Objective:To investigate the liver-protective effect of Peipi Shugan Decoction (PSD) in rats with liver fibrosis through network pharmacology and experimental animal models.Methods:TCMSP was used to retrieve the active components of Peipi Shugan Decoction, GeneCards database was used to obtain the liver fibrosis related targets, and Venny 2.1 was used to obtain the intersection targets. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING 12.0 database, and Go function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed through David database. A total of 60 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into two groups: a blank control group ( n=10) and a model establishment group ( n=50) with random number table method. Liver fibrosis models were induced in the model group by intraperitoneal injection of a 40% CCl?- olive oil solution. After successful modeling, the rats were randomly assigned to the following groups ( n=10 per group): model group, colchicine group, and Peipi Shugan Decoction low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups. The colchicine group received colchicine suspension at 0.2 ml/kg via intragastric administration. Peipi Shugan Decoction low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups were administered the decoction at dosages of 2.81, 5.63, and 11.25 g/kg, respectively. The blank control and model groups received an equal volume of normal saline. All treatments were administered once daily for 8 consecutive weeks. HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe the morphological changes of liver tissue and the deposition of collagen fibers. he levels of GPT, GOT and ALP were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. The expressions of JAK2/STAT1 signaling pathway related proteins, α - smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Collagen Ⅰ in rat liver were detected by Western blot. The expression of α-SMA protein in liver tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. The number and ratio of CD4 + T cells and CD8 + T cells in liver tissue were analyzed by flow cytometry. The levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in serum were detected by ELISA. Results:A total of 94 active components were screened out from Peipi Shugan Decoction; the prediction analysis results revealed that this compound formula shared 122 common targets with liver fibrosis diseases; The top five core targets with degree values in the PPI network are AKT1, TNF, IL-6, TP53, and IL-1β. GO enrichment analysis further indicated that Peipi Shugan Decoction mainly achieved anti-liver fibrosis effects by regulating JAK2/STAT1 signaling pathway and other mechanisms. Compared with the model group, the colchicine group and Peipi Shugan Decoction low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups exhibited decreased serum levels of GPT, GOT, ALP, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β ( P<0.05), as well as reduced expression of α-SMA in liver tissue ( P<0.05). Peipi Shugan Decoction medium- and high-dosage groups showed increased protein expression of p-STAT1/STAT1 in liver tissue ( P<0.05), while Peipi Shugan Decoction high-dosage group demonstrated decreased α-SMA protein expression ( P<0.05). Additionally, Peipi Shugan Decoction medium- and high-dosage groups exhibited reduced expressions of CD4 + and CD8 + ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Peipi Shugan Decoction has the characteristics of multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway in the treatment of liver fibrosis. Its mechanism is mainly related to activating the JAK2/STAT1 signaling pathway, inhibiting cellular inflammatory responses and hindering the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC).

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants have made COVID-19 convalescents susceptible to re-infection and have raised concern about the efficacy of inactivated vaccination in neutralization against emerging variants and antigen-specific B cell response. To this end, a study on a long-term cohort of 208 participants who have recovered from COVID-19 was conducted, and the participants were followed up at 3.3 (Visit 1), 9.2 (Visit 2), and 18.5 (Visit 3) months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. They were classified into three groups (no-vaccination (n = 54), one-dose (n = 62), and two-dose (n = 92) groups) on the basis of the administration of inactivated vaccination. The neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers against the wild-type virus continued to decrease in the no-vaccination group, but they rose significantly in the one-dose and two-dose groups, with the highest NAb titers being observed in the two-dose group at Visit 3. The NAb titers against the Delta variant for the no-vaccination, one-dose, and two-dose groups decreased by 3.3, 1.9, and 2.3 folds relative to the wild-type virus, respectively, and those against the Omicron variant decreased by 7.0, 4.0, and 3.8 folds, respectively. Similarly, the responses of SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific B cells and memory B cells were boosted by the second vaccine dose. Results showed that the convalescents benefited from the administration of the inactivated vaccine (one or two doses), which enhanced neutralization against highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variants and memory B cell responses. Two doses of inactivated vaccine among COVID-19 convalescents are therefore recommended for the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic, and vaccination guidelines and policies need to be updated.

Objective To study mechanical properties of porous scaffolds with lattice Weaire-Phelan (LWP) structure and precisely simulate the whole process of compression test using finite element method. Methods The Ti6Al4V (TC4) porous scaffolds with different porosities were manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM) technology, and their mechanical properties were measured by uniaxial compressive tests, and compared with those of human bones and porous scaffolds with other cellular structures. Four types of material models were verified for their effects on the simulation of porous scaffold compression. Results LWP samples presented the elastic modulus close to that of human cancellous bone and significantly higher yield strength than that of cortical bone in most parts of human body. Compared with other scaffold structures, LWP samples exhibited the lowest elastic modulus and highest yield strength. The simulated results derived from the proposed material model in this study, namely, Johnson-Cook constitutive model and failure model based on dynamic geometric strain (JCDG), were proved very consistent with the experimental data. Conclusions LWP scaffolds as the bone repair biomaterials exhibite more excellent mechanical properties than the scaffolds with other structures. JCDG is more beneficial for establishing the reasonable simulation model of porous scaffolds compression, compared with other reported material models.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the improvement effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) fosinopril, perindopril and benazepril on ventricular remodeling in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to evaluate its safety. METHODS: A total of 96 AMI patients selected from our hospital during Jan. 2014-Oct. 2016 were divided into group A, B, C according to random number table, with 32 cases in each group. All patients received symptomatic treatment, underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, and then given ACEI after blood vessels recanalization and keeping blood pressure stable. Group A was given Fosinopril sodium tablets 10 mg, qd; group B was given Perindopril tert-butylamine tablets 4 mg, qd; group C was given Benazepril hydrochloride tablets 10 mg, qd. All groups were treated for consecutive 6 months. Cardiac structure and function indexes (LVESD, LVEDD, IVSD, LVPWD, LVEF, CO), hemodynamic indexes (SBP, DBP, HR) and related lab indexes (FPG, TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, AST, ALT, Scr, BUN) of 3 groups were observed before and after treatment. The occurrence of ADR was recorded. RESULTS: Before treatment, there was no statistical significance in cardiac structure and function indexes, hemodynamic indexes or related lab indexes among 3 groups (P＞0. 05). After treatment, the levels of LVESD, LVEDD, LVPWD, CO, HR, FPG, TG, TC and LDL-C in 3 groups were decreased significantly, while the levels of LVEF and SBP were increased significantly, with statistical significance (尸＜0. 05). There was no statistical significance in above indexes among 3 groups after treatment (P＞0. 05). After treatment, the level of Scr in group B was significantly increased and higher than group A and C, with statistical significance (P＜0. 05). There was no statistical significance in the levels of IVSD, DBP, HDL-C, AST, ALT or BUN among 3 groups before and after treatment as well as the level of Scr between group A and C (P＞ 0. 05). There was no statistical significance in the incidence of ADR among 3 groups(P＞0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: Fosinopril, perindopril and benazepril can significantly improve ventricular remodeling in AMI patients, narrowing the heart cavity, increasing systolic pressure, lowering heart rate, reducing the oxygen consumption of the ventricle, with similar effects. Perindopril may increase the level of Scr, so fosinopril and benazepril are safe and suitable for AMI patients with renal function disorder.