OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical symptoms and MRI outcomes of patients with ruptured lumbar disc herniation(LDH) through a multicenter randomized controlled study, and to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Yiqi Huoxue formula() in the treatment of this disease. METHODS: A total of 160 outpatients and inpatients with ruptured LDH admitted to 4 medical centers from January 2023 to June 2023 were selected and randomly divided into the Yiqi Huoxue formula group and the control group, with 80 patients in each group. In the Yiqi Huoxue formula group, there were 43 males and 37 females, with an age of (41.03±9.56) years and a disease duration of (10.45±25.37) days, and the patients were treated with Yiqi Huoxue formula. In the control group, there were 34 males and 46 females, with an age of (42.14±8.73) years and a disease duration of (11.31±21.14) days;during the acute phase, patients in this group could take celecoxib capsules orally, and methylcobalamin orally at the same time. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), changes in the volume of herniated disc tissue on MRI, herniation rate, and absorption rate were recorded at the time of enrollment and during follow-ups at the 3rd, 6th, and 12th month after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 156 patients completed the clinical follow-up, and 4 patients withdrew midway. The clinical symptoms of all patients who completed the study were relieved to varying degrees, and reabsorption of herniated disc tissue was observed in all patients in the Yiqi Huoxue formula group after treatment. For the JOA score:in the Yiqi Huoxue formula group, it was (10.73±2.76) points before treatment and (24.65±2.19) points at the 12th month after treatment;in the control group, it was (11.01±1.20) points before treatment and (17.07±3.26) points at the 12th month after treatment. For the ODI score:in the Yiqi Huoxue formula group, it was (26.21±3.55) points before treatment and (5.65±2.19) points at the 12th month after treatment;in the control group, it was (27.92±2.51) points before treatment and (9.09±2.15) points at the 12th month after treatment. At the 12th month after treatment, the JOA and ODI scores of both groups were better than those before treatment, and the scores of the Yiqi Huoxue formula group were better than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). In terms of the herniated disc volume and herniation rate on MRI, the Yiqi Huoxue formula group was superior to the control group, with statistically significant differences(P<0.05). Reabsorption occurred in 56.96%(45/79) of patients in the Yiqi Huoxue formula group, which was significantly higher than the 37.66%(29/77) in the control group. CONCLUSION After treatment with Yiqi Huoxue formula, patients with ruptured LDH show significant improvement in clinical symptoms and a marked reduction in the volume of herniated discs. During the follow-up period, no obvious adverse drug reactions are observed in patients, and no recurrence of symptoms is found at the last follow-up, indicating that the formula has safe and reliable efficacy.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/drug therapy* ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae

OBJECTIVE: To investigate cisplatin-induced cardiovascular toxicity and explore the protective effects and potential mechanism of curcumin co-treatment. METHODS: Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were numbered and randomly divided into control group, cisplatin group (7.5 mg/kg, once a week, for 2 weeks), curcumin group (200 mg/kg per day, for 2 weeks) and cisplatin+curcumin group (cisplatin 7.5 mg/kg, once a week, and curcumin 200 mg/kg per day for 2 weeks) by a random number table method, with 10 rats in each group. Cardiac and vascular morphology and functions were assessed using hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining, serum indexes detection, echocardiography, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure monitoring, vascular ring isometric tension measurement, and left ventricular pressure evaluation. The expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and phosphorylated-ERK (p-ERK) were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Cisplatin treatment induced notable cardiac alteration, as evidenced by changes in cardiac morphology, elevated serum enzymes (P<0.05), ECG abnormalities, and increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (P<0.05). Meanwhile, cisplatin significantly increased arterial pulse pressure (P<0.01), primarily due to a decrease in diastolic blood pressure. Severe fibrosis was also observed in the thoracic aorta wall. In vascular ring experiments, cisplatin treatment led to a significant reduction in phenylephrine-induced contraction (P<0.05) and acetylcholine-induced relaxation (P<0.01). Notably, Curcumin co-administration significantly alleviated cisplatin-induced cardiovascular damages, as demonstrated by improvement in these parameters. Furthermore, ERK expression in the myocardium and p-ERK expression in vascular smooth muscle cells were significantly upregulated following curcumin co-treatment. CONCLUSIONS Curcumin protects the heart and vasculature from cisplatin-induced damages, likely by upregulating ERK/p-ERK expression. These findings suggest that curcumin may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for mitigating cisplatin-associated cardiovascular toxicity during tumor chemotherapy. In vitro cell culture experiments are needed to clarify the underlying mechanism.
Animals ; Curcumin/therapeutic use* ; Cisplatin/adverse effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Up-Regulation/drug effects* ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism* ; Phosphorylation/drug effects* ; Electrocardiography ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Rats ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects*

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a refractory subtype of breast cancer due to its resistance to various therapeutic strategies. In this study, we introduce a "brake-release and accelerator-pressing" approach to engineer a microneedle patch embedded with copper-doped Prussian blue nanoparticles (Cu-PB) and the ferroptosis inducer sorafenib (SRF) for raised chemodynamic (CDT)/photothermal (PTT) combination therapy against TNBC. Upon transdermal insertion, the dissolving microneedles swiftly disintegrate and facilitate the release of SRF. Under gentle external light exposure, copper ions (Cu²⁺) and iron ions (Fe³⁺) were liberated from Cu-PB. The direct chelation of Cu²⁺ and the indirect suppression by SRF, collectively attenuate glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) enzymatic function, destabilizing the cellular redox equilibrium (referred to as the "brake-release" strategy). The release of Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions instigates a Fenton/Fenton-like reaction within tumor cells, further yielding hydroxyl radicals and elevating reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations (referred to as the "accelerator-pressing" strategy). This overwhelming ROS accumulation, coupled with the impaired clearance of resultant lipid peroxides (LPO), ultimately triggers a robust ferroptosis cell death response. In summary, this study presents an innovative combinatorial therapeutic strategy based on dual-ferroptosis induction for TNBC, implying a promising therapeutic platform for developing ferroptosis-centered treatments for this aggressive breast cancer subtype.

Objective To observe the value of CT angiography(CTA)radiomics for evaluating the risk of basilar tip aneurysm(BTA)rupture.Methods Totally 133 BTA patients were retrospectively enrolled and divided into ruptured group(n=39)and unruptured group(n=94)based on BT A ruptured or not,also divided into training set(n=93)and test set(n=40)at the ratio of 7∶3.CTA radiomics features of BTA were extracted,the best radiomics features were screened,and the radiomics score(Radscore)was calculated.Then machine learning(ML)models were established with logistic regression(LR),random forest(RF),decision tree(DT)and K-nearest neighbor(KNN)algorithms,respectively.Radscore model was also established,and finally a combined model was constructed based on clinical data,routine imaging findings and Radscore.The efficacy of the above models for evaluating the risk of BTA rupture were comparatively analyzed.Results Finally 4 radiomics features of BTA were obtained.The area under the curve(AUC)of LR,RF,DT and KNN radiomics models for differentiating ruptured and unruptured BTA in training set was 0.770,0.816,0.817 and 0.795,respectively,while that in test set was 0.795,0.793,0.786 and 0.824,respectively,both being not significant different(both P＞0.05).Patient's gender,alcohol consumption history,BTA morphology and Radscore were all independent impact factors of BT A rupture(all P＜0.05),which were used to establish a clinical-routine imaging model.For all 133 cases,AUC of the combination model for differentiating ruptured and unruptured BTA was 0.877,of Radscore model was 0.775,while that of clinical-routine imaging model was 0.677,of the former was significantly higher than of the last two(both P＜0.05).Conclusion CTA radiomics was helpful for evaluating the risk of BTA rupture.Combining with clinical data and routine imaging findings could further improve the value of CTA radiomics.

Objective:To preliminarily explore whether sirtuin1 (SIRT1) activation can inhibit neuronal ferroptosis in rats after traumatic brain injury (TBI) by regulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-mediated glycolysis.Methods:(1) Six SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group and TBI group, with 3 rats in each group; TBI model in the TBI group was established by hydraulic impact method, and rats in the sham-operated group underwent same surgery without impact. Cortical tissues of the two groups were sent for tandem mass tag (TMT) labeled quantitative proteomics detection to analyze the differential expression proteome; Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were used to detect pathway enrichment of the screened differential proteins. (2) Twelve SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group and 1-day, 3-day and 7-day post-TBI groups, with 3 rats in each group. Treatment methods were the same as above; Western blotting was used to detect SIRT1 protein expression. (3) Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, TBI group, TBI+vehicle group and TBI+SIRT1 agonist group, with 12 rats in each group; rats in the sham-operated group and TBI group accepted treatment as above; rats in the TBI+SIRT1 agonist group were intraperitoneally injected with SRT1720 (dissolved in ≤ 5% dimethyl sulfoxide, at a dose of 20 mg/kg) within 30 minutes after modeling, twice a day (with an interval of 12 hours); and rats in the TBI+vehicle group were injected with same dose of dimethyl sulfoxide at the same time. One d after modeling, neurological deficit was assessed using modified Neurological severity score (mNSS), brain water content was measured by dry-wet weight method, histopathological changes in the cortical lesions were observed by HE staining, mitochondrial ultrastructure was examined by transmission electron microscopy, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the brain tissues were detected by colorimetry, and protein expressions of SIRT1, HIF-1α (key protein in the glycolytic pathway), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4, key protein in the ferroptosis pathway), and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4, key protein in the ferroptosis pathway) were evaluated by Western blotting.Results:(1) KEGG analysis revealed that the glycolysis pathway and HIF-1 signaling pathway were obviously enriched in the cortical tissues of rats in the TBI group compared with the sham-operated group; GSEA showed that the HIF-1 signaling pathway (mmu04066) and ferroptosis pathway (mmu04216) gene sets in the cortical tissues of rats in the TBI group exhibited enrichment trends compared with those in the sham-operated group. (2) Compared with the sham-operated group, the 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day post-TBI groups had significantly decreased SIRT1 protein expression ( P<0.05), with the most prominent decline in 1-day post-TBI group. (3) Compared with the TBI+vehicle group, rats in the TBI+SIRT1 agonist group showed significantly reduced mNSS score and brain tissue water content (9.83±1.17 vs. 7.66±1.21; [83.62±0.91]% vs. [80.09±0.68]%, P<0.05). HE staining indicated clearer structure of the cortical area at the injury sites, and improved neuron morphology in the TBI+SIRT1 agonist group compared with those in the TBI+vehicle group; and transmission electron microscopy showed reduced mitochondrial shrinkage and partial restoration of cristae structures in the TBI+SIRT1 agonist group compared with those in the TBI+vehicle group. Compared with the TBI+vehicle group, the TBI+SIRT1 agonist group exhibited significantly decreased MDA content ([62.72±9.20] nmol/g vs. [39.34±3.48] nmol/g), increased SOD activity ([1.95±0.23] U/mg vs. [2.48±0.14] U/mg), elevated GPX4 protein expression (0.37±0.04 vs. 0.46±0.03), and decreased HIF-1α and ACSL4 protein expressions (1.16±0.15 vs. 0.81±0.12; 1.14±0.06 vs. 1.29±0.04), with significant differences ( P<0.05). Conclusion:SIRT1 activation can exert neuroprotective effect by inhibiting HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis and reducing neuronal ferroptosis after TBI.

With the widespread use of antibiotics, drug-resistant bacterial infections have become a significant threat to human health. Finding new antibacterial strategies that can effectively control drug-resistant bacterial infections has become an urgent task. Unlike small molecule drugs that target bacterial proteins, antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) can target genes related to bacterial resistance, pathogenesis, growth, reproduction and biofilm formation. By regulating the expression of these genes, ASO can inhibit or kill bacteria, providing a novel approach for the development of antibacterial drugs. To overcome the challenge of delivering antisense oligonucleotide into bacterial cells, various drug delivery systems have been applied in this field, including cell-penetrating peptides, lipid nanoparticles and inorganic nanoparticles, which have injected new momentum into the development of antisense oligonucleotide in the antibacterial realm. This review summarizes the current development of small nucleic acid drugs, the antibacterial mechanisms, targets, sequences and delivery vectors of antisense oligonucleotide, providing a reference for the research and development of antisense oligonucleotide in the treatment of bacterial infections.

Objective To evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary collaborative quality control management (hereinafter referred to as "QC management") on improving the performance of biological safety cabinets in hospital. Methods A total of 63 ClassⅡbiological safety cabinets in active use at Peking University Third Hospital were selected as the study subjects using the before-after study mode. Conventional management was implemented on the biological safety cabinets from 2018 to 2021. QC management was used in 2022. The compliance of biological safety cabinets management norm and performance differences under the two models were compared. Results The median and the 25th and 75th percentiles [M(P₂₅, P₇₅)] of the service life among these 63 biological safety cabinets were 3 (1,6) years. The overall performance pass rate and inflow velocity pass rate of biological safety cabinets were higher in the QC management than that in the conventional management (90.5% vs 65.1%, 96.8% vs 84.1%, both P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in downflow velocity, high-efficiency particulate air filter integrity, cleanliness, airflow smoke pattern, noise, and illumination pass rates of biosafety cabinets before and after the implementation of QC management (79.4% vs 88.9%, 90.5% vs 100.0%, 96.8% vs 100.0%, 85.7% vs 100.0%, 100.0% vs 100.0%, and 85.7% vs 96.8%, respectively; all P>0.05). Conclusion sQC management improves the standardization of biological safety cabinet management and key performance indicators in hospital.

Objective:To investigate the impact of early invasive arterial blood pressure (IBP) monitoring on survival and neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).Methods:This retrospective cohort study analyzed 44 OHCA patients receiving ECPR between January 2021 and January 2023. Patients were divided into: Early intervention group : IBP established within 3 min of ECMO initiation; Late intervention group : IBP established after ICU admission. Baseline characteristics, ECMO parameters, and clinical outcomes were compared. Multivariable logistic regression (adjusted for age, initial rhythm, etc.) and Spearman's correlation were used.Results:This study included a total of 44 patients treated with OHCA and ECPR, divided into an early intervention group of 23 cases and a late intervention group of 21 cases. The early intervention group showed significantly higher: Survival to discharge (43.5% vs. 9.5%, P<0.05), Good neurological recovery (CPC 1-2: 34.8% vs. 9.5%, P<0.05).Early intervention independently predicted survival (adjusted OR=18.84, 95% CI:1.97-179.98, P=0.01). Stratified analysis by pH (cutoff 7.0) demonstrated consistent benefits in both pH>7.0 ( aOR=0.392, 95% CI:0.106-0.678) and pH≤7.0 subgroups ( aOR=0.385, 95% CI: 0.075-0.695; interaction P=0.183). Early IBP positively correlated with CPC scores ( ρ=0.40, P=0.007). Conclusions:Early IBP monitoring significantly improves survival and neurological outcomes in OHCA-ECPR patients, supporting its integration into standardized protocols.

A novel analytical method was developed in this study by combining online solid phase extraction with ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(Online SPE-UPLC-MS/MS)for simultaneous determination of 50 kinds of steroid hormones in surface water.Specifically,after high-speed centrifugation of 4 mL water samples,the supernatant was directly injected into an Oasis HLB online SPE column for enrichment and purification.Subsequently,the target compounds were transferred to the analytical column via valve switching for separation and analysis.The chromatographic separation was performed on a Thermo Acclaim RSLC C18 column(100 mm×2.1 mm,2.2 μm),using a mobile phase composed of 5 mmol/L ammonium fluoride aqueous solution and acetonitrile.Mass spectrometric detection was conducted in positive ion mode,utilizing multiple reaction monitoring(MRM)with quantification achieved by the internal standard method.The method validation demonstrated that the limits of detection(LOD)for the 50 kinds of steroid hormones ranged from 0.02 to 0.50 ng/L,while the limits of quantification(LOQ)were between 0.08 and 1.67 ng/L.The average recoveries in surface water samples at spiked concentrations of 5,20 and 200 ng/L were between 74.1％and 119％,with relative standard deviations(RSDs)of 0.2％to 9.9％.This method was applied to analyze 11 surface water samples collected from sites surrounding a pharmaceutical and chemical industrial park.A total of 44 kinds of steroid hormones were detected,with concentrations ranging from 0.11 to 88.6 ng/L,revealing the presence of hormone contamination in the environmental waters surrounding industrial areas.Compared with the traditional offline SPE methods,the proposed online SPE technique significantly reduced sample volume requirements and pretreatment time,while minimizing the loss of target compounds during the pretreatment process.Moreover,compared to reported online SPE techniques,this method achieved high-throughput analysis of multiple classes of steroid hormones,with lower detection limits and higher recoveries.Overall,this method provided rapid sample preparation,high sensitivity,and excellent stability,making it suitable for the direct analysis of trace steroid hormones in surface water.