As activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) play a central role in fibrogenesis, they have become key target cells for anti-fibrotic treatment. Nevertheless, the therapeutic efficiency is constrained by the exosomes they secrete, which are linked to energy metabolism and continuously stimulate the activation of neighboring quiescent hepatic stellate cells (qHSCs). Herein, an intercellular communication interference strategy is designed utilizing paeoniflorin (PF) loaded and hyaluronic acid (HA) coated copper-doped ZIF-8 (PF@HA-Cu/ZIF-8, PF@HCZ) to reduce energy-related exosome secretion from aHSCs, thus preserving neighboring qHSCs in a quiescent state. Simultaneously, the released copper and zinc ions disrupt key enzymes involved in glycolysis to reduce bioenergy synthesis in aHSCs, thereby promoting the reversion of aHSCs to a quiescent state and further decreasing exosome secretion. Therefore, PF@HCZ can effectively sustain both aHSCs and qHSCs in a metabolically dormant state to ultimately alleviate liver fibrosis. The study provides an enlightening strategy for interrupting exosome-mediated intercellular communication and remodeling the energy metabolic status of HSCs with boosted antifibrogenic activity.

Objective To establish a reliable pretreatment method for the detection of mequindox and its metabolite in pork luncheon meat by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/triple qudrupole tandem mass spectrometry. Methods Samples were extracted with ethyl acetate, and the results of purification and enrichment by PAX and PEP solid-phase extraction columns were analyzed. Acetonitrile/methanol (3:11) - 0.1% formic acid water was used as the mobile phase, and Shimadzu Inertsil ODS-3-column (3µm, 2.1 × 100mm) chromatographic columns were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis using the multi-reaction detection positive ion mode. Results The results showed that PEP cartridge had good recovery rate. The detection limit of mequindox was 0.10µg/kg, and limit of quantitation was 0.30µg/kg. The average recoveries for spiked levels of 0.33, 0.83, and 1.65µg/kg were 127%, 72.0%, and 60.1%, respectively. The detection limit of 2-quinoxalinecarboxylic acid was 0.10µg/kg, and limit of quantitation was 0.40µg/kg. The average recoveries for spiked levels of 0.42, 1.05, and 2.1µg/kg were 125%, 99.0%, and 60.9%, respectively. Conclusion This method is suitable for the determination of mequindox and its metabolite 2-quinoxalinecarboxylic acid in luncheon meat.

Objective To investigate the relationship between clinical efficacy and cage subsidence,and to identify the risk factors of cage subsidence after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in treating single level lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spondylolisthesis.Methods According to the inclusion/exclusion criteria,a series of 107 patients who underwent TLIF with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage in our department were evaluated retrospectively between May 2011 and May 2014.Intervertebral space height and segmental angle were measured on the preoperative and postoperative iconography according to the metrical software.All patients were divided into cage subsidence group (cage subsidence ≥ 2 mm) and cage non-subsidence group (cage subsidence ＜ 2 mm) based on the threshold value of intervertebral space height via X-ray.The Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the clinical efficacy.Univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the potential risk factors.Results Of all 107 patients,thirty-six patients (15 males and 21 females)aged 52.61 ± 13.82 years were divided into in the cage subsidence group with an average follow-up duration 26.33±7.66 months,seventy-one patients aged 53.80± 14.94 years,28 males and 43 females in the cage non-subsidence group,were followed-up for 23.82±8.95 months.There was no significant difference between cage subsidence group and cage non-subsidence group in gender,age,course of disease and time of follow-up (P＞ 0.05).The average 2.79±0.78 mm (range 2.02-5.53 mm) subsidence was observed in cage subsidence group.The preoperative intervertebral space height,postoperative intervertebral space height,postoperative segmental angle were related to cage subsidence by univariate analysis (P ＜ 0.05).Postoperative intervertebral space height [OR=1.864,95％CI(1.207,2.879) mm] was the risk factor of cage subsidence by logistic regression (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference between cage subsidence group and cage non-subsidence group in ODI and VAS (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Cage subsidence is affected by the preoperative intervertebral space height,postoperative intervertebral space height,and postoperative segmental angle.Postoperative intervertebral space height is the independent risk factor of cage subsidence.Over distraction of intervertebral space height could increase the risk of cage subsidence.