BACKGROUND:Intervertebral disk degeneration is a pathological change caused by a series of complex molecular mechanisms that result in the aging and damage of intervertebral discs,ultimately leading to severe clinical symptoms.Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in the treatment of intervertebral disk degeneration due to its low cost,non-addictive nature,multi-target effects,minimally toxic and side effects,and high patient acceptance. OBJECTIVE:To review the latest research results of traditional Chinese medicine monomer intervention-related signaling pathways in the treatment of intervertebral disk degeneration,describe and analyze the action mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine monomer on intervertebral disk degeneration,and provide a new approach and theoretical basis for future basic research and clinical treatment. METHODS:The first author searched for relevant literature from January 2018 to February 2023 in CNKI,PubMed,VIP,and WanFang using the search terms"intervertebral disc,signal pathway".The articles that did not meet the criteria were excluded after preliminary screening of the titles and abstracts.Finally,72 articles were selected for review and analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Traditional Chinese medicine monomers can regulate multiple classical signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin,PI3K/Akt,mTOR,NF-κB,and MAPK.They achieve this by regulating oxidative stress,adjusting the expression of pro/anti-apoptotic proteins in cells,stimulating cellular autophagy function,reducing stimulation of cell inflammatory factors,increasing the expression of extracellular matrix markers,reducing the production of matrix-degrading enzymes,maintaining the synthesis and stability of extracellular matrix,inducing differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in the nucleus pulposus into nucleus pulposus cells,promoting endogenous repair and reconstruction,controlling apoptosis and aging of nucleus pulposus cells,and increasing the activity of nucleus pulposus cells.These actions improve the microenvironment within the intervertebral disc,maintain the normal physiological function of the intervertebral disc,and delay intervertebral disc degeneration.

ABSTRCT Purpose To explore the evolution of HER2 nega-tive subgroups(IHC Null,Ultra-low and 1+)in breast cancer with hormone receptor(HR)positive before and after neoadju-vant therapy,and the relationship with clinical pathological fea-tures.Methods There were 255 patients who did not achieve pathological complete response(pCR)consecutively after neoad-juvant therapy.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the ex-pression of ER,PR,HER2 and Ki67 and to evaluate the evolu-tion of HER2-negative subgroups after neoadjuvant therapy and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics.Results Among the 255 patients included in this study,HER2 expression was 0 and 1+in 116 cases(45.5％)and 139 cases(54.7％)respectively before neoadjuvant therapy,and then HER2 0 was further divided into Null group(61 cases,23.9％)and Ultra-low group(55 cases,21.6％).After neoadjuvant therapy,HER2 expression was 0 and 1+in 117 cases(45.9％)and 138 cases(54.1％)respectively,and then HER2 0 was further di-vided into Null group(64 cases,25.1％)and Ultra-low group(53 cases,20.8％).HER2 status changed in 121 patients(47.5％)after neoadjuvant therapy.The highest conversion rate was from HER2 Ultra-low before neoadjuvant therapy to 1+after neoadjuvant therapy,with a conversion rate of 11.76％(30/255),followed by HER2 1+to the Ultra-low,with a conversion rate of 10.98％(28/255).After the neoadjuvant therapy,44 of 55 cases had transformation in the HER2 Ultra-low group,with the conversion rate of as high as 80％.Chi-square test showed that HER2 expression before neoadjuvant therapy was correlated with the maximum tumor diameter(≤2 cm,＞2cm)after neo-adjuvant therapy(x2=6.106,P=0.047);the tumor of HER21+before neoadjuvant therapy was mostly 2 cm or less in the di-ameter.The HER2 status after neoadjuvant therapy was correla-ted with the tumor thrombus(x2=6.975,P=0.029).Patients with HER2 Ultra-low after treatment were more likely to have vascular invasion.Conclusion In HR positive breast cancer,when the HER2 0 cases are divided into Ultra-low and Null sub-groups,the HER2 conversion rate increases significantly after neoadjuvant therapy,in which the Ultra-low conversion rate is the highest,indicating that the HER2 Ultra-low cases are highly unstable after neoadjuvant therapy.It is important to detect HER2 expression in residual lesions after neoadjuvant therapy and to identify the Ultra-low HER2 expression subgroup.

A new class of potent liver injury protective compounds, phychetins A-D ( 1- 4) featuring an unique 6/6/5/6/5 pentacyclic framework, were isolated and structurally characterized from a Chinese medicinal plant Phyllanthus franchetianus. Compounds 2- 4 are three pairs of enantiomers that were initially obtained in a racemic manner, and were further separated by chiral HPLC preparation. Compounds 1- 4 were proposed to be originated biosynthetically from a coexisting lignan via an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction as the key step. A bioinspired total synthesis strategy was thus designated, and allowed the effective syntheses of compounds 2- 4 in high yields. Some of compounds exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activities in vitro via suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Notably, compound 4, the most active enantiomeric pair in vitro, displayed prominent potent protecting activity against liver injury at a low dose of 3 mg/kg in mice, which could serve as a promising lead for the development of acute liver injury therapeutic agent.

Objective:To explore the core prescriptions and mechanism of national TCM master Liu Bailing in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) based on data mining and network pharmacology methods; To provide the clinical reference for the treatment of LDH.Methods:The cases of LDH treated by Professor Liu in Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2019 were collected and analyzed. Hierarchical clustering and association rules were used to analyze the medication rules and core prescriptions. TCMSP, GeneCards, ETCM, SymMap, DAVID, etc. were used to analyze the network pharmacology of the core compounds in treating LDH and symptoms, and reveal the mechanism.Results:A total of 1 334 prescriptions were included, involving 201 kinds of Chinese materia medica, among which the medicinal property was mainly warm, the flavor was mainly sweet and the meridians were mainly liver meridian and kidney meridian; the core medicines for the treatment of LDH included Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Spatholobi Caulis, Cinnamomi Cortex, Corydalis Rhizoma, Eucommiae Cortex, Paederia Foetida and Amomi Fructus, reflecting that Professor Liu Bailing often treats LDH from the perspective of kidney deficiency, and commonly uses the treatment methods of dispelling wind, relieving pain, warming yang and benefiting the kidney. The core prescriptions mainly participated in three pathways of cancer, immunity and cell metabolism, including PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway. Conclusion:Professor Liu Bailing's treatment of LDH focuses on overall dialectical treatment, which mainly dispels wind, relieves pain, warms yang and benefits the kidney and the mechanism of the core prescriptions may lie in diminishing the inflammatory response. The core prescriptions may treat LDH by regulating the immune response and cellular physiological functions.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic basis of a child with Alazami syndrome (AS). METHODS: A child who presented at Tianjin Children's Hospital on June 13, 2021 was selected as the study subject. The child was subjected to whole exome sequencing (WES), and candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: WES revealed that the child has harbored two frameshifting variants of the LARP7 gene, namely c.429_430delAG (p.Arg143Serfs*17) and c.1056_1057delCT (p.Leu353Glufs*7), which were verified by Sanger sequencing to be respectively inherited from his father and mother. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants of the LARP7 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis in this child.
Female ; Humans ; Dwarfism/genetics* ; Exome Sequencing ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Microcephaly ; Mothers ; Mutation ; Male ; Child

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness and safety of transurethral low power green laser enucleation of prostate (VREP) after transrectal prostate puncture.Methods:The clinical data of 96 patients with VERP in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College from October 2020 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. They were randomly divided into the control group ( n=41) and the observation group ( n=55). The control group did not undergo prostate biopsy before operation, and the observation group underwent transrectal prostate biopsy within 1 week before operation. The general data, perioperative indexes, maximum urinary flow rate ( Qmax), international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life score (QOL) and complications of the two groups were compared before and 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Results:Preoperatively, the PSA was higher in the observation group compared with the control group ( P<0.05), and the differences in other general information were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had longer operation times and heavier resected specimens, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the comparison of enucleation efficiency, crushing efficiency, postoperative hemoglobin (HGB) decline value, postoperative hospitalization time, and postoperative ureter removal time (all P>0.05). At 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, Qmax, IPSS and QOL were significantly improved in the observation group compared with the control group (all P<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the comparison of the above-mentioned indexes in the same period after surgery (all P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the complication rate comparison between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Transurethral low-power green laser prostate enucleation after transrectal prostate puncture is efficacious and has a certain degree of safety.

Objective:To investigate 131I activity in thyroid of workers at the place of radioiodine therapy and its main influencing factors. Methods:In terms of the types of hospitals, six hospitals that performed radioiodine therapy procedure were selected by quota sampling in the provinces of Shandong and Shanxi. 131I activity in thyroids of 76 workers at the place of radioiodine therapy was measured directly, and their internal doses were estimated. Results:131I activity in thyroids was found to be above the detection limit for 29 subjects (38.16%) in five hospitals. The maximum value of 131I activity was 2 468.45 Bq for a doctor who was responsible for manual distribution of radioisotopes. In general 131I activities in thyroid of workers at the place of radioiodine therapy of six hospitals were not significantly different ( P>0.05). But the measurement result in the hospitals where radioiodine was distributed manually were significantly higher than that in the hospitals where radioiodine was distributed automatically ( Z=1.75, P<0.01). Thyroid measurement result of 12 workers in two hospitals where radioiodine was distributed manually were all above the detection limit, with medians of 324.59 Bq and 331.98 Bq, respectively. The medians of 131I activities in thyroid of 12 staff in the remaining 4 hospitals were all below the detection limit. The detection frequencies of 131I above dose limit were 32.61%, 25.00%, 10.00% and 0. The measurement result for the doctors who participated in distributing 131I and the relevent cleaners were significantly higher than for the doctors who did not participate in distributing 131I at the same hospital ( Z=2.44, 2.12, P<0.05). Conclusions:There was a significant difference in the internal exposure level among workers at the different places of radioiodine therapy. Using automatic loading device could reduce the internal exposure level of the workers at the place of radioiodine therapy. It is necessary to strengthen the radiological protection for workers at the control area of the place of radioiodine therapy.

Objective:To understand the 131I activity in thyroid of therapy workers in nuclear medicine department, and estimate the annual committed effective dose, in order to analyze the internal exposure of them. Methods:Six hospitals were investigated and 131I activity of thyroid was measured. The detection rate and activity value of thyroid 131I activity of therapy workers in nuclear medicine department were obtained from the six hospitals, and then the intake and annual committed effective dose were calculated. Results:A total of 63 iodine therapy workers from six hospitals were measured and 131I was detected for 52 workers among them, with the detection rate of 83% and 131I activities mostly lower than 200 Bq. The estimated annual committed effective dose ranged from 0.23 to 7.78 mSv. The annual committed effective dose to 84.6% of the workers was less than 2 mSv. Conclusions:Iodine therapy workers in nuclear medicine department should receive routine internal exposure personal monitoring, and the radiation protection system in all hospitals needs to be further improved.

Objective:To understand the activity concentration of 131I aerosol in the air of the iodine treatment workplace and estimate the internal dose of 131I inhaled by medical staff in nuclear medicine. Methods:Using CF-1001BRL portable large capacity air sampler, the 131I aerosol in the iodine treatment workplace of nuclear medicine department of 6 hospitals in Shandong province was collected by iodine box, and the HPGe-γ energy spectrometer was used to measure the samples. The 131I activity concentration in iodine treatment workplace at 6 hospitals was obtained, and the internal dose to medical staff was estimated. Results:The 131I activity concentration in the air in iodine treatment workplaces at 6 hospitals ranged from 3.64 to 2.94×10 3 Bq/m 3. The 131I activity concentration in the controlled area (ward, patient passageway, subpacking room, operation administration room) was significantly higher than that in the supervised area. The highest 131I activity concentration, 2.62×10 2 Bq/m 3, in the supervised area was found in the medical care passageway. The estimated effective dose to nuclear medicine workers was 0.07-5.68 mSv, not exceeding the national limit. Conclusions:The phenomenon of 131I aerosol contamination still exists in the iodine treatment workplaces of nuclear medicine departments in hospitals, so it is necessary to carry out internal radiation monitoring for nuclear medicine departments all around the country, and explore more reasonable protection standards and methods.

【Objective】 To evaluate the efficacy of Nd: YAG laser therapy adjunct to subgingival scaling and root planning (SRP) for treating severe chronic periodontitis. 【Methods】 We selected patients with severe chronic periodontitis whose teeth were distributed in 4 quadrants of the mouth, with probing depth (PD) of 5-8 mm, attachment loss (AL)≥5 mm and bleeding on probing (BOP). These teeth were randomly divided into three groups: SRP group, SRP+L group (Nd: YAG laser after SRP treatment), and L+SRP group (SRP after Nd: YAG laser treatment). We recorded parameters including BOP, PD and AL of the three groups at baseline and 8 weeks after treatment and made statistical analysis. 【Results】 At 8 weeks after treatment, BOP, PD and AL of the three groups were improved than those in the baseline (P<0.05). BOP positive percentage of SRP+L group and L+SRP group significantly reduced compared with SRP group (P<0.05). PD of SRP+L group significantly decreased compared with SRP group and L+SRP group (P<0.05), for sites with PD=7 mm, SRP+L group was significantly decreased compared with SRP and L+SRP groups (P<0.05). AL of SRP group significantly decreased compared with SRP+L group and L+SRP group (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Severe periodontal treatment with Nd:YAG laser adjunct to SRP is more effective in reducing BOP and PD, and for deeper pockets PD is significantly decreased in SRP+L group, but there is no advantage in the improvement of AL.