Aim To investigate the protective effect of berberine(BBR)on mice with unilateral ureteral obstr-uction(UUO)and explore its mechanism.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the sham group,UUO group,and BBR treatment groups(50,100 and 200 mg·kg-1),with eight mice in each group.Except the sham group,the other groups were subjected to left ureteral ligation to establish the UUO model.Af-ter modeling,the mice in the sham and UUO groups were fed normal saline,and the mice in the BBR treat-ment groups were fed(50,100,200)mg·kg-1 BBR by gavage for 14 days,respectively.Biochemical analy-zer was employed to detect the levels of serum creati-nine(Scr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN).HE,Mas-son,TUNEL and immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the pathological changes of renal tis-sue.ELISA was employed to detect the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in renal tissue homogenate.Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of NF-κB p65,TGF-β1 and CTGF in mouse kidney.Re-sults Compared with the UUO group,the levels of Scr and BUN in the BBR group were significantly reduced.Renal injury and interstitial fibrosis were alleviated.The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines decreased in kidney.The expression of NF-κB p65,TGF-β1 and CTGF decreased.All results showed some degree of dose dependence.Conclusion Berberine has a sig-nificant protective effect on unilateral ureteral obstruc-tion mice,and the mechanism may be that BBR has the potential to inhibit NF-κB p65/TGF-β1/CTGF signa-ling pathway,thus reducing renal inflammation and fi-brosis.

Objective:To evaluate the performance of the self-developed transcranial ultrasound patch probe as well as its stability and safety in clinical applications.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. Fifty healthy subjects in Tangdu Hospital from October to December 2023 were randomly and equally divided into two groups using a simple randomization method. The transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) examinations were performed using the self-developed transcranial ultrasound patch probe and normal TCD probe alternatively in each group from squatting to sitting and then to standing posture. Two experienced sonographers (A, B) each completed one test for the same subject using the above two different probes. The differences of the ultrasound parameters of middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow measured by the self-developed transcranial ultrasound patch probe and the normal TCD probe in different postures (squatting, sitting, standing) were compared. At the same time, operator satisfaction with the use of the two probes was assessed in terms of time taken to obtain satisfactory images, operational comfort, and ease of handling. In addition, the subject's comfort during the examination was examined, and the signal acquisition stability of the two probes was comprehensively evaluated.Results:There was no significant difference in detection of various ultrasound parameters of MCA between using the transcranial patch probe and the normal TCD probe (all P>0.05). The overall satisfaction of transcranial ultrasound patch probe and normal TCD probe was quite similar. The transcranial ultrasound patch probe acquired favorable and stable signals. No subjects experienced adverse events/accidents during the examination of the subjects using the transcranial ultrasound patch probe as well as the normal TCD probe.Both probes had good and stable signal acquisition. Conclusions:TCD examinations could be well performed using the transcranial ultrasound patch probe, which might provide a potential new method for real-time monitoring and evaluating of cerebral blood flow of a moving subject.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a new noninvasive diagnostic model for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on features of tongue images. METHODS: Healthy controls and volunteers confirmed to have NAFLD by liver ultrasound were recruited from China-Japan Friendship Hospital between September 2018 and May 2019, then the anthropometric indexes and sampled tongue images were measured. The tongue images were labeled by features, based on a brief protocol, without knowing any other clinical data, after a series of corrections and data cleaning. The algorithm was trained on images using labels and several anthropometric indexes for inputs, utilizing machine learning technology. Finally, a logistic regression algorithm and a decision tree model were constructed as 2 diagnostic models for NAFLD. RESULTS: A total of 720 subjects were enrolled in this study, including 432 patients with NAFLD and 288 healthy volunteers. Of them, 482 were randomly allocated into the training set and 238 into the validation set. The diagnostic model based on logistic regression exhibited excellent performance: in validation set, it achieved an accuracy of 86.98%, sensitivity of 91.43%, and specificity of 80.61%; with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.93 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-0.98]. The decision tree model achieved an accuracy of 81.09%, sensitivity of 91.43%, and specificity of 66.33%; with an AUC of 0.89 (95% CI 0.66-0.92) in validation set. CONCLUSIONS The features of tongue images were associated with NAFLD. Both the 2 diagnostic models, which would be convenient, noninvasive, lightweight, rapid, and inexpensive technical references for early screening, can accurately distinguish NAFLD and are worth further study.
Humans ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Ultrasonography ; Anthropometry ; Algorithms ; China

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations,molecular genetics and gonadal pathol-ogy characteristics of patients with disorders of sex development(DSD),and to summarize the clinical experi-ence of identifying rare diseases from common symptoms.Methods The clinical data of 416 patients with DSD diagnosed and treated in the multidisciplinary center of DSD of Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Cen-ter from May 2018 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed,summarized and discussed.Results Accord-ing to chromosome karyotype,416 cases of DSD were classified into three types:92 cases(22.1％)of abnormal sex chromosome karyotype,285 cases(68.5％)of 46,XY karyotype and 39 cases(9.4％)of 46,XX karyotype.Among the 92 patients with abnormal sex chromosome karyotype,59 cases were raised as males,18 cases(30.5％)complained of short penis with hypospadias and cryptorchidism.The most common karyotype was 45,X/46,XY(58 cases,63.0％).Among the 285 patients with 46,XY karyotype,238 cases were raised as males,and 63 cases(26.5％)complained of short penis and hypospadias;47 cases were raised as females,and 13 ca-ses(27.7％)complained of inguinal mass.A total of 216 patients with 46,XY karyotype were subjected to whole exome gene detection,and 155 cases(71.8％)were found to have molecular pathogenesis with the clinical phe-notype.Among the 39 patients with 46,XX karyotype,19 cases were raised as males,and 8 cases(42.1％)com-plained of short penis and hypospadias.In the 18 cases of gonad biopsy,17 cases showed testicular tissue in go-nads.Whole exome sequencing was performed in 14 cases.NR5A1 gene heterozygous mutation,SRY gene muta-tion and SOX3 gene mutation were found in 2 cases,respectively(14.3％).Twenty cases were raised as females,and 14 cases(70.0％)complained of clitoral hypertrophy.Gonad biopsy was performed in 8 cases,with 7 cases of ovotestis(87.5％)and 1 case of NR5A1 gene heterozygous mutation(14.3％).Conclusions The etiologies of DSD are complex and diverse,and the clinical manifestations are various,which can be manifested as hypospa-dias,micropenis,cryptorchidism and other common symptoms of the urinary system.Different etiologies have dif-ferent treatment options.Therefore,chromosome karyotype,molecular genetic testing and gonadal pathology can be used to clarify the cause of disease,especially for rare diseases,improve the detection rate,reduce the rate of missed diagnosis,and ensure reasonable treatment,especially sex selection.

Objective:To investigate the application value of the teaching evaluation method guided by cultivating "excellent doctors" in the clinical teaching of dermatology and venereology.Methods:A non-simultaneous control study was conducted, and the medical students who received theoretical learning and clinical internship in Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, from March 2020 to February 2022, were enrolled as subjects. According to the order of enrollment, 32 students who were enrolled from March 2020 to February 2021 were set up as control group, and 31 students who were enrolled from March 2021 to February 2022 were set up as experimental group. The students in the control group received lecture-based learning, and those in the experimental group received clinical teaching using a teaching and evaluation method guided by cultivating "excellent doctors". After the course ended, the two groups were compared in terms of the scores of theoretical knowledge and operation skills, clinical thinking ability [Self-Assessment of Clinical Reasoning and Reflection (SACRR)], core competence [Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini CEX)], and degree of satisfaction with teaching. SPSS 25.0 software was used to perform the independent samples t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test, the chi-square test, and the rank sum test. Results:One student in the control group voluntarily withdrew from the study, and one student in the experimental group did not complete the contents of internship. Finally, 31 students in the control group and 30 in the experimental group were included in the study. After 4 weeks of internship, compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly higher scores of theoretical knowledge (88.00±4.30 vs. 85.71±4.12, t=2.12, P=0.040) and operation skills (91.87±3.99 vs. 88.23±3.84, t=3.63, P<0.05). After 4 weeks of internship, compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly higher information systematization score (47.23±3.11 vs. 45.16±3.00), analysis problem score (34.87±2.30 vs. 31.29±2.30), truth finding score (16.30±1.49 vs. 14.45±1.52), reflective ability score [3.50 (3.00, 4.00) vs. 3.00 (3.00, 3.00)], and total score of SACRR (101.87±4.47 vs. 93.90±4.47), with significant differences between the two groups ( t/ Z=2.65, 6.17, 4.79, 3.15, and 6.96, all P<0.05). After 4 weeks of internship, the experimental group had a significantly better core competence than the control group ( Z=2.12, P=0.030); compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly higher classroom teaching score (20.17±1.98 vs. 18.45±2.23, t=3.17, P<0.05), clinical practice score (19.83±2.10 vs. 17.65±2.17, t=4.00, P<0.05), learning plan score (18.63±2.24 vs. 17.03±2.15, t=2.85, P<0.05), teaching resource score (20.07±1.82 vs. 18.58±2.00, t=3.04, P<0.05) and total score (78.70±3.67 vs. 71.71±4.13, t=6.98, P<0.05). Conclusions:The application of the teaching and evaluation method guided by cultivating "excellent doctors" in the clinical teaching of dermatology and venereology can improve clinical theoretical knowledge, practical operation skills, clinical thinking ability, and core ability among interns and thus help to improve teaching quality. Therefore, it holds promise for clinical application.

OBJECTIVE: To identify traditional Chinese drugs that contain active ingredients for treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) and explore their therapeutic mechanisms using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. METHODS: The TCMSP database was used for screening the traditional Chinese drugs containing active ingredients for treating MI, and the related targets of MI and the candidate drugs were obtained from Genecards, OMIM, PharmGkb and PharmMapper databases. The common target network of the drug targets and disease targets was established using Venny2.1.0 software. GO and KEGG signal pathway enrichment analysis of the common targets was performed, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed for the targets. The targets in the PPI network were analyzed to identify the key targets, for which GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed. Molecular docking was performed for the candidate ingredients and the key targets, and a total score ≥6 was used as the criteria for screening the therapeutic ingredients and their docking binding with key targets was verified. A human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was used to validate the candidate ingredients and the key therapeutic targets for MI by Western blotting. RESULTS: Our analysis identified Salvia miltiorrhiza and Dalbergiae odoriferae as the candidate drugs rich in active ingredients for treatment of MI. These ingredients involved 16 key therapeutic targets for MI, which participated in such biological processes as inflammatory response, angiogenesis, energy metabolism and oxidative stress and the pathways including HIF-1, VEGF, and TNF pathways. Sclareol and PTGS2 in Salvia miltiorrhiza and formononetin and KDR in Dalbergiae odoriferae all had high docking total scores. Western blotting showed that at medium and high doses, sclareol significantly inhibited PTGS2 expression and formononetin promoted KDR expressions in the cell models in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Both Salvia miltiorrhiza and Dalbergiae odoriferae have good therapeutic effects on MI. Sclareol in Salvia miltiorrhiza and formononetin in Dalbergiae odoriferae regulate the expressions of KDR and PTGS2, respectively, to modulate the inflammatory response, angiogenesis, oxidative stress and energy metabolism and thus produce myocardial protective effects.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy* ; Network Pharmacology

Aging can cause degenerative changes in the function of multiple tissues and organs in the body. Gastrointestinal diseases and intestinal dysfunction are very common in the elderly people. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of the total extract of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. on intestinal function and gut microbiota homeostasis in natural aging mice, which will provide clues for further mechanism study. The natural aging mice model is established and animal experiments follow the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The overall health of the mice was evaluated by the "frailty index" scoring method. The intestinal absorption and transport function were measured by detecting intestinal glucose absorption capacity, transport time, lipase and amylase activities of aging mice. Intestinal inflammation was assessed by detecting inflammatory cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pathological changes in the intestines of aging mice were tested by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and alizarin blue (AB) staining. The qRT-PCR method was used to explore the gene transcription level related with the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells. Microbiota analysis based on 16S rDNA were used to evaluate the composition of gut microbiota. The results showed that Astragalus had a tendency to reduce the "frailty index" of aging mice, but did not show a significant difference. In some indicators of aging phenotype, Astragalus has the most significant effect on hair loss and physical fitness. In terms of intestinal function, Astragalus could increase intestinal glucose absorption capacity, shorten intestinal transportation time and promote lipase secretion in aging mice. The levels of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-‍α) in the aging intestinal tissue were reduced after Astragalus administration. Astragalus also ameliorated the pathological degeneration of the intestinal tissue of aging mice by increasing the length of small intestinal villi, the thickness of colonic mucosa and goblet cell number. In addition, Astragalus elevated the expression of genes associated with the proliferation and differentiation in jejunum and modulated gut microbiota, especially restoring the abundance of Lachnospiraceae. Taken together, the above research results demonstrate the total extract of Astragalus as a key factor improving the intestinal function and gut microbiota homeostasis of aging mice.

Muscle spindle is the key proprioceptor in skeletal muscles and plays important roles in many physiological activities, such as maintaining posture, regulating movement and controlling speed variation. It has significant clinical relevance and is emerging as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of motor functional impairment and metabolic diseases. In this review, we summarized muscle spindle distribution and the mechanism of mechanical signal transmission, and reviewed the research progress on morphological and structural characteristics of muscle spindles.
Muscle Spindles/physiology* ; Muscle, Skeletal/physiology* ; Clinical Relevance

Objective: To estimate the incidence of HIV-1 infection in men who have sex with men (MSM) in key areas of China through HIV-1 limiting antigen avidity enzyme immunoassay (LAg-Avidity EIA), analyze the deviation from the actual results and identify influencing factors, and provided reference for improving the accuracy of estimation results. Methods: Based on the principle of the cohort randomized study design, 20 cities were selected in China based on population size and the number of HIV-positive MSM. The sample size was estimated to be 700 according to the HIV-1 infection rate in MSM. MSM mobile phone app. was used to establish a detection appointment and questionnaire system, and the baseline cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to November 2019. LAg-Avidity EIA was used to identify the recent infected samples. The incidence of HIV-1 infection was calculated and then adjusted based on the estimation formula designed by WHO. The influencing factors were identified by analyzing the sample collection and detection processes. Results: Among the 10 650 blood samples from the participants, 799 were HIV-positive in initial screening, in which 198 samples (24.78%) missed during confirmation test. Only 621 samples were received by the laboratory. After excluding misreported samples, 520 samples were qualified for testing. A total of 155 samples were eventually determined as recent infection through LAg-Avidity EIA; Based on the estimation formula , the incidence of HIV-1 infection in MSM in 20 cities was 4.06% (95%CI:3.27%-4.85%), it increased to 5.53% (95%CI: 4.45%-6.60%)after the adjusting for sample missing rate. When the sample missing rate and misreporting rate were both adjusted, the incidence of HIV-1 infection in the MSM increased to 5.66% (95%CI:4.67%-6.65%). The actual incidence of HIV-1 infection in MSM in the 20 cities might be between 4.06% and 5.66%. Conclusions: Sample missing and misreporting might cause the deviation of the estimation of HIV-1 infection incidence. It is important to ensure the sample source and the quality of sample collection and detection to reduce the deviation in the estimation of HIV-1 infection incidence.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; HIV Infections/epidemiology* ; HIV-1 ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Incidence ; Male ; Sexual and Gender Minorities

The purpose of this research is to study the effect of small molecule compound piceatannol (PIC) on host inflammation in adenine induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) mice, and then to explore its mechanism based on the regulation of gut microbiota. All procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. The level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); UPLC-TQ/MS technology was used to monitor the level of proinflammatory uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS) and p-cresol sulfate (PCS); the expression of occludin was tested by Western blot; in vitro anaerobic culture of gut bacteria was used to produce indole; the abundance of gut microbiota was evaluated by 16S rDNA sequencing. The results showed that PIC had no effect on inflammatory infiltration in kidney tissue of CKD mice, but could decrease IL-6 level in blood and IL-6/TNF-α level in colon tissue. PIC did not improve intestinal occludin protein expression in CKD mice; while it could significantly reduce the levels of IS and PCS in blood and liver of CKD mice. Further mechanism studies showed that PIC could inhibit the synthesis of IS precursor indole in gut bacteria. Moreover, PIC could decrease the abundance of gut bacteria which producing uremic toxin, such as reducing the abundance of indole and p-cresol producing gut bacteria. In conclusion, PIC could regulate gut microbiota and inhibit the synthesis of uremic toxin precursor, thereafter reducing the accumulation of IS and PCS in vivo, ultimately relieving the inflammation of CKD mice.