ObjectiveTo establish an animal model of atrial fibrillation（AF） that accurately reflects the phlegm-heat and blood stasis（TRYZ） pathogenesis in traditional Chinese medicine. MethodsForty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly assigned using a random number table to the following groups：the control group， the TRYZ+AF group，the AF group and the TRYZ group， with ten rats in each group. The TRYZ+AF and TRYZ groups underwent a high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide（LPS） injection to simulate the pathological alterations of TRYZ syndrome. Groups TRYZ+AF and AF were induced with acetylcholine-calcium chloride（Ach-CaCl₂） via caudal vein injection to induce AF. The control group received no intervention and was maintained under normal conditions. The modeling period lasted 3 weeks. Electrocardiography was used to assess AF episodes and duration， echocardiography evaluated left atrial dimensions and cardiac function， fully automated biochemical analyzer measured the levels of total cholesterol（TC）， triglycerides（TG）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol（HDL-C） and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol（LDL-C）， hemoreometer analyzed the whole blood viscosity， plasma viscosity， and whole blood reduced viscosity， a coagulation analyzer assessed prothrombin time（PT）， activated partial thromboplastin time（APTT）， thrombin time（TT）， and fibrinogen（FIB）， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to determine the levels of C-reactive protein（CRP）， interleukin（IL）-1β， IL-6， IL-17， tumour necrosis factor（TNF）-α， matrix metalloproteinase-9（MMP-9）， galectin-3（Gal-3）， Collagen Ⅰ， and α-smooth muscle actin（α-SMA）. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining and Masson's trichrome staining were used to analyze pathological changes in atrial myocardium， Western blot was employed to detect MMP-9， Collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA protein expression in myocardial tissue， real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） evaluated fibrous factor gene expression levels. Changes in the TRYZ syndrome were assessed via body weight， tongue color［red（R）， green（G）， and blue（B）］， and rectal temperature. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS） was employed to detect differential metabolites between the control group and the TRYZ+AF group. ResultsFollowing three weeks of sustained modeling， compared with the control group， rats in the TRYZ+AF and the TRYZ groups exhibited reduced body weight， dry faeces， elevated rectal temperature， dark red tongue， decreased RGB values on the tongue surface， and markedly elevated TC and LDL-C levels（P<0.05， P<0.01）. The TRYZ+AF， TRYZ， and AF groups exhibited significantly decreased TT， APTT and PT， along with markedly elevated whole blood viscosity and FIB（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Rats in the TRYZ+AF and AF groups exhibited AF rhythm， markedly decreased heart rate， prolonged RR intervals， enlarged left atrium， and significantly reduced ejection fraction and shortening fraction（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum levels of CRP， IL-1β， IL-6， IL-17， TNF-α， MMP-9， Gal-3， Collagen Ⅰ， and α-SMA were elevated in rats from the TRYZ+AF， TRYZ， and AF groups compared to the control group， with the most pronounced increase observed in the TRYZ+AF group（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Histopathology revealed that the collagen fiber deposition in the atrial of rats in the TRYZ+AF， TRYZ and AF groups was higher than that in the control group（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Western blot and Real-time PCR results further demonstrated that the protein and mRNA expression levels of MMP-9， Collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA in the myocardial tissue of the TRYZ+AF group were higher than those in the other three groups（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Metabolomic analysis revealed 173 differentially expressed metabolites in the TRYZ+AF group and the control group， primarily enriched in pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. ConclusionThis study successfully establishes a rat model of AF integrated with the TRYZ syndrome， demonstrating the pathological process where the interactions of phlegm， heat and stasis jointly trigger tremor， this provides a reliable experimental tool for in-depth research into the biological basis of this disease syndrome.

BACKGROUND:Forskolin,a diterpenoid natural compound extracted from Coleus forskohlii,has a crucial regulatory role in skeletal muscle repair.However,the regulatory role of forskolin on myogenic differentiation of C2C12 skeletal muscle cells has not been fully explored.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of forskolin on the differentiation of C2C12 myoblast cell line and probe into the underlying molecular mechanisms.METHODS:C2C12 cells were treated with 0,0.1,0.25,0.5,1,5,10 and 20 μmol/L forskolin during growth,and cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 and qRT-PCR.C2C12 cells were treated with 0,0.25,0.5 and 1 μmol/L forskolin during the induction of myogenic differentiation.Immunofluorescence staining and qRT-PCR were used to detect C2C12 cells differentiation.Western blot was used to detect the expression level of myogenic differentiation-related signaling pathway proteins.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The viability of C2C12 cells was decreased and cell proliferation was inhibited after treatment with high concentrations(＞1 μmol/L)of forskolin.(2)The qRT-PCR results showed that forskolin up-regulated the expression of Myh2,Myh4,Myomaker,but down-regulated the expression of Myh7 compared with the 0 μmol/L group,when C2C12 cells were differentiated for 4 days.Immunofluorescence staining results showed that the fusion index and myotube diameter of C2C12 cells were increased after forskolin treatment,and the number of myotubes was also increased.(3)Western blot results showed that the phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 expression was inhibited;however,the phosphorylated protein kinase B was promoted after treatment with forskolin.The protein expression level of the myogenic differentiation transcription factor Myogenin was significantly up-regulated after treatment with forskolin.The above results demonstrate that forskolin may promote myogenic differentiation of C2C12 skeletal muscle cells through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and protein kinase B signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:Forskolin,a diterpenoid natural compound extracted from Coleus forskohlii,has a crucial regulatory role in skeletal muscle repair.However,the regulatory role of forskolin on myogenic differentiation of C2C12 skeletal muscle cells has not been fully explored.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of forskolin on the differentiation of C2C12 myoblast cell line and probe into the underlying molecular mechanisms.METHODS:C2C12 cells were treated with 0,0.1,0.25,0.5,1,5,10 and 20 μmol/L forskolin during growth,and cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 and qRT-PCR.C2C12 cells were treated with 0,0.25,0.5 and 1 μmol/L forskolin during the induction of myogenic differentiation.Immunofluorescence staining and qRT-PCR were used to detect C2C12 cells differentiation.Western blot was used to detect the expression level of myogenic differentiation-related signaling pathway proteins.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The viability of C2C12 cells was decreased and cell proliferation was inhibited after treatment with high concentrations(＞1 μmol/L)of forskolin.(2)The qRT-PCR results showed that forskolin up-regulated the expression of Myh2,Myh4,Myomaker,but down-regulated the expression of Myh7 compared with the 0 μmol/L group,when C2C12 cells were differentiated for 4 days.Immunofluorescence staining results showed that the fusion index and myotube diameter of C2C12 cells were increased after forskolin treatment,and the number of myotubes was also increased.(3)Western blot results showed that the phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 expression was inhibited;however,the phosphorylated protein kinase B was promoted after treatment with forskolin.The protein expression level of the myogenic differentiation transcription factor Myogenin was significantly up-regulated after treatment with forskolin.The above results demonstrate that forskolin may promote myogenic differentiation of C2C12 skeletal muscle cells through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and protein kinase B signaling pathway.

Pulpotomy, which belongs to vital pulp therapy, has become a strategy for managing pulpitis in recent decades. This minimally invasive treatment reflects the recognition of preserving healthy dental pulp and optimizing long-term patient-centered outcomes. Pulpotomy is categorized into partial pulpotomy (PP), the removal of a partial segment of the coronal pulp tissue, and full pulpotomy (FP), the removal of whole coronal pulp, which is followed by applying the biomaterials onto the remaining pulp tissue and ultimately restoring the tooth. Procedural decisions for the amount of pulp tissue removal or retention depend on the diagnostic of pulp vitality, the overall treatment plan, the patient's general health status, and pulp inflammation reassessment during operation. This statement represents the consensus of an expert committee convened by the Society of Cariology and Endodontics, Chinese Stomatological Association. It addresses the current evidence to support the application of pulpotomy as a potential alternative to root canal treatment (RCT) on mature permanent teeth with pulpitis from a biological basis, the development of capping biomaterial, and the diagnostic considerations to evidence-based medicine. This expert statement intends to provide a clinical protocol of pulpotomy, which facilitates practitioners in choosing the optimal procedure and increasing their confidence in this rapidly evolving field.
Humans ; Calcium Compounds/therapeutic use* ; Consensus ; Dental Pulp ; Dentition, Permanent ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Pulpitis/therapy* ; Pulpotomy/standards*

The incidence rate of thyroid cancer has been rising in recent years. How to accurately distinguish malignant and benign thyroid nodules before surgery has become an important research direction. Ultrasound, as a non-invasive and fast examination method, has been widely used in clinical practice. Some typical ultrasound features, such as calcification, unclear boundaries, multiple lesions, low echo, and aspect ratio>1, can indicate the occurrence of thyroid cancer before surgery. Further analysis of these ultrasound features is still a focus of current research. This article will review the expression and distribution of calcification, a typical ultrasound feature, in benign and malignant thyroid nodules, in order to provide a basis for predicting the malignancy of thyroid nodules based on the characteristics of calcification under preoperative ultrasound.

Objective:To introduce an innovative concept teaching method called the core case analysis (CCA), to evaluate its application in teaching, and to provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for improving teaching effectiveness and cultivating practical talents.Methods:This paper elaborated the application strategies of CCA in teaching health service management courses. All the students of two undergraduate classes who studied "health service management" and enrolled in 2021 and 2020 at a medical university were selected as the research objects. The students were divided into experimental group and control group according to whether they received the CCA teaching method. A statistical analysis was performed on the scores of single-choice questions designed for concept definition and term explanation questions in the final exam. SPSS 23.0 software was used for t test. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the experimental group to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of teaching with the CCA method. Results:The score of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group [(14.00±1.41) vs. (12.05±2.15), P=0.002]. The questionnaire showed that the teaching effectiveness of the CCA method and the students' acceptance of the method were relatively high. Conclusions:Compared with the traditional concept teaching method, the CCA method has advantages and is worthy of promotion and application in related teaching fields. Moreover, several key points of this method in teaching practice are put forward: emphasizing the combined use of multiple teaching methods, cultivating a professional teaching team, and optimizing the concept assessment and evaluation system.

Objective:To introduce an innovative concept teaching method called the core case analysis (CCA), to evaluate its application in teaching, and to provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for improving teaching effectiveness and cultivating practical talents.Methods:This paper elaborated the application strategies of CCA in teaching health service management courses. All the students of two undergraduate classes who studied "health service management" and enrolled in 2021 and 2020 at a medical university were selected as the research objects. The students were divided into experimental group and control group according to whether they received the CCA teaching method. A statistical analysis was performed on the scores of single-choice questions designed for concept definition and term explanation questions in the final exam. SPSS 23.0 software was used for t test. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the experimental group to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of teaching with the CCA method. Results:The score of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group [(14.00±1.41) vs. (12.05±2.15), P=0.002]. The questionnaire showed that the teaching effectiveness of the CCA method and the students' acceptance of the method were relatively high. Conclusions:Compared with the traditional concept teaching method, the CCA method has advantages and is worthy of promotion and application in related teaching fields. Moreover, several key points of this method in teaching practice are put forward: emphasizing the combined use of multiple teaching methods, cultivating a professional teaching team, and optimizing the concept assessment and evaluation system.

AIM:To investigate the expression of centromere protein-H(CENP-H)in adrenocortical carcino-ma(ACC)and its relationship with disease progression and prognosis,and to explore the impact of CENP-H gene knock-down on the viability and migration of ACC cells.METHODS:The mRNA expression level of CENP-H in 76 ACC pa-tients and 128 healthy controls,and its correlations with tumor stages and prognosis were analyzed by GEPIA2 database.The mRNA expression of CENP-H in different stages of ACC and its correlation with disease prognosis were further ana-lyzed by ULCAN database.The protein expression of CENP-H was examined by immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-embedded ACC and normal adrenal gland specimens.Knockdown of CENP-H by siRNA(siCENP-H)was performed in human ACC cell line H295R.The viabilty of H295R cells transfected with siCENP-H or siNC was measured by CCK-8 as-say,the cell migration was detected by wound-healing assay,and the protein levels of CENP-H,p-ERK1/2,t-ERK1/2,p-P38,t-P38,p-JNK1/2 and t-JNK1/2 were detected by Western blot.RESULTS:The mRNA level of CENP-H was signifi-cantly higher in ACC than that in normal controls,and was correlated with tumor stages and prognosis.The protein level of CENP-H was significantly higher in ACC specimens than that in normal adrenal gland.Knockdown of CENP-H in H295R cells resulted in decreased cell viability and migration.The protein levels of p-P38 and p-JNK1/2 were decreased in si-CENP-H group.CONCLUSION:CENP-H is highly expressed in ACC,and is correlated with tumor stages and poor prognosis.Knockdown of CENP-H can inhibit the viability and migration of ACC cells,and its mechanism may related to inactivation of P38 and JNK signaling pathways.

Referring to ZHANG Xichun's experience in treating dysentery from cold-fire accumulation， the treatment of ulcerative colitis （UC） in this paper can be divided into three stages including cold-fire accumulation stage， excessive heat and putrid intestine stage， and healthy qi deficiency and pathogen lingering stage. For people with slippery and excess pulse in the cold-fire accumulation stage， Xiaochengqi Decoction （小承气汤） added with Baishao （Radix Paeoniae Alba） and Gancao （Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae） can be used for purgation， while those with deficient pulse， Huazhi Decoction （化滞汤） or Xieli Decoction （燮理汤） can be used. In the excessive heat and putrid intestine stage， Tongbian Baitouweng Decoction （通变白头翁汤） and Jiedu Shenghua Elixir （解毒生化丹） are suggested. In the healthy qi deficiency and pathogen lingering stage， it is advised to use Jiedu Shenghua Elixir added with Shanyao （Rhizoma Dioscoreae）， and Sanbao Porridge （三宝粥）. Additionally， the medication rules， dosage and administration characteristics of Huanglian （Rhizoma Coptidis）-Rougui （Cortex Cinnamomi）， Yadanzi （Fructus Bruceae）， Diyu （Radix Sanguisorbae）， Shanyao and Liuhuang （Sulphur） by ZHANG Xichun have been summarized with the help of modern pharmacological research， so as to provide new ideas for the treatment of UC by TCM.

The human gastrointestinal tract is the largest reservoir of bacteria in the body,inhabiting a very complex and active microbial community.Under normal circumstances,the interaction between the intestinal flora and the host maintains a dynamic balance.Spleen deficiency syndrome is a common classic syndrome type in TCM clinical practice.A large number of studies have shown that spleen deficiency syndrome is closely related to intestinal microorganisms,and the balance of intestinal flora is the basis for the normal functioning of the spleen's main transportation and transformation functions.Intestinal flora imbalance can lead to a series of manifestations of spleen deficiency.In addition,intestinal flora is an important medium for the metabolism of polysaccharide components and the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine for invigorating the spleen,and traditional Chinese medicine for invigorating the spleen can also play a therapeutic role by regulating the structure and quantity of intestinal flora.This article summarizes the relationship between intestinal flora and spleen deficiency syndrome in physiology,pathology,and the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine for invigorating the spleen.Based on intestinal flora,the study of spleen deficiency syndrome aims to provide some thoughts and suggestions for revealing the connotation of spleen deficiency syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine.