The early angiopathy of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a key hub connecting inflammation and fibrosis. The animal models that simulate the pathological characteristics of SSc are of great significance to study the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of SSc with vascular involvement. This review of the characteristics of different animal models of SSc with vascular involvement provides a reference for relevant researchers to select appropriate models in the process of exploring the pathogenesis of SSc with vascular involvement.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a progressive liver disease caused by factors other than alcohol caused by heterotopic fat accumulation in the liver.In recent years,the incidence rate has been increasing,and there is no specific clinical drug.Studies have found that nuclear transcription factor κB(NF-κB)can activate inflammation and oxidative stress,which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.Traditional Chinese medicine is convenient to obtain and cheap.It can treat NAFLD through multiple channels with good clinical efficacy,and no obvious side effects have been found till now.Many studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine can inhibit the occurrence and development of NAFLD by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway.This article summarizes the research results of traditional Chinese medicine in treating NAFLD based on the NF-κB signaling pathway since 2021,for several traditional Chinese medicine extracts(flavonoids,terpenoids,polysaccharides,glycosides,alkaloids and phenolic compounds)and traditional Chinese medicine compound(Shugan Jianpi Fang,Erhuang Quzhi Granules,Fuzi Lizhong Decoction,Huangqin Decoction,Qinlian Hongqu Decoction,Jiangzhi Granules),which can inhibit the further development of NAFLD by improving liver inflammatory response,oxidative stress response,fibrosis,apoptosis,autophagy and pyroptosis through the NF-κB signaling pathway,in order to provide new ideas for future new drug development and clinical medication.

Objective To investigate the current situations of economic toxicity in hematological malignancies patients,and explore it's correlation with quality of life and psychological resilience.Methods A total of 135 hematological malignancies patients admitted in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital,Sun Yat-sen University from December 2022 to October 2023 were selected as subjects.Patients were surveyed by using general information and disease-related information questionnaires,comprehensive scores for financial toxicity,European organization for research and treatment of cancer core questionnaire,connor-davidson resilience scale,social support rating sale.Correlation analysis was performed by using the Pearson method.Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the factors of economic toxicity after controlling for confounding factors.Results Economic toxicity score of 135 hematological malignancies patients was(15.95±0.84)points,of which 82.2％of them had economic toxicity.It was positively correlated with functional quality of life(r-0.464,P=＜0.001)and psychological resilience(r=0.232,P=0.007),and negatively correlated with symptomatic psychological quality(r=-0.440,P＜0.001).Multiple linear regression analysis showed that quality of life,knowledge of the treatment cost,course of treatment,patient personality and have no second caregiver were influencing factors of economic toxicity of hematological malignancies(P＜0.05).Conclusion Hematological malignancies patients have a higher level of economic toxicity,which can affect their quality of life and psychological resilience.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of a fixed exoskeleton robot with that of an exoskeleton walker in training the balance of stroke survivors in the subacute stage.Methods:Thirty persons with subacute stroke were divided at random into a fixed robot group (15 cases) and a walking robot group (15 cases). In addition to conventional rehabilitation treatment, the fixed robot group underwent daily 20-minute treadmill-based fixed exoskeleton robot training, 5 days a week for 2 weeks. The walking group was trained with an exoskeleton walking robot on the same schedule. Before and after the treatment, the Berg balance scale, the sitting modified functional stretch test (SMFRT), an isokinetic muscle strength test and the modified Barthel index (MBI) were used to evaluate the subjects′ global balance, self-dynamic balance, knee proprioception and ability in the activities of daily living (ADL).Results:After the treatment, both groups′ average Berg score, SMFRT extension difference, proprioceptive absolute error angle in the affected knee and MBI had improved significantly. The average SMFRT extension difference after treatment in the walker group was then significantly better than the fixed robot group′s average. However, the fixed robot group′s proprioception in the affected knee joint was then significantly better, on average, than among the walking robot group.Conclusions:Both fixed exoskeleton robot training and exoskeleton walker training can improve the balance, proprioception and ADL ability after a stroke. The former better improves dynamic balance; the latter better improves proprioception in the affected knee joint.

Purpose To investigate the clinicopathological features and cytogenetic characteristics in the fumarate hydratase(FH)-deficient uterine smooth muscle tumors.Methods A total of 334 paraffin-embedded specimen of be-nign,borderline,and malignant uterine smooth muscle tumors were collected.FH-deficient uterine smooth muscle tumors were screened using the immunohistochemical detection with FH and S-(2-succino)-cysteine(2SC)antibodies.A retrospective analysis of the clinicopathological features and FH mutations was conducted.Results Compared with the 310 non-FH-deficient uterine leiomyomas(non-FH-dUL),14 cases(93.3％)out of the 15 FH-dUL presented with staghorn blood vessels(x2=52.86,P＜0.000 1),8 cases(53.3％)exhibited pulmonary edema-like stroma(x2=26.41,P＜0.000 1),8 cases(53.3％)had cytoplasmic eosinophilic globules(x2=41.85,P＜0.000 1),5 cases(33.3％)showed multifocal bizarre nuclei(x2=72.54,P＜0.000 1),5 cases(33.3％)had large eosino-philic nucleoli with viral inclusion-like halos(x2=38.85,P＜0.000 1),and 5 cases(33.3％)demonstrated a sig-nificant increase in cell density(x2=8.782,P=0.003).The above morphological features were also observed in a case of FH-d uSTUMP and FH-d uLMS.Among the 14 cases with follow-up,except for one death in the FH-d uLMS,none reported the renal cell carcinoma and cutaneous leiomyoma.FH mutations were identified in 11 cases and the hotspot mutations were found in exon 1,2,4,5,6 and 7.Among these variations,c.125C＞T,c.151C＞T and c.704A＞C were found to be the hotspot gene variations.Furthemore,7 gene variations(c.197A＞G,c.426G＞T,c.505C＞T,c.704A＞C,c.812A＞C,c.847T＞C,c.1006A＞G)were not included in COSMIC and ClinVar database and were supposed to be novel.Conclusion The combination of FH/2SC immunohistochemical detection and FH exon mutation analysis are reliable tools for the early identification of FH-deficient uterine smooth muscle tumors or hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma(HLRCC)syndrome.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a progressive liver disease caused by factors other than alcohol caused by heterotopic fat accumulation in the liver.In recent years,the incidence rate has been increasing,and there is no specific clinical drug.Studies have found that nuclear transcription factor κB(NF-κB)can activate inflammation and oxidative stress,which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.Traditional Chinese medicine is convenient to obtain and cheap.It can treat NAFLD through multiple channels with good clinical efficacy,and no obvious side effects have been found till now.Many studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine can inhibit the occurrence and development of NAFLD by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway.This article summarizes the research results of traditional Chinese medicine in treating NAFLD based on the NF-κB signaling pathway since 2021,for several traditional Chinese medicine extracts(flavonoids,terpenoids,polysaccharides,glycosides,alkaloids and phenolic compounds)and traditional Chinese medicine compound(Shugan Jianpi Fang,Erhuang Quzhi Granules,Fuzi Lizhong Decoction,Huangqin Decoction,Qinlian Hongqu Decoction,Jiangzhi Granules),which can inhibit the further development of NAFLD by improving liver inflammatory response,oxidative stress response,fibrosis,apoptosis,autophagy and pyroptosis through the NF-κB signaling pathway,in order to provide new ideas for future new drug development and clinical medication.

Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture at Neiguan(PC6)combined with Buyang Huanwu Decoction on myocardial edema-related proteins and its cardioprotective role in mice with acute high-altitude hypoxic myocardial injury,and to explore the potential mechanisms by which this combined therapy ameliorates acute hypoxic myocardial damage.Methods Mice were randomly divided into control,hypoxia model,electroacupuncture at Neiguan,Buyang Huanwu Decoction,and electroacupuncture at Neiguan+Buyang Huanwu Decoction groups.Except for the normal control group,all other groups were subjected to the establishment of an acute high-altitude hypoxia-induced myocardial injury model.Four days before entering the low-pressure hypoxia animal simulation chamber,the electroacupuncture at Neiguan group was treated with bilateral electroacupuncture at Neiguan,the Buyang Huanwu Decoction group was treated with Buyang Huanwu Decoction by gavage,and the electroacupuncture at Neiguan+Buyang Huanwu Decoction group was treated with a combination of electroacupuncture at Neiguan and Buyang Huanwu Decoction.The intervention lasted for 7 days.The normal control group and the hypoxia model group were handled normally without any other treatment.Myocardial pathology and ultrastructure were evaluated using HE staining and transmission electron microscopy.Serum levels of creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB)and cardiac troponin I(cTn-I)were measured by ELISA.Western blot was performed to quantify β1-AR,cAMP,PKA,and AQP1 protein expression.Results Compared with normal control group,the hypoxia model group exhibited significant myocardial damage,elevated cardiac biomarkers,and upregulated β1-AR/cAMP/PKA pathway proteins with increased AQP1 expression(all P<0.01).The electroacupuncture at Neiguan+Buyang Huanwu Decoction group demonstrated attenuated myocardial injury,reduced biomarker levels,and downregulated target proteins(all P<0.01)versus the hypoxia model group.Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Neiguan combined with Buyang Huanwu Decoction alleviates myocardial edema and injury in acute hypobaric hypoxia by reducing vascular permeability,potentially via suppression of the β1-AR/cAMP/PKA pathway and subsequent inhibition of AQP1 expression.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of Wuhua herbal tea on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression and explore its mechanism of action in combating depression.MethodsWe tested the antidepressant effects of Wuhua herbal tea in a rat model of CUMS-induced depression using fluoxetine as a positive control. The rats were divided into four groups: control group, model group, fluoxetine group, and Wuhua herbal tea group. The rats underwent body weight measurements, sucrose preference test, and open-field test. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to detect the serum levels of serotonin, dopamine, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone, norepinephrine, and interleukin-6. Intergroup comparisons and detection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB), Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mRNA expression in the hippocampus were performed using RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify the expression of phosphorylated JAK2 (p-JAK2) and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) proteins in hippocampal paraffin sections of CUMS rats.ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group rats had depressive tendencies, exhibiting low vitality and interest in various behavioral indicators which were signs of despair. The Wuhua herbal tea group statistically increased the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the serum of CUMS rats to varying degrees (P = .015 and P = .002); reduced serum levels of ACTH, corticosterone, norepinephrine, and interleukin-6 (all P .05); and decreased mRNA expression of BDNF, CREB, JAK2, and STAT3 in the hippocampus (all P .05); and decreased p-STAT3 protein levels (P = .006).ConclusionWuhua herbal tea shows antidepressant potential in CUMS rats by modulating the HPA axis and inhibiting JAK2-STAT3 overactivation, alleviating neuroinflammation. It also restores BDNF-CREB pathway function, reducing depressive symptoms.

Autoimmune oophoritis is a rare cause of primary ovarian insufficiency(POI), and some patients may also have concurrent adrenal insufficiency. This condition significantly impairs reproductive function and is often difficult to distinguish from common causes of POI, leading to missed or incorrect diagnoses. This paper reports a case of autoimmune oophoritis treated in our department and provides an updated summary of recent advances in the understanding of this condition, with the aim of raising clinical awareness and improving diagnostic accuracy among healthcare professionals.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of a fixed exoskeleton robot with that of an exoskeleton walker in training the balance of stroke survivors in the subacute stage.Methods:Thirty persons with subacute stroke were divided at random into a fixed robot group (15 cases) and a walking robot group (15 cases). In addition to conventional rehabilitation treatment, the fixed robot group underwent daily 20-minute treadmill-based fixed exoskeleton robot training, 5 days a week for 2 weeks. The walking group was trained with an exoskeleton walking robot on the same schedule. Before and after the treatment, the Berg balance scale, the sitting modified functional stretch test (SMFRT), an isokinetic muscle strength test and the modified Barthel index (MBI) were used to evaluate the subjects′ global balance, self-dynamic balance, knee proprioception and ability in the activities of daily living (ADL).Results:After the treatment, both groups′ average Berg score, SMFRT extension difference, proprioceptive absolute error angle in the affected knee and MBI had improved significantly. The average SMFRT extension difference after treatment in the walker group was then significantly better than the fixed robot group′s average. However, the fixed robot group′s proprioception in the affected knee joint was then significantly better, on average, than among the walking robot group.Conclusions:Both fixed exoskeleton robot training and exoskeleton walker training can improve the balance, proprioception and ADL ability after a stroke. The former better improves dynamic balance; the latter better improves proprioception in the affected knee joint.