OBJECTIVE: To examine the mechanism of action of tanshinone II A (Tan II A) in promoting chemosensitization of osteosarcoma cells to cisplatin (DDP). METHODS: The effects of different concentrations of Tan II A (0-80 µ mol/L) and DDP (0-2 µ mol/L) on the proliferation of osteosarcoma cell lines (U2R, U2OS, 143B, and HOS) at different times were examined using the cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Migration and invasion of U2R and U2OS cells were detected after 24 h treatment with 30 µ mol/L Tan II A, 0.5 µ mol/L DDP alone, and a combination of 10 µ mol/L Tan II A and 0.25 µ mol/L DDP using the transwell assay. After 48 h of treatment of U2R and U2OS cells with predetermined concentrations of each group of drugs, the cell cycle was analyzed using a cell cycle detection kit and flow cytometry. After 48 h treatment, apoptosis of U2R and U2OS cells was detected using annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit and flow cytometry. U2R cells were inoculated into the unilateral axilla of nude mice and then the mice were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6 nude mice each. The 4 groups were treated with equal volume of Tan II A (15 mg/kg), DDP (3 mg/kg), Tan II A (7.5 mg/kg) + DDP (1.5 mg/kg), and normal saline, respectively. The body weight of the nude mice was weighed, and the tumor volume and weight were measured. Cell-related gene and signaling pathway expression were detected by RNA sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis. p38 MAPK signaling pathway proteins and apoptotic protein expressions were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: In vitro studies have shown that Tan II A, DDP and the combination of Tan II A and DDP inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. The inhibitory effect was more pronounced in the Tan II A and DDP combined treatment group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Osteosarcoma cells underwent significantly cell-cycle arrest and cell apoptosis by Tan II A-DDP combination treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In vivo studies demonstrated that the Tan II A-DD combination treatment group significantly inhibited tumor growth compared to the Tan II A and DDP single drug group (P<0.01). Additionally, we found that the combination of Tan II A and DDP treatment enhanced the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Western blot assays showed higher p-p38, cleaved caspase-3, and Bax and lower caspase-3, and Bcl-2 expressions with the combination of Tan II A and DDP treatment compared to the single drug treatment (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Tan II A synergizes with DDP by activating the p38/MAPK pathway to upregulate cleaved caspase-3 and Bax pro-apoptotic gene expressions, and downregulate caspase-3 and Bcl-2 inhibitory apoptotic gene expressions, thereby enhancing the chemosensitivity of osteosarcoma cells to DDP.
Abietanes/therapeutic use* ; Osteosarcoma/enzymology* ; Cisplatin/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Bone Neoplasms/enzymology* ; Cell Cycle/drug effects* ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Mice ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

Spinal cord injury, a severe injury of the central nervous system, shows high disability and mortality rate and seriously affects the patients′ quality of life. It is difficult to restore the spinal cord and achieve satisfactory neurological function improvement with various current treatments for spinal cord injury. Electric stimulation can accelerate axonal growth and myelination and promote nervous tissue repair and regeneration. Conductive hydrogels that can load electric stimulation have great potential in the treatment of spinal cord injuries. Under electric stimulation, different types of conductive hydrogels have different characteristics and can perform a variety of functions. However, clinicians still lack a comprehensive understanding of their application effects in repair of spinal cord injury. To this end, the authors reviewed the research progress on the role of electric stimulation as well as the characteristics and applications of different types of conductive hydrogels in repair of spinal cord injury to provide references for the synthesis and clinical transformation of conductive hydrogels for repair of spinal cord injury.

Objective:To evaluate the correlation between the degree of posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) injury and various parameters of vertebral body injury in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures.Methods:A total of 48 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures were admitted to the Spine Surgery Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University between December 2022 and January 2024. The cohort consisted of 31 males and 17 females, with a mean age of 44.1±11.8 years (range, 18-65 years). Based on the PLL injury grading method proposed by Sun Zhaoyun, patients were classified into three groups: mild, moderate, and severe. However, due to an insufficient number of patients in the severe group ( n=3), the moderate and severe groups were combined for statistical analysis, resulting in two groups: mild, and moderate-to-severe. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected. Local kyphosis (LK), inversion angle (IA), horizontal rotation angle (HRA), increased interspinous distance (IISD), anterior vertebral body compression ratio (AVBCR), posterior vertebral body compression ratio (PVBCR), middle vertebral body compression ratio (MVBCR), the ratio of height of bone fragment (RHBF), the ratio of width of bone fragment (RWBF), and mid-sagittal canal diameter compression ratio (MSDCR) were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0. Categorical variables were expressed as frequency (percentage) and analyzed using chi-square and Fisher exact tests. Continuous variables were tested for normality, with non-normally distributed data analyzed using the rank-sum test and expressed as median (interquartile range). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) to evaluate predictive performance. Results:Among the 48 patients, only 3 were found to have severe PLL injury, necessitating the combination of the moderate and severe groups for statistical purposes. Patients in the moderate-to-severe group demonstrated significantly higher AVBCR, PVBCR, RHBF, MVBCR, MSDCR, and IA compared to the mild group ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression identified AVBCR, PVBCR, MSDCR, and IA as independent risk factors for moderate-to-severe PLL injury ( OR>1, P<0.05). ROC curve analysis revealed that AVBCR, PVBCR, MSDCR, IA, and their combined index could effectively predict moderate-to-severe PLL injury ( P<0.05). Notably, the combined index showed superior predictive performance (AUC=0.970) compared to individual parameters. Threshold values were determined as follows: AVBCR>45.30%, PVBCR>12.17%, MSDCR>27.13%, IA>5.90°, and the combined index >0.61, indicating PLL damage. Conclusion:AVBCR, PVBCR, MSDCR, IA, and their combined index are significantly associated with moderate-to-severe PLL injury in thoracolumbar burst fractures. The combined index demonstrates superior predictive ability compared to single parameters, providing a reliable tool for assessing PLL integrity.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of pulsed thulium laser(PTL)combined with triamcinolone acetonide injection in the treatment of failed posterior urethral anastomosis(FPUA).Methods:This retrospective study included 35 male pa-tients treated in Gongli Hospital for failed posterior urethral anastomosis from January 2018 to December 2023.All the patients under-went direct-vision internal urethrotomy(DVIU)with transurethral PTL(the PTL group,n=15)or transurethral plasma(the TUP group,n=20),and all received intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide.We followed up the patients for a median of 21 months,recorded the age,length of urethral stricture,operation time,pre-and post-operative maximum urinary flow rate(Qmax),postoperative complications and recurrence of urethral stricture,and compared the data obtained between the two groups.Results:All the patients smoothly completed the treatment procedures.No statistically significant differences were observed in the age,length of urethral stricture,operation time and postoperative complications between the two groups(P>0.05).The median follow-up time for the thulium laser group and plasma group was 21.0 months(IQR 16.0-24.0)and 21.0 months(IQR 17.0-25.0),respectively,with a statistically significant difference observed in the maximum urine flow rate before and after surgery at the 12-month mark(P<0.01).No significant disparity was found in terms of relapse-free survival between the two groups(P=0.398)Conclusion:Pulsed thulium laser combined with triamcinolone acetonide injection can effectively maintain a short-term cicatricial stability of the ure-thral stricture and satisfactory urethral patency,obviously superior to plasmotomy as a remedial treatment of urethral stricture after failed posterior urethral anastomosis.

This study aimed to provide scientific evidence for predicting quality markers(Q-markers) of Elephantopus scaber by establishing UPLC fingerprint of E. scaber from different geographical origins and determining the content of 13 major components, as well as conducting in vitro anti-cancer activity investigation of the main components. The chromatographic column used was Waters CORTECS UPLC C_(18)(2.1 mm×150 mm, 1.6 μm), and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid solution(gradient elution). The column temperature was set at 30 ℃, and the flow rate was 0.2 mL·min~(-1). The injection volume was 1 μL, and the detection wavelength was 240 nm. The UPLC fingerprint of E. scaber was fitted using the Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine(2012 edition) to determine common peaks, evaluate similarity, identify and determine the content of major components. The CCK-8 assay was used to explore the inhibitory effect of the main components on the proliferation of lung cancer cells. The results showed that in the established UPLC fingerprint of E. scaber, 35 common peaks were identified. Thirteen major components, including neochlorogenic acid(peak 1), chlorogenic acid(peak 2), cryptochlorogenic acid(peak 3), caffeic acid(peak 4), schaftoside(peak 6), galuteolin(peak 9), isochlorogenic acid B(peak 10), isochlorogenic acid A(peak 12), isochlorogenic acid C(peak 18), deoxyelephantopin(peak 28), isodeoxyelephantopin(peak 29), isoscabertopin(peak 31), and scabertopin(peak 32) were identified and quantified, and a quantitative analysis method was established. The results of the in vitro anti-cancer activity study showed that deoxyelephantopin, isodeoxyelephantopin, isoscabertopin, and scabertopin in E. scaber exhibited inhibition rates of lung cancer cell proliferation exceeding 80% at a concentration of 10 μmol·L~(-1), higher than the positive drug paclitaxel. These results indicate that the fingerprint of E. scaber is highly characteristic, and the quantitative analysis method is accurate and stable, providing references for the research on quality standards of E. scaber. Four sesquiterpene lactones in E. scaber show significant anti-cancer activity and can serve as Q-markers for E. scaber.
Humans ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Asteraceae/chemistry* ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy*

Attenuated Salmonella typhimurium VNP20009 is a widely used natural oncolytic bacterium, which has great application potential given its unique characteristics, including clinical safety, tumor targeting specificity, and explicit genome sequence. Here, we show that tumor progression can be effectively reduced by intraperitoneal administration with VNP20009 in a mouse model of melanoma (all animal experiments were conducted in accordance with the Animal Ethics Committee of China Pharmaceutical University); co-culture experiment in vitro demonstrated that VNP20009 can induce the polarization of macrophage M1, accompanied by expression of inflammation-related factors; flow cytometry analysis showed that VNP20009 induced the increase of immune cell infiltration in tumor. Further analysis showed that T cells infiltration in tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) increased, and VNP20009 induced the activation of CD4⁺ T cells and CD8⁺ T cells in tumor. Our results demonstrate that VNP20009 treatment significantly inhibited melanoma tumors by remodeling tumor-associated macrophages to an M1-like phenotype, as well as recruiting and activating cytotoxic T cells, combined with its own antigenic activity to exert anti-tumor immunity.

This paper aims to compare the difference of growth and quality between wild and cultivated Artemisia stolonifera, thereby providing references for further development and utilization of A. stolonifera. The wild and cultivated A. stolonifera from different altitudes were collected, and the agronomic characters, moxa yield, volatile components, flavonoids, and phenolic acids were determined. The results showed that the cultivated species were taller and stronger, with more leaves and branches, than the wild species. The moxa yield and combustion quality of wild products were higher than those of cultivated products. The content of main volatile components in cultivated products was higher than that in wild products. The content of flavonoids and phenolic acids in wild products was higher than that in cultivated products. At high altitude, the ignition performance, combustion persistence, comprehensive combustion performance, and heat release during combustion of the wild and cultivated A. stolonifera. were optimal. At middle altitude, the content of main characteristic volatile components and flavone phenolic acids in the leaves of the cultivated and wild A. stolonifera were the highest. At low altitude, the combustion quality and the content of the above components of the cultivated A. stolonifera decrease significantly. Considering the combustion quality and the content of the internal components of the leaf lint, the middle and high altitude areas are suitable for the artificial cultivation of A. stolonifera.
Artemisia ; Agriculture ; Flavonoids ; Plant Leaves ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)is a refractory disease,which seriously endangers the health of patients and increases the mortality of patients.Its pathogenesis is still unclear,but it is mainly driven by alveolar epithelial cell injury.Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is an important part of the disease and is considered to be a potential therapeutic target.A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments have confirmed the role in IPF.This article reviews the interaction mechanisms of IPF-related cells and fibrosis factors in IPF,in order to provide a theoretical basis for further exploration of the occurrence and development mechanism of IPF and future clinical prevention and treatment.

Background Ultrasound-guided continuous thoracic paravertebral block can provide pain-relieving and opioid-sparing effects in patients receiving open hepatectomy. We hypothesize that these effects may improve the quality of recovery (QoR) after open hepatectomy. Methods Seventy-six patients undergoing open hepatectomy were randomized to receive a continuous thoracic paravertebral block with ropivacaine (CTPVB group) or normal saline (control group). All patients received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with morphine postoperatively for 48 hours. The primary outcome was the global Chinese 15-item Quality of Recovery score on postoperative day 7, which was statistically analyzed using Student's t-test. Results Thirty-six patients in the CTPVB group and 37 in the control group completed the study. Compared to the control group, the CTPVB group had significantly increased global Chinese 15-item Quality of Recovery scores (133.14 ± 12.97 vs. 122.62 ± 14.89, P = 0.002) on postoperative day 7. Postoperative pain scores and cumulative morphine consumption were significantly lower for up to 8 and 48 hours (P < 0.05; P = 0.002), respectively, in the CTPVB group. Conclusion Perioperative CTPVB markably promotes patient's QoR after open hepatectomy with a profound analgesic effect in the early postoperative period.
Anesthetics, Local/therapeutic use* ; Double-Blind Method ; Hepatectomy/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Morphine/therapeutic use* ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative/etiology* ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

This study analyzed the effects of male age and abstinence time on semen quality and explored the best abstinence time for Chinese males among different age groups. Semen parameters, including sperm kinetics, morphology, and DNA fragmentation index (DFI), were reviewed from 2952 men. Samples were divided into six age groups (≤25 years, 26-30 years, 31-35 years, 36-40 years, 41-45 years, and >45 years) and were divided into six groups according to different abstinence time (2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, and 7 days). The differences in semen quality between the groups were compared, and the effect of age and abstinence time on semen quality was analyzed. Significant differences were observed in semen volume, progressive motility (PR), and DFI among the age groups (all P < 0.05), and no significant differences were observed in sperm morphological parameters (all P > 0.05). There were significant differences in semen volume, PR, and DFI among different abstinence time groups (all P < 0.05) and no significant differences in sperm morphological parameters (all P > 0.05). Pearson analysis showed that male age and abstinence time were both significantly correlated with sperm kinetics and DFI (both P < 0.05), while no significant correlation was found with sperm morphological parameters (all P > 0.05). The box plots and histograms of men's age, abstinence time, and semen quality show that most semen quality parameters differ significantly between the 2 days and 7 days abstinence groups and other groups at different ages. Except for the sperm morphology parameters, sperm kinetic parameters and sperm DFI are linearly related to male age and abstinence time.
Adult ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa