AIM To investigate the promotional effects of esculin combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BM-MSCs)transplantation on the repair of spinal cord injury(SCI)in rats.METHODS The rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group,the model group,the esculin group for gavage of 20 mg/kg esculin,the BM-MSCs group for tail vein injection of 1 mL of 1×106/mL BM-MSCs,and the combinaiton treatment group.The SCI rat model was established using Allen's method,followed by the 14 days consecutive corresponding drug administration starting from the 2nd day after modeling.On days 3,7 and 14 of drug administration,the rats had their hind limbs motor function evaluated by the BBB scoring;and their footprint experiment conducted on the 14th day after modeling.After 14 days of administration,the rats had their morphological changes of spinal cord tissue observed with HE staining and Nissl staining;their activities of SOD and GSH,and level of MDA in spinal cord tissue detected by kits;their expressions of MAP2,GAP43 and GFAP in spinal cord tissue detected by immunofluorescence;and their expressions of NQO-1,Nrf-2,Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in spinal cord tissue detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the groups interved with esculin,or BM-MSCs,or the combination treatment showed improvements in hind limb function and spinal cord tissue morphology(P＜0.05);decreased MDA levels(P＜0.05);increased SOD and GSH activities(P＜0.05);increased MAP2 and GAP43 fluorescence intensity(P＜0.05);decreased GFAP fluorescence intensity(P＜0.05);increased NQO-1,Nrf-2 and Bcl-2 protein expressions(P＜0.05);and decreased Bax protein expression(P＜0.05).And the combination treatment group was observed with an even better effects(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION The combination of esculin and BM-MSCs transplantation can effectively improve the spinal cord tissue damage and hind limb function in SCI rats.This effect may be achieved by activating the Nrf-2/NQO-1 signaling pathway to inhibit oxidative stress response,thereby reducing neuronal apoptosis,blocking glial scar formation,and promoting stem cell differentiation to rebuild neurons.

This article reports a first case of combined infection with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS)and scrub typhus in Dalian City.The patient was admitted to the hospital due to recurrent fever for 7 days and loss of consciousness for 1 day.Pathogen metagenomic sequencing(mNGS),SFTSV quantitative PCR,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)IgM tests were performed,showing positive results for Orientia tsutsugamushi and SFTSV nucleic acids.Based on clinical manifestations and epidemiological history,the patient was diagnosed with combined infections.

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the molecular epidemiology of children with phenylketonuria (PKU) in Gansu, China, providing foundational data for intervention strategies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 159 PKU families who attended Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital from January 2012 to December 2024. Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, whole exome sequencing, and deep intronic variant analysis were used to analyze the PAH gene. RESULTS: For the 1 159 children with PKU, 2 295 variants were identified in 2 318 alleles, resulting in a detection rate of 99.01%. The detection rates were 100% (914/914) in 457 classic PKU families, 99.45% (907/912) in 456 mild PKU families, and 96.34% (474/492) in 246 mild hyperphenylalaninemia families. The 2 295 variants detected comprised 208 distinct mutation types, among which c.728G>A (14.95%, 343/2 295) had the highest frequency, followed by c.611A>G (4.88%, 112/2 295) and c.721C>T (4.79%, 110/2 295). The cumulative frequency of the top 23 hotspot variants reached 70.28% (1 613/2 295), and most variant alleles were detected in exon 7 (29.19%, 670/2 295). CONCLUSIONS Deep intronic variant analysis of the PAH gene can improve the genetic diagnostic rate of PKU. The development of targeted detection kits for PAH hotspot variants may enable precision screening programs and enhance preventive strategies for PKU.
Humans ; Phenylketonurias/epidemiology* ; Female ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase/genetics* ; Mutation ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Child ; Infant

AIM To investigate the promotional effects of esculin combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BM-MSCs)transplantation on the repair of spinal cord injury(SCI)in rats.METHODS The rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group,the model group,the esculin group for gavage of 20 mg/kg esculin,the BM-MSCs group for tail vein injection of 1 mL of 1×106/mL BM-MSCs,and the combinaiton treatment group.The SCI rat model was established using Allen's method,followed by the 14 days consecutive corresponding drug administration starting from the 2nd day after modeling.On days 3,7 and 14 of drug administration,the rats had their hind limbs motor function evaluated by the BBB scoring;and their footprint experiment conducted on the 14th day after modeling.After 14 days of administration,the rats had their morphological changes of spinal cord tissue observed with HE staining and Nissl staining;their activities of SOD and GSH,and level of MDA in spinal cord tissue detected by kits;their expressions of MAP2,GAP43 and GFAP in spinal cord tissue detected by immunofluorescence;and their expressions of NQO-1,Nrf-2,Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in spinal cord tissue detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the groups interved with esculin,or BM-MSCs,or the combination treatment showed improvements in hind limb function and spinal cord tissue morphology(P＜0.05);decreased MDA levels(P＜0.05);increased SOD and GSH activities(P＜0.05);increased MAP2 and GAP43 fluorescence intensity(P＜0.05);decreased GFAP fluorescence intensity(P＜0.05);increased NQO-1,Nrf-2 and Bcl-2 protein expressions(P＜0.05);and decreased Bax protein expression(P＜0.05).And the combination treatment group was observed with an even better effects(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION The combination of esculin and BM-MSCs transplantation can effectively improve the spinal cord tissue damage and hind limb function in SCI rats.This effect may be achieved by activating the Nrf-2/NQO-1 signaling pathway to inhibit oxidative stress response,thereby reducing neuronal apoptosis,blocking glial scar formation,and promoting stem cell differentiation to rebuild neurons.

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.

Objective To compare the pharmacokinetic profiles of the two teriflunomide tablets in healthy Chinese subjects under fasting and fed conditions and to evaluate their bioequivalence and safety.Methods A randomized,open,single-dose,parallel trial design was used to enroll 31 and 32 healthy Chinese male subjects in the fasting and fed groups,who were randomized to a single oral dose of 14 mg of either reference or test preparation of teriflunomide tablets.The plasma concentrations of teriflunomide were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method,and Phoenix WinNonlin 8.1 software was used to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters and perform bioequivalence analysis.Results Subjects received a single oral dose of the reference and test formulations of teriflunomide.The main pharmacokinetic parameters of teriflunomide in the fasting group were as follows:Cmax were(2.14±0.27)and(2.27±0.33)μg·mL-1,AUC0-72h were(105.70±11.20)and(107.72±11.77)μg·mL-1·h,tmax was 1.49 and 0.99 h;the main pharmacokinetic parameters of teriflunomide in the fed group were as follows:Cmaxwere(1.83±0.17)and(1.75±0.22)μg·mL-1,AUC0-72h were(102.66±9.18)and(101.57±13.01)μg·mL-1·h,tmax was 4.01 and 4.99 h.The 90％confidence intervals for the geometric means of Cmax and AUC0-72h for reference and test preparations in the fasting and fed groups were in the range of 80％to 125％.Conclusion The pharmacokinetic characteristics of the 2 formulations were similar under fasting and fed administration conditions,with good bioequivalence and safety;Postprandial administration may delay the time to peak of the drug.

Objective To observe the application effect of intra-arterial tirofiban during mechanical thrombectomy for acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction.Methods The clinical data of patients with acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction were retrospectively analyzed.According to cohort method,they were divided into control group and treatment group.The control group was treated with mechanical thrombectomy,while the treatment group was additionally given intra-arterial therapy with tirofiban 0.25-0.5 mg on the basis of the control group.The perioperative indicators(surgical time,number of thrombectomy,vascular recanalization time,vascular recanalization rate),National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score before treatment and at 24 hours and 7 days after treatment,platelet indicators[mean platelet distribution width(PDW),mean platelet volume(MPV),plateletcrit(PCT)],hemorheological indicators[plasma viscosity(PV),low whole blood viscosity(LWBV),high whole blood viscosity(HWBV)],serum indicators[high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)]and clinical efficacy were compared,and the safety of the treatment regimen was assessed.Results There were 92 patients were finally included in this study,including 49 cases in control group and 43 cases in treatment group.The effective rates in treatment group and control group were 75.51％(37 cases/49 cases)and 93.02％(40 cases/43 cases),with significant difference(P＜0.05).The surgical times in treatment group and control group were(93.53±9.86)and(91.59±8.36)min;the vascular recanalization times were(78.46±9.69)and(77.40±10.32)min;the vascular recanalization rates were 93.02％and 83.67％;the NIHSS scores were(10.32±2.90)and(9.59±2.84)points at 24 hours after treatment,all with no significant difference(all P＞0.05).At 7 days after treatment,the NIHSS scores in treatment group and control group were(3.34±1.25)and(4.12±1.48)points;the PDW values were(12.58±1.81)％and(14.15±1.95)％;MPV values were(9.16±1.24)and(11.26±1.86)fL;PCT levels were(0.33±0.05)％and(0.29±0.04)％;PV values were(1.64±0.27)and(1.99±0.24)mPa·s-1;LWBV values were(4.16±0.48)and(5.01±0.49)mPa·s-1;HWBV values were(8.12±0.54)and(9.27±0.68)mPa·s-1;serum hs-CRP levels were(3.57±0.45)and(4.48±0.83)mg·L-1;TNF-α levels were(20.42±4.55)and(27.34±4.95)ng·L-1;VEGF levels were(738.80±52.41)and(664.72±41.68)ng·L-1,all with significant difference(all P＜0.05).Incidence rates of adverse drug reactions in treatment group and control group were 8.16％(4 cases/49 cases)and 4.65％(2 cases/43 cases)respectively,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusion Intra-arterial tirofiban therapy during thrombectomy for acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction has good neurological function and prognosis,and it may be related to the improvement of platelet function and cerebral tissue blood flow and relief of inflammatory response.

AIM To investigate the effects of Compound Dihuang Granules on biological function of dopaminergic neurons in rats with Parkinson's disease(PD)of Pattern of Yin-Deficiency with Stirring Wind.METHODS The PD animal model of Pattern of Yin-Deficiency with Stirring Wind established by intracerebral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA)were randomly divided into the model group,the Midoba group(150 mg/kg)and the low,medium and high dose Compound Dihuang Granules groups(1.75,3.5 and 7 g/kg)for corresponding drug intervention,in contrast to the normal group,the sham operation group and the model group underwent 28-day normal saline administration.The rats had their general condition and neuroethology observed;their pathological changes of substantia nigra observed by HE staining;their mitochondrial structure of dopaminergic neurons in the damaged substantia nigra observed by transmission electron microscopy;and their expressions of DJ-1,IP3R,GRP75 and VDAC1 detected by immunohistochemistry,Western blot and RT-qPCR.RESULTS Compared with the normal group and sham operation group,the model group displayed increased rotational behavirors(P＜0.01),decreased swimming time score(P＜0.01),decreased hanging time(P＜0.01),decreased number of neurons in substantia nigra but more neurons with morphological damage,mitochondrial swelling and degeneration,mitochondrial crista disappearance,and decreased expressions of DJ-1,IP3R,GRP75 and VDA C1 mRNA and protein in the injured side(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the Midoba group and the Compound Dihuang Granules groups demonstrated less rotational behavirors(P＜0.01),higher swimming time score(P＜0.01),longer hanging time(P＜0.01),less damage to mitochondrial morphology and structure,and higher expressions of DJ-1,IP3R,GRP75 and VDA C1 mRNA and protein in the injured substantia nigra(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The high-dose Compound Dihuang Granules presented equivalent efficacy to that of Midoba.CONCLUSION Compound Dihuang Granules may promote endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria homeostasis,reduce mitochondrial damage and maintain the biological function of dopaminergic neurons by regulating the expressions of DJ-1,IP3R,GRP75 and VDAC1.

Pancreatic fibrosis (PF) is primarily distinguished by the stimulation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and excessive extracellular matrix deposition, which is the main barrier impeding drug delivery and distribution. Recently, nanomedicine, with efficient, targeted, and controllable drug release characteristics, has demonstrated enormous advantages in the regression of pancreas fibrotic diseases. Notably, paracrine signals from parenchymal and immune cells such as pancreatic acinar cells, islet cells, pancreatic cancer cells, and immune cells can directly or indirectly modulate PSC differentiation and activation. The intercellular crosstalk between PSCs and these cells has been a critical event involved in fibrogenesis. However, the connections between PSCs and other pancreatic cells during the progression of diseases have yet to be discussed. Herein, we summarize intercellular crosstalk in the activation of PSCs and its contribution to the development of common pancreatic diseases, including pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and diabetes. Then, we also examine the latest treatment strategies of nanomedicine and potential targets for PSCs crosstalk in fibrosis, thereby offering innovative insights for the design of antifibrotic nanomedicine. Ultimately, the enhanced understanding of PF will facilitate the development of more precise intervention strategies and foster individually tailored therapeutic approaches for pancreatic diseases.