ObjectiveTo investigate the liver-protecting and anti-liver fibrosis effects of astragaloside Ⅳ （AS-Ⅳ） in vitro and in vivo， as well as its mechanism of action in intervention against liver fibrosis. MethodsIn the animal experiment， C57BL/6J mice were divided into control group， model group， low-dose AS-Ⅳ （20 mg/kg） group， and high-dose AS-Ⅳ （80 mg/kg） group. The mice were given intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride for 6 weeks to induce liver fibrosis， and since week 3 of injection， the mice in the low-dose AS-Ⅳ group and the high-dose AS-Ⅳ group were given AS-Ⅳ by gavage at a dose of 20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg， respectively. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） were measured after 4 weeks of administration， as well as the serum levels of hyaluronic acid （HA）， laminin （LN）， procollagen Ⅲ N-terminal peptide （PⅢNP）， and collagen type Ⅳ （Col-Ⅳ）. HE staining， picrosirius red staining， and Masson staining were used to observe liver histopathology and collagen deposition； RT-qPCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of Acta2， Col1a1， and Col3a1 in liver tissue， and Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， collagen type Ⅲ （Col-Ⅲ）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， phosphorylated PI3K （pPI3K）， protein kinase B （Akt）， and phosphorylated AKT （p-Akt） in liver tissue； transcriptome sequencing was performed for liver tissue to identify differentially expressed genes and perform a bioinformatics analysis. In the cell experiment， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β） was used to induce the activation of LX-2 cells， and the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and the PI3K activator 740 Y-P were used for intervention. The cells were divided into control group， model group， AS-Ⅳ group， LY294002 group， and AS-Ⅳ+740 Y-P group， and the cells were harvested after 36 hours of intervention. Changes in the protein expression levels of α-SMA， Col-Ⅲ， pPI3K/PI3K， and pAkt/Akt in LX-2 cells were measured， as well as changes in the relative mRNA expression levels of Acta2， Col1a1， and Col3a1. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsIn the animal experiment， compared with the model group， the AS-Ⅳ treatment group had significant reductions in the serum levels of ALT， AST， HA， LN， PⅢNP， and Col-Ⅳ （all P<0.01）， the mRNA expression levels of Acta2， Col1a1， and Col3a1 in liver tissue （all P<0.05）， and the protein expression levels of α-SMA， Col-Ⅲ， pPI3K， and pAkt （Ser473） in liver tissue （all P<0.05）. In the cell experiment， compared with the control group， the model group had significant increases in the protein expression levels of α-SMA， Col-Ⅲ， pPI3K， and pAkt （Ser473） after TGF-β induction （all P<0.05）； compared with the model group， the AS-Ⅳ group had significant reductions in the protein expression levels of α-SMA， Col-Ⅲ， pPI3K， and pAkt （Ser473） （all P<0.05）， and both the AS-Ⅳ group and the LY294002 group had significant reductions in the protein expression level of pPI3K and the relative mRNA expression levels of Acta2， Col1a1， and Col3a1 （all P<0.05）. Compared with the AS-Ⅳ group， there were significant increases in the protein expression level of pPI3K and the relative mRNA expression levels of Acta2， col1a1， and Col3a1 after 740 Y-P intervention （all P<0.05）. ConclusionAS-Ⅳ can inhibit hepatic stellate cell activation and improve liver fibrosis， possibly by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of targeted silencing of Runt-related Transcription Factor 3 （RUNX3） on the proliferation and migration of Mouse Hepatic Stellate Cells （HSCs）， as well as subsequent collagen deposition. MethodsMouse hepatic stellate cell line （JS-1） was selected and then morphologically observed and identified under a microscope. After the cells had fully adhered， they were treated with 5 ng/mL of transforming growth factor beta 1 （TGF-β₁） for 24 hours to induce hepatic stellate cell activation. Furthermore， a RUNX3 silencing model was established using RUNX3 lentiviral infection. The experiment was divided into four groups： Control group， TGF-β₁ group， TGF-β₁+siRNA-NC group， and TGF-β₁+siRNA-RUNX3 group. Protein expression changes of RUNX3， alpha-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， and Alpha 1 type I collagen （Collagen I） were detected using Western blot method. Cellular immunofluorescence assays were employed to investigate the deposition changes of α-SMA and RUNX3 in hepatic stellate cells. RT-qPCR was utilized to examine the mRNA expression changes of RUNX3， α-SMA， and Collagen I. The proliferative capacity of hepatic stellate cells was assessed using Edu staining. The migratory ability of hepatic stellate cells was evaluated through wound healing assays and Transwell migration experiments. ResultsCompared with Control group， a significant elevation in RUNX3 was observed in the TGF-β₁-induced activated HSCs （P<0.01）. Meanwhile， the protein and mRNA levels of fibrosis-related markers and α-SMA and Collagen I were significantly upregulated （P<0.001）. Additionally， the proliferation and migration capabilities of HSCs were significantly enhanced （P<0.001）. In contrast， when compared to TGF-β₁+siRNA-NC group， TGF-β₁+siRNA-RUNX3 group exhibited a notable decrease in RUNX3 and other related indicators， such as the protein and mRNA levels of α-SMA and Collagen I （P<0.05）. Concurrently， the proliferation and migration capabilities of HSCs were significantly inhibited in TGF-β₁+siRNA-RUNX3 group （P<0.01）. ConclusionSilencing RUNX3 can inhibit the deposition of collagen and the proliferation and migration of hepatic stellate cells. Conversely， RUNX3 promotes the proliferation and migration capabilities of HSCs， thereby facilitating the activation of HSC.

This research study focuses on addressing the limitations of current neuropathic pain(NP)treatments by developing a novel dual-target modulator,E0199,targeting both Nav1.7,Nay1.8,and Nay1.9 and Kv7 channels,a crucial regulator in controlling NP symptoms.The objective of the study was to synthesize a compound capable of modulating these channels to alleviate NP.Through an experimental design involving both in vitro and in vivo methods,E0199 was tested for its efficacy on ion channels and its therapeutic potential in a chronic constriction injury(CCI)mouse model.The results demonstrated that E0199 significantly inhibited Nav1.7,Nav1.8,and Nav1.9 channels with a particularly low half maximal inhibitory concentration(ICs0)for Nay1.9 by promoting sodium channel inactivation,and also effectively increased Kv7.2/73,Kv7.2,and Kv7.5 channels,excluding Kv7.1 by promoting potassium channel acti-vation.This dual action significantly reduced the excitability of dorsal root ganglion neurons and alle-viated pain hypersensitivity in mice at low doses,indicating a potent analgesic effect without affecting heart and skeletal muscle ion channels critically.The safety of E0199 was supported by neurobehavioral evaluations.Conclusively,E0199 represents a ground-breaking approach in NP treatment,showcasing the potential of dual-target small-molecule compounds in providing a more effective and safe thera-peutic option for NP.This study introduces a promising direction for the future development of NP therapeutics.

This research study focuses on addressing the limitations of current neuropathic pain (NP) treatments by developing a novel dual-target modulator, E0199, targeting both Na_V1.7, Na_V1.8, and Na_V1.9 and K_V7 channels, a crucial regulator in controlling NP symptoms. The objective of the study was to synthesize a compound capable of modulating these channels to alleviate NP. Through an experimental design involving both in vitro and in vivo methods, E0199 was tested for its efficacy on ion channels and its therapeutic potential in a chronic constriction injury (CCI) mouse model. The results demonstrated that E0199 significantly inhibited Na_V1.7, Na_V1.8, and Na_V1.9 channels with a particularly low half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) for Na_V1.9 by promoting sodium channel inactivation, and also effectively increased K_V7.2/7.3, K_V7.2, and K_V7.5 channels, excluding K_V7.1 by promoting potassium channel activation. This dual action significantly reduced the excitability of dorsal root ganglion neurons and alleviated pain hypersensitivity in mice at low doses, indicating a potent analgesic effect without affecting heart and skeletal muscle ion channels critically. The safety of E0199 was supported by neurobehavioral evaluations. Conclusively, E0199 represents a ground-breaking approach in NP treatment, showcasing the potential of dual-target small-molecule compounds in providing a more effective and safe therapeutic option for NP. This study introduces a promising direction for the future development of NP therapeutics.

Objective:To evaluate the value of ultrasound radiomics combined with machine learning for early diagnosis of seronegative Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (SN-HT) .Methods:This retrospective study included 164 patients from Liaoning Provincial People’s Hospital , Lixin County People’s Hospital, Linghai Dalinghe Hospital, Fengcheng Phoenix Hospital, who underwent thyroidectomy for solitary nodules with normal thyroid function between Nov. 2016 and Jan. 2024. Postoperative pathology confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in some cases, who were further categorized into antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups based on serum antibody status. Patients without Hashimoto’s thyroiditis served as the control group. A total of 298 ultrasound images were analyzed. Radiomics features were extracted from hypoechoic non-nodular areas within 0.5 cm surrounding the tumor. Two senior pathologists and two senior ultrasound physicians independently assessed lymphocytic infiltration, eosinophilic changes of follicular epithelium, and the proportion of hypoechoic areas in pathology and ultrasound images, respectively. A machine learning model, CCH-NET, was developed using linear regression and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) techniques. The dataset was divided into a training set (80%) and a validation set (20%) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CCH-NET with that of senior ultrasound physicians. Results:In internal validation, CCH-NET achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 88.89% for both antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups, significantly higher than the 66.67% accuracy of senior ultrasound physicians ( P<0.01). In external validation, CCH-NET achieved 75.00% and 66.67% accuracy for the two groups, compared to 50.00% by senior ultrasound physicians. For the control group, both methods achieved 93.33% accuracy. The AUC of CCH-NET was 0.848, outperforming senior ultrasound physicians (0.681) ,demonstrating superior diagnostic performance. Conclusion:The radiomics-based CCH-NET model, using non-nodular hypoechoic areas as a specific indicator, can accurately identify early SN-HT in euthyroid patients. It significantly outperforms senior ultrasound physicians, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing missed diagnoses.

Objective To explore the diagnosis,treatment and prognostic factors of urachal carcinoma(UrC),aiming to provide reference for the standardized diagnosis and treatment of this disease.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 75 UrC patients confirmed with postoperative pathology treated in our hospital during Mar.2010 and Mar.2023.All patients underwent surgical treatment,and 35 received postoperative chemotherapy.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic factors.Kaplan-Meier curves were adopted to calculate the cumulative survival rates and overall survival(OS).Results Among the 75 patients,the male to female ratio was 2.8∶1 and the mean age was(58.4±2.2)years.Median follow-up was 60 months and median OS was 48 months.The 3-year survival rate was 67.3％and the 5-year survival rate was 38.8％.There were 19 cases(25.3％)of CK7 positive,60 cases(80.0％)of Sheldon stage Ⅲ and above,and 26 cases(34.7％)of postoperative recurrence.CK7 positive(P=0.001),Sheldon staging Ⅲ+Ⅳ(P=0.005)and postoperative recurrence(P=0.003)were independent prognostic factors.Conclusion Urachal carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor in males with occult onset.CK7 positive,Sheldon staging and postoperative recurrence were independent prognostic factors of this disease.

Objective:To evaluate the value of ultrasound radiomics combined with machine learning for early diagnosis of seronegative Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (SN-HT) .Methods:This retrospective study included 164 patients from Liaoning Provincial People’s Hospital , Lixin County People’s Hospital, Linghai Dalinghe Hospital, Fengcheng Phoenix Hospital, who underwent thyroidectomy for solitary nodules with normal thyroid function between Nov. 2016 and Jan. 2024. Postoperative pathology confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in some cases, who were further categorized into antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups based on serum antibody status. Patients without Hashimoto’s thyroiditis served as the control group. A total of 298 ultrasound images were analyzed. Radiomics features were extracted from hypoechoic non-nodular areas within 0.5 cm surrounding the tumor. Two senior pathologists and two senior ultrasound physicians independently assessed lymphocytic infiltration, eosinophilic changes of follicular epithelium, and the proportion of hypoechoic areas in pathology and ultrasound images, respectively. A machine learning model, CCH-NET, was developed using linear regression and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) techniques. The dataset was divided into a training set (80%) and a validation set (20%) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CCH-NET with that of senior ultrasound physicians. Results:In internal validation, CCH-NET achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 88.89% for both antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups, significantly higher than the 66.67% accuracy of senior ultrasound physicians ( P<0.01). In external validation, CCH-NET achieved 75.00% and 66.67% accuracy for the two groups, compared to 50.00% by senior ultrasound physicians. For the control group, both methods achieved 93.33% accuracy. The AUC of CCH-NET was 0.848, outperforming senior ultrasound physicians (0.681) ,demonstrating superior diagnostic performance. Conclusion:The radiomics-based CCH-NET model, using non-nodular hypoechoic areas as a specific indicator, can accurately identify early SN-HT in euthyroid patients. It significantly outperforms senior ultrasound physicians, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing missed diagnoses.

Objective To explore the diagnosis,treatment and prognostic factors of urachal carcinoma(UrC),aiming to provide reference for the standardized diagnosis and treatment of this disease.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 75 UrC patients confirmed with postoperative pathology treated in our hospital during Mar.2010 and Mar.2023.All patients underwent surgical treatment,and 35 received postoperative chemotherapy.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic factors.Kaplan-Meier curves were adopted to calculate the cumulative survival rates and overall survival(OS).Results Among the 75 patients,the male to female ratio was 2.8∶1 and the mean age was(58.4±2.2)years.Median follow-up was 60 months and median OS was 48 months.The 3-year survival rate was 67.3％and the 5-year survival rate was 38.8％.There were 19 cases(25.3％)of CK7 positive,60 cases(80.0％)of Sheldon stage Ⅲ and above,and 26 cases(34.7％)of postoperative recurrence.CK7 positive(P=0.001),Sheldon staging Ⅲ+Ⅳ(P=0.005)and postoperative recurrence(P=0.003)were independent prognostic factors.Conclusion Urachal carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor in males with occult onset.CK7 positive,Sheldon staging and postoperative recurrence were independent prognostic factors of this disease.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of arthroscopic partial and complete repair for massive rotator cuff tears.Methods:A total of 32 patients who underwent arthroscopic partial repair of massive rotator cuff tears in the Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital from March 2016 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including 15 males and 17 females, aged 62±6.8 years (range, 51-77 years), with 5 cases on the left side and 27 cases on the right side. Cause of injury: 4 cases were injured by car accident, 8 were injured by fall, and 20 had no obvious cause. 32 patients who underwent arthroscopic complete repair of massive rotator cuff tears during the same period were included according to a sample size of 1∶1 matched based on age, sex, tear size and fat infiltration index. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score, Simple Shoulder Test (SST) score, and range of motion. Fatty infiltration and cuff healing were assessed using the Goutallier and Sugaya classifications on MRI, respectively.Results:All patients successfully completed the surgery and were followed up for 46.1±11.3 months (range, 36-72 months). Preoperative and final follow-up VAS scores were 6.6±1.8 and 1.6±1.1 in the complete repair group, and 6.4±1.9 and 1.4±1.3 in the partial repair group. Both groups showed significant postoperative improvement ( P<0.05), with no significant difference between groups at the final follow-up ( t=-0.729, P=0.468). The ASES score, UCLA shoulder score, and SST at the final follow-up were 81.7±6.5, 28.6±2.9, and 9.8±2.5, respectively, in the complete repair group, and 82.4±7.3, 28.1±2.6, and 9.1±1.9 in the partial repair group, and the difference between the groups was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). In the complete repair group, one case underwent reverse shoulder replacement for rotator cuff re-tear two years after surgery, and one case developed pseudoparalysis for rotator cuff re-tear 8 months after surgery but had no significant pain and did not receive further treatment; in the partial repair group, two cases underwent tendon transposition surgery for shoulder pain. Conclusion:Arthroscopic partial repair improves shoulder function and reduces pain in patients with massive rotator cuff tears, with similar efficacy to complete repair and has high surgical safety.

Objective To explore the characteristics of vaginal microecology and vaginitis distribution of female patients in Xi'an,so as to provide reliable reference for clinical treatment.Methods A total of 102 124 women in Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital from January 2018 to August 2023 were selected as the research objects.Vaginal secretions were collected from patients,and the vaginal microecology was detected and analyzed.Results Among 102 124 female patients,99.87%had vaginal microecological imbalance.The main disease types were vulvovaginal candidiasis(VVC),accounting for 16.03%,bacterial vaginitis(BV),accounting for 9.61%and trichomonal vaginitis(TV),accounting for 1.34%.Statistical analysis showed that the age of VVC,BV and TV patients was mainly 21～30 years old.The prevalence of VVC and BV in summer and autumn was higher than that in other seasons,while the prevalence of TV was relatively high in summer.In addition,there were 27 552 cases of simple vaginitis(26.98%)and 1 443 cases of mixed vaginitis(1.41%)in 101 995 female patients with vaginal microecology imbalance.In patients with mixed vaginitis,the BV+VVC combination accounted for the vast majority(79.00%),and the age group was mainly between 21 and 40 years old.Among the 28 995 patients with vaginitis,4 308 patients(14.86%)had recurrence,and the recurrence rate of simple vaginitis(11.44%,3 152/27 552)was much lower than that of mixed vaginitis(80.11%,1 156/1 443).Conclusion The main type of female simple vaginitis in Xi'an is VVC,which has a high prevalence in summer and autumn.The main type of mixed vaginitis is BV+VVC,Compared with simple vaginitis,patients with mixed infection are more likely to relapse.