BACKGROUND:The authors found that when the bilateral percutaneous vertebral augmentation is used to treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with a total bone cement injection of 4 mL or more,different distribution patterns were usually presented on the X-rays;however,there were few reports addressing the effects of these patterns of bone cement distribution on the biomechanical properties of fractural vertebrae. OBJECTIVE:To further explore the biomechanical effects of different bone cement filling doses and distribution patterns on biomechanics of the fractural vertebrae using the finite element method. METHODS:The L1-L3 finite element models of osteoporosis were established,and the vertebral compression fractures were simulated in L2.Four distribution patterns bilateral partial fusion(FH type),full fusion(FO type),symmetrical separation(SA type),and asymmetric segregation(SN type)were simulated in 4 and 6 mL injections in the osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture models,respectively,and a total of nine sets of models were obtained.These models were solved under the same boundary conditions and compared with the stress and displacement of the L2 fractural vertebra. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The maximum stresses of the nine groups of models were concentrated in the L2 fractural area,and the maximum stress and maximum displacement of each filling model were lower than in the osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture model,indicating the effectiveness of bone cement filling in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture.(2)Compared with 4 mL bone cement filling,6 mL bone cement filling could significantly reduce the stress of fractured vertebrae and enhance the strength of fractured vertebrae while improving the stability of fractured vertebrae.(3)In the same state of movement,the FH type stress was the least,followed by the SA type,both of which were close.FO type stress was the largest,especially in the lateral bend,which might be associated with its cluster shape resulting in the concentration of lateral stress.In the aspect of displacement,FH type was the least and FO type was the largest.(4)The results show that increased dose of bone cement injection reduces fractural vertebral stress and improves stability,but increases the risk of leakage.Bilateral symmetrical dispersed bone cement(FH type,SA type)is superior in restoring vertebral strength and stability than full fusion(FO type),asymmetric separated(SN type)bone cement.Therefore,when clinically performing bilateral percutaneous vertebral augmentation treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures,the bilateral symmetric dispersions of the distribution are first guaranteed;priority is recommended for FH type distribution,for appropriate stress stimulation and best stability.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), when released extracellularly, plays a pivotal role in the development of spinal cord synapses and exacerbates autoimmune diseases within the central nervous system. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a condition that models multiple sclerosis, the levels of extracellular HMGB1 and interleukin-33 (IL-33) have been found to be inversely correlated. However, the mechanism by which IL-33 deficiency enhances HMGB1 release during EAE remains elusive. Our study elucidates a potential signaling pathway whereby the absence of IL-33 leads to increased binding of P300/CBP-associated factor with HMGB1 in the nuclei of astrocytes, upregulating HMGB1 acetylation and promoting its release from astrocyte nuclei in the spinal cord of EAE mice. Conversely, the addition of IL-33 counteracts the TNF-α-induced increase in HMGB1 and acetylated HMGB1 levels in primary astrocytes. These findings underscore the potential of IL-33-associated signaling pathways as a therapeutic target for EAE treatment.
Animals ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/metabolism* ; Astrocytes/metabolism* ; Interleukin-33/metabolism* ; HMGB1 Protein/metabolism* ; Acetylation ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; p300-CBP Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Mice ; Spinal Cord/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Signal Transduction

The ambiguity of etiology makes temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) "difficult-to-treat". Emerging evidence underscores the therapeutic promise of exosomes in osteoarthritis management. Nonetheless, challenges such as low yields and insignificant efficacy of current exosome therapies necessitate significant advances. Addressing lower strontium (Sr) levels in arthritic synovial microenvironment, we studied the effect of Sr element on exosomes and miRNA selectively loading in synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs). Here, we developed an optimized system that boosts the yield of SMSC-derived exosomes (SMSC-EXOs) and improves their miRNA profiles with an elevated proportion of beneficial miRNAs, while reducing harmful ones by pretreating SMSCs with Sr. Compared to untreated SMSC-EXOs, Sr-pretreated SMSC-derived exosomes (Sr-SMSC-EXOs) demonstrated superior therapeutic efficacy by mitigating chondrocyte ferroptosis and reducing osteoclast-mediated joint pain in TMJOA. Our results illustrate Alix's crucial role in Sr-triggered miRNA loading, identifying miR-143-3p as a key anti-TMJOA exosomal component. Interestingly, this system is specifically oriented towards synovium-derived stem cells. The insight into trace element-driven, site-specific miRNA selectively loading in SMSC-EXOs proposes a promising therapeutic enhancement strategy for TMJOA.
MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/drug effects* ; Osteoarthritis/drug therapy* ; Exosomes/drug effects* ; Strontium/pharmacology* ; Synovial Membrane/cytology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/therapy* ; Temporomandibular Joint

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the spatiotemporal patterns and socioeconomic factors influencing the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the Guangdong Province between 2010 and 2019. METHOD: Spatial and temporal variations in TB incidence were mapped using heat maps and hierarchical clustering. Socioenvironmental influencing factors were evaluated using a Bayesian spatiotemporal conditional autoregressive (ST-CAR) model. RESULTS: Annual incidence of TB in Guangdong decreased from 91.85/100,000 in 2010 to 53.06/100,000 in 2019. Spatial hotspots were found in northeastern Guangdong, particularly in Heyuan, Shanwei, and Shantou, while Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Foshan had the lowest rates in the Pearl River Delta. The ST-CAR model showed that the TB risk was lower with higher per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [Relative Risk ( RR), 0.91; 95% Confidence Interval ( CI): 0.86-0.98], more the ratio of licensed physicians and physician ( RR, 0.94; 95% CI: 0.90-0.98), and higher per capita public expenditure ( RR, 0.94; 95% CI: 0.90-0.97), with a marginal effect of population density ( RR, 0.86; 95% CI: 0.86-1.00). CONCLUSION The incidence of TB in Guangdong varies spatially and temporally. Areas with poor economic conditions and insufficient healthcare resources are at an increased risk of TB infection. Strategies focusing on equitable health resource distribution and economic development are the key to TB control.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Bayes Theorem ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; Tuberculosis/epidemiology* ; Socioeconomic Factors

The toad, known for its various medicinal properties including parotid gland secretion (toad venom), dried skin, and gallbladder (toad bile), holds considerable medicinal applications as a valuable traditional Chinese animal medicine. Currently, in-depth attentions have been paid to the chemical composition and pharmacological properties of toad venom and skin; however, a lesser number of detailed analyses were concentrated on the toad bile. This review provides an overview of the chemical constituents in the bile of the Bufo genus, with a special focus on the cholestane and bufadienolides, and highlights the progress in their biosynthetic pathway and pharmacological activities. The analysis uncovers a distinct category of unsaturated Δ²² or Δ²³-C₂₇/C₂₈ bile acids in the toad gallbladder, potentially acting as key intermediaries in forming C-17 α-pyrone of bufadienolides. Furthermore, the high presence of 3α-OH configured bufadienolides in toad bile, in contrast to the common 3β-OH configured found in toad venom or skin, indicates a possible link between their minimal toxicity and the toad's self-defensive or physiological control. This review provides scientific basis for the development and utilization of toad bile resources, and provides useful reference for the discovery of lead compounds, analysis of the biosynthetic pathway of bufadienolides, and research on toad physiology.

Objective To study the effect of leucine rich repeat kinase 2(LRRK2)on pain sensitivity in neuro-pathic pain(NP)rats and explore its possible mechanism.Methods 48 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups:sham surgery(Sham),model,LRRK2 inhibitor(MLi-2),and LRRK2 inhibitor+p3 8 mitogen activated pro-tein kinase(MAPK)agonist(MLi-2+Anisomycin),with 12 rats in each group.The NP rat model was induced by chronic constriction injury(CCI)of the sciatic nerve.Intrathecal injection of MLi-2(1 mg/kg,10 μl)or Anisomy-cin(20 μmol/L,10 μl)was started from the 8th day after surgery,once a day for 7 consecutive days.Pain sensi-tivity tests were conducted before surgery(day 0)and on postoperative days 7 and 14,respectively.The changes in mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT)and paw withdraw thermal latency(PWTL)were analyzed in each group of rats.ELISA was used to detect the levels of interleukin-1 β(IL-1β),IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the dorsal horn of the rat spinal cord.Nissl staining was used to observe the pathological changes of neurons in rat spinal cord tissue.Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the expression levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1(Iba-1),a marker of microglia in the spinal cord of rats.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of LRRK2,p-p38 mitogen activated protein kinase(MAPK),p38 MAPK,and Iba-1 in the dorsal horn of the rat spinal cord.Results Compared with the sham group,the model group showed a significant decrease in MWT and PWTL in the right hind limb of rats(P＜0.01).The levels of IL-1,IL-6,and TNF in the spi-nal dorsal horn tissue,as well as the expression levels of LRRK2,Iba-1 proteins and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK pro-tein ratio significantly increased(P＜0.01).The proportion of Iba-1 positive cells in the spinal cord tissue signifi-cantly increased(P＜0.01),while Nissl bodies were significantly reduced(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the MLi-2 group showed a significant increase in MWT and PWTL in the right hind limb of rats(P＜0.01),a significant increase in Nissl bodies(P＜0.01),a significant decrease in the proportion of Iba-1 positive cells in the spinal cord tissue(P＜0.01),and a significant decrease in the levels of IL-1,IL-6,and TNF and the expression levels of LRRK2,Iba-1 proteins and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK protein ratio(P＜0.01).However,Anisomychin in-tervention could activate the p38 MAPK signaling pathway and partially reverse the beneficial effects of MLi-2 on pain sensitivity and neuroinflammation in rats with neuropathic pain.Conclusion Inhibiting the expression of LRRK2 can alleviate pain sensitivity in NP rats induced by microglia activation mediated neuroinflammation,and its mechanism of action may be related to regulating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effect of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) regulating the signal axis of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α)/CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) on the mobilization of bone marrow endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to peripheral blood in diabetes skin ulcer (DSU) rats.Methods:Twenty four SPF grade male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were selected to make the model of type 2 diabetes rats by intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/kg 1% (plastid ratio) streptozotocin, and then round full-thickness skin with a diameter of 2 cm was cut on both sides of the waist and back to make the skin ulcer model of diabetes rats. After that, they were randomly divided into AS-IV group (50 mg/kg AS-IV), blocker group (50 mg/kg AS-IV+ 5 mg/kg AMD3100) and model group. At the same time, a blank group ( n=8) was set up, The drug was administered via intraperitoneal injection, and the model group and blank group were treated with 0.9% NaCl of equal volume. On the 10th day, peripheral blood, femoral bone marrow, and wound neovascularization tissues of rats were collected. The number of EPCs in peripheral blood of each group of rats was measured by flow cytometry, and the protein expression of SDF-1α and CXCR4 in peripheral blood, femoral bone marrow, and wound neovascularization tissues of rats was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); At the same time, the wound healing rates of each group were tested. Results:On the 10th and 21st day after modeling, the wound healing rate of each group of rats was compared. The blank group healed the fastest, while the model group healed the slowest. The AS-IV group had better healing than the model group and the blocker group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). On the 10th day after modeling, the positive rates of peripheral blood EPCs in the white group, AS-IV group, and blocker group were significantly higher than those in the model group (all P<0.05), while the positive rates of peripheral blood EPCs in the blocker group were significantly lower than those in the AS-IV group (all P<0.05). On the 10th day after modeling, the protein expression of SDF-1α and CXCR4 in the wound, serum, and bone marrow of the model group was the lowest, while the protein expression in the blank group was the highest (all P<0.05). The protein expression of SDF-1α and CXCR4 in the wound, serum, bone marrow of the AS-IV group was significantly higher than that of the blocker group and model group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Astragaloside IV can promote the mobilization and migration of endothelial progenitor cells from bone marrow to peripheral blood in diabetes ulcer rats by regulating SDF-1α/CXCR4 signal axis, and can participate in angiogenesis of diabetes ulcer wounds as seed cells to promote the healing of diabetes skin ulcers.

Objective To explore the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions(NPIs)on the prevalence of respiratory pathogens in adults,and to understand the scientific value and long-term effect of NPIs.Methods A retrospective study was conducted to collect the clinical data and laboratory examination data of adult patients with respiratory tract infection in West China Hospital,Sichuan University from 2017 to 2023,and the patho-gen,population,season and other aspects were analyzed in different periods.The analysis period included 2017 to 2019(before the implementation of NPIs),2020 to 2022(during the implementation of NPIs),and January to December 2023(after the implementation of NPIs).Results A total of 33 068 adult patients with respira-tory tract infection were included.The overall prevalence of 8 adult respiratory pathogens from 2017 to 2019(26.95％)was higher than that from 2020 to 2022(8.70％),and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).There were significant differences in the prevalence of pathogens among different genders,ages and seasons in the first,middle and last three periods of NPIs implementation(P＜0.05).Before the imple-mentation of NPIs,the seasonal peak of respiratory prevalence appeared from January to March each year.With the implementation of NPIs,the seasonal peak of respiratory prevalence appeared from January to March 2020(10.09％),October to December 2021(9.32％),July to September 2022(15.23％),respectively.After the implementation of NPIs,the seasonal peak of respiratory prevalence appeared from October to December 2023(21.20％).Among the 8 pathogens,the change of prevalence of influenza A virus H1N1(2009)was the most obvious,and the prevalence was 17.42％,0.00％and 6.99％before,during and after the implementation of NPIs,respectively.Conclusion Due to the influence of NPIs and other factors,the epidemic characteristics of respiratory pathogens have changed from 2017 to 2023.Attention to the emerging characteristics of patho-gen prevalence is important for the prevention,diagnosis and control of respiratory infectious diseases during public health emergencies.

For the treatment of atrial fibrillation,Professor WU Wei innovatively put forward the theory of heart-blood-vessels trinity and the theory of stasis-toxin causing palpitation.It is believed that atrial fibrillation is caused by stasis and toxin,and affects the heart,blood and vessels.The core pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation is due to qi stagnation,blood stasis and toxin.The treatment for atrial fibrillation should be closely based on the pathogenesis,the therapeutic principles of treating from the perspective of stasis and together by removing toxin gradually is advocated.And the therapy of regulating qi,activating blood and removing stasis is also the way to remove toxin.The medication is based on the modified Taoren Honghua Decoction,which is mainly composed of Persicae Semen,Carthami Flos,Chuanxiong Rhizoma,Corydalis Rhizoma,Rehmanniae Radix,Paeoniae Radix Rubra,Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Jujubae Fructus,Puerariae Lobatae Radix,Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma,Ostreae Concha,Poria,and Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma.According to the characteristics of Lingnan climate and atrial fibrillation mostly being easy to affect the emotions,the pungent drugs in the prescription are usually removed,and the specific herbal pair of Puerariae Lobatae Radix-Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma is added to remove toxin according to the differentiation of disease.Moreover,for the treatment of atrial fibrillation,Professor WU Wei also adopts traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)external treatment such as foot bath,acupuncture and moxibustion,and physical-breathing exercise as well as health-care methods for comprehensive regulation,relieving the toxin and restoring the original qi.During the treatment atrial fibrillation,Professor WU Wei follows the principle of precise intervention and comprehensive regulation with Chinese medicine,so as to achieve the purpose of eliminating symptoms,restoring sinus rhythm and improving physical constitution.The thoughts of Professor WU Wei for the syndrome differentiation and treatment of atrial fibrillation will provide reference for the treatment of atrial fibrillation with TCM.

Objective To explore the mechanism of'Wenyang Tongmai'(warming yang to unblock meridians)moxibustion in preventing and treating atherosclerosis.Methods Ten C57BL/6J mice fed with normal diet were set as blank group.Thirty ApoE-/-mice were fed with high-fat diet to establish atherosclerosis model,and were randomly divided into model group,Simvastatin group and moxibustion group,with 10 mice in each group.The intervention began on the first day of modeling.The mice in the moxibustion group were given moxibustion at Danzhong(RN17),Shenque(RN8),Neiguan(PC6),Xuehai(SP10)points,and the Simvastatin group was given Simvastatin distilled water suspension by gavage for 12 weeks.After administration,the pathological structure of thoracic aorta in mice was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining method.The ultrastructure of thoracic aortic endothelial cells in mice was observed by transmission electron microscopy.The levels of serum tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α),intercellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM-1)and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1(VCAM-1)in mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The mRNA expression levels of silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)and forkhead box O3a(FOXO3a)in thoracic aorta were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).The protein expression levels of SIRT1 and FOXO3a in thoracic aorta were detected by Western Blot.Results Compared with the blank group,the pathological changes of thoracic aorta and vascular endothelial cells in the model group were obvious,the levels of serum inflammatory factor TNF-α,ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),the mRNA and protein expressions of SIRT1 in thoracic aorta were decreased(P＜0.01),and the mRNA and protein expressions of FOXO3a had no significant difference(P＞0.05).Compared with the model group,the thoracic aorta and vascular endothelial cell structure of the mice in the Simvastatin group and the moxibustion group were obviously improved,the levels of serum TNF-α,ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were decreased(P＜0.05),the mRNA and protein expressions of SIRT1 in the thoracic aorta were increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the mRNA and protein expressions of FOXO3a had no significant difference(P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the above indexes between the Simvastatin group and the moxibustion group(P＞0.05).Conclusion'Wenyang Tongmai'moxibustion can prevent and treat atherosclerotic in rats via regulating and controlling SIRT1/FOXO3a signaling pathway to reduce inflammatory response.