Objective:To discuss whether safranal affects the proliferation,migration,and phenotypic transformation of the vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs)in a high-glucose environment and to clarify the function of safranal in the prevention and treatment of diabetic(DM)vascular complications.Methods:The SD rats were selected as experimental subjects;primary VSMCs were cultured from rat thoracic aortas and divided into control group,25 mmol·L-1 high glucose(HG)group,HG+20 μmol·L-1 safranal group,HG+40 μmol·L-1 safranal group,and HG+80 μmol·L-1 safranal group.The cells in control group received no treatment;the cells in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group were pretreated with 25 mmol·L-1 HG;the cells in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were further treated with 20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal respectively for 48 h on the basis of 25 mmol·L-1 HG group.Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)method was used to determine the appropriate concentration of safranal and detect the viabilities of the VSMCs in various groups;cell scratch healing assay was used to detect the scratch healing rates of the VSMCs in various groups;Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the numbers of the migration VSMCs in various groups;immunofluorescence method was used to detect the fluorescence intensities of alpha-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and rabbit anti-osteopontin(OPN)in the VSMCs in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of OPN,α-SMA,and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)in the VSMCs in various groups.Results:Under microscope,on the 4th day of in vitro culture,the spindle-shaped or triangular cells crawled out from the edge of the thoracic aorta tissue blocks,with long spindle being the most common morphology.On the 14th,the cells gradually covered the bottom of the dish;when cell density reached 80%-90%,the characteristic"hills and valleys"growth pattern appeared.Third-generation cells were taken for immunofluorescence identification;immunofluorescence staining with VSMC-specific marker α-SMA showed positive expression of α-SMA protein in the primarily cultured VSMCs.The CCK-8 assay results showed that compared with control group,the cell viability of the cells in 160 μmol·L-1 safranal group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),indicating toxic damage to the cells.Under the conditions of safranal concentrations at 20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 respectively,after 48 h intervention on VSMCs,no significant adverse effect on cell viability was observed;considering both the effect and toxicity of safranal,these three concentrations were used in subsequent cell experiments.After 48 h intervention,compared with control group,the activity of the VSMCs in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group was increased(P<0.001);compared with 25 mmol·L-1 HG group,the activities of the VSMCs in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were gradually decreased(P<0.05).The cell scratch healing assay and Transwell assay results showed that after 48 h intervention,the scratch healing rate of the VSMCs in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.01),and the number of transmembrane cells through the Transwell chamber was significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with 25 mmol·L-1 HG group,the scratch healing rates of the VSMCs in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were gradually decreased(P<0.05),and the number of transmembrane cells was decreased(P<0.05).The immunofluorescence staining results showed that compared with control group,the fluorescence intensity of α-SMA protein in the VSMCs in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group was significantly weakened(P<0.001),while the fluorescence intensity of OPN protein was significantly enhanced(P<0.001);compared with 25 mmol·L-1 HG group,the fluorescence intensities of α-SMA protein in the VSMCs in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were gradually increased(P<0.05),and the fluorescence intensities of OPN were gradually weakened(P<0.05).The Western blotting method results showed that compared with control group,the expression level of α-SMA protein in the VSMCs in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group was decreased(P<0.05),and the expression levels of PCNA and OPN proteins were increased(P<0.01);compared with 25 mmol·L-1 HG group,the expression level of α-SMA protein in the VSMCs in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were increased(P<0.05),and the expression levels of PCNA and OPN proteins were decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:Safranal can inhibit the proliferation,migration,and phenotypic transformation of the VSMCs induced by high glucose.

Objective:To study and analyze the status quo and influencing factors of breast cancer patients′ concern about the upbringing of their minor children, and to provide a reference for clinical improvement of the level of breast cancer patients′ concern about parenting.Methods:A total of 247 breast cancer patients in the daytime ward of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital from March to May 2023 were selected by convenience sampling. The General Information Questionnaire, Parenting Concerns Questionnaire, Parenting Sense of Competence Scale were selected for cross-sectional investigation. The multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of breast cancer patients′ worries about the upbringing of their minor children.Results:Finally, 240 valid questionnaires were ultimately collected. There were 12 patients with breast cancer aged 20-29 years old, 76 patients aged 30-39 years old, 117 patients aged 40-49 years old, and 35 patients aged ≥50 years old. The total score of breast cancer patients′anxiety about minor children′s rearing was (37.34 ± 2.56) points. The scores of each dimension were in order of (15.14 ± 1.02) worry about the actual impact on children, (11.15 ± 0.83) worry about the emotional impact on children, and (11.05 ± 0.71) worry about the parents of children. The total score of parenting competence (66.54 ± 11.68) points. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that parenting competence, educational level, number of underage children, per capita monthly income of families, and TNM stage (T: tumor primary lesion; N: regional lymphnode involvement; M: remote metastasis situation) affected parenting anxiety ( t values were -15.24-8.56, all P<0.05), which could explain 81.2% of the total variation in parenting anxiety level. Conclusions:Breast cancer patients′ concern about the upbringing of minor children is at a medium level, so medical staff should give relevant intervention measures to breast cancer patients with different characteristics, in order to provide reference for reducing the level of concern about the upbringing of minor children.

Objective: To investigate the role of Portulaca oleracea (POL) in promoting revascularization and re-epithelization as well as inhibiting iron aggregation and inflammation of deep tissue pressure injury (DTPI). Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract of POL (P) and aqueous phase fraction of POL (PD) were prepared based on maceration and liquid–liquid extraction. The number of new blood vessels and VEGF-A expression level were assessed using H&E stain and Western blot on injured muscle to examine the role of POL different extracts in vascularization. The iron distribution and total elemental iron of injured muscle were detected using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Perls’ staining to determine whether POL extracts can inhibit the iron accumulation. Besides, the ability of POL extracts to promote wound healing by combining re-epithelization time, inflammation degree and collagen deposition area were comprehensively evaluated. Results: In vitro, we observed a significant increase in HUVEC cell viability, migration rate and the number of the tube after P and PD treatment (P < 0.05). In vivo, administration of P and PD impacted vascularization and iron accumulation on injured tissue, evident from more new blood vessels, higher expression of VEGF-A and decreased muscle iron concentration of treatment groups compared with no-treatment groups (P < 0.05). Besides, shorter re-epithelization time, reduced inflammatory infiltration and distinct collagen deposition were associated with administration of P and PD (P < 0.05). Conclusion: POL extract administration groups have high-quality wound healing, which is associated with increased new blood vessels, collagen deposition and re-epithelization, along with decreased iron accumulation and inflammatory infiltration. Our results suggest that that POL extract is beneficial to repair injured muscle after ischemia–reperfusion, highlighting the potential of POL in the DTPI treatment.