Objective:To investigate the action mechanism of formononetin(FN)in regulating T helper type 1(Th1)cell dif-ferentiation and macrophage polarization through JAK/STAT signaling pathways in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune prostati-tis(EAP).Methods:Forty non-obese diabetic(NOD)male mice were randomly divided into four groups:normal control,EAP model control,low-dose FN(LFN,50 mg/kg)and high-dose FN(HFN,100 mg/kg).The EAP model was established in the latter three groups by subcutaneous injection of prostate antigens(PAgs)combined with complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA).After modeling,the mice in the LFN and HFN groups were treated intragastrically with FN at 50 and 100 mg/kg/d,respectively,and those in the nor-mal and model controls groups with carboxymethylcellulose sodium(CMC-Na).At 42 days after treatment,all the animals were killed and relevant tissues collected for observation of the pathological changes in the prostate tissue by HE staining,detection of Th1 cell dif-ferentiation and macrophage polarization in the prostate by immunofluorescence double staining(labeling CD4 and interferon-γ[IFN-γ],inducible nitric oxide synthase[iNOS]and CD206),measurement of the ratio of Th1 cells/macrophages in the spleen by flow cy-tometry and the levels of IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the serum by ELISA,and determination of the expressions of phosphorylated(p)-Janus kinase(JAK)1,JAK1,p-JAK2,JAK2,p-signal transducer and activator of transcription(STAT1)in the prostate tissue by Western blot.Results:Compared with the model controls,the mice treated with low-and high-dose FN exhibited more orderly arrangement of glandular epithelial cells,significantly reduced prostatic tissue inflammation scores(P＜0.05),and de-creased proportion of Th1 cells and expression of M1 macrophages(P＜0.05),but increased expression of M2 macrophages in the prostate and spleen tissues(P＜0.05).Besides,the levels of inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ(P＜0.05)and TNF-α(P＜0.05)in the serum of the mice in the LFN and HFN groups were remarkably reduced,and so were the ratios of p-JAK1/JAK1,p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT1/STAT1 in the prostate tissues at the molecular level(P＜0.05),indicating the therapeutic effect of FN on EAP by regu-lating JAK/STAT signaling pathways,promoting inflammation resolution,and restoring immune balance.Conclusion:FN alleviates EAP by inhibiting JAK/STAT signaling pathways and regulating Th1 cell differentiation and macrophage polarization.

Objective To observe the effectiveness and safety of DiaSphere embolized microsphere TACE for treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods Totally 188 patients with HCC were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to research group(n=93)and control group(n=95),who underwent TACE with DiaSphere embolized microspheres and Embosphere embolized microspheres,respectively.The incidence of TACE-related adverse events were recorded.The therapeutic efficacy 1 month after the first TACE,also 1 and 3 months after the last TACE,and liver functions 1 month after the first and last TACE were compared between groups.Results In research group,there were 69 cases underwent 1 time TACE,22 cases underwent 2 times and 2 cases underwent 3 times TACE,while in control group,there were 82 cases underwent 1 time and 13 cases underwent 2 times TACE,respectively.No statistical difference of the incidence of adverse events was found between groups(77.42%[72/93]vs.76.84%[73/95],P=1.000).One month after the first TACE,7 cases in research group and 11 cases in control group were lost to follow-up,respectively.One month after the last TACE,12 cases were lost to follow-up in both groups,and 3 months after the last TACE,28 cases were lost to follow-up in both groups.No significant difference of objective response rate nor disease control rate was found between groups at the above time points(all P＞0.05).One month after the first and last TACE,liver function indicators were not different between groups(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Both the short-term efficacy and safety of TACE with DiaSphere embolized microspheres for treating HCC were good.

Microplastics are widely present in various environments such as water bodies,land,and atmosphere,which pose threats to the ecological environment and human health through transmission and accumulation in the food chain.The existing detection techniques for microplastics face challenges such as complex preparation procedure of samples,low efficiency in processing large batches of samples,and difficulties in handling complex samples.Therefore,there is an urgent need for rapid and efficient detection techniques suitable for complex microplastics samples in the field of environmental monitoring.Raman spectroscopy,known for its advantages such as rapidity,accuracy,high sensitivity,non-destructiveness,and non-contact,demonstrates great application potential in detection of microplastics.Deep learning,an artificial intelligence method known for its large-scale data processing,nonlinear modeling and automatic feature extraction capabilities,is receiving increasing attention in the analysis of Raman spectroscopy signals.The application of deep learning-based Raman spectroscopy has significantly improved performance indicators such as detection efficiency and accuracy.This article introduced the existing Raman enhancement techniques,summarized the deep learning methods applied in Raman spectroscopy signal analysis,reviewed the recent research and application progress of deep learning-based Raman spectroscopy in detection of microplastics,and finally discussed the challenges and future prospects of deep learning-based Raman spectroscopy in detection of microplastics.

Cosmetics may be an important source of human exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFASs),posing risks to human health.In this study,a nontarget screening method for PFASs in cosmetics was developed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS)based on the Kendrick mass defect(KMD).The sample was extracted by ultrasonic assisted extraction prior to being analyzed by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS.Acquisition of HRMS data was achieved in both full scan and data-dependent(Full MS/dd MS2)mode.The data collected by HRMS were imported into an in-lab built R script for processing.Samples retained the mass spectra peaks with KMD values in the range of 0.85-1 or 0-0.15 for in-and out-of-library matching;when KMD deviation(δKMD)<0.001 and CF 2 mass error(δMS)<15 ppm,it was considered as a potential PFASs homologues.According to matches of parent ions(MS),fragment ions(MS2)and retention time(RT)with the in-house built PFASs database,the screened and identified potential PFASs were categorized to 5 confidence levels(CL1-CL5).A total of 15 kinds of PFASs homologues with confidence level of CL3 and above were screened from 13 cosmetics products and 8 cosmetic raw materials,including perfluoroalkyl alcohol,hydroperfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid,chloroperfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid,etc.with concentrations ranging from 1.9 ng/g to 98.1 ng/g.The nontarget screening method could be used to screen and identify PFASs homologues feasibly and therefore provided data basis for management and control of PFASs addition in cosmetics.

Objective To explore the effect of scutellarin(SCU)through regulation of nuclear transcription factor kappa B(NF-κB)p65 signaling pathway on the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells line MGC803.Methods To select SCUs with concentrations of 100,250,and 500 nmol/L for subsequent experiments;MGC803 gastric cancer cells were separated into a control group,SCU-L group(100 nmol/L),SCU-M group(250 nmol/L),SCU-H group(500 nmol/L),SCU-H+PMA group(NF-κB activator,200 nmol/L PMA).Cell plate cloning experiments were applied to detect cell proliferation.Scratch healing experiment was used to detect the migration of MGC803 cells;Tran swell assay was used to detect the invasive ability of MGC803 cells;Enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the level of IFN-γ,IL-4,and IL-10 in the supernatant of MGC803 cells;Western blot detection of NF-κB p65 pathway related protein expression.Results SCU inhibited proliferation of MGC803 in a concentration dependent manner.SCU concentrations of 100,250,and 500 nmol/L were selected for subsequent experiments.Compared with the control group,the number of cell clones formed,scratch healing rate,number of invasive cells,IL-10 level and p-p65/p65 ratio all decreased in SCU-L group,SCU-M group,and SCU-H group,while IFN-γ and IL-4 increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the SCU-H group,the number of cell clones,scratch healing rate,number of in-vasive cells,IL-10 level,and p-p65/p65 ratio obviously increased in the SCU-H+PMA group,while IFN-γ and IL-4 level significantly reduced(P＜0.05).Conclusions SCU may inhibit the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cell line MGC803.

Yinyang Gongji Pills have the effects of strengthening the body resistance to eliminate pathogenic factors, removing stasis, and reducing swelling, which is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) formula for treating intestinal accumulation. A real-world, registered, and single-arm clinical trial was conducted to observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Yinyang Gongji Pills combined with capecitabine in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer and analyze the clinical characteristics of the patients. A total of 60 patients with advanced colorectal cancer who refused or could not tolerate standard treatment of western medicine were included in the study. They were treated with Yinyang Gongji Pills combined with capecitabine until disease progression or intolerable adverse events occurred. The main observation indicators were progression-free survival(PFS) and safety. The treatment effects of the patients under different baseline characteristics were analyzed. The clinical trial has found that the median PFS of all enrolled patients was 7.3 months, with 30.1% of patients having a PFS exceeding 12.0 months. Layered analysis showed that the median PFS of patients with the onset site being the colon and rectum were respectively 8.4 and 4.7 months. The median PFS of patients with high, medium, and low tumor burden were respectively 7.0, 4.7, and 10.8 months. The median PFS of patients with wild-type and mutant-type RAS/BRAF were respectively 7.9 and 6.9 months. The median PFS of patients with KPS scores ≥80 and ≤70 were respectively 7.9 and 6.5 months. The median PFS of patients treated with Yinyang Gongji Pills for ≥6, 3-6, and ≤3 months were respectively 8.0, 5.2, and 4.2 months. The median PFS of patients with spleen, kidney, liver, and lung syndrome differentiation in TCM were respectively 8.3, 6.7, 7.3, and 5.6 months. The median PFS of patients with TCM pathological factors including phlegm, dampness, and blood stasis were respectively 7.0, 7.3, and 6.5 months. Common adverse reactions include anemia, decreased white blood cells, decreased appetite, fatigue, and hand foot syndrome, with incidence rates being respectively 44.2%, 34.6%, 42.3%, 32.7%, and 17.3%. The results showed that the combination of Yinyang Gongji Pills and capecitabine demonstrated potential clinical efficacy and good safety in this study. The patients have clinical characteristics such as low tumor burden, onset site at the colon, KPS scores ≥ 80, long duration of oral TCM, and TCM syndrome differentiation including spleen or liver.
Humans ; Capecitabine/adverse effects* ; Colorectal Neoplasms/mortality* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Aged ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the effectiveness and safety of DiaSphere embolized microsphere TACE for treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods Totally 188 patients with HCC were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to research group(n=93)and control group(n=95),who underwent TACE with DiaSphere embolized microspheres and Embosphere embolized microspheres,respectively.The incidence of TACE-related adverse events were recorded.The therapeutic efficacy 1 month after the first TACE,also 1 and 3 months after the last TACE,and liver functions 1 month after the first and last TACE were compared between groups.Results In research group,there were 69 cases underwent 1 time TACE,22 cases underwent 2 times and 2 cases underwent 3 times TACE,while in control group,there were 82 cases underwent 1 time and 13 cases underwent 2 times TACE,respectively.No statistical difference of the incidence of adverse events was found between groups(77.42%[72/93]vs.76.84%[73/95],P=1.000).One month after the first TACE,7 cases in research group and 11 cases in control group were lost to follow-up,respectively.One month after the last TACE,12 cases were lost to follow-up in both groups,and 3 months after the last TACE,28 cases were lost to follow-up in both groups.No significant difference of objective response rate nor disease control rate was found between groups at the above time points(all P＞0.05).One month after the first and last TACE,liver function indicators were not different between groups(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Both the short-term efficacy and safety of TACE with DiaSphere embolized microspheres for treating HCC were good.

Objective:To explore the trend of mortality rates for female breast cancer in China and quantify the impact of demographic and non-demographic factors on the burden of breast cancer mortality.Methods:Mortality data for female breast cancer from 2013 to 2021 were extracted from the Chinese Cause of Death Monitoring Dataset, and the 2000 Chinese population census data were used to standardize the mortality rates. The Joinpoint software was employed to analyze the mortality trends by calculating the Annual Percentage Change (APC) and Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC). The population decomposition method was utilized to quantify the impact of changes in population age structure, population size, and non-demographic factors on the burden of breast cancer mortality.Results:From 2013 to 2021, the crude mortality rate for female breast cancer in China showed an increasing trend, with an AAPC of 2.3% (95% CI: 1.7%-2.9%). The standardized mortality rate remained relatively stable, with an AAPC of -0.2% (95% CI: -1.6%-1.3%). However, Joinpoint trend analysis indicated that the standardized mortality rate had a turning point in 2017, with a rapid increase before this year (APC: 3.9%, 95% CI: 1.1%-6.9%), and a rapid decline after this year (APC: -4.1%, 95% CI: -6.8% to -1.4%). The growth speed of crude mortality rates in rural areas was higher than that in urban areas, with AAPCs of 3.0% (95% CI: 2.4%-3.5%) and 1.3% (95% CI: 0.4%-2.2%), respectively. The standardized mortality rate in rural areas remained relatively stable, with an AAPC of 0.6% (95% CI: -1.0%-2.2%), while in urban areas, it showed a decreasing trend, with an AAPC of -1.1% (95% CI: -2.2%-0.0%). In the eastern, central, and western regions, the crude mortality rates all showed an increasing trend, with AAPCs of 1.7% (95% CI: 0.7%-2.8%), 3.8% (95% CI: 2.5%-5.2%), and 2.2% (95% CI: 0.5%-4.0%), respectively, while the standardized mortality rates remained relatively stable, with AAPCs of -0.3% (95% CI: -1.7%-1.2%), 0.6% (95% CI: -1.2%-2.4%), and 0.0% (95% CI: -2.2%-2.2%), respectively. Compared with 2013, the number of deaths in 2021 increased by 42.8%, of which changes in population age structure accounted for 21.3%, the age structure changes of urban and rural residents contributed 22.8% and 19.2%, respectively, to the whole changes caused by population age structure, while those in the eastern, central, and western regions contributed 20.6%, 24.3%, and 15.9%, respectively.Demographically, the changes in population size accounted for 18.3%, and non-demographic factors only accounted for 3.2%. Conclusions:From 2013 to 2021, the crude mortality rate for female breast cancer in China continued to rise, a trend mainly influenced by population age structure, with the fastest growth rates in crude mortality rates observed in rural areas and the central region. After adjusted for age structure, the standardized mortality rate for female breast cancer in China began to decline from 2017.

PURPOSE: The rate of complications among patients undergoing surgery has increased due to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and other variants of concern. However, Omicron has shown decreased pathogenicity, raising questions about the risk of postoperative complications among patients who are infected with this variant. This study aimed to investigate complications and related factors among patients with recent Omicron infection prior to undergoing orthopedic surgery. METHODS: A historical control study was conducted. Data were collected from all patients who underwent surgery during 2 distinct periods: (1) between Dec 12, 2022 and Jan 31, 2023 (COVID-19 positive group), (2) between Dec 12, 2021 and Jan 31, 2022 (COVID-19 negative control group). The patients were at least 18 years old. Patients who received conservative treatment after admission or had high-risk diseases or special circumstances (use of anticoagulants before surgery) were excluded from the study. The study outcomes were the total complication rate and related factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify related factors, and odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to assess the impact of COVID-19 infection on complications. RESULTS: In the analysis, a total of 847 patients who underwent surgery were included, with 275 of these patients testing positive for COVID-19 and 572 testing negative. The COVID-19-positive group had a significantly higher rate of total complications (11.27%) than the control group (4.90%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for relevant factors, the OR was 3.08 (95% CI: 1.45-6.53). Patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 at 3-4 weeks (OR = 0.20 (95% CI: 0.06-0.59), p = 0.005), 5-6 weeks (OR = 0.16 (95% CI: 0.04-0.59), p = 0.010), or ≥7 weeks (OR = 0.26 (95% CI: 0.06-1.02), p = 0.069) prior to surgery had a lower risk of complications than those who were diagnosed at 0-2 weeks prior to surgery. Seven factors (age, indications for surgery, time of operation, time of COVID-19 diagnosis prior to surgery, C-reactive protein levels, alanine transaminase levels, and aspartate aminotransferase levels) were found to be associated with complications; thus, these factors were used to create a nomogram. CONCLUSION Omicron continues to be a significant factor in the incidence of postoperative complications among patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. By identifying the factors associated with these complications, we can determine the optimal surgical timing, provide more accurate prognostic information, and offer appropriate consultation for orthopedic surgery patients who have been infected with Omicron.
Humans ; COVID-19/complications* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Orthopedic Procedures/adverse effects* ; Aged ; Nomograms ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2017.08.005.].