OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect and potential mechanism of astilbin （AST） on renal injury in chronic renal failure （CRF） rats based on the Jagged-1/Notch-1 signaling pathway. METHODS CRF model was constructed by 5/6 nephrotomy. The successfully modeled rats were randomly separated into Model group， AST low-dose group （AST-L group）， AST high-dose group （AST-H group）， high-dose of AST+Notch pathway activator （Jagged-1/FC chimerin， referred to as “JFC”） group （AST-H+ JFC group）， and control group （CK group） for open surgery without resection was set up， with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the AST-L group and AST-H group were given 40 and 80 mg/kg AST， respectively； the rats in the AST-H+JFC group were simultaneously given 80 mg/kg AST and 0.5 mg/kg JFC， and the rats in the CK group and Model group were given an equal volume of normal saline， once a day， for 4 weeks. After the last administration， the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， serum creatinine （SCr）， and the level of 24 h urinary protein （UP） in urine， as well as the serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase （LDH）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6） and IL-10 in each group were detected. The morphology and fibrosis of renal tissue were observed. The content of adenosine triphosphate （ATP） and the activities of sodium-potassium ATPase and calcium-magnesium ATPase in mitochondria of renal tissue were detected. The protein expressions of transforming growth factor- β （TGF- β）， hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）， α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， cleaved-caspase-3， Jagged-1 and Notch-1 in renal tissue were also observed. RESULTS Compared with CK group， the renal tissue of rats in the Model group was obviously damaged， renal tissue fibrosis was severe； the serum BUN and SCr levels， urine UP level， serum 4 LDH， TNF-α and IL-6 levels， as well as the protein expressions of TGF-β， HIF-1α， α-SMA， cleaved-caspase-3， Jagged-1 and Notch-1 in renal tissue were significantly increased， while the serum IL-10 level， ATP content and activities of sodium-potassium ATPase and calcium-magnesium ATPase in mitochondria of renal tissue were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. Compared with Model group， the renal tissue damage and fibrosis in the AST groups were reduced， the serum BUN and SCr levels， urine UP level， serum LDH， TNF-α and IL-6 levels， and the protein expressions of TGF-β， HIF-1α， α-SMA， cleaved-caspase-3， Jagged-1 and Notch-1 were significantly decreased， while the serum IL-10 level， ATP content and the activities of sodium-potassium ATPase and calcium-magnesium ATPase in mitochondria were significantly increased； the changes in the aforementioned indicators in AST- H group were more significant than those in the AST-L group（P＜0.05）. JFC could significantly reverse the improvement effect of high dose of AST on renal injury in CRF rats （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS AST can reduce inflammation in CRF rats， alleviate renal tissue damage and fibrosis， and improve renal mitochondrial capacity metabolism， possibly by inhibiting the Jagged-1/Notch-1 signaling pathway.

This paper summarized the clinical experience of Prof. LI Diangui in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） based on the theory of turbidity-toxin in liver. It is believed that internal accumulation of turbidity-toxin and liver depression with stomach counterflow are the main pathogenesis of GERD， and thus the therapeutic methods of resolving turbidity and resolving toxins， regulating the liver and harmonizing the stomach are proposed. In clinical practice， GERD is divided into the early stage， middle stage and late stage. For the early stage， the modified Huazhuo Shugan Hewei Formula （化浊疏肝和胃方） is used to regulate qi and remove turbidity， soothe the liver and harmonize the stomach； for the middle stage， the modified Huazhuo Qingre Zhisuan Formula （化浊清热制酸方） is applied to clear heat， direct the turbid downward， and resolve toxins； for the late stage， the modified Yiwei Decoction （益胃汤） is adopted to replenish qi， nourish yin and simultaneously resolve turbidity-toxin. Throughout the treatment process， attention should be paid to protecting the spleen and stomach， and the medication could be modified according to changes of individual condition.

Paclitaxel (PTX), a valuable natural product derived from Taxus species, exhibits remarkable anti-cancer properties. It penetrates nanopores in microtubule walls, interacting with tubulin on the lumen surface and disrupting microtubule dynamics, thereby inducing cytotoxic effects in cancer cells. PTX and its derivatives have gained approval for treating various diseases due to their low toxicity, high efficiency, and broad-spectrum application. The widespread success and expanding applications of PTX have led to increased demand, raising concerns about accessibility. Consequently, researchers globally have focused on developing alternative production methods and applying nanocarriers in PTX delivery systems to enhance bioavailability. This review examines the challenges and advancements in PTX sourcing, production, physicochemical properties, anti-cancer mechanisms, clinical applications, trials, and chemo-immunotherapy. It aims to provide a comprehensive reference for the rational development and effective utilization of PTX.
Humans ; Paclitaxel/pharmacology* ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology* ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Taxus/chemistry*

Objective: To analyze serological and molecular characteristics of asymptomatic HBV infection in HBV surface antigen positive (HBsAg+) blood donors from Dalian. Methods: The prevalence of HBsAg was analyzed among blood donors in Dalian between 2013 and 2022. Randomly selected HBsAg+ blood samples were subjected to HBV serological testing, HBV viral DNA quantification, and HBV genotyping. Results: Over this ten-year period, the prevalence of HBsAg decreased from 1.25% to 0.50% among blood donors in Dalian. Donors who tested positive for HBsAg prior to donation using a rapid test (RT) accounted for 92.5% of all HBsAg+ donors identified. A total of 240 confirmed HBsAg+ blood donors were randomly selected, including 125 donors with positive results and 115 with negative results in the pre-donation rapid test. HBsAg+ donors were mainly males (71.2%), with a median age of 42, and 97.5% of them being first-time donors. Based on HBV serological profiles, three stages of infection were identified: early infection (2.9%), suspected acute hepatitis (0.8%), and chronic infection (96.3%). The dominant HBV genotypes were C (68.9%) and B (28.4%). Among chronic HBV infection individuals, donors infected with HBV genotype B were older than those infected with genotype C (median age: 45y vs 38.5y, P<0.05). Additionally, they showed significantly lower HBsAg levels with a narrower distribution range than those infected with genotype C [median: 23.2 IU/mL (range: <0.05-7 910 IU/mL) vs 968 IU/mL (range: <0.05-3.4×10 ), P<0.05]. However, no significant difference was observed in the HBV DNA loads between these two genotypes (P>0.05). Conclusion: Between 2013 and 2022, the prevalence of HBsAg among blood donors in Dalian showed a year-over-year decline. Chronic infection was predominant among HBsAg+ first-time blood donors. The characteristics of chronic infection in blood donors differed significantly depending on the viral genotype, manifesting as differences in age of infected individuals and HBsAg level distribution.

Objective:To explore the genetic basis for a child with developmental delay and intellectual deficit (DD/ID).Methods:A child who was admitted to the Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen City on June 3, 2023 due to DD/ID, craniofacial malformations, and recurrent infections of upper respiratory tract was selected as the study subject. G-banded chromosomal karyotyping was carried out for the child and her parents. Low-depth genome-wide copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) were used to screen for genome-wide copy number variation (CNV), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to verify the origin of candidate CNV. This study was approved by the Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Longhua District of Shenzhen City(Ethics No. 2023052504). Results:The child, an 8-year-old girl, had featured unexplained growth and intellectual development delay, multiple craniofacial malformations, and recurrent infections of the upper respiratory tract. She was found to have a karyotype of 46, XX, der(6)add(6)(q23), while both of her parents were normal. Both CNV-seq and CMA showed that the child has harbored a 21.38 Mb interstitial duplication at 6p25.3p22.3 and a 0.78 Mb terminal deletion at 6p25. FISH verified that both the duplication and deletion had occurred de novo. Conclusion:The abnormal phenotype of the child may be attributed to the 6p duplication and terminal deletion.

Objective To construct lipid nanoparticles(lipopeptide-lipid nanoparticle,LP-LNP)with novel lipopeptides as adjuvants,and initially explore their synergistic effect on mRNA vaccines.Methods Two novel lipopeptides,SS-10 and SQ18,were designed and synthesized.Microfluidic technology was used to encapsulate lipopeptides in different proportions,as well as mRNAs encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein(eGFP),firefly luciferase(F-luc),and ovalbumin(OVA)into lipid nanoparticles to construct an mRNA delivery system with novel lipopeptides as adjuvants(LP-LNP).The particle size and polydispersity coefficient of LP-LNP were measured using dynamic light scattering.The activation effect on Toll-like receptors 2(TLR2)was detected using HEK-BlueTM mTLR2 reporter cells to screen the optimal lipopeptide ratio.The preferred LP-LNP-eGFP-mRNA was transfected into HEK293T cells,and the expression of eGFP was observed under a fluorescence microscope.In vivo imaging was used to investigate the expression level of LP-LNP-F-luc-mRNA in mice.Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the ability of LP-LNP-OVA-mRNA to induce the maturation of dendritic cells(DCs)in draining lymph nodes and cross-presentation of antigens after immunization.Results Lipopeptides SQ18 and SS-10 were incorporated into LNP at 0.50％and 0.75％molar ratios,respectively,to obtain LP-LNP with uniform particle size,high encapsulation efficiency,and good in vitro safety.The ability of this formulation to activate TLR2 was significantly stronger than the positive control Pam2CSK4(P＜0.01).The preferred LP-LNP obtained effective in vitro transfection,and LP-LNP prepared with SQ18 at 0.50％molar ratio had significantly better in vivo transfection efficiency than traditional LNP(P＜0.01),and significantly promoted the maturation of DCs in draining lymph nodes and cross-presentation of antigens(P＜0.05).Conclusion LP-LNP with novel lipopeptides as adjuvants can enhance the delivery capacity of mRNA and further improve the immune effect of mRNA vaccines.

Purpose To investigate the expression of fork-head box protein A1(FOXA1)in esophageal squamous cell car-cinoma(ESCC)and its association with clinicopathologic char-acteristics and prognosis.Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect FOXA1 protein expression in 532 cases of esopha-geal squamous cell carcinoma.The correlation between FOXA1 protein expression and clinicopathologic features and prognosis of patients was analyzed.Results In 532 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma,183 cases overexpressed FOXA1 pro-tein(34.4％).FOXA1 overexpression was associated with ES-CC vascular infiltration(P=0.032),poorly differentiation(P=0.032),and tumor size(P＜0.001).The overall survival(OS)and disease free survival(DFS)of patients with stage Ⅰ+Ⅱ esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with high FOXA1 ex-pression tended to be poor(OS:P=0.094;DFS:P=0.107).In ESCC patients with survival longer than 24 months,the high FOXA1 expression group had significantly shorter OS and DFS(OS:P=0.048;DFS:P=0.047).Multivariate survival anal-ysis showed that the depth of tumor invasion was an independent prognostic factor affecting the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Conclusion FOXA1 is overexpressed in e-sophageal squamous cell carcinoma,and its high expression is related to tumor size,vascular infiltration and poorly differentia-tion.Patients with high FOXA1 expression tended to have poor prognosis in OS and DFS.When OS and DFS≥24 months,high FOXA1 expression may be used as a reference indicator for poor prognosis in ESCC patients.

To explore the value of portable oto-endoscopy system in clinical teaching of otolaryngology residents.

Coronary artery calcifications (CAC) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). It has been revealed that this condition can be automatically quantified through computerize tomographic (CT) scan contained in radiotherapy plan for patients with breast cancer, with which, physicians can identify the patients with increased risk of CVD after radiotherapy prematurely and take intervention measures in advance. In this article, the current literature and research progress on the correlation between CAC and cardiotoxicity in patients with breast cancer after radiotherapy were reviewed, expecting to provide a strategy to reduce the CVD risk in patients with breast cancer after radiotherapy.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between preoperative incomplete intestinal obstruction and the risk of perioperative reflux and aspiration assessed by preoperative bedside ultrasonography in patients with colon cancer.Methods:A prospective case series study was conducted. A total of 300 patients with colon cancer who underwent elective surgery from March 2020 to January 2022 in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were prospectively selected for the study. According to whether there was incomplete intestinal obstruction before operation, the patients were divided into obstruction group and non-obstruction group. All patients underwent preoperative ultrasound examination of the gastric antrum, measuring the cross-sectional area of the gastric antrum in the right lateral position, and calculating the gastric volume and unit body mass gastric volume (GV/W), which were all expressed as M ( Q1, Q3). The differences in cross-sectional area of the gastric antrum, gastric volume and GV/W in the right lateral position between the two groups were compared, as well as the risk of reflux and aspiration (the risk of reflux and aspiration was extremely low at GV/W<0.8 ml/kg, the risk was low at GV/W 0.8-1.5 ml/kg, and the risk was high at GV/W >1.5 ml/kg). Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of high risk of reflux and aspiration. Results:Of 300 patients, 7 patients were excluded because of blurred images on ultrasonography, and a total of 293 patients were finally included. The age [ M ( Q1, Q3)] of obstruction group (146 cases) was 58.0 years old (55.0 years old, 67.0 years old), including 80 males and 66 females; the age of non-obstruction group (147 cases) was 55.0 years old (53.5 years old, 64.0 years old), including 64 males and 83 females. The age and body mass index (BMI) of the patients in the obstructin group were higher than those in the non-obstruction group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05), and there were no significant differences in gender, duration of dietary abstinence, comorbid hypertension, comorbid diabetes mellitus, smoking status, sedentariness, and alcoholism between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Compared with the non-obstruction group, patients in the obstruction group had a higher cross-sectional area of the gastric antrum [5.83 cm 2 (5.25 cm 2, 6.70 cm 2) vs. 5.13 cm 2 (4.43 cm 2, 5.79 cm 2), P < 0.001], gastric volume [43.00 ml (37.07 ml, 52.74 ml) vs. 32.78 ml (25.52 ml, 39.85 ml), P < 0.001] and GV/W [0.70 ml/kg (0.65 ml/kg, 0.82 ml/kg) vs. 0.55 ml/kg (0.46 ml/kg, 0.62 ml/kg), P < 0.001] in the right lateral position. The proportion of patients at high risk of reflux and aspiration in the obstruction group was higher than that in the non-obstruction group [22.6% (33/146) vs. 12.2% (18/147), χ2 = 4.59, P = 0.032]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that combination of incomplete intestinal obstruction (combined vs. uncombined, OR = 2.145, 95% CI: 1.096-4.198, P = 0.026), and males (females vs. males, OR = 0.415, 95% CI: 0.199-0.867, P = 0.019) were the independent risk factors for a high risk of perioperative reflux and aspiration assessed by preoperative bedside ultrasonography. Conclusions:Colon cancer patients combined with incomplete intestinal obstruction have significantly larger preoperative cross-sectional area of the gastric antrum, gastric volume and GV/W in the right lateral position, and have gastric retention, which may contribute to a higher risk of perioperative reflux and aspiration.