The expression level of NOD-like receptors(NLRP3)inflammasome is significantly elevated in breast cancer tissues,and a high level of NLRP3 inflammasomes is closely associated with breast cancer metastasis.Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome can induce the release of inflammatory factors into the tumor microenvironment(TME).These inflammatory factors,by signaling to cancer cells,reshape the TME to promote tumor growth and invasion,ultimately facilitating the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.This equips cancer cells with the ability to establish distant metastases and increase the formation of metastatic lesions.This review addresses the current research status and prospects of NLRP3 inflammasomes in the breast cancer TME and their role in breast cancer metastasis.The goal is to provide new insights for the study of breast cancer metastasis mechanisms and treatment strategies.

Osteoscarcopenia (OS) is a common degenerative syndrome in the elderly, which is caused by a decrease in both bone and muscle mass during the aging process, leading to osteoporosis and sarcopenia, a decrease in body balance, and a risk of falls and fractures, posing a serious threat to the quality of life and lifespan of the elderly. Osteoskeletal dystrophy increases with age, and its occurrence is higher in females than that in males. At present, there is no unified diagnostic standard, making it impossible to achieve early detection and intervention. The commonly used diagnostic methods include quantitative computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), muscle mass bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), as well as daily gait speed (UGS), short physical performance battery (SPPB), timed start test (TUG), and biochemical evaluation indicators to improve early diagnosis and screening. Due to the fact that both bones and muscles belong to the motor system, osteoporosis and sarcopenia share common pathogenic factors in genetics, endocrine, paracrine, and fat infiltration, which interact and regulate each other, inducing the occurrence of osteoscarcopenia. Osteoporosis and sarcopenia, two age-related diseases, share the same pathogenesis and regulatory pathways, as well as common drug targets. For example: somatostatin α‑actin-3, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivation factor-1α (PGC-1α), myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2C), sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (SREBF1), protoadhesion 7 (PCDH7) and methyltransferase like 21C (METTL21C), osteocalcin and bone derived bone factor gap junction connexin 43 (Cx43), growth hormone (GH), sex hormones, and diseases (such as tumors, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, cardiovascular disease, anemia, disability, inflammatory disease), aging, nutrition, and poor living habits are closely related to osteosarcopenia. Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and microstructural degeneration of bone tissue, while sarcopenia is characterized by loss of muscle mass, strength, and function, both of which often coexist in the elderly population. Exercise regulates muscle and skeletal cytokines such as myostatin (MSTN) and irisinβ‑aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA), brain derived neutrophil factor (BDNF), interleukin, prostaglandin E2, Wnt, osteocalcin (OCN), and transforming growth factor‑β (TGF‑β) and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) interfere with each other to prevent and treat osteoscarcopenia. Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway can simultaneously regulate the growth and metabolism of bones and muscles, and promote osteoblast proliferation, maturation, and mineralization by increasing OPG/RANKL, which is beneficial for bone mass increase and induces proliferation of muscle satellite cells, stimulating and promoting increased muscle synthesis. NF‑κB pathway is the main regulatory factor for inflammation mediated muscle atrophy. Meanwhile, NF‑κB DNA can participate in RANKL inducing osteoclast differentiation in bone tissue, thereby reducing bone mass. Although exercise and nutrition can improve the symptoms of osteoporosis, they cannot be completely cured, and there are no specific drugs in clinical practice that can cure sarcopenia. Because osteoscarcopenia has a common crosstalk mechanism in the aging process, it is of great significance to prevent osteoscarcopenia by improving bone mass and muscle content through exercise, nutrition, and medication.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of the 12-week regimen with sofosbuvir and coblopasvir hydrochloride in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in northwest China. Methods This study enrolled 101 patients with CHC of any genotype who received sofosbuvir (400 mg) combined with coblopasvir hydrochloride (60 mg) for 12 weeks in The First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, and Baoji Central Hospital from July 1 to December 31, 2021, among whom 13 had liver cirrhosis and 88 did not have live cirrhosis. Other antiviral drugs such as ribavirin were not added regardless of the presence or absence of liver cirrhosis or the genotype of CHC. Related clinical data ere extracted, including HCV RNA quantification and liver biochemical parameters at baseline, at week 12 of treatment, and at 12 weeks after drug withdrawal. The primary endpoints were sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12) and safety at week 12 of treatment, and the secondary endpoint was the effect of the 12-week treatment on liver biochemical parameters. The non-normally distributed continuous data were expressed as M ( P 25 - P 75 ), and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups. Results A total of 101 patients were included in the analysis, among whom there were 55 male patients (54.5%) and 46 female patients, and the median age was 53 years. Among these patients, 12.8% had liver cirrhosis, 1.0% had liver cancer, 3.0% were treatment-experienced patients, and 3.0% had type 2 diabetes. As for genotype distribution, 8% had CHC genotype 1, 60% had CHC genotype 2, 19% had CHC genotype 3, and 6% had CHC genotype 6, and genotype was not tested for 7% of the patients. After 12 weeks of treatment, all 101 patients had a HCV RNA level of below the lower limit of detection and an SVR12 rate of 100%, with a significant reduction in the serum level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) from baseline to week 12 of treatment ( P < 0.05). Among these patients, 22.7% had concomitant medications such as atorvastatin calcium, aspirin, metformin, nifedipine, bicyclol, and compound glycyrrhizin. The incidence rate of adverse events was 16.8%, and fatigue (12.9%) was the most common adverse event. Conclusion The 12-week treatment with sofosbuvir and coblopasvir hydrochloride can obtain high SVR12 in CHC patients in northwest China and has good antiviral safety, with a significant improvement in abnormal serum ALT at week 12 of treatment.

To understand the current quality status and rearing situation of Bombyx Batryticatus, the authors collected 102 batches of Bombyx Batryticatus from different main producing areas and five major Chinese medicine markets from 2016 to 2018, and measured the properties and quality of the silk gland, to clarify the quality status of Bombyx Batryticatus from different producing areas and markets. In addition, 35 batches of Bombyx Batryticatus from 2019 to 2022 were used to verify the silk gland after revision. Moreover, Beauveria Bassiana was inoculated in the silkworm of 4-5 instars, and standardized rearing was carried out until they die. The death rate and the quality of Bombyx Batryticatus were measured to determine the differences in Bombyx Batryticatus of different instars, and explore the rationality of the infection age of Bombyx Batryticatus in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020). The results revealed that in the 102 batches of Bombyx Batryticatus, the qualification rate of silk gland was low; the content of total ash far exceeded the standard; the content of beauvericin varied greatly. The qualification rate of the silk gland of the 35 batches of Bombyx Batryticatus was only 47.49%, which could be increased to 73.00% if the number of silk gland was 2 to 4. The death rate of Bombyx Batryticatus at different infection ages was quite different, with uneven quality. Generally, the yield of Bombyx Batryticatus inoculated on the first day of the fifth instar was high with good quality. Therefore, in combination with the quality and actual production of Bombyx Batryticatus, the following suggestions were proposed for revision of Bombyx Batryticatus in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2025): The number of silk gland should be revised as 2-4 bright brown or bright black silk glands, after which, the quality of Bombyx Batryticatus could be guaranteed, and the "quality identification based on character" could also be reflected scientifically; the content determination index that the content of beauvericin shall not be less than 0.017% should be added to better control the quality of Bombyx Batryticatus; the infection age should be revised as the first day of the fifth instar to narrow the age span, which could better fit the actual production and ensure the quality of Bombyx Batryticatus.
Animals ; Bombyx ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Silk ; Larva

Objective:To investigate the effects of CT images reconstructed using different field of view (FOV) sizes on the automatic segmentation of organs at risk and dose calculation accuracy in radiotherapy after radical mastectomy.Methods:Under the same scanning conditions, CT values-electron density conversion curves were established by reconstructing the original CT images of a phantom placed at the isocenter and extended FOV (eFOV) positions using FOV sizes of 50, 60, 70 and 80 cm. Then, these curves were compared. A standard phantom with a known volume was scanned, and the automatic segmentation result of the phantom on CT images reconstructed using different FOV sizes was compared. A total of 30 patients in Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 with breast cancer were randomly selected. Through simulated positioning, their CT images were reconstructed using different FOV sizes for the purpose of automatic segmentation of organs at risk, followed by comparison between the outcomes of automatic segmentation and physicians′segmentation. The treatment plan established based on CT images reconstructed using a FOV size of 50 cm (FOV 50 images for short) was applied to CT images reconstructed using FOV sizes of 60, 70 and 80 cm (FOV 60, FOV 70 and FOV 80 images for short) for dose calculation, and the dose calculation result were compared. Results:The CT values - electron density conversion curves derived from CT images reconstructed using different FOV sizes were roughly consistent. At the isocenter, the difference between the segmented volume and actual volume of the standard phantom increased up to a maximum of 6 cm 3 (4.8%) with an increase in the FOV size. As indicated by the automatic segmentation result, the segmentation accuracy of the spinal cord, trachea, esophagus, thyroid, healthy mammary gland, and skin decreased with an increase in the FOV size ( t = -28.43-8.23, P < 0.05). The comparison of dose calculated based on CT images reconstructed using different FOV sizes showed that there was no statistically significant differences( P>0.05) in the dose to target volume ( V95) and the maximum and average doses in the supraclavicular lymph node region, as well as the dose to organs at risk. The coverage for planned target volume decreased with an increase in the FOV size, with a maximum difference of 4.06%. Conclusions:It is recommended that, for radiotherapy after radical mastectomy, FOV 50 images should be selected for the automatic segmentation of organs at risk, CT-values-electron density conversion curves should be established based on the electron density phantom images of the eFOV region, and the eFOV 80 images should be preferred for dose calculation.

This study explored the correlation between color and chemical components of Chrysanthemi Indici Flos(CIF), aiming at providing a reference for its procurement, evaluation, and breeding. Colorimeter and ultra-performance liquid chromatograph(UPLC) were used to determine the color(lightness-shade chromaticity value L~*, red-green chromaticity value a~*, yellow-blue chromati-city value b~*) and chemical components(cynaroside, linarin, luteolin, apigenin, and chlorogenic acid) of 84 CIF germplasms, respectively. Diversity analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and cluster analysis were performed. The results showed that the color and chemical components of CIF were diversified. Chlorogenic acid was in significantly positive correlation with L~* and b~* and significantly negative correlation with a~*. Cynaroside and grey relational grade γ_i of chemical components were in significantly po-sitive correlation with b~* and L~*, respectively, whereas linarin, luteolin, and apigenin had no significant correlation with L~*, a~*, or b~*. The 84 CIF germplasms were clustered into 4 clades. In addition, germplasms in clade Ⅲ had higher γ_i and total color value(E~*_(ab)) than those in other clades, with the best quality and color, and a germplasm with the highest quality, bright yellow color, and highest content of linarin was screened out in this clade. Thus, CIF with bright yellow color had high content of cymaroside and chlorogenic acid and thereby high quality. In summary, the color can be used to quickly predict the quality of CIF. Our results provided data for the evaluation of CIF quality by color and a reference for its procurement and breeding.
Chrysanthemum/chemistry* ; Luteolin/analysis* ; Chlorogenic Acid/analysis* ; Apigenin/analysis* ; Plant Breeding ; Excipients ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods*

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted. Clinical data from ASD patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and who underwent FMT in the Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University or Jinling Hospital between May 2012 to May 2021 were retrospectively collected. Scores derived from the autism behavior checklist (ABC), the childhood autism rating scale (CARS), the Bristol stool form scale (BSFS), and the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) were analyzed at baseline and at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 24th, 36th, 48th and 60th month after FMT. Records of any adverse reactions were collected. Generalized estimating equations were used for analysis of data on time points before and after FMT. Results: A total of 328 patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. Their mean age was 6.1±3.4 years old. The cohort included 271 boys and 57 girls. The percentage of patients remaining in the study for post-treatment follow-up at the 1st, 3rd, 12th, 24th, 36th, 48th and 60th month were as follows: 303 (92.4%), 284 (86.7%), 213 (64.9%), 190 (57.9%), 143 (43.6%), 79 (24.1%), 46 (14.0%), 31 (9.5%). After FMT, the average ABC score was significantly improved in the first 36 months and remained improved at the 48th month. However, the average score was not significantly different from baseline by the 60th month (1st-36th month, P<0.001; 48th month, P=0.008; 60th month, P=0.108). The average CARS score improved significantly during the first 48 months and remained improved at the 60th month (1st-48th month, P<0.001; 60th month, P=0.010). The average BSFS score was also significantly improved in the first 36 months (with an accompanying stool morphology that resembled type 4). This improvement was maintained at the 48th month. However, the average score was similar to baseline at the 60th month (1st-36th month, P<0.001; 48th month, P=0.008; 60th month, P=0.109). The average GSRS score was significantly improved during the first 24 months, but not afterwards (1st-24th month, P<0.001; 36th month, P=0.209; 48th month, P=0.996; 60th month, P=0.668). The adverse events recorded during treatment included abdominal distension in 21 cases (6.4%), nausea in 14 cases (4.3%), vomiting in 9 cases (2.7%), abdominal pain in 15 cases (4.6%), diarrhea in 18 cases (5.5%), fever in 13 cases (4.0%), and excitement in 24 cases (7.3%). All adverse reactions were mild to moderate and improved immediately after suspension of FMT or on treatment of symptoms. No serious adverse reactions occurred. Conclusion: FMT has satisfactory long-term efficacy and safety for the treatment of ASD with gastrointestinal symptoms.
Autism Spectrum Disorder/therapy* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Feces ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To quickly analyze and identify the components in raw and wine-processed products of Polygonatum cyrtonema （PC） dried rhizomes by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-TOF-MS）， and then find out the differential components before and after processing. Method:The ACQUITY UPLC BEH C₁₈ column （2.1 mm×100 mm， 1.8 μm） was used with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution-acetonitrile as the mobile phase for gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.25 mL·min^-1. Electrospray ionization was selected for collection and detection in positive and negative ion modes， and the data were analyzed by PeakView 1.2.0.3. According to the retention time， accurate relative molecular weight and fragmentation ion information provided by MS， and combined with the reference substance and literature， the components were identified. After normalized treatment， the MS data of each sample were analyzed with principal component analysis （PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA）， and then the differential components before and after processing were screened according to the principle that variable importance in the projection （VIP） value was >1. Result:A total of 38 components were identified from raw and wine-processed products of PC dried rhizomes， including 15 steroidal saponins， 6 alkaloids， 3 flavonoids， 2 amino acids， 2 organic acids and 10 others. The results of PCA and OPLS-DA showed that there were significant differences in the contents of components in PC dried rhizomes before and after processing， and 16 differential components such as kingianoside Z， disporopsin and linoleic acid were screened. Conclusion:UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technique can accurately and comprehensively identify the components in PC dried rhizomes， these components are mainly steroidal saponins， flavonoids and alkaloids. It takes a great difference in the contents of components before and after processing， and transformation of the same category components is the main reason for the differences of raw and wine-processed products， which will provide reference for the researches on material basis and processing chemistry of PC dried rhizomes.

PurposesTo explore the effect of HMGB1 and TLR4 in epilepsy as well as the influencing factors affecting the expression of HMGB1 and TLR4， we detected the levels of High-mobility group box 1（HMGB1） and Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） in serum of epileptic patients and analyzed their influencing factors. MethodsIn this prospective observational clinical research， a total of 72 patients who were diagnosed as primary epilepsy in our Hospital from September 2016 to September 2017 were selected as the experimental group and divided into three experimental subgroups： drug-resistant group （19 cases）， drug-effective group （32 cases） and unidentified group （21 cases）. A total of 43 healthy people in our hospital were selected as the control group. We collected 2 mL of blood from each person in the experimental group and the control group， and separated the serum from blood. The level of HMGB1 in serum was measured by flow fluorescence technology and the level of TLR4 in serum was measured by ELISA. Then， we analyzed the differences of the levels of serum HMGB1 and TLR4 among the experimental group， control group and experimental subgroups， the correlation between the levels of serum HMGB1 and TLR4 of the experimental group， as well as the correlation between the clinical influencing factors and HMGB1 and TLR4. ResultsThe levels of serum HMGB1 and TLR4 in the experimental group were （370±211） pg/mL and （36.0±3.8） ng/mL， which were significantly higher than （284±158） pg/mL and （34.4±4.1） ng/mL in the control group； and those in the drug-resistant group were （498±214） pg/mL and （38.4±3.2） ng/mL， which were significantly higher than （301±182） pg/mL and （34.5±3.8） ng/mL in the drug-effective group （P < 0.05）. There was a positive linear correlation between HMGB1 and TLR4 in the experimental group （R²=0.479）. The level of serum HMGB1 in the experimental group was related to seizure frequency （F=6.71， P=0.012）， the duration of disease （F=6.55， P=0.013） and drug reactivity （F=3.96， P=0.024）. The level of serum TLR4 in the experimental group was related to seizure frequency （F=4.68， P=0.034） and drug reactivity （F=3.80， P=0.027）. ConclusionsThe levels of serum HMGB1 and TLR4 in epileptic patients are higher than those of non-epileptic patients. The levels of serum HMGB1 and TLR4 in patients with intractable epilepsy （IE） are higher than those in patients with non-intractable epilepsy. There is a positive correlation between HMGB1 and TLR4. The level of serum HMGB1 in epileptic patients is related to seizure frequency， the duration of disease and drug reactivity. The level of serum TLR4 in epileptic patients is related to seizure frequency and drug reactivity.

BACKGROUND: A novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first identified in Wuhan, China, has been rapidly spreading around the world. This study investigates the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Zhejiang Province who did or did not have a history of Wuhan exposure. METHODS: We collected data from medical records of confirmed COVID-19 patients in Zhejiang Province from Jan. 17 to Feb. 7, 2020 and analyzed epidemiological, clinical, and treatment data of those with and without recorded recent exposure in Wuhan. RESULTS: Patients in the control group were older than those in the exposure group ((48.19±16.13) years vs. (43.47±13.12) years, P<0.001), and more were over 65 years old (15.95% control vs. 5.60% exposure, P<0.001). The rate of clustered onset was also significantly higher in the control group than in the exposure group (31.39% vs. 18.66%, P<0.001). The symptom of a sore throat in patients in the exposure group was significantly higher than that in the control group (17.30% vs. 10.89%, P=0.01); however, headache in the exposure group was significantly lower than that in the control group (6.87% vs. 12.15%, P=0.015). More patients in the exposure group had a significantly lower level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) than those in the control group. There was no significant difference in any degree of COVID-19 including mild, severe, and critical between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS From the perspective of epidemiological and clinical characteristics, there was no significant difference between COVID-19 patients with and without Wuhan exposure history.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Betacoronavirus ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult