Stress is a critical inducer in the onset and progression of many chronic diseases. Prolonged or intense stress can disrupt the overall balance between the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. The resulting biological signals may act on corresponding receptors in the cervical spine region, leading to adverse pathological changes. The vertebral artery and the surrounding muscular and connective tissues are influenced by biomechanical abnormalities and inflammatory cascades associated with cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA), which promotes the release of various hormones. These hormones, through the neuroendocrine-immune system, affect the central nervous system, inducing or exacerbating negative emotional feedback and thereby establishing a "central-local-central" vicious cycle. This article explores the mechanisms underlying the impact of stress on the key CSA symptoms through the neuroendocrine-immune network (NEI) theory, providing a more comprehensive framework for targeted therapeutic interventions in CSA.
Humans ; Neurosecretory Systems/immunology* ; Spondylosis/etiology* ; Vertebral Artery/immunology* ; Stress, Psychological/complications* ; Chronic Disease

Objective To compare the effect of sodium hualuronate(SH)and platelet rich plasma(PRP)injections in the treatment of glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis(GJO).Methods Sixty-three patients with GJO were randomly assigned to receive either PRP(PRP group,n=29)or SH(SH group,n=34)injec-tions.The injections were administered into the glenohumeral joint under ultrasound guidance.The patients were assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS),American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons(ASES)score and modified University of California(UCLA)shoulder joint score before injection and at 1,6,12 months of injection.Results There were no statistically significant differences in the general data between the two groups(P>0.05).Compared with before injection,the VAS scores at 1,6,and 12 months after injection in the two groups were significantly decreased(P<0.05).The VAS score at 12 months after injection in the SH group was significantly increased(P<0.05).The VAS score at 12 months after injection in the PRP group was lower than that in the SH group(P<0.05).The ASES scores showed a significant increase at 1 month after injection compared to before treatment(P<0.05),moreover the ASES scores at 6 months after injection in the PRP group were higher than those in the SH group(P<0.05).Compared with before injection,the modified UCLA shoulder joint scores at 1,6 months after injection in the two groups were significantly in-creased(P<0.05),moreover the scores of the modified UCLA shouder joint scores at 6 months after injec-tion in the PRP group were higher than those in the SH group(P<0.05).Conclusion Pain relief in intraar-ticular injection of PRP in GJO patients is more significant than intraarticular injection of SH,moreover PRP is significantly superior to SH in improving the shoulder joint function of the patients.

Tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)are the predominant cell group in the tumor microenvironment(TME)and are the most important regulatory cells of immune system suppression and tumor cell proliferation in TIME.Src homology-2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2(SHP-2)is a non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase that plays an important role in the transmission of signals from the cell surface to the nucleus.SHP-2 is a key intracellular regulatory factor mediating cell proliferation and differentiation and is involved in a variety of growth factor and cytokine signaling pathways linking the cell surface to the nucleus.Recent studies have shown that SHP-2 is a key enzyme in determining the function of TAMs,but because of its variable function,it plays different or even opposite roles in different solid TMEs.This paper reviews the function of SHP-2 in TAMs and related solid tumors to provide a comprehensive reference for tumor immunity and targeted therapy research.

BACKGROUND:Ischemic stroke is a serious threat to human health.After ischemia and hypoxia,astrocyte expresses lipocalin-2 in large amounts to aggravate brain injury,but the specific mechanism is not clear.Hydroxysafflor yellow A has anti-ischemia,anti-oxidation,anti-thrombosis and anti-inflammatory effects.However,whether hydroxysafflor yellow A affects the expression of lipocalin-2 in astrocytes after cerebral ischemia and hypoxia and its mechanism are not clear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect and mechanism of hydroxysafflor yellow A on the expression of lipocalin-2 in astrocytes after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS:(1)Thirty adult SD rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham operation group,middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion group,and hydroxysafflor yellow A group.The middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion model was established in the latter two groups,and hydroxysafflor yellow A group was intraperitoneally injected with 12 mg/kg hydroxysafflor yellow A after reperfusion.Longa score was used to evaluate the degree of neurological impairment.Infarct volume was determined by TTC staining.JAK2/STAT3 pathway and lipocalin-2 expression were detected by western blot assay and immunofluorescence.Levels of interleukin 1β,interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α were detected by ELISA.(2)Astrocytes were divided into four groups:Normal group,glucose-oxygen deprivation group,hydroxysafflor yellow A group and AG490 group.In the latter three groups,glucose-oxygen deprivation and glucose-oxygen recovery models were established.Astrocytes were treated with 75 μmol/L hydroxysafflor yellow A and 10 μmol/L tyrosine phosphorylation inhibitor AG490 for 8 hours during glucose-oxygen deprivation,respectively.The mechanism of hydroxysafflor yellow A on lipocalin-2 was further verified. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the sham operation group,cerebral infarction was significantly increased in the middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion group,accompanied by aggravated neurological impairment(P<0.01).Hydroxysafflor yellow A treatment could reduce cerebral infarction volume and improve neurological function(P<0.01).(2)The expressions of p-JAK2,p-STAT3 and lipocalin-2 in the middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion group were higher than those in the sham operation group(P<0.01).Hydroxysafflor yellow A treatment reduced the expressions of JAK2,STAT3 and lipocalin-2(P<0.01).(3)The expression levels of interleukin 1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α in the middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion group were higher than those in the sham operation group(P<0.01).Hydroxysafflor yellow A inhibited the expressions of interleukin 1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α(P<0.01).(4)In vitro,the expressions of p-JAK2,p-STAT3 and lipocalin-2 in the glucose-oxygen deprivation group were significantly higher than those in the normal group(P<0.01).After adding AG490,the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 decreased,and the expression of lipocalin-2 was inhibited(P<0.01).The results suggest that hydroxysafflor yellow A may inhibit the expression of lipocalin-2 in astrocytes after ischemia and hypoxia by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway,thereby reducing brain injury.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of the South African herb Hoodia gordonii （HG） on glucolipid metabolism in diabetic db/db mice and explore the possible mechanisms of HG on the liver of db/db mice based on the phosphoinositide-3 kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/factor forkhead protein O1 （FoxO1） signaling pathway. MethodA total of 30 db/db mice were randomly divided into five groups according to fasting blood glucose： model group， metformin group （0.195 g·kg^-1）， and low dose （0.39 g·kg^-1）， medium dose （0.78 g·kg^-1）， and high dose （1.56 g·kg^-1） HG groups， with six m/m mice in each group， and another six m/m mice were set as normal group. The mice in the normal and model groups were given saline of 9 mL·kg^-1 by gavage. Body weight， water intake， and fasting blood glucose of the mice in each group were measured weekly. After six weeks of continuous administration， serum insulin （FINS）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL）， total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， urea， and creatinine （CREA） were measured， and liver sections were embedded and stained with hematoxylin-eosin （HE）， periodic acid-Schiff （PAS）， and oil red O. Protein expression of PI3K p85， p-Akt， and p-FoxO1 in liver was detected by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of PI3K， Akt， and FoxO1 in liver tissue was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultAfter six weeks of administration intervention， it was found that fasting blood glucose was significantly downregulated in mice in the three HG groups （P<0.05）. The level of islet resistance index was significantly reduced in both the low and medium dose HG groups （P<0.05）. The expression levels of TC， TG， and LDL were reduced in all HG groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Pathologically， HG could alleviate hepatocyte steatosis， reduce the volume and content of lipid droplets in liver， and increase the distribution of glycogen granules in liver to some extent in mice. Immunohistochemical assays revealed that PI3K p85 protein expression was significantly increased in the low， medium， and high dose HG groups compared with the model group （P<0.01）. p-Akt protein expression was significantly increased in the medium and high dose HG groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. p-FoxO1 protein expression was significantly increased in the low， medium， and high dose HG groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， PI3K mRNA was increased in low dose， medium dose， and high dose HG groups （P<0.05）， and Akt mRNA was increased in high dose HG group （P<0.05）. FoxO1 mRNA was decreased in low dose， medium dose， and high dose HG groups （P<0.05）. ConclusionHG can ameliorate the disorder of glucolipid metabolism in db/db mice， which may be related to its activation of the hepatic PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway.

Objectives:To explore the effects of interatrial shunt on cardiac function and clinical prognosis of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF). Methods:This study was a prospective single-arm study.From December 2021 to December 2022,15 consecutive patients with HFrEF from Beijing Anzhen Hospital were enrolled in this study.Interatrial shunt was performed with a D-Shant atrial shunt device.Right heart catheterization was performed before and immediately after device implantation,pulmonary capillary wedge pressure(PCWP),mean right atrial pressure(RAP),interatrial gradient pressure,mean pulmonary artery pressure,total pulmonary resistance(TPR),pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR),cardiac index(CI),and pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio(Qp/Qs)were measured.Patients were followed-up for 12 months after procedure,changes in cardiac structure and function were evaluated by echocardiography.NYHA classification,6-minute walking distance(6MWD),and Kansas City cardiomyopathy questionnaire(KCCQ)were observed.All-cause mortality and rehospitalization for heart failure served as clinical endpoints. Results:Interatrial shunt procedure was successful in all patients.Compared with preoperative value,PCWP,interatrial gradient pressure,mean pulmonary artery pressure,and TPR were significantly decreased,while Qp/Qs was significantly increased immediately after procedure(all P<0.01).There were no significant changes in RAP,PVR,and CI post procedure(all P>0.05).There were no significant differences in shunt size,shunt velocity,and shunt pressure difference between postoperative immediately and at 12-months follow-up(all P>0.05).At 12 months,left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher than baseline level(P<0.05),and there were no significant changes in right atrial diameter and right ventricular fractional area change(both P>0.05).Compared with preoperative status,NYHA classification was improved,KCCQ score was increased,and the number of patients with 6MWD>450 m was increased at 12 months(all P<0.05).N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide value was significantly decreased at 12 months(P<0.05).No patient died during the 12-months follow-up period,and there were no device-related adverse events.Two patients experienced hospital readmission for heart failure. Conclusions:Implantation of interatrial shunt device could effectively improve hemodynamic parameters in patients with HFrEF and is related to significantly improved cardiac function at 12-months follow-up.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has reached maturity and has entered a stage of steady and stable development in China.From 2017 to 2023,the number of centers conducting TAVR in China has increased from less than 10 to over 600,and the annual implantation volume has increased from hundreds to over 10000.The 2018 and 2021 editions of the "Expert Consensus on Clinical Pathway for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in China" played a crucial guiding role during the golden period of TAVR development in China.With significant progress in evidence-based practice,clinical experience,guideline updates,device development,and procedure technique improvements in the TAVR field,especially the important advances in technologies developed from China,protocol optimization based on Chinese clinical practices,it is necessary to update the previous clinical pathway consensus.The new version of the clinical pathway expert consensus has updated the standard procedures for preoperative clinical assessment,perioperative imaging evaluation,standardized procedural processes,comprehensive perioperative management,and postoperative rehabilitation follow-up for TAVR patients.This update aims to further promote the healthy and standardized development of TAVR technology in China and to steadily enhance the medical and scientific research capabilities with this therapeutic technology.

Objective To analyze the sensitivity of ARHGAP8 in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the patients with locally advanced mid-low colorectal cancer and provide accurate evidence for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.Methods The differentially expressed gene ARHGAP8 was screened out by bioinformatics analysis.Cancer tissue and rectal tissue of 68 patients with primary rectal cancer were select-ed.The rectal cancer tissue samples and the rectal tissue samples were collected for clinical validation of ARH-GAP8 expression by quantitative real-time PCR,Western blotting,and immunohistochemistry.The clinical and pathological features such as gender,age,tumor stage,differentiation degree,and pathological type of the pa-tients were collected for functional validation.Forty-four patients with locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were selected for immunohistochemical examination of ARHGAP8 expres-sion.The expression level of ARHGAP8 was compared between before and after chemotherapy and among different efficacy groups.Results The bioinformatics analysis revealed differences in the expression level of ARHGAP8 between the cancer tissue and rectal tissue(P＜0.001).The expression level of ARHGAP8 was correlated with tumor stage(P=0.024),lymph node metastasis(P=0.007),and age(P=0.005).Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that the mRNA level of ARHGAP8 in the cancer tissue was higher than that in the rectal tis-sue(P＜0.001).Western blotting and immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that the protein level of ARH-GAP8 in the cancer tissue was higher than that in the rectal tissue(P=0.011).The expression of ARHGAP8 was correlated with tumor size(P=0.010)and pathological stage(P=0.005),while it showed no significant association with tumor differentiation degree,lymph node metastasis,liver metastasis,Ki-67,or microsatellite instability expression level.The 44 patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy included 13,8,8,and 15 pa-tients of tumor regression grades 0,1,2,and 3,respectively.Among them,65.91％(29/44)patients showed responses to the treatment.After neoadjuvant chemotherapy,the expression of ARHGAP8 in the cancer tissue was down-regulated in the patients who responded to the chemotherapy(P＜0.001).The response rate in the patients with low protein level of ARHGAP8 was 92.86％,which was higher than that(53.33％)in the patients with high pro-tein level of ARHGAP8(P=0.033).Conclusions ARHGAP8 is highly expressed in the rectal cancer tissue.The pa-tients with locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer and low ARHGAP8 expression are more sensitive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the XELOX protocol.ARHGAP8 can serve as a potential biomarker for the occurrence and develop-ment of rectal cancer and an important index for evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the XELOX protocol in the patients with locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer.

Objective To analyze the daily quality assurance(QA)measurement results of IBA Sphinx Compact device on the Mevion compact pencil beam scanning proton therapy system for evaluating its clinical application value in proton therapy.Methods The daily QA measurement of Mevion S250i proton therapy system was carried out with Sphinx Compact device for 30 consecutive days,and the measurement results were analyzed.Results The average deviation between the positioning laser and the image center was(0.42±0.27)mm in 30 days.All of the proximal and distal depth errors of the high-and low-energy pencil beams were within 0.50 mm.The position deviation of all the spots measured did not exceed 1.00 mm,and the size deviation was less than 7.5%.The deviation between the image center and the beam center was not more than 0.75 mm.The relative deviation of the flatness of the rectangular field was about 0.5%.The deviation of the output dose of the square field was within 1.0%.Conclusion The proton system daily QA measurement items recommended by AAPM TG-224 report can be accurately and rapidly measured with Sphinx Compact device.The device is a practical and efficient daily QA tool with high practical value in clinic.

Objective:To discuss the acceptance test of beam performance and mechanical precision of the first Mevion type S250i proton therapy system in China,and verify the stability and reliability of that in clinical treatment.Methods:According to the requirements of acceptance report of manufacturer,the output and range of machine unit(MU),the accuracy and stability of size and position of beam spot,the penumbra and position accuracy of adaptive aperture(AA)of Mevion type S250i proton therapy system,as well as the tests of mechanical properties and functions of the requirement of clinical use,were checked and tested for acceptance.Results:The maximum deviation of MU output was 1.3%,and the maximum deviation of the range was 0.037 g/cm2,and the maximum distal fall-off was 0.465 cm,and the minimum range of energy modulation was 0.21 g/cm2.The maximum deviations of the size of beam spot and the maximum deviation of the position were respectively 0.07 cm and 0.05 cm.The maximum AA penumbra was 0.007 cm,and the AA position accuracy was less than 0.1 cm.Conclusion:The acceptance test of the Mevion type S250i proton therapy system indicates that the parameters of the beam performance and mechanical precision can meet the requirements of the acceptance contract and AAPM-TG224 report of manufacturer,which has verified the machine has better favorable stability and reliability.