Objective To explore the protective effect of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone(7,8-DHF)on the retina of diabetic rats and its mechanism.Methods A total of 18 SPF-grade male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were selected and randomly divided into three groups:the normal group,the model group,and the experimental group,with six rats in each group.Rats in the normal group were fed with a normal diet,while those in the remaining two groups were fed with a high-fat emulsion through oral gavage continuously for 2 weeks to establish a diabetes model.Rats in the experimental group were provided with 7,8-DHF(5 mg?kg-1)by continuous intraperitoneal injection,while those in the normal and model groups were provided with an equal volume of normal saline.The rats in all groups received intervention once a day for 2 weeks.The changes in the body mass and fasting blood glucose(FBG)were observed before and after modeling.Besides,the changes in the retina of rats in each group were observed by fundus fluorescence angiography(FFA)after 2 weeks.Moreo-ver,the changes and apoptosis of retinal neuronal cells were detected by hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining,CD31 im-munofluorescence,and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)assays.Results After 2 weeks of continuous intervention,compared with the normal group,the body mass of rats in the model and experimental groups decreased(both P＜0.05),and the FBG increased significantly(both P＜0.05);compared with the model group,the experimental group showed an increase in the body mass(P＜0.05)and a decrease in the FBG(P＜0.05).The fundus photography and FFA of rats in the three groups did not reveal any fundus features of diabetic retinopathy.The HE staining results showed that the retina of rats in the normal and experimental groups was structurally intact,with neatly arranged cells and uniform thickness;the retinal structure of rats in the model group remained clear.However,the thickness of the inner layers of the retina of rats in the model group was thinner compared with the normal and experimental groups,exhibi-ting significant differences(both P＜0.05).The CD31 immunofluorescence assay results indicated that the CD31 immuno-fluorescence intensity values of rats in the three groups were roughly comparable,without significant differences(all P＞0.05).The TUNEL assay results suggested that the apoptosis of retinal neurons increased in rats in the model group com-pared with the normal group,exhibiting significant differences(P＜0.001);compared with the model group,the apoptosis of retinal neurons of rats in the experimental group decreased significantly,displaying significant differences(P＜0.001).Conclusion The apoptosis of retinal neurons in diabetic rats may precede vascular endothelial cell injury.7,8-DHF can improve the body mass,decrease the blood glucose level,and protect the retinal neurons in diabetic rats.

Objective:To preliminarily explore therapeutic effects and possible molecular mechanisms of sinomenine on atopic dermatitis (AD) -like mouse models.Methods:Thirty female BALB/c mice (6 - 8 weeks old) were randomly divided into 5 groups: blank control group, model group, positive control group, topical sinomenine group, and oral sinomenine group. Except for the blank control group, all groups were subjected to repeated topical stimulation with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) on the dorsal skin to establish an AD-like mouse model. After modeling, no special treatment was given to the blank control group, the positive control group was topically treated with 100 μg of 0.1% mometasone furoate cream twice daily on the lesions, the topical sinomenine group was topically treated with 100 μl of 10 mg/ml sinomenine solution twice daily on the lesions, and the oral sinomenine group was gavaged with sinomenine solution at a dose of 100 mg·kg -1·d -1 (100 μl per dose, twice daily) . Treatments lasted for 14 days. Twelve hours after the final treatment, the severity of skin lesions in each group was assessed. Blood samples were collected via enucleation, and serum levels of interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-6, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . Histopathological changes in dorsal skin lesions were observed, and immunohistochemical study was performed to detect the expression levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor (NF) -κB p65 in skin tissues, expressed as the percentage of the immunopositive area. One-way analysis of variance was used for multiple group comparisons, while Tukey′s test or the Games-Howell test was applied for post-hoc comparisons between groups. Results:Compared with the blank control group, the model group exhibited epidermal hyperkeratosis with parakeratosis, thickening of the spinous layer, spongiosis, significant inflammatory cell infiltration, and prominent angiogenesis. In contrast, the positive control group, topical sinomenine group, and oral sinomenine group showed reduced spinous layer thicknesses, decreased inflammatory cell infiltration, and less pronounced angiogenesis compared to the model group. In the blank control group, model group, positive control group, topical sinomenine group, and oral sinomenine group, the severity scores of skin lesions were 0, 8.83 ± 0.75, 4.33 ± 1.08, 2.58 ± 0.49, 2.83 ± 0.93 respectively, the serum levels of IL-1β were 52.58 ± 1.72, 168.40 ± 7.23, 57.07 ± 6.39, 85.74 ± 4.15, 100.30 ± 11.55 pg/ml respectively, IL-6 levels were 86.88 ± 4.60, 215.00 ± 5.02, 79.34 ± 4.91, 127.20 ± 1.06, 149.00 ± 6.21 pg/ml respectively, IgE levels were 2 159.00 ± 176.00, 3 493.00 ± 89.61, 2 294.00 ± 158.10, 2 550.00 ± 214.70, 2 814.00 ± 119.70 μg/ml respectively, the expression levels of p38 MAPK in skin tissues were 3.03% ± 3.38%, 12.95% ± 6.89%, 2.14% ± 1.28%, 5.28% ± 3.71%, 3.85% ± 2.26% respectively, and NF-κB p65 expression levels were 0.61% ± 0.49%, 18.92% ± 6.96%, 3.77% ± 1.90%, 5.66% ± 2.28%, 6.25% ± 3.14% respectively; the differences in all the above parameters were statistically significant among groups (all P < 0.05) . Compared with the blank control group, the model group had significantly increased skin lesion severity scores, serum IL-1β, IL-6, and IgE levels, as well as elevated expression of p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 in skin tissues (all P < 0.01) . Compared with the model group, the positive control group, topical sinomenine group, and oral sinomenine group showed significantly reduced skin lesion severity scores, decreased serum IL-1β, IL-6, and IgE levels, and lower expression of p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 in skin tissues (all P < 0.05) . Compared with the positive control group, the topical and oral sinomenine groups exhibited further reductions in skin lesion severity scores (both P < 0.05) . Additionally, the topical sinomenine group showed significantly lower serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 compared with the oral sinomenine group (both P < 0.05) . Conclusion:Sinomenine solution could obviously alleviate the severity of skin lesions in AD-like mouse models, likely by down-regulating the expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and IgE, inhibiting the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway, and thus reducing the degree of inflammation.

Objective:To preliminarily explore therapeutic effects and possible molecular mechanisms of sinomenine on atopic dermatitis (AD) -like mouse models.Methods:Thirty female BALB/c mice (6 - 8 weeks old) were randomly divided into 5 groups: blank control group, model group, positive control group, topical sinomenine group, and oral sinomenine group. Except for the blank control group, all groups were subjected to repeated topical stimulation with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) on the dorsal skin to establish an AD-like mouse model. After modeling, no special treatment was given to the blank control group, the positive control group was topically treated with 100 μg of 0.1% mometasone furoate cream twice daily on the lesions, the topical sinomenine group was topically treated with 100 μl of 10 mg/ml sinomenine solution twice daily on the lesions, and the oral sinomenine group was gavaged with sinomenine solution at a dose of 100 mg·kg -1·d -1 (100 μl per dose, twice daily) . Treatments lasted for 14 days. Twelve hours after the final treatment, the severity of skin lesions in each group was assessed. Blood samples were collected via enucleation, and serum levels of interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-6, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . Histopathological changes in dorsal skin lesions were observed, and immunohistochemical study was performed to detect the expression levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor (NF) -κB p65 in skin tissues, expressed as the percentage of the immunopositive area. One-way analysis of variance was used for multiple group comparisons, while Tukey′s test or the Games-Howell test was applied for post-hoc comparisons between groups. Results:Compared with the blank control group, the model group exhibited epidermal hyperkeratosis with parakeratosis, thickening of the spinous layer, spongiosis, significant inflammatory cell infiltration, and prominent angiogenesis. In contrast, the positive control group, topical sinomenine group, and oral sinomenine group showed reduced spinous layer thicknesses, decreased inflammatory cell infiltration, and less pronounced angiogenesis compared to the model group. In the blank control group, model group, positive control group, topical sinomenine group, and oral sinomenine group, the severity scores of skin lesions were 0, 8.83 ± 0.75, 4.33 ± 1.08, 2.58 ± 0.49, 2.83 ± 0.93 respectively, the serum levels of IL-1β were 52.58 ± 1.72, 168.40 ± 7.23, 57.07 ± 6.39, 85.74 ± 4.15, 100.30 ± 11.55 pg/ml respectively, IL-6 levels were 86.88 ± 4.60, 215.00 ± 5.02, 79.34 ± 4.91, 127.20 ± 1.06, 149.00 ± 6.21 pg/ml respectively, IgE levels were 2 159.00 ± 176.00, 3 493.00 ± 89.61, 2 294.00 ± 158.10, 2 550.00 ± 214.70, 2 814.00 ± 119.70 μg/ml respectively, the expression levels of p38 MAPK in skin tissues were 3.03% ± 3.38%, 12.95% ± 6.89%, 2.14% ± 1.28%, 5.28% ± 3.71%, 3.85% ± 2.26% respectively, and NF-κB p65 expression levels were 0.61% ± 0.49%, 18.92% ± 6.96%, 3.77% ± 1.90%, 5.66% ± 2.28%, 6.25% ± 3.14% respectively; the differences in all the above parameters were statistically significant among groups (all P < 0.05) . Compared with the blank control group, the model group had significantly increased skin lesion severity scores, serum IL-1β, IL-6, and IgE levels, as well as elevated expression of p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 in skin tissues (all P < 0.01) . Compared with the model group, the positive control group, topical sinomenine group, and oral sinomenine group showed significantly reduced skin lesion severity scores, decreased serum IL-1β, IL-6, and IgE levels, and lower expression of p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 in skin tissues (all P < 0.05) . Compared with the positive control group, the topical and oral sinomenine groups exhibited further reductions in skin lesion severity scores (both P < 0.05) . Additionally, the topical sinomenine group showed significantly lower serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 compared with the oral sinomenine group (both P < 0.05) . Conclusion:Sinomenine solution could obviously alleviate the severity of skin lesions in AD-like mouse models, likely by down-regulating the expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and IgE, inhibiting the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway, and thus reducing the degree of inflammation.

Objective To explore the protective effect of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone(7,8-DHF)on the retina of diabetic rats and its mechanism.Methods A total of 18 SPF-grade male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were selected and randomly divided into three groups:the normal group,the model group,and the experimental group,with six rats in each group.Rats in the normal group were fed with a normal diet,while those in the remaining two groups were fed with a high-fat emulsion through oral gavage continuously for 2 weeks to establish a diabetes model.Rats in the experimental group were provided with 7,8-DHF(5 mg?kg-1)by continuous intraperitoneal injection,while those in the normal and model groups were provided with an equal volume of normal saline.The rats in all groups received intervention once a day for 2 weeks.The changes in the body mass and fasting blood glucose(FBG)were observed before and after modeling.Besides,the changes in the retina of rats in each group were observed by fundus fluorescence angiography(FFA)after 2 weeks.Moreo-ver,the changes and apoptosis of retinal neuronal cells were detected by hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining,CD31 im-munofluorescence,and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)assays.Results After 2 weeks of continuous intervention,compared with the normal group,the body mass of rats in the model and experimental groups decreased(both P＜0.05),and the FBG increased significantly(both P＜0.05);compared with the model group,the experimental group showed an increase in the body mass(P＜0.05)and a decrease in the FBG(P＜0.05).The fundus photography and FFA of rats in the three groups did not reveal any fundus features of diabetic retinopathy.The HE staining results showed that the retina of rats in the normal and experimental groups was structurally intact,with neatly arranged cells and uniform thickness;the retinal structure of rats in the model group remained clear.However,the thickness of the inner layers of the retina of rats in the model group was thinner compared with the normal and experimental groups,exhibi-ting significant differences(both P＜0.05).The CD31 immunofluorescence assay results indicated that the CD31 immuno-fluorescence intensity values of rats in the three groups were roughly comparable,without significant differences(all P＞0.05).The TUNEL assay results suggested that the apoptosis of retinal neurons increased in rats in the model group com-pared with the normal group,exhibiting significant differences(P＜0.001);compared with the model group,the apoptosis of retinal neurons of rats in the experimental group decreased significantly,displaying significant differences(P＜0.001).Conclusion The apoptosis of retinal neurons in diabetic rats may precede vascular endothelial cell injury.7,8-DHF can improve the body mass,decrease the blood glucose level,and protect the retinal neurons in diabetic rats.

Objective:Considering the large amount and poor quality of clinical data, this study aims to explore the establishment of high-quality research database and its role in real-world research by taking the establishment of lymphoma research database as an example.Methods:The expert opinions in the field of lymphoma were collected, and the relevant guidelines and standards were referenced to establish a standard medical knowledge dataset. The electronic diagnosis and treatment data of lymphoma patients treated in Peking University Cancer Hospital from February 2005 to December 2020 were retrospectively extracted, the deep Learning, natural language processing were adopted to build a dynamic intelligent information integration and processing system of " lymphoma database based on electronic medical record system - biological sample information database - extended genetic information database" .Results:The research database not only meets the research needs of clinical researchers, but also realizes the management of traces in the whole process of application, approval, traceability and analysis of hospital medical record data and biological sample data. The total number of research variables in the database was 668, and the structured variables accounted for 46.0%. On December 25, 2021, there were 68 687 lymphoma patients in the database, the ratio of male to female patients was 8/9, and the proportion of patients with ≥3 visits accounted for 23.0%. In addition, researchers can superimpose searches in the database according to the target conditions, display the targeted medical records according to research hypothesis, and then establish a research cohort, conducting statistical modeling, and mining data information.Conclusions:By integrating management processes and using new natural language artificial intelligence technology to establish a high-level evidence-based database, it is helpful for the interconnection and resource sharing of hospital information systems, so as to achieve the purpose of providing reliable and detailed data for real-world research.

Background Air pollution is a major public health concern. Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a very important air quality risk communication tool. However, AQHI is usually constructed by single-pollutant model, which has obvious disadvantages. Objective To construct an AQHI based on the joint effects of multiple air pollutants (J-AQHI), and to provide a scientific tool for health risk warning and risk communication of air pollution. Methods Data on non-accidental deaths in Yunnan, Guangdong, Hunan, Zhejiang, and Jilin provinces from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018 were obtained from the corresponding provincial disease surveillance points systems (DSPS), including date of death, age, gender, and cause of death. Daily meteorological (temperature and relative humidity) and air pollution data (SO₂, NO₂, CO, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and maximum 8 h O₃ concentrations) at the same period were respectively derived from China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System and National Urban Air Quality Real-time Publishing Platform. Lasso regression was first applied to select air pollutants, then a time-stratified case-crossover design was applied. Each case was matched to 3 or 4 control days which were selected on the same days of the week in the same calendar month. Then a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was used to estimate the exposure-response relationship between selected air pollutants and mortality, which was used to construct the AQHI. Finally, AQHI was classified into four levels according to the air pollutant guidance limit values from World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQG 2021), and the excess risks (ERs) were calculated to compare the AQHI based on single-pollutant model and the J-AQHI based on multi-pollutant model. Results PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂, and O₃ were selected by Lasso regression to establish DLNM model. The ERs for an interquartile range (IQR) increase and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂ and O₃ were 0.71% (0.34%–1.09%), 2.46% (1.78%–3.15%), 1.25% (0.9%–1.6%), and 0.27% (−0.11%–0.65%) respectively. The distribution of J-AQHI was right-skewed, and it was divided into four levels, with ranges of 0-1 for low risk, 2-3 for moderate risk, 4-5 for high health risk, and ≥6 for severe risk, and the corresponding proportions were 11.25%, 64.61%, 19.33%, and 4.81%, respectively. The ER (95%CI) of mortality risk increased by 3.61% (2.93–4.29) for each IQR increase of the multi-pollutant based J-AQHI , while it was 3.39% (2.68–4.11) for the single-pollutant based AQHI . Conclusion The J-AQHI generated by multi-pollutant model demonstrates the actual exposure health risk of air pollution in the population and provides new ideas for further improvement of AQHI calculation methods.

Objective:To explore any effect of combining intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) of the cerebellum with physiotherapy on the balance function and gait of stroke survivors.Methods:Thirty-two hemiplegic stroke survivors were divided at random into a treatment group and a control group, each of 16. Both groups received conventional physical therapy. Before their physiotherapy sessions the treatment group received iTBS treatment of the cerebellar hemisphere contralateral to the affected cerebral hemisphere, while the control group was given pseudo-stimulation on the same site. The iTBS was given once a day for 200s each time, 6 times a week for 3 weeks consecutively. Before and after the treatment, as well as 3 weeks later, both groups′ balance was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Their ability to shift their center of gravity, total length of their shaking trajectory, and maximum shaking diameter were also quantified. Walking ability was assessed using 10m walk test (10MWT) times and the Tinetti Gait Assessment Scale (POMA-G). Lower limb motor function was quantified using the relevant Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA-LE) and the subjects′ ability in the activities of daily living was measured with the Barthel index (BI).Results:After the 3 weeks of treatment and at the follow-up the average BBS score of the treatment group had improved significantly more than the control group′s average, as had its total track length and maximum shake diameter. The average POMA-G, FMA-LE and BI scores of the treatment group were also significantly better.Conclusions:Combining iTBS with physiotherapy can improve the balance and gait of stroke survivors more effectively than physiotherapy alone.

Breast cancer is a systemic malignant tumor caused by multiple pathogenic factors， and its pathological mechanism is complex and has not been clarified so far. It has gradually become the largest killer threatening women's life. The common method for the treatment of breast cancer is lesion resection combined with radiation and chemical therapy， endocrine therapy， or targeted therapy. However， due to the limitations of western medicine therapies， there are still considerable breast cancer patients with poor disease control and high tumor recurrence rate in clinical practice. At the same time， the side effects and complications produced by these therapies affect the quality of life of patients. Therefore， it is urgent to develop new drugs or find safe and effective alternative therapies against breast cancer. Volatile oil （VO）， as a unique volatile component of Chinese herbal medicines， has anti-inflammatory， antiviral， and anti-tumor activities. It has been applied in the treatment of breast cancer and has demonstrated good efficacy by exerting the unique effects of strengthening healthy Qi， eliminating pathogenic factors， moving Qi， resolving stasis， warming Yang， soothing liver， and relieving depression. The recent studies have confirmed that VO and its chemical components can prevent and treat breast cancer via multiple mechanisms， while there is a lack of systematic review. The relevant literature published in recent years has demonstrated that VO can inhibit the occurrence and development of breast cancer by regulating the level of estrogen， inhibiting the proliferation and inducing the apoptosis of cancer cells， enhancing immunity， resisting inflammation， and regulating emotions. We introduced the pathogenesis of breast cancer， as well as the mechanisms and advantages of VO in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer， aiming to provide new ideas for the research on VO in the treatment of breast cancer.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) presents in early childhood, and children have a higher risk of intussusception due to a smaller abdominal space than adults. Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) has been proven to be a safe and effective method for the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel lesions, but the efficacy and safety of its prophylactic polypectomy in children with PJS need to be determined. Data of 6 children (median age 10.6 years) diagnosed as having PJS from 2018 to 2020 were reviewed. DBE was performed 14 times, and 3 children were successfully relieved of intussusception after DBE treatment. The sizes of the resected intussusception polyps were 50 mm×60 mm, 40 mm×35 mm, and 50 mm×40 mm. Symptoms associated with polyps (abdominal pain, intussusception and obstruction) relieved after DBE in all children. No direct complications such as bleeding or perforation were found during the operation, and no recurrence of intussusception was found during follow-up. It can be seen that DBE polypectomy is safe and effective in the treatment of intussusception caused by PJS.

Objective:To investigate the effect of milk on sebum secretion in golden hamsters, and to explore its possible mechanism of action.Methods:Eighteen golden hamsters were randomly and equally divided into 3 groups: blank control group receiving no intervention, whole-milk group gavaged with whole milk, and skimmed-milk group gavaged with skimmed milk. The gavage feeding was performed at a dose of 2.5 ml twice a day for 4 consecutive weeks. The maximum transverse diameter and maximum longitudinal diameter of bilateral sebaceous gland spots were measured on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after the start of intervention, and the area of sebaceous gland spots was calculated; at 24 hours after the last gavage, bilateral sebaceous gland spot tissues were resected, and subjected to immunohistochemical study to determine the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) /sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) /acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC-1) signaling pathway in sebaceous gland spots. Statistical analysis was carried out by using repeated measures analysis of variance, one-way analysis of variance for independent groups, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and least significant difference- t test for multiple comparisons. Results:Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that there was no significant difference in the area of sebaceous gland spots of golden hamsters among the 3 groups ( F= 0.96, P= 0.417) . The IGF-1 expression was significantly higher in the skimmed-milk group (0.39 ± 0.03) than in the blank control group (0.35 ± 0.03, t= 2.62, P= 0.021) and whole-milk group (0.33 ± 0.02, t= 3.82, P= 0.002) ; compared with the blank control group (0.36 ± 0.02) , the skimmed-milk group showed significantly increased SREBP-1 expression (0.42 ± 0.04, t= 2.64, P= 0.021) ; the ACC-1 expression was significantly higher in the skimmed-milk group (0.40 ± 0.03) and whole-milk group (0.40 ± 0.05) than in the blank control group (0.34 ± 0.03; t= 2.39, 2.47, P= 0.031, 0.026, respectively) . Conclusion:Milk may promote sebum secretion in golden hamsters through the IGF-1/SREBP-1/ACC-1 signaling pathway.