Cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death globally and has surpassed cardiovascular diseases to become the primary cause of mortality in developed countries. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), which play crucial roles in cancer recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance, have attracted significant attention in targeted therapeutic strategies. Aptamers, with unique three-dimensional structures capable of specifically recognizing the surface markers of CSCs, show promising potential in targeted drug delivery systems. Compared with conventional antibodies, aptamers are praised for small molecular weights, low production costs, and easy chemical modification. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in aptamer research targeting the surface markers of CSCs, with particular emphasis on aptamer-drug conjugate systems targeting the markers including EpCAM, CD133, CD44, and ABCG2. Both in vitro cellular studies and in vivo animal models have demonstrated the definite anti-cancer efficacy of aptamer-based drug delivery systems, which are of great significance to develop novel therapeutic strategies and improving the therapeutic effects of CSC-targeted treatment. Thus, aptamer-based drug delivery system has broad application prospects in the field of precise cancer treatment.
Humans ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Aptamers, Nucleotide/therapeutic use* ; Drug Delivery Systems/methods* ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism* ; Animals ; Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule ; AC133 Antigen ; Hyaluronan Receptors

Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2)and homocysteine(Hcy)combined with white matter hyperintensities(WMH)for cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD).Methods A total of 240 patients with CSVD were selected.According to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)scale,all subjects were divided into the non-cognitive impairment group(MoCA≥26 points,120 cases)and the cognitive impairment group(MoCA＜26 points,120 cases).Paraventricular white matter high signal(PWMHs)and deep white matter high signal(DWMHs)were scored by Fazekas scale.The sum of the two parts was the total score,and the severity of DWMHs was graded by the score.The basic information,serum Lp-PLA2,Hcy level and severity of WMH were compared between the two groups.Logistic regression was applied to analyze influencing factors of cognitive impairment in CSVD patients.The predictive value of serum level of Lp-PLA2 and Hcy and WMH for cognitive impairment in CSVD patients was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results Compared with the non-cognitive impairment group,patients of the cognitive impairment group were older,had higher serum levels of Lp-PLA2 and Hcy,and had more severe of WMH(P＜0.05).Results of Logistic regression analysis showed that serum Lp-PLA2,Hcy levels and severity of WMH were influencing factors for cognitive impairment of patients with CSVD(P＜0.05).The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of serum Lp-PLA2,Hcy level combined with severity of WMH predicting cognitive impairment in patents with CSVD was 0.812,the sensitivity was 81.7%and the specificity was 71.7%(P＜0.05).Conclusion Patients with cognitive impairment caused by CSVD have higher serum levels of Lp-PLA2 and Hcy,and more severe WMH.The combination of the three has a relatively high predictive value for cognitive impairment in patents with CSVD.

Objective To explore the syndrome characteristics of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis in Shaanxi area;To provide reference for TCM clinical syndrome differentiation and treatment.Methods Clinical data on patients diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis who received outpatient or inpatient treatment at five hospitals in Shanxi area including Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine and Yulin Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital etc from August 2020 to August 2022 were under retrospective collection.TCM syndrome distribution law in patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis in Shaanxi area was concluded through frequency statistics,clustering analysis,principal component analysis,and complex network analysis.Results Totally 143 patients were included,involving 64 symptoms.3 groups of syndromes were obtained after clustering analysis,and principal component analysis was performed for each group of syndromes.Using complex network analysis and combining the results of clustering analysis and principal component analysis,classification groups for each group of main symptoms and comorbidities were formed,and their main syndrome classification was determined:qi-yin deficiency syndrome,accounting for 47.55％;spleen deficiency and dampness,accounting for 34.97％;wind-heat attacking the exterior,accounting for 17.48％.Conclusion The syndromes of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis in Shaanxi area are mainly divided into three types:qi-yin deficiency,spleen deficiency and dampness and wind-heat attacking the exterior.Among them,qi-yin deficiency is the most common.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2)and homocysteine(Hcy)combined with white matter hyperintensities(WMH)for cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD).Methods A total of 240 patients with CSVD were selected.According to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)scale,all subjects were divided into the non-cognitive impairment group(MoCA≥26 points,120 cases)and the cognitive impairment group(MoCA＜26 points,120 cases).Paraventricular white matter high signal(PWMHs)and deep white matter high signal(DWMHs)were scored by Fazekas scale.The sum of the two parts was the total score,and the severity of DWMHs was graded by the score.The basic information,serum Lp-PLA2,Hcy level and severity of WMH were compared between the two groups.Logistic regression was applied to analyze influencing factors of cognitive impairment in CSVD patients.The predictive value of serum level of Lp-PLA2 and Hcy and WMH for cognitive impairment in CSVD patients was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results Compared with the non-cognitive impairment group,patients of the cognitive impairment group were older,had higher serum levels of Lp-PLA2 and Hcy,and had more severe of WMH(P＜0.05).Results of Logistic regression analysis showed that serum Lp-PLA2,Hcy levels and severity of WMH were influencing factors for cognitive impairment of patients with CSVD(P＜0.05).The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of serum Lp-PLA2,Hcy level combined with severity of WMH predicting cognitive impairment in patents with CSVD was 0.812,the sensitivity was 81.7%and the specificity was 71.7%(P＜0.05).Conclusion Patients with cognitive impairment caused by CSVD have higher serum levels of Lp-PLA2 and Hcy,and more severe WMH.The combination of the three has a relatively high predictive value for cognitive impairment in patents with CSVD.

Objective To explore the syndrome characteristics of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis in Shaanxi area;To provide reference for TCM clinical syndrome differentiation and treatment.Methods Clinical data on patients diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis who received outpatient or inpatient treatment at five hospitals in Shanxi area including Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine and Yulin Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital etc from August 2020 to August 2022 were under retrospective collection.TCM syndrome distribution law in patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis in Shaanxi area was concluded through frequency statistics,clustering analysis,principal component analysis,and complex network analysis.Results Totally 143 patients were included,involving 64 symptoms.3 groups of syndromes were obtained after clustering analysis,and principal component analysis was performed for each group of syndromes.Using complex network analysis and combining the results of clustering analysis and principal component analysis,classification groups for each group of main symptoms and comorbidities were formed,and their main syndrome classification was determined:qi-yin deficiency syndrome,accounting for 47.55％;spleen deficiency and dampness,accounting for 34.97％;wind-heat attacking the exterior,accounting for 17.48％.Conclusion The syndromes of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis in Shaanxi area are mainly divided into three types:qi-yin deficiency,spleen deficiency and dampness and wind-heat attacking the exterior.Among them,qi-yin deficiency is the most common.

ObjectiveTo explore the potential molecular mechanism of Qizhu Kang'ai Formula （芪术抗癌方， QZKAF） for the treatment of colorectal cancer （CRC）. MethodsNetwork pharmacology was used to analyze the active ingredients and targets of QZKAF for CRC， and analyze the key targets of QZKAF for the treatment of CRC by gene function annotation （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking was applied to predict the binding activity of the core active ingredients to the key targets. A orthotopic transplantation tumor mice model of CRC was established to validate the key targets of QZKAF for CRC obtained from network pharmacology analysis. Forty-eight mice were randomly divided into the sham operation group， the model group， the 5-fluorouracil （5-Fu） group， and the QZKAF low-， medium-， and high-dose groups， with 8 mice in each group. Except for the sham operation group， the remaining groups underwent colon cancer orthotopic transplantation tumor modeling. The 5-Fu group was given 30 mg/kg of 5-Fu by intraperitoneal injection once every 3 days on the alternate day after modeling， while the QZKAF low-， medium-， and high-dose groups were given 2.925， 5.85， and 11.7 g/（kg·d） of QZKAF by gastric gavage， respectively， and the sham-operation group and the model group were gavaged with 0.1 ml/10 g of normal saline every day， all for 21 days. The in situ tumors mass and the number of liver metastases were compared between the groups. The pathological changes of colon tumor tissues were observed by HE staining， and the protein expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 1 （PTPN1）， vinculin， integrin subunit αν， integrin subunit β3， and E-cadherin were detected in colon tumor tissues by Western blot. ResultsNetwork pharmacology screening yielded that the top six core active ingredients of QZKAF intervening in CRC were quercetin， kaempferol， apigenin， luteolin， baicalein and ursolic acid. There were 212 targets of action， and the ranked top three were prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 1 （PTGS1）， prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 （PTGS2）， and PTPN1， which may be the key targets of QZKAF in the treatment of CRC. These key targets were significantly enriched mainly in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K-Akt） signaling pathway， focal adhesion and adhesion junction. Molecular docking results： except for PTGS1 with better binding activity to quercetin， kaempferol， and apigenin （binding energy ≥-7.0 kcal/mol）， PTGS1 showed strong binding activity to lignans， baicalein， ursolic acid， as well as PTGS2 and PTPN1 to the six core active ingredients （binding energy ＜-7.0 kcal/mol）. Experimental validation results： the protein expression of PTPN1， vinculin， integrin subunit αν， integrin subunit β3 in the colon tumor tissues of mice in the model group significantly increased， and the expression of E-cadherin significantly decreased compared to those in the sham operation group （P＜0.05）. Compared to those in the model group， the mass of the in situ tumors was reduced， and the number of hepatic metastasis nodules decreased in the high- and medium-dose QZKAF groups （P＜0.05）； the expression levels of PTNP1， vinculin， integrin subunit αν， integrin subunit β3 and E-cadherin in all QZKAF groups and 5-Fu group showed different degrees of retracement， and the changes of the indicators in all QZKAF groups showed a certain degree of dose-dependence （P＜0.05）. HE staining showed that the nuclei of tumor cells in the model group were mostly schizophrenic， and there were different degrees of nuclear fragmentation of tumor cells in all QZKAF groups with more in the medium- and high-dose groups. ConclusionQZKAF could inhibit the growth of in situ tumors and liver metastasis of CRC. Its mechanism might be related to the regulation of tumor cell-cell and tumor cell-extracellular matrix adhesion by PTPN1.

Objective:To explore the clinical effectiveness of an automatic computer-aided diagnosis(CAD) method in benign and malignant breast masses discrimination.Methods:The ultrasound images of 539 patients from the Second Hospital of Harbin Medical University and the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University between 2012 to 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the fifth Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS), four breast radiologists first sent the case into a BI-RADS category with the original ultrasound image. Then with the CAD result, radiologists gave a category again. Pathology results and clinical data were not available to the radiologists during the diagnosis process. The histological and follow-up results were used as the gold standard. The accuracy of CAD automatic classification, radiologists′ diagnosis before and after CAD application were compared using the ROC curves. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis were also calculated.Results:The classification algorithm has a good performance in benign and malignant breast masses discrimination.When the cutoff value was 0.495, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were 0.878, 0.868 and 0.886 respectively. When the cutoff value was 0.203, the sensitivity and specificity was 0.981 and 0.337 respectively. With the CAD method, the radiologists improved their diagnostic performance. The total area under the ROC curve for the four radiologists increased from 0.775 to 0.871( P<0.001). The total sensitivity increased from 0.786 to 0.842, and the specificity increased from 0.681 to 0.813. Conclusions:The automatic classification algorithm in this study provides quantitative reference for doctors′ diagnosis. It has the potential to improve junior radiologists′ diagnostic performance in differentiating benign and malignant breast masses.

Objective:To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on synaptic plasticity and the expression of autophagy-related proteins in the hippocampus in Alzheimer′s disease (AD). To explore how EA might improve cognition in AD.Methods:Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group and an EA group. The rat model of AD was established by injecting Aβ1-42 into the bilateral CA1 area of the hippocampus. The sham operation group was injected with an equal amount of normal saline at the same site. Starting the day after the successful modelling, the EA group received 20 minutes of EA treatment at the Baihui (DU20) and bilateral Shenshu (BL23) acupoints once a day, 6 times a week for 2 weeks. The rats′ learning and memory were then tested using a Morris water maze. The long-term potentiation (LEP) in the hippocampus was assessed using a MED64 microelectrode array and any ultrastructural changes of autophagosomes were detected using an electron microscope. The expression of the autophagy-related proteins Beclin-1 and microtubule associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) in the hippocampus were determined using western blotting.Results:The escape latency was significantly shorter and the times crossing the platform increased significantly in the EA group compared with the model group. The average amplitude of the postsynaptic excitatory field potentials in the EA group was significantly higher than among the model group. There were many autophagosomes in the hippocampal neurons of the model group, significantly more than in the EA group. The LC3II/LC3I ratio and Beclin-1 protein expression decreased significantly in the EA group compared to the model group.Conclusions:EA can improve learning and memory and restore LEP in the hippocampus of rats modeling AD. The mechanism may be related to its regulation of autophagy in hippocampal neurons.

The central air conditioning ventilation system plays an important role in the air circulation of buildings such as centralized isolation medical observation points and general public buildings. In order to meet the requirements of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, Beijing Preventive Medicine Association organized Beijing CDC and other professional institutes to write up the group standard entitled "Technical specification for health risk investigation of central air conditioning ventilation system during the COVID-19 epidemic (T/BPMA 0006-2020)" . According to the particularity of central air conditioning ventilation system risk control during the outbreak of similar respiratory infectious diseases, based on current laws and regulations and the principle of scientific, practical, consistency and normative, 8 key points of risk investigations were summarized, which were the location of fresh air outlet, air conditioning mode, air return mode, air system, air distribution, fresh air volume, exhaust and air conditioner components. The contents, process, method, data analysis and conclusion of the investigation implementation were also defined and unified. It could standardize and guide institutions such as disease control and health supervision to carry out relevant risk managements, and provided solutions and technical supports for such major public health emergencies in city operations.

Objective: To explore the prenatal dietary and environmental risk factors in children aged 6-16 years with asthma (CWA) comorbid neuropsychiatric disorders. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2016 to March 2017.CWA aged 6 to 16 years were recruited as the study participants at the Outpatient Asthma Unit of Guizhou Provincial People′s Hospital, China.Informed consent was obtained from their parents, and their parents were invited to participate in the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview of children and adolescents (MINI Kid) to assess the current neuropsychiatric disorders.Meanwhile, the questionnaires information about prenatal diet and environment were collected from their mothers as well.Patients were divided into 2 groups, one group with asthma comorbid neuropsychiatric disorders and the other with asthma only.Single factor analysis and multivariate non-conditional Logistic regression analysis were used to determine the risk factors associated with neuropsychiatric comorbidity. Results: The study consisted of 261 patients (male: 163 cases, female: 98 cases) with asthma, with the age of (11.25±3.12) years, the rate of asthma comorbid neuropsychiatric disorders was 26.4% (69/261 cases). Single factor analysis showed that prenatal tobacco smoke exposure, winter coal combustion, food additives had statistically significant differences between the 2 group (χ²=7.385, 3.993, 4.529, all P<0.05), the other factors were not significantly different between two groups (all P>0.05); multivariate analysis indicated that prenatal tobacco smoke exposure was the independent risk factor for neuropsychiatric comorbidity in CWA (OR=5.098, 95%CI: 1.089-23.871, P=0.039). Conclusions The result revealed that the prenatal tobacco smoke exposure is the independent risk factor for neuropsychiatric comorbidity in CWA, need to enhance the propaganda and education of negative effects for parents should be enhanced during pregnancy to diminish the prevalence.