Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） is a chronic liver disease closely related to metabolism， which is mainly characterized by abnormal lipid deposition in hepatocytes. In recent years， with the increasing prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome， NAFLD has become one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex and varied， involving the cross-regulation of multiple signaling pathways such as glucose-lipid metabolism， oxidative stress， and inflammation. The TLR4 signaling pathway plays a key role in the development and progression of NAFLD， and abnormal activation of this pathway accelerates the deterioration of NAFLD by promoting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines， inducing oxidative stress， and exacerbating insulin resistance. Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can regulate the TLR4 signaling pathway to alleviate the symptoms and pathological features of NAFLD. The present review summarizes the experimental research progress in the TCM regulation of the TLR4 signaling pathway in treating NAFLD in the past 5 years， covering a wide range of TCM active ingredients （such as polysaccharides， terpenoids， alkaloids， flavonoids） and compound prescriptions. The active ingredients and compound prescriptions of TCM can effectively ameliorate lipid metabolism disorders， reduce insulin resistance， regulate intestinal flora， and inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress by regulating the TLR4 signaling pathway via multiple targets and pathways， thus slowing down the progression of NAFLD. Through in-depth analysis of the pathological mechanisms of NAFLD and exploration of the potential of TLR4 signaling pathway as a therapeutic target， we can provide theoretical support for the application of TCM in the treatment of NAFLD， as well as new perspectives and directions for future clinical research and new drug development， thereby promoting the innovation and development of therapeutic strategies for NAFLD.

Based on the mechanism of modern immunology,Professor Ding Ying,a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)master,uses the analogy of TCM to simplify the complex and calls the abnormal immune response that leads to the onset of immune thrombocy-topenia(ITP)"latent poison".She believes that the invasion of latent poison is the basis of ITP;blood damage and marrow injury are the pathological essence of ITP;and the transformation of"poison-deficiency-stasis"is the basic pathogenesis of ITP.She has formu-lated the treatment principle of"strengthening healthy qi,removing poison,and removing stasis",and attaches importance to the appli-cation of rattan drugs and charcoal drugs,which has achieved good results in clinical practice.

In this comprehensive review, we delve into the evolution of drug delivery systems in reproductive medicine with a focus on the emerging role of exosomes, a class of extracellular vesicles. Exosomes offer unique advantages in overcoming these challenges due to their inherent biocompatibility, stability, and ability to facilitate targeted delivery. This review provides a detailed examination of exosome biogenesis and their function in cellular communication, setting the stage for understanding their potential as drug delivery vehicles. We explore the mechanisms through which exosomes can be loaded with small molecule drugs and the benefits they offer over synthetic nanoparticles. The review highlights groundbreaking case studies that illustrate the successful application of exosome-mediated drug delivery in reproductive health, including enhancing fertility treatments, supporting gamete and embryo development, and facilitating maternal-fetal communication. This study aims to provide a precise understanding of how exosomal drug delivery can revolutionize treatments for reproductive health disorders, paving the way for future therapeutic applications. Lastly, we touch upon the promising therapeutic implications of exosomal delivery for proteins and genes, offering a window into future treatments for reproductive health disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the impact of different peroneus longus tendon (PLT) stump management techniques on ankle function following arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with autologous PLT grafts. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 patients with ACL rupture who met the inclusion criteria between August 2020 and July 2024. All patients underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using the autologous PLT grafts. Patients were assigned to group A [PLT stump sutured to peroneus brevis tendon (PBT), n=30] or group B (no stump intervention, n=30). The two groups showed no significant difference ( P>0.05) in baseline data, including gender, age, body mass index, injury mechanism, affected side, preoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, ankle muscle strength, ankle range of motion, and arch-related angles. Postoperative outcomes were assessed using the AOFAS score, ankle muscle strength (eversion and first-ray plantar flexion), arch-related angles (medial/lateral longitudinal and anterior/posterior arch), ankle range of motion (eversion, inversion, dorsiflexion, plantarflexion), and limb symmetry index (LSI). Change values in muscle strength, arch-related angles, and range of motion from preoperative to 12 months postoperatively were calculated for intergroup comparison. RESULTS: Groups A and B had comparable PLT graft lengths and diameters ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up 13-16 months (mean, 14.5 months). Postoperative complications included 1 case of incision infection, 1 case of deep vein thrombosis, and 1 case of knee stiffness in group A, 1 case of knee stiffness in group B. There was no significant difference in the overall complication incidences between groups ( P>0.05). No significant difference was found in the AOFAS scores between different time points and between groups ( P>0.05). At 12 months after operation, neither group showed significant changes from preoperative baseline in ankle strength, range of motion, or arch-related angles, and there was no significant difference in these change values between groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in LSI between the two groups at 6 or 12 months postoperatively ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION Both suturing and leaving the PLT stump untreated during arthroscopic ACL reconstruction provided comparable ankle outcomes and well-preserved foot and ankle function.
Humans ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction/methods* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Female ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/surgery* ; Tendons/transplantation* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Arthroscopy/methods* ; Young Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Muscle Strength ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Ankle Joint/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent

Aim To analyze the correlation between serum retinol-binding protein 4(RBP4),low density lipo-protein cholesterol to albumin ratio(LDLC/Alb),monocyte to high density lipoprotein ratio(MHR)and plaque stability in carotid atherosclerosis population and their predictive value for acute ischemic stroke(AIS).Methods A total of 197 patients with asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis admitted to our hospital from September 2021 to January 2023 were selected for a prospective cohort study,and they were categorized into occurred group and non-occurred group according to whether AIS occurred within 12 months.Baseline information at time of visit,results of the cervical ultrasonography and serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb,MHR levels were compared between the two groups.Spearman/Pearson and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve were used to analyze the corr-elation of RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR with carotid atherosclerosis and plaque stability,and the value of predicting AIS in carotid atherosclerosis population.Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test was used to evaluate the calibration ability of serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR to jointly predict AIS in carotid atherosclerosis population.Results The carotid intima-media thickness(IMT)was higher in occurred group than that in non-occurred group.There were more soft plaques and mixed plaques in occurred group than in non-occurred group(P＜0.05).Serum levels of RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR were higher in occurred group than those in non-occurred group(P＜0.05).The correlation analysis showed that the levels of serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR were positively correla-ted with IMT(r=0.803,0.740,0.710)and plaque properties(r=0.736,0.685,0.703)(P＜0.001).ROC curve a-nalysis showed that the AUC of serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR in predicting AIS in carotid atherosclerosis population was 0.796,0.821 and 0.828,respectively,and the AUC of MHR was the largest;the AUC of the combination of serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR was 0.936,which was higher than that of MHR(Z=2.978,P＜0.05),the predictive sensi-tivity and specificity were 88.24％and 87.40％.Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test showed that there was no signifi-cant difference between serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR in predicting AIS and the actual observation value in carotid atherosclerosis population(P＞0.05),and the prediction model had good calibration ability.Conclusion Serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb,and MHR are positively correlated with carotid atherosclerosis and plaque stability,and can predict the occurrence of AIS.Combined detection of the three can be used as a method for early identification of potential high-risk populations for AIS,providing a new,quantifiable guidance scheme for the prevention and treatment of AIS in carotid ath-erosclerotic population.

Aim To analyze the correlation between serum retinol-binding protein 4(RBP4),low density lipo-protein cholesterol to albumin ratio(LDLC/Alb),monocyte to high density lipoprotein ratio(MHR)and plaque stability in carotid atherosclerosis population and their predictive value for acute ischemic stroke(AIS).Methods A total of 197 patients with asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis admitted to our hospital from September 2021 to January 2023 were selected for a prospective cohort study,and they were categorized into occurred group and non-occurred group according to whether AIS occurred within 12 months.Baseline information at time of visit,results of the cervical ultrasonography and serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb,MHR levels were compared between the two groups.Spearman/Pearson and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve were used to analyze the corr-elation of RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR with carotid atherosclerosis and plaque stability,and the value of predicting AIS in carotid atherosclerosis population.Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test was used to evaluate the calibration ability of serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR to jointly predict AIS in carotid atherosclerosis population.Results The carotid intima-media thickness(IMT)was higher in occurred group than that in non-occurred group.There were more soft plaques and mixed plaques in occurred group than in non-occurred group(P＜0.05).Serum levels of RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR were higher in occurred group than those in non-occurred group(P＜0.05).The correlation analysis showed that the levels of serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR were positively correla-ted with IMT(r=0.803,0.740,0.710)and plaque properties(r=0.736,0.685,0.703)(P＜0.001).ROC curve a-nalysis showed that the AUC of serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR in predicting AIS in carotid atherosclerosis population was 0.796,0.821 and 0.828,respectively,and the AUC of MHR was the largest;the AUC of the combination of serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR was 0.936,which was higher than that of MHR(Z=2.978,P＜0.05),the predictive sensi-tivity and specificity were 88.24％and 87.40％.Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test showed that there was no signifi-cant difference between serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb and MHR in predicting AIS and the actual observation value in carotid atherosclerosis population(P＞0.05),and the prediction model had good calibration ability.Conclusion Serum RBP4,LDLC/Alb,and MHR are positively correlated with carotid atherosclerosis and plaque stability,and can predict the occurrence of AIS.Combined detection of the three can be used as a method for early identification of potential high-risk populations for AIS,providing a new,quantifiable guidance scheme for the prevention and treatment of AIS in carotid ath-erosclerotic population.

Objective:To study the relationship between urinary arsenic methylation metabolism patterns and skin keratinization and pigmentation abnormalities in population exposed to arsenic through drinking water.Methods:Using a cross-sectional study method, a survey on endemic arsenic poisoning was conducted among permanent residents of drinking water endemic arsenic poisoning areas in Bayannur City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2004 (before water improvement). In 2017 (after water improvement), 71 arsenic exposed individuals were followed up as survey subjects. According to the "Diagnosis of Endemic Arsenism" (WS/T 211-2015), the clinical grading of skin injuries (skin keratinization, pigmentation abnormalities) in the survey subjects was evaluated. Urine samples were collected for detection of arsenic methylation metabolite levels by high-performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and calibrated with urinary creatinine. The changes and amplitudes of urinary arsenic methylation indicators before and after water improvement were calculated and analyzed according to the outcome of skin keratinization and pigmentation abnormalities which were divided into reduced, unchanged, and added groups.Results:(1) The changes in urinary total arsenic (TAs), inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethyl arsenic (MMA), and dimethyl arsenic (DMA) levels in different outcome groups of skin keratinization were compared, and the differences were statistically significant ( H = 9.08, 8.77, 9.28, 8.57, P < 0.05). The changes in urinary TAs, iAs, MMA, DMA levels, iAs percentage (iAs%), DMA percentage (DMA%), and primary methylation index (PMI) in different outcome groups of skin pigmentation abnormalities were compared, and the differences were statistically significant ( H = 8.04, 10.67, 8.29, 9.14, 6.30, 9.10, 7.20, P < 0.05). (2) The comparison of amplitudes in urinary TAs, iAs, MMA, and DMA levels in different outcome groups of skin keratinization showed statistically significant differences ( H = 6.92, 7.34, 6.66, 6.16, P < 0.05). The amplitudes in urinary iAs level, iAs%, DMA%, and PMI in different outcome groups of skin pigmentation abnormalities were compared, and the differences were statistically significant ( H = 7.94, 7.61, 9.95, 7.22, P < 0.05). Conclusion:The changes pattern of urinary TAs, iAs, MMA, DMA, iAs%, DMA%, and PMI in population exposed to arsenic through drinking water is related to the transformation of skin keratinization and pigmentation abnormalities.

Objective:To study the relationship between the levels of multiple elements in urine and the risk of arsenic poisoning in populations exposed to drinking water arsenic in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Inner Mongolia).Methods:From April 2023 to January 2024, a case-control study method was used to select 128 individuals with a residence time of ≥10 years in drinking water arsenic exposed areas in Inner Mongolia as study subjects. Eighty-one individuals diagnosed with arsenic poisoning were selected as the case group, and 47 healthy individuals were selected as the control group for urine sample collection and questionnaire survey. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was employed to determine the levels of 10 elements (chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, molybdenum, cadmium and lead) in urine. The levels of each element in urine were divided into four groups ( Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups) based on quartiles. The associations between the levels of various elements in urine and the risk of arsenic poisoning were studied using binary logistic regression model and restricted cubic spline (RCS). Results:The age of the control group and the case group [ M ( Q1, Q3)] were 61 (53, 69) and 61 (56, 67) years old, respectively. There were 19 and 43 males, and 28 and 38 females, respectively. There was no statistically significant differences in age and and gender composition between the two groups ( Z = - 0.39, P = 0.700; χ 2 = 1.91, P = 0.167). The levels of urinary copper and cadmium of the case group were higher than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( Z = - 2.66, - 2.16, P < 0.05). The results of univariate logistic regression analysis showed that urinary copper was an influencing factor for arsenic poisoning ( P = 0.017). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that after adjusting for covariates, urinary copper and arsenic were independent influencing factors of arsenic poisoning ( P < 0.05). Taking Q1 group as a reference, urinary copper in Q3 group [ OR (95% CI) = 8.23 (1.81, 37.39), P = 0.006] increased the risk of arsenic poisoning, while urinary arsenic in Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups [ OR (95% CI) = 0.24 (0.06, 0.92), 0.12 (0.03, 0.53), 0.15 (0.04, 0.63), P < 0.05] decreased the risk of arsenic poisoning. After adjusting for covariates, RCS did not show a dose-response relationship between urinary copper, urinary arsenic, and arsenic poisoning ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:Urinary arsenic and copper are associated with the risk of arsenic poisoning in the drinking water arsenic exposed areas of Inner Mongolia, copper exposure may contribute significantly to arsenic poisoning.

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors of adult dental fluorosis in drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Methods:A case-control study was conducted in January 2024 to select adult fluorosis patients (case group) and healthy individuals (control group) from the drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Helinger County, Hohhot City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as the survey subjects. Urine samples were collected to determine urinary fluoride concentration. A questionnaire survey was conducted. SPSS 25.0 software was used for χ 2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to analyze the association between urinary fluoride concentration and the risk of dental fluorosis in adults. Results:A total of 161 individuals were included in the survey, including 100 in the case group and 61 in the control group. The results of univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of gender, smoking, and urinary fluoride concentration between the case group and the control group (χ 2 = 7.54, 5.02, 9.69, P < 0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that gender ( OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.18 - 0.73, P = 0.005) and urinary fluoride concentration ( OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.46 - 6.67, P = 0.003) were the influencing factors of adult fluorosis. RCS analysis showed a significant linear dose-response relationship between the risk of dental fluorosis and urinary fluoride concentration ( Poverall trend = 0.001, Pnonlinear = 0.071). When the urinary fluoride concentration was greater than 1.57 mg/L, the risk of dental fluorosis increased with the increase of urinary fluoride concentration. Conclusion:Gender and urinary fluoride concentration are the risk factors of dental fluorosis in adults in drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.