Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) that causes oral mucosal tissue sclerosis, and even cancer transformation, is a chronic, progressive fibrosis disease. However, despite some advancements in recent years, no targeted antifibrotic strategies for OSF have been approved; likely because the complicated mechanisms that initiate and drive fibrosis remain to be determined. In this review, we briefly introduce the epidemiology and etiology of OSF. Then, we highlight how cell-intrinsic changes in significant structural cells can drive fibrotic response by regulating biological behaviors, secretion function, and activation of ECM-producing myofibroblasts. In addition, we also discuss the role of innate and adaptive immune cells and how they contribute to the pathogenesis of OSF. Finally, we summarize strategies to interrupt key mechanisms that cause OSF, including modulation of the ECM, inhibition of inflammation, improvement of vascular disturbance. This review will provide potential routes for developing novel anti-OSF therapeutics.
Humans ; Oral Submucous Fibrosis/immunology* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Myofibroblasts

Astragali Radix (AR) and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma (NR) are frequently employed in cardiovascular disease treatment. However, the efficacy of the AR-NR medicine pair (AN) in improving cardiac remodeling and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate AN's cardioprotective effect and potential mechanism on cardiac remodeling using transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice and angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) and fibroblasts in vitro. High-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) characterized 23 main components of AN. AN significantly improved cardiac function in the TAC-induced mice. Furthermore, AN considerably reduced the serum levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin T (CTn-T), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and mitigated inflammatory cell infiltration. Post-AN treatment, TAC-induced heart size approached normal. AN decreased cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and attenuated the upregulation of cardiac hypertrophy marker genes (ANP, BNP, and MYH7) in vivo and in vitro. Concurrently, AN alleviated collagen deposition in TAC-induced mice. AN also reduced the expression of fibrosis-related indicators (COL1A1 and COL3A1) and inhibited the activation of the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (Smad3) pathway. Thus, AN improved TAC-induced cardiac remodeling. Moreover, AN downregulated p-dynamin-related protein (Drp1) (Ser616) expression and upregulated mitogen 2 (MFN-2) and optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) expression in vivo and in vitro, thereby restoring mitochondrial fusion and fission balance. In conclusion, AN improves cardiac remodeling by regulating mitochondrial dynamic balance, providing experimental data for the rational application of Chinese medicine prescriptions with AN as the main component in clinical practice.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Mice ; Rats ; Male ; Mitochondrial Dynamics/drug effects* ; Ventricular Remodeling/drug effects* ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Rhizome/chemistry* ; Panax notoginseng/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/genetics* ; Humans ; Angiotensin II ; Astragalus propinquus

Objective To explore the changes of related angles of knee joint in adults in recent 30 years according to the angle value of knee joint compiled by Qi Zhongzheng in 1984,to provide the basis for clinical individualized diagnosis and treatment.Methods 102 healthy volunteers underwent digital X-ray photography of lower limbs.The femoral angle,tibial angle and femoral tibial angle of bilateral knee joints were measured and compared with historical reference value.The correlation between height,weight,BMI and each angle was evaluated.The differences between different sides and different genders were also analyzed.Results There were statistical differences between the mean value and historical mean value of femoral angle,tibial angle and femoral tibial angle (P＜0.001).In female volunteers,the height was weakly correlated with tibial angle and femoral tibial angle (P＜0.05),the weight was weakly correlated with femoral angle (P＜0.01),and the weight was moderately correlated with femoral tibial angle (P＜0.0 1).BMI was weakly correlated with femoral angle or femoral tibial angle (P＜0.05).There were significant differences in femoral angle (right),tibial angle and femoral tibial angle between different genders (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion In the last 30 years,there is a statistical difference between the angle value of the knee joint and the historical reference value.There is also a statistical difference in knee joint angle value between both genders.And in female volunteers,height,weight and BMI show some correlations with the knee joint angle value.However,the cross-sectional survey data of multicenter,large sample size and the whole population are still necessarily needed for further study.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the compatible stability of Voriconazole for injection after mixed with Fructose injec-tion or Invert sugar injection. METHODS:Referring to package inserts,Voriconazole for injection 200 mg was dissolved with Wa-ter for injection to 20 mL,and then combined with Fructose injection 250 mL and Invert sugar injection 250 mL,respectively. At room temperature,the appearance of mixtures were observed 0,1,2,3,4,5 h after mixing,and pH value and the number of in-soluble particles were determined;the content of voriconazole was determined by HPLC. RESULTS:Under above condition,the appearance and pH value of mixtures had no significant change within 5 h;the number of particles ≥10 μm and ≥25 μm were all in line with the standard of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 edition);the relative content of voriconazole was decreasing (95.28%-100%),but it changed within ±5%(RSD<2%,n=6). CONCLUSIONS:Voriconazole for injection could keep stable within 5 h after mixed with Fructose injection or Invert sugar injection.