Aim To investigate the regulatory mecha-nism of butin on the proliferation,migration,cycle blockage and pyroptosis related inflammatory factors in human fibroblast-like synoviocytes of rheumatoid arthri-tis(HFLS-RA).Methods Cell proliferation,migra-tion and invasion were studied using cell migration and invasion assays.Cell cycle was detected by flow cytom-etry,and the expression of the pyroptosis-associated in-flammatory factors IL-1β,IL-18,caspase-1 and caspase-3 was detected by ELISA,RT-qPCR and West-ern blot.Results Migration and invasion experiments showed that the cell proliferation rate of the butin group was lower than that of the blank control group(P＜0.05).Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that in the G0/G1 phase,the DNA expression was elevated in the medium and high-dose groups of butin(P＜0.05),while in the G2 and S phases,the DNA expression was reduced in the medium and high-dose groups of butin(P＜0.05).The results of ELISA,RT-qPCR and Western blot assay revealed that the expression of IL-1β,IL-1 8,caspase-1,and caspase-3 decreased in the butin group compared with the IL-1β+caspase-3 in-hibitor group(P＜0.05).Conclusions Butin inhib-its HFLS-RA proliferation by inhibiting the synthesis of inflammatory vesicles by caspase-1 in the pyroptosis pathway,thereby reducing the production and release of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β and IL-18 down-stream of the pathway,and also inhibits HFLS-RA pro-liferation by exerting a significant blocking effect in the G1 phase,which may be one of the potential mecha-nisms of butin in the treatment of RA.

Objective: Patients with late life depression sometimes refuse to receive electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) owing to its adverse reactions. To alleviate patient’s resistance, a novel ECT stimulation strategy named mixed-strategy ECT (msECT) was designed in which patients are administered conventional ECT during the first three sessions, followed by low energy stimulation during the subsequent sessions. However, whether low energy electrical stimulation in the subsequent stage of therapy affect its efficacy and reduce adverse reactions in patients with late life depression remains unknown. To explore differences between msECT and regular ECT(RECT) with respect to clinical efficacy and side effects Methods: This randomized, controlled trial was conducted from 2019 to 2021 on 60 patients with late life depression who were randomly assigned to two groups: RECT or msECT. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to compare the two stimulation strategies regarding their efficacy and side effects on cognition. Chi-squared test was used to compare side effects in the two strategies. Results: In the intent-to-treat group, the GEE model suggested no differences between-group difference in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 score over time (Wald χ2=7.275, p=0.064), whereas the comparison of side effects in the two strategies favored msECT (Wald χ2=8.463, p=0.015) as fewer patients had adverse events during the second phase of treatment with msECT (χ2 =13.467, p=0.004). Conclusion msECT presents its similar efficacy to RECT. msECT may have milder side effects on cognition.

Objective: To investigate the influence of extending the waiting time on tumor regression after neoadjuvant chemoradiology (nCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Methods: Clinicopathological data from 728 LARC patients who completed nCRT treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital, Naval Medical University from January 2012 to December 2021 were collected for retrospective analysis. The primary research endpoint was the sustained complete response (SCR). There were 498 males and 230 females, with an age (M(IQR)) of 58 (15) years (range: 22 to 89 years). Logistic regression models were used to explore whether waiting time was an independent factor affecting SCR. Curve fitting was used to represent the relationship between the cumulative occurrence rate of SCR and the waiting time. The patients were divided into a conventional waiting time group (4 to <12 weeks, n=581) and an extended waiting time group (12 to<20 weeks, n=147). Comparisons regarding tumor regression, organ preservation, and surgical conditions between the two groups were made using the t test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, or χ² test as appropriate. The Log-rank test was used to elucidate the survival discrepancies between the two groups. Results: The SCR rate of all patients was 21.6% (157/728). The waiting time was an independent influencing factor for SCR, with each additional day corresponding to an OR value of 1.010 (95%CI: 1.001 to 1.020, P=0.031). The cumulative rate of SCR occurrence gradually increased with the extension of waiting time, with the fastest increase between the 9^th to <10^th week. The SCR rate in the extended waiting time group was higher (27.9%(41/147) vs. 20.0%(116/581), χ²=3.901, P=0.048), and the organ preservation rate during the follow-up period was higher (21.1%(31/147) vs. 10.7%(62/581), χ²=10.510, P=0.001). The 3-year local recurrence/regrowth-free survival rates were 94.0% and 91.1%, the 3-year disease-free survival rates were 76.6% and 75.4%, and the 3-year overall survival rates were 95.6% and 92.2% for the conventional and extended waiting time groups, respectively, with no statistical differences in local recurrence/regrowth-free survival, disease-free survival and overall survival between the two groups (χ²=1.878, P=0.171; χ²=0.078, P=0.780; χ²=1.265, P=0.261). Conclusions: An extended waiting time is conducive to tumor regression, and extending the waiting time to 12 to <20 weeks after nCRT can improve the SCR rate and organ preservation rate, without increasing the difficulty of surgery or altering the oncological outcomes of patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the involvement of endothelial cells (ECs)-derived exosomes in the anti-apoptotic effect of Danhong Injection (DHI) and the mechanism of DHI-induced exosomal protection against postinfarction myocardial apoptosis. METHODS: A mouse permanent myocardial infarction (MI) model was established, followed by a 14-day daily treatment with DHI, DHI plus GW4869 (an exosomal inhibitor), or saline. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-induced ECs-derived exosomes were isolated, analyzed by miRNA microarray and validated by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). The exosomes induced by DHI (DHI-exo), PBS (PBS-exo), or DHI+GW4869 (GW-exo) were isolated and injected into the peri-infarct zone following MI. The protective effects of DHI and DHI-exo on MI hearts were measured by echocardiography, Masson's trichrome staining, and TUNEL apoptosis assay. The Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate the expression levels of miR-125b/p53-mediated pathway components, including miR-125b, p53, Bak, Bax, and caspase-3 activities. RESULTS: DHI significantly improved cardiac function and reduced infarct size in MI mice (P<0.01), which was abolished by the GW4869 intervention. DHI promoted the exosomal secretion in ECs (P<0.01). According to the results of exosomal miRNA microarray assay, 30 differentially expressed miRNAs in the DHI-exo were identified (28 up-regulated miRNAs and 2 down-regulated miRNAs). Among them, DHI significantly elevated miR-125b level in DHI-exo and DHI-treated ECs, a recognized apoptotic inhibitor impeding p53 signaling (P<0.05). Remarkably, treatment with DHI and DHI-exo attenuated apoptosis, elevated miR-125b expression level, inhibited capsase-3 activity, and down-regulated the expression levels of proapoptotic effectors (p53, Bak, and Bax) in post-MI hearts, whereas these effects were blocked by GW4869 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION DHI and DHI-induced exosomes inhibited apoptosis, promoted the miR-125b expression level, and regulated the p53 apoptotic pathway in post-infarction myocardium.
Mice ; Animals ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy* ; Apoptosis ; MicroRNAs/metabolism*

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of pelvic peritoneal reconstruction and its effect on anal function in laparoscopy-assisted anterior resection of low and middle rectal cancer. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted. Consecutive patients with low and middle rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopy-assisted transabdominal anterior resection at Naval Military Medical University Changhai Hospital from February 2020 to February 2021 were enrolled. Inclusion criteria: (1) the distance from tumor to the anal verge ≤10 cm; (2) laparoscopy-assisted transabdominal anterior resection of rectal cancer; (3) complete clinical data; (4) rectal adenocarcinoma diagnosed by postoperative pathology. Exclusion criteria: (1) emergency surgery; (2) patients with a history of anal dysfunction or anal surgery; (3) preoperative diagnosis of distant (liver, lung) metastasis; (4) intestinal obstruction; (5) conversion to open surgery for various reasons. The pelvic floor was reconstructed using SXMD1B405 (Stratafix helical PGA-PCL, Ethicon). The first needle was sutured from the left anterior wall of the neorectum to the right. Insertion of the needle was continued to suture the root of the sigmoid mesentery while the Hemo-lok was used to fix the suture. The second needle was started from the beginning of the first needle, after 3-4 needles, a drainage tube was inserted through the left lower abdominal trocar to the presacral space. Then, the left peritoneal incision of the descending colon was sutured, after which Hemo-lok fixation was performed. The operative time, perioperative complications, postoperative Wexner anal function score and low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score were compared between the study group and the control group. Three to six months after the operation, pelvic MRI was performed to observe and compare the pelvic floor anatomical structure of the two groups. Results: A total of 230 patients were enrolled, including 58 who underwent pelvic floor peritoneum reconstruction as the study group and 172 who did not undergo pelvic floor peritoneum reconstruction as the control group. There were no significant differences in general data between the two groups (all P>0.05). The operation time of the study group was longer than that of control group [(177.5±33.0) minutes vs. (148.7±45.5) minutes, P<0.001]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of perioperative complications (including anastomotic leakage, anastomotic bleeding, postoperative pneumonia, urinary tract infection, deep vein thrombosis, and intestinal obstruction) between the two groups (all P>0.05). Eight cases had anastomotic leakage, of whom 2 cases (3.4%) in the study group were discharged after conservative treatment, 5 cases (2.9%) of other 6 cases (3.5%) in the control group were discharged after the secondary surgical treatment. The Wexner score and LARS score were 3.1±2.8 and 23.0 (16.0-28.0) in the study group, which were lower than those in the control group [4.7±3.4 and 27.0 (18.0-32.0)], and the differences were statistically significant (t=-3.018, P=0.003 and Z=-2.257, P=0.024). Severe LARS was 16.5% (7/45) in study group and 35.5% (50/141) in control group, and the difference was no significant differences (Z=4.373, P=0.373). Pelvic MRI examination 3 to 6 months after surgery showed that the incidence of intestinal accumulation in the pelvic floor was 9.1% (3/33) in study group and 46.4% (64/138) in control group (χ(2)=15.537, P<0.001). Conclusion: Pelvic peritoneal reconstruction using stratafix in laparoscopic anterior resection of middle and low rectal cancer is safe and feasible, which may reduce the probability of the secondary operation in patients with anastomotic leakage and significantly improve postoperative anal function.
Anastomotic Leak/surgery* ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction/surgery* ; Laparoscopy ; Postoperative Complications/surgery* ; Prospective Studies ; Rectal Diseases/surgery* ; Rectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To explore the intervention effect of Wenxin granule on endoplasmic reticulum stress apoptosis pathway and its related mechanism in rats with myocardial infarction. Method:Ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery to establish the rat model， the rats were randomly divided into 5 groups， namely sham group， model group， betaloc group and low， high-dose Wenxin granule groups，10 in each group. The sham group and the model group were given 10 mL∙kg^-1∙d^-1 deionized water， the low， high-dose modified Wenxin groups were given 1.35， 2.7 g∙kg^-1∙d^-1 aqueous solution respectively， and the betaloc group was given 2.25 mg∙kg^-1∙d^-1 aqueous solution. After 14 days，the catheter method was used to detect the cardiac hemodynamics and hematoxylin-eosin staining （HE） was used to observe the pathological morphological changes. The levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress protein glucose regulatory protein 78（GRP78）， protein kinase R like endoplasmic reticulum kinase（PERK）， phosphorylated activated PERK（p-PERK）， activated transcription factor 6 （ATF6）， nuclear transcription factor X cassette binding protein（XBP1） and apoptosis protein C/EBP homologous protein（CHOP）， B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2（Bcl-2） and Bcl-2 associated X protein（Bax） were detected by Western blot. Deoxyribonucleotide end-transferase-mediated notch end labeling （TUNEL） was also used to detect the myocardial cell apoptosis. Result:Compared with control group， the levels of the maximum ascending rate of left ventricular pressure（+dp/dt_max）， the maximum descending rate of left ventricular pressure（-dp/dt_max） and the left ventricular systolic blood pressure（LVSP） were decreased significantly（P<0.05），but the level of the left ventricular end diastolic blood pressure （LVEDP） was significantly increased（P<0.05）. The expressions of GRP78， p-PERK， PERK， ATF6， XBP1， CHOP， Bax and apoptosis index were increased significantly （P<0.05，P<0.01）， while Bcl-2/Bax and Bcl-2 were decreased significantly（P<0.01） in model group. Compared with the model group， the levels of -dp/dt_max and Bcl-2 were increased significantly （P<0.05），while the level of the apoptosis index was decreased significantly（P<0.01） in low-dose Wenxin granule group. In high-dose Wenxin granule group， the levels of +dp/dt_max and -dp/dt_max were increased significantly（P<0.05，P<0.01）， the levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway protein GRP78， p-PERK， PERK， ATF6， XBP1，apoptosis-related protein CHOP， Bax and apoptosis index were decreased significantly（P<0.01）， but Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax were increased significantly （P<0.01）. Conclusion:Wenxin granule has effect in inhibiting excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress， reducing myocardial cell apoptosis and improving cardiac hemodynamics. Its molecular mechanism may be related to decrease the levels of GRP78， PERK， p-PERK， ATF6， XBP1， CHOP， Bax and increasing the expression of Bcl-2.

Betacoronavirus ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronavirus Infections ; prevention & control ; Disease Outbreaks ; Emergencies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Internet ; Pandemics ; prevention & control ; Pneumonia, Viral ; prevention & control

The aim of this paper was to study the curative effect of Huotan Jiedu Tongluo (HTJDTL) decoction on a rabbit model with early atherosclerosis (AS),and furtherly to explore whether it could inhibit the BH4/eNOS uncoupling ROS or not. Twenty-four Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, HTJDTL decoction group and atorvastatin group. Rabbit models with early atherosclerosis were established by high fat diet, nitrogen drying and carotid artery balloon injury. The rabbits were sacrificed at 7th days after balloon injury and several parameters were measured. The pathological morphology of the common carotid artery was observed by HE staining. The blood lipids were detected by peroxidase method. The ratio of vascular eNOS dimer and monomer was measured by Western blot. The ELISA and biochemical technology were respectively used for testing BH4 and ROS levels in serum. The results showed that compared with the sham operation group, the model group had mild stenosis of the common carotid artery lumen, uneven intimal hyperplasia, lipid deposition in the intima and media, and obvious hyperplasia of the adventitia with inflammatory cell infiltration. The HTJDTL decoction could significantly inhibit the intimal hyperplasia compared with the model group, meanwhile, reduce the lipid deposition of the media and the infiltration of the adventitial cells. Compared with the sham operation group, the blood lipids and ROS of the model animals significantly increased, but BH4 and the ratio of eNOS dimer/monomer decreased. Compared with the model group, HTJDTL decoction significantly reduced the TC, ox-LDL and ROS levels, and also up-regulated eNOS dimer/monomer ratio, but it increased BH4 trend without statistical difference. According to the results, it was found that HTJDTL decoction couldsignificantly prevent and improve the vascular remodeling of rabbits model with early atherosclerosis. The mechanism of decoction may largely be related to the inhibition of BH4/eNOS uncoupling and the reduction of oxidative stress.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Objective To evaluate the role of minimum apparent diffusion coefficient(MinADC) values in peritumoral edema based on magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging in the differential diagnosis between primary central nervous system lymphoma(PCNSL) and glioblastoma(GBM).Methods ADC values in peritumoral edema were measured in 16 patients with PCNSL(diffuse large B cell lymphoma) and 31 patients with GBM(WHO grade 4) confirmed by pathology.Regions of interests were manually drawn on ADC maps on peritumoral edema regions to obtain the MinADC value.Independent samples t-test and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed for statistical analysis.Results The MinADC value [(1.20-1.45)×10 mm/s,mean(1.35±0.68)×10 mm/s] in PCNSL was significantly higher than that in GBM [(0.95-1.31)×10 mm/s,mean(1.12±0.09)×10 mm/s](t=9.977,P=0.000).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.986,and the cutoff value of MinADC was 1.245×10 mm/s for the differentiation between PCNSL and GBM,with the best combination of sensitivity(94.1%) and specificity(94.1%).Conclusion MinADC value can be a simple and effective measure for the differential diagnosis between PCNSL and GBM.

Aim To study the effects of harpagide on hippocampal neurons, mitochondrial function and caspase-independent apoptosis pathway after cerebral ischemia in mice. Methods The middle cerebral ar-tery occlusion (MCAO ) was employed to establish MCAO model. After that,the mice were given harp-agide (4,8,12 mg·kg - 1 )and edaravone (3. 2 mg ·kg - 1 )by tail vein injection after MCAO immediate-ly,and the model and control mice were given equal a-mounts of saline by the same way. After MCAO for 6 h,the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neuron and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP)of MCAO mice were detected by flow cytometry. We observed the clarity of inner and outer membrane of the hipp-ocampal neuronal mitochondrial,the integrity of the mitochondrial cristae,the changes of matrix electron density of mitochondria,and mitochondria swelling by transmission electron microscopy. Western blot was employed to determine the expression of apoptosis in-duced factor (AIF)and endonuclease G (Endo G)in mitochondrion and pro-caspase-3 in endochylema. qPCR was employed to determine the expression of AIF and Endo G. Results Compared with control group, the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neuron of MCAO mice significantly increased(P < 0. 01),the MMP of hippocampal neuron significantly decreased and the mi-tochondrial ultrastructure of cerebral ischemic area was severely damaged, loosely arranged and obviously swollen;the expression of AIF and Endo G in mito-chondria of cerebral tissue of MCAO mice significantly decreased,and the releases of AIF and Endo G signifi-cantly increased(P < 0. 01);the expressions of AIF, Endo G mRNA were evidently up-regulated (P <0. 01). Compared with model group,each dose of harpagide could significantly decrease the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons of mice brain (P < 0 . 05 ,P < 0. 01);MMP markedly increased in hippocampal nerve cells(P < 0. 01);the ultrastructure of neuronal mitochondria was obviously improved. Compared with model group,harpagide (8,12 mg·kg - 1 )could sig-nificantly increase the expression of AIF and Endo G protein in mitochondria of mouse brain,and the release of mitochondrial AIF and Endo G protein decreased(P< 0. 05,P < 0. 01);harpagide (4 mg·kg - 1 )could significantly increase the expression of Endo G protein in mitochondria of mouse brain,and the release of En-do G protein markedly decreased (P < 0. 05);harp-agide (8,12 mg·kg - 1 )could significantly decrease the expression of AIF and Endo G mRNA in hippocam-pus of mice(P < 0. 05,P < 0. 01). Conclusion The protective effect of harpagide on MCAO may be related to the protective effects on cerebral nerve cells,the ac-tivity of the mitochondria and the inhibition of caspase-independent apoptotic signaling pathways.