Objective:To explore the cardioprotective effects of icariin (ICA) against radiation-induced cardiac disease (RICD) in C57BL/6 mice.Methods:A total of 48 female C57BL/6J mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (CON), the irradiation group (IR), and the irradiation combined with icariin group (IR+ ICA), with 16 mice in each group. The IR and IR+ ICA groups received a single cardiac irradiation at a dose of 30 Gy, while the CON group received no radiation treatment. The IR+ ICA group was treated with ICA (70 mg·kg -1·d -1) two weeks before irradiation until the end of the experiment through intragastric administration. In contrast, the CON and IR groups were treated with an equal volume of vehicle solution (0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, NaCMC) via intragastric administration. The mice′s mental status, food intake, body weight, and survival rates were monitored during the experiment. At two weeks post-irradiation, the venous blood of the mice was collected and serum was separated for the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) of creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT/TNNT2). At 12 weeks post-irradiation, the cardiac function of the mice was assessed using echocardiography. After the mice were euthanized under anesthesia, the histopathological changes and fibrosis degree of their myocardial tissues were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson′s trichrome staining, followed by the calculation of collagen volume fraction (CVF). The differential gene expression of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the cardiac tissues of the mice was detected using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Apoptosis-related proteins and proteins associated with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway were determined using Western blotting. The survival curves of the mice were plotted using Kaplan-Meier, and the survival differences of the mice among various groups were compared using the log-rank test. Results:After irradiation, the mice in the IR group showed lethargy, as well as decreased food intake and activity, while these symptoms in the IR+ ICA group were significantly alleviated. At two weeks post-irradiation, the CK-MB and cTnT levels of the IR group were significantly elevated compared with the CON group ( t = 5.28, 8.89, P < 0.01). At 12 weeks post-irradiation, the mice in the IR group exhibited significantly decreased body weight ( t = 2.47, P < 0.05) and decreased survival rates ( HR = 8.25, 95% CI: 1.157-58.770, P < 0.05) compared with the CON group. Echocardiography revealed that the IR group featured decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), decreased fractional shortening (FS), and increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDD) compared with the CON group ( t = 7.02, 4.45, P < 0.05). Histopathological examination revealed that the IR group suffered from cardiomyocyte edema, disordered arrangement, and increased fibrosis, with an elevated CVF. The IR group exhibited significantly upregulated gene expression of BNP, TGF-β, and IL-6 in cardiac tissues compared with the CON group ( t = 4.23, 6.39, 4.61, P < 0.05). After-irradiation, the IR group exhibited upregulated apoptosis-related proteins Cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax ( t = 6.29, 9.54, P < 0.05), decreased Bcl-2 expression ( t = 8.20, P < 0.001), and decreased phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt ( t = 6.47, 3.42, P < 0.001). The symptoms of the mice were partially ameliorated after treatment with ICA. Specifically, the mice in the IR+ ICA group exhibited higher body weight ( t = 5.13, P < 0.001) and significantly higher survival rates ( HR = 0.121, 95% CI: 0.017-0.864, P < 0.05) than the IR group. Compared to the IR group, the IR+ ICA group showed elevated cardiac function indicators EF and FS( t = 3.23, 3.05, P < 0.05), and reduced LVDD ( t = 3.02, P < 0.05). The histopathological analysis revealed mitigated edema and disordered arrangement of cardiomyocytes in the IR+ ICA group. Furthermore, the IR+ ICA group exhibited significantly lower BNP, TGF-β, and IL-6 expression levels than the IR group ( t = 2.83, 4.15, 2.96, P < 0.05). The expression of apoptosis-related proteins Cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax was lower ( t = 3.23, 3.24, P < 0.05), Bcl-2 expression was higher ( t = 5.92, P < 0.001), and restored phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt ( t = 2.89, 8.35, P < 0.001). Conclusions:Icariin has protective effects against the RICD. It alleviates cardiomyocyte apoptosis possibly by upregulating the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt.

Objective To explore the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of nasal colonized bacteria of healthcare workers(HCWs)in pediatric intensive care unit(PICU).Methods A cross-sectional study was con-ducted.Nasal swab specimens from 104 HCWs in the PICU of a hospital were collected for bacterial culture and an-timicrobial susceptibility testing.According to the identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing results of strains,distribution characteristics of colonized bacteria was analyzed.Basic information of studied subjects were collected through questionnaire survey,and risk factors for colonized bacterial infection were conducted using logis-tic regression analysis.Results Among 104 specimens,colonized bacteria were detected from 66 specimens,with an overall detection rate of 63.46％.Gram-positive bacteria was mainly Staphylococcus aureus,with a detection rate of 34.62％(n=36),out of which methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)accounted for 2.88％(n=3).Gram-negative bacteria was mainly Klebsiella spp.,with a detection rate of 21.15％(n=22).Multiva-riate logistic regression analysis showed that HCWs with junior professional titles(OR=11.400,95％CI:2.329-55.801,P=0.003)was an independent risk factor for Staphylococcus aureus colonization,and male(OR=4.260,95％CI:1.160-15.653,P=0.029)was an independent risk factor for Klebsiella spp.colonization.Conclusion Nasal cavity of HCWs in PICU has a high detection rate of colonized bacteria,with Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella spp.being the major colonized bacteria.

Objective:To explore the cardioprotective effects of icariin (ICA) against radiation-induced cardiac disease (RICD) in C57BL/6 mice.Methods:A total of 48 female C57BL/6J mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (CON), the irradiation group (IR), and the irradiation combined with icariin group (IR+ ICA), with 16 mice in each group. The IR and IR+ ICA groups received a single cardiac irradiation at a dose of 30 Gy, while the CON group received no radiation treatment. The IR+ ICA group was treated with ICA (70 mg·kg -1·d -1) two weeks before irradiation until the end of the experiment through intragastric administration. In contrast, the CON and IR groups were treated with an equal volume of vehicle solution (0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, NaCMC) via intragastric administration. The mice′s mental status, food intake, body weight, and survival rates were monitored during the experiment. At two weeks post-irradiation, the venous blood of the mice was collected and serum was separated for the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) of creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT/TNNT2). At 12 weeks post-irradiation, the cardiac function of the mice was assessed using echocardiography. After the mice were euthanized under anesthesia, the histopathological changes and fibrosis degree of their myocardial tissues were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson′s trichrome staining, followed by the calculation of collagen volume fraction (CVF). The differential gene expression of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the cardiac tissues of the mice was detected using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Apoptosis-related proteins and proteins associated with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway were determined using Western blotting. The survival curves of the mice were plotted using Kaplan-Meier, and the survival differences of the mice among various groups were compared using the log-rank test. Results:After irradiation, the mice in the IR group showed lethargy, as well as decreased food intake and activity, while these symptoms in the IR+ ICA group were significantly alleviated. At two weeks post-irradiation, the CK-MB and cTnT levels of the IR group were significantly elevated compared with the CON group ( t = 5.28, 8.89, P < 0.01). At 12 weeks post-irradiation, the mice in the IR group exhibited significantly decreased body weight ( t = 2.47, P < 0.05) and decreased survival rates ( HR = 8.25, 95% CI: 1.157-58.770, P < 0.05) compared with the CON group. Echocardiography revealed that the IR group featured decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), decreased fractional shortening (FS), and increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDD) compared with the CON group ( t = 7.02, 4.45, P < 0.05). Histopathological examination revealed that the IR group suffered from cardiomyocyte edema, disordered arrangement, and increased fibrosis, with an elevated CVF. The IR group exhibited significantly upregulated gene expression of BNP, TGF-β, and IL-6 in cardiac tissues compared with the CON group ( t = 4.23, 6.39, 4.61, P < 0.05). After-irradiation, the IR group exhibited upregulated apoptosis-related proteins Cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax ( t = 6.29, 9.54, P < 0.05), decreased Bcl-2 expression ( t = 8.20, P < 0.001), and decreased phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt ( t = 6.47, 3.42, P < 0.001). The symptoms of the mice were partially ameliorated after treatment with ICA. Specifically, the mice in the IR+ ICA group exhibited higher body weight ( t = 5.13, P < 0.001) and significantly higher survival rates ( HR = 0.121, 95% CI: 0.017-0.864, P < 0.05) than the IR group. Compared to the IR group, the IR+ ICA group showed elevated cardiac function indicators EF and FS( t = 3.23, 3.05, P < 0.05), and reduced LVDD ( t = 3.02, P < 0.05). The histopathological analysis revealed mitigated edema and disordered arrangement of cardiomyocytes in the IR+ ICA group. Furthermore, the IR+ ICA group exhibited significantly lower BNP, TGF-β, and IL-6 expression levels than the IR group ( t = 2.83, 4.15, 2.96, P < 0.05). The expression of apoptosis-related proteins Cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax was lower ( t = 3.23, 3.24, P < 0.05), Bcl-2 expression was higher ( t = 5.92, P < 0.001), and restored phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt ( t = 2.89, 8.35, P < 0.001). Conclusions:Icariin has protective effects against the RICD. It alleviates cardiomyocyte apoptosis possibly by upregulating the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt.

Objective To explore the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of nasal colonized bacteria of healthcare workers(HCWs)in pediatric intensive care unit(PICU).Methods A cross-sectional study was con-ducted.Nasal swab specimens from 104 HCWs in the PICU of a hospital were collected for bacterial culture and an-timicrobial susceptibility testing.According to the identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing results of strains,distribution characteristics of colonized bacteria was analyzed.Basic information of studied subjects were collected through questionnaire survey,and risk factors for colonized bacterial infection were conducted using logis-tic regression analysis.Results Among 104 specimens,colonized bacteria were detected from 66 specimens,with an overall detection rate of 63.46％.Gram-positive bacteria was mainly Staphylococcus aureus,with a detection rate of 34.62％(n=36),out of which methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)accounted for 2.88％(n=3).Gram-negative bacteria was mainly Klebsiella spp.,with a detection rate of 21.15％(n=22).Multiva-riate logistic regression analysis showed that HCWs with junior professional titles(OR=11.400,95％CI:2.329-55.801,P=0.003)was an independent risk factor for Staphylococcus aureus colonization,and male(OR=4.260,95％CI:1.160-15.653,P=0.029)was an independent risk factor for Klebsiella spp.colonization.Conclusion Nasal cavity of HCWs in PICU has a high detection rate of colonized bacteria,with Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella spp.being the major colonized bacteria.

Ocular adnexal lymphoma is a common orbital malignant tumor.The incidence of ocular adnexal lymphoma is in-creasing rapidly each year,and the clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics of the disease are not specific.Therefore,the diagnosis of the disease relies on pathological tissue analysis.Accurate diagnosis of ocular adnexal lymphoma relies on mor-phology,immunohistochemistry,molecular and cytogenetics.With in-depth research on the disease,it has been found that the clinical prognosis of this tumor is characterized by high recurrence.This article mainly explains the correlation between high dis-ease recurrence rate and histopathological characteristics.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of 25G+and 27G+pars plana vitrectomy(PPV)in the treat-ment of idiopathic epiretinal membrane(iERM).Methods A total of 50 iERM patients(50 eyes)who were admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from December 2019 to August 2022 were selected as the research subjects.These patients were divided into the control group and observation group based on different surgical methods,with 25 patients(25 eyes)in each group.Patients in the control group received 25G+PPV treatment,while patients in the observation group received 27G+PPV treatment.The surgical duration and postoperative 1-day incision subconjunctival hemorrhage and e-dema of patients in two groups were compared;central macular thickness(CMT)was measured by optical coherence tomo-graphy before surgery,1 day,1 week,1 month,and 3 months postoperatively in the two groups.Visual acuity of patients in both groups was assessed according to the early treatment diabetic retinopathy study(ETDRS)visual acuity chart.Intraocular pressure was measured by using a non-contact Callon tonometer.Complications,such as intraoperative macular injury,retinal hole,postoperative choroidal detachment,retinal hemorrhage,retinal detachment,and intraocular infection,were observed in both groups.Results The surgical duration of patients in the observation group was significantly shorter than that in the control group(t=2.314,P＜0.05).The extent of subconjunctival hemorrhage and edema of patients in the observation group was significantly smaller than that in the control group(t=13.706,P＜0.01).The ETDRS visual acuity of patients at 1 day,1 week,1 month,and 3 months after surgery in both groups was significantly higher than that before surgery(P＜0.05).There was no signifi-cant difference in ETDRS visual acuity of patients between the two groups at 1 day,1 week,1 month,and 3 months postoperatively(P＞0.05).At 1 day after surgery,the intraocular pressure of patients in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P＜0.05).At 1 week,1 month,and 3 months after surgery,there was no significant difference in intraocular pressure of patients between the two groups(P＞0.05).Two patients in the control group experienced transient ocular hypotension 1 day after surgery,while no such complication was observed in the observation group.Patients in both groups presented with varying degrees of retinal nerve epithelial layer traction,retinal edema,thickening,and vascular distortion before surgery.At 1 day after surgery,epiretinal membrane traction was relieved in both groups,and there was a significant improvement in the anatomical structure of the macular area compared to preoperative conditions.At 1 day,1 week,1 month,and 3 months after surgery,the CMT of patients in both groups was reduced compared to preoperative values(P＜0.05);there was no significant difference in CMT of patients between the two groups at 1 day,1 week,1 month,and 3 months after surgery(P＞0.05).In the control group,18 eyes(72.0％)were sutured at the scleral puncture sites due to leakage,while no suturing was performed in the observation group.Patients in both groups completed the surgery successfully,without any intraoperative complications such as macular injury or retinal hole.During the 3-month follow-up,no postoperative complications such as choroidal detachment,retinal hemorrhage,retinal detachment,or intraocular infection were observed in both groups.Conclusion Both 27G+PPV and 25G+PPV have good clinical effects and high surgical safety in the treatment of iERM.Compared with 25G+PPV,27G+PPV can shorten the surgical duration,better maintain postoperative intraocular pressure stability,and reduce the range of subconjunctival bleeding and edema.

Inherited retinal disease encompasses a range of congenital retinal neurodegenerative conditions,characterized by symptoms such as night blindness,progressive visual field defect,vision loss,and even blindness.The main cause of the disease is gene mutation.Through gene therapy,that is the application of exogenous nucleotides to replace or silence the disease-causing genes in the genetically defective cells,so that the cells can express the correct protein and restore the function of cells.Therefore,it is possible to cure the disease.The immune-privileged status of the eye makes it an ideal organ for gene thera-py.However,successful gene therapy requires delivery systems that can carry therapeutic nucleotides into the cells.This review focuses on the progress and challenges of gene therapy delivery systems for inherited retinal diseases,including viral and non-vi-ral vectors.

Objective To explore the key active ingredients and action characteristics of Wenxing Jingjintong Gel Patch in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)based on the systematic pharmacology and LC-MS/MS technology.Methods The information of active ingredient from Wenxing Jingjintong Gel Patch was established through LC-MS/MS analysis and literature retrieval.The targets of the active ingredients were predicted using Swiss Target Prediction platform and then mapped with the RA-related targets obtained from GeneCards,DrugBank,and OMIM databases to identify the intersecting targets.The"active ingredients-effective targets"network was constructed through the Cytoscape software.The shared targets were imported into STRING database to construct a protein-protein interaction network.GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed using the Metascape database.Molecular docking studies were conducted using AutoDock software to investigate the interactions between key ingredients and target proteins.Results A total of 142 active ingredients were identified in Wenxing Jingjintong Gel Patch by wsing LC-MS/MS,which were further supplemented to 174 through literature retrieval.There were 175 shared targets between the active ingredients and RA.It was anticipated that Wenxing Jingjintong Gel Patch exerted immune regulation and anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects through the interaction between key active ingredients such as berberine,neobavaisoflavone,and palmatine chloride with key targets,including TNF,IL6,and AKT1 to regulate PI3K/Akt1,JAK/STAT,and MAPK signaling pathways.In 1 152 molecular docking validation,94%of them had binding energies less than-5.0 kcal·mol-1,while 51%of them had binding energies less than-7.0 kcal·mol-1.It was indicated that there was a good binding affinity between the potential active ingredients and core targets.Conclusion This study predicted the active ingredients and action characteristics of Wenxing Jingjintong Gel Patch in the treatment of RA,which provided a theoretical basis for further clinical application and quality control.

Objective:To investigate the central regulatory mechanisms underlying depression-like behavior induced by exercise fatigue in rats.Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into a control group and a fatigue group.The exercise-induced fatigue model was established by a three-level incremental load treadmill training protocol.The sucrose preference test(SPT)was conducted to evaluate depressive-like behavior in the rats.Following the behavioral testing,Immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression of substance P(SP)and the activation level of microglia(MG)in the CA1 region of the hippocampus.Additionally,Western Blot were performed to observe the hippocampal phosphorylation level of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK).Results:The SPT revealed that the sucrose preference rate of rats in the fatigue group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P＜0.01);Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression level of SP in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats in the fatigue group was significantly increased compared with that of the control group(P＜0.01),and accom-panied by a significant increase in the activation level of MG in the hippocampal CA1(P＜0.05).In addition,West-ern Blot results indicated that exercise-induced fatigue led to a significant increase in the p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK val-ues in the hippocampus of rats(P＜0.01).Conclusion:The development of depressive-like behavior induced by exer-cise-induced fatigue is associated with upregulated SP secretion and excessive MG activation in the hippocampal CA1 region.The activation of the p38 MAPK pathway may be a regulatory mechanism underlying the adverse mood states caused by exercise-induced fatigue.

Objective:To investigate the central regulatory mechanisms underlying depression-like behavior induced by exercise fatigue in rats.Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into a control group and a fatigue group.The exercise-induced fatigue model was established by a three-level incremental load treadmill training protocol.The sucrose preference test(SPT)was conducted to evaluate depressive-like behavior in the rats.Following the behavioral testing,Immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression of substance P(SP)and the activation level of microglia(MG)in the CA1 region of the hippocampus.Additionally,Western Blot were performed to observe the hippocampal phosphorylation level of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK).Results:The SPT revealed that the sucrose preference rate of rats in the fatigue group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P＜0.01);Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression level of SP in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats in the fatigue group was significantly increased compared with that of the control group(P＜0.01),and accom-panied by a significant increase in the activation level of MG in the hippocampal CA1(P＜0.05).In addition,West-ern Blot results indicated that exercise-induced fatigue led to a significant increase in the p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK val-ues in the hippocampus of rats(P＜0.01).Conclusion:The development of depressive-like behavior induced by exer-cise-induced fatigue is associated with upregulated SP secretion and excessive MG activation in the hippocampal CA1 region.The activation of the p38 MAPK pathway may be a regulatory mechanism underlying the adverse mood states caused by exercise-induced fatigue.