ObjectiveTo investigate the liver-protecting and anti-liver fibrosis effects of astragaloside Ⅳ （AS-Ⅳ） in vitro and in vivo， as well as its mechanism of action in intervention against liver fibrosis. MethodsIn the animal experiment， C57BL/6J mice were divided into control group， model group， low-dose AS-Ⅳ （20 mg/kg） group， and high-dose AS-Ⅳ （80 mg/kg） group. The mice were given intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride for 6 weeks to induce liver fibrosis， and since week 3 of injection， the mice in the low-dose AS-Ⅳ group and the high-dose AS-Ⅳ group were given AS-Ⅳ by gavage at a dose of 20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg， respectively. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） were measured after 4 weeks of administration， as well as the serum levels of hyaluronic acid （HA）， laminin （LN）， procollagen Ⅲ N-terminal peptide （PⅢNP）， and collagen type Ⅳ （Col-Ⅳ）. HE staining， picrosirius red staining， and Masson staining were used to observe liver histopathology and collagen deposition； RT-qPCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of Acta2， Col1a1， and Col3a1 in liver tissue， and Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， collagen type Ⅲ （Col-Ⅲ）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， phosphorylated PI3K （pPI3K）， protein kinase B （Akt）， and phosphorylated AKT （p-Akt） in liver tissue； transcriptome sequencing was performed for liver tissue to identify differentially expressed genes and perform a bioinformatics analysis. In the cell experiment， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β） was used to induce the activation of LX-2 cells， and the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and the PI3K activator 740 Y-P were used for intervention. The cells were divided into control group， model group， AS-Ⅳ group， LY294002 group， and AS-Ⅳ+740 Y-P group， and the cells were harvested after 36 hours of intervention. Changes in the protein expression levels of α-SMA， Col-Ⅲ， pPI3K/PI3K， and pAkt/Akt in LX-2 cells were measured， as well as changes in the relative mRNA expression levels of Acta2， Col1a1， and Col3a1. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsIn the animal experiment， compared with the model group， the AS-Ⅳ treatment group had significant reductions in the serum levels of ALT， AST， HA， LN， PⅢNP， and Col-Ⅳ （all P<0.01）， the mRNA expression levels of Acta2， Col1a1， and Col3a1 in liver tissue （all P<0.05）， and the protein expression levels of α-SMA， Col-Ⅲ， pPI3K， and pAkt （Ser473） in liver tissue （all P<0.05）. In the cell experiment， compared with the control group， the model group had significant increases in the protein expression levels of α-SMA， Col-Ⅲ， pPI3K， and pAkt （Ser473） after TGF-β induction （all P<0.05）； compared with the model group， the AS-Ⅳ group had significant reductions in the protein expression levels of α-SMA， Col-Ⅲ， pPI3K， and pAkt （Ser473） （all P<0.05）， and both the AS-Ⅳ group and the LY294002 group had significant reductions in the protein expression level of pPI3K and the relative mRNA expression levels of Acta2， Col1a1， and Col3a1 （all P<0.05）. Compared with the AS-Ⅳ group， there were significant increases in the protein expression level of pPI3K and the relative mRNA expression levels of Acta2， col1a1， and Col3a1 after 740 Y-P intervention （all P<0.05）. ConclusionAS-Ⅳ can inhibit hepatic stellate cell activation and improve liver fibrosis， possibly by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of sequential tenofovir alafenamide fumarate （TAF） therapy versus the regimen of entecavir （ETV） combined with TAF in chronic hepatitis B （CHB） patients experiencing low-level viremia （LLV） after ETV therapy， as well as their impact on virologic response， liver and renal function， and blood lipid levels. MethodsA total of 217 CHB patients with LLV after ETV treatment who were admitted to Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2020 to December 2023 were enrolled， and according to the treatment regimen， they were divided into TAF group （180 patients receiving sequential TAF therapy） and combined group （37 patients receiving ETV+TAF therapy）. The propensity score matching （PSM） method was used to match the patients at a ratio of 1∶1， and finally 37 patients were included in each group to balance the baseline confounding factors. The two groups were compared in terms of hepatitis B virus DNA （HBV DNA） clearance rate， hepatitis B envelope antigen （HBeAg） clearance rate， liver and renal function parameters （liver stiffness measurement ［LSM］， platelet count ［PLT］， aspartate aminotransferase ［AST］， alanine aminotransferase ［ALT］， and creatinine ［Cr］）， blood lipid levels （total cholesterol ［TC］， triglyceride ［TG］， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ［HDL-C］， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ［LDL-C］）， and the incidence rate of adverse reactions. The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the paired t-test was used for comparison within each group； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. ResultsAfter 48 weeks of treatment， compared with the TAF group， the combined group had significantly higher HBV DNA clearance rate （86.49% vs 59.46%， χ²=6.852， P=0.009） and HBeAg clearance rate （59.46% vs 35.14%， χ²=4.391， P=0.036）. After treatment， compared with the TAF group， the combined group had significantly lower levels of LSM （7.01±1.50 kPa vs 7.90±1.68 kPa， t=2.404， P=0.019）， AST （18.02±2.28 U/L vs 21.12±2.85 U/L， t=5.166， P<0.001）， and ALT （19.85±3.86 U/L vs 22.00±3.90 U/L， t=2.383， P=0.020） and significantly higher levels of PLT ［（218.35±42.60）×10⁹/L vs （192.82±44.13）×10⁹/L， t=2.532， P=0.014］ and Cr （70.92±6.54 μmoL/L vs 67.60±6.13 μmoL/L， t=2.253， P=0.027）. After treatment， there was a slight increase in the level of TC in both the TAF group （5.60±0.89 mmol/L vs 5.18±0.85 mmol/L， t=2.076， P=0.041） and the combined group （5.45±0.80 mmol/L vs 5.02±0.83 mmol/L， t=2.269， P=0.026）. There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of adverse reactions between the TAF group and the combined group （21.62% vs 18.92%， χ²=0.084， P=0.772）. ConclusionFor ETV-treated CHB patients experiencing LLV， compared with sequential TAF therapy， the ETV+TAF combined therapy can effectively increase virologic response rate， alleviate liver fibrosis， and improve liver function， whereas sequential TAF therapy has less impact on renal function. Sequential or combined therapy with TAF may induce a slight increase in the level of TC， which should be taken seriously in clinical practice.

Objective:To understand the functional requirements and suggestions of relevant stakeholders on the Internet platform for remote rehabilitation management of patients after arthroscopy, so as to provide a reference basis for building a home rehabilitation management scheme and developing a remote Internet platform.Methods:Based on the technology acceptance model, a descriptive qualitative study was conducted using purposive sampling and maximum difference method to select 11 arthroscopic postoperative patients, 4 patient caregivers, and 7 clinical professionals from the Sports Medicine Department of Wuxi Ninth People′s Hospital (Orthopaedic Hospital) from October to December 2022. A total of 22 stakeholders were interviewed in a semi-structured manner, and the Colaizzi was used to analyze the interview data.Results:Among 22 interviewers, 12 males, 10 females, aged 25-65 years. A total of four topics were summarized: the willingness to use the Internet platform for remote rehabilitation management, the demand for the content provided by the Internet platform for remote rehabilitation management, the demand for the module functions of the Internet platform for remote rehabilitation management, and the demand for the operability of the Internet platform for remote rehabilitation management.Conclusions:The general attitude of the stakeholder groups towards the use of the Internet platform for remote rehabilitation management of patients after arthroscopy is positive. It is hoped that the platform will have diversified functions and good usability, improve the compliance and enthusiasm of patients in home rehabilitation exercise, and thus promote the recovery of limb function.

Objective:To understand the functional requirements and suggestions of relevant stakeholders on the Internet platform for remote rehabilitation management of patients after arthroscopy, so as to provide a reference basis for building a home rehabilitation management scheme and developing a remote Internet platform.Methods:Based on the technology acceptance model, a descriptive qualitative study was conducted using purposive sampling and maximum difference method to select 11 arthroscopic postoperative patients, 4 patient caregivers, and 7 clinical professionals from the Sports Medicine Department of Wuxi Ninth People′s Hospital (Orthopaedic Hospital) from October to December 2022. A total of 22 stakeholders were interviewed in a semi-structured manner, and the Colaizzi was used to analyze the interview data.Results:Among 22 interviewers, 12 males, 10 females, aged 25-65 years. A total of four topics were summarized: the willingness to use the Internet platform for remote rehabilitation management, the demand for the content provided by the Internet platform for remote rehabilitation management, the demand for the module functions of the Internet platform for remote rehabilitation management, and the demand for the operability of the Internet platform for remote rehabilitation management.Conclusions:The general attitude of the stakeholder groups towards the use of the Internet platform for remote rehabilitation management of patients after arthroscopy is positive. It is hoped that the platform will have diversified functions and good usability, improve the compliance and enthusiasm of patients in home rehabilitation exercise, and thus promote the recovery of limb function.

Objective:To explore the relationship between macrophage infiltration in the coronary plaque and downstream myocardial perfusion in mice.Methods:The experimental group consisted of 20 ApoE knockout mice models of the coronary plaque established by feeding with cholesterol-rich diets, and the control group consisted of 20 sex- and age-matched C57BL/6 mice with the same genetic background as ApoE mice.Adenosine stress myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed on all experimental animals to obtain the values of A, β and A×β of the left ventricular myocardium in anteroseptal and posterior walls both in the resting status and during adenosine stress. Concentrations of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined using mouse enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits according to the manufacturer′s instructions. The degree of macrophage infiltration in the coronary plaque was evaluated by pathological immunohistochemistry staining and the correlations with the above indicators were analyzed.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in heart rate and left ventricular structural parameters between two groups (all P>0.05). The experimental group had a lower left ventricular ejection fraction( P=0.021), and higher weight and serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, IL-6, and TNF-α than the control group (all P<0.05). The values of A, β and A × β of the left ventricular myocardium in anteroseptal and posterior walls in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group during adenosine stress (all P<0.05). In the experimental group, the value of the macrophage infiltration found in the plaque of the left main coronary artery correlated positively with the level of serum TNF-α ( r=0.63, P=0.003) and negatively correlated with the values of A×β of the left ventricular myocardium in anteroseptal and posterior walls during adenosine stress ( r=-0.74, P<0.001; r=-0.72, P<0.001; respectively). Conclusions:Myocardial perfusion in ApoE knockout mice models of the coronary atherosclerosis was related with degree of macrophage infiltration in the coronary plaque, and macrophages may play a role by releasing inflammatory mediator TNF-α.

OBJECTIVE To explore the influence of Zingiber officinale and processed Z. officinale on pharmacodynamic indexes and intestinal flora on gastric ulcer rats with spleen -stomach deficiency and cold type before and after processing with sand . METHODS The SD rats were randomly divided into normal group ，model group ，positive control group （Compound tianqi weitong capsule 0.45 g/kg），Z. officinale high-dose（15.0 g/kg）and low -dose（7.5 g/kg）groups，processed Z. officinale high- dose（15.0 g/kg）and low -dose（7.5 g/kg）groups，with 10 rats in each group . The rat model of gastric ulcer with spleen -stomach deficiency and cold type was established by intragastric administration of vinegar （day 1-10）and absolute ethanol （day 11）. Administration groups were given relevant liquid intragastrically ，and normal group and model group were given water intragastrically（day 5-10）. One hour after intragastric administration of absolute ethanol ，blood was taken from the femoral artery of rats ，the serum contents of motilin （MTL），gastrin（GAS），epidermal growth factor （EGF）as well as 4 items of blood coagulation [activated partial thromboplastin time （APTT），prothrombin time （PT），thrombin time （TT），fibrinogen（FIB）] were detect. The ulcer index and inhibition rate of ulcer in gastric tissue were calculated . The pathological changes of gastric tissue were observed，and the number and area of erosions were recorded . The diversity of gut microbiota in fecal samples of rats was detected . RESULTS Compared with model group ，the contents of MTL （except for processed Z. officinale low-dose group ），GAS（except for processed Z. officinale low-dose group ），EGF（except forofficinale groups） and FIB （except for Z. officinale groups），inhibitory rate of ulcer （only positive control group ）were all increased significantly （P＜0.05）. APTT（except for Z. officinale groups），PT（only processed Z. officinale high- dose group ），TT（except for Z. officinale groups），ulcer index （except for Z. officinale groups），the number （except for Z. officinale groups）and area of erosions （except for Z. officinale groups）were shortened and decreased significantly （P＜0.05）； improvement effects of processed Z. officinale were better than those of the same dose of Z. officinale on EGF ，4 items of blood coagulation（except for PT ，TT，FIB of processed Z. officinale low-dose group ），ulcer index （except for processed Z. officinale low-dose group ）and inhibitory rate of ulcer （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group ，α diversity indexes as ACE ，Shannon and Simpson of intestinal microorganisms in rats were increased significantly in processed Z. officinale group；the relative abundance of Proteobacteria was decreased significantly in processed Z. officinale group，while that of Bacteroidetes was increased significantly （P＜0.05）； the relative abundance of Limosilactobacillus was decreased significantly in Z. officinale group （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Z. officinale and processed Z. officinale can improve the symptoms of spleen -stomach deficiency and cold ，and enhance gastrointestinal function by increasing the content of GAS and MTL . Processed Z. officinale can significantly inhibit gastric ulcer of spleen -stomach deficiency and cold type ，which is related to the promotion of mucosal protection and repair ，improvement of coagulation functionand adjustment of gut microbiotadisorder .

Objective:To investigate the relationship between vulnerability of mouse coronary artery plaque and downstream myocardial perfusion and myocardial strain.Methods:Thirteen ApoE knockout mice with stable coronary plaques (stable plaque group)and 13 ApoE knockout mice with vulnerable coronary plaques(vulnerable plaque group) were selected as the experimental group, and 15 sex- and age-matched C57BL/6 mice with the same genetic background as ApoE mice were chosed as the control group. Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) was carried out to quantify regional myocardial perfusion at rest and during adenosine stress using a Vevo 2100 system (Visual sonics). Replenishment curves of myocardial contrast were obtained, and rates of signal rise (β) and plateau intensity (A) were recorded. MBF was estimated by the product of A and β. Speckle tracking imaging combined with adenosine stress test was used to evaluate the longitudinal strain of left ventricular myocardium in mice. The vulnerability of the plaque was assessed by histopathology in serial tissue sections of proximal and middle left coronary artery according to the previously reported method.Results:There were no significant differences in body weight, heart rate, left ventricular end diastolic volume, left ventricular end systolic volume, left ventricular mass and ejection fraction among the three groups( P>0.05). The levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein in stable plaque group and vulnerable plaque group were significantly increased when compared with those in control group (all P<0.05). The pathological results showed that the coronary luminal stenosis rates in the stable plaque group and the vulnerable plaque group were (74.3±4.9)% and (75.5±7.1)% respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups( P>0.05). MBF of the middle anterior septum and left ventricular posterior wall in the experimental groups were significantly decreased when compared with that in the control group both in the resting status and during adenosine stress(all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the MCE parameters between the stable plaque group and the vulnerable plaque group at rest( P>0.05). However, during adenosine stress, MBF of the vulnerable plaque group was decreased more significantly than that of the stable plaque group ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the values of longitudinal strain of the left ventricle in both experimental groups were decreased during resting status, without statistical significance (all P>0.05), but decreased significantly during adenosine stress and with more decrease in the vulnerable plaque group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:For the same degree of coronary artery stenosis in mice, the coronary artery vulnerable plaque group has less downstream myocardial perfusion and myocardial strain than the stable plaque group during adenosine stress. That is, the plaque vulnerability can affect the downstream myocardial perfusion and myocardial strain in the mouse model.

Objective:To explore the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with ovarian metastases from colorectal cancer.Methods:A total of 122 female patients with ovarian metastases from colorectal cancer underwent treatment in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between 2010 and 2015 were recruited. The clinicopathological features, treatment details and survival data of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Maier method was used for survival analysis, log rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were used for prognostic factor analysis.Results:The median overall survival (OS) was 19.7 months. The 1-year, 3-years and 5-years OS rates were 72.1%, 24.7% and 9.9%, respectively. A total of 99 (81.1%) patients underwent oophorectomy. The median OS of patients who underwent oophorectomy was 21.9 months, significantly longer than 10.3 months of patients without oophorectomy ( P<0.01). Ovary as the only site of metastasis, primary tumor resection, and oophorectomy were associated with improved survival (all P<0.01). Primary tumor resection and oophorectomy were independent prognostic factors for OS (both P<0.01). Conclusion:Patients with ovarian metastases from colorectal cancer might acquire a survival benefit from surgical resection of the primary tumor and ovaries.

Objective:To analyze the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of patients with uterine clear cell carcinoma (UCCC).Methods:UCCC patients who underwent surgery and complete follow-up at Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used for survival analysis.Results:The study included 34 patients. Only 18 patients (52.9%) were diagnosed with UCCC preoperatively and 8 patients (23.5%) underwent UCCC standard comprehensive staging surgery. Among the 34 patients, stage ⅠA was 17 cases (50.0%), stage ⅠB was 1 case (2.9%), stage Ⅱ was 4 cases (11.8%), stage ⅢA was 2 cases (5.9%), stage ⅢB was 1 case (2.9%), stage ⅢC1 was 5 cases (14.7%) and stage ⅣB was 4 cases (11.8%). The median follow-up period was 72 months, 5-years disease-free survival (DFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rates for all patients were 79.1% and 81.3%, respectively. Univariate analysis result showed that preoperative CA125 level, range of lymphadenectomy, tumor stage and peritoneal cytology were significantly associated with DFS ( P<0.05). Preoperative CA125 level, range of lymphadenectomy, tumor stage, peritoneal cytology and lymph vascular space invasion were significantly associated with OS ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis result showed that peritoneal cytology was the only independent prognostic factor for DFS, the relapse risk of peritoneal cytology positive patients was 11.47 folds higher than that of the negative patients ( P=0.009). Tumor stage was the only independent prognostic factor for OS, the death risk of ⅣB stage patients was 25.29 folds higher than that of theⅠA stage ( P=0.009). Conclusions:The preoperative pathological diagnosis of UCCC is difficult, which results in incomplete surgical staging. Peritoneal cytology and tumor stage are independent prognostic factors for DFS and OS of UCCC patients, which deserve much more attention in clinical practice.

Objective:To explore the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with ovarian metastases from colorectal cancer.Methods:A total of 122 female patients with ovarian metastases from colorectal cancer underwent treatment in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between 2010 and 2015 were recruited. The clinicopathological features, treatment details and survival data of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Maier method was used for survival analysis, log rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were used for prognostic factor analysis.Results:The median overall survival (OS) was 19.7 months. The 1-year, 3-years and 5-years OS rates were 72.1%, 24.7% and 9.9%, respectively. A total of 99 (81.1%) patients underwent oophorectomy. The median OS of patients who underwent oophorectomy was 21.9 months, significantly longer than 10.3 months of patients without oophorectomy ( P<0.01). Ovary as the only site of metastasis, primary tumor resection, and oophorectomy were associated with improved survival (all P<0.01). Primary tumor resection and oophorectomy were independent prognostic factors for OS (both P<0.01). Conclusion:Patients with ovarian metastases from colorectal cancer might acquire a survival benefit from surgical resection of the primary tumor and ovaries.