ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of hypoxia-treated mesenchymal stem cell （MSCs） exosomes （Exo） and their loading with curcumin on microglial inflammatory responses， and to explore the enhancing effect of hypoxia treatment on the function of MSCs Exo. MethodsThe supernatants of human umbilical cord （hUC）-MSCs cultured under normal and hypoxic conditions were collected， and Exo were isolated using ultracentrifugation. After identification by transmission electron microscopy and Western blot， curcumin was loaded using the co-incubation method. The lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced microglial inflammation model was treated with dimethyl sulfoxide （DMSO）， curcumin， normoxia Exo， hypoxia Exo， normoxic Exo loaded with curcumin， and hypoxic Exo loaded with curcumin， respectively. The expression of the M1-type marker inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） in BV2 cells was detected by immunofluorescence （IF）. Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） were used to measure the expression and secretion levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and IL-6 in the cells and their culture supernatants. ResultsNormoxia Exo， hypoxia Exo， normoxic Exo loaded with curcumin， and hypoxic Exo loaded with curcumin exhibited a "saucer-like" shape with a diameter ranging from 30~150 nm， and the expression of exosomal markers CD9， CD81， and TSG101 were positive. After treating the BV2 cell inflammation model， IF results showed that， compared with the normoxia Exo group， treatment with hypoxic Exo significantly reduced the expression of iNOS. Moreover， when compared with the curcumin group and the normoxic Exo loaded with curcumin group， the expression level of iNOS significantly decreased after treatment with hypoxic Exo loaded with curcumin. The results of Western blot and ELISA indicated that， in comparison with the normoxia Exo group， treatment with hypoxic Exo significantly reduced the expression and secretion of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6. Additionally， when compared with the curcumin group and the normoxic Exo loaded with curcumin group， both the expression and secretion of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 significantly decreased after treatment with hypoxic Exo loaded with curcumin. ConclusionHypoxia preconditioning can enhance the ability of hUC-MSCs-Exo in the inhibition of microglial polarization and inflammatory factors’ secretion. Additionally， using Hypoxia-MSCs-Exo as a drug-delivery carrier of curcumin can improve its solubility and stability， facilitating its absorption by cells and exerting the therapeutic effect of combination therapy.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between Jiaotai pill (JTP), its main component berberine (BBR), and the serotonin (5-HT) system in regulating islet hormone secretion and alleviating pancreatic β-cell dysfunction during type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) progression.MethodsT2DM rat model was established using a high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection. JTP, BBR, and Metformin were intragastrically administered for 35 days. The analyzed indices included blood glucose, blood lipids, islet hormones, and proteins related to 5-HT synthesis, secretion, and transport. Additionally, an in vitro model of glucose injury in islet cells was established to study the effects of JTP and BBR on islet hormone secretion following tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) inhibition.ResultsJTP and BBR significantly improved blood glucose and lipid levels and islet morphology in T2DM rats. Both models exhibited reduced islet 5-HT levels and impaired islet hormone secretion. However, the administration of JTP and BBR reversed these effects. Furthermore, JTP and BBR upregulated the expression of TPH1(P = .0194, P = .0413) transglutaminase 2 (TGase2; P = .0492, P = .0349), serotonin transporter (SERT, P = .0090), and 5- hydroxytryptamine 1F receptor (5-HT1FR) in the islet 5-HT pathway (P = .0194). In the cell model, the regulatory effects of JTP and BBR on islet hormone levels were significantly weakened after TPH1 inhibition (P = .001), suggesting that JTP and BBR influence islet hormone secretion through the pancreatic 5-HT system.ConclusionThe islet 5-HT system is correlated with islet hormone secretion dysfunction in T2DM. JTP and BBR can improve islet hormone secretion by activating the TPH1/TGase2/SERT/5-HT1FR pathway in the islet 5-HT system in T2DM rats.

Objective To investigate the effect of dynamic monitoring of occlusal force on the final therapeutic effect and the change of periodontal supporting tissue during combined periodontal orthodontic treatment.Methods The periodontal clinical index of 20 patients with traditional periodontal orthodontic treatment and 20 patients with combined periodontal orthodontic treatment assisted by T-Scan Ⅲ and Anycheck digital occlusion analysis system were compared before,during and after treatment,as well as the changes of bite force,bite time and tooth mobility in the experimental group.Results The depth of periodontal pocket(PD),loss of attachment(AL),bleeding index(BI)and tooth looseness were significantly reduced after combined periodontal orthodontic treatment in both groups.In the control group,the percentage of anterior and posterior biting force changed obviously,and the occlusion force balance was improved.Conclusion The combined treatment of periodontitis and orthodontics can improve the periodontal tissue of patients with periodontitis,and T-Scan system can observe and guide the adjustment of occlusal and better achieve occlusion force balance.

Objective To investigate the effect of ankyrin-repeat domain-containing protein 22(ANKRD22)on the proliferation,invasion,and migration of human hepatoma cells and its molecular mechanism.Methods The TCGA database was used to analyze the expression level of ANKRD22 in normal liver tissue and hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and its association with prognosis.Western Blot and qRT-PCR were used to measure the expression of ANKRD22 in human normal liver cells(L-02)and human hepatoma cells(Huh7,HepG2,MHCC-97H,SK-HEP-1,and SMMC-7721);CCK-8 assay,EdU,wound healing assay,and Transwell assay were used to observe the effect of ANKRD22 on the proliferation,invasion,and migration of hepatoma cells;Western Blot was used to investigate the association of ANKRD22 with cyclins and EMT-related proteins;KEGG and ssGSEA analyses were performed to investigate the mechanism of action of ANKRD22 in hepatoma cells,and related experiments were conducted for validation.The independent-samples t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups;a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups,and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups.Results In the TCGA database,the expression level of ANKRD22 in hepatoma tissue was significantly higher than that in normal liver tissue(t=5.083,P<0.05),and the patients with a high expression level of ANKRD22 had longer overall survival and disease-related survival than those with a low expression level of ANKRD22(P<0.05).The expression level of ANKRD22 in various human hepatoma cell lines was higher than that in human normal liver cells(all P<0.05).Cell proliferation assay showed that the ANKRD22 overexpression group had significantly higher EdU positive rate and proliferation rate than the Vector group(t=19.60 and 6.72,both P<0.001),and compared with the si-NC group,the si-ANKRD22#2 group and the si-ANKRD22#3 group had significantly lower EdU positive rate and proliferation rate(all P<0.001).Compared with the Vector group,the overexpression group had significantly higher expression levels of Cyclin E1,Cyclin D1,CDK7,and CDK4(t=3.54,4.95,6.34,and 5.19,all P<0.01),and the si-ANKRD22#2 group and the si-ANKRD22#3 group had significantly lower expression levels than the si-NC group(all P<0.001).The overexpression group had a significantly lower expression level of P27 than the Vector group(t=6.12,P<0.001),and the si-ANKRD22#2 group and the si-ANKRD22#3 group had a significantly higher expression level than the si-NC group(both P<0.001).Invasion and migration experiments showed that compared with the Vector group,the ANKRD22 overexpression group had significantly higher migration rate and number of crossings through the membrane(migration group and invasion group)(t=5.01,25.60,and 3.67,all P<0.05),and compared with the si-NC group,thesi-ANKRD22#2 group and the si-ANKRD22#3 group had significantly lower migration rate and number of crossings through the membrane(migration group and invasion group)(all P<0.01).The overexpression group had significantly higher expression levels of N-cadherin,Vimentin,and Snail than the Vector group(t=12.13,8.85,and 13.97,all P<0.001),and the si-ANKRD22#2 group and the si-ANKRD22#3 group had significantly lower expression levels than the si-NC group(all P<0.001);the overexpression group had a significantly lower expression level of E-cadherin than the Vector group(t=4.98,P<0.01),and the si-ANKRD22#2 group and the si-ANKRD22#3 group had a significantly higher expression level than the si-NC group(both P<0.001).The KEGG enrichment analysis and the ssGSEA analysis showed that ANKRD22 was associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma,and the overexpression group had significantly higher expression levels of p-AKT/AKT,p-PI3K/PI3K,and p-mTOR/mTOR than the Vector group(t=12.21,3.43,and 9.75,all P<0.01),and the si-ANKRD22#2 group and the si-ANKRD22#3 group had significantly lower expression levels than the si-NC group(all P<0.001).Conclusion ANKRD22 is highly expressed in hepatoma cells and can promote the proliferation,invasion,and migration of hepatoma cells and the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective To enhance the quality of medical services in the intensive care unit(ICU)of provincial traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)hospitals.Methods In November 2023,Sichuan Provincial Critical Care Medicine Quality Control Center of TCM launched the"quality control supervision project scoring standard for critical care medicine of TCM"to conduct quality control evaluation and business guidance for all TCM hospitals with independent ICU.The survey covered structural indicators,control indicators,participation of TCM,development of new technologies,and diagnosis and treatment programs for dominant diseases.Results In terms of structural indicators:a total of 110 TCM hospitals in the province have independent ICU,an increase of 1.12 times compared with 2019.The control indicators showed that the ICU patients admission rate was higher than that of the national ICU admission rate in 2017,and the admission rate of patients with acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)score≥15 points increased.However,the mortality of ICU exceeded the national average.The implementation of core indicators had been significantly improved,but the incidence of outcome indicators such as ICU ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP),ICU intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infection(CRBSI),and ICU catheter-related urinary tract infection(CAUTI)had increased since 2019,mainly in secondary hospitals.The average number of new technologies was about(5.5±3.4),the participation rate of TCM decreased,and the dominant diseases increased compared with 2019,mainly sepsis,respiratory failure and hemorrhagic stroke.Conclusions The number of ICU units in TCM hospitals at all levels in Sichuan province has grown rapidly,and key performance indicators have also improved compared to previous periods.However,greater efforts are still needed in preventing the occurrence rates of VAP,CRBSI,and CAUTI.There is a shortage of medical resources allocation,and the imbalance in regional medical resources and professional training remains an urgent issue to be addressed.Additionally,the participation rate of TCM and the dominant diseases need further enhancement.

Objective:To explore the effect of diclofenac sodium suppository combined with tramadol sustained-release tablets on postoperative pain relief and recovery in patients with mixed hemorrhoids.Methods:Sixty patients with mixed hemorrhoids who underwent external dissection and internal ligation at the Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Proctology Hospital from September to October 2023 were selected and randomly divided into A group and AS group using a random number table method, with 30 patients in each group. The group A patients received oral tramadol sustained-release tablets 4 hours after surgery, while the group AS received diclofenac sodium suppositories for anal canal therapy in addition to the group A. Two groups were compared for postoperative pain [Visual Analog Scale (VAS)] and patient comfort [Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)], cumulative tramadol consumption, supplementary rescue pethidine needs, and adverse reactions at 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours.Resultsl:The VAS of the AS group were lower than those of the A group at 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. The NRS scores of the group A patients at 4, 8, and 24 hours were significantly better than those of the group AS. The cumulative consumption of tramadol in the AS group at 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours after surgery was significantly lower than that in the A group; The demand rate for postoperative rescue of pethidine in the group A was significantly higher than that in the group AS. The incidence of nausea in the group A was significantly higher than that in the group AS.Conclusions:The combination of postoperative diclofenac sodium suppositories and oral tramadol sustained-release tablets for mixed hemorrhoid surgery has a significant improvement effect on pain. It can reduce the dosage of tramadol, reduce the need for rescue and supplementary analgesia, and have fewer adverse reactions.

ObjectiveTo understand the situation about time interval between the onset and medical visit among tuberculosis patients in Huaibei City， Anhui Province from 2017 to 2021， and to determine the delayed medical visit and its risk factors， as to provide evidence for tuberculosis prevention and control. MethodsCase information of confirmed tuberculosis patients in Huaibei City in 2017‒2021 was collected from the tuberculosis management information system. Factors associated with time interval between the onset and medical visit were analyzed using rank sum test and multivariate linear regression. Furthermore， factors associated with the delayed medical visit were determined by Chi-square test， Chi-square Cocharan⁃Mantel⁃Haensze test and logistic regression. ResultsThe median time interval between the onset of tuberculosis and medical visit were 22 days among the tuberculosis patients in Huaibei City from 2017‒2021， and the proportion of delayed medical visit was 68.57%. There was an overall decreasing trend in the proportion of delayed medical visit over years （χtrend2=17.342， P=0.002）. Using the multivariate linear regression， positive for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in the pathogenic diagnosis， and presence of comorbidities were determined to be the risk factors associated with increased time interval between the onset and medical visit. Furthermore， logistic regression analysis showed that patients aged ≤24 years （OR=0.596， 95%CI：0.503‒0.706， P<0.05）， 25‒ years （OR=0.667， 95%CI：0.559‒0.796， P<0.05）， 35‒ years （OR=0.762， 95%CI：0.613‒0.947， P<0.05）， and 45‒54 years （OR=0.838， 95%CI：0.711‒0.987， P<0.05） had significantly lower risk of delayed medical visit than those aged ≥ 55 years old group. Regarding the household registration status， non-local residents had lower risk of delayed medical visit than local residents （OR=0.838， 95%CI：0.732‒0.960， P<0.05）. ConclusionPositive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the pathogenic diagnosis， and presence of comorbidities were risk factors associated with increased time interval between the onset and medical visit. The proportion of delayed medical visit among tuberculosis patients in Huaibei City from 2017 to 2021 showed a decreasing trend over 5 years， and age ≥55 years old and local residents were risk factors associated with delayed medical visit.

Baylisascaris schroederi,a roundworm(ascaridoid)parasite specific to the bamboo-feeding giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca),represents a leading cause of mortality in wild giant panda populations.Here,we present a 293-megabase chromosome-level genome assembly of B.schroederi to infer its biology,including host adaptations.Comparative genomics revealed an evolutionary trajectory accompanied by host-shift events in ascaridoid parasite lineages after host separations,suggesting their potential for transmission and rapid adaptation to new hosts.Genomic and anatomical lines of evidence,including expansion and positive selection of genes related to the cuticle and basal metabolisms,indicate that B.schroederi undergoes specific adaptations to survive in the sharp-edged bamboo-enriched gut of giant pandas by structurally increasing its cuticle thickness and efficiently utilizing host nutrients through gut parasitism.Additionally,we characterized the secretome of B.schroederi and predicted potential drug and vaccine targets for new control strategies.Overall,this genome resource provides new insights into the host adaptation of B.schroederi to the giant panda as well as the host-shift events in ascaridoid parasite lineages.Our findings on the unique biology of B.schroederi will also aid in the development of prevention and treatment measures to protect giant panda populations from roundworm parasitism.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic performance of MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2018 in high-risk hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with intrahepatic parenchymal substantial lesions ≤3.0 cm.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted in hospitals between September 2014 to April 2020. 131 pathologically confirmed non-HCC cases with lesions ≤3.0 cm in diameter were randomly matched with 131 cases with lesions ≤3.0 cm in diameter and divided into benign (56 cases), other hepatic malignant tumor (OM, 75 cases), and HCC group (131 cases) in a 1:1 ratio. MRI features of the lesions were analyzed and classified according to LI-RADS v2018 criteria (tie-break rule was applied to lesions with both HCC and LR-M features). Taking the pathological results as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the LI-RADS v2018 classification criteria and the more stringent LR-5 criteria (with three main signs of HCC at the same time) were calculated for HCC, OM or benign lesions diagnosis. Mann -Whitney U test was used to compare the classification results. Results:The number of cases classified as LR-M, LR-1, LR-2, LR-3, LR-4, and LR-5 in HCC group after applying the tie-break rule were 14, 0, 0, 12, 28, and 77, respectively. There were 40, 0, 0, 4, 17, 14 and 8, 5, 1, 26, 13, 3 cases in benign and OM group, respectively. There were 41 (41/77), 4 (4/14) and 1 (1/3) lesion case in the HCC, OM and benign group, respectively, that met the more stringent LR-5 criteria. The sensitivity of LR-4 combined with LR-5 (LR-4/5) criteria, LR-5 criteria and more stringent LR-5 criteria for HCC diagnosis were 80.2% (105/131), 58.8% (77/131) and 31.3% (41/131), respectively, and the specificity were 64.1% (84/131), 87.0% (114/131) and 96.2% (126/131), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of LR-M were 53.3% (40/75) and 88.2% (165/187), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity using LR-1 combined with LR-2 (LR-1/2) criteria for the diagnosis of benign liver lesions were 10.7% (6/56) and 100% (206/206), respectively.Conclusions:LR-1/2, LR-5, and LR-M criteria have high diagnostic specificity for intrahepatic lesions with a diameter of ≤3.0 cm. Lesions classified as LR-3 are more likely to be benign. The specificity of LR-4/5 criteria is low, while the more stringent LR-5 criteria has a high specificity for HCC diagnosis.

The objective of this study was to elucidate the effect of chronic stress (CS) on dopamine (DA) level and synaptic efficiency in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) during spatial learning and memory. Sprague Dawley (SD) male rats were randomly divided into control group and CS group (n = 10). CS group was treated with chronic mild unpredictable stress, and control group did not receive any treatments. The levels of epinephrine and corticosterone (CORT) in serum were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the spatial learning and memory abilities of rats were measured by Morris water maze (MWM) test. Meanwhile, the amplitude of field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) and concentration of DA in the DG region were determined by in vivo electrophysiology, microdialysis and HPLC techniques during MWM test in rats. After that, the DA D1 receptor (D1R) and its key downstream members in DG were examined by immunohistochemistry or Western blot assay. The results showed that the levels of epinephrine and CORT in the serum of the rats in CS group were significantly increased compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). In CS group rats, the escape latency was significantly prolonged and the number of platform crossing was markedly decreased during MWM test, compared with those in control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the amplitude of fEPSP in the DG was not changed during MWM test in CS rats, while it was significantly increased on the 3rd day of MWM test in control group (P < 0.05). Compared with baseline or control group, CS group showed significantly increased DA level from the 1st to 3rd days of MWM test in the DG (P < 0.05). In addition, the protein expression of D1R was markedly up-regulated in the DG in CS group, while the protein expression levels of p-PKA, p-CREB and BDNF were significantly reduced, compared with those in control group. These results suggest that CS may impair spatial learning and memory abilities in rats through the enhancement of the DA levels in the hippocampal DG.
Animals ; Dentate Gyrus ; Dopamine ; Hippocampus ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spatial Learning ; Spatial Memory