Objective To explore the protective mechanism of icariin on neuronal oxidative damage,providing a basic pharmacological basis for the treatment of cognitive impairment.Methods Glutamate was used to induce oxidative stress injury in HT22 cells.HT22 cells were divided into control group(normal cultured cells),model group(glutamate injury model)and experimental-L,-M,-H groups(5,10 and 20 μmol·L-1 icariin pretreatment for modeling,respectively).Cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)method;cytotoxicity was detected by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)method;reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels were detected by flow cytometry;superoxide dismutase(SOD)levels were detected by biochemical kits;the expression levels of Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-related protein-1(Keap1),nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)were detected by Western blotting;the corresponding mRNA expression was detected by real-time fluorescence quantification polymerose chain reaction.Results The cell viability of control group,model group and experimental-L,-M,-H groups were(100.00±1.31)％,(66.38±2.44)％,(72.07±4.95)％,(82.41±3.57)％and(87.97±4.98)％;LDH release were(0.48±0.52)％,(18.82±2.09)％,(15.32±1.17)％,(10.37±1.39)％and(6.51±0.87)％;ROS level were(14.23±1.13)％,(41.74±1.60)％,(35.69±1.08)％,(33.28±1.69)％and(30.32±2.03)％;SOD levels were(54.84±1.17),(37.95±1.13),(48.02±1.28),(50.56±1.34)and(52.55±1.04)U·mg-1;Keap1 protein levels were 0.36±0.01,0.52±0.03,0.46±0.04,0.39±0.09 and 0.35±0.12;Nrf2 protein levels were 0.29±0.02,0.13±0.08,0.18±0.03,0.21±0.11 and 0.26±0.04;catalase(CAT)mRNA levels were 1.01±0.08,0.81±0.06,0.90±0.04,1.05±0.15 and 1.33±0.26;SOD mRNA levels were 1.09±0.12,0.83±0.03,0.86±0.08,0.94±0.08 and 1.09±0.16.Among the above indicators,the differences between the model group and the control group were statistically significant(all P＜0.01);the differences between the experimental-M,-H groups and the model group were statistically significant(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).Conclusion Icariin may activate the Keap1/Nrf2/antioxidant response element(ARE)signaling pathway,regulate the expression of related proteins,and reduce the level of ROS to effectively alleviate oxidative stress injury in neuronal cells.

Objective The aim of this study was to explore the role and mechanism of ferroptosis in SiO2-induced cardiac injury using a mouse model. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice were intratracheally instilled with SiO2 to create a silicosis model.Ferrostatin-1(Fer-1)and deferoxamine(DFO)were used to suppress ferroptosis.Serum biomarkers,oxidative stress markers,histopathology,iron content,and the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins were assessed. Results SiO2 altered serum cardiac injury biomarkers,oxidative stress,iron accumulation,and ferroptosis markers in myocardial tissue.Fer-1 and DFO reduced lipid peroxidation and iron overload,and alleviated SiO2-induced mitochondrial damage and myocardial injury.SiO2 inhibited Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and its downstream antioxidant genes,while Fer-1 more potently reactivated Nrf2 compared to DFO. Conclusion Iron overload-induced ferroptosis contributes to SiO2-induced cardiac injury.Targeting ferroptosis by reducing iron accumulation or inhibiting lipid peroxidation protects against SiO2 cardiotoxicity,potentially via modulation of the Nrf2 pathway.

This article explores the application of Professor Zhou Zhongying's"focus on the core pathogenesis"concept in the con-text of epidemic hemorrhagic fever and examines how Academician Tong Xiaolin has inherited and developed Professor Zhou's experi-ences.Influenced by Professor Zhou Zhongying's academic thoughts and considering the contemporary context,Academician Tong Xia-olin,drawing on years of clinical experience,has proposed a new set of Nineteen Pathogenic Factors.Building upon the foundation of the Nineteen Pathogenic Factors in the The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic,this new framework enriches and expands the understanding of disease location,etiology and pathogenesis,disease classification,and pays attention to a comprehensive understanding of diseases.It emphasizes that the process of seeking the underlying mechanisms should be approached from three aspects:dynamic,state,and condition,rather than solely focusing on the immediate clinical manifestations.This comprehensive approach to understand-ing disease development offers a fresh perspective and contributes to the application of traditional Chinese Medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of modern diseases.

Objective To evaluate the quality of Tongshu gel paste based on thin layer chromatography(TLC)identification and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)quantitative analysis of multi-index components.Methods Qualitative identification of tetrahydropalmatine,paeoniflorin,tetrandrine,linderane,Rhizoma atractylodis and Fructus aurantii in the modified Tongshu gel paste was carried out by TLC.The main active contents of tetrahydropalmatine,paeoniflorin,tetrandrine and linderane in the preparation were determined by HPLC.Results The TLC spots of the six herbs in the prescription were clear and negative without interference.The linear ranges of tetrahydropalmatine,paeoniflorin,tetrandrine and linderane were 4.30-272.50 μg/mL(r=0.999 9),21.10-1 350.00 μg/mL(r=0.999 8),4.10-262.40 μg/mL(r=0.999 8)and 3.60-232.50 μg/mL(r=0.998 6),respectively.The range of average recovery for each component was 98.96％-99.52％,and all RSDs were less than or equal to 1.54％(n=9).Conclusion The multi-index TLC qualitative identification and HPLC quantitative method established by research have high specificity,simple operation and can be used for quality evaluation of the improved formulation of this prescription.

Aim To explore the effect and mechanism of the artesunate(ART)on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The cell lines MHCC-97H and HCC-LM3 were used to be detected.MTT and clone formation were used to determine the cell proliferation;Wound healing was used to detect the cell migration;Transwell was used to test the cell invasion.Flow-cy-tometry was used to detect cell apoptosis and cell cy-cle.RNA-seq and qRT-PCR was used to detect the genes expression.Results The proliferation,migra-tion and invasion of treated cells were obviously inhibi-ted(P＜0.01).Moreover,the apoptosis rate in-creased significantly,so did the proportion of G2/M cells.Transcriptomic analysis identified GADD45A as a potential target of ART through RNA-sequencing da-ta,and suggested that ART might induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest through regulating the expression of GADD45A.In addition,the results of mechanism studies and signaling analysis suggested that GADD45A had interaction with its upstream gene NACC1(nucle-us accumbens associated 1).Moreover,after ART treatment,the expressions of GADD45A and NACC1 were changed significantly.Conclusion ART may be a potential drug to resist HCC by affecting the expres-sion of GADD45A and its upstream gene NACC1,which provides a new drug,a new direction and a new method for the clinical treatment of HCC.

Objective: To examine the application of volume replacement techniques in breast conserving surgery for breast cancer. Methods: The clinic data of 76 breast cancer patients underwent a breast conserving surgery with volume replacement techniques at the Breast Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, from June 2019 to June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were female, aged (42.6±6.4) years (range: 32 to 56 years). Tumor staging inlcuded stage ⅡA in 36 cases, stage ⅡB in 24 cases, stage ⅢA in 12 cases, stage ⅢB in 4 cases. Three types of techniques included the lateral thoracic adipofascial flaps in 47 cases, the upper abdominal wall adipofascial flaps in 22 cases and the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap in 7 cases. The specimen volume of tumor expansion resection in breast conserving surgery was measured, while the operative time used for volume replacement techniques, postoperative drainage retention time, postoperative complications and patients' satisfaction with the breast shape were recorded. Results: The specimen volume of tumor was (100.9±24.2) ml (range: 55 to 157 ml) in lateral thoracic adipofascial flap group, (88.4±14.5) ml (67 to 118 ml) in upper abdominal wall adipofascial flap group, (179.7±22.9) ml (range: 155 to 220 ml) in latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap group. The operative time used to restore the breast shape of the three groups were (52.9±9.0) minutes (range: 45 to 70 minutes), (63.2±8.8) minutes (range: 50 to 70 minutes) and (99.3±3.4) minutes (range: 95 to 105 minutes), respectively. The postoperative drainage retention times of the three groups were (8.6±1.2) days (range: 7 to 10 days), (9.4±0.9) days (range: 8 to 10 days) and (11.4±1.3) days (range: 10 to 13 days), respectively. All the 76 patients were evaluated for their satisfaction with the cosmetic outcomes, 64 patients (84.2%) were strongly satisfied and 12 patients (15.8%) were generally satisfied. The postoperative complications included fat liquefaction in 6 cases (2 cases in the lateral thoracic adipofascial flap group and 4 cases in the upper abdominal adipofascial flap group) and seroma in 4 cases (each 2 cases in the lateral thoracic adipofascial flap group and the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap group). Conclusions: For patients with large tissue loss during breast conserving surgery, the corresponding volume replacement techniques, including lateral thoracic adipofascial flaps, upper abdominal wall adpofascial flaps and latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps, should be reasonably selected for repair according to the tumor site and the size of the intraoperative breast loss, which can ensure the original volume and shape of the breast, with controllable postoperative complications.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Breast Neoplasms/surgery* ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Retrospective Studies ; Breast ; Postoperative Complications

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is regarded as a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to demyelination and eventually to neurodegeneration. Activation of innate immune cells and other inflammatory cells in the brain and spinal cord of people with MS has been well described. However, with the innovation of technology in glial cell research, we have a deep understanding of the mechanisms of glial cells connecting inflammation and neurodegeneration in MS. In this review, we focus on the role of glial cells, including microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, in the pathogenesis of MS. We mainly focus on the connection between glial cells and immune cells in the process of axonal damage and demyelinating neuron loss.
Humans ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Neuroglia ; Inflammation/pathology* ; Brain/pathology* ; Spinal Cord/pathology*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Tiaoqi Jieyu (regulating qi and relieving depression) acupuncture on the clinical symptoms of treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and to explore the relationship between the acupuncture pain sensitivity and symptom's improvement. METHODS: A total of 78 patients with TRD were randomly divided into an observation group (39 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (39 cases, 4 cases dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with medications according to the treatment plan of psychiatrists (at least one medication was 5-hydroxytryptamine reuptake inhibitor). On the basis of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with Tiaoqi Jieyu acupuncture, and Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 24⁺), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Taichong (LR 3), Hegu (LI 4), Neiguan (PC 6), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Zusanli (ST 36), etc. were selected. The acupuncture was given three times a week. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks. After 8-week treatment, the response rate of Hamilton depression scale-24 (HAMD-24) score after was evaluated in the two groups. The scores of HAMD-24 and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) were compared between the two groups before treatment, after 4, 8-week treatment and 12 weeks after treatment (follow-up). After the first treatment and 8-week treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score in the observation group was evaluated, and the correlation between VAS score after the first treatment and HAMD-24 score before treatment, between VAS score after the first treatment and the course of disease in the observation group was analyzed, and the correlation between difference of VAS after 8-week treatment and after the first treatment and difference of HAMD-24 score before treatment and after 8-week treatment was analyzed. RESULTS: After 8-week treatment, the response rate of HAMD-24 score in the observation group was 52.8% (19/36), higher than 17.1% (6/35) in the control group (P<0.001). Compared before treatment, the scores of HAMD-24 and HAMA in the two groups were decreased after 4-week treatment, 8-week treatment and in follow-up (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were superior to the control group (P<0.05). After 8-week treatment, the acupuncture pain VAS score in the observation group was (5.28±2.13) points, which was higher than (3.33±1.62) points after the first treatment (P<0.001). There was a negative correlation between VAS score after the first treatment and HAMD-24 score before treatment in the observation group (r =-0.486, P=0.003); there was no correlation between acupuncture pain VAS score after the first treatment and the course of disease in the observation group (P>0.05). After 8-week treatment, there was a positive correlation between the difference of VAS score and the difference of HAMD-24 score in the observation group (r =0.514, P=0.001). CONCLUSION Tiaoqi Jieyu acupuncture could improve the depression and anxiety in patients with TRD, and the symptom's improvement is related to the recovery of acupuncture pain sensitivity.
Humans ; Depression/therapy* ; Treatment Outcome ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Pain

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in China. The integration of Chinese and Western medicine is an important feature of Chinese COVID-19 prevention and treatment. According to a series of evidence-based studies, TCM can reduce the infection rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in high-risk groups. For patients with mild and moderate forms of COVID-19, TCM can relieve the related signs and symptoms, shorten the period of nucleic-acid negative conversion, and reduce conversion rate to the severe form of the disease. For COVID-19 patients with severe and critical illnesses, TCM can improve inflammatory indicators and blood oxygen saturation, shorten the hospital stay, and reduce the mortality rate. During recovery, TCM can improve patients' symptoms, promote organ function recovery, boost the quality of patients' life, and reduce the nucleic-acid repositive conversion rate. A series of mechanism research studies revealed that capability of TCM to treat COVID-19 through antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects, immune regulation, and protection of organ function via a multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway approach.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Epidemics

OBJECTIVE: Clinical characteristics and outcome in COVID-19 with brucellosis patients has not been well demonstrated, we tried to analyze clinical outcome in local and literature COVID-19 cases with brucellosis before and after recovery. METHODS: We retrospectively collected hospitalization data of comorbid patients and prospectively followed up after discharge in Heilongjiang Infectious Disease Hospital from January 15, 2020 to April 29, 2022. Demographics, epidemiological, clinical symptoms, radiological and laboratory data, treatment medicines and outcomes, and follow up were analyzed, and findings of a systematic review were demonstrated. RESULTS: A total of four COVID-19 with brucellosis patients were included. One patient had active brucellosis before covid and 3 patients had nonactive brucellosis before brucellosis. The median age was 54.5 years, and all were males (100.0%). Two cases (50.0%) were moderate, and one was mild and asymptomatic, respectively. Three cases (75.0%) had at least one comorbidity (brucellosis excluded). All 4 patients were found in COVID-19 nucleic acid screening. Case C and D had only headache and fever on admission, respectively. Four cases were treated with Traditional Chinese medicine, western medicines for three cases, no adverse reaction occurred during hospitalization. All patients were cured and discharged. Moreover, one case (25.0%) had still active brucellosis without re-positive COVID-19, and other three cases (75.0%) have no symptoms of discomfort except one case fell fatigue and anxious during the follow-up period after recovery. Conducting the literature review, two similar cases have been reported in two case reports, and were both recovered, whereas, no data of follow up after recovery. CONCLUSION These cases indicate that COVID-19 patients with brucellosis had favorable outcome before and after recovery. More clinical studies should be conducted to confirm our findings.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Brucellosis ; COVID-19 ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Treatment Outcome ; Case Reports as Topic