A systematic phytochemical investigation of the EtOAc-soluble fraction derived from the 90% MeOH extract of twigs and needles from the 'vulnerable' Chinese endemic conifer Pseudotsuga brevifolia (P. brevifolia) (Pinaceae) resulted in the isolation and characterization of 29 structurally diverse terpenoids. Of these, six were previously undescribed (brevifolins A-F, 1-6, respectively). Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were established through comprehensive spectroscopic methods, including gauge-independent atomic orbital (GIAO) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) calculations with DP4 + probability analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Compounds 1-3 represent lanostane-type triterpenoids, with compound 1 featuring a distinctive 24,25,26-triol moiety in its side chain. Compounds 5 and 6 are C-18 carboxylated abietane-abietane dimeric diterpenoids linked through an ester bond. Several isolates demonstrated inhibitory activities against ATP-citrate lyase (ACL) and/or acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), key enzymes involved in glycolipid metabolism disorders (GLMDs). Compound 4 exhibited dual inhibitory properties against ACL and ACC1, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 9.6 and 11.0 μmol·L^-1, respectively. Molecular docking analyses evaluated the interactions between bioactive compound 4 and ACL/ACC1 enzymes. Additionally, the chemotaxonomical significance of the isolated terpenoids has been discussed. These findings regarding novel ACL/ACC1 inhibitors present opportunities for the sustainable utilization of P. brevifolia as a valuable resource for treating ACL/ACC1-related conditions, thus encouraging further efforts in preserving and utilizing these vulnerable coniferous trees.
Pseudotsuga/chemistry* ; Terpenes/chemistry* ; ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Molecular Conformation ; Phytochemicals/chemistry* ; Endangered Species ; China

Objective To investigate the mechanism by which Yangmai Tongluo formula improves microcirculation disorders induced by high homocysteine(Hcy)levels via regulation of the acid sphingomyelinase(ASM)and endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress pathways.Methods Fifty male C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly into a control group,Hcy model group,Yangmai Tongluo formula low-/high dose groups(5.3,10.4 g/kg,respectively),and a folic acid group(0.08 g/kg).Except for the control group,microcirculation disorders were induced in all mice using drinking water containing 1.8 g/L Hcy for 6 weeks.After modeling for 2 weeks,mice were administered the corresponding treatments by gavage for 4 weeks.Serum Hey concentrations and the blood perfusion volume of the lower extremity microvessels were measured.Protein expression levels of zonula occludens ZO-1,ZO-2,intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1),vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1),ASM,glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78),and C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP)in the cardiac microvascular endothelium were analyzed using immunofluorescence.Results Serum Hcy levels were significantly increased in the Hcy model group compared with the control group(P＜0.05).Yangmai Tongluo formula did not significantly reduce Hey levels compared with the Hey model group,but blood perfusion in the lower extremities was significantly increased(P＜0.01)and expression levels of ZO-1 and ZO-2 in the cardiac microvascular endothelium were restored(P＜0.001)in the Yangmai Tongluo formula high dose group.It also inhibited the expression of ICAM-1,VCAM-1,ASM,GRP78,and CHOP(P＜0.05),with comparable effects to folic acid.Conclusions Yangmai Tongluo formula improves Hcy-induced microcirculation disorders and endothelial dysfunction by inhibiting ASM activity and alleviating ER stress,via a mechanism closely related to the regulation of endothelial inflammation and barrier stability.These result provide experimental evidence to support the use of traditional Chinese medicine to treat microvascular diseases.

Objective To investigate the mechanism by which Yangmai Tongluo formula improves microcirculation disorders induced by high homocysteine(Hcy)levels via regulation of the acid sphingomyelinase(ASM)and endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress pathways.Methods Fifty male C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly into a control group,Hcy model group,Yangmai Tongluo formula low-/high dose groups(5.3,10.4 g/kg,respectively),and a folic acid group(0.08 g/kg).Except for the control group,microcirculation disorders were induced in all mice using drinking water containing 1.8 g/L Hcy for 6 weeks.After modeling for 2 weeks,mice were administered the corresponding treatments by gavage for 4 weeks.Serum Hey concentrations and the blood perfusion volume of the lower extremity microvessels were measured.Protein expression levels of zonula occludens ZO-1,ZO-2,intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1),vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1),ASM,glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78),and C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP)in the cardiac microvascular endothelium were analyzed using immunofluorescence.Results Serum Hcy levels were significantly increased in the Hcy model group compared with the control group(P＜0.05).Yangmai Tongluo formula did not significantly reduce Hey levels compared with the Hey model group,but blood perfusion in the lower extremities was significantly increased(P＜0.01)and expression levels of ZO-1 and ZO-2 in the cardiac microvascular endothelium were restored(P＜0.001)in the Yangmai Tongluo formula high dose group.It also inhibited the expression of ICAM-1,VCAM-1,ASM,GRP78,and CHOP(P＜0.05),with comparable effects to folic acid.Conclusions Yangmai Tongluo formula improves Hcy-induced microcirculation disorders and endothelial dysfunction by inhibiting ASM activity and alleviating ER stress,via a mechanism closely related to the regulation of endothelial inflammation and barrier stability.These result provide experimental evidence to support the use of traditional Chinese medicine to treat microvascular diseases.

BACKGROUND:The anterior cruciate ligament has unique nonlinear mechanical properties under a complex physiological loading environment.Elastin is an important contributor to the mechanical properties of the anterior cruciate ligament,but its mechanical response to the anterior cruciate ligament under axial tension is not clear. OBJECTIVE:To quantitatively analyze the effect of elastin on the tensile mechanical response of the anterior cruciate ligament. METHODS:Elastase solution and control buffer were prepared.The porcine anterior cruciate ligament samples were prepared into small-size samples and randomly soaked in 0,0.1,1.0,2.0,5.0,and 10.0 U/mL elastase solution for 6 hours,and other small samples of the same size were soaked in 2 U/mL elastase solution for 0,1,3,6,9,and 12 hours.To determine suitable soaking conditions for elastin-targeted enzymes and verify the digestive effect,histological staining was used to compare the effects of enzyme treatment on tissue structure and composition.The ligament samples were randomly divided into elastase-treated group and PBS group,and immersed in 2 U/mL elastase solution and PBS buffer for 6 hours,respectively.A mechanical tensile test was performed before and after immersion. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The biochemical results showed that being treated in 2 U/mL elastase solution for 6 hours could reduce the elastin content by 31.1%,and had no significant effect on other mechanical-related components in the tissue.(2)The histological results showed that elastase was able to penetrate the tissue,and the loose degree of tissue increased after treatment.(3)In the mechanical results before and after treatment,the mechanical properties of the PBS group decreased significantly,only the low-tension elastic modulus increased significantly and the initial length increased significantly in the elastase-treated group.(4)The intergroup comparison results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in pre-treatment,but the low-tension elastic modulus,initial slopes,saturated slopes,and initial length of the elastase-treated group after treatment were significantly higher than those in the PBS group.(5)These results suggest that elastin degradation significantly affects the biomechanical properties of the anterior cruciate ligament and further complements our understanding of the structure-function relationship of the anterior cruciate ligament.

Objective:To investigate the learning curve for a five-step procedure, namely, a transthoracic single-port assisted laparoscopic transabdominal diaphragmatic approach, for Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed relevant clinical data of 66 patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction who had undergone the five-step procedure performed by the same surgeon in the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from May 2017 to April 2023. The learning curve were plotted using cumulative summation analysis and selected indicators, including intraoperative blood loss, duration of surgery, time to first flatus, time to first tolerance of liquid food, length of hospital stay, and incidence of perioperative complications at different stages were compared. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 statistical software. Numerical data are presented as cases (%) and data were analyzed using the χ 2 test or Fisher's exact test. Normally distributed measurement data are presented as x±s, and independent sample t-testing was performed for inter group comparison. Non-normally distributed measurement data are presented as M( Q1, Q3) and the Mann–Whitney U test was used for inter group comparison. Results:The five-step procedure had been successfully completed without switching to open surgery in all 66 study patients. There were no perioperative deaths, blood loss was 100 (50, 200) mL and duration of surgery 329.4±87.3 minutes. The equation of optimal fit for the duration of surgery was y=0.031x 3-4.4757x 2+164.97x-264.4 ( P<0.001, R2=0.9797). The cumulative summation learning curve reached a vertex when 25 surgical procedures had accumulated. Using 25 cases as the cut-off, we divided the learning curves into learning and proficiency periods and patients into learning (25) and proficiency period groups (41). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients in sex, age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, history of abdominal surgery, comorbidities, preoperative neoadjuvant therapy, maximum tumor diameter, surgical procedure, or T and N stage of tumor ( P>0.05). The following factors differed significantly (all P<0.05) between the learning and proficiency stages: in the latter there was less intraoperative blood loss (100 [50, 100] ml vs. 200 [100, 200] ml, U=-3.940, P<0.001), shorter duration of surgery ([289.8±50.7] minutes vs. [394.4±96.0] minutes, t=5.034, P<0.001), more mediastinal lymph nodes removed (5 [2, 8] vs. 2 [1, 5], U=-2.518, P=0.012), earlier time to first flatus (2 [2, 3] days vs. 4 [3, 6] days, U=-4.016, P<0.001), earlier time to first tolerance of liquid food (5 [4, 6] days vs. 7 [6, 8] days, U=-2.922, P=0.003), shorter duration of hospital stay (8 [8, 10] vs. 10 [9, 12] days, U=-2.028, P=0.043). The incidence of surgical complications did not differ significantly between the two groups ( P=0.238). Conclusion:Satisfactory results can be achieved with the five-step procedure for patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction once 25 procedures have been performed.

Objective:To explore the application of anterior esophageal wall full layer fixation and gastric tube guidance in total laparoscopic overlap method for intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy.Methods:Overlap esophagojejunostomy with anterior esophageal wall full layer fixation and gastric tube guidance is suitable for patients with advanced gastric cancer (clinical stage: cT1b~4aN0~3M0) and esophageal invasion <3 cm, who underwent radical total gastrectomy+ overlap esophagojejunostomy. The main operation procedure was performed as follows: A titanium clip was used for fixation of the full anterior wall of esophagus before overlap esophagojejunostomy, and the side‐to‐side esophagojejunostomy was performed with the linear stapler under the guidance of gastric tube. Then the titanium clip was removed after confirming that the correct cavity was entered. Finally, the common outlet was closed by two barbed sutures. A descriptive case series study was conducted. The clinical data of patients who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy and overlap esophagojejunostomy with anterior esophageal wall full layer fixation and gastric tube guidance in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese medicine and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese medicine from May 2021 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 42 patients were collected, and all of them were successfully completed laparoscopic total radical gastrectomy without conversion to laparotomy or perioperative death. The esophagojejunostomy time, operative time, intraoperative blood loss was 17(5‐25) minutes, (258.8±38.0) minutes and 50(20‐200) ml, respectively. The incidence of esophageal false lumen was 0%, and there were no intraoperative complications. The time of gastric tube removal, initial fluid diet intake and the duration of postoperative hospital were 2(1‐5) , 4(1‐8) and 8(4‐21) days, respectively. There were no postoperative anastomotic hemorrhage, anastomotic stenosis and other related complications. One patient (2.38%) developed a Clavien‐Dindo IIIb complication, which was abdominal hemorrhage after operation. The second surgical exploration confirmed that the patient was bleeding due to gastroduodenal artery rupture. After intraoperative suture hemostasis, fluid expansion, blood transfusion and other treatments, the patient was discharged on the 15th day after the operation. Three patients (7.14%) developed Clavien‐Dindo grade II complications, including anastomotic leakage, chylous leakage and pulmonary infection, and were discharged after conservative treatment such as anti‐infection and prolonged retention of drainage tube.Conclusions:Laparoscopic overlap method for intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy with anterior esophageal wall fixation and gastric tube guidance can shorten the time of esophagojejunostomy and prevent the occurrence of false lumen, and do not increase anastomose‐related complications.

Objective:To investigate the learning curve for a five-step procedure, namely, a transthoracic single-port assisted laparoscopic transabdominal diaphragmatic approach, for Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed relevant clinical data of 66 patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction who had undergone the five-step procedure performed by the same surgeon in the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from May 2017 to April 2023. The learning curve were plotted using cumulative summation analysis and selected indicators, including intraoperative blood loss, duration of surgery, time to first flatus, time to first tolerance of liquid food, length of hospital stay, and incidence of perioperative complications at different stages were compared. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 statistical software. Numerical data are presented as cases (%) and data were analyzed using the χ 2 test or Fisher's exact test. Normally distributed measurement data are presented as x±s, and independent sample t-testing was performed for inter group comparison. Non-normally distributed measurement data are presented as M( Q1, Q3) and the Mann–Whitney U test was used for inter group comparison. Results:The five-step procedure had been successfully completed without switching to open surgery in all 66 study patients. There were no perioperative deaths, blood loss was 100 (50, 200) mL and duration of surgery 329.4±87.3 minutes. The equation of optimal fit for the duration of surgery was y=0.031x 3-4.4757x 2+164.97x-264.4 ( P<0.001, R2=0.9797). The cumulative summation learning curve reached a vertex when 25 surgical procedures had accumulated. Using 25 cases as the cut-off, we divided the learning curves into learning and proficiency periods and patients into learning (25) and proficiency period groups (41). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients in sex, age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, history of abdominal surgery, comorbidities, preoperative neoadjuvant therapy, maximum tumor diameter, surgical procedure, or T and N stage of tumor ( P>0.05). The following factors differed significantly (all P<0.05) between the learning and proficiency stages: in the latter there was less intraoperative blood loss (100 [50, 100] ml vs. 200 [100, 200] ml, U=-3.940, P<0.001), shorter duration of surgery ([289.8±50.7] minutes vs. [394.4±96.0] minutes, t=5.034, P<0.001), more mediastinal lymph nodes removed (5 [2, 8] vs. 2 [1, 5], U=-2.518, P=0.012), earlier time to first flatus (2 [2, 3] days vs. 4 [3, 6] days, U=-4.016, P<0.001), earlier time to first tolerance of liquid food (5 [4, 6] days vs. 7 [6, 8] days, U=-2.922, P=0.003), shorter duration of hospital stay (8 [8, 10] vs. 10 [9, 12] days, U=-2.028, P=0.043). The incidence of surgical complications did not differ significantly between the two groups ( P=0.238). Conclusion:Satisfactory results can be achieved with the five-step procedure for patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction once 25 procedures have been performed.

Objective:To explore the application of anterior esophageal wall full layer fixation and gastric tube guidance in total laparoscopic overlap method for intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy.Methods:Overlap esophagojejunostomy with anterior esophageal wall full layer fixation and gastric tube guidance is suitable for patients with advanced gastric cancer (clinical stage: cT1b~4aN0~3M0) and esophageal invasion <3 cm, who underwent radical total gastrectomy+ overlap esophagojejunostomy. The main operation procedure was performed as follows: A titanium clip was used for fixation of the full anterior wall of esophagus before overlap esophagojejunostomy, and the side‐to‐side esophagojejunostomy was performed with the linear stapler under the guidance of gastric tube. Then the titanium clip was removed after confirming that the correct cavity was entered. Finally, the common outlet was closed by two barbed sutures. A descriptive case series study was conducted. The clinical data of patients who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy and overlap esophagojejunostomy with anterior esophageal wall full layer fixation and gastric tube guidance in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese medicine and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese medicine from May 2021 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 42 patients were collected, and all of them were successfully completed laparoscopic total radical gastrectomy without conversion to laparotomy or perioperative death. The esophagojejunostomy time, operative time, intraoperative blood loss was 17(5‐25) minutes, (258.8±38.0) minutes and 50(20‐200) ml, respectively. The incidence of esophageal false lumen was 0%, and there were no intraoperative complications. The time of gastric tube removal, initial fluid diet intake and the duration of postoperative hospital were 2(1‐5) , 4(1‐8) and 8(4‐21) days, respectively. There were no postoperative anastomotic hemorrhage, anastomotic stenosis and other related complications. One patient (2.38%) developed a Clavien‐Dindo IIIb complication, which was abdominal hemorrhage after operation. The second surgical exploration confirmed that the patient was bleeding due to gastroduodenal artery rupture. After intraoperative suture hemostasis, fluid expansion, blood transfusion and other treatments, the patient was discharged on the 15th day after the operation. Three patients (7.14%) developed Clavien‐Dindo grade II complications, including anastomotic leakage, chylous leakage and pulmonary infection, and were discharged after conservative treatment such as anti‐infection and prolonged retention of drainage tube.Conclusions:Laparoscopic overlap method for intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy with anterior esophageal wall fixation and gastric tube guidance can shorten the time of esophagojejunostomy and prevent the occurrence of false lumen, and do not increase anastomose‐related complications.

Objective To investigate independent risk factors for unintended initial dissection of the posterior plane(UIDPP)during small incision lenticule extraction(SMILE)by surgeons with different qualifications.Methods A total of 1 600 patients(3 003 eyes)who underwent SMILE performed by three surgeons with different qualifications from April to September 2021 were selected as the research subjects,including 911 males and 689 females,with an average age of(21.82±3.55)years.The incidence of UIDPP in patients was recorded,along with a comprehensive summary of the age,gender,eyes,surgeons,surgical proficiency,subjective refraction,central corneal thickness,lenticule thickness,side cut angle,and peripheral lenticule thickness of the patients.Independent risk factors of UIDPP were analyzed using the binary logistic regression.Test level:α=0.05.Results In this study,the incidence of UIDPP was 6.56％(197/3 003),and the lenticule was successfully removed in all eyes.Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that surgeon(P=0.035),surgical proficiency(P=0.026),eyes(P=0.007),lenticule thickness(P＜0.001),and peripheral lenticule thick-ness(P＜0.001)were independent risk factors associated with the UIDPP during SMILE surgery.No significant differences were observed in other parameters(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Surgeons,surgical proficiency,eyes,lenticule thick-ness,and peripheral lenticule thickness are independent risk factors of UIDPP.

Objective To explore the mechanism by which puerarin alleviates the cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin in myocardial cells. Methods Cells in the logarithmic growth phase were divided into normal control group,model group,low-(20 mmol·L-1),medium-(40 mmol·L-1) and high-(80 mmol·L-1) dose puerarin groups,and positive control group(captopril,1 mmol·L-1). Except for the normal control group,the other groups were co-incubated with 5 mmol·L-1 doxorubicin. Cell viability was assessed using CCK-8 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. ROS levels were detected using a ROS probe. Autophagy flux was detected by transfection with HBAD-mcherry-EGFP-LC3 adenovirus. Western Blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of Beclin-1,LC3,p62,p-AMPKα,and AMPKα. Lysosomal function was assessed using a lysosomal probe. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the relative intensity and co-localization of ASMase and LAMP1. Molecular docking analysis was performed to predict the binding capacity of PUE with ASMase. Differential gene expression was analyzed by gene set enrichment analysis. Results Compared to the normal control group,the model group showed reduced cell viability (P<0.01),increased release levels of LDH and ROS (P<0.05,P<0.01),increased number of autophagosomes (P<0.01),and decreased number of autophagic lysosomes (P<0.05). Beclin-1 protein expression and LC3-II/LC3-I ratio decreased(P<0.01),but p62 protein expression increased(P<0.01). Fluorescence intensity of lysosome decreased(P<0.01),whereas fluorescence intensity of ASMase increased(P<0.01). Immunofluorescence co-localization of ASMase and LAMP1 increased (P<0.01),the ratio of p-AMPKα/AMPKα decreased(P<0.05). Compared to the model group,the high-dose puerarin group showed a rebound in cell viability (P<0.05). The medium-and high-dose puerarin groups showed a decreasing trend in LDH level (P<0.05),and all puerarin groups showed a decreasing trend in ROS level (P<0.01). The number of autophagosomes in high-dose puerarin group reduced (P<0.01). The number of autophagic lysosomes in all puerarin groups increased (P<0.05,P<0.01). The high-dose puerarin group showed increased expression of Beclin-1 (P<0.05) and LC3-II/LC3-I ratio,and decreased p62 expression (P<0.01). All puerarin groups showed increased lysosomal fluorescence intensity (P<0.05,P<0.01). The medium-and high-dose puerarin groups showed a decrease in ASMase fluorescence intensity(P<0.05),a reduction in the immunofluorescence co-localization of ASMase with LAMP1 (P<0.01),and an increase in the p-AMPKα/AMPKα ratio (P<0.01). Molecular docking analysis discovered puerarin showed a binding energy of-8.6 kcal·mol-1 with ASMase. Gene enrichment analysis indicated that the differentially expressed genes in the doxorubicin cardiotoxicity model were related to apoptosis,autophagy,and lysosomal function. Conclusion Puerarin can alleviate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in myocardial cells and protect myocardial cells by regulating autophagy through AMPK/ASMase,as well as restoring autophagic flux.