Objective Based on the visualization graph analysis of the research hotspots of Angelica sinensis, predict the future research trends, and provide references for the next step of Angelica sinensis research. Methods Chinese and English literatures on Angelica sinensis collected from CNKI, WanFang, VIP and Web of Science from 2012 to 2022 were retrieved. CiteSpace 6.1.R6 software was used to perform visualization econometrics analysis on the number of publications, authors, institutions, journals, keywords and other topics. Results 3490 Chinese literatures and 409 English literatures were included. Visual knowledge map analysis showed that Gansu University of Chinese Medicine and Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine were the research institutions with the largest number of literature publications in Chinese and English respectively. Journals published mainly include Shizhen Traditional Chinese Medicine and Materia medica, Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Current research hotspots include the effects of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides, volatile oils, and ferulic acid on the hematopoietic system, chronic diseases, and cognitive impairment, as well as clinical efficacy evaluations of classic prescriptions containing Angelica sinensis and their modified formulations. The research trend was characterized by a focus on the pharmacological study of Danggui Buxue Tang,employing various experimental approaches such as network pharmacology, serum pharmacology, and metabolomics to elucidate the mechanisms of Angelica sinensis. Conclusion The pharmacological effects of Angelica sinensis and its compound were extensive, which should be further researched.

Background/Aims: Natural killer (NK) cell function is generally considered dampened in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection; however, the NK cell pool exhibits phenotypic and functional heterogeneity, and the antibody--mediated effect of NK cells remains less characterized. This study evaluated the dynamic changes in antibody-mediated NK cell responses and the involvement of distinct NK subsets across disease stages and during antiviral treatment. Methods: A T-cell receptor-like antibody specific for the HBV core 18–27 peptide (cTCRL-Ab) was used to determine the antibody-mediated effect of NK cells, and an array of NK cell surface markers were analyzed in cross-sectional and longitudinal cohorts of patients with chronic HBV infection. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to identify the heterogeneity of NK subsets. Results: The cTCRL-Ab enabled the detection of NK cell cytolytic activity and IFNγ production. Notably, cTCRL-Ab-mediated NK cell responses were compromised in chronically HBV-infected patients, particularly in those receiving pegylated interferon-α (Peg-IFNα), which was associated with the downregulation of CD16 expression. Correspondingly, Peg-IFNα inhibited cTCRL-Ab-mediated NK cell function by reducing CD16 expression in vitro. scRNA-seq revealed that CD16 downregulation occurred mainly within a dysfunctional CD16hi NK subset exhibiting exhaustion properties. In contrast, an activated CD16hiNK subpopulation (CX3CR1⁺KLRC2–CD16hi) with high cytotoxicity was enriched in patients who experienced favorable treatment responses. Furthermore, the intrahepatic CX3CR1+KLRC2–CD16hi subset tended to exhibit functional restoration in HBsAg-loss individuals. Conclusions Our data contribute to the understanding of antibody-mediated responses of NK cells in chronic HBV infection, and highlight a previously unappreciated functional CX3CR1+KLRC2–CD16hiNK subset as a potential therapeutic target.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of sex on phenotypic stability in mouse models of chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) induced by cyclophosphamide (CYP) or paclitaxel (PTX), and to explore potential mechanisms underlying phenotypic heterogeneity in female mice. MethodsTwenty-eight wild-type specific pathogen-free (SPF) C57BL/6J mice (half male and half female) aged 6-8 weeks were selected for synchronous back hair removal. On the 9th day after hair removal (T0), the mice were randomly divided into a wild-type female CYP group, a wild-type male CYP group, a female negative control group and a male negative control group. Mice in the CYP groups were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of 120 mg/kg CYP, and mice in the negative control groups were intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of normal saline. Subsequently, the phenotypic changes of the CIA model induced by CYP were continuously observed and photographed. Eleven 6-week-old SPF female C57BL/6J mice underwent bilateral ovariectomy (OVX group). Following successful surgery, these mice and five XY (Sry⁻) mice bred from Four Core Genotypes breeding stock were used to establish the chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) model using the same protocol. Serum was collected from mice in the OVX group, wild-type female CYP group, and wild-type male CYP group on T7 after CYP administration for steroid hormone analysis by mass spectrometry to evaluate the effects of gonadal estrogen and sex chromosome background changes on the stability of the CYP-induced female alopecic phenotype. Finally, twenty SPF C57BL/6J mice aged 6-8 weeks (half male and half female) were randomly divided into a PTX low-dose group and a PTX high-dose group. On the 9th day after simultaneous hair removal, PTX was injected intraperitoneally at a single dose of 80 mg/kg or 120 mg/kg, respectively. Mice from the PTX low-dose group and the PTX high-dose group were continuously observed and photographed to compare the intra-group consistency of the phenotypes of female and male mice. Six SPF C57BL/6J mice (half male and half female) aged 6-8 weeks were used to repeat the construction method of the PTX low-dose group, and the hair follicle histological examination was performed at T0, T4, T7, T14 and T21, respectively, to observe the damage caused by PTX to hair follicle regeneration. ResultsThe phenotypes of CYP-induced male CIA mice are stable and reproducible. There are obvious individual differences in the alopecia phenotype in the CYP-induced female CIA model mice, which may be mainly caused by the differences in the relevant estrogens in the estrous cycle. The difference between OVX+CYP group and XY (Sry⁻) +CYP group disappeared, suggesting that ovarian-derived hormones and XY (Sry⁻) sex chromosome background may be involved in the formation of phenotypic heterogeneity of CYP-induced alopecia in female mice. The mice in the high-dose PTX group and the low-dose PTX group showed a relatively consistent alopecia and regrowth process, and there was no significant sex difference. ConclusionCYP-induced CIA is strongly influenced by sex, and ovariectomy or alteration of the sex chromosome background can improve the consistency of CYP-induced alopecic phenotypes in female mice. PTX-induced CIA shows good phenotypic consistency in both female and male mice, indicating broad applicability across sexes. Taken together, the choice of animal sex in CIA model construction, mechanistic studies, and evaluation of anti-alopecia interventions should take into account the type of chemotherapeutic agent, the study objective, and the required degree of phenotypic stability. Sex should therefore be considered an important variable in model standardization and interpretation of experimental findings.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.03.002.].

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of phloroglucinol combined with ballon dilation in promoting cervical ripening and shortening labor duration in full-term primiparas and its effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes.Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted on 60 full-term primiparas who delivered at the First People's Hospital of Longnan from January 2022 to December 2023. The subjects were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group ( n = 30/group) using the random number table method. The control group underwent ballon dilation for cervical ripening, while the observation group received intravenous injection of 80 mg phloroglucinol in addition to ballon dilation. Cervical ripening effect, labor duration, delivery mode, and the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes were observed in both groups. Results:The score of cervical ripening in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(8.31 ± 0.93) vs. (7.83 ± 0.85), t = 2.09, P = 0.041]. The duration of the first stage of labor, the duration of the second stage of labor, and the total duration of labor were (482.7 ± 18.2) minutes, (38.3 ± 10.7) minutes, and (526.6 ± 21.2) minutes, respectively. All these durations were significantly shorter than those in the control group [(521.3 ± 16.4) minutes, (45.7 ± 8.3) minutes, (573.4 ± 18.5) minutes, t = 2.62, 4.32, 12.80, all P<0.05]. The amount of postpartum bleeding in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group [(322.5 ± 21.2) mL vs. (341.9 ± 32.5) mL, t = -3.87, P<0.001]. There were no statistically significant differences in the Apgar scores and neonatal behavioral neurological assessment scores between the two groups (both P>0.05). Conclusions:The use of phloroglucinol combined with ballon dilation can effectively promote cervical ripening in full-term primiparas, shorten labor duration, improve induction success rates, and reduce postpartum hemorrhage. Therefore, this combined treatment significantly enhances maternal and neonatal outcomes while demonstrating high safety.

Objective:To study the relationship between serum levels of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), immune factors, and prognosis in patients with uterine fibroids.Methods:A case-control study was conducted involving 93 patients with uterine fibroids who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy at The First People's Hospital of Longnan City between June 2021 and June 2023. These patients constituted the study group. Additionally, 104 healthy women undergoing routine health check-ups during the same period were selected as the control group. Based on the prognosis of the patients in the study group, they were further divided into two subgroups: a good prognosis group ( n = 42) and a poor prognosis group ( n = 46). The correlations among serum levels of Ang-2, IGF-1, immune factors, and prognosis were analyzed in the study group compared to the control group, as well as between the good prognosis and poor prognosis groups. Results:Four cases from the control group and five cases from the study group were excluded from the analysis. In the study group, serum levels of Ang-2 and IGF-1 were found to be (303.18 ± 42.39) mg/L and (1377.11 ± 84.78) mg/L, respectively. Both levels were significantly higher than those in the control group [(231.25 ± 34.18) mg/L, (438.09 ± 52.15) mg/L, t = 12.87, 19.63, both P < 0.001]. Additionally, CD 8+ levels in the study group were higher than those in the control group ( t = -15.79, P < 0.001). Conversely, CD 3+, CD 4+, and CD 4+/CD 8+ levels were lower in the study group compared to the control group ( t = 7.92, 8.41, 5.21, all P < 0.001). In the poor prognosis group, the levels of Ang-2 and IGF-1 were (335.16 ± 42.67) mg/L and (1406.18 ± 83.77) mg/L, respectively, both of which were significantly higher than those in the good prognosis group [(284.63 ± 36.19) mg/L, (434.91 ± 53.28) mg/L, t = 5.96, 64.1, both P < 0.001]. The CD 8+ levels in the poor prognosis group were also higher than those in the good prognosis group ( t = -10.27, P < 0.001), while CD 3+, CD 4+, and CD 4+/CD 8+ levels were lower in the poor prognosis group ( t = 5.31, 7.03, 3.15, all P < 0.001). Correlation analysis revealed that Ang-2 was negatively correlated with CD 3+, CD 4+, and CD 4+/CD 8+ levels ( r = -0.623, -0.578, -0.662). In contrast, Ang-2 was positively correlated with CD 8+ levels, a history of uterine fibroids, the number of fibroids, a history of miscarriage, and the duration of breastfeeding ( r = 0.593, 0.452, 0.446, 0.419, 0.422). IGF-1 levels were also negatively correlated with CD 3+, CD 4+, and CD 4+/CD 8+ levels ( r = -0.720, -0.751, -0.712), while positively correlated with CD 8+, a history of uterine fibroids, the number of fibroids, a history of miscarriage, and the duration of breastfeeding ( r = 0.631, 0.503, 0.444, 0.501, 0.451). Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that a family history of uterine fibroids, the number of fibroids, a history of miscarriage, and the duration of breastfeeding were all significant risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with uterine fibroids (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:Patients with uterine fibroids have higher levels of Ang-2, IGF-1 and CD 8+, while the levels of CD 3+, CD 4+, and CD 4+/CD 8+ are lower. Additionally, the expression levels of Ang-2 and IGF-1 are associated with the patients' immune factors and prognosis.

Objective To observe the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)for diagnosing malignant adnexal tumors.Methods Totally 112 patients with single adnexal masse were retrospectively enrolled and divided into benign adnexal tumor group(benign group,n=73)and malignant adnexal tumor group(malignant group,n=39).Clinical data,laboratory indicators,ovarian-adnexal ultrasound reporting and data system(O-RADS)classification based on conventional ultrasound(US),CEUS manifestations and CEUS classification of benign and malignant tumors were compared between groups.Multivariable logistic regression analysis of clinical and laboratory indicators being statistically different between groups,as well as US O-RADS classification and CEUS classification was performed to screen the independent predictors of malignant adnexal tumors,and combined models were constructed using forward stepwise regression method.The efficacy of each independent predictor and combined model for diagnosing malignant adnexal tumors was analyzed.Results Statistical differences of carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125),US O-RADS classification,enhancement time and level of CEUS,as well as CEUS classification were found between groups(all P＜0.05).CA125,US O-RADS classification and CEUS classification were all independent predictors of malignant adnexal tumors(all P＜0.05).Combined model Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ were constructed based on CA125+CEUS classification,US O-RADS classification+CEUS classification and CA125+US O-RADS classification+CEUS classification,respectively.The area under the curve(AUC)of single CA125 level,US O-RADS classification,CEUS classification and combined model Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ for diagnosing malignant adnexal tumor was 0.708,0.809,0.908,0.918,0.945 and 0.954,respectively.AUC of combined model Ⅲ was higher than that of combined model Ⅰ(Z=-2.142,P=0.032),while no significant difference of AUC was found between combined model Ⅱ and Ⅰ nor Ⅱ and Ⅲ(both P＞0.05).Conclusion CEUS could be used to effectively diagnose malignant adnexal tumor.Combining with CA125 level and US O-RADS classification could significantly improve its diagnostic efficacy.

Objective:To study the clinical efficacy and safety of trellizumab combined with tegafur in the treatment of relapsed and metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods:A total of 80 patients with relapsed and metastatic ESCC who were admitted to the Nanjing Tongren Hospital from January 2020 to January 2023 were prospectively selected and divided into tegafur group and combination group with 40 patients each according to random number table method. The tegafur group was treated with oxaliplatin combined with tegafur second-line therapy, and the combined group was treated with trellizumab based on the tegafur group. The short-term efficacy, adverse reactions and survival time of the tegafur group and the combination group were compared. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), cellular immune function and quality of life were compared between the tegafur group and the combination group.Results:The total effective rate of the combined group was 32.50%(13/40) and 55.00%(22/40), and the median survival time was 10 and 14 months, respectively. The above indexes in the combined group were better than those in the tegafur group (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence of leukopenia, neutropenia, alopecia, bone marrow suppression, bleeding and gastrointestinal reactions between the two groups (all P>0.05). After treatment, SCC levels in the Tegafur group and the combination group were (3.10±0.58)ng/ml and (2.24±0.63)ng/ml, PLR were 136.65±17.40 and 122.24±18.33, LMR were 4.28±0.78 and 5.33±0.85, respectively. The percentages of CD4 + T lymphocytes were (36.36±4.11)% and (41.18±4.05)%, the percentages of CD8 + T lymphocytes were (33.14±3.87)% and (28.46±3.77)%, and the CD4 + /CD8 + ratios were 1.10±0.14 and 1.45±0.19, respectively. The scores of the Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) were (63.25±7.01) and (67.14±6.84), and the scores of the Quality of Life Questionnaire-Oesophagus 18 (QLQ-OES18) were (50.24±6.98) and (45.30±7.11), respectively, with statistical significance (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The second-line treatment of recurrent and metastatic ESCC with trellizumab combined with tegafur can improve the short-term efficacy, SCC, LMR, PLR, enhance cellular immunity, improve quality of life, prolong survival, and have high safety.

Objective:To explore the application value of P1 response threshold of cortical auditory evoked potential（CAEP） in evaluating the rehabilitation effect of cochlear implant in young children. Methods:Thirty-three young children after cochlear implantation were divided into groups according to hearing age: Group A（hearing age 1-<2 years old） 10 people; Group B（hearing age 2-<3 years old） 13 people; Group C（hearing age 3-<4 years old） 10 people. The subjective assessment was carried out using the assessment tool for hearing-impaired children- "Criteria and Methods for assessing Auditory and language ability of hearing-impaired children" and objective electrophysiological examination was carried out using CAEP to evaluate the rehabilitation effect. SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results:The results of subjective assessment of auditory ability and language ability in each group showed an increasing trend with the increase of auditory age. In this study, the P1 response threshold of CAEP in CI implanted children had a significant positive correlation with the 2 kHz hearing threshold after intervention, and the P1 response threshold of CAEP was negatively correlated with many items in subjective auditory ability and language ability assessment. Conclusion:The P1 response threshold of CAEP has a stable correlation with the results of speech audiometry, which can effectively and objectively evaluate the postoperative rehabilitation effect of young children with cochlear implantation.
Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Male ; Female ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Cochlear Implantation/rehabilitation* ; Cochlear Implants ; Auditory Threshold

OBJECTIVES: The risk factors and role of mother‒child gut microbiota in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) remain unclear. We aimed to explore the clinical risk factors associated with PIBD, analyze the characteristics of gut microbiota of children and their mothers, and examine the correlation of the microbial composition in mother‒child pairs. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study including children with PIBD and their mothers as the case group, as well as healthy children and their mothers as the control group. Questionnaires were used to collect information such as family illness history and maternal and early-life events. Fecal samples were collected from the children and mothers for microbiota 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing to analyze the composition and its potential association with PIBD. RESULTS: A total of 54 pairs of cases and 122 pairs of controls were recruited. A family history of autoimmune disease and antibiotic use during pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of PIBD, and a higher education level of the father was associated with a decreased risk of PIBD. Children with PIBD and mothers exhibited different gut microbiota compared to healthy children and mothers. Similarities were observed in the gut microbiota of mothers and children in the same groups. Some bacterial biomarkers of mothers discovered in this study had the power to predict PIBD in their offspring. CONCLUSIONS PIBD is influenced by maternal risk factors and has unique gut microbiota characteristics. The mother‒child gut microbiota is closely related, suggesting the transmission and influence of the gut microbiota between mothers and children. This study highlights the potential pathogenesis of PIBD and provides a basis for developing targeted interventions.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Female ; Risk Factors ; Case-Control Studies ; Male ; Child ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/etiology* ; Adult ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics* ; Feces/microbiology* ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Child, Preschool