Objective: To prepare the erythrocyte-liposome drug delivery system to enhance the therapeutic effect of drugs on tumors and inhibit tumor metastasis. Methods: This study prepared and characterized paclitaxel (PTX)-plerixafor (AMD3100) liposomes (Lips), developed the erythrocyte-liposome drug delivery system, and evaluated its targeting efficiency and therapeutic efficacy through a series of in vitro cellular and in vivo animal experiments. Results: The particle size of PTX-AMD-Lips was (186.4±0.83) nm. Drug encapsulation efficiency of PTX-AMD-Lips was (75.50±5.27)% for PTX and (88.31±2.45)% for AMD. The Binding efficiency between RBC and liposomes in the drug delivery system was (69.93±2.55)%. Vitro cellular experiments revealed that PTX-AMD-Lips significantly inhibited tumor cell migration. In vivo animal experiments, the erythrocyte-liposome drug delivery system significantly increased drug accumulation in the lungs. At the experimental endpoint, the quantitative fluorescence signal of tumor size measured (4.04±0.44)×10 for the PTX-Lips group, and (5.14±3.40)×10 for the RBC-PTX-AMD-Lips group. Conclusion: The erythrocyte-liposome drug delivery system could enhance the lung-specific targeting capability of liposomes, kill tumor cells and suppress further metastasis effectively.

Objective: To construct a risk prediction model for pediatric metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), so as to provide practical tool for the early identification of high risk children. Methods: A healthy cohort of children in Southwest China was established from January 2021 to April 2025. A nested case-control study design was used to include 507 cases MASLD group and 507 cases in non MASLD group. Data on physical measurements, blood biochemical parameters, and liver ultrasound indicators were collected. Conditional Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between individual variables and MASLD, Lasso regression was applied for multivariable screening, and a high risk prediction model was constructed and presented in the form of a nomogram. Internal validation was performed using 10 repeated ten fold cross validations to assess model discrimination, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that MASLD was associated with central obesity ( OR=22.11, 95%CI =15.62-31.29), apolipoprotein B ( OR=30.24, 95%CI =12.42-73.63), increased hepatorenal echo ( OR=326.00, 95%CI =183.87-578.01), hepatomegaly ( OR=24.98, 95%CI =16.66-37.46) (all P <0.05). The Lasso regression jointly selected 6 key variables, including hepatorenal echo, central obesity, hepatomegaly, right liver lobe inclination, body mass index, and alanine amino transferase. The results of cross validation showed that the average area under the curve (AUC) was 0.999 5, the average accuracy was 98.74%, and the sensitivity and specificity were 98.21% and 99.22% respectively, indicating a good predictive effect of the model. Conclusion The risk prediction model for high risk MASLD among children based on ultrasound and clinical indicators has good prediction effect, which is helpful for the early identification and risk stratification of pediatric MASLD.

ObjectivePhotoacoustic pump-probe imaging can effectively eliminate the interference of blood background signal in traditional photoacoustic imaging, and realize the imaging of weak phosphorescence molecules and their triplet lifetimes in deep tissues. However, background differential noise in photoacoustic pump-probe imaging often leads to large fitting results of phosphorescent molecule concentration and triplet lifetime. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel triplet lifetime fitting method for photoacoustic pump-probe imaging. By extracting the phase of the triplet differential signal and the background noise, the fitting bias caused by the background noise can be effectively corrected. MethodsThe advantages and feasibility of the proposed algorithm are verified by numerical simulation, phantom and in vivo experiments, respectively. ResultsIn the numerical simulation, under the condition of noise intensity being 10% of the signal amplitude, the new method can optimize the fitting deviation from 48.5% to about 5%, and has a higher exclusion coefficient (0.88>0.79), which greatly improves the fitting accuracy. The high specificity imaging ability of photoacoustic pump imaging for phosphorescent molecules has been demonstrated by phantom experiments. In vivo experiments have verified the feasibility of the new fitting method proposed in this paper for fitting phosphoometric lifetime to monitor oxygen partial pressure content during photodynamic therapy of tumors in nude mice. ConclusionThis work will play an important role in promoting the application of photoacoustic pump-probe imaging in biomedicine.

BACKGROUND:Deep muscle stimulation has the effects of releasing muscle adhesion,relieving muscle spasm,improving and restoring muscle compliance and elasticity.Electromyographic biofeedback therapy can promote nerve recovery and improve lower limb motor function and gait. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of the effect of deep muscle stimulation combined with electromyographic biofeedback therapy on the spasm of the triceps surae and gait changes after stroke by using a digital muscle detector and three-dimensional gait analysis system. METHODS:A total of 72 patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected from the Rehabilitation Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University from October 2020 to October 2023.And they were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups(n=36 per group):a control group and a combined group.The control group received routine rehabilitation therapies,electromyographic biofeedback and pseudo deep muscle stimulation,while the combined group received true deep muscle stimulation treatment on the basis of the control group,five times per week,for 4 consecutive weeks.The oscillation frequency and dynamic stiffness of the affected gastrocnemius muscle,active range of motion of the ankle dorsiflexion muscle,electromyographic signal of the tibialis anterior muscle,Fugl-Meyer assessment of the lower limbs,and three-dimensional gait analysis parameters were statistically analyzed before and after treatment in two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After treatment,oscillation frequency and dynamic stiffness values of the inner and outer sides of the affected gastrocnemius muscle in both groups of patients were significantly reduced compared with before treatment(P<0.05),and the combined group showed a more significant decrease compared with the control group(P<0.05).The active range of motion of the ankle dorsiflexion muscle,electromyographic signal of the tibialis anterior muscle,and Fugl-Meyer scores after treatment were significantly increased or improved compared with before treatment(P<0.05),while the combined group showed a more significant increase or improvement compared with the control group(P<0.05).In terms of gait parameters,the walking speed,frequency,and stride in both groups of patients were significantly increased compared with before treatment(P<0.05),while the combined group showed a more significant increase compared with the control group(P<0.05).The percentage time of support phase on the healthy side was shortened compared with before treatment(P<0.05),while the combined group showed a more significant decrease compared with the control group(P<0.05).In addition,there was no significant difference between the two groups except for the percentage of healthy side support(P>0.05).To conclude,the combination of deep muscle stimulation and electromyographic biofeedback can effectively alleviate triceps spasm in the short term after stroke,improve ankle dorsiflexion function,enhance lower limb motor function,and improve gait.The treatment effect is significant and worthy of clinical promotion and application.

OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis is a critical target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. The previous studies indicated that Jiedu Fang (JDF) could inhibit hypoxia-induced angiogenesis through interleukin-8 (IL-8). Therefore, the present study further explores the mechanisms behind JDF's inhibition of HCC angiogenesis. METHODS: Angiogenesis was assessed with the capillary-like tube formation assay in vitro and the matrigel plug angiogenesis assay in vivo. A liver cancer-related gene set and genes associated with angiogenesis and the hypoxic microenvironment were analyzed using a bioinformatics platform. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting assays were used to assess the targeted mRNA and protein levels, respectively. The Transwell assay was used to assess the migration and invasion potential of EA.hy 926 cells. The orthotopic tumor xenograft model was established, and immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays were used to detect cluster of differentiation 31 and angiopoietin 2 expression, while an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect vascular endothelial growth factor and IL-8 protein levels. RESULTS: In vitro and in vivo assays showed that IL-8 promoted angiogenesis, and JDF could antagonize this effect. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that aurora kinase A (Aurora A) was an important candidate, which can promote IL-8 expression through activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). The overexpression of Aurora A increased IL-8 secretion and promoted HCC migration, invasion, and angiogenesis, which was partly inhibited by JDF. Such effects were validated by in vivo assays. Further validation using the STAT3 inhibitor S3I-201 demonstrated that STAT3 was regulated by Aurora A. CONCLUSION JDF exhibits efficacy in reducing hypoxia-induced angiogenesis in HCC through a mechanism involving the Aurora A/STAT3/IL-8 signaling pathway. Therefore, JDF holds promise as a potential therapeutic approach for targeting HCC angiogenesis. Please cite this article as: Zhong MF, Luo YJ, Guo YY, Xiang S, Lin WF. Jiedu Fang inhibits hypoxia-induced angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting Aurora A/STAT3/IL-8 signaling pathway. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):683-693.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/blood supply* ; Humans ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Interleukin-8/metabolism* ; Liver Neoplasms/blood supply* ; Aurora Kinase A/metabolism* ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Angiogenesis

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the association between susceptibility genes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children with obesity. METHODS: We conducted a two-step case-control study. Ninety-three participants were subjected to whole-exome sequencing (exploratory set). Differential genes identified in the small sample were validated in 1,022 participants using multiplex polymerase chain reaction and high-throughput sequencing (validation set). RESULTS: In the exploratory set, 14 genes from the NAFLD-associated pathways were identified. In the validation set, after adjusting for sex, age, and body mass index, ECI2 rs2326408 (dominant model: OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.02-1.72; additive model: OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.47), C6orf201 rs659305 (dominant model: OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.01-1.69; additive model: OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.00-1.45), CALML5 rs10904516 (pre-ad dominant model: OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.01-1.83; adjusted dominant model: OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.03-1.91; and pre-ad additive model: OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04-1.66) polymorphisms were significantly associated with NAFLD in children with obesity ( P < 0.05). Interaction analysis revealed that the gene-gene interaction model of CALML5 rs10904516, COX11 rs17209882, and SCD5 rs3733228 was optional ( P < 0.05), demonstrating a negative interaction between the three genes. CONCLUSION In the Chinese population, the CALML5 rs10904516, C6orf201 rs659305, and ECI2 rs2326408 variants could be genetic markers for NAFLD susceptibility.
Humans ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/genetics* ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Case-Control Studies ; Exome Sequencing ; Adolescent ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Obesity/complications* ; Pediatric Obesity/complications* ; China

Biliary duct injury,congenital biliary atresia,biliary tract tumors,primary sclerosing cholangitis,etc.are common and refractory diseases in the digestive system in clinical practice.The existing surgical operations and drug treatments demonstrate limited effects.Organoids,as an emerging technology,have attracted much attention in recent years for deeply understanding the pathogenesis and development of these diseases and seeking more effective treatment approaches.An organoid,a three-dimensional complex derived from stem/progenitor cells,can simulate the complex structure and physiological function of tissues or organs in vitro.It provides an important platform for studying the pathogenesis of biliary tract diseases and brings new hope for the repair and regeneration of biliary tract injury.The seed cells for constructing biliary organoids are mainly biliary tract epithelial cells,pluripotent stem cells,etc.The conventional technologies for constructing biliary organoids mainly include embedding,rotary culture,and hanging drop culture.In recent years,new culture technologies such as organ chip and three-dimensional and four-dimensional printing are emerging.This article reviews the construction methods of biliary organoids,discusses the application of these organoids in disease model construction,disease mechanism research,drug screening,and tissue/organ repair,and proposes the current problems and future research directions of biliary organoids,which will provide reference for treating common refractory digestive system diseases in clinical practice.
Organoids ; Humans ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Biliary Tract/cytology*

Objective To explore the protective effect of baicalin on nerve damage in rats with cerebral microbleeds through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)/endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)pathway.Methods The rat model of cerebral microbleeds was established by intraventricular injection of lipopolysaccharide(LPS),and rats were separated into the model group,the baicalin group(20 mg/kg),the LY294002 group(PI3K inhibitor,10 mg/kg)and the baicalin+LY294002 group(20 mg/kg baicalin and 10 mg/kg LY294002).Rats without LPS injection were served as the control group.The nerve function was evaluated in five groups of rats.Triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining was used to evaluate the cerebral infarction status.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of brain tissue of rats in each group.TUNEL method was used to detect neuronal apoptosis in brain tissue.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was performed to measure tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and interleukin-17(IL-17)in brain tissue of rats in each group.In addition,Western blot assay was used to measure B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2),Caspase-3,Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax),PI3K,phosphorylated(p)-AKT,AKT,p-eNOS and eNOS proteins in brain tissue of rats.Results Compared with the control group,neurons in the model group was sparse,with fewer cells and disordered arrangement,the nerve function score,infarct area,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-17,apoptosis rate,Bax and Caspase-3 proteins were increased,and Bcl-2,PI3K,p-AKT and p-eNOS proteins were decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the baicalin group showed clear improvement in brain pathological damage,the nerve function score,infarct area,apoptosis rate,Bax and Caspase-3 proteins,TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-17 were decreased,while protein expressions of Bcl-2,PI3K,p-AKT and p-eNOS were increased(P＜0.05).However,the brain tissue damage of the LY294002 group was further aggravated,and the nerve function score,infarct area,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-17,apoptosis rate and the expression of apoptosis proteins Bax and Caspase-3 were increased,the Bcl-2,PI3K,p-AKT and p-eNOS proteins were decreased(P＜0.05).Intervention with LY294002 on basis of baicalin treatment could reverse the improvement effect of baicalin on the above indicators in rats with cerebral microbleeds(P＜0.05).Conclusion Baicalin may exert a protective effect on nerve damage in rats with cerebral microbleeds by activating PI3K/AKT/eNOS pathway.

Objective To investigate the application value of the subject-achieving quality control circle theory in enhan-cing medication adherence among newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients through via popular science intervention.Methods From September 2023 to April 2024,100 patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis treated at the outpatient department were ran-domly divided into control and intervention groups,each comprising 50 cases.The control group received only routine medication education;whereas the intervention group,in addition to this,implemented popular science intervention measures based on the quality control circle theory.The medication adherence,full course completion rate,non-disease interruption rate,and self-re-ported adverse reaction rate were compared.Results After treatment,the intervention group showed higher medication adher-ence(6.76±1.02 vs.6.15±1.36),better adherence rates(78％vs.62％),and higher cure rates(76％vs.42％)than the control group,all with statistical significance.The non-disease interruption rate was also significantly lower in the intervention group(2％vs.14％).Adverse reaction reports were 6％in control and 18％in intervention group.Conclusion The subject-achieving quality control circle effectively improves medication adherence in newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients.

Objective To investigate the effect of epifriedelanol(Epi)on gene expression of P-glycoprotein(P-gp)in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line LS174T and its mechanism.Methods LS174T cells were divided into control group and experimental-L,-M,-H groups.Experimental-L,-M,-H groups were treated with 5,10,20 μmol·L-1 Epi,respectively.Control group was treated with 0.1％dimethyl sulfoxide.Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA expression level of P-gp.Theeffect of Epi on multidrug resistance protein 1(MDR1/P-gp)luciferase activity was investigated by pregnane X receptor(PXR)-MDR1/P-gp dual luciferase reporter gene assay.In addition,Western Blot was used to detect the protein expression level of P-gp and the nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)pathway related proteins.Results The relative expression levels of P-gp mRNA in experimental-M,-H groups and control group were 52.24±5.19,23.00±3.52 and 100.00±9.00;the relative expression levels of P-gp protein were 86.37±9.96,74.85±15.92 and 100.00±12.91;the relative activities P-gp luciferase were 230.19±41.32,203.10±52.84 and 279.67±19.20;the relative expression levels of p65(RelA/p65)in nucleus were 132.36±23.93,145.96±25.15 and 100.00±10.88;the relative expression levels of phosphorylation NF-κB inhibits protein kinase α/β(p-IKKα/β)in cytoplasm were 184.00±54.82,290.10±49.59 and 100.00±15.34;the relative expression levels of phosphorylated NF-κB inhibitory protein α(p-IκBα)in cytoplasm were 125.73±18.77,133.69±20.25 and 100.00±8.12;the relative expression levels of IκBα in cytoplasm were 78.36±14.83,70.44±14.57 and 100.00±22.82,respectively.The above indexes of experimental-M and experimental-H groups were compared with control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05,P＜0.01,P＜0.001).Conclusion Epi can down-regulate the gene expression of P-gp in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line LS174T,and the mechanism may be related to activation of NF-κB and suppression of PXR.