Objective:To discuss whether safranal affects the proliferation,migration,and phenotypic transformation of the vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs)in a high-glucose environment and to clarify the function of safranal in the prevention and treatment of diabetic(DM)vascular complications.Methods:The SD rats were selected as experimental subjects;primary VSMCs were cultured from rat thoracic aortas and divided into control group,25 mmol·L-1 high glucose(HG)group,HG+20 μmol·L-1 safranal group,HG+40 μmol·L-1 safranal group,and HG+80 μmol·L-1 safranal group.The cells in control group received no treatment;the cells in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group were pretreated with 25 mmol·L-1 HG;the cells in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were further treated with 20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal respectively for 48 h on the basis of 25 mmol·L-1 HG group.Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)method was used to determine the appropriate concentration of safranal and detect the viabilities of the VSMCs in various groups;cell scratch healing assay was used to detect the scratch healing rates of the VSMCs in various groups;Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the numbers of the migration VSMCs in various groups;immunofluorescence method was used to detect the fluorescence intensities of alpha-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and rabbit anti-osteopontin(OPN)in the VSMCs in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of OPN,α-SMA,and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)in the VSMCs in various groups.Results:Under microscope,on the 4th day of in vitro culture,the spindle-shaped or triangular cells crawled out from the edge of the thoracic aorta tissue blocks,with long spindle being the most common morphology.On the 14th,the cells gradually covered the bottom of the dish;when cell density reached 80%-90%,the characteristic"hills and valleys"growth pattern appeared.Third-generation cells were taken for immunofluorescence identification;immunofluorescence staining with VSMC-specific marker α-SMA showed positive expression of α-SMA protein in the primarily cultured VSMCs.The CCK-8 assay results showed that compared with control group,the cell viability of the cells in 160 μmol·L-1 safranal group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),indicating toxic damage to the cells.Under the conditions of safranal concentrations at 20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 respectively,after 48 h intervention on VSMCs,no significant adverse effect on cell viability was observed;considering both the effect and toxicity of safranal,these three concentrations were used in subsequent cell experiments.After 48 h intervention,compared with control group,the activity of the VSMCs in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group was increased(P<0.001);compared with 25 mmol·L-1 HG group,the activities of the VSMCs in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were gradually decreased(P<0.05).The cell scratch healing assay and Transwell assay results showed that after 48 h intervention,the scratch healing rate of the VSMCs in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.01),and the number of transmembrane cells through the Transwell chamber was significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with 25 mmol·L-1 HG group,the scratch healing rates of the VSMCs in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were gradually decreased(P<0.05),and the number of transmembrane cells was decreased(P<0.05).The immunofluorescence staining results showed that compared with control group,the fluorescence intensity of α-SMA protein in the VSMCs in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group was significantly weakened(P<0.001),while the fluorescence intensity of OPN protein was significantly enhanced(P<0.001);compared with 25 mmol·L-1 HG group,the fluorescence intensities of α-SMA protein in the VSMCs in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were gradually increased(P<0.05),and the fluorescence intensities of OPN were gradually weakened(P<0.05).The Western blotting method results showed that compared with control group,the expression level of α-SMA protein in the VSMCs in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group was decreased(P<0.05),and the expression levels of PCNA and OPN proteins were increased(P<0.01);compared with 25 mmol·L-1 HG group,the expression level of α-SMA protein in the VSMCs in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were increased(P<0.05),and the expression levels of PCNA and OPN proteins were decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:Safranal can inhibit the proliferation,migration,and phenotypic transformation of the VSMCs induced by high glucose.

Objective To study the effect of STAT3 over-expression-mediated A2 astrocyte polarization on type 1 diabetic mellitus(T1DM)peripheral neuropathy.Methods STAT3 over-expression virus was intrathecally injected into type 1 diabetic rats with painful diabetic neuropathy(PDN).The rats were divided into four groups:control group,T1DM group,T1DM+vector group,and T1DM+STAT3 OE group.Paw withdrawal threshold and paw withdrawal latency were measured.Flow cytometry and RT-qPCR were used to sort astrocytes and determine the phenotype of reactive astrocytes.Immune-fluorescence staining microscopy was performed to observe the changes of A2 phenotype astrocytes in the spinal dorsal horn of each group.Results Compared to the control group,the me-chanical(P＜0.001)and heat thresholds(P＜0.05)were significantly reduced in the T1DM group.The mechanical threshold was significantly increased in the T1DM+STAT3 OE group as compared to that in the T1DM group(P＜0.001).Histolgical analysis showed degenerative pathological changes of spinal dorsal horn astrocytes in the T1DM group.Astrocytes in the T1DM+STAT3 OE group were activated and polarized toward the A2 phenotype.Conclusions The STAT3 pathway in the spinal dorsal horn astrocytes of rats with type 1 diabetic neuropathy is im-paired.Restoring STAT3 expression promotes activation of astrocyte proliferation,activation,and polarization toward the A2 phenotype,thereby alleviating diabetic neuropathic pain.

Objective To observe the manifestations of isolated bicuspid aortic valve(i-BAV)in children using echocardiography.Methods Echocardiographic data of 79 children with i-BAV were retrospectively analyzed,and classification of i-BAV was performed.The patients were divided into complication group(n=50)and non-complication group(n=29)according to the existence of valve and/or aortic involvement or not,and echocardiographic parameters were compared between groups.Results After adjusting body surface area(BSA),in complication group,left ventricular end-systolic diameter/BSA was lower,while left ventricular myocardial mass index group was higher than those in non-complication group(both P＜0.05).Type 0 i-BAV was found in 22 cases,with lat subtype as the most common ones(18/22,81.82％),while Type Ⅰ was observed in 57 cases with L-R subtype as the most common ones(39/57,68.42％).The most common subtype in complication group was also Type Ⅰ L-R(31/50,62.00％),with incidence of valve involvement of 90.00％(45/50),mainly including mild aortic stenosis and/or incompetence(37/45,82.22％),and incidence of aorta involvement of 24.00％(12/50),all with type Ⅰ or Ⅱ aortic widening.Conclusion The most common subtype of i-BAV in children was type Ⅰ L-R,with mild valve damage as the main complication and possibility of left ventricular myocardial remodeling.

Gastric cancer is one of the most com-mon malignant tumors in the digestive system,which often occurs in middle-aged and elderly peo-ple.Traditional Chinese medicine recognizes gastric cancer as a kind of tumor characterized by fluid de-ficiency,heat accumulation and the growing bind-ing of toxins in the stomach.It is commonly treated with heat-clearing and detoxifying drugs in clinical practice.Hedyotis diffusa-Scutellaria barbata herb pair(HS)has the effects of clearing heat and detoxi-fying,promoting blood circulation,resolving car-buncle and expulsing boil,anti-inflammatory and analgesic,which are consistent with the etiology and pathogenesis of gastric cancer,therefore,it can be used for the treatment of gastric cancer.Modern pharmacological researches have con-firmed that HS can play an anti-gastric cancer role by inducing cell apoptosis,inhibiting cell prolifera-tion,inhibiting angiogenesis,improving immune mi-croenvironment and down-regulating telomerase activity.Herein,this review summarizes the active ingredients and related mechanism responsible for the anti-gastric cancer effect of HS,which will pro-vide the theoretical basis for its clinical use and the development of new drugs against gastric cancers.

Social capital, as a significant social factor influencing human life, plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life of the aged. Different dimensions of social capital have varying mechanisms and effects on the quality of life of the aged. Therefore, this article reviews both cognitive and structural social capital, aiming to provide a basis for improving the quality of life of the aged in China.

【Objective】 To evaluate and analyze the impact of COVID-19 epidemic on inventory of red blood cells (RBCs)in local and municipal blood stations in China, and to provide reference for the management of public health emergencies. 【Methods】 Relevant data from 2018 to 2021 were collected, and the differences in the volume of qualified RBCs, the usage efficiency of inventory RBCs, the average daily distribution of RBCs,the blood distribution rate of RBCs prepared by 400 mL whole blood, the difference in the average storage days of RBCs at the time of distribution, the average daily inventory of RBCs and the time of the average daily inventory of RBCs to maintain the distribution in 24 local and municipal blood stations in China during the COVID-19 epidemic and non-epidemic periods were retrospectively analyzed. 【Results】 Compared with non-epidemic periods, the volume of qualified RBCs [(117 525.979 ±52 203.175)U] and the average daily distribution of RBCs [( 156. 468 ± 70. 186) U ] increased significantly, but the usage efficiency of inventory RBCs decreased(97.24%±0.51%) significantly (P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the blood distribution rate of RBCs prepared by 400 mL whole blood(73.88%±20.30%), the average storage days of RBCs distribution(13.040 ±3.486), the average daily stock quantity of RBCs[(2 280.542 ±1 446.538) U ] and the time of the average daily inventory of RBCs to maintain the distribution[(15.062 ±7.453) d] (P>0.5). 【Conclusion】 During the COVID-19 epidemic, the inventory management of RBCs operated well, the overall inventory remained relatively stable, the stock composition and storage period showed no significant change.

Elderly abuse is a serious social and public problem. This article summarizes the definition and classification of the elderly abuse and the correlation between abuse and the health status of the aged, to understand the concealment and complexity of elderly abuse, in order to provide a basis for improving the quality of life of the aged in China.

Objective:To investigate the pathogen distribution and antimicrobial resistance among lower respiratory tract infections in patients with hematological malignancies.Methods:Sputum samples were collected from 967 patients with hematological malignancies and lower respiratory tract infections in Department of Hematology,the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2017 to July 2020. The pathogens and drug sensitivity reports were carried out by automatic bacterial identification instruments. WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 20.0 softwares were used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 961 strains of pathogens were isolated, 516 (53.7%) pathogens were Gram-negative bacteria, mainly 118 strains of Klebsiella pneumonia (12.3%), 68 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.1%), 67 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii (7.0%),52 strains of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (5.4%), 43 strains of Escherichia coli (4.5%), and 42 strains of Enterbacter cloacae (4.4%). There were 171 (17.8%) strains of Gram-positive bacteria and 274 (28.5%) fungi. The drug resistance rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii to carbapenem were 22.1%-31.3%. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was sensitive to levofloxacin, compound sulfamethoxazole and minocycline. The antimicrobial resistance rates of these three enterobacteria to carbapenems, cefoperazone/sulbactam, piperacillin/tazobactam were low (<10%). The resistant Gram-positive bacteria to ticoplanin, vancomycin and linazolamide were not detected.Conclusion:The major pathogens related to lower respiratory tract infections in patients with hematological malignancies are gram-negative bacteria in our centre. Different pathogens appear different characteristics of antimicrobial resistance.

Traditional Chinese herb compound is a prescription formulated according to the theory of Chinese medicine, and it is a commonly used method of Chinese medicine. As one of the main active ingredients, the extraction methods of polysaccharides from traditional Chinese herb compound include solvent extraction, ultrasonic assisted extraction, microwave assisted extraction and microbial fermentation extraction. The traditional Chinese herb compound polysaccharide has antitumor, immunoregulatory, intestinal mucosa repair, hypoglycemic, antiviral, antioxidant and other pharmacological activities. In this paper, the extraction methods of polysaccharides from traditional Chinese herb compound and its pharmacological activities were summarized, so as to provide scientific evidence for a better development and utilization of traditional Chinese herb compound polysaccharide.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of haplotype hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HIDT) and sibling matched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (MSDT) in the treatment of complete remission (CR) acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) .Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 98 patients who underwent HSCT in Hebei Yanda Ludaopei hospital with HID ( n=81) or ISD ( n=17) between May 2012 and May 2016. Results:The incidence of grades 2-4 and 3-4 acute-versus-host disease 100 days after HSCT were 51.9% (95% Confidence interval [ CI] 42.0%-64.0%) vs 29.4% (95% CI 14.1%-61.4%) ( P=0.072) and 9.8% (95% CI 5.1%-19.1%) vs 11.8% (95% CI 3.2%-43.3%) ( P=1.000) for HIDT and MSDT. The 100-day cumulative incidences of CMV and EBV viremia were 53.1% (95% CI 43.3%-65.2%) vs 29.4% (95% CI 14.1%-61.4%) ( P=0.115) and 35.8% (95% CI 26.8%-47.9%) vs11.8% (95% CI 3.2%-43.3%) ( P=0.048) . The 5-year overall survival, leukemia-free survival, cumulative incidences of relapse, and no-relapse mortality were 60.5% (95% CI 5.4%-49.0%) vs 68.8% (95% CI 11.8%-40.0%) ( P=0.315) , 58.0% (95% CI 5.5%-46.5%) vs 68.8% (95% CI 11.8%-40.0%) ( P=0.258) , 16.1% (95% CI 9.8%-26.4%) vs 11.8% (95% CI 3.2%-43.3%) ( P=0.643) , 25.9% (95% CI 17.9%-37.5%) vs 19.4% (95% CI 6.9%-54.4%) ( P=0.386) for HIDT and MSDT, respectively. Conclusion:HID could be a valid alternative donor for patients with T-ALL in CR lacking an identical donor.