This study explored the drying kinetics of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(SM), established the suitable models simulating the drying kinetics, and then analyzed the dynamic changes of active components during the drying processes with different methods, aiming to provide a basis for the establishment of suitable drying methods and the quality control of SM. The drying kinetics were studied based on the drying curve, drying rate, moisture effective diffusion coefficient, and drying activation energy, and the appropriate drying kinetics model of SM was established. The drying performance of different methods, such as hot air drying, infrared drying, and microwave drying of SM was evaluated, and the changes in the content of 10 salvianolic acids and 6 tanshinones during drying were analyzed by UPLC-TQ-MS. The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution(TOPSIS) was employed to evaluate the quality of SM dried with different methods. The results showed that the drying rate and moisture effective diffusion coefficient of SM increased with the rise in drying temperature, and the maximum drying rates of different methods were in the order of microwave drying > infrared drying > hot air drying, slice > whole root. The drying rate decreased with the rise in temperature and the extension of drying time. The activation energy of hot air drying was higher than that of infrared drying in SM. The most suitable model for simulating the drying process of SM was the Page model. The TOPSIS results suggested infrared drying at 50 ℃ was the optimal drying method for SM. During the drying process, the content of salvianolic acids increased in different degrees with the loss of moisture, among which salvianolic acid B showed the largest increase of 44 times compared with that in the fresh medicinal material. Tanshinones also existed in the fresh herb of SM, and the content of tanshinone Ⅱ_A increased by 3 times after drying. The results provided a basis for the establishment of suitable drying methods and the quality control of SM.
Salvia miltiorrhiza/chemistry* ; Desiccation/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Rhizome/chemistry* ; Kinetics ; Quality Control ; Abietanes

Aim To explore the effects of Lycium berry seed oil on Nrf2/ARE pathway and oxidative damage in testis of subacute aging rats. Methods Fifty out of 60 male SD rats, aged 8 weeks, were subcutaneously injected with 125 mg • kg"D-galactosidase in the neck for 8 weeks to establish a subacute senescent rat model. The presence of senescent cells was observed using P-galactosidase ((3-gal), while testicular morphology was examined using HE staining. Serum levels of testosterone (testosterone, T), follicle-stimulating hormone ( follicle stimulating hormone, FSH ) , luteinizing hormone ( luteinizing hormone, LH ) , superoxide dis-mutase ( superoxide dismutase, SOD ) , glutathione ( glutathione, GSH) and malondialdehyde ( malondial-dehyde, MDA) were measured through ELISA, and the expressions of factors related to aging, oxidative damage, and the Nrf2/ARE pathway were assessed via immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting. Results After successfully identifying the model, the morphology of the testis was improved and the intervention of Lycium seed oil led to a down-regulation in the expression of [3-gal and -yH2AX. The serum levels of SOD, GSH, T, and FSH increased while MDA and LH decreased (P 0. 05) . Additionally, there was an up-regulated expression of Nrf2, GCLC, NQOl, and SOD2 proteins in testicular tissue ( P 0. 05 ) and nuclear expression of Nrf2 in sertoli cells. Conclusion Lycium barbarum seed oil may reduce oxidative damage in testes of subacute senescent rats by activating the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the incidence rate,clinical characteristics,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China.Methods Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital,the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022.The incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed.Results The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137,1/6 060,and 1/7 704,respectively.Ischemic stroke accounted for 75％(27/36);boys accounted for 64％(23/36).Among the 36 neonates,31(86％)had disease onset within 3 days after birth,and 19(53％)had convulsion as the initial presentation.Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates(61％)had left cerebral infarction and 13(36％)had basal ganglia infarction.Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates,among whom 9(75％)had involvement of the middle cerebral artery.Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates,with sharp waves in 21 neonates(72％)and seizures in 10 neonates(34％).Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals.Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates(33％,12/36),with a mean score of(32±4)points.The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age,with 44％(12/27)of the neonates having a good prognosis.Conclusions Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke,often with convulsions as the initial presentation,involvement of the middle cerebral artery,sharp waves on electroencephalography,and a relatively low neurodevelopment score.Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method,and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.

Extracellular vesicles(EVs)are vesicles with phospholipid bilayer structure actively secreted by cells,which naturally carry various contents derived from mother cells.EVs retain the biological char-acteristics of mother cells and reflect the status of mother cells during their secretion.In order to under-stand the biogenesis of EVs and their biological functions in the body,scientists have made many at-tempts.However,direct detection of EVs has some difficulties and current detection techniques usually use EVs contents as detection objects to achieve the purpose of indirect characterization.The purpose of disease diagnosis can be achieved by analyzing EVs in body fluids,and detailed characterization of EVs can promote the development of precision medicine.EVs belong to endogenous substances and can be used as carriers to deliver drugs,with the advantages of increasing efficacy,reducing drug toxicological effects and passing through biological barriers.When EVs applied as a drug or a carrier for delivering drug,challenges to be addressed include(ⅰ)clear characterization of the contents of EVs,(ⅱ)develop-ment of suitable assays to monitor EVs in vivo to determine and optimize the dose,route of administra-tion,and potential toxicity of EVs,and (ⅲ) determination of the kind and amount of membrane compo-sition of EVs.The diameter of EVs is nanoscale and the content is small,but it is of great value in clini-cal application.The selection of appropriate analytical techniques in the application will enable a compre-hensive characterization of EVs and further advance our understanding of EVs biology to develop novel di-agnostic and therapeutic approaches.In this review,the principles,applications,advantages and disad-vantages of analytical techniques in the study of EVs are introduced,with emphasis on the characteriza-tion techniques of EVs.

Objective:To assess the efficacy of modified arthroscopic lower trapezius transfer with autologous hamstring tendon bridging for irreparable massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tears.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 59 patients (11 males and 48 females; mean age 66.70±6.10 years, range 55-79 years) treated between June 2019 and November 2022 for posterior superior irreparable massive rotator cuff tears. The treatment involved total arthroscopic oblique muscle transposition combined with partial rotator cuff repair. Shoulder mobility was measured in active supination, forward flexion, posterior external rotation, and abduction external rotation before surgery and at the final follow-up. The Constant-Murley shoulder function score, visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores were assessed preoperatively, at 3 months, 6 months postoperatively, and at the final follow-up. MR examinations were conducted preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively to evaluate rotator cuff healing and retear rates.Results:All surgeries were successfully completed using an average of 3.2±0.5 anchor nails (range 3-5) per case. The mean follow-up period was 15.9±5.7 months (range 12-37 months). Significant improvements in shoulder mobility were observed postoperatively compared to preoperative measurements. The mean body external rotation angle increased from 12.0°±19.4° preoperatively to 35.3°±19.6° at the final follow-up ( P<0.05), and the mean abduction external rotation angle increased from 33.4°±22.4° to 43.4°±23.1° ( P<0.05). The mean preoperative abduction angle improved from 121.7°±47.9° to 136.4°±40.6° ( P<0.05), and the mean forward flexion supination angle improved from 117.6°±45.8° to 139.5°±33.7° ( P<0.05). Postoperative VAS scores significantly improved from 4.8±1.8 preoperatively to 0.3±0.8 at the final follow-up ( F=104.868, P<0.001). The ASES scores improved from 42.0±14.9 preoperatively to 71.7±14.6 at the final follow-up ( F=47.287, P<0.001). The Constant-Murley scores increased from 54.3±17.1 preoperatively to 76.4±13.0 at the final follow-up ( F=44.082, P<0.001). Postoperative complications included 2 complete tears and 7 partial tears (re-tear rate 15.3%). No serious complications such as shoulder joint infection, joint stiffness, or vascular nerve injury were observed. One patient developed a localized subcutaneous hematoma at the tendon extraction site, and another developed deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity, which improved with symptomatic anticoagulation. Conclusion:Modified arthroscopic lower trapezius transfer with autologous hamstring tendon bridging effectively reduces shoulder pain, improves shoulder joint activity and function scores, and is associated with a low rate of surgical complications for patients with irreparable massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tears.

The 3-succinate-30-stearyl glycyrrhetinic acid(18-GA-Suc) was inserted into glycyrrhetinic acid(GA)-tanshinone Ⅱ_A(TSN)-salvianolic acid B(Sal B) liposome(GTS-lip) to prepare liver targeting compound liposome(Suc-GTS-lip) mediated by GA receptors. Next, pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of Suc-GTS-lip and GTS-lip were compared by UPLC, and in vivo imaging tracking of Suc-GTS-lip was conducted. The authors investigated the effect of Suc-GTS-lip on the proliferation inhibition of hepatic stellate cells(HSC) and explored their molecular mechanism of improving liver fibrosis. Pharmacokinetic results showed that the AUC_(Sal B) decreased from(636.06±27.73) μg·h·mL~(-1) to(550.39±12.34) μg·h·mL~(-1), and the AUC_(TSN) decreased from(1.08±0.72) μg·h·mL~(-1) to(0.65±0.04) μg·h·mL~(-1), but the AUC_(GA) increased from(43.64±3.10) μg·h·mL~(-1) to(96.21±3.75) μg·h·mL~(-1). The results of tissue distribution showed that the AUC_(Sal B) and C_(max) of Sal B in the liver of the Suc-GTS-lip group were 10.21 and 4.44 times those of the GTS-lip group, respectively. The liver targeting efficiency of Sal B, TSN, and GA in the Suc-GTS-lip group was 40.66%, 3.06%, and 22.08%, respectively. In vivo imaging studies showed that the modified liposomes tended to accumulate in the liver. MTT results showed that Suc-GTS-lip could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HSC, and RT-PCR results showed that the expression of MMP-1 was significantly increased in all groups, but that of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 was significantly decreased. The mRNA expressions of collagen-I and collagen-Ⅲ were significantly decreased in all groups. The experimental results showed that Suc-GTS-lip had liver targeting, and it could inhibit the proliferation of HSC and induce their apoptosis, which provided the experimental basis for the targeted treatment of liver fibrosis by Suc-GTS-lip.
Humans ; Liposomes ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid/pharmacology* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis/genetics* ; Collagen/pharmacology*

AIM: To optimize the technique of intravenous injection of Evans blue and retinal preparations in mice, improving the accuracy and repeatability of staining experiment of retinal preparations.METHODS: C57BL/6 male mice were intravenous injected with 10g/L(1%)Evans Blue 0.3mL and circulated in vivo for 10 or 20min, and the eyes were removed after sacrificed and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for 20, 40 or 60min. When failure of intravenous injection, the experiment was remediated by intraperitoneal injection of 1% Evans Blue 0.3mL, circulated in vivo for 3h and fixed for 60min to observe morphology, distribution and leakage of the retinal vessels. Besides, we compared the morphology, distribution and leakage of the retinal vessels after intravenous injection with those after intraperitoneal injection to determine the optimal conditions for in vivo circulation time and retinal preparations.RESULTS: After intravenous injection, compared to the retinal vascular condition under 20min in vivo circulation time of Evans blue and 20 or 40min of fixation, with 10min of in vivo Evans blue circulation and 60min of fixation, the morphology of retinal vascular was more intact with less retinal vascular leakage, and the vascular branches are clear. When intravenous injection failed, remediated results from intraperitoneal injection showed that the morphology and distribution of retinal vessels were intact. There was no significant difference in morphology, distribution and leakage of the retinal vessels after 3h of intraperitoneal Evans blue circulation compared to 10min intravenous Evans blue circulation.CONCLUSION: This experiment optimizes the protocol, improves the accuracy and reproducibility of retinal preparations, and provides a reference for the study of related retinal vascular diseases.

Objective:To explore any effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on neurons, behavior, cerebral blood flow (CBF), vascular regeneration, and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD34 protein in rats modeling cerebral infarction.Methods:Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham surgery group (Sham group), a model group (modeled with middle cerebral artery occlusion, MCAO group), an anode transcranial direct current stimulation group (A-tDCS group), and a cathode transcranial direct current stimulation group (C-tDCS group), each of 8. MCAO models were established in the rats of the MCAO, A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups using thread fixation. Twenty-four hours after successful modeling, both the Sham and MCAO groups were connected with electrodes without current stimulation, while the A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups were given 20 minutes of 200μA anodic or cathodic electrical stimulation daily, 5 days a week for 12 days. Before and 24 hours after the modeling, and then after the 12 days of treatment, the four groups received Longa neurobehavioral scoring. Moreover, three days after the modeling as well as after the 12 days of treatment, changes in CBF were observed using MRI. Any blood vessel regeneration was observed using immunofluorescence methods, and the expression of VEGF and CD34 proteins were detected using western blotting.Results:The rats in the MCAO, A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups exhibited various degrees of neurological deficit after the modeling. After the 12 days of treatment the average neurobehavioral scores of the A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups were significantly lower than that of the MCAO group, with the A-tDCS group′s average significantly lower than that of the C-tDCS group. Three days after the modeling, 3D-arterial spin labeling scanning showed a significant decrease in CBF around the ischemic lesion in the MCAO, A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups, but that had increased to varying degrees after 12 days of treatment. The changes in the A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups were significantly larger than in the MCAO group on average, with the former group improving significantly more than the latter. After the 12 days of treatment, new vascularization and the expression of VEGF and CD34 proteins were significantly higher in the A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups than in the MCAO group, with the change in the former group again significantly greater than in the latter.Conclusions:tDCS can relieve the symptoms of neurological deficits in rats with cerebral infarction, promote vascular regeneration, CBF, and expression of VEGF and CD34 proteins. Anodic is superior to cathodic stimulation.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Bax inhibitor 1 (BI- 1) and optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1) on vascular calcification (VC). METHODS: Mouse models of VC were established in ApoE-deficient (ApoE^-/-) diabetic mice by high-fat diet feeding for 12 weeks followed by intraperitoneal injections with N^ε-carboxymethyl-lysine for 16 weeks. ApoE^-/- mice (control group), ApoE^-/- diabetic mice (VC group), ApoE^-/- diabetic mice with BI-1 overexpression (VC + BI-1^TG group), and ApoE^-/- diabetic mice with BI-1 overexpression and OPA1 knockout (VC+BI-1^TG+OPA1^-/- group) were obtained for examination of the degree of aortic calcification using von Kossa staining. The changes in calcium content in the aorta were analyzed using ELISA. The expressions of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) were detected using immunohistochemistry, and the expression of cleaved caspase-3 was determined using Western blotting. Cultured mouse aortic smooth muscle cells were treated with 10 mmol/L β-glycerophosphate for 14 days to induce calcification, and the changes in BI-1 and OPA1 protein expressions were examined using Western blotting and cell apoptosis was detected using TUNEL staining. RESULTS: ApoE^-/- mice with VC showed significantly decreased expressions of BI-1 and OPA1 proteins in the aorta (P=0.0044) with obviously increased calcium deposition and expressions of RUNX2, BMP-2 and cleaved caspase-3 (P= 0.0041). Overexpression of BI-1 significantly promoted OPA1 protein expression and reduced calcium deposition and expressions of RUNX2, BMP-2 and cleaved caspase-3 (P=0.0006). OPA1 knockdown significantly increased calcium deposition and expressions of RUNX2, BMP-2 and cleaved caspase-3 in the aorta (P=0.0007). CONCLUSION BI-1 inhibits VC possibly by promoting the expression of OPA1, reducing calcium deposition and inhibiting osteogenic differentiation and apoptosis of the vascular smooth muscle cells.
Animals ; Apolipoproteins E/metabolism* ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/pathology* ; GTP Phosphohydrolases/metabolism* ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology* ; Optic Atrophy, Autosomal Dominant/pathology* ; Osteogenesis ; Vascular Calcification/pathology* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism*