Intervertebral disc degeneration(IDD) is the pathological basis of spinal diseases. With the development and change of working and living style, IDD gradually presents the trend of younger in recent years. The effective prevention and treatment of IDD has become a hotspot in clinical research. Recent studies have shown that oxidative stress plays an important role in IDD. The disruption of reactive oxygen species balance in cells or the body leads to changes in extracellular matrix and intervertebral disc cell phenotype, which induces oxidative stress of intervertebral disc and leads to IDD. Oxidative stress can affect the development of IDD through apoptosis, autophagy, senescence and extracellular matrix of intervertebral disc. Currently, opioids and drugs for promoting blood circulation and pain relief are commonly used in clinical treatment of IDD, which can alleviate some symptoms to a certain extent, but is easy to induce gastrointestinal and other adverse reactions. Meanwhile, due to the long treatment cycle and poor patient compliance to a certain extent, which brings great difficulties to the treatment. At the same time, traditional Chinese medicine plays an important role in the treatment of IDD due to its advantages of low cost and fewer adverse reactions. With the in-depth research of modern technologies such as molecular biology and network pharmacology, it has been found that traditional Chinese medicine can intervene in the expression of oxidative stress-related functions, namely, slowing down apoptosis, autophagy and degradation of extracellular matrix, etc, to play a role in the treatment of IDD. In this paper, the role of oxidative stress in IDD and the research results on the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine in oxidative stress will be expounded, in order to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of IDD by traditional Chinese medicine.

OBJECTIVE To explore the role of Yes-associated protein(YAP)in epidermal stem cell(EPSC)differentiation after ionizing radiation(IR).METHODS ① A punch was used to induce skin injuries on the back of mice.The IR group received localized irradiation with 60 Co γ-rays,while the normal control group did not.Samples were collected at 0,1,3,6,9,and 12 d for RNA and protein extraction.Western blotting was used to detect changes in YAP protein expressions during wound healing.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was performed to assess the mRNA levels of Yap and its downstream target genes,connective tissue growth factor(Ctgf),and cysteine-rich protein 61(Cyr61).② EPSCs were exposed to 60 Co γ at a dose of 4 or 8 Gy,while the control group was not irradiated.Cells were collected to detect the levels of YAP protein via Western blotting.Cells were collected at 4,12,24,and 36 h post-IR to assess the levels of YAP mRNA by RT-qPCR.③ Short hairpin RNA(shRNA)was used to establish stable YAP knockdown cell lines,and the knockdown efficiency of sh YAP was verified by Western blotting.RT-qPCR was then performed to detect the impact of YAP knockdown on mRNA levels of K1 and K10 after IR.RESULTS① Compared with the control group,the YAP protein level in the IR group during wound healing was significantly reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01),so were the mRNA levels of Yap and its downstream target genes Ctgf and Cyr61(P<0.05,P<0.01).② Compared to the cell control group,the mRNA and protein levels of YAP in the IR group cells were significantly reduced(P<0.01).③ In the sh YAP cells,the YAP protein level was significantly reduced(P<0.01).Furthermore,the mRNA levels of K1 and K10 were significantly decreased after IR in sh YAP cells(P<0.01).CONCLUSION YAP can regulate EPSC differentiation in wound healing after IR.

Objective To explore the correlation between the variability of blood potassium level and risk of renal insufficiency(RI)in elderly heart failure(HF)patients with chronic systolic dys-function.Methods A total of 157 consecutive elderly patients with chronic HF admitted in De-partment of Cardiovascular Medicine of Wuhu First People's Hospital from January 2020 to No-vember 2022 were included,and according to whether RI occurred or not,they were divided into the RI group(36 cases)and the non-RI group(121 cases).Their general data and blood potassium variability was collected and recorded,and all of them were followed up for 6 months.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied for the correlation between blood potassium variability and RI in the elderly patients with chronic HF.Results The range of change,maximum fluctuation rate and coefficient of variation for blood potassium were significantly higher in the RI group than the non-RI group(P＜0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that length of hospi-tal stay(OR=1.174,95％CI:1.067-1.292,P=0.001),age(OR=1.939,95％CI:1.309-2.872,P=0.001),albumin level(OR=0.866,95％CI:0.751-0.997,P=0.046),and range of change(OR=1.774,95％CI:1.519-2.071,P=0.016),maximum fluctuation rate(OR=1.631,95％CI:1.265-2.167,P=0.001)and coefficient of variation of blood potassium(OR=1.670,95％CI:1.212-2.230,P=0.002)were independent influencing factor for RI in the patients.Logistic re-gression analysis indicated that the range of serum potassium change≥0.80,the maximum fluctu-ation rate ≥0.40,and the coefficient of variation of serum potassium ≥8.20 were closely correla-ted with RI in elderly patients with chronic HF(P＜0.01).Conclusion High variability of blood potassium level is a risk factor for RI in elderly patients with chronic HF.

Objective To isolate and culture neural crest cells(NCCs)from lung tissue of mice and to identify the characteristics of the cells in order to provide a new cell model for studying lung injury and injure repair.Methods The mT/mG dual-fluorescence reporter mice and Wnt1-Cre transgenic mice were hybridized,and mT/mG;Wnt1-Cre transgenic mice were screened to obtain enhanced green fluorescent protein(EGFP)permanently labeled NCCs.Cell suspension of mouse lung tissue was prepared by enzymolysis.EGFP+cells(namely NCCs)were har-vested by flow cytometry.Primary culture was performed with DMEM/F12 culture medium optimized in the labora-tory,NCCs was characterized by immunofluorescence microscopy.Then NCCs differentiation was directed by mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells osteogenic induction.Results The mT/mG of EGFP permanently labeled NCCs was successfully obtained by hybridization and high-purity NCCs were isolated from Wnt1-Cre transgenic mice lung tissue.They can be cultured in vitro and with spindle morphology which was,similar to fibroblast adherent proliferation.NCCs expressed the neural crest stem cell marker Sox10 and induced to differentiate into osteoblasts.Conclusions NCCs isolated and cultured from lung tissue of mT/mG;Wnt1-Cre transgenic mice show stable prolif-eration and have the characteristics of neural crest stem cells,which may function as a potential cell model for re-search on lung tissue injury and the mechanism of repair.

Objective To evaluate early outcomes of transthoracic pulmonary valve implantation for the treatment of moderate and severe pulmonary regurgitation by using homemade self-expanding valve (SalusTM). Methods Patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation who underwent transthoracic pulmonary valve implantation in Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from September 2, 2021 to November 25, 2022 were prospectively enrolled. The early postoperative complications and improvement of valve and heart function were summarized and analyzed. Results A total of 25 patients were enrolled, including 16 males and 9 females, with an average age of 24.5±1.5 years and an average weight of 57.0±3.0 kg. The mean systolic diameters of the bifurcation near the main pulmonary artery, the stenosis of the middle segment of the aorta and near the valve of the right ventricular outflow tract of the patients were 31.8±7.4 mm, 30.6±5.9 mm and 38.4±8.0 mm, respectively. All patients were successfully implanted with valves, and there were no serious complications such as death, coronary compression, stent fracture, valve displacement and infective endocarditis in the early postoperative period. The indexed left atrial longitudinal diameter, indexed right atrial longitudinal diameter, and indexed right ventricular outflow tract anteroposterior diameter decreased significantly after the operation. The degree of tricuspid and pulmonary valve regurgitation and the indexed regurgitation area decreased significantly. The above differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The early outcomes of transthoracic pulmonary valve implantation with homemade self-expanding pulmonary valve (SalusTM) in the treatment of severe pulmonary regurgitation is relatively good, and the long-term outcomes need to be verified by the long-term follow-up studies with large samples.

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) of the lower extremities is a common clinical condition characterized by exercise-induced pain in the extremities, which is predominantly observed in people who take an active part in sports, such as athletes. It is mainly presented as post-exercise pain in the lower extremities, probably accompanied by numbness and limb weakness, etc., affecting the patients′ life and work. The symptoms of CECS in the lower limbs are usually present after physical activities of a certain intensity, making them difficult to be identified through routine outpatient physical examination, and likely to be misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed. Furthermore, the absence of universally accepted and unified treatment standards for CECS of the lower extremities complicates the decision-making process regarding the necessity of surgical intervention and choice of surgical approach in the clinical practice. For this purpose, recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of CECS of the lower extremities were reviewed to provide reference for its standardized diagnosis and treatment.

Objective: To explore the changes in ribosomal DNA copy number in peripheral blood among patients with pneumoconiosis and its influencing factors, so as to provide insights into prevention and treatment of pneumoconiosis. Methods: Eighty-eight patients with pneumoconiosis who visited a designated hospital and 71 community residents with no history of pneumoconiosis or dust exposure were selected as the pneumoconiosis group and control group, and age, smoking history, drinking history and cumulative years of exposure to dust were collected through questionnaire surveys. The copy number of 45S rDNA and 5S rDNA was detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the differences between the two groups were compared. Factors affecting the copy number of 45S rDNA and 5S rDNA were identified by a multiple linear regression model. Results: The pneumoconiosis group had a median age of 56.00 (interquartile range, 15.25) and a mean cumulative dust exposure duration of (12.40±8.08) years, with 56.82% smoking and 62.50% drinking. The control group had a median age of 64.00 (interquartile range, 37.00) years, with 32.39% smoking and 26.76% drinking. The median copy number of 45S rDNA in the pneumoconiosis group was 1.29 (interquartile range, 0.59), which was lower than 2.10 (interquartile range, 1.88) in the control group; the median copy number of 5S rDNA in the pneumoconiosis group was 5.33 (interquartile range, 0.85), which was higher than 4.66 (1.34) in the control group (both P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis identified age (β=-0.034) and pneumoconiosis (β=-1.595) as factors affecting 45S rDNA copy number, age (β=-0.013) as a factor affecting 5S rDNA copy number, and age (β=0.018) as a factor affecting 5S rDNA copy number in the pneumoconiosis group (all P<0.05). Conclusions Compared with community residents with no history of pneumoconiosis or dust exposure, the copy number of 45S rDNA in peripheral blood among patients with pneumoconiosis is reduced and the copy number of 5S rDNA is increased.

Objective: To investigate the effect of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) copy number variation caused by hexavalent chromium exposure on DNA damage response in different cell lines, so as to provide insights into the involvement of hexavalent chromium-induced rDNA copy number variation in DNA damage responses. : Methods Human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells and human embryonic lung MRC-5 cells were treated with 2 μmol/L potassium dichromate for 24 hours, and then cells were transferred to fresh media for further incubation, while cells treated with the same volume of phosphate buffer solution served as controls. Cells treated with potassium dichromate for 24 hours, and 3 and 7 days post-detoxification, were harvested, and rDNA copy number was quantified in cells using a quantitative fluorescent real-time PCR assay. Cell cycle, apoptosis and DNA damage were detected using a Muse cell analyzer, and the DNA damage was evaluated with the proportion of ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) gene activation, proportion of double-strand DNA breaks and the percentage of the H2A.X variant histone phosphorylatio. : Results The 45S and 5S rDNA copy numbers of were significantly higher in MRC-5 cells than in BEAS-2B cells [(1.54±0.26) vs. (1.02±0.18), P<0.05; (6.97±1.07) vs. (3.00±0.15), P<0.05]. The 45S rDNA copy number was lower in MRC-5 cells 3 days post-detoxification (0.80±0.04) than in controls (P<0.05), and was higher in BEAS-2B cells 3 days post-detoxification (1.43±0.07) than in controls (P<0.05) . G0/G1 phase arrest was found in MRC-5 cells 24 hours post-treatment, and the apoptotic rates were significantly higher in MRC-5 cells 3 and 7 days post-detoxification than in controls [(11.53±1.53)%, (18.33±0.70)% vs. (3.53±0.93)%, P<0.05]. The overall apoptotic rates 24 hours post-treatment and 3 days post-detoxification [(2.80±0.17)%, (3.33±0.57)% vs. (1.53±0.61)%, P<0.05], proportion of ATM gene activation 3 days post-detoxification [(3.37±0.67%) vs. (1.18±0.22)%, P<0.05], proportion of double-strand DNA breaks 3 days post-detoxification [(4.45±0.85)% vs. (0.97±0.21)%, P<0.05] and percentage of the H2A.X variant histone phosphorylation 3 days post-detoxification [(1.68±0.56)% vs. (0.29±0.06)%, P<0.05] in BEAS-2B cells were higher than in controls. Conclusions Hexavalent chromium-induced rDNA copy number variation affects DNA damage response in different cell lines. A stronger DNA damage response is found in BEAS-2B cells with a low rDNA copy number, and a relative stable response is observed in MRC-5 cells with a high rDNA copy number.

Objective: To establish a convenient non-invasive tracheal perfusion method for constructing a mouse model of silicosis-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Methods: The specific pathogen-free C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and model group, with 15 mice in each group. After anesthesia, a 22G arteriovenous indwelling needle was used to inset into the trachea through the mice's mouth. The model group mice were perfused with 0.1 mL of silica suspension with a mass concentration of 25 g/L, and the mice in the control group were perfused with an equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. On the 7th, 14th, and 30th day after modeling, the body weight of the mice was measured, and the lung tissue morphology and pathological changes were observed. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen type 1 alpha 1 (COL1A1) protein in lung tissue of mice was detected by immunofluorescence on the 30th day after modeling. Results: There was no death of mice in the two groups during the experiment. There was no significant difference in body weight between the two groups (P>0.05). The lung tissues of the mice in the model group were pinkish-gray and uneven in color on the 7th and 14th days after dust exposure. On the 30th day after dust exposure, the lung tissue of the mice in the model group was gray and hard, and unevenly distributed silicon nodules were visible by the naked eyes. The histopathology results of lung tissue showed that compared with the mice in control group, the model group mice exhibited persistent aggravation of pulmonary inflammation, thickening of alveolar septum, infiltration of inflammatory cells gradually clustering into clumps, and an increasing number of fibrous foci.On the 30th day after dust exposure, the relative expression of α-SMA and COL1A1 proteins in the lung of the model group was higher than those in the control group (median： 72.59 vs 5.91, 35.62 vs 10.07, both P<0.05). Conclusion: The method of tracheal perfusion silica suspension of mice using 22G arteriovenous indwelling needle can successfully construct an animal model of silicosis fibrosis. This method is convenient, safe and effective, and is worth promoting.

Objective : To examine the diagnostic and prognostic value of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) JPX in mesothelioma, so as to provide insights into diagnosis and prognosis of mesothelioma. Methods: Patients with clinically definitive diagnosis of mesothelioma from 2015 to 2019 that were sampled from asbestos processing plants in Zhejiang Province from 2015 to 2019 were recruited in the mesothelioma group, while healthy residents without asbestos exposure or asbestos-related diseases in the same area served as controls. Participants' demographics, pathologic diagnosis and imaging features were collected, and the expression of blood lncRNA JPX was detected using lncRNA microarrays. The diagnostic value of lncRNA JPX for mesothelioma was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the correlation between lncRNA JPX expression and prognosis was examined among mesothelioma patients using survival analysis. Results: There were 17 subjects in the mesothelioma group, with a mean age of (65.71±8.36) years, and 34 subjects in the controls, with a mean age of (64.24±8.70) years. LncRNA microarray detected significantly high lncRNA JPX expression in mesothelioma patients, and higher blood lncRNA JPX expression was detected in the mesothelioma group than in the control group [median (interquartile range), 1.10 (1.31) vs. 0.89 (0.54); t'=-2.300, P=0.034]. The area under the ROC curve was 0.673 (95%CI: 0.507-0.839, P=0.046), and if the cutoff was 1.759, the sensitivity and specificity were 35.3% and 100.0%, respectively. Survival analysis showed no significant difference in the survival rate of mesothelioma patients between the high lncRNA JPX expression group and the low expression group (χ2=0.212, P=0.645). Conclusions LncRNA JPX overexpression is detected in the blood of patients with mesothelioma, and lncRNA JPX expression presents a diagnostic value for mesothelioma; however, it shows little prognostic value for mesothelioma.