Hypertrophic scar is a fibrous hyperplastic disorder that arises from skin injuries. The current therapeutic modalities are constrained by the dense and rigid scar tissue which impedes effective drug delivery. Additionally, insufficient autophagic activity in fibroblasts hinders their apoptosis, leading to excessive matrix deposition. Here, we developed an active microneedle (MN) system to overcome these challenges by integrating micromotor-driven drug delivery with autophagy regulation to remodel the scar microenvironment. Specifically, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid were introduced into the MNs as a built-in engine to generate CO₂ bubbles, thereby enabling enhanced lateral and vertical drug diffusion into dense scar tissue. The system concurrently encapsulated curcumin (Cur), an autophagy activator, and triamcinolone acetonide (TA), synergistically inducing fibroblast apoptosis by upregulating autophagic activity. In vitro studies demonstrated that active MNs achieved efficient drug penetration within isolated scar tissue. The rabbit hypertrophic scar model revealed that TA-Cur MNs significantly reduced the scar elevation index, suppressed collagen I and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression, and elevated LC3 protein levels. These findings highlight the potential of the active MN system as an efficacious platform for autonomous augmented drug delivery and autophagy-targeted therapy in fibrotic disorder treatments.

Objective:To observe the characteristics and differences of gut microbiota in asthma patients with different inflammatory types through metagenomic analysis.Methods:Adults aged ≥18 years who visited the Respiratory Clinic of Peking University Third Hospital from August 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022 and were primarily diagnosed with asthma were selected as the study subjects. Finally, 29 patients with stable asthma were included. Fresh fecal samples were collected and the fecal DNA was extracted for high-throughput 16sRNA sequencing of gut microbiota. The diversity and community structure of gut microbiota in different groups of asthma patients were compared, and the species differences were analyzed through random forest and LEfSe analysis.Results:There were sex-based differences in asthma patients with different types of inflammation, and the proportion of female patients was higher in neutrophilic asthma patients ( χ2=4.14, P=0.042). There was no significant intergroup difference in the alpha diversity of gut microbiota among asthma patients with different inflammatory types, but there were significant differences in the microbiome. Patients with neutrophilic asthma had higher relative abundance of Bacillales ( P=0.029) and Oscillospiraceae ( P=0.015). In species LEfSe analysis, patients with eosinophilic asthma had a higher relative abundance of fungi. Conclusion:There are intergroup differences in the gut microbiota of asthma patients with different inflammation types, and fungi are biomarkers that distinguish the differences in gut microbiota between patients with eosinophilic asthma and neutrophilic asthma.

Objective To screen key autophagy-related genes in alcoholic hepatitis (AH) and investigate potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AH. Methods Two AH gene chips in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and autophagy-related data sets obtained from MSigDB and GeneCards databases were used, and the key genes were verified and obtained by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The screened key genes were subject to gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), protein-protein interaction (PPI) and immune infiltration analyses. Messenger RNA (mRNA)- microRNA (miRNA) network was constructed to analyze the expression differences of key autophagy-related genes during different stages of AH, which were further validated by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in the liver tissues of AH patients and mice. Results Eleven autophagy-related genes were screened in AH (EEF1A2, CFTR, SOX4, TREM2, CTHRC1, HSPB8, TUBB3, PRKAA2, RNASE1, MTCL1 and HGF), all of which were up-regulated. In the liver tissues of AH patients and mice, the relative expression levels of SOX4, TREM2, HSPB8 and PRKAA2 in the AH group were higher than those in the control group. Conclusions SOX4, TREM2, HSPB8 and PRKAA2 may be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AH.

Objective:To explore the risk factors for recurrence of intussusception in children after successful ultrasound-guided saline enema reduction.Methods:The clinical and follow up data of 355 hospitalized children with intussusception at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from Feb 2018 to Feb 2023 were reviewed.Patients were divided into two groups by recurrence develped and the differences were compared, Data with significant differences were incorporated into multi-factor logistic analysis.Results:The overall recurrence rate was 15.8% (56/355). By univariate variable analysis model, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in age, previous intussusception history, vomiting, maximum diameter of concentric circles shown by ultrasound, and concurrent bowel organic diseases (lead points) (all P<0.05). In multivariate Logistic regression model, age, previous intussusception history, maximum diameter of concentric circles, and lead points were independent risk factors for recurrent intussusception after saline enema.The optimal cut-off values for age and maximum diameter of concentric circles were 2 years and 33.5 mm, respectively, according to ROC curve analysis. Conclusion:Age older than 2 years, previous intussusception history, maximum diameter of concentric circles longer than 33.5 mm, and lead points are independent risk factors for recurrence after saline enema.

ObjectiveTo use the maternal morbidity WOICE Tool（Chinese version）to investigate the maternal morbidity in Shanghai， and to examine the current situation and associated factors of adverse symptoms and impaired functioning in the third trimester and postpartum period. MethodsPregnant women who made their initial visit and established a medical record at a tertiary obstetrics and gynecology hospital in Shanghai from March to August 2021 were recruited and a baseline survey was completed. The prevalence of maternal morbidity was surveyed in the third trimester and first 6 weeks postpartum. ResultsSelf-reported adverse physical symptoms were observed in 89.8% of women in the third trimester and 86.1% in first 6 weeks postpartum. The prevalence rates of anxiety and depression were 4.1% and 6.2% in the third trimester， and 6.2% and 7.5% in first 6 weeks postpartum， respectively. The proportions of women reporting impaired functioning were 80.3% in the third trimester and 64.1% in first 6 weeks postpartum， respectively. Physical symptoms were associated with parity， education， the newborn’s health status， and risk of experiencing violence. Psychological symptoms were associated with age， household responsibilities， employment status， the newborn’s health status， pre-pregnancy body mass index （BMI）， and risk of experiencing violence. Functionality was associated with the type of registered residence， education level， household responsibilities， and risk of experiencing violence. ConclusionThe physical health status of pregnant and postpartum women in Shanghai is better than that in the middle-income regions abroad， with anxiety and depression at average levels compared to national statistics in China. Physical， psychological， and functional status are affected by multiple factors including personal， health， family， and work conditions. Preventive measures should be taken from various perspectives to mitigate adverse symptoms and impaired functioning， and to improve the positive experience of pregnancy and childbirth.

Objective To explore the regulatory effect of miR-204-5p on biological behaviors of bladder cancer cells and its molecular mechanism.Methods Survival analysis and correlation analysis were performed using TCGA database to explore the association of miR-204-5p expression with survival outcomes and clinicopathological parameters of bladder cancer patients.The expression level of miR-204-5p was detected in bladder cancer and adjacent tissues and in normal uroepithelial cells and bladder cancer cells.In cultured bladder cancer cells,the effects of miR-204-5p overexpression and knockdown on cell proliferation,migration,invasion,and apoptosis were analyzed.Transcriptome sequencing,bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase assay were carried out to confirm targeted inhibition of RAB22A by miR-204-5p to promote malignant biological behaviors of bladder cancer cells.Results Patients with high miR-204-5p expressions had lowered median survival time and poor prognosis(P<0.05).The expression of miR-204-5p was significantly up-regulated in bladder cancer tissues and cells(P<0.05).In bladder cancer cells,miR-204-5p overexpression significantly promoted cell proliferation,migration and invasion and reduced cell apoptosis.Transcriptome sequencing,bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase assay all suggested that RAB22A was a key downstream factor of miR-204-5p.Overexpression of miR-204-5p significantly inhibited RAB22A expression in bladder cancer cells,and overexpression of RAB22A partially reversed miR-204-5p overexpression-induced enhancement of bladder cancer cell proliferation.Conclusion High expression of miR-204-5p promotes proliferation,migration and invasion and reduces apoptosis of bladder cancer cells by negatively regulating RAB22A expression.

Objective To assess the efficacy of pirfenidone combined with PD-L1 inhibitor for treatment of bladder cancer in a mouse model and its effect on tumor immune microenvironment modulation.Methods Forty C57BL/6 mouse models bearing ectopic human bladder cancer xenografts were randomized into control group,PD-L1 inhibitor group,pirfenidone group and combined treatment group(n=10).After successful modeling,PD-L1 inhibitor treatment was administered via intraperitoneal injection at 12.5 mg/kg every 3 days,and oral pirfenidone(500 mg/kg)was given on a daily basis.The survival rate of the mice and tumor growth rate were compared among the 4 groups.The expressions of CD3,CD8,CD45,E-cadherin and N-cadherin in the tumor tissues were detected with immunohistochemistry after the 21-day treatment,and bone marrow-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs)were observed with immunofluorescence staining;serum levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),urea nitrogen(BUN),creatinine(CRE)and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH-L)were analyzed using an automated biochemical analyzer.Results Treatment with PD-L1 inhibitor and pirfenidone alone both significantly decreased tumor growth rate and tumor volume at 21 days(P<0.05),but the combined treatment produced an obviously stronger inhibitory effect(P<0.05).PD-L1 inhibitor and pirfenidone alone significantly increased E-cadherin expression and decreased N-cadherin expression in the tumor tissue(P<0.05).The two treatments both significantly increased the percentage of CD3+,CD8 and CD45+ T cells and decreased the percentage of Ly-6G+CD11b+MDSCs in the tumor tissue,and these changes were more obvious in the combined treatment group(P<0.05).No significant differences were found in serum ALT,AST,BUN,CRE or LDH-L levels among the 4 groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Combined treatment with pirfenidone and PD-L1 inhibitor significantly inhibits the progression of bladder cancer in mice possibly by regulating tumor immune microenvironment and inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition of the tumor cells.

Objective To explore the regulatory effect of miR-204-5p on biological behaviors of bladder cancer cells and its molecular mechanism.Methods Survival analysis and correlation analysis were performed using TCGA database to explore the association of miR-204-5p expression with survival outcomes and clinicopathological parameters of bladder cancer patients.The expression level of miR-204-5p was detected in bladder cancer and adjacent tissues and in normal uroepithelial cells and bladder cancer cells.In cultured bladder cancer cells,the effects of miR-204-5p overexpression and knockdown on cell proliferation,migration,invasion,and apoptosis were analyzed.Transcriptome sequencing,bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase assay were carried out to confirm targeted inhibition of RAB22A by miR-204-5p to promote malignant biological behaviors of bladder cancer cells.Results Patients with high miR-204-5p expressions had lowered median survival time and poor prognosis(P<0.05).The expression of miR-204-5p was significantly up-regulated in bladder cancer tissues and cells(P<0.05).In bladder cancer cells,miR-204-5p overexpression significantly promoted cell proliferation,migration and invasion and reduced cell apoptosis.Transcriptome sequencing,bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase assay all suggested that RAB22A was a key downstream factor of miR-204-5p.Overexpression of miR-204-5p significantly inhibited RAB22A expression in bladder cancer cells,and overexpression of RAB22A partially reversed miR-204-5p overexpression-induced enhancement of bladder cancer cell proliferation.Conclusion High expression of miR-204-5p promotes proliferation,migration and invasion and reduces apoptosis of bladder cancer cells by negatively regulating RAB22A expression.

In the era of evidence-based medicine, it is necessary to explore the unique advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) based on standardized technical methods and operating procedures in order to achieve the modernization and internationalization of TCM and benefit all humanity. The proposal of a three-pronged evidence system combining TCM theory, human experience and experimental evidence marks an important progress in the thinking method of the TCM evaluation system. The multi-evidence body integrated through appropriate methods provides a strong support for the clinical guideline recommendations and evidence-based health decision-making in TCM. Based on the current methodological progress of international evidence synthesis and grading, this paper proposes a novel approach for integrating multi-evidence in TCM: the MERGE framework. The aim is to establish a solid foundation for the development of this methodology and provide guidance for the advancement of evidence-based medicine framework in TCM.

Objective : To explore the effects of microRNA-155 (miR-155) on apoptosis of chronic myeloid leukemia ( CML) cells，and the influence of miRNA-155 regulating the expression of heat shock proteins ( HSP) 27， HSP60，HSP70． Methods : Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR ( RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression levels of miR-155 in CML-resistant imatinib (IM) cell line K562-G and CML cell line K562 ．K562-G cells were infected with the lentivirus carrying miR-155 or the negative control lentivirus ，and they were named miR-155 group and control group．The effect of miR-155 on the proliferation of drug-resistant cells was detected by cell counting kit-8 ( CCK-8) method. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the effect of miR-155 on the expression of heat shock proteins HSP27，HSP60，HSP70．Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage of cell apoptosis in miR-155 group and control group. Results : ompared with K562 cells，miR-155 showed low expres- sion in K562-G cells (P ＜0. 05) ．The proliferation of miR-155 group cells decreased significantly from the 36th hour (P＜0. 05) ．Compared with the control group，in the miR-155 group，HSP60 and HSP70 increased (P < 0. 05) ，while HSP27 decreased (P＜0. 01) ．The apoptosis rate of miR-155 group was higher than that of control group (P＜0. 05) ． Conclusion miR-155 promotes the apoptosis of chronic myeloid leukemia cells，increases the expression of HSP60 and HSP70，and decreases the expression of HSP27 .