ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate and evaluate the staged efficacy and safety of the representative empirical prescription of the “Zhu Ke Jiao” theory， Qijia Rougan prescription， combined with entecavir in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. MethodsA multicenter randomized controlled clinical study was conducted， and 101 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B-related hepatic fibrosis （CHB-HF） who met the diagnosis and inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to an observation group （Qijia Rougan prescription + entecavir） and a control group （entecavir）. The treatment duration was 24 weeks. Liver stiffness measurement （LSM）， fibrosis-4 index （FIB-4）， portal vein diameter， hepatitis B serology， biochemical indicators， hepatic fibrosis markers in serum ［hyaluronic acid （HA）， laminin （LN）， procollagen Ⅲ peptide （PⅢP）， and type Ⅳ collagen （Ⅳ-C）］， and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores were used as efficacy evaluation indicators. Efficacy assessments and explorations of different staged subgroups of Qijia Rougan prescription were conducted according to LSM values based on the Metavir pathological staging standard. ResultsA total of 98 cases were included for statistical analysis， with 49 cases in the observation group and 49 in the control group. The general data of the patients in both groups were comparable. Compared with the same group before treatment， the observation group showed a significant reduction in LSM and FIB-4 （P<0.01）， as well as notable improvements in LN， Ⅳ-C， and various TCM syndrome scores （P<0.05， P<0.01）. When compared to the control group after treatment， the observation group demonstrated significant improvements in LSM， FIB-4， and various TCM syndrome score indicators （P<0.05， P<0.01）， indicating that the observation group performed better than the control group. Subgroup analysis of the regression of hepatic fibrosis stages showed that compared to the same group before treatment， the observation group had better improvement in regression of stages F2 and F3 （P<0.05）. When compared to the control group after treatment， the observation group exhibited superior improvement in regression of stage F3 （P<0.05）. No adverse events occurred in either group during the treatment period. ConclusionCompared with entecavir alone， the combination of Qijia Rougan prescription and entecavir significantly improves the degree of hepatic fibrosis and clinical TCM symptoms in patients. The optimal intervention period is primarily during stage F3， which is a potential “interception” point of the “Zhu Ke Jiao” theory.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common head and neck malignancy. Approximately 50% to 60% of patients with OSCC are diagnosed at a locally advanced stage (clinical staging III-IVa). Even with comprehensive and sequential treatment primarily based on surgery, the 5-year overall survival rate remains below 50%, and patients often suffer from postoperative functional impairments such as difficulties with speaking and swallowing. Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are increasingly used in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC and have shown encouraging efficacy. However, clinical practice still faces key challenges, including the definition of indications, optimization of combination regimens, and standards for efficacy evaluation. Based on the latest research advances worldwide and the clinical experience of the expert group, this expert consensus systematically evaluates the application of PD-1 inhibitors in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC, covering combination strategies, treatment cycles and surgical timing, efficacy assessment, use of biomarkers, management of special populations and immune related adverse events, principles for immunotherapy rechallenge, and function preservation strategies. After multiple rounds of panel discussion and through anonymous voting using the Delphi method, the following consensus statements have been formulated: 1) Neoadjuvant therapy with PD-1 inhibitors can be used preoperatively in patients with locally advanced OSCC. The preferred regimen is a PD-1 inhibitor combined with platinum based chemotherapy, administered for 2-3 cycles. 2) During the efficacy evaluation of neoadjuvant therapy, radiographic assessment should follow the dual criteria of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 and immune RECIST (iRECIST). After surgery, systematic pathological evaluation of both the primary lesion and regional lymph nodes is required. For combination chemotherapy regimens, PD-L1 expression and combined positive score need not be used as mandatory inclusion or exclusion criteria. 3) For special populations such as the elderly (≥ 70 years), individuals with stable HIV viral load, and carriers of chronic HBV/HCV, PD-1 inhibitors may be used cautiously under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), with close monitoring for adverse events. 4) For patients with a poor response to neoadjuvant therapy, continuation of the original treatment regimen is not recommended; the subsequent treatment plan should be adjusted promptly after MDT assessment. Organ transplant recipients and patients with active autoimmune diseases are not recommended to receive neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor therapy due to the high risk of immune related activation. Rechallenge is generally not advised for patients who have experienced high risk immune related adverse events such as immune mediated myocarditis, neurotoxicity, or pneumonitis. 5) For patients with a good pathological response, individualized de escalation surgery and function preservation strategies can be explored. This consensus aims to promote the standardized, safe, and precise application of neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor strategies in the management of locally advanced OSCC patients.

OBJECTIVE To focus on the classic NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）/Caspase-1/gasdermin D （GSDMD） pyroptosis pathway and explore the mechanism by which Huatan qushi huoxue formula （HQHF） inhibits macrophage pyroptosis to ameliorate metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis （MASH）. METHODS RAW264.7 cells were divided into 5 groups： Control group （10% blank serum）， Model group [10% blank serum+5 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide （LPS）]， HQHF-L group （2.5% drug-containing serum+7.5% blank serum+5 μg/mL LPS）， HQHF-M group （5% drug-containing serum+5% blank serum+5 μg/mL LPS）， and HQHF-H group （10% drug-containing serum+5 μg/mL LPS）. After 24 h of routine culture post-administration， cells and supernatants were collected for assays. Cell morphology was observed via scanning electron microscopy and phase-contrast microscopy； localization and expression of gasdermin D-N （GSDMD-N） were observed by immunofluorescence. Interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and IL-18 contents in supernatants were detected by ELISA； mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD were measured using real-time PCR and Western blot. RESULTS Compared with the Control group， the Model group showed typical pyroptotic morphology （cell membrane bulging and pore formation）， increased aggregation and fluorescence intensity of GSDMD-N on the cell membrane （ P ＜0.05）， significantly increased the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatants （ P ＜0.05）， and significantly up-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD in cells （ P ＜0.05）. Compared with the Model group， the HQHF-L， HQHF-M and HQHF-H groups showed improved pyroptotic morphology， reduced membrane localization and significantly weakened fluorescence intensity of GSDMD-N （ P ＜0.05）， significantly decreased the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatants （ P ＜0.05）， and significantly down-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD in cells （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS HQHF inhibits LPS-induced macrophage pyroptosis， and its mechanism of improving MASH may be associated with the suppression of the activation of the classical NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway.

BACKGROUND:Distinct risk factors for new adjacent vertebral fractures following percutaneous vertebroplasty in the elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and underlying diseases may be different,yet there is a scarcity of pertinent research on this topic.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the high-risk factors for refracture in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures following percutaneous vertebroplasty and to delve deeper into the correlation between these risk factors and the recurrence of fractures in the operated vertebra as well as its adjacent vertebrae post-percutaneous vertebroplasty.METHODS:According to the inclusion criteria,412 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures who underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between January 2018 and December 2023 were retrospectively screened.According to whether re-fracture occurred during the follow-up period,the patients were divided into a re-fracture group(n=75)and a non-re-fracture group(n=337).The following variables of the two groups of patients were reviewed:age,gender,body mass index,cement leakage,bone density T value,cement dosage,occupation,smoking,drinking,adverse reactions,medical insurance,hypertension,type 2 diabetes,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,cerebral hemorrhage,coronary heart disease,psychological trauma,psychiatric treatment,osteoarthritis,gout,scoliosis,spinal surgery,chronic kidney,anti-osteoporosis treatment,previous fracture history(fracture caused by osteoporosis)and fracture injury plane.The above factors were analyzed using univariate analysis.The factors with P＜0.05 were subjected to binary logistic analysis to explore the related factors of postoperative vertebral recompression fracture.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Univariate analysis showed that after percutaneous vertebroplasty,vertebral refracture was associated with age,smoking history of＞10 years,cement leakage,hypertension,type 2 diabetes,scoliosis,spinal surgery,and chronic kidney disease,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).(2)By binary Logistic regression,bone cement leakage condition(OR=2.547,95％CI:1.283-5.048,P＜0.05),smoking history＞10 years(OR=2.336,95％CI:1.157-4.701,P＜0.05),a history of hypertension(OR=4.657,95％CI:2.137-10.242,P＜0.05),a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus(OR=8.956,95％CI:3.941-21.301,P＜0.05),and a medical history of scoliosis(OR=3.754,95％CI:1.755-8.619,P＜0.05),medical history of spinal surgery(OR=2.700,95％CI:1.058-6.725,P＜0.05),and a history of chronic kidney disease(OR=2.812,95％CI:1.078-7.739,P＜0.05)were risk factors for refracture of the operated vertebral body and adjacent vertebrae.(3)The results showed that cement leakage,smoking for＞10 years,hypertension,type 2 diabetes mellitus,scoliosis,spinal surgery,and chronic kidney were risk factors for recurrent fractures of the operated vertebrae and adjacent vertebrae in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.Surgeons should conduct a comprehensive assessment of patients before percutaneous vertebroplasty in order to more accurately predict the possibility of re-fracture and provide a basis for the formulation of personalized treatment plans to reduce the risk of future recurrent fractures.

BACKGROUND:Distinct risk factors for new adjacent vertebral fractures following percutaneous vertebroplasty in the elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and underlying diseases may be different,yet there is a scarcity of pertinent research on this topic.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the high-risk factors for refracture in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures following percutaneous vertebroplasty and to delve deeper into the correlation between these risk factors and the recurrence of fractures in the operated vertebra as well as its adjacent vertebrae post-percutaneous vertebroplasty.METHODS:According to the inclusion criteria,412 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures who underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between January 2018 and December 2023 were retrospectively screened.According to whether re-fracture occurred during the follow-up period,the patients were divided into a re-fracture group(n=75)and a non-re-fracture group(n=337).The following variables of the two groups of patients were reviewed:age,gender,body mass index,cement leakage,bone density T value,cement dosage,occupation,smoking,drinking,adverse reactions,medical insurance,hypertension,type 2 diabetes,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,cerebral hemorrhage,coronary heart disease,psychological trauma,psychiatric treatment,osteoarthritis,gout,scoliosis,spinal surgery,chronic kidney,anti-osteoporosis treatment,previous fracture history(fracture caused by osteoporosis)and fracture injury plane.The above factors were analyzed using univariate analysis.The factors with P＜0.05 were subjected to binary logistic analysis to explore the related factors of postoperative vertebral recompression fracture.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Univariate analysis showed that after percutaneous vertebroplasty,vertebral refracture was associated with age,smoking history of＞10 years,cement leakage,hypertension,type 2 diabetes,scoliosis,spinal surgery,and chronic kidney disease,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).(2)By binary Logistic regression,bone cement leakage condition(OR=2.547,95％CI:1.283-5.048,P＜0.05),smoking history＞10 years(OR=2.336,95％CI:1.157-4.701,P＜0.05),a history of hypertension(OR=4.657,95％CI:2.137-10.242,P＜0.05),a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus(OR=8.956,95％CI:3.941-21.301,P＜0.05),and a medical history of scoliosis(OR=3.754,95％CI:1.755-8.619,P＜0.05),medical history of spinal surgery(OR=2.700,95％CI:1.058-6.725,P＜0.05),and a history of chronic kidney disease(OR=2.812,95％CI:1.078-7.739,P＜0.05)were risk factors for refracture of the operated vertebral body and adjacent vertebrae.(3)The results showed that cement leakage,smoking for＞10 years,hypertension,type 2 diabetes mellitus,scoliosis,spinal surgery,and chronic kidney were risk factors for recurrent fractures of the operated vertebrae and adjacent vertebrae in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.Surgeons should conduct a comprehensive assessment of patients before percutaneous vertebroplasty in order to more accurately predict the possibility of re-fracture and provide a basis for the formulation of personalized treatment plans to reduce the risk of future recurrent fractures.

Objective To establish a highly sensitive and specific method for detecting human DNA based on real time quantitative PCR(qPCR)technique for the rapid detection of potential DNA con-tamination sources in DNA laboratories.Methods Primers and probes were designed with Primer Ex-pressTM software using the reference sequence of human 18S rRNA gene as a template,and the opti-mal prime-probe combination was screened by matrix method.The PCR products of the target se-quence of human 18S rRNA gene were used to construct the plasmid,and a plasmid standard was used to draw the standard curve of the qPCR system.According to the Minimum Information for Pub-lication of Quantitative Real-time PCR Experiments(MIQE)guidelines,the specificity,sensitivity,re-peatability and application effect of the qPCR system were evaluated.Results The sensitivity of the qPCR system established in this study was 5.3×10-5 ng/μL,which showed good specificity for human DNA samples.The correlation coefficient of the qPCR system was-0.999,and amplification efficiency was 100％.Both the intra-batch and inter-batch variation coefficients were less than 2％.Conclusion The established human DNA detection method based on qPCR technique has good specificity,high sen-sitivity,and robust stability.It can be used for rapid detection of DNA contamination and daily moni-toring of the accumulated human DNA in the laboratory environment.

Signal detection is a critical task in drug safety regulation. However, it inevitably generates irrelevant or false signals, posing challenges for resource allocation by marketing authorization holders. To reasonably assess these signals, different countries have established various principles for prioritizing the evaluation of risk signals. This study systematically compares these principles and finds that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) focuses on practical issues, such as identifying drug confusion or drug interactions. However, China's Good Pharmacovigilance Practices and the European Medicines Agency(EMA) emphasize a comprehensive evaluation framework. The Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences(CIOMS) emphasizes the consistency of multiple data sources, highlighting the reliability of signal evaluation. China practices a multidisciplinary approach combining traditional Chinese and western medicine, and the risk signals related to traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) have unique characteristics, including complex components, cumulative toxicity, specific theoretical foundations, and drug interactions. The different priorities in risk signal evaluation principles across countries suggest that China should strengthen clinical trial research, emphasize corroboration with evidence of multiple sources, and pay particular attention to the risks of drug interactions in the TCM regulatory science. Establishing the risk signal prioritization principles that align with the characteristics of TCM enables more precise and efficient scientific regulation of TCM.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; United States ; United States Food and Drug Administration

Ginsenoside Rg_2(GRg2) is a triterpenoid compound found in Panax notoginseng. This study explored its effects and mechanisms on diabetic retinopathy and angiogenesis. The study employed endothelial cell models induced by glucose or vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), the chorioallantoic membrane(CAM) model, the oxygen-induced retinopathy(OIR) mouse model, and the db/db mouse model to evaluate the therapeutic effects of GRg2 on diabetic retinopathy and angiogenesis. Transwell assays and endothelial tube formation experiments were conducted to assess cell migration and tube formation, while vascular area measurements were applied to detect angiogenesis. The impact of GRg2 on the retinal structure and function of db/db mice was evaluated through retinal thickness and electroretinogram(ERG) analyses. The study investigated the mechanisms of GRg2 by analyzing the activation of Yes-associated protein(YAP) and Toll-like receptors(TLRs) pathways. The results indicated that GRg2 significantly reduced cell migration numbers and tube formation lengths in vitro. In the CAM model, GRg2 exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in the vascular area ratio. In the OIR model, GRg2 notably decreased the avascular and neovascular areas, ameliorating retinal structural disarray. In the db/db mouse model, GRg2 increased the total retinal thickness and enhanced the amplitudes of the a-wave, b-wave, and oscillatory potentials(OPs) in the ERG, improving retinal structural disarray. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the TLR signaling pathway was significantly down-regulated following YAP knockdown, with PCR results consistent with the transcriptome sequencing findings. Concurrently, GRg2 downregulated the expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), TNF receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6), and nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB) proteins in high-glucose-induced endothelial cells. Collectively, GRg2 inhibits cell migration and tube formation and significantly reduces angiogenesis in CAM and OIR models, improving retinal structure and function in db/db mice, with its pharmacological mechanism likely involving the down-regulation of YAP expression.
Animals ; Ginsenosides/pharmacology* ; Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology* ; Mice ; YAP-Signaling Proteins ; Humans ; Male ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Panax notoginseng/chemistry* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Angiogenesis

Microglial pyroptosis and neuroinflammation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). OGT-mediated O-GlcNAcylation is involved in neurodevelopment and injury. However, its regulatory function in microglial pyroptosis and involvement in SAE remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that OGT deficiency augmented microglial pyroptosis and exacerbated secondary neuronal injury. Furthermore, OGT inhibition impaired cognitive function in healthy mice and accelerated the progression in SAE mice. Mechanistically, OGT-mediated O-GlcNAcylation of ATF2 at Ser44 inhibited its phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, thereby amplifying NLRP3 inflammasome activation and promoting inflammatory cytokine production in microglia in response to LPS/Nigericin stimulation. In conclusion, this study uncovers the critical role of OGT-mediated O-GlcNAcylation in modulating microglial activity through the regulation of ATF2 and thus protects against SAE progression.
Animals ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Pyroptosis/physiology* ; Mice ; Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy/prevention & control* ; Activating Transcription Factor 2/metabolism* ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Mice, Knockout

Dental treatments for children and adolescents have unique clinical characteristics that differ from dental care for adults in terms of children's physiology, psychology, and behavior. These differences impose specific requirements on the application of local anesthesia in pediatric dental procedures. This article presents expert consensus on the principles of local anesthesia techniques in pediatric dental therapies, including the use of common anesthetic drugs and dosage control, safety and efficacy evaluation, and prevention and management of complications. The aim is to improve the safety and quality of pediatric dental treatments and offer guidance for clinical application by dentists.
Humans ; Child ; Anesthesia, Local/methods* ; Consensus ; Anesthesia, Dental/methods* ; Adolescent ; Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage* ; Dental Care for Children