OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism through which Danggui buxue decoction regulates neutrophil extracellular traps （NETs） to improve osteoporosis （OP） in rats with premature ovarian failure （POF）. METHODS Female SD rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， calcitriol group， and Danggui buxue decoction low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups， with 9 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， all other groups were administered cisplatin via intraperitoneal injection on days 1 and 8 to establish a POF complicated with OP model. Each group received the corresponding drugs or normal saline intragastrically starting from day 5， once a day， for 4 consecutive weeks. After the last medication， serum levels of estradiol （E2）， NETs， 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25（OH）D3]， receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand （RANKL）， and osteocalcin （BGP） were measured. The histopathological changes in bone tissue were observed. The expressions of vitamin D receptor （VDR）， myeloperoxidase （MPO）， neutrophil elastase （NE） and citrullinated histone H3 （CitH3） in bone tissue were detected； the protein expressions of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1α-hydroxylase （CYP27B1） and 1α，25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase （CYP24A1） were also determined. RESULTS Compared with the normal group， the bone tissue of rats in the model group showed a significant reduction in the number of trabeculae， which was thinner broken and poorly connected， with significant destruction of the reticular structure， and an enlarged marrow cavity. Serum levels of NETs and RANKL， the protein expressions of MPO， NE， CitH3 and CYP24A1 in bone tissue were significantly increased or upregulated， while serum levels of E2， 25（OH）D3 and BGP as well as protein expressions of VDR and CYP27B1 were significantly decreased or downregulated （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， the histopathological changes in the bone tissue of rats in each administration group showed some degree of recovery， with significant improvements observed in most quantitative indicators （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Danggui buxue decoction can restore the E2 level in POF complicated with OP rats， and improve OP. The mechanism may be related to its ability to upregulate VD level and inhibit the formation of NETs.

BACKGROUND: The main cause of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is the excessive proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Lin28a has been reported to play critical regulatory roles in this process. However, whether CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins β (C/EBPβ) binds to the Lin28a promoter and drives the progression of restenosis has not been clarified. Therefore, in the present study, we aim to clarify the role of C/EBPβ-Lin28a axis in restenosis. METHODS: Restenosis and atherosclerosis rat models of type 2 diabetes ( n   =  20, for each group) were established by subjecting to PTA. Subsequently, the difference in DNA methylation status and expression of C/EBPβ between the two groups were assessed. EdU, Transwell, and rescue assays were performed to assess the effect of C/EBPβ on the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. DNA methylation status was further assessed using Methyltarget sequencing. The interaction between Lin28a and ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) was analysed using co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay. Student's t -test and one-way analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: C/EBPβ expression was upregulated and accompanied by hypomethylation of its promoter in restenosis when compared with atherosclerosis. In vitroC/EBPβ overexpression facilitated the proliferation and migration of VSMCs and was associated with increased Lin28a expression. Conversely, C/EBPβ knockdown resulted in the opposite effects. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays further demonstrated that C/EBPβ could directly bind to Lin28a promoter. Increased C/EBPβ expression and enhanced proliferation and migration of VSMCs were observed after decitabine treatment. Further, mechanical stretch promoted C/EBPβ and Lin28a expression accompanied by C/EBPβ hypomethylation. Additionally, Lin28a overexpression reduced C/EBPβ methylation via recruiting TET1 and enhanced C/EBPβ-mediated proliferation and migration of VSMCs. The opposite was noted in Lin28a knockdown cells. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the C/EBPβ-Lin28a axis is a driver of restenosis progression, and presents a promising therapeutic target for restenosis.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Cell Movement/genetics* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism* ; Rats ; DNA Methylation/physiology* ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta/genetics* ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/cytology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Cells, Cultured ; Coronary Restenosis/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To construct a Z-score regression model for coronary artery diameter based on echocardiographic data from children in Sichuan Province and to establish a Z-score calculation formula. METHODS: A total of 744 healthy children who underwent physical examinations at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were selected as the modeling group, while 251 children diagnosed with Kawasaki disease at the same hospital from January 2018 to December 2022 were selected as the validation group. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to analyze the relationships between coronary artery diameter values and age, height, weight, and body surface area. A regression model was constructed using function transformation to identify the optimal regression model and establish the Z-score calculation formula, which was then validated. RESULTS: The Pearson correlation analysis showed that the correlation coefficients for the diameters of the left main coronary artery, left anterior descending artery, left circumflex artery, and right coronary artery with body surface area were 0.815, 0.793, 0.704, and 0.802, respectively (P<0.05). Among the constructed regression models, the power function regression model demonstrated the best performance and was therefore chosen as the optimal model for establishing the Z-score calculation formula. Based on this Z-score calculation formula, the detection rate of coronary artery lesions was found to be 21.5% (54/251), which was higher than the detection rate based on absolute values of coronary artery diameter. Notably, in the left anterior descending and left circumflex arteries, the detection rate of coronary artery lesions using this Z-score calculation formula was higher than that of previous classic Z-score calculation formulas. CONCLUSIONS The Z-score calculation formula established based on the power function regression model has a higher detection rate for coronary artery lesions, providing a strong reference for clinicians, particularly in assessing coronary artery lesions in children with Kawasaki disease.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Infant ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Regression Analysis ; Coronary Vessels/diagnostic imaging* ; Echocardiography ; Adolescent

As space stations steadily progress into the application and development stage,astronauts will be regularly rotated for space missions,and the impact of the space environment on human health will become an important research topic.Under microgravity,astronauts lose 1%～2%bone mass per month.Astronauts'health phenotype,as well as animal experiments conducted in space,have shown that microgravity leads to significant loss of weight-bearing bone and reduction of ultimate loading in bones.Due to the limited conditions,it is not easy to conduct experiments in space,so various animal models have been used for simulated microgravity experiments to study the mechanisms of bone loss.This review summarizes many studies on osteoporosis under space microgravity and simulated microgravity on the ground,describing different types of bone loss and underlying molecular mechanisms caused by microgravity,as well as the similarities and differences of current conclusions.In addition,this review summarizes the effects of non-bone tissues such as muscles on bone loss under microgravity,and the current measures adopted in the space station to prevent osteoporosis.

Objective To assess the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy(CIN)in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension(CTEPH)after receiving balloon pulmonary angioplasty(BPA),and to evaluate the effect of the contrast agents on renal function.Methods A total of 143 CTEPH patients,who received BPA at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital of China from December 2018 to May 2022,were enrolled in this study.The clinical data,hemodynamic indicators,and serum creatinine(SC)concentrations within one week before and 48-72 h after BPA were collected.The estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)was calculated according to the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease(MDRD)formula.The SC concentration and eGFR changes before and after each BPA procedure were compared.The incidence of CIN and its risk factors were evaluated,and the changes in hemodynamics,SC and eGFR after the initial and last time of BPA treatment were analyzed.Results A total of 192 BPA procedures were performed in 115 CTEPH patients,including 88 BPA procedures in males and 103 BPA procedures in females.The mean amount of contrast agent used for each BPA was(145.58±47.26)mL.After BPA,12 patients developed 13 times of CIN,with an incidence of 6.8％.There was no significant differences(P＞0.05)in the baseline characteristics and SC concentration before BPA between CIN patients and non-CIN patients.In terms of the hemodynamic indexes,the mixed venous oxygen saturation(SvO2)in CIN patients was significantly lower than that in non-CIN patients(58.58％±10.38％vs.66.15％±8.02％,P=0.002),and no statistically significant differences(P＞0.05)in the other hemodynamic indexes existed between CIN group and non-CIN group.No statistically significant differences in SC concentration and eGFR existed before and after each BPA procedure.In patients who had received several BPA procedures,significant improvements in the SC[(78.09±18.760)μmol/L vs.(82.26±21.37)μmol/L,P＜0.001]and eGFR[(86.08±21.22)mL/(min·1.73 m2)vs.(82.07±22.05)mL/(min·1.73 m2),P=0.007]was achieved when compared with their baseline values.Conclusion CTEPH patients may develop CIN after receiving BPA treatment.After receiving several BPA treatments the patient's clinical symptoms and hemodynamics can be improved,and the patient's renal function is also significantly improved.

Overtraining is a condition characterized by various functional disorders or pathological states caused by continuous fatigue, which occurs after a persisting imbalance between training-related load and physical function and recovery. Generally speaking, it’s a state of imbalance between training and recovery, exercise and exercise performance, and stress and stress tolerance. Overtraining can cause various phenotypic changes or pathological remodeling, such as decreased skeletal muscle strength and exhaustive exercise endurance, skeletal muscle fatigue damage and dysfunction, skeletal muscle atrophy and loss, skeletal muscle glycogen depletion, skeletal muscle soreness and stiffness, skeletal muscle glucose intolerance, inattention, memory decline, anxiety, depression, abnormal emotions and behaviors, sleep disorders, cognitive function impairment, poor appetite, weight loss, liver/heart fat deposition, compensatory increase of liver/heart insulin signaling and glycogen storage, cardiac pathological hypertrophy, exercise-induced arrhythmias, myocardial fibrosis, ectopic and visceral fat deposition, and increased risk of injury. Unfortunately, its underlying mechanism is largely unclear. Recently, the enrichment of molecular and cellular signal pathway theory offers us a new explanatory paradigm for revealing its internal mechanisms. Based on the traditional explanation mechanisms and molecular and cellular signal pathway theory, we thoroughly analyzed the key mechanisms of health damage caused by overtraining from the perspective of oxidative stress, mitochondrial quality control disorder, inflammatory response, endoplasmic reticulum stress, cell apoptosis, and so forth. Specifically, overtraining-induced excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to serious oxidative stress damage in organisms at least via depressing Kelch like ECH associated protein 1(Keap1)/nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) antioxidant pathway and activating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling pathway. Overtraining induces mitochondrial quality control disorder and mitochondrial dysfunction, and thus triggers health impairment through inhibiting mitochondrial biogenesis and fusion, stimulating mitochondrial fission, and over-activating autophagy/mitophagy. Overtraining can also produce muscle, skeletal and joint trauma, then circulating monocytes are abundantly activated by injury-related cytokines, and in turn generate large quantities of proinflammatory IL-1β, IL-6, TNF‑α, causing systemic inflammation and inflammatory health injury. Overtraining induces excessive pathological endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and severe health damage via PERK-eIF2α, IRE1α-XBP1 and ATF6 pathways which activated by proinflammatory signals. Overtraining also induces excessive apoptosis and harmful health consequences via Bax/Bcl2-Caspase 3-mediated mitoptosis which activated by oxidative stress and inflammation or even CHOP and Caspase 12-dependent ERS apoptosis. Nonetheless, it should be importantly emphasized that oxidative stress and inflammation are the central and pre-emptive mechanisms of overtraining and its health damage. Although the efficient strategies for preventing and controlling overtraining are scientifically and reasonably arranging and planning training intensity, training volume, and recovery period, as well as accurately assessing and monitoring physical function status in the early stage, yet various anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, or anti-aging drugs such as curcumin, astaxanthin, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, silibinin, hibiscus sabdariffa, dasatinib, quercetin, hydroxytyrosol, complex probiotics, astragalus polysaccharides, semaglutide and fasudil also have an irreplaceable positive effect on preventing overtraining and its relevant health damage via depressing oxidative stress, mitochondrial quality control disorder, proinflammatory signals, endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis and so on. We hope that this review can help us further grasp the features, mechanisms and regularity of overtraining, and provide an important reference for athletes and sports fan to conduct scientific training, improve training effectiveness, extend exercise lifespan, and promote physical and mental health.

Tablets represent the most widely used oral solid dosage form in the pharmaceutical industry. Puerarin monohydrate (PUEM), a solid form of the natural antihypertensive drug puerarin, is commercially available. However, the low solubility of PUEM poses a significant challenge for the development of its tablet dosage form. In this study, we successfully prepared the sodium chelates of puerarin (PUE-Na·7H₂O) using reactive crystallization techniques. The crystal structure of PUE-Na·7H₂O was analyzed using single crystal technology, which revealed the structural characteristics of its metal chelate. Our thermodynamic studies demonstrated that the formation of PUE-Na·7H₂O involved the simultaneous deprotonation of PUE and the chelation of PUE^- and Na⁺. This reaction process was spontaneous and exothermic (ΔG < 0, ΔH < 0), and reducing the temperature facilitated the formation of the chelate. Nucleation kinetics studies revealed that chelate molecules were more likely to nucleate and crystallize under low temperature, high concentration, and high rotational speed conditions. Compared to commercially available PUEM, PUE-Na·7H₂O showed significantly improved water solubility, with a 33.5-fold increase in solubility and a 37.6-fold decrease in intrinsic dissolution rate. Our study identified drug-sodium chelation as an effective means for improving drug solubility and elucidated the mechanisms governing its formation kinetics and thermodynamics. These findings could provide new solutions for related product development and tremendous commercial opportunities.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect and safety of Jiuxin Pill （救心丸） on exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with stable angina pectoris （SAP）. MethodsA randomised， double-blind， placebo-controlled， multicentre study design was used to enroll 170 patients of SAP from nine centres， which were divided into 85 patients each in the trial group and control group with 1∶1 ratio. Both groups maintained the original western medicine treatment plan， and added Jiuxin Pill or placebo respectively， 2 pills （0.05 g） each time twicely for 28 days. The main outcomes were total exercise time （TED） in the exercise treadmill test and Seattle Angina Questionnaire （SAQ） scores including physical limitation （PL）， angina stability （AS）， angina frequency （AF）， treatment satisfaction （TS）， and disease perception （DP）. The secondary outcomes were exercise treadmill test indicators including heart rate recovery in 1 min （HRR1）， metabolic equivalents （METs）， maximum magnitude of ST-segment depression， and the Borg rating of perceived exertion scale， the average number of angina attacks per week， withdrawal and reduction rate of nitroglycerin， traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores， incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events. Safety indicators were evaluated and the occurrence of adverse events during the trial was recorded. Data was collected before treatment， day 28±2 in treatment period， and follow-up at day 56 which is 28±2 days after treatment period finished. ResultsEighty-four and eighty-five patients respectively from trial group and control group were included to the full analysis set （FAS） and safety analysis set （SS）. Compared with the group before treatment and with the control group after treatment， the trial group had higher TED， HRR1， and METs， and lower maximum magnitude of ST-segment depression and Borg rating of perceived exertion scores after treatment （P＜0.01）. Compared with the group before treatment and with the control group after treatment and at follow-up， the total SAQ score and scores of AS， AF， TS and DP of the trial group after treatment and at follow-up elevated， while the average number of angina attacks per week and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores reduced （P＜0.01）. There was no statistically significant difference in the withdrawal and reduction rate of nitroglycerin between groups （P＞0.05）. Major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 1 case （1/84， 1.19%） in the trial group and 1 case （1/85， 1.18%） in the control group， and the difference between groups was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. A total of 3 cases of adverse events occurred in the trial group （3/84， 3.57%）， and a total of 6 cases of adverse events occurred in the control group （6/85， 7.06%）， and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between groups （P＞0.05）. ConclusionIn the treatment of SAP， Jiuxin Pill combined with conventional western medicine can further enhance exercise tolerance， improve quality of life， and demonstrate great safety.

In the context of "New Era" and "New Medicine", the teaching team of laboratory diagnostics proposed a new teaching method of PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Action) cycle to innovate the instructional design and implementation of laboratory diagnosis on the base of traditional teaching model. Through optimizing the curriculum system, integrating superior resources, taking full advantage of information technology, mobilizing the virtual simulation laboratory, implementing moral education and multiple comprehensive evaluation results, the self-learning enthusiasm, innovation and development ability of students were improved significantly, accompanied with high humanistic care spirit. Moreover, the enthusiasm of participating in scientific research activities and professional competitions was enhanced obviously. Therefore, we believe that the PDCA cycle, with notable successes, deserves high promotion value and wide application.