Platycodonis Radix is the dry root of Platycodon grandiflorum of Campanulaceae, which has a variety of pharmacological effects and is a commonly used bulk Chinese medicine. In this study, the chloroplast genome sequences of six P. grandiflorum from different producing areas has been sequenced with Illumina HiSeq X Ten platform. The specific DNA barcodes were screened, and the germplasm resources and genetic diversity were analyzed according to the specific barcodes. The total length of the chloroplast genome of 6 P. grandiflorum samples was 172 260-172 275 bp, and all chloroplast genomes showed a typical circular tetrad structure and encoded 141 genes. The comparative genomics analysis and results of amplification efficiency demonstrated that trnG-UCC and ndhG_ndhF were the potential specific DNA barcodes for identification the germplasm resources of P. grandiflorum. A total of 305 P. grandiflorum samples were collected from 15 production areas in 9 provinces, for which the fragments of trnG-UCC and ndhG_ndhF were amplificated and the sequences were analyzed. The results showed that trnG-UCC and ndhG_ndhF have 5 and 11 mutation sites, respectively, and 5 and 7 haplotypes were identified, respectively. The combined analysis of the two sequences formed 13 haplotypes (named Hap1-Hap13), and Hap4 is the main genotype, followed by Hap1. The unique haplotypes possessed by the three producing areas can be used as DNA molecular tags in this area to distinguish from the germplasm resources of P. grandiflorum from other areas. The haplotype diversity, nucleotide diversity and genetic distance were 0.94, 4.79×10^-3 and 0.000 0-0.020 3, respectively, suggesting that the genetic diversity was abundant and intraspecific kinship was relatively close. This study laid a foundation for the identification of P. grandiflorum, the protection and utilization of germplasm resources, and molecular breeding.

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.

With the increasing proportion of human papilloma virus(HPV)infection in the pathogenic factors of oro-pharyngeal cancer,a series of changes have occurred in the surgical treatment.While the treatment mode has been im-proved,there are still many problems,including the inconsistency between diagnosis and treatment modes,the lack of popularization of reconstruction technology,the imperfect post-treatment rehabilitation system,and the lack of effective preventive measures.Especially in terms of treatment mode for early oropharyngeal cancer,there is no unified conclu-sion whether it is surgery alone or radiotherapy alone,and whether robotic minimally invasive surgery has better func-tional protection than radiotherapy.For advanced oropharyngeal cancer,there is greater controversy over the treatment mode.It is still unclear whether to adopt a non-surgical treatment mode of synchronous chemoradiotherapy or induction chemotherapy combined with synchronous chemoradiotherapy,or a treatment mode of surgery combined with postopera-tive chemoradiotherapy.In order to standardize the surgical treatment of oropharyngeal cancer in China and clarify the indications for surgical treatment of oropharyngeal cancer,this expert consensus,based on the characteristics and treat-ment status of oropharyngeal cancer in China and combined with the international latest theories and practices,forms consensus opinions in multiple aspects of preoperative evaluation,surgical indication determination,primary tumor re-section,neck lymph node dissection,postoperative defect repair,postoperative complication management prognosis and follow-up of oropharyngeal cancer patients.The key points include:① Before the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer,the expression of P16 protein should be detected to clarify HPV status;② Perform enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the maxillofacial region before surgery to evaluate the invasion of oropharyngeal cancer and guide precise surgical resec-tion of oropharyngeal cancer.Evaluating mouth opening and airway status is crucial for surgical approach decisions and postoperative risk prediction;③ For oropharyngeal cancer patients who have to undergo major surgery and cannot eat for one to two months,it is recommended to undergo percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy before surgery to effectively improve their nutritional intake during treatment;④ Early-stage oropharyngeal cancer patients may opt for either sur-gery alone or radiation therapy alone.For intermediate and advanced stages,HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer general-ly prioritizes radiation therapy,with concurrent chemotherapy considered based on tumor staging.Surgical treatment is recommended as the first choice for HPV unrelated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma(including primary and re-current)and recurrent HPV related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma after radiotherapy and chemotherapy;⑤ For primary exogenous T1-2 oropharyngeal cancer,direct surgery through the oral approach or da Vinci robotic sur-gery is preferred.For T3-4 patients with advanced oropharyngeal cancer,it is recommended to use temporary mandibu-lectomy approach and lateral pharyngotomy approach for surgery as appropriate;⑥ For cT1-2N0 oropharyngeal cancer patients with tumor invasion depth＞3 mm and cT3-4N0 HPV unrelated oropharyngeal cancer patients,selective neck dissection of levels ⅠB to Ⅳ is recommended.For cN+HPV unrelated oropharyngeal cancer patients,therapeutic neck dissection in regions Ⅰ-Ⅴ is advised;⑦ If PET-CT scan at 12 or more weeks after completion of radiation shows intense FDG uptake in any node,or imaging suggests continuous enlargement of lymph nodes,the patient should undergo neck dissection;⑧ For patients with suspected extracapsular invasion preoperatively,lymph node dissection should include removal of surrounding muscle and adipose connective tissue;⑨ The reconstruction of oropharyngeal cancer defects should follow the principle of reconstruction steps,with priority given to adjacent flaps,followed by distal pedicled flaps,and finally free flaps.The anterolateral thigh flap with abundant tissue can be used as the preferred flap for large-scale postoperative defects.

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on central inflammatory response and neurotransmitter release in rats with post stroke spasticity(PSS);To exploring the mechanism in treating PSS based on IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.Methods Totally 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group,model group and electroacupuncture group,with 10 rats in each group.The PSS model was prepared by the method of suture and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor injection into internal capsule.The rats in the electroacupuncture group were electroacupulated on the affected side of the body at"Quchi"and"Yanglingquan"for 30 min/d for consecutive 7 d.The sham-operation group and the model group were only fixed without any interventions.The Zea Longa neurological function score and the modified Ashworth muscle tension score were evaluated before and after treatment in each group;the pathological changes of the cortex on the ischemic side were observed by HE staining;the contents of interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)in cortex on the ischemic side were detected by ELISA;the content of glutamate(Glu)was detected by biochemical kit;Western blot was used to detect the expressions of tyrosine kinase 2(JAK2),p-JAK2,signal transduction and transcription activating factor 3(STAT3)and p-STAT3 protein in ischemic cortex;RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 in ischemic cortex.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,neurological function score and muscle tension score significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01),with disorganized neurons in cerebral cortex,nucleus accumbens,the contents of IL-6,TNF-α and Glu significantly increased,the content of GABA significantly decreased(P<0.01),and p-JAK2,p-STAT3 proteins and JAK2 and STAT3 mRNA expression significantly increased(P<0.01,P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the neurological function score and muscle tension score of rats in the electroacupuncture group were significantly decreased(P<0.05),the degree of neuronal damage in cerebral cortex was reduced,the cell contour was clear,the content of IL-6,TNF-α and Glu were significantly decreased,and the content of GABA significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),p-JAK2,p-STAT3 protein and JAK2,STAT3 mRNA expression significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture may alleviate central inflammatory response and improve limb spasticity of PSS model rats by inhibiting the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on post-stroke spasticity(PSS)rats and the relationship between microglia polarization-mediated neuroinflammation and neurotransmitter glutamate(Glu)and γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)in cerebral cortex;To investigate the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture to relieve PSS.Methods Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group,model group and electroacupuncture group,with 10 rats in each group.A rat model of PSS was prepared using suture method combined with internal capsule injection of NMDA receptor.The electroacupuncture group selected"Quchi"and"Yanglingquan"electroacupuncture for 30 minutes per day,for 7 days,the model group and the sham-operation group were fixed at the same time without intervention.Zea Longa neurological function score and modified Ashworth muscular tone score were evaluated,and electrophysiology was tested;kits were used to GABA,Glu,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-10(IL-10)content in ischemic cortex;Western blot was used to detect the expression of GABRA1 and GAD67 protein in ischemic cortex;The co-expression of ionized calcium-binding protein 1(Iba-1),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)and Arg-1 were detected by immunofluorescence staining.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,the neurological function score and muscle tone score of the model group rats significantly increased(P<0.01),and muscle tone significantly increased(P<0.01);the contents of GABA and IL-10 in ischemic cortex significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the contents of TNF-α and Glu significantly increased(P<0.01),Glu/GABA ratio increased(P<0.01),GABRA1 and GAD67 protein expression significantly decreased(P<0.01),the co-expression of Iba-1 and iNOS significantly increased(P<0.01),while the co-expression of Iba-1 and Arg-1 was significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the nerve function score and muscle tone score of the electroacupuncture group rats were significantly reduced(P<0.05),and muscle tone was significantly reduced(P<0.01);the contents of GABA and IL-10 in ischemic cortex significantly increased(P<0.01),and the contents of TNF-α and Glu significantly decreased(P<0.01),Glu/GABA ratio decreased(P<0.01),the protein expressions of GABRA1 and GAD67 significantly increased(P<0.01),the co-expression of Iba-1 and iNOS significantly decreased(P<0.01),while the co-expression of Iba-1 and Arg-1 significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can effectively alleviate PSS,and its mechanism of action may be related to electroacupuncture regulating microglia polarization and reduing neuroinflammation.

Interventions for endometriosis(EMs)include surgical excision of lesions and hormonal therapy,which usually have limited efficacy and adverse drug reactions.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has the multi-component and multi-target characteristics,which can help patients achieve good clinical benefits by intervening in different parts of the disease.In this paper,we briefly discuss the modern pharmacology of Sanlang and Curcuma longa,and deeply summarize the possible mechanisms of action of TCM monomer and classical compound extracts and their active ingredients through signal pathways in inflammation,immune system,angiogenesis,hormone regulation,etc.,so as to provide theoretical bases for the clinical use of TCM monomers,drug-to-drug groups and compounds in the treatment of EMs.

italic>Acanthopanax senticosus is one of the genuine regional herb in Northeast China. In this study, we identified the germplasm resources of commercial A. senticosus samples based on atpI and atpB_rbcL according to the previous chloroplast genome sequencing results, and determinated the content of syringin by HPLC to evaluated the quality of commercial samples. A total of 80 A. senticosus samples were collected from 47 cities in 24 provinces. DNA was extracted to amplify the products of atpI and atpB_rbcL by PCR. The results showed that 7 haplotypes (H2, H5, H8, H10, H12, H14, H23) were formed by the combined analysis of the two gene fragments. H2 from Yichun in Heilongjiang, Shangzhi in Harbin, Suihua in Heilongjiang, Fushun in Liaoning, Benxi in Liaoning, Changbai in Jilin and Jingyu in Jilin were the dominant genotype, representing 58.75% of the total samples. H14 and H23 were the unique haplotypes of the producing area. It is speculated that the commercial A. senticosus samples with haplotypes of H14 and H23 are from Raohe, Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang and Mingshui, Suihua, Heilongjiang, respectively. HPLC analysis indicated that the content of syringin in 73.96% of the samples met the Pharmacopoeia standards. There was a significant difference in the content of syringin among the samples, ranging from 0.003 7% to 0.524 5%, with a difference of 0.520 8%, indicating that the quality of the samples in the market of A. senticosus was uneven. However, there were no significant differences in the contents of syringin in the commercial A. senticosus among different haplotypes. The content of syringin in the haplotype H23 in the market sample is relatively high, so it may be a germplasm with better quality. This study researched the germplasm resources and medicinal materials quality of commercial A. senticosus samples and will help guide the commercial circulation, reasonable medication of A. senticosus, and the screening of excellent germplasm.

OBJECTIVE: To explore and summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment of aggressive NK-cell leukemia (ANKL), and provide new insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease. METHODS: The clinical data of 7 patients with ANKL admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College from March 2014 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, and their clinical characteristics, laboratory and imaging results, treatment and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 7 patients, 5 were males and 2 were females, with a median age of 47 (33-69) years old. The morphology of bone marrow cells in 7 patients showed similar large granular lymphocytes. Immunophenotyping revealed abnormal NK cells in 5 cases. By the end of follow-up, 6 cases died and 1 case survived, with a median survival time of 76.9 (4-347) days. CONCLUSION ANKL is a rare disease with short course and poor prognosis. If combined with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS), the prognosis is even worse. There is no unified treatment method at present, and the use of PD-1 inhibitors may prolong the survival in some patients.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Leukemia, Large Granular Lymphocytic ; Leukemia, Prolymphocytic, T-Cell ; Prognosis ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between current and former smoking and the risk of mortality in elderly Chinese men. METHODS: Our study participants were elderly (≥ 60 years) men recruited in a suburban town of Shanghai. Cigarette smoking status was categorized as never smoking, remote (cessation > 5 years) and recent former smoking (cessation ≤ 5 years), and light-to-moderate (≤ 20 cigarettes/day) and heavy current smoking (> 20 cigarettes/day). Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic splines were used to examine the associations of interest. RESULTS: The 1568 participants had a mean age of 68.6 ± 7.1 years. Of all participants, 311 were never smokers, 201 were remote former smokers, 133 were recent former smokers, 783 were light-to-moderate current smokers and 140 were heavy current smokers. During a median follow-up of 7.9 years, all-cause, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular deaths occurred in 267, 106 and 161 participants, respectively. Heavy current smokers had the highest risk of all-cause and non-cardiovascular mortality, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 2.30 (95% CI: 1.34-4.07) and 3.98 (95% CI: 2.03-7.83) versus never smokers, respectively. Recent former smokers also had a higher risk of all-cause (HR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.04-2.52) and non-cardiovascular mortality (HR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.32-4.37) than never smokers. Cox regression restricted cubic spline models showed the highest risk of all-cause and non-cardiovascular mortality within 5 years of smoking cessation and decline thereafter. Further subgroup analyses showed interaction between smoking status and pulse rate (≥ 70 beats/min vs. < 70 beats/min) in relation to the risk of all-cause and non-cardiovascular mortality, with a higher risk in current versus never smokers in those participants with a pulse rate below 70 beats/min. CONCLUSIONS Cigarette smoking in elderly Chinese confers significant risks of mortality, especially when recent former smoking is considered together with current smoking.

Objective:To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of cortical solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11),glutathione(GSH)and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)in rats with post stroke spasticity(PSS),and to explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture in the treatment ferrozosis in PSS.Methods:Thirty SD male rats were randomly divided into sham group,model group and electroacupuncture group.A modified Zea-Longa wire bolus+internal capsule injection NMDA method was used to produce a rat model of PSS.In the electroacupunc-ture group,the affected side of Yanglingquan and Quchi were needled once/day for 30 min/time for 7 d.In the sham group and the model group,only fixation without intervention was performed during the same period.Zea-Longa Neuro-logical Function Score was used to detect the neurological function of rats,electrophysiological tracing method was used to detect the muscle tone of rat quadriceps,Western Blot was used to detect the protein expression of rat cortical SLC7A11 and GPX4,Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the GSH content of rat cortex,and real time RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA of rat cortical SLC7A11 and GPX4 mRNA expression.Results:Neurological function scores were elevated;quadriceps muscle tone was increased;GSH content was decreased;the protein expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was significantly decreased;the expression of SLC7A11 mRNA and GPX4 mRNA was significantly decreased.Electroacupuncture treatment resulted in lower neurological function scores,lower quadriceps muscle tone,increased GSH content in rat cortex,significantly up-regulated protein expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4,and significantly increased expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 mRNA.Conclusion:Electroacupuncture on"Yanglingquan"and"Quchi"could improve limb spasticity and promote the recovery of neurological function in PSS rats,and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of ferroptosis of cortical cells by electroacupuncture regulating the SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression.