ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Jiangtang No. 3 prescription on inflammatory pathways and insulin resistance-related indicators in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM）， and to elucidate its molecular mechanism in combating diabetes. MethodsA T2DM rat model was established using a high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin （STZ）. Successfully modeled rats were randomly assigned to the model group， metformin group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose Jiangtang No. 3 prescription groups， and a normal group was also set. Daily gavage was administered for 8 weeks as follows： metformin at 0.1 g·kg^-1·d^-1， Jiangtang No. 3 prescription granules at 1.62， 3.24， 6.48 g·kg^-1·d^-1 for the respective dose groups， and sterile water for the normal and model groups. Rat body weight， fasting blood glucose （FBG）， oral glucose tolerance test （OGTT）， and insulin tolerance test （ITT） were measured. After drug intervention， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to determine serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL）， non-esterified fatty acids （NEFA）， interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-18， and insulin （INS）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe morphological changes in adipose tissue. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， Caspase-1， IL-1β， IL-18， and gasdermin D （GSDMD） in adipose tissue. Western blot was used to measure the corresponding protein expression levels. ResultsCompared with the model group， Jiangtang No. 3 prescription groups exhibited significantly increased body weight （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significantly reduced FBG （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significant reductions in TC， TG， NEFA， and LDL （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and a significant increase in HDL （P<0.01）. Serum levels of inflammatory mediators IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） index was significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and adipose tissue pathology was improved. The protein expression levels of TLR4， NF-κB， NLRP3， Caspase-1， IL-1β， IL-18， and GSDMD were markedly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the mRNA expression levels of these indicators were also significantly downregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Some effects were superior to those of the positive control drug metformin， and certain indicators exhibited dose-dependent improvements. ConclusionT2DM rats display significant inflammatory responses， disordered glucose and lipid metabolism， and insulin resistance. Jiangtang No. 3 prescription effectively suppresses inflammatory mediators， improves glucose and lipid metabolism and insulin resistance， and ameliorates pathological changes in adipose tissue. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway in visceral adipose tissue， thereby influencing downstream inflammatory mediators.

ObjectiveBased on the established characteristic profiles， quantitative analysis of multiple components， and chemometric analysis of Taraxacum mongolicum， the quality of different T. mongolicum germplasms was evaluated at the chemical level， thereby providing a reference for the screening of high-quality germplasms and the rational utilization of wild resources. MethodsAn ultra-performance liquid chromatography （UPLC） was employed to establish characteristic profiles. Principal component analysis （PCA） and partial least squares-discriminant analysis （PLS-DA） were then adopted to screen and comprehensively rank marker compounds. ResultsThe UPLC fingerprint of T. mongolicum germplasm identified 13 chromatographic peaks corresponding to gallic acid， coumaric acid， neochlorogenic acid， monocaffeoyltartaric acid， chlorogenic acid， cryptochlorogenic acid， caffeic acid， p-coumaric acid， cichoric acid， luteoloside， isochlorogenic acid B， isochlorogenic acid A， and isochlorogenic acid C. Combined with chemometric analysis such as PCA and PLS-DA， eight core markers （cichoric acid， luteoloside， cryptochlorogenic acid， isochlorogenic acid B， chlorogenic acid， caffeic acid， isochlorogenic acid C， and isochlorogenic acid A） were screened for distinguishing wild and cultivated germplasms. Additionally， eight core markers （cichoric acid， caffeic acid， luteoloside， chlorogenic acid， cryptochlorogenic acid， isochlorogenic acid A， monocaffeoyltartaric acid， and neochlorogenic acid） were selected for the evaluation and screening of different T. mongolicum germplasms. ConclusionThis study establishes a UPLC analysis method capable of simultaneously determining 13 characteristic components in T. mongolicum， such as cichoric acid and chlorogenic acid， as well as their precursor compound contents in the biosynthetic pathway. Based on the above methods， three T. mongolicum germplasms （PGY-004， PGY-009， and PGY-010） with promising medicinal potential are selected for subsequent research on variety breeding. The present study provides a reference for quality control of Taraxacum mongolicum， germplasm screening， and the rational development and utilization of wild resources.

Objectives:To explore the efficacy of robotic-assisted retroperitoneal benign tumor resection and to analyze its learning curve.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The data of patients who underwent robotic-assisted retroperitoneal benign tumor resection from August 2015 to February 2023 at the Department of Retroperitoneal Tumor Surgery was analyzed retrospectively. There were 24 males and 45 females, with an age of (46.3±10.6) years (range: 19 to 76 years). The perioperative data, postoperative pathological results, and follow-up data were recorded. The cumulative sum (CUSUM) method was used to analyze the robotic system setup time and operative time to plot the learning curve. A linear regression model was applied to determine the best-fit curve, selecting the model with the highest R2 value. Based on the vertex of the learning curve for surgical time, the patients were divided into a learning group and a mastery group. The general data and perioperative conditions of the two groups were compared. Independent sample t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and χ2 tests were used for comparisons. Results:All 69 patients successfully completed the surgery without intraoperative complications. The diameter of tumors was (49.7±18.6) mm (range: 16 to 131 mm). The setup time for the robotic surgical system was (35.3±9.8) minutes (range: 20 to 61 minutes); the surgical time was (169.2±36.5) minutes (range: 70 to 305 minutes); intraoperative blood loss ( M(IQR)) was 10.0 (15.0) ml (range: 2.0 to 200.0 ml). The tumors in 32 patients (46.4%) were adherent to major blood vessels. All patients were discharged without complications. The follow-up period lasted until February 2024, and no patients required reoperation, readmission, or died due to retroperitoneal benign tumors. There were no severe long-term complications, and no radiological evidence of tumor recurrence was found. The best-fit equation for the learning curve based on surgical time was CUSUM=0.010X3-1.648X2-68.573X-61.091, and the best-fit equation for the learning curve based on robotic system setup time was CUSUM=0.0018X3-0.285X2+10.460X+57.541 (where X represents the number of surgeries). The R2 values of 2 learning curve models were 0.953 and 0.957, respectively, and the fit model tests had P<0.05. The inflection point of the learning curve based on surgical time was the 28th case, which is considered the minimum number of surgeries required to achieve proficiency in robotic-assisted retroperitoneal benign tumor resection. Based on this, the patients were divided into a learning group (cases 1 to 28) and a mastery group (cases 29 to 69). The surgical time for the learning group was significantly longer than that of the mastery group ((194.7±30.0) minutes vs. (151.9±31.4) minutes, t=4.126, P<0.01). No statistically significant differences were found for other parameters (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Robotic-assisted retroperitoneal benign tumor resection is feasible. The minimum number of surgeries required to achieve proficiency in overcoming the learning curve is about 28 cases.

Objectives:To explore the efficacy of robotic-assisted retroperitoneal benign tumor resection and to analyze its learning curve.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The data of patients who underwent robotic-assisted retroperitoneal benign tumor resection from August 2015 to February 2023 at the Department of Retroperitoneal Tumor Surgery was analyzed retrospectively. There were 24 males and 45 females, with an age of (46.3±10.6) years (range: 19 to 76 years). The perioperative data, postoperative pathological results, and follow-up data were recorded. The cumulative sum (CUSUM) method was used to analyze the robotic system setup time and operative time to plot the learning curve. A linear regression model was applied to determine the best-fit curve, selecting the model with the highest R2 value. Based on the vertex of the learning curve for surgical time, the patients were divided into a learning group and a mastery group. The general data and perioperative conditions of the two groups were compared. Independent sample t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and χ2 tests were used for comparisons. Results:All 69 patients successfully completed the surgery without intraoperative complications. The diameter of tumors was (49.7±18.6) mm (range: 16 to 131 mm). The setup time for the robotic surgical system was (35.3±9.8) minutes (range: 20 to 61 minutes); the surgical time was (169.2±36.5) minutes (range: 70 to 305 minutes); intraoperative blood loss ( M(IQR)) was 10.0 (15.0) ml (range: 2.0 to 200.0 ml). The tumors in 32 patients (46.4%) were adherent to major blood vessels. All patients were discharged without complications. The follow-up period lasted until February 2024, and no patients required reoperation, readmission, or died due to retroperitoneal benign tumors. There were no severe long-term complications, and no radiological evidence of tumor recurrence was found. The best-fit equation for the learning curve based on surgical time was CUSUM=0.010X3-1.648X2-68.573X-61.091, and the best-fit equation for the learning curve based on robotic system setup time was CUSUM=0.0018X3-0.285X2+10.460X+57.541 (where X represents the number of surgeries). The R2 values of 2 learning curve models were 0.953 and 0.957, respectively, and the fit model tests had P<0.05. The inflection point of the learning curve based on surgical time was the 28th case, which is considered the minimum number of surgeries required to achieve proficiency in robotic-assisted retroperitoneal benign tumor resection. Based on this, the patients were divided into a learning group (cases 1 to 28) and a mastery group (cases 29 to 69). The surgical time for the learning group was significantly longer than that of the mastery group ((194.7±30.0) minutes vs. (151.9±31.4) minutes, t=4.126, P<0.01). No statistically significant differences were found for other parameters (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Robotic-assisted retroperitoneal benign tumor resection is feasible. The minimum number of surgeries required to achieve proficiency in overcoming the learning curve is about 28 cases.

Objective:To investigate the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of primary pancreatic signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 11 patients with pathologically confirmed SRCC treated at the Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University and the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between 2002 and 2024. The cohort included 10 male and 1 female patients, aged (65.6±9.2) years. Data on gender, age, clinical manifestations, biochemical markers, tumor biomarkers, surgical approaches, postoperative pathology, adjuvant the-rapy, and treatment outcomes were recorded. Postoperative survival was assessed via outpatient records and telephone follow-ups.Results:Among the 11 patients, all 10 male patients had a long-term smoking his-tory. Initial symptoms included epigastric pain (5 cases), jaundice (2 cases), postprandial upper abdominal discomfort (3 cases), and persistent hyperglycemia (1 case). Elevated total bilirubin with increased alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase was observed in 4 cases, while 7 cases had normal liver function. Tumor biomarker profiles showed elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) alone in 2 cases, elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA 19-9) alone in 6 cases, concurrent elevation of CEA and CA19-9 in 2 cases, and normal tumor markers in 1 case. Tumor locations included the pancreatic head (8 cases) and pancreatic body/tail (3 cases). All patients underwent radical resection without major perioperative complications. Immunohistochemistry revealed perineural invasion (+ ) in 10 cases and Ki-67 ≥ 50% in 9 cases. Six patients received postoperative adjuvant therapy. The median disease-free survival was 14 months, and the median overall survival was 18 months.Conclusion:SRCC lacks specific clinical manifestations and carries a poor prognosis. Radical surgical resection remains the cornerstone of treatment, while adjuvant therapy may improve survival outcomes.

Objective To analyze the differences in the epidemiological characteristics,susceptible popula-tions,and laboratory index of patients with common acute upper respiratory tract infections(novel coronavir-us infection,influenza A and influenza B)between plateau and plain areas.Methods Clinical data of 408 008 patients with symptoms of fever or upper respiratory tract infection in the fever clinic of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University and General Hospital of Xizang Military Command from January 2023 to Au-gust 2024 were collected.The epidemic characteristics,susceptible populations,and peripheral blood test data were compared and analyzed.Results The total positive rate of novel coronavirus infection,influenza A virus and influenza B virus infection in plain group(17.86％)was higher than that in plateau group(14.49％),and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The positive rates(17.98％and 17.76％)of male and female upper respiratory tract infection pathogens(novel coronavirus,influenza A virus and influenza B virus)in plain group were higher than those in plateau group(13.94％and 16.00％),and the differences were statis-tically significant(P＜0.05).The total positive rates of three kinds of upper respiratory tract infection patho-gens were 16.21％,18.27％and 14.63％in the plain group,and 14.62％,14.06％and 21.26％in the plateau group,respectively.According to the results of pathogen analysis of susceptible populations,whether it was plateau or plain,the positive rate of influenza A virus was higher in the minor group,the positive rate of influ-enza B virus was highest in the adult group,and the positive rate of novel coronavirus was highest in the elder-ly group.In terms of epidemic season,plateau and plain areas were different,and the epidemic occurred earlier in the plain area.In terms of peripheral blood test indicators,there were statistically significant differences in lymphocyte count,monocyte count,neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and other indicators between plateau group and plain group(P＜0.05),while there were no statistically significant differences in white blood cell count between plateau group and plain group(P＞0.05).Conclusion The epidemiological characteristics of acute upper respiratory tract infection in plateau area are obviously different from those in plain area,which may be related to the natural environment and human geography environment.

Objective:To investigate the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of primary pancreatic signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 11 patients with pathologically confirmed SRCC treated at the Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University and the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between 2002 and 2024. The cohort included 10 male and 1 female patients, aged (65.6±9.2) years. Data on gender, age, clinical manifestations, biochemical markers, tumor biomarkers, surgical approaches, postoperative pathology, adjuvant the-rapy, and treatment outcomes were recorded. Postoperative survival was assessed via outpatient records and telephone follow-ups.Results:Among the 11 patients, all 10 male patients had a long-term smoking his-tory. Initial symptoms included epigastric pain (5 cases), jaundice (2 cases), postprandial upper abdominal discomfort (3 cases), and persistent hyperglycemia (1 case). Elevated total bilirubin with increased alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase was observed in 4 cases, while 7 cases had normal liver function. Tumor biomarker profiles showed elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) alone in 2 cases, elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA 19-9) alone in 6 cases, concurrent elevation of CEA and CA19-9 in 2 cases, and normal tumor markers in 1 case. Tumor locations included the pancreatic head (8 cases) and pancreatic body/tail (3 cases). All patients underwent radical resection without major perioperative complications. Immunohistochemistry revealed perineural invasion (+ ) in 10 cases and Ki-67 ≥ 50% in 9 cases. Six patients received postoperative adjuvant therapy. The median disease-free survival was 14 months, and the median overall survival was 18 months.Conclusion:SRCC lacks specific clinical manifestations and carries a poor prognosis. Radical surgical resection remains the cornerstone of treatment, while adjuvant therapy may improve survival outcomes.

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy and learning curve of robotic-assisted Warshaw procedure using the da Vinci system.Methods:Clinical data of 91 consecutive patients with pancreatic body and tail lesions undergoing robotic-assisted Warshaw procedure at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital from October 2021 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, including 21 males and 70 females, aged (50.2±14.3) years. Patient characteristics, operative time, and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. The learning curve was constructed using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis, with case number on the x-axis and CUSUM values on the y-axis. Linear fitting was performed, and the model with the highest determination coefficient was selected as the optimal fitting model. The learning process was divided into two phases based on the inflection point of the CUSUM learning curve: the learning phase and the proficiency phase. Perioperative outcomes were compared between these two phases.Results:All 91 procedures were successfully completed using the da Vinci robotic system with R0 resection margins. There were no perioperative mortalities or reoperations due to postoperative splenic infarction. The operative time was (227.84±76.68) min. The optimal fitting equation for the CUSUM learning curve was: CUSUM=0.005 640X 3-1.501X 2+ 92.59X-183.1. The CUSUM learning curve showed an inflection point at case 39, dividing the learning process into the learning phase (cases 1-39) and proficiency phase (cases 40-91). Compared to the learning phase, the proficiency phase demonstrated significantly shorter operative time [(203.0±75.6) min vs. (260.9±65.5) min], less intraoperative blood loss [50.0 (20.0, 50.0) ml vs. 100.0 (50.0, 100.0) ml], and reduced postoperative drainage duration [(8.7±2.4) d vs. (10.8±3.2) d] (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The robotic-assisted Warshaw procedure feasible for patients with pancreatic body and tail lesions. Surgeons require approximately 39 cases to complete the learning curve and achieve proficiency in this procedure.

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy and learning curve of robotic-assisted Warshaw procedure using the da Vinci system.Methods:Clinical data of 91 consecutive patients with pancreatic body and tail lesions undergoing robotic-assisted Warshaw procedure at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital from October 2021 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, including 21 males and 70 females, aged (50.2±14.3) years. Patient characteristics, operative time, and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. The learning curve was constructed using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis, with case number on the x-axis and CUSUM values on the y-axis. Linear fitting was performed, and the model with the highest determination coefficient was selected as the optimal fitting model. The learning process was divided into two phases based on the inflection point of the CUSUM learning curve: the learning phase and the proficiency phase. Perioperative outcomes were compared between these two phases.Results:All 91 procedures were successfully completed using the da Vinci robotic system with R0 resection margins. There were no perioperative mortalities or reoperations due to postoperative splenic infarction. The operative time was (227.84±76.68) min. The optimal fitting equation for the CUSUM learning curve was: CUSUM=0.005 640X 3-1.501X 2+ 92.59X-183.1. The CUSUM learning curve showed an inflection point at case 39, dividing the learning process into the learning phase (cases 1-39) and proficiency phase (cases 40-91). Compared to the learning phase, the proficiency phase demonstrated significantly shorter operative time [(203.0±75.6) min vs. (260.9±65.5) min], less intraoperative blood loss [50.0 (20.0, 50.0) ml vs. 100.0 (50.0, 100.0) ml], and reduced postoperative drainage duration [(8.7±2.4) d vs. (10.8±3.2) d] (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The robotic-assisted Warshaw procedure feasible for patients with pancreatic body and tail lesions. Surgeons require approximately 39 cases to complete the learning curve and achieve proficiency in this procedure.

Objective:To evaluate the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and the relationship with the regulation of mitochondrial quality control in mice.Methods:Clean-grade healthy male adult C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were selected.HO-1 inducible gene knockout mice (HO-1 -/-) were prepared based on CRISPER/Cas9-mediated EGE system, and HO-1 gene overexpression mice (HO-1 + /+ ) were prepared by transfection of HO-1 overexpressed adenovirus vector.The mice were divided into 2 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: control group (group WT, group HO-1 -/-, group HO-1 + /+ ) and endotoxin-induced ALI group (group ALI, group HO-1 -/-+ ALI, group HO-1 + /+ + ALI). Lipopolysaccharide 15 mg/kg was injected through the tail vein to develop the model of endotoxin-induced ALI, and the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in each control group.The mice were sacrificed by bloodletting at 12 h after lipopolysaccharide or normal saline administration.The lung tissues were harvested for microscopic examination of the pathological changes which were scored, for determination of GSH and GSSG contents, for observation of the ultrastructure of mitochondria (with a transmission electron microscope) and survival within 12 h, for measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) levels, and for determination of the expression of mitochondrial quality control-related proteins mitochondrial fusion protein 2 (Mfn2) and dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), mitophagy marker protein PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) and E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase Parkin.The ratio of GSH/GSSG was calculated. Results:Compared with control group (group WT, group HO-1 + /+ and group HO-1 -/-), the 12-h survival rate and MMP were significantly decreased, the lung injury score was increased, GSH content and GSH/GSSG ratio were decreased, and the content of GSSG was increased in endotoxin-induced ALI groups (group ALI, group HO-1 + /+ + ALI and group HO-1 -/-+ ALI) ( P<0.05). Compared with group ALI, the 12-h survival rate and MMP were significantly decreased, the lung injury score was increased, the GSH content and GSH/GSSG ratio were decreased, the GSSG content was increased, and the expression of HO-1, Mfn2, PGC-1α, NRF1, PINK1 and Parkin was down-regulated, and Drp1 expression was up-regulated in group HO-1 -/-+ ALI, and 12-h survival rate and MMP were significantly increased, lung injury score was decreased, GSH content and GSH/GSSG ratio were increased, GSSG content was decreased, the expression of HO-1, Mfn2, PGC-1α, NRF1, PINK1 and Parkin was up-regulated, and the expression of Drp1 was down-regulated in group HO-1 + /+ + ALI ( P<0.05). Conclusions:HO-1 is involved in the process of endotoxin-induced ALI in mice, which is related to the regulation of mitochondrial quality control.