ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Modified Guomin Decoction （加味过敏煎， MGD） in patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis （AD） of the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） pattern of heart fire and spleen deficiency， and to explore its possible mechanisms. MethodsIn this randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled study， 72 patients with mild to moderate AD and the TCM pattern of heart fire and spleen deficiency were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group， with 36 cases in each group. The treatment group received oral MGD granules combined with topical vitamin E emulsion， while the control group received oral placebo granules combined with topical vitamin E treatment. Both groups were treated twice daily for 4 weeks. Clinical efficacy， TCM syndrome scores， Visual Analogue Scale （VAS） for pruritus， Dermatology Life Quality Index （DLQI） scores， Scoring Atopic Dermatitis （SCORAD） and serum biomarkers， including interleukin-33 （IL-33）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， immunoglobulin E （IgE）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were compared before and after treatment. Safety indexes was also assessed. ResultsThe total clinical effective rates were 77.78% （28/36） in the treatment group and 38.89% （14/36） in the control group， with cure rates of 19.44% （7/36） and 2.78% （1/36）， respectively. The treatment group showed significantly better clinical outcomes compared to the control group （P＜0.05）. The treatment group exhibited significant reductions in total TCM syndrome scores， including erythema， edema， papules， scaling， lichenification， pruritus， irritability， insomnia， abdominal distension， and fatigue scores， as well as reductions in VAS， DLQI， SCORAD， and serum IgE and IL-33 levels （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the control group， the treatment group had significantly better improvements in all indicators except for insomnia （P＜0.05）. No adverse events occurred in either group. ConclusionMGD is effective and safe in treating mild to moderate AD patients with heart fire and spleen deficiency pattern. It significantly alleviates pruritus， improves TCM syndromes and quality of life， and enhances clinical efficacy， possibly through modulation of immune responses.

Objective To investigate the effect of propanaxanediol on proliferation and apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cell HO-8910 and analyze the mechanism.Methods Human ovarian cancer cell HO-8910 were randomly divided into blank group(0.9％NaCl)and experimental-L,-M,-H groups(25,50,100 mg·kg-1 propanaxanadiol treated cells,respectively).Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)was used to detect the proliferation inhibition;the apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry;the migration was detected by cell scratch test;the invasion was detected by Transwell assay;the expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase(PI3K),phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-AKT),proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),B cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)and Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax)were detected by Western blot.Results The proliferation inhibition rates of blank group and experimental-L,-M,-H groups were(16.89±4.15)％,(28.43±3.66)％,(37.96±4.98)％and(50.11±5.24)％;the apoptosis rates were(4.23±1.07)％,(12.36±2.79)％,(24.32±2.93)％and(42.40±3.28)％;the expression levels of PCNA protein were 0.85±0.08,0.69±0.06,0.43±0.06 and 0.25±0.03;the expression levels of Bax protein were 0.18±0.03,0.33±0.04,0.50±0.05 and 0.69±0.05;the expression levels of Bcl-2 protein were 0.82±0.07,0.63±0.04,0.47±0.05 and 0.30±0.03;the mobility were(52.33±4.25)％,(40.16±4.03)％,(29.63±3.25)％and(20.15±2.12)％;the invasion rates were(60.26±5.88)％,(49.33±4.28)％,(30.15±3.68)％and(22.15±1.96)％;the expression levels of PI3K protein were 0.48±0.04,0.34±0.04,0.26±0.03 and 0.15±0.01;the expression levels of p-AKT protein were 0.45±0.03,0.35±0.02,0.23±0.03 and 0.13±0.02,respectively.There were statistically significant differences in the above indexes between the experimental-L,-M,-H groups and the blank group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Protopanaxadiol may inhibit the proliferation,migration and invasion of human ovarian cancer cell HO-8910 by blocking the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,regulating the expression of PCNA,Bax and Bcl-2 proteins and promoting their apoptosis,thus achieving anti-ovarian cancer effects.

Objective:To explore brain network properties and their relationship with cognitive function in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) based graph theory analysis.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional study. Clinical and imaging data of 21 children with SCP (SCP group) and 32 healthy children (control group) who underwent cranial MRI at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University from August 2020 to April 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. 3D-T 1WI, DTI and Wechsler Intelligence Scale were assessed for all subjects. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale included the verbal comprehension index (VCI), the processing speed index (PSI), the work memory index (WMI), and the perceptual reasoning index (PRI), etc., and ultimately the full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) scores were obtained based on the indices of each subscale. Independent samples t-test was used to analyze the differences in the small world attributes [small-world index (σ), normalized shortest path length (λ), normalized clustering coefficients (γ)], global attributes [global efficiency (Eglob), local efficiency (Eloc), characteristic path length (Lp), clustering efficiency (Cp)] and node attributes [degree centrality(DC), nodal efficiency (Ne), betweeness centrality (Bc), nodal shortest path length (NLp), nodal clustering efficiency, nodal local efficiency] between two groups of children′s brain networks. Brain network indicators with statistically significant differences between the 2 groups were correlated with Wechsler Intelligence Scale scores using Spearman. Results:The FSIQ scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale and the VCI, WMI, PSI, and PRI were lower in the SCP group than in the control group, and the differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). Both groups of children′s brain networks had small world properties. Compared with the control group, Eglob decreased, Lp and λ increased in the SCP group (all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, DC and Ne in multiple brain regions decreased, NLp increased in the SCP group (all P<0.05, FDR corrected). Correlation analysis showed that DC in the right parsopercularis was positively correlated with FSIQ, VCI, WMI and PRI( r=0.53, 0.47, 0.47, 0.60, P=0.019, 0.045, 0.044, 0.020, respectively); NLp in the right parsopercularis was negatively correlated with PRI( r=-0.56, P=0.030); Ne in left paracentral, the right parsopercularis, right precentral, right postcentra were positively correlated with PRI( r=0.62, 0.56, 0.53, 0.54, P=0.015, 0.031, 0.044, 0.039, respectively); Ne in the right precentral was positively correlated with WMI ( r=0.48, P=0.039) in the SCP group. Conclusions:There are changes in the topological attributes of global and multiple regional brain networks in SCP. The changes in the attributes of nodes in the right parsopercularis, right precentral, right postcentral, and left paracentral could reflect cognitive dysfunction in children with SCP.

AIM To investigate the effects of diosgenin on autophagy of human osteosarcoma cells.METHODS Human osteosarcoma MG63 and U2OS cells with or without exposure to diosgenin had their proliferation detected by MTT assay,their ultrastructure observed by transmission electron microscopy,their expression of autophagy protein Beclin1 observed by immunofluorescence staining,and their expressions of autophagy molecular markers LC3,Beclin1 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway related proteins detected by Western blot.The MG63 and U2OS cells cotreated with diosgenin and PI3K pathway inhibitor LY294002 had the expression of Beclin1 mRNA detected by RT-qPCR.The MG63 and U2OS cells cotreated with autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine(3-MA)had their inhibition rate of proliferation detected by MTT assay,their expression of cleaved-caspase3 protein detected by Western blot,and their expression of caspase3 mRNA detected by RT-qPCR.RESULTS Upon osteosarcoma MG63 and U2OS cells,diosgenin inhibited their proliferation,promoted the generation of autophagosomes,increased the protein expression of LC3 Ⅱ and Beclin1(P<0.05,P<0.01),reduced the protein expression of LC3 I(P<0.01),and inhibited the protein phosphorylation level of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway(P<0.05,P<0.01),whose effects were offset by the intervention with autophagy inhibitors in terms of the reduced proliferation inhibition and down-regulated expressions of caspase3 mRNA and cleaved-caspase3 protein(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Diosgenin can inhibit the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells and induce their autophagy leading to their death and autophagy apoptosis,which may be related to the activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and up-regulation of the expression of LC3 Ⅱ and Beclin1 proteins.

Objective:To study the effects of periodontitis on bone and tryptophan metabolism of gut microbiota in the context of estrogen deficiency.Methods:Thirty-two female C57BL6/J mice were randomly divided into four groups based on table of random numbers ( n=8 in each group): Sham group, in which mice were given sham surgery; Sham_Lig group, in which mice were given sham surgery and were induced to periodontitis by ligating the bilateral maxillary second molars with 5-0 silk threads at the fourth week; Ovx group, in which mice were given bilateral ovariectomy; Ovx_Lig group, in which mice were given bilateral ovariectomy and were induced to periodontitis at the fourth week. After 8 weeks of ligation, the mice of 4 groups were euthanized for collecting the samples of femur, tibia, mandible and skull. Those samples were scanned by micro-CT to measure the bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume versus total volume ratio (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp). The cecum contents of 4 groups of mice were collected for gut microbiota 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The tryptophan and its metabolites in intestinal tracts were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between the abundance of gut microbiota and the content of tryptophan and its metabolites. Results:Femur BMD [(82.23±3.97) mg/cm 3], BV/TV [(9.25±1.37)%] and Tb.Th [(70.95±5.70) μm] in Ovx_Lig group were significantly lower than Ovx group [(96.30±3.76) mg/cm 3 ( P=0.004); (14.45±1.55)% ( P=0.022) and (87.58±8.02) μm ( P<0.001), respectively]. The β-diversity analysis of gut microbiota based on Bray-Curtis distance showed that samples of Ovx_Lig group and Ovx group were obviously grouped. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) showed that Alistipes was the representative genus in Ovx_Lig group. The relative abundance of Alistipes in Ovx_Lig group [(0.42±0.14)%] were significantly higher than that in Ovx group [(0.17±0.05)%] ( t=4.45, P<0.001). Tryptophan metabolism analysis showed that the content of kynurenic acid [(531.12±158.60) ng/g] in Ovx_Lig group were significantly higher than that in Ovx group [(400.42±57.96) ng/g] ( t=2.19, P=0.046). And the content of indole-3-carbaldehyde [(383.37±144.06) ng/g] in Ovx_Lig group were significantly lower than Ovx group [(701.72±141.93) ng/g] ( t=4.45, P<0.001). Correlation analysis showed that relative abundance of Alistipes was positively correlated with kynurenic acid ( r=0.32, P=0.088), while negatively correlated with indole-3-carbaldehyde ( r=-0.32, P=0.088). Conclusions:Periodontitis can induce bone destruction of femur in estrogen-deficient mice, the mechanism of which may be related to Alistipes in gut and the tryptophan metabolites kynurenic acid and indole-3-carbaldehyde.

Objective To investigate the degree of fibrosis,the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors,and the expression of angiogenesis-related molecules in polypoid endometriosis,with the aim of further elucidating its histopathological characteristics.Methods The study retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of 42 patients diagnosed with polypoid endometriosis through surgical treatment at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University from Apr 2014 to Aug 2020.Additionally,tissue samples from 19 cases of ovarian endometriotic cysts,20 cases of adenomyosis,20 cases of deep infiltrating endometriosis,and 20 cases of endometrial polyps,all pathologically confirmed,were collected as a control group.The degree of fibrosis,the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors,and the expression of angiogenesis-related molecules in the lesions of each group were determined using Masson staining and immunohistochemistry.Results The mean age of onset of the 42 patients with polypoid endometriosis was 41.24 years.And the most usual clinical manifestation is pelvic mass(24/42 patients).Immunohistochemical experiments showed that polypoid endometriosis was less fibrotic than ovarian endometriotic cysts,adenomyosis and deep infiltrating endometriosis but more fibrotic than endometrial polyps.Polypoid endometriosis also has a higher vascular density,increased expression of estrogen receptor-β(ER-β),and down-regulated expression of progesterone receptor B(PR-B).Conclusion Polypoid endometriosis is a distinct subtype of endometriosis characterized by a lower degree of fibrosis,higher levels of estrogen receptor expression,and relatively rich vascularization,generally associated with a favorable prognosis.

Objective This study aims to explore the role of Insulin-like growth factor binding protein(IGFBP)7in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods A mouse model of NAFLD was established by feeding a high-fat diet and IGFBP7 was knocked out by injecting adeno-associated virus(AAV)-mediated short hairpin(sh)-IGFBP7 into the liver.The mice were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=6 per group):normal diet group(ND),high fat diet group(HFD),HFD empty carrier injection group(HFD/AAV-null),and HFD AAV-sh-IGFBP7 injection group(HFD/AAV-sh-IGFBP7).ND group was given normal diet for 12 weeks,HFD group,HFD/AAV-null group and HFD/AAV-sh-IGFBP7 group were given high fat diet for 4 weeks.HFD/AAV-sh-IGFBP7 group and HFD/AAV-null group were injected with 2 × 1011 genome copies of AAV-sh-IGFBP7 or AAV-null group,respectively,and then continued to be fed for 8 weeks.Body weight,liver wet weight and liver index of mice in each group were determined.Serum triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),free fatty acid(FFA),glycerol and liver TG of mice in each group were detected by biochemical analyzer.Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect IGFBP7 mRNA in each group.Protein expression levels and mRNA expression levels of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c(SREBP-1c),fatty acid synthase(FASN),acetyl-CoA carboxylase1(ACC1)and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1(SCD1)related to lipogenesis.Results Compared with ND group,body weight,liver wet weight,liver index and serum ALT,AST,FFA,TG,TC,glycerol and liver TG levels in HFD group were significantly increased,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05),while body weight,liver wet weight,liver index and serum ALT,AST,and serum TG levels in HFD/AAV-sh-IGFBP7 group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).FFA,TG,TC,glycerol and liver TG levels increased less than those of HFD/AAV-null group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Compared with ND group,the expression levels of IGFBP7mRNA and protein in liver of mice in HFD group were increased,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Compared with HFD/AAV-null group,the expression level of IGFBP7 protein in liver of HFD/AAV-sh-IGFBP7 group was significantly decreased,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Compared with ND group,mRNA expression levels of SREBP-1c,FASN,ACC1 and SCD1 in liver tissues of mice in HFD group were significantly increased,with statistical significance(P＜0.01).Compared with HFD/AAV-null group,mRNA expression levels of SREBP-1c,FASN,ACC1 and SCD1 in HFD/AAV-sh-IGFBP7 group were decreased,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion IGFBP7 is involved in hepatic steatosis during the development of NAFLD.Down-regulation of IGFBP7 can reduce the accumulation of lipid in the liver and has a protective effect on the pathogenesis of NAFLD,which may be a new drug for the treatment of NAFLD.

Objective To propose a method for classifying small bowel capsule endoscopy images by combining the Swin Transformer network with an improved Adapt-RandAugment data augmentation approach,aiming to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of small bowel lesion classification and recognition.Methods An Adapt-RandAugment data augmentation approach was formulated based on the RandAugment data enhancement sub-strategy and the principles of no feature loss and no distortion when enhancing small bowel capsule endoscopy images.In the publicly available Kvasir-Capsule dataset of small bowel capsule endoscopic images,the Adapt-RandAugment data augmentation approach was trained based on the Swin Transformer network,and the convolutional neural networks ResNet152 and DenseNet161 were used as the benchmarks to validate the combined Swin Transformer network and Adapt-RandAugment data augmentation approach for small bowel capsule endoscopy image classification.Results The proposed algorithm gained advantages over ResNet152 and DenseNet161 networks in the indicators,which had the macro average precision(MAC-PRE),macro average recall(MAC-REC),macro average F1 score(MAC-Fi-S)being 0.383 2,0.314 8 and 0.290 5 respectively,the micro average precision(MIC-PRE),micro average recall(MIC-REC)and micro average F1 score(MIC-Fi-S)all being 0.755 3,and the Matthews correlation coe-fficient(MCC)being 0.452 3.Conclusion The proposed small bowel capsule endoscopy image classification method based on Swin Transformer network and Adapt-RandAugment data augmentation approach behaves well in classified recognition efficiency and accuracy.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(6):9-16]

Objective To design a log strategy-based medical imaging equipment monitoring and management system to achieve intelligent monitoring and management based on the Internet of Things.Methods A medical imaging equipment monitoring and management system was developed with B/S architecture and Java language.The system constructed a keyword database of medical imaging equipment logs and log parsing rules by designing a strategy for collecting and analyzing medical imaging equipment log information,which consisted of three functional modules for intelligent analysis of medical imaging equipment abnormal status logs,intelligent reminder of medical imaging equipment monitoring parameter settings and risky failures and operational benefit analysis of medical imaging equipment.Results The system developed realized closed-loop management of medical imaging equipment through intelligent monitoring,shortened the average fault reporting and processing time and improved the efficiency of medical imaging equipment management.Conclusion The system developed implements intelligent mangement and benefit analysis for medical imaging equipment,and provides support for precision managment and decision making in modem hospitals.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(7):40-45]

Objective To explore the clinical rational use evaluation method for high-value medical consumables in diagnosis related groups(DRG)using association rules in order to provide references for the supervision of clinical rational use of high-value medical consumables.Methods The cardiovascular department was taken as an example.Firstly,K-means algorithm was applied to cluster analysis of DRG cases in the department,and representative cases were selected as the research objects;secondly,Apriori algorithm was used to mine the frequent item sets of DRG patient groups,the high-value medical consumables in the department and the rules of association between DRG patient groups and medical consumables;finally,two indicators of the importance of regulation and rationality of the use of medical consumables were designed to evaluate the importance of regulation and rationality of the use of high-value medical consumables.Results There were two common DRG patient groups in the cardiovascular department,including FM39 percutaneous cardiac catheterization and FM19 percutaneous coronary stent implantation,and the frequently used medical consumables contained vascular sheath,contrast catheter,pressure monitoring kit,triple three-way stopcock and coronary guide wire in the two groups.The common combinations of medical consumables used in the FM39 DRG patient group comprised of vascular sheath,contrast catheter,pressure monitoring kit,triple three-way stopcock and coronary guide wire,which were close to that of the cardiovascular department;there were some additional consumables involved in the common combinations in the FM19 group such as occluder,coronary guide catheter,pressure pump,drug-eluting stent and coronary dilation balloon.The top three medical consumables in terms of regulatory importance were cutting balloon,coronary guide wire and drug-eluting stent;using the confidence level from January to September 2022 as a reference,from January to September 2023 the rationality of using high-value consumables in FM39 group went higher by 5.08％while that in FM19 group went lower by 9.23％.Conclusion The association rule-based evaluation method for the use of medical consumables in DRG patient groups can be used for assessing the importance of regulation and rationality of the use of high-value medical consumables,which provides references for the supervision of clinical rational use of high-value medical consumables.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(11):67-71]