ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Yaoshu Zhuyu Fang on the regulation of the microRNA-17-5P (miR-17-5P)/murine double minute 2 (MDM2)/p53 axis in the proliferation and apoptosis of rat intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells, and its potential molecular mechanism. MethodsIntervertebral disc annulus fibrosus tissues were obtained from 8-week-old SPF-grade male SD rats, and annulus fibrosus cells were isolated and obtained by enzyme digestion and mechanical dispersion. Annulus fibrosus cells were divided into 6 groups: Group C was the blank control group, in which annulus fibrosus cells were not treated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) but were cultured in RPMI 1640 complete medium. Group β was the degeneration model group constructed by treating annulus fibrosus cells with 10 ng/mL IL-1β for 24 h. Group β+B was the IL-1β + blank serum group, in which annulus fibrosus cells were first treated with IL-1β to construct the degeneration model, then treated with RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% blank serum for 24 h. Group β+W was the IL-1β + Yaoshu Zhuyu Fang-containing serum group, in which annulus fibrosus cells were first treated with IL-1β to construct the degeneration model, then treated with RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% Yaoshu Zhuyu Fang-containing serum for 24 h. Group β+I was the IL-1β + miR-17-5P inhibitor group, in which annulus fibrosus cells were first treated with IL-1β to construct the degeneration model, then transfected with miR-17-5P inhibitor. Group β+I+W was the IL-1β + miR-17-5P inhibitor + Yaoshu Zhuyu Fang-containing serum group, in which annulus fibrosus cells were first treated with IL-1β to construct the degeneration model, then transfected with miR-17-5P inhibitor, and finally treated with RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% Yaoshu Zhuyu Fang-containing serum for 24 h. CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell survival rate. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-17-5P, MDM2 mRNA, and p53 mRNA in cells. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of MDM2 and p53 in cells. Dual-luciferase reporter system was used to analyze the targeting relationship between miR-17-5P and MDM2. ResultsCompared with Group C, Group β showed a significant decrease in cell survival rate (P<0.001), a significant increase in cell apoptosis rate (P<0.001), significantly increased expression of miR-17-5P, p53 mRNA, and p53 protein (P<0.001), and significantly decreased expression of MDM2 mRNA and protein (P<0.001). Compared with Group β, Group β+W, Group β+I, and Group β+I+W showed significantly increased cell survival rate, significantly decreased apoptosis rate, significantly decreased expression of miR-17-5P, p53 mRNA, and p53 protein, and significantly increased expression of MDM2 mRNA and protein (P<0.001). Moreover, changes in the above indicators were greater in Group β+I+W (P<0.001). Circular RNA Interactome predicted that miR-17-5P had specific binding sites with the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of MDM2. Transfection of miR-17-5P mimic significantly reduced the luciferase expression level of co-transfected luciferase reporter plasmid containing wild-type MDM2 3'UTR (P<0.05), but had no significant effect on luciferase expression in cells co-transfected with luciferase reporter plasmid containing mutant MDM2 3'UTR (P>0.05). ConclusionYaoshu Zhuyu Fang down-regulates the expression of miR-17-5P, promotes the synthesis of MDM2 protein, thereby down-regulates p53, promotes proliferation, and inhibits the apoptosis of rat intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells.

Hepatitis D is a severe infectious disease caused by hepatitis D virus （HDV）， and its clinical manifestation and outcome vary depending on the mode of infection （co-infection and super-infection）. This article systematically elaborates on the etiological markers for HDV， screening strategies for HDV infection， clinical diagnosis， and principles for treatment and management. In addition， it also discusses the challenges in etiological detection of HDV infection from the perspectives of the unique structure of the virus， genotypes， and detection techniques and reviews the new techniques in this field， in order to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients with HDV and offer new ideas for the standardization and domestication of etiological detection techniques.

This study systematically examined the effects of atomization as a transdermal permeation enhancer on the transdermal delivery of active ingredients with different physicochemical properties and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Porcine ear skin served as an in vitro model, and skin permeation experiments were conducted using Franz diffusion cells. Receptor fluids were collected at specific time points, and samples of the stratum corneum and viable epidermis–dermis were separated and prepared. Quantitative and visualization methods, including high-performance liquid chromatography, fluorescence derivatization, and confocal laser scanning microscopy, were used to compare skin retention and transdermal permeation of adenosine (AD), tranexamic acid (TXA), calcein (CAL), and tocopheryl acetate (TA) under atomized and non-atomized conditions. Additionally, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements and attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) were employed to analyze the mechanism behind the penetration enhancement caused by atomization. The findings showed that atomization increased skin retention within the stratum corneum and viable epidermis–dermis, as well as the transdermal permeation of all four active ingredients to varying degrees. The most significant enhancement was observed for TXA, which has a relatively low molecular weight and moderate lipophilicity, while the enhancement effects for highly hydrophilic AD and highly lipophilic TA were comparatively limited; however, atomization significantly increased the skin retention of TA. TEWL results indicated that skin permeability increased within 4 hours after atomization and largely recovered within 8 hours. ATR-FTIR analysis suggested that atomization may facilitate transdermal delivery by disrupting the lipid order and keratin conformation in the stratum corneum.This study provides theoretical support and experimental references for the advancement of atomization transdermal delivery technology, as well as the design and development of related atomization products.

BACKGROUND:The pathogenesis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy has not yet been clarified,and TAM(Tyro3,Axl,and MerTK)receptor tyrosine kinases can control apoptotic cells and suppress inflammatory responses in the central nervous system. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the difference of Mer receptor tyrosine kinase(MerTK)levels in plasma and sciatic nerve tissue of Sprague-Dawley rats with type 2 diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy,and to study the correlation between MerTK and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. METHODS:Forty male Sprague-Dawley were randomly divided into control group with 15 rats,type 2 diabetes group with 10 rats,and diabetic peripheral neuropathy group with 15 rats.The control group was fed with ordinary diet,while the experimental groups were fed with high-fat and high-sugar diet.After 6 weeks,intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at the minimum dose of 35 mg/kg was administered in the two experimental groups.After 14 days,tail vein blood was collected to detect blood glucose.If blood glucose≥16.7 mmol/L,the model of type 2 diabetes was successfully established.Rats in the diabetic peripheral neuropathy group continued to be fed with a high-sugar and high-fat diet for 8 weeks.The sciatic nerve conduction velocity of rats was detected through live isolation under anesthesia.Blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta,and the sciatic nerve tissue was collected.Histological changes of nerve fibers in each group were observed under a light microscope to confirm the success of diabetic peripheral neuropathy modeling.ELISA was used to detect peripheral blood glucose,blood lipids and serum MerTK levels in rats;hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the histological changes in the sciatic nerve;immunofluorescence,immunohistochemistry and western blot were used to detect the expression of MerTK in the sciatic nerve tissue. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The Sprague-Dawley rat models of type 2 diabetes and type 2 diabetes peripheral neuropathy were successfully constructed,and the modeling rate of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was 80%.Compared with the control group,the blood glucose levels of rats in the type 2 diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy groups were significantly higher(P<0.000 1),while the blood glucose level in the diabetic peripheral neuropathy group was higher than that in the type 2 diabetes group;and the sciatic nerve conduction velocity was significantly decreased(P<0.05),which was lower in the diabetic peripheral neuropathy group than the type 2 diabetes group.Histological examination:Compared with the control group,the sciatic nerve nuclei were reduced in the type 2 diabetes group,with some vacuolar degeneration and phagocytosis;in the diabetic peripheral neuropathy group,the cell body was swollen,the nuclear spacing was increased,vacuolar degeneration was observed,and the myelin sheath was partitioned and unsmooth,and lattice-like axons appeared.Serum MerTK levels were significantly higher in the diabetic peripheral neuropathy group than the control group.Expression of MerTK in the sciatic nerve tissue was significantly upregulated in the diabetic peripheral neuropathy group compared with the control group(P<0.05).To conclude,elevated levels of MerTK in plasma and sciatic nerve tissue of rats with diabetic peripheral neuropathy are presumably related to its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.

Objective To analyze the status of 2 649 suspected pertussis patients in Xi'an and the changes in laboratory diagnostic indi-cators.Methods 2 649 patients with suspected pertussis who visited the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from June 2023 to May 2025 were collected as the research subjects.Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from the patients,and pertussis nucleic acid was detected by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-fluorescence probe method.Laboratory diagnostic indicators were an-alyzed.Results Among the 2 649 samples tested,250 were positive for pertussis nucleic acid,with a positive detection rate of 9.44%.The detection rate in male patients was 9.37%(127/1 356),and in female patients was 9.51%(123/1 293),with difference no was statis-tically significant between the two groups(χ2=0.019,P=0.894).There was a statistically significant difference in the positive detection rate among different age groups(χ2=46.473,P<0.05),with the highest positive detection rate in the 7～19 age group(14.98%).The prevalence of pertussis showed a seasonal characteristic with a peak from April to September.21.2%(53/250)of the positive patients were mixed infections.In the 1～14 age group,the white blood cell count(WBC),lymphocyte percentage(LYMP%),and lymphocyte count(LYMP#)in the pertussis infection group were higher than those in the Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)infection group(t=10.179,5.819,8.614)and the Respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)infection group(t=16.570,2.618,7.185),and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.01),respectively.In the＞14 age group,the LYMP%and LYMP#in the pertussis infection group were higher than those in the MP infection group(t=3.275,2.319)and the RSV infection group(t=2.401,4.617),and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05),respectively.Conclusion The pertussis infection status in Xi'an area from 2023 to 2025 shows significant char-acteristics in terms of age,season and laboratory test results.It is necessary to further improve the pertussis surveillance system in this area,optimize the clinical diagnosis and treatment process and strengthen the vaccination work of pertussis vaccine.

Objective To establish an animal model of hand,foot,and mouth disease(HFMD)in Syrian hamsters coinfected with coxsackievirus A6(CVA6)and coxsackievirus B1(CVB1).Methods 42 Syrian hamsters were divided into a CVA6 infection group,CVB1 infection group,CVA6 and CVB1 coinfection group and control group.A HFMD model was established by nasal instillation of virus solution and phosphate-buffered saline.Clinical and physiological indicators and detoxification status were monitored and recorded for 15 d,and animals were selected on day 7(D7)after infection for histopathology and viral antigen and nucleic acid testing.Results Hamsters in the single-infection and coinfection groups showed clinical symptoms similar to human HFMD.White blood cell,neutrophil,and lymphocyte result were characteristic of viral infection.Both viral nucleic acids were detected in throat swabs,feces,blood,and tissues and both viruses were isolated from fecal samples.Pathological damage and positive co-localization of CVA6 and CVB1 viral antigen proteins and nucleic acids were found in brain and other tissues.Conclusions Nasal instillation of a CVA6 and CVB1 mixture can successfully coinfect Syrian hamsters,replicate herpes infection similar to human HFMD,and cause pathological viral myocarditis and encephalitis damage.The result showed that the coinfection group was more seriously affected than the single-infection group,with worse clinical symptoms,increased viral replication,and obvious tissue pathological damage.This study provides a reference for further basic and clinical research into human enterovirus coinfection.

Plant-derived bioactive peptides have become a research hotspot in the fields of food and medicine due to their high source safety,easy absorption and utilization by the human body,and potential edible and medicinal value.Bioactive peptides can be classified into antihypertensive,hypoglycemic,hypolipidemic,anticancer,antioxidant,antimicrobial,and anti-inflammatory peptides according to their functions.Among these,antihypertensive,hypoglycemic,and hypolipidemic peptides are collectively referred to as cardiovascular active peptides,which can be used for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases and have an important role in the development of modem biomedicine.This review focused on the preparation methods,separation,purification,and identification techniques of bioactive peptides,as well as their mechanisms of action and applications in regulating cardiovascular diseases,aiming to provide a reference for further development and application of plant-derived cardiovascular peptides.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the change of muscle tissues and bone mineral density(BMD)in elderly women with hip fracture,with consideration of the impact of muscle mechanics on bone mass changes.Methods A total of 79 elderly patients with hip fracture were selected as the fracture group,and 45 physical examination personnel as the control group.The differences in total muscle mass,total body fat,trunk muscle mass,trunk fat mass,arm muscle mass,arm fat mass,leg muscle mass,leg fat mass,as well as BMD at the lumbar spine(L1-4),femoral neck,hip joint,and whole body were analyzed.Results Muscle content and fat content of the whole body,upper limb and lower limb,fat content of the trunk,relative skeletal muscle index(SMI)and BMD of the whole body in fracture group were significantly lower than those in control group(P＜0.05).The incidence rate of sarcopenia for elderly women in fracture group was higher than that in control group.BMD of femoral neck of the affected side was significantly lower than that of the intact side in women with intertrochanteric fractures.Logistic regression analysis found that SMI in elderly women with hip fracture was negatively correlated with age,and positively correlated with body mass index(BMI),BMD of the femoral neck and whole body.Conclusions The rate of sarcopenia was significantly higher in elderly patients with hip fracture,and SMI was closely related to BMD of the femoral neck and whole body.Therefore,sarcopenia should be highly emphasized in the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fracture in elderly people.

Objective To investigate the impact of different degrees of fever during epidural labor analgesia on maternal and neonatal perinatal outcomes.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 240 pregnant women who received epidural labor analgesia.Based on the peak temperature during labor,the participants were divided into the control group(＜37.3℃,160 cases),the A group(37.3 to＜38℃,55 cases)and the B group(≥38℃,25 cases).The differences in maternal prenatal data,labor progression and neonatal outcomes were compared between the three groups.Results There were no significant differences in mode of delivery,onset of labor and membrane rupture method between the three groups(P>0.05).The time interval from the initiation of epidural analgesia to delivery and the time from membrane rupture to delivery were longer in the A group and the B group compared to the control group(P＜0.05).Among women who delivered vaginally,the first stage of labor was longer in the A group and the B group compared to the control group(P＜0.05),and the second stage and total duration of labor were longer in the A group than those in both the control group and the B group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in neonatal Apgar scores,birth weight,umbilical blood pH and the incidence of neonatal complications between the three groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Longer epidural analgesia duration and a prolonged first stage of labor may increase the risk of labor-associated fever.Higher degree of fever during labor promotes more active intervention in the second stage of labor,but it does not significantly affect neonatal outcomes.

Objective To analyze the distribution and drug resistance patterns of pathogenic bacteria in bile and blood cultures obtained from patients with biliary stones accompanied by acute biliary tract infection,to evaluate the clinical appropriate-ness of antibiotic use based on drug sensitivity results,and to provide evidence for empirical antibiotic treatment in such patients.Methods The clinical data of 161 patients with biliary calculi complicated by acute biliary tract infection who were admitted to the First People's Hospital of Neijiang from 2017 to 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The results of microbial culture,drug sensitivity analysis,and patient characteristics were assessed to evaluate the appropriateness of clinical antimicrobial therapy.Results Among the 161 patients with positive cultures,212 strains of pathogenic bacteria were detected.The predominant patho-gens were Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumoniae subspecies,and Enterococcus faecium.Age and underlying diseases significantly affected the distribution of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae subspecies.Within the gram-negative bacterial group,Esche-richia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae subspecies exhibited higher drug resistance to commonly used broad-spectrum penicillin,third-generation cephalosporin and quinolones but lower resistance rates to piperacillin and tazobactam;furthermore,elderly indi-viduals aged ≥65 years showed higher resistance rates to ceftriaxone than those under age 65 while people with drug exposure history had higher ceftazidime resistance rates that were statistically significant.In contrast to Enterococcus faecalis which displayed low antimicrobial resistance rates for most drugs tested in this study,Enterococcus faecium demonstrated high levels of antibiotic resistance;however,both Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium exhibited zero-resistance rates against vancomycin and tigecycline although this may be attributed to their small sample size in our study cohort.Finally,we found that empirical anti-in-fective drugs,as well as target anti-infective drugs,were not prescribed rationally among these patients due mainly to inappropriate combinations of antibiotics or incorrect dosages.Conclusions The predominant pathogens in patients with acute biliary tract infection are gram-negative bacteria,Gram-positive bacteria,and fungi;however,the potential involvement of anaerobic bacteria should not be overlooked.Vancomycin exhibits sensitivity against gram-positive bacteria,yet the overall rationality of antibiotic usage remains suboptimal.Enhanced clinical testing for pathogenic microorganisms is imperative in the management of biliary stones accompanied by acute biliary tract infection.In contrast,clinical pharmacists should provide comprehensive training on anti-infective drugs to clinicians to facilitate their judicious selection of antibiotics based on drug sensitivity results and prevent the e-mergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria.