AIM To investigate the effects of total Astragalus saponins on the improvement of sarcopenia in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).METHODS The rats were divided into the normal group for a normal feeding and the model group for the feeding of high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of STZ to establish a T2DM model.The successful model rats were randomly divided into the model group,the metformin group(0.2 g/kg)and the total Astragalus saponins group(80 mg/kg),and given corresponding doses of drugs by gavage.After 12 weeks administration,the rats had their FBG,postprandial blood glucose(PG2h)and wet weight of skeletal muscle measured;their serum levels of INS,C-peptide(C-P),IGF-1,TNF-α and IL-1β detected by ELISA;their morphological changes of skeletal muscle observed by HE staining;their protein expressions of PI3K,p-Akt,mTOR,S6K1,FoxO1 and Murf1 in skeletal muscle detected by Western blot;and their mRNA expressions of Pi3k,Akt and mtor in skeletal muscle detected by RT-qPCR method.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the total Astragalus saponins group displayed decreased levels of FBG,PG2h,OGTT-AUC,HOMA-IR,TNF-α and IL-1β(P＜0.01);increased levels of INS,C-P,IGF-1 and wet weight of skeletal muscle(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);improved skeletal muscle atrophy and increased protein expressions of PI3K,p-Akt,mTOR and S6K1 in skeletal muscle(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased protein expressions of FoxO1 and Murf1(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and increased mRNA expressions of Pi3k,Akt and mtor(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION The improvement effects of total Astragalus saponins on sarcopenia in T2DM rats may be associated with the regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 pathways.

Objective We aim to analyse semaglutide related adverse events in real-world,overall and by gender and age subgroups and compare the differences of different gender and age patients in adverse events,in order to supply references for security usage in the clinic.Methods OpenVigil 2.1 was used to search FDA Adverse Event Reporting System for semaglutide related adverse events from the establishment of the databases to April 2023.According to age and gender,patients were divided into 18-64 years old group and≥65 years old group,male group and female group.We selected ten adverse events which we interested(nausea,diarrhoea,vomiting,pancreatitis,cholecystitis,cholelithiasis,hypoglycaemia,diabetic retinopathy,acute kidney injury and thyroid cancer/medullary thyroid cancer)and analyzed overall and each group of semaglutide adverse events.Results A total of 5 330 cases and 15 558 adverse events were collected.2 935 patients aged 18-64 old group years with 8 553 adverse events;2 395 patients aged≥65 years old group with 7 005 adverse events.2 231 male group patients with 6 195 adverse events;3 059 female group patients with 9 277 adverse events.The sex of 40 patients was unknown.Nausea(1 089 cases/7.00％),vomiting(775 cases/4.98％)and diarrhoea(545 cases/3.50％)remained the most common adverse events.The constituent ratio of pancreatitis was significantly higher in patients aged 18-64 years old group than in patients aged 65 years old group(P＜0.05);the constituent ratio of diarrhoeaand cholelithiasis was significantly lower in patients aged 18-64 years old group than patients aged≥65 years old group(P＜0.05).The constituent ratio of diarrhoea,vomiting,pancreatitis,cholecystitis,cholelithiasis,diabetic retinopathy,and acute kidney injurywas significantly higher in male group patients than in female group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Nausea,diarrhoea and vomiting remined the most common adverse events of semaglutide.Male should be more concerned about gastrointestinal,pancreatitis,gallbladder events,retinopathy and acute kidney injury.Elderly patients should be more alert diarrhoea and cholelithiasis.

Objective To understand the current situation of human brain donation in Hebei Province by analyzing the basic information of Human Brain Bank samples of Hebei Medical University in order to provide basic data support for subsequent scientific research.Methods The samples collected from the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University were analyzed(from December 2019 to February 2024),including gender,age,cause of death,as well as quality control data such as postmortem delay time,pH value of cerebrospinal fluid and and RNA integrity number and result of neuropathological diagnosis.Results Until February 2024,30 human brain samples were collected and stored in the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University,with a male to female ratio of 9∶1.Donors over 70 years old accounted for 53％.Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases(36.67％)and nervous system diseases(23.33％)accounted for a high proportion of the death causes.The location of brain tissue donors in Shijiazhuang accounted for 90％donations,and the others were from outside the city.The postmortem delay time was relatively short,90％within 12 hours and 10％more than 12 hours.69.23％of the brain samples had RNA integrity values greater than 6.Cerebrospinal fluid pH values ranged from 5.8 to 7.5,with an average value of 6.60±0.45.Brain weights ranged from 906-1496 g,with an average value of(1210.78±197.84)g.Three apolipoprotein E(APOE)alleles were detected including five genotypes(ε2/ε3,ε2/ε4,ε3/ε3,ε3/ε4,ε4/ε4).Eleven staining methods related to neuropathological diagnosis had been established and used.A total of 12 cases were diagnosed as neurodegenerative diseases(including Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,multiple system atrophy,corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy,etc.),accounting for 40％donated brains.The comorbidity rate of samples over 80 years old was 100％.Conclusion The summary and analyses of the data of brain donors in the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University can reflect the current situation of the construction and operation of the brain bank in Hebei Province,and it can also be more targeted to understand and identify potential donors.Our information can provide reference for the construction of brain bank and provides more reliable materials and data support for scientific research.

AIM: To investigate the effect of repeated intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)on the vitreomacular interface(VMI)and its related risk factors in patients with diabetic macular edema(DME).METHODS: The clinical data of 31 patients(55 eyes)with DME who received intravitreal injections of Conbercept(3+PRN)in the ophthalmology department of the First People's Hospital of Zunyi from January 2018 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 9 cases(13 eyes)in the group that has changes in VMI and 22 cases(42 eyes)in the other group that has no changes in VMI. The best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central retinal thickness(CRT), and central choroidal thickness(CCT)of the two groups were compared, and the risk factors of VMI change were analyzed.RESULTS: The patients were followed up for an average of 9.58±8.32mo, received an average of 4.07±2.17 times of anti-VEGF therapy, and the number of intravitreal injections in VMI changed group was more than that in VMI unchanged group(5.77±2.09 times vs. 3.55±1.93 times, P=0.001). At the last follow-up, compared with before treatment, the BCVA of both patients improved significantly after treatment(both P<0.05), while CCT had no significant change(both P>0.05). CRT of patients in the VMI unchanged group decreased significantly(P=0.039), but there was no significant change in patients of VMI changed group(P=0.627). Logistic regression analysis showed that BCVA was a risk factor for VMI change before treatment(P=0.049, OR=6.210, 95%CI 1.006～38.346).CONCLUSIONS: The VMI of DME patients may change during repeated intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF drugs. The worse the BCVA before treatment, the higher the risk of change in VMI, and the patients with VMI change have a poor response to anti-VEGF treatment.

An analytical method for 10 mycotoxins in Hippophae Fructus medicinal and edible products was established in this study, and the contamination of their mycotoxins was analyzed. First of all, the mixed reference solution of ten mycotoxins such as aflatoxin, ochratoxin, zearalenone, and dexoynivalenol was selected as the control, and the Hippophae Fructus medicinal and edible products were prepared. Secondly, based on the ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS) technology, 10 mycotoxins in Hippophae Fructus medicinal and edible products were quantitatively investigated and their content was determined. Finally, the contamination of mycotoxins was analyzed and evaluated. The optimal analysis conditions were determined, and the methodological inspection results showed that the 10 mycotoxins established a good linear relationship(r>0.99). The method had good repeatability, test sample specificity, stability, and instrument precision. The average recovery rates of 10 mycotoxins in Hippophae Fructus medicinal products, edible solids, and edible liquids were 90.31%-109.4%, 87.86%-107.8%, and 85.61%-109.1%, respectively. Relative standard deviation(RSD) values were 0.22%-10%, 0.75%-13%, and 0.84%-8.5%, repsectively. Based on UPLC-MS/MS technology, the simultaneous determination method for the limits of 10 mycotoxins established in this study has fast detection speed, less matrix interference, high sensitivity, and accurate results, which is suitable for the limit examination of 10 mycoto-xins in Hippophae Fructus medicinal and edible products.
Mycotoxins/analysis* ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Hippophae ; Limit of Detection ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods*

Objective To understand the characteristics of long-working hours exposure of medical staff,and analyze the impact of long-working hours exposure on mental health problems such as occupational stress,depression,fatigue accumulation,and insomnia.Methods The cluster random sampling method was used to select the medical staff of 12 tertiary general hospitals in Guangdong Province as the research subjects,and the"Core Scale of Occupational Stress Measurement"and other scales were used to evaluate their occupational mental health.Results The average working hours of medical staff per day were(8.99±2.18)h;2,094 people were exposed during long working hours,accounting for 78.96%.The results of binary logistics regression analysis showed that after excluding the influence of sociodemographic factors such as age,long working hours(weekly working hours greater than 40 h)were the risk factors for occupational stress,depressive symptoms and fatigue accumulation of medical staff(P<0.01),and the longer the working week,the higher the risk of occupational stress,depressive symptoms and fatigue accumulation.Weekly working hours greater than 48 hours are risk factors for insomnia(P<0.01).Conclusion Long working hours are common among delivery workers on food delivery platforms,and long working hours are a risk factor for occupational tension and fatigue.

Acute Disease ; Child ; Humans ; Osteomyelitis ; Pulmonary Embolism

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) on toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced allergic airway inflammation in mice. METHODS: Thirty-two mice were randomly divided into AOO group, AOO+5Z-7-Oxozeaenol group, TDI group, and TDI+5Z-7-Oxozeaenol group. Another 32 mice were randomly divided into AOO group, TDI group, TDI +5Z-7-Oxozeaenol group, and TDI +5Z-7-Oxozeaenol + Necrostatin-1 group. TAK1 inhibitor (5Z-7-Oxozeaenol, 5 mg/kg) and/or RIPK1 inhibitor (Necrostatin-1, 5 mg/kg) were used before each challenge. Airway responsiveness, airway inflammation and airway remodeling were assessed after the treatments. We also examined the effect of TDI-human serum albumin (TDI-HSA) conjugate combined with TAK1 inhibitor on the viability of mouse mononuclear macrophages (RAW264.7) using CCK8 assay. The expressions of TAK1, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and receptor interacting serine/threonine protease 1 (RIPK1) signal pathway in the treated cells were detected with Western blotting. The effects of RIPK1 inhibitor on the viability of RAW264.7 cells and airway inflammation of the mouse models of TDI-induced asthma were evaluated. RESULTS: TAK1 inhibitor aggravated TDI-induced airway inflammation, airway hyper responsiveness and airway remodeling in the mouse models (P < 0.05). Treatment with TAK1 inhibitor significantly decreased the viability of RAW264.7 cells, which was further decreased by co-treatment with TDI-HSA (P < 0.05). TAK1 inhibitor significantly decreased the level of TAK1 phosphorylation and activation of MAPK signal pathway induced by TDI-HSA (P < 0.05). Co-treatment with TAK1 inhibitor and TDI-HSA obviously increased the level of RIPK1 phosphorylation and caused persistent activation of caspase 8 (P < 0.05). RIPK1 inhibitor significantly inhibited the reduction of cell viability caused by TAK1 inhibitor and TDI-HSA (P < 0.05) and alleviated the aggravation of airway inflammation induced by TAK1 inhibitors in TDI-induced mouse models (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Inhibition of TAK1 aggravates TDI-induced airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness and may increase the death of macrophages by enhancing the activity of RIPK1 and causing persistent activation of caspase 8.
Animals ; Asthma/chemically induced* ; Inflammation ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Respiratory System ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate/adverse effects*

Corticosteroid switching can reverse abiraterone resistance in some patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Here, we investigated the potential biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of corticosteroid switching during treatment with abiraterone acetate (AA). We retrospectively analyzed 101 mCRPC patients receiving corticosteroid switching from West China Hospital and Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center between January 2016 and December 2018. All cases received AA plus prednisone as first-line therapy during mCRPC. Primary end points were biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS) and overall survival (OS). The risk groups were defined based on multivariate analysis. A total of 42 (41.6%) and 25 (24.8%) patients achieved 30% and 50% decline in prostate-specific antigen (PSA), respectively, after corticosteroid switching. The median bPFS and median OS on AA plus dexamethasone were 4.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.7-6.0) months and 18.8 (95% CI: 16.2-30.2) months, respectively. Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) expression (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.15, 95% Cl: 1.22-3.80, P = 0.008) and baseline serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP; HR: 4.95, 95% Cl: 2.40-10.19, P < 0.001) were independent predictors of efficacy before corticosteroid switching in the multivariate analysis of bPFS. Only baseline serum ALP >160 IU l^-1 (HR: 3.41, 95% Cl: 1.57-7.38, P = 0.002) together with PSA level at switch ≥50 ng ml^-1 (HR: 2.59, 95% Cl: 1.22-5.47, P = 0.013) independently predicted poorer OS. Based on the predictive factors in multivariate analysis, we developed two risk stratification tools to select candidates for corticosteroid switching. Detection of serum ALP level, PSA level, and tissue AKR1C3 expression in mCRPC patients could help make clinical decisions for corticosteroid switching.
Abiraterone Acetate/therapeutic use* ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use* ; Androstenes ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Dexamethasone/therapeutic use* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Male ; Prednisone/therapeutic use* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Resveratrol (RES) can inhibit the growth and proliferation of liver cancer cells. However, its role in the precancerous stage is still unclear. This paper aims to study the effect and mechanism of RES on the precancerous stage of liver cancer in rats induced by diethylinitrosamine (DEN). SD rats were divided into normal control group, RES treatment group, DEN treatment group and RES-DEN treatment group. The results showed that after the rats were treated with DEN for 8 weeks, the total expression level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) of hepatocytes increased to 2-fold (P<0.05), and the expression level of PCNA protein in the nucleus increased to 3-fold (P<0.001). However, the expression levels of total PCNA (P<0.05) and nuclear PCNA protein (P<0.001) in hepatocytes of rats treated with RES-DEN decreased, suggesting that RES could significantly inhibit the liver malignant proliferation of cells. Through non-targeted metabolomics and KEGG metabolic pathway enrichment analysis, the results showed that the level of glycolysis did not increase significantly in the hepatocytes of RES-DEN-treated rats, although the transition from the pentose phosphate pathway to the glycolysis pathway was enhanced when compared with the DEN group rats. This finding suggested that the metabolic pathway of phosphoenolpyruvate-pyruvate-lactate was inhibited. Further verification found that the protein expression levels of key enzymes M2-type pyruvate kinase (PKM2) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA) in this metabolic pathway were inhibited (P<0.05). RES can reprogram glucose metabolism and inhibit DEN-induced excessive proliferation of rat hepatocytes in the precancerous stage of liver cancer, providing an experimental basis for RES to prevent liver cancer.