ObjectiveTo explore the effect of different drying conditions on the appearance and intrinsic quality indicators of Pinelliae Rhizoma for screening suitable drying conditions， so as to provide reference for its standardized production and quality evaluation. MethodsDifferent dried samples of Pinelliae Rhizoma were prepared by lime-assisted sweating method and intermittent drying method. Visual analysis was employed to measure the color brightness values（L^*） of the surface， cross-section and powder of the samples， texture analyzer was used to determine the hardness of the samples under different drying conditions. The total starch content was calculated by measuring the contents of amylose and amylopectin in the samples with ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. High performance liquid chromatography（HPLC） was used to determine the contents of seven nucleoside components（uracil， hypoxanthine， uridine， inosine， guanosine， β-thymidine and adenosine） in the samples. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between the external characteristics and intrinsic indicators of the different dried samples. Principal component analysis（PCA） was used to comprehensively rank the data of various indicators， and partial least squares-discriminant analysis（PLS-DA） was used to screen differential components with variable importance in the projection（VIP） value>1. Furthermore， the difference between the optimal drying condition for Pinelliae Rhizoma and the traditional sun-drying method was explored by independent samples t-test. ResultsWith the increase of temperature， the color of the intermittently dried samples gradually deepened， while their hardness gradually decreased. Concurrently， the contents of extract， total starch， uridine and adenosine exhibited an upward trend， whereas the contents of uracil， hypoxanthine and inosine displayed a downward trajectory. Compared with the intermittent drying group， the content of extract in the samples subjected to lime-assisted sweating increased. With the increase of lime dose， the hardness and the total content of nucleoside components in the samples showed a downward trend， while the total starch content showed an upward trend. Correlation analysis showed that the comprehensive score of L^* was negatively correlated with the contents of uracil， hypoxanthine and inosine， and positively correlated with the contents of uridine， guanosine and adenosine. Hardness was negatively correlated with adenosine content， and positively correlated with the contents of inosine， uracil and hypoxanthine. Through comprehensive consideration and comprehensive score of principal components， the method of 5% lime-mixed sweating for 6 days emerged as the top-ranking approach. Except for the extract， the results of independent samples t-test showed that there was no significant difference between the 5% lime-mixed sweating for 6 days and the traditional sun-drying in terms of other content indicators. ConclusionThe whiteness and firmness of Pinelliae Rhizoma exhibit significant correlations with its chemical composition， while uridine， uracil， guanosine， adenosine and inosine are the key constituents responsible for the quality difference of Pinelliae Rhizoma under different drying conditions. The lime-assisted sweating method optimized in this study can be proposed as a viable alternative to the traditional sun-drying method. This method not only ensures the quality of the medicinal material but also effectively reduces the drying time and prevents mold contamination， which provides a valuable reference for the standardization of drying conditions and the establishment of quality evaluation criteria for Pinelliae Rhizoma.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce mouse mononuclear macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) to establish the inflammation model for investigating the effect and mechanism of Mailuoning oral liquid on arteriosclerosis occlusion (ASO) in vitro. RAW264.7 cells viability was measured by MTT assay. NO concentration was determined by Griess. mRNA levels and protein expressions of NFAT5/NLRP3 signaling pathway were detected by Q-PCR and Western blot. The relationship between NFAT5 and NLRP3 was explored by cellular transfection of NFAT5-siRNA combined with Western blot. Nuclear translocation of NFAT5 was detected by immunofluorescence. The results showed that Mailuoning oral liquid decreased the NO release induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells. The mRNA levels of NFAT5, NLRP3, caspase1, IL-18 and MMP9, the protein expressions of NFAT5, NLRP3, cleaved-caspase1 (p20) and the phosphorylation of NF-κB-P65 were decreased after administration of Mailuoning oral liquid. NFAT5-siRNA significantly reversed the increase in protein expressions of NLRP3 induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells. Both Mailuoning oral liquid and KRN2 (NFAT5 inhibitor) could inhibit the expressions and nuclear translocation of NFAT5. In conclusion, Mailuoning oral liquid exert significant anti-inflammatory effects in vitro by inhibiting the NFAT5/NLRP3 signaling pathway, and NFAT5 might be involved in regulating the expressions of NLRP3.

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), caused by cerebrovascular dysfunction, severely impacts the quality of life in the elderly population, yet effective therapeutic approaches remain limited. Mitophagy, a selective mitochondrial quality-control mechanism, has emerged as a critical focus in neurological disease research. Accumulating evidence indicates that mitophagy modulates oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neuronal apoptosis. Key signaling pathways associated with mitophagy—including PINK1/Parkin, BNIP3/Nix, FUNDC1, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and AMPK—have been identified as potential therapeutic targets for VCI. This review summarizes the mechanistic roles of mitophagy in VCI pathogenesis and explores emerging therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways, aiming to provide novel insights for clinical intervention and advance the development of effective treatments for VCI.

Psoriasis and atherosclerosis are both complex and refractory.Genetic susceptibility,inflammatory response and the role of adipokines may be the main mechanisms of their comorbidity.TCM believes that heat,toxicity,phlegm,and blood stasis are the basic pathological factors of the comorbidity,which intertwine and lead to a longer course of disease.TCM,starting from the holistic concept,has a certain efficacy in the treatment of psoriasis and atherosclerosis,and has received widespread attention.This article reviewed the pathogenesis of psoriasis and atherosclerosis comorbidity from the aspects of heredity,inflammatory response,and the role of adipokines,and combed the current situation of the research on the mechanism of the treatment of psoriasis and atherosclerosis comorbidity with TCM monomer and compounds,providing references for related mechanisms and clinical research.

Objective:To study the genetic polymorphisms of short-tandem repeats (STR) for the D13S317 locus among an ethnic Han Chinese population and verify a novel tri-allelic pattern identified for the locus. Methods:A total of 378 paternity test cases from Guangdong Forensic Authentication Institute from October 17, 2017 to December 28, 2017 were selected as the study subjects. A GlobalFiler? Express kit was used for the STR genotyping. Samples suspected for having a novel tri-allelic pattern were verified with a PowerPlex ? 21 kit. Potential variant of the primer-binding region and flanking sequences underlying the tri-allelic pattern was excluded by molecular cloning and sequencing. Results:Six alleles were detected for the D13S317 locus, with the characteristic distribution frequencies being 8 (29.1%), 9 (13.1%), 10 (15.21%), 11 (24.21%), 12 (13.89%) and 13 (3.44%), respectively. In one of the families, the D13S317 locus of the proband was suspected to harbor a triband allele (8, 9, 10). A re-test has confirmed the result of initial test. Molecular cloning and sequencing analysis of the D13S317 locus in the proband and his daughter has failed to find allelic variants in the primer-binding region and flanking sequence, which has confirmed the novel tri-allelic pattern for the locus. Conclusion:A novel type 2 tri-allelic pattern (8, 9, 10) at the D13S317 locus has been identified among the ethnic Han Chinese population. The pattern has not been transmitted to the female offspring, and has been included in the international STRBase database for the first time.

Objective The study aims to find a suitable obesity index for predicting hyperuricemia (HUA)in Chinese adults. Methods The obesity indexes of 8133 subjects in China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2009 were calculated, and the basic situation of them was analyzed descriptively. χ² test and t test were used to test the differences of categorical variables and continuous variables between the HUA group and the non-HUA group. The area under the curve (AUC) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze the predictive value of these indices for HUA. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between obesity and HUA. Results Demographic covariates, prevalence and Body Mass Index (BMI) all have impacts on the prevalence of HUA. Obesity indexes have a good predictive effect on HUA, and the Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP) is the best (AUC=0.77 (95% CI [0.75, 0.78]). Obesity indexes all have a significant correlation with HUA. When covariates were not adjusted, LAP had the highest OR value (OR=5.87, 95% CI [5.08, 6.77]). Conclusion LAP index is significantly related to HUA, and it can be used as an emerging index to assess the prevalence of HUA in Chinese adults.

Objective To explore the association between dietary quality and perceived stress among adult Chinese. Methods The China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) was used to investigate the association between dietary quality and perceived stress in Chinese adults. The Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS) was used to assess the perceived stress in Chinese adults. Binary logistic regression models were utilized to explore the relationship between diet quality and perceived stress. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) were utilized to clarify the dose response relationship between diet quality and perceived stress. Results Binary logistic regression models revealed that adults with CHEI score ranged from P25 to P50 and higher than P75 had 15.1% (OR=0.849，95%CI：0.738-0.977) and 23.0% (OR=0.770，95%CI：0.666-0.891) reduced risk of high perceived stress after multivariable adjustment when compared with adults with CHEI score less than P25. RCS results showed that the OR value of high perceived stress risk decreased gradually with increasing CHEI score in the overall population, but this association was not statistically significant in adults with lower CHEI score. Conclusion High dietary quality is associated with a reduced risk of high perceived stress. This study provides a theoretical reference for the health effects of high dietary quality on high perceived stress risk reduction.

Objective:To explore the effects of prenatal targeted psychological interventions combined with yoga on maternal anxiety, depression and maternal and infant outcomes.Methods:A total of 100 pregnant and puerperal women who were enrolled in Jining maternal and child health family planning service center from January 2021 to December 2022 and received regular prenatal care as required were selected as study subjects. According to the random number method, the subjects were divided into experimental and control groups, with 50 cases in each group. The experimental group was given targeted psychological interventions combined with yoga training, while the control group was given only traditional nursing. Then the differences of the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score, the self-rating depression scale (SDS) score, the general self-efficacy scale (GSES) score, the maternal and infant outcomes, body mass index (BMI) and the satisfaction of postpartum women were compared between the two groups. SPSS 26.0 software was used for analysis. The χ2 test, independent sample t-test, paired sample t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results:After the intervention, the scores of SAS and SDS of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group (SAS: (36.86±6.89), (44.12±11.04); SDS: (38.92±7.62), (48.20±10.44)), and the difference was statistically significant ( tSAS=-3.946, tSDS=-5.077, both P<0.05). Following the intervention, the GSES score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group ((2.92±0.49), (2.57±0.58)), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=3.246, P<0.05). After the intervention, the cesarean section rate and the birth rate of macrosomia in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group(10.0%, 26.0%; 4.0%, 16.0%), and the rate of breastfeeding was higher than that of the control group(86.0%, 68.0%), and the differences were statistically significant ( χcesarean2=4.336, χmacrosomia2=4.000, χbreastfeeding2=4.574, all P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in the postpartum hemorrhage rate between the experimental group and the control group ( P>0.05). Following the intervention, BMI of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group((26.11±2.18)kg/m 2, (28.02±1.97)kg/m 2, ( t=-4.609, P<0.05). In addition, postpartum women in the experimental group were significantly more satisfied than those in the control group (96.0%, 82.0%; χ2=5.005, P<0.05). Conclusion:The combination of prenatal targeted psychological interventions and yoga can reduce maternal anxiety and depression during pregnancy, get body back in shape after having a baby, and improve self-efficacy, satisfaction and the maternal and infant outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease. MicroRNA has been shown to play an important role in RA. MicroRNA-124a (miR-124a) has anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects in RA fibroblast synovial cells. This study aims to explore the effects of miR-124a overexpression on arthritis in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Bovine type II collagen and complete Ferris adjuvant were used to induce CIA model from DBA/1 mice. Twenty-eight days after initial immunization (D28), CIA mice were randomly divided into a model group, a miR-124a treatment group, and a negative control (NC) group. Physiological saline, miR-124a agomir, and miR-124a agomir NC were injected into the skin at the tail root of mice every 3 days for 4 times, respectively. The degree of joint swelling and arthritis index of mice were recorded accordingly. Sixty-three days after initial immunization (D63), the mice were sacrificed to obtain the synovial tissue of ankle joint. HE staining was used to observe the proliferation of synovial cell, infiltration of inflammatory cell, pannus, and bone erosion of synovial tissues; TUNEL staining was used to detect cell apoptosis; qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of miR-124a, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) and its downstream genes Bcl-2 and Bax. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of PIK3CA, Bcl-2, and Bax protein in synovial tissues of each group. RESULTS: Different degrees of swelling presented in the paws of DBA/1 mice at D28, which indicated the CIA model was constructed successfully. Forty-eight days after initial immunization (D48), the paws of mice in the miR-124a treatment group were only slightly red and swollen, while the paws of mice in the model group and the NC group were obviously red and swollen. The arthritis index of mice in the miR-124a treatment group were decreased significantly compared to the NC group at D51, D53, D59, and D62 (51, 53, 59, 62 days after initial immunization) (all P<0.05). Sixty-three days after initial immunization (D63), HE staining indicated that the scores of synovial cell proliferation, inflammatory cell infiltration, synovial pannus, and bone erosion were significantly reduced in the miR-124a treatment group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while cell apoptosis was increased in the miR-124a treatment group compared with the model group and NC group (P<0.01 or P<0.001). Besides, the expression of miR-124a and Bax in the synovial tissue in miR-124a treatment group was significantly higher than those in the model group and NC group (P<0.01 or P<0.001), while the expressions of PIK3CA and Bcl-2 were decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01 or P<0.001), and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax was significantly decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Overexpression of miR-124a can reduce arthritis in CIA mice bacause it could promote synovial cell apoptosis and inhibit synovial cell proliferation via targeting PIK3CA and regulating its downstream pathways.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental/metabolism* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics* ; Cattle ; Cell Proliferation ; Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism* ; Synovial Membrane ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism*

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics and pregnant outcomes of gravidae with COVID-19. Methods This study involved nine gravidae with COVID-19 admitted to the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 22 to February 1, 2020. Their clinical data, including epidemiological history, clinical symptoms, laboratory examinations, chest CT, treatment, delivery mode, and pregnancy outcomes, were analyzed retrospectively. Specimens of maternal vaginal swab were collected in six pregnant women, and the specimens of amniotic fluid, cord blood, neonatal throat swab and breast milk samples were collected in four pregnant women who had a delivery during our study. All samples were tested for the existence of COVID-19. Descriptive analysis was applied in this study. Results (1) Among the nine cases, five were admitted in the third trimester and four in the second trimester. The median incubation period of COVID-19 was 8 (1-14) d. Fever was presented in all cases on admission, and the other commonly seen symptoms were cough (seven cases) and diarrhea (five cases). Other signs and symptoms were also reported, including shortness of breath, myalgia and fatigue (four cases in each), nasal obstruction, pharyngalgia, chest pain, and headache/dizziness (three cases in each), rash (two cases), and chills and expectoration (one case in each). The most common laboratory abnormalities were a decreased number of lymphocytes (seven cases) and elevated C-reactive protein (six cases). Chest CT scans were performed in seven women, and all showed patchy areas or ground-glass opacity in both lungs. Oligohydramnios was detected in only one case at 37 +5 weeks, which was 7 d after the diagnosis of COVID-19. (2) All nine cases received empiric antibiotic and antiviral therapy with Chinese medicine as adjuvant treatment. Eight patients required oxygen inhalation, and eight were treated with glucocorticoid. Six cases received immunotherapy. (3) Four of the nine cases had delivered, including three cesarean sections and one spontaneous vaginal preterm birth after premature rupture of membranes, and the mother was transferred to the intensive care unit 2 d after delivery due to acute respiratory distress syndrome. One case was terminated at 26 gestational weeks. Of the four neonates, there were two term and two premature babies, and one preterm baby was small-for-gestational-age. No neonatal asphyxia was observed. Serial real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed negative results in the detection of 2019-novel coronavirus in all samples obtained from amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, neonatal nasopharynx, breast milk, and vagina. Maternal conditions were all stable in all cases, including the four continuing pregnancy, and the terminated ones, except the case mentioned above. Conclusions There is no distinguishable clinical feature between pregnant and non-pregnant COVID-19 patients. So far, there is no evidence for vertical transmission or worsening perinatal outcome in mothers and babies.