ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the mechanism of action of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang in treating rheumatoid arthritis （RA）-associated sarcopenia by regulating autophagy and improving skeletal muscle homeostasis based on network pharmacology，bioinformatics，machine learning，and animal experiments. MethodsActive ingredients and targets of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP），PubChem，and SwissTargetPrediction databases. RA-related datasets were retrieved from the GEO database，and differential genes were screened. Sarcopenia-related targets were searched through GeneCards and the Comparative Toxicology Database （CTD），and autophagy-related gene sets were downloaded from the Human Autophagy Database （HADb）. Their intersection was analyzed to identify autophagy-related therapeutic targets，followed by enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was constructed using the STRING database，and key targets were selected using multiple methods. Machine learning was applied to predict models based on the expression profiles of intersecting targets，and nomogram models were constructed based on key targets. Molecular docking of the top four active ingredients with key targets was performed using AutoDockVina. A collagen-induced arthritis （CIA） rat model was established using bovine type Ⅱ collagen，with SD rats divided into groups including a blank group，a model group，and low-，medium-，and high-dose groups of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang （2.44，4.88，and 9.76 g·kg^-1） and administered for five consecutive weeks. Joint scores and gastrocnemius muscle mass were recorded and analyzed after modeling. Hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining and Masson's staining were used to observe pathological changes in muscle tissue. Immunofluorescence staining was applied to observe the protein expression levels of myosin heavy chain （MYHC） and insulin-like growth factor-1 （IGF-1） in skeletal muscle. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of autophagy-related proteins ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，muscle-specific proteins （MuRF1），MaFbx，and MYHC. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR （Real-time PCR） was performed to measure the mRNA expression levels of ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，MuRF1，MaFbx，and MYHC in muscle tissue. ResultsNetwork pharmacology revealed that Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang shared 25 common targets with autophagy genes related to RA-associated sarcopenia. The PPI network and machine learning identified six key targets，which were primarily involved in autophagy and inflammatory pathways. Animal experiments showed that compared to the blank group，the model group had significantly higher joint scores （P<0.01） and lower gastrocnemius muscle index （P<0.01）. HE staining indicated a significant reduction in the cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius muscle fibers，with notable inflammatory cell infiltration and muscle atrophy in the model group. Masson's staining revealed obvious collagen fiber proliferation and deposition，with significant muscle fibrosis in the model group. The protein and mRNA expression levels of ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，MuRF1，and MaFbx were significantly increased （P<0.01），while the protein expression of MYHC and IGF1 was significantly downregulated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group，the high-dose group of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang showed significantly reduced protein and mRNA expression levels of ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，MuRF1，and MaFbx （P<0.01） and increased protein expression levels of MYHC and IGF1 （P<0.01）. The cross-sectional area of muscle fibers increased，and the muscle cell morphology approached normal. Moreover，pathological abnormalities in the gastrocnemius muscle were significantly improved，with reduced collagen fiber proliferation （P<0.01）. ConclusionHuangqi Guizhi Wuwutang can mediate autophagy by regulating the expression of ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，and IGF1，thereby reducing skeletal muscle catabolism and improving skeletal muscle homeostasis，which contributes to the treatment of RA-associated sarcopenia. The findings provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the effects of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang in the treatment of RA-related sarcopenia and offer a reference for its enhanced clinical application.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect and mechanism of Panax notoginseng saponins （PNS） on wound healing after anal fistula surgery in rats by regulating the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）/vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）/ vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 （VEGFR2） signaling pathway. METHODS SD rats were selected to establish a postoperative rat model of anal fistula by infecting wound with Escherichia coli. The model rats were randomly grouped into model group， PNS low-dose and high-dose groups （15， 30 mg/cm2）， high-dose of PNS+2-methoxyestradiol （2ME2） group （PNS 30 mg/cm2+HIF-1α inhibitor 2ME2 4 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Another 10 normal rats were selected for back hair removal treatment as the control group. Each drug group was injected with the corresponding drug solution intramuscularly or （and） intraperitoneally， once a day， for 3 weeks. After the last administration， the wound healing rate （excluding the control group）， microvascular density （MVD）， the expression of collagen Ⅰ and fibronectin （FN） in the wound tissue were detected in each group； the levels of angiogenic factors [VEGF， E-mail：842710813@qq.com angiopoietin-Ⅰ （Ang-Ⅰ）， Ang-Ⅱ] in serum， the levels of inflammatory factors [interleukin-6 （IL-6） and IL-2] in serum binggui7183@163.com and wound tissue as well as the expressions of the related proteins of HIF-1α/VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway in the wound tissue of rats were also detected in each group. RESULTS The MVD， the expression of collagen Ⅰ and FN in the wound tissue， and the levels of IL-6 and IL-2 in serum and wound tissue of rats increased significantly in the model group， compared to the control group （P＜0.05）， while the serum levels of VEGF， Ang- Ⅰ and Ang-Ⅱ decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. The wound healing rate， the MVD in wound tissue， the serum levels of VEGF， Ang-Ⅰ and Ang-Ⅱ， the expressions of collagen Ⅰ and FN in the wound tissue， and protein expressions of HIF-1α， VEGF and VEGFR2 in the PNS low-dose and high-dose groups increased significantly， compared to the model group （P＜0.05）， while the levels of IL-6 and IL-2 in serum and wound tissue decreased significantly （P＜0.05）； the high-dose PNS had a stronger effect （P＜ 0.05）. 2ME2 could weaken the effect of PNS on above indicators of rats after anal fistula surgery （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS PNS can promote the production of angiogenic factors and inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory factors， thereby promoting wound healing in rats after anal fistula surgery. The above effects are related to the activation of HIF-1α/VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway.

【Objective】 To identify the risk factors of patients of bone metastatic prostate cancer with high tumor load progressed to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), establish a nomogram prediction model and evaluate its consistency and accuracy. 【Methods】 A total of 164 patients diagnosed by puncture and imaging during 2012 and 2022 were included.The general characteristics were analyzed with IBM SPSS software; the variables were screened with Cox regression; the multivariate risk factors with P<0.05 were included in the nomogram prediction model.The consistency and prediction accuracy of the model were evaluated with C-index, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration chart. 【Results】 In univariate analysis, initial prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD), Gleason score, T stage, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were correlated with CRPC (P<0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that initial PSA, Gleason score, T stage, ALP and LDH were independent risk factors of CRPC (P<0.05).Based on the above five risk factors, a nomogram prediction model was constructed.The C-index was 0.801, the area under ROC curve (AUC) of 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 0.701 (0.608-0.794), and the AUC of 2-year PFS was 0.857 (0.767-0.947).The calibration chart showed that the prediction probability of the model was in good agreement with the actual probability. 【Conclusion】 Initial PSA, Gleason score, T stage, ALP and LDH are independent risk factors of CRPC.The predictive model may be an effective tool for the initial diagnosis of high tumor load bone metastatic prostate cancer, but more data are needed for internal and external validation.

Objective : To study the effect and mechanism of action of Silibinin on the differentiation of 3T3-F442A preadipocytes in murine． Methods : The effects of 0－400 μmol / L Silibinin on the proliferation of 3T3-F442A adi- pocytes at 24，48 and 72 h were detected by 3-(4，5-dimethylthiazol-2) -2，5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide ( MTT) assay，and the effects of Silibinin on the adipogenesis of 3T3-F442A adipocytes were visualized by Oil Red O stai- ning ; RT-qPCR , Western blot and ELISA assays were used to detect the effects of Silibinin on 3T3-F442A adipo- cyte differentiation-associated transcription factor CCAAT / enhancer binding protein ( C / EBP) α , C / EBP β , per- oxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ cular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -α and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) ，matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -2 and MMP-9，mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) and phosphorylated MEK (p-MEK) ，and extracellular regu- lated protein kinase (ERK) and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) expression. (PPARγ) ，adipocyte protein 2 (aP2) ，adipose generation-associated vas Results : MTT assay showed that the cell proliferation rate of 3T3-F442A preadipocytes decreased after 100，200，and 400 μmol /L Silibinin treatment compared with the control group (P＜0. 001) ; Oil Red O staining assay showed that the accumulation of red lipid droplets of the cells in the 160 μmol /L Silibinin assay group significantly decreased ; RT-qPCR assay showed that mRNA expression of C/EBPα , C/EBPβ , PPARγ , aP2，VEGF-α , VEGFR-2，MMP-2，and MMP-9 was down-reg- ulated in 3T3-F442A adipocytes treated with 160 μmol /L Silibinin compared with the control group (P＜0. 001) ; Western blot assay showed that protein expression of C /EBPα , C /EBPβ , PPARγ and aP2 was down-regulated in 3T3-F442A adipocytes treated with 160 μmol /L Silibinin (P＜0. 001) ，and the phosphorylation level of p-MEK/ MEK and p-ERK/ ERK proteins was down-regulated compared with the control group (P ＜0. 001) ; ELISA assay showed that the protein concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the cell supernatant were down-regulated (P < 0. 001) in 3T3-F442A adipocytes treated with 160 μmol /L Silibinin． Conclusion Silibinin inhibited 3T3-F442A adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis through inhibition of the MEK/ ERK pathway and matrix metalloproteinase activity.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance and serum changes of asprosin(ASP)levels in patients with essential hypertension and early renal damage.Methods According to urinary albumin/creatinine ratio(UACR),160 patients with essential hypertension were divided into the simple hypertension group(78 cases)and the early renal damage group(82 cases).Another 60 healthy subjects were selected as the control group.The differences of serum ASP,interleukin-6(IL-6)and UACR levels were compared between groups.The correlation between ASP and blood pressure,IL-6 and UACR was analyzed.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing early renal damage in essential hypertension.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive value of each index for early renal injury.Results The serum levels of ASP,IL-6 and UACR were higher in the early renal damage group than those in the control group and the simple hypertension group(all P＜0.05).The serum levels of ASP and IL-6 showed an increasing trend with the increase of blood pressure.ASP was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP)and IL-6 levels in patients with essential hypertension(all P＜0.05).Serum ASP was positively correlated with SBP,UACR and IL-6 levels in essential hypertension patients(P＜0.05),and serum ASP was positively correlated with UACR and IL-6 levels in the early renal damage group(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that higher levels of SBP,ASP and IL-6 were independent risk factors for early renal damage.ROC curve showed that ASP had the largest area under the curve(AUC)of 0.972(95%CI:0.950-0.993).The AUC of combined detection of ASP+IL-6+SBP was 0.986(95%CI:0.972-0.999).Conclusion The increased serum ASP level in patients with early renal damage in essential hypertension is a good predictor of early renal damage.The combined detection of ASP+IL-6+SBP is better than single detection.

Sedentary bad habits and unhealthy diets in modern lifestyles have led to an upward trend in the incidence of obesity, and a series of diseases related to obesity have also gradually received attention. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, and obesity has a common inflammatory component with most chronic diseases. Therefore, this paper reviews the research progress on the relationship between obesity and multiple sclerosis in order to better understand the role of obesity in the management of multiple sclerosis.

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the expression and clinical significance of serum miR-NA-24(miR-24)and miRNA-509(miR-509)in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods Ninety-four HCC patients(HCC group)who visited Suining Central Hospital in Sichuan province from January 2019 to October 2020 were select-ed,and 90 healthy subjects(control group)who underwent the physical examination center at the same time were selected.The ex-pression of miR-24 and miR-509 in human liver cancer cell lines and the serum of participants in the two groups was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).The correlation between miR-24 and miR-509 levels and the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of HCC was analyzed.Results The expression of miR-24 in the serum of HCC pa-tients was significantly higher than that of the control group(3.19±0.29vs.0.66±0.20),(t=-68.601,P＜0.01),and the ex-pression of miR-509 was significantly lower than that of the control group(0.74±0.27 vs.1.24±0.28),(t=12.331,P＜0.01).The expression of miR-24 in serum was positively correlated with alpha fetoprotein(AFP)level,metastasis,and TNM stage(r=0.821,0.510,0.762,P＜0.01),and negatively correlated with the degree of differentiation(r=-0.771,P＜0.01).The expression of miR-509 in serum was negatively correlated with AFP level,metastasis and TNM stage(r=-0.820,-0.506,-0.766,P＜0.01),and negatively correlated with the degree of differentiation(r=0.775,P＜0.01).Conclusion The expression of serum mir-24 is up-regulated in HCC patients,while the expression of serum mir-509 is down-regulated.Both of them are closely related to HCC metastasis and malignancy.Clinical testing of serum miR-24 and miR-509 levels in patients can help diagnose and evaluate the condition of HCC.

Objective:To explore the adjunctive diagnostic value of transcranial sonography (TCS) combined with olfactory test in early Parkinson′s disease (PD) and the clinical value of both in the cognitive function of PD patients.Methods:TCS and olfactory test were performed in 157 early PD patients(PD group) and 157 healthy controls(control group) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2018 to January 2022. The differences in clinical characteristics, TCS, and olfactory test results between the two groups were analyzed. The values of TCS, olfactory test, and their combination in diagnosing early PD were evaluated using clinical diagnosis as the gold standard. The correlations of the midbrain area, the midbrain substantia nigra hyperechoic area, and the third ventricle width in TCS examination with the cognitive score were analyzed in the PD group. According to the olfactory test scores, 157 patients with early PD were divided into two groups: 110 cases of PD with olfactory dysfunction (PD-OD) and 47 cases of PD without olfactory dysfunction (PD-NOD). The differences in clinical scores and TCS results between the two groups were compared.Results:The midbrain substantia nigra hyperechoic area, substantia nigra hyperechoic positivity rate, third ventricle width, and olfactory dysfunction rate were higher in the PD group compared to the control group, while the midbrain area and olfactory test scores were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.001). The sensitivity and the coincidence rate of TCS combined with the olfactory test for early PD diagnosis (90.0%, 77.1%) were higher than those of TCS alone (60.0%, 71.3%) and olfactory test alone (70.1%, 72.3%), but the specificity (63.7%) was lower than that of both alone (82.8% for TCS and 75.2% for olfactory test), (all P<0.001). MoCA score, visual space and executive ability, memory, attention, and language were positively correlated with the area of the midbrain ( rs=0.38, 0.32, 0.27, 0.25, 0.23; all P<0.05) and negatively correlated with the width of the third ventricle ( rs=-0.39, -0.22, -0.39, -0.22, -0.32; all P<0.05), and orientation was negatively correlated only with the width of the third ventricle ( rs=-0.24, P<0.05). The MoCA score of PD-OD group[22(18, 25)] was lower than that of PD-NOD group[24(20, 26)]( P=0.040). Conclusions:The combination of TCS and olfactory test can enhance the sensitivity and diagnostic agreement rate for early PD diagnosis, providing some auxiliary value. The cognitive function of PD patients is positively correlated with the midbrain area and negatively correlated with the width of the third ventricle. The cognitive function of PD patients with olfactory dysfunction is lower than that of PD patients without olfactory dysfunction. TCS and olfactory test may help assess cognitive function in PD patients.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of encephalo-duro-arterio-synangiosis (EDAS) for intracranial atherosclerotic steno-occlusive disease (ICASD).Methods:Patients with symptomatic ICASD received EDAS treatment in the Department of Neurosurgery, the PLA General Hospital from January 2018 to January 2019 were retrospectively included. The baseline information, perioperative complications, primary endpoint events, and changes in modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores before and after surgery were collected. The primary endpoint event was any stroke/death that occurred within 30 d after enrollment. The secondary endpoint events were any stroke/death, non-stroke bleeding (subdural or epidural bleeding), and clinical functional improvement after 30 d. The clinical functional improvement was defined as a decrease of ≥1 in the mRS score compared to before surgery.Results:A total of 40 patients were included, including 30 males and 10 females, aged 53.9±8.6 years old. The clinical symptoms were mainly limb weakness and dizziness. One case of ischemic stroke and one case of hemorrhagic stroke occurred during the perioperative period. The primary endpoint event incidence was 2.5%. The patients were followed up for 49.75±2.99 months after surgery. One patient died of cerebral hemorrhage 31 months after surgery, and one patient developed acute ischemic stroke 35 months after surgery. The postoperative mRS scores of 34 patients decreased compared to before surgery, and the clinical function improvement rate was 85%. The mRS score increased in 2 cases after surgery compared to before surgery and 4 cases had no change.Conclusion:EDAS can improve the clinical function of patients with symptomatic ICASD and reduce the incidence of long-term stroke.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of pterostilbene （PTE） on wound healing in diabetic skin ulcer model rats and its mechanism. METHODS Ten SD rats were grouped into control group； after diabetic skin ulcer model of other rats was induced by giving high-fat and high-sugar diet+intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin+cutting off the skin and subcutaneous tissue in the marked area of the back， model rats were randomly divided into model group， PTE low-dose group （40 mg/kg）， PTE high-dose group （80 mg/kg）， PTE high-dose+PP2 group （80 mg/kg PTE+2 mg/kg SRC inhibitor PP2）， with 10 rats in each group. On the second day after modeling， the rats in each drug group were intraperitoneally injected with corresponding drug solutions， while the rats in control group and model group were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline， once a day， for 14 consecutive days. The wound healing rate of rats in each group was measured on the 7th and 14th day of administration； the contents of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， IL-6， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） in the serum of rats were detected； the pathological changes of wound granulation tissue were observed， and the expressions of SRC/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase （MEK）/extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK） signaling pathway-related proteins in wound granulation tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with control group， the wound healing rate， serum content of VEGF， the phosphorylation levels of SRC， MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）， while serum contents of IL- 1β， IL-6 and TNF-α were increased significantly （P＜0.05）； there was obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells in the wound granulation tissue， and the number of new blood vessels decreased. Compared with model group， above indexes of PTE low-dose and high-dose groups were improved significantly （P＜0.05）， and the pathological injury of granulation tissue in wound was improved. PP2 significantly reversed the improvement effects of PTE on the above indexes （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS PTE can promote the wound healing of diabetic skin ulcer model rats， the mechanism of which may be related to activating SRC/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.