Objective To observe the improvement effect and mechanism of emodin on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced podocyte injury.Methods Human glomerular podocytes were used as the study object,and they were randomly divided into the blank control group,the LPS group,the emodin low-,medium-,and high-dose groups,and the emodin+lysophosphatidic acid[LP A,RhoA/RhoRho-associatedcoiled-coil kinase(ROCK)activator]group.Cell counting kit 8(CCK8)and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU)staining were applied to detect the proliferation of glomerular podocytes,Transwell assay was used to test the migration of glomerular podocytes,flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis of glomerular podocytes,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β,and IL-18 in the supernatant of glomerular podocytes,and the protein expression levels of RhoA and ROCK in glomerular podocytes were determined by Western Blot.Results The optical density(OD)450nm,EdU positive cell rate and migration number of glomerular podocytes in the LPS group were lower than those in the blank control group,and the apoptosis rate,the levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-18 in the supernatant,as well as the protein expression levels of RhoA and ROCK in the cells were higher than those in the blank control group,the differences being statistically significant(P＜0.05);the OD450nm,EdU positive cell rate and migration number of glomerular podocytes in the emodin low-,medium-,and high-dose groups were higher than those in the LPS group,while the apoptosis rate,levels of TNF-α,IL-1 β and IL-18 in supernatant,as well as RhoA and ROCK protein expression levels in cells were reduced compared with those in the LPS group,the differences being statistically significant(P＜0.05);the OD450nm and EdU positive cell rate and migration number of glomerular podocytes in LPA group were lower than those of emodin high-dose group,while the apoptosis rate,levels of TNF-α,IL-1 βand IL-18 in supernatant,as well as RhoA and ROCK protein expression levels in cells were higher than those of emodin high-dose group,the differences being all statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Emodin can improve LPS-induced podocyte injury,and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.

Objective Prepubertal mice are administered subcutaneously with letrozole sustained-release pellets behind the neck and treated with a high-fat diet to establish a mouse model of polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).The liver transcriptomes of the model mice are compared with those of the placebo control mice to investigate the underlying mechanisms of liver involvement in the pathogenesis of PCOS.Methods A customized 2 mg dose of letrozole sustained-release pellets with a 40-day release period was used.The control placebo and letrozole pellets were implanted subcutaneously in the dorsal cervical region of 3-4-week-old C57BL/6J mice(8 mice per group)to establish the control group and letrozole-induced PCOS model group.Both groups were treated with a high-fat diet starting the day after administration.The modeling period lasted for 5 weeks,during which body weight and 24-hour food intake were monitored in each group every week.When samples were collected,liver weight was recorded.Pathological changes in ovarian and hepatic tissues were examined by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,while hepatic lipid deposition was observed by Oil Red O staining.The extent of macrophage infiltration in the liver was evaluated via F4/80 immunohistochemical staining,and hepatic fibrosis levels were observed by Masson's trichrome staining.Transcriptomic sequencing was performed to analyze differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in liver tissues between the control and model groups,followed by enrichment analysis of significant DEGs.Quantitative real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(qPCR)was subsequently used to validate the expression of significant DEGs in liver tissues of both groups.Results Compared with the control group,the model group which received subcutaneous letrozole sustained-release pellets combined with a high-fat diet exhibited significantly increased body weight(P＜0.001),prominent polycystic ovarian morphology,and significantly decreased liver-to-body weight ratio(P＜0.05).However,no significant changes were observed in absolute liver weight(P＞0.05),hepatic histomorphology,or lipid deposition.Transcriptome sequencing identified 119 upregulated and 217 downregulated DEGs in the liver tissues of letrozole-treated mice,which were predominantly enriched in pathways related to cholesterol and steroid biosynthesis,steroid hormone metabolism,and inflammatory responses.qPCR validation demonstrated that mRNA expression of HSD3B2 and HMGCR was significantly upregulated in liver(P＜0.01),while mRNA expression of IL4,CCL2 and COL1A1 was downregulated(P＜0.05)in the model group compared with the control group.However,Masson's trichrome staining and F4/80 immunohistochemical analysis showed no significant changes in hepatic fibrosis or macrophage infiltration.Conclusion Subcutaneous administration of letrozole sustained-release pellets combined with a high-fat diet successfully establishes a mouse model of PCOS.The model mice exhibited significant changes in hepatic gene expression.Liver may contribute to PCOS pathogenesis through regulating cholesterol and steroid metabolism.

Objective Prepubertal mice are administered subcutaneously with letrozole sustained-release pellets behind the neck and treated with a high-fat diet to establish a mouse model of polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).The liver transcriptomes of the model mice are compared with those of the placebo control mice to investigate the underlying mechanisms of liver involvement in the pathogenesis of PCOS.Methods A customized 2 mg dose of letrozole sustained-release pellets with a 40-day release period was used.The control placebo and letrozole pellets were implanted subcutaneously in the dorsal cervical region of 3-4-week-old C57BL/6J mice(8 mice per group)to establish the control group and letrozole-induced PCOS model group.Both groups were treated with a high-fat diet starting the day after administration.The modeling period lasted for 5 weeks,during which body weight and 24-hour food intake were monitored in each group every week.When samples were collected,liver weight was recorded.Pathological changes in ovarian and hepatic tissues were examined by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,while hepatic lipid deposition was observed by Oil Red O staining.The extent of macrophage infiltration in the liver was evaluated via F4/80 immunohistochemical staining,and hepatic fibrosis levels were observed by Masson's trichrome staining.Transcriptomic sequencing was performed to analyze differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in liver tissues between the control and model groups,followed by enrichment analysis of significant DEGs.Quantitative real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(qPCR)was subsequently used to validate the expression of significant DEGs in liver tissues of both groups.Results Compared with the control group,the model group which received subcutaneous letrozole sustained-release pellets combined with a high-fat diet exhibited significantly increased body weight(P＜0.001),prominent polycystic ovarian morphology,and significantly decreased liver-to-body weight ratio(P＜0.05).However,no significant changes were observed in absolute liver weight(P＞0.05),hepatic histomorphology,or lipid deposition.Transcriptome sequencing identified 119 upregulated and 217 downregulated DEGs in the liver tissues of letrozole-treated mice,which were predominantly enriched in pathways related to cholesterol and steroid biosynthesis,steroid hormone metabolism,and inflammatory responses.qPCR validation demonstrated that mRNA expression of HSD3B2 and HMGCR was significantly upregulated in liver(P＜0.01),while mRNA expression of IL4,CCL2 and COL1A1 was downregulated(P＜0.05)in the model group compared with the control group.However,Masson's trichrome staining and F4/80 immunohistochemical analysis showed no significant changes in hepatic fibrosis or macrophage infiltration.Conclusion Subcutaneous administration of letrozole sustained-release pellets combined with a high-fat diet successfully establishes a mouse model of PCOS.The model mice exhibited significant changes in hepatic gene expression.Liver may contribute to PCOS pathogenesis through regulating cholesterol and steroid metabolism.

Objective:To investigate the CD163 expression characteristics in intracranial aneurysm (IA) tissue and blood of patients with IA and its feasibility as an early clinical screening indicator for IA.Methods:A total of 28 patients with IA admitted to Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2021 to November 2023 were selected as IA group, and 28 healthy subjects from Health Management Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University at the same time period were selected as control group. Eight saccular IA tissues and 12 superficial temporal artery tissues were collected from patients from IA group accepted IA clipping, and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the CD163 mRNA expression in these tissues. RT-qPCR was also used to detect the CD163 mRNA expression in the blood of the 2 groups. Seven patients with IA and 7 control subjects from the above 2 groups were randomly selected, respectively; and plasma CD163 protein content was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors for IA. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic values of blood CD163 mRNA expression and plasma CD163 protein content in IA. Results:CD163 mRNA expression in IA tissues was significantly higher than that in superficial temporal artery tissues (41.870±20.355 vs. 6.080±5.444, P<0.05). CD163 mRNA expression in the blood of IA patients was significantly higher than that in the controls (1.969[1.124, 2.318] vs. 1.124[0.933, 1.379], P<0.05). CD163 mRNA expression in the blood of ruptured IA group, unruptured IA group, and control group was gradually decreased, with significant differences ( P<0.05). CD163 mRNA expression in the blood of female IA patients was not statistically different compared with that in male IA patients ( P>0.05). ELISA showed that the CD163 protein content in plasma of the IA group was significantly higher than that in the control group [10.537±1.879] ng/L vs. [8.598±0.885] ng/L, P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age and CD163 mRNA expression in the blood were independent influencing factors for IA occurrence ( OR=0.844, 95% CI: 0.750-0.951, P=0.005; OR=0.111, 95% CI: 0.024-0.506, P=0.004). ROC curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of CD163 mRNA expression in blood in diagnosing IA was 0.759 (95% CI: 0.618-0.890, P=0.002), and that of CD163 protein content in plasma in diagnosing IA was 0.864 (95% CI: 0.610-1.000, P=0.035). Conclusion:CD163 mRNA expressions in blood and IA tissues and CD163 protein content in plasma are high in patients with IA; CD163 mRNA expression in blood is an independent risk factor for IA; CD163 protein in plasma can be used as a molecular marker for screening IA.

Objective:To evaluate endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy in treatment of children with acute uncomplicated appendicitis.Methods:Sixty children patients were admitted at the Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from Oct 2019 to Jun 2021 and were divided into ERAT group ( n=30) and LA group ( n=30). Results:All operations were successfully performed . ERAT children started oral feeding earlier [(6.8±2.0) h vs. (12.3±2.0) h, t=-10.636, P<0.001], postoperative hospital stay was shorter [(3.2±1.3) d vs. (5.0±1.3) d, t=-5.360, P<0.001]. After 14 months follow up, the recurrence rate in the ERAT group was 6%. The complication rate of LA was 10%. Conclusion:ERAT is a safe and effective therapy in treating children with acute uncomplicated appendicitis with low,acceptable recurrence rate.

Objective: To investigate the clinical practicability and prognostic value of Helsinki CT score in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 124 TBI patients admitted to First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from September 2016 to October 2018. There were 91 males and 33 females, aged 14-84 years, with an average age of 49 years. Glasgow coma score (GCS) at admission ranged from 3-8 points in 45 patients, 9-12 points in 42 patients, and 13-15 points in 37 patients. According to Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) at 6 months after injury, 26 patients were classified into the poor prognosis group with GOS of 1-3 points and 98 patients were in the good prognosis group with GOS of 4-5 points. The prognosis-related risk factors were analyzed, and the role of Helsinki CT score to predict the adverse prognosis and mortality of TBI patients in the two groups was investigated. The sensitivity and specificity of Helsinki CT Score for 6-month poor prognosis were evaluated by receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC). Results: Univariate analysis suggested that there were significant differences in terms of subdural hematoma, intracranial hematoma, extradural hematoma, hematoma volume >25 cm^3, intraventricular hemorrhage and suprasellar cistern pressure between the poor prognosis group and good prognosis group (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the mortality and bad prognosis were related to the hemorrhage of ventricles, the pressure of suprasellar cistern and the disappearance of suprasellar cistern in the poor prognosis group and the good prognosis group (P<0.05), while intracranial hematoma and hematoma volume showed no association with mortality and poor prognosis (P>0.05). The Helsinki CT score could independently predict the adverse prognosis and mortality of TBI patients at 6 months (multivariate logistic regression: OR_death=1.21, OR_{adverse prognosis}=1.14). Helsinki CT score had a better predictive ability of 6-month mortality (AUC=0.85) than that of 6-month adverse prognosis (AUC=0.76), and had a predictive value for 6-month mortality and adverse prognosis. Conclusions Subdural hematoma, extradural hematoma, intraventricular hemorrhage and suprasellar cistern state (compression or disappearance) are the risk factors for the poor prognosis of TBI patients. Intraventricular hemorrhage and suprasellar cistern state are the main risk factors for predicting the mortality of 6 months. Helsinki CT score can independently predict the adverse prognosis and mortality of TBI patients at 6 months, and has relatively better value in predicting the mortality.

Objective: To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of 18 cases of severe aortic stenosis with ventricular septum hypertrophy. Methods: Clinical data of 18 patients with severe aortic stenosis admitted to the first affiliated hospital of zhengzhou university from January 2013 to December 2016 were collected. There were 7 males and 11 females. The mean age was (50.4±4.2) years old. All patients were diagnosed with severe stenosis of main artery valve by echocardiography before surgery, with mean aortic valve orifice area (0.57±0.11) cm^2, cardiac function (NYHA classification) grade Ⅱ in 4 patients, grade Ⅲ in 9 patients, and grade Ⅳ in 5 patients. There were 8 patients with mild aortic valve insufficiency, 4 patients with mild to moderate mitral valve insufficiency, 2 patients with moderate to severe aortic valve insufficiency, 3 patients with ascending aorta dilatation (ascending aorta inner diameter>4.5 cm), and 1 patient with atrial fibrillation. Interventricular septum thickness (15.82±2.04)mm, left ventricular posterior wall thickness (14.04±1.28)mm, ratio of interventricular septum thickness to left ventricular posterior wall thickness (IVS/LVPW) 1.12±0.91, inner diameter of left ventricular outflow tract (19.01±1.74)mm, cross-lobe differential pressure (102±8.40) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) mean 0.49±0.05. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) (53.33±4.00) mm, left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) (27.11±1.99) mm, and left ventricular mass index (277.1±37.3) g/m². All patients underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) and partial interventricular septum resection under general anesthesia and conventional extracorporeal circulation, 2 patients underwent mitral valve formation (artificial valve ring), 2 patients underwent ascending aorta formation, and 1 patient underwent ascending aorta wrapping. During the operation, the time of extracorporeal circulation, aortic occlusion, number of defibrillation during the operation, type of valve implantation and postoperative complications were recorded. Regular follow-up was conducted to analyze the changes of various indexes at different preoperative and postoperative time. Results: There was no death in the whole group. 2 patients were treated with temporary pacemakers. After drug treatment, sinus rhythm was restored on the 3rd and 6th day after surgery, and temporary pacemakers were removed. Echocardiography reexamination 1 week after the operation showed that all patients had a good artificial valve function and 2 patients had minor regurgitation of mitral valve. The difference in pressure across the valve, inner diameter of the left ventricular outflow tract, cardiac function classification, ventricular septum thickness, valve orifice area, and left ventricular mass index were significantly improved compared with the preoperative level (P<0.05). LVEF, LVEDD, and LVESD were compared with the preoperative level (P<0.05). After 6 months of follow-up, the difference in LVEF and LVEDD was statistically significant compared with the preoperative level (P<0.05). Conclusion Severe aortic stenosis combined with ventricular septum hypertrophy and partial ventricular septal muscle resection is a simple additional procedure in the AVR process, which does not increase the surgical risk and has a significant effect, and is conducive to postoperative left ventricular function recovery.

The efficacy of decompressive craniectomy (DC) in reducing traumatic brain injury mortality has been affirmed,but there are also many serious complications.Syndrome of the trephined (ST) and paradoxical herniation (PH) are rare complications.ST is characterized by a series of neurological deterioration due to skin flaps subsidence from weeks to months after DC.These neurological impairments are closely related to the subsequent repair of skull defects.PH shows progressive decrease in consciousness on the basis of ST,changes in pupils on the side of skull defects,low touch pressure at the defect window,and obvious midline shift and brain stem compression on CT.ST and PH have common inducements in pathophysiology,including cerebrospinal fluid dynamics,atmospheric pressure,cerebral blood flow and brain material metabolism.There is no consensus on the diagnosis of ST and PH,and early cranioplasty is suggested in terms of treatment.This article reviews the clinical manifestations,pathophysiological changes,diagnosis and treatment of ST and PH after DC operation,so as to provide references for clinicians to further understand ST and PH.

Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of citicoline sodium combined with Shenxiong glucose in the treatment of senile hypertensive cerebral infarction in the elders.Methods 80 elderly patients with senile hypertensive cerebral infarctiontreated in our hospital were selected and randomly divided into the single treatment group and the combination treatment group,40 cases in each group.Both groups received the routine treatment.The single treatment group additionally received Shenxiong glucose injection (100 ml/d),while patients in the combination treatment group additionally received Shenqiong glucose injection combined with citicoline sodium intravenous infusion therapy (0.5 g/d),both groups were treated for 2 weeks.The levels of serum inflammatory factors,the neurological deficit score,the cognitive function score were compared and analyzed before and after treatment between two groups.Results After systemic treatment,the blood pressure and blood lipid levels of two groups were significantly improved,but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05);The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6,IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) of the combination treatment group improved more significantly (P ≤0.05).After treatment,the oxidative stress indexes were significantly improved in the two groups (P ≤ 0.05).The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased,while the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and nitric oxide (NO) content were increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05);and the improvement degree in the combination treatment group was better than in the single treatment group (P ≤0.05).The degree of improvement in the Modified Edinburgh-Scandinavia Stroke Scale (MESSS) and Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS) scores of the combination treatment group was more significant than those in the single treatment group (P ≤ 0.05).The total effective rate of the combination treatment group was 92.5％,which was significantly higher than that of the single group (75.0％),with statistically significant difference (P ≤ 0.05).No obvious adverse reactions happened in two groups during treatment.Conclusions Combination of citicoline sodium and shenxiang glucose on the basis of routine treatment can significantly reduce oxidative stress and inflammation levels,promote the recovery of neurological and cognitive functions,and improve the clinical efficacy and safety.It is worth popularizing and applying in the clinical treatment of senile hypertensive cerebral infarction.

Objective To explore the gender differences in the association between iron metabolism and bone turnover markers in elderly patients with fragility fracture.Methods A total of 271 patients admitted in our hospital from Aug 2014 to Oct 2017 with osteoporotic fractures were divided into two groups:109 males and 162 females,aged from 60 to 92 years.Both groups were further divided into 3 age groups(60 to 70,71 to 80,and ≥81 year group).Biochemical indicators,serum ferritin and bone turnover markers were detected eight hours after admission.Results In the male group,there were no statistical differences in serum ferritin and serum procollagen type Ⅰ Nterminal propeptide(PINP) among age groups (all P ＞ 0.05).Serum β-carboxy terminal telopeptide of collagen type Ⅰβ-CTX(β-CTX)was elevated with ageing.In the female group,serum ferritin,PINP,and β-CTX were elevated with ageing.There was a significant positive correlation between serum ferritin and β-CTX in two gender groups (all P ＜ 0.05)without gender difference.Gender difference was observed in the correlation between serum ferritin and PINP between two gender groups:a significant positive correlation in the female group (r =0.255,P =0.001)whereas a significant negative correlation in the male group(r=-0.207,P=0.031).Conclusions There are gender differences in correlations of serum ferritin with bone turnover markers.Increased iron accumulation in postmenopausal women is closely correlated with high bone turnover rate.