AIM:To investigate the role of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hsCRP)in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic retinopathy(DR)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).METHODS:A nested case-control study was conducted involving 187 T2DM patients(187 eyes)who attended at Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from June 2017 to October 2024. Patients were categorized into three groups: the diabetes mellitus(DM)group, non-proliferative DR(NPDR)group, and proliferative DR(PDR)group. Baseline information was collected, including age, sex, duration of DM, and duration of hypertension. All patients underwent fasting biochemical tests and comprehensive ophthalmic examinations.RESULTS: A positive correlation was observed between hsCRP and fasting blood glucose(FBG; P=0.004)and glycated hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c; P=0.048)by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analysis. After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariable Logistic regression identified hsCRP as a significant risk factor for DR(OR=2.67, 95% CI: 1.19-5.96, P=0.017). CONCLUSION:Serum hsCRP is positively correlated with FBG and HbA1c and can serve as an important predictor of the severity of DR.

Chemotherapy is an important treatment for tumors， but most patients experience varying degrees of chemotherapy- induced myelosuppression. Four properties theory of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has unique advantages in improving chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. The monomers from TCM with different properties and flavors， such as cold-natured （e.g. Scutellaria baicalensis， Rhus chinensis）， cool-natured （e.g. Ligustrum lucidum， Ophiopogon japonicus）， warm-natured （e.g. Panax ginseng， Epimedium brevicornu， Curcuma longa， Angelica sinensis）， hot-natured （e.g. Cinnamomum cassia， Aconitum carmichaeli）， and neutral-natured （e. g. donkey-hide gelatin， Lycium barbarum， Rhodiola rosea， fungi）， can exert anti- myelosuppressive effects by reducing damage to hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells， improving the bone marrow hematopoietic microenvironment， inhibiting the oxidative stress response， regulating signaling pathways， so as to ultimately repaire inflammatory damage and improve hematopoietic function， thereby playing an anti-myelosuppressive role.

Objective:To establish and validate a clinical and CT radiomics combined model for predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) risk in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA).Methods:This was a case-control study. Data from 158 pathologically confirmed HCCA patients between January 2016 and January 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. Using stratified random sampling, the patients were randomly divided into a training set ( n=95) and an internal validation set ( n=63) at a 6∶4 ratio. According to postoperative pathology, 31 LNM-positive cases and 64 LNM-negative cases were in the training set, and 22 LNM-positive cases and 41 LNM-negative cases were in the internal validation set. A cohort of 50 HCCA patients was retrospectively collected from West China Hospital of Sichuan University between October 2018 and June 2021 as an external validation set, including 21 LNM-positive and 29 LNM-negative cases. Clinical features were selected by multivariate logistic regression analysis to establish a clinical model. Radiomics features were extracted from portal venous phase CT images using 3D Slicer software. A radiomics model was developed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression algorithm. A clinical-radiomics model was constructed by integrating clinical features and Radscore, and a nomogram was developed. The prediction performance of models was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The AUC values were compared using the DeLong test. Calibration curves and decision curves were plotted to assess calibration and clinical net benefit. Results:Clinical N (cN) staging was an independent risk factor for LNM ( OR=6.86, 95% CI 2.70-18.49, P<0.001). Totally 12 optimal features were selected to construct the radiomics model, and the clinical-radiomics nomogram model was constructed by combining cN staging and Radscore. In the external validation set, the AUC (95% CI) of the clinical model, radiomics model, and clinical-radiomics nomogram were 0.706 (0.576-0.836), 0.768 (0.637-0.899), and 0.803 (0.680-0.926), respectively. The nomogram achieved higher AUC than clinical and radiomics models with statistical significance ( Z=2.01, 2.21; P=0.044, 0.027). The calibration and decision curves demonstrated good model fit, providing clinical net benefits for patients. Conclusion:The clinical-radiomics nomogram model combining cN staging and CT radiomics features can effectively predict LNM risk in HCCA patients.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy（DPN） is a neurodegenerative disease of diabetes mellitus involving peripheral nervous system damage， which is characterized by axonal degenerative necrosis， Schwann cell apoptosis and demyelination of nerve myelin sheath as the main pathological features， this disease is highly prevalent and is a major cause of disability in diabetic patients. Currently， the pathogenesis of DPN may be related to oxidative stress， inflammatory response， metabolic abnormality， and microcirculation disorder. The treatment of DPN in modern medicine mainly starts from controlling blood glucose， nourishing nerves and improving microcirculation， which can only alleviate the clinical symptoms of patients， and it is difficult to fundamentally improve the pathological damage of peripheral nerves. Mitochondrial quality control refers to the physiological mechanisms that can maintain the morphology and functional homeostasis of mitochondria， including mitochondrial biogenesis， mitochondrial dynamics， mitochondrial oxidative stress and mitochondrial autophagy， and abnormal changes of which may cause damage to peripheral nerves. After reviewing the literature， it was found that traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） can improve the low level of mitochondrial biogenesis in DPN， maintain the balance of mitochondrial dynamics， inhibit mitochondrial oxidative stress and mitochondrial autophagy， and delay apoptosis of Schwann cells and neural axon damage， which has obvious effects on the treatment of DPN. With the deepening of research， mitochondrial quality control may become one of the potential targets for the research of new anti-DPN drugs， therefore， this paper summarized the research progress of TCM in treating DPN based on four aspects of mitochondrial quality control， with the aim of providing a theoretical research basis for the discovery of new drugs.

OBJECTIVE To establish the GC fingerprint of the volatile oil of Dalitong granules, and analyze the volatile oil components. METHODS The separation was performed on an Agilent HP-5(30 m×0.32 mm, 0.25 μm) quartz capillary column with programmed temperature and hydrogen flame ionization detector. A common pattern of 10 batches of samples was established and analyzed by a combination of chemometric methods. The volatile oil components were identified using GC-MS with NIST11.L standard library, and the origin of each component was inferred. RESULTS Thirteen common peaks were selected from the common chromatograms of 10 batches of samples, and the similarity of each component was >0.998, and the samples could be classified into three categories. A total of 56 components were identified by GC-MS, including 11 common peaks. CONCLUSION The GC fingerprint of Dalitong granules volatile oil was established with good instrument precision, reproducibility and stability, which can provide a reference basis for the quality control of Dalitong granules volatile oil.

Objective By observing the effects of"three methods and three points"tuina technique on the expression of interleukin-17F(IL-17F),interleukin-17 receptor C(IL-17RC),activator 1 of nuclear transcription factor-κB(Act1),tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6)and M1 microglial cell expression in the spinal dorsal horn of rats with mild chronic compressive injury(minor CCI)model,we explored the immediate analgesic mechanism of tuina on peripheral neuropathic pain(pNP).Methods Thirty-six SD rats were divided into the sham group,the model group and the tuina group according to the random number method,twelve rats in each group,and the minor CCI model was replicated by ligating the right sciatic nerve.The rats in the tuina group were subjected to pointing,plucking and kneading at the BL37,BL57 and GB34 points on the affected side using a tuina simulator,while the sham group and the model group were only grasped and restrained,and were intervened for one time.The mechanical pain test and cold plate test were used to evaluate the response of rats to mechanical stimulation and cold stimulation after immediate intervention.The protein expression of IL-17F and TRAF6 in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in each group was detected by Western blotting.The mRNA expression of IL-17F,IL-17RC,Act1 and TRAF6 in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in each group was detected by real-time PCR.The average fluorescence intensity of M1 microglia in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in each group was detected by immunofluorescence.Results Behavioral results showed that before intervention,compared with the sham group,paw mechanical withdraw threshold(PMWT)decreased and cold sensitivity threshold(CST)increased in the model group and the tuina group;after tuina intervention,PMWT in the tuina group was increased,and CST was decreased compared with the model group;after intervention,PMWT in the tuina group was increased,while CST was decreased(P＜0.05).RT-PCR results showed that compared with the sham group,mRNA expression levels of IL-17F,IL-17RC,TRAF6 and Act1 in the spinal dorsal horn of the model group were increased;compared with model group,the mRNA expression levels of above indexes in the tuina group were decreased(P＜0.05).Western boltting results showed that compared with the sham group,the expression levels of IL-17F and TRAF6 protein in the spinal dorsal horn of the model group were increased;compared with the model group,the expression levels of IL-17F and TRAF6 protein in the tuina group decreased(P＜O.05).Immunofluorescence results showed that the mean fluorescence intensity of CD40 in the spinal dorsal horn of model group was enhanced compared with the sham group;compared with the model group,the mean fluorescence intensity of CD40 in the tuina group was decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion The"three methods and three points"tuina technique can produce immediate analgesia by inhibiting the expression of IL-17F,IL-17RC,Act1,TRAF6 and the activation of M1 microglia in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord after one intervention.

Objective To explore the analgesic initiation mechanism of"three-manipulations and three-acupoints"of tuina on minor chronic constriction injury(minor CCI)model rats.Methods According to the random number table method,35 SD rats were randomly divided into five groups:normal group,sham group,model group,tuina group,and tuina+MK-801 group.The model group,tuina group,and tuina+MK-801 group were subjected to ligation of the right sciatic nerve trunk to establish a minor CCI rat model.The sham group was only exposed to the right sciatic nerve without ligation,and the normal group was not subjected to any operation.The normal group was not subjected to any intervention measures.On the seventh day after modeling,the model group and the sham group underwent 9 minutes of grasping restraint,while the tuina group underwent one intervention of three-manipulations(point method,dialing method,and kneading method)and three-acupoints(right"Yinmen"(BL37),"Chengshan"(BL57),and"Yanglingquan"(GB34)acupoints)with each manipulation and acupoint intervention for 1 minute for a total of 9 minutes.The tuina+MK-801 group received intrathecal injection of MK-801 from the fifth to seventh days after modeling,with a dose of 6 μg(10 μL)per day,tuina intervention was performed 30 minutes after the last intrathecal injection,and the specific operation of tuina was the same as that of the tuina group.Before modeling,after modeling,and after intervention,each group of rats was subjected to cold sensitivity threshold(CST)and mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT)testing.After intervention,immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP)in the spinal dorsal horn(SDH)at L4-6 segments;protein expressions of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1(NMDAR1),neurogenic nitric oxide synthase(nNOS),soluble guanylyl cyclase β(sGCβ),and protein kinase G1(PKG1)in SDH at L4-6 segments were detected by Western blotting;mRNA expressions of NMDAR1,nNOS,sGCβ,cGMP,and PKG1 in SDH at L4-6 segments were detected by real-time PCR.Results Compared with the normal and sham groups,after modeling,CST increased and MWT decreased in the model group,tuina group and tuina+MK-801 group(P＜0.05);after intervention,the positive protein expression of cGMP was increased,the protein expressions of NMDAR1,nNOS,sGCβ,and PKG1 were increased,and mRNA expressions of NMDAR1,nNOS,sGCβ,cGMP,and PKG1 were increased in SDH at L4-6 segments in the model group(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,after intervention,CST decreased and MWT increased in the tuina group and tuina+MK-801 group(P＜0.05);the positive protein expression of cGMP was decreased,the protein expressions of NMDAR1,nNOS,sGCβ,and PKG1 were decreased,and mRNA expressions of NMDAR1,nNOS,sGCβ,cGMP,and PKG1 were decreased in SDH at L4-6 segments in the tuina group and tuina+MK-801 group(P＜0.05).Conclusion One-time tuina intervention can effectively improve the symptoms of thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia induced by peripheral nerve injury,which may initiate analgesia through the NMDAR1/cGMP/protein kinase G signaling pathway,thereby exerting immediate analgesic effect.

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor combined with radiotherapy in advanced and relapsed / refractory extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma (ENKTL).Methods:Clinical data of 26 patients with advanced and recurrent / refractory ENKTL admitted to Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with the PD-1 inhibitor combined with radiotherapy. The treatment responses, survival rate and and adverse reactions of the regimen were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the 1- and 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate, and the Cox proportional risk model was used for univariate prognostic factorial analysis for PFS and OS.Results:The median follow-up time of 26 patients was 29 months (10-49 months). The objective response rate (ORR) was 85%. The complete and partial remission rates were 77% and 8%. The median PFS time was 25 months. The 1- and 2- year PFS rates were 73.1% and 53.3%. The 1- and 2- year OS rates were 88.5% and 75.3%. The main adverse reaction was acute mucositis with an incidence rate of 31% (8/26), followed by hematological toxicity. The incidence of immune-related adverse events in lung, liver and thyroid were low. Only 1 patient developed grade 3 acute mucositis, 1 patient developed grade 4 immune pneumonitis, and the remaining patients had grade 1-2 toxicities. All patients showed good tolerance. The univariate analysis showed that elevated lactate dehydrogenase, Epstein-Barr virus DNA positive after treatment, and less than 6 cycles of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy were prognostic factors for poor OS.Conclusion:The regimen of PD-1 inhibitor combined with radiotherapy demonstrates promising efficacy and well tolerance in patients with advanced and relapsed / refractory ENKTL.

Objective To explore the analgesic initiation mechanism of three-manipulation and three-acupoint tuina in model rats with minor chronic constriction injury(CCI).Methods Fifty-six SD rats were divided randomly into eight groups:normal group,sham group,model 1 group,model 2 group,tuina 1 group,tuina 2 group,tuina 1+transient receptor potential vanilloid-1(TRPV1)antagonist group,and tuina 2+transient receptor potential ankyrin 1(TRPA1)antagonist group.The model,tuina,and tuina+antagonist groups were established with minor CCI models.The tuina and tuina+antagonist groups received the three-method three-point intervention(point method,dial method,kneading method,Yinmen point,Chengshan point,Yanglingquan point)7 days after modeling.The model and sham groups were subjected to grasping restraint,and the normal group received no intervention.After the respective interventions,each group was tested for changes in mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT)and thermal withdrawal latency(TWL)to detect different types of pain.The nitric oxide(NO)content of the dorsal root ganglion(DRG)was determined by the nitrate reductase method,and changes in protein and gene expression levels of components of the TRPV1/TRPA1-NO-cGMP-protein kinase G(PKG)signaling pathway in the DRG of each group were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,Western blot,and qPCR.Results Compared with the model group,MWT and TWL were prolonged in the tuina 1 and tuina 2 groups.Expression levels of TRPV1,TRPA1,NO,soluble guanylate cyclase-β,cGMP,and PKG1 in the DRG were significantly decreased in the tuina 1,tuina 2,tuina 1+TRPV1 antagonist,and tuina 2+TRPA1 antagonist groups.Conclusions Tuina can effectively improve the symptoms of thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia caused by peripheral nerve injury after one-time intervention.Tuina can exert immediate and continuous analgesic effects via the TRPV1/TRPA1-NO-cGMP-PKG signaling pathway.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important factor for the occurrence and development of CKD. The protective effect of dihydroartemisinin on AKI and and reported mechanism have not been reported. In this study, we used two animal models including ischemia-reperfusion and UUO, as well as a high-glucose-stimulated HK-2 cell model, to evaluate the protective effect of dihydroartemisinin on premature senescence of renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that dihydroartemisinin improved renal aging and renal injury by activating autophagy. In addition, we found that co-treatment with chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, abolished the anti-renal aging effect of dihydroartemisinin in vitro. These findings suggested that activation of autophagy/elimination of senescent cell might be a useful strategy to prevent AKI/UUO induced renal tubular senescence and fibrosis.
Animals ; Kidney ; Acute Kidney Injury/chemically induced* ; Ischemia ; Reperfusion Injury/drug therapy* ; Autophagy ; Reperfusion