OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement effects and mechanism of Achyranthes bidentata total saponins （ABS） extract on vascular endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rat （SHR） based on cytochrome P450 4A （CYP4A）/20-hydroxyeicosatetetraenoic acid （20-HETE）/G protein-coupled receptor 75 （GPR75） axis. METHODS Ten Wistar- Kyoto rats were taken as the normal control group. Forty SHR were first stratified by systolic blood pressure and then， within each stratum， randomly assigned using a random-number table to the model group （MOD group）， captopril positive control group （CAP group， 10 mg/kg）， ABS low- and high-dose extract groups （ABS-L group， ABS-H group， 60 and 120 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Animals in each group were given the corresponding drug or equal volume of pure water by gavage， once a day， for 28 consecutive days. After the last administration， systolic blood pressure of rats was measured. The levels of vasoactive substances， inflammatory factors and oxidative stress indicators in serum were measured. The pathological changes of rat thoracic aorta were observed. The level of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in aortic tissue was analyzed. The expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase （eNOS）， CYP4A， GPR75， nuclear factor-κB p65 （NF-κB p65）， phosphorylated NF-κB p65， p22phox， and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4（NOX4） in thoracic aorta tissue were detected. RESULTS After 28 d of treatment， compared with MOD group， the systolic blood pressure of rats in the ABS-L and ABS-H groups decreased significantly. The levels of 20-HETE， angiotensin Ⅱ， interleukin-1β， interleukin-6， tumor necrosis factor-α， intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 and malondialdehyde in serum were significantly reduced （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， while the levels of nitric oxide， superoxide dismutase， glutathione peroxidase and catalase were significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Intimal damage of thoracic aorta was reduced， and endothelial cell morphology was improved. The expressions of ROS， CYP4A， GPR75， p22phox， NOX4 and the phosphorylation level of NF-κB p65 protein in thoracic aorta were down-regulated or reduced （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， while the expression of eNOS was up-regulated （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS ABS extract may alleviate the inflammatory response and oxidative stress in SHR effectively by down-regulating the expression of CYP4A， reducing the production of 20-HETE， inhibiting the activation of GPR75， and subsequently suppressing the activation of downstream NF-κB and NOX4， thereby improving hypertension-related vascular endothelial dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and potential mechanism of persimmon leaf （PL） extract against ferroptosis induced by H2O2 in IEC-6 cells. METHODS Using IEC-6 cells as object， the effects of ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 on IEC-6 cell viability induced by H2O2 were investigated； IEC-6 cells were divided into control group， H2O2 group， H2O2+PL 25 μg/mL group and H2O2+PL 50 μg/mL group. The levels of oxidant stress indexes [content of malondialdehyde （MDA）， activity of superoxide dismutase （SOD）， and levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS）]， mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP） as well as mRNA and protein expressions of nuclear factor-erythroid-2 related factor 2 （Nrf2）， heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， NADPH/quinone oxidoreductase-1 （NQO-1）， cystine/glutamate anti-porter （xCT）， glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4） and ferritin heavy chain （FTH） were detected. RESULTS Ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 could significantly increase the survival rate of H2O2-induced cells （P＜ 0.01）. Compared with the control group， MDA content， ROS level， mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and NQO-1 as well as protein expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 were increased or up-regulated significantly， while SOD activity， MMP， mRNA expressions of xCT， GPX4 and FTH as well as protein expressions of GPX4 and FTH were decreased or down-regulated significantly （P＜0.01 or P＜0.05）. Compared with the H2O2 group， oxidative stress Δ indexes of H2O2+PL 25， 50 μg/mL groups were reversed to different extents， MMP level was increased significantly， as well as mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2， HO-1， NQO-1，xCT， GPX4 and FTH were up-regulated to different extents；there were statistical significances in some indexes between groups （P＜0.01 or P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS PL extract can alleviate mitochondrial membrane damage and abnormal accumulation of ROS caused by H2O2， which may be related to the inhibition of ferroptosis by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the contents and transfer rates of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in Hirudo, decoction pieces, standard decoction, intermediates, and formula granules; To provide a basis for the safety evaluation of formula granules of Hirudo.Methods:The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography-Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) were employed for determining the contents of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in Hirudo and its scald product. Then the contents, transfer rates, and proportions of inorganic arsenic in total arsenic were analyzed to inform the change rules of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic after processing and decocting. Clustering analysis (CA) was applied by analyzing fifteen batches of Hirudo for identifying the distinction among different producing areas.Results:After processing the Hirudo into Hirudo scald product, the content of arsenic was basically unchanged, arsenite and arsenate were presenting a different variation, the content of arsenite and its proportion in total arsenic decreased, while the content of arsenate and its proportion in total arsenic increased. The total arsenic content was exceeding the standard easily, meanwhile the transfer rate of total arsenic was at high level. The transfer rates of arsenite and arsenate were more than 100%, and the proportions of arsenite and arsenate in total arsenic increased since the decoction pieces were decocted into standard decoction, intermediates and formula granules. CA results showed that producing areas have a certain impact on the arsenic content in Hirudo.Conclusion:This study revealed the change rules of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in Hirudo after processing and decocting into standard decoction,intermediates, and formula granules, which can providing reference for the production and quality standard formulation of formula granules of Hirudo.

ObjectiveTo investigate the different effects of Yunvjian with or without Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix on glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammatory response in diabetic rats with the syndrome of Yin deficiency and internal heat. MethodThe rat model of diabetes due to Yin deficiency and internal heat was established by feeding with a high-sugar and high-fat diet and injection of thyroxine and streptozotocin. The successfully modeled rats were randomized into model control， Yunvjian without Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix （11.8 g·kg^-1）， Yunvjian with Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix （12.8 g·kg^-1）， and Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix （1.0 g·kg^-1） groups （n=10）， and another 10 rats were taken as the normal control group. Each group was administrated with corresponding drugs or saline by gavage for 28 days. The fasting blood glucose （FBG）， fasting insulin （FINS）， total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） in rats were measured. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to determine the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP）， cyclic guanosine monophosphate （cGMP）， triiodothyronine （T₃）， thyroxine （T₄）， interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-6， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， and C-reactive protein （CRP） in the serum. The histopathological changes of the liver were observed. The expression of lipoxygenase-2 （COX-2） was detected by immunofluorescence. The mRNA levels of nuclear transcription factors-κB （NF-κB）， monocyte chemotactic protein-1 （MCP-1）， and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1） were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）.Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of NF-κB in hibitory protein（IκB） kinase β （IKKβ）， IκBα， and phosphorylated IκBα （p-IκBα） in the liver and the protein levels of NF-κB in the cytoplasm and nucleus. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed elevated levels of FBG， FINS， insulin resistance index， TC， TG， LDL-C， cAMP， T₃， T₄， IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， and CRP， up-regulated mRNA levels of NF-κB， MCP-1， and ICAM-1， and up-regulated protein levels of COX-2， p-IκBα， and nuclear NF-κB （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Yunvjian without Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix lowered the levels of FBG， FINS， insulin resistance index， TC， TG， LDL-C， cAMP， T₃， T₄， IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， and CRP， down-regulated the mRNA levels of NF-κB， MCP-1， and ICAM-1， and down-regulated the protein levels of COX-2， p-IκBα and nuclear NF-κB （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the Yunvjian without Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix， Yunvjian with Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix showed lowered levels of FBG， FINS， insulin resistance index， and inflammatory cytokines， down-regulated mRNA levels of NF-κB， MCP-1， and ICAM-1， and down-regulated protein levels of p-IκBα and nuclear NF-κB （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionAchyranthis Bidentatae Radix can enhance the performance of Yunvjian in reducing blood glucose and inhibiting inflammation in diabetic rats with the syndrome of yin deficiency and internal heat by down-regulating the IKK/IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective:To discuss the distinctive sonographic feature and the biological behavior of renal angiomyolipoma(RAML),and to provide the reference for the clinicians to make the accurate diagnosis of RAML.Methods:The clinical data of one patient with invasive classical RAML combined with pseudaneurysm formation were collected.The sonographic appearances were analyzed in conjunction with the pathological characteristics to clarify the biological behavior of RAML,and the relevant literatures were reviewed.Results:The patient,a 60-year-old female,visited the local hospital due to discomfort in the lumbar area,and received CT examination,and the CT examination results revealed a left renal mass,so the patient came to our hospital.The specialist clinical examinations and laboratory investigations were unremarkable.The ultrasound results indicated an enlarged left kidney with a cystic and solid mass at the upper pole,which featured pseudaneurysm formation(originating from the interlobar arteries);the enhanced CT image results suggested a high probability of upper pole renal carcinoma combined with aneurysmal formation within the tumor,alongside invasion into the left adrenal gland.The patient underwent laparoscopic radical left nephrectomy,and the postoperative pathology confirmed the diagnosis of invasive classical RAML.Conclusion:The classical RAML can exhibit the invasive biological behavior.The pseudaneurysm formation is a special sonographic manifestation of RAML,which can be challenging to differentiate from the other renal tumors.

In recent years,public hesitancy to vaccinate has come to the fore and can hinder the advancement of immunization programs.It is important to increase public confidence in vaccines and to rationally and effectively promote the immunization behavior of the population.Based on behavioral economics theory,it combines the anchoring effect,loss aversion,two-systems theory,and the herd effect to explore the irrational factors and decision-making preferences behind the public's vaccination decisions,and then proposes discourse strategies for effective boosting to increase the public's confidence in vaccination.

In recent years,public hesitancy to vaccinate has come to the fore and can hinder the advancement of immunization programs.It is important to increase public confidence in vaccines and to rationally and effectively promote the immunization behavior of the population.Based on behavioral economics theory,it combines the anchoring effect,loss aversion,two-systems theory,and the herd effect to explore the irrational factors and decision-making preferences behind the public's vaccination decisions,and then proposes discourse strategies for effective boosting to increase the public's confidence in vaccination.

In recent years,public hesitancy to vaccinate has come to the fore and can hinder the advancement of immunization programs.It is important to increase public confidence in vaccines and to rationally and effectively promote the immunization behavior of the population.Based on behavioral economics theory,it combines the anchoring effect,loss aversion,two-systems theory,and the herd effect to explore the irrational factors and decision-making preferences behind the public's vaccination decisions,and then proposes discourse strategies for effective boosting to increase the public's confidence in vaccination.

In recent years,public hesitancy to vaccinate has come to the fore and can hinder the advancement of immunization programs.It is important to increase public confidence in vaccines and to rationally and effectively promote the immunization behavior of the population.Based on behavioral economics theory,it combines the anchoring effect,loss aversion,two-systems theory,and the herd effect to explore the irrational factors and decision-making preferences behind the public's vaccination decisions,and then proposes discourse strategies for effective boosting to increase the public's confidence in vaccination.

The hippocampus and its circuits play crucial roles in human learning, memory, and emotional regulation. Whether it is vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD), damage to the hippocampus is a prominent pathological feature. This review summarizes the recent advance in multimodal magnetic resonance imaging in anatomy, blood supply, structure and function of the hippocampus and the circuits related to VCI and AD in recent years, aiming to provide help in early recognizing and differentially diagnosing VCI and AD.