To investigate the mechanism of action of Syngnathus extract in treating knee osteoarthritis of rats, forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group, model group, positive drug group, as well as low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups of Syngnathus extract. The rat model of knee osteoarthritis was constructed by intra-articular injection of sodium iodoacetate. After successful modeling, celecoxib(18 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) and Syngnathus extract(0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) were given in different groups by gavage intervention for two weeks. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of cartilage in knee joints, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the expression level of inflammatory factors in serum. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target protein of rapamycin(mTOR) pathway-related mRNA and protein expression. The results showed that, comparied with the blank group, the cartilage surface of the knee joints of rats in the model group was uneven, with disorganized levels and defective cartilage tissue. The serum levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and the mRNA levels of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR in cartilage tissue, as well as the protein expression levels of phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K)/PI3K, phosphorylated Akt(p-Akt)/Akt, phosphorylated mTOR(p-mTOR)/mTOR, and P62 were significantly increased. Beclin1 protein expression was decreased. Comparied with the model group, the number of chondrocytes in the knee joint of rats in each group of Syngnathus extract increased, and the arrangement of chondrocytes was relatively neat. The cartilage layer was restored, and the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as the mRNA expression levels of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR in cartilage tissue were significantly reduced. The protein expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, p-mTOR/mTOR, and P62 were significantly reduced in the rats in the middle-dose and high-dose groups of Syngnathus extract, and the Beclin1 protein expression was significantly increased. The protein expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, and P62 in rats in the low-dose group of Syngnathus extract were significantly reduced. In summary, Syngnathus extract may be used to treat knee osteoarthritis by inhibiting the expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, so as to alleviate the inflammatory response in the organism, enhance the autophagy activity of chondrocytes, and reduce the apoptosis of chondrocytes.
Animals ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Rats ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Humans

This study predicts the potential mechanism of Hippocampus in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis(KOA) through network pharmacology, with preliminary verification using molecular docking and animal experiments. The database was used to screen the active chemical components of Hippocampus and the targets of KOA, and Gene Ontology(GO) functional analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and molecular docking were performed on the relevant core targets to preliminarily explore the potential targets and mechanisms of Hippocampus in the treatment of KOA. A rat KOA model was constructed by intra-articular injection of sodium iodoacetate, and the rats were intervened with different doses of Hippocampus decoction and celecoxib. The expression of relevant targets was detected through hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), RT-qPCR, and Western blot to further validate the network pharmacology results. A total of 23 drug-like components of the Hippocampus were screened, and 128 common targets with KOA were identified, involving interleukin-17(IL-17) signaling pathway, transcription factor(FoxO) signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor(TNF) signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that the screened core chemical components exhibited good affinity with key targets. HE staining demonstrated that Hippocampus improved the morphology of the cartilage layer. ELISA confirmed that Hippocampus significantly reduced the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the serum of KOA rats. Western blot and RT-qPCR analysis showed that Hippocampus significantly reduced the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, matrix metalloproteinase(MMP) 13, IL-17A, nuclear factor κB activator 1(ACT1), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6) and nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) in cartilage tissue. The results suggest that Hippocampus can alleviate the degree of joint damage in the KOA rat model induced by sodium iodoacetate. The mechanism of action is related to the inhibition of the IL-17 signaling pathway, reduction of inflammation, and inhibition of extracellular matrix(ECM) degradation.
Animals ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Rats ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Network Pharmacology ; Male ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Humans ; Interleukin-17/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus/chemistry*

Objective To explore the mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty(IU)and moderating role of the negative emotion differentiation in the influence of perceived stress on anxiety among college students from a cognitive perspective.Methods A total of 271 participants were surveyed using the perceived stress scale,intolerance of uncertainty scale,depression anxiety and stress scale(Chinese version),and the test on negative emotional differentiation.SPSS 22.0 was used to perform descriptive statistics and correlation analyses and to test the moderated mediation model.Results Perceived stress affected anxiety and IU played a mediating role-perceived stress could affect anxiety through influencing IU.At the same time,the influence of IU on anxiety could be adjusted through the negative emotion differentiation.The higher the degree of negative emotion differentiation,the lower the degree of anxiety increase(β=0.17,t=5.70,P＜0.01).Conclusion It may be effective to develop training programs to reduce anxiety by regulating perceived stress,increasing acceptance of uncertainty,and improving the negative emotion differentiation,which can help individuals reduce anxiety by perceiving and adjusting anxiety-related emotional or cognitive factors in a timely manner.

Objective To analyze the diagnostic process and clinical characteristics of autoimmune gastritis(AIG)in order to improve the awareness and diagnostic proficiency of this disease.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 114 patients diagnosed with AIG in Army Medical Center of PLA between January 2021 and June 2024.Comprehensive statistical analysis was performed on clinical data,including demographic characteristics(age,sex),clinical symptoms,comorbidities,diagnostic process,Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection and treatment history,laboratory indicators[results of routine blood test,anemia-related indices,thyroid function,anti-parietal cell antibody(APCA),intrinsic factor antibody(IFA)],and gastrointestinal endoscopic findings(frequency and endoscopic features).Results Among the 114 patients,males accounted for 28.1%(32/114)and females for 71.9%(82/114),and they were at a mean age of 56.3±8.4 years.Predominant symptoms included epigastric/upper abdominal pain(47.4%,54/114)and postprandial fullness(43.0%,49/114),while 24.6%(28/114)reported acid reflux or heartburn.Diagnostic delay occurred in 76.4%(87/114)of patients,with a median delay duration of 11.5 months.Primary diagnostic clues were endoscopic reverse gradient atrophy(significantly more severe mucosal atrophy in the gastric corpus/fundus versus antrum;53.5%,61/114)and repeated H.pylori eradication failure(≥2 attempts;22.8%,26/114).Positivity rate of thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb)and thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb)was 56.9%(33/58)and 36.2%(21/58),respectively.APCA positive rate was 98.8%(81/82),IFA positive rate was 34.1%(28/82),and dual-antibody rate was 32.9%(27/82).Anemia was present in 25.7%(26/101)of the patients.Gastric neuroendocrine tumors(NET)were found in 12.2%(14/114),intraepithelial neoplasia in 5.3%(6/114),and gastric adenocarcinoma in 0.9%(1/114).Among colonoscopy-examined patients,tubular adenomas occurred in 25.0%(13/52)and colorectal malignancies in 3.4%(2/58).There were 18.4%(21/114)patients having gallbladder-related diseases,7.9%(9/114)having diabetes mellitus,and 1.8%(2/114)of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord.Conclusion AIG is frequently associated with diagnostic delay.The reverse pattern of atrophy on endoscopy serves as a critical diagnostic clue,necessitating enhanced recognition in endoscopists.Patients with recurrent H.pylori eradication failure(≥2 attempts)should be evaluated for AIG.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Objective:Explore the feasibility and advantages of using proximal and distal ends of thoracodosal artery and vein as recipient vessels in deep inferior epigastric perforator flap immediate breast reconstruction.Methods:The clinical data of patients who underwent breast reconstruction surgery using the proximal and distal ends of the thoracodorsal vein as recipient vessels at the Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University from March 2022 to June 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Preoperative examinations included thoracoabdominal angiography and color Doppler ultrasonic localization of the main trunk and perforators of the inferior epigastric vessels. The procedure began with mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection, followed by the isolation of bilateral perforators and the main trunk of the abdominal flap. The main trunks of the bilateral inferior epigastric arteries were then transected, and their vascular pedicles exposed and anastomosed respectively to the proximal and distal ends of the thoracodorsal artery and vein. Both arteries and veins were joined end-to-end. The flap after trimming and reconstruction was then implanted into the cavity left after mastectomy through the incision. Breast positioning was performed with the patient in a knee-bent and hip-flexed position. After adjusting the shape of the reconstructed breast. The donor site was closed, the umbilicus was reconstructed, drainage tubes were placed, and the breast incision was closed. Postoperative follow-up monitored complications associated with the flap and patient satisfaction with the breast reconstruction, utilizing a self-assessment method.Results:Four female patients were included, aged (46.0±6.5) years, ranging from 37 to 52 years. All four patients had bilateral vascular pedicles in the donor area, with three patients having thoracodorsal vessels at the distal and proximal ends as recipient vessels, and one patient having anterior serratus branch of the thoracodorsal vessels at the distal and proximal ends. All drainage tubes were removed within 7 to 10 days after surgery. Patients were discharged. Follow-up period ranged from 1 to 15 months, averaging 6 months. The patients recovered well postoperatively, with no flap-related complications occurring. All four patients were satisfied with the result of the reconstruction.Conclusion:The simultaneous application of the proximal and distal ends of the thoracodorsal artery and vein can ensure the safety of flap survival while reducing damage to the ribs and intercostal muscles, achieving better aesthetic result.

Objective To investigate the attributable risk(AR)of Acinetobacter baumannii(AB)infection in criti-cally ill patients.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among adult patients in inten-sive care unit(ICU).Patients with AB isolated from sterile body fluid and confirmed with AB infection in each cen-ter were selected as the infected group.According to the matching criteria that patients should be from the same pe-riod,in the same ICU,as well as with similar APACHE Ⅱ score(±5 points)and primary diagnosis,patients who did not infect with AB were selected as the non-infected group in a 1:2 ratio.The AR was calculated.Results The in-hospital mortality of patients with AB infection in sterile body fluid was 33.3％,and that of non-infected group was 23.1％,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P=0.069).The AR was 10.2％(95％CI:-2.3％-22.8％).There is no statistically significant difference in mortality between non-infected pa-tients and infected patients from whose blood,cerebrospinal fluid and other specimen sources AB were isolated(P＞0.05).After infected with AB,critically ill patients with the major diagnosis of pulmonary infection had the high-est AR.There was no statistically significant difference in mortality between patients in the infected and non-infec-ted groups(P＞0.05),or between other diagnostic classifications.Conclusion The prognosis of AB infection in critically ill patients is highly overestimated,but active healthcare-associated infection control for AB in the ICU should still be carried out.

Objective:Explore the feasibility and advantages of using proximal and distal ends of thoracodosal artery and vein as recipient vessels in deep inferior epigastric perforator flap immediate breast reconstruction.Methods:The clinical data of patients who underwent breast reconstruction surgery using the proximal and distal ends of the thoracodorsal vein as recipient vessels at the Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University from March 2022 to June 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Preoperative examinations included thoracoabdominal angiography and color Doppler ultrasonic localization of the main trunk and perforators of the inferior epigastric vessels. The procedure began with mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection, followed by the isolation of bilateral perforators and the main trunk of the abdominal flap. The main trunks of the bilateral inferior epigastric arteries were then transected, and their vascular pedicles exposed and anastomosed respectively to the proximal and distal ends of the thoracodorsal artery and vein. Both arteries and veins were joined end-to-end. The flap after trimming and reconstruction was then implanted into the cavity left after mastectomy through the incision. Breast positioning was performed with the patient in a knee-bent and hip-flexed position. After adjusting the shape of the reconstructed breast. The donor site was closed, the umbilicus was reconstructed, drainage tubes were placed, and the breast incision was closed. Postoperative follow-up monitored complications associated with the flap and patient satisfaction with the breast reconstruction, utilizing a self-assessment method.Results:Four female patients were included, aged (46.0±6.5) years, ranging from 37 to 52 years. All four patients had bilateral vascular pedicles in the donor area, with three patients having thoracodorsal vessels at the distal and proximal ends as recipient vessels, and one patient having anterior serratus branch of the thoracodorsal vessels at the distal and proximal ends. All drainage tubes were removed within 7 to 10 days after surgery. Patients were discharged. Follow-up period ranged from 1 to 15 months, averaging 6 months. The patients recovered well postoperatively, with no flap-related complications occurring. All four patients were satisfied with the result of the reconstruction.Conclusion:The simultaneous application of the proximal and distal ends of the thoracodorsal artery and vein can ensure the safety of flap survival while reducing damage to the ribs and intercostal muscles, achieving better aesthetic result.

Objective To establish a rapid screening method for 60 types of natural toxins in whole blood by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap high reso-lution mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS).Methods The chromatographic and mass spectro-metric information of 60 standard samples of natural toxins were analyzed and recorded,and a screening database was built.Whole blood was pretreated by protein precipitation method combined with ultrasonic-assisted dispersion,and then a Hypersil GOLDTM C18 column was used with 5 mmol/L ammonium for-mate aqueous solution(containing 0.1%formic acid)and acetonitrile as mobile phase for gradient elu-tion.In the positive ion mode,the data were collected in full scan/data-dependent secondary scan(Full MS/dd-MS2)mode.Based on the established screening library,the rapid screening of 60 types of natural toxins in whole blood was realized by TraceFinder software.Results A UPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS method was developed for the screening of 60 types of natural toxins in whole blood.Except for the limit of detection(LOD)of oxymatrine(20 ng/mL)and strophanthidin(40 ng/mL),the LOD for the other 58 natural toxins was in the range of 0.05-5 ng/mL.Conclusion This method has a simple and efficient pretreatment process and can achieve rapid screening of 60 types of natural toxins in whole blood.