ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of the combination of components from Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma and Chuanxiong Rhizoma on rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes （RA-FLSs） and the underlying mechanism. MethodsRA-FLSs were grouped as follows： blank control， positive control （methotrexate）， Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma components， Chuanxiong Rhizoma components， and components from Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma+Chuanxiong Rhizoma. The cell-counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was employed to the cell proliferation， invasion， and apoptosis. The levels of tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-6， reactive oxygen species （ROS）， and malondiadehyde （MDA） in cells were measured. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） p65， phosphorylated inhibitory subunit of NF-κBα （p-IκBα）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-3 （Caspase-3）， and B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）. Real-time PCR was employed to determine the mRNA levels of Nrf2， HO-1， and NF-κB p65. ResultsThe cells in the groups of positive control， Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma components， Chuanxiong Rhizoma components， and components from Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma+Chuanxiong Rhizoma were treated with 2.50 mg·L^-1 methotrexate， 0.20 mg·L^-1 triptolide + 0.20 mg·L^-1 celastrol， 5.00 mg·L^-1 ferulic acid + 20.00 mg·L^-1 ligustrazine， 0.20 mg·L^-1 triptolide + 0.20 mg·L^-1 celastrol + 5.00 mg·L^-1 ferulic acid + 20.00 mg·L^-1 ligustrazine， respectively. Compared with the blank control group， drug administration reduced the proliferation and invasion and increased the apoptosis of cells （P<0.01）， lowered the levels of TNF-α， IL-6， ROS， and MDA （P<0.01）， up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of Caspase-3， Nrf2， and HO-1 （P<0.01）， and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2， NF-κB p65， and p-IκBα （P<0.01）. Compared with the Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma components group， the combination of components from Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma+Chuanxiong Rhizoma inhibited the proliferation and invasion （P<0.05） and promoted the apoptosis of RA-FLSs， up-regulated the mRNA levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 and protein levels of Nrf2 and Caspase-3 （P<0.05）， and down-regulated the protein levels of NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe combination of components from Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma can inhibit the proliferation and invasion and promote the apoptosis of RA-FLSs and alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway， activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway， and regulating the expression of Bcl-2/Caspase-3.

ObjectiveEndothelial cell dysfunction being the core link. This study explores the molecular mechanism of Danshen Tongluo formula in treating coronary artery disease-dominated panvascular disease with endothelial cell changes as the core through animal experiments and single-cell transcriptome sequencing. MethodsA rat model of coronary artery disease-dominated panvascular disease was established by ligating the left anterior coronary artery. Rats were randomized into a blank group， a model group， and a Danshen Tongluo formula （28 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） group. The efficacy was evaluated by examining the cardiac ultrasound， determination of the plasma level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide， and pathological staining. After single-cell sequencing， SingleR package， public datasets， and related literature were used for annotation of the cells. Cell chat was used for intercellular communication and ligand-receptor analysis， and scmetabolism was used for metabolic analysis of endothelial cells. ResultsAnimal experiments showed that Danshen Tongluo formula reduced the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide （ NT-proBNP ） level （P<0.05）， ameliorated myocardial cell damage and fibrosis， and increase left ventricular ejection fractions （LVEF） in the rat model of heart failure after myocardial infarction（P<0.05）. Single-cell sequencing results showed that Danshen Tongluo formula increased the proportion of arterial endothelial cells， venous endothelial cells， and capillary-arterial endothelial cells， while reducing the proportion of capillary-venous endothelial cells. In addition， this formula increased the interaction intensity of endothelial cells with cardiomyocytes and M1 macrophages and reduced the interaction intensity of endothelial cells with fibroblasts and T cells. Danshen Tongluo formula upregulated CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling in endothelium-B cells and Ptprm-Ptprm signaling in endothelial endothelial cells， while downregulating Mif-（CD74⁺CXCR44） signaling in endothelium-M1 macrophages and Mif-（CD74⁺CD44） signaling in endothelium-M2 macrophages. It reduced the citric acid cycle， oxidative phosphorylation， and glycolysis and increased the glycolysis/oxidative phosphorylation ratio in endothelial cells. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that arterial endothelial cells， venous endothelial cells， and venous capillary endothelial cells can all regulate oxidative phosphorylation， cell adhesion molecules， and tyrosine metabolism. Lymphatic endothelial cells regulate immunity and vascular constriction to participate in the metabolism of various amino acids and fatty acids. ConclusionDanshen Tongluo Formula can ameliorate coronary artery disease-dominated panvascular disease by changing the composition of endothelial cells and regulating the communication between myocardial endothelial cells and non-endothelial cells.

Nigella sativa L. seeds have been traditionally utilized in Chinese folk medicine for centuries to treat vitiligo. This study revealed that the ethanolic extract of Nigella sativa L. (HZC) enhances melanogenesis and mitigates oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence and dysfunction in melanocytes. In accordance with established protocols, the ethanol fraction from Nigella sativa L. seeds was extracted, concentrated, and lyophilized to evaluate its herbal effects via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, tyrosinase activity evaluation, measurement of cellular melanin contents, scratch assays, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blot analysis for expression profiling of experimentally relevant proteins. The results indicated that HZC significantly enhanced tyrosinase activity and melanin content while notably increasing the protein expression levels of Tyr, Mitf, and gp100 in B16F10 cells. Furthermore, HZC effectively mitigated oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence, improved melanocyte condition, and rectified various functional impairments associated with melanocyte dysfunction. These findings suggest that HZC increases melanin synthesis in melanocytes through the activation of the MAPK, PKA, and Wnt signaling pathways. In addition, HZC attenuates oxidative damage induced by H₂O₂ therapy by activating the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2-antioxidant response element (Nrf2-ARE) pathway and enhancing the activity of downstream antioxidant enzymes, thus preventing premature senescence and dysfunction in melanocytes.
Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Melanocytes/cytology* ; Cellular Senescence/drug effects* ; Nigella sativa/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Seeds/chemistry* ; Mice ; Animals ; Melanins/metabolism* ; Monophenol Monooxygenase/metabolism* ; Humans

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of volatile oil of Ligusticum chuanxiong on the transdermal properties and cytotoxicity of triptolide in vitro. METHODS The chemical constituents of the volatile oil of L. chuanxiong were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The lower abdominal skin of KM mice was separated and divided into triptolide group， triptolide in compatibility with volatile oil of L. chuanxiong groups at 1∶10， 1∶50， 1∶100 （hereinafter referred to as “compatibility 1∶10”“compatibility 1∶50”“compatibility 1∶100” groups）. After the skin of mice in each group was fully exposed to 0.2 g of the corresponding cream for 24 h， the cumulative transdermal dose （Qn） of triptolide in the receiving solution of each group was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography， and the transdermal absorption rate （Jss） was calculated. Human immortalized keratinocytes （HaCat） were used as a model， the CCK-8 method was used to detect the cell survival rate of different concentrations of the volatile oil of L. chuanxiong and triptolide before and after compatibility. RESULTS A total of 62 chemical constituents of the volatile oil of L. chuanxiong were identified， including Z-ligustilide， senkyunolide， and β-selinene. The Qn （P＜ 0.01） and Jss of triptolide increased within 24 h in the compatibility 1∶10 and 1∶50 groups， while the Qn （P＜0.05） and Jss decreased in the compatibility 1∶100 group as compared with the triptolide group. Compared with the triptolide group， the cell survival rate of HaCat was significantly increased in the compatibility 1∶10 and 1∶50 groups when the triptolide concentrations were 36， 72 and 144 ng/mL （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； while the cell survival rate of HaCat was decreased in the compatibility 1∶100 group， but the difference was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS When the compatibility ratio of triptolide and volatile oil of L. chuanxiong was 1∶10 or 1∶50， it can promote the transdermal absorption of triptolide and reduce the cytotoxicity of triptolide to HaCat.

OBJECTIVE To study the extraction technology of Sophora flavescens-Phellodendron chinense drug pair and provide a reference for the development of new drugs for the treatment of anorectal diseases. METHODS Using the contents of total alkaloids of S. flavescens （matrine+oxymatrine）， berberine hydrochloride and total flavonoid， and extract yield as evaluation indicators， analytic hierarchy process-entropy weight method was used to calculate the weight coefficient of each indicator， and was combined with Box-Behnken design-response surface method to study the extraction technology of S. flavescens-P. chinense drug pair and verify it. RESULTS The optimal extraction technology of S. flavescens-P. chinense drug pair was immersed in 12-fold amount of 58% ethanol for 30 minutes and extracted twice， each time for 120 minutes. The relative error between the verification experimental results and the predicted value was 1.88%. CONCLUSIONS The obtained extraction technology is stable and feasible and can provide reference for the application of S. flavescens-P. chinense drug pair and development of new drugs.

Objective To investigate the water quality and sanitary conditions of rural self-provided wells water in Haidian District, Beijing, and to provide reference for strengthening water supply management of self-provided wells. Methods The water quality monitoring data of rural self-provided wells in Haidian District from 2018 to 2022 were analyzed. Results A total of 1 568 water samples were tested in 2018-2022 , of which 1 486 were qualified, with a qualified rate of 94.77%. The qualified rate in each year was 86.75% , 92.86% , 97.48% , 98.06% , and 99.34% , respectively , and the difference was statistically significant ( χ²= 75.296 , P＜0.05). The qualified rates of sensory traits and general chemical indexes, toxicological indexes and microbial indexes were 97.70%, 97.58% and 98.28%, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in the qualified rates among the three indexes in 2018, 2019 and 2021 (P < 0.05). The unqualified indicators included total hardness, total number of colonies, total coliform, fluoride, nitrate and turbidity, with a qualified rate of 97.96%, 98.41%, 99.17%, 99.11%, 98.47% and 99.94%, respectively. Conclusion The water quality of self-provided wells in rural Haidian District is good. Relevant departments should continue to strengthen the supervision of self-provided wells, such as the supervision of self-provided wells disinfection devices and water treatment equipment, to ensure the safety of drinking water for residents.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of oral-nasal oxygen supply mouth guard in painless gastroscopy for snoring patients.Methods:The snoring patients who underwent painless gastroscopy at two Endoscopy Centers of Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University in July 2022 were randomly divided into the observation group (using oral-nasal oxygen supply mouth guard) and the control group (using ordinary nasal oxygen tube and mouth guard). Parameters such as the wearing time and the removal time of the mouth guard, lowest pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2), incidence of hypoxemia, and the satisfaction of medical staff were compared between the two groups. Results:The wearing time of mouth guard was 11.63±0.84 seconds and the removal time was 5.33±0.76 seconds in the observation group ( n=40), which were lower than those in the control group ( n=47) (14.91±1.21 seconds, t=-14.463, P<0.001; 10.38±0.80 seconds, t=-30.095, P<0.001). The wearing satisfaction score was 9.80±0.61, the lowest SpO 2 was (96.70±3.42)%, the removal satisfaction score was 9.75±0.67, and the anesthesiologists' satisfaction score was 9.20±1.42 in the observation group, which were higher than those in the control group [7.70±0.93, t=12.209, P<0.001; (94.06±3.72)%, t=3.417, P=0.001; 7.96±0.98, t=9.803, P<0.001; 8.13±1.35, t=3.615, P=0.001] with significant difference. There was no significant difference in the incidence of hypoxemia [10.00% (4/40) VS 14.89% (7/47), χ2=0.130, P=0.718] and endoscopic physician satisfaction score (9.30±0.97 VS 9.02±1.31, t=1.112, P=0.269) between the two groups. Conclusion:The oral-nasal oxygen supply mouth guard is easy to wear and remove, effectively reducing SpO 2 fluctuations during painless gastroscopy for snoring patients. It can enhance medical staff satisfaction with high clinical value.

Objective:To explore the effect of discharge preparation service based on timing theory on the care readiness and benefit finding of caregivers for elderly dementia patients.Methods:From January 2021 to December 2022, 100 caregivers of elderly dementia patients from the Neurology Department and Rehabilitation Department of Jingjiang People's Hospital were selected as the subject by convenient sampling. Caregivers were divided into a control group and a study group based on their enrollment time, with 50 cases in each group. The control group received routine nursing, while the study group was treated with discharge preparation services based on timing theory. The effect was evaluated using the Caregiver Preparedness Scale (CPS) and Caregiver Benefit Finding Questionnaire.Results:After intervention, the CPS score of the study group was (22.80±2.83), which was higher than the control group's (17.92±2.60), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). After three months of discharge, the score of the Caregiver Benefit Finding Questionnaire in the study group was (117.50±6.25), which was higher than the control group's (109.98±9.89), and the difference was also statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The discharge preparation service based on timing it right can improve the care readiness and benefit finding of caregivers for elderly dementia patients.

Objective To construct a rational and efficient bed resource allocation management model to reduce pre-hos-pital waiting times,ensure patient safety,and improve satisfaction.Methods Based on lean management principles,a bed re-source allocation management model was developed and continuously optimized.The study compared bed turnover rates and effi-ciency indices,as well as preoperative waiting times for surgical patients,average length of stay,patient satisfaction,and anxiety incidence before and after the implementation of the lean model to evaluate its effectiveness.Results After implementing the lean bed resource allocation model,the bed efficiency index increased by 14.29％,and bed turnover rates improved by 3.34％.The average preoperative waiting time for surgical patients decreased by 100％,and the average length of stay reduced by 87.71％.Patient satisfaction increased by 2.4％,while anxiety incidence dropped by 28.1％.Conclusion The implementa-tion of a lean bed resource allocation model can enhance hospital bed efficiency,shorten preoperative waiting times for surgical patients,reduce average length of stay,and improve patient satisfaction.

Objective To investigate the relationships of urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) and serum galectin-3 (Gal-3) with early renal dysfunction in gout patients. Methods A total of 124 gout patients in the hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were selected as gout group, and they were divided into non-renal injury group with 42 cases and early renal injury group with 82 cases according to the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Additionally, 40 healthy volunteers with physical examinations in the hospital in the same period were selected as control group. The levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine, cystatin C, urinary L-FABP, and serum Gal-3 were measured in all participants. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of urinary L-FABP and serum Gal-3 for early renal dysfunction in gout patients. Results The levels of cystatin C, urinary L-FABP, and serum Gal-3 in the gout group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of cystatin C, urinary L-FABP, and serum Gal-3 in the early renal injury group were significantly higher than those in the non-renal injury group (P < 0.05). Pearson analysis showed that urinary L-FABP level in gout patients was significantly positively correlated with UACR, cystatin C, and serum Gal-3 (P < 0.05), and serum Gal-3 level in gout patients was significantly positively correlated with UACR, cystatin C, and urinary L-FABP (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis indicated that urinary L-FABP and serum Gal-3 had high diagnostic values for assessing early renal dysfunction in gout patients, with areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.804 (95%CI, 0.726 to 0.882) and 0.781 (95%CI, 0.697 to 0.866) respectively. The AUC for the combination of urinary L-FABP and serum Gal-3 was 0.923 (95%CI, 0.874 to 0.972). Conclusion The levels of urinary L-FABP and serum Gal-3 are abnormally elevated in gout patients, and their expression levels are closely related to early renal dysfunction. The combination of urinary L-FABP and serum Gal-3 has a high diagnostic value for early renal dysfunction in gout patients.