Objective To investigate the effects of icariin on myocardial cell apoptosis and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)/Smad3 signaling pathway in rats with septic myocardial damage.Methods A septic myocardial damage model was established in SD rats via intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide.The rats with septic myocardial damage were randomly divided into model,low-dose icariin,high-dose icariin,and high-dose icariin+SRI-011381 groups(n=10 per group).An additional 10 rats that received intraperi-toneal injection of an equal volume of normal saline served as the control group.The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD),left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVESD),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),and left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP)were detected using ultrasound instrument.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining was used to detect the morphology of myocardial tissue.Trans-mission electron microscopy was used to measure the ultrastructure of myocardial tissue.The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum markers of myocardial damage including cardiac troponin T(cTnT)and creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB(CK-MB)and inflammatory cytokines including interlenkin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α).Western blotting was performed to assess the expression of TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway-related proteins in the myocardial tissue of rats in each group.Results Compared with the control group,LVEDD,LVESD,myocardial pathological score,myocardial cell apoptosis rate,the cTnT,CK-MB,IL-6,and TNF-α levels,TGF-β1 protein expression,and p-Smad3/Smad3 in the model group were higher(P＜0.05),while LVEF and LVSP were lower(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the pathological indictors of rats in the low-and high-dose icariin groups were improved,and high-dose icariin had a stronger effect.SRI-011381 could weaken the improvement effect of icariin on various pathological indicators in rats with septic myocardial damage.Conclusion Icariin can inhibit the inflammatory response in rats with sepsis by blocking the activation of the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway,thereby reducing myocardial cell apoptosis and myocardial damage.

Objective:To explore the application of the suspension culture method in pancreatic cancer organoid construction.Methods:Cell suspensions obtained from 8 pancreatic cancer tissue samples at the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University between July 2023 and March 2024, were prepared by digested pancreatic cancer tumor tissues using mixed enzymes, inoculated into ultra-low adsorption culture plates for suspension culture, and when the organoids were cultured to a certain size, passaging and freezing were initiated, and their structural morphology was observed by inverted microscope. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining showed that pancreatic cancer organoids were lumpy or irregularly tubular, with obvious nuclear atypia, and were remarkably similar in tissue structure to pancreatic cancer tissue.Results:Among the 8 pancreatic cancer tissue samples, pancreatic cancer organoids were successfully constructed in three patients, and HE staining showed that pancreatic cancer organoids had a high degree of structural similarity with tumor tissues. Immunohistochemistry suggested that CK7, CK19, P53, and Ki-67 were expressed in the pancreatic cancer organoids and tumor tissues of case origin in more or less the same way.Conclusion:The suspension culture method is able to construct pancreatic cancer-like organs that are approximately the same as the originating tumor tissues at the tissue level.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge （Lamiaceae） is a medicinal plant widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Chloroplasts are double-membrane-bound, chlorophyll-containing organelles and responsible for photosynthesis in plant cells. The structural information of chloroplast genomes serves as the foundation for precise exogenous gene insertion, site selection, and chloroplast genome modification. In this study, a comprehensive analysis and comparison of 125 chloroplast genomes from S. miltiorrhiza and 76 congeneric species were conducted, focusing on sequence characteristics, codon usage bias, simple sequence repeats （SSRs）, contraction/expansion of chloroplast genome boundaries, and phylogenetic relationships, which could provide a theoretical foundation for advancing chloroplast genetic engineering, genetic diversity analysis, molecular breeding, and species identification within the Salvia genus.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of flexible vacuum-assisted ureteral access sheath(FV-UAS)plus flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy(FURL)and percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL)in the treatment of 2-3 cm lower calyx stones,so as to provide reference for clinical treatment options of this type of stones.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 114 patients with lower calyx stones admitted to our hospital during May 2021 and May 2024.Based on the surgical approaches,the patients were divided into the FV-UAS-FURL group(n=57)and PCNL group(n=57).The general data,biochemical indicators,operation time,complication rate,stone-free rate(SFR)and other clinical data of the two groups were compared.Results There were no significant differences in the general data,SFR 1 day(70.2％vs.59.6％,P=0.239)and 1 month(84.2％vs.78.9％,P=0.469)(P＞0.05)after the surgery between the PCNL group and FV-UAS-FURL group.Compared to the PCNL group,the FV-UAS-FURL group had greater decrease in hemoglobin level[1.00(-6.00,6.00)g/L vs.4.50(0,12.75)g/L,P=0.010],shorter operation time[87.0(60.5,121.5)min vs.112.0(90.0,122.5)min,P=0.004],shorter hospital stay[1.0(1.0,4.0)d vs.8.0(6.5,10.0)d,P＜0.001],and lower incidence of postoperative hematuria(15.8％vs.31.6％,P=0.047)and fever(5.3％vs.22.8％,P=0.007).Conclusion Both PCNL and FV-UAS-FURL can safely and effectively treat 2-3 cm lower calyx stones.However,FV-UAS-FURL has advantages over PCNL,including fewer postoperative complications,shorter operation time,and shorter hospital stay,making it a better surgical choice.

Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of ischemic stroke. Antiplatelet aggregation is considered as the effective treatment for atherosclerotic ischemic stroke. Ticagrelor is a novel P2Y12 receptor antagonist, which has the advantages as rapid onset, strong effect, no need for liver metabolism activation and reversible platelet inhibition. Studies have confirmed that ticagrelor has a better therapeutic effect on ischemic stroke patients who are resistant to clopidogrel; especially in dual antiplatelet therapy, patients used ticagrelor have lower stroke risk and severe hemorrhage risk does not increase in these patients. This article reviews the recent advances in mechanism of ticagrelor and its application in acute ischemic stroke, with the aim of providing references for clinical application of ticagrelor.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of flexible vacuum-assisted ureteral access sheath(FV-UAS)plus flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy(FURL)and percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL)in the treatment of 2-3 cm lower calyx stones,so as to provide reference for clinical treatment options of this type of stones.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 114 patients with lower calyx stones admitted to our hospital during May 2021 and May 2024.Based on the surgical approaches,the patients were divided into the FV-UAS-FURL group(n=57)and PCNL group(n=57).The general data,biochemical indicators,operation time,complication rate,stone-free rate(SFR)and other clinical data of the two groups were compared.Results There were no significant differences in the general data,SFR 1 day(70.2％vs.59.6％,P=0.239)and 1 month(84.2％vs.78.9％,P=0.469)(P＞0.05)after the surgery between the PCNL group and FV-UAS-FURL group.Compared to the PCNL group,the FV-UAS-FURL group had greater decrease in hemoglobin level[1.00(-6.00,6.00)g/L vs.4.50(0,12.75)g/L,P=0.010],shorter operation time[87.0(60.5,121.5)min vs.112.0(90.0,122.5)min,P=0.004],shorter hospital stay[1.0(1.0,4.0)d vs.8.0(6.5,10.0)d,P＜0.001],and lower incidence of postoperative hematuria(15.8％vs.31.6％,P=0.047)and fever(5.3％vs.22.8％,P=0.007).Conclusion Both PCNL and FV-UAS-FURL can safely and effectively treat 2-3 cm lower calyx stones.However,FV-UAS-FURL has advantages over PCNL,including fewer postoperative complications,shorter operation time,and shorter hospital stay,making it a better surgical choice.

Objective:To explore the application of the suspension culture method in pancreatic cancer organoid construction.Methods:Cell suspensions obtained from 8 pancreatic cancer tissue samples at the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University between July 2023 and March 2024, were prepared by digested pancreatic cancer tumor tissues using mixed enzymes, inoculated into ultra-low adsorption culture plates for suspension culture, and when the organoids were cultured to a certain size, passaging and freezing were initiated, and their structural morphology was observed by inverted microscope. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining showed that pancreatic cancer organoids were lumpy or irregularly tubular, with obvious nuclear atypia, and were remarkably similar in tissue structure to pancreatic cancer tissue.Results:Among the 8 pancreatic cancer tissue samples, pancreatic cancer organoids were successfully constructed in three patients, and HE staining showed that pancreatic cancer organoids had a high degree of structural similarity with tumor tissues. Immunohistochemistry suggested that CK7, CK19, P53, and Ki-67 were expressed in the pancreatic cancer organoids and tumor tissues of case origin in more or less the same way.Conclusion:The suspension culture method is able to construct pancreatic cancer-like organs that are approximately the same as the originating tumor tissues at the tissue level.

Objective To investigate the effects of icariin on myocardial cell apoptosis and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)/Smad3 signaling pathway in rats with septic myocardial damage.Methods A septic myocardial damage model was established in SD rats via intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide.The rats with septic myocardial damage were randomly divided into model,low-dose icariin,high-dose icariin,and high-dose icariin+SRI-011381 groups(n=10 per group).An additional 10 rats that received intraperi-toneal injection of an equal volume of normal saline served as the control group.The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD),left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVESD),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),and left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP)were detected using ultrasound instrument.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining was used to detect the morphology of myocardial tissue.Trans-mission electron microscopy was used to measure the ultrastructure of myocardial tissue.The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum markers of myocardial damage including cardiac troponin T(cTnT)and creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB(CK-MB)and inflammatory cytokines including interlenkin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α).Western blotting was performed to assess the expression of TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway-related proteins in the myocardial tissue of rats in each group.Results Compared with the control group,LVEDD,LVESD,myocardial pathological score,myocardial cell apoptosis rate,the cTnT,CK-MB,IL-6,and TNF-α levels,TGF-β1 protein expression,and p-Smad3/Smad3 in the model group were higher(P＜0.05),while LVEF and LVSP were lower(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the pathological indictors of rats in the low-and high-dose icariin groups were improved,and high-dose icariin had a stronger effect.SRI-011381 could weaken the improvement effect of icariin on various pathological indicators in rats with septic myocardial damage.Conclusion Icariin can inhibit the inflammatory response in rats with sepsis by blocking the activation of the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway,thereby reducing myocardial cell apoptosis and myocardial damage.

Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of ischemic stroke. Antiplatelet aggregation is considered as the effective treatment for atherosclerotic ischemic stroke. Ticagrelor is a novel P2Y12 receptor antagonist, which has the advantages as rapid onset, strong effect, no need for liver metabolism activation and reversible platelet inhibition. Studies have confirmed that ticagrelor has a better therapeutic effect on ischemic stroke patients who are resistant to clopidogrel; especially in dual antiplatelet therapy, patients used ticagrelor have lower stroke risk and severe hemorrhage risk does not increase in these patients. This article reviews the recent advances in mechanism of ticagrelor and its application in acute ischemic stroke, with the aim of providing references for clinical application of ticagrelor.