OBJECTIVE: To reveal the molecular basis of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome by analyzing the gene expression profiles in synovial fluid and blood of KOA patients with this syndrome. METHODS: A total of 80 KOA patients were recruited from October 2022 to June 2024, including 40 cases in the non-Yang deficiency and blood stasis group (27 males and 13 females), with an average age of (61.75±3.45) years old;and 40 cases in the Yang deficiency and blood stasis group (22 males and 18 females), with an average age of (62.00±2.76) years old. The levels of body mass index (BMI), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), fibrinogen, total cholesterol, and D-dimer were recorded and summarized. Blood and synovial fluid samples from patients were collected for gene expression profile microarray sequencing, and then PCR and immunohistochemistry were used for clinical verification on the patients' synovial fluid and cartilage samples. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with KOA patients with non-Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, those with Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome had increased BMI, LDL, fibrinogen, total cholesterol, and D-dimer, and decreased HDL, with a clear correlation between the two groups. There were 562 differential genes in the blood, among which 322 were up-regulated and 240 were down-regulated;755 differential genes were found in the synovial fluid, with 350 up-regulated and 405 down-regulated. KEGG signaling pathway analysis of synovial fluid revealed changes in lipid metabolism-related pathways, including cholesterol metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and PPARG signaling pathway. Analysis of the involved differential genes identified 6 genes in synovial fluid that were closely related to lipid metabolism, namely LRP1, LPL, ACOT6, TM6SF2, DGKK, and PPARG. Subsequently, PCR and immunohistochemical verification were performed using synovial fluid and cartilage samples, and the results were consistent with those of microarray sequencing. CONCLUSION This study explores the clinical and genomic correlation between traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and knee osteoarthritis from the perspective of lipid metabolism, and proves that abnormal lipid metabolism is closely related to KOA with Yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome from both clinical and basic aspects.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Synovial Fluid/metabolism* ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism* ; Yang Deficiency/complications* ; Aged

Objective:To conduct a scoping review of research on the self-advocacy of adult cancer patients to identify their self-advocacy needs, behaviors, strengths and weaknesses, so as to provide guidance for future research in this field.Methods:Using the scoping review guidelines of Joanna Briggs Institute in Australia as a methodological framework, relevant literatures were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Science Direct, CINAHL, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP and China Biology Medicine disc. The search period was from establishment of the databases to December 2023, and the results were summarized and analyzed.Results:A total of 14 articles were included, and self-advocacy needs included six types of needs, such as symptom management, communication, interpersonal support, disease information, decision-making and emotional management. Self-advocacy included four aspects, including seeking information, self-decision-making, strengthening contact with the outside world and effective communication.Conclusions:Adult cancer patients have diverse types of self-advocacy needs and certain self-advocacy behaviors. Future research should pay attention to self-advocacy needs assessment, develop corresponding tools, focus on self-advocacy behaviors, leverage the advantages of self-advocacy and explore strategies to achieve effective self-advocacy support.

Objective:To conduct a scoping review of the application of mobile health applications (MHA) in the care of patients with colorectal cancer, summarizing the development process, the functions achieved, as well as the evaluation metrics, to provide references for MHA practice and related research.Methods:Following the scoping review framework, a comprehensive search was conducted across both domestic and international databases, including the China Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus. The search period was from the database inception to February, 2024.Results:A total of 16 studies were included. The development of MHA involved multiple methods including literature reviews, qualitative interviews, consultations with multidisciplinary teams, and guidance from theoretical models. The functions of MHA include health education, peer support, guided feedback, monitoring, and reminder features. Evaluation metrics for MHA comprise usability, adherence, and effectiveness.Conclusions:MHA has demonstrated positive effects in enhancing patients' knowledge and alleviating symptoms such as fatigue and vomiting in colorectal cancer patients. However, it is still in its early stages, and further high-quality studies are needed to scientifically develop MHA that meets patients' needs.

Objective:To analyze the molecular mechanism of Zhenqi Fuzheng Capsules in the adjuvant treatment of AIDS by network pharmacology method and molecular docking technology.Methods:The active components and targets of Zhenqi Fuzheng Capsules were obtained through TCMSP, and the AIDS-related targets were obtained through GeneCards, OMIM and DrugBank databases. The intersection target PPI network was constructed through STRING 11.5 database, and Cytoscape 3.9.1 software was used for network topology analysis; Metascape database was used for GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of core targets; Cytoscape 3.9.1 was used to construct Zhenqi Fuzheng Capsules component-target-pathway network; Autodock Tools software was used to carry out molecular docking of core targets and active components.Results:Totally 31 active components and 180 targets of Zhenqi Fuzheng Capsules were screened out. TNF, IL6, AKT1, IL1B, TP53, VEGFA, RELA, EGFR and CASP3 were identified as the core targets. GO functional enrichment analysis obtained 1 436 biological processes, 53 cellular components, and 117 molecular functions. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis obtained 167 pathways, which were related to pathways in cancer, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, and IL-17 signaling pathway was closely related. Molecular docking results showed that core targets such as AKT1 and TNF had good binding activity to quercetin, kaempferol, and luteolin.Conclusion:The main active components of Zhenqi Fuzheng Capsules in the adjuvant treatment of AIDS are quercetin, kaempferol and luteolin, which may treat AIDS through the IL-17 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the involvement of endothelial cells (ECs)-derived exosomes in the anti-apoptotic effect of Danhong Injection (DHI) and the mechanism of DHI-induced exosomal protection against postinfarction myocardial apoptosis. METHODS: A mouse permanent myocardial infarction (MI) model was established, followed by a 14-day daily treatment with DHI, DHI plus GW4869 (an exosomal inhibitor), or saline. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-induced ECs-derived exosomes were isolated, analyzed by miRNA microarray and validated by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). The exosomes induced by DHI (DHI-exo), PBS (PBS-exo), or DHI+GW4869 (GW-exo) were isolated and injected into the peri-infarct zone following MI. The protective effects of DHI and DHI-exo on MI hearts were measured by echocardiography, Masson's trichrome staining, and TUNEL apoptosis assay. The Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate the expression levels of miR-125b/p53-mediated pathway components, including miR-125b, p53, Bak, Bax, and caspase-3 activities. RESULTS: DHI significantly improved cardiac function and reduced infarct size in MI mice (P<0.01), which was abolished by the GW4869 intervention. DHI promoted the exosomal secretion in ECs (P<0.01). According to the results of exosomal miRNA microarray assay, 30 differentially expressed miRNAs in the DHI-exo were identified (28 up-regulated miRNAs and 2 down-regulated miRNAs). Among them, DHI significantly elevated miR-125b level in DHI-exo and DHI-treated ECs, a recognized apoptotic inhibitor impeding p53 signaling (P<0.05). Remarkably, treatment with DHI and DHI-exo attenuated apoptosis, elevated miR-125b expression level, inhibited capsase-3 activity, and down-regulated the expression levels of proapoptotic effectors (p53, Bak, and Bax) in post-MI hearts, whereas these effects were blocked by GW4869 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION DHI and DHI-induced exosomes inhibited apoptosis, promoted the miR-125b expression level, and regulated the p53 apoptotic pathway in post-infarction myocardium.
Mice ; Animals ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy* ; Apoptosis ; MicroRNAs/metabolism*

Objective: To construct a recombinant lentiviral vector for mouse miR-204 overexpression, and to verify the targeted regulation of miR-204 and DVL3 in silica (SiO(2)) -induced mouse lung epithelial cells (MLE-12 cells) . Methods: In October 2019, the pre-miR-204 gene was amplified from the mouse genome by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. After sequencing, the amplified product was cloned into the pLenti-CMV-EGFP lentiviral vector. The positive clones were identified by PCR screening and sequencing. The miR-204 overexpressed lentiviral vector was transfected into 293T cells, and lentiviral packaging and titer determination were performed. The experiment was divided into SiO(2) control group, virus control group, and miR-204 virus group, and the expressions of miR-204 and DVL3 gene were detected by real-time PCR. Results: The miR-204 lentiviral expression vector Lv-miR-204-5p was constructed and identified correctly by PCR and sequencing, and a virus dilution with a titer of 9.57×10(8) IU/ml was obtained. The results of real-time PCR showed that the expression of miR-204 in MLE-12 cells of the miR-204 virus group was higher than that of SiO(2) control group and virus control group, and the expression of DVL3 gene was lower than that of SiO(2) control group and virus control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Overexpression of miR-204 by lentiviral vector may inhibit the expression of DVL3 gene in silica-induced mouse lung epithelial cells.
Animals ; Epithelial Cells ; Genetic Vectors ; Lentivirus/metabolism* ; Lung ; Mice ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Silicon Dioxide/toxicity* ; Transfection

ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of basal ATP concentration in CD4 T lymphocytes instead of CD4/CD8 ratio in assessing the immune status of tuberculosis-infected patients. MethodsIn this study， the CD4 and CD8 cells in the same volume of whole blood were separated by magnetic beads method， and the basal ATP concentration of CD4 and CD8 cells was calculated to evaluate the immune status of tuberculosis-infected patients. Quantiferon Monitor （QFM） assay was used as a control. ResultsOur study confirmed that traditional CD4/CD8 ratio andCD4 T cell counting methodswerenot suitable for TB patients. Using the basal ATP concentration of CD4 cells to monitor active tuberculosis patients and healthy people， when the cut-off value was 290.7×10^-6 g/L， the sensitivity was 86.21%， and the specificity was 76.19%， and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.000 1）.【Conclussions】In this study， to the best of our knowledge， we have for the first time used the basal ATP concentration in CD4⁺ T lymphocytes to evaluate the immune status of tuberculosis-infected patients under non-external stimulation conditions. It is suggested that the basal ATP concentration of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes can be better used to evaluate the immune status of tuberculosis patients than CD4/CD8 ratio.

Objective: To compare the application effect of the colonoscopy, fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and novel risk-adapted screening approach in colorectal cancer screening in Xuzhou population. Methods: From May 2018 to April 2019, 4 280 subjects aged 50-74 were recruited from Gulou district, Yunlong district and Quanshan district of Xuzhou. They were randomly assigned to the colonoscopy group (n=863), FIT group (n=1 723) and novel risk-adapted screening approach group (n=1 694) according to the ratio of 1∶2∶2. For the novel risk-adapted screening approach group, after the risk assessment, high-risk subjects were invited to undergo colonoscopy and low-risk subjects were invited to undergo FIT examination. All FIT positive subjects were invited to undergo colonoscopy. Colonoscopy participation rate [(the number of colonoscopies completed/the number of colonoscopies invited to participate)×100%], detection rate of colorectal lesions [(the number of diagnosed patients/the number of colonoscopies completed)×100%], colonoscopy resource load (the number of colonoscopies completed/the number of diagnosed advanced tumors) and FIT resource load in each group were calculated and compared. Results: The age of all subjects was (61±6) years old, including 1 816 males (42.43%). There was no statistically significant difference in the socio-demographic characteristics of the subjects in different screening groups. The colonoscopy participation rate was 22.60% (195/863) in the colonoscopy group, 57.04% (77/135) in the FIT group, and 33.94% (149/439) in the novel risk-adapted screening approach group, respectively. The colonoscopy participation rate was higher in the FIT group than in the colonoscopy group and the novel risk-adapted screening approach group (P<0.001). The colonoscopy participation rate of novel risk-adapted screening group was significantly higher than the colonoscopy group (P<0.001). The detection rates of advanced tumors were 6.67% (13/195), 9.09% (7/77) and 8.72% (13/149), respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The colonoscopy resource load (95%CI) was 15 (13-17) in the colonoscopy group, 11 (9-14) in the FIT group and 11 (10-13) in the novel risk-adapted screening approach group, respectively. Among them, the colonoscopy resource load of high-risk individuals in the novel risk-adapted screening approach group was 12 (9-15). FIT resource loads (95%CI) were 207 (196-218) and 88 (83-94) in the FIT group and the novel risk-adapted screening approach group. Conclusion: The combined application of risk-adapted screening approach and FIT may have a good application effect in colorectal cancer screening.
Aged ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Feces ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Occult Blood