ObjectiveTo investigate the regulatory effect of icariin （ICA） on transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁）/Smad pathway in bone microvascular endothelial cells （BMECs） and the effect on autophagy in BMECs. MethodsBMECs were isolated and cultured， and the cell types were identified by immunofluorescence. Cells were divided into the control group， model group （0.1 g·L^-1 methyl prednisolone）， ICA group （0.1 g·L^-1 methyl prednisolone +1×10^-5 mol·L^-1 ICA）， and TGF-β inhibitor group （0.1 g·L^-1 methyl prednisolone +1×10^-5 mol·L^-1 ICA +1×10^-5 mol·L^-1 LY2157299）. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure and autophagosome number of BMECs. Autophagy double-standard adenovirus was used to monitor the confocal autophagy flow generation of each cell. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were used to detect the gene and protein expression of autophagy in the TGF-β₁/ Smad pathway. ResultsAfter cell separation culture， platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule （CD31） and von willebrand factor （vWF） immunofluorescence identified BMECs. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the cell membrane was damaged， and the nucleus was pyknotic and broken in the model group. Compared with the model group， the ICA group had complete cell membranes， clear structures， with autophagy-lysosome sparsely distributed. The confocal photo showed that BMECs had autophagosomes and autophagy-lysosomes， and the autophagy expression of the ICA group was similar to that of the blank group. Compared with the blank group， in the model group and the LY2157299 group， autophagosomes and autophagy-lysosomes were barely seen in the autophagy flow. Compared with the blank group， the mRNA and protein expressions of autophagy effector protein 1 （Beclin1） and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B （LC3B） in the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and those of ubiquitin-binding protein （p62） were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of TGF-β₁， Smad homolog 2 （Smad2）， and Smad homolog 3 （Smad3） decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The protein expressions of TGF-β₁， p-Smad2， and p-Smad3 were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with those of the model group， the mRNA and protein expression of Beclin1 and LC3B in BMECs of the ICA group increased （P<0.01）， and those of p62 significantly reduced （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of TGF-β₁， Smad2， and Smad3 increased significantly （P<0.01）. The protein expression of TGF-β₁， p-Smad2， and p-Smad3 increased significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the model group， the mRNA and protein expressions of Beclin1， LC3B， and p62 in the inhibitor group were not statistically significant. The expression of key genes and proteins of the TGF-β₁ pathway in the inhibitor group was not statistically significant. ConclusionICA can promote glucocorticoid-induced autophagy expression of BMECs， and its mechanism may be related to activating the TGF-β₁/Smad signaling pathway.

Objective To compare the diagnostic performance of three breast MRI measurement methods—RECIST 1.1,the optimal method,and three-dimensional(3D)volumetric assessment—in assessing the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)in breast cancer patients,with the objective of identifying the most clinically practical approach.Methods A total of 110 breast cancer patients who underwent NAC followed by surgical treatment between 2019 and 2023 were included in the study.Breast magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)was conducted within one week before and after the completion of NAC.Tumor response was evaluated using RECIST 1.1 criteria,widely recognized as the optimal method,as well as 3D volume measurement.Pathological response was determined according to the Miller-Payne grading system.Sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)were computed and compared using the DeLong test.Results The AUC values for RECIST 1.1,the optimal method,and 3D volumetric assessment were 0.768,0.795,and 0.883,respectively.The 3D volumetric assessment exhibited significantly better discriminative performance(P＜0.05),with the highest sensitivity(98.9％),specificity(77.8％),and accuracy(95.5％).Additionally,the optimal method demonstrated superior performance over RECIST 1.1 across multiple parameters.Conclusions 3D volumetric mea-surement demonstrates superior performance compared to RECIST 1.1 and the optimal method in evaluating the response to NAC,offering a more accurate and comprehensive assessment tool.Additionally,the optimal method shows advantages over RECIST 1.1 and may serve as a practical alternative in settings where 3D software is not available.

Objective To compare the diagnostic performance of three breast MRI measurement methods—RECIST 1.1,the optimal method,and three-dimensional(3D)volumetric assessment—in assessing the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)in breast cancer patients,with the objective of identifying the most clinically practical approach.Methods A total of 110 breast cancer patients who underwent NAC followed by surgical treatment between 2019 and 2023 were included in the study.Breast magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)was conducted within one week before and after the completion of NAC.Tumor response was evaluated using RECIST 1.1 criteria,widely recognized as the optimal method,as well as 3D volume measurement.Pathological response was determined according to the Miller-Payne grading system.Sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)were computed and compared using the DeLong test.Results The AUC values for RECIST 1.1,the optimal method,and 3D volumetric assessment were 0.768,0.795,and 0.883,respectively.The 3D volumetric assessment exhibited significantly better discriminative performance(P＜0.05),with the highest sensitivity(98.9％),specificity(77.8％),and accuracy(95.5％).Additionally,the optimal method demonstrated superior performance over RECIST 1.1 across multiple parameters.Conclusions 3D volumetric mea-surement demonstrates superior performance compared to RECIST 1.1 and the optimal method in evaluating the response to NAC,offering a more accurate and comprehensive assessment tool.Additionally,the optimal method shows advantages over RECIST 1.1 and may serve as a practical alternative in settings where 3D software is not available.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) in Jiangsu province during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in China from December 7, 2022 to January 27, 2023, and to analyze the influencing factors of all-cause death.Methods:It was a multi-center cross-sectional investigation. Structured questionnaire was used to collect patient information by medical staff of each hemodialysis center (room) as investigators. Part of the demography data and laboratory examination data came from the Jiangsu Province Hemodialysis Data Information System. MHD patients from hemodialysis centers (rooms) at all levels of medical institutions and independent hemodialysis institutions in Jiangsu province during the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection were included, and the clinical characteristics and all-cause mortality of confirmed and suspected cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were analyzed.Results:Questionnaire surveys and data analysis on 57 278 patients in 407 hemodialysis centers (rooms) were completed, accounting for 90.41% of the total number of MHD patients (63 357 cases) in Jiangsu province during the same period. There were 24 038 cases (41.97%) of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 14 805 cases (25.85%) of suspected infection, which were widely distributed in all dialysis centers in Jiangsu province. After clinical classification of 38 843 confirmed and suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection cases, 3 662 cases were severe and critical cases, accounting for 9.43% of the infected and suspected cases. Among the patients who had completed the questionnaires, there were 1 812 all-cause deaths, with an all-cause mortality rate of 3.16%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that elderly (taking ≤50 years as a reference, 51-59 years: OR=1.583, 95% CI 1.279-1.933, P=0.001; 60-69 years: OR=3.972, 95% CI 3.271-4.858, P<0.001; 70-79 years: OR=7.236, 95% CI 5.917-8.698, P<0.001; ≥80 years: OR=11.738, 95% CI 9.459-14.663, P<0.001), male ( OR=1.371, 95% CI 1.229-1.529, P<0.001), and co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) (positive serum HBV surface antigen, OR=0.629, 95% CI 0.484-0.817, P<0.001) were independent influencing factors for all cause mortality. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for male, age and current HBV infection prediction of all-cause death was 0.529 ( P<0.001), 0.724 ( P<0.001) and 0.514 ( P=0.042), respectively, and the cut-off value for age prediction of all-cause death was 65.5 years old. Compared with patients without HBV infection, MHD patients with HBV infection significantly reduced the proportion of severe and critically ill patients, all-cause hospitalizations and all cause deaths when infected with SARS-CoV-2 (4.99% vs. 6.41%, χ2=6.136, P=0.013; 8.90% vs. 11.44%, χ2=11.662, P<0.001; 2.01% vs. 3.37%, χ2=10.713, P=0.001, respectively). Conclusion:The MHD patients in Jiangsu province are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Elderly age and male gender are independent risk factors for death in MHD patients during the epidemic, while the HBV infection may be a protective factor for death of MHD patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Objective To explore the role of long-term enriched environment in promoting the recovery of motor and social function in mice after ischemic brain injury. Methods Sixteen adult male ICR mice underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The first day after operation, they were divided into enriched environment group (n=8) and standard condition group (n=8). The mice were tested with modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS), rotarod test and smart cage 7, 14, 21, 28 days after modeling. Results The score of mNSS and the result of rotarod test improved more in the enriched environment group than in the standard condition group 28 days after MCAO (t>2.927, P<0.05). The occupancy time in the middle of smart cage was longer in the enriched environment group than in the stan-dard condition group 7 to 28 days after MCAO (t>2.480, P<0.05) in the general move test. There was a trend of being more interested in strange mice in the enriched environment group than in the standard condition group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05) in the social behavior test; however, the occupancy time in the middle of smart cage was longer in the enriched environment group than in the standard condition group 14 to 28 days after MCAO (t>3.472, P<0.01), and the velocity of moving was higher 14 days after MCAO (P<0.05). Conclusion Enriched environment could promote the recovery of motor function, somehow of social function, in mice af-ter ischemic brain injury.

3D printing is an important technology occurs in 1980s,which has been about more than 30 years since the first 3D printing machine was developed.Currently,it develops rapidly and its application scope has been greatly expanded.Its most prominent features are the "personalized" printing and the diversification of "printing ink".The "personalized" printing can make it possible to tailor the biological materials for each patient,and the diversity of "printing ink" can make the technology meeting different clinical needs.3D printing can be divided into four aspects:l) the collection and formation of inage of printing object;2) the treatment and the transformation of the image information;3) printing based on the data formatted;4) the post-treatment and pedormance evaluating of the printing object.At present,the common methods related to orthopaedics include:1) stereolithography appearance;2) selective laser sintering;3) fused deposition modeling;4) laminated object manufacturing;5) the direct metal melting technology (selective laser melting or electron beam melting);6) the ink jet printing technology.A variety of materials have been used in 3D printers,including the natural medical materials like collagen and chitosan,the synthetic polymers like polylactic acid,polyglycolic acid and peek,the bioactive ceramic materials like hydroxyapatite,the medical metal materials like titanium.The 3D printed material are mainly used in the following seven aspects in orthopaedics:1) the preoperative planning,such as the printing of the lesion and resection model;2) operation navigation make the surgery procedure more accurate;3) making the customized prosthesis and implant;4) implanting the external fixation;5) the development of new surgical instruments meets the special needs of patients;6) making the personalized tissue engineering scaffold used in regenerative medicine;7) the development of drug and its release study.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Brugada Syndrome ; Cardiac Conduction System Disease ; Heart ; Heart Conduction System ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Objective To compare the level of Annexin Ⅱ in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),diabetic nephropathy(DN),chronic glomerulonephritis and normal controls,and explorle the significance of the annexin Ⅱ in SLE.Methods Thirty-five cases of patients with SLE,ten cases of patients with DN,ten cases of patients with chronic glomerulonephritis were enrolled in this study,twenty cases of healthy controls were also enrolled.Circulating annexin Ⅱ in white blood cells was detected bv flow cytometry.Student's t test,variance analysis and Lineat correlation analysis were used for statistial analysis.Resuits Compared with healthy controls,the level of annexin Ⅱ in white blood cells in SLE patients (7.1±2.9)%and DN patients(8.0±3.7)%were significantly lower than that of the healthy controls(P<0.01,p<0.05).In the SLE group,the level of annexin Ⅱ of patients who had more active disease(SLEDAI≥9)decreased more thall those with less active disease(SLEDAI<9),(P<0.05).A positive correlation was found between annexin Ⅱ and serum albumin level(r:0.439,P<0.01),but negative correlation was found between annexin and urine protein/urine creatinine(r=-0.382,P<0.05),SLEDAI(r=-0.417,P<0.05),D-dimer(r=-0.336.p＜0.05) levels.Conclusion The level of annexin Ⅱ is decreased in patients with SLE,so it can renectthe abnormality of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems,and it may be used as a good indicator for prothrombotic status in SLE patients.It can be helpful to evaluatethe activity of the disease and the therapeutic efficacy.

Objective To investigate the efficiency of ultrasound microbubble-mediated HGF gene transfer on liver fibrosis in rats. Methods The eukaryotic expression vector pMD18-T/HGF was constructed. The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal group, model group, low dose group,middle dose group and high dose group. The rat liver fibrosis were induced. At day 14 after treatment, the rats were sacrificed, the ALT lever were evaluated, pathological evaluation of liver fibrosis were made,immunohistochemical evaluation of HGF protein expressions were observed, HGF mRNA expression were detected by RT-PCR. Results Liver 1function after the treatment showed that the treatment groups were better than model group ( P ＜ 0. 05). The difference between low dose group and normal group showed significant difference ( P ＜0.05), and the difference between middle/high dose groups and normal group showed no significant ( P ＞0. 05). Pathological results showed that the treatment groups could reduce liver fibrosis;treatment groups had the positive HGF expression by immunohistochemistry and the expression level increased with the increasement of the treatment dose ( P ＜0.05). RT-PCR showed HGF mRNA expression in the treatment groups were higher than in model group ( P ＜0.05). Conclusions Ultrasound microbubbles which carrying HGF can inhibit the process of hepatic fibrosis.

The supercritical carbon dioxide was used to extract polyunsaturated fatty acid methylesters from fish oil to concentrate eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid. The effects of experimental;temperatures,pressures and solvent ratio were reported,and the optimal fractional conditions were studied.