BACKGROUND:At present,a large number of studies have found that Liuwei Dihuang Pill can be used to treat osteoporosis,but there are few related studies on the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts induced by wear particles using Liuwei Dihuang Pill. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the positive effect of different concentrations of Liuwei Dihuang Pill-containing serum on titanium particle-induced mouse MC3T3-E1 osteoblast in vitro osteolysis model. METHODS:Drug-containing serum was extracted after oral administration of Liuwei Dihuang Pill.The best concentration of Liuwei Dihuang Pill-containing serum and titanium particles on the viability of MC3T3-E1 cells was screened.MC3T3-E1 cells were divided into three groups.The blank group was given osteoblastic differentiation culture.The model group was given titanium particles(5 μg/mL)ossification culture.The drug-containing serum group was given titanium particles(5 μg/mL)+ Liuwei Dihuang Pill-containing serum(10%,15%and 20%doses).Osteoblast viability was detected by CCK-8 assay.Cell alkaline phosphatase activity was detected by alkaline phosphatase staining.Cell mineralization was detected by silver nitrate(Von Kossa)and alizarin red staining.Expression levels of bone differentiation-related genes Runx-2,Osterix,Ocn,Axin,Alp,and Opn were detected by qRT-PCR.Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways β-catenin,p-GSK-3β,GSK-3β,Runx2 and Osterix protein expression levels were detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Liuwei Dihuang Pill-containing serum culture reversed the decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity of MC3T3E-1 cells induced by titanium particles,increased the alizarin red staining and calcification of MC3T3E-1 cells,increased the expression of osteogenesis-related genes in MC3T3E-1 cells,and increased the expression of proteins related to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.(2)These findings indicate that Liuwei Dihuang Pill-containing serum can reverse the inhibitory effect of titanium particles on the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts,upregulate the expression of osteogenesis-related genes,and its mechanism is related to the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,suggesting that Liuwei Dihuang Pill is expected to become an effective drug for preventing aseptic loosening of artificial joints.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of using quantitative parameters of double contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCUS) to noninvasively predict lymphatic metastasis in gastric cancer before operation.Methods:From December 2021 to October 2023, 119 patients undergoing gastrectomy at the Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, were enrolled retrospectively. Based on the pathological findings, they were divided into lymph node metastasis (N1, 94 cases) and non-lymph node metastasis (N0, 25 cases) groups. All patients underwent DCUS within 3 days before surgery. Previous to DCUS, lesions′ location and ultrasonic T-staging were recorded by conventional ultrasound. Quantitative parameters such as arrival time (AT), time to peak (TTP), baseline intensity (BI), peak intensity (PI) and wash-in slope (WIS) were obtained by the time-intensity curve (TIC) automatically, and then manually calculated enhanced intensity (ΔPI=PI–BI) and enhanced time (ΔTTP=TTP–AT). Binary Logistic regression analysis was used to screen independent risk factors for predicting lymph nodes metastasis in gastric cancer, and regression models were established.Results:Statistical tests revealed significant differences in ultrasonic T-staging ( P<0.001) and degree of differentiation ( P=0.015) between N1 and N0 group. Among DCUS quantitative parameters, statistical differences in PI, ΔPI and WIS were observed between the two groups (all P<0.05), while no significant differences were found in BI, AT, TTP and ΔTTP (all P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that ultrasonic T-staging and WIS were independent risk factors for predicting lymphatic metastasis. The regression model built on the above two factors performed well in predicting lymph nodes metastasis, with an area under the curve of 0.905, accuracy of 93.3% (superior to the prediction model based on DCUS quantitative parameters alone, P<0.05), sensitivity of 95.7% and specificity of 84.0%. Conclusions:DCUS quantitative parameters may be helpful to evaluate lymphatic metastasis of gastric cancer prior to surgery, and the accuracy of prediction would be improved by combing with ultrasonic T-staging.

Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) disrupts vascular endothelial integrity and induces atherosclerosis. Active integrin β1 plays a pivotal role in promoting EndMT by facilitating TGFβ/Smad signaling in endothelial cells. Here, we report a novel anthraquinone compound, Kanglexin (KLX), which prevented EndMT and atherosclerosis by activating MAP4K4 and suppressing integrin β1/TGFβ signaling. First, KLX effectively counteracted the EndMT phenotype and mitigated the dysregulation of endothelial and mesenchymal markers induced by TGFβ1. Second, KLX suppressed TGFβ/Smad signaling by inactivating integrin β1 and inhibiting the polymerization of TGFβR1/2. The underlying mechanism involved the activation of FGFR1 by KLX, resulting in the phosphorylation of MAP4K4 and Moesin, which led to integrin β1 inactivation by displacing Talin from its β-tail. Oral administration of KLX effectively stimulated endothelial FGFR1 and inhibited integrin β1, thereby preventing vascular EndMT and attenuating plaque formation and progression in the aorta of atherosclerotic Apoe^-/- mice. Notably, KLX (20 mg/kg) exhibited superior efficacy compared with atorvastatin, a clinically approved lipid-regulating drug. In conclusion, KLX exhibited potential in ameliorating EndMT and retarding the formation and progression of atherosclerosis through direct activation of FGFR1. Therefore, KLX is a promising candidate for the treatment of atherosclerosis to mitigate vascular endothelial injury.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis/prevention & control* ; Mice ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Anthraquinones/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Integrin beta1/metabolism* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects* ; Male ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/drug effects*

Particle size and surface properties are crucial for lymphatic drainage (LN), dendritic cell (DC) uptake, DC maturation, and antigen cross-presentation induced by nanovaccine injection, which lead to an effective cell-mediated immune response. However, the manner in which the particle size and surface properties of vaccine carriers such as mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) affect this immune response is unknown. We prepared 50, 100, and 200 nm of MSNs that adsorbed ovalbumin antigen (OVA) while modifying β-glucan to enhance immunogenicity. The results revealed that these MSNs with different particle sizes were just as efficient in vitro, and MSNs with β-glucan modification demonstrated higher efficacy. However, the in vivo results indicated that MSNs with smaller particle sizes have stronger lymphatic targeting efficiency and a greater ability to promote the maturation of DCs. The results also indicate that β-glucan-modified MSN, with a particle size of ∼100 nm, has a great potential as a vaccine delivery vehicle and immune adjuvant and offers a novel approach for the delivery of multiple therapeutic agents that target other lymph-mediated diseases.

Objective:Inhaler satisfaction is an important factor affecting inhaler adherence and the efficacy of inhalers in chronic airway diseases.Using a scientific and effective method to assess patients'satisfaction with inhalers is of great significance for improving clinical outcomes.The Feeling of Satisfaction with Inhaler-10(FSI-10)is specifically designed to assess patients'inhaler satisfaction in chronic airway diseases,but the application research on this scale is not available in China.This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of FSI-10,describe the current status of inhaler satisfaction and discuss the associated variables in Chinese patients with chronic airway disease. Methods:Based on the English version of FSI-10,items of the Chinese version of FSI-10 were determined after forward-backward translation and cultural adaption.Totally,322 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and asthma were enrolled from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from June to October 2022.We collected associated clinical variables and inhaler satisfaction using the Chinese version of FSI-10.The content validity of the scale was expressed by content validity index(CVI)and the construct validity was analyzed by exploratory factor analysis(EFA).The reliability of the scale was expressed by Cronbach's α coefficient,the split-half reliability and test-retest reliability.A multivariate logistic regression was conducted to examine variables related to inhaler satisfaction. Results:The reliability and validity analysis showed that the CVI was 0.983.One factor was extracted from the Chinese version of FSI-10 and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 73.114%.The Cronbach's α of the scale was 0.913,the Guttman's half-reliability coefficient was 0.905,and the test-retest reliability was 0.727(P<0.001).In addition,the total score of the scale for patients was 38.92±4.26 points and the proportion of high satisfaction(the score of FSI-10≥40)in patients with COPD was significantly lower than that in asthma patients(71.3%vs 87.9%,P<0.01).Older age(age≥70 years)was a risk factor of lower inhaler satisfaction and asthma diagnosis was a protective factor. Conclusion:The Chinese version of FSI-10 has good reliability and validity in patients with COPD and asthma,which may be further promoted and applied in patients with chronic airway disease in China.Doctors should regularly evaluate the inhaler satisfaction of patients with chronic airway diseases,especially for those elder or with severe symptoms and a long course of illness.

Osteoporosis is an important cause of bone weakness and susceptibility to fractures. Anti-osteoporosis drugs of Western medicine cannot reverse its progression， and can only reduce the loss of bone density； long-term use of them is accompanied by certain adverse reactions. Traditional Chinese medicine focuses on syndrome differentiation and holistic approach， which can make up for the shortcomings of Western medicine’s treatment. The mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） signaling pathway is involved in the growth， proliferation， and differentiation of bone cells， and is closely related to the occurrence and development of osteoporosis. In recent years， various traditional Chinese medicine monomers （such as flavonoids， polysaccharides， alkaloids， etc.） and traditional Chinese medicine formulas （such as Bushen huoxue decoction， Liuwei dihuang pills， Erzhi pills， etc.） have been proven to promote bone formation， inhibit bone resorption， enhance bone cell autophagy， and delay the progression of osteoporosis by regulating the mTOR signaling pathway. Therefore， the article summarizes the traditional Chinese medicine monomer and formula that intervene in the mTOR signaling pathway for the treatment of osteoporosis， in order to provide medication ideas for the traditional Chinese medicine treatment of osteoporosis.

The adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, IrtAB, plays a vital role in the replication and viability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), where its function is to import iron-loaded siderophores. Unusually, it adopts the canonical type IV exporter fold. Herein, we report the structure of unliganded Mtb IrtAB and its structure in complex with ATP, ADP, or ATP analogue (AMP-PNP) at resolutions ranging from 2.8 to 3.5 Å. The structure of IrtAB bound ATP-Mg2+ shows a "head-to-tail" dimer of nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs), a closed amphipathic cavity within the transmembrane domains (TMDs), and a metal ion liganded to three histidine residues of IrtA in the cavity. Cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) structures and ATP hydrolysis assays show that the NBD of IrtA has a higher affinity for nucleotides and increased ATPase activity compared with IrtB. Moreover, the metal ion located in the TM region of IrtA is critical for the stabilization of the conformation of IrtAB during the transport cycle. This study provides a structural basis to explain the ATP-driven conformational changes that occur in IrtAB.
Siderophores/metabolism* ; Iron/metabolism* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/metabolism* ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism* ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters

Objective:To establish a candidate reference procedure for the enumeration of cell particles in urine and applied to the multi-center performance evaluation of an automated urine formed elements analyzer.Methods:According to the standardized mannual microscopic examination of fresh non-centrifuged urine samples and the recommended reference method for enumeration of cell particles in urine published by ISLH, we established a candidate reference procedure for the enumeration of cell particles in urine. From four class A tertiary hospitals′ clinical laboratories, three rigorous trained technicians per hospital tested the same specimen respectively using the reference procedure. Each specimen was repeatedly counted 5 times, obtaining the quantitative results of cell particles were obtained in urine. Four hospitals used the established candidate reference measurement procedure and the automated urine formed elements analyzer to detect 40 to 60 urine specimens from September 2020 to January 2021, and evaluate the established reference method, meanwhile evaluate the accuracy and consistency of the each count from automated urinalysis analyzer.Results:Using the candidate reference measurement procedures, the coefficient of variation of results derived from three trained technicians per hospital was less than 6.98% (red blood cells), 6.99% (white blood cells), 13.94% (epithelial cells) and met the quality requirements. The performance evaluation results of automated urine formed elements analyzer showed that the accuracy of red blood cells, white blood cells and epithelial cells met the requirements (bias≤4.98%) and was well consistent with the reference measurement procedure ( R2≥0.989). Conclusions:A candidate reference measurement procedure for the enumeration of urine cell particles was successfully established with satisfactory precision and accuracy. This procedure was applied to multicenter performance evaluation of an automated urine formed elements analyzer with good accuracy and consistency.

To investigate the antipyretic effects and potential mechanism of Isodon eriocalyx ethanol extracts, the SD rats was injected by dry yeast subcutaneously to establish the model of fever. Experimental groups were divided into blank, model, positive drug paracetamol(150 mg/kg), low doses(200 mg/kg), high doses(800 mg/kg)of ethanol extracts of I. eriocalyx, rosmarinic acid(150 mg/kg), cirsimaritin(150 mg/kg)and maoecrystal D(150 mg/kg). After 4 hours of model establishment, the drugs were administered orally to each group; the blood and tissue samples were then collected 8 hours affer model establishment. Rectal temperature was detected to evaluate the antipyretic effects. The levels of tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α), arginine vasopressin(AVP), cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)and prostraglandin E2(PGE2)were measured to explore the potential mechanism. Results showed that the inoreased rectal temperature in rats was ameliorated by ethanol extracts of I. eriocalyx. Moreover, administration of ethanol extracts of I. eriocalyx could reduce the serum TNF-α levels and increase AVP levels in rats, decrease the levels of cAMP and PGE2 in hypothalamus and promote AVP secretion in ventral septal area of rats. However, there were no dramatic changes about rectal temperature and biochemical indicators mentioned above after administration of rosmarinic acid, cirsimaritin and maoecrystal D, respectively. In conclusion, ethanol extracts of I. eriocalyx exerted antipyretic effects on fever rats induced by yeast, which is probably due to the suppression of the secretion of TNF-α, cAMP and PGE2 and promotion of the excretion of AVP. However, the material basis of the antipyretic mechanism of this plant still remains to be further explored.

Objective The purpose of this study was to explore common complications and their clinicopathological features in pediatric liver transplantation.Methods Clinical and pathological data of 240 liver biopsies from 168 children that conducted liver puncture from January 2015 to May 2018 in Tianjin First Central Hospital was retrospectively analyzed.We comprehensively analyzed incidence rate and pathological features of various complications,and correlations between acute rejection and C4d staining result or Banff score.Results A total of 86.67％ (208/240) liver biopsies could be definitely diagnosed with incidence rate of main complications in descending order as follows:T cell mediated rejection (TCMR) 60.57％ (126/208),drug-induced liver injury (DILI) 17.31％ (36/208),biliary complication 8.17％ (17/208),vascular complication 3.37％ (7/208),ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) 2.88％ (6/208),antibody mediated acute rejection (AMR) 1.92％ (4/208),HBV infection 1.92％ (4/208),non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) 1.44％ (3/208),chronic rejection (CR) 0.96 ％ (2/208) and HCV infection 0.48 ％ (1/208).TCMR and AMR in acute rejection (AR) accounted for 96.92％ (126/130) and 3.08％ (4/160),and into(portal-based,PB)type TCMR accounted for 96.03％(121/126) with the detectable rate of BP type subtype TCMR of 26.45％(32/121)within 30 d.There were 65.87％ (83/126)、25.40％ (32/126) 和4.76％ (6/126) of BP TCMR samples with "Banff ACR RAI" score within 3-5,6-7 and 8-9,and RAI score was negatively correlated with postoperative time (r =0.127,P =0.084).The incidence rate of central perivenulitis (CP) and portal eosinophils infiltration (PEI) in BP TCMR was 63.63％ (77/121) 和43.80％ (53/ 121),respectively,additionally,the PEI level was positively correlate with RAI score (P＜0.05).CP TCMR and AMR occurred within 30d-365 d and 8 d-180 d,respectively postoperative,while,the two CR occurred at 1095 d and 1335 d postoperative,and significant correlation was strikingly observed between rejection subtype and postoperative time (Z =9.231,P =0.026).C4d positive rate was 10％ (24/240),which was associated with Banff score and postoperative time,besides,C4d score was also correlated with rejection subtype and RAI score.The occurrence of DILI was mainly at time of ＜90 d or ＞180 d postoperative,and the detectable rate of biliary complication within 180 d postoperative was 82.35％ (14/17),IRI Appear in ＜30d.Hepatic artery complication account for nearly 57.14％ (4/7),occurrence time is ≤90 d.Occurrence of HBV infection,CMV infection and NAFLD were mainly at ＞365 d,＜90 d and ＜365 d,respectively.Conclusion There were lots of differences in clinical and pathological features among multi pediatric liver transplantation complications.Liver puncture plays an important role in rejection subtype classification and grading,as well as in non-rejection complications identification.