ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Buzhong Yiqitang on the immune imbalance of helper T cell 17 （Th17）/regulatory T cell （Treg） and Notch1 signaling pathway in mice with autoimmune thyroiditis （AIT）. MethodA total of 60 8-week-old NOD.H-2^h4 mice were randomly divided into the normal group， model group， western medicine group （selenium yeast tablet， 32.5 mg·kg^-1）， and low-dose （4.78 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， middle-dose （9.56 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and high-dose （19 g·kg^-1·d^-1） Buzhong Yiqitang groups， with 10 mice in each group. The normal group was fed with distilled water， and the other groups were fed with water containing 0.05% sodium iodide for eight weeks. After the animal model of AIT was formed spontaneously， the mice were killed under anesthesia after intragastric administration for eight weeks. Serum anti-thyroglobulin antibodies （TGAb）， thyroid-stimulating hormone （TSH）， free triiodothyronine （FT3）， and free thyroid hormone （FT4） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and thyroid tissue changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The mRNA and protein expressions of retinoid-related orphan receptor-γt （RORγt）， interleukin （IL）-17， forkhead box P3 （FoxP3）， IL-10， Notch1， and hair division-related enhancer 1 （Hes1） in thyroid tissue were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultCompared with the normal group， the thyroid structure of the model group was severely damaged， and lymphocytes were infiltrated obviously. The levels of serum TGAb， FT3， and FT4 contents were significantly increased， and TSH content was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression levels of RORγt， IL-17， Notch1， and Hes1 were significantly increased， while those of FoxP3 and IL10 were significantly decreased in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， thyroid structural damage and lymphocyte infiltration were improved in the treatment groups， and serum TGAb， FT3， and FT4 contents were significantly decreased. TSH content was increased， and mRNA and protein expression levels of RORγt， IL-17， Notch1， and Hes1 were decreased. mRNA and protein expression levels of FoxP3 and IL-10 were increased to different degrees （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the middle-dose Buzhong Yiqitang group had the most significant intervention effect. ConclusionBuzhong Yiqitang can alleviate the thyroid structural damage in AIT mice， and its mechanism may be related to improving the abnormal differentiation of Th17/Treg immune cells and inhibiting the activation of the Notch1 signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Buzhong Yiqitang in ameliorating inflammatory injury in autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) mice based on the Toll-like receptor 4（TLR4）/nuclear transcription factor-kappa B（NF-κB）/absent in melanoma 2（AIM2）inflammasome signaling pathway. MethodThe 120 genetically susceptible 8-week-old NOD.H-2^h4 mice were selected and randomly divided into control group， model group， low， medium and high dose groups of Buzhong Yiqitang （4.78， 9.56， 19.12 g·kg^-1）， and western medicine group （selenium yeast tablets， 3.033×10^-5 g·kg^-1）. The AIT model mice in each group drank ad libitum 0.05% sodium iodide aqueous solution for 8 weeks to establish the AIT model， and the control group drank ad libitum distilled water. Eight weeks later， the mice in each dosing group were divided into groups and gavage. The swelling of thyroid tissue was observed with the naked eye， and the weight of spleen was weighed. The content of serum inflammatory factors interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of HMGB1， TLR4， AIM2， NF-κB p65，apoptosis-associated speck-like protein（ASC），cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-1（Caspase-1）， IL-1β mRNA. Western blot was used to detect the expression of high motility group protein 1 （HMGB1）， TLR4， AIM2， NF-κB p65， phosphorylation（p）-NF-κB p65， ASC， Caspase-1， and IL-1β proteins in thyroid tissue， and immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the protein expression of HMGB1， AIM2， and NF-κB p65 in thyroid tissue of mice. ResultCompared with the control group， the thyroid tissue of mice in the model group was significantly swollen， the spleen quality was significantly increased， and the expression of HMGB1， TLR4， NF-κB p65， AIM2， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-1β in thyroid tissue was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the swelling of thyroid tissue in mice in each dose group of Buzhong Yiqitang was improved， the quality of spleen was significantly reduced， and the expression of HMGB1， TLR4， AIM2， NF-κB p65， p-NF-κB p65， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-1β in thyroid tissue was significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionBuzhong Yiqitang can effectively improve the inflammatory injury of AIT， and regulating the abnormal activation of the TLR4/NF-κB/AIM2 inflammasome signal pathway may be one of its intervention mechanisms.

Non-neonatal tetanus is an acute, specific, toxic disease in patients over 28 days of age, characterized by continuous rigidity and paroxysmal spasms of the skeletal muscles throughout the body caused by the intrusion of Clostridium tetani through skin or mucosal membrane into the body and reproducing in anaerobic environments to produce exotoxins. The mortality rate of severe patients is close to 100% without medical intervention. Even with aggressive comprehensive treatment, the global mortality rate remains at 30%-50%, making it a potentially fatal disease. In order to standardize the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of non-neonatal tetanus, based on "Regulation for Diagnosis and Treatment of Non-neonatal Tetanus (2019 Edition)", experts have revised this regulation according to clinical practice and recent research progress in this field to guide medical institutions in the prevention and control of non-neonatal tetanus. This article interprets the key points and basis for updating the 2024 edition regulation to guide clinical implementation and application.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical wounds that can’t complete primary healing three weeks after surgery are called postoperative refractory wounds. Postoperative refractory wounds would bring great physical and life burdens to the patients and seriously affect their quality of life. To investigate the effect of platelet fibrin plasma (PFP) on postoperative refractory wound healing.APPROACH: The composition of PFP was analyzed using blood routine and blood biochemicals. Clinical data were collected that met the inclusion criteria after treatment with PFP, and the efficacy of PFP was evaluated by wound healing rate and days to healing. Next, growth factor content in PFP, PRP, and PPP was analyzed using ELISA, and PFP-treated cells were applied to investigate the effect of PFP on fibroblast and endothelial cell function. RESULTS: PFP component analysis revealed no statistical difference between platelet concentration in PFP and physiological concentration. Clinical statistics showed that PFP treatment was effective in the postoperative refractory wound (four-week wound healing rate [ 90%), significantly better than continuous wound dressing. Meanwhile, our result also proved that PFP treatment significantly enhanced vascularization by upregulated the expression level of CD31 and improved granulation tissue thickness. Activated PFP, PRP, and PPP could continuously release growth factors in vitro and the amount of growth factors released by PRP and PFP was significantly higher than PPP. In vitro studies demonstrated that active PFP could improve cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and angiogenesis in fibroblasts and endothelial cells.INNOVATION: Physiologically concentrated platelet plasma promoted wound healing and improved related cellular functions. The modified PFP (responsible for accelerating wound healing and enhancing the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells) was prepared and analyzed for its clinical effectiveness in postoperative refractory wounds. CONCLUSION Physiologically concentrated platelet plasma promoted wound healing and improved related cellular functions. The preparation of PFP could significantly reduce the amount of prepared blood, with a good application value for postoperative wounds. PFP can be considered a treatment option, especially for postoperative refractory wounds.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical wounds that can’t complete primary healing three weeks after surgery are called postoperative refractory wounds. Postoperative refractory wounds would bring great physical and life burdens to the patients and seriously affect their quality of life. To investigate the effect of platelet fibrin plasma (PFP) on postoperative refractory wound healing.APPROACH: The composition of PFP was analyzed using blood routine and blood biochemicals. Clinical data were collected that met the inclusion criteria after treatment with PFP, and the efficacy of PFP was evaluated by wound healing rate and days to healing. Next, growth factor content in PFP, PRP, and PPP was analyzed using ELISA, and PFP-treated cells were applied to investigate the effect of PFP on fibroblast and endothelial cell function. RESULTS: PFP component analysis revealed no statistical difference between platelet concentration in PFP and physiological concentration. Clinical statistics showed that PFP treatment was effective in the postoperative refractory wound (four-week wound healing rate [ 90%), significantly better than continuous wound dressing. Meanwhile, our result also proved that PFP treatment significantly enhanced vascularization by upregulated the expression level of CD31 and improved granulation tissue thickness. Activated PFP, PRP, and PPP could continuously release growth factors in vitro and the amount of growth factors released by PRP and PFP was significantly higher than PPP. In vitro studies demonstrated that active PFP could improve cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and angiogenesis in fibroblasts and endothelial cells.INNOVATION: Physiologically concentrated platelet plasma promoted wound healing and improved related cellular functions. The modified PFP (responsible for accelerating wound healing and enhancing the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells) was prepared and analyzed for its clinical effectiveness in postoperative refractory wounds. CONCLUSION Physiologically concentrated platelet plasma promoted wound healing and improved related cellular functions. The preparation of PFP could significantly reduce the amount of prepared blood, with a good application value for postoperative wounds. PFP can be considered a treatment option, especially for postoperative refractory wounds.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical wounds that can’t complete primary healing three weeks after surgery are called postoperative refractory wounds. Postoperative refractory wounds would bring great physical and life burdens to the patients and seriously affect their quality of life. To investigate the effect of platelet fibrin plasma (PFP) on postoperative refractory wound healing.APPROACH: The composition of PFP was analyzed using blood routine and blood biochemicals. Clinical data were collected that met the inclusion criteria after treatment with PFP, and the efficacy of PFP was evaluated by wound healing rate and days to healing. Next, growth factor content in PFP, PRP, and PPP was analyzed using ELISA, and PFP-treated cells were applied to investigate the effect of PFP on fibroblast and endothelial cell function. RESULTS: PFP component analysis revealed no statistical difference between platelet concentration in PFP and physiological concentration. Clinical statistics showed that PFP treatment was effective in the postoperative refractory wound (four-week wound healing rate [ 90%), significantly better than continuous wound dressing. Meanwhile, our result also proved that PFP treatment significantly enhanced vascularization by upregulated the expression level of CD31 and improved granulation tissue thickness. Activated PFP, PRP, and PPP could continuously release growth factors in vitro and the amount of growth factors released by PRP and PFP was significantly higher than PPP. In vitro studies demonstrated that active PFP could improve cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and angiogenesis in fibroblasts and endothelial cells.INNOVATION: Physiologically concentrated platelet plasma promoted wound healing and improved related cellular functions. The modified PFP (responsible for accelerating wound healing and enhancing the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells) was prepared and analyzed for its clinical effectiveness in postoperative refractory wounds. CONCLUSION Physiologically concentrated platelet plasma promoted wound healing and improved related cellular functions. The preparation of PFP could significantly reduce the amount of prepared blood, with a good application value for postoperative wounds. PFP can be considered a treatment option, especially for postoperative refractory wounds.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical wounds that can’t complete primary healing three weeks after surgery are called postoperative refractory wounds. Postoperative refractory wounds would bring great physical and life burdens to the patients and seriously affect their quality of life. To investigate the effect of platelet fibrin plasma (PFP) on postoperative refractory wound healing.APPROACH: The composition of PFP was analyzed using blood routine and blood biochemicals. Clinical data were collected that met the inclusion criteria after treatment with PFP, and the efficacy of PFP was evaluated by wound healing rate and days to healing. Next, growth factor content in PFP, PRP, and PPP was analyzed using ELISA, and PFP-treated cells were applied to investigate the effect of PFP on fibroblast and endothelial cell function. RESULTS: PFP component analysis revealed no statistical difference between platelet concentration in PFP and physiological concentration. Clinical statistics showed that PFP treatment was effective in the postoperative refractory wound (four-week wound healing rate [ 90%), significantly better than continuous wound dressing. Meanwhile, our result also proved that PFP treatment significantly enhanced vascularization by upregulated the expression level of CD31 and improved granulation tissue thickness. Activated PFP, PRP, and PPP could continuously release growth factors in vitro and the amount of growth factors released by PRP and PFP was significantly higher than PPP. In vitro studies demonstrated that active PFP could improve cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and angiogenesis in fibroblasts and endothelial cells.INNOVATION: Physiologically concentrated platelet plasma promoted wound healing and improved related cellular functions. The modified PFP (responsible for accelerating wound healing and enhancing the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells) was prepared and analyzed for its clinical effectiveness in postoperative refractory wounds. CONCLUSION Physiologically concentrated platelet plasma promoted wound healing and improved related cellular functions. The preparation of PFP could significantly reduce the amount of prepared blood, with a good application value for postoperative wounds. PFP can be considered a treatment option, especially for postoperative refractory wounds.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical wounds that can’t complete primary healing three weeks after surgery are called postoperative refractory wounds. Postoperative refractory wounds would bring great physical and life burdens to the patients and seriously affect their quality of life. To investigate the effect of platelet fibrin plasma (PFP) on postoperative refractory wound healing.APPROACH: The composition of PFP was analyzed using blood routine and blood biochemicals. Clinical data were collected that met the inclusion criteria after treatment with PFP, and the efficacy of PFP was evaluated by wound healing rate and days to healing. Next, growth factor content in PFP, PRP, and PPP was analyzed using ELISA, and PFP-treated cells were applied to investigate the effect of PFP on fibroblast and endothelial cell function. RESULTS: PFP component analysis revealed no statistical difference between platelet concentration in PFP and physiological concentration. Clinical statistics showed that PFP treatment was effective in the postoperative refractory wound (four-week wound healing rate [ 90%), significantly better than continuous wound dressing. Meanwhile, our result also proved that PFP treatment significantly enhanced vascularization by upregulated the expression level of CD31 and improved granulation tissue thickness. Activated PFP, PRP, and PPP could continuously release growth factors in vitro and the amount of growth factors released by PRP and PFP was significantly higher than PPP. In vitro studies demonstrated that active PFP could improve cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and angiogenesis in fibroblasts and endothelial cells.INNOVATION: Physiologically concentrated platelet plasma promoted wound healing and improved related cellular functions. The modified PFP (responsible for accelerating wound healing and enhancing the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells) was prepared and analyzed for its clinical effectiveness in postoperative refractory wounds. CONCLUSION Physiologically concentrated platelet plasma promoted wound healing and improved related cellular functions. The preparation of PFP could significantly reduce the amount of prepared blood, with a good application value for postoperative wounds. PFP can be considered a treatment option, especially for postoperative refractory wounds.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an increasingly common liver disease worldwide. MAFLD is diagnosed based on the presence of steatosis on images, histological findings, or serum marker levels as well as the presence of at least one of the three metabolic features: overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic risk factors. MAFLD is not only a liver disease but also a factor contributing to or related to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which is the major etiology responsible for morbidity and mortality in patients with MAFLD. Hence, understanding the association between MAFLD and CVD, surveillance and risk stratification of MAFLD in patients with CVD, and assessment of the current status of MAFLD management are urgent requirements for both hepatologists and cardiologists. This Taiwan position statement reviews the literature and provides suggestions regarding the epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, risk stratification, nonpharmacological interventions, and potential drug treatments of MAFLD, focusing on its association with CVD.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and healthy life expectancy loss, ranking first in causing the global burden of disease. In addition to the traditional CVD risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes, environmental chemical pollutants may also play a role in the development of CVD. This paper summarizes the evidence regarding the relation of exposures to metal or metalloid and persistent organic pollutants with risk for CVD and introduces the research progress in the relation between the exposures to two environmental chemical pollutants and CVD risk. The study aims to provide scientific evidence for the effective prevention of CVD through the management of chemical pollutants in environment.
Humans ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Persistent Organic Pollutants ; Metalloids ; Hypertension ; Environmental Pollutants