ObjectiveMicrotube associated protein-2 （MAP-2）， alpha-tubulin （α-tubulin）， and synaptophysin （SYP） are important proteins in neuronal signal communication. This paper observed the effects of modified Zhigancao Tang on the expression of serum α-Synuclein （α-Syn） and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP of patients with liver and kidney deficiency of Parkinson's disease （PD）， analyzed their correlation， and evaluated the therapeutic effect of modified Zhigancao Tang in patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD based on α-Syn transmission pathway mediated by neuronal communication in vivo. MethodsA total of 60 patients with PD who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a treatment group （30 cases） and a control group （30 cases）. Both groups were treated on the basis of PD medicine， and the treatment group was treated with modified Zhigancao Tang. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The changes in UPDRS score， TCM syndrome score， and expression of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP were observed before and after 12 weeks of treatment in each group. The correlation between the above-mentioned serum biological indexes and the levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers was analyzed. ResultsAfter treatment， the TCM syndrome score， UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ score of the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ scores in the treatment group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total effective rate of the control group was 63.3% （19/30）， and that of the treatment group was 86.7% （26/30）. The clinical effect of the observation group was better than the control group （Z=-2.03， P<0.05）. The total effective rate of the observation group was better than that of the control group， and the difference was statistically significant （χ²=5.136， P<0.05）. After treatment， the oligomer level of serum α-Syn and MAP-2 level in the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， as well as α-tubulin in the treatment group， were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum α-Syn was correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-Syn oligomer in patients with PD （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP . Serum α-Syn oligomers of patients with PD were correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-tubulin （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP level. Serum SYP of patients with PD was correlated with serum MAP-2 （P<0.05）. ConclusionModified Zhigancao Tang has a therapeutic effect on patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD by inhibiting the production of α-Syn oligomers and intervening α-Syn microtubule transport pathway in vivo.

During orthodontic treatment, clinical monitoring of patients is a crucial factor in determining treatment success. It aids in timely problem detection and resolution, ensuring adherence to the intended treatment plan. In recent years, digital technology has increasingly permeated orthodontic clinical diagnosis and treatment, facilitating clinical decision-making, treatment planning, and follow-up monitoring. This review summarizes recent advancements in digital technology for monitoring orthodontic tooth movement, related complications, and appliance-wearing compliance. It aims to provide insights for researchers and clinicians to enhance the application of digital technology in orthodontics, improve treatment outcomes, and optimize patient experience. The digitization of diagnostic data and the visualization of dental models make chair-side follow-up monitoring more convenient, accurate, and efficient. At the same time, the emergence of remote monitoring technology allows orthodontists to promptly identify oral health issues in patients and take corresponding measures. Furthermore, the multimodal data fusion method offers valuable insights into the monitoring of the root-alveolar relationship. Artificial intelligence technology has made initial strides in automating the identification of orthodontic tooth movement, associated complications, and patient compliance evaluation. Sensors are effective tools for monitoring patient adherence and providing data-driven support for clinical decision-making. The application of digital technology in orthodontic monitoring holds great promise. However, challenges like technical bottlenecks, ethical considerations, and patient acceptance remain.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) is a treatment option for superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN), with a relatively low risk of stenosis; however, the long-term outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with widespread superficial ESCN who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or ERFA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with superficial ESCN who underwent ESD or ERFA between January 2015 and December 2021. The primary outcome measure was recurrence-free survival. Results: Ninety-two and 33 patients with superficial ESCN underwent ESD and ERFA, respectively. The en bloc, R0, and curative resection rates for ESD were 100.0%, 90.2%, and 76.1%, respectively. At 12 months, the complete response rate was comparable between the two groups (94.6% vs 90.9%, p=0.748). During a median follow-up of 66 months, recurrence-free survival was significantly longer in the ESD group than in the ERFA group (p=0.004), while no significant differences in overall survival (p=0.845) and disease-specific survival (p=0.494) were observed.Preoperative diagnosis of intramucosal cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.55; vs high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia) was an independent predictor of recurrence. Significantly fewer patients in the ERFA group experienced stenosis compare to ESD group (15.2% vs 38.0%, p=0.016). Conclusions The risk of recurrence was higher for ERFA than ESD for ESCN but overall survival was not affected. The risk of esophageal stenosis was significantly lower for patients who underwent ERFA.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) is a treatment option for superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN), with a relatively low risk of stenosis; however, the long-term outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with widespread superficial ESCN who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or ERFA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with superficial ESCN who underwent ESD or ERFA between January 2015 and December 2021. The primary outcome measure was recurrence-free survival. Results: Ninety-two and 33 patients with superficial ESCN underwent ESD and ERFA, respectively. The en bloc, R0, and curative resection rates for ESD were 100.0%, 90.2%, and 76.1%, respectively. At 12 months, the complete response rate was comparable between the two groups (94.6% vs 90.9%, p=0.748). During a median follow-up of 66 months, recurrence-free survival was significantly longer in the ESD group than in the ERFA group (p=0.004), while no significant differences in overall survival (p=0.845) and disease-specific survival (p=0.494) were observed.Preoperative diagnosis of intramucosal cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.55; vs high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia) was an independent predictor of recurrence. Significantly fewer patients in the ERFA group experienced stenosis compare to ESD group (15.2% vs 38.0%, p=0.016). Conclusions The risk of recurrence was higher for ERFA than ESD for ESCN but overall survival was not affected. The risk of esophageal stenosis was significantly lower for patients who underwent ERFA.

"Prescriptions being modified according to the syndrome and processing following prescription" is one of the characteristics of clinical medication in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), and it is also an important sign that distinguishes TCM from other traditional medicine. The processing methods of TCM decoctions originate from the ingenious combination of medicinal materials, the mutual restraint of seven emotions, the harmony of four properties, and the pairing and combining of medicinal materials in prescriptions. They are the concrete embodiment of the essence and characteristics of "prescriptions being modified according to the syndrome and processing following prescription". However, due to insufficient inheritance and innovation, many characteristic varieties and pharmaceutical experience have been lost or forgotten. There is an urgent need to systematically explore and organize the processing theory and characteristic varieties of TCM decoctions, delve into the scientific connotation of the processing principles, and optimize the processing technology. Therefore, this article systematically organizes and summarizes the historical evolution and modern research progress of TCM decoction processing, conducts in-depth reflection on the current problems, and puts forward reasonable suggestions, with the aim of further inheriting, enriching, and developing the processing theory of TCM decoctions and providing support for ensuring the clinical efficacy of prescriptions.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To explore mechanisms of acid-sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC1) mediated lumbar nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis through extracellular-signalregulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) signaling pathway and mitochondrial dysfunction pathway. METHODS: Totally 34 patients with degenerative lumbar disc herniation (LDH) admitted from January 2020 to December 2022 were collected as research objects, including 21 males and 13 females;aged from 29 to 52 years old with an average of (37.43±4.75) years old;22 patients with grade Ⅱ and 12 patients with grade Ⅳ, according to Pfirrmann grading criteria;15 patients with L_4,5 and 19 patients with L₅S₁. The expression of ASIC1 in nucleus pulposus of LDH patients was measured by immunohistochemical staining. Nucleus pulposus cells were cultured by primary culture method, identified by toluidine blue staining and immunohistochemical staining, and the expression of ASIC1 protein was located by immunofluorescence staining. According to the addition of siRNA-ASIC1, ASIC1 overexpression plasmid, and ERK5 inhibitors, the nucleus pulpocyte was divided into three groups, named as SIRNA-silenced group, overexpression group, and inhibitor group, with 3 patients in each group. Cells of each group were collected at 72 h after intervention, expression of ASIC1, ERK5, BCL-xL/BCL-2-associated Death promoter (Bad), B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X (Bax) and B-cell lymphoblast-2 gene (Bcl-2) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR);intracellular calcium ion levels were detected by calcium ion kit, mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 kit, and apoptosis was observed by AV-PI kit. RESULTS: In LDH patients with grade Ⅳ, nucleus pulposus tissue removed during operation revealed poor elasticity, white color and poor ductility, and immunohistochemical results showed increased ASIC1 expression. There was no significant difference in mRNA relative expression of ASIC1 between siRNA silencing group (0.31±0.03) and inhibitor group (0.39±0.05) (P>0.05). The mRNA relative expression level of ERK5 in siRNA silencing group(0.32±0.05) was significantly higher than that in inhibitor group (0.15±0.04)(P<0.05), which suggested ERK5 was the downstream molecule of ASIC1. The mRNA relative expression levels of apoptosis promoting factor Bad and Bax in siRNA silencing group and inhibitor group were lower than those in overexpression group(P<0.05), the relative expression level of anti-apoptosis factor Bcl-2 mRNA was significantly increased (P<0.05). The calcium content in overexpression group was higher than that in siRNA silencing and inhibitor groups (P<0.05), the normal proportion of mitochondrial membrane potential in overexpression group was lower than that in siRNA silencing and inhibitor group (P<0.05), and the apoptosis rate in overexpression group was higher than that in siRNA silencing and inhibitor group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION After the activation of ASIC1 channel protein, calcium ions could enter the cells and act as a second messenger molecule to regulate apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells by ERK5 signaling pathway and mitochondrial disorder pathway.
Humans ; Acid Sensing Ion Channels/physiology* ; Male ; Female ; Apoptosis ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Signal Transduction ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 7/physiology* ; Mitochondrial Diseases/genetics* ; Nucleus Pulposus/metabolism* ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/metabolism* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/genetics*

Objective To investigate how culture duration affects the expression of immune membrane proteins in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and their exosomes (DEXs). Methods Human monocytes were induced with recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) to differentiate into DCs and were subsequently matured with tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α). Exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation, and DEXs were identified by transmission electron microscopy and Amnis imaging flow cytometry, which were also used to quantify the expression of immune membrane proteins on DCs and DEXs. Results On the 10th day of culture, DCs displayed high surface expression of CD11c, CD80, CD86, major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), and MHC-II. Expression peaked at day 18(CD11c: 78.66%±20.33%, CD80: 76.41%±10.02%, CD86: 96.43%±0.43%, MHC-I: 84.71%±2.96%, MHC-II: 80.01%±7.03%). After day 24, the overall expression showed a declining trend, with statistically significant differences observed for all markers except CD80 and MHC-II. By day 30, 80% of the DCs still expressed CD80, CD86, and MHC-II. The expression of immune membrane proteins on DEX surfaces also reached its peak on day 18, followed by an overall decline with prolonged culture time, with statistically significant differences observed for all markers except CD80. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between the expression levels of immune membrane proteins on DC and DEX surfaces (CD11c: r=0.98; CD80: r=0.65; CD86: r=0.82; MHC-I: r=0.86; MHC-II: r=0.93). Conclusion Human monocyte-derived DCs in vitro express high expression of immune membrane proteins and maintain stable expression over a specific period. The exosomes secreted by these cells similarly demonstrate high surface expression of immune membrane proteins, with temporal trends aligned with those of the parent DCs.
Humans ; Dendritic Cells/immunology* ; Exosomes/immunology* ; Monocytes/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured ; Time Factors ; B7-1 Antigen/metabolism* ; Membrane Proteins/immunology* ; Cell Culture Techniques/methods* ; B7-2 Antigen/metabolism* ; Cell Differentiation ; CD11c Antigen/metabolism* ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/pharmacology*

Extensive studies have identified potential adverse effects on semen quality of obesity, based on body mass index, but the association between body fat distribution, a more relevant indicator for obesity, and semen quality remains less clear. We conducted a longitudinal study of 4304 sperm donors from the Guangdong Provincial Human Sperm Bank (Guangzhou, China) during 2017-2021. A body composition analyzer was used to measure total and local body fat percentage for each participant. Generalized estimating equations were employed to assess the association between body fat percentage and sperm count, motility, and morphology. We estimated that each 10% increase in total body fat percentage (estimated change [95% confidence interval, 95% CI]) was significantly associated with a 0.18 × 10 6 (0.09 × 10 6 -0.27 × 10 6 ) ml and 12.21 × 10 6 (4.52 × 10 6 -19.91 × 10 6 ) reduction in semen volume and total sperm count, respectively. Categorical analyses and exposure-response curves showed that the association of body fat distribution with semen volume and total sperm count was stronger at higher body fat percentages. In addition, the association still held among normal weight and overweight participants. We observed similar associations for upper limb, trunk, and lower limb body fact distributions. In conclusion, we found that a higher body fat distribution was significantly associated with lower semen quality (especially semen volume) even in men with a normal weight. These findings provide useful clues in exploring body fat as a risk factor for semen quality decline and add to evidence for improving semen quality for those who are expected to conceive.
Humans ; Male ; Adult ; Semen Analysis ; China ; Body Fat Distribution ; Longitudinal Studies ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Body Mass Index ; Tissue Donors ; Obesity/complications* ; Spermatozoa ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; East Asian People

Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) is a common pathogen colonizing or infecting the neonatal respiratory tract. It can be vertically transmitted from mother to infant, irrespective of the duration of premature rupture of membranes and the mode of delivery. UU infection is an important factor contributing to preterm birth and low birth weight and is closely associated with adverse outcomes such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and neurodevelopmental impairment. Given the immaturity of neonatal immune and organ systems, pharmacologic treatment must balance efficacy and safety. Currently, no unified standard regimen has been established for the treatment of neonatal UU infection. This review summarizes pharmacotherapeutic options for neonatal UU infection to inform clinical practice.
Humans ; Ureaplasma Infections/drug therapy* ; Infant, Newborn ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the molecular genetic spectrum of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and explore its correlation with clinical characteristics and prognosis. METHODS: The clinical and molecular genetic data of 116 children with newly diagnosed AML in Wuhan Children's Hospital from September 2015 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the correlation of gene mutations with clinical features, and Kaplan-Meier curve was used to analyze the influences of gene mutations on the prognosis. RESULTS: NRAS (22%), KRAS (14.9%), and KIT (14.7%) mutations were the most common genetic abnormalities in 116 children with AML. Children with KIT, CEBPA and GATA2 mutations showed a higher median onset-age than those without mutations (all P < 0.05). Children with FLT3-ITD mutation exhibited a higher white blood cell count at initial diagnosis compared to those without mutations (P < 0.05). Children with ASXL2 mutation had lower platelet count and hemoglobin at initial diagnosis than those without mutations (both P < 0.05). KIT mutations were often co-occurred with t(8;21)(q22;q22). There was no significant relationship between gene mutation and minimal residual disease (MRD) remission rate after the first and second induction therapy (P >0.05). KIT and NRAS mutations were not associated with prognosis significantly (P >0.05). The overall survival (OS) rates of children with CEBPA and FLT3-ITD mutations were superior to those without mutations, but the differences were not statistically significant (P >0.05). The 3-year OS rate of 61 children treated by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was 89.8%, which was significantly higher than 55.2% of those only treated by chemotherapy (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Gene mutations are common in children with AML, and next-generation sequencing can significantly improve the detection rate of gene mutations, which can guide the risk stratification therapy. In addition, FLT3-ITD and KIT mutations may no longer be poor prognostic factors.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics* ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3/genetics* ; Child ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit/genetics* ; Male ; Female ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Child, Preschool ; Adolescent ; GATA2 Transcription Factor/genetics* ; GTP Phosphohydrolases/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics*