Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with a complex etiology, characterized by intestinal inflammation and barrier dysfunction. Platycodon grandiflorus polysaccharides (PGP), the primary component of Platycodon grandiflorus, and hesperidin (Hesp), a prominent active component in Citrus aurantium L. (CAL), have both demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanism of the synergistic effect of PGP combined with Hesp on UC, focusing on the coordinated interaction between the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways. A mouse model of UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and a cell model using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7/IEC6 cells were employed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of PGP combined with Hesp on UC and its potential mechanism of action. The results indicated that compared to the effects of either drug alone, the combination of PGP and Hesp significantly modulated inflammatory factor levels, inhibited oxidative stress, regulated colonic mucosal immunity, suppressed apoptosis, and restored intestinal barrier function in vitro and in vivo. Further in vitro studies revealed that PGP significantly inhibited the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, while Hesp significantly inhibited the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. The use of inhibitors and activators targeting both pathways validated the synergistic effects of PGP combined with Hesp on the PI3K/AKT and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways. These findings suggest that PGP combined with Hesp exhibits a synergistic effect on DSS-induced colitis, potentially mediated through the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/PI3K/AKT and interleukin-6 (IL-6)/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways.
Animals ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/genetics* ; Janus Kinase 2/genetics* ; Polysaccharides/administration & dosage* ; Colitis, Ulcerative/chemically induced* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Drug Synergism ; Male ; Hesperidin/administration & dosage* ; Platycodon/chemistry* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Disease Models, Animal ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

OBJECTIVE To study the repair effect of ephedrine on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced microglia function injury and its mechanism. METHODS Human microglia cells （HMC3） were used as research objects to investigate the effects of different concentrations of ephedrine （75， 150， 300， 600 μg/mL） on the viability and apoptosis of HMC3 cells. HMC3 cells were divided into control group （without drug intervention）， LPS group （1 μg/mL）， ephedrine group （1 μg/mL LPS+300 μg/mL ephedrine）， BAY11-7082 group [1 μg/mL LPS+5 μmol/L nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） pathway inhibitor BAY11-7082]， inhibitor group （1 μg/mL LPS+300 μg/mL ephedrine+5 μmol/L BAY11-7082） and activator group （1 μg/mL LPS+300 μg/mL ephedrine+1 μmol/L NF-κB pathway activator Prostratin）. After 24 hours of drug treatment， cell migration， the levels of soluble interleukin-6（sIL-6）， interleukin-10（IL-10）， superoxide dismutase（SOD）and malondialdehyde（MDA）， and the expressions of NF-κB pathway-related proteins were all detected. RESULTS The viability of HMC3 cells could be increased significantly by 300 μg/mL ephedrine， while the apoptotic rate was decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the control group， the number of migrating cells was increased significantly in the LPS group； the levels of sIL-6 and MDA， the phosphorylation of NF-κB protein were increased significantly， while the levels of IL-10 and SOD were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the LPS group， the above indexes were reversed significantly in the ephedrine group and BAY11-7082 group （P＜0.05）. Compared with the ephedrine group， the number of migrating cells was decreased significantly in the inhibitor group； the levels of sIL-6 and MDA， the phosphorylation of NF-κB protein were decreased significantly， while the levels of IL-10 and SOD were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. The above indexes were reversed significantly in the activator group （P＜0.05）can repair cell injury by inhibiting LPS induced apoptosis， migration， inflammation and oxidant stress of HMC3 cells， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting the activity of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the ratio of soluble hemoglobin scavenger receptor 163 protein(sCD163)/soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis(sTWEAK)in plasma and prognosis in patients with spontaneous acute cerebral hemorrhage(ACH).Methods From August 2020 to August 2022,90 patients with ACH admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery,Harison International Peace Hospital,Hengshui City were regarded as the research group.According to the Glasgow outcome scale,patients with ACH were separated into the poor prognosis group(n=38)and the good prognosis group(n=52).Another 45 healthy examinee who underwent physical examination were used as the control group.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was applied to detect plasma sCD163 and sTWEAK levels,and the sCD163/sTWEAK ratio was calculated.Pearson method was applied to analyze the correlation between plasma sCD163,sTWEAK levels,sCD163/sTWEAK ratio and clinical data.Logistic regression was applied to analyze influencing factors of poor prognosis in patients with ACH.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)was applied to analyze the predictive value of sCD163/sTWEAK ratio for poor prognosis of patients with ACH.Results The plasma levels of sCD163,sTWEAK and sCD163/sTWEAK ratio were obviously higher in the research group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The plasma levels of sCD163,sTWEAK and sCD163/sTWEAK ratio were obviously lower in the good prognosis group than those in the poor prognosis group(P＜0.05).Hematoma volume,National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)scores,hypertension and subtentorial hemorrhage were lower in the good prognosis group than those in the poor prognosis group,and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)was higher in the good prognosis group than that in the poor prognosis group(P＜0.05).Correlation analysis showed that plasma sCD163,and sTWEAK levels and the sCD163/sTWEAK ratio were positively correlated with bleeding site,hematoma volume,NIHSS score,white blood cell count,platelet count and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR)(P＜0.05).Results of Logistic regression analysis showed that sCD163,sTWEAK,sCD163/sTWEAK ratio,hematoma volume,bleeding site and NIHSS score were influencing factors for poor prognosis in patients with ACH(P＜0.05).Results of receiver operating characteristic showed that the AUC of sCD163/sTWEAK ratio in evaluating poor prognosis of patients with ACH was 0.850,and the sensitivity and specificity were 86.84%and 69.23%.Conclusion The sCD163/sTWEAK ratio has a high level in the plasma of patients with ACH,which is associated with poor prognosis and has important value in predicting the prognosis of patients with ACH.

BACKGROUND:Pulsed electromagnetic fields,as an important physical therapy,are exactly effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis,but the mechanism has not been fully clarified. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of pulsed electromagnetic field on the degeneration of knee joint cartilage in aged rats. METHODS:Eight 6-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were selected as the young group and were subjected to normal diet with no treatment.Sixteen 22-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into old group(n=8)and pulsed electromagnetic field group(n=8).The rats in the pulsed electromagnetic field group were subjected to a pulsed electromagnetic field intervention,once a day,5 days per week for continuous 8 weeks.The rats in the old group were given no treatment.All rats were anesthetized and executed after 8 weeks for the detection of relevant indexes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the young group,serum type Ⅱ collagen C-terminal peptide level was increased in the old group(P<0.05);compared with the old group,serum type Ⅱ collagen C-terminal peptide level was decreased in the pulsed electromagnetic field group(P<0.05).Micro-CT showed that the bone volume fraction,bone mineral density,and number of bone trabeculae decreased(P<0.05)and the trabecular separation increased(P<0.05)in the tibia of rats in the aged group compared with the young group;and the bone volume fraction,bone density,and number of trabeculae increased(P<0.05)and the trabecular separation decreased(P<0.05)in the tibia of rats in the pulsed electromagnetic field group compared with the aged group.The tibial plateau Safranin O-fast green staining showed that the articular cartilage structure of rats in the aged group was disorganized,and the number of chondrocytes was obviously reduced,and the tidal line could not be distinguished.The above results were improved in the pulsed electromagnetic field group.RT-qPCR and western blot assay showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 1,matrix metalloproteinase 13,P53 and P21 in the articular cartilage and subchondral bone of rats were elevated in the aged group compared with the young group(P<0.05)and decreased in the pulsed electromagnetic field group compared with the old group(P<0.05).To conclude,pulsed electromagnetic fields may improve osteoarthritis in aged rats by inhibiting chondrocyte senescence,alleviating articular cartilage degradation and inhibiting subchondral bone osteoporosis through suppressing the expression of P53/P21.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between the skin temperature changes in the radiation area and the occurrence of radiodermatitis during postoperative radiotherapy for female breast cancer and to explore the application value of skin temperature monitoring in the early warning of radiodermatitis risks.Methods:A total of 103 patients who received three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy after radical mastectomy in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University were continuously enrolled from May to November, 2022 in this study. Their skin temperature in the radiation area and radiodermatitis were recorded weekly. The relationships between relative skin temperature differences and different grades of radiodermatitis were determined. The optimal cut-off values for grade ≥ radiodermatitis were calculated, and the predictive effect was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Furthermore, the radiodermatitis risks under different skin temperatures were compared using binary logistic regression.Results:There was a positive correlation between the skin temperature in the radiation field and the grade of radiodermatitis. The optimal cut-off values for the average relative skin temperature difference of the chest wall (under 40 Gy/20 fractions), the maximum relative skin temperature difference of the chest wall (under 40 Gy/20 fractions), and the relative skin temperature difference of the supraclavicular block (under 30 Gy/15 fractions) were 0.45℃, 0.55℃, 0.15℃, respectively. The patients were divided into low- and high-risk groups based on the optimal cut-off values (0.45℃, 0.55℃, and 0.15℃). Binary logistic regression result showed that the risks of grade ≥ 2 radiodermatitis in the high-risk group were 5.71, 4.29, and 5.15 times those in the low-risk group, respectively ( OR = 5.71, 95% CI 1.81-17.99, P = 0.003; OR = 4.29, 95% CI 1.65-11.12, P = 0.003; OR = 5.15, 95% CI 2.16-12.31, P < 0.001). Conclusions:Skin temperature monitoring using medical infrared thermometers can be used to effectively predict the occurrence of grade ≥ 2 radiodermatitis. The skin temperature changes in the radiotherapy area should be closely observed. The risk of grade ≥ 2 radiodermatitis will increase when the mean and maximum relative temperature differences of the chest wall increase by 0.45℃ and 0.55℃, respectively under 40 Gy/20 fractions of radiotherapy or when the relative temperature differences of the supraclavicular block increases by 0.15℃ under 30 Gy/15 fractions of radiotherapy.

Objective To explore the influencing factors for long-term poor prognosis of patients with acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion(LVO-AIS)in the course of intravascular treatment.Methods A total of 123 LVO-AIS patients undergoing vascular recanalization in Department of Neurology of Tianmen First People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were consecutively recruited,and according to their modified Rankin Scale(mRS)score at 90 d after surgery,they were divided into good prognosis group(mRS≤2,n=58)and poor prognosis group(mRS＞2,n=65).Their general clinical data were compared between the two groups.Multi-variate logistic regression analysis was applied to identify the risk factors of poor prognosis in LVO-AIS patients.Results The good ratio of collateral circulation in good prognosis group was higher than that in poor prognosis group(94.83％vs 47.69％,P＜0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age(OR=1.092,95％CI:0.989-1.205,P=0.046),diabetes(OR=0.122,95％CI:0.026-0.561,P=0.007),symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage(OR=0.038,95％C I:0.002-0.656,P=0.024),and poor collateral circulation(OR=0.037,95％CI:0.007-0.196,P=0.000)were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in LVO-AIS patients after intravascular treatment.Conclusion For the LVO-AIS patients,those with advanced age,di-abetes,symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and poor collateral circulation are prone to poor prognosis after intravascular treatment.

Objective:To investigate the expression of WT1 gene in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and explore its clinical characteristics and correlation with the prognosis of ALL.Methods:The clinical data of 183 children with newly diagnosed ALL in Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2015 to May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The expression level of WT1 gene in bone marrow samples was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The children were followed up to June 2021 with a median follow-up time of 46 months (0 to 63 months).Results:Among 183 children with ALL, the WT1 gene positive was in 130 cases (71.04%), and the expression level was 1.41% (0.26%, 6.73%); WT1 gene negative was in 53 cases (28.96%). The expression levels of WT1 gene in children with T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), non-hyperdiploid and middle/high-risk were significantly increased, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05 or <0.01); however, there were no statistical differences in the expression levels of WT1 gene between children with different gender, chromosome karyotype, hepatosplenomegaly and the first diagnosis white blood cell count ( P>0.05). There were no statistical differences in complete remission rate and recurrence rate after induction chemotherapy between WT1 gene positive children and WT1 gene negative children: 87.69% (114/130) vs. 86.79% (46/53) and 16.15% (21/130) vs. 18.87% (10/53), P>0.05. By the end of follow-up, 179 children were followed up, and there was no statistical difference in survival rate between WT1 gene positive children and WT1 gene negative children: 89.68% (113/126) vs. 86.79% (46/53), P>0.05. Among the children with WT1 gene positive, relapse was in 21 cases, and there was no statistical difference in the expression level of WT1 gene after complete remission or after relapse, compared with that while the first diagnosis ( P>0.05); among non-relapse children, 96 completed the detection, the expression level of WT1 gene after complete remission was significantly lower than the first diagnosis: 0.17% (0.04%, 0.49%) vs. 2.01% (0.41%, 8.82%), and there was statistical difference ( P<0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis result showed there was no statistical difference in survival time between WT1 gene positive children and WT1 gene negative children ( P>0.05). According to the median expression level of WT1 gene (1.41%), the children with WT1 gene positive were divided into high expression (66 cases) and low expression (64 cases), there was no statistical difference in survival time between high expression children and low expression children ( P>0.05). Conclusions:WT1 gene is commonly expressed in children with ALL and is associated with some clinical features and prognosis of the children. Decreased WT1 gene expression may result in better prognosis.

Objective:The study aimed to investigate the association between lesion location and post-stroke depression (PSD) in acute ischemic stroke patients.Methods:In this case-control study, acute ischemic stroke patients were recruited from the Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), between September 2020 and June 2021. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria, the patients were divided into the PSD and non-PSD groups. The 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate the severity of depression. The Student′s t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and Chi-square test were used to compare the clinical baseline characteristics of PSD and non-PSD groups. Voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM) was applied to investigate the association between lesion location and depression occurrence and severity. Results:A total of 70 and 173 patients were admitted to the PSD and non-PSD groups, respectively. The mean age of patients was 59 years (23-86). There were 153 males and 90 females. Univariate analysis showed a significant difference only in Hamilton Anxiety ( P=0.025) and Depression ( P<0.001) scores between the PSD and non-PSD groups. VLSM analysis identified clusters within the anterior cingulate gyrus ( Z=-3.05, P<0.001), left hippocampus ( Z=-3.15, P<0.001), and left lingual lobe ( Z=-3.08, P<0.001) where lesions were significantly associated with PSD. Additionally, the severity of PSD was associated with damage in the anterior cingulate gyrus ( Z=-3.64, P<0.001), left hippocampus ( Z=-3.51, P<0.001), left lingual lobe ( Z=-4.18, P<0.001), and pericalcarine cortex ( Z=-3.65, P<0.001). Conclusion:VLSM demonstrated that lesion location could be used to predict the occurrence of PSD in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

A 10-day-old male infant presented with skin erythema and blisters for 6 days. Skin examination showed scattered or confluent erythema all over the body, tense blisters of varying sizes on the normal skin or an erythematous base, and some blisters were ulcerated and erosive; bloody bullae and erythematous erosive patches could be seen on the oral mucosa. Histopathological examination revealed subepidermal blisters, and there were some neutrophils and a few eosinophils in the blisters. Direct immunofluorescence assay showed homogeneous linear IgA and granular C3 deposits along the basement membrane zone, without IgG deposits. The diagnosis of neonatal linear IgA bullous dermatosis was confirmed. After comprehensive treatments including nutritional support and anti-infection treatment, skin erythema and blisters subsided, and the mucosal damage was attenuated. The telephone follow-up 16 months after discharge showed that the infant was in good general condition with normal growth and development, and the oral mucosal lesions had subsided and healed, without new skin lesions.

Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most common cancers in urology,whose pathogenesis is still unclear. Methyltransferase-like 3(METTL3) is the most important part of N6-methyladenosine methyltransferase complex (m6A MTC),which mediates the methylation of mRNA to regulate the stability and translation process of mRNA. Researches have shown that METTL3 can promote BCa development via AFF4/NF-κB/MYC signaling network,which involves many kinds of signaling molecules. In addition,METTL3 can affect the expressions of AFF4,NF-κB and MYC,so as to affect their downstream signaling pathways and finally promote the malignant progression of tumor.