Objective: To explore the therapeutic mechanism of puerarin in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats based on the serine/tyrosine protein kinase B (AKT)-phosphorylated forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1)-interleukin-9 (AKT-FOXO1-IL-9) signaling pathway. Methods : 36 rats were randomly divided into a blank group , a model group , a positive control group , and low , medium , and high dose groups of puerarin. Except for the blank group , the other groups were induced with type Ⅱ collagen to establish a RA rat model. After successful modeling , different doses of puerarin and methotrexate were given to treat the rats. The body mass and toe thickness of the rats were measured , and biochemical indicators of rat blood rheology were detected. X-ray was used to observe changes in rat joint morphology. Safranin green staining were used to observe the pathology of rat joint tissue. ELISA was used to detect the levels of IL-9 and rheumatoid factors in rat serum , and Western blot was used to detect changes in levels of AKT and FOXO1 . 36 rats were randomly divided into a blank group , a model group , a positive control group , and low , medium , and high dose groups of puerarin. Except for the blank group , the other groups were induced with type Ⅱ collagen to establish a RA rat model. After successful modeling , different doses of puerarin and methotrexate were given to treat the rats. The body mass and toe thickness of the rats were measured , and biochemical indicators of rat blood rheology were detected. X-ray was used to observe changes in rat joint morphology. Safranin green staining were used to observe the pathology of rat joint tissue. ELISA was used to detect the levels of IL-9 and rheumatoid factors in rat serum , and Western blot was used to detect changes in levels of AKT and FOXO1 . Results: Compared with the blank group , the model group had the lowest toe thickness , and X-ray images showed more obvious segmental stenosis and more severe marginal bone invasion ; scaly like changes appeared at the edges of joints stained with safranin green , accompanied by the exudation of inflammatory cells and increased proliferation and secretion of chondrocytes ; the expression levels of inflammatory factors IL-9 and rheumatoid factors were the highest , and the expression levels of AKT and FOXO1 proteins were the highest (P < 0. 05) . Compared with the model group , the toe thickness of rats treated with different doses of puerarin decreased ; X-ray images showed that the puerarin treatment group of rats showed improvement in plantar joint stenosis and marginal bone invasion ; the results of safranin green staining showed that after treatment with different doses of puerarin , the infiltration of inflammatory cells decreased , and the expression levels of inflammatory factor IL-9 , rheumatoid factors , AKT , and FOXO1 proteins decreased significantly ( P < 0. 05 ) , with the high-dose puerarin group showing the most significant difference. Compared with the high-dose puerarin group , the positive control group showed a significant decrease in the above results and statistical differences (P < 0. 05) . Conclusion Puerarin has a good therapeutic effect on rats with RA by inhibiting the AKT-FOXO1-IL-9 pathway. The high-dose puerarin group (60 mg/kg) has the best therapeutic effect and the results show a dose-response relationship.

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of different doses of luteolin on memory function and apoptosis-related proteins of aging rats induced by D-galactose.Methods:Forty-eight SPF-grade male Wistar rats aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into control group, model group, luteolin low-dose group (25 mg/kg), medium-dose group (50 mg/kg), high-dose group (100 mg/kg), and vitamin C group (100 mg/kg), with 8 rats in each group. D-galactose (1 000 mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected to establish the aging rat model, while luteolin was used for preventive treatment. The Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the learning and memory abilities of the rats.Transmission electron microscopy was used to detect the morphology of hippocampal neurons in rats.Spectrophotometry was used to detect the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). RT-PCR was used to detect miR-34a mRNA expression.Western blot technique was used to detect the expression levels of silent regulator protein 1 (SIRT1), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), cleaved caspase-3, p53, and p21. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0, and one-way ANOVA was used for multi-group comparison, followed by LSD- t test for further pairwise comparisons. Results:(1) The differences in escape latency among the 6 groups of rats were statistically significant ( F=120.93, P<0.001). The latency of first finding the platform location of the model group rats ((54.61±3.60) s) was higher than that of the control group ((10.54±4.27) s) ( P<0.05). The latency of first finding the platform location of rats in the low, medium and high dosage groups of luteolin ((45.50±3.81)s, (37.46±2.94) s, (32.32±3.14) s) was lower than that of the model group ((54.61±3.60) s) (all P<0.05). (2) The differences of SOD, MDA, T-AOC, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels in the cerebral cortex of the 6 groups of rats were all statistically significant ( F=281.636, 75.119, 208.228, 38.999, 28.428, 52.767, all P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the model group showed abnormal levels of inflammatory factors and antioxidant indexes. In the medium and high dosage groups of luteolin, the SOD and T-AOC contents in the cerebral cortex of rats were higher than those in the model group (all P<0.05), while the levels of MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were lower than those in the model group (all P<0.05). (3) The differences in relative expression levels of miR-34a mRNA among the 6 groups of rats were statistically significant ( F=81.439, P<0.001). The expression levels of miR-34a mRNA in the hippocampal tissues of rats in the luteolin treatment group were lower than those in the model group ( P<0.05). (4) The differences in protein expression levels of SIRT1, p53, and p21 in the hippocampal tissues of the 6 groups of rats were statistically significant ( F=159.946, 38.342, 123.608, all P<0.001). The expression levels of p53 and p21 in the medium and high dosage groups of luteolin were lower than those in the model group (all P<0.05), while the expression level of SIRT1 protein was higher than that in the model group ( P<0.05). (5) The differences in protein expression levels of Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 in the hippocampal tissues of the 6 groups of rats were statistically significant ( F=112.659, 43.296, both P<0.05). The expression levels of Bcl-2 in the low, medium, and high dosage groups of luteolin ((0.24±0.04), (0.40±0.03), (0.48±0.05) pg/μg) were higher than those in the model group ((0.09±0.06) μg) ( P<0.05), while the expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 in the low, medium, and high dosage groups of luteolin ((0.62±0.04), (0.61±0.09), (0.51±0.10) μg) were lower than those in the model group ((0.75±0.05) μg) ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Luteolin can alleviate cellular oxidative damage through downregulating the miR-34a SIRT1/p53 signaling pathway and reducing cell apoptosis.

Objective:To explore the mediating effect of carotid atherosclerosis on serum triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and silent lacunar infarction (SLI) in non-diabetic population.Methods:A total of 2 482 patients were selected from the Health Examination Center of Hebei General Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021. The basic demographic information, biochemical parameters, calculated TyG index and carotid plaque score were collected. SLI was diagnosed according to the criteria formulated by Chinese Society of Neurology. Participants were divided into SLI group and non-SLI group according to whether there was SLI in brain magnetic resonance imaging, and the non-SLI group was normal without lacunar infarction. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between TyG index and carotid plaque score. Binary Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the effects of TyG index and carotid plaque score on SLI. Bootstrap was used to explore whether carotid plaque score mediated the association between TyG index and SLI.Results:There were 471 patients (18.98%) who had SLI, and 2 011 patients (81.02%) did not. Carotid plaque score [2(0, 5) vs 1(0, 3)] and TyG index [7.17(6.81, 7.64) vs 7.12(6.77, 7.54)] were increased in the SLI group compared with the non-SLI group ( Z=-4.213, Z=-2.636, P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that carotid plaque score was positively correlated with TyG index ( r=0.083, P<0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that carotid plaque score ( OR=1.047, 95% CI 1.002-1.094) and TyG index ( OR=1.329, 95% CI 1.106-1.598) were independent risk factors for SLI ( P<0.05). Mediated effect analysis showed that TyG index had a direct effect on the incidence of SLI (β=0.265, 95% CI 0.102-0.428). Carotid plaque score partially mediated the effect of TyG index on the incidence of SLI (β=0.024, 95% CI 0.009-0.043), and the mediating effect accounted for 8.30% of the total effects. Conclusion:In non-diabetic population, TyG index and carotid plaque score are predictors of SLI, and the carotid plaque score is a partial mediator in the effect of TyG index on the incidence of SLI.

Objective To investigate the status quo of drug resistance and influencing factors of tuberculosis in In-ner Mongolia,and to provide reference for accurate prevention and control of drug-resistant tuberculosis.Methods Random sampling was used in this study.TB patients from Tuberculosis designated hospital in Inner Mongolia were included,according to the rules and drug-resistant strains were identified and tested according to relevant norms.Composition ratio or rate was calculated for statistical description,and Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of drug resistance in TB patients.Results Among 1 321 patients,there were 936 males and 385 females,with an average age of(52.65±18.09)years.The rates of mono-resistant,multidrug-resistant(MDR),extensively drug-resistant(XDR)and total drug resistance were 19.00%,11.58%,11.66%and 42.24%,respectively.The highest resistance rates were observed for streptomycin(7.27%),isoniazid(4.69%),and isoniazid+streptomycin(4.47%).The drug resistance spectrum presented diversity and com-plexity.Compared to females,males had a higher proportion of drug resistance,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001).The proportion of patients who were sensitive to anti-tuberculosis drugs increased with age(P<0.05).Among different age groups,the proportion of drug-resistant patients was higher in the 20-40 age group,40-60 age group,and 60 and above age group compared to the 0-20 age group(P<0.05).Addi-tionally,the proportion of drug-resistant patients was higher in the 20-40 age group and 40-60 age group com-pared to the 60 and above age group(P<0.05).Moreover,the proportion of drug-resistant and multi-drug re-sistant patients was higher among patients undergoing retreatment compared to those undergoing initial treatment(P<0.001).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that male gender(OR=1.48,95%CI:1.02-2.14),age 20-40 years(OR=2.64,95%CI:1.05-6.60),retreatment(OR=2.34,95%CI:1.70-3.22),and outpatient follow-up(OR=1.56,95%CI:1.05-2.33)were independent risk factors for drug-resistant tuber-culosis.Conclusion Inner Mongolia has a high prevalence of MDR and overall drug-resistant tuberculosis among patients.The drug resistance profile exhibits diversity and complexity.Risk factors that contribute to drug resist-ance include being male,aged between 20 and 40,undergoing retreatment,and receiving outpatient follow-up.Therefore,it is necessary to further improve clinical diagnosis and treatment,promote rational use of first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs,prioritize individualized treatment,enhance health education,improve the medical insurance system,and optimize patient management approaches in order to enhance patient compliance.

Objective To investigate the nutritional status and dietary structure of tuberculosis patients among dif-ferent populations, analyze the factors influencing the nutritional status of tuberculosis patients, and provide theo-retical basis for improving clinical nutrition and related issues in tuberculosis patients.Methods Tuberculosis pa-tients, non-tuberculosis patients, and healthy individuals were randomly selected for a questionnaire survey.De-scriptive analysis was conducted using SPSS 20.0 software.Statistical description was performed using rates and composition ratios, and qualitative data were described using relative numbers.Chi-square test was used to compare overall rates and composition ratios among different health conditions groups, with a significance level of α=0.05.Independent factors analysis of nutritional status body mass index (BMI) was conducted using multiple Logistic re-gression analysis for variables with statistically significant differences in the univariate analysis.Results There were differences in the nutritional status (x2 =62.184, P<0.05) and dietary diversity score (x2 =64.049, P<0.05) among tuberculosis patients, non-tuberculosis patients, and healthy individuals.Univariate analysis of nutri-tional status BMI showed statistically significant differences in gender, smoking, meat-based diet, vegetable-based diet, moderate diet diversity score, and 6 other variables for tuberculosis patients (P <0.05) , and in gender, age, ethnicity, marital status, occupation, education level, smoking, drinking white wine, drinking beer, meat-based diet, moderate diet, and 11 other variables for healthy individuals (P<0.05) .The variables with statisti-cally significant differences in the univariate analysis were included in the multiple ordinal logistic regression analy-sis model for both tuberculosis patients and healthy individuals.The results showed that the level of education, veg-etable intake, moderate food diversity score (DDS) of 4-6 were independent influencing factors of nutritional sta-tus BMI among tuberculosis patients (P<0.05);marital status was an independent influencing factor of nutritional status BMI among non-tuberculosis patients (P<0.05);while gender and occupation were independent influencing factors of nutritional status BMI among healthy individuals (P<0.05).Conclusion The dietary nutritional status of the three population groups varied.Targeted health education should be conducted, especially for tuberculosis patients, to address the issue of uneven dietary intake and promote good dietary habits among local tuberculosis pa-tients.

Objective To observe the value of high-frequency ultrasound(HFUS)and shear wave elastography(SWE)parameters of lower extremity muscles for evaluating dermatomyositis(DM).Methods Totally 19 DM patients(DM group)and 20 healthy subjects(control group)were prospectively enrolled,and lower extremity muscles HFUS and SWE examinations were performed.The echoes,thickness and shear wave velocity(SWV)of bilateral vastus lateralis and lateral head of gastrocnemius were compared between groups.Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn,and the area under the curves(AUC)were calculated to evaluate the efficacy of each ultrasonic parameter for evaluating DM.Results The proportion of muscle echo score of 1-point,thickness of bilateral lateral head of gastrocnemius,SWV of bilateral vastus lateralis and lateral head of gastrocnemius in DM group were all lower than those in control group(all P＜0.05).SWV of bilateral vastus lateralis and left lateral head of gastrocnemius had excellent efficacies for evaluating DM(AUC 0.932-0.968).The thickness of bilateral lateral head of gastrocnemius and SWV of right lateral head of gastrocnemius had good efficacy for evaluating DM(AUC 0.784-0.884),while the muscles'echo had general efficacy(AUC=0.658).Conclusion HFUS and SWE parameters of lower extremity muscles could be used to evaluate DM,among which SWE parameters had relatively higher values.

Objective:To investigate imaging characteristics of papulopustular rosacea (PPR) by high-frequency ultrasound combined with color Doppler flow imaging.Methods:From August 2021 to August 2022, 30 patients with PPR were enrolled from the Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and 30 healthy volunteers served as controls. The 22-MHz high-frequency ultrasound combined with color Doppler blood flow imaging was performed to measure the skin thickness, echo and blood flow parameters at the cheek, and the ultrasound results were compared between the two groups. Comparisons between groups were conducted by using t test or chi-square test. The diagnostic value was analyzed using the area under the curve (AUC) in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:In the case group, there were 12 males and 18 females, and their ages ranged from 22 to 65 years (42.3 ± 12.8 years) ; in the control group, there were 10 males and 20 females, and their ages ranged from 24 to 62 years (41.0 ± 8.4 years) . The epidermal and dermal thicknesses at the cheek were significantly higher in the case group (132.64 ± 12.29 μm, 1 812.29 ± 85.52 μm, respectively) than in the control group (104.34 ± 14.45 μm, 1 671.77 ± 146.55 μm, respectively, both P < 0.05) . High-frequency ultrasound images showed that the case group was mainly characterized by irregular hypoechoic areas in the cheek dermis (80%) , while banded moderately echoic areas were common in the cheek dermis in the control group (90%) ; subepidermal low-echogenic bands and dermal irregular hypoechoic areas were more likely to appear in the case group than in the control group (93.33% vs. 43.33%, 80% vs. 10%, respectively, both P < 0.001) . Compared with the control group, the case group showed a significantly increased proportion of patients with abundant blood flow signals (93.3% vs. 10%, P < 0.05) , and significantly increased blood vessel diameters (1.60 ± 0.42 mm vs. 0.95 ± 0.32 mm, P < 0.05) ; there was no significant difference in peak systolic blood flow velocity and vascular resistance index between the two groups (both P > 0.05) . The AUC of high-frequency ultrasound combined with color Doppler flow imaging quantitative parameters (including epidermal thicknesses, dermal thicknesses, and blood vessel diameters) was 0.989 (95% CI: 0.970 - 1.000) for the diagnosis of PPR, and the sensitivity and specificity were both 96.7%, which were higher than those of single parameter-based diagnostic model. Conclusion:High-frequency ultrasound combined with color Doppler flow imaging can help improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of PPR, by accurately and non-invasively measuring skin thickness and blood flow parameters.

Objective : To investigate the effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on the biophysical properties and cytoskeleton structure of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HCCs) . Methods: HepG2 cells were respectively treated with 0 , 0. 01 , 0. 1 , 1 , 5 , 10 μmol/L AFB1 for 24 h and 48 h , and the cell viability was measured by CCK⁃8 kit.Based on this result , the influences of 10 μmol/L AFB1 on the osmotic fragility , membrane fluidity , electrophoretic mobility (EPM) and F ⁃actin structure of cells were analyzed. Subsequently , total RNAs were extracted and the PCR. Results: The increased viability of HepG2 cells was induced by AFB1 in a dose⁃dependent manner after 48h treatment. After treated with 10 μmol/L AFB1 , the anti⁃hypotonic ability and EPM of HepG2 cells were en⁃hanced. The content of F ⁃actin in HepG2 cells increased obviously , while the mRNA expression levels of the main cytoskeleton binding proteins were altered. Conclusion AFB1 can affect the biophysical properties , cytoskeleton structure and its binding proteins of HepG2 cells , which may be directly related to its toxic action.

Compound formulas of traditional Chinese medicines （TCM）， also known as prescription in clinic， refers to a form of medication in which several TCMs are selectively combined according to the certain compatibility principles and the needs of patient’s condition， based on syndrome differentiation and treatment. At present， the methods and strategies for investigating the compatibility mechanisms of TCM prescriptions mainly focus on the following two aspects: analysis of pharmacological substances （including chemical composition analysis of TCM， ingredients of TCM analysis in blood， and pharmacokinetic analysis） and pharmacological signaling pathways analysis （involving network pharmacology analysis， signal pathway indicator detection， and metabolomics analysis）. In future research， the compatibility relationships of TCM prescriptions should be explored according to the principles of “Qiqing Hehe”，“ Shengjiang Fuchen”，“ Junchen Zuoshi”， and “Siqi Wuwei”. The regularity of TCM prescriptions compatibility should be shown in the change regularity of chemical components， pharmacokinetics， pharmacological pathways， and chemical compositions of various ratios of TCMs. Based on the insurance of holistic efficacy of TCM prescriptions， the underlying mechanisms of compatibility should be uncovered， which will provide references for the optimization of clinical applications of prescriptions and new directions for the creation of innovative TCM prescriptions.

Objective: To investigate the changes of ambient dose equivalent rate in 99mTcO4- single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the thyroid among patients with hyperthyroidism, so as to provide insights into radiation protection guidance. Methods: Patients with hyperthyroidism who underwent 99mTcO4- SPECT of the thyroid in a tertiary hospital were enrolled. The ambient dose equivalent rate was measured at different time points following 99mTcO4- infection and at sites with different distances from patients' neck, and the effects of time post-injection, distance from patients' neck, 24-hour thyroidal radioiodine uptake and thyroid weight on the ambient dose equivalent rate were examined using a generalized linear mixed model. Results: Totally 100 patients with hyperthyroidism were enrolled, including 24 men and 76 women and with a mean age of (38.5±14.0) years. The generalized linear mixed model was statistically significant (F=6 610.165, P<0.001), and patients' thyroid weight, time post-injection and distance from patients' neck significantly affected the ambient dose equivalent rate (F=57.967, 15 988.574, 11 200.645, all P<0.001), and the ambient dose equivalent rate positively correlated with patients' thyroid weight and negatively correlated with time post-injection and distance from patients' neck. Conclusions The ambient dose equivalent rate is affected by patients' thyroid weight, time post-injection and distance from patients' neck among patients with hyperthyroidism undergoing 99mTcO4- SPECT of the thyroid. Delay in contact with patients or keeping distance from patients may be effective for radiation protection.