Macrophage polarization is involved in the entire process of the occurrence and development of knee osteoarthritis(KO A).By polarizing into distinct functional phenotypes,macrophages play key regulatory roles in the initiation of inflammation,matrix degradation,suppression of cartilage formation,and progression of the disease.The M1-type macrophages secrete numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines to exacerbate the inflammatory responses and promote the destruction of articular cartilage.Conversely,the M2-type macrophages help maintain the extracellular matrix homeostasis and facilitate cartilage formation by releasing anti-inflammatory factors while suppressing the secretion of inflammatory factors,thereby exerting anti-inflammatory effects and promoting tissue repair.Recent studies have shown that an imbalanced ratio of M1/M2 macrophages(M1/M2 ratio)is closely linked with both the pathogenesis and progression of KO A.Restoration of the dynamic balance between these two subtypes could be an essential strategy for treating and preventing KO A.This article reviewed the current literatures retrieved from PubMed and CNKI databases using the keywords"knee osteoarthritis"and"macrophages"over the past decade.The review introduced the process of macrophage polarization and the mechanisms of different macrophage phenotypes in KOA,and further discussed the recent advances in modulating the M1/M2 ratio for KOA management through chemical drugs,bioactive molecules,and traditional Chinese medicine and so on,aiming to provide the theoretical insights for future research and clinical interventions.

Objective:To investigate the structural changes in the spinal cord in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and their relationship with clinical disability.Methods:This study was cross-sectional. A retrospective analysis of clinical and imaging data from 124 patients with MS (MS group), 101 patients with aquaporin-4 antibody-positive NMOSD (NMOSD group), and 110 healthy controls (HC group) from seven medical centers were conducted from January 2018 to October 2021. All subjects underwent 3D T 1WI, and the upper cervical spinal cord cross-sectional area (MUCCA) was segmented and measured. All patients completed the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) assessments at baseline and during follow-up, as well as the baseline 25-foot walk test (T25FW) and the nine-hole peg test (NHPT). Patients were classified into EDSS progression and non-progression groups based on follow-up EDSS scores. Comparisons of MUCCA among the three groups were conducted using analysis of covariance, controlling for age and sex as covariates. Pairwise comparisons between groups were performed using the HSD test. Univariate linear regression and logistic models were employed to identify candidate predictors of baseline clinical disability status or EDSS progression in the MS and NMOSD groups. L1 regularized multivariable linear regression analysis was used to determine independent predictors of baseline clinical disability status or EDSS progression. Independent predictors were then combined to establish a logistic regression model, and the model′s performance in predicting EDSS progression was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis and the area under the curve (AUC). Results:A total of 144 patients completed follow-up EDSS assessments, with a follow-up duration of 3.30 (1.10, 6.42) years, including 82 patients in the MS group and 62 patients in the NMOSD group. Controlling for sex and age as covariates, the overall difference in MUCCA among the MS, NMOSD, and HC groups was statistically significant ( P=0.001). The MUCCA in the MS group was lower than that in the HC group, with a significant difference ( t=-2.54, P=0.007); the MUCCA in the NMOSD group was also lower than that in the HC group, with a significant difference ( t=-2.80, P=0.002). However, the difference in MUCCA between the MS and NMOSD groups was not statistically significant ( t=-0.40, P=0.882). In the MS group, MUCCA was an independent predictor of baseline EDSS score (β=-0.03), baseline T25FW score (β=-0.09), and baseline NHPT score (β=-0.30). In the NMOSD group, MUCCA (β=-0.08), age (β=0.06), and baseline EDSS score (β=-0.43) were independent predictors of EDSS progression, and the logistic regression model incorporating these three factors predicted EDSS progression with an AUC of 0.82. Conclusions:Significant spinal cord atrophy occurs in patients with both MS and NMOSD. Atrophy of the upper cervical spinal cord can predict the degree of disability in MS patients and the progression of clinical disability in NMOSD patients.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)technology has the characteristics of high sensitivity,high specificity and wide range of applications,and it has been widely used as a routine tool for disease screening and diagnosis in the field of clinical laboratory medicine.Since its introduction,GC-MS has been widely adopted in clinical laboratories over the years,enabling the detection of various substances in areas such as prenatal screening,genetic metabolic disorders and metabolomics.This paper primarily reviews the features of GC-MS technology and its applications in clinical laboratory medicine,aiming to highlight the indispensable role of GC-MS.It also discusses how GC-MS can complement the widely used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS)technology,thereby supporting further clinical research and application of GC-MS.

Objective To investigate the information flow patterns in the human brain across different frequency bands of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)using 7 analysis methods to assess effective brain network connectivity.Methods The high spatio-temporal rs-fMRI data of 60 healthy volunteers(30 males and 30 females)aged between 22 and 35 years were downloaded from the Human Connectome Project(HCP)database.The information flow patterns of different frequency bands,including conventional low-frequency band(0.01-0.08 Hz),high-frequency band(0.08-0.69 Hz),and whole-frequency band(0.01-0.69 Hz),were analyzed by Granger causality analysis(including linear Granger causality model,kernel-based Granger causality model,and non-parametric multiplicative regression Granger causality model),transfer entropy(based on binning,k-nearest neighbors,and permutation),and convergent cross mapping.Results Within the low frequency band,the preferred information flow showed similar topologies across all the analysis methods,with the information flow going predominantly from sub-cortical nucleus,limbic lobe,and a few regions of frontal and temporal lobes into occipital and parietal lobes and other regions of frontal and temporal lobes.In contrast,within the high and whole frequency bands,the information flow was in the opposite direction.Additionally,significant negative correlations were found between the preferred information flow direction and the relative power of low-and high-frequency bands,respectively.Conclusion The multimodal effective connectivity analysis conducted in the study reveals rs-fMRI frequency-dependent information flow patterns in the human brain,validates the consistency of different methods in assessing the directional information transfer in the brain network,and offers new insights for understanding the regulatory mechanisms of resting-state brain functions.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of lung ultrasound(LUS)score,computed tomo-graphy(CT)combined with serum CXC chemokine ligand 8(CXCL8)and soluble co stimulatory molecule B7-H3(sB7-H3)for severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP)in children.Methods From April 2022 to April 2024,a total of 210 children with MPP who visited Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Zhan-gqiu District were included as research subjects,and they were separated into severe MPP group and non se-vere MPP group according to the severity of the disease.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied to detect serum levels of CXCL8 and sB7-H3.LUS score and CT diagnosis were conducted.The value of LUS score,CT and serum CXCL8,sB7-H3 in the diagnosis of severe MPP was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results There were no statistically significant differences in height,age,fever days,weight,hospital stay,and gender between the severe MPP group and the non severe MPP group(P>0.05).Compared with the non severe MPP group,the serum levels of CXCL8,sB7-H3,and LUS score were all in-creased in the severe MPP group(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of LUS score,serum CXCL8,and sB7-H3 for diagnosing severe MPP was 0.865,0.785,and 0.750,respectively.The CT diagnosis results showed 35 false positives and 22 false negatives,with Kappa value of 0.459 compared to clinical examination results(P<0.05).The diagnostic results of LUS score,CT combined with serum CXCL8 and sB7-H3 showed 3 false positives and 15 false negatives,with Kappa vale of 0.828 compared to clinical examination results(P<0.05).The diagnosis of LUS score,CT combined with serum CXCL8,and sB7-H3 had higher specificity and accuracy than those of single detection of the four(P<0.05),and the sensitivity of the combined diagno-sis of the four was increased(P<0.05)and the missed diagnosis rate was reduced compared to the single de-tection of CXCL8 and sB7-H3(P<0.05).Conclusion The serum levels of CXCL8,sB7-H3,and LUS score in children with MPP increase.The specificity and accuracy of LUS score,CT combined with serum CXCL8,sB7-H3 in diagnosing severe MPP increase.

Objective To screen the differential expression profile of circ_RNA in OSCC and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of circ_PVT1 on OSCC carcinogenesis.Methods The transcripts of 3 cases of OSCC and normal tissues were sequenced by high-throughput sequencing using circ_RNA expression profile chip,and the differential gene expression profiles were screened,and GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed.The expression level of PVT1 in OSCC tissues,human normal oral mucosal cells and OSCC cells was detected by qRT-PCR.The effect of PVT1 on the biological behavior of SCC-25 and SCC-9 cells was evaluated by MTT exper-iment,Transwell experiment and flow cytometry.The effect of PVT1 on the expression of key proteins in the Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway was evaluated by Western blot.The relationship between the expression of PVT1 and clinical pathological characteristics and prognosis of patients was further studied.Results A total of 403 differentially expressed circ_RNAs were screened by the chip,and the differen-tially expressed genes were enriched in pathways related to cancer progression.PVT1 was highly expressed in OSCC tissues and cells.Silencing PVT1 expression could inhibit the activation of the Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway,thereby effectively inhibiting the proliferation,migration,invasion and cell cycle of SCC-25 and SCC-9 cells and promoting apoptosis.PVT1 expression was only associated with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis in patients,and those with high expression had a shorter PFS.Conclusion PVT1 promotes the progression of OSCC by regulating the activation of Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway.The research results provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of OSCC.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)technology has the characteristics of high sensitivity,high specificity and wide range of applications,and it has been widely used as a routine tool for disease screening and diagnosis in the field of clinical laboratory medicine.Since its introduction,GC-MS has been widely adopted in clinical laboratories over the years,enabling the detection of various substances in areas such as prenatal screening,genetic metabolic disorders and metabolomics.This paper primarily reviews the features of GC-MS technology and its applications in clinical laboratory medicine,aiming to highlight the indispensable role of GC-MS.It also discusses how GC-MS can complement the widely used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS)technology,thereby supporting further clinical research and application of GC-MS.

Objective To screen the differential expression profile of circ_RNA in OSCC and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of circ_PVT1 on OSCC carcinogenesis.Methods The transcripts of 3 cases of OSCC and normal tissues were sequenced by high-throughput sequencing using circ_RNA expression profile chip,and the differential gene expression profiles were screened,and GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed.The expression level of PVT1 in OSCC tissues,human normal oral mucosal cells and OSCC cells was detected by qRT-PCR.The effect of PVT1 on the biological behavior of SCC-25 and SCC-9 cells was evaluated by MTT exper-iment,Transwell experiment and flow cytometry.The effect of PVT1 on the expression of key proteins in the Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway was evaluated by Western blot.The relationship between the expression of PVT1 and clinical pathological characteristics and prognosis of patients was further studied.Results A total of 403 differentially expressed circ_RNAs were screened by the chip,and the differen-tially expressed genes were enriched in pathways related to cancer progression.PVT1 was highly expressed in OSCC tissues and cells.Silencing PVT1 expression could inhibit the activation of the Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway,thereby effectively inhibiting the proliferation,migration,invasion and cell cycle of SCC-25 and SCC-9 cells and promoting apoptosis.PVT1 expression was only associated with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis in patients,and those with high expression had a shorter PFS.Conclusion PVT1 promotes the progression of OSCC by regulating the activation of Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway.The research results provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of OSCC.

Objective:To investigate the structural changes in the spinal cord in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and their relationship with clinical disability.Methods:This study was cross-sectional. A retrospective analysis of clinical and imaging data from 124 patients with MS (MS group), 101 patients with aquaporin-4 antibody-positive NMOSD (NMOSD group), and 110 healthy controls (HC group) from seven medical centers were conducted from January 2018 to October 2021. All subjects underwent 3D T 1WI, and the upper cervical spinal cord cross-sectional area (MUCCA) was segmented and measured. All patients completed the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) assessments at baseline and during follow-up, as well as the baseline 25-foot walk test (T25FW) and the nine-hole peg test (NHPT). Patients were classified into EDSS progression and non-progression groups based on follow-up EDSS scores. Comparisons of MUCCA among the three groups were conducted using analysis of covariance, controlling for age and sex as covariates. Pairwise comparisons between groups were performed using the HSD test. Univariate linear regression and logistic models were employed to identify candidate predictors of baseline clinical disability status or EDSS progression in the MS and NMOSD groups. L1 regularized multivariable linear regression analysis was used to determine independent predictors of baseline clinical disability status or EDSS progression. Independent predictors were then combined to establish a logistic regression model, and the model′s performance in predicting EDSS progression was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis and the area under the curve (AUC). Results:A total of 144 patients completed follow-up EDSS assessments, with a follow-up duration of 3.30 (1.10, 6.42) years, including 82 patients in the MS group and 62 patients in the NMOSD group. Controlling for sex and age as covariates, the overall difference in MUCCA among the MS, NMOSD, and HC groups was statistically significant ( P=0.001). The MUCCA in the MS group was lower than that in the HC group, with a significant difference ( t=-2.54, P=0.007); the MUCCA in the NMOSD group was also lower than that in the HC group, with a significant difference ( t=-2.80, P=0.002). However, the difference in MUCCA between the MS and NMOSD groups was not statistically significant ( t=-0.40, P=0.882). In the MS group, MUCCA was an independent predictor of baseline EDSS score (β=-0.03), baseline T25FW score (β=-0.09), and baseline NHPT score (β=-0.30). In the NMOSD group, MUCCA (β=-0.08), age (β=0.06), and baseline EDSS score (β=-0.43) were independent predictors of EDSS progression, and the logistic regression model incorporating these three factors predicted EDSS progression with an AUC of 0.82. Conclusions:Significant spinal cord atrophy occurs in patients with both MS and NMOSD. Atrophy of the upper cervical spinal cord can predict the degree of disability in MS patients and the progression of clinical disability in NMOSD patients.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of research and evidence related to antihypertensive Chinese patent medicines combined with western medicines for the treatment of hypertension， synthesize and update the evidence， form expert consensus， and provide evidence for clinical decision-making. MethodThe databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）， WanFang Data Knowledge Service Platform （WanFang）， Vip Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database （VIP）， Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System （Sinomed）， National Library of Medicine （PubMed）， Cochrane Library， Web of Science， and US Clinical Trials Registry were searched for randomized controlled trials of antihypertensive Chinese medicine combined with western medicine for the treatment of hypertension from database construction to July 31， 2022. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the bias risk assessment tool in Cochrane Handbook 6.3. Evidence synthesis of main outcome indicators was performed using R software. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment， Development， and Evaluation profiler （GRADEprofiler） 3.6 was employed to evaluate the quality of evidence. Expert consensus was formed based on the Delphi method after two rounds of voting. Result64 pieces of literature were included， and the results of literature quality evaluation and risk of bias showed that 70.31% （45/64） of the studies indicated some risks， and 29.69% （19/64） indicated high risks. Compared with conventional western medicines， the combination of Chinese patent medicines with western medicines can significantly lower systolic pressure （SBP） and diastolic pressure （DBP）， increase the effective rate of antihypertensive， reduce the incidence of adverse reactions， endothelin-1， and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores. Egger's test showed that Songling Xuemaikang capsules reduced SBP and DBP. Tianma Gouteng granules reduced SBP and DBP and increased the effective rate of antihypertensive， and Xinmaitong capsules reduced SBP and increased the effective rate of antihypertensive， without significant publication bias. Songling Xuemaikang capsules increased the effective rate of antihypertensive， and Xinmaitong capsules decreased DBP， with significant publication bias. The results of the GRADE evidence quality evaluation showed that most evidence was at grades B and C. Finally， four strong recommendations and 14 weak recommendations were formed. ConclusionCompared with conventional western medicines for the treatment of hypertension， antihypertensive Chinese patent medicines combined with western medicines have advantages in reducing blood pressure and improving drug use safety， but they are mostly weak recommendations in terms of efficacy， and more high-quality evidence is needed.