ObjectiveFor prepubertal and urgently treated malignant tumor patients, ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation represent more appropriate fertility preservation methods. Current clinical practices often involve freezing ovarian tissue with high concentrations of cryoprotectants (CPAs) and thawing with water baths. These processes lead to varying degrees of toxicity and devitrification damage to ovarian tissue. Therefore, this paper proposes optimized methods for vitrification of ovarian tissues based on sodium alginate hydrogel encapsulation and magnetic induction nanowarming technology. MethodsFirstly, the study investigated the effects of sodium alginate concentration, the sequence of hydrogel encapsulation and CPAs loading on vitrification efficiency of encapsulated ovarian tissue. Additionally, the capability of sodium alginate hydrogel encapsulation to reduce the required concentration of CPAs was validated. Secondly, a platform combining water bath and magnetic induction nanowarming was established to rewarm ovarian tissue under various concentrations of magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic field strengths. The post-warming follicle survival rate, antioxidant capacity, and ovarian tissue integrity were evaluated to assess the efficacy of the method. ResultsThe study found that ovarian tissue encapsulated with 2% sodium alginate hydrogel exhibited the highest follicle survival rate after vitrification. The method of loading CPAs prior to encapsulation proved more suitable for ovarian tissue cryopreservation, effectively reducing the required concentration of CPAs by 50%. A combination of 8 g/L Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and an alternating magnetic field of 300 Gs showed optimal warming effectiveness for ovarian tissue. Combining water bath rewarming with magnetic induction nanowarming yielded the highest follicle survival rate, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and preserved tissue morphology. ConclusionSodium alginate hydrogel encapsulation of ovarian tissue reduces the concentration of CPAs required during the freezing process. The combination of magnetic induction nanowarming with water bath provides an efficient method ovarian tissue rewarming. This study offers novel approaches to optimize ovarian tissues vitrification.

ObjectiveTo investigate the optimal ratio of goat horn replacing antelope horn in Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills and the blood pressure-lowering mechanism of this medicine. MethodsThe blood pressure-lowering efficacy of Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills with varying proportions of goat horn replacing antelope horn was evaluated on spontaneous hypertensive rats （SHR）. In this experiment， 50 SHR rats were randomly grouped as follows： model （n=8）， captopril （0.01 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， low-dose blank Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.342 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， high-dose blank Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.684 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， low-dose antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.378 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， high-dose antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.756 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， low-dose goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.378 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， and high-dose goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.756 g·kg^-1） （n=6）. Additionally， 8 WKY rats were used as the normal group. Drugs were administered by gavage for 4 weeks while an equal volume of distilled water was administered for the normal and model groups. Blood pressure was measured before administration， 3 h post administration， and biweekly thereafter. In the experiment for Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills with goat horn replacing antelope horn in different proportions， 48 SHR rats were randomly grouped as follows： model， blank Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.684 g·kg^-1）， antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.756 g·kg^-1）， 2× goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.824 g·kg^-1）， 4× goat horn Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.969 g·kg^-1）， and 6× goat horn Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （1.112 g·kg^-1）. The normal group included 8 WKY rats， and the normal group and model group received an equal volume of distilled water. The treatment lasted for 2 weeks， and blood pressure was recorded at various time points （pre-administration， 3 h post administration， and on days 4， 7， 10， and 14 of administration）. Serum levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme （ACE）， angiotensin Ⅱ（Ang Ⅱ）， renin， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Histopathological changes in the heart， kidney， and thoracic aorta were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The protein levels of ACE2， angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor （AT1R）， and angiotensinogen （AGT） in the kidney tissue were determined by Western blot， while the expression of nuclear factor （NF）-κB p65 and Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） in the thoracic aorta tissue was assessed by immunohistochemistry. ResultsCompared with the model group， all treatment groups showed lowered blood pressure （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the 6× goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills group showed consistent blood pressure-lowering effect with the antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills group. Compared with the normal group， the model group showed elevated serum levels of ACE， Ang Ⅱ， renin， and IL-6， while the elevations were declined in the Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Pathological changes in the heart， kidney， and thoracic aorta were alleviated in all the treatment groups， with the 6× goat horn- and antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills groups exhibited the best effect. Western blot and immunohistochemistry results showed that all the treatment groups exhibited down-regulated protein levels of AT1R， AGT， NF-κB p65， and TLR4 and up-regulated protein levels of ACE2 （P<0.05， P<0.01） compared with model group， with the 6×goat horn- and antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills groups showcasing the best effect. ConclusionReplacing antelope horn with 6×goat horn in Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills can achieve consistent blood pressure-lowering effect with the original prescription. The prescription may exert the effect by inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system （RAAS） and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Hubei province, and to provide a theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC patients with COPD. Methods A total of 246 NSCLC patients admitted to our hospital from 2018 to 2020 were selected and divided into control group (without COPD, n=125) and observation group (with COPD, n=121) according to COPD. The clinical characteristics of chest pain, hemoptysis, emasculation, atelectasis and pleural effusion were compared between the two groups. The values of FEV1/FVC, RV/TLC and DLCO in the two groups were measured by pulmonary function detector. The age, gender, smoking, smoking history, proportion of lung squamous cell carcinoma, TNM stage and other clinical data of all subjects were analyzed by self-made survey scale of our hospital. Univariate analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the risk factors of COPD in NSCLC patients. Results Among 246 NSCLC patients, 121 patients (49.19%) were complicated with COPD, including 76 males and 45 females, and there was a statistical difference between the two groups (χ²=4.891, P>0.05). The average age of the observation group (61.02±4.82) was significantly higher than that of the control group (59.76±4.73) (t=2.069, P<0.05). The proportion of chest pain, hemoptysis, emaciation, atelectasis, pleural effusion and fatigue in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The values of FEV1/FVC, RV/TLC and DLCO in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in smoking history, proportion of lung squamous cell carcinoma and TNM score between the two groups (P>0.05). Male (OR=2.982), smoking history (OR=2.623) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (OR=3.147) were risk factors for COPD in NSCLC patients (P<0.05). Conclusions NSCLC patients with COPD are more common in male smokers in Hubei Province, often accompanied by pleural effusion , severe hemoptysis and other symptoms , and their lung function is decreased. Early detection and standardized treatment of COPD in the treatment of NSCLC can improve the prognosis of patients.

The goal of achieving elimination of schistosomiasis across all endemic counties in China by 2030 was proposed in the Outline of the Healthy China 2030 Plan. On June 16, 2023, the Action Plan to Accelerate the Elimination of Schistosomiasis in China (2023—2030) was jointly issued by National Disease Control and Prevention Administration and other 10 ministries, which deployed the targets and key tasks of the national schistosomiasis elimination programme in China. This article describes the progress of the national schistosomiasis control programme, analyzes the opportunities to eliminate schistosomiasis, and proposes targeted recommendations to tackle the challenges of schistosomiasis elimination, so as to accelerate the process towards schistosomiasis elimination and facilitate the building of a healthy China.

Aim To observe the effects of oral puerarin (Pue) on the maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) rats and its fetal growth and development, so as to provide references for the application of Pue in the treatment of GDM. Methods The GDM rat model was established by injecting streptozotocin (STZ) into the tail vein of pregnant female rats, and the rats were treated with Pue orally for 12 days; the body weight and abortion of pregnant rats were recorded. The fasting blood glucose of pregnant rats was detected before and at the end of the treatment, and the glucose tolerance was tested on the 5th and 10th days after the administration of the drug. The cesarean sections were carried out on the 20th day of pregnancy. The blood glucose content of the fetal rats was detected, and the state of development was observed. The body weight and length were measured, as well as the placenta and the important organs weight, and the indexes of the organs were calculated. Results Compared with the model group, Pue could significantly reduce the fasting blood glucose of GDM pregnant rats and fetal rats, improve the glucose tolerance of pregnant rats, effectively alleviate the excessive weight gain of pregnant rats and overweight of fetal rats caused by GDM, and reduce the abortion rate; it could also reverse the decrease in the indexes of the organs of brain, heart, and liver, and the increase in the indexes of organs of kidney in fetal rats caused by GDM. Conclusions Pue can relieve the maternal and the fetal hyperglycemia in GDM, reduce the rate of miscarriage, reduce the incidence of macrosomia, and promote the development of vital fetal organs.

Objective To evaluate the performance of two molecular point-of-care testing(POCT)prod-ucts in the diagnosis of influenza A virus(Flu A)and influenza B virus(Flu B)of clinical samples,and pre-liminarily evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of the changes of infection-related indicators in peripheral blood.Methods A total of 491 oropharyngeal swabs from patients with influenza-like symptoms who were treated in the hospital were recruited into this study from November 1,2019 to June 30,2023.These swabs were collected using reverse transcription real-time quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR),and two POCT molecular products,XpertTM Xpress Flu/RSV and EasyNAT? Flu Assay,respectively.The diagnostic performance of two POCT molecular products was analyzed using RT-qPCR reaction as a standard.According to the results of RT-qPCR method,the subjects were divided into Flu A positive group,Flu B positive group and negative group(both Flu A and Flu B were negative).The levels of indicators in pe-ripheral blood of the three groups were compared to evaluate the value of these indicators in the clinical diag-nosis of Flu A and Flu B.Results Among the 491 patient specimens,the XpertTM Xpress Flu/RSV assay showed the sensitivity for Flu A was 96.88%,and the specificity was 99.75%,and the sensitivity for Flu B was 100.00%,and the specificity was 100.00%.EasyNAT? Flu Assay assay showed the sensitivity for Flu A was 94.79%,and the specificity was 96.81%,and the sensitivity for Flu B was 100.00%,and the specificity was 100.00%.And two POCT molecular methods performed well consistency(Kappa value was 0.974).There was no significant difference in the levels of C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A among the negative group,Flu A positive group,and Flu B positive group(P>0.05).But the levels of white blood cell count in the negative group were higher than those in the Flu A positive group and Flu B positive group(P<0.01).Conclusion In this paper,two typical molecular POCT products are studied.Their sensitivity and specificity are highly consistent with the results of RT-qPCR.Molecular POCT products have the advantages of flexibil-ity and rapidity,which are of great value for the improvement of clinical diagnosis and treatment.Molecular detection combined with peripheral blood infection related indicators is helpful for the early diagnosis of influ-enza virus infectious diseases.

Objective To analyze the feasibility and efficacy of a deep convolutional neural network(DCNN)model based on chest CT images to evaluate bone mineral density(BMD).Methods A total of 1 048 health check subjects'2 096 central level images of lumbar 1 and 2 vertebral bodies were used for experiments and analysis in this retrospective study.According to the results of quanti-tative computed tomography(QCT)BMD measurement,the subjects were divided into three categories:normal,osteopenia,osteopo-rosis(OP).Herein,a DCNN segmentation model was constructed based on chest CT images[training set(n=1 096),tuning set(n=200),and test set(n=800)],the segmentation performance was evaluated using the Dice similarity coefficient(DSC)to com-pare the consistency with the manually sketched region of vertebral body.Then,the DCNN classification models 1(fusion feature construction of lumbar 1 and 2 vertebral bodies)and model 2(image feature construction of lumbar 1 alone)was developed based on the training set(n=530).Model performance was compared in a test set(n=418)by the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Results When the number of images in the training set(n=300)was adopted,the DSC value was 0.950 in the test set.The results showed that the sensitivity,specificity and area under the curve(AUC)of model 1 and model 2 in diagno-sing osteopenia and OP were 0.716,0.960,0.952;0.941,0.948,0.980;0.638,0.954,0.940;0.843,0.959,0.978,respectively.The AUC value of normal model 1 was higher than that of model 2(0.990 vs 0.983,P=0.033),while there was no significant difference in AUC values between osteopenia and OP(P=0.210,0.546).Conclusion A DCNN may have the potential to evaluate bone mass based on chest CT images,which is expected to become an effective tool for OP screening.

Objective To analyze and compare the clinical efficacy of CalliSpheres drug-eluting micro-spheres and blank microspheres in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer by bronchial arterial chemoembolization.Methods Fifty patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who had failed or relapsed after radiotherapy,chemotherapy,targeting and immunotherapy were collected and treated with super-selective bronchial artery chemoembolization.A retrospective analysis was conducted to compare the tumor response rate and survival between CalliSpheres drug-eluting and blank microspheres.Results The PR,ORR and DCR in the drug-eluted microsphere group were higher than those in the blank microsphere group,and there was a statistical difference in DCR between the two groups 1 month after surgery(χ2 = 4.08,P = 0.04).PD in the drug-eluted microsphere group was lower than that in the blank microsphere group.The CEA,CYF and SCC in the drug-eluted microsphere group after surgery were lower than those in the blank microsphere group,and the CEA,CYF and SCC in the two groups after surgery were lower than those before surgery,and there were statistical differences in CEA and CYF 1 month after surgery between the two groups.The PFS and OS in drug-eluted microsphere group were higher than those in blank microsphere group.Conclusion CalliSpheres drug-eluting microspheres could improve the effective rate of tumor treatment and prolong the survival time more effectively than the blank micro-spheres via arterial chemoembolization,providing reliable clinical practice basis for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND:Salvianolic acid B can inhibit cell damage induced by H2O2,effectively remove excess reactive oxygen species,and exert antioxidant properties.It has been used in the treatment of many diseases.However,there are relatively few studies on the role and mechanism of salvianolic acid B in intervertebral disc degeneration. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect and mechanism of salvianolic acid B on oxidative stress-induced intervertebral disc degeneration by using gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel as a carrier through the in vitro cell experiment and the in vivo animal experiment. METHODS:The gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel(drug-loaded hydrogel)loaded with salvianolic acid B was prepared.(1)In vitro cell experiment:The lumbar nucleus pulposus cells of adult SD rats were isolated and extracted,and passage 3 nucleus pulposus cells were selected and divided into groups:Group A was added complete medium.In group B,a complete medium containing H2O2 was added.Group C was inoculated on methylacrylylated gelatin hydrogel and added with a complete medium containing H2O2.Group D was inoculated on methyl acrylyl gelatin hydrogel loaded with salvianolic acid B and added into a complete medium containing H2O2.The E group was inoculated on the methylacrylyl gelatin hydrogel loaded with salvianolic acid B,and the complete medium containing H2O2 and the complete medium containing TLR4 signaling pathway inhibitor were added.Cell proliferation,oxidative stress,inflammatory response,gene expression of cell matrix-associated proteins and the protein expression of TLR4/nuclear factor-kB signaling pathway were detected.(2)Animal in vivo experiment:Sixty adult SD rats were randomly divided into normal group,acupuncture group,acupuncture + salvianolic acid group,acupuncture + hydrogel group and acupuncture + loading potion gel group,with 12 rats in each group.The last four groups were treated with acupuncture to establish models of intervertebral disc degeneration and then injected with normal saline,salvianolic acid B solution,non-drug loaded gel and drug-loaded gel in turn.Imaging examination and pathological observation were performed 4 weeks after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In vitro cell experiment:Compared with group A,the cell proliferation was decreased;the oxidative stress reaction and inflammation reaction were enhanced;the expression of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes(matrix metalloproteinase 3,matrix metalloproteinase 13,ADAMTS4,ADAMTS5)was increased in group B(P<0.05),and the synthesis of extracellular matrix(type Ⅱ collagen,proteoglycan)was decreased(P<0.05).The protein expression of the TLR4/nuclear factor-kB signaling pathway was increased(P<0.05).Compared with group B,the cell proliferation of groups D and E was increased,the oxidative stress response and inflammatory response were weakened,and the expression of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes(matrix metalloproteinase 3,matrix metalloproteinase 13,ADAMTS4,ADAMTS5)was decreased(P<0.05),and the synthesis of extracellular matrix was increased(P<0.05).The protein expression of TLR4/nuclear factor-kB signaling pathway was decreased(P<0.05),and the effect was more significant in group E.(2)Animal in vivo experiment:4 weeks after surgery,intervertebral disc height index,index of MRI and pathological and histological grading of the intervertebral disc had improved significantly in the acupuncture+drug-loaded hydrogel group,and simply injecting hydrogel or salvianolic acid B solution can to a certain extent improve the intervertebral disc degeneration,but they are not as good as the injection of the drug-loaded hydrogel.(3)It is concluded that gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel loaded with salvianolic acid B can inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation in the degenerated intervertebral disc tissue,inhibit the degradation of extracellular matrix,and alleviate the process of intervertebral disc degeneration,which may be accomplished by inhibiting the TLR4/nuclear factor-kB signaling pathway.

Objective:pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP)-variant 7 (var7)-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was used to explore an accurate imaging tool that targeted burn wounds to better perform burn debridement.Methods:Twelve rat models of burn wound were established and pHLIP-var7-FITC with different concentrations (0.5, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/ml) were injected from the rat tail vein for in vivo fluorescence imaging. By determining the concentration of fluorescent conjugates to the burn wound, the scope of wound injury necrosis was judged by combining pathological sections, and its residue and toxicity in important organs such as heart, liver, kidneys, and brain were detected. The Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, Bonferroni correction method and one-way analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Results:Within 24 h, the fluorescence photons per unit area of the burn wound in the group of 0.5 mg/ml, 1.5 mg/ml and 2.0 mg/ml were 1.49(1.31, 1.65), 2.46(1.88, 2.68), 2.77 (1.94, 3.10)×10 7 p·s -1·cm -2·Sr -1, with significant differences in the overall distribution of fluorescence photons ( H=73.55, P<0.001). The fluorescence intensity was stronger in the group with higher concentration, but with no significant difference in the number of fluorescence photons between the group of 1.5 mg/ml and 2.0 mg/ml ( P=0.263, Bonferroni correction method). At 14 time points (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 12, 24 h), there was no significant difference in the overall mean of fluorescence photons ( F=1.04, P=0.419), and the tissue with burn necrosis seen in tissue sections was highly consistent with the fluorescence imaging region. There was no obvious fluorescence residue in the heart, liver, kidney and brain sections. Conclusion:In superficial second-degree burn tissue, pHLIP-var7-FITC can accurately target and gather on the burn wound within 24 h, showing a clear boundary between burn tissue and normal tissue, which can assist clinical surgical debridement to determine the extent of injury.