Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a chalcone compound isolated from licorice, known for its anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties. Our previous study has demonstrated that ISL effectively lowers blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice and improves disturbances in glucolipid and energy metabolism induced by T2DM. This study aims to further investigate the effects of ISL on alleviating abnormal endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) caused by T2DM and to elucidate its molecular mechanisms. In vivo experiments were conducted using 8-week-old SPF male C57BL/6J mice. The T2DM animal model was established by high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin (STZ), in compliance with the ethical guidelines set by the Animal Welfare Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (approval number: BUCM-2022021503-1134). In vitro experiments employed human liver cancer HepG2 cells, which were induced with tunicamycin (TM) to establish the ERS cell model. Transcriptomic sequencing was used to analyze changes in gene expression in the liver samples of T2DM mice following ISL treatment. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was employed to assess the regulatory effects of ISL on key ERS genes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot (WB), and immunofluorescence techniques were used to evaluate ISL's effects on ERS-related proteins. Results indicate that ISL significantly downregulates the expression of ERS-related genes, reduces the level of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), and inhibits the phosphorylation of protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), thereby alleviating abnormal ERS induced by T2DM. Additionally, ISL increases the protein levels of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 1 and IRS2 and enhances the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt), thereby improving insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, ISL is able to alleviate T2DM associated symptoms by improving abnormal ERS and enhancing insulin sensitivity.

Objective To clarify the high-touch surface in oral diagnosis and treatment procedures,provide basis and guidance for cleaning and disinfection.Methods The direct observation method was used to investigate the tou-ch time and frequency of environmental surfaces in 7 outpatient departments of a tertiary stomatology hospitals in Beijing.The average touch frequency,95％confidence interval and cumulative touch rate were calculated.Results In oral diagnosis and treatment procedures,the average touch frequency of the environmental surface was 26.75 times per procedure,with the highest in endodontics(46.25 times per procedure)and the lowest in the oral mucosal specialty(10.19 times per procedure).The high-touch surface consisted of the shadowless lamp handle,manipula-tion panel and handle on dental unit(doctor's side),computer keyboard and mouse,handle and line front end of three way syringe,as well as dental high speed handpiece and line front end,with average touch frequencies of 3.99,3.85,2.65,1.86,and 1.40 times per procedure.The high-touch surface in all stomatology specialties in-cluded the manipulation panel and handle on dental unit(doctor's side),75％of specialties included computer key-board and mouse,and the shadowless lamp handle has the highest touch frequency in 50％of specialties.The ave-rage touch frequency of the environmental surface was highest(113.50 times per procedure)during crown prepara-tion procedure,and the lowest(8.50 times per procedure)during the orthodontic consultations.Conclusion The high-touch surface of different dental specialties and different diagnosis and treatment procedures are different.Me-dical institutions should take corresponding cleaning,disinfection and management measures according to the actual situation of high-touch surface in stomatology departments,so as to effectively improve the quality of environmental cleaning and disinfection.

Background::Although overnight fasting is recommended prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the benefits and safety of high-carbohydrate fluid diet (CFD) intake 2 h before ERCP remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze whether high-CFD intake 2 h before ERCP can be safe and accelerate patients’ recovery.Methods::This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial involved 15 tertiary ERCP centers. A total of 1330 patients were randomized into CFD group ( n = 665) and fasting group ( n = 665). The CFD group received 400 mL of maltodextrin orally 2 h before ERCP, while the control group abstained from food/water overnight (>6 h) before ERCP. All ERCP procedures were performed using deep sedation with intravenous propofol. The investigators were blinded but not the patients. The primary outcomes included postoperative fatigue and abdominal pain score, and the secondary outcomes included complications and changes in metabolic indicators. The outcomes were analyzed according to a modified intention-to-treat principle. Results::The post-ERCP fatigue scores were significantly lower at 4 h (4.1 ± 2.6 vs. 4.8 ± 2.8, t = 4.23, P <0.001) and 20 h (2.4 ± 2.1 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4, t= 7.94, P <0.001) in the CFD group, with least-squares mean differences of 0.48 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26–0.71, P <0.001) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.57–0.95, P <0.001), respectively. The 4-h pain scores (2.1 ± 1.7 vs. 2.2 ± 1.7, t = 2.60, P = 0.009, with a least-squares mean difference of 0.21 [95% CI: 0.05–0.37]) and positive urine ketone levels (7.7% [39/509] vs. 15.4% [82/533], χ2 = 15.13, P <0.001) were lower in the CFD group. The CFD group had significantly less cholangitis (2.1% [13/634] vs. 4.0% [26/658], χ2 = 3.99, P = 0.046) but not pancreatitis (5.5% [35/634] vs. 6.5% [43/658], χ2 = 0.59, P = 0.444). Subgroup analysis revealed that CFD reduced the incidence of complications in patients with native papilla (odds ratio [OR]: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39–0.95, P = 0.028) in the multivariable models. Conclusion::Ingesting 400 mL of CFD 2 h before ERCP is safe, with a reduction in post-ERCP fatigue, abdominal pain, and cholangitis during recovery.Trail Registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT03075280.

Objective To observe the progression of intestinal fibrosis in chronic radiation intestinal injury(CRII)and study the protective mechanisms of autophagy agonist rapamycin on intestinal fibrosis in CRII.Methods Thirty C57/B6male mice were randomly divided into the control group(CO group),the radiation group(SR group)and the rapamycin intervention group(RI group).The CO group was not treated.In SR group,the CRII model(single dose of9Gy radiation)was established first,and the samples were taken after 3months.In RI group,the rats were treated with rapamycin(2mg/kg,intraperitoneal injection)for 1 week after modeling,other treat-ments were the same as that in SR group.Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining were used to evaluate the degree of intestinal mucosal injury and intestinal fibrosis.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum levels of interleukin-1 β(IL-1β)and interleukin-6(IL-6).The level of intestinal α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)was detected by immunohistochemistry.The levels of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),connective tissue growth factor(CTGF)and autophagy-related proteins(p62 and LC3)were detected by Western blot.Results Histopathological staining showed that compared with CO group,the intestinal muco-sal damage was aggravated(P＜0.05),and the degree of intestinal fibrosis was increased in SR group(P＜0.01).Compared with SR group,the intestinal mucosal damages were relieved(P＜0.05),and the intestinal fibrosis was greatly decreased in RI group(P＜0.01).Compared with the CO group,the levels of IL-1 β and IL-6 in the SR group were significantly increased(P＜0.01),while those in the RI group significantly decreased compared with the SR group(P＜0.01).The results of immunohistochemistry and Western blot showed that the expression levels of α-SMA,TGF-β1 and CTGF in the SR group were greatly higher than those in the CO group(P＜0.05),while significantly lower in the RI group than those in the SR group(P＜0.05).The expression of autophagy indexes in SR group were lower than that in the CO group(P＜0.05),and significantly higher in the RI group than that in the SR group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Rapamycin-induced autophagy could improve the process of intestinal fibrosis in CRII,and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition the differentiation and function of intestinal myofibroblasts and reduce the inflammation of intestine.

Objective: The effect on fat infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles in degenerative lumbar spinal diseases has been demonstrated except for spinopelvic parameters. The present study is to identify the effect of spinopelvic parameters on FI of paraspinal muscle (PSM) and psoas major muscle (PMM) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study of 160 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and lumbar stenosis (LSS) who had lateral full-spine x-ray and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging was conducted. PSM and PMM FIs were defined as the ratio of fat to its muscle cross-sectional area. The FIs were compared among patients with different pelvic tilt (PT) and pelvic incidence (PI), respectively. Results: The PSM FI correlated significantly with pelvic parameters in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients. The PSM FI in pelvic retroversion (PT > 25°) was 0.54 ± 0.13, which was significantly higher in DLS patients than in normal pelvis (0.41 ± 0.14) and pelvic anteversion (PT < 5°) (0.34 ± 0.12). The PSM FI of DLS patients with large PI ( > 60°) was 0.50 ± 0.13, which was higher than those with small ( < 45°) and normal PI (0.37 ± 0.11 and 0.36 ± 0.13). However, the PSM FI of LSS patients didn’t change significantly with PT or PI. Moreover, the PMM FI was about 0.10–0.15, which was significantly lower than the PSM FI, and changed with PT and PI in a similar way of PSM FI with much less in magnitude. Conclusion FI of the PSMs increased with greater pelvic retroversion or larger pelvic incidence in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients.

Objective: The effect on fat infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles in degenerative lumbar spinal diseases has been demonstrated except for spinopelvic parameters. The present study is to identify the effect of spinopelvic parameters on FI of paraspinal muscle (PSM) and psoas major muscle (PMM) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study of 160 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and lumbar stenosis (LSS) who had lateral full-spine x-ray and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging was conducted. PSM and PMM FIs were defined as the ratio of fat to its muscle cross-sectional area. The FIs were compared among patients with different pelvic tilt (PT) and pelvic incidence (PI), respectively. Results: The PSM FI correlated significantly with pelvic parameters in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients. The PSM FI in pelvic retroversion (PT > 25°) was 0.54 ± 0.13, which was significantly higher in DLS patients than in normal pelvis (0.41 ± 0.14) and pelvic anteversion (PT < 5°) (0.34 ± 0.12). The PSM FI of DLS patients with large PI ( > 60°) was 0.50 ± 0.13, which was higher than those with small ( < 45°) and normal PI (0.37 ± 0.11 and 0.36 ± 0.13). However, the PSM FI of LSS patients didn’t change significantly with PT or PI. Moreover, the PMM FI was about 0.10–0.15, which was significantly lower than the PSM FI, and changed with PT and PI in a similar way of PSM FI with much less in magnitude. Conclusion FI of the PSMs increased with greater pelvic retroversion or larger pelvic incidence in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients.

Objective: The effect on fat infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles in degenerative lumbar spinal diseases has been demonstrated except for spinopelvic parameters. The present study is to identify the effect of spinopelvic parameters on FI of paraspinal muscle (PSM) and psoas major muscle (PMM) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study of 160 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and lumbar stenosis (LSS) who had lateral full-spine x-ray and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging was conducted. PSM and PMM FIs were defined as the ratio of fat to its muscle cross-sectional area. The FIs were compared among patients with different pelvic tilt (PT) and pelvic incidence (PI), respectively. Results: The PSM FI correlated significantly with pelvic parameters in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients. The PSM FI in pelvic retroversion (PT > 25°) was 0.54 ± 0.13, which was significantly higher in DLS patients than in normal pelvis (0.41 ± 0.14) and pelvic anteversion (PT < 5°) (0.34 ± 0.12). The PSM FI of DLS patients with large PI ( > 60°) was 0.50 ± 0.13, which was higher than those with small ( < 45°) and normal PI (0.37 ± 0.11 and 0.36 ± 0.13). However, the PSM FI of LSS patients didn’t change significantly with PT or PI. Moreover, the PMM FI was about 0.10–0.15, which was significantly lower than the PSM FI, and changed with PT and PI in a similar way of PSM FI with much less in magnitude. Conclusion FI of the PSMs increased with greater pelvic retroversion or larger pelvic incidence in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients.

Objective: The effect on fat infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles in degenerative lumbar spinal diseases has been demonstrated except for spinopelvic parameters. The present study is to identify the effect of spinopelvic parameters on FI of paraspinal muscle (PSM) and psoas major muscle (PMM) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study of 160 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and lumbar stenosis (LSS) who had lateral full-spine x-ray and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging was conducted. PSM and PMM FIs were defined as the ratio of fat to its muscle cross-sectional area. The FIs were compared among patients with different pelvic tilt (PT) and pelvic incidence (PI), respectively. Results: The PSM FI correlated significantly with pelvic parameters in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients. The PSM FI in pelvic retroversion (PT > 25°) was 0.54 ± 0.13, which was significantly higher in DLS patients than in normal pelvis (0.41 ± 0.14) and pelvic anteversion (PT < 5°) (0.34 ± 0.12). The PSM FI of DLS patients with large PI ( > 60°) was 0.50 ± 0.13, which was higher than those with small ( < 45°) and normal PI (0.37 ± 0.11 and 0.36 ± 0.13). However, the PSM FI of LSS patients didn’t change significantly with PT or PI. Moreover, the PMM FI was about 0.10–0.15, which was significantly lower than the PSM FI, and changed with PT and PI in a similar way of PSM FI with much less in magnitude. Conclusion FI of the PSMs increased with greater pelvic retroversion or larger pelvic incidence in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients.

Objective: The effect on fat infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles in degenerative lumbar spinal diseases has been demonstrated except for spinopelvic parameters. The present study is to identify the effect of spinopelvic parameters on FI of paraspinal muscle (PSM) and psoas major muscle (PMM) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study of 160 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and lumbar stenosis (LSS) who had lateral full-spine x-ray and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging was conducted. PSM and PMM FIs were defined as the ratio of fat to its muscle cross-sectional area. The FIs were compared among patients with different pelvic tilt (PT) and pelvic incidence (PI), respectively. Results: The PSM FI correlated significantly with pelvic parameters in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients. The PSM FI in pelvic retroversion (PT > 25°) was 0.54 ± 0.13, which was significantly higher in DLS patients than in normal pelvis (0.41 ± 0.14) and pelvic anteversion (PT < 5°) (0.34 ± 0.12). The PSM FI of DLS patients with large PI ( > 60°) was 0.50 ± 0.13, which was higher than those with small ( < 45°) and normal PI (0.37 ± 0.11 and 0.36 ± 0.13). However, the PSM FI of LSS patients didn’t change significantly with PT or PI. Moreover, the PMM FI was about 0.10–0.15, which was significantly lower than the PSM FI, and changed with PT and PI in a similar way of PSM FI with much less in magnitude. Conclusion FI of the PSMs increased with greater pelvic retroversion or larger pelvic incidence in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients.

Objective: To investigate the effect of co-culture of adipose-derived stem cells(ADSC) and endothelial progenitor cells(EPC) on the activity of EPC and its related mechanism． Methods: Rat ADSC and EPC were isolated，cultured，expanded and identified in vitro ．The experiment was divided into three groups : EPC group，EPC + ADSC co-culture group，and EPC + ADSC + PI3K-inhibitor group．After 48 hours of co-culture，the cells of the three groups were treated with Transwell．The effects of ADSC and EPC co-culture and PI3K / AKT pathway on EPC activity were evaluated by CCK-8 assay，scratch assay and angiogenesis assay，respectively．Western blot was used to detect vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) ，vascular endothelial-cadherin ( VE-cadherin) ，CD133 ，phospho-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase ( phospho-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(p-PI3K) and phospho-protein Kinase B (p-AKT) expression levels in EPC to detect the effects of ADSC and EPC co-culture and PI3K / AKT pathway on the differentiation ability of EPC into mature endothelial cells. Results: CCK-8 results showed that the absorbance at 450 nm of EPC in EPC + ADSC co-culture group was higher than that in EPC group and EPC + ADSC + PI3K-inhibitor group at different time points，and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0. 01) ．The scratch test showed that the relative scratch distance of EPC + ADSC co-culture group was smaller than that of EPC group and EPC + ADSC + PI3K-inhibitor group after 24 hours ，and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0. 01) ．Tube formation assay showed that the average number of tubelike structures formed in EPC + ADSC co-culture group was higher than that in EPC group and EPC + ADSC + PI3K-inhibitor group，and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0. 01) ．Western blot showed that the expression levels of VEGFA，eNOS，VE-cadherin，p-PI3K and p-AKT of EPC in EPC + ADSC co-culture group were higher than those in EPC group and EPC + ADSC + PI3K-inhibitor group．The expression level of CD133 in EPC group was lower than that in EPC + ADSC + PI3K-inhibitor group，and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜0. 01) ． Conclusion Co-culture of ADSC and EPC can improve the proliferation，migration，differentiation and vasogenic activity of EPC through the regulation of PI3K / AKT pathway.