ObjectiveTo investigate the potential therapeutic effects of Dengzhan Shengmai capsules （DZSM） on myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction and decipher the underlying molecular mechanisms by virtue of network robustness algorithm. MethodsA rat model of myocardial infarction was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. Successfully modeled Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into a model group， an enalapril group（3.15 mg·kg^-1）， and high- and low-dose DZSM groups（226.8，113.4 mg·kg^-1）. In addition， a sham group was set up. After four consecutive weeks of intervention， the cardiac function was assessed via echocardiography， and myocardial collagen deposition was observed through Sirius red staining. The key regulatory pathways of DZSM were analyzed by the network robustness algorithm. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） and immunofluorescence assay were employed to validate the mechanisms. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group exhibited decreased left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF%） and fractional shortening （FS%） （P<0.01） and increased myocardial collagen volume fraction （CVF%） （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， high-dose DZSM and enalapril improved LVEF% and FS% （P<0.01）. Both high- and low-dose DZSM reduced the CVF% （P<0.05， P<0.05，）. Network analysis indicated that DZSM exerted its effects by regulating neutrophil infiltration and related inflammatory pathways. Experimental validation showed that DZSM significantly reduced the protein levels of nuclear factor （NF）-κB， Janus kinase 2 （JAK2）， and signal transduction activator and transducer 3 （STAT3） in the cardiac tissue， as well as the levels of chemokine （C-X-C motif） ligand 1 （CXCL1）， interleukin （IL）-1β， neutrophil elastase-DNA complex （NE-DNA）， and myeloperoxidase-DNA complex （MPO-DNA） in the plasma. ConclusionDZSM may ameliorate myocardial fibrosis by inhibiting neutrophil infiltration and extracellular trap formation and regulating the NF-κB/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from ethyl acetate fraction of Balanophora harlandii Hook.f.and their tyrosinase inhibitory activity.METHODS Separation and purification were performed using silica gel,MCI,ODS,Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.The monophenolase inhibitory activity was determined by the tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation of L-tyrosine.RESULTS Twenty-four compounds were isolated and identified as sesamin(1),methyl caffeate(2),quercetin(3),5,7-dihydroxychromanone(4),methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate(5),esculetin(6),kaempferol(7),naringenin(8),pyrogallic acid(9),pinosylvin(10),methyl propionate(11),caffeic acid(12),saccharinol(13),ferulic acid(14),trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid(15),cinnamic acid(16),vanillic acid(17),vanillin(18),4-hydroxyacetophenone(19),4-hydroxybenzaldehyde(20),apigenin(21),(-)-isolariciresinol(22),(-)-secoisolariciresinol(23)and meso-2,3-di(3′,4′-methylenedioxybenzyl)butane-1,4-diol(24).The IC50 values of compounds 3,5,7,8,19,and 20 ranged from(0.246 5±0.028 3)to(1.278 2±0.021 3)mmol/L.CONCLUSION Compounds 1-9、11、15、17-21、24 are isolated from this plant for the first time,and 1,6,9,17-19,24 are first isolated from genus Balanophora.Compounds 3、5、7、8、19 and 20 have tyrosinase inhibitory activity.

Purpose To investigate the expression of Versican(VCAN)and thrombospondin 2(THBS2)and their relationship with cancer-associated fibroblast(CAFs)and clinicopathological significance in papillary thyroid car-cinoma(PTC).Methods Bioinformatics analyses were performed using PTC single-cell sequencing data from the GEO and TCGA database.Weighted correlation network analysis identified CAFs-related genes,and enrichment analy-sis highlighted pivotal genes associated with CAFs;the expression of VCAN,THBS2,and α-SMA in 130 PTC tissue samples were detected by immunohistochemistry EnVision method.Masson staining evaluated tumor stromal fibrosis.Relationships between these markers,clinicopathological parameters,and CAF proliferation were analyzed.Results Bioinformatics analysis identified VCAN and THBS2 as core genes significantly associated with CAFs,and extracellular matrix-related pathways.The proliferation rate of CAFs in PTC was 83.1％(108/130),with positivity rate of 96.9％(126/130)for VCAN and 75.4％(98/130)for THBS2.The median mesenchymal fibrosis index was 32.4(inter-quartile range:22.7-50.0).High CAF proliferation correlated positively with lymph node metastasis(P＜0.001),higher TNM stage(P＜0.05),and specific histologic subtypes of PTC.Similarly,VCAN expression,THBS2 expres-sion,and the degree of PTC stromal fibrosis were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis(P＜0.001,P＜0.05,and P＜0.001,respectively).Both THBS2 expression and the degree of PTC stromal fibrosis correlated with the histologic subtype of PTC.The percentage of tumor mesenchymal α-SMA-positive cells strongly correlated with the im-mune response score(IRS)of VCAN and THBS2(rs=0.713,P＜0.001;rs=0.646,P＜0.001).Additionally,the percentage of Masson-stained area was positively correlated with the percentage of tumor mesenchymal α-SMA-posi-tive cells,and the IRS of VCAN and THBS2(rs=0.892,P＜0.001;rs=0.729,P＜0.001;rs=0.616,P＜0.001).Conclusion VCAN and THBS2 serve as potential markers for assessing invasiveness and lymph node metas-tasis of PTC.Their strong association with CAFs provides a basis for further investigation of the malignant biological be-havior of PTC.

Objective:To explore the categories of benefit finding among gastric cancer patients, analyze the differences and influencing factors among different groups, and provide reference for clinical nursing.Methods:A convenience sampling method was used to select 279 hospitalized gastric cancer patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2024 to May 2024. The general information investigation, Benefit Finding Scale, Health-Related Hardiness Scale, Chronic Diseases Risk Perception Questionnaire and Distress Disclosure Index were used for cross-sectional survey. Latent profile analysis was used to identify the potential categories of benefit finding in patients with gastric cancer, and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the related influencing factors.Results:A total of 266 valid questionnaires were returned, including 195 males and 71 females, with an age of (63.77 ± ?9.36) years. And three latent profiles of benefit finding were identified: low benefit-low growth group (31.96%, 85/266), moderate benefit group (37.59%, 100/266), and high benefit-health behavior group (30.45%, 81/266). The results of multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the moderate benefit group, the patients with course of disease<6 months ( OR = 0.344, 95% CI 0.160-0.737), cancer stage Ⅰ ( OR = 0.050, 95% CI 0.004-0.589), and highrisk perception ( OR = 0.935, 95% CI 0.878-0.996) were more likely to enter the low benefit-low growth group, and the patients without comorbidities ( OR = 2.520, 95% CI 1.250-5.081) and high self-disclosure ( OR = 1.137, 95% CI 1.007-1.283) were more likely to enter the moderate benefit group (all P<0.05). Compared with the high benefit-health behavior group, patients withcourse of disease<6 months ( OR = 0.108, 95% CI 0.039-0.301) were more likely to enter the low benefit-low growth group, male ( OR = 3.088, 95% CI 1.407-9.106), chemotherapy only ( OR = 6.515, 95% CI 2.034-20.864) and high health-related hardiness ( OR = 1.146, 95% CI 1.096-1.199) were more likely to enter the high benefit-health behavior group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The benefit finding of gastric cancer patients has obvious classification characteristics. Clinical nursing staff should consider targeted interventions according to the characteristics of different categories of gastric cancer patients, encourage patients to face the disease with a positive attitude, and enhance patients′mental health literacy.

Purpose To investigate the expression of FAM134B in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and its clini-cal significance.Methods Immunohistochemical EnVision two-step method was used to detect the expression of FAM134B in 60 cases of HCC tissue and adjacent non-tumor liver tissue.The relationship between FAM134B expres-sion and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of HCC was analyzed.Transwell assays,CCK-8 assays and clone formation assays were used to assess the effects of FAM134B knockdown on HCC cell migration,invasion and proliferation.Results FAM134B had a high expression rates of 70.0％(42/60)in HCC tissues and 40.0％(24/60)in adjacent normal tissues.Compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues,FAM134B expression was significantly higher in HCC tissues(P all＜0.001),and it was positively correlated with vascular invasion,tumor maximum diameter,and early recurrence(P all＜0.05).Survival analysis showed that high expression of FAM134B was an independent poor prognostic factor and a high recurrence risk factor for HCC patients(P all＜0.05).In vitro experiments demonstrated that knockdown FAM134B inhibited HCC cell migration,invasion and proliferation(P all＜0.05).GSEA analysis u-sing the TCGA database indicated that the expression of FAM134B was positively correlatied with the AKT/mTOR path-way.Conclusion High expression of FAM134B may be a marker of high recurrence risk and poor prognosis in HCC and holds potential as a therapeutic target for HCC.

Objective:To systematically evaluate and integrate the disease experience and needs of gastric cancer patients, so as to provide an evidence-based basis for clinical nursing.Methods:Qualitative studies on gastric cancer patients' experiences and needs during the disease process were electronically searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP, and China Biomedical Database. The search period was from database establishment to February 2024. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the quality evaluation criteria for qualitative research of the Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Health Care Center. Meta-synthesis of results was performed using the aggregative synthesis.Results:A total of 13 papers were included, and 50 themes were distilled and summarized to form 11 new categories and three integrative results, including suffering and challenges from illness, self-adjustment and the search for a new normal in life, and undermet needs.Conclusions:Gastric cancer patients face a variety of significant challenges and changes during the course of their disease. Healthcare professionals should pay attention to the patients' disease experience and physical and mental needs, and construct personalized care plans for gastric cancer patients to help them coexist with the disease and achieve life reconstruction.

Objective:To summarize the best evidence for neck and shoulder function rehabilitation strategies in postoperative patients with head and neck tumors.Methods:Evidence-based questions were constructed according to the population, intervention, professional, outcome, setting, type of evidence (PIPOST), and the literature on neck and shoulder function rehabilitation strategies for postoperative patients with head and neck tumors was electronically searched in databases and websites such as UpToDate, BMJ Best Practice, Guidelines International Network, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Medlive, PubMed, Embase, CHINAL, Web of Science, Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Health Care Center Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data. The search period spanned from the establishment of the database to April 1, 2024. Two researchers screened the literature, evaluated the methodological quality of the literature, and extracted and summarized the evidence.Results:A total of 14 articles were included, including two clinical decisions, two guidelines, two expert consensus, four systematic reviews, three randomized controlled trials, and one quasi-experiment. Twenty-two pieces of evidence were summarized from six aspects of multidisciplinary collaboration, neck and shoulder functional assessment, neck and shoulder functional training, physical therapy, prevention, and follow-up.Conclusions:The best evidence for neck and shoulder function rehabilitation strategies for postoperative patients with head and neck tumors summarized is scientific and clinically applicable. Healthcare professionals need to select and apply the best evidence in a targeted manner, considering the clinical context.

Objective To evaluate the effects of transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR)on left ventricular reverse remodeling(LVRR)and outcomes in patients with mixed aortic valve disease(MAVD)and predominant aortic stenosis(AS).Methods Patients undergoing TAVR at our center between January 2020 and December 2022 were enrolled consecutively.Propensity score matching(PSM)(1∶1 ratio)was used to reduce selection bias.Transthoracic echocardiography(TTE)was used to monitor left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and other structural parameters over time.The study outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death and rehospitalization due to cardiovascular causes.Linear mixed-effects models and logistic regression were utilized for comparing echocardiographic changes across groups and identifying independent risk factors for no-LVRR,respectively.Results After PSM,126 patients were included.MAVD group exhibited larger structural parameters(left ventricular end-systolic/end-diastolic diameter and volume,left ventricular mass index)and a lower left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)(all P＜0.05).However,more pronounced improvements in left ventricular structure and hemodynamics were observed during follow-up.Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the left ventricular mass index(LVMI)was an independent predictor of left ventricular reverse remodeling(LVRR)after TAVR,whereas persistent moderate or greater mitral regurgitation(MR)and paravalvular leak(PVL)significantly reduced the incidence of LVRR.During a median follow-up period of 23 months,a total of 31 endpoint events occurred,and there was no statistically significant difference in long-term prognosis between the two groups(Log-rank P=0.330).Conclusions Compared to patients in the AS group,those in the MAVD group exhibited more severe left ventricular remodeling before TAVR.However,more significant LVRR was observed during postoperative follow-up.Additionally,the long-term prognosis was comparable between the two groups.

This study was aimed at establishing a method of ultra-fast quantitative PCR for Brucella detection.We used an exogenous recombinant plasmid as the internal reference and targeted the T4SS secretion system,an important Brucella viru-lence factor,to design specific primers and probes.The sensitivity,specificity,and repeatability of this method were evaluated,and a standard curve was constructed.The coincidence rate of detection findings with this method versus quantitative PCR was determined.This method markedly decreased the detection time to only 10 minutes.The standard curve demonstrated a good linear relationship(Y=-3.410 7x+38.357,R2=0.998 5)with a low minimum detection limit of 10 copies/μL.The method exhibited good specificity and did not specifically amplify several common clinical bacteria other than Brucella.The de-tection of three concentrations of positive plasmids yielded coefficients of variation(CVs)of 0.20％to 0.91％,thus demonstra-ting the method's excellent repeatability.Furthermore,140 clinical samples were analyzed concurrently with the fluorescence PCR method,which yielded a 100％compliance rate and consistent results.Our findings indicated that the Brucella ultra-fast quantitative PCR was ultrafast;had high sensitivity,high specificity,and good specificity;and can be used for the clinical de-tection of Brucella and emergency investigation of epidemics.Therefore,this method is valuable for the early diagnosis of Bru-cella.

This study predicts the potential mechanism of Hippocampus in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis(KOA) through network pharmacology, with preliminary verification using molecular docking and animal experiments. The database was used to screen the active chemical components of Hippocampus and the targets of KOA, and Gene Ontology(GO) functional analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and molecular docking were performed on the relevant core targets to preliminarily explore the potential targets and mechanisms of Hippocampus in the treatment of KOA. A rat KOA model was constructed by intra-articular injection of sodium iodoacetate, and the rats were intervened with different doses of Hippocampus decoction and celecoxib. The expression of relevant targets was detected through hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), RT-qPCR, and Western blot to further validate the network pharmacology results. A total of 23 drug-like components of the Hippocampus were screened, and 128 common targets with KOA were identified, involving interleukin-17(IL-17) signaling pathway, transcription factor(FoxO) signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor(TNF) signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that the screened core chemical components exhibited good affinity with key targets. HE staining demonstrated that Hippocampus improved the morphology of the cartilage layer. ELISA confirmed that Hippocampus significantly reduced the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the serum of KOA rats. Western blot and RT-qPCR analysis showed that Hippocampus significantly reduced the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, matrix metalloproteinase(MMP) 13, IL-17A, nuclear factor κB activator 1(ACT1), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6) and nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) in cartilage tissue. The results suggest that Hippocampus can alleviate the degree of joint damage in the KOA rat model induced by sodium iodoacetate. The mechanism of action is related to the inhibition of the IL-17 signaling pathway, reduction of inflammation, and inhibition of extracellular matrix(ECM) degradation.
Animals ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Rats ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Network Pharmacology ; Male ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Humans ; Interleukin-17/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus/chemistry*