This study aims to explore the mechanism through which Yishen Jiangtang Decoction(YSJTD) regulates endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)-mediated NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome to improve diabetic nephropathy(DN) in db/db mice. Thirty db/db mice were randomly divided into the model group, YSJTD group, ERS inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid(4-PBA) group, with 10 mice in each group. Additionally, 10 db/m mice were selected as the control group. The YSJTD group was orally administered YSJTD at a dose of 0.01 mL·g~(-1), the 4-PBA group was orally administered 4-PBA at a dose of 0.5 mg·g~(-1), and the control and model groups were given an equal volume of carboxylmethyl cellulose sodium. The treatments were administered once daily for 8 weeks. Food intake, water consumption, and body weight were recorded every 2 weeks. After the intervention, fasting blood glucose(FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c), urine microalbumin(U-mALB), 24-hour urine volume, serum creatinine(Scr), and blood urea nitrogen(BUN) were measured. Inflammatory markers interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and interleukin-18(IL-18) were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Renal pathology was assessed through hematoxylin-eosin(HE), periodic acid-Schiff(PAS), and Masson staining, and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP), NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD(ASC), cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase(caspase-1), and gasdermin D(GSDMD) in kidney tissues. The results showed that compared to the control group, the model group exhibited poor general condition, increased weight and food and water intake, and significantly higher levels of FBG, HbA1c, U-mALB, kidney index, 24-hour urine volume, IL-1β, and IL-18. Compared to the model group, the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups showed improved general condition, increased body weight, decreased food intake, and lower levels of FBG, U-mALB, kidney index, 24-hour urine volume, and IL-1β. Specifically, the YSJTD group showed a significant reduction in IL-18 levels compared to the model group, while the 4-PBA group exhibited decreased water intake and HbA1c levels compared to the model group. Although there was a decreasing trend in water intake and HbA1c in the YSJTD group, the differences were not statistically significant. No significant differences were observed in BUN, Scr, and kidney weight among the groups. Renal pathology revealed that the model group exhibited more severe renal damage compared to the control group. Kidney sections from the model group showed diffuse mesangial proliferation in the glomeruli, tubular edema, tubular dilation, significant inflammatory cell infiltration in the interstitium, and increased glycogen staining and blue collagen deposition in the basement membrane. In contrast, the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups showed varying degrees of improvement in renal damage, glycogen staining, and collagen deposition, with the YSJTD group showing more significant improvements. TEM analysis indicated that the model group had extensive cytoplasmic edema, homogeneous thickening of the basement membrane, fewer foot processes, and widening of fused foot processes. In the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups, cytoplasmic swelling of renal tissues was reduced, the basement membrane remained intact and uniform, and foot process fusion improved.Western blot results indicated that compared to the control group, the model group showed upregulation of GRP78, CHOP, GSDMD, NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 expression. In contrast, both the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups showed downregulation of these markers compared to the model group. These findings suggest that YSJTD exerts a protective effect against DN by alleviating NLRP3 inflammasome activation through the inhibition of ERS, thereby improving the inflammatory response in db/db DN mice.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/drug effects* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Inflammasomes/drug effects* ; Male ; Kidney/pathology* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP ; Humans ; Interleukin-18/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the chain mediating role of family care and emotional management in the relationship between social support and anxiety among rural primary school students. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted among students in grades 4 to 6 from four counties in Hunan Province. Data were collected using the Social Support Rating Scale, Family Care Index Scale, Emotional Intelligence Scale, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder -7. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of anxiety symptoms. Mediation analysis was conducted to assess the chain mediating effects of family care and emotional management between social support and anxiety. RESULTS: A total of 4 141 questionnaires were distributed, with 3 874 valid responses (effective response rate: 93.55%). The prevalence rate of anxiety symptoms among these students was 9.32% (95%CI: 8.40%-10.23%). Significant differences were observed in the prevalence rates of anxiety symptoms among groups with different levels of social support, family functioning, and emotional management ability (P<0.05). The total indirect effect of social support on anxiety symptoms via family care and emotional management was significant (β=-0.137, 95%CI: -0.167 to -0.109), and the direct effect of social support on anxiety symptoms remained significant (P<0.05). Family care and emotional management served as significant chain mediators in the relationship between social support and anxiety symptoms (β=-0.025,95%CI:-0.032 to -0.018), accounting for 14.5% of the total effect. CONCLUSIONS Social support can directly affect anxiety symptoms among rural primary school students and can also indirectly influence anxiety symptoms through the chain mediating effects of family care and emotional management. These findings provide scientific evidence for the prevention of anxiety in primary school students from multiple perspectives.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Social Support ; Anxiety/etiology* ; Child ; Students/psychology* ; Emotions ; Logistic Models

Tuberculosis （TB） and human immunodeficiency virus infection / acquired immune deficiency syndrome （HIV/AIDS） are both serious global public health threats. Early detection of infected persons and/or patients through TB/HIV bi-directional screening is crucial for prevention and control strategy in China and globally. In recent years， with the promotion and application of new TB and HIV detection technologies worldwide， TB/HIV bi-directional screening technologies and strategies have made remarkable changes. This expert consensus introduces the significance and challenges of TB/HIV bi-directional screening， summarizes important progress of research and applications， and makes recommendations on screening measures and procedures to further strengthen TB/HIV bi-directional screening in China.

Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in the treatment of pa-tients with hepatitis C virus(HCV)and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)co-infection,and provide scientific basis for clinical treatment.Methods 89 initially treated non-cirrhotic patients with HCV/HIV co-infection in a hospital of Butuo County of Liangshan Prefecture from January 2021 to January 2022 were selected.All patients re-ceived glecaprevir/pibrentasvir treatment for 8 weeks and were followed up for 12 weeks.Virological response rate at the end-of-treatment and sustained virological response rate after 12 weeks(SVR12)of treatment as well as oc-currence of adverse reaction were recorded.Results Among 89 initially treated non-cirrhotic patients with HCV/HIV co-infection,most were middle-aged and young married men(n=79,88.8％).HIV was mainly transmitted through sexual contact(n=62,69.7％)and intravenous drug use(n=27,30.3％).The most common HCV geno-types were genotype 1b(n=33,37.1％)and genotype 3b(n=25,28.1％).All patients completed 8 weeks of treatment successfully and HCV RNA load at the end of treatment was below the detection limit(＜25 IU/mL).Eight patients failed to complete the follow-up,and the remaining 81(100％)patients achieved a sustained virologic re-sponse.There were no serious adverse reactions during the observation period,but 11 patients had mild adverse re-actions.Conclusion The 8-week treatment regimen of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir for non-cirrhotic patients with geno-type 1,3,and 6 HCV/HIV co-infection can achieve 100％SVR12,with high safety and tolerability,which can be used as a good choice for clinical treatment of these patients.

OBJECTIVE: Jiedu Recipe (JR), a Chinese herbal remedy, has been shown to prolong overall survival time and decrease recurrence and metastasis rates in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This work investigated the mechanism of JR in HCC treatment. METHODS: The chemical constituents of JR were detected using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The potential anti-HCC mechanism of JR was screened using network pharmacology and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) microarray chip assay, followed by experimental validation in human HCC cells (SMMC-7721 and Huh7) in vitro and a nude mouse subcutaneous transplantation model of HCC in vivo. HCC cell characteristics of proliferation, migration and invasion under hypoxic setting were investigated using thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. Image-iT™ Hypoxia Reagent was added to reveal hypoxic conditions. Stem cell sphere formation assay was used to detect the stemness. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers like E-cadherin, vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin, and pluripotent transcription factors including nanog homeobox, octamer-binding transcription factor 4, and sex-determining region Y box protein 2 were analyzed using Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot was performed to ascertain the anti-HCC effect of JR under hypoxia involving the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. RESULTS: According to network pharmacology and mRNA microarray chip analysis, JR may potentially act on hypoxia and inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that JR significantly decreased hypoxia, and suppressed HCC cell features of proliferation, migration and invasion; furthermore, the hypoxia-induced increases in EMT and stemness marker expression in HCC cells were inhibited by JR. Results based on the co-administration of JR and an agonist (LiCl) or inhibitor (IWR-1-endo) verified that JR suppressed HCC cancer stem-like properties under hypoxia by blocking the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. CONCLUSION JR exerts potent anti-HCC effects by inhibiting cancer stemness via abating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway under hypoxic conditions. Please cite this article as: Guo BJ, Ruan Y, Wang YJ, Xiao CL, Zhong ZP, Cheng BB, Du J, Li B, Gu W, Yin ZF. Jiedu Recipe, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, inhibits cancer stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma via Wnt/β-catenin pathway under hypoxia. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(5): 474-486.
Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; beta Catenin/pharmacology* ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; RNA, Messenger/therapeutic use* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Movement ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

Aim To study the ability of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on promoting neurogenesis in neural stem cell microenvironment after oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) injury in vitro. Methods Neural stem cells (NSCs), astrocytes (ACs) and cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) were respectively extracted and separated to establish a co-culture system. The OGD modeling conditions were optimized by NSCs activity, and the concentration of TMP was optimized by Nissl staining. Then CCK-8 and Nestin

[Abstract] Objective To investigate the appropriate X-ray angle which image can represent total proximal of femur according to the anatomic shape of the femoral neck section. Methods The anatomic parameter of the femoral neck section was observed and measured. Found the femoral neck was contained with three main surfaces of anterior surface, posterosuperior surface and posteroinferior surface. A model of surface fluoroscopy has been made by covering aluminum foil papers on the three surfaces of femoral neck. Taking the midpoint of the femoral neck as the fluoroscopy center, the C-arm was rotated at an interval of 10° between 0° and 170°, and the three aluminum foil paper models were taken for X-ray projection respectively. The X-ray angle with the smallest image of aluminum foil paper was taken as the appropriate X-ray angle of the surface. A penetrating model of the femoral neck internal fixation was made of three Kirschner wires penetrating through the anterior, posterosuperior and posteroinferior surfaces of femoral neck. The images of the penetrating Kirschner wires were observed through the traditional anteroposterior, lateral view and the three appropriate X-ray angle views obtained from the above test. Results The length of the three main surfaces accounts for 80. 95% of the circumference of the femoral neck. The anterior surface coronal angle was 18°, the posterosuperior surface coronal angle was 65°, and the posteroinferior surface coronal angle was 165°. The Appropriate X-ray angle of the three surfaces were 20°, 70° and 170° respectively. In the images of the three appropriate X-ray angles, the penetrating Kirschner wires of anterior surface, posterosuperior surface and posteroinferior surface of the femoral neck could be clearly observed respectively, while the penetrating Kirschner wire could not be completely found in the traditional anteroposterior and lateral images. Conclusion Traditional anteroposterior and lateral fluoroscopy can not accurately display the three-dimensional structure of femoral neck. By increasing the appropriate X-ray angle of 20°, 70° and 170°, the reduction quality and bony violation from internal fixation implants on the anterior surface, posterosuperior surface and posteroinferior surface of the femoral neck could be observed respectively.

Background With the change of the national energy development layout, Qingyang has seen a situation where oil exploitation and agriculture go hand in hand, which may lead to local soil pollution if not taken seriously. Objective To evaluate the distribution characteristics, possible sources, and ecological risks of heavy metals in farmland soils around the main production areas of Changqing Oilfield. Methods A total of 60 farmland soil samples were collected from Zhengning County, Zhenyuan County, and Qingcheng County of Qingyang City, and the contents of heavy metals such lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) in farmland soil were detected according to GB 15618-2018 Soil environmental quality—Risk control standard for soil contamination of agricultural land (on trial). The soil background value of Gansu Province was used as the denominator in the calculation of pollution index, and the pollution characteristics and ecological characteristics of selected five heavy metals in farmland soil were evaluated by single-factor pollution index (P_i), Nemerow comprehensive pollution index (P_N), and potential ecological risk index. Results The levels of Pb, As, and Hg in farmland soils around Changqing Oilfield, the levels of Cr and Cd in Qingcheng County, and the level of Cd in Zhengning County were higher than the corresponding soil background values of Gansu Province, but lower than the national soil environmental quality standard. The single-factor pollution indexes (P_i) were: Hg, 2.14; Pb, 1.24; As, 1.13; Cr, 0.78; Cd, 0.67, which indicated that Hg were graded as moderate pollution, Pb and As were slight pollution, and Cd and Cr were not polluted. The Nemerow comprehensive pollution indexes (P_N) were: Cr, 0.92; Cd, 1.08; As, 1.20; Pb, 1.68; Hg, 3.85, which indicated that Cr was graded as no pollution, Cd, Pb and As were mild pollution, and Hg was severe pollution. The variation coefficients of Hg and Cd in Zhenyuan County and that of Hg in Qingcheng County were 60.00%, 50.00%, and 50.00%, respectively, which were all greater than 50%, indicating that the pollution of above heavy metals in the location was subject to human activities. The potential ecological risk indexes (E_r) of Pb, Cr, Cd, As, and Hg were 6.20, 1.55, 20.05, 11.28, and 81.64, respectively, indicating that Hg was graded as strong ecological risk, and the other four heavy metals were mild ecological risk. The comprehensive potential ecological risk index (R_RI) was 124.48. Combined with the potential ecological risk index of Hg, the comprehensive potential ecological risk of the five heavy metals in local farmland soils was considered to be at a strong ecological risk level. Conclusion Although the average values of selected five heavy metals in farmland soils surrounding the main production areas of Changqing Oilfield are qualified with the national soil environmental quality standards, they exceed corresponding soil background values of Gansu Province, and there are signs of human influence and potential ecological risks of different degrees.

Aim To explore the neuroproteetion of Chuanxiong injection on post-stroke depression (PSD) and its effeet on cAMP-p-CREB-BDNF pathway in hip¬pocampus.Methods Hats were randomly divided into four groups of sham, model, low-dose ( 0.1 g • kg ~1 ) of Chuanxiong injection and high-dose (0.2 g • kg 1 ) of it.The PSD model was established by middle cere-bral artery occlusion ( MCAO) combined with chronic stress stimulation.After the treatment, the behaviors of rats were observed by the tests of sugar consumption, open-field and Morris water maze.The function and status of neurons in hippocampus CA1 area were detec¬ted by Nissl staining and Neun immunofluorescence.The expressions of cAMP-p-CREB-BDNF pathway pro¬teins in hippocampus were observed by Western blot.Results Both Chuanxiong injection groups of low-dose and high-dose significantly increased consumption of sugar water, horizontal anrl vertical movement scores, decreased total route distance and route near the plat, elevated the number of Nissl body in CA1 area, re¬stored the morphology of Nissl body, and enhanced the expressions of cAMP and p-CREB in hippocampus.Additionally, the high dose group shortened swimming duration, reduced distance ratio of near plat to far from plat, and increased the expressions of Neun and BD- NF.Conclusions Chuanxiong injection has the po¬tential of improving the behavior and neurological func¬tion of PSD rats via up-regulating cAMP-CREB-BDNF pathway, protecting the neurons in hippocampal CA1 area, and ultimately alleviating the cognitive deficiency of PSD rats.

To date, there is no report on the genetic diversity of ticks in these regions. A total of 370 representative ticks from the south and east regions of Kazakhstan (SERK) and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) were selected for molecular comparison. A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene, ranging from 631 bp to 889 bp, was used to analyze genetic diversity among these ticks. Phylogenetic analyses indicated 7 tick species including Hyalomma asiaticum, Hyalomma detritum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus turanicus and Haemaphysalis erinacei from the SERK clustered together with conspecific ticks from the XUAR. The network diagram of haplotypes showed that i) Hy. asiaticum from Almaty and Kyzylorda Oblasts together with that from Yuli County of XUAR constituted haplogroup H-2, and the lineage from Chimkent City of South Kazakhstan was newly evolved; and ii) the R. turanicus ticks sampled in Israel, Almaty, South Kazakhstan, Usu City, Ulugqat and Baicheng Counties of XUAR were derivated from an old lineage in Alataw City of XUAR. These findings indicate that: i) Hy. asiaticum, R. turanicus and Ha. erinacei shared genetic similarities between the SERK and XUAR; and ii) Hy. marginatum and D. reticulatus show differences in their evolution.