ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanisms by which ligustilide （LIG） exerts neuroprotective effects on ischemic stroke （IS） by inhibiting the release of neutrophil extracellular traps （NETs）， promoting blood-brain barrier repair， and alleviating post-ischemic neuroinflammation， thereby providing a new direction for IS treatment. MethodsA middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO） model was established in rats. The rats were divided into the sham operation （Sham） group， model （Model） group， low- and high-dose LIG groups （20， 40 mg·kg^-1）， and the NET inhibitor CI-amidine group （CI-amidine， 10 mg·kg^-1）. Drug treatments were administered for 3 days. Neurological injury after ischemia was evaluated by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining， neurological deficit scoring， and brain index measurement. Flow cytometry and Western blot were used to analyze changes in neutrophil expression. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the fluorescence intensity of the NET marker citrullinated histone H3 （H3Cit）. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of blood-brain barrier tight junction-related proteins and inflammatory factors， including interleukin-18 （IL-18） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β）. ResultsCompared with the Sham group， the Model group exhibited significant brain tissue injury （P<0.05）， significantly increased neutrophil numbers and NET expression （P<0.05）， significantly impaired blood-brain barrier permeability （P<0.05）， and significantly increased expression of inflammatory factors （P<0.05）. Compared with the Model group， both low- and high-dose LIG significantly alleviated brain tissue injury in rats （P<0.01）， inhibited neutrophil numbers and NET expression （P<0.01）， reduced blood-brain barrier damage （P<0.01）， and suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors IL-18 and IL-1β （P<0.01）， thereby ultimately exerting a neuroprotective effect. ConclusionThe neuroprotective effect of LIG in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury may be related to inhibition of neutrophils and the NETs induced by them.

ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanisms by which ligustilide （LIG） exerts neuroprotective effects on ischemic stroke （IS） by inhibiting the release of neutrophil extracellular traps （NETs）， promoting blood-brain barrier repair， and alleviating post-ischemic neuroinflammation， thereby providing a new direction for IS treatment. MethodsA middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO） model was established in rats. The rats were divided into the sham operation （Sham） group， model （Model） group， low- and high-dose LIG groups （20， 40 mg·kg^-1）， and the NET inhibitor CI-amidine group （CI-amidine， 10 mg·kg^-1）. Drug treatments were administered for 3 days. Neurological injury after ischemia was evaluated by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining， neurological deficit scoring， and brain index measurement. Flow cytometry and Western blot were used to analyze changes in neutrophil expression. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the fluorescence intensity of the NET marker citrullinated histone H3 （H3Cit）. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of blood-brain barrier tight junction-related proteins and inflammatory factors， including interleukin-18 （IL-18） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β）. ResultsCompared with the Sham group， the Model group exhibited significant brain tissue injury （P<0.05）， significantly increased neutrophil numbers and NET expression （P<0.05）， significantly impaired blood-brain barrier permeability （P<0.05）， and significantly increased expression of inflammatory factors （P<0.05）. Compared with the Model group， both low- and high-dose LIG significantly alleviated brain tissue injury in rats （P<0.01）， inhibited neutrophil numbers and NET expression （P<0.01）， reduced blood-brain barrier damage （P<0.01）， and suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors IL-18 and IL-1β （P<0.01）， thereby ultimately exerting a neuroprotective effect. ConclusionThe neuroprotective effect of LIG in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury may be related to inhibition of neutrophils and the NETs induced by them.

Colorectal cancer(CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, primarily originating from recurrent inflammatory bowel disease(IBD). Therefore, blocking the inflammation-cancer transformation in the colon has become a focus in the early prevention and treatment of CRC. The inflammation-cancer transformation in the colon involves multiple types of cells and complex pathological processes, including inflammatory responses and tumorigenesis. In this complex pathological process, immune cells(including non-specific and specific immune cells) and non-immune cells(such as tumor cells and fibroblasts) interact with each other, collectively promoting the progression of the disease. In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), inflammation-cancer transformation in the colon belongs to the categories of dysentery and diarrhea, with the main pathogenesis being cold and heat in complexity. This paper first elaborates on the complex molecular mechanisms involved in the inflammation-cancer transformation process in the colon from the perspectives of inflammation, cancer, and their mutual influences. Subsequently, by comparing the pathogenic characteristics and clinical manifestations between inflammation-cancer transformation and the TCM pathogenesis of cold and heat in complexity, this paper explores the intrinsic connections between the two. Furthermore, based on the correlation between inflammation-cancer transformation in the colon and the TCM pathogenesis, this paper delves into the importance of the interaction between inflammation and cancer. Finally, it summarizes and discusses the clinical and basic research progress in the TCM intervention in the inflammation-cancer transformation process, providing a theoretical basis and treatment strategy for the treatment of CRC with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
Humans ; Colon/pathology* ; Integrative Medicine ; Animals ; Cold Temperature ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/drug effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Hot Temperature ; Inflammation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the related risk factors of early failure of simple taper retentive implants, and to provide theoretical guidance for clinical work. METHODS: Collect cases of patients who visited the Department of Stomatology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2021 to June 2024, received simple taper retentive implants, and had complete medical records. Taking the implants as the unit, analyze the influence of patient-related factors (gender, age, smoking history, hypertension history, diabetes history), implant-related factors (implant length, implant diameter, implant surface treatment), and surgical-related factors (implant site, implant timing, simultaneous maxillary sinus floor elevation, simultaneous bone augmentation) on the early failure of implants. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were adopted to explore the potential risk factors for early failure of simple taper retentive implants. RESULTS: A total of 3,533 simple taper retentive from 1,681 patients were included during the study period. Among them, 53 implants from 49 patients experienced early failure, with an early failure rate of 2.9% at the patient le-vel and 1.5% at the implant level. Multivariate analysis revealed that smoking (OR=2.148, P=0.021), the anterior mandibular region (OR=3.669, P=0.006), and the posterior maxillary region (OR=2.191, P=0.033) were risk factors for early failure of simple taper retentive implants. In the univariate analysis, simultaneous maxillary sinus floor elevation had a higher risk of early failure, but this effects was no longer significant in the multivariate analysis (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Smoking, the anterior mandibular region, and the posterior maxillary region are risk factors for the early failure of simple taper retentive implants, and could be comprehensively considered in the preoperative treatment plan.
Humans ; Risk Factors ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Dental Implants ; Adult ; Smoking/adverse effects* ; Dental Restoration Failure ; Aged

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effect of Xiaojianzhong Granule(XJZG)on food allergy(FA)and related mecha-nisms in terms of gut microbiota,zonula occluden-1(ZO-1),and Occludin.Methods:A total of 24 specific pathogen-free female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group,prevention group,and treatment group,with 6 mice in each group.The mice in the prevention group were given XJZG by gavage at a standard dose of 5.85 g/kg/day from 3 days before the first challenge till 4 hours before the last challenge;the mice in the treatment group were given XJZG at the double dose for 3 days based on the allergy score;the mice in the other groups were given an equal volume of distilled water by gavage.At the end of the experiment,al-lergy score and anal temperature were measured;flow cytometry was used to measure eosinophils and mast cells in mesenteric lymph nodes(MLNs);toluidine blue staining was performed for mast cells in jejunal tissue;immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin;16S rRNA sequencing was per-formed to analyze the microbiota in the intestinal content;high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to measure the content of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)in jejunal lavage fluid.Results:Compared with the model group,the prevention group and the treatment group had significant reductions in al-lergy score(P=0.000,P=0.000),anal temperature(P=0.002,P=0.000),the proportion of eosinophils and mast cells in MLNs(P<0.05),and mast cell infiltration in jejunal tissue(P=0.000,P=0.000).Compared with the normal group,the model group had signifi-cant increases in the relative abundances of Erysipelaceae and Turicibacter,while the prevention group and the treatment group had disappearance of Erysipelaceae and Turicibacter and an increase in the relative abundance of Porphyromonadaceae.Compared with the normal group,the model group had a significant reduction in the content of propionate in jejunal lavage fluid(P=0.014),and compared with the model group,the prevention group had a significant increase in the content of propionate in jejunal lavage fluid(P=0.024),as well as a significant increase in the treatment group(P=0.008).In the model group,the expression of ZO-1 was downregulated(P=0.010),and the expression of Occludin was significantly downregulated(P=0.002),while the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin re-turned to normal levels in the prevention group and the treatment group(P=0.001,P=0.013;P=0.025,P=0.015).Conclusion:XJZG can change the composition and abundance of gut microbiota,increase the concentration of SCFAs,upregulate the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin,promote the repair of intestinal barrier,and inhibit food allergy.

Objective To explore the relationship between serum levels of glycoprotein fibroglycan(SRGN)and secretory CD146(sCD146)and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in elderly pa-tients with breast cancer(BC).Methods A total of 128 elderly BC patients treated in the hospital from April 2019 to April 2021 were retrospectively selected as the BC group,and another 70 healthy elderly women were selected as the control group.The serum SRGN and sCD146 levels in BC group and control group,and patients with different clinical and pathological characteristics in BC group were compared.Kaplan-Meier curve and COX regression were used to analyze the effect of serum levels of SRGN and sCD146 on the prognosis of eld-erly BC patients.Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the predictive value of serum lev-els of SRGN and sCD146 for the prognosis of elderly BC patients.Results The levels of serum SRGN and sCD146 were(13.17±3.35)μg/L,(118.23±20.51)ng/L in the BC group,which were higher than(2.52±0.41)μg/L,(20.03±4.16)ng/L in the control group(t=26.460,39.572,both P<0.001).Compared with elderly BC patients with TNM stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ and histological grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ,serum SRGN and sCD146 levels in elderly BC patients with TNM stage Ⅲ and histological grade Ⅲ were higher(P<0.05).The 3-year progres-sion free survival rates in SRGN high and low expression groups were 66.13%(41/62)and 92.42%(61/66),respectively,and the 3-year progression free survival rate in SRGN high expression group was lower than that in SRGN low expression group(Log Rank χ2=14.180,P<0.001).The 3-year progression free survival rates in sCD146 high and low expression groups were 68.85%(42/61)and 89.55%(60/67),respectively,and the 3-year progression free survival rate in sCD146 high expression group was lower than that in sCD146 low ex-pression group(Log Rank χ2=8.614,P=0.003).TNM stage Ⅲ,histological grade Ⅲ,serum SRGN and sCD146 were risk factors for the poor prognosis of elderly BC patients.The area under the curve(AUC)of the combination of serum SRGN and sCD146 for predicting the prognosis of elderly BC patients was 0.850,which was larger than that of SRGN(AUC=0.798)and sCD146(AUC=0.771)alone(Z=2.057,2.217,P=0.042,0.029).Conclusion Serum levels of SRGN and sCD146 are elevated in elderly BC patients,and both are in-volved in the disease progression of BC.The combination of the two factors has high predictive value for the prognosis of elderly BC patients.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of using low-dose computed tomography(LDCT)with deep learning reconstruction(DLR)on the chest for the screening of lung nodules,and to compare the image quality and detection rate of nodules between LDCT and routine dose CT(RDCT)-DLR.Methods:A total of 104 overweight or obese patients[body mass index(BMI)≥25 kg/m2]who received CT examination on chest due to pulmonary nodule screening from September to December 2023 were included to conduct prospective study.All patients underwent respectively RDCT(120 kV)and LDCT(100 kV)scans,all of the two scans used the modulation of automatic tube current,and adopted deep learning AI algorithm ClearInfinity to conduct reconstruction(RDCT:CI 40%,LDCT:CI 50%).Radiation dose and nodules number of them were recorded.At the T8 vertebral level,CT values(Hounsfield Units,HU)of mediastinal fat and lung parenchyma in the right lower lobe were measured,along with image noise(standard deviation,SD).The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)were subsequently calculated.Two radiologists independently performed subjective evaluations of image quality and pulmonary nodules using a Likert 4-point scale.Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum test were employed to compare differences in radiation dose,objective image noise,and subjective scores between LDCT and RDCT.Results:A total of 104 patients were enrolled,including 54 males and 50 females,with a mean age of 52±13 years and a BMI of(27.77±2.64)kg/m2.The effective radiation dose of LDCT demonstrated a statistically significant reduction compared to RDCT(Z=-8.853,P<0.001),with a mean effective radiation dose reduction of 77.86%.The differences in lung CT value,lung noise,fat noise,lung parenchyma SNR,fat SNR and CNR of images between two groups were significant(Z=-3.022,-2.327,-4.785,-2.059,-3.765,-4.013,P<0.05),while there were not significant differences in the comparisons for fat CT value and lung parenchyma SNR(P>0.05).The image contrast,image noise,and subjective score for image quality of lung nodule of LDCT were lower than those of RDCT(t=2.877,2.387,5.096,P<0.05),but all subjective scores of that were>3,which can meet the requirements of clinical diagnosis.In terms of nodule detection,RDCT found out about 418 nodules,while LDCT found out about 421,the false positive rate of LDCT only was 0.72%.Conclusion:In overweight or obese patients,LDCT that combined with DLR algorithm on chest is equivalent to RDCT on image quality and the detection rate of lung nodule,and it significantly reduce radiation exposure on patients at the same time.

Objective To analyze the correlation between the poor position of pedicle screw after lumbar internal fixation and the occurrence of postoperative neurological symptoms.Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent lumbar pedicle screw surgery in our hospital from January 2017 to December 2023 were analyzed retrospectively.Record the patient's sex,age,diagnosis,surgical segment,the presence of postoperative neurological complications,the types of neurological complications.According to the postoperative CT,the screw penetration zone and grade were evaluated,and the distribution of different pedicle screw penetration types was recorded.The correlation between different types of pedicle screw penetration and postoperative neurological symptoms was analyzed.Results A total of 184 patients were included,including 80 males and 104 females.Age ranged from 18 to 82 years,with an average of 60.1±14.2 years.35 patients developed new neurological symptoms after operation.The incidence of postoperative neurological symptoms caused by pedicle medial quadrant screw penetration and lower quadrant screw penetration was higher than that of pedicle superior quadrant and lateral quadrant screw penetration.From L1 to L5,the risk of postoperative neurological symptoms caused by screw penetration in the medial quadrant of the pedicle increases gradually.When the penetration distance of pedicle medial quadrant screws in L4 and L5 segments is≥2mm,the risk of postoperative neurological symptoms is high.When the penetration distance of pedicle medial quadrant screws in L1,L2 and L3 segments is greater than 4mm,the risk of postoperative neurological symptoms is high.The distance of pedicle screw penetrating the medial quadrant of pedicle was positively correlated with the incidence of postoperative neurological symptoms(P<0.05).Conclusion The lateral and superior quadrants of the pedicle may be regarded as safety zones for lumbar pedicle screw placement.For the L1～L3 segments,screw penetration depth should not exceed 4 mm;whereas for the L4～L5 segments,the safety threshold must be strictly controlled within 2 mm.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response caused by severe infection or trauma, and is one of the common causes of acute lung injury(ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). Sepsis-acute lung injury(SALI) is a critical clinical condition with high morbidity and mortality. Its pathogenesis is complex and not yet fully understood, and there is currently a lack of targeted and effective treatment options. Pyroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death, plays a key role in the pathological process of SALI by activating inflammasomes and releasing inflammatory factors, making it a potential therapeutic target. In recent years, the role of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in regulating signaling pathways related to pyroptosis through multi-components and multi-targets has attracted increasing attention. TCM may intervene in pyroptosis by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and regulating the expression of Caspase family proteins, thus alleviating inflammatory damage in lung tissues. This paper systematically reviews the molecular regulatory network of pyroptosis in SALI and explores the potential mechanisms and research progress on TCM intervention in cellular pyroptosis. The aim is to provide new ideas and theoretical support for basic research and clinical treatment strategies of TCM in SALI.
Pyroptosis/drug effects* ; Humans ; Sepsis/genetics* ; Acute Lung Injury/physiopathology* ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*