Acute lung injury （ALI） is one of the most common and critical diseases in clinical practice， with extremely high morbidity and mortality， seriously threatening human life and health. The pathogenesis of ALI is complex， in which the inflammatory response is a key factor. Studies have shown that NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasomes are involved in ALI through mechanisms such as inflammation induction， increased microvascular permeability， recruitment of neutrophils， oxidative stress， and pyroptosis， playing a key role in the occurrence and progression of ALI. Therefore， regulating NLRP3 inflammasomes and inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors can alleviate the damage in ALI. At present， ALI is mainly treated by mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy， which have problems such as high costs and poor prognosis. In recent years， studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can reduce the inflammatory response and the occurrence of oxidative stress and pyroptosis by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome， thus alleviating the damage and decreasing the mortality of ALI. Based on the relevant literature in recent years， this article reviews the research progress in TCM treatment of ALI by regulating NLRP3 inflammasomes， discusses how NLRP3 inflammasomes participate in ALI， and summarizes the active ingredients， extracts， and compound prescriptions of TCM that regulate NLRP3 inflammasomes， aiming to provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of ALI and the development of relevant drugs.

Objective To compare the cleaning abilities of ProTaper Gold(PTG)and TF-Adaptive(TFA).Methods Forty single-abstracted premolars were randomly divided into PTG and TFA groups.The debris and smear layer of the root coronal 1/3,middle 1/3 and apical 1/3 in the two groups were observed using scanning electron microscope(SEM).The cleaning abilities of the PTG and TFA rotary systems were scored according to the scoring standard developed by YAMASHITA.The scores of the two groups were compared and then analyzed.Results There was no significant difference found in the scores of the smear layer and debris at the root coronal 1/3 and the middle 1/3.The scores of the debris and smear layer at the apical 1/3 in the group PTG were higher than those in the TFA group(P<0.05).Conclusion PTG and TFA can effectively remove the root canal smear layer and debris at the root coronal 1/3,and the middle 1/3.However,at the apical 1/3,the cleaning efficiency of TFA is better than that of PTG.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of postoperative depression in patients with esophageal cancer, and to develop a risk prediction model which providing a theoretical basis for the early detection of depression in high-risk groups by clinical staff.Methods:From September 2022 to March 2023, at the South Campus of Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 269 hospitalized patients with esophageal cancer (191 in depression group, 78 in non-depression group) were selected as the model construction set. From March to May 2023, at the South Campus of Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 78 hospitalized patients with esophageal cancer were selected as the external validation set. The patients with Beck depression inventory-Ⅱ score ≥5 and depression diagnosed by two experts (chief psychiatrists of the Department of Psychiatry of Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University) were considered as depression and included in the depression group, and the other patients were enrolled in the non-depression group. The general data, blood routine examination, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), blood electrolytes, blood lipids, clinical symptoms (gastroesophageal reflux, sleep disturbance, appetite, etc.) and depression score were compared between the depression group and the non-depression group. Independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Multiple logistic regression model was performed to analyze the independent risk factors of postoperative depression in patients with esophageal cancer, and a risk warning model was constructed. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were used to evaluate the fitting degree and predictive efficiency of the model, and the cross-validation method was used to verify the effectiveness of the model. Results:The incidence of postoperative depression in patients with esophageal cancer was 71.0% (191/269). The total white blood cell count, hs-CRP, blood phosphorus β 2 microglobulin and the proportion of sleep disorders of the depression group were higher than those of the non-depression group (1.3 (1.1, 5.4) ×10 9/L vs. 0.9 (0.3, 1.1) ×10 9/L, 75.8 (54.8, 102.1) mg/L vs. 60.8 (3.6, 61.5) mg/L, (1.33±0.32) mmol/L vs. (1.02±0.19) mmol/L, (2.17±0.72) mg/L vs.(2.12±0.49) mg/L, 84.3% (161/191) vs. 33.3% (26/78), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=9.24, 7.88, t=9.24, χ2=67.87 t=1.98; all P<0.001); hemoglobin, total platelet count, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and the proportion of poor appetite were lower than those of the non-depression group ((119.91±24.51) g/L vs. (122.09±22.97) g/L, (203.43±58.45)×10 9/L vs. (311.55±83.54)×10 9/L, (1.04±0.30) mmol/L vs. (1.43±0.23) mmol/L, 73.3% (140/191) vs. 84.6% (66/78)), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-2.00, -8.42 and -8.48, χ2=3.96; P=0.047, <0.001, <0.001, =0.047). The results of multifactorial logistic regression model analysis showed that sleep disorder ( OR=3.976, 95% confidence interval (95% CI 1.601 to 9.872)), loss of appetite ( OR=0.271, 95% CI 0.092 to 0.791), white blood cell count ( OR=31.808, 95% CI 2.879 to 351.401), hs-CRP ( OR=1.031, 95% CI 1.017 to 1.044), platelet count ( OR=0.990, 95% CI 0.982 to 0.997), and HDL ( OR=0.017, 95% CI 0.001 to 0.242) were independent influencing factors of postoperative depression in patients with esophageal cancer. The formula of risk warning model was probability of depression=1-1/{1+ exp[1.544+ 1.380×sleep disturbance (yes=1, no=0)-1.307×loss of appetite (yes=1, no=0)-0.010×platelet count (×10 9/L)-4.063×HDL (mmol/L)+ 0.030×hs-CRP (mg/L)+ 3.460×white blood cell count (×10 9/L)]}. The results of Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the model has a good fit ( χ2=2.01, P=0.981), with an area under the ROC of 0.949, a sensitivity of 0.874, and a specificity of 0.872. The cross-validation of the external validation set showed that the accuracy of the risk warning model was 67.9%. Conclusion:This study is a preliminary study on the risk warning model of postoperative depression in patients with esophageal cancer, which provides a novel approach for screening depression in patients with esophageal cancer after surgery.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the expression of long chain non coding ribonucleic acid (LncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (LncRNA SNHG1) and microRNA (miR)-143-3p in nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) tissue and clinical pathological features and prognosis.Methods:A prospective selection was made from 97 HSCC patients admitted to the Handan Central Hospital from March 2016 to March 2018. Surgical resection of HSCC tissue and normal mucosa tissue adjacent to cancer were taken, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of LncRNA SNHG1 and miR-143-3p. The patient′s survival status was followed up after leaving the hospital. We compared the differences in the expression of LncRNA SNlHG1 and miR-143-3p in HSCC tissues with different clinical pathological parameters, analyzed the correlation between LncRNA SNHG1 and miR-143-3p expression, and the relationship between LncRNA SNHG1 and miR-143-3p expression and the prognosis of HSCC patients.Results:The expression of LncRNA SNHG1 in HSCC tissue was higher than that in normal mucosa tissue adjacent to cancer ( P<0.05), and the expression of miR-143-3p was lower than that in normal mucosa tissue adjacent to cancer ( P<0.05). The expression of LncRNA SNHG1 in cancer tissues of HSCC patients with tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage Ⅲ, low to medium differentiation, and lymph node metastasis was higher than that of HSCC patients with TNM stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ, high differentiation, and no lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05), and the expression of miR-143-3p was lower than that of HSCC patients with TNM stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ, high differentiation, and no lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). The expression of LncRNA SNHG1 in HSCC tissues is negatively correlated with the expression of miR-143-3p ( r=-0.522, P<0.05). The 5-year cumulative survival rate of HSCC patients with high expression of LncRNA SNHG1 was lower than that of HSCC patients with low expression of LncRNA SNHG1 ( P<0.05), and the 5-year cumulative survival rate of HSCC patients with low expression of miR-143-3p was lower than that of HSCC patients with high expression of miR-143-3p ( P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that TNM stage Ⅲ and high expression of LncRNA SNHG1 were risk factors for poor prognosis in HSCC patients (all P<0.05), while high expression of miR-143-3p was a protective factor ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The expression of LncRNA SNHG1 is upregulated and miR-143-3p is downregulated in HSCC tissues, with a negative correlation between the two, which is related to the malignant pathological characteristics and poor prognosis of HSCC.

Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome(HSOS),a toxic liver injury,can lead to multiple organ failure in severe cases and is even fatal.Early diagnosis is of great significance for the selection of treatment regimens and prognosis.Currently,ultrasound,as the preferred diagnostic method for liver diseases,has been recommended in expert consensus and criteria for the diagnosis of HSOS.However,there are no definitive ima-ging diagnostic standards.This paper summarizes the sonographic features of ultrasound and new ultrasound tech-nologies in HSOS research.Analyzing the characteristic sonographic images from gray-scale ultrasonography,Doppler ultrasonography,ultrasound elastography,and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography at different stages of the dis-ease enables the establishment and refining of the corresponding imaging diagnostic standards and provides effec-tive auxiliary examination methods for the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of HSOS.

Objective:To establish reference ranges of central nervous system-related fetal intracranial markers during the first trimester in a local population of Suzhou.Methods:Ultrasound images of fetuses with normal birth outcomes in singleton pregnancies who underwent nuchal translucency(NT) screening during the first trimester (11-13 + 6 gestational weeks) from January 2021 to July 2022 at the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively selected. The images including 3 planes: the midsagittal plane of the fetal head, also known as the plane for NT measurement, the trans-ventricular plane of the fetal head, and the axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level. The brainstem (BS) thickness, brainstem to occipital bone distance (BSOB), the ratio of BS to BSOB (BS/BSOB), intracranial translucency (IT) thickness, cisterna magna (CM) width, and the midbrain (MB) to falx (F) ratio MB/F were measured in the mid-sagittal plane of the fetal head. Choroid plexus length (CPL) to occipital frontal diameter (OFD) ratio CPL/OFD, and choroid plexus area (CPA) to head area (HA) ratio CPA/HA were measured in the trans-ventricular plane of the fetal head. Anteroposterior diameter of the fourth ventricle (4V) and CM were measured in the axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level.Statistical analysis was performed to obtain the corresponding normal reference range.Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to analyze intra-observer and inter-observer consistency. Pearson correlation analysis and linear correlation analysis were used to study the correlations between crown-lump length (CRL) and intracranial markers, and the regression equation was derived. Results:A total of 2 331 fetuses were enrolled, providing 1 023 images of the midsagittal plane, 817 images of the trans-ventricular plane, and 567 images of the axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level. The intra-observer and inter-observer ICCs of intracranial markers BS, BSOB, BS/BSOB, IT thickness, CM width, MB/F in the mid-sagittal plane, the intracranial markers CPL/OFD, CPA/HA on the trans-ventricular plane, and the intracranial markers 4V and CM width in the axial plane at the posterior fossa level were all >0.75. Fetal intracranial markers were linearly correlated with CRL. The midsagittal plane: BS, BSOB, BS/BSOB, IT thickness, CM width, MB/F were linearly correlated with CRL ( r=0.508, 0.626, -0.234, 0.105, 0.508, -0.493; all P<0.05); the trans-ventricular plane: CPL/OFD, CPA/HA were linearly correlated with CRL( r=-0.324, -0.268; all P<0.001); the axial plane of the fetal head at the posterior fossa level: 4V, CM width were linearly correlated with CRL ( r=0.246, 0.467; all P<0.001). Conclusions:Quantitative analysis of fetal intracranial markers in the first trimester is feasible. This study constructed a normal reference range of multiple intracranial markers related to central nervous system in the first trimester with a local population of Suzhou. And the construction of this normal range can provide an objective basis for the detection of fetal central nervous system malformations in the first trimester.

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index （APRI） and platelet-albumin-bilirubin （PALBI） score in predicting the risk of esophagogastric variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis. MethodsA total of 119 patients with liver cirrhosis who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from May 2021 and June 2022 were enrolled， and clinical data， routine blood test results， serum biochemistry， and coagulation test results were collected from all patients. According to the presence or absence of esophagogastric variceal bleeding， the patients were divided into non-bleeding group with 59 patients and bleeding group with 60 patients， and a comparative analysis was performed for the two groups. The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups； the chi-squared test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for esophagogastric variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis and establish a nomogram predictive model. ResultsThe male patients accounted for 75.00% in the bleeding group and 40.68% in the non-bleeding group， and there was a significant difference in sex composition between the two groups （χ²=14.384， P<0.001）. Chronic hepatitis B was the main etiology in both the bleeding group and the non-bleeding group （53.33% vs 38.98%）， and there was no significant difference in composition ratio between the two groups （χ²=2.464， P=0.116）. Compared with the non-bleeding group， the bleeding group had a significantly higher activity of AT-IIIA （t=3.329， P=0.001） and significantly lower levels of PLT， TBil， Ca， TC， and TT （all P<0.05）. There were significant differences in APRI and PALBI between the two groups （χ²=6.175 and 19.532， both P<0.05）. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that APRI （odds ratio ［OR］=0.309， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 0.109‍ ‍—‍ ‍0.881， P=0.028）， PALBI （OR=7.667， 95%CI： 2.005‍ ‍—‍ ‍29.327， P=0.003）， Ca （OR=0.001， 95%CI： 0.000‍ ‍—‍ ‍0.141， P=0.007）， TC （OR=0.469， 95%CI： 0.226‍ ‍—‍ ‍0.973， P=0.042）， and TT （OR=0.599， 95%CI： 0.433‍ ‍—‍ ‍0.830， P=0.002） were independent influencing factors for esophagogastric variceal bleeding in liver cirrhosis. A nomogram model was established based on the above factors and had an index of concordance of 0.899 and a well-fitted calibration curve. ConclusionAPRI and PALBI have a good value in predicting esophagogastric variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis， and the nomogram model established based on this study can predict the incidence rate of esophagogastric variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Bioactive compounds derived from herbal medicinal plants modulate various therapeutic targets and signaling pathways associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the world's primary cause of death. Ginkgo biloba, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine with notable cardiovascular actions, has been used as a cardio- and cerebrovascular therapeutic drug and nutraceutical in Asian countries for centuries. Preclinical studies have shown that ginkgolide B, a bioactive component in Ginkgo biloba, can ameliorate atherosclerosis in cultured vascular cells and disease models. Of clinical relevance, several clinical trials are ongoing or being completed to examine the efficacy and safety of ginkgolide B-related drug preparations in the prevention of cerebrovascular diseases, such as ischemia stroke. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the pharmacological activities, pharmacokinetic characteristics, and mechanisms of action of ginkgolide B in atherosclerosis prevention and therapy. We highlight new molecular targets of ginkgolide B, including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases (NADPH oxidase), lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), platelet-activating factor (PAF), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and others. Finally, we provide an overview and discussion of the therapeutic potential of ginkgolide B and highlight the future perspective of developing ginkgolide B as an effective therapeutic agent for treating atherosclerosis.

ObjectiveTo examine the protective mechanism of wogonin in SH-SY5Y cells cultured in the conditioned media with lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced BV-2 microglia. MethodBV-2 microglia were divided into the blank group， LPS group， low concentration group of wogonin （4 μmol∙L^-1）， medium concentration group of wogonin （8 μmol∙L^-1）， and high concentration group of wogonin （16 μmol∙L^-1）. The LPS group was given 1 mg·L^-1 LPS， and the other three groups were treated with the corresponding concentration of wogonin for 4 h and then given 1 mg·L^-1 LPS. The conditioned media from these groups were used to cultivate SH-SY5Y cells. Cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） was used to assess the vitality of BV-2 cells in the above groups. The contents of interleukin-6 （IL-6） and tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α） in the supernatant of BV-2 cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The expression of tyrosine hydroxylase （TH） and α-Synuclein （α-Syn） in SH-SY5Y cells was detected by immunohistochemical staining （IHC）. The nuclear transfer and fluorescence expression intensity of nuclear transcription factor-κB p65 （NF-κB p65） protein in SH-SY5Y cells were detected by immunofluorescence staining （IF）. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/NF-κB pathway-related proteins in SH-SY5Y cells. ResultThe levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the supernatant of BV-2 cells in the LPS group were significantly higher than those in the blank group （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the LPS group， the IL-6 content of BV-2 cells in the low concentration group of wogonin was statistically significantly lower （P<0.05）， whereas the IL-6 and TNF-α contents of the medium and high concentration groups of wogonin were statistically lower （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The IL-6 and TNF-α contents in the high concentration group of wogonin decreased most significantly （P<0.01）， and the intervention effect was the best. Compared with that in the blank group， the expression of α-Syn protein in SH-SY5Y cells cultured with conditioned media in the LPS group was significantly increased， and the expression of TH protein was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with that in the LPS group， α-Syn protein expression in the medium and high concentration groups of wogonin showed a decreasing trend （P<0.05， P<0.01）. TH protein expression was increased in the low， medium， and high concentration groups of wogonin （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， NF-κB p65 protein gradually accumulated into the nucleus， and the fluorescence expression intensity was significantly enhanced （P<0.01）. Compared with the LPS group， the NF-κB p65 protein was gradually dispersed outside the nucleus， and the fluorescence expression intensity was gradually weakened in all concentration groups of wogonin. The fluorescence intensity in the high concentration group of wogonin was significantly reduced （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the blank group， the expression levels of TLR4 protein， phosphorylated（p）-NF-κB p65 protein， and MyD88 protein in the LPS group were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with those in the LPS group， the expressions of TLR4 protein， p-NF-κB p65 protein， and MyD88 protein in the medium concentration group of wogonin were all significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expressions of TLR4 protein， and MyD88 protein in the high concentration group of wogonin were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionWogonin may regulate the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway to inhibit the release of LPS-induced inflammatory factors in BV-2 microglia and protect SH-SY5Y cells， thereby reducing inflammation and achieving neuroprotective effects.

Objective To establish a nomogram prediction model for the development of overt hepatic encephalopathy(OHE)in patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)after esophagogastric variceal bleeding,and to evaluate the predictive ability of the model.Methods This study was conducted among 113 patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2020 to December 2022 and underwent TIPS after failed medical or endoscopic therapy.All patients were followed up for 6 months after surgery,and according to the presence or absence of OHE after TIPS,they were divided into OHE group with 32 patients and non-OHE group with 81 patients.Related data were collected from all patients,including clinical data,routine blood test results,serum biochemistry,and coagulation test results.The independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups,and the chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups.The multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the independent risk factors for the onset of OHE after TIPS,and then a nomogram prediction model was established.The index of concordance(C-index)was calculated and the calibration curve was plotted to evaluate the predictive ability of the model,and the clinical decision curve was plotted to analyze the net clinical benefit of the model.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to validate the predictive ability of the model.Results There were significant differences between the OHE group and the non-OHE group in age,diabetes,Child-Pugh class,ascites,main portal vein diameter before surgery,gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT)level,prothrombin time,and Freiburg index of post-TIPS survival(FIPS)score(all P<0.05).The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that Child-Pugh class(odds ratio[OR]=17.498,95%confidence interval[CI]:2.561-119.548,P=0.004),main portal vein diameter before surgery(OR=1.361,95%CI:1.057-1.752,P=0.017),GGT(OR=1.032,95%CI:1.013-1.052,P=0.001),and FIPS score(OR=2.838,95%CI:1.277-6.311,P=0.010)were independent influencing factors for the development of OHE after TIPS.The nomogram model established based on the above four indicators had a C-index of 0.875,good fitting of the calibration curve,and an area under the ROC curve of 0.875(95%CI:0.799-0.929,P<0.001),and the decision curve analysis showed that the 0.3-0.9 threshold probability model had a good net benefit.Conclusion Child-Pugh class,main portal vein diameter before surgery,GGT,and FIPS score have a certain value in predicting the development of OHE after TIPS in patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis,and the nomogram model established based on these indicators can be used to individually predict the onset of OHE after TIPS in patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding due to liver cirrhosis.