ObjectiveTaking Aurantii Fructus Immaturus juice（AFI）-processed Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma（AMR） as an example， this study aims to systematically compare the volatile and non-volatile components of AMR and its processed products， investigate the key differential components， evaluate their anti-inflammatory activities， and elucidate the synergistic mechanism of processing. MethodsThe chemical compositions of volatile and non-volatile components in AMR and AFI-processed AMR were systematically characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（GC-MS） and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS）， with relative mass fractions and response values determined separately. Volatile components were identified through searches in the National Institute of Standards and Technology（NIST）17 database， comparison with retention index（RI） and fragmentation pattern matching. Non-volatile components were identified by searching Waters Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） spectral library， in conjunction with PubChem and MassBank， characteristic fragmentation patterns and response values were also used to support identification. Differential components were screened using principal component analysis（PCA）， orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA）， with variable importance in the projection（VIP） value >1. Components with high log₂fold change（FC） among major differential groups were selected as those exhibiting significant changes before and after processing. The anti-inflammatory activity of the differential compounds was evaluated by assessing their effects on nitric oxide（NO） production in a lipopolysaccharide（LPS）-induced RAW264.7 macrophage model. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to detect the effects of the differential components on tumor necrosis factor（TNF）-α， interleukin（IL）-1β， IL-6， and monocyte chemotactic protein（MCP）-1 levels， and immunofluorescence（IF） was employed to assess their effects on nuclear transcription factor（NF）-κB p65 translocation， thereby elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms. ResultsA total of 36 compounds were identified in the volatile components of AMR and AFI-processed AMR， among which， sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes were significantly increased after processing. In the non-volatile components， 36 compounds were identified， and the main differential components were flavonoids， sesquiterpenoids， and triterpenoids. Flavonoids were the primary differential components distinguishing AMR from its processed products， representing compounds directly introduced during processing. Five compounds， including atractylenolide Ⅲ， tangeritin， nobiletin， hesperidin and narirutin， were selected as representatives of three classes based on their most prominent differential expression among different compound types for subsequent anti-inflammatory activity studies. The results showed that 100 μmol·L^-1 tangerine and narirutin could significantly inhibit LPS-induced NO production（P<0.01） in a concentration-dependent manner. Tangeritin was able to significantly inhibit the levels of TNF-α and MCP-1 secreted by RAW264.7（P<0.05）， while narirutin significantly inhibited the levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， MCP-1 and IL-6（P<0.01）. IF revealed that both tangeritin and narirutin significantly blocked the translocation of NF-κB p65 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. ConclusionAFI-processed AMR significantly alters the chemical composition profile of AMR， and the newly introduced flavonoid components during processing may be key to its enhanced anti-inflammatory effects.

BACKGROUND:Topical administration of tranexamic acid can be used for anti-skin pigmentation,but its large polarity makes it difficult to break through the cuticle barrier and cell membrane when administered topically,and the subcutaneous accumulation concentration is not easy to reach the effective therapeutic concentration.OBJECTIVE:To design functionalized self-assembled micelles to enhance the anti-pigmentation effect of tranexamic acid.METHODS:The plant polyphenol derivative epigallocatechin gallate palmitate and metformin were used as carrier materials.The self-assembled micelles with synergistic anti-pigging activity and enhanced drug permeability were prepared by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction.The nanoscale properties and stability of self-assembled drug-loaded micelles were tested,and their transdermal permeability was evaluated,and their biocompatibility and cellular effects were investigated.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Functional self-assembled drug-carrying micelles with average particle size of(176.27±5.23)nm,polydispersity coefficient of 0.23±0.02,and the Zeta potential of(-25.67±0.98)mV had good stability.The mass concentrations of tranexamic acid and metformin in the self-assembled drug-carrying micelles were(20.03±0.12)and(6.67±0.08)mg/mL,respectively.The drug loadings of tranexamic acid and metformin in the self-assembled drug-carrying micelles were(19.97±0.12)％and(6.65±0.08)％,respectively.(2)In vitro transdermal results showed that the self-assembled drug-carrying micelles had higher penetration and intradermal retention per unit skin area,and could penetrate and diffuse to deeper parts of the skin.(3)MTT assay results demonstrated that undrug-loaded self-assembled micelles containing tranexamic acid 50-250 μg/mL had no toxic effects on mouse fibroblasts and mouse skin melanoma cells.The self-assembled drug-carrying micelles containing tranexamic acid 500 μg/mL had a slight toxic effect on mouse skin melanoma cells.The self-assembled drug-carrying micelles containing 50-500 μg/mL of tranexamic acid did not cause hemolysis and had good biological safety.(4)In vitro cell culture results showed that self-assembled drug-carrying micelles containing 500 μg/mL tranexamic acid could significantly inhibit the tyrosinase activity and melanin release of mouse skin melanoma cells,and the inhibitory effect was stronger than that of tranexamic acid solution or metformin solution alone.These results indicated that functionalized self-assembled micelles could synergize with tranexamic acid to inhibit tyrosinase activity,reduce melanin synthesis,and enhance the anti-skin pigmentation effect of tranexamic acid.

Objective:To investigate the impact of correcting rotational subluxation through circumferential fusion and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) on postoperative coronal plane imbalance in degenerative scoliosis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 108 patients with type A degenerative scoliosis in the Nanjing classification who underwent primary multi-segment posterior column osteotomy (PCO) with deformity correction and internal fixation at Nanjing Gulou Hospital from June 2017 to June 2021. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of preoperative rotational subluxation: the rotational subluxation group and the non-rotational subluxation group. The rotational subluxation group consisted of 60 patients, with 8 males and 52 females, aged 63.7±5.5 years (range, 56-75 years). The non-rotational subluxation group included 48 patients, with 5 males and 43 females, aged 64.4±5.2 years (range, 53-72 years). Within the rotational subluxation group, depending on whether TLIF was performed on the rotational subluxation segment, they were further categorized into the TLIF group and the PCO group. The TLIF group comprised 28 patients, while the PCO group had 32 patients. Full-spine anteroposterior and lateral X-rays were taken preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the last follow-up to measure coronal balance types and radiographic parameters. The differences in the lumbar Cobb angle, coronal balance distance (CBD), and the Cobb angle of the lumbosacral curve (Cobb-Fra angle) were compared between the rotational subluxation group and the non-rotational subluxation group, as well as between the TLIF group and the PCO group.Results:The average surgery duration ranged from 200 to 310 min, with a mean of 235±47 min. The intraoperative blood loss ranged from 700 to 2,400 ml, with an average of 950±355 ml. The number of fused segments in the rotational subluxation group was 7.6±2.1, ranging from 5 to 11 segments, while in the non-rotational subluxation group, it was 7.4±2.0, ranging from 5 to 10 segments. Postoperatively, 13%(8/60) of patients in the rotational subluxation group developed type C coronal imbalance, significantly higher than the 2%(1/48) in the non-rotational subluxation group. The immediate postoperative and final follow-up lumbar Cobb angles, CBD, and Cobb-Fra angles in the rotational subluxation group were 20.60°±10.73° and 20.33°±10.92°, 22.53±16.45 mm and 18.53±17.31 mm, 13.14°±4.40° and 11.23°±4.92°, respectively, which were higher than those in the non-rotational subluxation group (13.92°±7.02° and 12.92°±6.64°, 18.62±17.44 mm and 8.83±8.95 mm, 11.91°±3.03° and 9.52°±3.30°), with statistical significance ( P<0.05).. Among patients in the rotational subluxation group, the probability of new-onset coronal imbalance postoperatively was 4%(1/28) in the TLIF group, which was lower than the 22%(7/32) in the PCO group, with a statistically significant difference (χ 2=4.330, P=0.037). The immediate postoperative and final follow-up lumbar Cobb angles, CBD, and Cobb-Fra angles in the PCO group were 25.63°±11.00° and 25.13°±11.04°, 27.37±18.95 mm and 25.25±18.67 mm, 15.50°±3.62° and 14.08°±4.77°, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the TLIF group (14.86°±6.96° and 14.86°±5.37°, 17.08±10.94 mm and 10.86±7.86 mm, 10.14°±3.37° and 8.46°±2.66°), with statistical significance ( P<0.05). Conclusion:For patients with Type A degenerative scoliosis combined with rotational subluxation according to the Nanjing classification, performing a 360-degree circumferential release and interbody fusion at the segment with rotatory subluxation can reduce the risk of developing new postoperative coronal imbalances.

Objective:To observe the effect of reconstruction of Achilles insertion with Suture bridge technology after extirpation of avulsed bones block in the treatment of Beavis type Ⅲ avulsion fracture of the calcaneal tuberosity.Methods:The retrospective analysis was used. From January 2013 to January 2023, 78 patients with Beavis type Ⅲ avulsion fracture of the calcaneal tuberosity, treated in the Department 1 of Foot and Ankle and Department 2 of Foot and Ankle of the second Hospital of Tangshan were selected as research objects. According to different operation performed, 41 patients with the reconstruction of Achilles insertion with Suture bridge technology after extirpation of avulsed bones block were divided into the observation group and 37 patients with the open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) were divided into the control group. The delayed wound healing rate and the Haglund malformation rate, Maryland foot score, the American Orthopedic Foot and ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, the pain Visual Analogue Scale/Score (VAS) score, the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score, Arner-Lindholm scale of One-year postoperative were compared between these two groups. The measurement data with normal or approximate normal distribution were analyzed using t test, count data using chi-square test for comparison of between groups.Results:One year after surgery, the incidence of Haglund malformation in the observation group was 4.88% (2/41), which was lower than the control group's 29.73% (11/37). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=8.65,P=0.003). The excellent and good rate of Maryland foot function assessment in the observation group was 85.37% (35/41) higher than that in the control group (56.76% (21/37), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=7.86, P=0.005). The AOFAS ankle hind foot score of the observation group ((90.44±6.66) points) was higher than that of the control group ((82.84±7.43) points), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=4.77, P<0.001). The pain score of the observation group ((1.51±1.05) points) was lower than that of the control group ((2.95±1.13) points), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=-5.81, P<0.001). The Achilles tendon score of the observation group ((81.05±5.87) points) was higher than that of the control group ((71.62±8.60) points), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=5.70, P<0.001). The excellent and good rate of Arner Lindholm treatment efficacy evaluation for Achilles tendon in the observation group was 87.80% (36/41), which was higher than that in the control group (67.57% (25/37)), and the difference between the groups was statistically significant. Conclusion:The treatment of Beavis Ⅲ type calcaneal nodule avulsion fracture by removing the bone fragment can simultaneously remove the hypertrophic osteophyte, hardened bone, and Haglund deformity of the calcaneus, and clean the degenerated Achilles tendon and inflammatory tissue around the insertion point; The use of suture bridge technology to reconstruct the Achilles tendon insertion point has the advantages of high fixed strength, allowing early functional exercise, avoiding secondary removal of internal fixation, and achieving satisfactory therapeutic effects, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective:To explore the value of 18F-FDG PET brain imaging in the auxiliary diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) before treatment, and to analyze the regional and course-related characteristics of brain metabolic changes. Methods:The 18F-FDG PET brain imaging data of 49 AE patients (26 males, 23 females, age 48.0(29.0, 61.0) years) who did not receive first-line immunotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were collected from Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, between July 2015 and December 2023. Forty-nine age- and gender-matched healthy subjects who underwent routine physical examination at the same time period were selected as the healthy controls (HC). The statistical parametric mapping (SPM) 8 two-sample t test ( P<0.001, k=50) was used to compare the imaging results of AE patients with those of HC. The screening results were adjusted by the cluster-level family-wise error rate (FWER) for P<0.05. Metabolic abnormalities associated with AE were identified, and differences in metabolic patterns at different stages of the disease course (short: ≤1 month; medium: >1 month and ≤3 month; long: >3 month) were compared by subgroup analysis. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the data. Results:In the included AE patients, regions with elevated metabolism were mainly located in the limbic lobe, insula, putamen, and amygdala ( t values: 3.18-5.07, Z values: 3.17-4.76), while local metabolic reduction was observed in the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes ( t values: 3.18-5.43, Z values: 3.23-5.06), with most of these regions passing FWER correction. In patients with anti- N-methyl- D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis, local metabolism increased in the right superior temporal gyrus ( t values: 3.55-4.79, Z values: 3.67-3.86) and decreased in the left middle temporal gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus ( t values: 3.55-5.43, Z values: 3.45-4.21), but the results did not pass the FWER correction. Subgroup analysis showed that in patients with short disease course ( n=17), regions with locally elevated metabolism included the brainstem, limbic lobe, and cerebellum ( t values: 3.37-5.27, Z values: 3.52-4.44), while regions with reduced metabolism were mainly located in the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes ( t values: 3.37-6.77, Z values: 3.34-5.30), and these abnormal results all passed FWER correction. In patients with medium ( n=7) to long ( n=25) disease course, the regions with metabolic abnormalities were significantly reduced and did not pass FWER correction. Conclusions:18F-FDG PET can accurately identify brain metabolic abnormalities in AE patients, demonstrating significant regional and course-related characteristics. Metabolic abnormalities are more pronounced in patients with short disease course, while they are relatively less obvious in patients with medium to long disease course.

Food-derived bioactive peptides (FBPs), particularly those with ten or fewer amino acid residues and a molecular weight below 1300 Da, have gained increasing attention for their safe, diverse structures and specific biological activities. The development of FBP-based functional foods and potential medications depends on understanding their structure‒activity relationships (SARs), stability, and bioavailability properties. In this review, we provide an in-depth overview of the roles of FBPs in treating various diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, liver diseases, and inflammatory bowel diseases, based on the literature from July 2017 to Mar. 2023. Subsequently, attention is directed toward elucidating the associations between the bioactivities and structural characteristics (e.g., molecular weight and the presence of specific amino acids within sequences and compositions) of FBPs. We also discuss in silico approaches for FBP screening and their limitations. Finally, we summarize recent advancements in formulation techniques to improve the bioavailability of FBPs in the food industry, thereby contributing to healthcare applications.
Humans ; Peptides/therapeutic use* ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Functional Food ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy* ; Biological Availability ; Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy* ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/drug therapy* ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Liver Diseases/drug therapy* ; Bioactive Peptides, Dietary

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology enhances the function of acupuncture clinical decision support system (CDSS) by promoting the accuracy of its diagnosis, assisting the formulation of personalized therapeutic regimen, and realizing the scientific and precise evaluation of its therapeutic effect. This paper deeply analyzes the unique advantages of AI-based acupuncture CDSS, including the intelligence and high efficiency. Besides, it points out the challenges of data security, the lack of model interpretation and the complexity of interdisciplinary cooperation in the development of acupuncture CDSS. With the continuous development and improvement of AI technology, acupuncture CDSS is expected to play a more important role in the fields of personalized medicine, telemedicine and disease prevention, and to further advance the efficiency and effect of acupuncture treatment, drive the modernization of acupuncture, and enhance its position and influence in the global healthcare system.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Artificial Intelligence ; Decision Support Systems, Clinical

Objective:To observe the effect of reconstruction of Achilles insertion with Suture bridge technology after extirpation of avulsed bones block in the treatment of Beavis type Ⅲ avulsion fracture of the calcaneal tuberosity.Methods:The retrospective analysis was used. From January 2013 to January 2023, 78 patients with Beavis type Ⅲ avulsion fracture of the calcaneal tuberosity, treated in the Department 1 of Foot and Ankle and Department 2 of Foot and Ankle of the second Hospital of Tangshan were selected as research objects. According to different operation performed, 41 patients with the reconstruction of Achilles insertion with Suture bridge technology after extirpation of avulsed bones block were divided into the observation group and 37 patients with the open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) were divided into the control group. The delayed wound healing rate and the Haglund malformation rate, Maryland foot score, the American Orthopedic Foot and ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, the pain Visual Analogue Scale/Score (VAS) score, the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score, Arner-Lindholm scale of One-year postoperative were compared between these two groups. The measurement data with normal or approximate normal distribution were analyzed using t test, count data using chi-square test for comparison of between groups.Results:One year after surgery, the incidence of Haglund malformation in the observation group was 4.88% (2/41), which was lower than the control group's 29.73% (11/37). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=8.65,P=0.003). The excellent and good rate of Maryland foot function assessment in the observation group was 85.37% (35/41) higher than that in the control group (56.76% (21/37), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=7.86, P=0.005). The AOFAS ankle hind foot score of the observation group ((90.44±6.66) points) was higher than that of the control group ((82.84±7.43) points), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=4.77, P<0.001). The pain score of the observation group ((1.51±1.05) points) was lower than that of the control group ((2.95±1.13) points), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=-5.81, P<0.001). The Achilles tendon score of the observation group ((81.05±5.87) points) was higher than that of the control group ((71.62±8.60) points), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=5.70, P<0.001). The excellent and good rate of Arner Lindholm treatment efficacy evaluation for Achilles tendon in the observation group was 87.80% (36/41), which was higher than that in the control group (67.57% (25/37)), and the difference between the groups was statistically significant. Conclusion:The treatment of Beavis Ⅲ type calcaneal nodule avulsion fracture by removing the bone fragment can simultaneously remove the hypertrophic osteophyte, hardened bone, and Haglund deformity of the calcaneus, and clean the degenerated Achilles tendon and inflammatory tissue around the insertion point; The use of suture bridge technology to reconstruct the Achilles tendon insertion point has the advantages of high fixed strength, allowing early functional exercise, avoiding secondary removal of internal fixation, and achieving satisfactory therapeutic effects, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective:To explore the value of 18F-FDG PET brain imaging in the auxiliary diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) before treatment, and to analyze the regional and course-related characteristics of brain metabolic changes. Methods:The 18F-FDG PET brain imaging data of 49 AE patients (26 males, 23 females, age 48.0(29.0, 61.0) years) who did not receive first-line immunotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were collected from Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, between July 2015 and December 2023. Forty-nine age- and gender-matched healthy subjects who underwent routine physical examination at the same time period were selected as the healthy controls (HC). The statistical parametric mapping (SPM) 8 two-sample t test ( P<0.001, k=50) was used to compare the imaging results of AE patients with those of HC. The screening results were adjusted by the cluster-level family-wise error rate (FWER) for P<0.05. Metabolic abnormalities associated with AE were identified, and differences in metabolic patterns at different stages of the disease course (short: ≤1 month; medium: >1 month and ≤3 month; long: >3 month) were compared by subgroup analysis. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the data. Results:In the included AE patients, regions with elevated metabolism were mainly located in the limbic lobe, insula, putamen, and amygdala ( t values: 3.18-5.07, Z values: 3.17-4.76), while local metabolic reduction was observed in the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes ( t values: 3.18-5.43, Z values: 3.23-5.06), with most of these regions passing FWER correction. In patients with anti- N-methyl- D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis, local metabolism increased in the right superior temporal gyrus ( t values: 3.55-4.79, Z values: 3.67-3.86) and decreased in the left middle temporal gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus ( t values: 3.55-5.43, Z values: 3.45-4.21), but the results did not pass the FWER correction. Subgroup analysis showed that in patients with short disease course ( n=17), regions with locally elevated metabolism included the brainstem, limbic lobe, and cerebellum ( t values: 3.37-5.27, Z values: 3.52-4.44), while regions with reduced metabolism were mainly located in the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes ( t values: 3.37-6.77, Z values: 3.34-5.30), and these abnormal results all passed FWER correction. In patients with medium ( n=7) to long ( n=25) disease course, the regions with metabolic abnormalities were significantly reduced and did not pass FWER correction. Conclusions:18F-FDG PET can accurately identify brain metabolic abnormalities in AE patients, demonstrating significant regional and course-related characteristics. Metabolic abnormalities are more pronounced in patients with short disease course, while they are relatively less obvious in patients with medium to long disease course.