OBJECTIVE To investigate the transfer and diffusion of berberine hydrochloride(BBH), the main active component of Coptis and Phellodenticum in the system of carboxymethyl chitosan(CMCS)-sodium alginate(SA). METHODS CMCS and SA were stirred in a certain proportion, and D-gluconolactone(GDL) was added to form polyelectrolyte hydrogel. Rheometer was used to study the rheological properties of CMCS-SA hydrogel, including the elastic modulus G′ and the viscous modulus G′′. A BBH diffusion model for CMCS-SA hydrogel was designed, and the relevant rules of BBH permeation through CMCS-SA polyelectrolyte hydrogel were observed by UV-VIS. RESULTS The elastic modulus G′ of the hydrogel was measured when the ratio of CMCS to SA was 3∶1, 2∶1, 1∶1, 1∶2, and 1∶3. When the ratio of CMCS to SA was 1∶1, G′ was the highest, and the crosslinking strength of the hydrogel was the highest. The cumulative amount of BBH transfer was measured by the BBH transfer model, and the diffusion of BBH in CMCS-SA hydrogel was fitted as the skeleton dissolution by Peppas equation, indicating that BBH dissociation and the transfer efficiency increased as the amino group of CMCS decreased or the carboxyl group of SA increased. The elastic modulus G′ of CMCS-SA hydrogel increased with the increase of GDL content. The reason was that the binding force between CMCS and SA molecules gradually increased with the decrease of pH, and the crosslinking degree of the hydrogel was enhanced. When ratio of fixed CMCS to SA was 1∶1 and the GDL content was 0.15 g·mL−1, the formability of CMCS-SA hydrogel was good. In addition, when BBH was transferred in hydrogel with different concentrations of GDL, the transfer efficiency increased with the increase of GDL content. When BBH was delivered in different thickness hydrogel, the delivery efficiency of CMCS-SA hydrogel increased with the decrease of thickness. CONCLUSION The CMCS-SA hydrogel system, as a potential drug carrier for traditional Chinese medicine extracts such as BBH, is expected to serve as a gel carrier for transdermal drug delivery.

Gel materials have advantages such as comfortable touch, good air permeability, high viscoelasticity, etc., so they are widely used in modern transdermal drug delivery preparations such as patches, gel agents and film agents. With the innovative development of medical materials, many new gel materials with excellent functions have emerged, which has expanded the application scope of transdermal drug delivery preparations and optimized their properties. The classification, properties and application of gel materials in transdermal drug delivery system were reviewed, and the latest research progress was summarized, so as to provide reference for the innovative application of gel materials in transdermal drug delivery system.m.

Background: The incidence density of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and the effect of a healthy lifestyle on the risk of MAFLD remain unknown. We evaluated the prevalence and incidence density of MAFLD and investigated the association between healthy lifestyle and the risk of MAFLD. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 37,422 participants to explore the prevalence of MAFLD. A cohort analysis of 18,964 individuals was conducted to identify the incidence of MAFLD, as well as the association between healthy lifestyle and MAFLD. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) with adjustments for confounding factors. Results: The prevalence of MAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and their comorbidities were 30.38%, 28.09%, and 26.13%, respectively. After approximately 70 thousand person-years of follow-up, the incidence densities of the three conditions were 61.03, 55.49, and 51.64 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle was associated with a 19% decreased risk of MAFLD (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.72 to 0.92), and the effects were modified by baseline age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Subgroup analyses revealed that younger participants, men, and those with a lower BMI experienced more significant beneficial effects from healthy lifestyle. Conclusion Our results highlight the beneficial effect of adherence to a healthy lifestyle on the prevention of MAFLD. Health management for improving dietary intake, physical activity, and smoking and drinking habits are critical to improving MAFLD.

Objective:To explore the association between dietary patterns and the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), so as to provide insights for the prevention and management of T2DM.Methods:Participants were recruited from the " The Tianjin Chronic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study(TCLSIH)" cohort study from 2013 to 2018, who had completed the modified semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) and blood glucose testing( n=26 425), free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, or diabetes at baseline. The relevant information collected includes food frequency, blood glucose concentration, and other confounding factors. In this study, the correlation between dietary patterns and T2DM was tested using Cox proportional risk regression model, and the gender stratification analysis and body mass index stratification analysis of different gender groups were carried out. All statistical analysis was performed using SAS 9.3 software. Results:The age of all participants was (41.0±11.5)years, and the cumulative incidence was 3.84% for T2DM. The cumulative incidence of T2DM in male population was 5.29%, while that in female population was 2.16%. There were significant differences in the incidence of T2DM among different genders( P <0.001). The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios( HR) and corresponding 95% CI of T2DM across the plant-based dietary pattern score were 1.09(95% CI 0.91-1.31), 0.80(95% CI 0.66-0.97), and 0.76(95% CI 0.62-0.94; Ptrend =0.010). Moreover, no statistically significant differences were observed between animal and traditional northern Chinese diets with the incidence of T2DM. Conclusions:The plant-based dietary patterns were associated with substantially lower risk of developing T2DM, and there were no significant association between animal and traditional northern Chinese dietary patterns with T2DM. Plant-based dietary patterns characterized by a variety of fruit, leeks, onions, seaweed may be beneficial to the prevention and control of T2DM.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of digestive system symptoms and its relation with the time of nucleic acid continuous positive in population infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variant, and to analyze the abdominal computed tomography (CT) features of patients infected with Omicron variant.Methods:From April 11 to May 23, 2022, a questionnaire survey was conducted in patients infected with Omicron variant admitted to the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center Fangcang Hospital. The questionnaire included basic information, the start time of nucleic acid positive, respiratory symptoms, digestive system syptoms and outcomes, etc.Combined with the clinical data, the relation between digestive tract symptoms and the time of nucleic acid continuous positive were analyzed. Thoracic and abdominal CT were performed for patients with continuous positive nucleic acid results ≥10 d, and the relationship between the abdominal CT imaging characteristics and the time of nucleic acid continuous positive was analyzed. Independent sample t-test and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results:A total of 4 360 valid questionnaires were collected, including 2 475 males and 1 885 females, with a hospital stay of (6.8±4.9) d. Among the 4 360 patients, 1 979 patients (45.4%) had gastrointestinal symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort or pain, constipation and diarrhea. The time of nucleic acid continuous positive in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms was (7.4±5.5) d, which was longer than that of patients without gastrointestinal symptoms (6.5±3.6) d, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=3.78, P<0.001). During the isolation period in the Fangcang Hospital, the time of nucleic acid continuous positive in patients with complete remission of digestive tract symptoms was shorter than that of patients with no remission of digestive tract symptoms ((7.3±5.2) d vs. (8.5±5.7) d), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.25, P=0.025). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the combination of gastrointestinal symptoms was an independent risk factor for continuous positive nucleic acid result ≥10 d ( OR=1.316, 95% confidence interval 1.294 to 2.205, P=0.046). Among the 299 patients with continuous positive nucleic acid results≥10 d, 187 cases (62.5%) had gastrointestinal symptoms, and 146 cases (48.8%) had abdominal CT findings of thickening of the gastroduodenal wall, thickening of the small intestinal wall, indistinct mesenteric vessels of the small intestine, and dilatation and pneumatosis of the colon. In patients with continuous positive nucleic acid results ≥10 d, abdominal CT indicated that patients with gastrointestinal imaging changes had a longer time of nucleic acid continuous positive than those without gastrointestinal imaging changes ((16.0±2.8) d vs. (13.0±2.1) d), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.62, P=0.009). Conclusions:Digestive system symptoms are common in patients infected with Omicron variant. The time of nucleic acid continuous positive in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms is longer than those without gastrointestinal symptoms. Some patients may have gastrointestinal lesions on abdominal CT.

Pancreatitis is one of the most common inflammatory diseases of the pancreas caused by autodigestion induced by excessive premature protease activation. However, recognition of novel pathophysiological mechanisms remains a still challenge. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the pathogenesis of pancreatitis, and the gut microbiota is a potential source of an environmental effect. In recent years, several new frontiers in gut microbiota and genetic risk assessment research have emerged and improved the understanding of the disease. These investigations showed that the disease progression of pancreatitis could be regulated by the gut microbiome, either through a translocation influence or in a host immune response manner. Meanwhile, the onset of the disease is also associated with the heritage of a pathogenic mutation, and the disease progression could be modified by genetic risk factors. In this review, we focused on the recent advances in the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis, and the genetic susceptibility in pancreatitis.

Objective:To preliminarily evaluate the effect of tension stimulation on the biological activity of and expression of fibrosis marker genes in keloid fibroblasts (KD-Fbs) .Methods:Three patients who were diagnosed with keloids and received surgical treatment were collected from the Department of Dermatology, Tangdu Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University from January to March 2017. Human KD-Fbs were isolated from resected keloid tissues, and subjected to primary culture. The third- to sixth-passage KD-Fbs were divided into tension group and control group to be cultured in the tension-based chamber and control chamber respectively, and subjected to tension stimulation and normal culture respectively. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay was performed to assess the proliferative activity of KD-Fbs after 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-day culture, and the scratch assay to evaluate the migratory ability of KD-Fbs after 1- and 2-day culture. After 48-hour treatment, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression of fibrosis markers type Ⅰ collagen, fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in KD-Fbs respectively. Two-independent-sample t test was used for comparisons between 2 groups. Results:CCK8 assay showed that the proliferative activity of KD-Fbs was significantly higher in the tension group than in the control group after 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-day culture ( t=3.05, 7.00, 16.65, 15.19, respectively, all P< 0.05) . After 1- and 2-day culture, the scratch assay showed that the migration rate of KD-Fbs was significantly higher in the tension group (48.65%±3.96%, 100.00%, respectively) than in the control group (9.36%±1.14%, 50.35%±4.23%, t=16.53, 20.35, respectively, both P< 0.01) . Real-time quantitative PCR showed that the mRNA expression of type Ⅰ collagen, fibronectin and α-SMA was significantly higher in the tension group (3.04±0.20, 2.16±0.10, 3.76±0.24, respectively) than in the control group (1.00; t=17.57, 21.01, 20.25, respectively, all P< 0.01) . As Western blot analysis revealed, changes in the protein expression of the 3 fibrosis markers were consistent with their mRNA expression changes (all P< 0.05) . Conclusion:Tension may participate in the fibrosis in keloids by promoting the expression of fibrosis marker genes, and enhancing the proliferative and migratory ability of KD-Fbs.

Objective:Investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and sarcopenia in a Chinese elderly population.Methods:Participants in this cross-sectional study were recruited from the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study. The study population comprised 2 423 participants, with mean age of (67.6±5.2) years. Sarcopenia was defined based on the guidelines of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Three dietary patterns were derived by factor analysis: fruit and sweet pattern, traditional oriental pattern, and animal food pattern. The association between quartile categories of dietary pattern scores and the presence of sarcopenia was analyzed using multiple logistic regression models. Odds ratios ( OR) and 95% confidence interval ( CI) were calculated. Results:The prevalence of sarcopenia was 16.1%. After adjusting for confounding factors, compared with the lowest quartile, the adjusted OR ( 95%CI) of sarcopenia for the highest quintile of Fruit and sweet pattern score, Traditional oriental pattern score and Animal food pattern score were 1.06 (0.74, 1.50), 0.54 (0.34, 0.86), and 0.50 (0.33, 0.74), ( P for trend were 0.87,<0.01, and<0.001), respectively. Conclusions:The current study found that the traditional oriental pattern and animal food pattern has a protective relation for sarcopenia in elderly adults, which suggests its potential to attenuate or prevent the progression of sarcopenia.

Objective:To analyze and summarize the clinical characteristics of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) patients in China from 2009 to 2018.Methods:Studies published from January 2009 to December 2018 were searched in CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases by using " autoimmune pancreatitis" , " immune pancreatitis" and " IgG related pancreatitis" as search items, respectively. One hundred and ten articles were finally included, and a total of 2 364 AIP patients were involved. The gender, age, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, radiological examination, treatment and prognosis of these AIP patients were analyzed and summarized.Results:Among the 2 364 AIP patients, there were 1 777 males and 587 females, with an average age of 58 years. The main clinical manifestations were jaundice(61.31%), abdominal pain(52.45%), abdominal discomfort(34.78%) and body weight loss(22.62%). 50.13% of the patients suffered from extrapancreatic manifestations. Serological examination detected significantly increased levels of IgG4 (74.14%), CRP (73.68%), IgG (71.41%), erythrocyte sedimentation (67.34%), total bilirubin (62.44%), ALT/AST(50.83%), CA19-9(43.85%) and positive rheumatoid factor (42.04%). Pancreatic diffuse (46.87%) and regional enlargement (21.87%) was found in AIP patients by imaging examination. The pancreatic pathological manifestations mainly included lymphoplasmic cell infiltration, pancreatic acinar destruction and atrophy, fibrous tissue proliferation, and positive IgG4 deposition by immunohistochemistry. 282 patients (11.92%) were misdiagnosed, while 70.12% of AIP patients were attenuated by hormones therapies.Conclusions:AIP, which is more common in male in China, is often accompanied by extrapancreatic manifestations. Although imaging examinations were helpful for diagnosis, the misdiagnosis rate remains high. Clinicians need to raise awareness, enhance the ability to diagnose and treat AIP, thus reducing misdiagnosis.

Objective:To access the independent associations between serum ferritin quintile levels and metabolic syndrome (MS) in adults of different genders.Methods:19 563 participants over the age of 18 years were recruited from "TCLSIH Cohort Study" from 2007 to 2015. Serum ferritin concentration was measured by Enzyme-linked immunoassay, while metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to MS diagnostic criteria formulated by Chinese Diabetes Society in 2013. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between serum ferritin quintile levels and the prevalence of MS in males and females. Results:After adjusting the confounding factors, the overall prevalence of MS gradually increased with the increasing of serum ferritin levels, similar results were observed in males and females. Subjects were divided into 5 subgroups according to serum ferritin levels. Compared with level 1 group, logistic regression showed that the serum ferritin quintiles of males and females ranged from low to high, the OR (95% confidence interval) for metabolic syndrome were 1.142 (0.998, 1.307), 1.382 (1.210, 1.579), 1.680 (1.472, 1.917), 2.085 (1.827, 2.380), respectively ( Ptrend<0.01), and 1.147 (0.911, 1.444), 1.346 (1.075, 1.687), 1.567 (1.268, 1.941), 2.444 (1.981, 3.023), respectively ( Ptrend<0.01). Conclusion:The elevated ferritin levels were positively related to the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adults of different genders.