A purified polysaccharide with a galactose backbone(SPR-1,Mw 3,622 Da)was isolated from processed Polygonati Rhizoma with black beans(PRWB)and characterized its chemical properties.The backbone of SPR-1 consisted of[(4)-β-D-Galp-(1]9→ 4,6)-β-D-Galp-(1 → 4)-α-D-GalpA-(1 → 4)-α-D-GalpA-(1 →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 4,6)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 4)-α/β-D-Glcp,with a branch chain of R1:β-D-Galp-(1 → 3)-β-D-Galp-(1 → connected to the →4,6)-β-D-Galp-(1 → via O-6,and a branch chain of R2:α-D-Glcp-(1 →6)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → connected to the →4,6)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → via O-6.Immunomodulatory assays showed that the SPR-1 significantly activated macrophages,and increased secretion of NO and cytokines(i.e.,IL-1β and TNF-α),as well as promoted the phagocytic activities of cells.Furthermore,isothermal titration calorimetry(ITC)analysis and molecular docking results indicated high-affinity binding between SPR-1 and MD2 with the equilibrium dissociation constant(KD)of 18.8 μM.It was suggested that SPR-1 activated the immune response through Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)signaling and downstream responses.Our research demon-strated that the SPR-1 has a promising candidate from PRWB for the TLR4 agonist to induce immune response,and also provided an easily accessible way that can be used for PR deep processing.

Objective:To explore regulatory effects of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) on hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) .Methods:PSCs were cultured in normoxia or hypoxia conditions to establish normoxia or hypoxia group. PSCs were pre-treated with SCFA working solution (10 mmol/L sodium acetate, 0.5 mmol/L sodium propionate and 0.5 mmol/L sodium butyrate), and then cultured in hypoxia conditions to establish the hypoxia-SCFA group. PSCs pre-treated by normal saline was set as the hypoxia-control group. The relative growth viability of the cells was detected by the CCK-8 assay. Relative levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by DCFH-DA fluorescence probe method. The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 fluorescence probe. Protein expression of cyclin-associated marker cyclin A and cyclin D, hypoxic marker HIF1α, activation marker α-SMA, and antioxidant marker NRF2 and HO-1 was detected by western blotting.Results:The relative viability of PSCs in hypoxia group was significantly higher than that in normoxia group at 48 h (1.23±0.05 vs 0.99±0.04), but the relative viability of hypoxia-SCFA group was significantly lower than that of the hypoxic-control group at both 36 h and 48 h (0.69±0.01 vs 0.86±0.03, 0.86±0.02 vs 1.25±0.05). The relative level of ROS was significantly higher in hypoxia group than normoxia group (1.74±0.11 vs 1.00±0.10). The relative level of ROS was significantly lower in the hypoxia-SCFA group than the hypoxia-control group (1.39±0.14 vs 1.66±0.11). The fluorescence signals of JC-1 polymer in hypoxia group were significantly higher than those in normoxia group (1.36±0.05 vs 1.00±0.11), whereas the fluorescence signals of JC-1 polymer were significantly lower in hypoxia-SCFA group than in hypoxia-control group (1.11±0.03 vs 1.32±0.06). The expression of cyclin A, cyclin D, HIF1α, α-SMA, NRF2, and HO-1 was significantly higher in hypoxia group than those in normoxia group (1.19±0.01 vs 0.63±0.02, 0.93±0.02 vs 0.83±0.03, 1.18±0.07 vs 0.41±0.02, 1.19±0.14 vs 0.66±0.04, 1.22±0.11 vs 0.61±0.04, 1.28±0.12 vs 0.68±0.02), but the expression of cyclin A, cyclin D, α-SMA, NRF2, and HO-1 in Hypoxia-SCFA group was significantly lower than those in hypoxia-control group (0.79±0.04 vs 1.15±0.03, 0.88±0.01 vs 0.95±0.03, 0.87±0.01 vs 1.18±0.05, 0.84±0.01 vs 1.22±0.04, and 0.92±0.02 vs 1.27±0.06). All these differences were statistically significant (all P values <0.05) . Conclusions:SCFA significantly improves the oxidative stress state of PSCs under hypoxic conditions, maintains the stability of mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibites hypoxia-induced activation of PSCs.

Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanism of metformin on the wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in diabetic rats.Methods:This study was an experimental study. Eighteen 8-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into control group, diabetes group, and diabetes+metformin group according to complete random grouping method, with 6 rats in each group. The latter two groups of rats were used to create diabetic models, and then four circular full-thickness skin defect wounds with a diameter of 5 mm were made on the back of 18 rats. Metformin F-127 hydrogel was applied only to the wounds of rats in diabetes+metformin group. The wound healing status on post injury day (POD) 7 and 13 was observed and the wound healing rate was calculated. The wound tissue on POD 7 and 13 was collected for hematoxylin-eosin staining to measure the length of re-epithelialized epidermis and calculate the change rates in diameters of epidermal and dermal wounds, for immunohistochemical staining to detect the relative expressions of keratin 10 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and for Western blotting to detect the protein expressions of keratin 10 and PCNA. The sample size in all the above experiments was 8 except that in the last experiment was 3. The correlations between the relative expressions of keratin 10 and PCNA in wound tissue in three groups of rats and their wound healing rates, and the correlation between the relative expressions of keratin 10 and PCNA in wound tissue were analyzed.Results:On POD 7, the wound healing rates of rats in diabetes group and diabetes+metformin group were 81.48% (77.89%, 85.53%) and 93.04% (92.51%, 94.24%), which were significantly lower than 100% (97.17%, 100%) in control group (with Z values of 2.37 and -3.36, respectively, P<0.05); the wound healing rate of rats in diabetes+metformin group was significantly higher than that in diabetes group ( Z=3.45, P<0.05). On POD 13, the wound healing rates of rats in control group and diabetes+metformin group were both 100% (100%, 100%), which were significantly higher than 94.47% (90.68%, 99.82%) in diabetes group (with Z values of 2.90 and -2.90, respectively, P<0.05). On POD 7, the change rates in epidermal wound diameter of rats in control group and diabetes+metformin group were significantly higher than that in diabetes group (with Z values of 3.36 and -2.74, respectively, P<0.05). The change rates in dermal wound diameter of rats in the three groups were similar on POD 7 and 13 ( P>0.05). The lengths of re-epithelialized epidermis of rats in control group and diabetes+metformin group on POD 13 were significantly longer than that in diabetes group (with Z values of 3.34 and -2.64, respectively, P<0.05). The relative expressions of keratin 10 in wound tissue of rats in diabetes group on POD 7 and 13 were significantly higher than those in control group (with Z values of -3.36 and -3.26, respectively, P<0.05) and diabetes+metformin group (with Z values of 3.36 and 3.15, respectively, P<0.05), and the relative expression of keratin 10 in wound tissue of rats in diabetes+metformin group on POD 7 was significantly lower than that in control group ( Z=3.05, P<0.05); the relative expressions of PCNA in wound tissue of rats in diabetes group on POD 7 and 13 were significantly lower than those in control group (with both Z values of 3.36, P<0.05) and diabetes+metformin group (with both Z values of -3.36, P<0.05). The protein expressions of keratin 10 in wound tissue of rats in control group and diabetes+metformin group on POD 7 as well as that in diabetes+metformin group on POD 13 were significantly lower than those in diabetes group ( P<0.05), and the protein expressions of PCNA in wound tissue of rats in control group and diabetes+metformin group on POD 7 were significantly higher than that in diabetes group ( P<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the relative expression of keratin 10 in wound tissue and the wound healing rate in control group and diabetes+metformin group of rats (with r values of 0.78 and 0.71, respectively, P<0.05), there was a significant negative correlation between the relative expression of PCNA in wound tissue and the wound healing rate in diabetes+metformin group of rats ( r=-0.60, P<0.05), and there was a significant negative correlation between the relative expressions of PCNA and keratin 10 in wound tissue of rats in diabetes group and diabetes+metformin group (with r values of -0.41 and -0.49, respectively, P<0.05). Conclusions:The diabetic rats with full-thickness skin defect wound exhibit delayed healing, accompanied by up-regulation of keratin 10 and down-regulation of PCNA in keratinocytes in the wound tissue. Metformin can promote wound healing in diabetic rats with full-thickness skin defects by down-regulating keratin 10 expression and up-regulating PCNA expression in keratinocytes in the wound tissue, and the wound healing rate was positively correlated with the expression of keratin 10 and negatively correlated with the expression of PCNA.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the level of circulating placental growth factor(PLGF)and the severity of preeclampsia(PE),maternal and infant outcomes and placental pathology.Methods A total of 159 PE patients were selected as the study subjects and divided into the PE1 group(62 PE patients with termination of pregnancy<34 weeks)and the PE2 group(97 PE patients with termination of pregnancy≥34 weeks)according to the gestational age of pregnancy termination.A total of 107 non-PE patients who gave birth during the same period were selected as the control group.Patients were divided into two groups according to the gestational age of termination:the non-PE1 group(41 non-PE patients with termination of pregnancy at<34 weeks)and the non-PE2 group(66 non-PE patients with termination of pregnancy at≥34 weeks).General data were collected in each group of pregnant women,including age,body mass index(BMI),admission systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,24 h urinary protein quantity,gestational times,presence of FGR and fetal embarrassment.General information of newborns during the operation were collected,for example,whether there was fecal contamination of amniotic fluid,neonatal asphyxia,and days of newborn stayed in NICU.PLGF in venous blood of pregnant women was detected on the day of delivery.The placenta was pathologically detected and scored.After delivery,blood gas of umbilical artery was analyzed,and PH(pH),base surplus(BE),lactic acid(LAC)were recorded.Results There were no significant differences in age,gestational times and delivery times between the PE1 group and the PE2 group and the corresponding the non-PE1 group and the non-PE2 group.BMI was higher in the PE1 group and the PE2 group than that in the non-PE1 group and the non-PE2 group.PLGF was lower in the PE1 group and the PE2 group than that in the non-PE1 group and the non-PE2 group,respectively,and PLGF was lower in the PE1 group than that in the PE2 group(P＜0.05).The 24 h urinary protein quantity,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and pathological changes of placenta were higher in the PE1 group than those in the PE2 group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in fecal staining of amniotic fluid,fetal embarrassed condition and pH value of umbilical artery blood gas during delivery between the PE1 group and the PE2 group.Compared with the PE2 group,the proportion of neonatal asphyxia and FGR,the umbilical artery blood gas LAC were increased,the BE value was decreased,and the time of staying in NICU was prolonged in the PE1 group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The level of circulating PLGF is decreased in patients with preeclampsia.PLGF has certain value in evaluating PE and predicting adverse pregnancy outcome.

Lithium batteries are widely used in energy storage, power, and other fields due to their advantages such as high performance and low cost. With the rapid development of the lithium battery industry, its production is constantly growing. However, the identification of occupational hazards and assessment of their health risks in lithium battery industry has rarely been reported. The composition of lithium batteries is complex and involves large numbers of compounds. Besides the traditional occupational hazards, workers may be exposed to many emerging chemicals throughout the production of raw materials, assembly and disassembly of lithium batteries. Therefore, this paper introduced the process chain of lithium battery production, analyzed the underlying occupational hazards in the industry, reviewed the health impacts of typical occupational hazards, and proposed the future research needs according to the current status of research on occupational exposure and health hazards in the lithium battery industry.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of AB classification combined with Arima classification for predicting the invasion depth of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SESCC).Methods:From July 2017 to December 2022, 76 cases of SESCC receiving endoscopic submucosal dissection and intra-epithelial papillary capillary loops (IPCL) AB classification as type B2 in Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital and Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine were included in the study. IPCL was reclassified according to Arima classification. The depth of infiltration determined by pathology was the gold standard. The sensitivity, the specificity, the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value of B2-Arima combined classification in predicting the invasion depth of SESCC were analyzed.Results:In the 76 cases of type B2 IPCL lesions, 31 cases (40.79%) were T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 SESCC. The sensitivity, the specificity, the positive predictive value, the negative predictive value and the diagnostic accuracy of type B2 IPCL to predict T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 SESCC were 70.45% (31/44), 79.64% (176/221), 40.79% (31/76), 93.12% (176/189), and 78.11% (207/265), respectively. After Arima classification, the above corresponding indicators of type B2-4ML and type B2-AVA-4M IPCL in predicting T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 SESCC were 61.36% (27/44), 88.24% (195/221), 50.94% (27/53), 91.98% (195/212), 83.77% (222/265) and 38.64% (17/44), 94.57% (209/221), 58.62% (17/29), 88.56% (209/236), 85.28% (226/265), respectively.Conclusion:B2 IPCL combined with Arima classification can improve the diagnostic accuracy of T1a-MM/T1b-SM1 ESSCC.

The gastric fundus fornix and upper part of the gastric body pose challenges for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), resulting in unsatisfactory resection outcomes for lesions in these areas,because of the difficulty in the endoscope reaching the lesion site. Drawing inspiration from the formation of α loop during flexible colonoscopy and double-channel multibending gastroscope, a single-channel treatment gastroscope was utilized to create a multibending state (referred to as single-channel endoscope multibending method, SCMB). This method was employed to treat 6 patients with lesions in the stomach at Digestive Endoscopy Center of Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from June 2021 to December 2021. There were 3 cases in the gastric fundus fornix, 2 cases in the greater curvature on the upper part of the gastric body, and 1 case in the posterior wall of gastric fundus and subcardia. After 2-3 attempts during surgery, SCMB was successfully performed in all cases within 60-120 seconds. All 6 cases completed successful endoscopic resection within 20-80 minutes without significant complications, including 4 cases of ESD and 2 cases of endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFR). Preliminary results indicate that SCMB method during ESD and its derivative technologies are both safe and effective for lesions in challenging areas where gastric ESD is difficult to perform. During surgery, this approach facilitates the front end of endoscope access to the lesion, providing a clear visual field and a stable dissection plane.

Objective:To explore the effect of "Internet +" combined with multidisciplinary out of hospital management in hospital-home transitional period management of patients after lumbar internal fixation.Methods:From October 2021 to September 2022, convenience sampling was used to select 176 patients who underwent lumbar internal fixation at the Department of Orthopedics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. According to the admission time, patients enrolled from October 2021 to March 2022 were included in the control group, and patients enrolled from April to September 2022 were included in the observation group, with 88 cases in each group. The control group implemented routine out of hospital follow-up management, while the observation group implemented "Internet +" combined with multidisciplinary out of hospital management. After three months of intervention, the recovery of lumbar and back function [Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Macnab score], surgical efficacy (NaKa grading), nursing satisfaction, and readmission rate were compared between the two groups.Results:After three months, the ODI score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group, and the Macnab score was higher than that of the control group, the NaKa grading was better than that of the control group, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). In the observation group and control group, the total effective rate of surgery, nursing satisfaction, and readmission rate were 88.64% (78/88) vs. 67.05% (59/88), 94.32% (83/88) vs. 78.41% (69/88), 4.55% (4/88) vs. 17.05% (15/88), respectively. The total effective rate and nursing satisfaction of the observation group were higher than those of the control group, and the readmission rate was lower than that of the control group, with statistical differences ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:"Internet +" combined with multidisciplinary out of hospital management can effectively improve the recovery of lumbar function in hospital-home transitional period management of patients after lumbar internal fixation, enhance the surgical efficacy and nursing satisfaction, and reduce the readmission rate.

Abnormal iron metabolism mediated by ferritinophagy is one of the most important mechanisms in the occurrence of ferroptosis.The regulatory mechanism of ferritinophagy mainly involves the transcription of NCOA4 and its corresponding protein modifications.Ferroptosis plays an important role in the development of colitis and colitis-associated cancer,and target-oriented regulation of ferroptosis can alleviate colonic inflammatory response and induce the tumor cell death.This article mainly reviewed the regulatory mechanism of NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy and its progress in colitis and colitis-related cancer,which may provide a new point for the investigation on mechanism of colitis and inflammation-cancer transformation.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effi-cacy and safety of acupuncture-related treat-ments for postherpetic neuralgia(PHN),identify the most effective acupuncture and related treat-ments.METHODS PubMed,Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,Embase,Web of Science,and four Chinese databases,a clinical research registration platform,and grey literature were searched.We evaluated the risk of bias and quality in the included studies and per-formed a Bayesian multiple network meta-analy-sis.RESULTS We included 29 randomized con-trolled trials comprising 1973 patients,of which approximately 17.24%showed a high risk of bi-as.According to the Jadad scale,2,16,and 11 studies were high,medium,and low quality,respectively.The pairwise meta-analysis results revealed that the efficacy of all acupuncture-related treatments for pain relief related to PHN showed the difference was statistically significant com-pared with that of antiepileptics.The network meta-analysis results showed that pricking and cupping plus antiepileptics were the most effec-tive,followed by electroacupuncture(EA)plus antiepileptics for pain relief in patients with PHN.EA plus antiepileptics ranked the best regarding reduced Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Self-Rating Depression Scale scores in patients with PHN.No results were found regarding total response rate or quality of life among this study.Acupuncture-related treatments showed a lower incidence of adverse events than that of antiepi-leptics-related treatments.CONCLUSION Acu-puncture-related therapies may be potential treat-ment options for PHN and are relatively safe.Pricking and cupping plus antiepileptics are the most effective techniques for pain relief.EA plus antiepileptics is the best approach for improving insomnia and depression symptoms of PHN.