Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of injectable photopolymerizable porous gelatin methacrylate anhydride (Porous GelMA)/methacrylated silk fibroin (SilMA) composite hydrogel (PSE) loaded with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hUCMSC-Exos) in promoting knee joint cartilage regeneration.Methods:The porous GelMA solution (60 g/L) was mixed with SilMA solution (200 g/L) at a volume ratio of 6∶1 . The mixture was ultraviolet-irradiated for 30 seconds to form a cured Porous GelMA/SilMA hydrogel (P/S6). The hUCMSC-Exos was isolated via differential centrifugation coupled with ultrafiltration and then was incorporated into the Porous GelMA/SilMA composite solution at 200 μg/ml, followed by ultraviolet irradiation for 30 seconds to generate Exos-loaded PSE. Primary rat chondrocytes (P1) were divided into control group, P/S6 group, and PSE group to characterize the porosity, compressive strength, and sustained exosome release kinetics of PSE hydrogel. Chondrocytes were allocated to control group, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) group, P/S6 group, and PSE group, among which the last three groups were preconditioned with 10 ng/ml IL-1β for 24 hours, and then cultured in complete medium, P/S6 extract and PSE extract for 3 days, respectively, to establish in vitro cartilage defect models, while the control group remained untreated. Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis were conducted to quantify the expression levels of antibody to aggrecan core protein (ACAN), sex-determining region Y-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP13) and collagen type II (COL II). Murine monocyte-macrophage leukemia cells (RAW264.7) were divided into control group, P/S6 group, and PSE group, which were then cultured in complete medium, PSE extract, and PSE extract medium for 3 days, respectively. qRT-PCR was employed to detect the expression levels of recombinant arginase-1 protein (ARG1), mannose receptor (CD206), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Transcriptomic sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed genes during PSE-mediated chondrocyte regeneration, followed by functional enrichment analysis of key signaling pathways. Twenty-four SD rats were selected to establish cartilage defect models and assigned to injury control group, P/S6 group, and PSE group according to the random number table (8 rats per group). The right knee joints of the rats were surgically exposed, and cylindrical osteochondral defects (a diameter of 2.0 mm× a depth of 1.0 mm) were surgically created in the center of the femoral trochlear groove using a drill bit. The injury control group received phosphate-buffered saline, while the P/S6 group and PSE group were injected with corresponding hydrogels followed by photo-crosslinking. Incisions then were closed in layers. At 6 and 10 weeks after injury, specimens were harvested for HE staining and safranin O-fast green staining to evaluate cartilage regeneration and immunohistochemistry staining to quantify the positive area fractions for COL II, MMP13, ARG1, and CD206 in the defect areas. Results:PSE hydrogel exhibited compressive strength matching native cartilage (0.41 MPa), high porosity (85%), and sustained exosome release capacity (cumulative release rate of approximately 85% over 14 days). In chondrocyte repair experiments, compared to the IL-1β group, the PSE group demonstrated significantly upregulated expression of anabolic markers of cartilage (COL II expression increased by 2.1-fold, ACAN by 1.8-fold, and SOX9 by 1.5-fold) ( P<0.01) as well as significantly suppressed expression of catabolic markers (MMP13 expression decreased by 52%) ( P<0.01). In macrophage polarization assays, the PSE group exhibited ARG1 expression increased by 68% when compared to the control group ( P<0.01), thus promoting M2 polarization of macrophages. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that PSE enhanced extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis by activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway and ECM-receptor interaction pathway, as well as by suppressing inflammation-related gene expression. Histological evaluation in animal experiments revealed regeneration of hyaline cartilage with smooth, continuous surfaces in the defect areas in the PSE group. At 10 weeks after surgery, the neocartilage-positive area in the PSE group was (9.94±0.26)%, significantly larger than (1.67±0.11)% in the injury control group ( P<0.01). Besides, the CD206? M2 macrophage-positive area reached (14.44±0.23)% in the PSE group, significantly larger than (3.41±0.36)% in the injury control group ( P<0.01). Conclusions:The PSE hydrogel successfully engineered in the study can significantly promote regenerative repair of knee cartilage defects through a dual mechanism of enhanced ECM anabolism and remodeled inflammatory microenvironment. The core mechanisms involve specific activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway (boosting chondrocyte proliferation and survival) and ECM-receptor interaction pathway (driving ECM synthesis and assembly) by exosome-loaded PSE, while effectively polarizing macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype so as to coordinately regulate cartilage ECM metabolism and suppress inflammatory responses.

Objective To establish a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of the contents of volatile components muscone,menthol,borneol,isoborneol,camphor,and carvone in Wuli Huichun pills,and to evaluate the quality of Wuli Huichun pills based on authenticity,effectiveness and safety.Methods The ethyl acetate extract was analyzed by HP-5MS capillary column(30 m×0.25 mm,0.25 μm)with temperature programming.The injection port temperature was set at 230℃,and the split ratio was set at 10∶1.The carrier gas was high-purity helium gas.The injection port was in constant flow mode,with a carrier gas flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1.The detector was a mass spectrometer with a triple quadrupole in series.The ion source was an electron bombardment source(EI)with a temperature of 250℃.The collision gas was argon.The temperature of the mass spectrometry transmission interface was 250℃.Scanning mode was SIM mode,with a solvent delay of 2 minutes.Results The linear relationships of the six components were good(r>0.999 0),the average recoveries were 93.57%-97.96%,and the RSD was 0.73%-2.5%.Conclusion The method is simple,accurate,and efficient,and can be used for the quality evaluation of Wuli Huichun pills.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Zhuyu Tongluo Tang combined with manual release on isokinetic muscle strength and serum TGF-β1 and IGF-1 levels in patients with joint stiffness after ankle fracture surgery.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on 80 patients with ankle fractures who experienced joint stiffness during the recovery period after surgery at Nanchang Hongdu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from March 2021 to March 2024.The patients were randomly divided into control group(n=40)and observation group(n=40)using a random number table method.Both groups of patients received routine intervention,followed by manual release therapy in control group;observation group received treatment in combination with Zhuyu Tongluo Tang on the basis of control group,with a treatment course of 4 weeks.Compared treatment outcomes,isokinetic muscle strength test indicators,American Orthopaedic of Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS),ankle activity score(AAS),visual analog scale(VAS),traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score,and changes in dorsiflexion angle from two groups of patients before and after 4 weeks of treatment,and measured serum levels of TGF-β1 and insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1).Results:After treatment,effective rate of control group was 75.00%,while effective rate of observation group was 92.50%(P<0.05);PT,PT/BW and TW of observation group and control group were significantly increased,and PT,PT/BW and TW of observation group were significantly higher than those of control group(all P<0.05);AOFAS and AAS scores of observation group and control group were significantly increased,while VAS score was significantly decreased.AOFAS and AAS scores of observation group were significantly higher than those of control group,while VAS score was significantly lower than those of control group(both P<0.05);scores and total scores of various traditional Chinese medicine symptoms in observation group and control group were significantly reduced,and observation group was significantly lower than that in control group(both P<0.05);dorsiflexion angle of the foot in both observation group and control group were significantly increased,and the increase in observation group was greater than that in control group(both P<0.05);levels of TGF-β1 and IGF-1 in both obser-vation group and control group were significantly increased,and levels of TGF-β1 and IGF-1 in observation group were significantly higher than those in control group(both P<0.05).Conclusion:Combination of Zhuyu Tongluo Tang and manual release can improve the symptoms of joint stiffness and traditional Chinese medicine syndromes during the recovery period of ankle fractures,increase the functional score and isokinetic muscle strength index of the ankle joint,raise the levels of TGF-β1 and IGF-1,and improve the patient's dorsiflexion angle.This treatment regimen has good clinical efficacy.

Objective To establish a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of the contents of volatile components muscone,menthol,borneol,isoborneol,camphor,and carvone in Wuli Huichun pills,and to evaluate the quality of Wuli Huichun pills based on authenticity,effectiveness and safety.Methods The ethyl acetate extract was analyzed by HP-5MS capillary column(30 m×0.25 mm,0.25 μm)with temperature programming.The injection port temperature was set at 230℃,and the split ratio was set at 10∶1.The carrier gas was high-purity helium gas.The injection port was in constant flow mode,with a carrier gas flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1.The detector was a mass spectrometer with a triple quadrupole in series.The ion source was an electron bombardment source(EI)with a temperature of 250℃.The collision gas was argon.The temperature of the mass spectrometry transmission interface was 250℃.Scanning mode was SIM mode,with a solvent delay of 2 minutes.Results The linear relationships of the six components were good(r>0.999 0),the average recoveries were 93.57%-97.96%,and the RSD was 0.73%-2.5%.Conclusion The method is simple,accurate,and efficient,and can be used for the quality evaluation of Wuli Huichun pills.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Zhuyu Tongluo Tang combined with manual release on isokinetic muscle strength and serum TGF-β1 and IGF-1 levels in patients with joint stiffness after ankle fracture surgery.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on 80 patients with ankle fractures who experienced joint stiffness during the recovery period after surgery at Nanchang Hongdu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from March 2021 to March 2024.The patients were randomly divided into control group(n=40)and observation group(n=40)using a random number table method.Both groups of patients received routine intervention,followed by manual release therapy in control group;observation group received treatment in combination with Zhuyu Tongluo Tang on the basis of control group,with a treatment course of 4 weeks.Compared treatment outcomes,isokinetic muscle strength test indicators,American Orthopaedic of Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS),ankle activity score(AAS),visual analog scale(VAS),traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score,and changes in dorsiflexion angle from two groups of patients before and after 4 weeks of treatment,and measured serum levels of TGF-β1 and insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1).Results:After treatment,effective rate of control group was 75.00%,while effective rate of observation group was 92.50%(P<0.05);PT,PT/BW and TW of observation group and control group were significantly increased,and PT,PT/BW and TW of observation group were significantly higher than those of control group(all P<0.05);AOFAS and AAS scores of observation group and control group were significantly increased,while VAS score was significantly decreased.AOFAS and AAS scores of observation group were significantly higher than those of control group,while VAS score was significantly lower than those of control group(both P<0.05);scores and total scores of various traditional Chinese medicine symptoms in observation group and control group were significantly reduced,and observation group was significantly lower than that in control group(both P<0.05);dorsiflexion angle of the foot in both observation group and control group were significantly increased,and the increase in observation group was greater than that in control group(both P<0.05);levels of TGF-β1 and IGF-1 in both obser-vation group and control group were significantly increased,and levels of TGF-β1 and IGF-1 in observation group were significantly higher than those in control group(both P<0.05).Conclusion:Combination of Zhuyu Tongluo Tang and manual release can improve the symptoms of joint stiffness and traditional Chinese medicine syndromes during the recovery period of ankle fractures,increase the functional score and isokinetic muscle strength index of the ankle joint,raise the levels of TGF-β1 and IGF-1,and improve the patient's dorsiflexion angle.This treatment regimen has good clinical efficacy.

The intestinal mucosal barrier plays a pivotal role in both innate and adaptive immune regulation.Its integrity is essential for maintaining overall health,as it acts as a critical interface between the luminal contents and the host immune system.MicroRNAs(miRNAs),which are small noncoding RNAs,function as potent genetic regulators by interacting with multiple target genes to modulate entire cellular pathways.Recent studies have demon-strated that miRNAs are intricately involved in regulating the function of the intestinal mucosal barrier.This review examines the role of miRNAs in the intestinal mucosal barrier,encompassing their mechanisms,relevant clinical research findings,and potential directions for future investigation,to elucidate the potential value of miRNAs in the pathogenesis,diagnosis,and treatment of related diseases.

Background and Aims:Acute pancreatitis(AP)is an acute inflammatory disease of the pancreas caused by abnormal activation of pancreatic enzymes.Although gallstones,hyperlipidemia,and alcohol use are the most common causes,a subset of patients develop AP secondary to rare etiologies that are often misdiagnosed or diagnosed late,leading to recurrence or inappropriate management.This study aims to summarize the clinical characteristics,diagnostic strategies,and treatment outcomes of four cases of AP caused by uncommon etiologies,supported by a literature review.Methods:Clinical data of 4 patients admitted to the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery,the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University,between November 2021 and September 2024,were retrospectively analyzed.Their etiological characteristics,diagnostic approaches,and treatment strategies were reviewed in combination with relevant literature.Results:The underlying causes of AP were intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm,pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor,pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma,and duodenojejunal intussusception.All cases initially presented as idiopathic AP.Three patients underwent definitive surgical treatment and recovered well,while one patient with pancreatic cancer received only palliative care due to delayed diagnosis and died three months later.Conclusion:AP secondary to rare etiologies often mimics common forms in clinical presentation but poses diagnostic challenges.For patients with recurrent or idiopathic AP,clinicians should emphasize etiological tracing and utilize advanced imaging and endoscopic modalities for early identification.Timely etiological intervention,particularly surgical management when appropriate,is essential for preventing recurrence and improving prognosis.

Background and Aims:Acute pancreatitis(AP)is an acute inflammatory disease of the pancreas caused by abnormal activation of pancreatic enzymes.Although gallstones,hyperlipidemia,and alcohol use are the most common causes,a subset of patients develop AP secondary to rare etiologies that are often misdiagnosed or diagnosed late,leading to recurrence or inappropriate management.This study aims to summarize the clinical characteristics,diagnostic strategies,and treatment outcomes of four cases of AP caused by uncommon etiologies,supported by a literature review.Methods:Clinical data of 4 patients admitted to the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery,the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University,between November 2021 and September 2024,were retrospectively analyzed.Their etiological characteristics,diagnostic approaches,and treatment strategies were reviewed in combination with relevant literature.Results:The underlying causes of AP were intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm,pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor,pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma,and duodenojejunal intussusception.All cases initially presented as idiopathic AP.Three patients underwent definitive surgical treatment and recovered well,while one patient with pancreatic cancer received only palliative care due to delayed diagnosis and died three months later.Conclusion:AP secondary to rare etiologies often mimics common forms in clinical presentation but poses diagnostic challenges.For patients with recurrent or idiopathic AP,clinicians should emphasize etiological tracing and utilize advanced imaging and endoscopic modalities for early identification.Timely etiological intervention,particularly surgical management when appropriate,is essential for preventing recurrence and improving prognosis.

Objective: To investigate the awareness of knowledge about hepatitis C prevention and control among outpatients in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, and its influencing factors, so as to provide the evidence for strengthening health education on hepatitis C prevention and control. Methods: Based on sentinel surveillance of hepatitis C, the outpatients aged 15 to 65 years at seven hospitals in Yinzhou District, Cixi City and Xiangshan County of Ningbo City were selected using the convenient sampling method from April to June during 2020 and 2022. Demographic information, knowledge and behaviors related to hepatitis C prevention and control were collected through questionnaire surveys. The influencing factors for knowledge about hepatitis C prevention and control were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 2 792 participants were surveyed, including 1 157 males (41.44%) and 1 635 females (58.56%). The awareness rate of knowledge about hepatitis C prevention and control was 56.23%, and was lower in knowledge about hepatitis C vaccine and treatment. The awareness rates of knowledge about hepatitis C prevention and control among outpatients from 2020 to 2022 were 47.11%, 53.22% and 70.65%, respectively, showing an upward trend (P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that participants aged 25 to <50 years (OR=1.358, 95%CI: 1.073-1.719), with an educational level of high school or junior college (OR=1.431, 95%CI: 1.134-1.806) or above junior college (OR=3.728, 95%CI: 2.958-4.699), with household monthly income per capita of 3 000 to <5 000 yuan (OR=1.828, 95%CI: 1.344-2.486) or ≥5 000 yuan (OR=1.858, 95%CI: 1.366-2.526), without a history of invasive treatments such as pedicure in public places (OR=1.287, 95%CI: 1.024-1.618), without a history of contact with family members' blood-contaminated items (OR=2.050, 95%CI: 1.552-2.707), and always using condoms during sexual contacts (OR=1.740, 95%CI: 1.273-2.378) had higher awareness of knowledge about hepatitis C prevention and control. Conclusions The awareness of knowledge about hepatitis C vaccine and treatment among outpatients in Ningbo City needs to be improved. Age, educational level, household monthly income per capita, history of invasive treatments such as pedicure in public places, history of contact with family members' blood-contaminated items and frequency of condom use during sexual contacts are associated with outpatients' awareness of knowledge about hepatitis C prevention and control.

OBJECTIVE To explore the implementation and standardized management of infection control core ele-ments in grass-roots medical institutions within county-level medical communities.METHODS From Mar.2024 to Apr.2024,the current status of implementation of infection control core elements in the grass-roots medical institu-tions within county-level medical communities was investigated by means of questionnaire survey and qualita-tive interview,and the implementation strategies were further explored.RESULTS The infection management or-ganizational system and functions of the two county-level medical institutions within the county medical communi-ties were completed,there is no independent hospital infection management department in the primary medical in-stitutions.The infection management personnel in the 16 grass-roots medical institutions were part-time person-nel,the personnel with the educational background below junior college accounted for 84.21％,the personnel with the professional background of nursing accounted for 100.00％,the personnel with less than 5 years of working experience accounted for 78.95％,none of them had an on-the-job training certificate.The monitoring programs of the county-level medical institutions within the county medical communities were completed,there was no infec-tion management monitoring information platform in the grass-roots medical institutions.The infection cases,hand hygiene,environmental health and occupational exposures were monitored by people.The grass-roots medi-cal institutions had the highest requirements for various professional trainings and increase of training contents of prevention and control of public health infectious diseases(100.00％).The county-level medical institutions had inadequate capabilities of professional examination of medical equipment replacement and construction of medi-cal architecture.CONCLUSION It is necessary for the country and local levels of governments to attach great importance to the implementation of the infection control core elements in the grass-roots medical institutions within the county-lev-el medical communities,establish the county-level regional information platform,formulate the corresponding surveil-lance indexes and homogenized management systems,complete the cultivation of talents,and offer financial support.