OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of action of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction against atherosclerosis （AS）based on macrophage polarization. METHODS Using atorvastatin served as the positive control， the drug-containing serum of the Qingre huatan huoxue decoction was prepared to treat RAW264.7 macrophages. Macrophage viability， apoptosis rate， and the fluorescence intensities of CD86 and CD206 were measured， along with the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β）. Apolipoprotei n E-deficient （ApoE －/－ ） mice （AS model mice） fed with a high-fat diet were randomly assigned to model group， atorvastatin group （2.6 mg/kg）， and low-， medium- and high-dose groups of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction （90， 180， 360 mg/kg）， respectively. C57BL/6J mice fed with a standard diet served as the normal control group， with 10 mice per group. The treatment group mice were administered the corresponding drugs intragastrically， once daily， for 8 consecutive weeks. Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were measured in all groups. Lipid deposition in the aorta （assessed by the percentage of plaque in the entire aorta and aortic root） and morphological changes in the aortic root were observed. Expression levels of CD86 and CD206 in aortic tissue， as well as the protein expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， arginase-1 （Arg-1）， AMP-activated protein kinase （AMPK）， phosphorylated AMPK （p-AMPK）， and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ （PPAR-γ） in aortic tissues were all detected. RESULTS Cell experiment results showed that， at concentrations of 5-100 μg/mL， the drug-containing serum of the Qingre huatan huoxue decoction significantly increased RAW264.7 cell viability （ P ＜0.05）. The drug-containing serum of the Qingre huatan huoxue decoction at concentrations of 10， 50， and 100 μg/mL， along with atorvastatin， significantly reduced apoptosis rates， CD86 fluorescence intensity， and TNF-α and IL-1β levels in RAW264.7 cells， while markedly enhancing CD206 fluorescence intensity （ P ＜0.05）. Animal experiment results showed that， compared with the model group， all dosage groups of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction and the atorvastatin group showed significantly reduced/down-regulated levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum， along with decreased aortic total and root plaque percentages， CD86 expression， and iNOS protein expression. CD206 expression and Arg-1， p-AMPK/AMPK， PPAR-γ protein expression were significantly up-regulated （ P ＜0.05）. Pathological morphology of the aorta showed varying degrees of improvement. CONCLUSIONS The formula of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction exerts its anti-AS effects by regulating macrophage polarization， increasing the proportion of M2 macrophages， thereby effectively inhibiting AS plaque formation and reducing inflammatory responses.

The choroidal vascularity index(CVI)is a quantitative structural parameter derived from optical coherence tomography(OCT)images. It is defined as the ratio of the luminal area to the total choroidal area, which characterizes alterations in the structural proportion between choroidal vascular lumens and stroma, and indirectly indicates changes in choroidal status to a certain extent. With the development of enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography(EDI-OCT), CVI has been increasingly applied in ophthalmic research and clinical practice.Measurements of CVI exhibit excellent repeatability and reliability. Combined with the noninvasive nature of EDI-OCT, CVI is an extremely valuable assessment tool for clinical ophthalmic research and routine clinical practice. CVI can quantify proportional changes between the choroidal luminal area and total choroidal area, and better reflects relative variations in choroidal vascular and stromal components compared with choroidal thickness alone. In recent years, CVI has been widely applied to multiple ocular diseases including age-related macular degeneration(ARMD), central serous chorioretinopathy(CSC), diabetic retinopathy(DR), and high myopia. In addition to the diseases themselves, various ocular surgeries and procedures can also affect CVI. Current evidence suggests that changes in CVI may be associated with factors such as postoperative inflammatory response, choroidal hemodynamic alterations, vascular permeability changes, and intraocular pressure fluctuations. However, discrepancies remain among studies regarding the direction and duration of these changes and their relationship with visual outcomes. This review summarizes the effects of ocular surgeries and procedures on CVI and further discusses its clinical interpretation, existing controversies, and future research directions, aiming to provide a reference for perioperative assessment of choroidal structural changes and prognostic evaluation.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Shengxian Yixin Granule （升陷益心颗粒， SYG） in treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction （HFpEF）. MethodsExperiment 1： Forty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group， model group， low-dose ［25 mg/（kg·d）］， medium-dose ［50 mg/（kg·d）］， and high-dose ［（75 mg/（kg·d）］ SYG groups， with 8 mice per group. Except for the control group， HFpEF was induced by a high-fat diet combined with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester in drinking water for 16 weeks. After 10 weeks of modeling， treatment groups received corresponding doses of SYG by gavage， while the control group and model group received equal volume of normal saline， for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks of administration， the body weight， blood pressure including systolic blood pressure （SBP） and diastolic blood pressure （DBP）， and heart weight-to-tibia length ratio （HW/TL） were recorded. Echocardiography was used to evaluate left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） and the ratio of early to late diastolic transmitral flow velocity （E/A）. Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP） and C-reactive protein （CRP） levels were measured by ELISA. The expression level of brain natriuretic peptide （BNP） in heart tissue was detected by qRT-PCR. Blood lipid levels， including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， triglycerides （TG）， and total cholesterol （TC）， were determined by a biochemical analyzer. Splenic proportions of M1 macrophages， M2 macrophages， T helper 17 （Th17） cells， and regulatory T （Treg） cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Experiment 2： RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） to establish an M1 macrophage polarization model， and then treated with SYG-containing serum for 24 h. The cells were divided into four groups， including blank serum group， high-dose SYG-containing serum group， LPS group， and LPS plus high-dose SYG-containing serum group. Combined with asignal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （Stat3） inhibitor for 24 h， the cells were divided into a lipopolysaccharide group， a high-dose SYG-containing serum group， an inhibitor group， and high-dose SYG-containing serum plus inhibitor group. The expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in each group were detected by qRT-PCR. The protein levels of iNOS， IL-1β， Stat3， and phosphorylated Stat3 （p-Stat3） were detected by Western Blotting. ResultsExperiment 1： Compared to the control group， the model group showed significantly decreased E/A ratio， and increased cardiac BNP expression， plasma NT-proBNP，HW/TL ratio， body weight， TC， LDL-C， SBP， and DBP， as well as shortened exhaustion distance and exhaustion time （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the model group， the E/A ratio increased in the low-， medium-， and high-dose SYG groups； cardiac BNP expression decreased in the low- and high-dose groups， and plasma NT-proBNP levels decreased in the high-dose group； the HW/TL ratio and body weight decreased， while exhaustion distance and exhaustion time increased in the medium- and high-dose groups； TG levels decreased in the low- and medium-dose groups， and LDL-C levels decreased in the medium- and high-dose groups； SBP and DBP decreased in the low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the low-dose SYG group， body weight decreased， and both exhaustion distance and exhaustion time increased in the medium- and high-dose groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the medium-dose SYG group， the exhaustion time increased in the high-dose SYG group （P＜0.01）. Experiment 2： In the LPS‑induced M1 macrophage polarization model， compared to the blank serum group， the LPS group showed significantly increased mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and IL‑1β， as well as the p‑Stat3/Stat3 ratio （P＜0.01）. Compared to the LPS group， the high‑dose SYG-containing serum plus LPS group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and IL‑1β， as well as the p‑Stat3/Stat3 ratio （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the LPS group， the inhibitor group also showed significantly reduced these parameters （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionSYG can improve cardiac function， ventricular remodeling， exercise capacity， and lipid metabolism in HFpEF mice， while inhibiting inflammatory responses. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the Stat3 signaling pathway and inhibition of M1 macrophage polarization.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Shengxian Yixin Granule （升陷益心颗粒， SYG） in treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction （HFpEF）. MethodsExperiment 1： Forty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group， model group， low-dose ［25 mg/（kg·d）］， medium-dose ［50 mg/（kg·d）］， and high-dose ［（75 mg/（kg·d）］ SYG groups， with 8 mice per group. Except for the control group， HFpEF was induced by a high-fat diet combined with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester in drinking water for 16 weeks. After 10 weeks of modeling， treatment groups received corresponding doses of SYG by gavage， while the control group and model group received equal volume of normal saline， for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks of administration， the body weight， blood pressure including systolic blood pressure （SBP） and diastolic blood pressure （DBP）， and heart weight-to-tibia length ratio （HW/TL） were recorded. Echocardiography was used to evaluate left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） and the ratio of early to late diastolic transmitral flow velocity （E/A）. Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP） and C-reactive protein （CRP） levels were measured by ELISA. The expression level of brain natriuretic peptide （BNP） in heart tissue was detected by qRT-PCR. Blood lipid levels， including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， triglycerides （TG）， and total cholesterol （TC）， were determined by a biochemical analyzer. Splenic proportions of M1 macrophages， M2 macrophages， T helper 17 （Th17） cells， and regulatory T （Treg） cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Experiment 2： RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） to establish an M1 macrophage polarization model， and then treated with SYG-containing serum for 24 h. The cells were divided into four groups， including blank serum group， high-dose SYG-containing serum group， LPS group， and LPS plus high-dose SYG-containing serum group. Combined with asignal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （Stat3） inhibitor for 24 h， the cells were divided into a lipopolysaccharide group， a high-dose SYG-containing serum group， an inhibitor group， and high-dose SYG-containing serum plus inhibitor group. The expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in each group were detected by qRT-PCR. The protein levels of iNOS， IL-1β， Stat3， and phosphorylated Stat3 （p-Stat3） were detected by Western Blotting. ResultsExperiment 1： Compared to the control group， the model group showed significantly decreased E/A ratio， and increased cardiac BNP expression， plasma NT-proBNP，HW/TL ratio， body weight， TC， LDL-C， SBP， and DBP， as well as shortened exhaustion distance and exhaustion time （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the model group， the E/A ratio increased in the low-， medium-， and high-dose SYG groups； cardiac BNP expression decreased in the low- and high-dose groups， and plasma NT-proBNP levels decreased in the high-dose group； the HW/TL ratio and body weight decreased， while exhaustion distance and exhaustion time increased in the medium- and high-dose groups； TG levels decreased in the low- and medium-dose groups， and LDL-C levels decreased in the medium- and high-dose groups； SBP and DBP decreased in the low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the low-dose SYG group， body weight decreased， and both exhaustion distance and exhaustion time increased in the medium- and high-dose groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the medium-dose SYG group， the exhaustion time increased in the high-dose SYG group （P＜0.01）. Experiment 2： In the LPS‑induced M1 macrophage polarization model， compared to the blank serum group， the LPS group showed significantly increased mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and IL‑1β， as well as the p‑Stat3/Stat3 ratio （P＜0.01）. Compared to the LPS group， the high‑dose SYG-containing serum plus LPS group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and IL‑1β， as well as the p‑Stat3/Stat3 ratio （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the LPS group， the inhibitor group also showed significantly reduced these parameters （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionSYG can improve cardiac function， ventricular remodeling， exercise capacity， and lipid metabolism in HFpEF mice， while inhibiting inflammatory responses. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the Stat3 signaling pathway and inhibition of M1 macrophage polarization.

Pulpitis is a common infective oral disease in clinical situations. The regulatory mechanisms of immune defense in pulpitis are still being investigated. Osteomodulin (OMD) is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan family member distributed in bones and teeth. It is a bioactive protein that promotes osteogenesis and suppresses the apoptosis of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). In this study, the role of OMD in pulpitis and the OMD-induced regulatory mechanism were investigated. The OMD expression in normal and inflamed human pulp tissues was detected via immunofluorescence staining. Intriguingly, the OMD expression decreased in the inflammatory infiltration area of pulpitis specimens. The cellular experiments demonstrated that recombined human OMD could resist the detrimental effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. A conditional Omd knockout mouse model with pulpal inflammation was established. LPS-induced inflammatory impairment significantly increased in conditional Omd knockout mice, whereas OMD administration exhibited a protective effect against pulpitis. Mechanistically, the transcriptome alterations of OMD overexpression showed significant enrichment in the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Interleukin-1 receptor 1 (IL1R1), a vital membrane receptor activating the NF-κB pathway, was significantly downregulated in OMD-overexpressing hDPSCs. Additionally, the interaction between OMD and IL1R1 was verified using co-immunoprecipitation and molecular docking. In vivo, excessive pulpal inflammation in Omd-deficient mice was rescued using an IL1R antagonist. Overall, OMD played a protective role in the inflammatory response via the IL1R1/NF-κB signaling pathway. OMD may optimize the immunomodulatory functions of hDPSCs and can be used for regenerative endodontics.
Pulpitis/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Dental Pulp/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lipopolysaccharides

With the growing emphasis on maternal and child oral health, the significance of managing oral health across preconception, pregnancy, and infancy stages has become increasingly apparent. Oral health challenges extend beyond affecting maternal well-being, exerting profound influences on fetal and neonatal oral development as well as immune system maturation. This expert consensus paper, developed using a modified Delphi method, reviews current research and provides recommendations on maternal and child oral health management. It underscores the critical role of comprehensive oral assessments prior to conception, diligent oral health management throughout pregnancy, and meticulous oral hygiene practices during infancy. Effective strategies should be seamlessly integrated across the life course, encompassing preconception oral assessments, systematic dental care during pregnancy, and routine infant oral hygiene. Collaborative efforts among pediatric dentists, maternal and child health workers, and obstetricians are crucial to improving outcomes and fostering clinical research, contributing to evidence-based health management strategies.
Humans ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Infant ; Consensus ; Mouth Diseases/therapy* ; Pregnancy Complications/therapy* ; Oral Health ; Infant, Newborn ; Delphi Technique ; Oral Hygiene

Purpose To investigate the cortical thickness features in Parkinson's disease(PD)patients at various stages and their association with dopamine transporter(DAT)levels in the putamen.Materials and Methods We retrospectively enrolled 30 PD patients and 15 healthy subject who underwent 11C-CFT PET and T1 MRI scans at the Department of Nuclear Medicine/PET Center of Huashan Hospital from August 2016 to October 2020.DAT average radioactivity in the anterior and posterior putamen was analysis using SPM12 software,with the occipital lobe as the reference region.Cortical segmentation and reconstruction were performed on T1 images using Freesurfer v7.2.The differences in cortical thinning between the groups were compared using a general linear model.Additionally,the relationship between cortical thickness in various brain regions and DAT uptake in the putamen were assessed.Results Compared to healthy subjects,significant cortical thinning was observed in the left inferior parietal lobule and the right and left inferior middle frontal gyrus of PD patients(all P<0.05).There was a significant positive correlation between the cortical thickness of the left inferior parietal lobule and right inferior middle frontal gyrus and DAT uptake in the corresponding anterior/posterior parts of the putamen(r=0.30-0.47,all P<0.05).Furthermore,the DAT uptake in the right precentral gyrus was positively correlated with the ipsilateral posterior putamen,exhibiting a stronger correlation than on the contralateral side(r=0.32,P=0.029).Conclusion The results show that the thickness of the thinning cortex area in the PD patients correlates significantly positively with DAT levels in the putamen,highlighting the importance of the basal ganglia cortical circuit and providing a basis for further research into the neural mechanisms of PD.

Objective:To investigate variation and correlation of type 2 intrinsic lymphocyte(ILC2)and related factors in acute and chronic brucellosis,to identify immune role of ILC2 in chronic brucellosis.Methods:Forty-three patients with acute brucel-losis and 45 patients with chronic brucellosis were compared with 49 healthy controls.ILC2 level in each group was detected by flow cytometry.mRNA level of GATA3 in PBMC was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR.Serum IL-33,ST2,IL-4 and IL-13 levels were detected by ELISA.ALT and AST levels were measured by fully automatic biochemical analyzer.Results:ILC2 level,GATA3 mRNA in PBMC,serum IL-33,IL-4 and IL-13 levels in chronic brucellosis group were significantly higher than healthy control group and acute brucellosis group(P<0.01).Correlation analysis showed that ILC2 level was positively correlated with GATA3 mRNA,IL-33,IL-4 and IL-13 levels,while negatively correlated with ST2 level.ROC curve suggested that ILC2,GATA3,IL-33 and ST2 had good predictive ability for severity of brucellosis patients(AUC>0.7).Conclusion:Increase of ILC2 and its related factors are closely related to chronic brucella infection,which may play an important immune role in pathogenesis of brucella infection.

Objective To analyze the risk factors for chronic cough following pulmonary surgery in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 427 NSCLC patients who underwent pulmonary surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China, between January 2021 and June 2023. Patients were categorized into a chronic cough group (103 patients) and a non-chronic cough group (324 patients) based on the presence of cough at 8 weeks post-surgery. A comparative analysis was performed between the two groups, considering gender, age, smoking history, comorbidities, preoperative pulmonary function indicators, pleural adhesion, anesthesia duration, surgical site, operative techniques, lymph node dissection methods, tumor maximum diameter, and postoperative chest tube duration. Factors showing statistical significance in univariate analysis underwent multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Among the 427 patients undergoing pulmonary surgery, there were 165 males and 262 females, with an average age of (59.93±12.11) years. The incidence of chronic cough was 24.12%. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in smoking history, preoperative pulmonary function indicators, pleural adhesion, anesthesia duration ≥135.5 minutes, surgical site, operative techniques, lymph node dissection methods, tumor maximum diameter, and postoperative chest tube duration (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the surgical site (right upper lung), operative techniques (lobectomy), lymph node dissection, and anesthesia time ≥135.5 minutes were independent risk factors for chronic cough following pulmonary surgery. Conclusion Patients undergoing right upper lung surgery, lobectomy, lymph node dissection, and experiencing anesthesia duration ≥135.5 minutes are at a higher risk of developing chronic cough post-pulmonary surgery.