OBJECTIVES: To propose a hypothesis that aloe-emodin may inhibit scar tissue fibrosis through thrombospondin-1(THBS1)-PI3K-Akt pathway. METHODS: By cultivating fibroblasts derived from scar tissue after cleft palate surgery in humans, aloe emodin of different concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 μmol/L) was added to the cells which activity was detected. At the same time, transcriptome sequencing was performed on scar tissue and cells, and bioinformatics methods were used to explore potential targets and signaling pathways of scar tissue fibrosis. RESULTS: Aloe-emodin had a concentration dependent inhibitory effect on fibroblast proliferation,with the 40 μmol/L concentration group showing the most significant effect. The results of tissue and cell sequencing indicated that differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway, and shared a common differential gene which was THBS1. The ORA analysis results indicated that differentially expressed genes, including THBS1, were significantly enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Aloe emodin may inhibit the PI3K-Akt pathway by downregulating THBS1, thereby reducing the proliferation activity of fibroblasts derived from postoperative palatal scar tissue.
Thrombospondin 1/genetics* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Fibroblasts/cytology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Fibrosis ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Cicatrix/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Anthraquinones/pharmacology* ; Cells, Cultured

Background and Aims:Elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colon cancer often experience decreased sleep quality,which may hinder postoperative recovery.Although pharmacological interventions are commonly used in clinical practice to improve postoperative sleep,conventional medications may lead to adverse effects such as delirium and dependence.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a non-pharmacological intervention—buccal acupuncture combined with ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block(SGB)—on postoperative sleep quality in elderly patients.Methods:A total of 60 elderly patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection of colon cancer at the Forth Hospital of Changsha from February to August 2024 were enrolled.Using a random number table,the patients were divided into two groups:30 in the control group(SGB alone)and 30 in the study group(SGB combined with buccal acupuncture).Perioperative mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),postoperative visual analogue scale(VAS)scores,Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)scores,and the incidence of adverse events were recorded and analyzed.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups(all P>0.05).The study group showed significantly lower intraoperative and postoperative HR and MAP compared to the control group(all P<0.05).VAS scores at 6,24,and 48 h postoperatively,as well as PSQI scores on postoperative days 1,3,and 5,were significantly lower in the study group(all P<0.05).Additionally,the incidence of drowsiness was significantly reduced(P<0.05).No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of nausea,vomiting,or agitation(all P>0.05).Conclusion:The combination of buccal acupuncture and SGB during the perioperative period can effectively improve postoperative sleep quality,alleviate pain,and reduce adverse reactions in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colon cancer.This safe and effective non-pharmacological intervention holds promising clinical application value.

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is one of the common microvascular complications in diabetes mellitus patients,with oedema,proteinuria,and continuous decline in renal function as the main clinical manifestations,and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)believes that diabetic kidney disease is caused by a deficiency of Qi and Yin,which runs through the whole process of the disease.In recent years,academician Tong Xiaolin's theory of"state-target theory"provides new ideas for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.The"state"is a general term for the overall manifestation of the patient's condition.The overall manifestation of the condition of diabetic kidney disease is a"state of deficiency and impairment"with Qi and Yin deficiency as the key mechanism of the disease.The"target"refers to the specific symptoms of the disease or abnormal examination results,which are the clinical symptoms and abnormal indicators caused by diabetic kidney disease.Ginseng astragali dihuang soup is effective in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy,and the application of this formula based on the theory of state-target can make the therapeutic effect more significant,achieve the therapeutic effect of supporting positive Qi,replenishing the deficiency and benefiting the loss,and improve the clinical symptoms and the abnormal physicochemical indexes of diabetic nephropathy,and the state-target co-adjustment,which can provide a new way of thinking for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic nephropathy for the clinicians.

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is one of the common microvascular complications in diabetes mellitus patients,with oedema,proteinuria,and continuous decline in renal function as the main clinical manifestations,and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)believes that diabetic kidney disease is caused by a deficiency of Qi and Yin,which runs through the whole process of the disease.In recent years,academician Tong Xiaolin's theory of"state-target theory"provides new ideas for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.The"state"is a general term for the overall manifestation of the patient's condition.The overall manifestation of the condition of diabetic kidney disease is a"state of deficiency and impairment"with Qi and Yin deficiency as the key mechanism of the disease.The"target"refers to the specific symptoms of the disease or abnormal examination results,which are the clinical symptoms and abnormal indicators caused by diabetic kidney disease.Ginseng astragali dihuang soup is effective in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy,and the application of this formula based on the theory of state-target can make the therapeutic effect more significant,achieve the therapeutic effect of supporting positive Qi,replenishing the deficiency and benefiting the loss,and improve the clinical symptoms and the abnormal physicochemical indexes of diabetic nephropathy,and the state-target co-adjustment,which can provide a new way of thinking for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic nephropathy for the clinicians.

Background and Aims:Elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colon cancer often experience decreased sleep quality,which may hinder postoperative recovery.Although pharmacological interventions are commonly used in clinical practice to improve postoperative sleep,conventional medications may lead to adverse effects such as delirium and dependence.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a non-pharmacological intervention—buccal acupuncture combined with ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block(SGB)—on postoperative sleep quality in elderly patients.Methods:A total of 60 elderly patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection of colon cancer at the Forth Hospital of Changsha from February to August 2024 were enrolled.Using a random number table,the patients were divided into two groups:30 in the control group(SGB alone)and 30 in the study group(SGB combined with buccal acupuncture).Perioperative mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),postoperative visual analogue scale(VAS)scores,Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)scores,and the incidence of adverse events were recorded and analyzed.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups(all P>0.05).The study group showed significantly lower intraoperative and postoperative HR and MAP compared to the control group(all P<0.05).VAS scores at 6,24,and 48 h postoperatively,as well as PSQI scores on postoperative days 1,3,and 5,were significantly lower in the study group(all P<0.05).Additionally,the incidence of drowsiness was significantly reduced(P<0.05).No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of nausea,vomiting,or agitation(all P>0.05).Conclusion:The combination of buccal acupuncture and SGB during the perioperative period can effectively improve postoperative sleep quality,alleviate pain,and reduce adverse reactions in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colon cancer.This safe and effective non-pharmacological intervention holds promising clinical application value.

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasonic cycloplasty(UCP)combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)+ panretinal photocoagulation(PRP)in the treatment of advanced neovascular glaucoma(NVG).METHODS: Retrospective study. A total of 45 patients(45 eyes)with advanced NVG who received surgery in our hospital from August 2020 to September 2022 were collected and divided into UCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group(16 patients, 16 eyes), transscleral cyclophotocoagulation(TCP)+anti-VEGF+PRP group(20 patients, 20 eyes), UCP alone group(9 patients, 9 eyes). The intraocular pressure, pain scores, postoperative medication, effective rate, total success rate and the incidence of complications of the patients in the three groups were compared before surgery and at 1 d, 1 wk, 1 and 3 mo after surgery.RESULTS: There was no significant difference in preoperative intraocular pressure, pain scores and preoperative medication of patients in the three groups(all P>0.05). While there were statistical significance in the intraocular pressure and pain scores at 1 d, 1 wk, 1 and 3 mo after surgery(all P<0.01). The intraocular pressure of the UCP alone group(31.78±10.23 mmHg)was found to be higher than that of both the UCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group(19.44±8.23 mmHg)and the TCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group(20.80±10.27 mmHg)at 1 mo postoperatively(all P<0.017). The pain score of the TCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group at 1 d and 1 wk postoperatively was higher than both the UCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group and the UCP alone group(all P<0.017). The effective rates of UCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group, TCP+ anti-VEGF +PRP group and UCP alone group were 81%(13/16), 75%(15/20)and 67%(6/9), respectively,(P=0.675), and the success rates were 69%(11/16), 50%(10/20), and 0(0/9), respectively(P=0.003). There was no significant difference in complications of patients in the three groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: UCP combined with anti-VEGF +PRP and TCP combined with anti-VEGF +PRP showed comparable efficacy in reducing intraocular pressure in advanced NVG. UCP combined with anti-VEGF+PRP was more effective in relieving pain and with no serious complications in advanced NVG. UCP alone can effectively control intraocular pressure and alleviate the pain of patients in the early postoperative period, but long-term control still requires anti-VEGF+PRP.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Bushen Jianpi Jiedu Liyan formula on the expression of integrin alpha 4 beta 1 （α₄ β₁）， vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 （VCAM-1）， stromal-derived factor-1 （SDF-1）， and chemokine receptor-4 （CXCR4） in the small intestine and bone marrow of the rat model of immunoglobulin A（IgA） nephropathy. MethodA total of 120 male SD rats were used to establish the IgA nephropathy model by intragastric administration of bovine serum albumin （BSA）， subcutaneous injection of CCl₄， and tail vein injection of lipopolysaccharide （LPS）. The successfully modeled rats were randomized into blank， model， lotensin （63 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （10.4， 20.81， 41.62 g·kg^-1， respectively） Bushen Jianpi Jiedu Liyan formula groups （n=16）. The rats were treated with corresponding drugs according to their body weight. After 7 weeks of administration， the rats were sacrificed for the collection of samples， and the protein and mRNA levels of α₄ β₁， VCAM-1， SDF-1， and CXCR4 in the small intestine and bone marrow were determined by immunohistochemistry and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction， respectively. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group showed increased red blood cell count in the urine at the 10^th， 12^th， 14^th， 16^th weeks （P<0.01）， and such increases were reduced in the drug intervention groups （P<0.05）， especially in the medium-dose Bushen Jianpi Jiedu Liyan formula group （P<0.05）. Compared with those in the blank group， the protein levels of α₄ β₁， VCAM-1， SDF-1， and CXCR4 in the intestinal lamina propria in the model group were up-regulated （P<0.05）， and such un-regulations were inhibited in the drug intervention groups （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， medium-dose Bushen Jianpi Jiedu Liyan formula down-regulated the protein levels of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in the intestinal lamina propria （P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed down-regulated mRNA levels of α₄ β₁ and SDF-1 and up-regulated mRNA levels of VCAM-1 and CXCR4 （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the drug intervention groups showed down-regulated mRNA levels of SDF-1 and CXCR4 （P<0.05）. ConclusionBushen Jianpi Jiedu Liyan formula regulates the expression of α₄ β₁， VCAM-1， SDF-1， and CXCR4 in the intestinal lamina propria to inhibit the homing effect of plasma cells， which may be associated with the Toll-like receptor-mediated activation of immune response. Bushen Jianpi Jiedu Liyan formula can down-regulate the expression of adhesion molecules to inhibit the proliferation of plasmocytes in circulation， so as to reduce the renal injury of IgA nephropathy.

Objective To investigate the effect of tonifying kidney and promoting pharynx prescription on IgA nephropathy model rats and the mechanism of regulating the TLR4 signaling pathway.Methods After SD rats were randomly divided into groups,the rat model of IgA nephropathy was replicated.After the medication,urinary RBC,UTP,blood creatinine,urea nitrogen,renal tissue TLR4,MyD88,NF-κB,MCP-1 expression,C1GALT1 and cosmoc mRNA expression in peripheral blood,TLR4,NF-κB and IL-6 in serum were observed.Results ①Compared with the blank group,urinary RBC,UTP,and renal tissue TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB,MCP-1 expression,C1GALT1 and cosmoc mRNA expression in peripheral blood,TLR4,NF-κB and IL-6 in serum increased in the model group(P<0.05).②Compared with the model group,UTP,urinary RBC,renal tissue TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB,MCP-1 expression,C1GALT1 and cosmoc mRNA expression in peripheral blood,the content of TLR4 and NF-κB,IL-6 were decreased(P<0.05)in tonifying kidney and promoting pharynx prescription group;There was no significant change in renal function.Conclusions ①The tonifying kidney and promoting pharynx prescription can effectively reduce hematuria and proteinuria in rats with IgA nephropathy.②The tonifying kidney and promoting pharynx prescription can reduce renal injury by improving the immune response mediated by TLR4 Signal transduction system induced by mucosal infection and reducing abnormal glycosylation IgA1 by adjusting key enzyme C1GalT1 and molecular companion Cosmc in IgA1 glycosylation process.

Hunan University of Chinese Medicine has improved the implementation of animal ethics education from the aspects of carrying out elective courses, emphasizing the implementation of pre-class learning, integrating ethics education into experimental teaching, cultivating students' good medical literacy in a subtle way, and further deepening their learning by offering elective courses of animal ethics. The results show that the opening of elective courses and the enforcement of experimental animal ethics education in experimental classes have greatly strengthened the students' experimental animal ethics, which is conducive to the formation of students' medical literacy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of small nuclear noncoding RNA 7SK in embryonic stem cell (ESCs) proliferation and the value of 7SK as a target for early diagnosis and treatment for primordial dwarfism (PD). METHODS: ESC line R1 was transfected with the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and sequencing of the PCR product and glycerol gradient analysis were performed to identify novel 7SK deletion mutations. A lentivirus system was used to knock down cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) in clones with 7SK deletion mutations, and the effect of CDK9 knockdown on the protein level of cell division cycle 6 (CDC6) was analyzed with Western blotting. RESULTS: We identified a novel deletion mutation of 7SK at 128-179 nt in the ESCs, which resulted in deficiency of cell proliferation. 7SK truncation at 128-179 nt significantly reduced the protein expressions of La-related protein 7 (LARP7) and CDC6. CONCLUSIONS 7SK truncation at 128-179 nt can significantly impair proliferation of ESCs by downregulating CDC6. 7SK is a key regulator of proliferation and mediates the growth of ESCs through a mechanism dependent on CDK9 activity, suggesting the value of 7SK truncation at 128-179 nt as a potential target for early diagnosis and treatment of PD.
Cell Cycle Proteins ; Cell Proliferation ; Embryonic Stem Cells/metabolism* ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Nuclear Proteins ; Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B/metabolism* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; Ribonucleoproteins ; Transcription Factors