BACKGROUND:Intervertebral disk degeneration is a pathological change caused by a series of complex molecular mechanisms that result in the aging and damage of intervertebral discs,ultimately leading to severe clinical symptoms.Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in the treatment of intervertebral disk degeneration due to its low cost,non-addictive nature,multi-target effects,minimally toxic and side effects,and high patient acceptance. OBJECTIVE:To review the latest research results of traditional Chinese medicine monomer intervention-related signaling pathways in the treatment of intervertebral disk degeneration,describe and analyze the action mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine monomer on intervertebral disk degeneration,and provide a new approach and theoretical basis for future basic research and clinical treatment. METHODS:The first author searched for relevant literature from January 2018 to February 2023 in CNKI,PubMed,VIP,and WanFang using the search terms"intervertebral disc,signal pathway".The articles that did not meet the criteria were excluded after preliminary screening of the titles and abstracts.Finally,72 articles were selected for review and analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Traditional Chinese medicine monomers can regulate multiple classical signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin,PI3K/Akt,mTOR,NF-κB,and MAPK.They achieve this by regulating oxidative stress,adjusting the expression of pro/anti-apoptotic proteins in cells,stimulating cellular autophagy function,reducing stimulation of cell inflammatory factors,increasing the expression of extracellular matrix markers,reducing the production of matrix-degrading enzymes,maintaining the synthesis and stability of extracellular matrix,inducing differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in the nucleus pulposus into nucleus pulposus cells,promoting endogenous repair and reconstruction,controlling apoptosis and aging of nucleus pulposus cells,and increasing the activity of nucleus pulposus cells.These actions improve the microenvironment within the intervertebral disc,maintain the normal physiological function of the intervertebral disc,and delay intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective:To investigate whether there are differences in clinical outcomes and perinatal outcomes associated with different initial dosages of gonadotropin (Gn) in expected poor prognosis young patients, diagnosed according to the POSEIDON criteria, undergoing the early-follicular phase long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) long protocol.Methods:This retrospective cohort study analyzed clinical data from patients who underwent their first in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI)-fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycle at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2022. Patients included in the study were those who underwent ovarian stimulation with the early-follicular phase long-acting GnRH-a long protocol and young expected poor prognosis. Patients were divided into three groups based on the starting Gn dosage: low-dose group (Gn<225 U), medium-dose group (225 U≤Gn<300 U), and high-dose group (Gn=300 U). Clinical and perinatal outcomes were compared among the three groups. Results:A total of 1 659 cycles were included in the study, with 316 cycles in the low-dose group, 536 cycles in the medium-dose group, and 807 cycles in the high-dose group. The number of oocytes retrieved in the high-dose group [6.00 (4.00,9.00)] was less than that in the medium-dose group [8.00 (6.00,11.00)] and the low-dose group [11.00 (7.00,13.00)], which in the medium-dose group was less than that in the low-dose group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.017). There were no significant statistical differences in oocyte maturation rate, normal fertilization rate of IVF/ICSI, or high-quality embryo rate among the three groups (all P>0.05). The blastocyst formation rates decreased sequentially in the low-dose group [20.33% (425/2 090)], medium-dose group [17.28% (510/2 951)], and high-dose group [14.62% (518/3 542)], with significant differences between each pair of groups (all P<0.017). There were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, chromosomal abnormalities in miscarriage tissues, or preterm birth rate among the three groups (all P>0.05). However, the live birth rate was significantly lower in the high-dose group [47.83% (386/807)] than in the low-dose group [57.28% (181/316), P=0.004]. After adjusting for confounding factors using multivariate logistic regression, the high starting Gn dosage was found to be an independent risk factor for decreased live birth rate (a OR=0.659, 95% CI: 0.462-0.941, P=0.022). There were no significant differences in perinatal outcomes among the groups, regardless of whether confounding factors were adjusted for (all P>0.05). Conclusion:In young patients with expected poor prognosis undergoing their first ovarian stimulation with the long-acting follicular phase protocol, increasing the starting Gn dosage does not increase the number of oocytes retrieved and is associated with a lower blastocyst formation rate and a reduced live birth rate, but does not increase the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.

Objective:To investigate whether there are differences in clinical outcomes and perinatal outcomes associated with different initial dosages of gonadotropin (Gn) in expected poor prognosis young patients, diagnosed according to the POSEIDON criteria, undergoing the early-follicular phase long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) long protocol.Methods:This retrospective cohort study analyzed clinical data from patients who underwent their first in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI)-fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycle at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2022. Patients included in the study were those who underwent ovarian stimulation with the early-follicular phase long-acting GnRH-a long protocol and young expected poor prognosis. Patients were divided into three groups based on the starting Gn dosage: low-dose group (Gn<225 U), medium-dose group (225 U≤Gn<300 U), and high-dose group (Gn=300 U). Clinical and perinatal outcomes were compared among the three groups. Results:A total of 1 659 cycles were included in the study, with 316 cycles in the low-dose group, 536 cycles in the medium-dose group, and 807 cycles in the high-dose group. The number of oocytes retrieved in the high-dose group [6.00 (4.00,9.00)] was less than that in the medium-dose group [8.00 (6.00,11.00)] and the low-dose group [11.00 (7.00,13.00)], which in the medium-dose group was less than that in the low-dose group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.017). There were no significant statistical differences in oocyte maturation rate, normal fertilization rate of IVF/ICSI, or high-quality embryo rate among the three groups (all P>0.05). The blastocyst formation rates decreased sequentially in the low-dose group [20.33% (425/2 090)], medium-dose group [17.28% (510/2 951)], and high-dose group [14.62% (518/3 542)], with significant differences between each pair of groups (all P<0.017). There were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, chromosomal abnormalities in miscarriage tissues, or preterm birth rate among the three groups (all P>0.05). However, the live birth rate was significantly lower in the high-dose group [47.83% (386/807)] than in the low-dose group [57.28% (181/316), P=0.004]. After adjusting for confounding factors using multivariate logistic regression, the high starting Gn dosage was found to be an independent risk factor for decreased live birth rate (a OR=0.659, 95% CI: 0.462-0.941, P=0.022). There were no significant differences in perinatal outcomes among the groups, regardless of whether confounding factors were adjusted for (all P>0.05). Conclusion:In young patients with expected poor prognosis undergoing their first ovarian stimulation with the long-acting follicular phase protocol, increasing the starting Gn dosage does not increase the number of oocytes retrieved and is associated with a lower blastocyst formation rate and a reduced live birth rate, but does not increase the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.

The development of information technology in the medical industry is accelerating the construction of 3-level rehabilitation networks centering on community-based rehabilitation, which is based on the Internet and in combination with the Internet of things(IOT). A municipal rehabilitation hospital cooperated with the health centers of sub-district communities in the city to build a remote rehabilitation network based on IOT technology, for rehabilitation training of community stroke patients. The two sides worked out a cooperation scheme on project management, designed and built a remote community rehabilitation management model. Under the remote monitoring and equipment data IOT, the medical team of the municipal rehabilitation hospital could formulate the therapeutic plan according to the immediately obtained relevant functional evaluation data, and the medical team of the community health service center was responsible for the implementation of the plan. Fifty-three patients in the experimental group received the training of remote lower limb intelligent feedback system based on IOT together with routine rehabilitation training. After 8 weeks of treatment, the functional evaluation data of the two groups were improved in varying degrees( P< 0.05), but the improvement of the experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group( P < 0.05). Remote rehabilitation under the construction path of remote rehabilitation network based on IOT technology could significantly promote the improvement of post-functional rehabilitation of community stroke patients. This study can provide reference for the construction of three-level remote rehabilitation networks based on IOT and the implementation of home-based remote rehabilitation therapy in the future.

Objective To research the clinical efficacy and nursing on treatment of idiopathic choroidal neovascularization by intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs. Methods From January 2011 to May 2013, a total of 36 cases of idiopathic choroidal neovascularization were given intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs. Psychological care was used to eliminate patients′tension and fear, and to establish the confidence of overcoming the disease. Preoperative and postoperative care and disease health guidance were given to patients. Results 36 patients had stable psychological state and could coordinate well with treatment and care. During the 8 to 96 weeks follow up, all patients′ vision had begun to improve after 1 week, and stabilized after 4 weeks. Conclusions Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF treatment can subside choroidal neovascularization quickly, and improve vision rapidly, and significantly shorten the recovery course. Good psychological care of patients before surgery, enhancing patients′postoperative care and health guidance could shorten the course of disease, and improved the quality of nursing service.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the synergistic antibacterial effect of xylitol and ursolic acid (UA) against oral biofilms in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: S. mutans UA 159 (wild type), S. mutans KCOM 1207, KCOM 1128 and S. sobrinus ATCC 33478 were used. The susceptibility of S. mutans to UA and xylitol was evaluated using a broth microdilution method. Based on the results, combined susceptibility was evaluated using optimal inhibitory combinations (OIC), optimal bactericidal combinations (OBC), and fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC). The anti-biofilm activity of xylitol and UA on Streptococcus spp. was evaluated by growing cells in 24-well polystyrene microtiter plates for the biofilm assay. Significant mean differences among experimental groups were determined by Fisher's Least Significant Difference (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The synergistic interactions between xylitol and UA were observed against all tested strains, showing the FICs < 1. The combined treatment of xylitol and UA inhibited the biofilm formation significantly and also prevented pH decline to critical value of 5.5 effectively. The biofilm disassembly was substantially influenced by different age of biofilm when exposed to the combined treatment of xylitol and UA. Comparing to the single strain, relatively higher concentration of xylitol and UA was needed for inhibiting and disassembling biofilm formed by a mixed culture of S. mutans 159 and S. sobrinus 33478. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that xylitol and UA, synergistic inhibitors, can be a potential agent for enhancing the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm efficacy against S. mutans and S. sobrinus in the oral environment.
Biofilms* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Polystyrenes ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus mutans ; Streptococcus sobrinus ; Xylitol*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) protein of PML protein in Bowen's disease (BD), skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and explore the role of PML in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

METHODSPML protein in normal skin tissues and lesions of Bowen's disease, SCC and BCC were detected with immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSNormal skin tissues did not express PML protein. In BCC, PML showed rather low expressions in the skin lesions (8.69% in cell nuclei and 4.35% in cytoplasm). The lesions in BD and SCC (grade I and II) showed obvious overexpression of PML protein in the cell nuclei and cytoplasm, and its expression in the cell nuclei of these lesions was significantly higher than that in grade III-IV SCC.

CONCLUSIONPML protein may play an important role in the early stage of SCC, and its overexpression may contribute to the carcinogenesis and metastasis of SCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Bowen's Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of topical treatment with adenovirus-mediated promyelocytic leukemia gene (PML) gene in a psoriasis-like mouse model.

METHODSThe effect of adenovirus-mediated PML gene on the granular layer of mouse tail scale epidermis and epithelial mitosis were observed on longitudinal histological sections prepared from the tail skin and vaginal epithelium of the mice.

RESULTSAdenovirus-mediated PML gene significantly inhibited mitosis of mouse vaginal epithelial cells and promoted the formation of granular layer in mouse tail scale epidermis.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of PML gene in the psoriasis-like mouse model may be associated with increased granular cells and suppressed epidemic cell proliferation.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Administration, Topical ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Mitosis ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Psoriasis ; therapy ; Skin ; cytology ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; Vagina ; cytology