Ginsenoside Rg_2(GRg2) is a triterpenoid compound found in Panax notoginseng. This study explored its effects and mechanisms on diabetic retinopathy and angiogenesis. The study employed endothelial cell models induced by glucose or vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), the chorioallantoic membrane(CAM) model, the oxygen-induced retinopathy(OIR) mouse model, and the db/db mouse model to evaluate the therapeutic effects of GRg2 on diabetic retinopathy and angiogenesis. Transwell assays and endothelial tube formation experiments were conducted to assess cell migration and tube formation, while vascular area measurements were applied to detect angiogenesis. The impact of GRg2 on the retinal structure and function of db/db mice was evaluated through retinal thickness and electroretinogram(ERG) analyses. The study investigated the mechanisms of GRg2 by analyzing the activation of Yes-associated protein(YAP) and Toll-like receptors(TLRs) pathways. The results indicated that GRg2 significantly reduced cell migration numbers and tube formation lengths in vitro. In the CAM model, GRg2 exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in the vascular area ratio. In the OIR model, GRg2 notably decreased the avascular and neovascular areas, ameliorating retinal structural disarray. In the db/db mouse model, GRg2 increased the total retinal thickness and enhanced the amplitudes of the a-wave, b-wave, and oscillatory potentials(OPs) in the ERG, improving retinal structural disarray. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the TLR signaling pathway was significantly down-regulated following YAP knockdown, with PCR results consistent with the transcriptome sequencing findings. Concurrently, GRg2 downregulated the expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), TNF receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6), and nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB) proteins in high-glucose-induced endothelial cells. Collectively, GRg2 inhibits cell migration and tube formation and significantly reduces angiogenesis in CAM and OIR models, improving retinal structure and function in db/db mice, with its pharmacological mechanism likely involving the down-regulation of YAP expression.
Animals ; Ginsenosides/pharmacology* ; Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology* ; Mice ; YAP-Signaling Proteins ; Humans ; Male ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Panax notoginseng/chemistry* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Angiogenesis

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of a modified Devine procedure with a subcutaneous sliding fixation method for the treatment of congenital concealed penis, we retrospectively selected 45 patients with congenital concealed penises who were admitted to General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University (Yinchuan, China) between September 2020 and November 2023. In all cases, the penis was observed to be short, and retracting the skin at the base revealed a normal penile body, which immediately returned to its original position upon release. All patients underwent the modified Devine procedure with subcutaneous sliding fixation and completed a 12-week postoperative follow-up. A statistically significant increase in penile length was observed postoperatively, with the median length increasing from 4.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.5-4.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.9-4.4) cm to 8.0 (IQR: 7.8-8.0; 95% CI: 7.7-7.9) cm, with P < 0.001. The parents were satisfied with the outcomes, including increased penile length, improved hygiene, and enhanced esthetics. Except for mild foreskin edema in all cases, no complications (such as infections, skin necrosis, or penile retraction) were observed. The edema was resolved within 4 weeks after the operation. This study demonstrates that the modified Devine procedure utilizing the subcutaneous sliding fixation method yields excellent outcomes with minimal postoperative complications, reduced penile retraction, and high satisfaction rates among patients and their families.
Humans ; Male ; Penis/abnormalities* ; Retrospective Studies ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Child ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immediate effect of Kuanxiong Aerosol (KXA) on perioperative coronary microcirculation in patients with unstable angina (UA) suffering from elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: From February 2021 to July 2023, UA inpatients who underwent PCI alone in the left anterior descending (LAD) branch were included. Random numbers were generated to divide patients into the trial group and the control group at a ratio of 1:1. The index of coronary microcirculation resistance (IMR) was measured before PCI, and the trial group was given two sprays of KXA, while the control group was not given. IMR was measured again after PCI, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB) were detected before and 24 h after surgery, and major cardiovascular adverse events (MACEs) were recorded for 30 days. The data statistics and analysis personnel were blinded. RESULTS: Totally 859 patients were screened, and 62 of them were involved into this study. Finally, 1 patient in the trial group failed to complete the post-PCI IMR and was excluded, 30 patients were included for data analysis, while 31 patients in the control group were enrolled in data analysis. There was no significant difference in baseline data (age, gender, risk factors, previous history, biochemical index, and drug therapy, etc.) between the two groups. In addition, differences in IMR, cTnI and CK-MB were not statistically significant between the two groups before surgery. After PCI, the IMR level of the trial group was significantly lower than that of the control group (19.56 ± 14.37 vs. 27.15 ± 15.03, P=0.048). Besides, the incidence of perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) was lower in the trial group, but the difference was not statistically significant (6.67% vs. 16.13%, P=0.425). No MACEs were reported in either group. CONCLUSIONS KXA has the potential of improving coronary microvascular dysfunction. This study provides reference for the application of KXA in UA patients undergoing elective PCI. (Registration No. ChiCTR2300069831).
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Male ; Microcirculation/drug effects* ; Female ; Angina, Unstable/physiopathology* ; Pilot Projects ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Aerosols ; Troponin I/blood* ; Coronary Circulation/drug effects* ; Elective Surgical Procedures

Objective To study the effect and mechanism of action of Yi Sui Sheng Xue Fang(YSSX)in ameliorating chemotherapy-induced renal injury in mice through The Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(KEAP1)/Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2(NRF2)signalling pathway.Methods A mouse kidney injury model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of carboplatin(40 mg·kg-1).C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into blank group(0.9％NaCl),model group(kidney injury model)and experimental-L,experimental-M,experimental-H groups(0.53,1.05 and 2.10 g·kg-1·d-1 YSSX by gavage for 7 d).Keap1 and Nrf2 were determined by Western blot;superoxide dismutase(SOD)and malondialdehyde(MDA)activities were determined by spectrophotometry.Results The protein expression levels of Keap1 in blank group,model group and experimental-L,experimental-M,experimental-H groups were 0.26±0.02,0.64±0.03,0.59±0.01,0.45±0.05 and 0.34±0.02;the protein expression levels of Nrf2 were 0.69±0.06,0.35±0.01,0.36±0.01,0.48±0.02 and 0.56±0.01;the enzyme activities of catalase(CAT)were(572.49±912.92),(334.60±4.92),(402.76±9.80),(475.35±5.21)and(493.00±12.03)U·mg-1;glutathione(GSH)were(2.79±0.06),(0.51±0.01),(0.59±0.07),(1.29±0.04)and(1.70±0.08)μmol·L1;SOD were(477.00±4.32),(260.67±6.13),(272.67±2.87),(386.33±3.68)and(395.00±12.25)U·mL-1;MDA were(3.89±0.02),(7.32±0.03),(6.94±0.14),(4.60±0.01)and(4.34±0.02)nmol·mg prot-1.The differences of the above indexes in the model group compared with the blank group were statistically significant(P＜0.01,P＜0.001);the differences of the above indexes in experimental-M,experimental-H groups compared withe model group were statistically significant(P＜0.01,P＜0.001).Conclusion YSSX can activate Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway and regulate the oxidative stress state of the organism,thus improving the renal injury caused by chemotherapy in mice.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of astragalosideⅣ(AS-Ⅳ)in ameliorating radiation-induced cardiomyocyte edema and its molecular mechanism.Methods The AC 16 cells were divided into blank group,model group,AS-Ⅳ pre-irradiation administration group(Q group),post-irradiation administration group(H group)and pre-post-irradiation administration group(Q+H group).H group was incubated with 40 mol·L-1 AS-Ⅳ drug-containing medium,and the other groups were incubated with normal medium for 24 h.After 24 h of incubation,6 Gy X-ray irradiation was given to establish the cardiomyocyte edema model in all groups except the blank group,and group Q was replaced with normal medium,and group H was replaced with 40 mol·L-1 AS-Ⅳ drug-containing medium for 24 h of incubation.Calcein AM staining was used to observe the edema of AC 16 cells,Western blot method was used to detect the expression of key proteins of aqueous fluid metabolism,and Annexin-V/PI flow apoptosis assay was used to detect apoptosis of AC 16 cells.Results The area of cellular edema in blank,model,Q,H,and Q+H groups were 690.77±199.55,1 184.47±307.36,713.65±152.48,809.72±262.85 and 897.61±213.66;the relative expression levels of hypoxia inducible factor(HIF)-1α protein were 0.94±0.02,1.35±0.03,0.91±0.03,0.69±0.02 and 0.86±0.03;the relative expression levels of aquaporin 4(AQP4)protein were 0.66±0.03,1.07±0.04,0.67±0.02,0.56±0.03 and 0.56±0.02;the apoptosis rates were(3.90±0.76)％,(16.58±0.63)％,(12.91±0.51)％,(14.05±0.22)％and(12.13±0.38)％,respectively.Statistically significant differences were found between the above indicators in the blank,Q,H and Q+H groups when compared to the model group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion AS-Ⅳ can regulate water-liquid metabolism,ameliorate radiation-induced cardiomyocyte edema,and attenuate apoptosis by inhibiting the abnormal activation of the HIF-1 α/AQP4 axis in irradiated AC 16 cells.

Talents are the main force for the development of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）， and the construction of TCM talents and the reformation of talent evaluation system are essential to promote the inheritance and innovation of TCM. At present， we are still exploring and developing in the fields of the formulation， implementation and evaluation indicators of TCM talent evaluation system. However， there are shortcomings and difficulties. For instance， insufficient stratification in the evaluation， excessive emphasis on the quantity of achievements， neglecting the quality of the achievements and the actual contribution， imperfect assessment indicators， and the weak characteristics of TCM. Therefore， national ministries and commissions have jointly issued a document requesting to break the four only and set a new standard， in order to promote the construction of a scientific and technological talent evaluation system oriented by innovation value， ability and contribution. For the evaluation of TCM clinical talents， China Association for Science and Technology commissioned China Association of Chinese Medicine to build the China Clinical Cases Library of TCM（CCCL-TCM）， which aims at collecting the most authoritative and representative TCM clinical cases and exploring the advantages of applying clinical cases as masterpiece of achievement in TCM clinical talents evaluation. CCCL-TCM can promote the construction of a talent evaluation system that is more in line with the development characteristics of TCM industry， and to carry out relevant pilot in TCM colleges and institutions across the country in order to promote the reformation of TCM talent evaluation system.

China Clinical Cases Library of Traditional Chinese Medicine is built to promote the establishment of a scientific and technological talent evaluation system oriented on innovative value， ability and contribution in the backgroud of breaking the four only and setting new standards required by the document jointly issued by several national administrations and commissions. In the process of the construction， in order to further consolidate the foundation and ensure the quality and authority of case reports， we need to fully understand the origin and development of Chinese medical cases. Therefore， we clarified the development situation of Chinese medical cases by combing the characteristics of ancient and modern case reports， comparing the differences between Chinese and western medical case reports in terms of content and writing requirements， finally formed the main points of systematic case report norms and quality evaluation system， aiming to fully explore the unique advantages of Chinese medical cases in the fields of discipline development， scientific research innovation， clinical practice and guidance， talent evaluation and training， so as to promote its innovative development in a broader direction.

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the hyperacusis scale and estimate its applicability in the Chinese population.Methods The patients admitted to the Department of Oto-laryngology of Xijing Hospital from June 2017 to December 2017 were surveyed.A total of 300 questionnaires were sent out and 293 valid questionnaires were collected with effective response rate of 97.67％.All participants comple-ted a basic information survey,pure tone audiometry and fill in the Chinese version of the hyperacusis scale.The re-liability and validity of this scale were evaluated.Results Among the 293 respondents,243(82.93％)were compli-cated with tinnitus.A total of 181 cases(61.77％)were subjectively diagnosed with hyperacusis through question-naire survey.According to the scale evaluation,174 cases(59.39％)were diagnosed with hyperacusis,and the Kappa value of conformity test of the two methods was 0.81(P＜0.001).Reliability analysis indicated a Cronbach'sα coefficient of 0.93 for the entire scale.Each dimension had a Cronbach's α coefficient＞0.60.The split-half relia-bility coefficient for the entire scale was 0.86,and for each dimension,it was＞0.60.Exploratory factor analysis of validity suggested that 25 items could be grouped under 4 factors,such as functional part,social part,emotional part and harmonic sensitivity part.These factors had eigenvalues greater than 1,accounting for 59.42％of the total variance.Post-rotation,the 25 items were distributed across the 4 components,with each item having a factor load-ing＞0.40.Confirmatory factor analysis of validity showed model fit parameters as:x2/df=1.98,GFI=0.91,AGFI=0.83,CFI=0.92,TLI=0.89,RMSEA=0.08.Each item had a standardized factor loading＞0.40.Con-clusion The Chinese version of the hyperacusis scale demonstrated strong reliability and validity,making it suitable for use among the Chinese population.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a kind of disease caused by a variety of reasons,which is characterized by steatosis and fat accumulation in liver parenchymal cells.In recent years,the morbidity of NAFLD has been relatively high in China.In the field of traditional Chinese medicine,NAFLD can be classified into the categories of"hepatic mass","abdominal mass"and"concretions and conglomerations".Spleen failing in transportation is the core pathogenesis of NAFLD,and the intervention of NAFLD with the method of activating spleen and resolving accumulation(shortened to Yunpi Huaji method)has achieved good results.In this paper,the clinical research of Yunpi Huaji method for the treatment of NAFLD and experimental research on its therapeutic mechanism in the past 10 years were reviewed.The results showed that the treatment of NAFLD by Yunpi Huaji method can be achieved by oral use of compound preparations and external treatment such as acupuncture,tuina and physiotherapy,and the therapeutic mechanism in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD was through multi-action,multi-target and multiple signaling pathways.The review will provide thoughts for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD in traditional Chinese medicine,and will supply theoretical support for the medicine development and mechanism exploration of Yunpi Huaji method for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.