BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that metformin has anti-inflammatory,anti-tumor,anti-aging and vasoprotective effects,and can inhibit the progression of osteoarthritis,but its specific mechanism of action remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanism of metformin on cartilage protection in a rat model of osteoarthritis. METHODS:Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups(n=10 per group):blank,control,sham-operated,and metformin groups.The blank group did not undergo any surgery.In the sham-operated group,the joint cavity was exposed.In the model group and the metformin group,the modified Hulth method was used to establish the osteoarthritis model.At 1 day after modeling,the rats in the metformin group were given 200 mg/kg/d metformin by gavage,and the model,blank,and sham-operated groups were given normal saline by gavage.Administration in each group was given for 4 weeks consecutively.Hematoxylin-eosin staining,toluidine blue staining,and safranin O-fast green staining were used to observe the morphological structure of rat knee joints.Immunohistochemical staining and western blot were used to detect the protein expression of SOX9,type Ⅱ collagen,a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5(ADAMTS5),Beclin1,P62,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K),p-PI3K,protein kinase B(AKT),p-AKT,mammalian target of rapamycin(Mtor),and p-Mtor in rat cartilage tissue. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The results of hematoxylin-eosin,toluidine blue and safranin O-fast green staining showed smooth cartilage surface of the knee joints and normal histomorphology in the blank group and the sham-operated group,while in the model group,there was irregular cartilage surface of the knee joint and cartilage damage,with a decrease in the number of chondrocytes and the content of proteoglycans in the cartilage matrix.In the metformin group,there was a significant improvement in the damage to the structure of the cartilage in the knee joints of the rats,and the cartilage surface tended to be smooth,with an increase in the number of chondrocytes and the content of proteoglycans in the cartilage matrix.Immunohistochemistry staining and western blot results showed that compared with the control and sham-operated groups,the expression of SOX9,type Ⅱ collagen,and Beclin1 proteins in the cartilage tissue of rats in the model group was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conversely,the expression of ADAMTS5,P62,as well as p-PI3K,p-AKT,and p-Mtor proteins was significantly increased(P<0.05).Furthermore,compared with the model group,the expression of SOX9,type Ⅱ collagen,and Beclin1 proteins in the cartilage tissue of rats in the metformin group was significantly increased(P<0.05),while the expression of ADAMTS5,P62,as well as p-PI3K,p-AKT,and p-Mtor proteins was significantly decreased(P<0.05).To conclude,Metformin can improve the autophagy activity of chondrocytes and reduce the degradation of cartilage matrix in osteoarthritis rats by inhibiting the activation of PI3K/AKT/Mtor signaling pathway,thus exerting a protective effect on articular cartilage.

Crigler-Najjar syndrome (CNS) and Gilbert syndrome (GS; OMIM: 143500) are rare autosomal recessive diseases that cause unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia due to decreased UGT1A1 enzyme activity. Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 2 (CNS2; OMIM: 606785) increases the risk of gallbladder stone formation and cholecystitis, while GS seldom causes health issues. We found a 28-year-old male patient with recurring right upper abdomen pain who experienced persistent jaundice from birth. CNS2 with gallbladder stones and cholecystitis was diagnosed after genetic testing revealed rare double homozygous mutations A(TA)₇TAA (rs3064744) and P229Q (rs35350960) in the UGT1A1 gene. After pedigree investigation, we found that the patient's parents with modestly increased bilirubin had compound heterozygous mutations A(TA)₇TAA and P229Q, which were GS. Bioinformatics analysis showed that A(TA)₇TAA is in the TATA-box region of the gene UGT1A1 promoter, affecting gene transcriptional initiation, whereas P229Q modifies protein three-dimensional structure and may be harmful. In this pedigree, double homozygous mutations have a more severe phenotype than compound heterozygous mutations. Inherited causes of hyperbilirubinemia should be suspected after ruling out biliary obstruction, and early bilirubin reduction (< 103 µmol/L (6 mg/dL)) may reduce the risk of complications like cholecystitis in CNS2 patients, though further studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm this observation.
Humans ; Male ; Glucuronosyltransferase/genetics* ; Adult ; Crigler-Najjar Syndrome/complications* ; Cholecystitis/etiology* ; Homozygote ; Mutation ; Pedigree

Objective:To investigate the alteration of m6A demethylase AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) expression and its impact on form-deprivation myopia (FDM) retina in guinea pigs.Methods:Thirty normal SPF grade 3-week-old tricolor guinea pigs were randomly divided into normal control group and experimental group, with 15 in each group.In the experimental group, the right eyes were covered as FDM group and the left eyes uncovered were set as self-control group.Ocular biometry was performed at one-week intervals from baseline to week 4 of the experiment.Spherical equivalent was detected by streak retinoscopy and axial length was measured by A-scan ultrasonography.Animals were sacrificed after 4 weeks of modeling.The distribution and expression of ALKBH5 protein in the guinea pig retina was detected by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining.Expression of ALKBH5 mRNA and protein in guinea pig retina was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively.The use of animals in ophthalmic and vision research followed the tenets of Animal Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of North Sichuan Medical College (No.2023087).Results:At weeks 2, 3, and 4 after myopia induction, diopters and axial lengths were significantly higher in the FDM group than in the normal control group and the self-control group (all at P<0.001). Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays showed that ALKBH5 protein was expressed in the retinal nerve fiber layer, rod/cone photoreceptor cells, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer, and was highly expressed in the retinal nerve fiber layer and RPE layer.The relative ALKBH5 immunofluorescence intensity in the normal control group, self-control group and FDM group was 1.000±0.204, 0.874±0.076 and 0.571±0.053, respectively, which was lower in the FDM group than in the normal control and self-control groups, showing statistically significant differences ( t=4.069, P=0.006; t=5.176, P=0.014). After 4 weeks of modeling, ALKBH5 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly lower in FDM group than in normal control and self-control groups (both at P<0.01). Conclusions:The expression of m6A demethylase ALKBH5 is decreased in the retina of FDM guinea pigs, suggesting that ALKBH5 and related m6A methylation modification may be involved in the development and progression of myopia.

Objective To analyze the metabolic changes of myocardial tissue in rats under acute exposure to macleaya cordata by gas chromatography mass spectrometry(GC-MS),explore forensic identifications of its characteristic metabolites,and verify its toxicological mechanism in poisoning cases.Methods The rats in the exposure group were given 382 mg/kg macleaya extract solution by gavage,and the rats in the control group were given the same dose of solvent.The myocardial samples were analyzed by GC-MS,and pattern recognition was conducted through partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLSDA).The differential metabolites with characteristic changes were identified by variable importance projection(VIP value＞1)and Student's t test(P＜0.01).Results Compared with the control group,21 potential characteristic metabolites were identified.Through KEGG pathway enrichment analysis,it was found that these metabolites were mainly involved in the pathways of glycine,serine and threonine metabolism;pyruvate metabolism and glycerolipid metabolism.Conclusion Through the study of myocardial metabolism in rats exposed to macleaya cordata,we found the information on metabolites closely related to poisoning,which provides new insight and reference for studies on the mechanisms of macleaya cordata poisoning in the field of forensic medicine.

Gliomas tend to have a poor prognosis and are the most common primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Compared with patients with other cancers, glioma patients often suffer from increased levels of psychological stress, such as anxiety and fear. Chronic stress (CS) is thought to impact glioma profoundly. However, because of the complex mechanisms underlying CS and variability in individual tolerance, the role of CS in glioma remains unclear. This review suggests a new proposal to redivide the stress system into two parts. Neuronal activity is dominant upstream. Stress-signaling molecules produced by the neuroendocrine system are dominant downstream. We discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms by which CS impacts glioma. Potential pharmacological treatments are also summarized from the therapeutic perspective of CS.

Background and Aims:There is currently no consensus on whether the pancreaticoduodenectomy with Heidelberg triangle operation(PDTRIANGLE)or the standard radical pancreaticoduodenectomy(PDSTANDARD)is more beneficial for patients with pancreatic cancer,and no large-scale multicenter studies have confirmed this.Therefore,this study was conducted to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of PDTRIANGLE and PDSTANDARD for treating pancreatic cancer through a Meta-analysis. Methods:Relevant literature comparing the two surgical approaches comparing the two surgical approaches for treating pancreatic cancer was screened from Chinese and English databases based on inclusion criteria.The search timeframe extended from the inception of the databases to May 2024,and Review Manager 5.3 software was used for Meta-analysis of the extracted outcome variables. Results:A total of 6 retrospective studies were included,comprising 658 patients,with 315 in the PDTRIANGLE group and 343 in the PDSTANDARD group.The Meta-analysis results showed that the operative time in the PDTRIANGLE group was longer than that in the PDSTANDARD group(OR=1.52,95％CI=0.42-2.61,P=0.007),the lymph node dissection rate was higher in the PDTRIANGLE group(OR=0.70,95％CI=-0.4-1.01,P＜0.000 01),and the R0 resection rate was also higher in the PDTRIANGLE group(OR=1.63,95％CI=1.03-2.58,P=0.04).The incidence rates of postoperative lymphatic fistula and diarrhea were higher in the PDTRIANGLE group compared to the PDSTANDARD group(OR=5.60,95％CI=1.81-17.29,P=0.003;OR=0.13,95％CI=0.07-0.20,P＜0.000 1).The length of hospital stay was longer in the PDTRIANGLE group(OR=0.40;95％CI=-0.14-0.65,P=0.003).The overall survival rates at 1 and 2 years were significantly better in the PDTRIANGLE group compared to the PDSTANDARD group(OR=2.19,95％CI=-1.27-3.76,P=0.005;OR=1.65,95％CI=-1.01-2.67,P=0.04),and the 1-year disease-free survival rate was also significantly higher in the PDTRIANGLE group(OR=3.71,95％CI=2.27-6.07,P＜0.000 01),although the difference in the 2-year disease-free survival rate between the two groups was not statistically significant(OR=2.63,95％CI=-0.91-7.59,P=0.07). Conclusion:PDTRIANGLE is a safe and effective treatment for pancreatic cancer.Compared to PDSTANDARD,PDTRIANGLE significantly improves the R0 resection rate,thereby enhancing the postoperative disease-free survival rate and achieving a better long-term prognosis.

Objective To observe the differences in the expression levels of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α/heme oxygenase-1/vascular endothelial growth factor A (HIF-1α/HO-1/VEGF-A) signaling pathway under different maturation outcomes of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease, and explore the regulatory mechanism of the HIF-1α/HO-1/VEGF-A signaling pathway in the maturation process of AVF. Methods A total of 45 patients with AVF surgery for stage 5 chronic kidney disease were selected as research objects, vascular specimens were collected during the AVF surgery, and the patients were divided into AVF maturation group (n=35) and AVF poor maturation group (n=10) based on the AVF maturation outcomes within 8 weeks after surgery. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the gene expression levels of HIF-1α, HO-1 and VEGF-A in the HIF-1α/HO-1/VEGF-A signaling pathway; the Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of HIF-1α, HO-1 and VEGF-A; the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the expression levels of downstream inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Results The expression levels of HIF-1α mRNA, HO-1 mRNA, and VEGF-A mRNA in the AVF maturation group were significantly higher than those in the AVF poor maturation group (P < 0.01); the protein expression levels of HIF-1α, HO-1 and VEGF-A in the AVF maturation group were significantly higher than those in the AVF poor maturation group (P < 0.01); the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-8 and TGF-β in the AVF maturation group were significantly lower than those in the AVF poor maturation group (P < 0.01). Conclusion The upregulation of the HIF-1α/HO-1/VEGF-A signaling pathway is conducive to the early maturation of AVF. The measurement of the expression levels of the HIF-1α/HO-1/VEGF-A signaling pathway has a certain predictive significance for the early maturation outcome of AVF.

H 1-antihistamines are widely used in the treatment of various allergic diseases, but there are still many challenges in the safe and rational use of H 1-antihistamines in pediatrics, and there is a lack of guidance on the prescription review of H 1-antihistamines for children.In this paper, suggestions are put forward from the indications, dosage, route of administration, pathophysiological characteristics of children with individual difference and drug interactions, so as to provide reference for clinicians and pharmacists.

Objective:To evaluate the outcome and stability of control statuses in children under 6 years old with bronchial asthma(abbreviated asthma)who were received long-term standardized treatment and management, and to analyze the factors affecting the control stability.Methods:Using the case registration study, a total of 173 asthmatic children under 6 years old were selected from January 2014 to December 2020 in the department of allergy of Beijing Children′s Hospital.All the patients were received asthma long-term standardized treatment and management for 1 year to 2 years.Control statuses were evaluated at 1 year and 2 years follow up visits respectively.According to the changes of stage evaluations of control statuses, the control stabilities were decided, and patients were divided into stable control group and unstable control group.The parameters of exacerbation, repeated respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, concomitant diseases, allergen sensitization, pulmonary function, initial treatment level, delivery mode, feeding method and family history of allergic diseases were compared between the two groups at 1 year and 2 years respectively.Results:Of the 173 patients included, 17.9%(31/173)were younger than 3 years old and 82.1%(142/173)were 3 to 5 years old.After treatment and management for 1 year and 2 years, the proportions of asthma control levels assessed as good control were 51.6%(16/31)and 70.0%(21/30)respectively in the patients younger than 3 years old, and they were 74.6%(106/142)and 76.7%(79/103)respectively in the patients aged 3 to 5 years old.At 1 year and 2 years of treatment and management, the proportions of stable control and unstable control in 173 patients were 28.9%(50/173), 71.1%(123/173)and 26.3%(35/133), 73.7%(98/133), respectively.Asthma control stability status assessment and analysis showed that in the stable control group than that in the unstable control group, at 1 year and 2 years follow up visits, the percentages of exacerbations were lower(28.0% and 54.3% vs 64.2% and 72.4%), and the differences were statistically significant( χ2=18.768 and 3.889, all P<0.05).At 1 year follow up visits, the egg sensitization rate was higher(53.1% vs 32.9%), and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=3.921, P<0.05); the initial treatment level was higher, and the proportions of level 2, 3, 4 initial treatment were(4.0%, 22.0% and 74.0% vs 20.3%, 34.1% and 45.5%), and the difference was statistically significant( Z=-3.608, P<0.05).At 2 years follow up visits, the egg and milk sensitization rates were higher(61.9% and 42.9% vs 26.2% and 18.0%), and the differences were statistically significant( χ2=8.698 and 5.220, all P<0.05).There were no significant differences on the distributions in repeated respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, concomitant diseases, pulmonary function, delivery mode, feeding method and family history of allergic diseases. Conclusion:Stable asthma control is more likely to be achieved in children aged under 6 years with asthma who are manifesting no asthma exacerbation, presenting food sensitization and using the initial treatment at a high level.

COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has being spreading around the world, posing a serious threat to human health and lives. Neutralizing antibodies and small molecule inhibitors for virus replication cycle are the main antiviral treatment for novel coronavirus recommended in China. To further promote the rational use of antiviral therapy in clinical practice, the National Center for Infectious Diseases (Beijing Ditan Hospital Capital Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine) invited experts in fields of infectious diseases, respiratory and intensive care to develop an Expert Consensus on Antiviral Therapy of COVID-19 based on the Diagnosis and Treatment Guideline for COVID-19 ( trial version 10) and experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 in China. The consensus is concise, practical and highly operable, hopefully it would improve the understanding of antiviral therapy for clinicians and provide suggestions for standardized medication in treatment of COVID-19.