ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Xiebai San regulates respiratory tract and intestinal mucosal immunity in rats with allergic asthma. MethodsForty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups based on body weight: control group, model group, positive control group, and Xiebai San group. The model group, positive control group, and Xiebai San group were sensitized with ovalbumin to establish a rat model of allergic asthma. From day 21 (the aerosol challenge phase), each group received daily gavage interventions simultaneously: the positive control group was administered dexamethasone (0.068 mg/kg), the Xiebai San group received Xiebai San solution (2 g/mL, 11.3 mL/kg), while the control and model groups were given an equal volume of normal saline, once daily for 14 consecutive days. After euthanasia, lung and intestinal tissues were collected. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe histopathological changes. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to examine tissue ultrastructure. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the positive reaction areas of phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt) proteins. Total protein and total RNA were extracted from lung and intestinal tissues, then the protein and mRNA expression levels of PI3K and Akt genes were detected by Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. ResultsHistopathological results showed alveolar emphysema accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration, and intestinal mucosal injury with inflammatory cell infiltration in the model group as compared with the control group; the cellular structure of lung tissues was disrupted in the model group, with reduced organelles, while the ultrastructural lesions in the intestine were relatively mild. Compared with the model group, Xiebai San group exhibited milder pathological changes in lung tissues, with occasional alveolar wall damage and a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration; the intestinal mucosal structure was improved, glands were arranged regularly, and pathological changes such as tissue loosening and inflammatory infiltration were alleviated; the cellular structure of lung tissues was relatively intact with reduced severity of lesions, and no ultrastructural pathological changes were observed in intestinal tissues. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting results showed that compared with the control group, the specific positive reaction areas of PI3K and Akt in lung and intestinal tissues were significantly increased in the model group (all P<0.001); meanwhile, the protein expression levels of PI3K and Akt were significantly upregulated (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the positive area of Akt protein in lung tissue was significantly reduced in the Xiebai San group (P<0.001), and the positive area of PI3K in intestinal tissue was also significantly decreased (P<0.000 1). Additionally, the protein expression levels of PI3K and Akt in lung and intestinal tissues were significantly downregulated (all P<0.01). Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that compared with the control group, the mRNA expression levels of PI3K and Akt genes in lung and intestinal tissues were significantly elevated in the model group (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression levels of PI3K and Akt genes in lung and intestinal tissues were significantly reduced in the Xiebai San group (all P<0.05). ConclusionXiebai San exerts protective effects on rats with allergic asthma by inhibiting the expression of key nucleic acids and proteins in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in lung and intestinal tissues, improving the morphological structure of lung tissue, and maintaining intestinal mucosal integrity, and regulating intestinal mucosal immune function.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the aesthetic effects of anterior maxilla clockwise rotation combined with segmental Le Fort Ⅰ osteotomy and whole maxilla clockwise rotation on improving paranasal concavity in patients with Class Ⅲ maxillofacial deformity. METHODS: A non-randomized controlled trial was designed, and 21 patients diagnosed with skeletal Class Ⅲ maxillofacial deformity were included. In the study, 11 patients in the test group were treated by segmental Le Fort Ⅰ osteotomy combined with anterior maxilla clockwise rotation, and 10 patients in the control group were treated by whole maxilla clockwise rotation. The CBCT and 3D photography of preoperative (T0), 2 weeks postoperative (T1), and 6 months postoperative (T2) were collected respectively, and the three-dimensional cephalometry was carried out. The differences of specific parameters between the two groups were compared by independent sample t-test, including saggital displacement of the cheek mass point (CK) and subalare point (SA), nasolabial angle, occlusal plane angle and labial inclination angle of the upper incisor. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of the parameters on T0 between the two groups. The average sagittal displacement of the upper incisors of the test group was (-0.71±1.67) mm and smaller than that of control group [(2.26±1.68) mm], t=-4.052, P < 0.05. The average angle of the occlusal plane clockwise rotation of the test group was 1.46°±2.38° and smaller than that of the control group (4.31°±1.83°), t=-3.047, P < 0.05. The angle of anterior maxilla clockwise rotation was 11.73°±2.81° during the surgery. The average saggital displacement of the paranasal soft tissue landmarks of the test group from T0 to T2 was larger than that of the control group [CK point, (4.96±1.18) mm vs. (2.01± 1.50) mm, P < 0.05;SA point, (5.19±1.17) mm vs. (2.69±1.45) mm, P < 0.05]. The labial inclination angle of the upper incisor of the test group was 112.15°±5.40° in T2 and significantly smaller than that of the control group (122.38°±8.83°), t=-3.237, P < 0.05. The nasolabial angle of the test group was 106.54°±12.82° in T2 and significantly larger than that of the control group (93.90°±12.46°), t=2.288, P < 0.05. CONCLUSION Compared with whole maxilla clockwise rotation, anterior maxilla clockwise rotation combined with segmental Le Fort Ⅰ osteotomy can increase the saggital displacement of the paranasal soft tissue, correct labial inclination of the upper incisors and the acute naso-labial angle and better improve the paranasal aesthetic defects in patients with Class Ⅲ maxillofacial deformity with less changing on the saggital orientation of the upper incisors and the occlusal plane angle.
Humans ; Maxilla/surgery* ; Female ; Male ; Osteotomy, Le Fort/methods* ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III/surgery* ; Adult ; Cephalometry ; Young Adult ; Rotation ; Adolescent

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic steatosis. Ubiquitin-specific protease 29 (USP29) plays pivotal roles in hepatic ischemiareperfusion injury and hepatocellular carcinoma, but its role in MASLD remains unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the effects and underlying mechanisms of USP29 in MASLD progression. Methods: USP29 expression was assessed in liver samples from MASLD patients and mice. The role and molecular mechanism of USP29 in MASLD were assessed in high-fat diet-fed and high-fat/high-cholesterol diet-fed mice and palmitic acid and oleic acid treated hepatocytes. Results: USP29 protein levels were significantly reduced in mice and humans with MASLD. Hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis were significantly exacerbated by USP29 deletion and relieved by USP29 overexpression. Mechanistically, USP29 significantly activated the expression of genes related to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) under metabolic stimulation, directly interacted with long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 5 (ACSL5) and repressed ACSL5 degradation by increasing ACSL5 K48-linked deubiquitination. Moreover, the effect of USP29 on hepatocyte lipid accumulation and MASLD was dependent on ACSL5. Conclusions USP29 functions as a novel negative regulator of MASLD by stabilizing ACSL5 to promote FAO. The activation of the USP29-ACSL5 axis may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for MASLD.

Objective:To assess any effect of combining kinesio taping with Baduanjin in the management of upper cross syndrome (UCS).Methods:Thirty-nine college students with UCS were randomly divided into a kinesio taping group ( n=14), a Baduanjin group ( n=12) and a combined treatment group ( n=13). The kinesio taping and Baduanjin groups received taping and underwent Baduanjin training, respectively, while the combined treatment group received both interventions for 6 weeks. Before, as well as 3 and 6 weeks after the intervention, all were evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS), a neck disability index (NDI), and for forward head extension (FHA), round shoulder angle (FSA) and vital capacity (VC). Results:A significant decrease in the average VAS ratings and NDI scores, and better average FHA and FSA was observed in both groups after the experiment. There was also a significant increase in VC. At 6 weeks, all of the indicators were significantly better than three weeks earlier. The kinesio taping and Baduanjin groups showed significantly smaller average improvements than the combined group.Conclusions:Kinesio taping combined with Baduanjin can effectively alleviate pain associated with UCS, relieve cervical dysfunction, correct abnormal posture and increase lung capacity. Its efficacy is superior to that achieved through single interventions.

This study aims to prepare monoclonal antibody to S1 protein of porcine epidemic diar-rhea virus(PEDV).E.coli expression system and affinity chromatography were used to success-fully obtain purified recombinant PEDV S1 protein.After immunizing BALB/c mice,hybridoma technology and indirect ELISA were used to prepare and screen positive hybridoma cells.Finally,ascites antibodies were prepared by in vivo induction method.ELISA results showed that a total of 4 hybridoma cell lines with anti-PEDV S1 monoclonal antibody were screened,and they were named E6,G3,H6 and F2.The supernatant titers of all 4 hybridoma cell lines reached 1∶6 400.The monoclonal antibody H6 with higher antibody titers and more stable antibody secretion was selected for antibody type identification.It was found that monoclonal antibody H6 belongs to the IgG1 subclass and the light chain is the λ chain.The antibody titers that induced mouse ascites were 1∶106 and without cross-reaction with other proteins.Western blot results showed that the monoclonal antibody exhibited specific bands at 38 kDa with the recombinant S1 protein,PEDV QY2016,and PEDV CV777 strains.The IFA results also showed that the monoclonal antibody reacted with cells infected with PEDV QY2016 and PEDV CV777 strains,exhibiting a green fluo-rescent signal.The affinity constant of monoclonal antibody H6 was K=1.75×107 moL/L,indica-ting that the H6 strain had a good affinity and could be used for the development of subsequent di-agnostic antibodies.In summary,this study successfully prepared monoclonal antibodies that can specifically recognize PEDV S1 protein,which can be used for the antigen detection of PEDV and providing important test materials for the research of PEDV detection methods.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic steatosis. Ubiquitin-specific protease 29 (USP29) plays pivotal roles in hepatic ischemiareperfusion injury and hepatocellular carcinoma, but its role in MASLD remains unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the effects and underlying mechanisms of USP29 in MASLD progression. Methods: USP29 expression was assessed in liver samples from MASLD patients and mice. The role and molecular mechanism of USP29 in MASLD were assessed in high-fat diet-fed and high-fat/high-cholesterol diet-fed mice and palmitic acid and oleic acid treated hepatocytes. Results: USP29 protein levels were significantly reduced in mice and humans with MASLD. Hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis were significantly exacerbated by USP29 deletion and relieved by USP29 overexpression. Mechanistically, USP29 significantly activated the expression of genes related to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) under metabolic stimulation, directly interacted with long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 5 (ACSL5) and repressed ACSL5 degradation by increasing ACSL5 K48-linked deubiquitination. Moreover, the effect of USP29 on hepatocyte lipid accumulation and MASLD was dependent on ACSL5. Conclusions USP29 functions as a novel negative regulator of MASLD by stabilizing ACSL5 to promote FAO. The activation of the USP29-ACSL5 axis may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for MASLD.

ObjectiveTo explore the application value of probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) in rapidly detecting and evaluating the morphological characteristics of digestive tract tissues in mice. MethodsTwelve male SPF Kunming mice aged 6 weeks were randomly divided into two groups. Six mice were subjected to gastric gavage with 52% Red Star Erguotou to establish the model, and six were given saline by gastric gavage as a control. After 28 days of modeling, 3 mice were randomly selected from each group. After deep anesthesia induced by inhalation of 3% isoflurane, the mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The stomach, duodenum, jejunum, and rectum tissues were excised and immersed in 1% fluorescein sodium solution for staining. The microstructure of the mucosal surface of each tissue was observed using pCLE. The remaining mice in the model group and the control group were deeply anesthetized by inhaling 3% isoflurane, then cardiac perfusion was performed successively with saline and 4% paraformaldehyde. The stomach, duodenum, jejunum, and rectum tissues were excised for dehydration, section and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and the morphological changes of the tissues were observed under a microscope. ResultsUnder pCLE imaging, fluorescence staining on the surface of the gastrointestinal mucosa was uniform in the control group; the morphology of gastric pits, intestinal villi, and intestinal crypts was intact, arranged compactly, and had distinct boundaries. In the model group, the gastrointestinal mucosa exhibited mucosal swelling and deformation, with uneven fluorescence staining and fluorescein leakage. Furthermore, some tissues showed defects or cell shedding, and the boundaries between adjacent characteristic structures (e.g., gastric pits, intestinal crypts) were blurred. HE staining showed that the gastrointestinal tissue structure of the control group mice was normal and well-organized, with no structural defects. Moreover, submucosal glands were uniform in size, with no hyperplasia observed, and no obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. In the model group, some gastrointestinal mucosal structures were defective and sparsely arranged; submucosal glands showed atrophy, accompanied by obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. The histological characteristics detected by pCLE were consistent with those of HE staining. ConclusionpCLE can be used to obtain rapid, real-time, large-scale, and high-resolution microscopic imaging of the gastrointestinal mucosa, realistically and comprehensively displaying its physiological and microstructural characteristics. It shows promising prospects and practical utility in the histological evaluation of digestive system injuries in small animals.

Objective A cross-sectional survey on the postoperative home care status and barriers was conducted among elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures nationwide,in order to provide a basis for promoting the improvement of standardized home care for elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures.Methods From October to November 2023,a survey on the current situation and barriers of home environment protection was conducted among elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures in the orthopedic wards of 594 hospitals across 31 provinces(autonomous regions/municipalities directly under the central government)using a convenience sampling method.Results A total of 14,349 questionnaires were distributed,and 12,496 valid questionnaires were collected,resulting in an effective response rate of 87.09％.Among the patients,5,502 cases(44.03％)had implemented home-based prevention and treatment of osteoporosis before the fracture.2 095(16.77％)of the patients experienced a subsequent fracture,of which 65.11％of the patients who experienced a subsequent fracture received medication intervention after the initial fracture,while 19.86％of the patients who experienced a subsequent fracture did not comply with the treatment for osteoporosis after the initial fracture.Additionally,77.66％(n=1 627/2 095)of the patients received community medical services after the initial fracture.Barriers to care factors in the home environment after fracture from the patient's perspective presented the complexity of the social-ecological system model in 6 dimensions at 2 levels:micro(basic personal situation,physiological factors,psychological factors,and behavioural factors),and meso(social support factors,and healthcare worker factors).Conclusion In the vast majority of elderly patients in China,before osteoporotic fracture,home-based measures to prevent osteoporosis have not been adequately implemented;after the initial osteoporotic fracture,the pathway of re-fracture prevention and management in the patient's home environment is not yet complete and its popularity needs to be improved;the barriers to home care faced by elderly patients with osteoporotic fracture are complex.It is recommended to promote effective linkages among hospitals,community health centres and families to strengthen the closed-loop management of re-fracture prevention and management.

Objective:To examine the interaction between gender and the visceral adiposity index (VAI) in relation to the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods:This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the public Dryad database derived from the NAGALA (NAFLD in the Gifu Area, Longitudinal Analysis) project (1994-2016). Participants were stratified into quartiles based on VAI levels. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to evaluate whether VAI independently predicts T2DM risk. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for each VAI quartile. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine associations across age and body mass index categories. Both multiplicative and additive interaction effects between gender and VAI were assessed. Additionally, gender-specific Cox models were fitted to further explore these associations.Results:A total of 15 453 participants [8 419 males and 7 034 females; mean age, (43.7±8.9) years] were included, with a median follow-up duration of 5.39 years. During follow-up, 373 participants (2.4%) developed T2DM. After adjustment for potential confounders, higher VAI levels were independently associated with increased T2DM risk ( HR=1.16; 95% CI 1.11-1.21), consistent with the results across VAI quartiles. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant trend of increasing T2DM incidence across VAI quartiles ( P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve for VAI in predicting T2DM at 3, 5, and 10 years was 0.755, 0.735, and 0.696, respectively. Sensitivity analyses showed that elevated VAI was associated with increased T2DM risk across all age and body mass index subgroups (all P<0.05). Regarding interaction analysis, the HR (95% CI) for the multiplicative interaction between VAI and gender was 1.22 (1.19-1.26). The relative excess risk of interaction was -1.08 (95% CI -2.96 to -0.06), the attributable proportion of interaction was -0.54 (95% CI -1.35 to -0.01), and the synergy index was 0.48 (95% CI 0.26-0.91), indicating a negative additive interaction. Using low-VAI women as the reference group, the risk of T2DM in high-VAI women was higher ( HR=2.53, 95% CI 1.59-4.02) compared to high-VAI men ( HR=2.01, 95% CI 1.49-2.72). In gender-specific analyses, increasing VAI remained significantly associated with elevated T2DM risk after adjustment in both females ( HR=1.43, 95% CI 1.21-1.68) and males ( HR=1.16; 95% CI 1.11-1.22), with consistent findings across VAI quartiles. Conclusions:VAI and gender demonstrated multiplicative and additive interaction in relation to T2DM risk. The association between increasing VAI and T2DM risk was more pronounced in women than in men.