BACKGROUND:Various proteins,signaling pathways,and inflammatory mediators are involved in the pathophysiological process of osteoarthritis.The development of small molecule drugs targeting these proteins,signaling pathways,and inflammatory mediators can effectively delay the progression of osteoarthritis and ameliorate its clinical manifestations. OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress of small molecule drugs in the treatment of osteoarthritis based on the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. METHODS:PubMed,CNKI,and WanFang databases were searched with English search terms"osteoarthritis,arthritis,osteoarthrosis,degenerative,arthritides,deformans,small molecule drugs,small molecule inhibitors,small molecule agents"and Chinese search terms"osteoarthritis,small molecule drugs,small molecule inhibitors."A total of 68 articles were included for review according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Currently,studies concerning the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis remain unclear.The occurrence and development of osteoarthritis are strongly associated with proteins,cytokines,and signal transduction pathways,so its therapeutic mechanism is relatively complex.Currently,targeting proteins,cytokines,and signal transduction pathways related to osteoarthritis with small molecule drugs has become a major research focus.(2)Small molecule drugs frequently possess visible intracellular or extracellular targets and efficacy,containing enhancing cartilage repair,resisting joint degradation,attenuating inflammation,and relieving pain.Other anti-osteoarthritis small molecule drugs have shown promise in promoting stem cell chondrogenic differentiation and cartilage matrix reconstruction.(3)At present,small molecule drugs targeting the pathophysiological process of osteoarthritis to delay the progression of osteoarthritis are still in the experimental stage,but most of these small molecule drugs have shown the expected results in the experimental process,and there are no relevant studies to illustrate the efficacy of small molecule drugs in the treatment of osteoarthritis.(4)Small molecule drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis have reached the expected experimental results in the basic experimental stage.Numerous studies have exhibited that small molecule drugs can target the suppression of specific proteins,cytokines,and signal transduction pathways that cause osteoarthritis,so as to treat osteoarthritis.Nevertheless,its safety and effectiveness still need to be identified by further basic and clinical studies.This process needs to be investigated and studied by more scholars.(5)At present,many scholars in and outside China have made contributions to the treatment of osteoarthritis.Compared with traditional treatment methods,small molecule drugs reveal better efficacy and safety in the basic experimental stage,and it is expected to become an emerging method for the treatment of osteoarthritis in the future to rid patients of pain.

Grounded in the theory of "all marrows dominated by brain", this study explored the therapeutic mechanism of Zuogui Pills in modulating the oxytocin(OXT)/oxytocin receptor(OXTR) feed-forward loop in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMOP). A PMOP rat model was established using ovariectomy, and 70 Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into the following groups: sham operation group, model group, estradiol group(17β-estradiol, 0.05 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), Zuogui Pills low, medium, and high dose groups(0.2, 0.4, 0.8 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1), respectively), and an antagonist group(atosiban 0.9 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) + 17β-estradiol 0.05 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) + Zuogui Pills 0.4 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). After 12 weeks of model establishment, treatment was administered by gavage once daily for another 12 weeks, followed by sample collection. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure serum levels of estrogen(E_2), OXT, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRACP-5b), and bone alkaline phosphatase(BALP). Histopathological changes in the left distal femur were observed through hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining. Micro-computed tomography(micro-CT) was used to analyze the microstructure of the right distal femur. Western blot was employed to detect the expression levels of OXTR, small GTP-binding protein Ras, Raf1 proto-oncogene(Raf1), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2(MEK1/2), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2), and their phosphorylated forms in tibial tissues. Compared with the model group, the Zuogui Pills medium and high dose groups showed significantly increased levels of E_2, OXT, and BALP, with a notable decrease in TRACP-5b levels. Morphologically, the trabeculae in the left distal femur were more tightly arranged. The fibrous structure in the right distal femur was significantly improved in the Zuogui Pills high dose group. Additionally, the expression of OXTR, Ras, p-Raf1, p-MEK1/2, and p-ERK1/2 proteins in tibial tissues was significantly increased. The therapeutic effect of the Zuogui Pills high dose group was partially inhibited when an OXTR antagonist was administered. These findings suggest that Zuogui Pills can regulate the OXT/OXTR feed-forward loop, activate the phosphorylation of the downstream Ras/Raf1/MEK/ERK signaling pathway, and ultimately improve bone mineral density, thereby exerting therapeutic effects in PMOP.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Female ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Oxytocin/genetics* ; Receptors, Oxytocin/genetics* ; Humans ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/genetics* ; Bone and Bones/drug effects* ; Brain/drug effects* ; Bone Marrow/drug effects*

Tailored lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)-mediated small interfering RNA (siRNA) nanomedicines show promise in treating liver disease, such as acute liver injury (ALI) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, constructing LNPs that address biosafety concerns, ensure efficient delivery, and target specific hepatic subcellular fractions has been challenging. To evade above obstacles, we develop three novel self-degradable "gemini-like" ionizable lipids (SS-MA, SS-DC, SS-MH) by incorporating disulfide bonds and modifying the length of ester bond and tertiary amino head. Our findings reveal that the disulfide-bond-bridged LNPs exhibit reduction-responsive drug release, improving both biosafety and siRNA delivery efficiency. Furthermore, the distance of ester bond and tertiary amino head significantly influences the LNPs' pK _a, thereby affecting endosomal escape, hemolytic efficiency, absorption capacity of ApoE, uptake efficiency of hepatocytes and liver accumulation. We also develop the modified-mannose LNPs (M-LNP) to target liver macrophages specifically. The optimized M-MH_LNP@TNFα exhibits potential in preventing ALI by decreasing tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) levels in the macrophages, while MH_LNP@DGAT2 could treat NASH by selectively degrading diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) in the hepatocytes. Our findings provide new insights into developing novel highly effective and low-toxic "gemini-like" ionizable lipids for constructing LNPs, potentially achieving more effective treatment for hepatic diseases.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides in the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression.Methods An open,single-arm,multi-center design was adopted in our study.Adult patients with mild and moderate depression who had received acute treatment of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides were enrolled and continue to receive Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules for 24 weeks,the dose remained unchanged during continuation treatment.The remission rate,recurrence rate,recurrence time,and the change from baseline to endpoint of Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),Clinical Global Impression-Severity(CGI-S)and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale(ASEX)were evaluated.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was reported.Results The scores of HAMD-17 at baseline and after treatment were 6.60±1.87 and 5.85±4.18,scores of HAMA were 6.36±3.02 and 4.93±3.09,scores of CGI-S were 1.49±0.56 and 1.29±0.81,scores of ASEX were 15.92±4.72 and 15.57±5.26,with significant difference(P＜0.05).After continuation treatment,the remission rate was 54.59％(202 cases/370 cases),and the recurrence rate was 6.49％(24 cases/370 cases),the recurrence time was(64.67±42.47)days.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was 15.35％(64 cases/417 cases).Conclusion Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules can be effectively used for the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression,and are well tolerated and safe.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside (TGW) in the treatment of psoriatic dermatitis from a cellular immunological perspective. METHODS: Mouse models of psoriatic dermatitis were established by imiquimod (IMQ). Twelve male BALB/c mice were assigned to IMQ or IMQ₊TGW groups according to a random number table. Histopathological changes in vivo were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Ratios of immune cells and cytokines in mice, as well as PAM212 cell proliferation in vitro were assessed by flow cytometry. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression was determined using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: TGW significantly ameliorated the severity of IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mouse skin lesions and restrained the activation of CD45⁺ cells, neutrophils and T lymphocytes (all P<0.01). Moreover, TGW significantly attenuated keratinocytes (KCs) proliferation and downregulated the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-23, tumor necrosis factor α, and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Furthermore, it reduced the number of γ δ T17 cells in skin lesion of mice and draining lymph nodes (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS TGW improved psoriasis-like inflammation by inhibiting KCs proliferation, as well as the associated immune cells and cytokine expression. It inhibited IL-17 secretion from γ δ T cells, which improved the immune-inflammatory microenvironment of psoriasis.
Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Tripterygium ; Psoriasis/drug therapy* ; Keratinocytes ; Skin Diseases/metabolism* ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Imiquimod/metabolism* ; Dermatitis/pathology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Skin/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the incidence rate,clinical characteristics,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China.Methods Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital,the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022.The incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed.Results The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137,1/6 060,and 1/7 704,respectively.Ischemic stroke accounted for 75％(27/36);boys accounted for 64％(23/36).Among the 36 neonates,31(86％)had disease onset within 3 days after birth,and 19(53％)had convulsion as the initial presentation.Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates(61％)had left cerebral infarction and 13(36％)had basal ganglia infarction.Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates,among whom 9(75％)had involvement of the middle cerebral artery.Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates,with sharp waves in 21 neonates(72％)and seizures in 10 neonates(34％).Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals.Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates(33％,12/36),with a mean score of(32±4)points.The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age,with 44％(12/27)of the neonates having a good prognosis.Conclusions Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke,often with convulsions as the initial presentation,involvement of the middle cerebral artery,sharp waves on electroencephalography,and a relatively low neurodevelopment score.Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method,and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.

Objective To evaluate the effects of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction timing on the motor performance and proprioception by clinical evaluation as well as proprioception and motor performance tests on the patients more than 2 years after ACL reconstruction. Methods The patients who underwent ACL reconstruction in the National Institute of Sports Medicine,General Administration of Sport of China from January 2015 to January 2021 and met the inclusion criteria were followed up,and the postoperative data were collected retrospectively.Fifty-six patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study and categorized into two groups:early surgery (n=28,who underwent ACL reconstruction ≤3 weeks after injury) and delayed surgery (n=28,who underwent ACL reconstruction >3 weeks after injury).The basic information,clinical evaluation results,proprioception,and motor performance were compared between the two groups. Results The ACL return to sport after injury scale (ACL-RSI) score in the early surgery group was higher than that in the delayed surgery group [(68.68±22.04)scores vs. (55.82±24.87)scores,P=0.045].There was no difference in the range of motion of the knee joint,the positive rate of pivot shift test,or the scores of Tegner,Marx,Lysholm,knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS),and international knee documentation committee (IKDC) between the two groups (all P>0.05).Although there was no significant difference in range of motion of the knee joint between the two groups,the proportion of knee flexion and extension affected in the early surgery group was smaller than that in the delayed surgery group.Neither motor performance (isokinetic strength test,Y-balance test,and single-leg jump test) nor proprioception had difference between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions Early ACL reconstruction outperformed delayed ACL reconstruction in improving the psychological health,emotions,and confidence in returning to sport,accelerating functional recovery of the patients.The timing of ACL reconstruction has no significant effect on the short-term postoperative knee stability,knee function,motor performance,or proprioceptive recovery of the patients.Early ACL reconstruction is recommended for improving the clinical outcomes.
Humans ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction/methods* ; Proprioception/physiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/physiopathology* ; Adult ; Postoperative Period ; Time Factors ; Return to Sport ; Recovery of Function ; Knee Joint/physiopathology* ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the effects of knee flexor and extensor strength on the subjective function and motor performance of knees after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Methods A total of 53 patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the National Institute of Sports Medicine,General Administration of Sport of China from June 2015 to June 2021 and met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study.The patients were followed up time for at least 2 years.An isometric muscle strength test system was used to measure the strength of bilateral quadriceps and hamstring muscles.The patients were grouped according to whether the limb symmetry index (LSI) of peak torque of quadriceps and hamstring muscle reached 85% at an angular velocity of 60°/s.Specifically,26 patients were classified into group A (LSI≥85%) and 27 patients were classified into group B (LSI<85%).The subjective function and motor performance of knees were compared between the two groups. Results In terms of subjective function of knees,the international knee documentation committee (IKDC) score (88.76±9.93 vs. 81.08±12.57,P=0.017) and knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) (86.27±8.96 vs. 80.22±11.31,P=0.036) were different between groups A and B.There was no significant difference in Lysholm score [95.0 (79.8,100.00) vs. 86.00 (66.00,100.00),P=0.238],ACL return to sports after injury scale score (66.08±22.25 vs. 61.12±23.53,P=0.434),Marx score [6.00 (4.75,7.00) vs. 6.00 (4.00,7.00),P=0.805] or Tegner activity score [8.00 (4.00,12.00) vs. 4.00 (2.00,12.00),P=0.566] between the two groups.In terms of motor performance,the single-leg triple hop LSI (0.92±0.13 vs. 0.81±0.18,P=0.016) and single-leg crossover hop LSI (0.96±0.12 vs. 0.84±0.22,P=0.021) showed significant differences between groups A and B,while there was no significant difference in single-leg hop LSI (0.90±0.18 vs. 0.79±0.25,P=0.116) between the two groups.In addition,there was no statistical significance in proprioception [30°:8.83±4.66 vs. 10.73±4.63,P=0.143;45°:6.94±3.82 vs. 7.66±3.93,P=0.504;60°:4.10 (3.20,4.72) vs. 3.90 (2.30,5.20),P=0.493] or Y-balance test results [anterior LSI:0.98 (0.84,1.02) vs. 0.94 (0.86,0.98),P=0.328;posterolateral LSI:1.00±0.08 vs. 0.97±0.07,P=0.249;posteromedial LSI:1.00 (0.97,1.03) vs. 0.96 (0.93,1.03),P=0.179] between groups A and B. Conclusion The patients with good symmetry of quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction had better subjective function and movement performance of knees than the patients with poor symmetry,which was mainly reflected in the IKDC score,KOOS,single-leg triple hop,and single-leg crossover hop.
Humans ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Muscle Strength/physiology* ; Male ; Quadriceps Muscle/physiology* ; Female ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/physiopathology* ; Hamstring Muscles/physiopathology* ; Knee Joint/physiopathology* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/physiopathology* ; Torque ; Knee/physiopathology*

The appropriate needle device is crucial for obtaining the curative effect of fire needling therapy. The article introduces the material specification, clinical operation, indications, characteristics and advantages of the contemporary traditional fire needling devices (e.g. He's fire needle and Shi 's fire needle) and the contemporary new-type ones (e.g. fire needling with filiform needle and micro-needle); and determines the innovations of modern fire needling. It is anticipated that the needle specifications, production process and operation standard of fire needling devices should be further unified so as to provide the references for the selection of fire needling devices in treatment based on clinical syndrome differentiation and expand the clinical application of fire needling therapy.
Humans ; Male ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Needles