Colorectal cancer （CRC） is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract with high morbidity and mortality. Although existing treatments can prolong the survival of patients， problems such as low quality of life， obvious side effects， and unsatisfactory clinical efficacy still exist， which cannot fully satisfy the overall needs of patients. For this reason， it is crucial to explore the mechanism underlying the development of CRC and to identify new treatment strategies. In recent years， with the deepening of research， ferroptosis has been gradually proven to effectively inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells， overcome tumor drug resistance， enhance anti-tumor efficacy， and prevent tumor progression and recurrence. Therefore， regulating ferroptosis is expected to become a new strategy for the treatment of CRC. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has been widely used in CRC treatment due to its advantages of multiple components， multiple targets， low drug resistance， and few side effects， and has gradually become a current research hotspot. Extensive studies have shown that TCM active ingredients and compound formulae can regulate ferroptosis-related pathways， such as iron metabolism， lipid metabolism， the cystine/glutamate antiporter system X_c^- （System X_c^-）/glutathione （GSH）/glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）， ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 （FSP1）/coenzyme Q₁₀ （CoQ₁₀）/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate ［NAD（P）H］， tumor protein 53 （p53）， nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， and non-coding RNA pathways to inhibit the growth and proliferation of CRC， thereby exerting anti-tumor effects. This review systematically summarized the mechanisms of ferroptosis related to CRC， therapeutic targets and prognosis-related markers associated with ferroptosis in CRC， and research progress on TCM targeting and regulating ferroptosis for CRC intervention， aiming to provide new perspectives and a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of CRC with TCM.

Colorectal cancer （CRC） is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract with high morbidity and mortality. Although existing treatments can prolong the survival of patients， problems such as low quality of life， obvious side effects， and unsatisfactory clinical efficacy still exist， which cannot fully satisfy the overall needs of patients. For this reason， it is crucial to explore the mechanism underlying the development of CRC and to identify new treatment strategies. In recent years， with the deepening of research， ferroptosis has been gradually proven to effectively inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells， overcome tumor drug resistance， enhance anti-tumor efficacy， and prevent tumor progression and recurrence. Therefore， regulating ferroptosis is expected to become a new strategy for the treatment of CRC. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has been widely used in CRC treatment due to its advantages of multiple components， multiple targets， low drug resistance， and few side effects， and has gradually become a current research hotspot. Extensive studies have shown that TCM active ingredients and compound formulae can regulate ferroptosis-related pathways， such as iron metabolism， lipid metabolism， the cystine/glutamate antiporter system X_c^- （System X_c^-）/glutathione （GSH）/glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）， ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 （FSP1）/coenzyme Q₁₀ （CoQ₁₀）/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate ［NAD（P）H］， tumor protein 53 （p53）， nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， and non-coding RNA pathways to inhibit the growth and proliferation of CRC， thereby exerting anti-tumor effects. This review systematically summarized the mechanisms of ferroptosis related to CRC， therapeutic targets and prognosis-related markers associated with ferroptosis in CRC， and research progress on TCM targeting and regulating ferroptosis for CRC intervention， aiming to provide new perspectives and a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of CRC with TCM.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor （AhR） plays an important role in the development and progression of liver diseases. This article elaborates on the structure of AhR and its function in liver development and provides a detailed analysis of its molecular mechanisms in diseases such as metabolic associated fatty liver disease， alcoholic liver disease， viral hepatitis， drug-induced liver injury， autoimmune hepatitis， liver cirrhosis， and liver cancer. This article also reviews the research advances in AhR agonists and antagonists and analyzes their potential application prospects in disease treatment. At the same time， it points out that although AhR is a promising therapeutic target， there are still various challenges in its clinical application. It is suggested that future research should focus on developing AhR modulators with high specificity and low toxicity and further explore its mechanism of action in different liver diseases.

Objective　To investigate the effects of capsaicin on gut microbiota and antimicrobial peptide expression of Anopheles stephensi, providing experimental references for the application of capsaicin in mosquito-borne disease prevention and control. Methods Anopheles stephensi were continuously fed with sugary water containing capsaicin or DMSO for the capsaicin-treated group and the control, respectively. The DNA of the female mosquito's midguts and gut bacteria was extracted. Bacterial 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR were used to analyze and compare the bacteria diversity, gut flora composition, relative abundance, and total bacterial load in female mosquitoes’ midgut between the control and capsaicin treatment groups. Total RNA was extracted from the midguts of the two groups of Anopheles mosquitoes, and the transcriptional levels of important antimicrobial peptides were detected and compared by reverse transcription and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Results A total of 10 phyla, 11 classes, 28 orders, 43 families, and 62 genera were identified in the two groups. The capsaicin-treated group had fewer taxa, with significantly reduced bacterial diversity, and different community composition and relative abundance of the flora compared to the control group. At the phylum level, Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes predominated in both two groups. At the order level, Flavobacteriales, Acetobacterales, Pseudomonadales, and Lactobacillales were the dominant bacteria, with reduced relative abundance of Pseudomonadales and Acetobacterales and increased relative abundance of Flavobacteriales and Lactobacillales in the capsaicin-treated group. At the genus level, Elizabethkingia was predominantly abundant in both samples, with higher relative abundance of Elizabethkingia, Leuconostoc, and Gluconobacter in the capsaicin-treated group, while Asaia and Acinetobacter had significantly lower relative abundance compared to the control group. In addition to these changes, the total bacterial load was increased and the transcriptional levels of attacin C, cecropin A, and defensin were significantly decreased by capsaicin treatment. Conclusions Capsaicin treatment significantly affects the composition of the gut flora in Anopheles stephensi and increases the total bacterial load while inhibiting the expression of antimicrobial peptides. Based on the analysis, it indicates that capsaicin might affect the fecundity and vector competence of Anopheles by changing the energy metabolism and immune-related bacteria.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupuncture on podocyte autophagy and long non-coding RNA SOX2 overlapping transcript (LncRNA SOX2OT)/mammalian target of rapamycin C1 (mTORC1)/Unc-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) pathway in rats with diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and to explore the mechanism by which acupuncture reduces urinary protein. METHODS: A total of 40 SPF-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=10) and a modeling group (n=30). The DKD model was established by feeding a high-fat, high-sugar diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in the modeling group. Twenty rats with successful DKD model were randomly divided into a model group (n=10) and an acupuncture group (n=10). The acupuncture group received "spleen and stomach-regulating" acupuncture at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST36), "Fenglong" (ST40), "Yinlingquan" (SP9), and "Zhongwan" (CV12), 30 min per session, once daily, five times per week, for four weeks. The general condition, fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour postprandial glucose (2hPG), serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 24-hour urinary protein quantification, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) were compared before and after the intervention. After intervention, urinary podocyte injury marker SPON2 was measured by ELISA. Podocyte autophagosomes and glomerular basement membrane ultrastructure in renal tissue were observed via transmission electron microscopy. Podocyte apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL staining. The protein expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3Ⅱ (LC3-Ⅱ), mTORC1, ULK1, Beclin-1, and p62 in renal tissue was detected by Western blot. LncRNA SOX2OT expression in renal tissue was measured by real-time PCR. RESULTS: After the intervention, compared with the control group, the model group exhibited increased food and water intake, increased urine output, weight loss, and loose stools; compared with the model group, the food and water intake, urine volume, and loose stools were improved in the acupuncture group. Compared with the control group, FBG, 2hPG, SCr, BUN, 24-hour urinary protein quantification, UACR, and urinary SPON2 were all higher in the model group (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the FBG, 2hPG, SCr, BUN, 24-hour urinary protein quantification, UACR, and urinary SPON2 were all lower in the acupuncture group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the model group showed reduced podocyte autophagosomes and thickened glomerular basement membrane; compared with the model group, the acupuncture group had increased podocyte autophagosomes and less thickened basement membrane. Compared with the control group, the podocyte apoptosis index (AI) was higher in the model group (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the AI was lower in the acupuncture group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the expression of ULK1, Beclin-1, and LC3-Ⅱ proteins was lower, and the expression of mTORC1 and p62 proteins was higher in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of ULK1, Beclin-1, and LC3-Ⅱ proteins was higher, and the expression of mTORC1 and p62 proteins was lower in the acupuncture group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the LncRNA SOX2OT expression was lower in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, LncRNA SOX2OT expression was higher in the acupuncture group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION The "spleen and stomach-regulating" acupuncture method could improve renal function in DKD rats, reduce blood glucose and urinary protein excretion, alleviate podocyte injury, and enhance podocyte autophagy. The mechanism may be related to modulation of the renal LncRNA SOX2OT/mTORC1/ULK1 pathway.
Animals ; Podocytes/cytology* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/physiopathology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Rats ; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1/genetics* ; Autophagy ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog/genetics* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction

BACKGROUND:The research of dental stem cells in the fields of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering has been deepening,bringing hope for the repair of tooth-related tissues and the treatment of systemic diseases.However,there is a lack of systematic research and analysis on the biological characteristics of dental stem cells in different age groups. OBJECTIVE:To explore the biological characteristics of the human deciduous tooth and permanent tooth pulp stem cells cultured in umbilical cord blood platelet lysate to provide a reliable basis for human platelet lysates to replace fetal bovine serum. METHODS:The pulp tissues of deciduous teeth,juvenile permanent teeth and adult permanent teeth were taken out and cultured in DMEM/F-12 medium supplemented with 10%fetal bovine serum or different concentrations(5%,10%and 15%)of human platelet lysates.Cell proliferation in the four groups was detected by cytometry.The optimal concentration of human platelet lysates was selected for subsequent experiments.Under the optimal concentration of human platelet lysates,human deciduous tooth and juvenile and adult permanent tooth pulp stem cells were cultured in vitro.The cell growth status was observed under the microscope.The specific antigen on the cell surface was detected by flow cytometry.The cell proliferation ability was tested by the cell counting method and CCK-8 assay.The cell differentiation ability in vitro was observed by a three-line differentiation assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The cell proliferation rate of the 10%human platelet lysate group was the highest.(2)In all three groups,fusiform fibrous cells grew and expanded from around the tissue block.There was no significant difference between deciduous teeth and juvenile permanent tooth cells,but the adult permanent tooth cells were larger than the deciduous and juvenile permanent tooth cells of the same generation.(3)The results of flow cytometry showed that deciduous teeth,juvenile permanent teeth and adult permanent teeth conformed to the phenotypic characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells.(4)The proliferative capacity of adult permanent dental pulp stem cells was significantly lower than those of deciduous teeth and juvenile permanent dental pulp stem cells(P<0.01).(5)mRNA expressions of osteoblast-related genes alkaline phosphatase and bone morphogenetic protein 2,lipoprotein lipase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2,mRNA expressions of chondroblast related gene type II collagen α1 and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in adult pulp stem cells of permanent teeth were significantly lower than those of deciduous teeth and juvenile permanent teeth pulp stem cells(P<0.01).(6)Compared with adult dental pulp stem cells,human deciduous teeth and juvenile permanent teeth dental pulp stem cells have the stronger proliferative capacity and multidirectional differentiation potential,and are more suitable for clinical research and disease treatment.

Objective To investigate the relationship between protein SUMOylation level and the prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)in males.Methods Protein SUMOylation levels in PTC was analyzed by bioinformatics based on GTEx and TCGA databases and validated by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting in our clinical pairs specimens.The mRNA expression of the protein SUMOylation associated genes were measured by fluorescent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)in surgical pairs specimens.Results The expression level of SUMOylation in the tumor tissues of PTC showed an elevated trend(P＜0.05),and was associated with poor prognosis of the patients by TCGA and GTEx databases analysis(P=0.021).In the clinical samples of our hospital,it was verified that the level of SUMOylation in tumor tissues was higher than that of the paired non-tumor tissues(P＜0.05).However,qRT-PCR showed no significant changes in the transcriptional level of the protein SUMOylation associated genes in most cases.Conclusions Protein SUMOylation in thyroid tumor tissues were higher than that in paired non-tumor tissues,and the higher SUMOylation levels levels in tumor tissues were,the shorter overall survival time of the patients was.

Background and Aims:The repair of giant incisional hernia is challenging,as closing the significant defect in the abdominal wall can lead to life-threatening complications like abdominal compartment syndrome(ACS).Botulinum toxin type A(BTA)can temporarily relax the abdominal wall muscles,facilitating defect repair,while preoperative progressive pneumoperitoneum(PPP)can increase intra-abdominal volume,reducing intra-abdominal pressure caused by hernia content reintegration.Combining BTA with PPP for the preoperative preparation of giant incisional hernia repair may have a complementary effect.This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical value of combining BTA and PPP in the repair of giant abdominal incisional hernia. Methods:The clinical data of 213 patients with giant abdominal incisional hernia treated at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from December 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Two weeks after receiving combined BTA and PPP treatment,changes in bilateral abdominal wall muscle,intra-abdominal adhesions,abdominal circumference,abdominal cavity volume,and hernia sac volume ratio were assessed using CT.Intraoperative details,incidence of complications,and postoperative follow-up outcomes were recorded. Results:Following combined BTA and PPP treatment,CT scan showed a significant extension of bilateral lateral abdominal wall muscles towards the midline in all 213 patients,with an average increase of 2.45(1.53-3.29)cm on the left side and 2.54(1.68-3.40)cm on the right side;muscle thickness was reduced by an average of 0.84(0.64-1.00)cm on the left and 0.82(0.62-1.05)cm on the right,the average distance between viscera and the abdominal wall increased to(7.52±1.78)cm,with a mean increase of 6.1(4.2-6.9)cm;the mean increase in abdominal cavity volume was 1 802(1 494.98-2 316.26)mL,and the hernia sac volume ratio decreased by an average of 9％(6％-12％),all changes were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Post-PPP CT scan revealed no abdominal adhesions in 18 patients(8.45％),while 195 patients(91.55％)had varying degrees of adhesions,including 39 cases(18.31％)of sheet adhesions and 156 cases(73.24％)of mixed adhesions.Adhesions mainly consisted of omentum and intestinal tissues in 59.15％of cases.There were 43 cases(20.19％)of grade Ⅰ complications during the BTA-PPP process,including abdominal pain(28 cases),shoulder pain(9 cases),subcutaneous emphysema(6 cases),and dyspnea(3 cases).Dyspnea improved with oxygen therapy,while other complications required no special intervention.All 213 patients successfully underwent laparoscopic incisional hernia repair without conversion to open surgery or organ resection for volume reduction.Fascial closure was achieved in 209 cases(98.12％),with 4 cases(1.88％)having incomplete defect closure.The average time for adhesiolysis was 28(11.00-44.50)min,with a total operative time of 178.0(132.50-255.00)min and an average blood loss of 20(10-30)mL.The median intra-abdominal pressure(IAP)after operation was between 10 mmHg(9.00-12.00 mmHg),Among them,47 cases(22.07％)had IAP exceeding 12 mmHg,and after implementing proactive measures such as diuresis and diachoresis to reduce intra-abdominal contents,the IAP in these patients decreased to below 12 mmHg.No severe complications such as skin flap necrosis or ACS were observed.There were no deaths within postoperative 30 d,and during a follow-up period of 26(16.50-33.00)months,13 cases(6.10％)had surgical site events,including infections in 5 cases(2.35％),seromas in 7 cases(3.29％),and hematoma in 1 case(0.47％),with no hernia recurrence. Conclusion:The combination of BTA and PPP not only aids in identifying abdominal wall adhesion areas,improving preoperative surgical planning and enhancing surgical safety,but also significantly increases abdominal cavity volume and extends lateral abdominal wall muscles,facilitating the closure of giant incisional hernia defects and reducing the incidence of severe postoperative complications like ACS.This approach is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective:To evaluate the practical effect of online teaching based on reflective experience to promote the cultivation of professional core competence of nursing.Methods:A total of 160 intern nurses who entered the clinic from July 2019 to December 2019 in The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University were selected as the research subjects, and they were randomized into a control group and an experimental group, with 80 nurses in each group. Both groups were given the creation of clinical practice teaching online classroom under the existing nursing online teaching framework. The control group conducted general online course education, and the experimental group created a problem-solving reflective experience course task and teaching process from the core competence training content of nursing. After the internship, the core competence assessment of the standardized training for nursing major was conducted, and the difference in teaching was evaluated using the "Nurse Core Competency Scale" and the self-designed "Teaching Acceptance Questionnaire". SPSS 22.0 was used for t-test and Chi-square test. Results:The excellent rates of the professional theory and practical skills assessments of the students in the experimental group were 58.75% (47/80) and 51.25% (41/80), which were higher than those in the control group, 48.75% (39/80) and 31.25% (25/80). The differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( P<0.05). In the comparison of the "Core Competency Scale" of nurses between the two groups of nurse students, the total score of the experimental group and the score of each dimension were significantly higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05). They survey of "Teaching Acceptance Questionnaire" showed that the nursing students of the experimental group had higher recognition of the teaching methods of this group, and there were significant differences between the two groups ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Carrying out online training content of clinical practice teaching based on reflective experience is conducive to the establishment of core competence of nursing students and the improvement of clinical practice ability.

ObjectiveTo investigate the Alzheimer-associated neurofilament protein （AD7c-NTP） in urine of middle-aged and elderly people and its correlation between common metabolites. MethodsA total of 1 150 middle-aged and elderly people who did their physical exmanination in the health examination center of the Sichuan Science City Hospital and the Third Hopital of Mianyang were recruited from March 2017 to March 2020. The level of urine AD7c-NTP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and common metabolites in blood were measured by biochemical analyzer. Based on urine AD7c-NTP level ≤1.5 ng/mL， the objects was divided into normal group （n=956） and elevated group （n=194）. Thier demographic data and blood biochemical indicators were collected. ResultsThe urine AD7c-NTP level in middle-aged and elderly people was 0.60（0.30~1.20） ng/mL. The urine AD7c-NTP level was higher in women than that in men ［1.04（0.40~1.30） ng/mL vs. 0.84（0.30~1.00） ng/mL， Z=4.202， P˂0.01］. And the urine AD7c-NTP level was lower in the normal group than that in the elevated group ［0.50（0.30~0.90） ng/mL vs. 2.10（1.70~2.10） ng/mL， Z=22.035， P˂0.01］. The results of the univariate comparison showed that， the differences between the two groups in age （Z=6.545）， fasting glucose （Z=3.506）， blood uric acid （Z=2.574）， urea nitrogen （Z=2.891）， creatinine （Z=2.243）， total bilirubin （Z=3.936）， glutathione （Z=0.969）， total cholesterol （t=3.956） and low density lipoprotein （Z=-5.678） were were statistically significant （P˂0.05 or 0.01）. Spearman correlation analysis showed that， the urine AD7c-NTP level was positively correlated with age and the levels of urea nitrogen， glucose， total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein （r=0.177， 0.178， 0.171， 0.109， 0.149， P˂0.01）， and negatively correlated with the level of total bilirubin （r=-0.172， P˂0.01）. Conclusionthe urine AD7c-NTP level in middle-aged and elderly females was signifitcantly higher than in middle-aged and elderly males.The urine AD7c-NTP level of middle-aged and elderly people was positively correlated with age， urea nitrogen， glucose， total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein， and negatively correlated with total bilirubin.