OBJECTIVES: To explore the therapeutic mechanism of puerarin for alleviating synovitis in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS: In a SD rat model of CIA, we tested the effects of daily gavage of puerarin at low, moderate and high doses (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg, respectively) for 3 weeks, with tripterygium glycosides (GTW, 10 mg/kg) as the positive control, on swelling in the hind limb joints regions evaluated by arthritis index scoring. Mass fraction of the liver of the rats was calculated, and pathologies in joint synovial membrane were observed with HE staining. The expressions of transforming growth factor β‑activated kinase-1 (TAK1), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and nuclear factor kappa-Bp65 (NF‑κB p65) at the mRNA and protein levels in the synovial tissues were detected using Real-time PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with those in the model group, the rats in GTW group and high-dose puerarin group showed significantly reduced mass fraction of the liver. Treatment with GTW and puerarin at the 3 doses all significantly alleviated plantar swelling, lowered arthritis index scores, and improved synovitis in CIA rats (P<0.05), and the effects of puerarin showed an obvious dose dependence. Both GTW and puerarin treatments significantly lowered TAK1, TLR4, and NF‑κB p65 mRNA and protein expressions in the synovium of CIA rats. CONCLUSIONS Puerarin alleviates synovium damages in CIA rats possibly by suppressing the TLR4/NF‑κB signaling pathway via downregulating TAK1 expression.
Animals ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Isoflavones/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Arthritis, Experimental/drug therapy* ; Transcription Factor RelA/metabolism* ; Synovial Membrane/metabolism*

Objective This study aims to investigate the effects of acupuncture on the spatial learning and memory capacities,the morphological characteristics of hippocampal neurons,the components of extracellular matrix,as well as the structure of the blood-brain barrier in SAMP8 mice.Moreover,it endeavors to explore the underlying mechanism through which the"Tongdu Qishen"(activating governor vessel and awakening spirit)acupuncture method ameliorates the cognitive function and modulates cerebral blood flow in SAMP8 mice.Methods Twenty 6-month-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly allocated into a model group and an electroacupuncture group,with ten mice in each group.Additionally,ten homologous 6-month-old male SAMR1 mice were designated as the normal control group.In the electroacupuncture group,the acupoint"Renzhong"(GV 26)was punctured using a quick insertion technique,while"Baihui"(GV 20)and"Yintang"(EX-HN 3)were punctured via a transverse insertion method.Subsequently,the needle handles were connected to an electroacupuncture apparatus,which was set to operate with a dense-sparse wave at a frequency of 100 Hz/2 Hz and an electric current of 2 mA.Each session of acupuncture lasted for 20 minutes and was conducted once a day for a consecutive period of 28 days.The normal group,the model group,and the electroacupuncture group all underwent identical fixation and restraint procedures to ensure consistent experimental conditions.The Morris water maze was employed to evaluate the spatial learning and memory abilities of the mice.The Nissl staining technique was utilized to assess the alterations in hippocampal neurons of SAMP8 mice.The laser speckle imaging system was adopted to measure the cerebral blood flow of the mice in each group.Transmission electron microscopy was applied to observe the ultrastructure of the blood-brain barrier within the frontal cortex tissue of the SAMP8 mice's brains.The Western blotting method was used to detect the expressions of Collagen-Ⅳ and Fibronectin in the brain tissues of SAMP8 mice.Results In comparison with the model group,the"Tongdu Qishen"acupuncture method demonstrated a significant efficacy in improving the spatial learning and memory abilities of SAMP8 mice(P<0.05).It also effectively alleviated the degeneration of hippocampal neurons,remarkably increased the cerebral blood flow perfusion volume of SAMP8 mice(P<0.05),ameliorated the damage to the blood-brain barrier structure,significantly upregulated the content of Collagen-Ⅳ(P<0.05),and significantly downregulated the content of Fibronectin(P<0.0001).Conclusion The"Tongdu Qishen"acupuncture method is capable of favorably regulating the extracellular matrix of SAMP8 mice,thereby improving cerebral blood flow and ultimately enhancing their learning and memory abilities.

Objective:To explore the association between the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and obesity metabolic phenotypes, as well as metabolic features in children and adolescents.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted using the random cluster sampling method from March 2023 to May 2024. Children and adolescents aged 9-17 years in Guangzhou were surveyed through questionnaires, physical measurements, and blood tests. According to BMI and metabolic status, participants were classified into normal-weight groups [metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW) and metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW)] and overweight/obese groups [metabolically healthy overweight/obese (MHO/O) and metabolically unhealthy overweight/obese (MUO/O)]. After natural log-transformation of SII values (lnSII), multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between SII and obesity metabolic phenotypes, while binary logistic regression was applied to assess the relationship between SII and metabolic phenotypes in the overweight/obese subgroup. Linear regression model and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were employed to examine the relationship between SII and metabolic features among the entire population.Results:A total of 3 749 participants were included. After adjusting for covariates, for every unit increase in lnSII, the risk of MHO/O and MUO/O increased by 93% ( OR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.56-2.40, P<0.001) and 156% ( OR=2.56, 95% CI: 2.02-3.25, P<0.001), respectively. In the overweight/obesity subgroup, for every unit increase in lnSII, the risk of MUO/O increased by 37% ( OR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.01-1.87, P=0.045). Linear regression model and RCS showed that lnSII was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (SBP: β=1.39, 95% CI: 0.67-2.11, P<0.001; DBP: β=1.27, 95% CI: 0.79-1.75, P<0.001). lnSII also had a non-linear relationship with triglyceride ( Pnonlinear=0.032) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( Pnonlinear=0.002). Conclusion:Elevated SII levels are associated with unfavorable obesity metabolic phenotypes, higher blood pressure, and altered lipid profiles in children and adolescents. SII may be a potential driving factor for metabolic heterogeneity in children and adolescents.

Objective·To compare the safety and short-term outcomes of robot-assisted versus laparoscopic-assisted proximal gastrectomy combined with double-flap esophagogastrostomy in the treatment of early upper gastric cancer.Methods·A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical and pathological data of 31 early gastric cancer patients who underwent proximal gastrectomy combined with double-flap esophagogastrostomy for gastrointestinal reconstruction at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery,Renji Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,from September 2023 to March 2024.Based on the surgical approach,patients were divided into the robot-assisted surgery group(robotic group,20 cases)and the laparoscope-assisted surgery group(laparoscopic group,11 cases).General clinical data,intraoperative conditions,and postoperative recovery between the two groups were compared.At the 6-month postoperative follow-up,upper gastrointestinal radiography and esophagogastroscopy were performed to assess anastomotic stricture and gastroesophageal reflux disease.Additionally,the gastric cancer-specific module of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer(EORTC),Quality of Life Questionnaire-Stomach 22(QLQ-STO22),was used to evaluate the patients' quality of life.Results·The general data of the two groups,including gender,age,preoperative comorbidities,American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)classification,Siewert classification,and pathological staging of tumors,showed no statistically significant differences(all P>0.05).All patients successfully underwent the procedure without conversion to open surgery.The time for gastroesophageal anastomosis was significantly shorter in the robotic group compared to the laparoscopic group[(31.09±8.23)min vs(43.73±8.83)min,P<0.001],while there were no statistically significant differences in other intraoperative and postoperative parameters,including operative time,intraoperative blood loss,number of lymph nodes removed,duration of gastric tube placement,time to start a liquid diet,length of postoperative hospital stay,and incidence of postoperative complications(all P>0.05).At the 6-month postoperative follow-up,30 patients completed the follow-up,with one patient lost to follow-up in the robotic group.Upper gastrointestinal radiography and esophagogastroscopy results showed that only one patient in the laparoscopic group developed an anastomotic stricture,while one patient in the robotic group developed grade A and one developed grade B gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD).In addition,one patient in the laparoscopic group also developed grade B GERD.The incidences of GERD and anastomotic stricture showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups(both P>0.05).EORTC QLQ-STO22 results indicated that the robotic group had significantly lower scores in the dimensions of dysphagia,gastroesophageal reflux,and dietary restrictions,as well as in the total score,compared to the laparoscopic group(all P<0.05).Conclusion·Robot-assisted proximal gastrectomy combined with double-flap esophagogastrostomy is safe and feasible.It shortens anastomosis time and offers potential advantages in postoperative functional recovery and quality of life improvement.

Reactive oxygen species(ROS)are common products of bone tissue injury.If ROS cannot be removed in time,oxidative stress will be induced in the cells,which will have a negative effect on the regeneration of bone tissue.In recent years,with the deepening of research,nanomaterials capable of reducing ROS levels have shown increasing potential in promoting bone tissue regeneration.Currently,nanomaterials applied to reduce ROS levels mainly include those with surface modifications and microstructural designs,dopant-modified inorganic materials,functionalized polymeric materials and hydrogels,and nano-enzymatic materials.However,the clinical application of these nanomaterials is still limited due to their potential cytotoxicity and the lack of sufficient clinical trials.This literature review summarises the research on the use of nanomaterials to reduce ROS levels to promote bone regeneration and provides ideas for the future design and development of novel nanomaterials in this field.

Objective·To compare the safety and short-term outcomes of robot-assisted versus laparoscopic-assisted proximal gastrectomy combined with double-flap esophagogastrostomy in the treatment of early upper gastric cancer.Methods·A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical and pathological data of 31 early gastric cancer patients who underwent proximal gastrectomy combined with double-flap esophagogastrostomy for gastrointestinal reconstruction at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery,Renji Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,from September 2023 to March 2024.Based on the surgical approach,patients were divided into the robot-assisted surgery group(robotic group,20 cases)and the laparoscope-assisted surgery group(laparoscopic group,11 cases).General clinical data,intraoperative conditions,and postoperative recovery between the two groups were compared.At the 6-month postoperative follow-up,upper gastrointestinal radiography and esophagogastroscopy were performed to assess anastomotic stricture and gastroesophageal reflux disease.Additionally,the gastric cancer-specific module of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer(EORTC),Quality of Life Questionnaire-Stomach 22(QLQ-STO22),was used to evaluate the patients' quality of life.Results·The general data of the two groups,including gender,age,preoperative comorbidities,American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)classification,Siewert classification,and pathological staging of tumors,showed no statistically significant differences(all P>0.05).All patients successfully underwent the procedure without conversion to open surgery.The time for gastroesophageal anastomosis was significantly shorter in the robotic group compared to the laparoscopic group[(31.09±8.23)min vs(43.73±8.83)min,P<0.001],while there were no statistically significant differences in other intraoperative and postoperative parameters,including operative time,intraoperative blood loss,number of lymph nodes removed,duration of gastric tube placement,time to start a liquid diet,length of postoperative hospital stay,and incidence of postoperative complications(all P>0.05).At the 6-month postoperative follow-up,30 patients completed the follow-up,with one patient lost to follow-up in the robotic group.Upper gastrointestinal radiography and esophagogastroscopy results showed that only one patient in the laparoscopic group developed an anastomotic stricture,while one patient in the robotic group developed grade A and one developed grade B gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD).In addition,one patient in the laparoscopic group also developed grade B GERD.The incidences of GERD and anastomotic stricture showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups(both P>0.05).EORTC QLQ-STO22 results indicated that the robotic group had significantly lower scores in the dimensions of dysphagia,gastroesophageal reflux,and dietary restrictions,as well as in the total score,compared to the laparoscopic group(all P<0.05).Conclusion·Robot-assisted proximal gastrectomy combined with double-flap esophagogastrostomy is safe and feasible.It shortens anastomosis time and offers potential advantages in postoperative functional recovery and quality of life improvement.

Objective To investigate the effect of miR-29b-3p targeting insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)on high glucose-induced injury in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs)and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signaling pathway.Methods HRMECs were di-vided into the following groups:control group(normal culture),high glucose(HG)group(treated with 30.0 mmol·L-1 glucose for 48 h),inhibitor-NC group,miR-29b-3p inhibitor group,miR-29b-3p inhibitor+si-NC group,miR-29b-3p inhib-itor+si-IGF-1 group(all transfected with corresponding plasmids for 24 h after HG treatment),and LY294002 group(treated with 40 μmol·L-1 LY294002 for 24 h).The expression level of miR-29b-3p was detected by quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR).Cell viability was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8)assay.Intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels were measured by immunofluorescence.The expression levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),superox-ide dismutase(SOD),and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.Autophagosome formation was observed under a transmission electron microscope.The protein expression levels related to apoptosis,autophagy,IGF-1,and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR path-way were examined by Western blot.The targeting relationship between miR-29b-3p and IGF-1 was verified by a dual-lucif-erase reporter assay.Results Compared with the Control group,the HG group showed significant increases in the ex-pression levels of miR-29b-3p,ROS,MDA,Bax,Cleaved-caspase 3,p62,the p-PI3K/PI3K ratio,the p-Akt/Akt ratio,the p-mTOR/mTOR ratio,and the cell apoptosis rate;whereas the expression levels of IGF-1,SOD,GSH-Px,the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio,cell viability,and the number of autophagosomes were significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the in-hibitor-NC group,the miR-29b-3p inhibitor group exhibited significant decreases in the expression levels of miR-29b-3p,ROS,MDA,Bax,Cleaved-caspase 3,p62,the p-PI3K/PI3K ratio,the p-Akt/Akt ratio,the p-mTOR/mTOR ratio,and the cell apoptosis rate;while the expression levels of IGF-1,SOD,GSH-Px,the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio,cell viability,and the num-ber of autophagosomes were significantly increased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the miR-29b-3p inhibitor+si-NC group,the miR-29b-3p inhibitor+si-IGF-1 group demonstrated significant increases in the expression levels of miR-29b-3p,ROS,MDA,Bax,Cleaved-caspase 3,p62,the p-PI3K/PI3K ratio,the p-Akt/Akt ratio,the p-mTOR/mTOR ratio,and the cell apoptosis rate;whereas the expression levels of IGF-1,SOD,GSH-Px,the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio,cell viability,and the number of autophagosomes were significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the HG group,the LY294002 group showed significant decreases in the expression levels of miR-29b-3p,ROS,MDA,Bax,Cleaved-caspase 3,p62,the p-PI3K/PI3K ratio,the p-Akt/Akt ratio,the p-mTOR/mTOR ratio,and the cell apoptosis rate;while the expression levels of IGF-1,SOD,GSH-Px,the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio,cell viability,and the number of autophagosomes were significantly increased(all P＜0.05).The dual-luciferase activity was significantly lower in cells co-transfected with IGF-1-WT and miR-29b-3p mimic compared to miR-NC cells(P＜0.05).Conclusion Inhibition of miR-29b-3p can target upregulation of IGF-1 expression levels,thereby inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and improving high glucose induced cell damage in HRMECs.

Reactive oxygen species(ROS)are common products of bone tissue injury.If ROS cannot be removed in time,oxidative stress will be induced in the cells,which will have a negative effect on the regeneration of bone tissue.In recent years,with the deepening of research,nanomaterials capable of reducing ROS levels have shown increasing potential in promoting bone tissue regeneration.Currently,nanomaterials applied to reduce ROS levels mainly include those with surface modifications and microstructural designs,dopant-modified inorganic materials,functionalized polymeric materials and hydrogels,and nano-enzymatic materials.However,the clinical application of these nanomaterials is still limited due to their potential cytotoxicity and the lack of sufficient clinical trials.This literature review summarises the research on the use of nanomaterials to reduce ROS levels to promote bone regeneration and provides ideas for the future design and development of novel nanomaterials in this field.

Objective To investigate the effect of miR-29b-3p targeting insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)on high glucose-induced injury in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs)and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signaling pathway.Methods HRMECs were di-vided into the following groups:control group(normal culture),high glucose(HG)group(treated with 30.0 mmol·L-1 glucose for 48 h),inhibitor-NC group,miR-29b-3p inhibitor group,miR-29b-3p inhibitor+si-NC group,miR-29b-3p inhib-itor+si-IGF-1 group(all transfected with corresponding plasmids for 24 h after HG treatment),and LY294002 group(treated with 40 μmol·L-1 LY294002 for 24 h).The expression level of miR-29b-3p was detected by quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR).Cell viability was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8)assay.Intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels were measured by immunofluorescence.The expression levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),superox-ide dismutase(SOD),and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.Autophagosome formation was observed under a transmission electron microscope.The protein expression levels related to apoptosis,autophagy,IGF-1,and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR path-way were examined by Western blot.The targeting relationship between miR-29b-3p and IGF-1 was verified by a dual-lucif-erase reporter assay.Results Compared with the Control group,the HG group showed significant increases in the ex-pression levels of miR-29b-3p,ROS,MDA,Bax,Cleaved-caspase 3,p62,the p-PI3K/PI3K ratio,the p-Akt/Akt ratio,the p-mTOR/mTOR ratio,and the cell apoptosis rate;whereas the expression levels of IGF-1,SOD,GSH-Px,the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio,cell viability,and the number of autophagosomes were significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the in-hibitor-NC group,the miR-29b-3p inhibitor group exhibited significant decreases in the expression levels of miR-29b-3p,ROS,MDA,Bax,Cleaved-caspase 3,p62,the p-PI3K/PI3K ratio,the p-Akt/Akt ratio,the p-mTOR/mTOR ratio,and the cell apoptosis rate;while the expression levels of IGF-1,SOD,GSH-Px,the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio,cell viability,and the num-ber of autophagosomes were significantly increased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the miR-29b-3p inhibitor+si-NC group,the miR-29b-3p inhibitor+si-IGF-1 group demonstrated significant increases in the expression levels of miR-29b-3p,ROS,MDA,Bax,Cleaved-caspase 3,p62,the p-PI3K/PI3K ratio,the p-Akt/Akt ratio,the p-mTOR/mTOR ratio,and the cell apoptosis rate;whereas the expression levels of IGF-1,SOD,GSH-Px,the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio,cell viability,and the number of autophagosomes were significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the HG group,the LY294002 group showed significant decreases in the expression levels of miR-29b-3p,ROS,MDA,Bax,Cleaved-caspase 3,p62,the p-PI3K/PI3K ratio,the p-Akt/Akt ratio,the p-mTOR/mTOR ratio,and the cell apoptosis rate;while the expression levels of IGF-1,SOD,GSH-Px,the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio,cell viability,and the number of autophagosomes were significantly increased(all P＜0.05).The dual-luciferase activity was significantly lower in cells co-transfected with IGF-1-WT and miR-29b-3p mimic compared to miR-NC cells(P＜0.05).Conclusion Inhibition of miR-29b-3p can target upregulation of IGF-1 expression levels,thereby inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and improving high glucose induced cell damage in HRMECs.

Objective This study aims to investigate the effects of acupuncture on the spatial learning and memory capacities,the morphological characteristics of hippocampal neurons,the components of extracellular matrix,as well as the structure of the blood-brain barrier in SAMP8 mice.Moreover,it endeavors to explore the underlying mechanism through which the"Tongdu Qishen"(activating governor vessel and awakening spirit)acupuncture method ameliorates the cognitive function and modulates cerebral blood flow in SAMP8 mice.Methods Twenty 6-month-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly allocated into a model group and an electroacupuncture group,with ten mice in each group.Additionally,ten homologous 6-month-old male SAMR1 mice were designated as the normal control group.In the electroacupuncture group,the acupoint"Renzhong"(GV 26)was punctured using a quick insertion technique,while"Baihui"(GV 20)and"Yintang"(EX-HN 3)were punctured via a transverse insertion method.Subsequently,the needle handles were connected to an electroacupuncture apparatus,which was set to operate with a dense-sparse wave at a frequency of 100 Hz/2 Hz and an electric current of 2 mA.Each session of acupuncture lasted for 20 minutes and was conducted once a day for a consecutive period of 28 days.The normal group,the model group,and the electroacupuncture group all underwent identical fixation and restraint procedures to ensure consistent experimental conditions.The Morris water maze was employed to evaluate the spatial learning and memory abilities of the mice.The Nissl staining technique was utilized to assess the alterations in hippocampal neurons of SAMP8 mice.The laser speckle imaging system was adopted to measure the cerebral blood flow of the mice in each group.Transmission electron microscopy was applied to observe the ultrastructure of the blood-brain barrier within the frontal cortex tissue of the SAMP8 mice's brains.The Western blotting method was used to detect the expressions of Collagen-Ⅳ and Fibronectin in the brain tissues of SAMP8 mice.Results In comparison with the model group,the"Tongdu Qishen"acupuncture method demonstrated a significant efficacy in improving the spatial learning and memory abilities of SAMP8 mice(P<0.05).It also effectively alleviated the degeneration of hippocampal neurons,remarkably increased the cerebral blood flow perfusion volume of SAMP8 mice(P<0.05),ameliorated the damage to the blood-brain barrier structure,significantly upregulated the content of Collagen-Ⅳ(P<0.05),and significantly downregulated the content of Fibronectin(P<0.0001).Conclusion The"Tongdu Qishen"acupuncture method is capable of favorably regulating the extracellular matrix of SAMP8 mice,thereby improving cerebral blood flow and ultimately enhancing their learning and memory abilities.