Nigella sativa L. seeds have been traditionally utilized in Chinese folk medicine for centuries to treat vitiligo. This study revealed that the ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa L. (HZC) enhances melanogenesis and mitigates oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence and dysfunction in melanocytes. In accordance with established protocols, the ethanol fraction from Nigella sativa L. seeds was extracted, concentrated, and lyophilized to evaluate its herbal effects via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, tyrosinase activity evaluation, measurement of cellular melanin contents, scratch assays, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blot analysis for expression profiling of experimentally relevant proteins. The results indicated that HZC significantly enhanced tyrosinase activity and melanin content while notably increasing the protein expression levels of Tyr, Mitf, and gp100 in B16F10 cells. Furthermore, HZC effectively mitigated oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence, improved melanocyte condition, and rectified various functional impairments associated with melanocyte dysfunction. These findings suggest that HZC increases melanin synthesis in melanocytes through the activation of the MAPK, PKA, and Wnt signaling pathways. In addition, HZC attenuates oxidative damage induced by H₂O₂ therapy by activating the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2-antioxidant response element (Nrf2-ARE) pathway and enhancing the activity of downstream antioxidant enzymes, thus preventing premature senescence and dysfunction in melanocytes.
Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Melanocytes/cytology* ; Cellular Senescence/drug effects* ; Nigella sativa/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Seeds/chemistry* ; Mice ; Animals ; Melanins/metabolism* ; Monophenol Monooxygenase/metabolism* ; Humans

Objective:To assess iodine nutritional status and the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Kunming, Yunnan Province, along with correlation and risk factors between thyroid dysfunction and urinary iodine levels.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2014 to July 2016 using a multi-stage, stratified cluster sampling method. A total of 2 650 residents of Kunming, Yunnan Province, who met the inclusion criteria were selected. Data on participants′ demographics, physical measurements, and laboratory tests were collected through questionnaire and clinical assessments which led to 1 463 subjects in the final analysis considering missing data. Statistical analysis were performed using SPSS 26.0, while R Studio was used to model the nonlinear relationship between urinary iodine levels and the risk of thyroid dysfunction.Results:(1) Among 2 650 subjects, 755(28.5%) were diagnosed with thyroid dysfunction, with incidence rates of clinical hyperthyroidism(0.83%), subclinical hyperthyroidism(0.38%), clinical hypothyroidism(1.36%), subclinical hypothyroidism(17.66%), and isolated thyroid antibody positive(13.85%). The median urinary iodine concentration was 177.49(123.59, 251.85) μg/L, indicating adequate iodine nutritional. (2)Among the 1 463 subjects analyzed, significant differences in urinary iodine were found between healthy individual group and abnormal TSH group or abnormal TSH group and thyroid antibody positive group( H=-83.437, P=0.003; H=107.489, P=0.003). Logistic regression revealed that rural residents had a lower risk of thyroid dysfunction than urban residents( OR=0.429, 95% CI 0.256-0.717, P=0.001). Risk of thyroid disease increased with age, and TSH, thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb), and urinary iodine levels were identified as significant risk factors, with a U-shaped relationship between urinary iodine levels and thyroid dysfunction. Conclusions:The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Kunming is comparable to the national average. The relationship between urinary iodine concentration and thyroid dysfunction follows a U-shaped curve. Factors including region, age, TSH, TPOAb, TgAb, and urinary iodine concentration are associated with thyroid dysfunction.

Recently, the number of artificial intelligence methods used to develop clinical risk prediction models has rapidly increased. To ensure the value of clinical prediction model research, researchers must report the research content transparently, completely, and accurately. Updated Guidance for Reporting Clinical Prediction Models that Use Regression or Machine Learning Methods (TRIPOD+AI) was released in 2024 and covers a checklist of 27 major items. It aims to promote the complete reporting of global clinical prediction model research and facilitate research evaluation, model evaluation, and model implementation. This article interprets and compares aspects such as the formulation process, checklist content, applicable scenarios, and advantages of TRIPOD+AI, as well as the original Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis (TRIPOD) checklist. It also analyzes an example of predicting the depression of elderly patients using artificial intelligence methods, providing references for researchers to standardize the reporting of clinical prediction models.

Recently, the number of artificial intelligence methods used to develop clinical risk prediction models has rapidly increased. To ensure the value of clinical prediction model research, researchers must report the research content transparently, completely, and accurately. Updated Guidance for Reporting Clinical Prediction Models that Use Regression or Machine Learning Methods (TRIPOD+AI) was released in 2024 and covers a checklist of 27 major items. It aims to promote the complete reporting of global clinical prediction model research and facilitate research evaluation, model evaluation, and model implementation. This article interprets and compares aspects such as the formulation process, checklist content, applicable scenarios, and advantages of TRIPOD+AI, as well as the original Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis (TRIPOD) checklist. It also analyzes an example of predicting the depression of elderly patients using artificial intelligence methods, providing references for researchers to standardize the reporting of clinical prediction models.

Objective:To assess iodine nutritional status and the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Kunming, Yunnan Province, along with correlation and risk factors between thyroid dysfunction and urinary iodine levels.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2014 to July 2016 using a multi-stage, stratified cluster sampling method. A total of 2 650 residents of Kunming, Yunnan Province, who met the inclusion criteria were selected. Data on participants′ demographics, physical measurements, and laboratory tests were collected through questionnaire and clinical assessments which led to 1 463 subjects in the final analysis considering missing data. Statistical analysis were performed using SPSS 26.0, while R Studio was used to model the nonlinear relationship between urinary iodine levels and the risk of thyroid dysfunction.Results:(1) Among 2 650 subjects, 755(28.5%) were diagnosed with thyroid dysfunction, with incidence rates of clinical hyperthyroidism(0.83%), subclinical hyperthyroidism(0.38%), clinical hypothyroidism(1.36%), subclinical hypothyroidism(17.66%), and isolated thyroid antibody positive(13.85%). The median urinary iodine concentration was 177.49(123.59, 251.85) μg/L, indicating adequate iodine nutritional. (2)Among the 1 463 subjects analyzed, significant differences in urinary iodine were found between healthy individual group and abnormal TSH group or abnormal TSH group and thyroid antibody positive group( H=-83.437, P=0.003; H=107.489, P=0.003). Logistic regression revealed that rural residents had a lower risk of thyroid dysfunction than urban residents( OR=0.429, 95% CI 0.256-0.717, P=0.001). Risk of thyroid disease increased with age, and TSH, thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb), and urinary iodine levels were identified as significant risk factors, with a U-shaped relationship between urinary iodine levels and thyroid dysfunction. Conclusions:The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Kunming is comparable to the national average. The relationship between urinary iodine concentration and thyroid dysfunction follows a U-shaped curve. Factors including region, age, TSH, TPOAb, TgAb, and urinary iodine concentration are associated with thyroid dysfunction.

Objective:To investigate the effect of integrin αvβ6 on lipid metabolism in colon cancer cells;to identify potential metabolic biomarkers for the diagnosis of colon cancer.Meth-ods:Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS)-based lipidomic analysis was utilized to investigate the effects of αvβ6 on the changes in SW480 metabolism in colon cancer cell lines.The partial least squares discriminant analysis model showed different lipid profiles in Integrin αvβ6 over-expressed or low-expressed SW480.Results:After Integrin αvβ6 overexpression,a total of 252 lipids showed significant differences in SW480 cells,of which 138 showed up-regulation and 114 showed down-regulation.Moreover,the Methyl phosphatidylcholine(MePC),phosphatidyl-choline(PC),phosphatidylethanolamine(PE)and triglycerides(TG)were also found to have good diagnostic potential in αvβ6 overexpressing cancer cells.Conclusion:Integrin αvβ6 may promote cancer cell invasivness and metastasis by regulating pathways of dysregulated lipid metabolism.These results may provide potential clues to the molecular mechanisms of Integrin αvβ6 on colon cancer cells.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of decitabine combined with preexcitation regimen in the treatment of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia(AML)patients who have not been relieved by the first standard induction chemotherapy and its influence on the relative content of regulatory T lymphocytes(Tregs).Methods:The clinical data of 102 newly diagnosed AML patients(except acute promyelocytic leukemia)who did not relieve after initial standard induction chemotherapy in Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital from March 2013 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Fifty-one patients who accepted pre-excitation regimen were divided into regular group,while another 51 patients treated with decitabine combined with pre-excitation regimen were divided into combination group.The efficacy,incidence of toxic and side effects,Core Scale of Quality of Life(QLQ-C30)score before and after treatment,T lymphocyte subsets(CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+,Tregs)and 3-year overall survival(OS)rate were compared between the two groups.Results:The total effective rate of combination group was 80.39％,which was significantly higher than 62.75％of regular group(P＜0.05).After treatment,the QLQ-C30 score of combination group was 60.27 ±6.96,which was significantly lower than 65.73±7.96 of regular group(P＜0.001).There was no statistical difference in the incidence of toxic and side effects between the two groups(P＞0.05).After treatment,the levels of CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+in the combination group were higher than those in the regular group(all P＜0.001),while Treg was lower(P＜0.001).The 3-year OS rate in the combination group was 72.55％,which was significantly higher than 52.94％in the regular group(P＜0.001).Conclusion:Decitabine combined with preexcitation regimen has a significant effect on AML patients who have not been alleviated by standard induction chemotherapy in the first course of treatment.It can reduce anti-tumor immune suppression and improve immune function by regulating the relative content of Tregs,thus prolongs survival time and improves life quality of patients without increasing adverse reactions.

Objective To explore the short-term and long-term curative effect of different polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)embolic agents combined with coaxial microcatheter embolization on massive hemoptysis.Methods According to different embolization agents,60 patients with massive hemoptysis were divided into polyvinyl alcohol embolization microsphere group(microsphere group,32 cases,polyvinyl alco-hol embolization microsphere+coaxial microcatheter embolization)and polyvinyl alcohol foam embolization microparticle group(micropar-ticle group,28 cases,polyvinyl alcohol foam embolization microparticle+coaxial microcatheter embolization).The curative effect,coagula-tion indexes,hemoptysis volume,incidence of complications and recurrence rate of hemoptysis were compared between the two groups.Results The difference in the response rates to treatment between the two groups was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Hemoptysis volume was significantly less in the microsphere group than that in the microparticle group(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups(P＞0.05).The recurrence rate of hemoptysis was lower in the microsphere group than that in the microparticle group(3.03％vs 21.43％)(P＜0.05).Conclusion The curative effect of both polyvinyl alcohol embolization microsphere and foam embolization microparticle combined with coaxial microcatheter embolization is highly effective on massive hemoptysis.The long-term prognosis of polyvinyl alcohol embolization microsphere combined with coaxial microcatheter embolization is better.

BACKGROUND:Artificially synthesized hydroxyapatite ceramic granules are widely used in clinical practice to repair large-volume bone defects.However,the osteogenic effect of hydroxyapatite ceramic granules prepared by high-temperature sintering is limited by their low degradability and bioactivity. OBJECTIVE:To prepare biomimetically precipitated nanocrystalline calcium phosphate granules by a novel low-temperature deposition technique,and to characterize their physicochemical properties and cytocompatibility. METHODS:Biomimetically precipitated nanocrystalline calcium phosphate granules were prepared using a modified supersaturated calcium phosphate mineralization solution and a repeated settling and decantation washing method.Hydroxyapatite bioceramic granules were used as the control.The morphology and phase composition of the granules were characterized by scanning electron microscopy,X-ray diffraction,and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.The specific surface area,porosity distribution,hardness and hydrophilicity of the granules were characterized by BET-N2 method,hardness test,and contact angle test.The adsorption properties of the granules for bovine serum albumin and fetal bovine serum protein were determined by bicinchoninic acid assay.The two kinds of granules or granule extracts were co-cultured with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,and the cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface of the two kinds of particles was slightly rough and accompanied by tiny particles,the surface of the hydroxyapatite bioceramic particles was dense and smooth,and the biomimetically precipitated nanocrystalline calcium phosphate granules were mainly composed of needle/plate crystals with non-uniform nanometer size,and formed a nanopore structure between the crystals.X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy exhibited that compared with hydroxyapatite bioceramic granules,biomimetically precipitated nanocrystalline calcium phosphate granules had smaller crystalline particles,lower crystallinity,and more binding water and carbonic acid groups.Compared with hydroxyapatite bioceramic granules,biomimetically precipitated nanocrystalline calcium phosphate granules had higher specific surface area,better hydrophilicity,lower hardness,and higher protein adsorption capacity.(2)The results of MTT assay showed that the two kinds of granule extracts had no cytotoxicity,human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells survived well on the surface of the two kinds of granules,and the biomimetically precipitated nanocrystalline calcium phosphate granules had stronger cell proliferation activity.(3)These findings indicate that compared with hydroxyapatite bioceramic granules,biomimetically precipitated nanocrystalline calcium phosphate granules have better physicochemical properties and cytocompatibility.