ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) and cognitive dysfunction, and its mediating role between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cognitive dysfunction. MethodsA case-control study was conducted from May 2019 to April 2021 at the Shanghai Yangpu District Central Hospital, China. A total of 193 subjects were recruited and divided into two groups based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): normal control (NC) group (n=95) and cognitive impairment group (n=98). The prevalence of T2DM was determined on the basis of medical history, while mtDNAcn in peripheral blood samples was quantified using realtime fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction. ResultsUnivariate analyses revealed that the mean mtDNAcn in the cognitive impairment group was 0.76±0.37, significantly lower than that in the NC group (1.06±0.45) (P<0.05). Logistic regression analyses showed that higher mtDNAcn was associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment (OR=0.315, 95%CI: 0.125‒0.795). Additionaly, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between mtDNAcn and the total MoCA score (r=0.381, P<0.01). Morever, T2DM history (OR=2.741, 95%CI: 1.002‒7.497) and elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels (OR=1.796, 95%CI: 1.190‒2.711) were identified as risk factors for cognitive impairment. Mediation analyses indicated that mtDNAcn served as a mediator between T2DM/HbA1c and the risk of cognitive impairment, with proportions of mediating effect of 9.04% and 9.18%, respectively. ConclusionPatients with mild and moderate cognitive impairment have significantly lower mtDNAcn than those with normal cognitive function. Reduced mtDNAcn is an influencing factor for cognitive dysfunction and may play a mediating role in the association between T2DM and mild to moderate cognitive impairment.

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors for cognitive function among aluminum workers, so as to provide the basis for intervention and prevention of cognitive function among aluminum-exposed populations. Methods: From July to August 2019, male aluminum workers in the electrolytic aluminum workshop of an aluminum factory in Shanxi Province were selected using the cluster sampling method. Demographic information, prevalence of chronic diseases, lifestyle behaviors, night shifts, and sleep quality were collected through questionnaire surveys. Blood aluminum levels were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Cognitive function was investigated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Factors affecting cognitive function among aluminum workers were analyzed by a quantile regression model. Results: A total of 142 aluminum workers were surveyed, including 57 workers aged 20 to <40 years (40.14%) and 85 workers aged 40 to 60 years (59.86%). The median blood aluminum level was 38.23 (interquartile range, 21.82) μg/L. The median cognitive function score was 24.00 (interquartile range, 3.00) points. Quantile regression analysis revealed that older age (βQ5=-0.186, 95%CI: -0.269 to -0.102), lower educational level (βQ5=1.933, 95%CI: 1.029 to 2.838; βQ10=1.743, 95%CI: 0.480 to 3.006; βQ50=1.038, 95%CI: 0.141 to 1.935; βQ75=1.006, 95%CI: 0.437 to 1.575; βQ90=1.111, 95%CI: 0.291 to 1.930), smoking (βQ5=-2.056, 95%CI: -3.264 to -0.849), alcohol consumption (βQ5=-1.821, 95%CI: -3.247 to -0.396) and higher blood aluminum level (βQ5=-0.075, 95%CI: -0.110 to -0.040; βQ10=-0.078, 95%CI: -0.127 to -0.029; βQ50=-0.075, 95%CI: -0.110 to -0.040; βQ75=-0.057, 95%CI: -0.079 to -0.035; βQ90=-0.067, 95%CI: -0.099 to -0.035) were associated with cognitive function decline among aluminum workers. Conclusions Educational level and blood aluminum level are the main factors affecting the cognitive function among aluminum workers. Among those with lower cognitive function scores, age, smoking and alcohol consumption are also associated with cognitive function.

Objective:To analyze the concentration of formic acid,propionic acid and butyric acid in gingival crevicular fluid(GCF)of patients with stages Ⅲ and Ⅳ periodontitis,and their relationship with periodontitis.Methods:The study enrolled 37 systemically healthy patients with periodontitis and 19 healthy controls who visited Department of Periodontology,Peking University School and Hospital of Sto-matology from February 2008 to May 2011.Their GCFs were collected from the mesial-buccal site of one molar or incisor in each quadrant.Periodontal clinical parameters,including plaque index(PLI),probing depth(PD),bleeding index(BI),and attachment loss(AL).Concentrations of formic acid,propionic acid and butyric acid in the supernatant of the GCFs were analyzed by high-performance capil-lary electrophoresis(HPCE).The prediction ability of formic acid,propionic acid and butyric acid with the risk of periodontitis and the differences between grade B and grade C periodontitis were analyzed.Results:In this study,32 patients with stage Ⅲ and 5 patients with stage Ⅳ were enrolled,including 9 patients with grade B and 28 patients with grade C.Clinical periodontal variables in the patients with pe-riodontitis were significantly higher than those in the control group(P＜0.001).Formic acid was signifi-cantly lower in periodontitis than that in the control group[5.37(3.39,8.49)mmol/L vs.12.29(8.35,16.57)mmol/L,P＜0.001].Propionic acid and butyric acid in periodontitis were significantly higher than those in the control group:Propionic acid,10.23(4.28,14.90)mmol/L vs.2.71(0.00,4.25)mmol/L,P＜0.001;butyric acid,2.63(0.47,3.81)mmol/L vs.0.00(0.00,0.24)mmol/L,P＜0.001.There was no significant difference in formic acid,propionic acid and butyric acid concentrations between grade B and grade C periodontitis(P＞0.05).Propionic acid and butyric acid in the deep pocket were significantly higher than in the shallow pocket,while the concentration of formic acid decreased with the increase of PD.Propionic acid(OR=1.51,95％CI:1.29-1.75)and butyric acid(OR=3.72,95％CI:1.93-7.17)were risk factors for periodontitis,while formic acid(OR=0.87,95％CI:0.81-0.93)might be a protective factor for periodontitis.Propionic acid(AUC=0.852,95％CI:0.805-0.900),butyric acid(AUC=0.889,95％CI:0.841-0.937),f(formic acid,AUC=0.844,95％CI:0.793-0.895)demonstrated a good predictive capacity for the risk of periodontitis.Conclusion:The concentration of formic acid decrease in the GCF of periodontitis patients,which is a protective factor for periodontitis,its reciprocal have good predictive capacity.However,propionic acid and butyric acid increase,which are risk factors for periodontitis and have good predictive capacity.The concentration of formic acid,propionic acid,and butyric acid vary with probing depth,but there is no significant difference between grade B and grade C periodontitis.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies showed that extracts of Sambucus adnata Wall.have the ability to promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts,fracture healing,anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects,which can effectively alleviate the development of osteoarthritis.Vascular endothelial growth factor,on the other hand,is a biomarker for the evaluation of osteoarthritis severity. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect and mechanism of two extracts of Sambucus adnata Wall.(methanol extract SAW-ME and dichloromethane extract SAW-DCE)on angiogenesis in osteoarthritis. METHODS:(1)Rat models of osteoarthritis were established using anterior cruciate ligament transection and given SAW-ME and SAW-DCE.A sham group was set as a control.Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to detect the changes of articular vascular endothelial growth factor A in joint tissue and vascular endothelial growth factor and"H"type blood vessels in serum of osteoarthritis rats.(2)Vascular endothelial cells EA.hy926 were used as the research object and intervened with SAW-ME and SAW-DCE.Cell proliferation was then detected by MTT assay.Vascular endothelial growth factor was used to induce EA.hy926 cells,and the model of angiogenesis was replicated.Cell scratch assay and tube formation assay were performed to study the role and mechanism.(3)EA.hy926 cells were used for transcriptome sequencing to analyze the characteristic changes of cell differential genes and related functions after SAW-DCE intervention. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)SAW-ME and SAW-DCE downregulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A in the rat knee cartilage and reduced the formation of"H"type vessels in osteoarthritis rats.SAW-ME could significantly decrease the level of vascular endothelial growth factor in serum of osteoarthritis rats(P<0.05).SAW-DCE could also decrease the level of vascular endothelial growth factor in serum of osteoarthritis rats,but there was no significant change.(2)Both SAW-ME and SAW-DCE significantly inhibited vascular endothelial cell migration and tube formation,and downregulated the expression of Ang1 and Tie2 proteins.(3)Transcriptome sequencing analysis found that abnormal angiogenesis in osteoarthritis was related to the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.(4)To conclude,SAW-ME and SAW-DCE can inhibit angiogenesis in the rat model of osteoarthritis,and the mechanism may be related to the Ang1/Tie2 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Objective:To explore the value of dual-layer detector spectral CT quantitative parameters in evaluating the treatment response of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).Methods:The study was a cross-sectional study. From May 2021 to March 2023, a total of 52 patients with LARC who received complete nCRT and were pathologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma at the Guangdong Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were retrospectively enrolled. Each patient underwent spectral CT examination before and after nCRT, including plain scan, arterial phase (AP), and venous phase (VP) scans. According to the tumor regression grade, the patients were divided into the good response ( n=20) and the poor response group ( n=32). Measurements of the primary tumor′s spectral CT parameters, including effective atomic number (Z eff) at plain scan, iodine concentration (IC), CT values of 40 keV and 100 keV virtual monochromatic image (VMI) at dual-enhanced phases, were taken before and after nCRT. Additionally, the normalized iodine concentration (NIC), spectral curve slope (λHU), and the change rate of the above parameters before and after nCRT were calculated. The independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences between the two groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the efficacy of various metrics in evaluating the tumor treatment response of nCRT. A binary logistic regression analysis of combined parameter results was performed for the parameters with the areas under curve (AUC)>0.75, and the AUC of the combined parameter was evaluated. Results:There were significant differences in NIC AP and λHU VP before nCRT, NIC VP and λHU VP after nCRT, and the change rates of Z eff, NIC AP, NIC VP and λHU AP between the good response group and the poor response group ( P<0.05). The remaining parameters showed no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05). The ROC curve results showed that the AUCs of the above 8 parameters for evaluating tumor treatment response of nCRT were 0.702, 0.655, 0.695, 0.769, 0.738, 0.807, 0.791, and 0.677, respectively. The AUC of the combined model of the three parameters with AUC>0.75 (λHU VP after nCRT, the change rate of NIC AP and NIC VP) was 0.869, with 80.0% sensitivity and 84.4% specificity. Conclusion:The quantitative parameters derived from spectral CT may provide new markers for evaluating the response to nCRT treatment in patients with LARC. The multi-parameter combined model can improve diagnostic efficacy.

Background Quartz dust cannot be degraded in the lungs, and inhalation of a large amount of quartz dust in the occupational production process will lead to the occurrence of pulmonary fibrosis, and then develop into silicosis. In recent years, studies have found that exosomes may be involved in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases by carrying microribonucleic acid (miRNA), but the mechanism of their actions in silicosis still needs to be studied. Objective To investigate the role of exosome-derived miRNA-21-5p/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 (Smad7) in quartz dust-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Methods Twenty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (six rats in each group): control 4-week group, control 16-week group, quartz 4-week group, and quartz 16-week group. At the beginning of the experiment, 1 mL of quartz suspension (50 mg·mL⁻¹) and 1 mL of normal saline were injected into the trachea of rats in the quartz group and the control group, respectively, by means of one-time non-exposure intratracheal dust staining. Alveolar lavage was performed at the 4th and 16th weeks after dust staining, the exosomes in lavage solution were extracted by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation, morphological identification was conducted by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size of exosomes was detected by nano-tracking analysis (NTA), and the marker proteins CD9 and CD63 of exosomes were detected by Western blotting (WB). The expression of miRNA-21-5p in exosomes was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The degree of lung tissue injury and fibrosis was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) and Masson staining. The collagen content of lung tissue was detected by hydroxyproline (HYP) method. The expression of Smad7 protein in lung tissue was detected by WB. Results The results of pathological staining showed that compared with the control group, lung inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar wall thickening, and collagen increase were observed after 4 weeks of dusting, and collagen deposition and silicon nodules appeared after 16 weeks of dusting. Compared with the control group, the expression level of HYP in the lung tissue of the quartz group was increased after 4 weeks and 16 weeks of dust staining (P<0.05). Transmission electron microscopy showed that exosomes were saucer-shaped, and the average particle size of exosomes was 95.8 nm by NTA. Positive expression of exosome marker proteins CD9 and CD81 was found by WB. Compared with the control group, the expression of exosome-derived miRNA-21-5p in alveolar lavage fluid in the quartz group increased in the 4th week and the 16th week (P<0.05), and the expression of Smad7 protein in lung tissue decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion Exosome-derived miRNA-21-5p and Smad7 may be involved in the mechanism of quartz dust-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

Objective To explore the research hotspots and development trends of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen in the past 20 years,and to provide reference for related research.Methods Literatures on Ziziphi Spinosae Semen were searched from January 1,2000 to December 31,2022 in CNKI,Web of Science Core Collection Database.VOS viewer software was used to visually analyze the citation frequency,research institutions and keyword hotspots of English literatures.CiteSpace software was used to visually analyze research institutions,authors,emergence keywords and keyword overlap time of Chinese literatures,and Microsoft Excel 2021 software was used to analyze of annual publication trends and publication volume of Chinese and English literatures,and download frequency of Chinese literatures.Results A total of 4 872 Chinese and 128 English literatures were included,with an overall upward trend in the number of annual publications.The research institutions with the highest number of publications in Chinese and English were Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Tianjin University of Commerce,and the authors with the highest number of publications were DU Chenhui and XIE Junbo,respectively.The most frequent keywords in Chinese literatures were"Ziziphi Spinosae Semen","composed"and"application of compound therapy",and in English literatures were"performance","oxidative stress".Conclusion From 2000 to 2022,the research hotspots of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen mainly focused on the chemical composition,pharmacological effects and clinical application analysis,compatibility research,formulation and preparation.Quality control and evaluation of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen,and the research on the mechanism of preventing and treating insomnia with Ziziphi Spinosae Semen may become future research directions.

Objectives:To analyze the consistency of evaluating left ventricular hemodynamics (HDF) based on single plane and multi plane cine sequences of magnetic resonance mitral valve orifice.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on 48 healthy adults, and two methods were used to measure the mitral valve diameter and calculate HDF parameters. The first method was to measure the diameter of the mitral valve opening in the left ventricular three chamber cine sequence; The second method is to measure the mitral valve diameter using cine sequences of two chamber, three chamber, and four chamber hearts, and then take the average value. Paired t-tests were used to compare the differences in HDF measured by two methods, and Pearson correlation coefficient ( r), intra group correlation coefficient ( ICC), and Bland-Altman analysis were used to test the consistency and reproducibility of the two methods. Results:The root mean square (RMS) of longitudinal HDF calculated using single plane and multi plane mitral valve diameters were [(17.28±4.41)% vs (17.21±4.61)%] ( P=0.379) for the entire cardiac cycle, [(21.45±5.54)% vs (21.49±5.68)%] ( P=0.646) for systolic phase, and [(12.78±4.10)% vs (12.54±4.24)%] ( P=0.106) for diastolic phase, respectively. The difference in the calculation results of HDF parameters related to ventricular function was not statistically significant (all P>0.05), and there was good consistency ( r=0.924-0.996, ICC=0.924-0.995). The two HDF parameters related to atrial function were sensitive to the measurement method of mitral valve orifice diameter [RMS of longitudinal HDF during active atrial emptying: (3.26±1.51)% vs (3.32±1.55)%, P=0.006; longitudinal HDF pulse during active atrial emptying: (-2.60±1.28)% vs (-2.76±1.30)%, P<0.001]. Conclusions:The ventricular function related HDF parameters obtained from the analysis of mitral valve orifice diameter using single plane and multi plane methods have good consistency, and can be evaluated using relatively simple single plane methods for left ventricular HDF.

Lung cancer is the fastest-growing cancer type in terms of incidence and mortality worldwide， posing a huge threat to the health and life of the population. Radiation therapy is one of the main methods for treating lung cancer， and there is a clear dose-effect relationship between the radiation dose and local control rate of lung cancer. However， the lung is a radiation dose-limiting organ， and the radiation resistance of lung cancer tissues and the radiation damage to normal tissues limit the radiation efficacy for lung cancer. The pathogenesis of lung cancer in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） is characterized by an initial deficiency in vital Qi， followed by the internal invasion and gradual accumulation of pathogenic Qi. After radiation therapy for lung cancer， the body's vital Qi becomes weaker， and syndromes of phlegm coagulation， Qi stagnation， and static blood blocking collaterals become more severe， leading to radiation resistance of lung cancer tissues. Therefore， the key issue to better clinical efficacy of radiation therapy for lung cancer patients is to use drugs to enhance the radiation sensitivity of lung cancer cells and improve the radiation tolerance of normal lung tissues. TCM can be used as a radiation sensitizer by regulating the cell cycle to increase the proportion of cells in the radiation-sensitive phase， promoting upregulation of pro-apoptotic genes and downregulation of anti-apoptotic genes to induce cell apoptosis， enhancing DNA damage caused by radiation and inhibiting damage repair， improving blood circulation and tissue oxygen supply， and so on， to enhance the sensitivity of tumor cells to radiation and amplify the toxicity of radiation to tumor tissues. TCM can also be used as a radiation protector by inhibiting cell damage， regulating cytokines and immune balance， reducing the release of inflammatory and fibrotic factors， and inhibiting the activation of related signaling pathways to prevent and treat radiation-induced lung injury. This article systematically reviewed the research results of TCM on radiation sensitization and radiation protection in lung cancer in recent years， aiming to elucidate the mechanism of TCM in regulating the effect of radiation therapy for lung cancer and provide more theoretical and practical basis for TCM to participate in improving the prognosis of lung cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND:The Yi people have used Sambucus adnata Wall to treat fractures,bruises,arthritis,etc.The author's group found that the active site aqueous extract(SAW-A)and dichloromethane extract(SAW-B)can promote fracture healing by promoting the expression of genes related to osteoblast proliferation,differentiation and maturation,differentiation and maturation.However,the therapeutic effect of methanol extract(SAW-C)at its active site on osteoarthritis is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the therapeutic effect of Sambucus adnata Wall extract on osteoarthritis,and to identify the effective targets of Sambucus adnata Wall extract in the treatment of osteoarthritis by network pharmacology technology. METHODS:A rat osteoarthritis model was replicated by anterior cruciate ligamentectomy and model rats were then treated with methanol extract of Sambucus adnata Wall by gavage for 21 days.On the 21st day after modeling,the knee joint of rats was detected by X-ray,the width of the knee joint was measured,oxidative stress indexes and inflammatory factors levels in serum and joint lavage fluid were detected,the morphology of the knee joint was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining,full-thickness cartilage and hyaline cartilage thickness were measured,and the content of articular cartilage proteoglycan was observed by safranin O-fast green staining.The"drug-component-disease-target"network was constructed.Gene ontology enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis of effective targets were performed,and protein-protein interaction network maps were constructed using cytoscape software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Sambucus adnata Wall extract could reduce tumor necrosis factor-α level in joint lavage fluid and serum levels of prostaglandin E2 and malondialdehyde,while increase the level of superoxide dismutase;relieve joint swelling caused by osteoarthritis;improve the histopathological state of articular cartilage,maintain the thickness of full-thickness articular cartilage,hyaline cartilage and the area of bone trabeculae in subchondral bone;and effectively prevent the loss of proteoglycans in articular cartilage and have a chondroprotective effect.Network pharmacological results showed that the methanol extract of Sambucus adnata Wall may have some targets related to inhibition of tumor necrosis factor,AKT1,interleukin-6,MAPK3,and SRC as well as inhibition of over-activation of EGFR signaling pathway and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway.