BACKGROUND:Ursolic acid can promote the directed differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts.However,there are few reports on whether ursolic acid has osteogenic effect on human periodontal ligament stem cells. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of ursolic acid on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells. METHODS:The human periodontal ligament stem cells were isolated and cultured.Passage 3 cells were selected and treated with ordinary medium containing different concentrations(0,1,2,4,6,8 μmol/L)of ursolic acid.After intervention for 1,3,5,7 days,the cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay and the appropriate intervention concentration was screened.Passage 3 human periodontal ligament stem cells were treated with osteogenic induction solution containing 0,1,2,4 μmol/L ursolic acid,respectively.After 7 days of intervention,the mRNA expressions of alkaline phosphatase,Runx2,and osteocalcin were detected by qRT-PCR.After 14 days of intervention,the formation of mineralized nodules was observed by alizarin red staining.Passage 3 human periodontal ligament stem cells were taken and the control group was added with osteogenic induction solution;the ursolic acid group and the antagonist group were added with osteogenic induction solution containing ursolic acid(2 μmol/L)and the bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway antagonist Noggin,respectively.The ursolic acid+antagonist group was added with osteogenic induction solution containing ursolic acid(2 μmol/L)and Noggin,the inhibitor of bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway,and cultured for 7 days.qRT-PCR and western blot assay were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2,Smad1,osteopontin,and Runx2. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)1,2,4 μmol/L ursolic acid could promote the proliferation of human periodontal ligament stem cells.6,8 μmol/L ursolic acid could inhibit the proliferation of human periodontal ligament stem cells,and 1,2,4 μmol/L ursolic acid was selected to intervene in subsequent experiments.(2)Compared with 0 μmol/L,1,2,4 μmol/L ursolic acid could promote the expression of alkaline phosphatase,Runx2,and osteocalcin mRNA and the formation of mineralized nodules(P<0.05),and the effect of 2 μmol/L ursolic acid was the most significant.(3)Compared with the control group,the mRNA and protein expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2,Smad1,osteopontin,and Runx2 in the ursolic acid group were increased(P<0.05),while mRNA and protein expressions of the above indexes were decreased in the antagonist group(P<0.05).Compared with the ursolic acid group,mRNA and protein expressions of above indexes were decreased in ursolic acid+antagonist group(P<0.05).(4)The results indicate that ursolic acid promotes osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells through bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Objective To evaluate the environmental radioactive safety level in China, monitor the radioactivity of strontium-90 (⁹⁰Sr) in seafood from selected marine regions of China, and optimize the di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) extraction chromatography method for determining Sr-90 in seafood. Methods In 2023, seafoods of fish, shrimp, shellfish, and seaweed were collected from the Shandong Province (Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea) and Hainan Province (South China Sea). The levels of Sr in the samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). The ⁹⁰Sr separation were performed using HDEHP extraction chromatography, while the recovery of ⁹⁰Sr were determined by the gravitmetry with the assistant of ICP-AES. Results The content of strontium in seafoods varies greatly, and excessive strontium and calcium in seafood may lead to overestimated recovery due to insufficient leaching during chromatographic separation by HDEHP extraction. Therefore, the yttrium content in the eluent should be analyzed by ICP . The radioactivity of ⁹⁰Sr in seafood from the sea areas in Shandong Province was 0.22-1.85 Bq/kg (dry weight), and that of seafood from Hainan Province was 0.19-1.82 Bq/kg (dry weight). Conclusion For the analysis of shirmp and seaweed samples, the recovery rate of ⁹⁰Sr should be analyzed using both gravimetry and ICP-AES. There is no significant linear correlation between total Sr and ⁹⁰Sr in seafood. There is no significant difference in ⁹⁰Sr radioactivity between the seafood samples collected from Shandong and Hainan. The ⁹⁰Sr radioactivity levels of all 28 samples are below the limit specified in the Limited concentrations of radioactive materials in foods (GB 14882—1994) and are within the range of environmental background fluctuations.

Objective To organize a nationwide interlaboratory comparison for measurement of gross α and gross β radioactivity in water, and improve the laboratory analysis of gross α and gross β radioactivity in water. Methods A unified comparison protocol was developed by the organizers. The groundwater with high natural radioactivity was used as water sample and distributed randomly to the participating laboratories. The participating laboratories used routine analytical methods to measure the samples and provided information such as analytical results, original records, and test reports. The results were evaluated using z-score. Results A total of 76 laboratories participated in the comparison, all employing the evaporation concentration-α/β counting method. Among them, 69 laboratories achieved |z| ≤ 2 for both gross α and gross β radioactivity measurements, and 32 laboratories achieved |z| ≤ 0.50 for both gross α and gross β radioactivity measurements. There were 69 laboratories with qualified results and 30 laboratories with excellent results, yielding a qualified rate of 90.8% and an excellent rate of 39.5%. Seven laboratories showed unqualified results and the unqualified rate was 9.2%. Conclusion Most laboratories have the ability to analyze gross α and gross β radioactivity in water. The main reasons for the deviation in comparison results are calibration efficiency, errors in the total residue mass caused by improper water sample processing operations. By analyzing the main technical problems existed in unqualified laboratories, their ability for measurement of gross α and gross β radioactivity in water has been improved.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors of pain during ultrasound-guided puncture sclerotherapy in the treatment of ovarian chocolate cyst(OEC).Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 209 OEC patients undergoing ultrasound-guided puncture sclerotherapy in our department from September 2021 to September 2023.Demographic data,medical history and surgical information were collected.According to surgical approach,they were divided into transabdominal surgery group(n=57)and transvaginal surgery group(n=152).Pain scores were assessed at 5 surgical time points:needle insertion,irrigation,displacement,sclerosis,and needle withdrawal.Pain scores were compared between the 2 groups at each surgical moment.According to the pain scores at the moments of needle insertion and replacement,the patients were divided into the no/mild pain group(pain score ≤ 3)and the moderate/severe pain group(pain score ≥4),and the related factors of the incidence of moderate/severe pain were analyzed.Results There was no statistical difference in intraoperative pain between different surgical approaches(transabdominal/transvaginal)in treating OEC under the guidance of ultrasound.At the moment of needle insertion,significantly higher incidence of moderate/severe pain was observed in the patients with a body mass index(BMI)＞23.9 kg/m2 than those with BMI ≤23.9 kg/m2,and those with a history of dysmenorrhea than those without(P＜0.05).At the time point of displacement,BMI and history of dysmenorrhea had no correlation with the incidence of moderate/severe pain.Age,obstetric history,mode of delivery,time of menarche,menstrual volume,history of pelvic surgery,history of combined adenomyosis,size of cysts,duration of surgery,and surgical approach had no notable impacts on intraoperative pain.Conclusion Different surgical approaches for ultrasound-guided puncture sclerotherapy of OEC have no effect on pain levels at various surgical moments.From the aspect of humanistic care,transabdominal puncture should be preferred.During needle insertion and displacement,particular attention should be given to the overweight patients and those with a history of dysmenorrhea,and appropriate pain intervention measures should be formulated.

Forensic medicine has been designated as a first-level discipline,presenting new opportunities and challenges for the development of forensic medicine.Since the 1980s,the establishment of foren-sic medicine discipline and the cultivation of high-level forensic talents have become hot topics in the development of forensic medicine in China.Since the 13th Five-Year Plan,the forensic team of Shanxi Medical University has been aiming at the forefront,proposing the development goals of"Five First-class"and the discipline development path"Six Major Achievements".It has selected benchmark disci-plines,identified gaps in disciplinary development,unified thoughts,formulated completion timelines,concentrated superior resources,assigned tasks to individuals,and created an"Organized Fill-in-the-Blank Format"forensic medicine discipline construction model with the characteristics of the new era.The construction model of forensic medicine has achieved good results in the goals,discipline frame-work,scientific research,talent cultivation,discipline team and platform construction,forming a rela-tively complete discipline construction and management system,and accumulating valuable experience for the construction of first-level discipline and high-level talent cultivation of forensic medicine.

Objective:To summarize the medication law and academic experience of Professor Yuan Jinsheng in the treatment of angina pectoris (AP) of coronary heart disease (CHD) through R language data mining technique.Methods:The effective outpatient medical records of Professor Yuan Jinsheng in the treatment of AP of CHD from January 1, 2016 to September 30, 2023 were selected, and the R 4.2.3 was used for frequency statistics, association rule analysis, systematic clustering analysis and correlation analysis of prescription drugs.Results:A total of 292 prescriptions were included, including 268 patients, involving 204 kinds of Chinese materia medica, and the total frequency of Chinese materia medica was 4 253 times. The main properties were warm and neutral, the main tastes were bitter, pungent and sweet, and the main meridians were spleen, lung and liver meridians. The analysis of association rules obtained 125 core TCM combinations, and the commonly used drug pair was Trichosanthis Fructus-Aurantii Fructus Immaturus. The core prescription composed of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Trichosanthis Fructus, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium and Salviea Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Seven TCM groups of were obtained by systematic clustering analysis. Correlation analysis showed that the drug pairs with phi coefficient greater than 0.6 were in 8 groups.Conclusions:Studies suggest that AP of CHD is located in the heart, which is related to lung, spleen, liver and kidney, deficiency in root and excess in superficiality, phlegm, blood stasis and qi stagnation are important pathological factors. The treatment is based on the basic principles of tonifying qi, promoting yang, relieving rheumatism, resolving phlegm, activating blood circulation, and promoting qi circulation. It embodies Professor Yuan's academic thoughts and principles of differentiation and treatments of "taking fluency as the main point, regulating the five internal organs and weighing the root and superficiality".

Objective To explore the characteristics and distribution patterns of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndromes in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis(IPA).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 232 IPA patients who were admitted at Dongguan Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine between August 2019 and August 2024.General clinical data and TCM symptom information were collected to establish a database of TCM syndrome for IPA.Factor analysis and cluster analysis were performed,and the results were interpreted by combining with clinical practice to investigate the distribution patterns of TCM syndromes.Results Among 232 IPA patients,42 TCM syndrome factors were identified after excluding the syndrome factors with the frequency below 5%.The common TCM symptoms of IPA were frequent cough,wheezing,dry cough without sputum or with scant sputum,thick or purulent sputum,and chest tightness and distress,all having the frequency above 65%.Integrated factor analysis and cluster analyse revealed five major TCM syndrome patterns:phlegm-heat congesting the lung syndrome(29.74%),phlegm-damp accumulating in the lung syndrome(20.26%),qi-yin deficiency syndrome(23.28%),lung-kidney qi deficiency syndrome(15.09%),and deficient-fire scorching the lung syndrome(11.64%).The fundamental pathogenesis of IPA was characterized by deficiency in the origin and excess in the superficiality,and deficiency interweaved with excess.IPA primarily involved the lung,with secondary involvement of the spleen and kidney.Conclusion Phlegm-heat congesting the lung syndrome is the most common TCM syndrome pattern in IPA patients,reflecting a complexity of deficiency in the origin and excess in the superficiality,and deficiency interweaved with excess.Treatment of IPA should prioritize clearing heat and resolving phlegm,while adjunctive strategies such as drying dampness and resolving phlegm,tonifying qi and nourishing yin,supplementing lung and kidney,or nourishing yin to purge fire,should be tailored to specific syndrome manifestations.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of filiform-heated needle stimulation on myofascial trigger points(MTrPs)based on the"pivot mechanism"theory in treating neck-shoulder myofascial pain syndrome(MPS).Methods Sixty-four patients diagnosed with neck-shoulder MPS from the Acupuncture Department(inpatient and outpatient)of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Dongguan Hospital between January 2023 and September 2023 were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an observation group using a random number table,with 32 cases per group.The control group received oral administration of Celecoxib Capsules,while the observation group received additional filiform-heated needle therapy.The treatment duration was 2 weeks and 1 course per week.Clinical efficacy was evaluated after 2 weeks,with observing the changes in the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire(SF-MPQ)scores,Neck Disability Index(NDI)scores.The cervical range of motion(ROM)was compared between the two groups.Results(1)After treatment,the SF-MPQ scores of the two groups of patients were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving the SF-MPQ scores,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the NDI scores of patients in the two groups were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving the NDI scores,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the cervical joint mobility of patients in the two groups was significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving cervical joint mobility,with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).(4)The total effective rate was 96.88%(31/32)in the observation group and 84.38%(27/32)in the control group.The efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Filiform-heated needle stimulation on MTrPs based on the"pivot mechanism"theory significantly alleviates pain,improves soft tissue injury,and enhances neck-shoulder mobility in patients with neck-shoulder MPS,demonstrating remarkable clinical efficacy.