It is believed that patients with cirrhotic ascites exhibit a pathological mechanism characterized by the decline of healthy qi and the accumulation of pathogenic factors. Clinically， treatment should be based on the theory of tonification and purging， with a staged approach distinguishing between the active phase and the remission phase. The balance between tonification and purging should be adjusted according to the progression of pathogenic and healthy actors. In the acute phase， purging should take precedence over tonification， using purging as a means of tonification to facilitate the flow of water and qi through the triple energizer. The severity of water retention， dampness， blood stasis， and heat should be carefully assessed to ensure thorough elimination of pathogenic factors while avoiding harm to healthy qi. Medication adjustments should be made once the pathogenic factors are significantly weakened. In the remission phase， an integrated approach combining both tonification and purging should be adopted， incorporating purging within tonification to clear residual pathogens and prevent recurrence. Concurrently， proactive treatment of the underlying disease is essential to achieve complete recovery and prevent the recurrence of ascites.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of leonurine on growth arrest-specific protein-6 （GAS6）/Axl signaling pathway， and clarify its mechanism of alleviating myocardial injury in rats with coronary heart disease. METHODS The rat model of coronary heart disease was constructed； successfully modeled rats were randomly separated into model group， leonurine low- dose and high-dose groups （intragastric administration of leonurine 25， 100 mg/kg+intraperitoneal injection of normal saline 75 mg/kg）， and leonurine high-dose+GAS6/Axl signaling pathway inhibitor group （intragastric administration of leonurine 100 mg/kg+ intraperitoneal injection of R428 75 mg/kg）， with 12 rats in each group. Additional 12 normal rats were selected as control group. Each administration group was given relevant medicine； control group and model group were given a constant volume of normal saline intragastrically and intraperitoneally， once a day， for 48 consecutive days. After administration， the heart function of rats， and serum levels of inflammatory factors and myocardial injury markers were detected； the pathological morphology of myocardial tissue was observed； the myocardial cell apoptosis rate， the expressions of apoptosis and GAS6/Axl signaling pathway-related proteins were determined. RESULTS Compared with control group， model group showed disorders in the arrangement of myocardial cells and myocardial fibers， hypertrophy of myocardial cells， and nuclear condensation； left ventricular ejection fraction， left ventricular fractional shortening， ratio of early-diastolic and late-diastolic motion velocity of the mitral ring， the protein expression of GAS6， B-cell lymphoma 2/B-cell lymphoma 2 associated X protein and phosphorylated Axl/Axl ratios were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α， interleukin-1β， interleukin-6， creatine kinase isoenzyme， troponin Ⅰ and myoglobin， the cell apoptosis rate， and cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 ratio were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Leonurine could obviously improve the above pathological conditions and detection indicators （P＜0.05）， and the effect of leonurine high-dose group was more significant than that of leonurine low-dose group （P＜0.05）； R428 treatment could reverse the ameliorating effect of high-dose of leonurine on myocardial injury in rats with coronary heart disease （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Leonurine can alleviate myocardial injury in rats with coronary heart disease， and its mechanism of action is related to the activation of the GAS6/Axl signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:There are increasing scientific and technological ways to promote the recovery of muscle fatigue after sports,such as vibrating foam shaft,fascia gun relaxation,and ultra-low temperature cold therapy.Fascia gun relaxation has been widely used in practice,but there is still relatively little research on fascial guns. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effects of three relaxation methods(fascia gun,stretching,fascia gun+stretching)on muscle status and muscle strength during the recovery of exercise-induced muscle fatigue,and to provide scientific basis for the application of the three methods in practice. METHODS:Forty college students were randomly divided into control group(n=10),stretching group(n=10),fascia gun group(n=10),and fascia gun+stretching group(n=10).All subjects completed leg flexion and extension training at 60%1 RM,15 times per set,for 10 sets in total,to make exercise fatigue models.After modeling,the subjects were intervened with supine rest,static stretching,fascia gun relaxation,fascia gun+stretching relaxation respectively.Muscle status and muscle strength indexes were tested before exercise,immediately after exercise,immediately after relaxation,24 and 48 hours after exercise. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The muscle tension and dynamic hardness of the control group and the stretching group immediately after relaxation were significantly higher than those before training(P<0.01).However,there was no significant difference in the fascia gun group and fascia gun+stretching group before and after training(P>0.05).At 24 hours after training,the peak torque of the control group and fascia gun group was significantly lower than that before training(P<0.01),and there was no significant difference in the stretching group and fascia gun+stretching group before and 24 hours after training(P>0.05).To conclude,the fascia gun can immediately and effectively improve the muscle state of sports fatigue and stretching can promote the effective recovery of muscle strength within 24 hours after sports fatigue.Relaxation using fascia gun plus stretching can achieve the superposition of the two effects.

Objective To evaluate the protective effect and underlying mechanism of ulinastatin on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.Methods Twenty-four male SD rats were divided into three groups:sham operation group(Sham group),hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury group(HIRI group)and hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury+ulinastatin pretreatment group(HIRI+UTI group),with 8 rats in each group.The HIRI rat models were established by occluding hepatic portal vein and hepatic artery for 1 h.In the HIRI+UTI group,the rats were intraperitoneally injected with ulinastatin at 30 min before model establishment,and an equivalent amount of normal saline was given in the Sham and HIRI groups.The rats were sacrificed at 6 h after model establishment.Serum samples were collected to detect alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)levels.Pathological changes of liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Ultrastructural changes of mitochondria in liver tissues were observed by transmission electron microscopy.The expression of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)was determined by immunofluorescent staining.The contents of malondialdehyde(MDA),glutathione(GSH),Fe,reactive oxygen species(ROS)and GPX4 were detected.The expression levels of GPX4 and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family 4(ACSL4)messenger RNA(mRNA)and proteins in liver tissue were measured.Results Compared with the Sham group,serum ALT and AST levels were up-regulated,pathological changes such as congestion,hepatocyte necrosis and abnormal hepatic lobule structure were observed,pathological score was increased,the mitochondria shrank,the membrane density was increased,the mitochondrial crest was damaged or even absent,the contents of ROS,MDA and Fe were elevated,the GSH content was decreased,the fluorescent intensity of GPX4 was weakened,the relative expression levels of ACSL4 mRNA and protein were up-regulated,and the relative expression levels of GPX4 mRNA and protein were down-regulated in the HIRI group(all P＜0.05).Compared with the HIRI group,serum ALT and AST levels were down-regulated,liver tissue injury was alleviated,pathological score was decreased,mitochondrial shrinkage and crest breakage were mitigated,the contents of ROS,MDA and Fe were down-regulated,the GSH content was up-regulated,the fluorescent intensity of GPX4 was enhanced,the relative expression levels of ACSL4 mRNA and protein were down-regulated,and the relative expression levels of GPX4 mRNA and protein were up-regulated in the HIRI+UTI group(all P＜0.05).Conclusions Ulinastatin may alleviate hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats probably through inhibiting ferroptosis.

Objective:To explore the possible effects of Bushen Huoxue Formula (the kidney tonifying and blood activating prescription) on the proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis of nucleus pulposus cells by regulating the circ_0036763/miR-583 axis.Methods:Real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of circ0036763 and miR-583 in normal and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) nucleus pulposus cells; IDD nucleus pulposus cells were divided into pcDNA group, pcDNA circ_0036763 group, pcDNA circ_0036763+ mimic NC group, and pcDNA circ_0036763+ miR-583 mimic group. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of circ_0036763 and miR-583 in nucleus pulposus cells in each group, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) was used to detect cell proliferation (A value), and Western blot was used to detect the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), collagen Ⅰ, and collagen Ⅱ proteins in nucleus pulposus cells, The dual luciferase assay reported experimental validation of the targeting relationship between circ_0036763 and miR-583. 27 mice were divided into sham surgery group, IDD group, and kidney tonifying and blood activating formula group. IDD models were established in all groups except for the sham surgery group. After successful modeling, the sham surgery group and IDD group were given physiological saline by gavage, while the kidney tonifying and blood activating formula group was given 1.5 g/ml of kidney tonifying and blood activating formula by gavage for 3 consecutive weeks. QRT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of circ0036763 and miR-583 in the nucleus pulposus cells of mice in each group, MTT was used to detect cell proliferation, and Western blot was used to detect the expression of PCNA, collagen Ⅰ, and collagen Ⅱ proteins.Results:The expression level of circ_0036763 in IDD nucleus pulposus cells decreased, while the expression level of miR-583 increased (all P<0.05); Overexpression of circ_0036763 can promote proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis of nucleus pulposus cells (all P<0.05); Circ_0036763 targets miR-583 and upregulates miR-583 reversible overexpression. Circ_0036763 enhances the proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis ability of IDD nucleus pulposus cells. Compared with the sham surgery group, the IDD group showed an increase in collagen Ⅰ protein expression and miR-583 expression levels (all P<0.05), while the cell A value, PCNA and collagen Ⅱ protein expression, and circ_0036763 expression levels decreased (all P<0.05); Compared with the IDD group, the Kidney Tonifying and Blood Activating Formula group showed a decrease in collagen Ⅰ protein expression and miR-583 expression levels (all P<0.05), while the cell A value, PCNA and collagen Ⅱ protein expression, and circ_0036763 expression levels increased (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The kidney tonifying and blood activating formula (Bushen Huoxue) may induce proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis of nucleus pulposus cells by regulating the circ_0036763/miR-583 axis.

Objective To investigate the effect of sigma-1 receptor(sig-1R)inhibition on apoptosis in the dorsal root ganglion(DRG)of rats with sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury(CCI)-mediated neuropathic pain.Methods Rats undergoing intrathecal intubation were randomly divided into three groups with 12 in each:sham group,model group(CCI modeling one week after intrathecal intubation)and sig-1R inhibitor group(BD1047 group)that was injected intrathecally on the fourth,fifth,and sixth days after the CCI operation.The mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT)of rats was detected on the day before surgery and then first,third,fifth and sev-enth days after surgery.The expression of sig-1R,Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by Western blot and immunofluo-rescence in DRG cell;TUNEL staining microscopy was used to observe the apoptosis of DRG cells.The changes of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were observed by transmission electron microscopy of DRG cells.Results Compared with the sham group,the model group showed a decreased MWT at all time points after surgery,up-regulation of DRG cell apoptosis,up-regulation of sig-1R and Bax,down-regulation of Bcl-2,swelling of en-doplasmic reticulum,disruption of mitochondrial membrane and reduction of mitochondrial cristae in the DRG cell endoplasmic reticulum after surgery(P＜0.05).BD1047 group showed elevated MWT at the fifth and seventh postoperative days,down-regulation of DRG cell apoptosis,down-regulated expression of sig-1R and Box,up-regulated expression of Bcl-2 and slightly damaged endoplasmic reticulum as well as mitochondria of DRG cells compared with model group(P＜0.05).Conclusions Inhibition of sig-1R up-regulates mechanical withdrawal threshold and reduces DRG cell apoptosis in CCI rats.

The Omicron family of SARS-CoV-2 variants are currently driving the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we analyzed the clinical laboratory test results of 9911 Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages-infected symptomatic patients without earlier infection histories during a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Shanghai in spring 2022. Compared to an earlier patient cohort infected by SARS-CoV-2 prototype strains in 2020, BA.2.2 infection led to distinct fluctuations of pathophysiological markers in the peripheral blood. In particular, severe/critical cases of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection were associated with less pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and stronger interferon alpha response in the bronchoalveolar microenvironment. Importantly, the abnormal biomarkers were significantly subdued in individuals who had been immunized by 2 or 3 doses of SARS-CoV-2 prototype-inactivated vaccines, supporting the estimation of an overall 96.02% of protection rate against severe/critical disease in the 4854 cases in our BA.2.2 patient cohort with traceable vaccination records. Furthermore, even though age was a critical risk factor of the severity of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection, vaccination-elicited protection against severe/critical COVID-19 reached 90.15% in patients aged ≽ 60 years old. Together, our study delineates the pathophysiological features of Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages and demonstrates significant protection conferred by prior prototype-based inactivated vaccines.
Humans ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Pandemics/prevention & control* ; China/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control* ; Vaccination

Chronic Urticaria(CU)is a common skin disease involving autoimmunity and allergies,which brings a heavy burden to patients and society.The theory of traditional Chinese medicine"the Lung is combined with the Large Intestine,and the symptoms of large intestine can be reflected from the skin"has long shown that there is a close physiological and pathological relationship between the function of the Large Intestine and the skin.With the modern advancement of the"gut-skin axis"theory,the correlation between gut microbiome and CU has gradually become an emerging focus of research.Adjusting the imbalance of gut microbiome would be a new trend in the clinical treatment of CU.Acupuncture has a beneficial effect of regulating the gut microbiome,and the definite curative effect on CU.Therefore,this article summarized the research progress between the gut microbiome and CU in recent years,in order to discuss the feasibility of acupuncture to treat CU by regulating the gut microbiome,and provide a new idea for the mechanism research of acupuncture in the treatment of CU from the perspective of"treating skin from intestine".

Background: The Lymphadenectomy in Ovarian Neoplasms (LION) study revealed that systemic lymphadenectomy did not bring survival benefit for advanced ovarian cancer patients with clinically normal lymph nodes and was associated with a higher incidence of operative complications. However, there is no consensus on whether lymphadenectomy has survival benefit or not in early epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods We designed the LOVE study, a multicenter, randomized controlled, phase III trial to compare the efficacy and safety of comprehensive staging surgery with or without lymphadenectomy in stages IA-IIB EOC and fallopian tube carcinomas (FTC). The hypothesis is that the oncological outcomes provided by comprehensive staging surgery without lymphadenectomy are non-inferior to those of conventional completion staging surgery in early-stage EOC and FTC patients who have indications for post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients assigned to experimental group will undergo comprehensive staging surgery, but lymphadenectomy. Patients assigned to comparative group will undergo completion staging surgery including systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. All subjects will receive 3–6 cycles of standard adjuvant chemotherapy. Major inclusion criteria are pathologic confirmed stage IA-IIB EOC or FTC, and patients have indications for adjuvant chemotherapy either confirmed by intraoperative fast frozen section or previous pathology after an incomplete staging surgery. Major exclusion criteria are non-epithelial tumors and low-grade serous carcinoma. Patients with severe rectum involvement which lead to partial rectum resection will be excluded. The sample size is 656 subjects. Primary endpoint is disease-free survival.

Background: Cervical cancer is still present a major public health problem, especially in developing countries. In International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 2018, allowing assessment of retroperitoneal lymph nodes by imaging and/or pathological findings and, if deemed metastatic, the case is designated as stage IIIC (with r and p notations). Patients with lymph node metastases have lower overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), and survival after recurrence, especially those who have unresectable macroscopical positive lymph nodes. Retrospective analysis suggests that there may be a benefit to debulking macroscopic nodes that would be otherwise difficult to sterilize with standard doses of radiation therapy. However, there are no prospective study reporting that resecting macroscopic nodes before concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) would improve PFS or OS of cervical cancer and no guidelines for surgical resection of bulky lymph nodes. The CQGOG0103 study is a prospective, multicenter and randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating lymph node dissection on stage IIICr of cervical cancer. Methods Eligible patients are histologically confirmed cervical squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, adeno-squamous cell carcinoma. Stage IIICr (confirmed by computed tomography [CT]/magnetic resonance imaging/positron emission tomography/CT) and the short diameter of image-positive lymph node ≥15 mm. 452 patients will be equally randomized to receive either CCRT (pelvic external-beam radiotherapy [EBRT]/extended-field EBRT + cisplatin [40 mg/m2] or carboplatin [the area under curve=2] every week for 5 cycles + brachytherapy) or open/minimally invasive pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection followed by CCRT. Randomization is stratified by status of para-aortic lymph node. The primary endpoint is PFS. Secondary endpoints are OS and surgical complications. A total of 452 patients will be enrolled from multiple hospitals in China within 4 years and followed up for 5 years.