ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of transplantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell （hUC-MSC） with overexpression of the Numb gene in the treatment of cholestatic liver fibrosis （CLF）. MethodsThe technique of lentiviral transfection was used to induce the overexpression of the Numb gene in hUC-MSC （hUC-MSC^Numb-OE）， and hUC-MSC transfected with empty vector （hUC-MSC^OE-EV） was used as negative control. Bile duct ligation （BDL） was performed to establish a rat model of CLF， and then the rats were randomly divided into BDL group， hUC-MSC group， hUC-MSC^OE-EV group， and hUC-MSC^Numb-OE group， while a sham-operation group was also established. The rats in the intervention groups were given a single splenic injection of the corresponding cells after BDL， and samples were collected at the end of week 4. Related indicators were measured， including serum biochemistry， liver histopathology， the content of hydroxyproline （Hyp） in the liver， hepatic stellate cell activation， ductular reaction， liver regeneration， and the expression levels of key molecules in the Numb-p53 signaling axis. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the BDL group， the hUC-MSC group and the hUC-MSC^OE-EV group had significant reductions in the levels of serum biochemical parameters （aspartate aminotransferase， gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase， total bile acid， total bilirubin， and direct bilirubin）， liver fibrosis markers （the content of Hyp and the expression levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin， tumor necrosis factor-α， and transforming growth factor-beta 1）， and ductular reaction markers （the expression levels of CK7 and CK19） （all P <0.05）， and compared with the hUC-MSC^OE-EV group， the hUC-MSC^Numb-OE group had significantly greater improvements in the above indicators （all P <0.05）. In addition， compared with the hUC-MSC^OE-EV group， the hUC-MSC^Numb-OE group had significant improvements in the expression levels of liver regeneration-related markers （albumin and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α） and the molecules associated with the Numb-p53 signaling axis （Numb， pNumb， Mdm2， and p53） （all P <0.05）. ConclusionOverexpression of the Numb gene can enhance the therapeutic effect of hUC-MSC on CLF， possibly by activating the Numb-PTB^L-p53-HNF4α axis， promoting the hepatic differentiation of hUC-MSCs and subsequently enhancing liver regeneration.

Objective:To investigate corneal transparency alteration in patients with type 2 diabetes and its influencing factors.Methods:A case-control study was conducted.A total of 52 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) (104 eyes) and 23 age-matched healthy controls (46 eyes) were enrolled as DM group and normal control group in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from October 1, 2020 to October 30, 2021.Patients with DM were further divided into non-diabetic retinopathy (non-DR) and DR groups according to their fundus conditions.Corneal densitometry (CD) was evaluated using the Pentacam.According to its built-in program, the cornea was divided into anterior, intermediate, and posterior layers and subdivided into 0-2 mm, >2-6 mm, >6-10 mm, and >10-12 mm annular regions with the corneal apex as the center of the circle.Pentacam automatically calculated the CD value of each corneal layer and region as well as the total CD value.The influencing factors of total CD value in diabetes group were analyzed by a multivariate linear regression analysis model.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (No.YX2023-129[F1]).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject before any medical examination.Results:The total CD value of diabetes group was 20.24±3.10, which was significantly higher than 18.79±3.31 of normal control group ( t=-2.583, P=0.011).The CD values of the anterior layer, intermediate layer, 0-2 mm, and >2-6 mm regions were significantly higher in diabetes group than in normal control group (all at P<0.05).The CD values in the anterior layer were higher in non-DR and DR groups than in normal control group, and the CD values and total CD values in the middle and posterior layers were higher in non-DR group than in normal control group and DR group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05).The CD values in the 0-2 mm and >2-6 mm regions were significantly higher in non-DR group than in normal control group, and the CD value in the >6-10 mm annular region was significantly higher in non-DR group than in DR group and normal control group (all at P<0.05).Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that age and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level were the main influencing factors for the increase in CD values in diabetic patients ( β=0.266, P<0.001; β=0.423, P=0.003). Conclusions:The decrease of corneal transparency precedes the appearance of DR in patients with diabetes.Poor control of HbA1c level in diabetic patients may cause the decline of corneal transparency.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BMSCs） co-cultured with bone marrow-derived M2 macrophages （M2-BMDMs）， named as BMSC^M2， on a rat model of liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄）/2-acetaminofluorene （2-AAF）. MethodsRat BMDMs were isolated and polarized into M2 phenotype， and rat BMSCs were isolated and co-cultured with M2-BMDMs at the third generation to obtain BMSC^M2. The rats were given subcutaneous injection of CCl₄ for 6 weeks to establish a model of liver cirrhosis， and then they were randomly divided into model group （M group）， BMSC group， and BMSC^M2 group， with 6 rats in each group. A normal group （N group） with 6 rats was also established. Since week 7， the model rats were given 2-AAF by gavage in addition to the subcutaneous injection of CCl₄. Samples were collected at the end of week 10 to observe liver function， liver histopathology， and hydroxyproline （Hyp） content in liver tissue， as well as changes in the markers for hepatic stellate cells， hepatic progenitor cells， cholangiocytes， and hepatocytes. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the N group， the M group had significant increases in the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） （P<0.01）； compared with the M group， the BMSC and BMSC^M2 groups had significant reductions in ALT and AST （P<0.01）， and the BMSC^M2 group had significantly better activities than the BMSC group （P<0.05）. Compared with the N group， the M group had significant increases in Hyp content and the mRNA and protein expression levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） in the liver （P<0.01）； compared with the M group， the BMSC and BMSC^M2 groups had significant reductions in Hyp content and the expression of α-SMA （P<0.05）， and the BMSC^M2 group had a significantly lower level of α-SMA than the BMSC group （P<0.01）. Compared with the N group， the M group had significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of the hepatic progenitor cell markers EpCam and Sox9 and the cholangiocyte markers CK7 and CK19 （P<0.01） and significant reductions in the expression levels of the hepatocyte markers HNF-4α and Alb （P<0.01）； compared with the M group， the BMSC and BMSC^M2 groups had significant reductions in the mRNA expression levels of EpCam， Sox9， CK7， and CK19 （P<0.05） and significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of HNF-4α and Alb （P<0.05）， and compared with the BMSC group， the BMSC^M2 group had significant reductions in the mRNA expression levels of EpCam and CK19 （P<0.05） and significant increase in the expression level of HNF-4α （P<0.05）. ConclusionM2-BMDMs can enhance the therapeutic effect of BMSCs on CCl₄/2-AAF-induced liver cirrhosis in rats， which provides new ideas for further improving the therapeutic effect of BMSCs on liver cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE To establish the quality standards of medicinal materials in light of related methods in the general principles of part four of Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 Edition), and to conduct systematic research on the Tibetan medicine "Yajima"(Chrysosplenium axillare). METHODS The powder characteristics of medicinal materials were described by microscopic identification method. Silica gel GF254 thin-layer plate was employed to establish a TLC identification method with 5-O-demethylapulein and oxyayanin A as reference substances. Loss on drying, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and ethanol-soluble extractives of 10 batches of Chrysosplenium axillare were determined according to the general principles of part four of Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 Edition). HPLC was used to establish the characteristic chromatogram of Chrysosplenium axillare, and the content determination method was established with chrysosplenoside I(CI) and chrysosplenoside A(CA) as the quality control index components of Chrysosplenium axillare. RESULTS The water content, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, ethanol-soluble extractive and the content of CI and CA of all samples varied in the ranges of 9.17%−12.52%, 14.11%−16.74%, 1.50%−4.72%, 32.77%−40.30%, 0.30%−0.99% and 0.28%−0.88%, respectively. CONCLUSION The identification and content determination methods of Yajima(Chrysosplenium axillare) are established for the first time. The methods are easy to operate and exclusive, which is of great significance to accurately evaluate the internal quality of medicinal materials and ensure the quality of drug used.

Solute carriers (SLCs) constitute the largest superfamily of membrane transporter proteins. These transporters, present in various SLC families, play a vital role in energy metabolism by facilitating the transport of diverse substances, including glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, nucleotides, and ions. They actively participate in the regulation of glucose metabolism at various steps, such as glucose uptake (e.g., SLC2A4/GLUT4), glucose reabsorption (e.g., SLC5A2/SGLT2), thermogenesis (e.g., SLC25A7/UCP-1), and ATP production (e.g., SLC25A4/ANT1 and SLC25A5/ANT2). The activities of these transporters contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Notably, SLC5A2 has emerged as a valid drug target for T2DM due to its role in renal glucose reabsorption, leading to groundbreaking advancements in diabetes drug discovery. Alongside SLC5A2, multiple families of SLC transporters involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis hold potential applications for T2DM therapy. SLCs also impact drug metabolism of diabetic medicines through gene polymorphisms, such as rosiglitazone (SLCO1B1/OATP1B1) and metformin (SLC22A1-3/OCT1-3 and SLC47A1, 2/MATE1, 2). By consolidating insights into the biological activities and clinical relevance of SLC transporters in T2DM, this review offers a comprehensive update on their roles in controlling glucose metabolism as potential drug targets.

Objective:To investigate the interventional effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMMSC) transplantation with different doses of X-ray irradiation induced hepatic injury in mice.Methods:Eighteen female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 0, 2, and 3 Gy irradiation groups and 0, 2, and 3 Gy transplantation groups. The irradiation group was used as the control and injected with an equal volume of culture medium. The mice in the transplantation group were irradiated with different doses of X-ray irradiation, and BMMSCs were intravenously infused into the bone marrow. The mice were sacrificed for sampling at the end of the 21st day. Mice body weight changes were recorded daily. The changes in the content of peripheral blood lymphocytes, red blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin were detected by an automatic blood tester. The morphological changes in mice liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected by a biochemical analyzer. The reduced glutathione contents in liver tissue were detected by the microplate method. The malondialdehyde content in liver tissue was detected by thiobarbituric acid. The content of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in liver tissue was detected by the hydroxylamine method. The expression of the F4/80 protein in liver tissue was detected by the immunohistochemistry method. The protein expression of nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in liver tissue was determined by the western blotting method. The mRNA expression of NLRP3, IL-6, and Nrf2 in liver tissue was detected by a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The multiple-group comparisons were analyzed by factorial analysis of variance. The inter-group comparisons were analyzed by the LSD method for statistical analysis.Results:The contents of peripheral blood lymphocytes, erythrocytes, platelets, and hemoglobin were significantly decreased in the 3 Gy irradiation group than the 0 Gy irradiation group ( P<0.05), while the activities of serum ALT and AST were significantly increased ( P<0.05). The malondialdehyde content, F4/80 protein expression level, nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeats, nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), and interleukin 6 mRNA expression levels were significantly increased in liver tissue, while the contents of T-SOD and glutathione, Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression levels, and Nrf2 mRNA expression level in liver tissue were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The contents of peripheral blood lymphocytes, red blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin were significantly increased in the 3 Gy transplantation group than the 3 Gy irradiation group ( P<0.05), while the activities of serum ALT and AST were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The malondialdehyde content, F4/80 protein expression level, NLRP3 and interleukin-6 mRNA expression levels in liver tissue were significantly decreased ( P<0.05), while the content of T-SOD and glutathione, Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression levels, and Nrf2 mRNA expression level in liver tissue were significantly increased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:X-ray irradiation at a dose of 3 Gy can induce liver oxidative damage in mice. BMMSC transplantation can improve X-ray irradiation-induced liver oxidative damage in mice, and its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of long-term full-dose cognitive digital therapy on improving and maintaining cognitive function in patients with cognitive disorders, and to provide basis for nursing management of patients with cognitive disorders.Methods:This study adopted three parallel randomized control trial design. By adopting the method of continuous grouping and convenient sampling, from January 2020 to January 2023, 90 patients with cognitive disorders who were treated in the neurology outpatient department of Beijing Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University were selected as the study objects. These patients were divided into the control group, outpatient group and home group with 30 patients in each group by using the random digit table method. The control group received routine nursing, patients in the outpatient group received cognitive digital therapy in clinic based on routine nursing, and patients in the home group received cognitive digital therapy at home based on routine. Before intervention, 6 and 12 months after intervention, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were compared among three groups.Results:A total of 85 patients were enrolled in three groups. There were 28 cases in the control group, including 12 males and 16 females, aged (64.68±11.26) years. There were 30 patients in the outpatient group, including 19 males and 11 females, aged (65.74 ± 8.44) years. There were 27 cases in the home group, including 14 males and 13 females, aged (66.81 ± 11.18) years. The MMSE scores of the control group before intervention, 6 and 12 months after intervention were (22.00 ± 4.82), (17.25 ± 5.15), (14.25 ± 4.54) points respectively, and those of the outpatient group were (22.26 ± 3.46), (22.93 ± 3.77), (22.30 ± 3.57) points, while those of the home group were (22.40 ± 3.72), (22.03 ± 3.76), (21.90 ± 4.08) points respectively. The analysis of variance of repeated measurements showed that the intergroup, time and interaction effects were statistically significant ( Fbetween-group=15.30, Ftime=4.10, Finteraction=20.25, all P<0.05). The total scores of MoCA in the control group were (16.50 ± 4.87), (12.64 ± 4.94), (9.89 ± 4.01) points before intervention, 6 and 12 months after intervention, (18.74 ± 4.22), (18.96 ± 4.31), (18.41 ± 4.34) points in the outpatient group, (17.20 ± 5.12), (16.93 ± 3.67), (16.93 ± 4.10) points in the home group respectively. The analysis of variance of repeated measurements showed that the intergroup, time and interaction effects were statistically significant ( Fbetween-group=16.30, Ftime=5.74, Finteraction=12.08, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Long-term adequate outpatient and in-home cognitive digital therapy can effectively improve and maintain cognitive function in patients with cognitive disorders. It optimizes the management scheme of cognitive function training and provides evidence-based basis for non-drug intervention of patients with cognitive disorders.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors which may lead to tracheostomy in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in emergency intensive care unit (EICU).Methods:A case-control study was adopted to retrospectively analyze the clinical data of patients hospitalized in EICU receiving IMV from August 2016 to August 2019. The clinical data of patients were extracted through the electronic medical record system of the hospital information database. Patients were divided into the tracheostomy group and successful extubation group according to whether they received tracheostomy during hospitalization. The different clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared, and logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of tracheostomy.Results:A total of 109 patients were included in this study, among which, 53 patients underwent tracheotomy and 56 patients were successfully extubated. Logistic regression showed that GCS score ≤ 8 ( OR=5.10, 95% CI: 1.68-15.42, P < 0.01), cervical spinal cord injury ( OR=10.32, 95% CI: 2.74-38.82, P < 0.01), and sepsis ( OR=3.45, 95% CI: 1.39-8.54, P<0.01) were independent risk factors of tracheostomy for patients receiving IMV in EICU. Conclusions:If patients receiving IMV have GCS score ≤ 8, cervical spinal cord injury, or sepsis, they should be given more attention, because they may need early tracheostomy to save lives and improve the prognosis.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing outpatient hemodialysis (HD) and home peritoneal dialysis (PD) are high risk population of severe and critical types caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. In order to improve the quality of diagnosis and treatment in dialysis patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, we wrote this recommendation for primary care clinicians. During the epidemic period of SARS-CoV-2 infection, all patients should be instructed to strengthen self-management. Once the SARS-CoV-2 infection was found in dialysis patients, early stratified management should be carried out within 72 hours after the first positive nucleic acid or antigen test results, which includes early antiviral therapy, early recognition, and transferring severe patients from community or primary hospital to a referral hospital promptly. Guidance for dietary and sports rehabilitation after SARS-CoV-2 infection should also be started as soon as possible.

Objective To study the partial mechanism of astragalosides(ASTs)against biliary fibrosis through inhibiting ductular reaction.Methods Rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,bile duct ligation(BDL)group and ASTs group(n=8 in each group).On the first day of the second week after BDL,the rats in ASTs group were given intragastric administration of ASTs for 3 weeks(160 mg·kg-1·d-1,once a day).Rats in sham operation group and BDL group were given the same volume of water.At the end of the fourth week,all rats were euthanasia.HE staining and sirius red staining were used to observe the pathological changes and collagen deposition.The degree of liver fibrosis was evaluated by semi-quantitative analysis of positive area of sirius red staining and the content of hydroxyproline.The expression changes of α smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),Desmin,cytokeratin(CK)19,CK7,epithelial cell adhesion molecule(Epcam),OV6 and lysyl oxidase(LOX)family proteins in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry,Western blot,and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).In vitro,hepatic progenitor cell line WB-F344 cells were induced by sodium butyrate to differentiate into biliary epithelial cells,intervented of ASTs,and collected after 4 days.The expression changes of CK19,LOXL1 and LOXL2 of cells were detected by qRT-PCR.Results Compared with BDL group,serum ALT and AST activities in ASTs group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Histopathological injury of liver tissue was significantly reduced,Hyp content and percentage of positive area of sirius red were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Immunohistochemical staining showed that the positive expressions of α-SMA,Desmin,CK19,CK7,Epcam and OV6 were significantly decreased in the ASTs group.The mRNA expressions of α-SMA,CK7,LOX and LOXL1 were significantly decreased.The protein expressions of Epcam and LOXL1 were significantly reduced.In vitro results showed that the gene expressions of CK19,LOXL1 and LOXL2 were significantly increased after sodium butyrate induction(P<0.01).Compared with sodium butyrate group,the gene expressions of CK19,LOXL1 and LOXL2 were significantly decreased in ASTs group(P<0.01).Conclusion ASTs improved biliary fibrosis by inhibiting ductular reaction,and the mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of LOXL1.