Objective: To evaluate the application of blood conservation measures in obstetric patients with different red blood cell transfusion volumes and to assess the impact of different transfusion volumes on postpartum outcomes. Methods: A retrospective investigation was conducted on 448 obstetric patients who received blood transfusions at the Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2016 to December 2022. Patients were divided into four groups (1-2 units group, 3-4 units group, 5-6 units group, and >6 units group) based on the volumes of red blood cells (RBCs) transfused during and within 7 days after delivery. The maternal physiological indicators, pre- and postpartum laboratory test indicators, obstetric complications, application of blood conservation measures, use of blood products, and postpartum outcomes were reviewed. The clinical characteristics, application of blood conservation measures, and their impact on postpartum outcomes were compared among different transfusion groups. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the multivariate logistic analysis of history of previous cesarean section (OR=1.781), eclampsia/pre-eclampsia/(OR=1.972) and postpartum blood loss>1 000 mL（OR=1.699）(P<0.05) among different transfusion groups. In terms of blood conservation measures, the more RBCs transfused, the higher the rate of mothers receiving blood conservation measures such as balloon occlusion, arterial ligation, autologous blood transfusion with a cell saver, and hysterectomy. With the increase in the volume of RBCs transfusion, the demand for fresh frozen plasma（FFP）, cryoprecipitate, and platelet transfusions also increased. The hospitalization days for the four groups of parturients were 6.0 (4.0-9.0), 7.5 (5.0-14.8), 7.0 (4.5-13.0) and 11.0 (9.0-20.5), respectively (P<0.05) and the rates of ICU transfer were 2.0% (5/250), 9.4% (12/128),18.2% (6/33) and 51.4% (19/37), respectively (P<0.05). Both increased significantly with the increase in the volume of RBCs transfusion, and the differences between groups were statistically significant. Conclusion: Parturients who received higher volume of RBCs had multiple risks factors for bleeding before childbirth, had higher postpartum blood loss, and had a higher rate of application of various blood conservation measures. In addition, an increase in the volume of RBCs transfusion may have adverse effects on postpartum recovery.

Objective:To select and obtain relevant evidence on the prevention and management of gastric retention in premature infants, so as to form the best summary of evidence.Methods:According to the "6S" evidence model system, we searched the domestic and foreign evidence-based databases, relevant guide websites, and association websites for all literature on the prevention and management of gastric retention in premature infants, including clinical decisions, guidelines, best practice information books, evidence summaries, systematic evaluations, and expert consensus. The search period was from January 1, 2013 to June 8, 2023.Results:A total of 12 articles were included, including 5 guidelines, 1 recommended practice, 5 systematic reviews, 1 expert consensuses. A total of 20 pieces of best evidence were collected, mainly involving 6 aspects of feeding management, placement of gastric tube, position management, gastric residue monitoring, gastric residue treatment, intervening measure.Conclusions:This study summarized the best evidence for the prevention and management of gastric retention in premature infants, so as to provide theoretical basis for clinical management of gastric retention and promote the establishment of enteral nutrition in premature infants.

Objective To explore the role of mitochondrial autophagy in ovarian inflammation associated with poly-cystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)based on the NOD-like receptor thermoprotein domain-related protein 3(NLRP3)pathway.Methods Human ovarian granulosa cell line SVOG was treated with 25 nmol/L dihydrotestosterone(DHT)for 24 h to establish PCOS cell model.SVOG cells were transfected with adenovirus carrying NLRP3(Ad-NLRP3)and negative vector(Ad-EV)or NLRP3 shRNA(sh-NLRP3)and negative control(sh-NC)to overex-press or knockdown NLRP3.Mito-Tracker staining and GFP-LC3 staining were used to evaluate mitochondrial auto-phagy in cells.TUNEL staining,JC-1 staining and Mito-SOX staining were used to analyze the apoptosis,mito-chondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial-derived superoxide production.32 female BALB/c mice were ran-domly divided into three groups:control(Con)group,DHEA group,DHEA+sh-NC group and DHEA+sh-NL-RP3 group,with 8 mice in each group.Except the control group,all other groups treated mice with dehydroepi-androsterone(DHEA)to establish PCOS mouse model.DHEA+sh-NLRP3 group and DHEA+sh-NC group were administrated with sh-NLRP3 or sh-NC encapsulated in lentivirus at a concentration of 1 x 109 TU/ml via tail vein injection.The ultrastructure of mitochondria in ovarian tissue of mice in each group was observed by transmission e-lectron microscope.Results Compared with DHT+sh-NC group,the level of NLRP3 of SVOG cells in DHT+sh-NLRP3 group decreased(P＜0.05).The co-location of GFP-LC3 and mitochondria in SVOG cells in DHT+sh-NLRP3 group was higher than that in DHT+sh-NC group(P＜0.05).Compared with DHT+sh-NC group,the number of TUNEL positive cells and Mito-SOX fluorescence density of SVOG cells in DHT+sh-NLRP3 group de-creased,and the ratio of polymer JC-1 to monomer JC-1 increased(P＜0.05).Compared with Con+Ad-EV group,the level of NLRP3,the number of TUNEL-positive cells and the fluorescence density of mito-SVOG in Con+Ad-NLRP3 group increased(P＜0.05),and the co-location level of GFP-LC3 and mitochondria decreased;the ratio of polymer JC-1 to monomer JC-1 decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,TUNEL positive cells,relative ROS intensity and percentage of damaged mitochondria in the ovarian tissue of mice in DHEA group increased(P＜0.05).Compared with DHEA+sh-NC group,TUNEL positive cells,relative ROS intensity and percentage of damaged mitochondria in DHEA+SH-NLRP group decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Inhibition of mitochondrial autophagy induced by activation of NLRP3 leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and promotes mito-chondrial-related apoptosis in GCs.Knockdown of NLRP3 is beneficial to mitochondrial homeostasis and improves the resistance of GCs to oxidative stress injury,thus promoting the recovery of PCOS.

Plant natural products have a wide range of pharmacological properties, not only can they be used as plant dietary supplements to meet the nutritional needs of the human body in the accelerated pace of life, but also occupy an important position in the research and development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of tumors, inflammation and other diseases, and have been widely accepted by the public due to their good safety. However, despite the above advantages of plant natural products, limiting factors such as low solubility, poor stability, lack of targeting, high toxicity and side effects, and unacceptable odor have greatly impeded their conversion to clinical applications. Therefore, the development of new avenues for the application of new natural products has become an urgent problem to be solved at present. In recent years, with the continuous development of research, various strategies have been developed to improve the bioavailability of natural products. Among them, nanocarrier delivery system is one of the most attractive strategies at present. In past studies, a large number of nanomaterials (organic, inorganic, etc.) have been developed to encapsulate plant-derived natural products for their efficient delivery to specific organs and cells. Up to now, nanotechnology has not only been limited to pharmaceutical applications, but is also competing in the fields of nanofood processing technology and nanoemulsions. Among the various nanocarriers, liposomes are the largest nanocarriers with the largest market share at present. Liposomes are bilayer nanovesicles synthesized from amphiphilic substances, which have advantages such as high drug loading capacity and stability. Attractively, the flexible surface of liposomes can be modified with various functional elements. Functionalized modification of liposomes with different functional elements such as antibodies, nucleic acids, peptides, and stimuli-responsive moieties can bring out the excellent drug delivery function of liposomes to a greater extent. For example, the modification of functional elements with targeting function such as nucleic acids and antibodies on the surface of liposomes can deliver natural products to the target location and improve the bioavailability of drugs; the modification of stimulus-responsive groups such as photosensitizers, magnetic nanoparticles, pH-responsive groups, and temperature sensitizers on the surface of liposomes can achieve controlled release of drugs, localized targeting, and synergistic thermotherapy. In addition to the above properties, by using functionalized liposomes to encapsulate natural products with irritating properties can also effectively mask the irritating properties of natural products, improve public acceptance, and increase the possibility of application of irritating natural products. There are various strategies for modifying liposomes with functional elements, and the properties of functionalized liposomes constructed by different construction strategies differ. The commonly used construction strategies for functionalized liposomes include covalent modification and non-covalent modification. These two types of construction strategies have their own advantages and disadvantages. Covalent modification has better stability than non-covalent modification, but its operation is cumbersome. With the above background, this review focuses on the three typical problems faced by plant natural products at present, and summarizes the specific applications of functionalized liposomes in them. In addition, this paper summarizes the construction strategies for building different types of functionalized liposomes. Finally, this paper will also review the opportunities and challenges faced by functionalized liposomes to enter clinical therapy, and explore the opportunities to overcome these problems, with a view to better realizing the precise control of plant nanomedicines, and providing ideas and inspirations for researchers in related fields as well as relevant industrial staff.

Non-communicable diseases(NCDs),including cardiovascular diseases,cancer,metabolic diseases,and skeletal diseases,pose significant challenges to public health worldwide.The complex pathogenesis of these diseases is closely linked to oxidative stress and inflammatory damage.Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2),a critical transcription factor,plays an important role in regulating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses to protect the cells from oxidative damage and inflammation-mediated injury.Therefore,Nrf2-targeting therapies hold promise for preventing and treating NCDs.Quercetin(Que)is a widely available flavonoid that has significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.It modulates the Nrf2 signaling pathway to ameliorate oxidative stress and inflammation.Que modulates mitochondrial function,apoptosis,autophagy,and cell damage biomarkers to regulate oxidative stress and inflammation,highlighting its efficacy as a therapeutic agent against NCDs.Here,we discussed,for the first time,the close association between NCD pathogenesis and the Nrf2 signaling pathway,involved in neurodegenerative diseases(NDDs),cardiovascular disease,cancers,organ damage,and bone damage.Furthermore,we reviewed the availability,pharmacokinetics,pharmaceutics,and therapeutic applica-tions of Que in treating NCDs.In addition,we focused on the challenges and prospects for its clinical use.Que represents a promising candidate for the treatment of NCDs due to its Nrf2-targeting properties.

Objective To explore association between childhood trauma,resilience and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents.Methods One hundred and fifty-eight first-episode adolescent patients with mood disorders were selected and divided into NSSI group(n=94)and non-NSSI group(n=64)based on presence or absence of NSSI.The Hamilton depression scale(HAMD),Hamilton anxiety scale(HAMA),childhood trauma questionnaire(CTQ-SF)and Connor-Davidson resilience scale(CD-RISC)were used to evaluate the depression and anxiety symptoms,childhood trauma and resilience.Results There were more cases of younger age(16.17±1.67 vs.16.73±1.37),lower education level(30.9% vs.15.6% ),left behind experience(48.9% vs.29.7% ),school bullying(46.8% vs.25.0% ),suicide ideation(85.1% vs.37.5% )and history of attempted suicide(29.8% vs.6.3% )in the group with NSSI compared to those without NSSI.The HAMD score(27.99±5.94 vs.24.19±5.19),HAMA score(18.02±5.94 vs.15.45±4.99),CTQ total score(48.43±15.40 vs.41.97±9.75),emotional abuse score(12.77±6.06 vs.10.19±4.06),and emotional neglect score(11.40±5.34 vs.9.14±3.55)were higher in the group with NSSI,and the differences between the two groups were significant(P<0.05).The total scores of psychological resilience(39.83±10.27 vs.28.66±12.75),resilience(19.59±4.92 vs.12.28±6.47),strength(12.03±3.98 vs.9.99±4.67),and optimism(8.98±2.97 vs.6.47±3.73)in the group without NSSI were higher than those in the group with NSSI(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that left behind experience(OR=4.494,95% CI:1.192-16.940),school bullying(OR=5.983,95% CI:1.329-26.945),suicidal ideation(OR=13.225,95% CI:2.908-60.146),history of attempted suicide(OR=16.769,95% CI:1.845-152.379),HAMD(OR=1.264,95% CI:1.046-1.626),emotional abuse(OR=1.327,95% CI:1.093-1.612),and resilience(OR=0.468,95% CI:0.266-0.823)were significantly associated with adolescent mood disorders with NSSI(P<0.05).Conclusion Left behind experience,campus bullying,suicidal ideation and attempted suicide,emotional abuse,degree of depression,and psychological resilience may be associated with NSSI behavior in adolescents with mood disorders.

Objective To observe whether the IL-23/Th17 inflammatory pathway is involved in the development of calcific aortic valve disease,and whether secukinumab can delay the progression of calcific aortic valve disease by inhibiting this pathway.Methods Forty-seven mice were divided into a blank control group,model group,and secukinumab group according to the random number table method.The blank control group was fed normal chow,while the model group and secukinumab group were fed pro-calcification chow for 16 weeks to establish a calcific aortic valve disease model.After intervention with secukinumab for 4 weeks,peak flow velocity changes in the aortic valves were detected under Doppler ultrasonography in all mice.Relevant indexes were determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining,Von Kossa staining,immunohistochemical staining,ELISA,and qPCR.Results Compared with the model group,the secukinumab group showed significantly reduced peak flow velocity(P＜0.05)and serum IL-6,IL-17,and IL-23 levels(P＜0.05)in the aortic valve.Compared with the secukinumab group,the model group's leaflet thickness was significantly increased,and there were more calcium deposits.Immunohistochemical result showed that macrophage infiltration(P＜0.05),IL-17A(P＜0.05)and IL-23(P＞0.05)levels in the valve leaflets were reduced in the secukinumab group compared with the model group.PCR result suggested that the expression of STAT3,BMP-2,and α-SMA mRNA was significantly lower in the secukinumab group than the model group(P＜0.05).Conclusions The IL-23/Th17 inflammatory pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of calcific aortic valve disease.The inflammation,fibrosis,osteogenic differentiation,and calcification of mouse valves were alleviated after intervention with secukinumab,which may delay disease progression by inhibiting the IL-23/Th17 inflammatory pathway.

Aim To study the main active ingredients,key targets and pathways of Cigu Xiaozhi Decoction(CXD)based on network pharmacology,and to ana-lyze and verify the mechanism of CXD on the transfor-mation of"inflammatory cancer"in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)by animal experiments.Meth-ods The potential targets and signaling pathways of CXD in the treatment of NASH"inflammatory carcino-ma"were predicted based on network pharmacology.The mouse model of NASH was induced by methionine-choline deficiency diet(MCD),and CXD and epider-mal growth factor receptor(EGFR)inhibitors were given for 28 days.The mice were killed after the inter-vention,and the liver histopathology of each group was observed by hematoxylin-eosin method(HE).The rel-ative expression levels of EGFR,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)and protein kinase B(AKT)in liver tissue of mice in each group were detected by Western blot.The contents of interleukin-6(IL-6),interleu-kin-1 β(IL-1β)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosor-bent assay(ELISA).Results A total of 284 poten-tial active components,159 potential therapeutic tar-gets and 20 key targets of CXD were identified by net-work pharmacological screening.CXD could affect multiple biological processes such as cell proliferation and inflammatory response,involving multiple signa-ling pathways such as tumor and PI3K/AKT.Animal experiments showed that CXD could reduce the levels of IL-6,IL-1β and TNF-α in serum of NASH mice.The relative expression of PI3K and AKT protein in liv-er tissue decreased,and the relative expression of EG-FR protein was increased.Conclusion CXD can reg-ulate EGFR/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by partici-pating in biological processes such as cell proliferation and inflammatory response,and improve liver tissue injury in NASH mice.

OBJECTIVE: Physical exercise, a common non-drug intervention, is an important strategy in cancer treatment, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism remains largely unknown. Due to the importance of hypoxia and cancer stemness in the development of HCC, the present study investigated whether the anti-HCC effect of physical exercise is related to its suppression on hypoxia and cancer stemness. METHODS: A physical exercise intervention of swimming (30 min/d, 5 d/week, for 4 weeks) was administered to BALB/c nude mice bearing subcutaneous human HCC tumor. The anti-HCC effect of swimming was assessed in vivo by tumor weight monitoring, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67. The expression of stemness transcription factors, including Nanog homeobox (NANOG), octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT-4), v-Myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (C-MYC) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), was detected using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. A hypoxia probe was used to explore the intratumoral hypoxia status. Western blot was used to detect the expression of HIF-1α and proteins related to protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)/β-catenin signaling pathway. The IHC analysis of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31), and the immunofluorescence co-location of CD31 and desmin were used to analyze tumor blood perfusion. SMMC-7721 cells were treated with nude mice serum. The inhibition effect on cancer stemness in vitro was detected using suspension sphere experiments and the expression of stemness transcription factors. The hypoxia status was inferred by measuring the protein and mRNA levels of HIF-1α. Further, the expression of proteins related to Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway was detected. RESULTS: Swimming significantly reduced the body weight and tumor weight in nude mice bearing HCC tumor. HE staining and IHC results showed a lower necrotic area ratio as well as fewer PCNA or Ki67 positive cells in mice receiving the swimming intervention. Swimming potently alleviated the intratumoral hypoxia, attenuated the cancer stemness, and inhibited the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. Additionally, the desmin⁺/CD31⁺ ratio, rather than the number of CD31⁺ vessels, was significantly increased in swimming-treated mice. In vitro experiments showed that treating cells with the serum from the swimming intervention mice significantly reduced the formation of SMMC-7721 cell suspension sphere, as well as the mRNA expression level of stemness transcription factors. Consistent with the in vivo results, HIF-1α and Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway were also inhibited in cells treated with serum from swimming group. CONCLUSION Swimming alleviated hypoxia and attenuated cancer stemness in HCC, through suppression of the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. The alleviation of intratumoral hypoxia was related to the increase in blood perfusion in the tumor. Please cite this article as: Xiao CL, Zhong ZP, Lü C, Guo BJ, Chen JJ, Zhao T, Yin ZF, Li B. Physical exercise suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression by alleviating hypoxia and attenuating cancer stemness through the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(2): 184-193.
Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/therapeutic use* ; Mice, Nude ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/genetics* ; beta Catenin/therapeutic use* ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Desmin/therapeutic use* ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Hypoxia ; RNA, Messenger/therapeutic use* ; Cell Proliferation

Drimane-type sesquiterpenoids are widely distributed in fungi. From the ethyl acetate extract of the earwig-derived Aspergillus sp. NF2396, seven new drimane-type sesquiterpenoids, named drimanenoids A-G (1-7), were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by diverse spectroscopic analysis including high-resolution ESI-MS, one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Drimanenoids A-F (1-6) are new members of drimane-type sesquiterpenoid esterified with unsaturated fatty acid side chain at C-6. Drimanenoids C (3), D (4) and F (6) showed antibacterial activity against five types of bacteria with different inhibition diameters. Drimanenoid D (4) exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against human myelogenous leukemia cell line K562 with an IC₅₀ value of 12.88 ± 0.11 μmol·L^-1.
Humans ; Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes ; Sesquiterpenes/chemistry* ; Aspergillus/chemistry* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure