ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Tangning Tongluo tablets in the treatment of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy （DR）. MethodsFourteen research centers participated in this study， which spanned a time interval from September 2021 to May 2023. A total of 240 patients with nonproliferative DR were included and randomly assigned into an observation group （120 cases） and a control group （120 cases）. The observation group was treated with Tangning Tongluo tablets， and the control group with calcium dobesilate capsules. Both groups were treated for 24 consecutive weeks. The vision， DR progression rate， retinal microhemangioma， hemorrhage area， exudation area， glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c） level， and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment， and the safety was observed. ResultsThe vision changed in both groups after treatment （P<0.05）， and the observation group showed higher best corrected visual acuity （BCVA） than the control group （P<0.05）. The DR progression was slow with similar rates in the two groups. The fundus hemorrhage area and exudation area did not change significantly after treatment in both groups， while the observation group outperformed the control group in reducing the fundus hemorrhage area and exudation area. There was no significant difference in the number of microhemangiomas between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， the number of microhemangiomas decreased in both the observation group （Z=-1.437， P<0.05） and the control group （Z=-2.238， P<0.05）， and it showed no significant difference between the two groups. As the treatment time prolonged， the number of microhemangiomas gradually decreased in both groups. There was no significant difference in the HbA1c level between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， the decline in the HbA1c level showed no significant difference between the two groups. The TCM syndrome score did not have a statistically significant difference between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， neither the TCM syndrome score nor the response rate had significant difference between the two groups. With the extension of the treatment time， both groups showed amelioration of TCM syndrome compared with the baseline. ConclusionTangning Tongluo tablets are safe and effective in the treatment of nonproliferative DR， being capable of improving vision and reducing hemorrhage and exudation in the fundus.

AIM: To explore the intervention effect of Dahuangtang pellets (DHT) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) based on the AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin/unc-51-like kinase 1 (AMPK/mTOR/ULK1) signaling pathway. METHODS: Eight mice were randomly assigned to the model group, the dapagliflozin group, and the DHT (high, medium, and low dosage) group out of a total of 40 C57BL/KSJ-db/db (hereafter referred to as db/db) mice; another 10 C57BL/KSJ-db/dm mice were used as the normal group, saline was provided to the normal and model groups, and the mice in the treatment group received the appropriate medications. The medications were given for 10 consecutive weeks, once per day, to the mice in the treatment group. At weeks 0, 4, 8, and 10 of administration, fasting blood glucose (FBG) was assessed by drawing blood at a predetermined time from the tail vein; Urine samples were taken at 0, 5, and 10 weeks after treatment to evaluate the levels of albumin and creatinine, and the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) was computed. After 10 weeks, mice in each group were assayed for 24 h total urine protein, serum creatinine (Scr), urea nitrogen (BUN) levels; Western blotting analysis was conducted to detect the expression of p-AMPK, p-mTOR, and p-ULK1, as well as the expression of autophagy related proteins homolog of yeast Atg6 (Beclin-1), autophagy-related proteins microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), P62 in renal tissue; Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of podocyte lacunar membrane proteins (Nephrin, Podocin) in renal tissues; The pathological morphology of renal tissue was observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, FBG, ACR, and 24 h total urine protein were reduced in the dapagliflozin group and DHT groups of mice, and there was no statistically significant difference in Scr and BUN; In renal tissues, there is increased expression of p-AMPK and p-ULK1, decreased expression of p-mTOR, increased expression of LC3II / LC3I and Beclin-1, and decreased expression of P62 (P<0.01, P< 0.05); differentially upregulated in glomeruli are the podocyte lacunar membrane proteins Nephrin and Podocin (P<0.01, P<0.05); renal pathologic damage was reduced to varying degrees; transmission electron microscopy showed an increase in the number of autophagic vesicles and autophagic lysosomes. CONCLUSION: DHT can delay the development of DN by regulating the AMPK / mTOR / ULK1 signaling pathway, enhancing podocyte autophagy, and protecting glomeruli.

Colitis-associated cancer(CAC)is a specific type of colorectal cancer that develops from inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs)are a group of myeloid cells with immunosuppressive properties,and MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment proliferate and activate during the development of colitis-associated cancer,inhibiting T-cell production and impairing their function,which impedes the immunotherapeutic effect of colitis-associated cancer.In this paper,we review the immunosuppressive mechanisms of MDSCs in the development of inflammatory bowel disease to colitis-associated cancers and the current drugs targeting MDSCs for immunotherapy of inflammatory colorectal cancers,with a view to providing new strategies for the treatment of colitis-associated cancers.

Objective To investigate the effects of cinbufagin(CB)on the proliferation,migration and invasion ability as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)of human colon cells HCT116.Methods Logarithmically grown HCT116 cells were randomly divided into blank group and experimental-L,-M,-H groups;the blank group did not receive any treatment(0 nmol·L-1),and experimental-L,-M,-H groups were cultured in 1 640 medium containing 17.5,35 and 70 nmol·L-1 cinbufagin for 48 h.Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)was used to detect the effect of cinbufagin on the survival rate of HCT116 cells;cloning assay was used to detect the effect of cinbufagin on the proliferation of HCT116 cells;cell scratch assay and Transwell assay were used to detect the effect of cinbufagin on the migration and invasive ability of HCT116 cells;Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of janus kinase 2(JAK2)/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3(STAT3)pathway and EMT-related proteins of HCT116 cells.Results The number of clone formation in blank group and experimental-L,-M,-H groups were 122.67±24.42,73.67±15.82,44.33±4.51 and 21.67±1.53;the rates of migration of scratches were(44.64±9.15)％,(26.91±2.94)％,(19.28±1.52)％and(6.33±2.30)％;the number of invaded cells were 120.33±1.15,58.33±9.07,33.33±1.53 and 18.33±3.21;the relative protein expression of phosphorylated JAK-2(p-JAK-2)/JAK-2 were 1.02±0.06,0.94±0.05,0.75±0.22 and 0.49±0.22;relative protein expression of phosphorylated STAT3(p-STAT3)/STAT3 were 0.89±0.10,0.72±0.04,0.65±0.06 and 0.52±0.18;relative protein expression of E-cadherin were 0.30±0.14,0.41±0.13,0.49±0.14 and 0.69±0.17;relative protein expression of N-cadherin were 0.96±0.11,0.78±0.04,0.69±0.12 and 0.40±0.15;Snail relative protein expression were 0.89±0.08,0.62±0.15,0.44±0.15 and 0.27±0.09;Vimentin relative protein expression were 0.92±0.09,0.76±0.13,0.63±0.01 and 0.43±0.09,respectively.The above indexes in experimental-H group showed statistically significant differences compared to blank group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion HCT116 can inhibit the invasion and metastasis of human colorectal cancer cells HCT116 by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition through JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Objective To explore the mechanism of inhibition of colorectal cancer cells HT29 proliferation,migration and invasion by bufalin through Janus kinase 2(JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)pathway.Methods Human colorectal cancer HT29 cells were randomly divided into control group and experimental-L,-M,-H groups.The cells in the control group were not treated,and the cells in the experimental-L,-M,-H groups were treated with 2.5,5.0 and 10.0 μmol·L-1 bufalin for 48 h.After HT29 cells were infected with FLAG STAT3 lentivirus,the cells were divided into lentivirus infection group and experiment-H(10.0 pmol·L-1 bufalin)+lentivirus infection group.Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit 8(CCK-8).Cloning experiment to verify cell proliferation rate;Transwell experiment verified the migration ability of cells after bufalin treatment;the transfection efficiency of lentivirus and the expression of cell-related proteins were detected by Western blot.Results After 48 h of drug action,the number of cells in the control group,experimental-L,-M,-H groups were 1 003.25±255.53,698.00±152.25,562.13±31.56 and 449.50±82.40,respectively;the number of invasive cells were 932.00±188.84,742.22±108.64,514.67±124.82 and 343.56±86.42,respectively;the protein expression level of p-JAK2 were 1.37±0.27,0.97±0.06,0.74±0.06 and 0.39±0.12,respectively.The number of cells in the control group,experimental-H group,lentivirus infection group,and experimental-H+lentivirus infection group were 906.88±211.71,389.00±143.08,1 279.38±210.34 and 604.75±12.52,respectively;the number of invasive cells were 671.22±44.74,246.11±28.16,1 080.78±119.13 and 574.78±16.23,respectively.Compared with the control group,there were statistically significant differences in the number of cell proliferation,the number of cell invasion and the relative levels of p-JAK2 in the experimental-M and-H groups(all P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the number of cell proliferation and the number of cell invasion in the experimental-H group,the lentivirus infection group,and the high-dose experimental+lentivirus infection group were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Bufalin can inhibit the proliferation,migration and invasion of colorectal cancer by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway.

Objective To investigate the role of programmed necrosis pathway in testicular tissue damage in rats with erectile dysfunction(ED)and the mechanism of sildenafil intervention.Methods An ED rat model was established by high-fat chow feeding,and the rats were randomly divided into model group,experimental group,interleukin 18 group,and experimental+interleukin 18 group;10 rats were randomly selected as the normal control group.The experimental group was gavaged with 20 mg·kg-1sildenafil;the interleukin 18 group was injected intraperitoneally with 0.2 μg·kg-1interleukin 18 recombinant protein;the experimental+interleukin 18 group was gavaged with an equal amount of sildenafil,and the experimental+interleukin 18 group was injected intraperitoneally with an equal amount of interleukin 18 recombinant protein;the normal control and model groups were given with an equal amount of 0.9％NaCl by gavage and intraperitoneally injected with an equal amount of saline;and the experimental group was injected with an equal amount of 0.9％NaCl.Interleukin 18 group was gavaged with an equal amount of 0.9％NaCl,and the five groups of rats were administered once a day at regular intervals for 14 consecutive days.Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1(RIP1),receptor-interacting protein kinase 3(RIP3),mixed-spectrum kinase structural domain-like protein(MLKL),and calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ(CaMKⅡ)in rat testis tissues.Results The relative expression levels of RIP1 protein in the normal control group,model group,experimental group,interleukin 18 group and experimental+interleukin 18 group were 0.58±0.05,0.99±0.09,0.71±0.05,1.23±0.07 and 0.81±0.07;the relative expression levels of RIP3 protein were 0.61±0.05,1.05±0.10,0.77±0.04,1.19±0.07 and 0.84±0.08,respectively;the relative expression levels of MLKL protein were 0.63±0.05,1.13±0.08,0.79±0.05,1.30±0.02 and 1.00±0.04,respectively;the relative expression levels of CaMK Ⅱ protein were 0.54±0.04,1.12±0.07,0.77±0.05,1.36±0.04 and 1.00±0.07;the differences of the above indexes were statistically significant when the model group was compared with the normal control group,the experimental group was compared with the model group,the interleukin 18 group was compared with the model group,and the experimental+interleukin 18 group was compared with the interleukin 18 group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The RIP1/RIP3-mediated necroptosis pathway plays multiple regulatory roles in testicular injury in ED rats,and sildenafil may improve testicular function in rats by inhibiting the above necroptosis signaling pathway.

MicroRNAs(microRNAs,miRNAs)are a class of endogenous,single-stranded,short and highly conserved non-coding RNAs.miR-135b,as a member of miRNAs,is aberrantly expressed in digestive malignancies.Its mechanism of action involves a variety of target genes and participates in tumorigenesis and development by regulating cell proliferation,metastasis,and drug resistance.Clinical studies have shown that high expression of miR-135b is associated with poor patient prognosis and decreased survival.As a potential biomarker,miR-135b may be useful in the diagnosis,prognostic assessment,and therapeutic monitoring of malignant tumors of the digestive system.Therefore,miR-135b and its regulated pathways may become future therapeutic targets and provide new ideas for the treatment and management of tumor patients.

Objective:To research the association between exposure to solid fuels for heating and its duration and the risk of respiratory diseases morbidity.Methods:Data from the China Kadoorie Biobank project sited in Pengzhou City, Sichuan Province. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to analyze the association between exposure to solid fuels for heating and its duration and the risk of total respiratory diseases and the association between exposure to solid fuels for heating and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia among respiratory diseases.Results:A total of 46 082 participants aged 30-79 years were enrolled, with 11 634 (25.25%) heating during the winter, of whom 8 885 (19.28%) used clean fuels and 2 749 (5.97%) used solid fuels, of whom 34 448 (74.75%) did not heat. After controlling for multiple confounding factors, Cox proportional hazard regression model was used, which revealed that compared with clean fuels, unheating could reduce the risk of total respiratory disease ( HR=0.81,95% CI:0.77-0.86), COPD ( HR=0.86,95% CI:0.78-0.95) and pneumonia ( HR=0.80,95% CI:0.74-0.86), respectively. Exposure to solid fuels increased the risk of total respiratory disease ( HR=1.10, 95% CI:1.01-1.20) and were not associated with COPD and pneumonia. Compared with no solid fuel exposure, the risk of total respiratory disease (1-19 years: HR=1.23, 95% CI:1.10-1.37; 20-39 years: HR=1.25, 95% CI:1.16-1.35; ≥40 years: HR=1.26, 95% CI:1.15-1.39) and COPD (1-19 years: HR=1.21, 95% CI:1.03-1.42; 20-39 years: HR=1.30, 95% CI:1.16-1.46; ≥40 years: HR=1.35, 95% CI:1.18-1.54) increased with the length of exposure of solid fuels (trend test P<0.001). Solid fuels exposure for 1-19 years and 20-39 years increased the risk of COPD by 23% ( HR=1.23,95% CI:1.02-1.49) and 16% ( HR=1.16, 95% CI:1.00-1.35). Conclusion:Heating solid fuels exposure increases the risk of total respiratory disease, COPD, and pneumonia.

Objective:To investigate the morbidity of cerebrovascular disease among residents ≥30 years in Pengzhou, Sichuan Province, and analyze the effect of physical activity level on the risk of morbidity of cerebrovascular disease.Methods:From 2004 to 2008, people from Pengzhou, Sichuan Province were randomly selected. All the local people aged 30-79 were asked to receive a questionnaire survey, physical examination, and long-term follow-up to determine the morbidity of cerebrovascular disease. The physical activity level and the morbidity of cerebrovascular disease were described, and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate the association of domain-specific physical activity with the risk of morbidity of cerebrovascular disease.Results:In 55 126 participants, there were 5 290 new cases of cerebrovascular disease, with a cumulative incidence of 9.60%. After the adjustment for multiple confounding factors, multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that increased levels of occupational, transportation, and total physical activity reduced the risk of cerebrovascular disease and its subtypes (cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction). The highest group of occupational physical activity level had the lowest risk of cerebrovascular disease, with a hazard ratio ( HR) value of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.75-0.88), the highest group of transportation physical activity level had the lowest risk of cerebrovascular disease, with an HR value of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.78-0.91), the highest group of total physical activity level had the lowest risk of cerebrovascular disease, with an HR value of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.80-0.94), compared with the lowest group of corresponding physical activity. No association was found between the household/leisure-time physical activity level and the risk of cerebrovascular disease and its subtypes (cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction). Conclusions:In project areas of Pengzhou, Sichuan Province, increased physical activity has been associated with reduced morbidity of cerebrovascular disease and its subtypes (cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction). Increased levels of physical activity in adults are encouraged for health benefits.

The current situation of artificial intelligence(AI)was introduced when applied in the key links of cardiovascular health management such as risk prediction,early screening,clinical decision support and health consultation and education.The deficiencies of AI during the application were analyzed,and the prospects and development directions of AI in cardiovascular health management were pointed out.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(2):92-96]