The chemical constituents were systematically separated from the roots of Berberis polyantha by various chromatographic methods, including silica gel column chromatography, HP20 column chromatography, polyamide column chromatography, reversed-phase C_(18) column chromatography, and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The structures of the compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic techniques(1D NMR, 2D NMR, UV, MS, and CD). Four phenylpropanoids were isolated from the methanol extract of the roots of B. polyantha, and they were identified as(2R)-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(1), methyl 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoate(2),(+)-syringaresinol(3), and syringaresinol-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(4). Compound 1 was a new compound, and other compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. The anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was evaluated based on the release of nitric oxide(NO) in the culture of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. At a concentration of 10 μmol·L~(-1), all the four compounds inhibited the LPS-induced release of NO in RAW264.7 cells, demonstrating potential anti-inflammatory properties.
Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Animals ; Mice ; Berberis/chemistry* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification* ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism* ; Molecular Structure ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) had a good curative effect on the neuroprotection of red nucleus neurons after spinal cord injury (SCI) and the possible molecular mechanism. METHODS: Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups (n=18 per group) according to a random number table, including the control, model, low- (12.78 g/kg, BL group), medium- (25.65 g/kg, BM group), and high-dose BYHWD groups (51.30 g/kg, BH group). A rubrospinal tract transection model in rats was established, and different doses of BYHWD were intragastrically administrated for 4 weeks. The forelimb locomotor function was recorded using the spontaneous vertical exploration test. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level in red nucleus was detected through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The morphology and number of red nucleus neurons were observed using Nissl's staining and axonal retrograde tracing by Fluoro-Gold (FG). The expression of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) p65, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in red nucleus were detected using immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the utilization rate of bilateral forelimbs, unilateral right forelimbs, proportion of FG-labeled positive neurons, cAMP level, protein expressions of PKA and BDNF, and BDNF mRNA expression were significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01), while NF-κB p65 was increased in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the utilization rate of bilateral forelimbs and unilateral right forelimbs were significantly higher in the BL, BM and BH groups (P<0.01), the proportion of FG-labeled positive neurons, cAMP level, protein expressions of PKA and BDNF and BDNF mRNA expression in all BYHWD groups were increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while NF-κB p65 were decreased in all BYHWD groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS BYHWD possesses a sound neuroprotective effect on red nucleus neurons after SCI, and the efficacy was dose-related. The mechanism may be related to regulating the cAMP/PKA/NF-κ B p65 signaling pathway, finally promoting expression of BDNF.
Animals ; Spinal Cord Injuries/pathology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Cyclic AMP/metabolism* ; Transcription Factor RelA/metabolism* ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/genetics* ; Red Nucleus/metabolism* ; Recovery of Function/drug effects* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Rats

Objectives:To assess the prognostic impact of the neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score following neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), as well as its value in guiding decisions for adjuvant chemotherapy.Methods:Between August 2015 and August 2018, patients were eligible from the STELLAR phase III trial (NCT02533271) who received short-course radiotherapy plus consolidation chemotherapy and for whom the NAR score could be calculated. Based on the NAR score, patients were categorized into low (＜8), intermediate (8-16), and high (＞16) groups. The Kaplan-Meier method, log rank tests, and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate the impact of the NAR score on disease-free survival (DFS).Results:Out of the 232 patients, 24.1%, 48.7%, and 27.2% had low (56 cases), intermediate (113 cases), and high NAR scores (63 cases), respectively. The median follow-up period was 37 months, with 3-year DFS rates of 87.3%, 68.3%, and 53.4% ( P＜0.001) for the low, intermediate, and high NAR score groups. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the NAR score (intermediate NAR score: HR, 3.10, 95% CI, 1.30-7.37, P=0.011; high NAR scores: HR=5.44, 95% CI, 2.26-13.09, P＜0.001), resection status ( HR, 3.00, 95% CI, 1.64-5.52, P＜0.001), and adjuvant chemotherapy ( HR, 3.25, 95% CI, 2.01-5.27, P＜0.001) were independent prognostic factors for DFS. In patients with R0 resection, the 3-year DFS rates were 97.8% and 78.0% for those with low and intermediate NAR scores who received adjuvant chemotherapy, significantly higher than the 43.2% and 50.6% for those who did not ( P＜0.001, P=0.002). There was no significant difference in the 3-year DFS rate (54.2% vs 53.3%, P=0.214) among high NAR score patients, regardless of adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions:The NAR score is a robust prognostic indicator in LARC following neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy, with potential implications for subsequent decisions regarding adjuvant chemotherapy. These findings warrant further validation in studies with larger sample sizes.

Objectives:To assess the prognostic impact of the neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score following neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), as well as its value in guiding decisions for adjuvant chemotherapy.Methods:Between August 2015 and August 2018, patients were eligible from the STELLAR phase III trial (NCT02533271) who received short-course radiotherapy plus consolidation chemotherapy and for whom the NAR score could be calculated. Based on the NAR score, patients were categorized into low (＜8), intermediate (8-16), and high (＞16) groups. The Kaplan-Meier method, log rank tests, and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate the impact of the NAR score on disease-free survival (DFS).Results:Out of the 232 patients, 24.1%, 48.7%, and 27.2% had low (56 cases), intermediate (113 cases), and high NAR scores (63 cases), respectively. The median follow-up period was 37 months, with 3-year DFS rates of 87.3%, 68.3%, and 53.4% ( P＜0.001) for the low, intermediate, and high NAR score groups. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the NAR score (intermediate NAR score: HR, 3.10, 95% CI, 1.30-7.37, P=0.011; high NAR scores: HR=5.44, 95% CI, 2.26-13.09, P＜0.001), resection status ( HR, 3.00, 95% CI, 1.64-5.52, P＜0.001), and adjuvant chemotherapy ( HR, 3.25, 95% CI, 2.01-5.27, P＜0.001) were independent prognostic factors for DFS. In patients with R0 resection, the 3-year DFS rates were 97.8% and 78.0% for those with low and intermediate NAR scores who received adjuvant chemotherapy, significantly higher than the 43.2% and 50.6% for those who did not ( P＜0.001, P=0.002). There was no significant difference in the 3-year DFS rate (54.2% vs 53.3%, P=0.214) among high NAR score patients, regardless of adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions:The NAR score is a robust prognostic indicator in LARC following neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy, with potential implications for subsequent decisions regarding adjuvant chemotherapy. These findings warrant further validation in studies with larger sample sizes.

Objective To preliminarily evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a novel non-implantable atrial shunt device based on radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of chronic heart failure(CHF).Methods This was a prospective single-arm study.From January 2023 to December 2023,five eligible CHF patients were consecutively enrolled at Beijing Anzhen Hospital,Capital Medical University,and underwent inter-atrial shunt using Shenzhen Betterway atrial shunt device.Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure(PCWP),right atrial pressure(RAP),pulmonary artery pressure(PAP),total pulmonary resistance(TPR),pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR),and pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio(Qp/Qs)were measured using right heart catheterization before and immediately after procedure.Patients were followed up for 90 days,and echocardiography,right heart catheterization,and cardiac functional indicators were evaluated.The primary endpoint was procedural success.Secondary endpoints included clinical success,echocardiographic changes,6-minute walk distance(6MWD)changes,New York Heart Association(NYHA)class changes,Kansas city cardiomyopathy questionnaire(KCCQ)score changes,and amino-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)level changes at 90 days.The safety endpoint was major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events and device-related adverse events.Results All five patients successfully achieved left-to-right atrial shunt.Compared with baseline,PCWP decreased significantly immediately after procedure in all five patients,with a procedural success rate of 100％.There were no significant changes in RAP,PAP,TPR,and PVR before and immediately after procedure.After 90 days follow-up,four patients had persistent left-to-right atrial shunt,and PCWP was significantly lower than baseline,with a clinical success rate of 80％.Compared with baseline,LVEF increased,left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased,and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and right ventricular fractional area change were not impaired in all five patients at 90 days.KCCQ scores and 6MWT improved,NT-proBNP decreased,and NYHA class did not change significantly.There were no deaths,rehospitalizations for heart failure,stroke-related adverse events,or device-related adverse events during the follow-up.Conclusions The novel non-implantable atrial shunt catheter can safely and effectively improve hemodynamic,echocardiographic,and cardiac functional indicators in patients with heart failure.However,larger-scale clinical studies are still needed to validate its long-term clinical effectiveness.

This study aims to investigate the effect of Chaihu Shugan Powder(CHSG) on liver injury in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis by regulating farnesoid X receptor(FXR)/nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor(Nrf2)/antioxidant response element(ARE) pathway. Eighty-four SD rats were classified into normal group, model group, CHSG-L group(0.5 g·kg~(-1)), CHSG-H group(2.5 g·kg~(-1)), ursodeoxycholic acid group(UDCA group, 100 mg·kg~(-1)), CHSG-H+sh-NC group(2.5 g·kg~(-1) CHSG+subcutaneous injection of sh-NC lentivirus), CHSG-H+sh-FXR group(2.5 g·kg~(-1) CHSG+subcutaneous injection of sh-FXR lentivirus), with 12 rats in each group. Rats were treated with corresponding drugs except for the normal group and the model group, once a day, for 7 days. On 5 th day, rats, except the normal group, were given α-naphthalene isothiocyanate(ANIT) at a dose of 100 mg·kg~(-1), once a day for 3 days to induce intrahepatic cholestasis, and the normal group was given the same amount of normal saline. Rats were anesthetized 1 h after the last administration and the 2 h bile flow was measured. Aeroset chemistry analyzer was employed to detect the levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), total bilirubin(TBIL), and total bile acid(TBA) in rat serum. Based on hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining, the pathological changes of rat liver tissue were observed. Glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and malondialdehyde(MDA) in rat liver tissue homogenate were monitored with corresponding kits. Western blot was used to detect the expression of FXR, Nrf2, and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) proteins in rat liver tissue. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed many spots or concentrated necrotic areas in the liver tissue, infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells, swelling liver cells with nuclear shrinkage. The 2 h bile flow, levels of GSH-Px and SOD, and relative expression of FXR, Nrf2, and HO-1 proteins were significantly lower, and the levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, TBA and MDA were significantly higher in the model group than in the normal group. Compared with the model group, CHSG-L group, CHSG-H group, and UDCA group demonstrated significant alleviation of pathological damage of the liver tissue, significantly high 2 h bile flow, levels of GSH-Px and SOD, and expression of FXR, Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins, and significantly low levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, TBA and MDA. Compared with the CHSG-H group, the CHSG-H+sh-FXR group had worse liver pathological damage, significantly low levels of 2 h bile flow, levels of GSH-Px and SOD, and expression of FXR, Nrf2, and HO-1 proteins, and significantly high levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, TBA, and MDA. CHSG may protect against liver injury in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis by activating the FXR/Nrf2/ARE pathway.
Rats ; Animals ; 1-Naphthylisothiocyanate/toxicity* ; Powders ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic/drug therapy* ; Liver ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Oxidative Stress

BACKGROUND: The current deep learning diagnosis of breast masses is mainly reflected by the diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions. In China, breast masses are divided into four categories according to the treatment method: inflammatory masses, adenosis, benign tumors, and malignant tumors. These categorizations are important for guiding clinical treatment. In this study, we aimed to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) for classification of these four breast mass types using ultrasound (US) images. METHODS: Taking breast biopsy or pathological examinations as the reference standard, CNNs were used to establish models for the four-way classification of 3623 breast cancer patients from 13 centers. The patients were randomly divided into training and test groups (n = 1810 vs. n = 1813). Separate models were created for two-dimensional (2D) images only, 2D and color Doppler flow imaging (2D-CDFI), and 2D-CDFI and pulsed wave Doppler (2D-CDFI-PW) images. The performance of these three models was compared using sensitivity, specificity, area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV), positive (LR+) and negative likelihood ratios (LR-), and the performance of the 2D model was further compared between masses of different sizes with above statistical indicators, between images from different hospitals with AUC, and with the performance of 37 radiologists. RESULTS: The accuracies of the 2D, 2D-CDFI, and 2D-CDFI-PW models on the test set were 87.9%, 89.2%, and 88.7%, respectively. The AUCs for classification of benign tumors, malignant tumors, inflammatory masses, and adenosis were 0.90, 0.91, 0.90, and 0.89, respectively (95% confidence intervals [CIs], 0.87-0.91, 0.89-0.92, 0.87-0.91, and 0.86-0.90). The 2D-CDFI model showed better accuracy (89.2%) on the test set than the 2D (87.9%) and 2D-CDFI-PW (88.7%) models. The 2D model showed accuracy of 81.7% on breast masses ≤1 cm and 82.3% on breast masses >1 cm; there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). The accuracy of the CNN classifications for the test set (89.2%) was significantly higher than that of all the radiologists (30%). CONCLUSIONS: The CNN may have high accuracy for classification of US images of breast masses and perform significantly better than human radiologists. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chictr.org, ChiCTR1900021375; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=33139.
Area Under Curve ; Breast/diagnostic imaging* ; Breast Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; China ; Deep Learning ; Humans ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective:To assess the feasibility and effects of the mobile device-based video teaching in plastic surgery education.Methods:In the study, 22 participants were assigned into two groups according to their standardized training area. The intervention group ( n=11) which was outside Beijing had an unlimited access to video-based education; the control group ( n=11) which was in Beijing received traditional teaching. After the end of the first semester of teaching, the two groups of students were tested on theory and clinical operational theory, and the evaluation results were compared. SPSS 18.0 software was applied for t test and chi-square test. Results:After the first semester, the effect of teaching method was evaluated by the scores of written examination and clinical examination. The average scores of the written test in the intervention group were (38.82±3.22) points, while that in the control group were (38.36±2.98) points, without significant differences between the two groups ( P=0.74); the average scores of the clinical examination theory test in the intervention group and the control group were (46.36±3.44) points and (41.00±5.24) points, respectively, with significant differences between the two groups ( P=0.01). In term of total scores, the average scores of the intervention group were (85.18±4.83) points, and those of the control group were (79.36±5.52) points, with statistical differences between the two groups ( P=0.016). Conclusion:Mobile device-based video teaching in plastic surgery education can not only improve students' performance but also facilitate their clinic skills, which is worth popularizing.

Objective:To investigate the method of the complex labia minora and clitoris prepuce hypertrophy and summarize the experience.Methods:From January 2016 to October 2019, a total of 432 patients with complex labia minora and clitoris prepuce hypertrophy in the 10th Department of Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, were selected by classification. The patients were 18-46 years old (average 28 years old). The redundant prepuce of clitoris was repaired to transform the complex labia minora and clitoris prepuce hypertrophy into simple labia minora hypertrophy, and then labiaplasty was performed by edge or wedge resection.Results:A total of 346 cases were followed up for 3-12 months, 86 cases were lost. Hematoma occurred in 2 cases, bilateral asymmetry in 9 cases, irregular edge in 12 cases, and scar hyperplasia in 1 case. After respective treatment and secondary repair, the patients were satisfied. The overall satisfaction rate was 93.6%(324/346).Conclusions:Our method, through the decomposition operation, will change the complex shape into simple labia minora hyperplasia, reduce the difficulty of operation at the same time, which can achieve more satisfactory appearance.