Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical clinical condition characterized by rapid renal function decline, with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown potential effects on mitigating oxidative stress and programmed cell death in AKI models. Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SB) and Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R. J. Wang (SD), a classic TCM herbal pair exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Using advanced chromatographic separation technology, we enriched the effective fractions of water extracts from SB-SD, obtaining self-assembled herbal nanoparticles (SB and SD nanoparticles, SSNPs) rich in flavonoids and terpenoids. These SSNPs demonstrated robust antioxidant properties in vitro and mitigated AKI progression in vivo by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. Oral administration of SSNPs in mice resulted in absorption into the bloodstream, formation of a protein corona, reduced macrophage phagocytosis, and enhanced bioavailability and renal targeting. Furthermore, we investigated the self-assembly principle of SSNPs using representative flavonoids and terpenoids. Kinetic studies and in situ transmission electron microscopy (in situ TEM) revealed that these compounds self-assemble via supramolecular forces like hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions, forming stable nanostructures. This study elucidates the renoprotective effects and mechanisms of SB and SD, and provides a novel approach for the development of TCM-based nanomedicines, highlighting the potential of nano-TCM in AKI treatment.

Soil cadmium pollution can adversely affect the cultivation of the ornamental plant, Coleus scutellarioides. Upon cadmium contamination of the soil, the growth of C. scutellarioides is impeded, and it may even succumb to the toxic accumulation of cadmium. In this study, we investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the adaptation of C. scutellarioides to cadmium stress, by measuring the physiological metabolism and the degree of root damage of C. scutellarioides, with Aspergillus oryzae as the test fungi. The results indicated that cadmium stress increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline (Pro) within the cells of C. scutellarioides, but inhibited mycorrhizal infestation rate, root vigour and growth rate to a great degree. With the same cadmium concentration, the inoculation of AMF significantly improved the physiological indexes of C. scutellarioides. The maximum decrease of MDA content was 42.16%, and the content of secondary metabolites rosemarinic acid and anthocyanosides could be increased by up to 27.43% and 25.72%, respectively. Meanwhile, the increase of root vigour was as high as 35.35%, and the DNA damage of the root system was obviously repaired. In conclusion, the inoculation of AMF can promote the accumulation of secondary metabolites, alleviate root damage, and enhance the tolerance to cadmium stress in C. scutellarioides.
Cadmium/toxicity* ; Mycorrhizae/physiology* ; Plant Roots/drug effects* ; Soil Pollutants/toxicity* ; Stress, Physiological ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism*

Objective To explore the efficacy of bilateral facial muscle training combined with visual electromyography biofeedback on facial nerve function recovery in patients with idiopathic facial nerve palsy. Methods Patients with idiopathic facial nerve palsy admitted to Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, Fudan University from July 2022 to July 2024 were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group. The control group received conventional physical factor therapy, while the intervention group received bilateral facial muscle training combined with visual electromyography biofeedback therapy based on the control group’s regimen. After 20 treatment sessions, the total effective rate, the House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve grading system, the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS) score, and the average value ratio of maximal amplitudes of bilateral frontalis and zygomaticus muscles were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 90 patients were included, 45 in each group. After 20 treatment sessions, the total effective rate was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (84.4% vs 75.6%, P＝0.003). Compared with the control group, the intervention group demonstrated a significantly lower H-B grade (P＝0.003) and a higher SFGS score (P＝0.001). The average value ratios of maximal amplitudes of the affected versus healthy side frontalis (P＝0.013) and zygomatic (P＝0.022) muscles were higher in the intervention group than in the control group. Conclusions Bilateral facial muscle training combined with visual electromyography biofeedback is an effective approach for treating idiopathic facial nerve palsy, effectively promoting the recovery of facial nerve function, and improving facial symmetry and facial muscle function.

The use of nitrification inhibitors has been suggested as a strategy to decrease cadmium(Cd)accumulation in crops.However,the most efficient nitrification inhibitor for mitigating crop Cd accumulation remains to be elucidated,and whether and how changes in soil microbial structure are involved in this process also remains unclear.To address these questions,this study applied three commercial nitrification inhibitors,namely,dicyandiamide(DCD),3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate(DMPP),and nitrapyrin(NP),to pakchoi.The results showed that both DCD and DMPP(but not NP)could efficiently decrease Cd concentrations in pakchoi in urea-and ammonium-fertilized soils.In addition,among the three tested nitrification inhibitors,DMPP was the most efficient in decreasing the Cd concentration in pakchoi.The nitrification inhibitors decreased pakchoi Cd concentrations by suppressing acidification-induced Cd availability and reshaping the soil microbial structure;the most effective nitrification inhibitor was DMPP.Ammonia oxidation generates the most protons during nitrification and is inhibited by nitrification inhibitors.Changes in environmental factors and predatory bacterial abundance caused by the nitrification inhibitors changed the soil microbial structure and increased the potential participants in plant Cd accumulation.In summary,our study identified DMPP as the most efficient nitrification inhibitor for mitigating crop Cd contamination and observed that the soil microbial structural changes caused by the nitrification inhibitors contributed to decreasing Cd concentration in pakchoi.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease marked by a dysregulated immune microenvironment, posing formidable challenges for effective treatment. The disease is characterized by an altered glucose metabolism in macrophages, specifically an increase in aerobic glycolysis, which is linked to heightened inflammatory responses. This suggests that targeting macrophage metabolism could offer a new therapeutic avenue. In this study, we developed an immunometabolic intervention using quercetin (Q) encapsulated in bioadhesive mesoporous polydopamine (Q@MPDA) to treat periodontitis. Our results demonstrated that Q@MPDA could reprogram inflammatory macrophages to an anti-inflammatory phenotype (i.e., from-M1-to-M2 repolarization). In a murine periodontitis model, locally administered Q@MPDA reduced the presence of inflammatory macrophages, and decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the periodontium. Consequently, it alleviated periodontitis symptoms, reduced alveolar bone loss, and promoted tissue repair. Furthermore, our study revealed that Q@MPDA could inhibit the glycolysis of inflammatory macrophages while enhancing oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), facilitating the shift from M1 to M2 macrophage subtype. Our findings suggest that Q@MPDA is a promising treatment for periodontitis via immunometabolic rewiring.

Objective:To explore the value of ultra-short echo time magnetization transfer (UTE-MT) techniques for quantitatively dynamic monitoring of anterior patellar tendon (patellar tendon, quadriceps tendon) changes in amateur marathon runners before and after competition.Methods:Between October 2020 and January 2021, 23 amateur marathoners in Zhuhai, aged 28-50 (40±6) years, were prospectively recruited. Three-dimensional UTE-MT and dual-echo UTE-T 2* sequence scans of bilateral knee joints were performed before, 48 hours and 4 weeks after the marathon running, respectively. Another 5 non-running volunteers were recruited for verification of sequence stability. UTE-magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and UTE-T 2* value of the patellar tendon, quadriceps tendon, and 3 tendon-bone insertion points (patellar tendon-tibial insertion point, patellar tendon-patellar insertion point, and quadriceps tendon-patellar insertion point) were measured independently on sagittal images of the knee joint by 2 radiologists. The stability of the 2 serial measurements and consistency tests between the 2 radiologists were assessed with a two-way mixed intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare the differences in UTE-MTR and UTE-T 2* values of the prepatellar tendon before and after the marathon running. Results:Both UTE-MT and dual-echo UTE-T 2* sequence measurements had good stability, with ICC values of 0.98 and 0.92, respectively. Measurements of UTE-MTR and UTE-T 2* value of the patellar tendon, quadriceps tendon, and the 3 tendon-bone insertion points by the 2 radiologists were in good agreement (ICC>0.80). Forty-eight hours after the marathon running, the UTE-MTR of the patellar tendon, quadriceps tendon, and the 3 tendon-bone insertion points decreased, and UTE-MTR of the patellar tendon continued to decrease 4 weeks after the race, while UTE-MTR of other regions increased. Only the difference in UTE-MTR for the patellar tendon was statistically significant ( F=7.46, P=0.001) among pre-marathon (0.34±0.04), 48 h after the race (0.32±0.04), and 4 weeks after the race (0.31±0.04). UTE-T 2* value was mildly elevated in all regions at 48 h after the marathon running, but the differences among the three points were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The UTE-MT has better reproducibility and inter-rater reliability. The UTE-MT can be used to monitor the dynamic changes of the prepatellar tendon before and after marathon exercise, where the UTE-MTR of the patellar tendon consistently decreases after marathon exercise.

Primary aldosteronism(PA) is a common cause of secondary hypertension, with adrenal vein sampling(AVS)being the gold standard for etiological typing diagnosis. This retrospective study analyzed data from patients diagnosed with PA who underwent AVS or unilateral adrenalectomy at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital′s Endocrinology Department from July 2018 to August 2021. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors associated with unilateral aldosterone hypersecretion were identified. Based on these factors, a predictive model for diagnosing unilateral primary aldosteronism(UPA)was established: age <40 years, plasma aldosterone concentration(PAC)>15 ng/dL, adrenal CT indicating an unilateral typical adenoma, and spontaneous hypokalemia. This predictive model could help 14% of PA patients avoid unnecessary AVS procedures.

Objective:To compare the cost-effectiveness before and after using an artificial intelligence gastroscopy-assisted system for early gastric cancer screening.Methods:The gastroscopy cases before (non-AI group) and after (AI group) the use of artificial intelligence gastroscopy-assisted system were retrospectively collected in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 1, 2017 to February 28, 2022. The proportion of early gastric cancer among all gastric cancer was analyzed. Costs were estimated based on the standards of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University and the 2021 edition of Wuhan Disease Diagnosis-related Group Payment Standards. Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted per 100 thousand cases with and without the system. And the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated.Results:For the non-AI group, the proportion of early gastric cancer among all gastric cancer was 28.81% (70/243). The cost of gastroscopy screening per 100 thousand was 54 598.0 thousand yuan, early gastric treatment cost was 221.8 thousand yuan, and a total cost was 54 819.8 thousand yuan. The direct effectiveness was 894.2 thousand yuan, the indirect effectiveness was 1 828.2 thousand yuan and the total effectiveness was 2 722.4 thousand yuan per 100 thousand cases. For the AI group, the early gastric cancer diagnositic rate was 36.56%(366/1 001), where gastroscopy cost was 53 440.0 thousand yuan, early gastric treatment cost 315.8 thousand yuan, the total cost 53 755.8 thousand yuan. The direct effectiveness was 1 273.5 thousand yuan, indirect effectiveness 2 603.1 thousand yuan and the total effectiveness 3 876.6 thousand yuan per 100 thousand cases. The use of the system reduced the cost of early gastric cancer screening by 1 064.0 thousand yuan, and increased the benefit by 1 154.2 thousand yuan per 100 thousand cases. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was -0.92.Conclusion:The use of artificial intelligence gastroscopy-assisted system for gastric early cancer screening can reduce medical costs as well as improve the efficiency of screening, and it is recommended for gastroscopy screening .

Objective:To construct an artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis system to recognize the characteristics of Helicobacter pylori ( HP) infection under endoscopy, and evaluate its performance in real clinical cases. Methods:A total of 1 033 cases who underwent 13C-urea breath test and gastroscopy in the Digestive Endoscopy Center of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2020 to March 2021 were collected retrospectively. Patients with positive results of 13C-urea breath test (which were defined as HP infertion) were assigned to the case group ( n=485), and those with negative results to the control group ( n=548). Gastroscopic images of various mucosal features indicating HP positive and negative, as well as the gastroscopic images of HP positive and negative cases were randomly assigned to the training set, validation set and test set with at 8∶1∶1. An artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis system for identifying HP infection was developed based on convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory network (LSTM). In the system, CNN can identify and extract mucosal features of endoscopic images of each patient, generate feature vectors, and then LSTM receives feature vectors to comprehensively judge HP infection status. The diagnostic performance of the system was evaluated by sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results:The diagnostic accuracy of this system for nodularity, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, xanthoma, diffuse redness + spotty redness, mucosal swelling + enlarged fold + sticky mucus and HP negative features was 87.5% (14/16), 74.1% (83/112), 90.0% (45/50), 88.0% (22/25), 63.3% (38/60), 80.1% (238/297) and 85.7% (36 /42), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and AUC of the system for predicting HP infection was 89.6% (43/48), 61.8% (34/55), 74.8% (77/103), and 0.757, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of the system was equivalent to that of endoscopist in diagnosing HP infection under white light (74.8% VS 72.1%, χ2=0.246, P=0.620). Conclusion:The system developed in this study shows noteworthy ability in evaluating HP status, and can be used to assist endoscopists to diagnose HP infection.

Objective:To assess the diagnostic efficacy of upper gastrointestinal endoscopic image assisted diagnosis system (ENDOANGEL-LD) based on artificial intelligence (AI) for detecting gastric lesions and neoplastic lesions under white light endoscopy.Methods:The diagnostic efficacy of ENDOANGEL-LD was tested using image testing dataset and video testing dataset, respectively. The image testing dataset included 300 images of gastric neoplastic lesions, 505 images of non-neoplastic lesions and 990 images of normal stomach of 191 patients in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from June 2019 to September 2019. Video testing dataset was from 83 videos (38 gastric neoplastic lesions and 45 non-neoplastic lesions) of 78 patients in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from November 2020 to April 2021. The accuracy, the sensitivity and the specificity of ENDOANGEL-LD for image testing dataset were calculated. The accuracy, the sensitivity and the specificity of ENDOANGEL-LD in video testing dataset for gastric neoplastic lesions were compared with those of four senior endoscopists.Results:In the image testing dataset, the accuracy, the sensitivity, the specificity of ENDOANGEL-LD for gastric lesions were 93.9% (1 685/1 795), 98.0% (789/805) and 90.5% (896/990) respectively; while the accuracy, the sensitivity and the specificity of ENDOANGEL-LD for gastric neoplastic lesions were 88.7% (714/805), 91.0% (273/300) and 87.3% (441/505) respectively. In the video testing dataset, the sensitivity [100.0% (38/38) VS 85.5% (130/152), χ2=6.220, P=0.013] of ENDOANGEL-LD was higher than that of four senior endoscopists. The accuracy [81.9% (68/83) VS 72.0% (239/332), χ2=3.408, P=0.065] and the specificity [ 66.7% (30/45) VS 60.6% (109/180), χ2=0.569, P=0.451] of ENDOANGEL-LD were comparable with those of four senior endoscopists. Conclusion:The ENDOANGEL-LD can accurately detect gastric lesions and further diagnose neoplastic lesions to help endoscopists in clinical work.