Nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） is an important intracellular transcription factor widely involved in the processes such as immune response， inflammatory response， cell proliferation， and apoptosis. The abnormal activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in various liver diseases including chronic hepatitis， liver fibrosis， liver cirrhosis， and hepatocellular carcinoma. Extensive studies have shown that inhibiting NF-κB activity may effectively reduce inflammation and fibrosis and improve metabolic disorders. Several natural compounds， such as matrine and salvianolic acid B， have shown the potential in suppressing NF-κB activity， thereby exerting anti-inflammatory， anti-fibrotic， and anti-tumor effects. This article systematically reviews the critical role of the NF-κB signaling pathway in liver diseases and its potential as a therapeutic target， in order to highlight its potential as a therapeutic target for liver diseases and provide new directions for the treatment of liver diseases.

Objective:To investigate the effects of 3 adhesives on the bond force and durability of polished and glazed zirconia ceram-ics to orthodontic metal brackets respectively.Methods:Universal adhesives,Single Bond Universal(SBU)and Prime&Bond Universal(PBU)were respectively used to bond polished and glazed zirconia to metal braces of maxillary central incisors using TransbondTM MIP(TM)as the control.The shear bond strength(SBS),the fracture morphology and adhesive residual index(ARI)were examed after wa-ter bath or water bath-thermal cycling storage.Results:The adhesive(P＜0.001)and storage conditions(P＜0.001)significantly af-fected the shear bond strength of zirconia to brackets.There was no significant difference between the polished or glazed groups(P=0.09).SBU showed the stronger SBS and lower ABI,there were significant differences in ARI scores among the 3 cements(P＜0.001).Conclusion:SBU may have better bonding performance than PBU and TM in the orthodontic bonding of polished or glazed zir-conia surfaces to the zirconia ceramics.

Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on interleukin(IL)-9/IL-9 receptor(IL-9R)in the colon tissue of rats with ulcerative colitis(UC)and investigate the protective mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion on the intestinal mucosal barrier in UC rats. Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal control(NC)group and a modeling group.UC models were prepared by giving 4%dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)water for 7 d.After the successful construction of the UC rat model,the modeling group was randomly divided into a UC group,a herb-insulated moxibustion(HM)group,and an electroacupuncture(EA)group.HM and EA interventions at bilateral Tianshu(ST25)were performed once a day for 7 d.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the colon.The serum concentrations of IL-9,IL-6,IL-1β,and hemoglobin-H(HbH)were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The protein expression levels of IL-9,IL-9R,claudin-2,zonula occludens-1(ZO-1),and occludin in the colon tissue were measured by Western blotting or immuno-histochemistry.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the co-expression of PU.1 and CD4 with the IL-9 protein. Results:Compared with the NC group,the colon tissue of UC rats was severely damaged and ulcerated with congestion and edema,and the colonic histopathological score increased significantly(P<0.01).The serum HbH concentration decreased significantly(P<0.01),while the serum concentrations of IL-9,IL-6,and IL-1β increased(P<0.01).The protein expression of colonic ZO-1 and occludin decreased significantly(P<0.01),while the protein expression of colonic IL-9 and IL-9R increased(P<0.05).The positive co-expression levels of IL-9/PU.1 and IL-9/CD4 increased in the colon tissue(P<0.05).Compared with the UC group,the colonic mucosal structures were gradually repaired in both HM group and EA group,and healed ulcers could be observed,the colonic histopathological score decreased significantly(P<0.05).The serum concentration of HbH increased(P<0.01),while the serum concentrations of IL-9,IL-6,and IL-1β decreased(P<0.05).The protein expression levels of ZO-1 and occludin increased(P<0.05),while the protein expression levels of IL-9 and IL-9R decreased(P<0.01).The positive co-expression levels of IL-9/PU.1 and IL-9/CD4 decreased in the colon tissue(P<0.05). Conclusion:Both HM and EA can inhibit the protein expression levels of IL-9 and IL-9R in the UC colon by regulating the transcription factor PU.1,promote the repair of intestinal mucosal barrier,and down-regulate protein contents of proinflammatory factors IL-9,IL-6,and IL-1β in the serum,which may be one of the key mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion in reducing the inflammation of UC colonic mucosa and protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of herb-partitioned moxibustion in relieving rat intestinal inflammation by focusing on the neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)in Crohn disease(CD)development. Methods:Rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a herb-partitioned moxibustion group,and a mesalazine group.The CD rat model was prepared with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid except for rats in the normal group.Rats in the normal group and model group did not receive any treatment but had the same fixation as the other groups.Rats in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group received herb-partitioned moxibustion at Qihai(CV6)and bilateral Tianshu(ST25).Rats in the mesalazine group received intragastric administration of mesalazine enteric-coated tablets.The general situation of rats in each group was recorded,and the histopathological changes in the colon were observed and scored by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The serum concentrations of NETs DNA(NETs-DNA),neutrophil elastase(NE)-DNA,and myeloperoxidase(MPO)-DNA were detected by ABC enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the citrullinated histone 3(citH3),MPO,and NE protein and mRNA expression levels in rat colon tissue were observed by immunofluorescence and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results:Compared with the normal group,the mucosal ulcer reached the muscularis,the epithelium was incomplete,the goblet cells decreased obviously with significant inflammatory cell infiltration in the colon;the colonic mucosa damage index(CMDI)score increased significantly(P<0.01);the serum NETs-DNA,NE-DNA,and MPO-DNA concentrations increased(P<0.05);the NE,citH3,and MPO protein and mRNA expression in the colonic tissue increased significantly in the model group(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the mucosal epithelium in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the mesalazine group was repaired and the goblet cells increased with a few infiltrating inflammatory cells in the colon;the CMDI score decreased(P<0.01);the serum NETs-DNA,NE-DNA,and MPO-DNA concentrations decreased(P<0.05);the NE,citH3,and MPO protein and mRNA expression in the colonic tissue was down-regulated(P<0.01 or P<0.05). Conclusion:Herb-partitioned moxibustion reduced the serum NETs complex and inhibited the protein and mRNA expression of NETs complex in the colon tissue,which may be one mechanism of herb-partitioned moxibustion in relieving colon mucosal inflammation in CD.

Objective:To explore the therapeutic mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA)in treating Parkinson disease(PD)using Tandem mass tag(TMT)quantitative proteomics technology. Methods:Forty-eight PD patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group,with 24 patients in each group.The control group received routine drug treatment,while the observation group received EA in addition to the routine drug treatment.EA was administered for 30 min per session,3 times a week,for a total of 12 weeks.Nine patients from each group were randomly selected to provide peripheral blood serum samples before and after treatment for TMT quantitative proteomics analysis.Differentially expressed proteins between the two groups were compared,and bioinformatics analysis was performed.The screened differentially expressed proteins were validated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results:In the observation group,scores on the unified Parkinson disease rating scale(UPDRS),UPDRS Ⅱ,and UPDRS Ⅲ were significantly reduced after treatment(P<0.05).In the control group,these scores tended to increase,but the changes were not statistically significant(P>0.05).After treatment,the UPDRS and UPDRS Ⅲ scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The observation group showed 62 differentially expressed proteins,while the control group had 36.Compared to the control group,the observation group had 142 differentially expressed proteins.These proteins were primarily involved in the cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)signaling pathway,T helper(Th)1 and Th2 cell differentiation,ATP-binding cassette transporter,vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway,and high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor(FcεRI)signaling pathway.ELISA verification indicated that after EA treatment,the levels of α-Synuclein(αSyn)and heat shock protein beta 1(HSPB1)in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),while the regulator of G-protein signaling 10(RGS10)level was significantly higher(P<0.05). Conclusion:EA,combined with routine drug therapy,can significantly improve clinical symptoms of PD,potentially through the regulation of the cAMP signaling pathway and the contents of differentially expressed proteins of αSyn,HSPB1,and RGS10.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of stone composition prediction method based on dual-source stone energy spectrum CT for uric acid stones.Methods:The clinical data of 204 patients with urinary stones, 159 males and 45 females, admitted to Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital from July 2020 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The average age was (50.7±14.3) years. There were 187 cases of upper urinary tract (kidney, ureter) stones and 17 cases of lower urinary tract (bladder, urethra) stones. All patients underwent preoperative dual-source stone energy spectroscopy CT, measuring CT values at 150 kV and 100 kV, respectively, and the calculated dual energy ratio (Ratio) was used to predict stone composition. Of the 204 cases in this group, 33 cases underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy and 171 cases underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy. Postoperative stone specimens were analyzed for stone composition by infrared spectroscopy. Subject work characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze the efficacy of preoperative dual-source stone energy spectrum CT to predict uric acid stones.Results:In 204 patients, preoperative CT predicted 28 cases of uric acid stones and 176 cases of non-uric acid stones, including 136 cases of calcium oxalate stones, 38 cases of hydroxyapatite, and 2 cases of cystine stones. Postoperative IR spectral analysis detected 26 cases of uric acid stones and 178 cases of non-uric acid stones, including 129 cases of calcium oxalate stones, 47 cases of hydroxyapatite, and 2 cases of cystine stones. Compared with the preoperative CT results, there were 2 false positives and no false negatives in the classification of uric acid stones. The ROC curve showed that the sensitivity of the CT value for predicting uric acid stones at 100 kV was 96.2%, the specificity was 99.5%, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.995, with the best prediction value of 620 HU.The sensitivity of the CT value for predicting uric acid stones at 150 kV was 96.2%, specificity was 85.5%, AUC was 0.916, and the best predictive value was 597.5 HU. The sensitivity of using Ratio values for predicting uric acid stones was 100.0%, specificity was 97.9%, AUC was 0.996, and the best predictive value was 1.14. The CT values for uric acid stones at 100 kV and 150 kV were (558.58±77.07) HU and (521.12±83.54) HU, CT values for calcium oxalate stones were (1 335.26±301.82) HU and (878.21±200.21) HU, CT values for hydroxyapatite were (1 104.09±203.61) HU and (710.38±178.44) HU, respectively.The CT values of cystine stones were (684.5±67.18) HU and (573.5±67.10) HU, respectively, and the differences between uric acid stones and other components were statistically significant ( P<0.01). The Ratio values of uric acid stones, calcium oxalate stones, hydroxyapatite, and cystine stones were 1.08±0.06, 1.52±0.08, 1.62±0.40, and 1.19±0.02, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.01) when comparing uric acid stones with other components. Conclusion:The CT and Ratio values of dual-source stone energy spectrum CT can effectively distinguish uric acid stones from other types of stones, and the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of this method for predicting uric acid stones are high.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion for ulcerative colitis(UC)from the perspective of the P2X7 receptor(P2X7R)-nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome pathway. Methods:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a normal(N)group,a model(M)group,a herb-partitioned moxibustion(HM)group,and an electroacupuncture(EA)group.For modeling,the rats drank 4%dextran sulfate sodium for 7 d.Rats in the HM group and EA group received 7 consecutive days of HM or EA at bilateral Tianshu(ST25),respectively.The histopathological change in colon tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining;immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the protein expression of related molecules in the colon tissue,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the concentrations or contents of related molecules in the serum and colon tissue.Wild-type(WT)and P2X7R gene knockout(KO)mice were used to construct UC models,histopathological changes in the colon tissue were observed by HE staining,and the NLRP3 protein expression in the colon tissue was observed by immunohistochemistry. Results:Compared with the N group,the colon histopathological score in the M group was significantly increased,and the protein expression of P2X7R,NLRP3,apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD(ASC),Caspase-1,interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and interleukin-18(IL-18)in the colon tissue and the protein levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the serum were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the M group,the histopathological scores of the colon in the HM group and the EA group were significantly decreased,and the protein expression levels of P2X7R,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,and IL-18 in the colon tissue and the protein level of IL-18 in the serum were significantly decreased(P<0.05).After UC modeling,the colonic mucosal epithelial damage and inflammatory cell infiltration in P2X7R KO mice were less than those in WT mice,and the NLRP3 protein expression in the colon was also decreased compared with that in WT mice(P<0.05). Conclusion:HM and EA at Tianshu(ST25)may inhibit the protein activities of P2X7R,NLRP3,ASC,and Caspase-1 in the colon tissue of rats with UC,thereby reducing the downstream molecules IL-1β and IL-18 in the P2X7R-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway to relieve UC inflammation.

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on the colonic mucosal barrier of rats with ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group and a modeling group, with 20 rats in each group. Rats in the modeling group were subjected to preparing experimental UC models by drinking 4％ DSS for seven consecutive days. Two modeled rats and two normal rats were randomly selected for model identification. After the success of UC model was confirmed, the remaining 18 modeled rats were randomly divided into three groups, a model group, a model + herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, and a model + mild moxibustion group, with six rats in each group; the remaining normal rats were randomly divided into three groups, a normal group, a normal + herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, and a normal + mild moxibustion group, with six rats in each group. After 7 d of intervention with the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion or the mild moxibustion, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining technique was used to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue under a light microscope; Western blotting and/or immunohistochemical techniques were used to detect the protein expression levels of Occludin, Claudin, junction adhesion molecular 1 (JAM1), mucin 2 (MUC2), and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) in rat colon tissue. Results: Compared with the normal group, the colon tissue was severely damaged, the pathological score was significantly increased, and the protein expression levels of Occludin, Claudin, JAM1, MUC2, and TGF-β1 were significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01); while there were no significant differences in the colonic histopathological score, protein expression levels of Occludin, Claudin, JAM1, MUC2, and TGF-β1 in the normal + herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the normal + mild moxibustion group (P>0.05). Compared with the model group, the model + herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the model + mild moxibustion group showed repaired colon tissue, ulcer healing, significantly reduced pathological score, and significantly increased protein expression levels of JAM1, MUC2, and TGF-β1 (P<0.05); the Occludin protein expression level in the colon tissue of the model + mild moxibustion group was increased (P<0.01). Conclusion: Neither herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion nor mild moxibustion influences the colonic histopathology and intestinal mucosal barrier-related protein expression in the normal rats; both herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion and mild moxibustion can up-regulate the protein expression levels of JAM1, MUC2, and TGF-β1 in the colon tissue of UC rats. Mild moxibustion can up-regulate Occludin protein expression. This may be a mechanism of moxibustion in reducing colonic mucosa inflammation in UC.

【Objective】 To explore the application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in the genotyping of difficult blood typing samples, and to provide evidence for clinical blood transfusion. 【Methods】 Three ambiguous blood group samples, submitted to Shanghai Blood Center by Shanghai regional hospitals, were studied, of which Sample1 included the proband and his parents. Serological methods were used to perform blood group typing, direct antibody test, unexpected antibody screening and identification test. Blood group genotyping was performed by using the MALDI-TOF MS detection systeme stablished in our laboratory. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm gene mutation sites, and serological or flow methods were used to verify specific samples′ phenotype. 【Results】 Serological results indicated the existence of antibodies against high frequency antigens in sample 1 (including proband and her mother), 2 and 3. The genotyping results of MALDI-TOF MS showed that the proband of sample 1 was Di(a+ b+ ), her father was Di(a-b+ ), her mother was Di(a+ b-), sample 2 was p, and sample 3 was Jr(a-). Sequencing results of three samples were consistent with mass spectrometry typing results. Serological results showed that sample 2 had a p phenotype. The flow cytometry results suggested that sample 3 had a Jr(a-) phenotype. 【Conclusion】 For the first time, we applied MALDI-TOF MS technology to blood type genotyping of ambiguous clinical samples in China. Compared with other genotyping methods such as PCR-SSP, MALDI-TOF MS has the advantages of rapid detection, high throughput and high specificity, which would contribute to identification of difficult blood typing samples in the future, as well as rare blood group screening.

Objective: To explore the correlation between the parameters of the mandible and parameters of cervical vertebrae and craniofacial bone in class Ⅱ skeletal patients in Northeast China and to establish correlation equations expressing the relationship between the mandible and cervical vertebrae and craniofacial bone directly and quantitatively for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of orthodontics and orthognathics and for prediction. Methods : The mandible, cranial facial bone and cervical vertebrae of 201 children and adolescents aged 8 to 20 years were measured using digital cranial lateral tablets. All of the cases were divided into male (n=75) and female (n=126) groups using a sensitivity analysis method based on genetic algorithms to select the craniofacial bone and cervical bone with strong sensitivity to mandible parameters and to establish relevant equations. Results : Through sensitivity analysis, the parameters with the strongest correlation between the measured values of the mandible were H4 and SN, those with a strong correlation were SN-Ar, the anterior and posterior high ratio SGo/NGn, the Y axis angle and mandibular angle Ar-Go-Gn. The established equation was as follows: males: Ar-Pg=28.415+1.818×H4+0.746×SN(r2=0.056 8, P < 0.001); females: Ar-Pg=15.168+1.706×H4+0.675×SN+0.31×SN-Ar-0.29×Y axis angle (r2=0.611, P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the predicted values obtained by the established equations and measured values (P > 0.05). Conclusion The mandibular length equation established by sensitivity analysis and genetic algorithms is statistically significant and can predict a certain degree of growth and development.