BACKGROUND: Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) holds significant value in guiding drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment and enhancing outcomes. However, the predictive capability of post-angioplasty QFR for long-term clinical events in patients with de novo lesions who receive DCB treatment remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to explore the potential significance of post-angioplasty QFR measurements in predicting clinical outcomes in patients underwent DCB treatment for de novo lesions. METHODS: Patients who underwent DCB-only intervention for de novo lesions were enrolled. QFR was conducted after DCB treatment. The patients were then categorized based on post-angioplasty QFR. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), encompassing all-cause death, cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and target vessel revascularization. RESULTS: A total of 553 patients with 561 lesions were included. The median follow-up period was 505 days, during which 66 (11.8%) MACEs occurred. Based on post-procedural QFR grouping, there were 259 cases in the high QFR group (QFR > 0.93) and 302 cases in the low QFR group (QFR ≤ 0.93). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly higher cumulative incidence of MACE in the low QFR group (log-rank P = 0.004). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated a significant inverse correlation between QFR and the occurrence of MACEs (HR = 0.522, 95%CI: 0.289-0.942, P = 0.031). Landmark analysis indicated that high QFR had a significant reducing effect on the cumulative incidence of MACEs within 1 year (log-rank P = 0.016) and 1-5 years (log-rank P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS In patients who underwent DCB-only treatment for de novo lesions, higher post-procedural QFR values (> 0.93) were identified as an independent protective factor against adverse prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the reliability and accuracy of a semi-quantitative evaluation method for assessing the severity of pharyngeal delay by fiberoptic laryngoscopy.Method:Fifty-seven fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing(FEES)videos and the corresponding 57 video fluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS)videos were reviewed and analyzed independently by two investi-gators.The semiquantitative evaluation method of pharyngeal delay in the expert consensus on assessment and treatment of swallowing disorders in China(2017 version)was used to rate fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing videos.The pharyngeal delay time(PDT)was calculated by the corresponding video fluoroscop-ic swallowing study videos.The intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)was used as an indicator to verify the consistency of the retention position of the bolus on set of swallowing in VFSS and FEES.The Kruskal-Wal-lis H test was used to compare the difference in PDT between the different classes.Spearman's rank correla-tion analysis was used to test the correlation between the retention position of bolus on set of swallowing and aspiration under VFSS and FEES.The correlation was statistically significant at P<0.05.Result:The consistency index ICC for determining retention position of bolus on set of swallowing in VFSS and FEES was 0.707(P<0.001)indicating moderate agreement.Therefore,the PDT measured by VFSS corre-sponding to different grades of pharyngeal delay in FEES could be compared between groups.The results showed that:between normal and mild groups(P=0.003),between normal and moderate groups(P<0.0001),and between the normal and severe groups(P<0.0001).However,there were no significant differences be-tween the mild and moderate groups(P=1.000),the mild and severe groups(P=0.141),and the moderate and severe groups(P=1.000).The correlation between retention position of bolus on set of swallowing and as-piration was not significant(P=0.642 under VFSS and P=0.920 under FEES).Conclusion:The semi-quantitative evaluation scale of pharyngeal delay under FEES has limited ability to re-flect the severity of swallowing delay,and the degree of differentiation between grades is low,only distin-guishing the normal group from the abnormal group.Thus,it is recommended that this evaluation scale be ad-justed to three levels:normal level:the head of the bolus reaches the root of the tongue and swallowing is initiated;abnormal level:the bolus reaches a site below the tongue base and lingers for a certain period of time before swallowing is initiated.No swallowing level:the bolus lingered anywhere below the tongue base and no swallowing initiation was observed.

Aim To investigate the effect of cordycepin(COR)on gentamicin(GEN)-induced nephrotoxicity and the molecular mechanism of inhibiting oxidative stress and ferroptosis induced by GEN.Methods The oral SD rats were divided into a control group,GEN group,and GEN+COR group.Following the success-ful setting up of the animal model,the serum creatinine(CR)and urea nitrogen(BUN)levels of rats were measured,and renal tissue injury was assessed using HE staining.In addition,the contents of malondialde-hyde and glutathione in kidney tissues of SD rats in each group were detected,and the expressions of fer-roptosis markers GPX4 and SLC7A11 were analyzed by Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,CR and BUN in GEN-stimulated group signifi-cantly increased(P＜0.01),and the level of CR and BUN was effectively reduced after 50 mg·kg-1 COR oral administration.HE results also showed that COR could alleviate the kidney tissue damage caused by GEN.COR could reverse the increase of malondialde-hyde level and the decrease of glutathione level caused by GEN in rat kidney tissue,and COR could restore the decrease of GPX4 and SLC7A11 protein levels induced by GEN.Conclusion COR can reduce GEN-induced kidney injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and ferrop-tosis.

Aim To evaluate the role of the glucose transporter protein 1(GLUT1)-dependent glycolytic in the attenuation of oxygen-glucose deprivation-reoxygen-ation(OGD/R)injury in HK-2 cells by dexmedetomi-dine(Dex).Methods C57/BL6 mice were random-ly divided into three groups(n=6),namely,sham operation group(Sham group),renal ischemia reper-fusion group(I/R group)and Dex group(I/R+Dex group).Serum creatinine(Cr)and urea nitrogen(BUN)were measured,while the levels of key glyco-lytic enzymes HK2,PFKFB3 and GLUT1 were meas-ured.HK-2 cells were cultured and randomised into seven groups(n=6),which was treated with OGD/R,overexpression or interference with GLUT1,Dex and glycolysis inhibitor 2-DG.CCK-8 and LDH activi-ty were used to detect cellular damage.Glycolysis lev-els were detected by lactate and ECAR.The inflamma-tory level was reflected by qRT-PCR for IL-6 and TNF-α.qRT-PCR and Western blot were performed to de-tect the levels of GLUT1,HK2,and PFKFB3.Results Dex significantly ameliorated kidney injury and HK-2 cell injury(P＜0.05).Dex inhibited the OGD/R-induced rise in lactate and extracellular acidification rate(ECAR),as evidenced by suppression of the ex-pression of GLUT1,HK2 and PFKFB3(P＜0.05).In vitro experiments showed that GLUT1 knockdown sig-nificantly improved OGD/R-induced cellular damage.Lactate,ECAR,glycolysis-related mRNAs and pro-teins were inhibited by GLUT1 knockdown(P＜0.05).Significantly,there were no significant differ-ences in above indexes after Dex treatment based on GLUT1 knockdown.Overexpression of GLUT1 abroga-ted the protective effects of Dex,while reversing the inhibitory effects of Dex on the expression of GLUT1,HK2,and PFKFB3(P＜0.05).Conclusions Dexmedetomidine attenuates OGD/R induced injury in HK-2 cells by inhibiting GLUT1-dependent glycolysis.

The lab module of exploratory experiment is newly designed in the practical course of bio-chemistry.Here we describe one of the experimental projects,and it originates from new scientific re-search results on the dynamic structure of ATP synthase.This exploratory experiment is organized in the form of real scientific research,which would fully mobilize the initiative and creativity of students in learning theoretical knowledge and experimental technology.Students work in groups and start with refer-ence reading.Through cooperation,they must develop certain experimental plan,handle samples with photocrosslinking technique and utilize the high-throughput electrophoresis method to analyze the dynamic structural change of ε subunit in ATP synthase under different physiological conditions.High quality re-sults from high-throughput electrophoresis can only be obtained through optimized operation and treat-ment,from which students would experience the process of technological innovation.The teaching process of this lab module embodies the student-centered teaching concept and is widely approved and supported by students.The project of ATP synthase closely combines the content of lab course with cut-ting-edge technology.Students can deeply experience the importance of experimental technology innova-tion in solving scientific problems.The practical ability of students would be comprehensively improved through this lab module.

Collagen is a major structural protein in the matrix of animal cells and the most widely distributed and abundant functional protein in mammals. Collagen’s good biocompatibility, biodegradability and biological activity make it a very valuable biomaterial. According to the source of collagen, it can be broadly categorized into two types: one is animal collagen; the other is recombinant collagen. Animal collagen is mainly extracted and purified from animal connective tissues by chemical methods, such as acid, alkali and enzyme methods, etc. Recombinant collagen refers to collagen produced by gene splicing technology, where the amino acid sequence is first designed and improved according to one’s own needs, and the gene sequence of improved recombinant collagen is highly consistent with that of human beings, and then the designed gene sequence is cloned into the appropriate vector, and then transferred to the appropriate expression vector. The designed gene sequence is cloned into a suitable vector, and then transferred to a suitable expression system for full expression, and finally the target protein is obtained by extraction and purification technology. Recombinant collagen has excellent histocompatibility and water solubility, can be directly absorbed by the human body and participate in the construction of collagen, remodeling of the extracellular matrix, cell growth, wound healing and site filling, etc., which has demonstrated significant effects, and has become the focus of the development of modern biomedical materials. This paper firstly elaborates the structure, type, and tissue distribution of human collagen, as well as the associated genetic diseases of different types of collagen, then introduces the specific process of producing animal source collagen and recombinant collagen, explains the advantages of recombinant collagen production method, and then introduces the various systems of expressing recombinant collagen, as well as their advantages and disadvantages, and finally briefly introduces the application of animal collagen, focusing on the use of animal collagen in the development of biopharmaceutical materials. In terms of application, it focuses on the use of animal disease models exploring the application effects of recombinant collagen in wound hemostasis, wound repair, corneal therapy, female pelvic floor dysfunction (FPFD), vaginal atrophy (VA) and vaginal dryness, thin endometritis (TE), chronic endometritis (CE), bone tissue regeneration in vivo, cardiovascular diseases, breast cancer (BC) and anti-aging. The mechanism of action of recombinant collagen in the treatment of FPFD and CE was introduced, and the clinical application and curative effect of recombinant collagen in skin burn, skin wound, dermatitis, acne and menopausal urogenital syndrome (GSM) were summarized. From the exploratory studies and clinical applications, it is evident that recombinant collagen has demonstrated surprising effects in the treatment of all types of diseases, such as reducing inflammation, promoting cell proliferation, migration and adhesion, increasing collagen deposition, and remodeling the extracellular matrix. At the end of the review, the challenges faced by recombinant collagen are summarized: to develop new recombinant collagen types and dosage forms, to explore the mechanism of action of recombinant collagen, and to provide an outlook for the future development and application of recombinant collagen.

Sophorae Flavescentis Radix is one of the commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in China, and a large amount of pharmaceutical residue generated during its processing and production is discarded as waste, which not only wastes resources but also pollutes the environment. Therefore, elucidating the chemical composition of the residue of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and the differences between the residue and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix itself is of great significance for the comprehensive utilization of the residue. This study, based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology combined with multivariate statistical methods, provides a thorough characterization, identification, and differential analysis of the overall components of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue. Firstly, 61 compounds in Sophorae Flavescentis Radix were rapidly identified based on their precise molecular weight, fragment ions, and compound abundance, using a self-constructed compound database. Among them, 41 compounds were found in the residue, mainly alkaloids and flavonoids. Secondly, through principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), 15 key compounds differentiating Sophorae Flavescentis Radix from its residue were identified. These included highly polar alkaloids, such as oxymatrine and oxysophocarpine, which showed significantly reduced content in the residue, and less polar flavonoids, such as kurarinone and kuraridin, which were more abundant in the residue. In summary, this paper clarifies the overall composition, structure, and content differences between Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue, suggesting that the residue of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix can be used as a raw material for the extraction of its high-activity components, with promising potential for development and application in cosmetics and daily care. This research provides a scientific basis for the future comprehensive utilization of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Sophora/chemistry* ; Flavonoids/chemistry* ; Alkaloids/chemistry*

AIM To investigate the protective effects of verbascoside on D-galactose-induced liver injury in mice and its underlying mechanisms.METHODS C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to the normal group,the model group,the vitamin E group(100 mg/kg),and the low-dose and high-dose verbascoside groups(40,80 mg/kg),with 10 mice in each group.Simultaneous administration of medicine and subcutaneous injection of D-galactose(600 mg/kg)went on among the groups except the normal group for 8 weeks.Serum ALT,AST,ALP activities,along with TBil levels were measured using biochemical kits.Hepatic GSH,MDA concentrations,as well as SOD and GSH-Px activities were quantified.Liver pathological morphology was evaluated by HE staining,while hepatic fibrosis area was assessed using Sirius red staining.Western blot analysis determined hepatic expression of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-ɑ,TLR4,NF-κB p65,IκBɑ and p-IKBɑ proteins.RESULTS Compared to the model group,the groups treated with vitamin E or verbascoside demonstrated significantly reduced body weight(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);increased hepatic index(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased serum activities of ALT,AST and ALP alongsided reduced TBil levels(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);attenuated pathological damage of liver tissue and fibrosis severity;reduced hepatic MDA level(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and elevated GSH level with enhanced SOD and GSH-Px activities(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Furthermore,the high-dose verbascoside group showed significantly decreased hepatic expressions of IL-6,IL-1 β,TNF-ɑ,TLR4,NF-κB p65,and p-IKBɑ/IKBɑ proteins(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Verbascoside improves D-galactose-induced liver injury through its antioxidant activity,anti-inflammatory effects,and suppression of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

AIM To investigate the protective effects of verbascoside on D-galactose-induced liver injury in mice and its underlying mechanisms.METHODS C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to the normal group,the model group,the vitamin E group(100 mg/kg),and the low-dose and high-dose verbascoside groups(40,80 mg/kg),with 10 mice in each group.Simultaneous administration of medicine and subcutaneous injection of D-galactose(600 mg/kg)went on among the groups except the normal group for 8 weeks.Serum ALT,AST,ALP activities,along with TBil levels were measured using biochemical kits.Hepatic GSH,MDA concentrations,as well as SOD and GSH-Px activities were quantified.Liver pathological morphology was evaluated by HE staining,while hepatic fibrosis area was assessed using Sirius red staining.Western blot analysis determined hepatic expression of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-ɑ,TLR4,NF-κB p65,IκBɑ and p-IKBɑ proteins.RESULTS Compared to the model group,the groups treated with vitamin E or verbascoside demonstrated significantly reduced body weight(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);increased hepatic index(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased serum activities of ALT,AST and ALP alongsided reduced TBil levels(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);attenuated pathological damage of liver tissue and fibrosis severity;reduced hepatic MDA level(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and elevated GSH level with enhanced SOD and GSH-Px activities(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Furthermore,the high-dose verbascoside group showed significantly decreased hepatic expressions of IL-6,IL-1 β,TNF-ɑ,TLR4,NF-κB p65,and p-IKBɑ/IKBɑ proteins(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Verbascoside improves D-galactose-induced liver injury through its antioxidant activity,anti-inflammatory effects,and suppression of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the reliability and accuracy of a semi-quantitative evaluation method for assessing the severity of pharyngeal delay by fiberoptic laryngoscopy.Method:Fifty-seven fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing(FEES)videos and the corresponding 57 video fluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS)videos were reviewed and analyzed independently by two investi-gators.The semiquantitative evaluation method of pharyngeal delay in the expert consensus on assessment and treatment of swallowing disorders in China(2017 version)was used to rate fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing videos.The pharyngeal delay time(PDT)was calculated by the corresponding video fluoroscop-ic swallowing study videos.The intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)was used as an indicator to verify the consistency of the retention position of the bolus on set of swallowing in VFSS and FEES.The Kruskal-Wal-lis H test was used to compare the difference in PDT between the different classes.Spearman's rank correla-tion analysis was used to test the correlation between the retention position of bolus on set of swallowing and aspiration under VFSS and FEES.The correlation was statistically significant at P<0.05.Result:The consistency index ICC for determining retention position of bolus on set of swallowing in VFSS and FEES was 0.707(P<0.001)indicating moderate agreement.Therefore,the PDT measured by VFSS corre-sponding to different grades of pharyngeal delay in FEES could be compared between groups.The results showed that:between normal and mild groups(P=0.003),between normal and moderate groups(P<0.0001),and between the normal and severe groups(P<0.0001).However,there were no significant differences be-tween the mild and moderate groups(P=1.000),the mild and severe groups(P=0.141),and the moderate and severe groups(P=1.000).The correlation between retention position of bolus on set of swallowing and as-piration was not significant(P=0.642 under VFSS and P=0.920 under FEES).Conclusion:The semi-quantitative evaluation scale of pharyngeal delay under FEES has limited ability to re-flect the severity of swallowing delay,and the degree of differentiation between grades is low,only distin-guishing the normal group from the abnormal group.Thus,it is recommended that this evaluation scale be ad-justed to three levels:normal level:the head of the bolus reaches the root of the tongue and swallowing is initiated;abnormal level:the bolus reaches a site below the tongue base and lingers for a certain period of time before swallowing is initiated.No swallowing level:the bolus lingered anywhere below the tongue base and no swallowing initiation was observed.