AIM To investigate the effects of Yiqi Juanbi Formula on chondrocyte pyroptosis in rat models of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA).METHODS Fifty rats were subcutaneously injected at the tail base with an emulsion containing equal volumes of bovine type Ⅱ collagen and incomplete Freund's adjuvant(IFA)to establish the CIA models.These rats were then randomly assigned to the model group,the methotrexate group(0.35 mg/kg),and the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose Yiqi Juanbi Formula groups(9.4,18.7,37.4 g/kg),in contrast to the ten intact rats serving in the normal control group.Following four weeks of intragastric administration,the rats had their general conditions observed;their joint swelling and arthritis indices measured;their ankle joint pathology assessed by HE staining;their serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ detected by ELISA;their mRNA expressions of NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ in ankle cartilage quantified by RT-qPCR;their protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in ankle cartilage analyzed by Western blot;and their NLRP3 and GSDMD positive expressions in ankle cartilage examined by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS Compared to the control group,the model group showed significantly increased joint swelling and arthritis indices(P＜0.01);elevated serum levels of IL-1 β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01);pathological changes including cartilage surface defects,reduced cell count,altered cellular morphology,irregular cell arrangement,and significant inflammatory cell infiltration in synovial tissue;upregulated mRNA expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01)and increased protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1(P＜0.01)in ankle cartilage;enhanced positive expressions of NLRP3 and GSDMD in ankle cartilage(P＜0.01).Compared to the model group,the groups intervened with methotrexate or medium-or high-dose Yiqi Juanbi Formula exhibited reduced joint swelling and arthritis indices(P＜0.01);alleviated pathological damage in ankle joints;decreased serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01);downregulated mRNA expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and reduced protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)in ankle cartilage;and diminished positive expressions of NLRP3 and GSDMD in ankle cartilage(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Yiqi Juanbi Formula alleviates inflammation in CIA rats,potentially by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway,thereby suppressing chondrocyte pyroptosis.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the leaves of Drynaria fortunei(Kunze)J.Sm.and their antioxidant activity.METHODS ODS-AG-HG,Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC were used for separation and purification,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.The antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH mothod.RESULTS Fifteen compounds were isolated and identified as kaempferol-3-O-neohesperidoside(1),dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol(2),kaempferol-3,7-di-O-α-L-rahmnoside(3),astragalin(4),loliolid(5),trichothecene analogue(6),2,2-[bis-4-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy)phenyl]propane(7),maculatin(8),trichothecin(9),4-[(Z)-but-2-enoyloxy]-8-chloro-12-hydroxy-7,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene(10),8-deoxy-trichotecin(11),β-sitosterol(12),daucosterol(13),afzelin(14),samwinol(15).The IC50 values of the leaf and rhizome extracts against DPPH free radicals were(0.072±0.005),(0.287±0.012)mg/mL,respectively.CONCLUSION Compounds 1,2,5-11,15 are isolated from this plant for the first time.The leaves of D.fortunei exhibit strong antioxidant activity.

Ultrasound technology has been applied in the biomedical field,particularly in drug delivery and cell processing.In this study,the effects of different ultrasound power levels(40 W to 100 W)and time durations(1 min,5 min,or 5 min discontinuously)on the morphology of human red blood cells(hRBCs)membranes were systematically investigated using cryo-electron tomography(Cryo-ET).The hRBCs membranes were firstly subjected to ultrasound at power levels of 40 W and 60 W for 5 min each.Cryo-ET observations revealed minimal morphological changes in the hRBCs membranes following the 40 W treatment,with the membrane structure remaining relatively intact and only minor undulations appearing on the membrane surface.These undulations might result from the mild mechanical stress induced by ultrasound,which was insufficient to disrupt the overall membrane structure.At power of 60 W,the hRBCs membranes largely preserved their structural integrity.When the ultrasonic power was increased to 80 W,the structural damage to the hRBCs membranes became more severe.Cryo-ET images showed irregular ruptures and larger pores on the membrane surface,indicating a significant compromise in membrane integrity.At ultrasound power of 100 W,the hRBCs membranes were completely disrupted,resulting in the formation of numerous membrane fragments,and a complete loss of membrane continuity.To further explore the effects of ultrasound duration on erythrocyte membrane morphology,the ultrasonic power was fixed at 100 W and the impacts of varying treatment durations(1 min,5 min,and intermittent ultrasound)on the membrane structure were systematically investigated.After 1 min of ultrasonic treatment,Cryo-ET images showed minimal changes in erythrocyte membrane morphology.Although some small pores and undulations appeared on the membrane surface,the overall structure remained relatively intact.As the ultrasound duration extended to 5 min,the degree of membrane damage increased significantly.Cryo-ET images revealed extensive rupture and detachment of the membrane,with continuity being severely compromised.As to treatment alternating 1 min of ultrasound with 1 min of rest,for a total of 5 min of ultrasound exposure,Cryo-ET observations showed the integrity of the membrane-cytoskeleton attachment remained.Under intermittent ultrasound treatment,although some pores and ruptures were observed on the membrane surface,the overall structure remained more intact compared to continuous ultrasonic treatment.This preservation might be due to the intermittent treatment providing buffer periods for the membrane,allowing partial recovery after mechanical stress,thereby reducing the cumulative damage caused by continuous ultrasound.This work provided experimental basis for further understanding of mechanism of ultrasound induced change of cell membrane and cytoskeleton.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolide)(PLGA)is a key excipient in long-acting sustained-release preparations,and its degradation properties directly affect the drug release behavior.In this study,PLGA microspheres were prepared by microfluidic techniques,and the morphology changes of the microspheres were observed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM).In alkaline environment,due to the accelerated hydrolysis of ester bonds,the surface of the microspheres was rapidly dissolved and eroded,and the degradation rate was significantly higher than that in acidic environment.High temperature accelerated the degradation of PLGA microspheres.Under neutral and alkaline conditions,the microspheres showed aggregation and adhesion.Under acidic conditions,the microspheres gradually decomposed into irregular fragments.The high ionic strength further promoted the surface corrosion of the microspheres,especially under extreme pH conditions.Simultaneously,PLGA microspheres encapsulating coumarin were prepared to simulate the microsphere formulation.The release rate of coumarin after degradation of the microspheres under different conditions was observed by measuring the absorbance with ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry.The results were consistent with those of the blank microspheres.This study revealed that the degradation of PLGA microspheres was significantly pH-dependent,temperature sensitive and ion strength responsive.These findings not only helped to understand and optimize the long-term stability and controlled release performance of drug-carrying microspheres,but also provided a theoretical basis for further improvement of PLGA-based drug carrier design.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of avatrombopag in promoting hematopoietic reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Method:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 recipients with hematological malignancies who underwent allo-HSCT at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2022 to August 2023. Recipients with hepatic or renal insufficiency before conditioning, those who received other thrombopoietic agents after allo-HSCT, those with severe respiratory or circulatory system diseases, and those with a history of thromboembolic events were excluded. Among them, 30 recipients who received avatrombopag within 14 days post-transplantation were assigned to the avatrombopag group, while the remaining 30 recipients who did not receive any thrombopoietic agents served as the control group. Clinical characteristics, hematopoietic stem cell engraftment, bone marrow proliferation, transfusion requirements, transplant-related complications, and laboratory adverse events were compared between the two groups.Result:The median platelet engraftment time in the avatrombopag group was 13 days (range: 9~25 days), and the neutrophil engraftment time was 13 days (range: 11~21 days). In the control group, he platelet engraftment time was 15 days (range: 10~51 days), and neutrophil engraftment time was 14 days (range: 10~30 days). The difference in platelet engraftment time between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.039). Bone marrow analysis on day 28 post-transplant showed that the proportion of recipients with active bone marrow hyperplasia was 96.7% in the avatrombopag group and 73.3% in the control group ( P=0.030); the median number of megakaryocytes was 30 vs. 6, respectively ( P<0.001); and the proportion of mature platelet-producing megakaryocytes was 44% vs. 26.3% ( P<0.001). Regarding transfusion requirements, the median platelet transfusion volume within 28 days post-transplantation was 4.5 U (range: 2~16 U) in the avatrombopag group and 6.5 U (range: 3~32 U) in the control group ( P=0.007). The time to achieve platelet transfusion independence was 13 days (range: 8~25 days) in the avatrombopag group and 14 days (range: 10~36 days) in the control group ( P=0.026). The median red blood cell transfusion volume in both groups was 4 U, with no significant difference ( P=0.354). Medication adherence in the avatrombopag group was 100%. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of incidence of post-transplant infections (70% vs. 83.3%), bleeding (50% vs. 60%), graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (30% vs. 40%), or abnormal laboratory tests (86.7% vs. 90%) (all P>0.05). Conclusion:The use of avatrombopag after allo-HSCT in patients with hematologic malignancies can promote bone marrow hematopoiesis and platelet engraftment, reduce platelet transfusion volume, and shorten the duration of platelet transfusion dependence. Avatrombopag is well tolerated, and no serious adverse reactions were observed during treatment.

AIM To investigate the effects of Yiqi Juanbi Formula on chondrocyte pyroptosis in rat models of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA).METHODS Fifty rats were subcutaneously injected at the tail base with an emulsion containing equal volumes of bovine type Ⅱ collagen and incomplete Freund's adjuvant(IFA)to establish the CIA models.These rats were then randomly assigned to the model group,the methotrexate group(0.35 mg/kg),and the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose Yiqi Juanbi Formula groups(9.4,18.7,37.4 g/kg),in contrast to the ten intact rats serving in the normal control group.Following four weeks of intragastric administration,the rats had their general conditions observed;their joint swelling and arthritis indices measured;their ankle joint pathology assessed by HE staining;their serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ detected by ELISA;their mRNA expressions of NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ in ankle cartilage quantified by RT-qPCR;their protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in ankle cartilage analyzed by Western blot;and their NLRP3 and GSDMD positive expressions in ankle cartilage examined by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS Compared to the control group,the model group showed significantly increased joint swelling and arthritis indices(P＜0.01);elevated serum levels of IL-1 β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01);pathological changes including cartilage surface defects,reduced cell count,altered cellular morphology,irregular cell arrangement,and significant inflammatory cell infiltration in synovial tissue;upregulated mRNA expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01)and increased protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1(P＜0.01)in ankle cartilage;enhanced positive expressions of NLRP3 and GSDMD in ankle cartilage(P＜0.01).Compared to the model group,the groups intervened with methotrexate or medium-or high-dose Yiqi Juanbi Formula exhibited reduced joint swelling and arthritis indices(P＜0.01);alleviated pathological damage in ankle joints;decreased serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.01);downregulated mRNA expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3,Caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-ɑ(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and reduced protein expressions of NF-κB,NLRP3 and Caspase-1(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)in ankle cartilage;and diminished positive expressions of NLRP3 and GSDMD in ankle cartilage(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Yiqi Juanbi Formula alleviates inflammation in CIA rats,potentially by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway,thereby suppressing chondrocyte pyroptosis.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of avatrombopag in promoting hematopoietic reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Method:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 recipients with hematological malignancies who underwent allo-HSCT at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2022 to August 2023. Recipients with hepatic or renal insufficiency before conditioning, those who received other thrombopoietic agents after allo-HSCT, those with severe respiratory or circulatory system diseases, and those with a history of thromboembolic events were excluded. Among them, 30 recipients who received avatrombopag within 14 days post-transplantation were assigned to the avatrombopag group, while the remaining 30 recipients who did not receive any thrombopoietic agents served as the control group. Clinical characteristics, hematopoietic stem cell engraftment, bone marrow proliferation, transfusion requirements, transplant-related complications, and laboratory adverse events were compared between the two groups.Result:The median platelet engraftment time in the avatrombopag group was 13 days (range: 9~25 days), and the neutrophil engraftment time was 13 days (range: 11~21 days). In the control group, he platelet engraftment time was 15 days (range: 10~51 days), and neutrophil engraftment time was 14 days (range: 10~30 days). The difference in platelet engraftment time between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.039). Bone marrow analysis on day 28 post-transplant showed that the proportion of recipients with active bone marrow hyperplasia was 96.7% in the avatrombopag group and 73.3% in the control group ( P=0.030); the median number of megakaryocytes was 30 vs. 6, respectively ( P<0.001); and the proportion of mature platelet-producing megakaryocytes was 44% vs. 26.3% ( P<0.001). Regarding transfusion requirements, the median platelet transfusion volume within 28 days post-transplantation was 4.5 U (range: 2~16 U) in the avatrombopag group and 6.5 U (range: 3~32 U) in the control group ( P=0.007). The time to achieve platelet transfusion independence was 13 days (range: 8~25 days) in the avatrombopag group and 14 days (range: 10~36 days) in the control group ( P=0.026). The median red blood cell transfusion volume in both groups was 4 U, with no significant difference ( P=0.354). Medication adherence in the avatrombopag group was 100%. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of incidence of post-transplant infections (70% vs. 83.3%), bleeding (50% vs. 60%), graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (30% vs. 40%), or abnormal laboratory tests (86.7% vs. 90%) (all P>0.05). Conclusion:The use of avatrombopag after allo-HSCT in patients with hematologic malignancies can promote bone marrow hematopoiesis and platelet engraftment, reduce platelet transfusion volume, and shorten the duration of platelet transfusion dependence. Avatrombopag is well tolerated, and no serious adverse reactions were observed during treatment.

Thoracolumbar spine fracture often leads to severe pain, functional impairments, and neurological deficits, for which open reduction and internal fixation can effectively restore the spinal structural stability. Open decompression and reduction with internal fixation can help relieve spinal cord compression and improve spinal function in cases of concomitant cord injury. Although spinal stability can be restored through surgery, patients often face chronic pain and functional impairments postoperatively. A postoperative rehabilitation program is critical in optimizing therapeutic outcomes, reducing complications, and minimizing the risk of secondary injuries. However, current rehabilitation methods, such as physical therapy, functional training, and pain management, are confronted with problems in clinical practice, including significant variation in efficacy, poor patient adherence, and prolonged rehabilitation period. There is an urgent need for a unified rehabilitation strategy to address these problems. To this end, the Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Physicians Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and the Spine Health Professional Committee of the Chinese Human Health Technology Promotion Association organized experts from relevant fields to formulate Evidence-based guidelines for rehabilitation treatment after internal fixation of thoracolumbar spine fracture in adults ( version 2025) by integrating evidences from clinical researches and advanced rehabilitation concepts at home and abroad. A total number of 14 recommendations concerning the rehabilitation treatment with multimodal analgesia, psychological intervention, deep vein thrombosis prevention, core muscle and extremity exercise, appropriate use of braces, early weight-bearing, device-aided rehabilitation exercise, neuroregulatory therapy, rehabilitation team were put forward, aiming to standardize the post-operative rehabilitation process following internal fixation, promote the functional recovery, and enhance patients′ quality of life.

Nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF), predominantly affecting the elderly, can lead to intractable pain, vertebral collapse, progressive kyphotic deformity, and neurological impairment, significantly compromising patients′ quality of life. There exists considerable debate on diagnosis and management of OVF, encompassing key issues such as clinical diagnosis and staging criteria for nonunion, surgical indications and procedure selection, and postoperative rehabilitation planning. Currently, there lacks standardized clinical guideline and expert consensus on the diagnosis and management of OVF nonunion in China. To address this gap, Minimally Invasive Surgery Group of Chinese Orthopedic Association, Osteoporosis Committee of Chinese Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee for Osteoporosis of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine and Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery Branch of China Association for Geriatric Care jointly organized domestic experts in spinal surgery, endocrinology, and rehabilitation to formulate the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment for nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures ( version 2025), based on existing literature and clinical experience and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and practicality. The guideline provided 13 evidence-based recommendations encompassing diagnosis and treatment of OVF nonunion, aiming to standardize its clinical management.