ObjectiveTo explore the mechanisms through which Si Junzitang （SJZD） ameliorates Alzheimer's disease （AD） induced by scopolamine （SCOP） in mice and the PC12 cell model induced by H₂O₂ based on the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 （Keap1）/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） signaling pathway. MethodsIn the animal experiments， an AD model was established in mice by intraperitoneal injection of SCOP （3 mg·kg^-1）. Morris water maze and open field tests （OFT） were conducted to assess learning and memory abilities. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Nissl staining were performed to observe pathological changes in neurons. Immunofluorescence was used to detect amyloid β-protein_1-42 （Aβ_1-42） expression， and immunohistochemistry was employed to detect phosphorylated （p）-Tau expression. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） was employed to observe ultrastructural changes in hippocampal neurons and synapses. Biochemical methods were used to measure the levels of acetylcholine （ACh）， acetylcholinesterase （AChE）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， catalase （CAT）， and lactate dehydrogenase （LDH）. Real-time PCR and Western blot were employed to measure the mRNA and protein levels of molecules in the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in the hippocampus. In the cell experiments， a PC12 cell model of oxidative damage model was established with H₂O₂. Cell count kit-8 （CCK-8） assays and flow cytometry were adopted to measure cell viability and apoptosis rates， and Western blot was employed to quantify the expression levels of proteins in the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. ResultsThe animal experiments showed that compared with the model group， the SJZD and donepezil groups showed shortened escape latency （P<0.01）， increased time in the target quadrant and platform crossings， and increased movement distance and duration in the central area of the open field （P<0.05， P<0.01）. HE and Nissl staining showed more organized neurons and increased Nissl bodies in the drug intervention groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the Aβ_1-42 and p-Tau expression levels were downregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. TEM revealed reduced ultrastructural damage in hippocampal neurons and synapses in the drug intervention groups. In addition， the drug intervention groups showed declined levels of MDA， LDH， and AChE （P<0.05， P<0.01）， elevated levels of SOD， CAT， and ACh （P<0.05， P<0.01）， reduced Keap1 expression and increased Nrf2， HO-1， and NQO1 expression in the hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The cell experiments showed that compared with the model group， the SJZD-containing serum increased the cell viability （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased total apoptosis rates （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The drug intervention groups showed upregulated protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 and downregulated protein level of Keap1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionSJZD demonstrates protective effects against SCOP-induced AD in mice and H₂O₂-induced damage in PC12 cells through antioxidant mechanisms mediated by the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) cellular structures formed through the differentiation and self-organization of pluripotent stem cells or tissue-derived cells, showing considerable potential in the research on disease mechanism, personalized medicine, and developmental biology. However, the development of organoids is limited by the complex composition, batch-to-batch variations, and immunogenicity of basement-membrane matrix in the current culture system, which hinders the clinical translation and in vivo applications of organoids. Hydrogels are highly hydrated 3D polymer network materials, with modifiable mechanical and biochemical properties by engineering, representing an ideal alternative to basement-membrane matrix. This article reviews the research progress in engineered hydrogels with defined composition currently used in organoid culture. We introduce the structural characteristics and engineering design considerations of hydrogels, emphasize the latest research progress and specific application cases, and discuss the future development of these engineered hydrogels, provide valuable insights for the further advancement and optimization of engineered hydrogels for organoid.
Hydrogels/chemistry* ; Organoids/cytology* ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Humans ; Animals ; Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology* ; Cell Culture Techniques, Three Dimensional/methods* ; Tissue Scaffolds

Objective To construct and identify a patient-derived organoid model,and to investigate the sensitivity of chemotherapy drugs using this model.Methods Pancreatic cancer cells were obtained from the surgical specimens of two female patients with a confirmed diagnosis of pancreatic cancer after tumor tissue digestion,and then the cells were inoculated into a culture dish using matrigel for three-dimensional culture.Paraffin sections were prepared for HE staining and immunohistochemical staining and were compared with the parent tumor tissue to determine whether the histopathological features of the tumor in vivo were preserved.The pancreatic cancer organoids were treated with seven chemotherapy drugs at different concentrations;Cell Titer-Glo?3D reagent was used to measure cell viability,and the results of drug sensitivity were analyzed.Results Two patient-derived pancreatic cancer organoids were successfully constructed,and HE staining and immunohistochemical staining showed that the pancreatic cancer organoids had consistent histopathological features with the tumors of the corresponding patient.Both pancreatic cancer organoids were more sensitive to gemcitabine monotherapy and the combination of oxaliplatin+SN38+fluorouracil,and patient 1 was more sensitive than patient 2.There were individual differences in the response to drugs between the organoids from different patients.Conclusion The pancreatic cancer organoid model successfully constructed in this study can reflect the histological classification of parent pancreatic tumors and can be used for in vitro chemotherapy drug sensitivity test,which is expected to provide a reference for clinical medication.

Off-label drug use is a global problem in clinical practice. The management status, attitude and medical insurance coverage of off-label drug use are different in various countries. By analyzing the management and reimbursement policy of off-label drug use in other countries, the authors suggested that China should speed up the institutional arrangements of off-label drug use and establish relevant management systems, and strengthen the supervision of off-label drug use, so as to guarantee the rights of patients to the best treatment.

OBJECTIVE：To o ptimize the t ype of nervous system medicines in National Essential Medicine List of China. METHODS：Various editions of WHO Essential Medicine Model List （WHO EML ）were consulted ，the collection of nervous system medicines was analyzed statistically ，and 2017 edition of WHO EML was compared with 2018 edition of National Essential Medicine List of China （NEML）. RESULTS ：During 1977-2017，the total number of nervous system medicines and disease coverage included in each edition of WHO EML had little change. Compared with 2017 edition of WHO EML ，2018 edition of NEML contained more medicines for nervous system disease （54 medicines vs. 30 medicines），and covered more disease types ， such as dementia （huperzine A ）and neuralgia （pregabalin），etc. However ，for the treatment of multiple sclerosis ，neuralgia， dementia and other diseases ，there were not many medicines to choose ，and some similar medicines （with the same or similar mechanism of action ）were collected repeatedly and some medicines had serious adverse reaction. CONCLUSIONS ：It is suggested that National Essential Medicine List should be continuously optimized and perfected ，the varieties of essential medicines for the treatment of nervous system diseases should be increased appropriately ，for improving the treatment effect of such diseases and reducing the cost burden of patients.

[Abstract] Objective: To investigate the effect of metformin on the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) of doxorubicin-induced gastric cancer BGC823 cells. Methods: Human gastric cancer BGC823 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with doxorubicin at gradient concentrations (50, 100, 150 and 200 nmol/L). Cell senescence was detected by SA-β-gal staining, and SASP factor expression was detected by ELISA. The effects of metformin on cell senescence and SASP factor secretion induced by doxorubicin (100 nmol/L) were observed by adding gradient concentrations of metformin (0, 5, 10 and 20 mmol/L). Results: With the increase of doxorubicin concentration and treatment time, the senescence rate of gastric cancer BGC823 cells increased first and then decreased. At 96 h after 100 nmol/L doxorubicin treatment, the peak aging rate reached 68.7%, accompanied with significantly increased expressions of SASP factors IL-1a, IL-6, IL-8 and CXCL1. The proportion of senescent cells was (55.2±1.9)%, (48.7±2.2)% and (40.8±2.3)% respectively under the effects of 5, 10 and 20 mmol/L metformin, which was significantly lower than that in the non-metformin treatment group (P< 0.01). At the same time, with the increase of metformin concentration, the production of SASP factors IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8 and CXCL1 showed a gradient decline. Compared with the non-metformin treatment group, IL-6 and IL-8 decreased significantly under the effect of metformin above 10 mmol/L (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while IL-1α and CXCL1 decreased significantly under the effect of 20 mmol/L metformin (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Metformin can inhibit the senescence and SASP production of gastric cancer cells induced by doxorubicin.

Objective:To investigate the types of non-tumor diseases in patients with cancer, and to explore the effects of those dis-eases on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. Methods:We collected the medical records of cancer patients from January 2013 to December 2017 in Peking University Cancer Hospital, and screened for non-tumor diseases. The clinical records of the patients in this group were analyzed retrospectively, and the effects of those diseases on the diagnosis and treatment of tumors were dis-cussed. Results:Of the 1,323 cases of inter-hospital consultation, 1,153 cases of non-tumor disease (87.2％) were selected. There were 773 men (67.0％) and 380 women (33.0％) included. The median age was 62 (14-90) years. The primary tumor types included lung can-cer, gastric cancer, lymphoma, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, malignant melanoma, liver cancer, cholangiocarci-noma/gallbladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other tumors. Non-neoplastic diseases included cardiovascular disease in 356 cases (30.9％), respiratory system disease (17.0％) in 196 cases, digestive system disease in 107 cases (9.3％), skin and venereal diseases in 81 cases (7.0％), nervous system lesions (6.4％) in 74 cases, urinary system disease in 72 cases (6.2％), blood disease in 70 cases (6.1％), en-docrine and metabolic diseases in 47 cases (4.1％), autoimmune disease in 23 cases (2.0％), and other diseases (11.0％) in 127 cases. Impact on tumor diagnosis and treatment was as follows:direct, 771 cases (66.9％);no influence, 313 cases (27.1％);and uncertain, 69 cases (6.0％). Conclusions:Cardiovascular disease is a major non-tumor disease associated with cancer. Non-neoplastic diseases are important factors affecting the diagnosis and treatment plans of cancer.

There are some problems such as difficulty of pressure control, inconvenience of use and carry, congested easily and dredged hardly in clinical application of vacuum extractor in common use. For solving the above problems, researchers have designed a new portable and pressure stabilized abdominal drainage system which was composed of integral double spherical aspirator and separated double cannula. The new apparatus has achieved good effects in drainage which is suitable for not only rescuing of abdominal trauma and war wound, but also abdominal surgery that manifested as sucking safe and effective, using easily and convenient, that was verified by testing.

AIM:To investigate the neuroprotective effect of hydrogen sulfide ( H2 S) after cardiopulmonary re-suscitation in rats with cardiac arrest ( CA) , and to explore the effects of H2 S on neuron autophagy.METHODS:The CA model was established through asphyxia.Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group and NaHS group.The levels of beclin-1 and LC3 II/I were measured by Western blot at 2 h, 4 h, 12 h and 24 h after the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).At 12 h after ROSC, the formation of autophagic vacuole with LC3 dots was deter-mined by immunohistochemical ( IHC) method.The phenomenon of neuron autophagy was observed under transmission electron microscope.The numbers of apoptotic neurons were counted by TUNEL staining at 72 h after ROSC.The neurolo-gic deficit score ( NDS) was used to evaluate the neurologic function after ROSC.RESULTS: The level of beclin-1 was gradually increased in model group, but it was increased and then gradually recovered in NaHS group ( P<0.05 ) .The conversion of LC3 II in the cerebral cortex was the same as beclin-1.The results of IHC showed that LC3-positive nuclei in model group were more than those in NaHS group ( P<0.05) .The number of autophagic vacuole in model group was more than that in NaHS group (P<0.05).The number of the TUNEL-positive cells in model group was more than that in NaHS group (P<0.05).The NDS of the animals in NaHS group after ROSC was lower than that in model group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION:H2 S inhibits neuronal autophagy, decreases apoptosis and improves neurologic function in CA rats after ROSC.