ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Solanum nigrum on hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄） in rats. MethodsSixty SD rats were randomly allocated into blank， model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （0.9， 1.8， 3.6 g·kg^-1， respectively） S. nigrum， and silibinin capsules （18.9 mg·kg^-1） groups. Except the blank group， the other groups were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of 40% CCl₄ solution for the modeling of hepatic fibrosis. After 4 weeks of gavage， blood was collected from the abdominal aorta following intraperitoneal anesthesia. The rats were sacrificed， and the liver was separated. The pathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining. The levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， and liver fibrosis indexes ［type Ⅲ procollagen （PCⅢ）， type Ⅳ collagen （Col Ⅳ）， laminin （LN）， and hyaluronic acid （HA）］ in the rat serum were determined. The mRNA and protein levels of B cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）/Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）/cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3 （Caspase-3） pathway-related factors were determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group exhibited significant hepatocyte edema， infiltration of inflammatory cells， connective tissue proliferation， and collagen fiber deposition in the liver tissue. Compared with the model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose S. nigrum and silymarin capsules significantly improved the structure of liver cells and alleviated the edema， inflammatory cell infiltration， connective tissue proliferation， and collagen fiber deposition. Compared with those in the blank group， the serum levels of ALT， AST， PCⅢ， Col Ⅳ， LN， and HA were elevated in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the serum levels of ALT， AST， PCⅢ， Col Ⅳ， LN， and HA were reduced in all the treatment groups （P<0.05）. Real-time PCR and Western blot results showed that compared with the blank group， the model group had up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2 and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Bax and Caspase-3 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all the treatment groups showed down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2 and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Bax and Caspase-3 （P<0.05）， with the high-dose S. nigrum group showing the best therapeutic effect. ConclusionS. nigrum modulates the progression of hepatic fibrosis in rats by regulating apoptosis through the Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 pathway.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the ameliorative effects and mechanisms of Miao medicine Euphorbia humifusa on hepatic fibrosis （HF） model rats. METHODS Thirty-eight rats were randomly assigned according to a random number table into control group （normal saline， n＝7）， model group （normal saline， n＝7）， E. humifusa low-， medium- and high-dose groups （0.675， 1.35， 2.70 g/kg， n＝6）， and silybin group （positive control， 18.9 mg/kg， n＝6）. All groups except the control group were subjected to HF induction via intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride. After modeling， rats were administered their respective drugs/normal saline by gavage， once a day， for 30 days. At the last medication， the liver index was calculated， and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-17 （IL-17）， IL-1β， IL-6， alanine transaminase （ALT）， aspartate transaminase （AST）， and hydroxyproline （HYP） were measured. Liver morphology and HF changes were observed. Levels of transforming growth factor- β1 （TGF- β1） and α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， as well as the expressions of α -SMA， proteins related to TNF- α/NF- κB signaling pathway， mRNA expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB p65 in liver tissue were determined. RESULTS Compared with model group， liver index， serum levels of TNF-α， IL-17， IL-1β， IL-6， ALT， AST and HYP， relative expression of NF-κB p65 mRNA， and the levels of TNF-α and α-SMA proteins and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 in liver tissues of rats from administration groups， the expressions of α-SMA and TGF-β1 in liver tissue of rats from E. humifusa medium-dose and high-dose groups， as well as positive staining percentage and mRNA expression of TNF- α in liver tissue of rats from E. humifusa high-dose group were all decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； IκBα protein expression from administration groups was significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Pathological changes and the degree of HF in the liver tissues of rats from administration groups were ameliorated to various extents. CONCLUSIONS E. humifusa may alleviate HF in rats by inhibiting the activation of the TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathway.

It has been popular and challenging to undertake researches on the delay of acquired resistance of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI). As key cells for tumor initiation, cancer stem cells (CSC) play an important role in the process of resistance to EGFR-TKI. Although preliminary studies found that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) could inhibit CSC properties and delay EGFR-TKI resistance, the specific molecular mechanism remains unclear. By summarizing the empirical syndrome treatment of EGFR-TKI resistance via TCM and combining recent researches on TCM intervention in CSC to delay EGFR-TKI resistance, this review discussed the potential molecular pathways and mechanisms of deceleration in resistance to EGFR-TKI by TCM via inhibiting CSC characteristics, in order to expand the research ideas of TCM in combination with targeted therapy.
Humans ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects* ; ErbB Receptors/genetics* ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVES: To propose a single repetition time (TR) quantitative magnetic susceptibility imaging method for the lumbar spine using bipolar readout gradient, and compare the quantitative magnetic susceptibility measurement using single TR and dual TR methods for the lumbar spine with different bone densities. METHODS: A translation correction method was proposed to correct spatial misalignment along the frequency encoding direction between positive and negative gradient readout images, and the phase difference between the images was eliminated using a phase correction method. The data of lumbar vertebrae L1-L5 were collected using single TR and dual TR methods from 6 normal individuals, 2 patients with osteopenia, and 2 patients with osteoporosis. The magnetic susceptibility map was reconstructed, the quantitative results of single TR before and after correction were compared with those of the dual TR method. RESULTS: The linear regression result of the lumbar spine magnetic susceptibility values obtained by the single TR method before calibration and the dual TR method is Y=0.64*X-11.61. The linear regression result of the lumbar spine magnetic susceptibility values corrected by the single TR method and the dual TR method is Y=1.03*X+0.25. The results of the corrected single TR method were highly consistent with those of the dual TR method, and the calibrated single TR method could effectively distinguish osteopenia and osteoporosis patients from normal individuals. CONCLUSIONS The calibrated single TR bipolar readout gradient method can generate artifact-free lumbar spine quantitative magnetic susceptibility distribution maps and reduce data acquisition time by 50%.
Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Osteoporosis/diagnosis* ; Adult ; Bone Density ; Aged ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic/diagnosis*

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of limonin treating in hepatic fibrosis through network pharmacology, and validate its mechanism by molecular docking and animal experiments. METHODS Firstly, the targets of limonin and hepatic fibrosis were screened from the SwissTargetPrediction, GeneCards and DisGeNet database, etc. Meanwhile, the common targets of limonin and hepatic fibrosis were obtained from the bioinformatics website. The protein protein interaction network of common target was constructed by using STRING database and Cytoscape software, and the CytoNCA plug-in was used to screen core targets. And then the enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG on the common target was performed by Metascape database. Thereby, the possible mechanism of limonin against hepatic fibrosis were predicted. Finally, the AutoDock Vina was used for molecular docking verification, and the prediction results of network pharmacology were verified by animal experiments. RESULTS The prediction results indicated that limonin might acted on 86 targets including AKT1, VEGFA and HIF1A, and participated in biological processes including hormone response, protein phosphorylation, angiogenesis, and PI3K-Akt pathway, HIF-1 pathway, VEGF pathway and other signaling pathways related to hepatic fibrosis. The results of protein protein interaction network topology analysis showed that the 11 core targets including AKT1, VEGFA, HIF1A and PIK3CA, etc. Molecular docking results showed that limonin had strong affinity and relatively stable binding conformation with the core targets. In the animal experiments, compared with the model group, hyaluronidase(HA) and laminin(LN) in rat serume in high-dose group of limonin(LH) and low-dose group of limonin(LL)(except for LN in LL group) were declined(P<0.01 or P<0.05), and the degree of inflammation and hepatic fibrosis were relieved to different degrees in liver tissue of the LH group and LL group; Western blotting and qPCR detection showed that protein and mRNA expression levels of AKT, HIF-1α and VEGF(except for VEGF in LL group) was down-regulated in the LH group and LL group(P<0.01 or P<0.05). CONCLUSION Limonin may acts on AKT1, VEGFA, HIF1A and other core targets to treat hepatic fibrosis angiogenesis, which may be related to the inhibition of AKT/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the relationship between peripheral blood lymphocytes and disease progression in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)in central China.Methods A total of 133 ALS patients diagnosed at Tongji Hospital,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology were evaluated for disease progression,and the includ-ed patients were divided into fast progression group and slow progression group.Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were de-termined and compared between the two groups.Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between the statistically different lymphocyte subgroups and the rate of disease progression.Results The proportion of CD3+CD19-T lymphocytes in the slow progression group was lower than that of the fast progression group(P＜0.05).However,the NK cell count,NK cell proportion,and the proportion of CD28+helper T cells(CD28+Th cells)were higher than those of the fast progression group(all P＜0.05).In the logistic regression analysis,an increase in NK cell count(OR=0.992,P＜0.05)and an increase in the propor-tion of CD28+Th cells(OR=0.895,P＜0.05)were protective factors for the progression of ALS.Conclusion The characteris-tics of peripheral lymphocytes differed between patients with slow and fast progression.Abnormalities in the innate immune sys-tem may be involved in the progression of ALS.

Objective To understand the genotypes of neonatal thalassemia in Huaihua City from 2020 to 2022.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 46 931 newborns screened for thalassemia from January 2020 to December 2022 in Huaihua City.Results 4443 cases were positive in preliminary screening,2153 cases were recalled,and 1536 cases were confirmed with thalassemia gene.There were 1077 cases(70.12%)of α-thalassemia diagnosed by gene.431(28.06%)cases of β-thalassemia;Intermediate α-thalassemia(4 cases);The clinical phenotypes were mainly static α-thalassemia,mild α-thalassemia and mild β-thalassemia.Conclusion The neonatal thalassemi in huaihua city is mainly α-thalassemia,and the rest type and mild type are more common.The gene carrying rate of newborn thalassemia in Huaihua City is higher than the national average level,the regional distribution is uneven,and the situation of thalassemia prevention and control is serious.

Objective To investigate the level of benefit finding and positive psychological capital of stroke patients and their spouses,and to analyse the dyadic interaction between benefit finding and positive psychological capital of patients and their spouses.Methods From March to August 2023,235 stroke patients and their spouses were conveniently selected from the neurology wards of 3 tertiary hospitals in Henan Province,and were surveyed using a general information questionnaire,the positive psychological capital questionnaire,revised version of benefit finding scale,and caregiver benefit finding scale.Results The positive psychological capital scores of stroke patients and their spouses were(4.29±0.75)and(4.56±0.71);benefit finding scores of the dyads were(2.85±0.69)and(3.64±0.68).The results of actor-partner interdependence model showed that positive psychological capital of stroke patients and their spouses positively predicted their benefit finding;positive psychological capital of patients positively predicted benefit finding of spouses,and positive psychological capital of spouses positively predicted benefit finding of patients(all P＜0.05).In particular,spousal self-efficacy and resilience positively predicted their benefit finding;their optimism positively predicted the patient's benefit finding;their hopefulness negatively predicted the patient's benefit finding(all P＜0.05).Conclusion There was a dyadic interaction between benefit finding and positive psychological capital for stroke patients and their spouses.The role of spouses on patients'positive psychological capital should not be overlooked,and nurses should develop positive psychological capital intervention strategies centered on couples of stroke patients to enhance positive couple experiences.

Objective To investigate the current status of health behavioral decision-making in ischemic stroke patients and analyze its influencing factors.Methods Totally 250 ischemic stroke patients were selected from 2 hospitals in Zhengzhou and Anyang from February to May 2023.A general information questionnaire,Behavioral Decision-Making Scale for Stroke Patients,Recurrence Risk Perception Scale for Patients with Stroke,and Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire were used to conduct the questionnaire survey.Results The Behavioral Decision-Making Scale for Stroke Patients score of 229 ischemic stroke patients was(117.83±7.15)scores.The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that occupational status,glycemic compliance,primary caregiver,current symptoms,stroke self-efficacy,and recurrence risk perception were the influencing factors of health behavioral decision making in ischemic stroke patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion The health behavioral decision making of ischemic stroke patients is at an upper-middle level.Individualized interventions can be carried out for patients with different characteristics to promote the patients'ability to behavior decision making and the formation of preventive behaviors.

Objective To explore the categories of dyadic mental health literacy among stroke patients and their caregivers,and to analyze the differences in the characteristics of different classes of stroke patients and their caregivers.Methods A convenient sampling method was used to select 287 dyads of stroke patients and their caregivers who were treated at a tertiary general hospital in Henan province from July to October 2020.The general information questionnaire,Multicomponent Mental Health Literacy and Social Support Rating Scale were used for investigation.Latent profile analysis was adopted to explore the categories of dyadic mental health literacy,and multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of each category.Results Stroke patients and their caregivers were divided into 4 categories based on scores of mental health literacy:dyadic low resource group(19.86％),dyadic low literacy group(54.36％),dyadic low belief group(11.15％),dyadic high literacy group(14.63％).The patient's age,average monthly household income,the caregiver's age,the caregiver's Social Support Rating Scale score,the caregiver's educational level,daily care time and total time length of care were the factors influencing the categories of dyadic mental health literacy among stroke patients and their caregivers(P＜0.05).Conclusion Stroke patients and their caregivers were divided into 4 categories based on scores of mental health literacy.Medical staff should carry out comprehensive psychological interventions for stroke patients and their caregivers with different dyadic mental health literacy characteristics,so as to improve dyadic mental health literacy.