Chronic liver diseases are a group of diseases in which the liver is subjected to a variety of injuries over a long period of time， resulting in irreversible pathological changes that last longer than 6 months. Emodin （EMO） is a natural anthraquinone derivative derived from Rheum officinale， and its pharmacological effect has been extensively studied， exhibiting a variety of biological properties and involving multiple signaling molecules and pathways. Western medicine or surgical treatment is currently the main treatment regimen for chronic liver diseases， and the advance in treatment is limited by various reasons such as side effects and high costs. Due to its natural origin and efficacy， EMO has unique advantages in the treatment of chronic liver diseases and has now become a research hotspot. This article summarizes the therapeutic effect of EMO on chronic liver diseases and its mechanism， in order to provide a certain scientific basis for the traditional Chinese medicine treatment of chronic liver diseases and the development of drugs in clinical practice.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of the gastrointestinal endoscopic super minimally invasive surgery (eSMIS) and the laparoscopic minimally invasive procedure (LS) for the treatment of gastric glomus tumors(GGT).Methods:This study retrospectively included 15 patients with GGT who underwent eSMIS at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from May 2014 to May 2024. Data on demographic characteristics, surgical indexes, efficacy evaluation indexes, postoperative medical disposition, health economics indexes and postoperative laboratory indexes were collected and analyzed, the patients were followed up for survival outcomes and the postoperative quality of life, efficacy and safety of the two groups were compared.Results:The amount of bleeding in the eSMIS group was lower than that in the LS group: 1.25 (0, 3.75) ml vs. 41.56 (10.00, 50.00) ml, and the surgical cost in the eSMIS group was lower than that in the LS group: 10 792.87 (8 424.90, 12 730.30) yuan vs. 21 773.06 (19 940.60, 24 843.10) yuan, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The surgical efficacy, postoperative laboratory indicators and medical treatment convenience between the two groups had no statistical differences ( P>0.05). Conclusions:In the choice of surgical procedures for the treatment of GGT, eSMIS is superior to LS in terms of bleeding and surgical cost, and not inferior to LS in other indicators. This suggested that the treatment of GGT with eSMIS is feasible, safe and effective.

Objective:To correlate serum bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) levels with joint function and systemic inflammatory response in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) complicated by cartilage injury.Methods:This study is a retrospective analysis. It selected 258 patients with knee osteoarthritis who were treated at Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023. All patients underwent arthroscopic examination. Based on the presence of cartilage injury, 118 patients with cartilage injury were included in the Group A, while 140 patients without cartilage injury were included in the Group B. Joint function (WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, Lysholm Knee Function Score), serum levels of BMP-2 and COMP, and systemic inflammatory responses [levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)] were compared between the two groups. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of serum BMP-2 and COMP levels for KOA complicated by cartilage injury. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between the aforementioned serum markers and the patients' WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, Lysholm Knee Function Score, as well as serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α.Results:Group A had significantly lower serum BMP-2 levels and Lysholm Knee Function Scores compared with Group B [(9.18 ± 1.65) ng/L vs. (11.43 ± 2.51) ng/L, t = 8.34, P < 0.001; (80.06 ± 8.34) vs. (86.94 ± 7.21), t = 7.11, P < 0.001]. Group A exhibited higher serum levels of COMP, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as a higher WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, with all differences being statistically significant [(6.88 ± 2.34) μg/L vs. (5.04 ± 1.01) μg/L, t = -8.34, P < 0.001; (43.18 ± 7.81) ng/L vs. (35.96 ± 5.02) ng/L, t = -8.96, P < 0.001; (34.03 ± 6.68) ng/L vs. (28.75 ± 5.61) ng/L, t = -6.90, P < 0.001; (13.17 ± 1.89) ng/L vs. (11.24 ± 1.01) ng/L, t = -10.44, P < 0.001; (137.18 ± 18.95) vs. (121.14 ± 13.58), t = -7.90, P < 0.001]. ROC curve analysis indicated that the area under the curve values for serum BMP-2 and COMP levels in diagnosing KOA complicated by cartilage injury were 0.773 and 0.811, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between serum BMP-2 levels and the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, as well as serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α ( r = -0.52, -0.42, -0.40, -0.57, all P < 0.05). Additionally, serum BMP-2 levels showed a positive correlation with the Lysholm Knee Function Score ( r = 0.51, P < 0.05). Serum COMP levels and the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index were positively correlated with serum IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α levels ( r = 0.48, 0.45, 0.37, 0.54, all P < 0.05) and were negatively correlated with the Lysholm Knee Function Score ( r = -0.51, P < 0.05). Conclusions:Serum BMP-2 and COMP levels have certain diagnostic value in patients with KOA complicated by cartilage injury. Moreover, these indicators are correlated with joint function and systemic inflammatory responses. Therefore, they hold promise as potential indicators for assessing disease progression in patients with KOA.

G protein-coupled receptors(GPCRs)are the largest family of membrane proteins in eukaryotes,with nearly 800 genes coding for these proteins.They are involved in many physiological processes,such as light perception,taste and smell,neurotransmitter,metabolism,endocrine and exocrine,cell growth and migration.Importantly,GPCRs and their ligands are the targets of approximately one third of all mar-keted drugs.GPCRs are traditionally known for their role in transmitting signals from the extracellular environment to the cell's interior via the plasma membrane.However,emerging evidence suggests that GPCRs are also localized on mitochondria,where they play critical roles in modulating mitochondrial functions.These mitochondrial GPCRs(mGPCRs)can influence processes such as mitochondrial respi-ration,apoptosis,and reactive oxygen species(ROS)production.By interacting with mitochondrial signaling pathways,mGPCRs contribute to the regulation of energy metabolism and cell survival.Their presence on mitochondria adds a new layer of complexity to the understanding of cellular signaling,highlighting the organelle's role as not just an energy powerhouse but also a crucial hub for signal transduction.This expanding understanding of mGPCR function on mitochondria opens new avenues for research,particularly in the context of diseases where mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role.Ab-normalities in the phase conductance pathway of GPCRs located on mitochondria are closely associated with the development of systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease,diabetes,obesity and Alz-heimer's disease.In this review,we examined the various types of GPCRs identified on mitochondrial membranes and analyzed the complex relationships between mGPCRs and the pathogenesis of various diseases.We aim to provide a clearer understanding of the emerging significance of mGPCRs in health and disease,and to underscore their potential as therapeutic targets in the treatment of these conditions.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of first polar body transfer (PB1T) combined with preimplantation mitochondrial genetic testing for blocking the transmission of a pathogenic mitochondrial DNA 8993T>G mutation. METHODS: A Chinese family affected with Leigh syndrome which had attended the Reproductive Medicine Centre of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University in September 2021 was selected as the study subject. Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation was carried out for the proband after completing the detection of the mitochondrial DNA 8993T>G mutation load among the pedigree members. Mature MII oocytes were inseminated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), cultured in vitro for 5 to 6 days to the blastocyst stage, and trophoblastocytes were obtained by microbiopsy. Mitochondrial DNA testing (PGT-MT) and chromosomal aneuploidy (PGT-A) analyses were carried out after whole-genome amplification, and the embryos with zero mutation load were selected for transfer. Amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood samples were collected during middle pregnancy and after birth respectively for mitochondrial DNA testing to verify the reliability of embryo screening. As an attempt, PB1 with good morphology of MII oocytes was selected for transfer into the enucleated oocytoplasm from healthy donors, followed by ICSI fertilization, blastocyst culture and PGT of embryos using the same procedure. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (No. 2021zhyx-B12). RESULTS: An antagonist protocol was used for ovarian stimulation, and a total of 19 oocytes were obtained, of which 14 MII were fertilized by ICSI, and 2 had developed into blastocysts. PGT-MT was carried out on biopsied trophoblastocytes, in which the mitochondrial DNA 8993T>G mutation load was not detected in one embryo, the other was 100% mutated, and the mutation loads of the remaining unfertilized eggs and developmentally arrested embryos ranged from 0% ~ 100%, presenting a clear biased distribution. With fully informed consent, one PGT-MT zero mutation load blastocyst was transferred and clinical pregnancy was achieved. Mitochondrial DNA and chromosomal testing of amniotic fluid cells during middle pregnancy had revealed no abnormalities. The proband had delivered a healthy boy through Caesarean section at 39⁺⁵ weeks of gestation, and no mutation was detected in the cord blood sample. Five well-formed PBs from 14 eggs were selected for PB1 transfer, followed by ICSI and culture, and two of the reconstituted embryos had formed blastocysts, with none of the above mutations detected in the biopsied samples. CONCLUSION The PGT-MT technology can help families affected with mitochondrial diseases to have healthy offspring. PB1 transfer in combination with ICSI and PGT-MT holds the promise of turning waste into treasure and providing an alternative means of fertility for such families.
Humans ; Preimplantation Diagnosis/methods* ; Female ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics* ; Genetic Testing/methods* ; Pregnancy ; Mitochondrial Diseases/genetics* ; Polar Bodies ; Adult ; Feasibility Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic/methods* ; Embryo Transfer/methods* ; Mutation ; Male ; Blastocyst/metabolism* ; Pedigree

Objective To propose a dynamic electrical impedance tomography imaging algorithm based on complementary information fusion network(CIFN)to enhance image quality of dynamic electrical impedance imaging.Methods There were three modules for initialization,multi-frame complementary information extraction and information fusion involved in the CIFN.Firstly,multi-frame dynamic conductivity distribution images were obtained by the initialization module;secondly,spatial complementary information was extracted from the images by using the multi-frame complementary information extraction module;finally,the fusion of lesion target distribution information and target re-reconstruction were realized by the information fusion module to aquire high-quality EIT images.With a 16-electrode multilayer cranial simulation model,the CIFN-based imaging method was compared with Tikhonov regularization algorithm,spectral constraint algorithm and U-Net algorithm in terms of imaging results of types of lesions to verify its performance.Results Compared with the Tikhonov regularization algorithm,spectral constraint algorithm and U-Net algorithm,the proposed CIFN-based algorithm exhibited the lowest mean absolute error(MAE)and the highest structural similarity(SSIM)when used to image different lesion targets,which accurately reconstructed the distribution of lesion targets and gained high imaging stability under common noise levels.Conclusion The proposed CIFN-based imaging algorithm obtains high imaging quality on a cranial simulation model and reconstruction results close to the real model distribution,which provides algorithmic support for subsequent clinical studies on electrical impedance imaging.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):1-6]

Fucoidan(FUC)is a natural seaweed-derived drug.Previously,our experiments have shown that FUC can significantly inhibit the cell viability of human osteosarcoma 143B cells and induce cell death,but the mechanism remains unclear.Ferroptosis,a novel form of cell death,has emerged as an important target for tumor therapy.This study aims to investigate whether FUC induces ferroptosis of 143B cells and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms.CCK-8 and LDH assays result showed that FUC(10,100,400 μg/mL)significantly reduced cell viability of 143B cells and induced cell death.Calce-in-AM staining,FeRhoNox-1 staining,and C11 BODIPY 581/591 staining indicated that FUC obviously increased the levels of labile iron pool(LIP),Fe2+,and lipid reactive oxygen species(Lip ROS)in 143B cells.Chemical colorimetric analysis revealed that FUC markedly decreased intracellular Glutathi-one(GSH)contents.Real-time quantitative PCR showed that FUC dramatically reduced the mRNA lev-els of ferroptosis-related factors solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11)and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4),while increasing the mRNA levels of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2)and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4(ACSL4).Western blotting analysis demonstrated that FUC significantly reduced the protein levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4,and the ratios of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AktSer473/Akt,and p-AktThr308/Akt,but increased the protein level of ACSL4.Immunofluorescence staining showed that FUC obviously inhibited the nuclear translocation of p-AktSer473.The ferroptosis in-hibitor ferrostatin-1(Fer-1)and iron chelator deferoxamine(DFO)remarkably suppressed cell death in-duced by FUC in 143B cells.Additionally,the PI3K/Akt pathway activator 740Y-P significantly inhibi-ted FUC-induced iron overload and lipid peroxidation in 143B cells,and restored the protein levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4.In conclusion,FUC can induce ferroptosis of 143B cells by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,which may be a potential target for the prevention and treatment of osteosarcoma.

Objective:The relationship between benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and the oxidative balance score(OBS)will be discussed in this study.Methods:The clinical data on 16 dimensions of diet and 4 dimensions of lifestyle from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)from 2001 to 2008 were used to calculate OBS.We considered BPH as the out-come and investigated the linear and nonlinear relationships between the two.Additionally,subgroup analyses and interaction tests were conducted as well.Furthermore,the methods of machine learning including XGBoost,support vector machine(SVM)and naive Bayes(NB)were used to establish a predictive model for BPH.Results:Higher OBS was consistently associated with an increased preva-lence of BPH,with Restricted Cubic Splines highlighting a significant positive nonlinear association(P=0.015).Subgroup analyses revealed differences and interactive relationships based on alcohol consumption.Among the seven machine learning models that we in-cluded the OBS score in,the XGBoost model emerged as the best,with an AUC value of 0.769.Conclusion:There is a significant association between OBS and the prevalence of BPH in the American population,which provides a valuable insight for further diagnosis and research of the disease.

Objective:To correlate serum bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) levels with joint function and systemic inflammatory response in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) complicated by cartilage injury.Methods:This study is a retrospective analysis. It selected 258 patients with knee osteoarthritis who were treated at Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023. All patients underwent arthroscopic examination. Based on the presence of cartilage injury, 118 patients with cartilage injury were included in the Group A, while 140 patients without cartilage injury were included in the Group B. Joint function (WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, Lysholm Knee Function Score), serum levels of BMP-2 and COMP, and systemic inflammatory responses [levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)] were compared between the two groups. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of serum BMP-2 and COMP levels for KOA complicated by cartilage injury. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between the aforementioned serum markers and the patients' WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, Lysholm Knee Function Score, as well as serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α.Results:Group A had significantly lower serum BMP-2 levels and Lysholm Knee Function Scores compared with Group B [(9.18 ± 1.65) ng/L vs. (11.43 ± 2.51) ng/L, t = 8.34, P < 0.001; (80.06 ± 8.34) vs. (86.94 ± 7.21), t = 7.11, P < 0.001]. Group A exhibited higher serum levels of COMP, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as a higher WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, with all differences being statistically significant [(6.88 ± 2.34) μg/L vs. (5.04 ± 1.01) μg/L, t = -8.34, P < 0.001; (43.18 ± 7.81) ng/L vs. (35.96 ± 5.02) ng/L, t = -8.96, P < 0.001; (34.03 ± 6.68) ng/L vs. (28.75 ± 5.61) ng/L, t = -6.90, P < 0.001; (13.17 ± 1.89) ng/L vs. (11.24 ± 1.01) ng/L, t = -10.44, P < 0.001; (137.18 ± 18.95) vs. (121.14 ± 13.58), t = -7.90, P < 0.001]. ROC curve analysis indicated that the area under the curve values for serum BMP-2 and COMP levels in diagnosing KOA complicated by cartilage injury were 0.773 and 0.811, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between serum BMP-2 levels and the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, as well as serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α ( r = -0.52, -0.42, -0.40, -0.57, all P < 0.05). Additionally, serum BMP-2 levels showed a positive correlation with the Lysholm Knee Function Score ( r = 0.51, P < 0.05). Serum COMP levels and the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index were positively correlated with serum IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α levels ( r = 0.48, 0.45, 0.37, 0.54, all P < 0.05) and were negatively correlated with the Lysholm Knee Function Score ( r = -0.51, P < 0.05). Conclusions:Serum BMP-2 and COMP levels have certain diagnostic value in patients with KOA complicated by cartilage injury. Moreover, these indicators are correlated with joint function and systemic inflammatory responses. Therefore, they hold promise as potential indicators for assessing disease progression in patients with KOA.

Collagen is a major structural protein in the matrix of animal cells and the most widely distributed and abundant functional protein in mammals. Collagen’s good biocompatibility, biodegradability and biological activity make it a very valuable biomaterial. According to the source of collagen, it can be broadly categorized into two types: one is animal collagen; the other is recombinant collagen. Animal collagen is mainly extracted and purified from animal connective tissues by chemical methods, such as acid, alkali and enzyme methods, etc. Recombinant collagen refers to collagen produced by gene splicing technology, where the amino acid sequence is first designed and improved according to one’s own needs, and the gene sequence of improved recombinant collagen is highly consistent with that of human beings, and then the designed gene sequence is cloned into the appropriate vector, and then transferred to the appropriate expression vector. The designed gene sequence is cloned into a suitable vector, and then transferred to a suitable expression system for full expression, and finally the target protein is obtained by extraction and purification technology. Recombinant collagen has excellent histocompatibility and water solubility, can be directly absorbed by the human body and participate in the construction of collagen, remodeling of the extracellular matrix, cell growth, wound healing and site filling, etc., which has demonstrated significant effects, and has become the focus of the development of modern biomedical materials. This paper firstly elaborates the structure, type, and tissue distribution of human collagen, as well as the associated genetic diseases of different types of collagen, then introduces the specific process of producing animal source collagen and recombinant collagen, explains the advantages of recombinant collagen production method, and then introduces the various systems of expressing recombinant collagen, as well as their advantages and disadvantages, and finally briefly introduces the application of animal collagen, focusing on the use of animal collagen in the development of biopharmaceutical materials. In terms of application, it focuses on the use of animal disease models exploring the application effects of recombinant collagen in wound hemostasis, wound repair, corneal therapy, female pelvic floor dysfunction (FPFD), vaginal atrophy (VA) and vaginal dryness, thin endometritis (TE), chronic endometritis (CE), bone tissue regeneration in vivo, cardiovascular diseases, breast cancer (BC) and anti-aging. The mechanism of action of recombinant collagen in the treatment of FPFD and CE was introduced, and the clinical application and curative effect of recombinant collagen in skin burn, skin wound, dermatitis, acne and menopausal urogenital syndrome (GSM) were summarized. From the exploratory studies and clinical applications, it is evident that recombinant collagen has demonstrated surprising effects in the treatment of all types of diseases, such as reducing inflammation, promoting cell proliferation, migration and adhesion, increasing collagen deposition, and remodeling the extracellular matrix. At the end of the review, the challenges faced by recombinant collagen are summarized: to develop new recombinant collagen types and dosage forms, to explore the mechanism of action of recombinant collagen, and to provide an outlook for the future development and application of recombinant collagen.