ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Jiawei Wendantang in preventing and treating diabetic atherosclerosis by observing the effect of this prescription on the nuclear factor-κB / NOD-like receptor protein 3（NF-κB/NLRP3） pathway and related inflammatory cytokines in rat model of diabetic atherosclerosis. MethodFifty-four SPF-grade rats were randomized into blank， model， atorvastatin （0.9 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， and high-， medium-， low-dose （18.2， 9.1， 4.55 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively） Jiawei Wendantang groups. The rats in other groups except the blank group were modeled for diabetic atherosclerosis by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and feeding with a high-sugar high-fat diet， and those in the blank group were injected with an equal dose of citric acid buffer and fed with a regular diet. The drug administration lasted for 4 weeks， and the blood glucose level in the tail vein was measured every 6 days. After the last administration， the rats were anesthetized for sample collection. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the serum levels of interleukin-18 （IL-18）， C-reactive protein （CRP）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1）. Western blot was employed to determine the relative protein levels of NF-κB p65， NLRP3， and ICAM-1 in the abdominal aorta. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine the mRNA levels of NLRP3 and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in the abdominal aorta. The pathological changes in the thoracic aorta were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group showed elevated levels of IL-18， CRP， TNF-α， and ICAM-1 in the serum and blood glucose （P<0.05， P<0.01）， up-regulated protein levels of NF-κB p65， NLRP3， and ICAM-1 （P<0.01）， and up-regulated mRNA levels of NLRP3 and IL-1β （P<0.05）. Compared with model group， Jiawei Wendantang lowered the levels of IL-18， CRP， TNF-α， ICAM-1 and blood glucose （P<0.05， P<0.01）， down-regulated the protein levels of NF-κB p65， NLRP3， and ICAM-1 （P<0.01）， and down-regulated the mRNA levels of NLRP3 and IL-1β （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， Jiawei Wendantang alleviated the pathological injuries in the thoracic aorta. ConclusionJiawei Wendantang may modulate the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway to reduce the release and adhesion of inflammatory cytokines and regulate the blood glucose level to treat diabetic atherosclerosis.

To promote the development of the prescription-based processing of Chinese herbal pieces,the China Association of Chinese Medicine published the social organization standard of the Standard for Prescription-based Processing of Chinese Herbal Pieces(T/CACM 1367-2021)in June 2021.The standard was led by the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine and Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine.It was jointly drafted by 28 Traditional Chinese medical institutions across the country.This paper introduced the standards in detail to promote the implementation and propel the inheritance and innovation of the processing of Chinese herbal pieces.

Objective To observe the value of grey-level histogram analysis based on T2WI for differentiating consistency of meningioma.Methods Data of 109 patients with meningioma were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into hard group(n=71)and soft group(n=38)according to the consistency of tumors.Tumor ROI was outlined on axial T2WI showing the largest tumor section,gray levels were extracted and histogram analysis was performed.The value of each histogram parameter were compared between groups.Then receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the efficiency for differentiating soft and hard meningioma.Results P1,P10,P50,P90,P99 and the mean grey levels on T2WI in soft group were all higher than those in hard group(all P＜0.05),while the variance,the kurtosis and the skewness were not significantly different between groups(all P＞0.05).The differentiating efficiency of P1,P10,P50,P90,P99 and the mean grey levels on T2WI were all fine,with AUC of 0.774 to 0.833,and no significant difference was found(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Parameters of grey-level histogram analysis such as P1,P10,Ps0,P90,P99 and the mean values based on T2WI were all valuable for differentiating soft and hard meningioma.

Background: and Purpose This study aimed to determine the changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients who received different durations of hemodialysis (HD) using arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: The study included 46 patients who received HD and 24 demographically similar healthy controls (HCs). Patients who received HD were divided into three subgroups based on its duration: HD-1 (n=15, dialysis duration ≤24 months), HD-2 (n=16, dialysis duration >24 and ≤72 months), and HD-3 (n=15, dialysis duration ≥73 months). All subjects completed the Mini Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment tests, and the patients who received HD underwent laboratory tests. Group-level differences in the global and regional CBFs between patients who received HD and HCs were assessed. Correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the associations among CBF, clinical variables, and cognitive function. Results: Compared with HCs, global and regional CBFs were significantly increased in the HD-1 and HD-2 groups (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the HD-3 group (p>0.05). However, compared with the HD-1 group, the HD-3 group had significantly decreased global and regional CBFs (p<0.05). The cognitive function was worse in patients who received long-term HD than in HCs. Increased dialysis duration and hemoglobin level were predictive risk factors for decreased CBF in patients who received long-term HD. Conclusions Patients who received long-term HD with normal CBF had worse cognitive function, which may be related to increased dialysis duration.

ObjectiveTo investigate the intervention effect of Qufeng Gutong Babu ointment （QFGT） on rats with osteoarthritis （OA） with cold-dampness obstruction， and preliminarily clarify its mechanism. MethodSD male rats were divided into 6 groups， namely， the blank group， model group， positive control drug Huoxue Zhitong ointment （HXZTG） group （1.26 cm²·d^-1）， and low， medium， and high-dose QFGT group （75， 150， 300 mg·d^-1）. OA model was prepared by joint cavity injection of papain and L-cysteine. On the second day of modeling， climate factors were applied to establish an animal model of combination of disease and syndrome of OA rats with cold-dampness obstruction. Standard VonFrey fiber was used to evaluate the threshold of mechanical pain. Weight bearing difference score and joint function score of both hind limbs were recorded. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and safranine fixation green staining were used to observe the pathological changes and cartilage degeneration of rat knee joint. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） was used to detect the expression of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-8 （IL-8）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9）， and cathepsin K （CTSK）. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of kinase B （Akt）， phosphorylated protein kinase B （p-Akt）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， nuclear factor 1 （NFATc1）， MMP-9， and CTSK in T cells. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significant mechanical pain sensitivity reaction after modeling （P<0.01）， and the weight bearing difference of both hind limbs and joint function score were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， both the high-dose QFGT group and the HXZTG group significantly reduced the mechanical pain sensitivity， weight difference， and joint function score of rats （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the medium-dose QFGT group also improved the joint function to a certain extent， and the degeneration of the knee joint cartilage of rats was significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. QFGT and HXZTG both inhibited the protein expression of IL-1β， IL-8， TNF-α， MMP-9， CTAK， PI3K， p-Akt， Akt， and other related proteins in articular cartilage of rats with OA to a certain extent （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionQFGT can inhibit the release of inflammatory factors and matrix metalloproteinases by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signal pathway in articular articular cartilage of rats with OA with cold-dampness obstruction， thus ultimately weakening local cartilage degeneration and improving joint function.

Objective:To explore the interventional effect of β-sitosterol on ovalbumin(OVA)-induced allergic asthma rats and its potential mechanism.Methods:SD male rats were randomly divided into normal group(CON),model group(M),positive drug dexamethasone group(DEX,0.075 mg/kg)and β-sitosterol group(Sit,50 mg/kg).A rat model of allergic asthma was estab-lished by intraperitoneal injection of OVA with aluminum hydrogen solution,and nebulized inhalation of OVA to stimulate.Rats were given intragastric administration 30 min before aerosol challenge,and after continuous administration for 7 days,the indicators of cough and asthma and tracheal phenol red excretion were detected.HE staining was used to observe pathological changes of lung tis-sue.Flow cytometry was used to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS)generation,apoptosis level and ratios of Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood.Biochemical method was used to detect contents of MDA,and activities of T-SOD and GSH-Px in rat lung tissues.ELISA was used to detect levels of Th17 and Treg-related cytokines(TNF-α,IL-4,IL-6,IL-17A,and IL-35).Results:Compared with model group,β-sitosterol significantly prolonged the incubation period of cough and gasp in rats with allergic asthma,reduced the frequency of cough and gasping,and promoted the excretion of phenol red in trachea;significantly reduced inflammatory infiltration in lung tissue of asthmatic rats;observably reduced MDA content in lung tissue,ROS of primary lung cell and apoptosis levels of asthmatic rats,increased the activities of T-SOD and GSH-Px;markedly reduced proportion of Th17 cells and levels of pro-inflammatory cyto-kines TNF-α,IL-4,IL-6 and IL-17A,increased proportion of Treg cells and levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-35.Conclusion:β-sitosterol can ameliorate airway inflammation and oxidative damage in OVA-induced allergic asthmatic rats,and its mecha-nism may be related to the regulation of β-sitosterol on Th17/Treg immune imbalance and oxidative stress response.

Clinical data of 210 patients with early colorectal cancer and precancerous lesion treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the Digestive Endoscopy Center of the Seventh Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2015 to March 2018 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups according to the age: the elderly group (≥65 years old, 100 cases) and the non-elderly group (<65 years old, 110 cases). The en bloc resection rate, complete resection rate,and curative resection rate of the elderly group were 92.0% (92/100), 91.0% (91/100) and 89.0% (89/100), respectively. The above indicators of the non-elderly group were 90.9% (100/110) ( P=0.972), 90.0% (99/110) ( P=0.991) and 88.2% (97/110) ( P=1.000), respectively. The incidence of intraoperative perforation in the elderly group was 4.0% (4/100) and in the non-elderly group was 6.4% (7/110) ( P=0.543). Delayed postoperative bleeding rate was 2.0% (2/100) in the elderly group, and 0 (0/110) in the non-elderly group ( P=0.226). ESD is effective and safe in treating early colorectal cancer and precancerous lesion in elderly patients.

OBJECTIVE To study the spectru m-toxicity relationship of in vitro hepatotoxicity of aqueous extract from Euodia rutaecarpa. METHODS The aqueous extract from 16 batches of E. rutaecarpa from different habitats were prepared. The fingerprints of aqueous extract from E. rutaecarpa were established by ultra high performance liquid chromatography （UPLC） method and Similarity Evaluation System of TCM Fingerprint （2012A edition ），and common peaks were identified and the similarity was evaluated. Using normal human hepatocytes L 02 as subject ，inhibitory effect of aqueous extract from 16 batches of E. rutaecarpa to them were investigated. The spectrum-toxicity relationship of UPLC fingerprint of aqueous extract from E. rutaecarpa with the hepatotoxicity of hepatocytes L 02 was analyzed by grey relational analysis （GRA）and partial least squares regression analysis （PLSR）. The corresponding compound of the chromatographic peak with the greatest correlation with the in vitro hepatotoxicity of E. rutaecarpa were isolated ，prepared and identified. RESULTS There were 27 common peaks in UPLC fingerprints of aqueous extract from 16 batches of E. rutaecarpa ，with similarity of 0.375-0.995. Totally 9 peaks were confirmed ，i.e. neochlorogenic acid （peak 5），chlorogenic acid （peak 9），cryptochlorogenic acid （peak 10），caffeic acid （peak 12），rutin （peak 16），hyperin（peak 17），dehydroevotarine（peak 19），evotarine（peak 24），rutecarpine（peak 25）. The aqueous extract from 16 batches of E. rutaecarpa showed significant inhibitory effect on the growth of L 02 cells（P＜0.05 or P＜0.01），and the inhibitory rate ranged from 6.68％ to 67.95％. GRA showed that there were 18 common peaks with correlation degree greater than 0.8，which were peak 8＞peak 3＞peak 23＞peak 7＞peak 4＞peak 9＞peak 12＞peak 2＞peak 19＞peak 6＞ 4928381。E-mail：799247687@qq.com peak 15＞peak 5＞peak 1＞peak 17＞peak 21＞peak 26＞ peak 20＞peak 14 in descending order of correlation degree. PLSR showed that there were 14 peaks with regression coefficient＞0 and variable importance projection value ＞1，and the order of regression coefficient was peak 8＞peak 3＞peak 23＞ peak 2＞peak 7＞peak 4＞peak 12＞peak 9＞peak 19＞peak 5＞peak 17＞peak 26＞peak 10＞peak 15. Peak 8 had the greatest correlation with in vitro hepatotoxicity，and the corresponding compound of this peak was identified as 6-O-trans caffeoyl gluconic acid. CONCLUSIONS The in vitro hepatotoxicity of aqueous extract from E. rutaecarpa is the result of multiple component interaction，among which 6-O-trans caffeoyl gluconic acid shows closest relation with in vitro hepatotoxicity.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical phenotypes and ATP7B gene variants among children patients with Wilson' s disease from Northwestern China. METHODS: The clinical features and variants of the ATP7B gene among 75 children with hepatic Wilson' s disease were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 75 cases, 4 were presymptomatic, 59 had isolated transaminase elevation, 12 had acute and/or chronic liver diseases. Nine children were found to harbor homozygous variants, 64 harbored compound heterozygous variants, and two only had heterozygous variants of the ATP7B gene. In total 49 variants were detected, with common variants including c.2333G>T (p.Arg778Leu), c.2621C>T (p.Ala874Val) and c.2975C>T (Pro992Leu), which yielded allelic frequencies of 28.7%, 12.7% and 9.3%, respectively. Six novel variants were detected, which included c.1908dupC (p.Asn637Glnfs*118), c.4179_4180insC (p.Pro1394Profs*15), c.1604A>G (p.Glu535Gly), c.2278C>T (p.Pro760Ser), c.3008C>A (p.Ala1003Glu) and c.3532A>C (p.Thr1178Pro). Except for c.1604A>G (p.Glu535Gly), the remainder five were all predicted to be likely pathogenic. No significant correlation was found between genotype and phenotype among the patients. CONCLUSION The common mutation types of the ATP7B gene among patients with hepatic Wilson disease in Northwestern China are c.2333G>T (p.Arg778Leu), c.2621C>T (p.Ala874Val) and c.2975C>T (p.Pro992Leu), there is no significant correlation between their genotypes and phenotypes.
Copper-Transporting ATPases/genetics* ; Genotype ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration/genetics* ; Humans ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics and genetic variant of a child featuring X-linked mental retardation. METHODS: Whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were used for the detection of variant and pedigree validation, respectively. Clinical manifestation of patients with DDX3X gene variants were also reviewed. RESULTS: The child was found to harbor a heterozygous NM_001193416.3: c.1332_1333delCT (p.Leu445Serfs*19) variant of the DDX3X gene. The same variant was not found in either of her parents. CONCLUSION The child was diagnosed with X-linked mental retardation due to variant of the DDX3X gene. Above finding has enriched the spectrum of DDX3X gene variants and provided a basis for clinical diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis for this pedigrees.
Child ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases/genetics* ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Mental Retardation, X-Linked/genetics* ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy ; Exome Sequencing