Objective: To explore and validate the potential targets of Paeoniae Radix Alba (P. Radix, Bai Shao) in protecting against chemical liver injury through network pharmacology, molecular docking technology, and in vitro cell experiments. Methods: Network pharmacology was used to identify the common potential targets of P. Radix and chemical liver injury. Molecular docking was used to fit the components, which were subsequently verified in vitro. A cell model of hepatic fibrosis was established by activating hepatic stellate cell (HSC)-LX2 cells with 10 ng/mL transforming growth factor-β1. The cells were exposed to different concentrations of total glucosides of paeony (TGP), the active substance of P. Radix, and then evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and western blot. Results: Analysis through network pharmacology revealed 13 key compounds of P. Radix, and the potential targets for preventing chemical liver injury were IL-6, AKT serine/threonine kinase 1, jun proto-oncogene, heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG), PTGS2, and CASP3. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicated the involvement of response to drugs, membrane rafts, and peptide binding. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that the main pathways involved lipid and atherosclerosis and chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation. Paeoniflorin and albiflorin exhibited strong affinity for HSP90AA1, PTGS2, PPARG, and CASP3. Different concentrations of TGP can inhibit the expression of COL-Ⅰ, COL-Ⅲ, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, HSP-90α, and PTGS2 while increasing the expression of PPAR-γ and CASP3 in activated HSC-LX2 cells. Conclusion P. Radix primarily can regulate targets such as HSP90AA1, PTGS2, PPARG, CASP3. TGP, the main active compound of P. Radix, protects against chemical liver injury by reducing the inflammatory response, activating apoptotic proteins, and promoting the apoptosis of activated HSCs.

BACKGROUND:Nanocomposite hydrogel has great research prospects and application potential in the treatment of osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress of nanocomposite hydrogel in osteoarthritis and cartilage repair. METHODS:Databases such as CNKI and PubMed were searched.The English key words were"nanocomposite hydrogel,nanogel,osteoarthritis,cartage,physical encapsulation,electrostatic interaction,covalent crosslinking",and the Chinese key words were"nanocomposite hydrogel,nanogel,osteoarthritis,cartage,physical encapsulation,physical encapsulation,electrostatic effect,covalent cross-linking".After an initial screening of all articles based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,71 articles with high correlation were retained for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In cell or animal experiments,nanocomposite hydrogel has the effect of improving osteoarthritis.Nanocomposite hydrogel can promote cartilage repair,improve the internal environment of osteoarthritis,and achieve the therapeutic purpose of osteoarthritis by improving the mechanical environment between joints,carrying targeted drugs,and promoting the chondrogenesis of seed cells.At present,the research of nanocomposite hydrogel in osteoarthritis disease still has a huge space to play.It is expected to open up a new way for the clinical treatment of osteoarthritis by continuing to deepen the research of material preparation and actively carrying out cell and animal experiments.

Objective To investigate the difference of electrocardiographic(ECG)features between total left main artery(LM)occlusion and subtotal occlusion,and analyze risk factors of in-hospital mortality.Methods A total of 94 patients with left main complete occlusion and 99 patients with subtotal occlusion were included.ECG characteristics,coronary angiography and other clinical data were compared,and factors of hospital death were analyzed.The receiver operating characteristics(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive value of ECG characteristics in hospital death risk in patients with LM occlusion.The relationship between ECG characteristics,shock and collateral circulation were analyzed in patients with LM occlusion.Results Compared with the subtotal occlusion group,patients with LM occlusion presented with more ST-segment elevation(STE)in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5,more STE in avR and avL,more left anterior fascicular block+right bundle branch block,prolonged QRS duration,less STE in avR and less STE in avR+V1.The in-hospital mortality was 46.8%(44/94)in LM occlusion and 14.1%(14/99)in LM subtotal occlusion.STE in avR+avL predicted total LM occlusion with a specificity of 0.97,and left anterior branch+right bundle branch block predicted total LM occlusion with a specificity of 1.00.In patients with total LM occlusion,STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5,prolongation of QRS duration,shock,no collateral circulation,STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5 combined with left anterior fascicular block+right bundle branch block,and STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5 combined with shock predicted in-hospital mortality,with the area under the curve of 0.716,0.619,0.766,0.688,0.572,0.785,respectively.The diagnostic specificity of STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5 combined with shock was 0.82,and the sensitivity was 0.75.STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5 combined with left anterior fascicular block+right bundle branch block predicted in-hospital death in LM occlusion with a specificity of 0.94.The proportion of shock was higher in patients with STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5,left anterior fascicular block+right bundle branch block and collateral flow absence(P＜0.05).In patients with total occlusion,no collateral flow was observed in patients with STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5.In patients with STE in avR(including avR+V1),82.4%of patients presented with right coronary collateral circulation supplying the left anterior descending coronary artery and left circumflex artery territory.In patients with STE in avR+avL,69.2%of patients presented with right coronary collateral circulation supplying left anterior descending coronary artery territory.Conclusion Total LM occlusion presents with different ECG features compared with subtotal occlusion.In LM total occlusion,the ECG features predict in-hospital mortality and are associated with different collateral circulation.

【Objective】 To explore the factors affecting Babinski sign in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 【Methods】 We enrolled 262 patients diagnosed with ALS with adequate data in Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from 2015 to 2020. The relationship between the clinical characteristics of patients with positive and negative Babinski sign was analyzed for both sides, respectively. Furthermore, for patients with left or right lower limb weakness complaint, the relationship between Babinski sign and the lower limb involvement characteristics was analyzed. 【Results】 Positive Babinski sign was positively correlated with higher diagnostic category (left correlation coefficient 0.297, P<0.001; right correlation coefficient 0.292, P<0.001). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score was lower in patients with positive Babinski sign (left P=0.001, right P=0.001); the proportion of complaints of ipsilateral lower limb weakness was higher (left P=0.008, right P=0.038); the positive rate of ipsilateral upper limb Hoffmann sign was higher (left P=0.004, right P=0.002). In patients with complaints of lower limb weakness, positive Babinski sign was positively correlated with better foot dorsiflexor muscle strength (left correlation coefficient 0.207, P=0.021; right correlation coefficient 0.264, P=0.003), and the proportion of ipsilateral tibialis anterior atrophy was lower in positive Babinski sign group (left P<0.001, right P=0.008); the ratio of ipsilateral common peroneal nerve compound muscle action potential (CMAP)/tibial nerve CMAP was different in positive Babinski sign and negative groups (left P=0.008, right P=0.015), which were positively correlated (left correlation coefficient 0.246, P=0.007; right correlation coefficient 0.223, P=0.015). 【Conclusion】 Patients with positive Babinski sign usually have a higher diagnostic category and more extensive clinical involvement. In ALS patients with complaints of lower limb weakness, Babinski sign is more likely to be elicited when the degree of weakness and atrophy of the anterior calf muscles is relatively low.

【Objective】 To explore the characteristics of white matter degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with different onset and spreading patterns by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). 【Methods】 We enrolled 86 ALS patients and 44 healthy controls. The patients were divided into bulbar- and spinal-onset subgroups according to their onset site, as well as horizon, vertical, interpose/skip, and caudal-rostral subgroups based on the spreading direction of the involved regions. The white matter fiber tracts corresponding to the motor network were set as the region of interest. We used tract-based spatial statistics to evaluate differences between the above groups and the normal controls, with family-wise error (FWE) correction and P<0.05 as statistical significance. 【Results】 The white matter degeneration of ALS patients with bulbar onset was mainly limited to the corona radiation part of the corticospinal tract, while those with spinal onset showed extensive degeneration of corticospinal tract and corpus callosum Ⅲ area (FWE correction, P<0.05). In patients with horizontal and vertical dissemination, decreased integrity of the entire corticospinal tract was found, with patients in the latter group showed extra degeneration in the Ⅲ part of the corpus callosum. Restricted degeneration of the corticospinal tract within bilateral corona radiata was detected in patients with caudal-rostral and interposed/skip spreading pattens (FWE correction, P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Different onset and disease spread patterns of ALS patients correspond to divergent brain degeneration patterns. The diagnosis, treatment, and management of ALS should fully consider the heterogeneity of the disease.

【Objective】 To investigate cortical thickness changes in the face-head region of the primary motor cortex (PMC) and its effect on survival in amyotrophy lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. 【Methods】 A retrospective analysis was performed on 105 ALS patients who underwent head MRI scan at the same time. The A4hf (face-head) region of PMC was used as the region of interest (ROI). According to clinical symptoms, patients were divided into two groups: bulbar involvement and non-bulbar involvement. The differences of clinical features and cortical thickness in ROI were analyzed. According to the symptoms of bulbar palsy, physical examination of nervous system and EMG of tongue muscle, the patients with bulbar palsy were divided into lower motor neuron (LMN), upper motor neuron (UMN) and LMN+UMN groups. The differences of bulbar subgroup score and ROI of cortical thickness were analyzed. Age at onset, body mass index, delayed time of diagnosis, bulbar subgroup score, and ROI cortical thickness were included in survival analysis. 【Results】 ① The ROI cortical thickness was significantly lower in bulbar involvement group than non-bulbar involvement group (-0.198±0.87 vs. 0.235±0.95, P=0.017). ② There were no significant differences in the bulbar subgroup scores or cortical thickness of ROI between LMN, UMN and LMN+UMN groups (P>0.05). ③ Survival analysis showed age of onset (HR=3.296, 95% CI:1.63-6.664, P=0.001), delayed time of diagnosis (HR=0.361, 95% CI:0.184-0.705, P=0.003), bulbar subgroup score (HR 0.389, 95% CI:0.174-0.868, P=0.021), and ZRE_ROI cortical thickness (HR=2.309, 95% CI:1.046-5.096, P=0.038) were independent influencing factors of ALS survival. 【Conclusion】 Cortical thickness in A4hf (face-head) region can more objectively reflect UMN signs of region bulbar. In addition to age of onset and delayed time of diagnosis, bulbar subgroup score and cortical thickness of face-head region are also independent influencing factors, and cortical thinning in face-head region is a protective factor for survival of ALS patients.

【Objective】 To investigate changes in thalamus structure and function and their associations with cognitive impairment in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 【Methods】 3D high-resolution structural imaging and resting-state fMRI were applied in 78 ALS patients and 49 healthy volunteers. The shape of the thalamus was assessed using a vortex analysis and functional connectivity between the thalamus subregion and cortex was evaluated by a seed-based correlation analysis. Partial correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between focal thalamus alterations and clinical assessments. 【Results】 Compared with the control group, vertex analysis showed significant atrophy in the prefrontal and temporal subregions of bilateral thalamus in the ALS group. Patients exhibited increased functional connectivity of motor-sensory ROI with the right motor cortex, of temporal ROI with the bilateral lateral occipital cortex, precuneus and right temporal subregion. In contrast, decreased function connectivity was found mainly between temporal ROI and paracingulate gyrus, left dorsomedial prefrontal lobe and left caudate. Partial correlation analysis showed that the functional connectivity of the precuneus, paracingulate cortex, left caudate nucleus and left prefrontal lobe was correlated with multiple cognitive performances. 【Conclusion】 Selective damage of thalamic structure and function in ALS plays an important role in cognitive and behavioral disorders.

【Objective】 The involvement of upper motor neuron (UMN) degeneration is crucial to the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study aimed to determine objective and sensitive UMN degeneration markers for an accurate and early diagnosis. 【Methods】 A total of 108 ALS patients and 90 age- and gender-matched control subjects were recruited from ALS Clinic of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University. The motor homunculus cortex thickness data in MRI were collected from all the participants. The clinical characteristics and UMN clinical examination of bulbar, cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral regions were collected from the ALS patients. 【Results】 Cortical thickness was significantly thinner in the ALS group than in the control group in bilateral head-face-bulbar and upper-limb areas (P<0.05). The cortical thickness of the global UMN positive group was significantly thinner than that of control groups in bilateral head-face-bulbar and upper-limb areas (P<0.05). The cortical thickness of the UMN positive group in the corresponding region was significantly thinner than that of control groups in bilateral head-face-bulbar and upper-limb areas (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 The thinning of the motor homunculus cortex can be used as an objective marker of UMN involvement in ALS patients in clinical practice.

Danggui Buxuetang， derived from Clarifying Doubts about Damage from Internal and External Causes （Volume 2）： Treatise on Heat Injury to Stomach Qi（《内外伤辨惑论卷中·暑伤胃气论》） by LI Dongyuan in the Jin and Yuan dynasties， is a classic and famous formula for tonifying qi and generating blood that has been inherited and promoted by successive generations of medical practitioners and has been included in the "Catalogue of Ancient Classical Prescriptions （First Batch）" published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2018. The paper analyzed the historical origin， composition， dosage， processing， preparation， decocting， and taking methods， efficacy， and application of the classic formula Danggui Buxuetang by consulting ancient and modern literature and combining the key information examination principles of ancient classic prescriptions. A total of 604 pieces of information on relevant ancient literature were collected， including 186 ancient Chinese medical books， of which 40 （five in the Jin and Yuan dynasties， 19 in the Ming Dynasty， and 16 in the Qing Dynasty） had detailed records of composition， processing， and dosage. Danggui Buxuetang is mainly comprised of Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix. According to the ancient and modern dose conversion， there are 37.3-38.1 g of Astragali Radix and 7.5-7.6 g of Angelicae Sinensis Radix in the formula. Astragali Radix is preferably fried with honey and Angelicae Sinensis Radix with wine. Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix are decocted with 600 mL of water to 300 mL， and taken warm before meals. The main effect of this formula are described in ancient books as blood deficiency and fever， with symptoms of muscle fever， dryness and heat， irritability and thirst， red eyes and face， sleeplessness in daytime and night， and surging and feeble pulse which is weak under hard pressing， and it is a famous formula for replenishing qi and generating blood. Modern research shows that Danggui Buxuetang is commonly used in the treatment of various kinds of anemia， diabetic nephropathy， tumors， and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The above research results can provide a reference for the subsequent development and research on the classic formula Danggui Buxuetang.

Objective:To compare the effects of staged percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)after emergency PCI and emergency culprit-only PCI on clinical outcomes of elderly patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)and multivessel disease.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 389 elderly patients with STEMI and multivessel lesions, aged ≥70 years and within 12 h of onset, admitted to the Clinical College of Thoracic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University, between January 2014 and September 2019.According to different revascularization strategies, enrolled patients were divided into the culprit-only PCI group(79.18%, 308)and the staged PCI group(20.82%, 81). Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to compare the incidences of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events(MACCE), all-cause death, cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction, stroke and ischemia-driven revascularization between the two groups and to evaluate the effects of different revascularization strategies on MACCE and all-cause death.Then subgroup analysis was performed.Results:During a 56-month follow-up, 131 patients developed MACCE and 96 patients died.Compared with the culprit-only PCI group, the staged PCI group had a lower risk of MACCE( HR: 0.404, 95% CI: 0.227-0.716, P=0.002), all-cause death( HR: 0.354, 95% CI: 0.171-0.730, P=0.005), cardiac death( HR: 0.363, 95% CI: 0.157-0.838, P=0.018), and recurrent myocardial infarction( HR: 0.229, 95% CI: 0.055-0.953, P=0.043). There was no significant difference in the incidence of stroke or ischemia-driven revascularization between the two groups( P>0.05). The reduced risk with staged PCI for MACCE and for all-cause mortality persisted in all subgroups.Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression revealed that, after adjusting for confounding factors, staged PCI was an independent protective factor for MACCE( HR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.239-0.815, P=0.009)and for all-cause death( HR: 0.390, 95% CI: 0.90, P=0.020). Conclusion:Compared with culprit-only PCI, staged PCI can significantly improve the long-term prognosis of elderly patients ≥70 years with STEMI and multivessel disease within 12 h of onset.