Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell （hUC-MSC） as a cell-based therapeutic strategy have demonstrated significant application potential in the field of intervention for neurodegenerative disease （NDD） due to their advantages such as self-renewal， multi-directional differentiation， and low immunogenicity. hUC-MSC effectively intervenes in the pathological features and neurological functions of various disease models such as Alzheimer disease， Parkinson’s disease， amyotrophic lateral sclerosis， and multiple sclerosis primarily through multiple mechanisms such as homing and differentiation， mediating paracrine actions and releasing exosomes， as well as immune regulation and anti-inflammation. Some clinical studies have also preliminarily verified their safety and effectiveness. Currently， its research still faces challenges such as immune rejection reactions requiring further observation， long-term safety needing evaluation， mechanisms of action not being fully elucidated， and slow progress in clinical trials. Future research needs to establish pharmaceutical standards for hUC-MSC， deepen their pharmacological mechanisms and clinical trials， ultimately providing new and effective drug treatment options for patients with NDD.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of evolocumab and probucol in patients with ultra-high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease （ASCVD） following percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 156 ultra-high-risk ASCVD patients who underwent PCI in our institution between January 1， 2023 and December 31， 2024. According to the lipid-lowering regimen， the patients were categorized into evolocumab group （ n ＝86） and probucol group （ n ＝70）. Changes in lipid parameters [total cholesterol （TC）， low-density lipoprot ein cholesterol （LDL-C）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， triglycerides， lipoprotein （a）， and lipid goal achievement rate ] ， inflammatory markers [interleukin-6 （IL-6） and C-reactive protein （CRP） ] ， and cardiac function indices （left ventricular ejection fraction， left ventricular end-systolic diameter， left ventricular end-diastolic diameter， and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide） were compared between two groups at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. The incidence of adverse clinical events during treatment， including acute myocardial infarction， in-stent restenosis， acute heart failure， cerebral hemorrhage， and stroke， was also evaluated. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups at baseline （ P ＞0.05）. After 6 months of treatment， both groups demonstrated significant improvements in lipid profiles （except HDL-C） and inflammatory markers compared to those at baseline （ P ＜0.05）. The evolocumab group exhibited greater reductions in TC， LDL-C， IL-6， and CRP， along with a higher lipid target achievement rate， compared with the probucol group （ P ＜0.05）. There were no statistically significant differences in the cardiac function-related indicators before and after treatment between the two groups， nor in the incidence of adverse events during the treatment （ P ＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS For ultra-high-risk ASCVD patients after PCI， both of the above treatment options are associated with improvements in blood lipid and inflammatory response， with good safety during short-term follow-up. Evolocumab shows superior efficacy in TC， LDL-C and inflammatory markers reduction and lipid target achievement， compared to probucol.

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of neoeriocitrin (Neo) on ligature-induced experimental periodontitis in mice and evaluate its biosafety, providing experimental evidence for novel candidate drugs in periodontitis treatment. Methods: This study has been approved by the Animal Welfare and Ethical Safety Committee. A periodontitis model was established in C57BL/6J mice using silk ligation. The mice were divided into control, periodontitis model, and three Neo treatment groups (5, 10, 20 mg/kg Neo). After 2 weeks of intervention, alveolar bone resorption was analyzed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT); periodontal tissue pathological changes were observed via hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining; osteoclasts were counted using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining; serum inflammatory factor levels [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-10 (IL-10)] were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; gut microbiota changes were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing; and biosafety was assessed through HE staining of the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and colon, as well as zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) immunohistochemical staining of the colon. Results: Compared with the periodontitis model group, the 10 mg/kg Neo treatment group showed significantly alleviated alveolar bone resorption, manifested as reduced cementoenamel junction to alveolar bone crest distance, increased bone mineral density, bone volume fraction, and trabecular thickness. Additionally, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, improved collagen fiber arrangement, and a significantly decreased number of osteoclasts were observed in periodontal tissues. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6 were also reduced. Furthermore, 10 mg/kg Neo intervention modulated the gut microbiota structure without causing significant multi-organ toxicity or impairing intestinal barrier function. Conclusion Neo can effectively mitigate the progression of experimental periodontitis by inhibiting alveolar bone resorption, reducing periodontal tissue inflammation, modulating systemic immunity, and improving gut microbiota. With good biosafety, Neo is a promising candidate drug for the treatment of periodontitis.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of the Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue prescription （YYHP） in the treatment of cathartic colon （CC） and its effects on fecal short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs）， and to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria， 98 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine for CC with the syndrome of Qi-Yin deficiency complicated by blood stasis were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group. The observation group received YYHP granules， while the control group received lactulose. Both medications were administered twice daily， one sachet each time， half an hour after breakfast and dinner， with a treatment course of 8 weeks. The primary constipation symptom score， Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life （PAC-QOL） score， and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment and at the 8^th week after the end of treatment. The overall clinical effective rate， as well as the efficacy attenuation index and degree， were evaluated. Fecal SCFA levels were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS）. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. ResultsThe overall clinical effective rate in the observation group （95.83%） was higher than that in the control group （78.72%） （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total scores for primary constipation symptoms， PAC-QOL， and TCM syndromes decreased in both groups （P<0.05）， with more significant reductions in the observation group （P<0.05）. The severity of all primary constipation symptoms was alleviated in both groups （P<0.05）. In terms of "excessive straining and difficult defecation"， "anal heaviness， incomplete evacuation， and bloating sensation"， "abdominal distension"， and "defecation frequency"， the observation group showed better efficacy than the control group （P<0.05）. Scores of the four PAC-QOL dimensions and the scores and severity of primary and secondary TCM symptoms were reduced in both groups （P<0.05）， with more significant reductions in the observation group （P<0.05）. After treatment， acetic acid， propionic acid， butyric acid， and total SCFAs in the observation group increased significantly （P<0.05）. The efficacy attenuation index and degree in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （P<0.05）. No severe adverse reactions occurred in either group， and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. Positive correlations of varying degrees were observed among the total scores of primary constipation symptoms， PAC-QOL， and TCM syndromes， as well as between these scores and the history of stimulant laxative use， disease duration， and age. ConclusionYYHP can effectively alleviate the primary constipation symptoms in CC patients， improve quality of life， and ameliorate TCM syndromes， with good safety. It also has the advantage of a lower rebound degree after drug withdrawal， and its mechanism may be related to increasing fecal SCFA levels. Long-term abuse of stimulant laxatives may aggravate the severity of CC and prolong the disease course.

Based on the concept of "blood exhaustion" from The Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor （《黄帝内经》）， a three-stage syndrome differentiation and treatment strategy for cancer-related anorexia-cachexia syndrome is proposeed. In the cancer-induced anorexia stage， the pathogenesis is characterized by cancer consuming the spleen and stomach， leading to stagnation of transportation and transformation in the middle jiao （焦）. Treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen， promoting appetite， dispersing accumulation， and aiding digestion， with modified Zisheng Pills （资生丸） in Extensive Notes on Medicine from Xian Xing Studio （《先醒斋医学广笔记》） or Zisheng Decoction （资生汤） in Records of Chinese Medicine with Reference to Western Medicine （《医学衷中参西录》）. In the pre-cachectic stage of malnutrition， the pathogenesis involves insufficient nourishment of blood and qi with essence depletion hindering production. Treatment should focus on nourishing blood and harmonizing ying （营）， warming yang and supplementing qi， and modified Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction （黄芪建中汤） can be used. In the cachectic stage， the pathogenesis involves blood deficiency and essence exhaustion， with blood stasis obstructing the collaterals. The therapeutic approach should focus on tonifying deficiency and replenishing essence， unblocking collaterals， and removing stasis， and modified Buzhong Yiqi Decoction （补中益气汤） and Zuo Gui Beverage （左归饮） are suggested.

ObjectiveTo analyze the output and efficiency of chronic disease management services for hypertension and diabetes in community health service institutions in Shanghai, to evaluate the allocation and efficiency of chronic disease management resources, and to provide references for improving the efficiency of chronic disease management in Shanghai’s communities. MethodsA total of 73 community health institutions from 15 districts of Shanghai were selected. Based on the chronic disease management resource data of community health institutions in 2019, 2021, and 2023, descriptive methods and the BCC model in Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) were used to analyze the resource allocation, service output, and the efficiency of chronic disease management services in community health institutions in Shanghai. ResultsFrom 2019 to 2023, the indicators of resource allocation and service output of community health service institutions in Shanghai all showed upward trends. In terms of service efficiency, the average number of chronic disease patients managed by each health technician decreased from 237 to 231, and the number of patients served per 1 000 working hours decreased from 54 to 44. DEA efficiency analyses showed that the average overall efficiency increased from 0.867 in 2019 to 0.886 in 2021 and then decreased to 0.811 in 2023. The average technical efficiency decreased from 0.901 to 0.847, which was the main reason for the decline in overall efficiency. The average scale efficiency showed an initial increase followed by a decrease, rising from 0.961 in 2019 to 0.977 in 2021 and dropping back to 0.955 in 2023. The number of strong effective districts (overall efficiency=1.000) decreased from 6 in 2019 to 3 in 2023, and the efficiency differences between districts expanded. The range of overall efficiency widened from 0.622‒1.000 to 0.513‒1.000, indicating a decline in overall efficiency and an increase in inter-district heterogeneity. ConclusionFrom 2019 to 2023, the total volume of resource allocation and service output for chronic disease management in community health service institutions in Shanghai increased continuously. However, both the service output efficiency and the overall resource allocation efficiency declined, driven primarily by a decrease in technical efficiency, and accompanied by widening inter‑district disparities.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.

The study aims to explore the methods for preparing nanocomplexes of Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) with UNO peptide (UNO-PBNPs) and the functions of the nanocomplexes targeting M2-type macrophages in vitro. PBNPs were prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis method. Subsequently, the peptide UNO (CSPGAKVRC) targeting the mannose receptor was modified on their surface by a heterobifunctional coupling approach. The morphological characteristics of nanoparticles were observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, their particle size, Zeta potential, and dispersion stability were assessed. The structural characteristics of nanoparticles were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and other techniques. The biological safety of the nanoparticles was evaluated by the CCK-8 assay and hemolysis experiments. Moreover, the targeting performance of UNO-PBNPs towards M2-type macrophages was assessed in vitro. The results showed that the synthesized UNO-PBNPs exhibited uniform cubic morphology, with an average particle size of (202.00±4.21) nm. They were negative charged, well dispersed, and stable. At concentrations ≤ 200 μg/mL, the synthesized UNO-PBNPs led to the hemolysis rate below 5%, demonstrating excellent biocompatibility. The laser confocal imaging results showed that after co-incubation with M2-type macrophages, the FITC-labeled UNO-PBNPs were effectively accumulated in the cells, presenting a distinct fluorescence signal. Quantitative analysis by flow cytometry showed that the intracellular mean fluorescence intensity (6 019.00±346.04) of UNO-PBNPs was higher than that (4 054.00±379.14) of unmodified PBNPs (P < 0.001). In summary, the UNO-PBNPs prepared in this study exhibited a targeting effect on M2-type macrophages, providing a potential method for targeted delivery of PBNPs in the tumor microenvironment and laying a foundation for the remodeling of the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment.
Ferrocyanides/chemistry* ; Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Macrophages/drug effects* ; Peptides/chemistry* ; Particle Size ; Animals ; Mannose Receptor ; Mice ; Lectins, C-Type ; Mannose-Binding Lectins ; Receptors, Cell Surface

Objective To investigate the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy(ESWT)combined with ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection(CSI)for the treatment of primary frozen shoulder(PFS).Methods Ninety-nine patients with PFS who visited the pain department of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between April 2024 and July 2024 were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups according to the randomized number table method:ESWT group(T group),CSI group(I group),and combined treatment group(TI group),with 33 patients in each group.Visual analogue scale(VAS)scores,shoulder range of motion(SROM),and Constant-Murley shoulder scores(CMS)were recorded before treatment and at 1,4,8,and 12 weeks post-treatment.Additionally,the patients'Ascens Insomnia Scale(AIS)scores were recorded before treatment and 1 month after treatment.The occurrence of adverse effects and the use of remedial medications during the treatment period were also documented.Results Compared with pre-treatment,VAS scores decreased,and SROM and CM scores improved at all time points after treatment in all three groups(P<0.05).AIS scores also decreased in all three groups at 1 month post-treatment(all P<0.05).Intergroup comparisons revealed that the TI group exhibited signifi-cantly lower VAS pain scores,greater SROM(forward flexion and backward extension),and higher CM scores at 4,8,and 12 weeks post-treatment compared to the T and I groups(Bonferroni-corrected P<0.05).No statistically significant differences were observed between the T and I groups for these measures(Bonferroni-corrected P>0.05).Additionally,there were no statistically significant differences in AIS scores or adverse effects occurrence among the three groups at 1 month post-treatment(P>0.05).Conclusion The combined treatment demonstrated greater efficacy compared to trigger point extracorporeal shock wave therapy alone and periapical steroid injection alone,resulting in significant improvement in the patient's clinical symptoms and quality of life.

Objective To evaluate the recognition capability of AI-enabled Cellsee CS-BM1 automatic cell morphology analyzer for pe-ripheral blood smears and its roles in assisting manual classification,and explore the application value of AI system in the diagnosis network of tiered primary medical units.Methods The blood samples which triggered the re-examination rules were collected from six primary medical units,including the Laboratory Department of Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital,and so on,from March to No-vember 2023.The smears of peripheral blood were prepared and AI analyzer was used for pre-classification to evaluate its recognition performance in identifying the samples with abnormal WBC and RBC.The sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of WBC classification by six junior and intermediate technicians,both with and without AI assistance,were analyzed.Additionally,the roles of the AI system in tiered diagnosis of primary medical units were also evaluated.Results The sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of AI system in recognizing malignant primitive cells were 92.86％,95.16％,and 95.10％,respectively.The sensitivities of AI system in recognizing immature granulocytes,reactive lymphocytes,and nucleated RBCs were all greater than 90％.The sensitivity of AI system in identif-ying abnormal morphology of RBCs reached 99.59％,along with rapid quantitative analysis for various anomalous types of RBCs.In AI-assisted mode,the sensitivity of recognition for all cell types was improved to varying degrees by junior and intermediate technicians,and the sensitivity for recognizing malignant primitive cells,reactive lymphocytes,and immature granulocytes increased to 58.24％,53.39％,and 62.37％for junior technicians,and to 92.06％,83.24％,and 83.12％for intermediate technicians,respectively.The improvements for junior technicians were particularly significant,with increases of 12.46％,10.61％,and 3.71％for each cell type,respectively.Both groups achieved higher specificity and accuracy.Through AI pre-classification and manual review,a variety of pe-ripheral blood cell-related diseases were accurately diagnosed in the tiered healthcare practice of primary medical units,including 339 cases(11.13％)of red blood cell diseases,5 cases(0.16％)of platelet diseases,2 343 cases(76.90％)of infection-related disea-ses,and 28 cases(0.92％)of malignant hematological diseases.In addition,332 cases(10.90％)which lacked an obvious related cause or required further examinations were identified as well.Conclusion AI pre-classification has demonstrated strong cell recogni-tion capabilities and may assist technicians in improving the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of blood cell classification.AI could en-hance the disease-screening capabilities in the tiered diagnosis network of primary medical units,presenting a broad application prospect.