OBJECTIVE: Aloin, the main active component in Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f., has shown promising anti-tumor effects. This study investigated the impact of aloin in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and explored its functional mechanism. METHODS: We analyzed the viability, migration, invasion, proliferation, and apoptosis of two LUSC cell lines after treatment with aloin. Target molecules of aloin and downstream target transcripts of nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 2 (NR3C2) were predicted by bioinformatics. The biological functions of NR3C2 and metallothionein 1 M (MT1M) in the malignant properties of LUSC cells were determined. A co-culture system of LUSC cells with monocyte-derived macrophages was constructed. Mouse xenograft tumor models were generated to analyze the functions of aloin and NR3C2 in the tumorigenic activity of LUSC cells and macrophage polarization in vivo. RESULTS: Aloin suppressed malignant properties of LUSC cells in vitro. However, these effects were negated by the silencing of NR3C2. NR3C2 was found to activate MT1M transcription by binding to its promoter. Additional upregulation of MT1M suppressed the malignant behavior of LUSC cells augmented by NR3C2 silencing. Analysis of the M1 and M2 markers/cytokines in the macrophages or the culture supernatant revealed that aloin treatment or MT1M overexpression in LUSC cells enhanced M1 polarization while suppressing M2 polarization of macrophages, whereas NR3C2 silencing led to reverse trends. Consistent findings were reproduced in vivo. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that aloin activates the NR3C2/MT1M axis to suppress the malignant behavior of LUSC cells and M2 macrophage polarization. Please cite this article as: Chen YN, Lu JY, Gao CF, Fang ZR, Zhou Y. Aloin blocks the malignant behavior of lung squamous cell carcinoma cells and M2 macrophage polarization by modulating the NR3C2/MT1M axis. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(2): 195-208.
Lung Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Humans ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism* ; Mice ; Macrophages/drug effects* ; Emodin/analogs & derivatives* ; Metallothionein/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid/genetics*

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of application of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pills in patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure due to qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. Methods:A prospective study was conducted with 66 patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure, all diagnosed with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, who were admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine at Huzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2023 to March 2024. The patients were divided into a control group and an observation group, each consisting of 33 patients, based on the odd or even number of their hospital admission numbers. The control group received conventional treatment with Western medicine, while the observation group received Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pills in addition to the treatment given to the control group. The clinical effects between the two groups were compared, and changes in heart function, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores, and serum biomarkers before and after treatment were collected and compared. Results:The overall response rate in the observation group was 96.97% (32/33), which was significantly higher than that of the control group at 75.76% (25/33) ( χ2 = 4.63, P < 0.05). After treatment, the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t = 9.03, 6.36, 5.55, 12.34, all P < 0.001). The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, and left ventricular end-diastolic volume in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group ( t = 3.66, 7.69, 6.53, all P < 0.05). The 6-minute walk test results and left ventricular ejection fraction in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t = -5.06, -18.10, both P < 0.001). The levels of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and serum homocysteine in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group ( t = 18.09, 18.61, 10.87, all P < 0.001). Conclusions:Combining Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pills with conventional treatment for patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure due to qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome can effectively enhance clinical outcomes, alleviate symptoms, improve heart function, and reduce inflammatory responses.

Objective:To explore the factors associated with the efficacy of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of neuropathic pain (NP) following spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods:This was a retrospective study of 89 SCI survivors with NP receiving high-frequency rTMS. Those with a ≥30% reduction in their Numeric Rating Scales (NRS) scores after 2 weeks of treatment were termed Responders ( n=36), with the others classified as non-responders ( n=53). Demographic data (gender, education level, age), SCI characteristics (injury etiology, injury severity, neurological injury level, injury duration), NP characteristics (pain type, pain intensity, analgesic use), functional assessment (Modified Ashworth Scale score, Spinal Cord Independence Measure score, Modified Barthel Index score, American Spinal Injury Association motor/sensory score) were collected. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used for variable selection, followed by binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with treatment efficacy. Results:Among the 89 patients, 36 (40.4%) were Responders to high-frequency rTMS. Binary logistic regression revealed that those with a cervical spinal cord injury and/or spasticity and women were more likely to respond to high-frequency rTMS.Conclusions:Female gender, cervical spinal cord injury, and spasticity are independent factors predicting rTMS efficacy in treating SCI, with spasticity demonstrating the strongest association.

Objective:To explore the factors associated with the efficacy of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of neuropathic pain (NP) following spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods:This was a retrospective study of 89 SCI survivors with NP receiving high-frequency rTMS. Those with a ≥30% reduction in their Numeric Rating Scales (NRS) scores after 2 weeks of treatment were termed Responders ( n=36), with the others classified as non-responders ( n=53). Demographic data (gender, education level, age), SCI characteristics (injury etiology, injury severity, neurological injury level, injury duration), NP characteristics (pain type, pain intensity, analgesic use), functional assessment (Modified Ashworth Scale score, Spinal Cord Independence Measure score, Modified Barthel Index score, American Spinal Injury Association motor/sensory score) were collected. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used for variable selection, followed by binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with treatment efficacy. Results:Among the 89 patients, 36 (40.4%) were Responders to high-frequency rTMS. Binary logistic regression revealed that those with a cervical spinal cord injury and/or spasticity and women were more likely to respond to high-frequency rTMS.Conclusions:Female gender, cervical spinal cord injury, and spasticity are independent factors predicting rTMS efficacy in treating SCI, with spasticity demonstrating the strongest association.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of application of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pills in patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure due to qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. Methods:A prospective study was conducted with 66 patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure, all diagnosed with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, who were admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine at Huzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2023 to March 2024. The patients were divided into a control group and an observation group, each consisting of 33 patients, based on the odd or even number of their hospital admission numbers. The control group received conventional treatment with Western medicine, while the observation group received Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pills in addition to the treatment given to the control group. The clinical effects between the two groups were compared, and changes in heart function, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores, and serum biomarkers before and after treatment were collected and compared. Results:The overall response rate in the observation group was 96.97% (32/33), which was significantly higher than that of the control group at 75.76% (25/33) ( χ2 = 4.63, P < 0.05). After treatment, the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t = 9.03, 6.36, 5.55, 12.34, all P < 0.001). The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, and left ventricular end-diastolic volume in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group ( t = 3.66, 7.69, 6.53, all P < 0.05). The 6-minute walk test results and left ventricular ejection fraction in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t = -5.06, -18.10, both P < 0.001). The levels of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and serum homocysteine in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group ( t = 18.09, 18.61, 10.87, all P < 0.001). Conclusions:Combining Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pills with conventional treatment for patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure due to qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome can effectively enhance clinical outcomes, alleviate symptoms, improve heart function, and reduce inflammatory responses.

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) are an ILC subset that is characterized by the expression of retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear receptor γt (RORγt) and interleukin 22 (IL-22). This review summarizes the role of ILC3 in coordinating innate immunity and adaptive immunity based on current research and elaborate the significance of ILC3 from the perspective of immune system evolution. In addition, based on immune-related functions, we propose a possible time when ILC3 appears in the evolution of the immune system. And then, the research limitations and prospects are discussed.
Immunity, Innate ; Lymphocytes ; Tretinoin

Objective:To explore the risk factors for lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods:The medical records of 276 hospitalized SCI patients were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into a DVT group ( n=63) and a no-DVT group ( n=213). Gender, age, blood type, smoking history, surgical history, the time from SCI to admission, cause of SCI, fracture, SCI segments, American Spinal Cord Injury Association grade and complications were compared between the two groups. Binomial logistic regression was used to isolate the risk factors for lower extremity DVT among such patients. Results:Among 84% of the 63 with a lower extremity DVT, it was a calf muscle venous thrombosis. Anemia, hyponatremia and time from SCI to admission (which ranged from 74 to 195 days) were the most serious DVT risk factors.Conclusions:SCI patients are of high risk for DVT, with anemia and hyponatremia being independent risk factors.

Objective:To explore the risk factors for urinary tract infection (UTI) after a spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods:The medical records of 403 SCI patients were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into UTI group and no-UTI group according to whether they had a UTI at admission. Gender, age, cause of injury, injury level of the spinal cord, voluntary anal contraction, time from injury to admission, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade, axillary temperature at admission, complications at admission (diabetes, hypertension, fracture of the pelvis, pressure sores or anemia), white blood cell count and urinary bacteria were compared between the two groups. Binary logistic regression was used to highlight the risk factors for a UTI after an SCI.Results:Of the 354 patients included in the final analysis, 62 (17.51%) had a UTI at admission. The regression showed that UTI after an SCI was closely related to an inability to voluntarily contract the anus, anemia, elevated white blood cell count and a high level of bacteria in the urine.Conclusions:Inability to contract the anus, fever, anemia and an elevated white blood cell count are independent indicators of a UTI after an SCI. A temperature ≥37.3°C is a simple indicator of a concentration of bacteria in the urine ≥1266/μL.

High-energy radiation derived from X-ray, γ-ray, neutrons, and other radioisotopes has been widely used for disease diagnosis and treatmentin clinical practice. Notably, high-energy radiation has been proven to increase the cure rate, prolong the survival time, and improve the quality of life among patients with malignant tumors. However, radiation poses huge threats to human health and life. Establishment of effective emergency management information systems for medical radiation is therefore of great significance to evaluate the radiation safety, predict the leakage of radioactive materials, and propose effective responses. This review summarizes the development and application of currently main emergency management information systems for medical radiation, so as to provide a reference for the establishment of sensitive and effective hospital-based radiation emergency management information systems.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the optimal factors in diffusion tensor imaging for predicting corticospinal tract (CST) injury caused by brain tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 33 patients with motor weakness and 64 patients with normal motor function. The movement of the CST, minimum distance between the CST and the tumor, and relative fractional anisotropy (rFA) of the CST on diffusion tensor imaging, were compared between patients with motor weakness and normal function. Logistic regression analysis was used to obtain the optimal factor predicting motor weakness. RESULTS: In patients with motor weakness, the displacement (8.44 ± 6.64 mm) of the CST (p = 0.009), minimum distance (3.98 ± 7.49 mm) between the CST and tumor (p < 0.001), and rFA (0.83 ± 0.11) of the CST (p < 0.001) were significantly different from those of the normal group (4.64 ± 6.65 mm, 14.87 ± 12.04 mm, and 0.98 ± 0.05, respectively) (p = 0.009, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001). The frequencies of patients with the CST passing through the tumor (6%, p = 0.002), CST close to the tumor (23%, p < 0.001), CST close to a malignant tumor (high grade glioma, metastasis, or lymphoma) (19%, p < 0.001), and CST passing through infiltrating edema (19%, p < 0.001) in the motor weakness group, were significantly different from those of the patients with normal motor function (0, 8, 1, and 10%, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that decreased rFA and CST close to a malignant tumor were effective variables related to motor weakness. CONCLUSION: Decreased fractional anisotropy, combined with closeness of a malignant tumor to the CST, is the optimal factor in predicting CST injury caused by a brain tumor.
Anisotropy ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging* ; Diffusion* ; Edema ; Glioma ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prospective Studies ; Pyramidal Tracts*