Bone repair remains an important target in tissue engineering, making the development of bioactive scaffolds for effective bone defect repair a critical objective. In this study, β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds incorporated with processed pyritum decoction (PPD) were fabricated using three-dimensional (3D) printing-assisted freeze-casting. The produced composite scaffolds were evaluated for their mechanical strength, physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, in vitro pro-angiogenic activity, and in vivo efficacy in repairing rabbit femoral defects. They not only demonstrated excellent physicochemical properties, enhanced mechanical strength, and good biosafety but also significantly promoted the proliferation, migration, and aggregation of pro-angiogenic human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In vivo studies revealed that all scaffold groups facilitated osteogenesis at the bone defect site, with the β-TCP scaffolds loaded with PPD markedly enhancing the expression of neurogenic locus Notch homolog protein 1 (Notch1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), and osteopontin (OPN). Overall, the scaffolds developed in this study exhibited strong angiogenic and osteogenic capabilities both in vitro and in vivo. The incorporation of PPD notably promoted the angiogenic-osteogenic coupling, thereby accelerating bone repair, which suggests that PPD is a promising material for bone repair and that the PPD/β-TCP scaffolds hold great potential as a bone graft alternative.
Calcium Phosphates/chemistry* ; Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Rabbits ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Humans ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Osteogenesis ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Biomimetic Materials ; Cell Proliferation ; Angiogenesis

ObjectiveTo investigate reinfection or the third time infection with SARS-CoV-2 among the people tested for positive from December 2022 to January 2023 and the influencing factors through a follow-up survey on previous novel coronavirus nucleic acid positive individuals between March to May, 2022. MethodsEpidemiological data of 2 583 novel coronavirus nucleic acid test positive cases were analyzed from March to May, 2022, following a follow-up survey at the 8^th and 12^th month after the first nucleic acid test positivity. Pearson chi-square method was used to analyze the differences of reinfection and the third time infection rates among first-positive patients with different characteristics. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of reinfection. ResultsA total of 2 264 valid questionnaires were collected in the 8^th month after nucleic acid tested positive, with a recovery rate of 87.7% and a reinfection rate of 9.7%. The third time infection was investigated among the individuals infected twice at the 12^th month after the first nucleic acid test positivity, with a third time infection rate of 4.6%. The median interval (P₂₅, P₇₅) between reinfection and the first nucleic acid test positive for the novel coronavirus was 261 (252, 268) days and the interval (P₂₅, P₇₅) between the third time infection and reinfection was 135 (111,157) days. Gender, age, occupation, smoking, drinking and underlying diseases were not statistically associated with the risk of reinfection (P>0.05). However, the the third time infection rate for medical staffs (20.0%) was higher than that for student /teachers (14.3%) and corporate employees (9.5%), with a statistically significant difference in the third infection rate between different occupations (P<0.05). The risk of reinfection in self-employed individual was lower than that in corporate employees (HR=0.52, 95%CI: 0.33‒0.83), and which was still lower after adjustment for gender and age. The risk of reinfection among those with underlying diseases was 1.54 times (95%CI: 1.08‒2.02) higher than those without underlying diseases, but even 1.85 times (95%CI: 1.25‒2.75) higher after adjustment for gender and age. ConclusionDue to the constant mutation and variants of the novel coronavirus, the risk of reinfection and the third time infection is unavoidable. The presence of underlying diseases and occupation are the main factors influencing reinfection or third time infection.

Objective:To investigate the effects and the possible mechanisms of Neiguan(PC6)and Gongsun(SP4)on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis in rats with functional dyspepsia(FD),thus to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of the Eight Confluent Points.Methods:Forty specific-pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a blank group,a model group,an electroacupuncture(EA)group,and a Western medicine group by the random number table method,with 10 rats in each group.Rats in the blank group did not receive modeling or intervention.Rats in the other three groups were subjected to the FD with mood disorder model using the compound etiology modeling method.After the successful modeling,rats in the model group did not receive any interventions,rats in the Western medicine group received deanxit and mosaprid intervention,and those in the EA group received EA intervention on the ipsilateral Neiguan(PC6)and Gongsun(SP4)for 21 d.The sugar-water consumption rate was measured before the experiment and before and after interventions to assess the emotional status.The gastric emptying rate was measured after interventions to assess the gastrointestinal dynamics.The expression levels of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH),pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),and adrenal corticosterone(CORT)were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Compared with the blank group,the sugar-water consumption rate and the gastric emptying rate were decreased(P<0.01),and the hypothalamic CRH,pituitary ACTH,and adrenal CORT expression levels were increased(P<0.01)in the model group.Compared with the model group,the sugar-water consumption rate and the gastric emptying rate were significantly increased(P<0.01),while the expression levels of hypothalamic CRH,pituitary ACTH,and adrenal CORT were significantly decreased(P<0.01)in the EA group and the Western medicine group.The differences between the EA group and the Western medicine group were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion:The Eight Confluent Points Neiguan(PC6)and Gongsun(SP4)can improve the mood and gastrointestinal dynamics in FD rats,which may be achieved by down-regulating the hypothalamic CRH,pituitary ACTH,and adrenal CORT,as well as by correcting the HPA axis hyperfunction.

: To assess the relationship between high blood pressure (HBP) and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-height ratio (WHtR) among children and adolescents in Suzhou. Methods: A total of 3 150 children and adolescents aged 7-17 years were enrolled through stratified cluster sampling from September to October, 2019. Questionnaire survey was conducted, and height, weight, WC and BP were measured to calculate BMI and WHtR, relationship of HBP and adiposity indicators were evaluated. Results: The prevalence of HBP was 11.3%, overweight/obesity rate was 28.5%, and centrality obesity based on WC and WHtR was 20.6% and 23.7%, respectively. There were significant relationships between HBP and BMI, WC, and WHtR (χ2=157.80,105.87,124.17,P<0.01). As Logistic regression showed, compared to normal weight group, overweight/obesity based on BMI had positive relation with HBP (OR=3.89, 95%CI=3.09-4.90); compared to normal WC/WHtR, centrality obesity showed positive association with HBP (WC: OR=3.05, 95%CI=2.41-3.86; WHtR: OR=3.35, 95%CI=2.67-4.21). Meanwhile, BMI had joint effects on HBP with WC/WHtR. Specifically subjects with overweight/obesity and center obesity had higher risk of HBP, compared to normal BMI and WC subjects(OR=4.28, 95%CI=3.31-5.53). Conclusion Significant relationships between HBP and BMI, WC, and WHtR were found. BMI had joint effects on HBP with WC/WHtR. Keeping normal body weight and WC/ WHtR would have significant effects on HBP.

OBJECTIVE： To study early toxicity of paracetamol （APAP） to drug-induced liver injury in mice based on lipid metabonomics research， and to provide reference for finding potential biological marker. METHODS： Totally 20 mice were randomly divided into normal group and APAP liver injury group， with 10 mice in each group. APAP liver injury group was given intraperitoneal injection of APAP 300 mg/kg to establish acute liver injury model； normal group was given constant volume of normal saline intraperitoneally. 1 h later， the blood of mice was collected to isolate plasma. UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS method was used to detect plasma metabolites and perform metabonomics analysis. PCA， PLS-DA and OPLS-DA analysis distinguished the difference of metabolism profiles between groups. The lipid metabolites were screened and identified according to HMDB， Metlin and LIPID MAPS databases. Meanwhile， the changes of APAP level in plasma of mice were detected. The lipid metabolites with variable influence in the projection （VIP） greater than 1 and P＜0.05 in OPLS-DA analysis were identified as differential metabolites. The correlation between lipid differential metabolites and plasma APAP level was analyzed. RESULTS： PCA， PLS-DA and OPLS-DA results showed that sample points in normal group and APAP liver injury group were located in different areas with good differentiation. Compared with liver injury group and normal group， levels of 5 fatty acid metabolites were significantly increased or decreased； levels of 8 glycerophospholipids were significantly decreased and one sphingolipids was significantly increased. 9-thiastearic acid， tetradecanedioic acid， 9-hydrogen peroxide-10，12-octadecadienoic acid， L-myristoyl carnitine （fatty acid） and scyphostation A （sphingolipids） levels had a significant correlation with APAP level in plasma. CONCLUSIONS： The plasma lipid metabolomics showed abnormal changes 1 hour after acetaminophen exposure. A total of 14 related lipid differential metabolites are found， and 5 of which are significantly correlated with APAP level in plasma.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Purendan Superfine Powder (PRD) on the retinal hemodynamics and the expressions of cytokines in the diabetic rats, and to elucidate its protective effect on diabetic retinopathy (DR) .Methods:Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, diabetes group, and PRD group (n=12) .The diabetes rat models were established by intraperitoneal injecting streptozotocin (STZ) in diabetes group and PRD group.After successful modeling, the diabetic rats in PRD group were given PRD (1.8g·kg-1) by gavage for 3months.The hemodynamics parameters of central retinal artery (CRA) of the rats were measured with color Doppler ultrasound.The expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA in retina tissue were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) .Immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting methods were used to detect the expression levels of VEGF and bFGF proteins in retina tissue of the rats.Results:Compared with control group, the blood glucose, urine volume, liver index and kidney index of the rats in diabetes group were significantly increased (P＜0.05) , the peak systolic velocity (PSV) , end diastolic velocity (EDV) and mean velocity (MV) of CRA were significantly decreased (P＜0.05) , the resistant index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of CRA were significantly increased (P＜0.05) , and the expression levels of VEGF and bFGF mRNA and protein in retina tissue were significantly increased (P＜0.05) .Compared with diabetes group, the blood glucose, urine volume, liver index and kidney index of the rats in PRD group were significantly decreased (P＜0.05) , the PSV, EDV and MV of CRA were increased (P＜0.05) , the RI and PI of CRA were decreased (P＜0.05) , the expression levels of VEGF and bFGF mRNA and protein in retina tissue were significantly reduced (P＜0.05) .Conclusion:PRD can protect the diabetic retinal microvascular injury by reducing the blood glucose level, increasing the blood supply of retinal tissue, increasing the amount of microcirculation blood perfusion, reducing the vascular bed perfusion resistance, and reducing the expression of VEGF and bFGF.