Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and osteoporosis (OP) are two very common metabolic diseases. A growing body of experimental evidence supports a pathophysiological link between MAFLD and OP. MAFLD is often associated with the development of OP. Rutaecarpine (RUT) is one of the main active components of Chinese medicine Euodiae Fructus. Our previous studies have demonstrated that RUT has lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects, and can improve the OP of rats. However, whether RUT can improve both fatty liver and OP symptoms of MAFLD mice at the same time remains to be investigated. In this study, we used C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 months to construct a MAFLD model, and gave the mice a low dose (5 mg·kg^-1) and a high dose (15 mg·kg^-1) of RUT by gavage for 4 weeks. The effects of RUT on liver steatosis and bone metabolism were then evaluated at the end of the experiment [this experiment was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (approval number: IMB-20190124D₃03)]. The results showed that RUT treatment significantly reduced hepatic steatosis and lipid accumulation, and significantly reduced bone loss and promoted bone formation. In summary, this study shows that RUT has an effect of improving fatty liver and OP in MAFLD mice.

Gegen Qinlian decoction has a wide range of clinical applications. However, there is a lack of systematic quality evaluation methods to ensure the safety and effectiveness of Gegen Qinlian decoction in clinical use. The UHPLC fingerprint and multi-component determination method of Gegen Qinlian decoction were established to provide scientific basis for the quality control and evaluation of Gegen Qinlian decoction. The chromatography was performed on a ZORBAX Eclipse Plus-C₁₈ column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 3.5 μm) with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile (A) - 20 mmol·L^-1 ammonium acetate (containing 0.8% acetic acid and 0.5% triethylamine) (B) and gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min^-1. The column temperature was 25 ℃, the detection wavelength was 260 nm, the fingerprint of 10 batches of Gegen Qinlian decoction was determined, and the similarity evaluation system of TCM chromatographic fingerprint was used for comprehensive analysis, and 9 components were quantitatively analyzed. In the fingerprint study of Gegen Qinlian decoction, a total of 18 peaks were obtained, 12 of which were identified by reference substances. Moreover, the similarity of 10 batches of Gegen Qinlian decoction was good, and all of them were greater than 0.99. In the multi-component quantitative analysis, the linear relationship between the nine components and the peak area was good (r ≥ 0.999) in the corresponding mass concentration range. The average recovery rate was 94.4%-100.3%, and the RSD was 0.1%-1.4%. The fingerprint of Gegen Qinlian decoction was studied under the same wavelength, and the content of 9 main components were determined by our established method. The method has high sensitivity and strong specificity, which provided a comprehensive scientific basis for the comprehensive evaluation of the quality of Gegen Qinlian decoction.

Objective To design and evaluate a dilation incision device capable of facilitating stable support and flexible adjustment during neurosurgical procedures.Methods The dilation incision device was composed of a support plate,an adjustment assembly,a brain support ring,a rotation assembly,an electric motor,an expansion assembly and a neck support ring.The support plate was made of high-strength stainless steel;the adjustment assembly was made up of a first screw,a lifting groove,a slide bar and a nut;the brain support ring was fixed to the adjustment assembly through a support rod,with an outer layer of medical-grade silicone and an inner layer of stainless steel skeleton;the rotation assembly connected the brain support ring with the expansion assembly and consisted of a rotating shaft,a connecting rod and a rotating lug;a high-precision direct current servo motor was selected for the device;the expansion assembly included a spring,an expansion plate and a moving plate,which realized auto expansion or contraction through spring pressure;the neck support ring had its outer layer made of flexible polyurethane foam and inner layer being a stainless steel skeleton.The device had its stability and safety evaluated by static and dynamic tests at different heights(50,100,150 mm)and angles(0°,30°,60°),which was compared with the traditional fixation device to verify its application effect.Results Static and dynamic tests indicated the device showed high stability and safety in different heights and angles,and gained advantages over the traditional device in stability,convenient operation and surgical field visualization.Conclusion The device developed meets the requirements of neurosurgical procedures,and enhances the safety and portability of neurosurgical procedures.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(10):37-40]

Objective To investigate the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks,and to provide a basis for early identification of BPD in twin preterm infants in clinical practice.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks who were admitted to 22 hospitals nationwide from January 2018 to December 2020.According to their conditions,they were divided into group A(both twins had BPD),group B(only one twin had BPD),and group C(neither twin had BPD).The risk factors for BPD in twin preterm infants were analyzed.Further analysis was conducted on group B to investigate the postnatal risk factors for BPD within twins.Results A total of 904 pairs of twins with a gestational age of<34 weeks were included in this study.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with group C,birth weight discordance of>25%between the twins was an independent risk factor for BPD in one of the twins(OR=3.370,95%CI:1.500-7.568,P<0.05),and high gestational age at birth was a protective factor against BPD(P<0.05).The conditional logistic regression analysis of group B showed that small-for-gestational-age(SGA)birth was an independent risk factor for BPD in individual twins(OR=5.017,95%CI:1.040-24.190,P<0.05).Conclusions The development of BPD in twin preterm infants is associated with gestational age,birth weight discordance between the twins,and SGA birth.

Background/Aims: The histological characteristics and natural history of precirrhotic primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with portal hypertension (PH) are unclear. Our aim was to clarify the prevalence, risk factors, and histological characteristics of precirrhotic PBC patients with PH. Methods: This retrospective study compared the clinical features, histological characteristics, and response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) between the PH and non-PH groups of precirrhotic PBC patients. Results: Out of 165 precirrhotic PBC patients, 40 (24.2%) also had PH. According to histological stage 1, 2 and 3 disease, 5.3% (1/19), 17.3% (17/98), and 45.8% (22/48) of patients also had PH, respectively. Precirrhotic PBC with PH was significantly positively correlated with bile duct loss, degree of cytokeratin 7 positivity, and degree of fibrosis in the portal area, but significantly negatively correlated with lymphoid follicular aggregation. Compared to the non-PH group, patients in the PH group showed a higher prevalence of obliterative portal venopathy, incomplete septal fibrosis, portal tract abnormalities and non-zonal sinusoidal dilatation (p<0.05). In addition, patients with PH were more likely to present with symptoms of jaundice, ascites, epigastric discomfort, a poorer response to UDCA, and more decompensation events (p<0.05). High alkaline phosphatase levels, low white blood cell counts, high Mayo scores, and high FIB-4 index values were risk factors for precirrhotic PBC with PH. Conclusions Approximately 24.2% of precirrhotic PBC patients have PH, which is histologically related to the injury of bile ducts. High alkaline phosphatase levels, low white blood cell counts, high Mayo scores, and high FIB-4 index values are associated with increased risk of precirrhotic PBC with PH.

The study aims to observe the effects and explore the mechanisms of Buyang Huanwu Decoction and Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix combination in the treatment of the inflammatory response of mice with atherosclerosis(AS) via the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88(MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) signaling pathway. Male ApoE~(-/-) mice were randomly assigned into a model group, a Buyang Huanwu Decoction group, an Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix combination group, and an atorvastatin group, and male C57BL/6J mice of the same weeks old were used as the control group. Other groups except the control group were given high-fat diets for 12 weeks to establish the AS model, and drugs were administrated by gavage. Aortic intimal hyperplasia thickness, blood lipid level, plasma inflammatory cytokine levels, M1/M2 macrophage markers, and expression levels of proteins in TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in the vessel wall were measured to evaluate the effects of drugs on AS lesions and inflammatory responses. The results showed that the AS model was successfully established with the ApoE~(-/-) mice fed with high-fat diets. Compared with the control group, the model group showed elevated plasma total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c) levels(P<0.05), thickened intima(P<0.01), and increased plasma tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6) levels(P<0.01). Moreover, the model group showed increased expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)(P<0.01), inhibited expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) and cluster of differentiation 206(CD206)(P<0.01), and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB inhibitor alpha(IκBα), and NF-κB in the vessel wall(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, Buyang Huanwu Decoction and Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix combination lowered the plasma TC and LDL-c levels(P<0.01), alleviated the intimal hyperplasia(P<0.01), and reduced the plasma TNF-α and IL-6 levels(P<0.05). Moreover, the two interventions promoted the expression of eNOS and CD206(P<0.05), inhibited the expression of VCAM-1 and iNOS(P<0.01), and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, IκBα, and NF-κB(P<0.05) in the vessel wall. This study indicated that Buyang Huanwu Decoction and Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix combination could delay the progression of AS, inhibit the polarization of vascular wall macrophages toward M1 type, and attenuate vascular inflammatory response by inhibiting the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the vascular wall. Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix were the main pharmacological substances in Buyang Huanwu Decoction for alleviating the AS vascular inflammatory response.
Mice ; Male ; Animals ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism* ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism* ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Hyperplasia ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Atherosclerosis/genetics* ; Apolipoproteins E/therapeutic use* ; RNA, Messenger

Objective To investigate the influencing factors for prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)with cardiogenic shock(CS)treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)combined with percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods The clinical data of patients with STEMI and CS who received ECMO combined with PCI treatment in the cardiology department of our hospital from May 2019 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the clinical outcome,the patients were divided into death group and survival group.The clinical data of the two groups was compared.Results The study analyzed a total of 37 patients,including 34 males with an average age of(52.4±11.7)years.There were 15 survivors and 22 deaths,with a survival rate of 40.5％.Compared with the death group,the survival group had higher systolic blood pressure[(100.6±17.7)mmHg vs.(84.6±22.0)mmHg,P=0.025]and diastolic blood pressure[(64.5±11.8)mmHg vs.(54.3±16.0)mmHg,P=0.043]at admission,and longer time from shock to ECMO support[4.0(3.0,10.0)h vs.2.8(1.9,5.1)h,P=0.048]and shorter time from ECMO support to passage of guide wire[1.5(0.5,3.0)h vs.3.8(2.3,7.0)h,P=0.008].The proportion of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction(TIMI)blood flow classification reaching level Ⅲ in the first frame is higher[9(60.0％)vs.5(22.7％),P=0.038].The level of serum alanine aminotransferase[261.8(100.1,944.9)U/L vs.106.6(27.4,193.3)U/L,P=0.033]and shorter time from aspartate aminotransferase[753.6(432.7,1533.0)U/L vs.244.7(113.7,594.3)U/L,P=0.009]in the death group are significantly higher than that in the survival group.Conclusions This study suggests that the time from ECMO support and ECMO support to passage of guide wire,and the first frame TIMI blood flow grading are important factors affecting the prognosis of STEMI patients with CS treated with ECMO combined with PCI.

The peeled stems of Syringa pinnatifolia(SP) is a representative Mongolian folk medicine with the effects of anti-depression, heat clearance, pain relief, and respiration improvement. It has been clinically used for the treatment of coronary heart disease, insomnia, asthma, and other cardiopulmonary diseases. As part of the systematic study on pharmacological substances of SP, 11 new sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the terpene-containing fractions of the ethanol extract of SP by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance(~1H-NMR) guided isolation methods. The planar structures of the sesquiterpenoids were identified by MS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR data analysis, and were named pinnatanoids C and D(1 and 2), and alashanoids T-ZI(3-11), respectively. The structure types of the sesquiterpenoids included pinnatane, humulane, seco-humulane, guaiane, carryophyllane, seco-erimolphane, isodaucane, and other types. However, limited to the low content of compounds, the existence of multiple chiral centers, the flexibility of the structure, or lack of ultraviolet absorption, the stereoscopic configuration remained unresolved. The discovery of various sesquiterpenoids enriches the understanding of the chemical composition of the genus and species and provides references for further analysis of pharmacological substances of SP.
Syringa ; Sesquiterpenes ; Terpenes ; Asthma ; Chromatography, Liquid

NDFIP1 has been previously reported as a tumor suppressor in multiple solid tumors, but the function of NDFIP1 in NSCLC and the underlying mechanism are still unknown. Besides, the WW domain containing proteins can be recognized by NDFIP1, resulted in the loading of the target proteins into exosomes. However, whether WW domain-containing transcription regulator 1 (WWTR1, also known as TAZ) can be packaged into exosomes by NDFIP1 and if so, whether the release of this oncogenic protein via exosomes has an effect on tumor development has not been investigated to any extent. Here, we first found that NDFIP1 was low expressed in NSCLC samples and cell lines, which is associated with shorter OS. Then, we confirmed the interaction between TAZ and NDFIP1, and the existence of TAZ in exosomes, which requires NDFIP1. Critically, knockout of NDFIP1 led to TAZ accumulation with no change in its mRNA level and degradation rate. And the cellular TAZ level could be altered by exosome secretion. Furthermore, NDFIP1 inhibited proliferation in vitro and in vivo, and silencing TAZ eliminated the increase of proliferation caused by NDFIP1 knockout. Moreover, TAZ was negatively correlated with NDFIP1 in subcutaneous xenograft model and clinical samples, and the serum exosomal TAZ level was lower in NSCLC patients. In summary, our data uncover a new tumor suppressor, NDFIP1 in NSCLC, and a new exosome-related regulatory mechanism of TAZ.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism* ; Carrier Proteins/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To derive the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome classification and subgroup syndrome characteristics of ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: By extracting the CM clinical electronic medical records (EMRs) of 7,170 hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke from 2016 to 2018 at Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Province, China, a patient similarity network (PSN) was constructed based on the symptomatic phenotype of the patients. Thereafter the efficient community detection method BGLL was used to identify subgroups of patients. Finally, subgroups with a large number of cases were selected to analyze the specific manifestations of clinical symptoms and CM syndromes in each subgroup. RESULTS: Seven main subgroups of patients with specific symptom characteristics were identified, including M3, M2, M1, M5, M0, M29 and M4. M3 and M0 subgroups had prominent posterior circulatory symptoms, while M3 was associated with autonomic disorders, and M4 manifested as anxiety; M2 and M4 had motor and motor coordination disorders; M1 had sensory disorders; M5 had more obvious lung infections; M29 had a disorder of consciousness. The specificity of CM syndromes of each subgroup was as follows. M3, M2, M1, M0, M29 and M4 all had the same syndrome as wind phlegm pattern; M3 and M0 both showed hyperactivity of Gan (Liver) yang pattern; M2 and M29 had similar syndromes, which corresponded to intertwined phlegm and blood stasis pattern and phlegm-stasis obstructing meridians pattern, respectively. The manifestations of CM syndromes often appeared in a combination of 2 or more syndrome elements. The most common combination of these 7 subgroups was wind-phlegm. The 7 subgroups of CM syndrome elements were specifically manifested as pathogenic wind, pathogenic phlegm, and deficiency pathogens. CONCLUSIONS There were 7 main symptom similarity-based subgroups in ischemic stroke patients, and their specific characteristics were obvious. The main syndromes were wind phlegm pattern and hyperactivity of Gan yang pattern.
Humans ; Syndrome ; Ischemic Stroke ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Liver ; Phenotype