This study aims to explore the effects of Buzhong Yiqi Decoction(BYD) on the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase(cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes(STING) signaling pathway in the mouse model of autoimmune thyroiditis(AIT) and the mechanism of BYD in alleviating the immune injury. Forty-eight NOD.H-2~(h4) mice were assigned into normal, model, low-, medium-, and high-dose BYD, and selenium yeast tablets groups(n=8). Mice of 8 weeks old were treated with 0.05% sodium iodide solution for 8 weeks for the modeling of AIT and then administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 8 weeks before sampling. High performance liquid chromatography was employed to measure the astragaloside Ⅳ content in BYD. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the pathological changes in the mouse thyroid tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the serum levels of thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPO-Ab), thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb), and interferon-γ(IFN-γ). Flow cytometry was employed to detect the distribution of T cell subsets in the spleen. The immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of cGAS, STING, TANK-binding kinase 1(TBK1), and interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3). Real-time PCR and Western blot were employed to determine the mRNA and protein levels, respectively, of markers related to the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in the thyroid tissue. The results showed that the content of astragaloside Ⅳ in BYD was(7.06±0.08) mg·mL~(-1). Compared with the normal group, the model group showed disrupted structures of thyroid follicular epithelial cells, massive infiltration of lymphocytes, and elevated levels of TgAb and TPO-Ab. Compared with the model group, the four treatment groups showed intact epithelial cells, reduced lymphocyte infiltration, and lowered levels of TgAb and TPO-Ab. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed increases in the proportions of Th1 and Th17 cells, a decrease in the proportion of Th2 cells, and an increase in the IFN-γ level. Compared with the model group, the four treatment groups presented decreased proportions of Th1 and Th17 cells and lowered levels of IFN-γ, and the medium-dose BYD group showed an increase in the proportion of Th2 cells. Compared with the normal group, the modeling up-regulated the mRNA levels of cGAS, STING, TBK1, and IRF3 and the protein levels of cGAS, p-STING, p-TBK1, and p-IRF3. Compared with the model group, the four treatment groups showed reduced levels of cGAS, STING, TBK1, and IRF3-positive products, down-regulated mRNA levels of cGAS, STING, and TBK1, and down-regulated protein levels of cGAS and p-STING. The high-dose BYD group showed down-regulations in the mRNA level of IRF3 and the protein levels of p-TBK1 and p-IRF3. The above results indicate that BYD can repair the imbalance of T cell subsets, alleviate immune injury, and reduce thyroid lymphocyte infiltration in AIT mice by inhibiting the cGAS-STING signaling pathway.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/metabolism* ; Mice ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Humans ; Female ; Nucleotidyltransferases/metabolism* ; Male ; Disease Models, Animal

Objective To explore and establish the bacterial endotoxin limit value and testing method of the active pharmaceutical ingredient （API） of pentetic acid, and conduct methodological investigation. Methods Three batches of pentetic acid were used to establish the method for the determination of bacterial endotoxin, and interference test was conducted simultaneously. The sample was dissolved with commercially available alkaline regulator to a concentration of 4 mg/ml or lower, and then diluted with water for bacterial endotoxin test. Limulus reagent with sensitivity of 0.125 EU/ml or higher was selected and redissolved with commercially available magnesium ion buffer solution. And the endotoxin test was performed by gel method. Results The endotoxin limit of API of pentetic acid was determined as: less than 0.125 EU/mg. Conclusion The method established could be used for the control of bacterial endotoxin in API of pentetic acid.

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of hawthorn leaves flavonoids(HLF)on angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)-induced myocardial hypertrophy.Methods The H9c2 cells were divided into control group(normal culture),model group(100 nmol·L-1 Ang Ⅱ for 24 h),experimental-L,-M,-H groups(received 100 nmol·L-1 Ang Ⅱ for 24 h,then treated with 25,50 and 100 mg·L-1 HLF for 24 h,respectively),anti-miR-NC and anti-miR-21a-5p groups(transfected with anti-miR-NC and anti-miR-21a-5p,then treated with 100 nmol·L-1 Ang Ⅱ for 24 h),miR-NC+high-dose and miR-21a-5p+high-dose group(transfected with miR-NC and miR-21a-5p mimics,then treated with 100 nmol·L-1 Ang Ⅱ for 24 h+100 mg·L-1 HLF for 24 h).The cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8.The cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry.The expression levels of miR-21a-5p was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.The expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2(COX2)and prostaglandin E2(PGE2)was measured by Western blot.Results The cell viabilities of control,model group experimental-H groups were 1.03±0.09,0.51±0.05 and 0.93±0.08;cell apoptosis rates were(7.69±0.61)％,(23.04±1.82)％and(9.43±0.71)％;the expression levels of miR-21a-5p were 1.00±0.09,2.43±0.18 and 1.09±0.08;the relative expression levels of COX2 protein were 0.42±0.03,0.85±0.08 and 0.40±0.04;the relative expression levels of PGE2 protein were 0.34±0.03,0.75±0.07 and 0.35±0.03;the differences of above indexes were statistically significant between the model group and the control and experimental-H groups(all P＜0.05).The cell viabilities of anti-miR-NC,anti-miR-21a-5p,miR-NC+high dose and miR-21a-5p+high dose groups were 0.52±0.04,1.12±0.08,0.94±0.09 and 0.57±0.04;the cell apoptosis rates were(23.04±1.82)％,(9.86±0.73)％,(9.47±0.64)％and(24.96±1.94)％;the expression levels of miR-21a-5p were 1.00±0.10,0.43±0.04,1.00±0.09 and 2.12±0.18;the relative expression levels of COX2 protein were 0.86±0.05,0.39±0.04,0.41±0.03 and 0.78±0.07;the relative expression levels of PGE2 protein were 0.74±0.06,0.38±0.07,0.36±0.02 and 0.71±0.05.Compared the anti-miR-21a-5p group with the anti-miR-NC group,compared the miR-21a-5p+high-dose group with the miR-NC+high-dose group,the differences of above indexes were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion HLF can inhibit Ang Ⅱ-induced myocardial hypertrophy by regulating the expression of miR-21a-5p and COX2/PGE2 pathway.

Objective Little is known about the association between whole-blood nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD+)levels and nabothian cysts.This study aimed to assess the association between NAD+levels and nabothian cysts in healthy Chinese women. Methods Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between NAD+levels and nabothian cysts. Results The mean age was 43.0±11.5 years,and the mean level of NAD+was 31.3±5.3 μmol/L.Nabothian cysts occurred in 184(27.7%)participants,with single and multiple cysts in 100(15.0%)and 84(12.6%)participants,respectively.The total nabothian cyst prevalence gradually decreased from 37.4%to 21.6%from Q1 to Q4 of NAD+and the prevalence of single and multiple nabothian cysts also decreased across the NAD+quartiles.As compared with the highest NAD+quartile(≥34.4 μmol/L),the adjusted odds ratios with 95%confidence interval of the NAD+Q1 was 1.89(1.14-3.14)for total nabothian cysts.The risk of total and single nabothian cysts linearly decreased with increasing NAD+levels,while the risk of multiple nabothian cysts decreased more rapidly at NAD+levels of 28.0 to 35.0 μmol/L. Conclusion:Low NAD+levels were associated with an increased risk of total and multiple nabothian cysts.

Systemic application of effective antifungal drugs is the basic treatment for pulmonary mycosis,meanwhile,drug spraying under bronchoscope is one of the most important treatment options for tracheal,bronchial and pulmonary mycosis.Compared with bronchoscopic drug injection,indwelling guided drug injection cannula through nasal suspension with or without anchoring has more advantages in the treatment of pulmonary mycosis,including the ability to connect to a syringe pump for continuous and slow injection of drugs,which can avoid repeatedly performing bronchoscopy.This article describes the standard operating procedure of indwelling nasal cannula with or without anchoring for the treatment of pulmonary mycosis.

Objective To campare biomechanical effects of different postural compression techniques on three-dimensional model of lumbar disc herniation(LDH)by finite element analysis.Methods Lumbar CT image of a 48-year-old female patient with LDH(heighted 163 cm,weighted 53 kg)was collected.Mimics 20.0,Geomagic Studio,Solidwords and other software were used to establish three-dimensional finite element model of LDH on L4,5 segments.Compression techniques under horizon-tal position,30° forward bending and 10° backward extension were simulated respectively.After applying the pressure,the ef-fects of compression techniques under different positions on stress,strain and displacement of various tissues of intervertebral disc and nerve root were observed.Results L4,5 segment finite element model was successfully established,and the model was validated.When compression manipulation was performed on the horizontal position,30° flexion and 10° extension,the annular stress were 0.732,5.929,1.286 MPa,the nucleus pulposus stress were 0.190,1.527,0.295 MPa,and the annular strain were 0.097,0.922 and 0.424,the strain sizes of nucleus pulposus were 0.153,1.222 and 0.282,respectively.The overall displace-ment distance of intervertebral disc on Y direction were-3.707,-18.990,-4.171 mm,and displacement distance of nerve root on Y direction were+7.836,+5.341,+3.859 mm,respectively.The relative displacement distances of nerve root and interverte-bral disc on Y direction were 11.543,24.331 and 8.030 mm,respectively.Conclusion Compression manipulation could make herniated intervertebral disc produce contraction and retraction trend,by increasing the distance between herniated interverte-bral disc and nerve root,to reduce symptoms of nerve compression,to achieve purpose of treatment for patients with LDH,in which the compression manipulation is more effective when the forward flexion is 30°.

Objective:To investigate whether hsa_circ_0054595(circRTN4)is involved in glomerulosclerosis of lupus nephri-tis(LN)by regulating monocyte-derived TNF-α.Methods:RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of TNF-α in monocytes of LN patients,and fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)was used to detect the expression of circRTN4.THP1 cells were transfected with circRTN4-siRNA and negative control NC-siRNA,respectively.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of TNF-α in THP1cell,and ELISA was used to detect the expression of TNF-α in THP1 culture superna-tant.THP1 cells were transfected with mircoRNA mimics,and the expression of TNF-α was detected by Western blot.The direct bind-ing of miR-486-3p to TNF-α and circRTN4 were verified by reversion experiment and dual luciferase reporter gene experiment.MRL/lpr mice were injected with circRTN4 recombinant adeno-associated virus via tail vein,and the expression of circRTN4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the mice was detected by RT-qPCR.ELISA was used to detect the expression of serum TNF-α.HE staining and PAS staining were used to observe the pathological changes,and immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of FN.Results:The expressions of TNF-α and circRTN4 were increased in monocytes of LN patients(P<0.05).The expression of TNF-α in THP1 was significantly increased in the LN group(P<0.01).Knockdown of circRTN4 inhibited the expression and secretion of TNF-α(P<0.05),and this effect was achieved by binding to miR-486-3p(P<0.01).In vivo,knockdown of circRTN4 in peripheral blood monocytes of MRL/lpr mice reduced the expression of TNF-α in serum(P<0.05),and improved glomerular cell proliferation and FN deposition.Conclusion:Highly expressed circRTN4 in monocytes promotes the expression of TNF-α by binding to miR-486-3p,and participates in the occurrence and development of glomerulosclerosis in LN.

Objective:To investigate the effect of pre-treatment plasma Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)DNA copy number on the clinical features and prognosis of patients with adult secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(sHLH).Methods:The clinical characteristics,survival rate,and prognostic factors of 171 patients with adult sHLH treated at Jiangsu Province Hospital from June 2017 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed in this study.Patients were divided into three groups,including the EBV DNA-negative group(＜5.0 × 102 copies/ml),lower EBV-DNA loads group(5.0 × 102-8.51 × 104 copies/ml),and higher EBV-DNA loads group(＞8.51 × 104 copies/ml),according to pre-treatment plasma EBV-DNA copy number.Cox regression model was established for screening prognostic factors.Adult sHLH survival prediction model was constructed and realized through the nomogram based on EBV-DNA load after adjusted the factors affecting survival of etiology and treatment strategy.Concordance index(C-index)and calibration curves were calculated to verify model predictive and discriminatory capacity.Results:Among 171 adult sHLH patients,84 patients were not infected with EBV(EBV DNA-negative group),and 87 with EBV(EBV DNA-positive group,48 lower EBV-DNA loads group and 39 higher EBV-DNA loads group).Consistent elevations in the levels of liver enzymes(ALT and AST),LDH,TG,β2-microglobulin and ferritin across the increasing of EBV-DNA load(all P＜0.05),while the levels of fibrinogen decrease(P＜0.001).The median follow-up time was 52 days(range 20-230 days),and 123 patients died.The overall survival(OS)rate of patients in EBV DNA-positive group was lower than that in EBV DNA-negative group(median OS:40 days vs 118 days,P＜0.001).Higher EBV-DNA loads had worse OS(median OS:24 days vs 45 days vs 118 days,P＜0.0001 for trend)compared to lower EBV-DNA loads and EBV DNA-negative group.Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that higher EBV-DNA loads(P=0.005),fibrinogen≤ 1.5 g/L(P=0.012),ferritin(P=0.041),associated lymphoma(P=0.002),and anti-tumor based strategy(P=0.001)were independent prognostic factors for OS.The C-indexes of 30 day,90 days,365 days survival rate were all greater than 0.8 of the nomogram model and calibration curves provided credibility to their predictive capability.Subgroup analysis showed that patients with higher EBV-DNA loads had a significantly worse prognosis in adult sHLH who were women,ferritin＞5 000 μg/L,β2-microglobulin＞7.4 mmol/L and regardless of age,etiologies,HScore points.Conclusion:The EBV-DNA load is a strong and independent predictor for survival in patients with sHLH.The prognostic nomogram based on EBV-DNA loads was dependable and provides a visual tool for evaluating the survival of adult sHLH.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Guhuaisi Kangfu Pills on rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head(SONFH).Methods Sixty rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,Xianling Gubao Capsules group and Guhuaisi Kangfu Pills low-,medium-and high-dose groups,10 rats in each group.Except for the blank group,the SONFH model was established by lipopolysaccharide combined with Glucocorticoid induction method in all other groups of rats.At the end of the intervention,for the femoral head,blood vessel radiography was performed to observe the microvascular changes in the bone marrow,and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and calculation of the empty bone trap rate,Micro-CT scanning analysis,and compression experiments were carried out,and the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was used to detect the gene expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K),protein kinase B(Akt)1,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1(CD31)in whole blood.Results Compared with the blank group,the blood supply in the femoral head medullary cavity of the model group was poor,the empty bone lacuna rate was increased(P＜0.05),the bone mineral density and bone volume fraction were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),the maximum load and elastic modulus of the femoral head were decreased(P＜0.05),and the mRNA expression levels of Akt1,PI3K,VEGF and CD31 in whole blood were decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the blood supply in the femoral head medullary cavity was relatively good,the empty bone lacuna rate was decreased(P＜0.05),the bone mineral density,bone volume fraction,trabecular number and trabecular thickness were significantly increased(P＜0.05),the trabecular separation was significantly decreased(P＜0.05),the maximum load and elastic modulus of the femoral head were increased(P＜0.05),and the mRNA expression levels of Akt1,PI3K,VEGF and CD31 in the whole blood were increased(P＜0.05)in the high-dose group of Guhuaisi Kangfu Pills and Xianling Gubao Capsules group.There was no significant difference in the above indexes between the high-dose group of Guhuaisi Kangfu Pills and the Xianling Gubao Capsules group(P＞0.05).Conclusion Guhuaisi Kangfu Pills improves SONFH in rats,and its mechanism is related to the promotion of VEGF/PI3K/Akt pathway gene expression,thereby promoting angiogenesis.

With the optimization of surgical technologies and postoperative management regimens, the number of lung transplantation has been significantly increased, which has become an important treatment for patients with end-stage lung disease. However, due to the impact of comprehensive factors, such as bronchial ischemia and immunosuppression, the incidence of airway stenosis after lung transplantation is relatively high, which severely affects postoperative survival and quality of life of lung transplant recipients. In recent years, with the improvement of perioperative management, organ preservation and surgical technologies, the incidence of airway stenosis after lung transplantation has been declined, but it remains at a high level. Early diagnosis and timely intervention play a significant role in enhancing clinical prognosis of patients with airway stenosis. In this article, the general conditions, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of airway stenosis after lung transplantation were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for comprehensive management of airway stenosis after lung transplantation and improving clinical prognosis of lung transplant recipients.