OBJECTIVE: Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) is an adverse event that occurs during long-term peritoneal dialysis, significantly impairing treatment efficiency and adversely affecting patient outcomes. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a principal active component derived from Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, has exhibited anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects in various settings. This study aims to investigate the potential therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of AS-IV in the treatment of PF. METHODS: The PF mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 4.25% peritoneal dialysis fluid (100 mL/kg). The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HMrSV5 cells was induced by the addition of 10 ng/mL transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). The differentially expressed genes in HMrSV5 cells treated with AS-IV were screened using transcriptome sequencing analysis. The potential targets of AS-IV were screened using network pharmacology and analyzed using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. RESULTS: Administration of AS-IV at doses of 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg effectively mitigated the increase in peritoneal thickness and the development of fibrosis in mice with PF. The expression of the fibrosis marker α-smooth muscle actin in the peritoneum was significantly decreased in AS-IV-treated mice. The treatment of AS-IV (10, 20, and 40 μmol/L) significantly delayed the EMT of HMrSV5 cells induced by TGF-β, as demonstrated by the decreased number of 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine-positive cells, reduced migrated area, and decreased expression of fibrosis markers. A total of 460 differentially expressed genes were detected in AS-IV-treated HMrSV5 cells through transcriptome sequencing, with notable enrichment in the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT) signaling pathway. The reduced levels of phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K) and p-AKT were detected in HMrSV5 cells with AS-IV treatment. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was predicted as a direct target of AS-IV, exhibiting strong hydrogen bond interactions. The activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway by the compound 740Y-P, and the activation of the EGFR pathway by NSC 228155 each partially counteracted the inhibitory effect of AS-IV on the EMT of HMrSV5 cells. CONCLUSION AS-IV delayed the EMT process in peritoneal mesothelial cells and slowed the progression of PF, potentially serving as a therapeutic agent for the early prevention and treatment of PF. Please cite this article as: Huang Y, Chu CL, Qiu WH, Chen JY, Cao LX, Ji SY, Zhu B, Wang GK, Shen QQ. Astragaloside IV delayed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in peritoneal fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of EGFR and PI3K-AKT pathways. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):694-705.
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects* ; Animals ; Saponins/pharmacology* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Peritoneal Fibrosis/pathology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; ErbB Receptors/metabolism* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Male ; Humans ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Cell Line ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Objective This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between urinary metals copper (Cu), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) and grip strength. Methods We used linear regression models, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the relationship between metals and grip strength.Results In the multimetal linear regression, Cu (β=-2.119), As (β=-1.318), Sr (β=-2.480), Ba (β=0.781), Fe (β= 1.130) and Mn (β=-0.404) were significantly correlated with grip strength (P < 0.05). The results of the quantile g-computation showed that the risk of occurrence of grip strength reduction was -1.007 (95％ confidence interval:-1.362, -0.652; P < 0.001) when each quartile of the mixture of the seven metals was increased. Bayesian kernel function regression model analysis showed that mixtures of the seven metals had a negative overall effect on grip strength, with Cu, As and Sr being negatively associated with grip strength levels. In the total population, potential interactions were observed between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn (Pinteractions of 0.003 and 0.018, respectively).Conclusion In summary, this study suggests that combined exposure to metal mixtures is negatively associated with grip strength. Cu, Sr and As were negatively correlated with grip strength levels, and there were potential interactions between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn.

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a senile brain lesion caused by the abnormal structure and function of arterioles, venules and capillaries in the aging brain. The etiology of CSVD is complex, and disease is often asymptomatic in its early stages. However, as CSVD develops, brain disorders may occur, such as stroke, cognitive dysfunction, dyskinesia and mood disorders, and heart, kidney, eye and systemic disorders. As the population continues to age, the burden of CSVD is increasing. Moreover, there is an urgent need for better screening methods and diagnostic markers for CSVD, in addition to preventive and asymptomatic- and mild-stage treatments. Integrative medicine (IM), which combines the holistic concepts and syndrome differentiations of Chinese medicine with modern medical perspectives, has unique advantages for the prevention and treatment of CSVD. In this review, we summarize the biological markers, ultrasound and imaging features, disease-related genes and risk factors relevant to CSVD diagnosis and screening. Furthermore, we discuss IM-based CSVD prevention and treatment strategies to stimulate further research in this field.
Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Brain/pathology* ; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases/pathology* ; Stroke/complications* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/complications* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

An HPLC method was established for the assay of epinephrine sulfonate (impurity F) in epinephrine injection. The determination was performed on an AQUASIL C18 (100 mm × 4.6 mm, 3 μm) column with a gradient elution system, and the mobile phase was consisted of monopotassium phosphate solution (mobile phase A) and acetonitrile (mobile phase B). The injection volume was 40 μL. The detection wavelength was at 210 nm and the column temperature was 25 ℃. The total analytical time was 40 min. The results showed that the standard cure of epinephrine sulfonate (impurity F) between peak area and concentration exhibited good linear relationship within the ranges of 0.520-12.480 μg·mL^-1 and the R² = 0.999 8. The average recovery rate was 103.04% and the RSD was 2.00%. The limit concentration of detection was 0.104 μg·mL^-1 and the limit concentration of quantitation was 0.520 μg·mL^-1. The method could be applied to the determination of epinephrine sulfonate in epinephrine injection with high accuracy and precision, as well as good sensitivity. It could also enhance the quality standards of epinephrine-related products.

【Objective】 To learn the production efficient of platelet components among prefecture-level blood stations in China, to provide supporting data for those blood stations to optimize the production mode of platelet components and continuously improve production efficiency and supply capacity. 【Methods】 The data from 2017 to 2020 was obtained from 24 prefecture-level blood stations who were the members of the practice comparison network for blood institutes in China. The collection units of apheresis platelets, the number of dual-collections of apheresis platelets and plasma, the average apheresis units of one platelet apheresis procedure, the discarded rate of apheresis platelets, the amount of expired apheresis platelets and the amount of apheresis platelets issued were collected. For concentrated platelets, the prepared amount of platelet concentrates and the amount of expired platelet concentrates were collected; both the quantity of qualified and issued concentrated platelets were submitted for statistical analysis.The total output and efficiency of platelet components were calculated based on the collected data. 【Results】 The average annual growth rate of apheresis platelets collection in 24 prefecture-level blood stations was 12.23%, accounting for 99.80% of the total platelet output; the average collection unit of one platelets apheresis procedure was 1.75; from 2019 to 2020, only 5 blood stations performed dual-collection of platelet and plasma during one apheresis procedure; the discarded rate of apheresis platelets was 0.28%, of which 0.007% was due to expiration. A total of 1 621.2 therapeutic units of concentrated platelets were prepared, and 13.03% of them was discarded due to the expiration. The production efficiency of platelet components was 97.56%, of which the production efficiency of apheresis platelets was 97.61% and the production efficiency of concentrated platelets was 74.43%. 【Conclusion】 There are large regional differences in the supply capacity of platelet components in prefecture-level blood stations. Apheresis platelets are the main resource of platelet components product, and the collection capacity is increasing over the years with the characteristics of high production efficiency and low expiration scrapping rate. However, the preparation of concentrated platelets are still limited with relatively low production and high expiration discarded rate.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between occupational radiation exposure and changes in thyroid hormone levels among medical radiation workers. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 2,946 radiation workers from 20 Guangzhou hospitals. Data on general characteristics, participant radiation dosimetry, and thyroid function test results [thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroid hormone (T4)] were extracted from dosimetry and medical records. The generalized estimating equation was used to evaluate the trend of changes in thyroid hormone levels over time and was adjusted for age, gender, and occupation. Results: The average annual effective dose was very low and showed a general downward trend. During the follow-up period, changes in T3 and T4 levels among radiation workers were -0.015 [95% confidence interval ( Conclusion Thyroid hormone secretion might be affected even in low-dose radiation exposure environments.
Adult ; China ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects* ; Radiation Exposure/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Hormones/radiation effects* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of calsurf, a domestic exogenous pulmonary surfactant, in the treatment of severe neonatal infectious pneumonia. METHODS: A total of 208 neonates with severe infectious pneumonia who hospitalized in 5 hospitals of China were enrolled. According to their parents' wishes on admission, these neonates were administered with conventional treatment (control group; n=81) and calsurf  treatment + conventional treatment (calsurf treatment group, n=127). The two groups were compared in terms of the degree of oxygen dependence on admission, blood gas parameters before and after treatment, lung ultrasound results, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, hospital costs, complications and prognosis. RESULTS: Compared with the control group on admission, the calsurf treatment group had significantly higher inhaled oxygen concentration and partial pressure of carbon dioxide and significantly lower arterial partial pressure of oxygen and oxygenation index (P<0.01). After 1 hour of treatment, both groups had significant improvements in the above indices (P<0.05), and the improvements were more significant in the calsurf treatment group (P<0.05). After 4-6 hours of calsurf administration, there was a significant reduction in the degree of pulmonary consolidation. The calsurf treatment group had significantly shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and length of hospital stay than the control group, while there was no significant difference in the incidence rate of complications between the two groups. The neonates of both groups had a good prognosis. CONCLUSIONS In neonates with severe infectious pneumonia, calsurf treatment can significantly improve oxygenation, reduce the degree of pulmonary consolidation, and shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and length of hospital stay. Therefore, it should be considered in neonates with severe infectious pneumonia.
China ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pneumonia ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; Respiration, Artificial

OBJECTIVE: To detect and analyze the mutation status of FANCJ gene in adult AML patients, so as to provide the basis for studying the mechanism of FANCJ driven AML and guiding the preventim and treatment of deseese. METHODS: The cDNAs were extracted and transeripted from bone marrow cells and normal skin cells in 222 newly diagnosed AML patients. The primers were designed for FANCJ gene coding region, the mutations of FANCJ gene coding region in AML patients as well as the mutations of FANCJ gene in mucous membrane epethelia in patients were detected by PCR and sanger seguencing; the evolutionary conservation of FANCJ mutation in different organisms was analyzed by NCBI Blast online bioinformaties software. RESULTS: The sequencing analysis showed that the mutations of FANCJ gene happened in 11 sites of FANCJ gene coding region, which were as followed: exon5:c.G430A:p.A144T, exon6:c.A587G:pN196S, exon9:c.C1255T:p.R419W, exon10:c.G1442A:p.G481D, exon11:c.C1609G:p.L537V, exon16:c.C2360T:p.P787L, exon17:c.C2440T:p.R814C, exon19:c.C2608T:pH870Y, exon19:c.A2686G:p.I896V, exon19:c.C2830G:p.Q944E, exon20:c.G3412A:p.D1138N. Among them, the repeatability existed in mutations of A144T, N196S, R814C, I896V and Q944E. Beside, the mutation sites of A144, R419, G381, L537, P787, H870, Q944 and D1138 were highly conserved in different organisms. CONCLUSION Among 222 adult AML patients, the mutations of FANCJ gene have been found in 26 patients, moreover, the mutation sites are relatively conserved in different organisms, and possess important fanction. The results of this study provide the basis for exploring the mexhanism of FANCJ gene driven AML and for guiding the prevantion and treatment of AML.
Adult ; DNA Primers ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis

[Objectives]To observe the clinical effects of the immediate implant placement of Zimmer dental implant sys-tem in the mandibular posterior region.[Methods]67 cases with a total of 89 mandible posterior teeth to deal with immediate implantion which selected to be treated with Zimmer dental implant system.76 teeth between implant and tooth socket bone wall were simultaneously filled with Bio-oss Collagen.The upper structure was repaired with PFM porcelain crown after the postoperative phase I of 3~6 months.All the patients were followed up for 6~24 months.[Results]During the clinical follow up,the implant survival rate was 100%. In 67 patients,89 implants was successfully loaded,with stable implants,good condition in synosteosis and without adverse subjective symptoms. All of the 67 patients had achieved good synosteosis and success loads clinically and radiologically.[Conclusion]A good osseointegration is obtained in the mandibular posterior re-gion with Zimmer dental implant system,Correctly dealing with Bio-oss Collagen between implant and tooth socket bone wall.At the same time,it can shorten the time of therapy,simplify the procedure,so that the clinical results are more satis-factory.

[Objective]To analyze the expression profile variation of circle RNA(circRNA)in tongue squamous cell carcinoma(TSCC)tissue and para-carcinoma tissue.[Methods]CircRNA microarray technology was performed to in-spect the difference of circRNA expression in 4 cases of TSCC tissues and 4 cases of para-carcinoma tissues,and then make analysis after the quality control and homogenization of raw data,to identify which have more than 2 times variation and significant difference(P<0.05)by statistical analysis as circRNA with differential expression. To perform functional analysis on circRNA with differential expression.[Results]Compared with para-carcinoma tissue,there were 17171 circRNA differentially expressed in TSCC tissue,while 9982 increase more than 2 times and 7189 reduce more than 2 times.[Conclusion]circRNA expression profile in TSCC changes significantly comparing with the para-carcinoma tis-sue,some differentially expressed circRNA may regulate the occurrence and progression of TSCC through a competitive combination of miRNA.