OBJECTIVE: To explore the peripheral neural mechanism underlying representation along the distribution of stomach meridian induced by intestinal inflammatory reaction using diarrhea predominant-irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) mice. METHODS: Among 62 healthy male C57BL/6 mice of clean grade, 12 mice were randomly selected and divided into a control group and a model group, 6 mice in each group, additionally, 12 mice were randomly selected and divided into a Tianshu group, a Liangqiu group and a Zusanli group, 4 mice in each group. In the model group, citrobacter was administered orally to establish IBS-D model. In the control group and the model group, the visceral pain threshold was observed using fecal colorectal distension (fCRD) induced electromyography of external oblique muscle, the positive cell number of neutrophil in the colonic muscularis was detected by myeloperoxidase (MPO) staining, the number, location and distribution rule of Evans blue (EB) extravasation points were observed by injection of EB staining solution into the tail vein. In the Tianshu group, the Liangqiu group and the Zusanli group, fluorescent dye Dil was injected at bilateral "Tianshu" (ST25), "Liangqiu" (ST34) and "Zusanli" (ST36) respectively, to observe the dye-positive cell number in different dorsal root ganglion (DRG) segments. In the control group and the model group, the activation of satellite glial cells (SGCs) in different DRG segments was observed by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, in the model group, the area under curve of electromyography of external oblique muscle was increased at fCRD of 25, 50 and 75 μL distilled water (P<0.001, P<0.01); the MPO-positive cell number of neutrophil in the colonic muscularis was increased (P<0.01). Few EB extravasation points could be found in the control group, while there were much more EB extravasation points observed in the model group, which was specially distribution in the area of stomach meridian, from "Huaroumen" (ST24) to "Zusanli" (ST36), as well as the surface area dominated by L₂-L₅ segment of the spinal cord. The Dil-positive cells were mainly exhibited in the DRG of T₁₁, L₅ and L₄ segments in the Tianshu group, the Liangqiu group and the Zusanli group, respectively. Compared with the control group, the ratio of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)/glutamine synthetase (GS) co-expression was increased in the DRG of T₁₁, L₄ and L₅ segments in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION The activation of SGCs within DRG of T₁₁, L₄ and L₅ segments may relate closely to the occurrence of the representation along the stomach meridian distribution in IBS-D mice.
Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/therapy* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Meridians ; Stomach/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Disease Models, Animal

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of sodium valproate (VPA) in inhibiting Erastin-induced ferroptosis in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: BMSCs were isolated from bone marrow of 8-week-old Spragur Dawley rats and identified [cell surface antigens CD90, CD44, and CD45 were analyzed by flow cytometry, and osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation abilities were assessed by alizarin red S (ARS) and oil red O staining, respectively]. Cells of passage 3 were used for the Erastin-induced ferroptosis model, with different concentrations of VPA for intervention. The optimal drug concentration was determined using the cell counting kit 8 assay. The experiment was divided into 4 groups: group A, cells were cultured in osteogenic induction medium for 24 hours; group B, cells were cultured in osteogenic induction medium containing optimal concentration Erastin for 24 hours; group C, cells were cultured in osteogenic induction medium containing optimal concentration Erastin and VPA for 24 hours; group D, cells were cultured in osteogenic induction medium containing optimal concentration Erastin and VPA, and 8 μmol/L EX527 for 24 hours. The mitochondrial state of the cells was evaluated, including the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Osteogenic capacity was assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and ARS staining. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expressions of osteogenic-related proteins [Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and osteopontin (OPN)], ferroptosis-related proteins [glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11)], and pathway-related proteins [adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)]. RESULTS: The cultured cells were identified as BMSCs. VPA inhibited Erastin-induced ferroptosis and the decline of osteogenic ability in BMSCs, acting through the activation of the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. VPA significantly reduced the levels of ROS and MDA in Erastin-treated BMSCs and significantly increased GSH levels. Additionally, the expression levels of ferroptosis-related proteins (GPX4, FTH1, and SLC7A11) significantly decreased. VPA also upregulated the expressions of osteogenic-related proteins (RUNX2 and OPN), enhanced mineralization and osteogenic differentiation, and increased the expressions of pathway-related proteins (AMPK and SIRT1). These effects could be reversed by the SIRT1 inhibitor EX527. CONCLUSION VPA inhibits ferroptosis in BMSCs through the AMPK/SIRT1 axis and promotes osteogenesis.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Animals ; Valproic Acid/pharmacology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sirtuin 1/metabolism* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Cells, Cultured ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Piperazines/pharmacology* ; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of conducting active surveillance (AS) for low risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in China and to examine the factors in association with disease progression during AS.Methods:This study was a prospective observational research conducted from Jun. 2018 to Aug. 2022 at Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Seventy-three patients with cytologically confirmed low-risk PTMC were enrolled in this study. They were followed up by ultrasonography, and the observed nodules were re-assessed whether or not to have disease progression. Disease progression was defined as having nodule enlarged more than 3 mm in any of diameters measured on ultrasound, or/and presence of suspicious lymph node metastasis.Results:The median follow-up time was 33 months. At the time of last follow-up, 16 cases (21.9%) exhibited disease progression, including 9 cases (12.3%) with suspicious lymph nodes detected by ultrasound, and 8 cases (11.0%) with lesion enlargement; one case (1.3%) exhibited both situations. The univariate chi-square analysis revealed that young patients (≤45 years old, P=0.041), presence of microcalcifications ( P=0.032), initial larger nodule (diameter greater than 7 mm, P=0.003), and elevated thyroid autoantibody levels ( P=0.008) were associated with disease progression. Multiple regression analysis showed elevated thyroid autoantibodies ( OR=4.311, P=0.030) and initial larger nodule ( OR=6.196, P=0.034) were independent risk factors for PTMC progression,respectively. Conclusions:AS for low-risk PTMC is a feasible and effective. During the observation, ultrasound can reveal suspicious lymph nodes and nodule enlargement, which are crucial indicators for assessing disease progression. Patients with initially larger nodule size and elevated thyroid autoantibody level are more likely to exhibit disease progression and should receive closer attention.

Objective To establish the fingerprint map and method of multi-component content determination of ginger and its processed products,and to evaluate their quality. Methods High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to establish the fingerprint of ginger and its processed products (dried ginger,baked ginger,ginger charcoal) and the method for the simultaneous determination of content of five components. The data were analyzed by similarity evaluation and chemical pattern recognition. Results The fingerprint of ginger and its processed products was established. The similarity was ranged from 0.931 to 0.996. A total of 15 common peaks were confirmed. Five components (6-ginger phenol,8-ginger phenol,10-ginger phenol,6-ginger enol,zingiberone) were identified when compared with the standard. The content of 6-ginger phenol,8-ginger phenol and 10-ginger phenol in ginger and its processed products(dried ginger,baked ginger,ginger charcoal),which were determined by HPLC,met the standard of Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition). The content of 6-ginger enol and zingiberone in fresh ginger was very low,but their content increased significantly after processing into dried ginger and baked ginger. Ginger and its processed products can be divided into different category in cluster analysis. Five components with VIP greater than one were selected by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. Conclusion The HPLC fingerprint and assay method established in this study are specific,simple and feasible,stable and reliable. With the help of chemical pattern recognition method,it can provide reference for the quality evaluation of ginger and its processed products.

Background and purpose:Silent information regulator proteins(sirtuins,SIRT)are a class Ⅲ histone deacetylases with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD+)as coenzyme.YME1 like 1 ATPase(YME1L1)is essential for the maintenance of mitochondrial morphology,function and plasticity.Optic atrophy 1(OPA1)mainly mediates mitochondrial fusion.The aim of this study was to explore the expression of SIRT3 in the endocrine resistance of breast cancer,the relationship between SIRT3 and YME1L1 and OPA1,and the mechanism of SIRT3 in the endocrine resistance of breast cancer.Methods:4-hydroxytamoxifen was used to induce tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7/TAM cells.cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)was used to detect cell proliferation and verify drug resistance.The mitochondrial morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and immunofluorescence staining.The expressions of SIRT3 and OPA1 were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RTFQ-PCR)and Western blot.JC-1 staining was used to detect mitochondrial membrane potential,and dihydroethidium(DHE)staining was used to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS)to verify mitochondrial function.SIRT3 was knocked down in drug-resistant cells by RNA interference,and SIRT3 and YME1L1 wild type(WT),simulated acetylation state mutant(MUT K237Q),and simulated deacetylation state mutant(MUT K237R)were overexpressed in parental cells by overexpression plasmid.Immunoprecipitation assay(IP)and immunofluorescence(IF)were used to verify the interaction between SIRT3 and YME1L1.Results:RTFQ-PCR and Western blot results showed that SIRT3 gene expression and protein level was significantly higher in drug-resistant cells than in parental cells.Overexpression of SIRT3 in parental cells decreased the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to tamoxifen.Knockdown of SIRT3 in drug-resistant cells enhanced the sensitivity of drug-resistant cells to tamoxifen.DHE staining showed that the ROS level was lower in tamoxifen resistant cells than in parental cells at the same concentration.Transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence staining showed that the mitochondria of the drug-resistant cells were elongated compared with the parental cells.Western blot results showed that the expression level of L-OPA1 protein was higher in drug-resistant cells than in parental cells.Overexpression of SIRT3 in the parental cells resulted in enhanced mitochondrial function and longer mitochondrial morphology compared with the control cells.Western blot showed that the expression of L-OPA1 was upregulated.When SIRT3 was knocked down in drug-resistant cells,the opposite result was obtained.We further verified how SIRT3 regulated OPA1 protein,affected the morphology and function of mitochondria,and promoted drug resistance of breast cancer.Overexpression of YME1L1(wild-type and mutant plasmids)in parental cells showed that overexpression of YME1L1 in the simulated deacetylation state resulted in similar results as overexpression of SIRT3,and overexpression of YME1L1 in the acetylated state resulted in similar results as knockdown of SIRT3.IP assay confirmed the interaction between SIRT3 and YME1L1 in breast cancer cells.The acetylation level of YME1L1 was different at different SIRT3 expression levels.IF assay showed that YME1L1 was co-localized with SIRT3 in MCF-7 cells.Conclusion:SIRT3 is highly expressed in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells.SIRT3 upregulates L-OPA1 expression by deacetylating YME1L1,thereby promoting mitochondrial fusion and enhancing mitochondrial function,and promotes tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect of Li-Dan-He-Ji in the treatment of infantile cholestatic hepatic fibrosis. METHODS: Patients who met the diagnostic criteria of infantile cholestatic hepatic fibrosis in the department of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine and the department of gastroenterology of Wuhan Children's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January to December 2021 were included in the study by prospective randomized controlled trial. They were divided into the conventional treatment group and Li-Dan-He-Ji group according to the random number table. The patients in the conventional treatment group were given conventional treatment according to the guidelines. In the Li-Dan-He-Ji group, the self-made Chinese medicinal compound Li-Dan-He-Ji (prescription: Herba Artemisiae Scopariae, Fructus Forsythiae, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei preparata, Radix Polygoni Multiflori Preparata, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Ramulus Cinnamomi, Fructus Aurantii, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis, Carapax Trionycis, and Radix Glycyrrhizae) was given on the basis of the routine treatment, by oral, enema or nasal feeding, 60 mL each day, divided into 2 or 3 times, for 28 days. Outpatient follow-up was maintained for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, serum liver fibrosis 4 items [type IV collagen (IV-C), hyaluronidase (HA), type III procollagen (PC III), laminin (LN)], liver function and cholestasis-related markers [total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), total bile acid (TBA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)], oxidative stress markers [superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH)], liver stiffness measurement (LSM) detected by transient elastography (TE), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and liver and spleen retraction time were recorded in the two groups. RESULTS: During the observation period, a total of 40 cases of cholestatic hepatic fibrosis were treated, including 21 cases in the conventional treatment group and 19 cases in the Li-Dan-He-Ji group. Before treatment, the differences in serum liver fibrosis 4 items, serum liver function and cholestasis-related markers, oxidative stress indexes, LSM and APRI of the two groups were not statistically significant. After treatment, the liver fibrosis 4 items, liver function and cholestasis-related markers, LSM, and APRI were all significantly decreased in both groups, and the indexes in the Li-Dan-He-Ji group were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group [HA (ng/L): 165.81±21.57 vs. 203.87±25.88, PC III (μg/L): 69.86±9.32 vs. 81.82±7.39, IV-C (μg/L): 204.14±38.97 vs. 239.08±24.93, LN (μg/L): 162.40±17.39 vs. 190.86±15.97, TBil (μmol/L): 37.58±27.63 vs. 53.06±45.09, DBil (μmol/L): 20.55±19.34 vs. 30.08±27.39, ALP (U/L): 436.50±217.58 vs. 469.60±291.69, γ-GGT (U/L): 66.78±35.84 vs. 87.00±32.82, ALT (U/L): 64.75±50.53 vs. 75.20±50.19, AST (U/L): 77.25±54.23 vs. 96.80±59.77, TBA (μmol/L): 74.35±44.44 vs. 85.45±39.50, LSM (kPa): 5.24±0.39 vs. 7.53±3.16, APRI: 0.52±0.39 vs. 0.98±0.29, all P < 0.05]. After treatment, MDA in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment, and SOD and GSH were significantly higher than those before treatment. The level of SOD in the Li-Dan-He-Ji group was significantly higher than that in the conventional treatment group (kU/L: 64.56±6.69 vs. 51.58±5.98, P < 0.05). In addition, the liver retraction time (day: 20.13±10.97 vs. 24.33±13.46) and spleen retraction time (day: 25.93±13.01 vs. 29.14±14.52) in the Li-Dan-He-Ji group were significantly shorter than those in the conventional treatment group (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The use of Li-Dan-He-Ji in the treatment of cholestatic hepatic fibrosis can effectively improve the indicators of cholestasis, hepatic fibrosis, oxidative stress and clinical symptoms in children.
Child ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Cholestasis/pathology* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy* ; Bilirubin/pharmacology* ; Oxidative Stress ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/metabolism* ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism*

Objective:To observe any effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (p-ERK1/2) and phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (p-CREB) in the spinal dorsal horns of diabetics experiencing neuropathic pain.Methods:Eight rats were randomly selected from 30 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats as the normal group (N), and the remaining twenty-two rats were treated with a single high-dose intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) to establish a neuropathic pain model. The rats modeled successfully were randomly divided into a model group (M, n=8) and an EA group ( n=8). In the EA group, electroacupuncture was applied at the bilateral Hou san li and Kunlun acupoints starting on the 15th day after the STZ injection. The daily sessions lasted 30 minutes for 1 week. Body weight (BW), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were observed before the STZ injection and on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days afterward. The expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB in the dorsal horns of the rats′ spinal cords was detected using western blotting. The count of p-CREB-positive cells in the dorsal horns and their co-localization with neurons was detected using immunofluorescence. Results:In comparison with the N group, the average BW of the M group on the 7th, 14th and 21st days after the STZ injection was significantly lower, while the average FBG was significantly higher. There was no significant difference between the M and N groups in the average PWL on the 7th day after the STZ injection, but it had decreased significantly in the M group on the 14th and 21st days. Compared with the M group, the average PWL of the EA group was significantly longer on the 21st day after the injection. The expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB protein in the spines of the M group was significantly higher than in the N group. p-CREB positive cells were more numerous in the M group compared with the N group, while in the EA group they were fewer. P-CREB was co-located with neurons in the spinal dorsal horn.Conclusion:EA can alleviate neuropathic pain effectively, perhaps by inhibiting the expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB in the dorsal horns of the spinal cord.

Objective:To investigate the effect of huaier granule combined with docetaxel + epirubicin + cyclophosphamide (TEC) neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the disease control rate and the levels of extracellular fragment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2-ECD) and tumor abnormal protein (TAP) in patients with advanced breast cancer.Methods:From April 2013 to June 2016, 94 patients with advanced breast cancer in Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University were selected and randomly divided into observation group ( n=47) and control group ( n=47). The control group was treated with TEC neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the observation group was treated with TEC neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with huaier granules for 12 weeks. The curative effect, incidence of adverse reactions, cellular immune function indexes (CD8 + , CD4 + , CD4 + /CD8 + ), serum HER2-ECD and TAP levels were compared before and 12 weeks after treatment. The patients were followed up for 3 years after treatment, and the 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival rates were compared between the two groups. Results:After 12 weeks of treatment, the disease control rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.05); during the treatment, the incidence of gastrointestinal reaction, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and abnormal liver function of the observation group was lower than that of the control group, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.05); after 12 weeks of treatment, the serum CD8 + level of the observation group was lower than that of the control group, and the serum CD4 + , CD4 + /CD8 + level was higher than that of the control group, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.05); after 12 weeks of treatment, the serum levels of HER2-ECD and TAP in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.05); the 3-year survival rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Huaier granules combined with TEC neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced breast cancer can reduce serum HER2-ECD, TAP levels, which can enhance the immune function of the body, reduce the toxic and side effects, improve the long-term survival rate, and have a significant effect.

Objective:To develop an R script that can efficiently and accurately filter genome-wide association studies (GWASs) from the GWAS Catalog Website.Methods:The selection principles of GWASs were established based on previous studies. The process of manual filtering in the GWAS Catalog was abstracted as standard algorithms. The R script (gwasfilter.R) was written by two programmers and tested many times.Results:It takes six steps for gwasfilter.R to filter GWASs. There are five main self-defined functions among this R script. GWASs can be filtered based on "whether the GWAS has been replicated" "sample size" "ethnicity of the study population" and other conditions. It takes no more than 1 second for this script to filter GWASs of a single trait.Conclusions:This R script (gwasfilter.R) is user-friendly and provides an efficient and standard process to filter GWASs flexibly. The source code is available at github ( https://github.com/lab319/gwas_filter).

Objective To investigate the method of modeling, finite element modeling and AnyBody musculoskeletal multi-body dynamics simulation technique analyze the biomechanics of clinical orthopaedic surgery. Methods The AnyBody software was used to establish the musculoskeletal motor model of the individualized upper limbs according to the height, weight and CT data of the volunteers. The flexion motion of the elbow in normal people was simulated, and the muscle force, joint force, torque, constraint condition of the humerus during the flexion movement were derived and used as the boundary conditions of finite element analysis.Then, the 3D reconstruction was conducted in the MIMICS software based on CT data. In the Geomagic Studio software, the humeral curved surface and position coordinate matching were completed, and grid division and material assignment were done in the HyperMesh software. Finally, the 3D reconstruction for finite element model of the humerus was introduced into ABAQUS software. The boundary condition data derived from the AnyBody software were applied and the stress calculation analysis was performed. Results The results of the stress and displacement of the humerus during elbow flexion motion were calculated in the ABAQUS software. The maximum stress and displacement of the humerus were 0.76 MPa and 20 μm when flexion of the elbow joint was about 90°. Conclusions A continuous dynamic analysis of humeral stress and displacement during elbow flexion motion was realized, which was more consistent with the requirements of human physiological anatomy and could provide an efficient analysis platform and a new way for studying clinical orthopedic problems.