BACKGROUND:Traumatic brain injury is a condition in which the normal function of the brain is disrupted by a bump or impact to the head.It is necessary to find effective treatments and objective targets that can help doctors diagnose the injury status and restore the brain function of patients. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of electroacupuncture combined with low-frequency transcranial ultrasound stimulation on the electroencephalographic signals of rats with traumatic brain injury. METHODS:Forty 6-week-old SPF male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups:sham group,model group,electroacupuncture group,low-frequency transcranial ultrasound stimulation group and combined group(electroacupuncture+low-frequency transcranial ultrasound stimulation),with eight rats in each group.Feeney weight-drop method was used to establish the animal model of traumatic brain injury.In the sham group,the bone window was only opened without impact.Interventions were started at 1 day after modeling.Electroacupuncture in the electroacupuncture group,low-frequency transcranial ultrasound stimulation in the low-frequency transcranial ultrasound stimulation group,and electroacupuncture+low-frequency transcranial ultrasound stimulation in the combined group were performed for days in total.The modified neurological severity scale score for assessing rats'neurological deficits was performed at 8 hours after modeling.The percentage of spontaneous alternation behavior in the Y-maze was measured at 7 days after modeling.Then,the electroencephalographic signals were collected and electroencephalographic data of α,β,θ,and δ waves were extracted by fast Fourier transform,and the value of oscillation amplitude and energy ratio were calculated in α,β,θ,and δ waves,as well as the Lempel-Ziv complexity and sample entropy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the sham group,the modified neurological severity scale scores in the model group,electroacupuncture group,low-frequency transcranial ultrasound stimulation group and combined group were significantly increased at 8 hours after modeling(P<0.05).Compared with the sham group,the value of oscillation amplitude in δ wave and the value of δ energy ratio were significantly increased in the model group at 7 days after modeling,meanwhile the percentage of spontaneous alternation behavior in Y-maze,and the value of α/β energy ratio,Lempel-Ziv complexity,and sample entropy were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the value of oscillation amplitude in α and δ waves was significantly decreased in the combined group(P<0.05),while the value of α/β energy ratio was significantly increased(P<0.05)and the value of δ energy ratio was significantly decreased(P<0.05)in the electroacupuncture group,low-frequency transcranial ultrasound stimulation group and combined group.Compared with the electroacupuncture group and low-frequency transcranial ultrasound stimulation group,the value of δ energy ratio was significantly decreased in the combined group(P<0.05),while the percentage of spontaneous alternation behavior,the value of α/β energy ratio,the Lempel-Ziv complexity,and the sample entropy were significantly increased(P<0.05).To conclude,abnormal electroencephalographic signals can appear in rats with traumatic brain injury,while the electroacupuncture combined with low-frequency transcranial ultrasound stimulation can alleviate the abnormal electroencephalographic signals in rats,which suggests the electroencephalographic frequency domain value and nonlinear features can be used to assess the severity of traumatic brain injury.

This paper summarizes Professor LIU Fengbin's clinical experience in treating autoimmune liver disease （AILD） using the method of nourishing yin and removing stasis based on stage differentiation. He believes that the pathogenesis of AILD generally involves both deficiency in essence and excess in manifestation， with essence deficiency often presenting as liver and kidney yin deficiency， which may progress to spleen deficiency and yang deficiency over time. The excess manifestation commonly includes qi stagnation， blood stasis， damp-heat， and phlegm toxicity. Clinically， he advocates for the treatment principle of nourishing yin and removing stasis. On the foundation of nourishing liver and kidney yin， different pathological factors causing stasis are eliminated according to their nature. Treatment is also tailored to different stages of AILD. In the early and asymptomatic stages， liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency are prominent， warranting a therapeutic approach of soothing the liver， regulating qi and strengthening the spleen. The modified Chaishao Qizhi Decoction （柴芍气滞汤） is used. During the symptomatic stage， pathogenic factors become more pronounced， often accompanied by a significant deficiency of vital qi， with damp-heat， water retention， and phlegm toxicity as key pathological features. The treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen and dispelling dampness， using modified Sijunzi Decoction （四君子汤） combined with Yinchen Wuling Powder （茵陈五苓散）. In the liver function decompensation stage， vital qi is severely deficient while pathogenic factors persist， with damp-heat， phlegm toxicity， and blood stasis obstructing the liver collaterals. Treatment should focus on nourishing blood， softening the liver， strengthening the spleen， and resolving stasis， using the modified Ruangan Yangxue Decoction （软肝养血汤）. Throughout the treatment process， emphasis is placed on tonifying the liver and kidneys while protecting yin fluids.

This study predicts the quality markers(Q-markers) for the cough-relieving and phlegm-expelling effects of Kening Granules based on pharmacodynamics, plasma drug chemistry, network pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics. Strong ammonia solution spray and phenol red secretion assays were employed to evaluate the cough-relieving and phlegm-expelling effects of Kening Granules. Twentysix absorbed prototype components of Kening Granules were identified by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with QExactive Plus quadrupole/Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-Exactive Plus Orbitrap HRMS). Through network pharmacology, 11 potential active components were screened out for the cough-relieving and phlegm-expelling effects of Kening Granules. The 11 components acted on 40 common targets such as IL6, TLR4, and STAT3, which mainly participated in PI3K/Akt, HIF-1, and EGFR signaling pathways. Pharmacokinetic quantitative analysis was performed for 7 prototype components. Three compounds including azelaic acid, caffeic acid, and vanillin were identified as Q-markers for the cough-relieving and phlegm-expelling effects of Kening Granules based on their effectiveness, transmissibility, and measurability. The results of this study are of great significance for clarifying the pharmacological substance basis, optimizing the quality standards, and promoting the clinical application of Kening Granules.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Network Pharmacology ; Cough/blood* ; Male ; Humans ; Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Quality Control ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Antitussive Agents/chemistry*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate lymph node metastasis (LNM) in the prostatic anterior fat pad (PAFP) of PCa patients after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), and analyze the clinicopathological features and prognosis of LNM in the PAFP. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data on 1 003 cases of PCa treated by RARP in the Department of Urology of PLA General Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022. All the patients underwent routine removal of the PAFP during RARP and pathological examination, with the results of all the specimens examined and reported by pathologists. Based on the presence and locations of LNM, we grouped the patients for statistical analysis, compared the clinicopathological features between different groups using the Student's t, Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests, and conducted survival analyses using the Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank methods and survival curves generated by Rstudio. RESULTS: Lymph nodes were detected in 77 (7.7%) of the 1 003 PAFP samples, and LNM in 11 (14.3%) of the 77 cases, with a positive rate of 1.1% (11/1 003). Of the 11 positive cases, 9 were found in the upgraded pathological N stage, and the other 2 complicated by pelvic LNM. The patients with postoperative pathological stage≥T3 constituted a significantly higher proportion in the PAFP LNM than in the non-PAFP LNM group (81.8% ［9/11］ vs 36.2% ［359/992］, P = 0.005), and so did the cases with Gleason score ≥8 (87.5% ［7/8］ vs 35.5% ［279/786］, P = 0.009). No statistically significant differences were observed in the clinicopathological features and biochemical recurrence-free survival between the patients with PAFP LNM only and those with pelvic LNM only. CONCLUSION The PAFP is a potential route to LNM, and patients with LNM in the PAFP are characterized by poor pathological features. There is no statistically significant difference in biochemical recurrence-free survival between the patients with PAFP LNM only and those with pelvic LNM only. Routine removal of the PAFP and independent pathological examination of the specimen during RARP is of great clinical significance.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatectomy/methods* ; Robotic Surgical Procedures ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Adipose Tissue/pathology* ; Prostate/pathology* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Aged

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting ~65 million individuals worldwide. Abnormal synaptic plasticity is one of the most important pathological features of this condition. We investigated how ubiquitin-specific peptidase 47 (USP47) influences synaptic plasticity and its link to epilepsy. We found that USP47 enhanced excitatory postsynaptic transmission and increased the density of total dendritic spines and the proportion of mature dendritic spines. Furthermore, USP47 inhibited the degradation of the ubiquitinated α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) subunit glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1), which is associated with synaptic plasticity. In addition, elevated levels of USP47 were found in epileptic mice, and USP47 knockdown reduced the frequency and duration of seizure-like events and alleviated epileptic seizures. To summarize, we present a new mechanism whereby USP47 regulates excitatory postsynaptic plasticity through the inhibition of ubiquitinated GluR1 degradation. Modulating USP47 may offer a potential approach for controlling seizures and modifying disease progression in future therapeutic strategies.
Animals ; Receptors, AMPA/metabolism* ; Neuronal Plasticity/physiology* ; Seizures/physiopathology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase/genetics* ; Male ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials/physiology* ; Ubiquitination ; Dendritic Spines/metabolism* ; Hippocampus/metabolism*

Objective To explore the feasibility of second-generation dual-layer detector spectral CT ab-dominal virtual non-contrast(VNC) for diagnosing fatty liver.Methods The imaging data of 128 patients with second-generation dual-layer detector spectral CT abdominal enhanced CT in West China Hospital of Si-chuan University from June 2022 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The CT values of the left lobe,right anterior lobe,right posterior lobe and spleen of all patients were measured on TNC,arterial stage VNC (A-VNC) and venous stage VNC (V-VNC) images.The difference value (L-S) and ratio value (L/S) between the CT value of liver and CT value of spleen were calculated.According to the threshold value of TNC image diagnosis of fatty liver in previous studies,the included cases were divided into two groups:fatty liver group and non-fatty liver group.The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the difference of quanti-tative parameters between the fatty liver group and non-fatty liver group.The efficiency of VNC in the diagno-sis of fatty liver was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve,and the difference be-tween ROC curves was compared with DeLong's test.The intra-group and inter-group correlation coefficient (ICC) values were used to evaluate the consistency of data measurement.Results The ICC values of intra-group and inter-group consistency of data ranged (0.835-0.986) and (0.810-0.978),respectively (P<0.05).The mean value of left lobe,right anterior lobe,right posterior lobe and triple lobe of liver and CT val-ue of spleen in A-VNC and V-VNC images were lower than those of TNC images,and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).The CT values of TNC,A-VNC,V-VNC,(L-S) values and (L/S) values of the non-fatty liver group were higher than those of the fatty liver group,and the differences were statistical-ly significant (P<0.05).The CT value,(L-S) value and (L/S) value of TNC,A-VNC and V-VNC images in the non-fatty liver group were higher than those in the fatty liver group,and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).The area under the curve (AUC) of CT values of A-VNC and V-VNC for the diagnosis of fatty liver all were 0.997,and their efficiencies for diagnosing fatty liver had no statistical difference (Z=0.407,P=0.684).AUC of A-VNC (L-S) and V-VNC (L-S) in the diagnosis of fatty liver was 1.000 and 0.981,respectively,and their efficiencies for diagnosing fatty liver had no statistical difference (Z=1.790,P=0.074).AUC of A-VNC (L/S) and V-VNC (L/S) in the diagnosis of fatty liver was 0.992 and 0.987,respec-tively,and their efficiencies for diagnosing fatty liver also had no statistical difference (Z=0.665,P=0.506). Conclusion The CT values of liver and spleen in VNC images reconstructed by second-generation dual-layer detector spectral CT are lower than TNC,but it is still feasible to diagnose fatty liver based on VNC images.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Shen Jiang Zhouche Powder(composed of modified Lizhong Pill,Erchen Decoction,and Zhouche Pill)in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion(MPE)patients with fluid retention in the chest and hypochondrium syndrome.Methods Eighty MPE patients with fluid retention in the chest and hypochondrium syndrome were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group,with 40 cases in each group.Both groups were given conventional western medical treatment,and additionally the control group was treated with Spironolactone and Furosemide Tablets orally while the treatment group was treated with Shen Jiang Zhouche Powder orally.A total of 21 days constituted one course of treatment,and both groups were treated for two courses and then were followed up for one month.The changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,scores of Karnofsky Performance Status(KPS)established by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG),and scores of self-rating scale of sleep(SRSS)in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.After treatment,the clinical efficacy,TCM syndrome efficacy and clinical safety of the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)After treatment and one-month follow-up,the total clinical effective rate in the treatment group was 67.5%(27/40)and that in the control group was 45.0%(18/40),and the intergroup comparison(by chi-square test)showed that the clinical efficacy of the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(2)After two courses of treatment,the total effective rate of TCM syndrome improvement in the treatment group was 92.5%(37/40)and that of the control group was 50.0%(20/40),and the intergroup comparison(by chi-square test)showed that the TCM syndrome efficacy in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,except for the score of dyspnea in the control group,the scores of each of the main symptoms(including dry cough,chest tightness,chest pain,tightness of breath,dyspnea)and accompanied symptoms as well as the total TCM syndrome scores in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the decrease of the scores of each of the main symptoms and accompanied symptoms as well as the total TCM syndrome scores were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the scores of KPS and SRSS in the two groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment(P＜0.01),and the improvement in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(5)There were no obvious adverse reactions occurring in both groups,while only mild symptoms of the adverse reactions were presented.The incidence of adverse reactions in the treatment group was 7.5%(3/40)and that in the control group was 12.5%(5/40),and the difference was not statistically significant between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Shen Jiang Zhouche Powder exerts certain clinical efficacy in the treatment of MPE patients with fluid retention in the chest and hypochondrium syndrome,which is effective on alleviating the clinical symptoms of TCM,and improving the quality of life of patients,without obvious toxicity or side effects.

BACKGROUND:How to improve the accuracy of puncture,reduce surgical damage,and improve surgical efficiency during vertebroplasty is currently one of the focuses of exploration and improvement in vertebroplasty techniques. OBJECTIVE:To explore the clinical significance of application of mixed reality technology in percutaneous vertebroplasty for spinal fractures. METHODS:Two patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture in Dalian Second People's Hospital in June 2023 were selected.Before operation,128-row CT scanning of the lumbar spine was performed and the original data of digital imaging and communications in medicine(DICOM)were obtained.Visual Volume software was used to build the three-dimensional network model of vertebral compression fracture.Holographic imaging glasses were used to accurately map 3D network model images to the real world,assist the surgeon in completing preoperative simulation,explaining preoperative conditions and treatment plans,and guiding puncture and bone cement injection during surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Precise puncture was achieved with the assistance of a mixed reality technology.Postoperative imaging examination showed good bone cement filling and no obvious leakage.The postoperative symptoms of the patient were alleviated well,and they were able to move to the ground on the same day after surgery.(2)It is concluded that a mixed reality technology is helpful for preoperative surgical design and communication efficiency with patients and their families.Assisting with precise puncture during surgery,shortening surgical time,and reducing side injuries is a new and effective clinical diagnosis and treatment model,which has development potential in minimally invasive,precise,and personalized treatment of spinal surgery.

ObjectiveTo establish an analytical method for the determination of resorcinol, ferulic acid, phenethylresorcinol and benzoyl peroxide in freckle whitening cosmetics by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), to provide data support for the establishment of cosmetics inspection methods and technical support for the supervision of the cosmetics industry. MethodsThe analytes in samples were extracted by ultrasonic acetonitrile after methanol vortex, and then filtered by centrifugation and microporous filter membrane. Finally, the analytes were separated with a SVEA C4 column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was composed of 0.1% phosphoric acid solution -acetonitrile, and the gradient elution was applied, with a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min^-1. The samples were detected by an ultra-violet detector and quantified by external standard method. ResultsResorcinol, ferulic acid, phenylethylresorcinol and benzoyl peroxide showed good linearity in the experimental range with r>0.999. HPLC was used to investigate the positive spiked recoveries of ferulic acid or phenylethylresorcinol with different matrices. The results showed that the recoveries were all in the range of 87.48% to 101.00%, and the relative standard deviations were all in the range of 3.4% to 4.1%. Furthermore, HPLC also examined the blank matrix spiked with the recoveries ranged from 93.26% to 107.66%, with the relative standard deviation of 0.90% to 2.90%. The limits of detection ranged from 0.000 8% to 0.002%. Among the30 batches of standard freckle whitening cosmetics determined, 6 batches of which were detected with phenethylresorcinol and 1 batch with ferulic acid. ConclusionHPLC is a method with rapidity, simplicity, and high sensitivity, which is suitable for the simultaneous determination of resorcinol, ferulic acid, phenethylresorcinol and benzoyl peroxide in commercially available cosmetics.

ObjectiveTo establish a UHPLC-MS/MS quantitative method for the determination of glucuronic acid， tartaric acid， glycolic acid， malic acid， lactic acid， citric acid， DL-2-hydroxybutyric acid sodium， mandelic acid， benzilic acid， hydroxycaprylic acid， lactobionic acid， gluconic acid and N-acetylneuraminic acid in cosmetics. MethodsSamples were prepared by ultrasonic extraction， cleansed by precipitating reagent and followed by high-speed centrifugation of the extraction solution. The supernatant was filtered by 0.22 μm Millipore filter. The continued filtrate was taken for analysis. A reversed phase column， Poroshell 120 EC-C₁₈ （2.7 μm， 4.6 mm×1 000 mm） was used with 0.1% formic acid buffer and acetonitrile as the mobile phase under the condition of gradient elution. The analytes were detected with electrospray ionization source in negative ion mode （ESI^-） and multiple reactions monitoring （MRM）， and quantified by external standard curve. ResultsThe method showed a good linearity of glucuronic acid， tartaric acid， malic acid， DL-2-hydroxybutyric acid sodium， benzilic acid， hydroxycaprylic acid and N-acetylneuraminic acid within the concentration range of 50.0‒2 000.0 μg·L^-1 （r>0.995）. The method showed a good linearity of glycolic acid， lactic acid， citric acid and mandelic acid within the concentration range of 100.0‒5 000.0 μg·L^-1 （r>0.995）. The method showed a good linearity of lactobionic acid and gluconic acid within the concentration range of 50.0‒5 000.0 μg·L^-1 （r>0.995）. The recoveries were in the range of 92.3%‒114.1%； the relative standard deviations （RSD） were in the range of 0.9%‒6.0% （n=3）. The detection limits of glucuronic acid， tartaric acid， malic acid， citric acid， DL-2-hydroxybutyric acid sodium， mandelic acid， benzilic acid， hydroxycaprylic acid， lactobionic acid， gluconic acid and N-acetylneuraminic acid were 0.003% while the detection limits of glycolic acid， lactic acid and mandelic acid were 0.006%. In 10 batches of commercially available cosmetics， eight batches showed positive result. ConclusionThe UHPLC-MS/MS method is efficient， sensitive and accurate and is applicable to the determination of 13 α-hydroxy acidic components in cosmetics.