OBJECTIVE To study the effects of enteral immune microecological nutrition combined with ω-3 fish oil fat emulsion on postoperative recovery， immune function， liver function and inflammation level in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma resection， as well as the safety of the medication. METHODS A total of 106 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma admitted to our Hospital from June 2020 to December 2023 were selected and divided into control group and study group according to the random number table method， with 53 cases in each group. After undergoing hepatocellular carcinoma resection， control group was given Intacted protein enteral nutrition solution+Enhanced enteral immune microecological nutrition， and the study group was given ω-3 fish oil fat emulsion injection based on the control group. The clinical indicators （postoperative exhaust time， defecation time， postoperative ambulation， and hospital stay）， liver function indicators [alanine transaminase （ALT）， lactate dehydrogenase （LDH）， aspartate transaminase （AST）]， immune function indexes （CD3+ ， CD4+ ， CD8+ ， CD4+/CD8+）， inflammatory factor indexes [tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， IL-6， IL-8]， and indicators of intestinal mucosal barrier [D-lactic acid， intestinal fatty acid binding protein （I-FABP）] were compared between 2 groups， and the occurrence of ADR was recorded. RESULTS Compared with the control group， the postoperative exhaust time， postoperative defecation time， and hospital stay of the study group were shortened significantly， and postoperative ambulation increased significantly （P＜0.05）. After treatment， ALT， LDH， AST， CD8+， inflammatory factors， D-lactic acid and I-FABP of 2 groups were significantly lower than before treatment， and the study group was significantly lower than the control group （P＜0.05）； CD4+， CD3+， and CD4+/CD8+ of two groups were significantly higher than before treatment， and the study group was significantly higher than the control group （P＜0.05）. There was no significant difference in the incidence of ADR between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Enteral immune microecological nutrition combined with ω-3 fish oil fat emulsion injection can shorten the recovery time of patients after hepatocellular carcinoma resection， improve immune function， reduce inflammatory response， and improve liver function with good safety.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the therapeutic effect of Fangji Fuling Decoction (FFD) on sepsis through network pharmacological analysis combined with in vitro and in vivo experiments. METHODS: A sepsis mouse model was constructed through intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS). RAW264.7 cells were stimulated by 250 ng/mL LPS to establish an in vitro cell model. Network pharmacology analysis identified the key molecular pathway associated with FFD in sepsis. Through ectopic expression and depletion experiments, the effect of FFD on multiple organ damage in septic mice, as well as on cell proliferation and apoptosis in relation to the mitogen-activated protein kinase 14/Forkhead Box O 3A (MAPK14/FOXO3A) signaling pathway, was analyzed. RESULTS: FFD reduced organ damage and inflammation in LPS-induced septic mice and suppressed LPS-induced macrophage apoptosis and inflammation in vitro (P<0.05). Network pharmacology analysis showed that FFD could regulate the MAPK14/FOXO signaling pathway during sepsis. As confirmed by in vitro cell experiments, FFD inhibited the MAPK14 signaling pathway or FOXO3A expression to relieve LPS-induced macrophage apoptosis and inflammation (P<0.05). Furthermore, FFD inhibited the MAPK14/FOXO3A signaling pathway to inhibit LPS-induced macrophage apoptosis in the lung tissue of septic mice (P<0.05). CONCLUSION FFD could ameliorate the LPS-induced inflammatory response in septic mice by inhibiting the MAPK14/FOXO3A signaling pathway.
Mice ; Animals ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 14/metabolism* ; Wolfiporia ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Sepsis/complications* ; Signal Transduction ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Oxygen Radioisotopes

BACKGROUND: The effects of acupuncture have varied in different randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and there are many factors that influence treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes, with conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors and their impact on the treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes. METHODS: Acupuncture RCTs were searched from 7 databases including Medline (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China Biology Medicine disc between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2019. Eligible studies must compare acupuncture to no acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waiting lists, and report at least 1 patient-important outcome. A multi-level meta-regression was conducted using a 3-level robust mixed model and univariate analyses were performed for all independent variables, even those excluded from the multivariable model due to collinearities. We used thresholds of 0.2 and 0.4 for the difference of standardized mean differences (SMDs), categorising them as small (<0.2), moderate (0.2-0.4), or large (>0.4) effects. RESULTS: The pain construct analysis involved 211 effect estimates from 153 studies and 14 independent variables. High-frequency acupuncture treatment sessions produced larger effects compared to low-frequency sessions [large magnitude, the difference of adjusted SMDs 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07 to 0.84; P=0.02]. The non-pain symptoms construct analysis comprised 323 effect estimates from 231 studies and 15 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture showed moderately larger effects when compared to non-penetrating acupuncture (0.30, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). The function construct analysis included 495 effect estimates from 274 studies and 14 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture and the flexible acupuncture regimen showed moderately larger effects, compared to non-penetrating acupuncture and fixed regimen, respectively (0.40, 95% CI 0 to 0.80; P=0.05; 0.29, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS High-frequency acupuncture sessions appear to be a more effective approach to managing painful symptoms. Penetrating acupuncture demonstrated greater effect in relieving non-painful symptoms. Both penetrating acupuncture type and flexible acupuncture regimen were linked to significant treatment effects in function outcomes. Future studies should consider the factors that are significantly associated with the effects of acupuncture in patient-important outcomes.
Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Pain ; Pain Management ; China

Lymphatic metastasis is the main metastatic route for colorectal cancer, which increases the risk of cancer recurrence and distant metastasis. The properties of the lymph node metastatic colorectal cancer (LNM-CRC) cells are poorly understood, and effective therapies are still lacking. Here, we found that hypoxia-induced fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα) expression in LNM-CRC cells. Gain- or loss-function experiments demonstrated that FAPα enhanced tumor cell migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stemness, and lymphangiogenesis via activation of the STAT3 pathway. In addition, FAPα in tumor cells induced extracellular matrix remodeling and established an immunosuppressive environment via recruiting regulatory T cells, to promote colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis (CRCLNM). Z-GP-DAVLBH, a FAPα-activated prodrug, inhibited CRCLNM by targeting FAPα-positive LNM-CRC cells. Our study highlights the role of FAPα in tumor cells in CRCLNM and provides a potential therapeutic target and promising strategy for CRCLNM.

Based on the strategy of metabolomics combined with bioinformatics, this study analyzed the potential allergens and mechanism of pseudo-allergic reactions (PARs) induced by the combined use of Reduning injection and penicillin G injection. All animal experiments and welfare are in accordance with the requirements of the First Affiliated Experimental Animal Ethics and Animal Welfare Committee of Henan University of Chinese Medicine (approval number: YFYDW2020002). Based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technology combined with UNIFI software, a total of 21 compounds were identified in Reduning and penicillin G mixed injection. Based on molecular docking technology, 10 potential allergens with strong binding activity to MrgprX2 agonist sites were further screened. Metabolomics analysis using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technology revealed that 34 differential metabolites such as arachidonic acid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes were endogenous differential metabolites of PARs caused by combined use of Reduning injection and penicillin G injection. Through the analysis of the "potential allergen-target-endogenous differential metabolite" interaction network, the chlorogenic acids (such as chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and isochlorogenic acid A) and β-lactam allergens in the combination of the two may be mainly regulated by PLD1, PLA2G12A and CYP1A1. The three upstream signal target proteins mainly activate the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway, promote the degranulation of mast cells, release downstream endogenous inflammatory mediators, and induce PARs.

BACKGROUND:CXC motif chemokine 5(CXCL5)is a neutrophil activating peptide derived from epithelial cells,which may be involved in arterial diseases.However,there is yet no report on the effect of CXCL5 in vascular calcification. OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of CXCL5 in the vascular calcification of carotid atherosclerosis(CAS). METHODS:(1)Cytological experiment:Mouse vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs)were divided into five groups:osteogenic medium group,Vector group(vector,blank plasmid transfected into VSMCs),CXCL5 group(CXCL5 plasmid transfected into VSMCs),si-NC group(CXCL5 negative control siRNA transfected into VSMCs),si-CXCL5 group(CXCL5 siRNA transfected into VSMCs),Vector+LY2157299 group and CXCL5+LY2157299 group(LY2157299 transferred into the cells 24 hours after cell transfection).Alizarin red staining,alkaline phosphatase staining,and calcium content determination were performed to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation level of VSMCs.(2)Animal experiment:Forty-eight ApoE-/-mice were randomly divided into four groups(n=12 per group):Con+si-NC group,Con+si-CXCL5 group,CAS+si-NC group and CAS+si-CXCL5 group.Animal models were not prepared in the first two groups,in which si-NC or si-CXCL5 lentivirus was injected into the tail vein;carotid atherosclerosis models were made in the latter two groups,in which si-NC or si-CXCL5 lentivirus was injected into the tail vein.Von Kossa staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate carotid vascular calcification and the expression of CXCL5 and transforming growth factor-β receptor 1(TGFBR1)in mice. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the CXCL5 group,the protein level of runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2)was up-regulated and the level of α-smooth muscle actin was down-regulated,in contrary to the findings in the si-CXCL5 group.In addition,CXCL5 overexpression upregulated the level of TGFBR1,while CXCL5 knockdown inhibited the level of TGFBR1.Compared with the Vector group,the intensity of alizarin red staining,alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content in the CXCL5 group increased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the si-NC group,the intensity of alizarin red staining,alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content in the si-CXCL5 group decreased significantly(P<0.05).When LY2157299 inhibited TGFBR1 expression,the osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs induced by CXCL5 was reduced.Compared with the Con+si-NC group,the expression of CXCL5 protein in the carotid artery and calcification area in the CAS+si-NC group increased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the CAS+si-NC group,the expression of CXCL5 protein in the carotid artery and vascular calcification area in the CAS+si-CXCL5 group decreased significantly(P<0.05).In addition,compared with the Con+si-NC group,the expression of RUNX2 protein in the carotid artery in the CAS+si-NC group increased significantly(P<0.05),while the expression of α-smooth muscle actin protein decreased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the CAS+si-NC group,the expression of RUNX2 protein in the carotid artery in CAS+si-CXCL5 group decreased significantly(P<0.05),while the expression of α-smooth muscle actin protein increased significantly(P<0.05).In conclusion,CXCL5 can induce osteogenic transformation of VSMCs by activating the TGFBR1 pathway,and inhibition of CXCL5 expression is effective in improving carotid arterial calcification in CAS mice.

Objective:To study the current status of longitudinal extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in extremely preterm infants (EPIs) and to develop a prediction model based on clinical data from multiple NICUs.Methods:From January 2017 to December 2018, EPIs admitted to 32 NICUs in North China were retrospectively studied. Their general conditions, nutritional support, complications during hospitalization and weight changes were reviewed. Weight loss between birth and discharge > 1SD was defined as longitudinal EUGR. The EPIs were assigned into longitudinal EUGR group and non-EUGR group and their nutritional support and weight changes were compared. The EPIs were randomly assigned into the training dataset and the validation dataset with a ratio of 7∶3. Univariate Cox regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in the training dataset to select the independent predictive factors. The best-fitting Nomogram model predicting longitudinal EUGR was established based on Akaike Information Criterion. The model was evaluated for discrimination efficacy, calibration and clinical decision curve analysis.Results:A total of 436 EPIs were included in this study, with a mean gestational age of (26.9±0.9) weeks and a birth weight of (989±171) g. The incidence of longitudinal EUGR was 82.3%(359/436). Seven variables (birth weight Z-score, weight loss, weight growth velocity, the proportion of breast milk ≥75% within 3 d before discharge, invasive mechanical ventilation ≥7 d, maternal antenatal corticosteroids use and bronchopulmonary dysplasia) were selected to establish the prediction model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the training dataset and the validation dataset were 0.870 (95% CI 0.820-0.920) and 0.879 (95% CI 0.815-0.942), suggesting good discrimination efficacy. The calibration curve indicated a good fit of the model ( P>0.05). The decision curve analysis showed positive net benefits at all thresholds. Conclusions:Currently, EPIs have a high incidence of longitudinal EUGR. The prediction model is helpful for early identification and intervention for EPIs with higher risks of longitudinal EUGR. It is necessary to expand the sample size and conduct prospective studies to optimize and validate the prediction model in the future.