traditional Chinese medicine of the stagnation of phlegm and blood stasis co-treatment method， on vascular endothelial function in patients with atherosclerosis （AS）. MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted. From September 2023 to November 2023， a total of 72 patients who were diagnosed at Guang'anmen Hospital， China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for carotid atherosclerosis （CAS） combined with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease （CHD） and stable angina pectoris （SAP） were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into a control group （receiving conventional Western medicine treatment） and an observation group （receiving Danlou tablet combined with conventional Western medicine treatment）， with 36 cases in each group. The intervention lasted for 12 weeks. The frequency of angina pectoris attacks was recorded to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Danlou tablet. Peripheral blood samples were collected from patients， and the expression levels of serum endothelial injury markers before and after treatment were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The nitrate reductase method was employed to evaluate the protective effect of Danlou tablet on vascular function. The expression levels of serum inflammatory factors and lipoproteins were determined by ELISA and an automatic biochemical analyzer （dynamic timed scatter turbidimetry and enzymatic method） to assess the anti-inflammatory and lipid-regulating effects of Danlou tablet. ResultsIn terms of angina pectoris attacks， compared with that in the control group， the frequency of attacks in the observation group was reduced （P<0.05）. In terms of endothelial injury markers， compared with the levels before treatment within the same group， the levels of endothelin-1 （ET-1）， intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1）， and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 （VCAM-1） in the peripheral blood of the observation group were decreased （P<0.05）， while the levels of nitric oxide （NO） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） were increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the differences in ET-1， NO， ICAM-1， and VCAM-1 were significant （P<0.05）. In terms of serum inflammatory factors， after treatment， the interleukin-6 （IL-6） level in the observation group was decreased significantly （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the IL-6 level in the observation group was decreased significantly （P<0.01）. In terms of serum lipoproteins， after treatment， the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） in the observation group was decreased （P<0.05）. After treatment， the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group （P<0.05）. In terms of safety evaluation， no serious adverse events occurred in either group during the intervention period. ConclusionDanlou tablet applied to patients with CAS combined with CHD can improve endothelial function， reduce inflammatory indicators， alleviate symptoms， improve the quality of life of patients， and demonstrate good safety.

ObjectiveTo study the effect and mechanism of Xiangsha Liu Junzitang combined with phlegm-removing and detoxifying traditional Chinese medicine on immune escape in Lewis lung cancer mice. MethodA total of 60 specific-pathogen-free （SPF）-grade C57BL/6J male mice were injected subcutaneously with 0.2 mL of Lewis cell suspension （containing 2×10⁶ cells·mL^-1） in the right mid-axillary line. After 7 days， the mice that had been successfully modeled were randomly divided into six groups： the model group， the cisplatin group， the Xiangsha Liu Junzitang low-， medium-， and high-dose groups， and the combined group， with 10 mice in each group. The Xiangsha Liu Junzitang low-， medium- and high-dose groups were gavaged with 17.88， 35.75， 71.50 g·kg^-1 Xiangsha Liu Junzitang solution once a day， respectively， and the dosage of cisplatin intraperitoneally injected into the mice was converted to 5 mg·kg^-1 twice a week， and the tumour volumes of each group were measured every two days. The intervention lasted for 14 consecutive days. At the end of treatment， the tumour mass of mice in each group was weighed and the tumour inhibition rate was calculated. The morphological characteristics of tumours in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Fluorescent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） assay was used to detect messenger ribonucleic acid （mRNA） contents of the natural killer group 2 member D （NKG2D） receptor， ribonucleic acid export-1 （RAE-1）， and γ interferon （IFN-γ） in the tumour tissues of each group. NKG2D， RAE-1， and IFN-γ mRNA in tumour tissues of each group. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） and Western blot were applied to detect the expressions of RAE-1， NKG2D， and IFN-γ in tumour tissues of each group， and Western blot was used to detect the expressions of interleukin-6 （IL-6）， Janus kinase 2 （JAK2）， p-JAK2， signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）， and p-STAT3 in tumour tissues of each group， as well as the protein levels of NKG2D， and RAE-1 in spleen tissues of each group. ResultCompared with that in the model group， the tumour mass decreased in all dose groups of Xiangsha Liu Junzitang， with no statistically significant difference. The tumour volume was reduced （P<0.05， P <0.01）. The pathological morphology was improved. The mRNA contents of NKG2D， RAE-1 and IFN-γ were increased in the medium-dose group （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein expressions of NKG2D， RAE-1， and IFN-γ in tumour tissues were elevated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein expressions were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In spleen tissues， the protein expressions of NKG2D and RAE-1 in all dose groups of Xiangsha Liu Junzitang were significantly elevated （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the cisplatin group， NKG2D， RAE-1 and IFN-γ mRNA contents were elevated in the middle-dose group of Xiangsha Liu Junzitang， and the difference was not statistically significant. IHC showed that the protein expressions of NKG2D and IFN-γ in the combined group were significantly elevated （P<0.01）， and Western blot results showed that the protein expressions of RAE-1， NKG2D and IFN-γ were elevated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein expressions were decreased in the combined group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. NKG2D and RAE-1 protein expressions were significantly increased in spleen tissues of the medium-dose groups and the combined group （P<0.01）. ConclusionXiangsha Liu Junzitang combined with phlegm-removing and detoxifying traditional Chinese medicine can inhibit the growth of tumours in Lewis lung cancer mice by up-regulating the expressions of RAE-1/NKG2D， promoting the activation of NK cells， and inhibiting immune escape， the mechanism of which may be related to down-regulation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a V-shaped incision in the resection of a superficial parotid gland benign tumor by comparison with a modified Blair incision. To provide a basis for evaluating the clinical application value of the V-shaped incision. Methods: This study was reviewed and approved by the ethics committee, and informed consent was obtained from the patients. Data from 61 patients with a benign tumor on the superficial parotid gland who had surgery at People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from September 2021 to September 2023 were collected and analyzed. The maximum diameter of the tumor included in the patient should not exceed 4 cm. The patients were divided into two groups based on the different surgical incisions: a V-shaped incision group (29 cases) and modified Blair incision group (32 cases). Several comparisons were made between the group: operation time; postoperative drainage volume; facial nerve function, pain, and complication in the operation area; and aesthetic effect of the surgical incision. The patients were followed up for 6 months. The 61 patients were further divided into groups based on the locations of the tumors: tumors around the earlobe and tumors in the lower pole of the parotid gland. Results: There were no significant differences in operation time, postoperative House-Brackmann grading system (HBGs) facial nerve function score, and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score between the two groups (P>0.05). The postoperative drainage volume and Vancouver scar scale (VSS) score of the V-shaped incision group were higher than the modified Blair incision group (P<0.05). The incidence of great auricular nerve numbness was lower in the V-shaped incision group than the modified Blair incision group (P<0.05). The operation time of the V-shaped incision applied to excise the tumor around the earlobe was shorter than the modified Blair incision (P<0.05). Conclusion The V-shaped incision is a concealed facial incision, surgeons should be aware that some patients who receive this incision have a large amount of postoperative drainage and the retroauricular region is prone to scar hyperplasia.