Chronic pancreatitis （CP） is a common disease in clinical practice characterized by progressive inflammatory fibrosis of the pancreas. Gut microbiota， known as the “second genome” of humans， bidirectionally modulates the progression of fibrosis in CP via the gut-pancreas axis. This article systematically elaborates on the characteristics of gut microbiota during the progression of CP and its molecular mechanism in mediating pancreatic fibrosis through bacterial translocation， metabolites， immune regulatory networks， and microbe-pancreatic stellate cell interactions， with a focus on the pivotal role of short-chain fatty acids and inflammatory cytokine networks in pancreatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix deposition. In addition， this article explores the potential value of gut microbiota-targeted interventions in the prevention and treatment of CP fibrosis， such as probiotics， prebiotics， and fecal microbiota transplantation， and discusses the translational potential of using multi-omics technologies to identify diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for CP， in order to provide new ideas for the precise diagnosis and treatment of CP.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of endovascular treatment for ruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (VADAs), with a focus on endovascular protocols tailored to different anatomical subtypes. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 44 consecutive patients with ruptured VADAs treated from December 2014 to October 2024. Treatment strategies were guided by aneurysm location: parent artery occlusion (PAO) was used for lesions in non-dominant VAs, while stent-assisted coiling (SAC) reconstruction was used for aneurysms in dominant VAs. Patients were stratified by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 3-month follow-up (favorable: mRS 0–2; unfavorable: mRS 3–6). Results: All procedures were technically successful, including 12 single SAC, 13 overlapping SAC, and 19 with PAO (2 involving posterior inferior cerebellar artery preservation). Immediate complete occlusion was achieved in 50.0% of single SAC cases, 76.9% overlapping SAC, and 100% in the PAO group. Six (13.6%) procedure-related complications occurred, including 2 hemorrhagic and 4 ischemic events. Thirty patients (68.2%) had favorable outcomes, and the unfavorable outcomes group showed a higher incidence of ischemic events (P=0.012). An initial poor Hunt–Hess grade (≥IV) was an independent risk factor for unfavorable outcomes (odds ratio 6.35, 95% confidence interval 1.24–32.59; P=0.027). Angiographic follow-up was performed for 34 aneurysms, with complete occlusion achieved in 32 (94.1%); the remaining 2 patients were retreated. Conclusion Endovascular management is safe and effective for ruptured VADAs. Anatomical stratification—PAO for non-dominant VA lesions and SAC for dominant VA aneurysms—may help achieve favorable outcomes.

Short-chain fatty acids （SCFA） are the main metabolic products generated by the fermentation of dietary fiber by gut microbiota. Studies have shown that SCFA not only play a role in energy metabolism， but also act as important signaling molecules， exhibiting a significant potential in alleviating liver and pancreatic fibrosis. The core mechanism of SCFA mainly involves the regulation of various key signaling pathways by activating G protein-coupled receptors and inhibiting the activity of histone deacetylase， thereby suppressing the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cell （HSC） and pancreatic stellate cell （PSC）， which is a key link in fibrosis formation. In addition， SCFA can effectively alleviate tissue inflammation response， improve intestinal barrier function， and regulate gut microbiota balance， thus indirectly preventing the process of fibrosis mediated by the “gut-liver/pancreas axis”. Compared with the research on SCFA in liver fibrosis， studies on their role in pancreatic fibrosis are limited. Given that HSC and PSC are highly homologous， the transcription factors and proteins that have been confirmed in liver fibrosis-related studies are also similarly expressed in PSC， suggesting that they may also influence the activation of PSC. This article systematically summarizes the recent advances in the research on SCFA in alleviating liver and pancreatic fibrosis， in order to provide new perspectives for exploring the mechanism of pancreatic fibrosis and developing related interventional strategies.

Objective To establish an electrical field(EF)stimulation model for Schwann cells(SCs),and to provide a basis for exploring the mechanisms of EF stimulation in promoting proliferation,migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of SCs.Methods A YC-3 bipolar programmable electrical stimulator and an electrotaxis chamber were used to construct an EF stimulation system to stimulate SCs.In the study,SCs were divided into control group(Ctrl)receiving no EF stimulation and EF group stimulated by continuous constant-voltage EF(100 mV/mm,3 h).The effects of EF stimulation on the proliferation and migration of SCs were analyzed using CCK-8 assay,and wound healing assay+Transwell assay,separately;and its effect on SCs adhesion was observed by analyzing the expressions of E-cadherin and N-cadherin using Western Blot.Results The CCK-8 assay results suggested that the absorbance at 450 nm was significantly higher in EF group than in Ctrl group(P<0.05).The results of wound healing assay+Transwell assay revealed that EF group had higher cell migration efficiency than Ctrl group(P<0.05).Western Blot results showed decreased E-cadherin expression and increased N-cadherin expression in EF group as compared with Ctrl group(P<0.05).Conclusion The improved EF stimulation system for SCs is operable.EF stimulation can promote the proliferation and migration of SCs.The decreased E-cadherin expression and increased N-cadherin expression may be related to the occurrence of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in SCs after EF stimulation.

Aim To investigate the promotive effects and mechanisms of the combined use of brucine(Bru)and lumbrokinase(LK),active ingredient derived from Longma formula,in promoting chondrocyte proliferation via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Methods The extracted primary rat chondrocytes were divided in-to the following groups:Control group,Bru,LK alone group,and Bro+LK combination group.The optimal drug concentration and intervention time were deter-mined using CCK-8 assay,followed by cell proliferation validation through EdU and phalloidin staining.The expression levels of collagen Ⅱ,aggrecan and SRY-re-lated high-mobility group box gene 9(SOX9)in chon-drocytes following intervention with the combination of Bru and LK were detected by Western blotting.Addi-tionally,the regulatory effects of these proteins on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were also investiga-ted.Results The optimal combination concentration of Longma formula active ingredients(Bru 0.025 mg·L-1+LK 5 mg·L-1)significantly enhanced chondro-cyte viability compared to control,Bru,or LK alone at 48 h.This combination increased the S-phase ratio,promoted the aggregation of intracellular actin fila-ments,and upregulated the expression of collagen Ⅱ and aggrecan.Furthermore,it activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,leading to increased SOX9 expres-sion.Conclusions The optimal combination of Bru and LK(Bru 0.025 mg·L-1+LK 5 mg·L-1)de-rived from Longma formula significantly maintains chondrocyte phenotype and promotes cellular prolifera-tion through the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signa-ling pathway,which subsequently upregulates the downstream target SOX9.

Diabetic nephropathy(DN)is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of end-stage renal diseases.In DN patients,key pathological mechanisms include proteinuria,glomerulo-sclerosis,and fibrosis,largely driven by poor glycemic control and oxidative stress caused by prolonged hyperglycemia.This stress damages renal podocytes and triggers inflammatory mesenchymal infiltration of renal tubular cells,exacerbating the progression of proteinuria and fibrosis.Human umbilical cord-de-rived mesenchymal stem cells(hUC-MSCs)offer promising potential for treating DN due to their strong anti-oxidative properties.In this study,we developed a DN mouse model and treated the mouse via tail vein injections of hUC-MSCs(1×106 cells/mouse).The results indicated that hUC-MSCs significantly lowered fasting blood glucose levels(22.5±3.0 vs 14.7±1.1,P＜0.01)and improved glucose toler-ance,as shown by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test(IPGTT)results(P＜0.05).Additionally,the renal function improved in hUC-MSCs-treated mice,with marked reductions in oxidative stress markers,including blood urea nitrogen(BUN),urinary creatinine(Ucr),urinary protein(PRO),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and malondialdehyde(MDA)(P＜0.05).Histological analyses through hematoxy-lin-eosin(H&E),Periodic Acid-Schiff(PAS),and Sirius red staining demonstrated alleviation of glo-merular mesangial hyperplasia,glomerular hypertrophy,and tubular inflammation.Furthermore,hUC-MSCs treatment downregulated the expression of oxidative stress-related proteins,such as NADPH oxi-dase 4(NOX4)and thioredoxin-interacting protein(TXNIP),and reduced reactive oxygen species(ROS)production(P＜0.05).Meanwhile,human renal cortical proximal tubule epithelial cells(HK-2 cells)were selected for validation in vitro experiments using high glucose treatment followed by super-natants of hUC-MSCs(MSC-CM),and Western blotting showed that the expression of both NOX4 and TXNIP was inhibited(P＜0.05)and ROS expression was reduced.In conclusion,hUC-MSC treatment effectively lowered blood glucose levels and improved renal function in DN mice,likely through the sup-pression of NOX4 expression and TXNIP-mediated oxidative stress.

Aim To investigate the promotive effects and mechanisms of the combined use of brucine(Bru)and lumbrokinase(LK),active ingredient derived from Longma formula,in promoting chondrocyte proliferation via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Methods The extracted primary rat chondrocytes were divided in-to the following groups:Control group,Bru,LK alone group,and Bro+LK combination group.The optimal drug concentration and intervention time were deter-mined using CCK-8 assay,followed by cell proliferation validation through EdU and phalloidin staining.The expression levels of collagen Ⅱ,aggrecan and SRY-re-lated high-mobility group box gene 9(SOX9)in chon-drocytes following intervention with the combination of Bru and LK were detected by Western blotting.Addi-tionally,the regulatory effects of these proteins on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were also investiga-ted.Results The optimal combination concentration of Longma formula active ingredients(Bru 0.025 mg·L-1+LK 5 mg·L-1)significantly enhanced chondro-cyte viability compared to control,Bru,or LK alone at 48 h.This combination increased the S-phase ratio,promoted the aggregation of intracellular actin fila-ments,and upregulated the expression of collagen Ⅱ and aggrecan.Furthermore,it activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,leading to increased SOX9 expres-sion.Conclusions The optimal combination of Bru and LK(Bru 0.025 mg·L-1+LK 5 mg·L-1)de-rived from Longma formula significantly maintains chondrocyte phenotype and promotes cellular prolifera-tion through the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signa-ling pathway,which subsequently upregulates the downstream target SOX9.

Objective:To observe the changes in choroidal morphology and blood perfusion in patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) after intravitreal injections of ranibizumab.Methods:A cohort study was performed.A total of 157 patients (157 eyes) with macular edema secondary to monocular acute retinal vein occlusion (RVO) were enrolled in the Third People's Hospital of Dalian from January 2022 to March 2023.There were 66 cases (66 eyes) with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and 91 cases (91 eyes) with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).All patients were treated with 3+ pro re nata (PRN) regimen of ranibizumab.Before and 1 month after each injection, the central retinal thickness of the macula was measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT).Clear images of the choroid were obtained using the OCT enhanced depth scan mode.Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), the nasal choroidal thickness at 1 500 μm of macula (CT N1.5 mm), the temporal choroidal thickness at 1 500 μm of macula (CT T1.5 mm) were measured and mean macular thickness (CT Mean) was calculated.Binarization of choroidal images processed by ImageJ software was used to analyze luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA) and total choroidal area (TCA), and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) was calculated.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Third People's Hospital of Dalian (No.2023-145-001).Results:SFCT, CT T1.5 mm, CT N1.5 mm, CT Mean, LA, SA, TCA and CVI of RVO eyes were higher than those of the contralateral eyes and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01).CT Mean in CRVO group was (326.99±64.92)μm, which was higher than (299.80±73.08)μm in BRVO group, with a statistically significant difference ( t=2.41, P=0.02).Baseline CVI values in CRVO group and BRVO group were (72.50±5.62)% and (72.33±5.85)%, respectively, with no significant difference ( t=0.187, P=0.85).In eyes with RVO, CRVO and BRVO, SFCT, CT T1.5 mm, CT N1.5 mm, CT Mean, LA, SA, TCA and CVI after every injection were lower than the baseline and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05).In eyes with CRVO, there was no significant difference in LA and CVI between first and second injections (both P>0.05), and SFCT, CT T1.5 mm, CT N1.5 mm, CT Mean, SA and TCA after second injection were lower than those after first injection with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05).In eyes with BRVO, there was no significant difference in SA and CVI between first and second injections (both P>0.05), and SFCT, CT T1.5 mm, CT N1.5 mm, CT Mean, LA and TCA after second injection were lower than those after first injection with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05).In eyes with RVO, CRVO and BRVO, there was no significant difference in SFCT, CT T1.5 mm, CT N1.5 mm, CT Mean, SA, TCA and CVI between second and third injections (all P>0.05). Conclusions:After intravitreal injection of ranibizumab, the choroidal thickness becomes thinner and CVI decreases in eyes with macular edema secondary to RVO, and remain relatively stable after the second injection.

Anatomy of laboratory animals plays an important role in laboratory animal science,veterinary medicine,and other life sciences.Integrating mind mapping into the entire teaching process can effectively help teachers to optimize the organization of teaching contents and stimulate students' enthusiasm and self-motivation for learning.This manuscript aims to explore the feasibility,advantages,and challenges of applying mind-mapping tools for teaching anatomy of laboratory animals.We analyze the different application scenarios from the perspectives of both teachers and students,with the aim of providing practical teaching tools and methodologies to enhance instructional effectiveness in the teaching of anatomy of laboratory animals.

Objective:To observe the changes in choroidal morphology and blood perfusion in patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) after intravitreal injections of ranibizumab.Methods:A cohort study was performed.A total of 157 patients (157 eyes) with macular edema secondary to monocular acute retinal vein occlusion (RVO) were enrolled in the Third People's Hospital of Dalian from January 2022 to March 2023.There were 66 cases (66 eyes) with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and 91 cases (91 eyes) with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).All patients were treated with 3+ pro re nata (PRN) regimen of ranibizumab.Before and 1 month after each injection, the central retinal thickness of the macula was measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT).Clear images of the choroid were obtained using the OCT enhanced depth scan mode.Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), the nasal choroidal thickness at 1 500 μm of macula (CT N1.5 mm), the temporal choroidal thickness at 1 500 μm of macula (CT T1.5 mm) were measured and mean macular thickness (CT Mean) was calculated.Binarization of choroidal images processed by ImageJ software was used to analyze luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA) and total choroidal area (TCA), and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) was calculated.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Third People's Hospital of Dalian (No.2023-145-001).Results:SFCT, CT T1.5 mm, CT N1.5 mm, CT Mean, LA, SA, TCA and CVI of RVO eyes were higher than those of the contralateral eyes and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01).CT Mean in CRVO group was (326.99±64.92)μm, which was higher than (299.80±73.08)μm in BRVO group, with a statistically significant difference ( t=2.41, P=0.02).Baseline CVI values in CRVO group and BRVO group were (72.50±5.62)% and (72.33±5.85)%, respectively, with no significant difference ( t=0.187, P=0.85).In eyes with RVO, CRVO and BRVO, SFCT, CT T1.5 mm, CT N1.5 mm, CT Mean, LA, SA, TCA and CVI after every injection were lower than the baseline and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05).In eyes with CRVO, there was no significant difference in LA and CVI between first and second injections (both P>0.05), and SFCT, CT T1.5 mm, CT N1.5 mm, CT Mean, SA and TCA after second injection were lower than those after first injection with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05).In eyes with BRVO, there was no significant difference in SA and CVI between first and second injections (both P>0.05), and SFCT, CT T1.5 mm, CT N1.5 mm, CT Mean, LA and TCA after second injection were lower than those after first injection with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05).In eyes with RVO, CRVO and BRVO, there was no significant difference in SFCT, CT T1.5 mm, CT N1.5 mm, CT Mean, SA, TCA and CVI between second and third injections (all P>0.05). Conclusions:After intravitreal injection of ranibizumab, the choroidal thickness becomes thinner and CVI decreases in eyes with macular edema secondary to RVO, and remain relatively stable after the second injection.