ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Tongmai Kaiqiao pills on the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）/adenovirus E1B 19 kD-interacting protein 3 （BNIP3） signaling pathway and mitochondrial autophagy in the hippocampus of the rat model of vascular dementia （VD）. MethodNinety male SD rats underwent adaptive feeding for one week before the study. Ten rats were randomly assigned to the sham group， where the common carotid artery was isolated without ligation. The remaining rats were subjected to sequential ligation of the common carotid artery for the modeling of VD. The successfully modeled rats were randomly assigned into the following groups： model， high-， medium-， and low-dose （27.6， 13.8， 6.9 g·kg^-1， respectively） Tongmai Kaiqiao pills， donepezil hydrochloride （0.45 mg·kg^-1）， and combination （27.6 g·kg^-1 Tongmai Kaiqiao pills + 2.5 mg·kg^-1 HIF-1α inhibitor YC-1） groups. After 4 weeks of treatment， samples were collected. Nissl staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining were performed to observe the loss of neurons and pathological changes， respectively， in the hippocampal region. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of HIF-1α， BNIP3， Beclin-1， and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B （LC3B） in the hippocampal tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the mitochondrial ultrastructure and the number of autophagosomes in the hippocampal tissue. Immunofluorescence was employed to observe the fluorescence intensity of HIF-1α， BNIP3， and LC3B in the hippocampal tissue. ResultCompared with the sham group， the model group showed prolonged escape latency （P<0.01）， decreased number of platform crossings （P<0.01）， reduced and disarranged neuronal layers in the hippocampal region， decreased number of Nissl bodies， disrupted mitochondrial cristae， damaged mitochondrial double-membrane structures， increased number of autophagosomes， upregulated expression of HIF-1α， BNIP3， beclin1， and LC3B （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and enhanced fluorescence intensity of HIF-1α， BNIP3， and LC3B （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Tongmai Kaiqiao pills and donepezil hydrochloride shortened the searching time for the platform （P<0.01） and increased the number of platform crossings （P<0.01）. Moreover， the drugs increased the number of neurons with normal morphology and orderly arrangement and the number of Nissl bodies， alleviated the damage， increased the number of autophagosomes， upregulated the expression of HIF-1α， BNIP3， Beclin1， and LC3B （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and enhanced the fluorescence intensity of HIF-1α， BNIP3， and LC3B （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with high-dose Tongmai Kaiqiao pills， the combination group prolonged the escape latency （P<0.01）， reduced the number of crossing platforms （P<0.01）， decreased the number of hippocampal neurons， aggravated the damage， decreased the number of Nissl bodies and autophagosomes， downregulated the expression of HIF-1α， BNIP3， beclin1， and LC3B （P<0.01）， and decreased the fluorescence intensity of HIF-1α， BNIP3， and LC3B （P<0.01）. ConclusionTongmai Kaiqiao pills may activate the HIF-1α/BNIP3 signaling pathway to promote the occurrence of mitochondrial autophagy， clear damaged mitochondria， provide energy for healthy cells， reduce neuronal cell death， and restore the brain function， thereby reducing ischemic damage to the hippocampal tissue， improving learning and memory abilities， and exerting therapeutic effects on VD in rats.

Objective We investigated the effects of Xueguan Ruanhua Pills(XGRHW) on ferroptosis in ApoE-/- atherosclerotic mice through the nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2)/xCT/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling pathway.Methods Ten male C57BL/6J mice in the normal group were fed normal chow. Additionally, 50 ApoE-/- mice were fed high-fat chow for 12 weeks, and were divided into the following five groups (10 mice per group): the model group, the XGRHW low-dose (2.34g/kg) group, the XGRHW high-dose (4.68 g/kg) group, the XGRHW high-dose combined with the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 (0.03 g/kg) group, and the ferrostatin-1 (1 mg/kg) group. Drugs were administered for 6 weeks. The blood levels of four types of lipids were detected by an automatic lipid analyzer, lipid deposition in the aorta was observed by Oil Red O staining, histomorphological changes in the aortic sinus were observed by HE staining, the serum levels of Fe2+, MDA, GSH, and SOD were determined by colorimetric assays, and the expression levels of FTH1 and FTL in the aortic sinus were observed by immunofluorescence. The protein levels of Nrf2, xCT, and GPX4 in mouse aortic tissues were detected by Western blotting. The ultrastructural changes of aortic mitochondria were observed by transmission electron microscopy.Results Compared with the normal group, mice in the model group showed obvious lipid plaque deposition in the aorta, severely calcified lesions in the aortic sinus, elevated serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, Fe2+, and MDA, decreased levels of HDL-C, SOD, and GSH (P<0.01), and decreased protein expressions of aortic Nrf2, xCT, and GPX4 as well as the iron storage proteins FTH1 and FTL (P<0.01), and serve damage to mitochondrial structure and morphology. Compared with the model group, the relative aortic plaque area was decreased, calcified lesions in the aortic sinus were decreased, serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, Fe2+, and MDA were decreased, and HDL-C, SOD, and GSH levels were increased in the XGRHW low-dose and high-dose and ferrostatin-1 groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and Nrf2, xCT, GPX4, and the iron storage proteins FTH1 and FTL were upregulated in aortic tissues (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and mitochondrial structure approaching normal. In the XGRHW high-dose+ML385 group, compared with the XGRHW high-dose group, the levels of blood lipids and lipid peroxidation were increased and the protein levels of Nrf2, xCT, and GPX4 in aortic tissue and the iron storage proteins FTH1 and FTL were decreased (P<0.01), and mitochondrial structure was damaged indicating that ML385 could inhibit the therapeutic effect of the XGRHW in atherosclerotic mice.Conclusion The XGRHW can improve blood lipid levels and reduce the degree of arterial plaque lesions in atherosclerotic mice, and its mechanism of action may be related to activation of the Nrf2/xCT/GPX4 pathway to inhibit ferroptosis.

The injury of vascular endothelial cells is not only the initial condition to promote the occurrence of early atherosclerosis （AS） plaques， but also an important link in the pathogenesis of AS. The microRNA （miRNA）， as an important medium of intercellular communication and gene regulatory factor， can affect vascular endothelial function and participate in the development of AS. The molecular mechanism of miRNA’s multi-target intervention in vascular endothelial cell injury has become a hot topic in the research of cardiovascular diseases. Monomers of traditional Chinese medicines such as ginsenoside Rb2 and paeonol， as well as traditional Chinese medicine for resolving phlegm and removing blood stasis could regulate miRNA to improve endothelial cell inflammation； astragaloside Ⅳ， dihydromyricetin and notoginsenoside could target miRNA and inhibit vascular endothelial oxidative stress； Danhong injection， Jianpi qutan and huayu prescription and paeonol could affect endothelial autophagy through miRNA； resveratrol， Bushen huoxue formula and Bushen tongmai formula could inhibit vascular endothelial aging by miRNA； dendrobine played an active role in regulating miRNA and improving endoplasmic reticulum stress. In the future， more in- depth research is needed on the effectiveness， mechanism of action， diagnosis and treatment plans， and safety of targeted regulation of miRNA for AS therapy by traditional Chinese medicine.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is closely associated with the adverse events such as liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure and remains a serious threat to human health. Pegylated interferon is an indispensable drug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and interferon-stimulated genes are associated with a variety of viruses, but few studies have mentioned their association with hepatitis B and their predictive effect after the treatment of hepatitis B with interferon. This article introduces the predictive factors for interferon treatment of CHB and summarizes the association of interferon-stimulated genes with hepatitis B and their predictive effect, so as to provide a reference for clinical work and basic research.

Objective:To determine the analytical performance of a candidate reference measurement procedure for 17α-hydroxyprogesterone in human serum by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).Methods:The serum spiked with a deuterium-labeled internal standard was extracted from serum from individual undergoing physical examination by liquid-liquid extraction with n-hexane/ethyl acetate (3∶2, v/v), separated by C18 reversed-phase chromatography and detected by positive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. According to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) C62-A documents, the analytical performance including linearity, limit of detection,limit of quantitation,relative matrix effect,precision and trueness,carry-over and specificity was evaluated.Results:The linear range of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone by LC-MS/MS was 0.21-119.67 μg/L. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 5.218 ng/L and 0.116 μg/L. The relative matrix effects were -0.02%, -0.40% and -0.90% for sera and solution mixtures in 3 different ratios (50∶50, 80:20 and 20∶80). The coefficients of variation ( CVs) of intra-assay were 1.73%-2.11%, 0.98%-1.71%, 0.47%-0.87% at 0.164 μg/L, 14.81 μg/L, 81.63 μg/L and the CVs of inter-assay were 1.82%, 1.03%, 0.80% at above three concentrations. The average recovery rates of 3 levels (0.5, 20 and 100 μg/L) were 100.4%, 101.7%, 102.8%, respectively. The measured values of GBW09829 of National Institute of Metrology were within the specified uncertainty range. Conclusion:The candidate reference measurement procedure for 17α-hydroxyprogesterone in human by LC-MS/MS is established with good accuracy and precision, which can be clinically used for measurement traceability.

Objective: To explore the relation of eating behavior to family health and personality traits in adolescents, and to provide empirical support for personality based prediction of adolescents susceptibility to poor eating behavior and family intervention. Methods: A total of 563 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old from nuclear families, who were selected from "Survey of Chinese Family Health Index(2021)". A general characteristic questionnaire, Short form of Family Health Scale, 10 item Big Five Inventory, and Short form of Sakata Eating Behavior Scale were used to collect information. The relationships of eating behavior to family health and personality traits were analyzed by structural equation modeling. Results: Group comparison indicated that there was a significant difference in scores of the big five personalities and eating behaviors among adolescents from diverse family health statuses( P <0.01). Additionally, there were significant correlations among family health, personality traits, and eating behavior( P <0.01). Structural equation modeling showed that family health resources (-0.34), conscientiousness (-0.17), extraversion ( 0.14 ), agreeableness (-0.13) directly affected eating behavior( P <0.05). Meanwhile, family external social support associated with eating behavior by affecting extraversion (0.22), and family health resources associated with eating behavior by affecting agreeableness(0.12)( P <0.05). Conclusion Not only could family health directly affect eating behavior, but it could indirectly associate with eating behavior by affecting personality traits among adolescents in nuclear families. The role of the family in improving adolescent poor eating behavior should be emphasized.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of motor imagery training (MIT) combined with conventional rehabilitation to promote the functional recovery of upper limbs in stroke survivors. To explore the brain network reorganization resulting when motor imagery training (MIT) is combined with conventional rehabilitation to promote the motor recovery of stroke survivors.Methods:Fourteen hemiplegic patients were recruited as the MIT group. They underwent 4 weeks of MIT (30 min/day, 5 days/week) along with conventional rehabilitation treatment. The upper limb section of the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA-UE) and the modified Barthel Index (MBI) were used to assess all of the patients, and resting-state fMRI was performed before and after the treatment. Twenty-eight age- and sex-matched healthy subjects also received one-time resting-state fMRI scanning. Granger causal analysis was performed in the MIT group to calculate the changes in effective connection between the ipsilesional primary motor cortex and the whole brain before and after the treatment, and the results were compared with the healthy control group.Results:After the treatment, the average FMA-UE and MBI of the MIT group had increased significantly. Before the intervention, the effective connection mode of the ipsilesional M1 area in the MIT group was significantly different from that of the healthy controls. The causal flow from the ipsilesional M1 area to the bilateral prefrontal cortex had increased abnormally and the causal flow from the contralesional primary motor cortex, the inferior parietal lobule and the cerebellum to the ipsilesional M1 area had decreased significantly. After the treatment, the effective connection pattern of the stroke survivors was nearly normal, and the causal influence from contralesional motor imagery-related brain areas (the superior parietal lobule, inferior parietal lobule, thalamus and the fusiform gyrus) to the ipsilesional M1 area was enhanced. Effective connection from the ipsilesional M1 area to the contralesional cerebellum before the intervention was positively correlated with the improvement in FMA-UE scores, and the effective connection from the contralesional middle frontal gyrus to the ipsilesional M1 area was correlated negatively.Conclusions:The neural mechanism of MIT's effectiveness when it is combined with conventional rehabilitation might be related to the reorganization of effective connections. That would include enhanced causal flow between motor imagery-related brain areas and the contralesional cerebellum and ipsilesional M1 area. Down-regulation of the effective connection from the contralesional middle frontal gyrus to the ipsilesional M1 area also occurs.

Objective: To establish a reference measurement procedure for the determination of human serum homocysteine by isotope dilution high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC/MS/MS), and to apply it to establish sample target values for external quality assessment (EQA) in clinical laboratories. Methods: The reference method of Hcyquantification in our laboratory was establishedaccording to the method recommended by the Joint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM). The precision, trueness, specificity, residue and matrix effect of the method were evaluated. The reference method was applied to establish Hcy target values for samples of the second EQA in Shanghai of 2018. Results: The method detects 12.5μmol/L and 37.4μmol/L samples in three batches in three days, and the CV between batches is 1.03% and 2.10%, respectively. The measured values of Standard reference material (SRM) 1955 of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were within the specified uncertainty range. No matrix effect and carryover were observed. The second EQA data in 2018 showed that the average value of domestic reagent group was lower than that of reference method, and that of imported reagent group was higher than that of reference method. Conclusion Thereference measurement procedure of ID-LC/MS/MS was successfully established to determine the human serum homocysteine. It is expected to play a role in tracing the quantities of Hcy in clinical laboratories.

Objective To establish an isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method (ID-LC-MS) for quantification of serum apolipoprotein E and phenotyping. Methods Method establishment. Samples underwent denaturing, alkylation and trypsin digestion with addition of internal standards as isotope labelling arginine. SB-C18 column was used for the liquid chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry positive ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring were employed for quantification and phenotyping. Precision, accuracy and linearity were investigated for method evaluation. 40 serum samples from Shanghai Dongfang Hospital during Oct. to Dec., 2018 were used for method comparison between ID-LC-MS and immunoassay. Deming regression and Bland-Altman were used for method comparison analysis and SPSS 24 for linearity. Results Target peptides reached their releasing maximum within 4 hours and SE did at 3 hours. 3 phenotyping of ApoE were observed, such as E3/E3, E2/E3 and E3 / E4. The imprecision of IQC was 5.2 ％ . The relative bias for low and high levels of accuracy-based samples was 7.6 ％ and 3.6 ％, respectively. Deming regression showed the intercept with 95 ％ confidence interval (CI) was 6.44-11.44 (P<0.05 and the 95％ confidence interval for the slopewas 0.77-0.89 (P<0.05). The coefficient was r=0.97. The mean difference was - 2.95 mg / L with 95 ％ CI-4.26--1.65 mg/L. The linearity covered from 16.9 to 58.5 mg/L. Conclusion ID-LC-MS can be used to quantify serum apolipoprotein E and simultaneously detect its phenotyping.

Objective To measure the efficacy of combining motor imagery training ( MIT) with convention-al therapy in improving stroke patients′upper-extremity function. And to seek a cortical reorganization mechanism as-sociated with the improvement using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging ( rs-fMRI) . Methods Ten stroke survivors were selected as an experimental group. They were given motor imagery training for four weeks ( 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week) and conventional rehabilitation therapy ( 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week) . Another 10 healthy counterparts were the control group. Before and after the four weeks of treatment, both groups were as-sessed using the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment ( FMA-UE) and the modified Barthel index ( MBI) . Moreo-ver, rs-fMRI was conducted to assess functional connectivity between cortical regions and the ipsilesional primary mo-tor cortex ( M1) before and after the intervention. The laterality index ( LI) of the primary motor or sensory cortex was also calculated. Results After the intervention, the average FMA-UE and MBI scores of the experimental group had increased significantly. After MIT and conventional therapy there was increased functional connectivity between the ip-silesional and contralesional M1 areas, and between the ipsilesional M1 and contralesional primary sensory cortex ( S1) and frontal lobe, the functional connection between the ipsilesional M1 and the ipsilesional paracentral lobule and the anterior cingutate was also increased. More specifically, the LI relating M1 and S1 decreased after the inter-vention, tending toward the normal level. LIMI decreased significantly. Conclusion The 4-week regimen of motor imagery training and conventional therapy resulted in functional improvement in the upper limbs and greater ability in the activities of daily living. The observed improvements may be due to cortical reorganization, including better func-tional connectivity between the bilateral M1 areas and increased connectivity between the ipsilesional M1 area and some non-motor areas. There is some recovery of symmetry in the bilateral primary motor cortex.