OBJECTIVE To optimize the simmering technology of Rheum palmatum from Menghe Medical School and compare the difference of chemical components before and after processing. METHODS Using appearance score， the contents of gallic acid， 5-hydroxymethylfurfural （5-HMF）， sennoside A+sennoside B， combined anthraquinone and free anthraquinone as indexes， analytic hierarchy process （AHP）-entropy weight method was used to calculate the comprehensive score of evaluation indicators； the orthogonal experiment was designed to optimize the processing technology of simmering R. palmatum with fire temperature， simmering time， paper layer number and paper wrapping time as factors； validation test was conducted. The changes in the contents of five anthraquinones （aloe-emodin， rhein， emodin， chrysophanol， physcion）， five anthraquinone glycosides （barbaloin， rheinoside， rhubarb glycoside， emodin glycoside， and emodin methyl ether glycoside）， two sennosides （sennoside A， sennoside B）， gallic acid and 5-HMF were compared between simmered R. palmatum prepared by optimized technology and R. palmatum. RESULTS The optimal processing conditions of R. palmatum was as follows: each 80 g R. palmatum was wrapped with a layer of wet paper for 0.5 h， simmered on high heat for 20 min and then simmered at 140 ℃， the total simmering time was 2.5 h. The average comprehensive score of 3 validation tests was 94.10 （RSD＜1.0%）. After simmering， the contents of five anthraquinones and two sennosides were decreased significantly， while those of 5 free anthraquinones and gallic acid were increased to different extents； a new component 5-HMF was formed. CONCLUSIONS This study successfully optimizes the simmering technology of R. palmatum. There is a significant difference in the chemical components before and after processing， which can explain that simmering technology slows down the relase of R. palmatum and beneficiate it.

Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) has been a safe and viable alternative to conversion to laparotomy in cases of severe cholecystitis. The objective of this study is to determine the utility of intraoperative choledochoscopy in LSC for the exploration of the gallbladder, cyst duct, and subsequent stone clearance of the cystic duct in cases of severe cholecystitis. A total of 72 patients diagnosed with severe cholecystitis received choledochoscopy-assisted laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (CALSC). A choledochoscopy was performed to explore the gallbladder cavity and/or cystic duct, and to extract stones using a range of techniques. The clinical records, including the operative records and outcomes, were subjected to analysis. No LSC was converted to open surgery, and no bile duct or vascular injuries were sustained. All stones within the cystic duct were removed by a combination of techniques, including high-frequency needle knife electrotomy, basket, and electrohydraulic lithotripsy. A follow-up examination revealed the absence of residual bile duct stones, with the exception of one common bile duct stone, which was extracted via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In certain special cases, CALSC may prove to be an efficacious treatment for the management of severe cholecystitis. This technique allows for optimal comprehension of the situation within the gallbladder cavity and cystic duct, facilitating the removal of stones from the cystic duct and reducing the residue of the non-functional gallbladder remnant.

Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) has been a safe and viable alternative to conversion to laparotomy in cases of severe cholecystitis. The objective of this study is to determine the utility of intraoperative choledochoscopy in LSC for the exploration of the gallbladder, cyst duct, and subsequent stone clearance of the cystic duct in cases of severe cholecystitis. A total of 72 patients diagnosed with severe cholecystitis received choledochoscopy-assisted laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (CALSC). A choledochoscopy was performed to explore the gallbladder cavity and/or cystic duct, and to extract stones using a range of techniques. The clinical records, including the operative records and outcomes, were subjected to analysis. No LSC was converted to open surgery, and no bile duct or vascular injuries were sustained. All stones within the cystic duct were removed by a combination of techniques, including high-frequency needle knife electrotomy, basket, and electrohydraulic lithotripsy. A follow-up examination revealed the absence of residual bile duct stones, with the exception of one common bile duct stone, which was extracted via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In certain special cases, CALSC may prove to be an efficacious treatment for the management of severe cholecystitis. This technique allows for optimal comprehension of the situation within the gallbladder cavity and cystic duct, facilitating the removal of stones from the cystic duct and reducing the residue of the non-functional gallbladder remnant.

Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) has been a safe and viable alternative to conversion to laparotomy in cases of severe cholecystitis. The objective of this study is to determine the utility of intraoperative choledochoscopy in LSC for the exploration of the gallbladder, cyst duct, and subsequent stone clearance of the cystic duct in cases of severe cholecystitis. A total of 72 patients diagnosed with severe cholecystitis received choledochoscopy-assisted laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (CALSC). A choledochoscopy was performed to explore the gallbladder cavity and/or cystic duct, and to extract stones using a range of techniques. The clinical records, including the operative records and outcomes, were subjected to analysis. No LSC was converted to open surgery, and no bile duct or vascular injuries were sustained. All stones within the cystic duct were removed by a combination of techniques, including high-frequency needle knife electrotomy, basket, and electrohydraulic lithotripsy. A follow-up examination revealed the absence of residual bile duct stones, with the exception of one common bile duct stone, which was extracted via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In certain special cases, CALSC may prove to be an efficacious treatment for the management of severe cholecystitis. This technique allows for optimal comprehension of the situation within the gallbladder cavity and cystic duct, facilitating the removal of stones from the cystic duct and reducing the residue of the non-functional gallbladder remnant.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Huangqin Tang （HQT） in regulating metabolic reprogramming during the inflammation-cancer transformation in colitis-associated colorectal cancer （CAC）. MethodsCAC mouse model was established using the carcinogen azoxymethane （AOM） combined with the inflammatory agent dextran sulfate sodium （DSS）. HQT treatment was adopted. Serum metabolomics analysis was performed at three stages （inflammation， proliferation， and tumor formation） using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS） untargeted metabolomics coupled with multivariate statistical analysis to explore the mechanism of HQT intervention in metabolism in CAC. ResultsThe results revealed that HQT significantly reversed the disturbance of key metabolites in CAC mice. A total of 52， 67， and 45 differential metabolites were identified in the model group， compared to the normal group， during inflammation， proliferation， and tumor stages， respectively. Lactate， linoleic acid， oleic acid， elaidic acid， and betaine were characteristic metabolites persistently enriched throughout colitis-cancer transformation. Pathway enrichment analysis of differential metabolites showed that linoleic acid metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolism were the most significantly disturbed in CAC pathogenesis. The proliferation stage featured expanded amino acid metabolic networks， while the tumor stage uniquely exhibited two new pathways of nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism and phosphoinositide metabolism. HQT exerted stage-specific regulatory effects： targeting arachidonic acid metabolism in the inflammation stage， correcting the dysregulation of choline-carnitine metabolism in the proliferation stage， and rescuing nicotinamide and tryptophan metabolic collapse in the tumor stage. ConclusionHQT exerts regulatory effects on metabolic disorders at various stages of the colitis-cancer transformation process， thereby effectively slowing the progression from colitis to cancer. The study also reveals the dynamic metabolic characteristics of colorectal "inflammation-cancer transformation，"providing new insights for research on the targeted mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine in anti-tumor therapy based on metabolic reprogramming.

ObjectiveTo induce the rat model of ulcerative colitis （UC） with spleen-kidney Yang deficiency and liver depression， and explore the efficacy and mechanism of Sishenwan combined with Tongxie Yaofang （SSW&TXYF） based on the therapeutic principles of tonifying spleen， soothing liver， warming kidney， and astringing intestine. MethodSixty male SD rats were randomized into normal， model， mesalazine， and high-， medium-， and low-dose SSW&TXYF groups. The rats in other groups except the normal group were administrated with Sennae Folium decoction and hydrocortisone and received tail clamping for 14 days. On day 14， rats received enema with TNBS-ethanol solution to induce UC. The rats were administrated with corresponding drugs from day 15 of modeling， and the body weight and mental state were observed and recorded. The sucrose preference test was performed from day 25. On day 28， the rectal temperature was measured， and the rats were administrated with 3% D-xylose solution at a dose of 10 mL·kg^-1 by gavage. Blood was sampled 1 h later， from which the serum was collected for measurement of the D-xylose content. The serum， hippocampus， and colorectum samples of rats were collected on day 29. The levels of gastrin （GAS）， adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH）， corticosterone （CORT）， cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP）， cyclic guanosine monophosphate （cGMP）， interleukin （IL）-4， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， and interferon （IFN）-γ in the serum and 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） in the hippocampus were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to reveal the colonic lesions. The mRNA and protein levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK）， and c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK） in the colon tissue were determined by Real-time PCR and Western blot， respectively. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed decreased body weight， anal temperature， and D-xylose content in the serum and increased GAS content （P<0.01）. The modeling led to cAMP/cGMP unbalance and decreased the ACTH and CORT content in the serum （P<0.01）， the preference for sucrose water， and the 5-HT content in the hippocampus （P<0.01）. Moreover， it shortened the colorectal length and caused massive infiltration of inflammatory cells and severe structural damage in the colon tissue. High， medium， and low doses of SSW&TXYF improved above indicators （P<0.05， P<0.01）， reduced inflammatory infiltration， and repaired the pathological damage of the tissue. Compared with the normal group， the model group showed lowered IL-4 level （P<0.01） and elevated TNF-α and IFN-γ levels （P<0.05， P<0.01） in the serum， as well as up-regulated expression of p38 MAPK， ERK， and JNK （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， SSW&TXYF elevated the IL-4 level （P<0.01）， lowered the TNF-α and IFN-γ levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of p38 MAPK， ERK， and JNK （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionA rat model of UC with spleen-kidney Yang deficiency and liver depression was successfully established. SSW&TXYF can significantly mitigate this syndrome by reducing the inflammatory response in the colon and inhibiting the MAPK pathway.

ObjectiveHuman Ku70 protein mainly involves the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair of double-stranded DNA breaks (DSB) through its DNA-binding properties, and it is recently reported having an RNA-binding ability. This paper is to explore whether Ku70 has RNA helicase activity and affects miRNA maturation. MethodsRNAs bound to Ku protein were analyzed by RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-seq) and bioinfomatic anaylsis. The expression relationship between Ku protein and miRNAs was verified by Western blot (WB) and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays. Binding ability of Ku protein to the RNAs was tested by biolayer interferometry (BLI) assay. RNA helicase activity of Ku protein was identified with EMSA assay. The effect of Ku70 regulated miR-124 on neuronal differentiation was performed by morphology analysis, WB and immunofluorescence assays with or without Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. ResultsWe revealed that the Ku70 protein had RNA helicase activity and affected miRNA maturation. Deficiency of Ku70 led to the up-regulation of a large number of mature miRNAs, especially neuronal specific miRNAs like miR-124. The knockdown of Ku70 promoted neuronal differentiation in human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) and SH-SY5Y cells by boosting miR-124 maturation. Importantly, ZIKV infection reduced the expression of Ku70 whereas increased expression of miR-124 in hNPCs, and led to morphologically neuronal differentiation. ConclusionOur study revealed a novel function of Ku70 as an RNA helicase and regulating miRNA maturation. The reduced expression of Ku70 with ZIKV infection increased the expression of miR-124 and led to the premature differentiation of embryonic neural progenitor cells, which might be one of the causes of microcephaly.

Objective To optimize the method of combining azomethane oxide(AOM)and dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)to create a colitis-associated colon cancer(CAC)model,and to explore the pathogenesis of the intestinal flora in CAC.Methods Model groups A and B were established by one and two injections of AOM,respectively,combined with free drinking of DSS,and a normal control group was injected intraperitoneally with normal saline combined with purified water(n=10 mice per group).The better modeling scheme was selected by comprehensive evaluation of the disease activity index score,colon length,tumor rate,and mortality.Serum levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and tumor markers CA199,CEA,and CA724 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Colon lesions were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining.Changes in the intestinal microbiota in CAC mice were detected by 16S rDNA high-throughput gene sequencing analysis of mouse feces.Results Both single and enhanced AOM injections combined with DSS induced CAC mice;however,colon growths were larger,more closely arranged,and their morphological size was more consistent in group B compared with group A,with a tumor-formation rate of 100％.IL-6 levels were increased in the model group compared with the normal group(P＜0.05).TNF-α levels were increased in the model group compared with the normal group(P＞0.05).The CA199 and CEA levels were also significantly increased(P＜0.05),but CA724 levels were not.Infiltration of inflammatory cells in the colon detected by HE pathology was accompanied by high-grade intraepithelial tumor-like changes on the surface of the lumen.The diversity and abundance of intestinal bacteria were decreased in CAC mice compared with normal mice:phyla Verrucomicrobiota and Actinobacteriota were significantly increased(P＜0.05),Bacteroidota and Campilobacterota were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Akkermansia,Prevotellaceae,Ruminococcus,and Bifidobacterium were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and Roseburia,Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group,Anaeroplasma,and Muribaculaceae were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusions Two injections of AOM combined with 1.5％(1.5 g/100 mL)DSS induced CAC model mice with a high colon-tumorigenesis rate,uniform tumor morphology,and low mortality,and may thus be the preferred modeling scheme for pharmacodynamic experiments.Disorders or dysfunction of the intestinal flora may lead to increased permeability,loss of intestinal mucosal barrier function,and the release of enterogenic endotoxins,Resultsing in a sustained inflammatory response,as an indirect or direct cause of CAC pathogenesis.

ObjectiveTo construct a mouse model of inflammation-associated colorectal cancer （CAC） by using azoxymethane （AOM）/dextran sulfate sodium （DSS） and investigate the effect of Huangqintang on the gut microbiota structure of mice during the occurrence and development of CAC by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. MethodA total of 225 C57BL/6J mice were randomized into 5 groups （n=45）： Normal， model， positive drug （mesalazine）， and high （18 g·kg^-1） and low （9 g·kg^-1）-dose Huangqintang. Except those in the normal group， each mouse was injected with 10 mg·kg^-1 AOM on day 1 and day 5 within 1 week and then given 1.5% DSS solution for 7 days， which was then changed to sterile water for 14 days. This process referred to as one cycle， and mice were treated for a total of 3 cycles. On the first day of DSS treatment， mice were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage， and the normal group and the model group were administrated with pure water by gavage， once a day until the end of the third cycle. The progression of CAC was divided into inflammation， proliferation， and tumorigenesis stages. At the end of each cycle， the body weight and colon length were measured for mice in each group， and the number of colon tumors in mice was recorded. Meanwhile， the disease activity index （DAI） was determined. The serum levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and carbohydrate antigen-199 （CA199）， a tumor marker in the gastrointestinal tract of mice， were measured by ELISA. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe colon lesions. At the same time， 3-5 pellets of fresh feces of mice in the normal group， model group， and high-dose Huangqintang group were collected， from which the fecal DNA of mice was extracted for 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed decreased body weight （P<0.01）， increased DAI， and shortened colon length （P<0.05） at the three stages. Compared with the normal group， the model group showed elevated levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α （P<0.05） at the proliferation stage and elevated levels of CA199 at the inflammation， proliferation， and tumorigenesis （P<0.01） stages. Compared with the normal group， the model group presented obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells at the inflammation stage， thickening of the muscle layer and abnormal proliferation of mucosal layer cells at the proliferation and tumorigenesis stages， and final formation of advanced intraepithelial tumor lesions. Compared with the model group， the Huangqintang groups showed no significant improvement in the body weight， decreased DAI score， and increased colon length at the three stages， and the increase of colon length in the tumorigenesis stage was significant （P<0.01）. At the tumorigenesis stage， the administration of Huangqintang inhibited tumor formation and growth， reduced the number of tumors （P<0.01）， lowered the levels of IL-6 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， TNF-α （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and IL-1β at the three stages， and decreased CA199 at the inflammation stage as well as at the proliferation and tumorigenesis stages （P<0.01， P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the administration of Huangqintang reduced inflammation and abnormal cell proliferation， delaying the occurrence of tumors. Compared with the normal group， the model group showcased decreased alpha and beta diversity and altered structure of gut microbiota at the inflammation， proliferation， and tumorigenesis stages. The administration of Huangqintang adjusted the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota to the normal levels. At the inflammation stage， Huangqintang positively regulated two differential phyla （Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes） and three differential genera （Muribaculaceae， Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group， and Flavonifractor） in mice. At the proliferation stage， Huangqintang positively regulated two differential phyla （Bacteroidetes and Patescibacteria） and five differential genera （Muribaculaceae， Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group， Candidatus_Saccharimonas， norank_f__UCG-010， and Allobaculum）. At the tumorigenesis stage， Huangqintang positively regulated two differential phyla （Proteobacteria and Patescibacteria） and eight differential genera （Muribaculaceae， Candidatus_Saccharimonas， norank_f_UCG-010， Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006， Allobaculum， Bacteroides， Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group， and Flavonifractor） in mice. ConclusionHuangqintang can intervene in the AOM/DSS-induced transformation of inflammation to CAC in mice by correcting inflammation and short-chain fatty acid-related microbiota disorders.

Humans ; Vascular Stiffness ; Coal Mining ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Coal ; Miners