This study investigates the effect and underlying mechanism of Guizhi Tongluo Tablets(GZTL) in treating atherosclerosis(AS) in a mouse model. Apolipoprotein E-knockout(ApoE~(-/-)) mice were randomly assigned to the following groups: model, high-, medium-, and low-dose GZTL, and atorvastatin(ATV), and age-matched C57BL/6J mice were selected as the control group. ApoE~(-/-) mice in other groups except the control group were fed with a high-fat diet for the modeling of AS and administrated with corresponding drugs via gavage for 8 weeks. General conditions, signs of blood stasis, and body mass of mice were monitored. Aortic plaques and their stability were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, and oil red O staining. Serum levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) were measured by biochemical assays, and those of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-6(IL-6) were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL). Single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq) was employed to analyze the differential expression of CD72hi macrophages(CD72hi-Mφ) in the aortas of AS patients and mice. The immunofluorescence assay was employed to visualize CD72hi-Mφ expression in mouse aortic plaques, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was utilized to determine the mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the aorta. The results demonstrated that compared with the control group, the model group exhibited significant increases in body mass, aortic plaque area proportion, necrotic core area proportion, and lipid deposition, a notable decrease in collagen fiber content, and an increase in apoptosis. Additionally, the model group showcased elevated serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6, alongside marked upregulations in the mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the aorta. In comparison with the model group, the GZTL groups and the ATV group showed a reduction in body mass, and the medium-and high-dose GZTL groups and the ATV group demonstrated reductions in aortic plaque area proportion, necrotic core area proportion, and lipid deposition, an increase in collagen fiber content, and a decrease in apoptosis. Furthermore, the treatment goups showcased lowered serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6. The data of scRNA-seq revealed significantly elevated CD72hi-Mφ signaling in carotid plaques of AS patients compared with that in the normal arterial tissue. Animal experiments confirmed that CD72hi-Mφ expression, along with several pro-inflammatory cytokines, was significantly upregulated in the aortas of AS mice, which were downregulated by GZTL treatment. In conclusion, GZTL may alleviate AS by inhibiting CD72hi-Mφ activity.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Atherosclerosis/immunology* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Male ; Humans ; Apolipoproteins E/genetics* ; Tablets ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice, Knockout

OBJECTIVES: To study the differences in clinical characteristics of term and preterm neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) undergoing surgical treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 142 NEC neonates who underwent surgery at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from June 2017 to August 2023. The neonates were categorized into a preterm group (gestational age <37 weeks; 95 cases) and a term group (gestational age 37-42 weeks; 47 cases) to compare clinical characteristics. RESULTS: The preterm group had a higher postnatal age at both diagnosis and surgery compared to the term group (P<0.05). The preterm group also had a higher incidence of preoperative bloody stools, lower preoperative platelet counts, and higher rates of preoperative respiratory distress, apnea, reduced/absent bowel sounds, and mechanical ventilation compared to the term group (P<0.05). Postoperatively, the preterm group had higher rates of purulent meningitis, sepsis, and coagulation dysfunction, lower postoperative platelet counts, and lower intraoperative minimum body temperature than the term group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There are significant differences in the clinical characteristics of preterm and term neonates with NEC undergoing surgery, suggesting the need for tailored perioperative management strategies based on these characteristics.
Humans ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/surgery* ; Infant, Newborn ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Infant, Premature ; Gestational Age

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that nucleic acid-based therapies are promising for atherosclerosis. However, nearly all nucleic acid delivery systems developed for atherosclerosis necessitate injection, which results in rapid elimination and poor patient compliance. Consequently, oral delivery strategies capable of targeting atherosclerotic plaques are imperative for nucleic acid therapeutics. Herein we report the development of yeast-derived capsules (YCs) packaging an antisense oligonucleotide (AM33) targeting microRNA-33 (miR-33) for the oral treatment of atherosclerosis. YCs provide stability for AM33, preventing its premature release in the gastrointestinal tract. AM33-containing YCs, defined as YAM33, showed high transfection in macrophages, thus promoting cholesterol efflux and inhibiting foam cell formation by regulating the target genes/proteins of miR-33. Orally delivered YAM33 effectively accumulated within atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE ^-/- mice, primarily by transepithelial absorption via M cells in Peyer's patches and subsequent translocation via macrophages through the lymphatic system. Inhibition of miR-33 by oral YAM33 significantly delayed the progression of atherosclerosis. Moreover, oral treatment with YCs co-delivering AM33 and atorvastatin afforded significantly enhanced anti-atherosclerotic effects. Our findings suggest that yeast-based microcapsules represent an effective carrier for oral delivery of nucleic acids, either alone or in combination with existing drugs, offering a promising approach for precision therapy of atherosclerotic diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between physical activity and genetic risk and their combined effects on the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 318,085 biobank participants from the UK. Physical activity was assessed using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The participants were stratified into low-, intermediate-, and high-genetic-risk groups based on their polygenic risk scores. Multivariate Cox regression models and multiplicative interaction analyses were used. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 13 years, 9,209 participants were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For low genetic risk, compared to low physical activity, the hazard ratios ( HRs) for moderate and high physical activity were 0.853 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 0.748-0.972) and 0.831 (95% CI: 0.727-0.950), respectively. For intermediate genetic risk, the HRs were 0.829 (95% CI: 0.758-0.905) and 0.835 (95% CI: 0.764-0.914), respectively. For participants with high genetic risk, the HRs were 0.809 (95% CI: 0.746-0.877) and 0.818 (95% CI: 0.754-0.888), respectively. A significant interaction was observed between genetic risk and physical activity. CONCLUSION Moderate or high levels of physical activity were associated with a lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across all genetic risk groups, highlighting the need to tailor activity interventions for genetically susceptible individuals.
Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology* ; Exercise ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Aged ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Risk Factors ; United Kingdom/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Adult

Objective To investigate the influencing factors of pulmonary and extrapulmonary acute re-spiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)caused by sepsis.Methods A total of 126 patients with ARDS admitted to the Department of Critical Care Medicine,General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University,from January 2022 to June 2024 were selected.Patients were divided into pulmonary ARDS and extrapulmonary ARDS groups based on the etiology of ARDS.General data,inflammatory indicators,and prognostic outcomes were compared between the two groups.COX regression analysis was used to identify prognostic factors.Results A-mong the 126 patients,72 were diagnosed with pulmonary ARDS and 54 with extrapulmonary ARDS.The pulmonary ARDS group had significantly lower SOFA scores,fewer organ dysfunctions,a lower incidence of arrhythmia,shorter mechanical ventilation duration,higher Murray scores,and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index(CCI)compared to the extrapulmonary ARDS group(P<0.05).Inflammatory markers,including pro-calcitonin(PCT),C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin(IL)-4,IL-6,IL-10,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),were significantly lower in the pulmonary ARDS group,while interferon-γ(INF-γ)levels were higher(P<0.05).For pulmonary ARDS,CCI and TNF-α were identified as independent risk factors for prog-nosis(P<0.05),with the combination of CCI and TNF-α yielding the highest predictive accuracy(AUC=0.81,95%CI:0.71-0.91).For extrapulmonary ARDS,CCI and CRP were independent risk factors(P<0.05),and their combination achieved the highest predictive performance(AUC=0.91,95%CI:0.84-0.98).Conclusion Inflammatory profiles between pulmonary and extrapulmonary ARDS caused by sepsis are different.CCI and TNF-α are independent risk factors for mortality in pulmonary ARDS,while CCI and CRP are independent risk factors in extrapulmonary ARDS.

Objective To investigate the effect of dorsal repulsive axon guidance protein(Draxin)on the migration of trunk neural crest cells during the early development of embryonic mouse spinal cord.Methods Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to detect the expression characteristics of Draxin in early embryonic spinal cord(8 mice each group);In situ hybridization was used to detect the change of migration characteristics of trunk neural crest cells in early embryonic spinal cord of different types of mouse(5 mice each group);in vitro culture method was used to check the effect of Draxin on the migration characteristics of embryonic mouse trunk neural crest cells(16 mice each group).Resultsβ-galactosidase gene Z(LacZ)gene was introduced when Draxin gene was knocked out to produce Draxin gene knockout mice.β-galactosidase staining was used to detect LacZ gene expression in Draxin knockout embryonic mice,and the result showed that Draxin expression was observed in the spinal cord of early embryonic mice since 9.5 days(E9.5).Draxin expression was obvious in the embryonic mice spinal cord in E10.5 period.In situ hybridization was used to detect the expression of Draxin gene in the spinal cord of wild type embryonic mice,and the result further verified the obvious expression of Draxin in the early embryonic mice spinal cord in El0.5 period.Sox10 in situ hybridization was used to detect neural crest cell migration in the spinal cord of embryonic mice in E10.5 period.The result showed that segmental migration of neural crest cells in the early embryonic spinal cord of some Draxin knockout mice was delayed compared with the wild type mice.The effect of Draxin on the migration of wild type early embryonic mice trunk neural crest cells in vitro was tested.The result showed that Draxin reduced the migration distance of neural crest cells in vitro.Conclusion In the early developmental stage of embryonic spinal cord(E9.5-E10.5),neural crest cells migrated exuberant.At the same time,Draxin plays an important inhibitory function in the formation of the specific migration pathways of trunk neural crest cells by promoting neural crest cells migrating away from Draxin expressing regions.

Aim To investigate the regulatory role and mechanism of resveratrol in inhibiting autophagy and promoting apoptosis in choroidal melanoma cells. Methods Choroidal melanoma cells (MUM2B) were divided into control and experimental groups, and treated with different concentrations of resveratrol (0, 10, 20,40,60,80 μmol ·L

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) on patients with pulmonary edema caused by seawater drowning.Methods:A retrospective analysis method was used. Based on the Utstein database of emergency drowning in the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, the clinical data of patients with seawater drowning pulmonary edema admitted to the emergency medicine department of the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022 were collected. The patients were divided into NPPV group and HFNC group according to different ventilation methods. The general data, endotracheal intubation rate in 7 days, arterial blood gas analysis indexes [arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO 2)] and hemodynamic indexes (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, blood lactic acid) before and after treatment, length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU), oxygen therapy comfort of the two groups were compared. Results:A total of 54 patients were enrolled, including 21 patients in the NPPV group and 33 patients in the HFNC group. There were no significant differences in gender, age, state of consciousness and other general information between the two groups. Compared with NPPV group, the rate of endotracheal intubation in HFNC group within 7 days was significantly lower [24.2% (8/33) vs. 33.3% (7/21), P < 0.05]. Before treatment, there were no significant differences in arterial blood gas analysis and hemodynamics between the two groups. After treatment, the above indexes in both groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment, and PaO 2, SaO 2, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure in HFNC group were significantly higher than those in NPPV group [PaO 2 (mmHg, 1 mmHg≈0.133kPa): 93.56±6.37 vs. 82.14±6.25, SaO 2: 1.02±0.09 vs. 0.95±0.11, systolic blood pressure (mmHg): 117.37±8.43 vs. 110.42±8.38, diastolic blood pressure (mmHg): 79.43±7.61 vs. 72.21±4.32, mean arterial pressure (mmHg): 92.34±6.32 vs. 85.12±5.38], PaCO 2, heart rate and blood lactic acid were significantly lower than those in NPPV group [PaCO 2 (mmHg) : 34.26±5.63 vs. 37.24±6.22, heart rate (times/min): 73.38±7.56 vs. 86.25±5.41, blood lactic acid (mmol/L): 1.38±0.36 vs. 2.25±1.14], and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). In addition, the length of ICU stay in HFNC group was significantly shorter than that in NPPV group (days: 13.30±2.38 vs. 16.27±4.26), and the comfort rate of oxygen therapy was significantly higher than that in NPPV group [66.7% (22/33) vs. 42.8% (9/21)], with statistical significance (all P < 0.05). Conclusion:HFNC can improve the oxygenation of patients with pulmonary edema caused by seawater drowning, improve hemodynamics, reduce the rate of tracheal intubation, shorten the length of ICU stay, and improve the comfort of oxygen therapy, which has certain clinical application value.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and prognosis of chemotherapy regimen containing Bruton's tyrosine kinase(BTK)inhibitor in the treatment of relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma(R/R MCL).Methods:The clinical data of 134 patients with R/R MCL were collected and analyzed retrospectively.The clinical characteristics of patients and effect of chemotherapy regimen on efficacy,overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)were observed.Results:The median age of the patients was 58(56-61)years old,and male to female ratio was about 2.9∶1.Patients with Ann Arbor stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ accounted for 77.6％,extranodal involvement＞2 for 43.3％,bone marrow involvement for 60.4％,gastrointestinal involvement for 24.6％,and hepatosplenomegaly for 38.1％.The median follow-up time was 30(2-103)months,overall response rate(ORR)was 41.8％,3-year PFS was not reached,and 3-year and 5-year OS rate was 62.7％and 53.8％,respectively.The ORR of BTK inhibitor group was 56.9％,which was higher than 32.5％of non-BTK inhibitor group(P=0.006).The difference was statistically significant in PFS between the two groups(P=0.002),but was not in OS(P＞0.05).The difference was statistically significant in OS between classical and special morphology(P＜0.001),but was not in PFS(P＞0.05).Ki-67 was an influencing factor for OS and PFS.Multivariate analysis showed that Ki-67,B symptoms,MIPI score,and Ann Arbor stage were independent prognostic factors affecting patients'OS.The second-line treatment regimen was an independent prognostic factor affecting patients'PFS.Conclusions:The chemotherapy regimen containing BTK inhibitors can effectively improve the efficacy and prolong the PFS of R/R MCL patients.Ki-67,B symptoms,MIPI score,and Ann Arbor stage are independent prognostic factors for R/R MCL patients.

As artificial intelligence technology rapidly advances, its deployment within the medical sector presents substantial ethical challenges. Consequently, it becomes crucial to create a standardized, transparent, and secure framework for processing medical data. This includes setting the ethical boundaries for medical artificial intelligence and safeguarding both patient rights and data integrity. This consensus governs every facet of medical data handling through artificial intelligence, encompassing data gathering, processing, storage, transmission, utilization, and sharing. Its purpose is to ensure the management of medical data adheres to ethical standards and legal requirements, while safeguarding patient privacy and data security. Concurrently, the principles of compliance with the law, patient privacy respect, patient interest protection, and safety and reliability are underscored. Key issues such as informed consent, data usage, intellectual property protection, conflict of interest, and benefit sharing are examined in depth. The enactment of this expert consensus is intended to foster the profound integration and sustainable advancement of artificial intelligence within the medical domain, while simultaneously ensuring that artificial intelligence adheres strictly to the relevant ethical norms and legal frameworks during the processing of medical data.
Artificial Intelligence/legislation & jurisprudence* ; Humans ; Consensus ; Computer Security/standards* ; Confidentiality/ethics* ; Informed Consent/ethics*