Diabetes mellitus （DM） is a metabolic disease caused by absolute or relative insulin deficiency and reduced insulin sensitivity in peripheral cells， posing a serious threat to global health. Chronic complications arising in the later stages of DM can lead to the decline or even loss of function in multiple organs， including the eyes， heart， liver， kidneys， nerves， and feet， making them the primary cause of mortality in DM patients. Although modern medicine has made some progress in the treatment of these complications， challenges such as high costs and adverse drug reactions remain. Thus， identifying highly effective drugs with minimal adverse effects has become a top priority. Astragalus membranaceus is a shining gem in the treasure trove of Chinese medicine. Numerous studies have shown that its primary active component， astragaloside Ⅳ， possesses various biological activities， including anti-inflammatory， antioxidant， and antiviral effects， as well as benefits for cardiac and cerebral function， nerve conduction， and myocardial protection. Meanwhile， the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt） signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating oxidative stress， inflammatory responses， apoptosis， and autophagy. Extensive research has highlighted the significant role of this pathway in various DM complications， leading to widespread studies on its interaction with astragaloside Ⅳ. This review summarizes research findings on how astragaloside Ⅳ alleviates pancreatic cytotoxicity in DM patients by modulating the PI3K/Akt pathway. Additionally， it highlights its protective effects on basic cardiac function， inhibition of retinal cell damage， improvement of cerebral nerve dysfunction， reduction of chronic kidney and liver damage， and mitigation of neurovascular toxicity in the lower limbs. These insights provide a valuable reference for the clinical application of A. membranaceus and its active monomer， astragaloside Ⅳ， in the treatment of DM and its complications.

BACKGROUND:Stand-alone oblique lateral interbody fusion has a high rate of complications of fusion segment sink.Oblique lateral interbody fusion with posterior fixation can provide stable support,but intraoperative position changes and double incisions weaken the advantages of this technique.Oblique lateral interbody fusion combined with lateral plate fixation can achieve one-stage decompression in the same incision,while the lateral internal fixation provides stable support. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the short-term efficacy of oblique lateral interbody fusion combined with lateral plate fixation in the treatment of single-level lumbar degenerative disease. METHODS:The clinical data of 34 patients with single-level lumbar degenerative disease treated with oblique lateral interbody fusion combined with lateral plate fixation were collected from May 2020 to October 2022.Among them,14 were males and 20 were females aged from 41 to 72 years at the mean age of(58.6±9.9)years.There were 11 cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis(Ⅰ°),7 cases of lumbar disc herniation with segmental instability,and 16 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis.Operation time,blood loss,and complications were recorded.Visual analog scale scores of lumbago,radiative pain of both lower limbs,and Oswestry disability index scores were evaluated before surgery,3 months after surgery,and the last follow-up.Dural sac cross-sectional area,intervertebral height,and intervertebral fusion were measured and observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The 34 patients were followed up for 14-36 months,with an average of(21.3±5.2)months.(2)The operation time ranged from 50 to 92 minutes,with an average of(68.5±11.1)minutes.Intraoperative blood loss was 50-170 mL,with an average of(71.6±25.3)mL.(3)Compared with the preoperative results,the visual analog scale scores and Oswestry disability index scores were significantly decreased at 3 months after surgery and at the last follow-up(P<0.001),and the maximum Oswestry disability index scores were improved by nearly 50％.(4)Bone fusion was achieved in all patients during half-year follow-up.The overall complication rate was 21％(7/34),including 1 case of plate displacement,3 cases of cage subsidence,1 case of psoas weakness,and 2 cases of anterior thigh pain.(5)It is concluded that oblique lateral interbody fusion combined with lateral plate fixation for the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases has the characteristics of less blood loss,short operation time,rapid postoperative recovery,and significant short-term clinical efficacy with the stable support to a certain extent.The long-term curative effect needs further follow-up observation.

BACKGROUND:We have successfully established an animal model of small ear pig in southern Yunnan province with internal tension relieving technique combined with autologous Achilles tendon for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction,and verified the stability and reliability of the model.However,whether internal tension relieving technique can promote the ligamentalization process of autologous Achilles tendon graft has not been studied. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the differences in the process of ligamentalization between conventional reconstruction and internal reduction reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament by gross view,histology and electron microscopy. METHODS:Thirty adult female small ear pigs in southern Yunnan province were selected.Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was performed on the left knee joint with the ipsilateral knee Achilles tendon(n=30 in the normal group),and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was performed on the right knee joint with the ipsilateral knee Achilles tendon combined with the internal relaxation and enhancement system(n=30 in the relaxation group).The autogenous right forelimb was used as the control group;the anterior cruciate ligament was exposed but not severed or surgically treated.At 12,24,and 48 weeks after surgery,10 animals were sacrificed,respectively.The left and right knee joint specimens were taken for gross morphological observation to evaluate the graft morphology.MAS score was used to evaluate the excellent and good rate of the ligament at each time point.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to evaluate the degree of ligament graft vascularization.Collagen fibers and nuclear morphology were observed,and nuclear morphology was scored.Ultrastructural remodeling was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The ligament healing shape of the relaxation group was better at various time points after surgery,and the excellent and good rate of MAS score was higher(P<0.05).Moreover,the relaxation group could obtain higher ligament vascularization score(P<0.05).(2)The arrangement of collagen bundles and fiber bundles in the two groups gradually tended to be orderly,and the transverse fiber connections between collagen gradually increased and thickened,suggesting that the strength and shape degree of the grafts were gradually improved,but the ligament remodeling in the relaxation group was always faster than that in the normal group at various time points after surgery.(3)The diameter,distribution density,and arrangement degree of collagen fibers in the relaxation group were better than those in the normal group at all time points,especially in the comparison of collagen fiber diameter between and within the relaxation group(P<0.05).

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the public health governance capacity of 40 cities in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui Provinces, providing a scientific evaluation basis for building a "Healthy Yangtze River Delta". MethodsA comprehensive collection of policy documents, public information reports, and research literature related to public health governance capacity in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui Provinces was conducted, totaling 6 920 policy documents, 1 720 information reports, and 1 200 literature pieces. Based on the evaluation standards for an appropriate public health system established by the research team, the basic status of public health governance capacity was assessed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the 40 cities. ResultsIn 2022, the public health governance capacity score for the 40 cities in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui Provinces was (562.5±38.0) points. In terms of specific areas, the emergency response field received the highest score of (791.4±49.7) points, while the chronic disease prevention and control field received the lowest score of (368.2±29.6) points. The Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Anhui region has largely achieved the strategic priority of health, gradually improved public health legal regulations, and established a basic organizational framework with a solid foundation for information and data infrastructure. However, challenges still need to be addressed, such as unstable government funding for public health, unclear departmental responsibilities, and barriers to information interoperability. ConclusionThe public health governance capacity of the 40 cities in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui Province has been at a moderate level, but disparities have still existed across regions and fields. In the future, while continuing to deepen existing advantages, it is essential to accurately identify the causes of problems, establish a long-term and stable investment mechanism, enhance information connectivity mechanisms, further clarify departmental responsibilities, and promote the achievement of the "Healthy Yangtze River Delta" goal.

Objective:To design a specialized ultrasound therapeutic device for rabbit urethral scars and to verify its applicability and effectiveness.Methods:New Zealand male rabbits were used as the experimental objects, and the ultrasound therapeutic instrument was customized according to the structure and size of the rabbit penises. The ultrasound therapeutic instrument included the ultrasound pulse emission and control system, the final-stage amplifier, and the ultrasound probe. Firstly, the ultrasound probe was designed according to the size and structure of rabbit penises, and the parameters of the ultrasound probe were determined by COMSOL finite element simulation and actual testing of the sound field distribution. Secondly, the driving circuit of the ultrasound probe was designed according to the parameters of the elements. Then the ultrasound pulse emission and control system based on the field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and the serial screen were designed. Subsequently, the ultrasound therapeutic instrument was subjected to a performance test and a safety test. The ultrasound therapeutic instrument was constructed to include the ultrasound amplifier and the ultrasound probe. Finally, a rabbit urethra reconstruction model was constructed, and eight white rabbits were randomly divided into a model group and an experimental group. The rabbits in the experimental group received the ultrasound therapeutic instrument for treatment of the urethra immediately, with an ultrasound frequency of 2 MHz, a pulse interval of 10 ms, and an output sound intensity of 0.73 W/cm 2. The treatment was performed twice a week (on Tuesday and Thursday), with 10 min of irradiation each time, lasting for four weeks. The rabbits in the model group did not receive any treatment. The area percentage of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) staining-positive areas in rabbit urethral tissues were quantitatively analyzed, and the urethral circumference was calculated using Image J software. Results:Due to the addition of sound-absorbing materials, the sound pressure distribution in the treatment chamber was more uniform, and the average value of the standing wave ratio was 1.11, indicating that the structural design met the design requirements. In the overall performance test, the natural focal position of the three ultrasonic transducers was 10 mm, and the consistency of the sound field distribution meet the experimental requirements. The relationship between the peak sound pressure of each transducer and the power supply voltage was close to linear. The output sound intensity ranged from 0.35 to 0.74 W/cm 2, which met the experimental requirements. With the ultrasound output, the temperature of the test point increased slowly, and this experiment could increase the temperature of the tissue by up to 3.3 ℃, which would not lead to thermal damage to the tissue. Animal experiment results showed that the immunopositive area fraction of TGF-β1 in the urethral tissues of rabbits in the experimental group [(4.21 ± 1.32)%] was smaller than that of the model group [(8.53 ± 3.43)%] ( t = ?4.24, P < 0.001). The immunopositive area fraction of TNF-α in the urethral tissues of rabbits in the experimental group [(5.14 ± 2.72)%] was smaller than that of the model group [(7.23 ± 1.57)%] ( t = ?3.37, P < 0.05). The MMP-2 level in the urethral tissue of rabbits in the experimental group [(10.65 ± 2.24)%] was higher than that of the model group[(6.98 ± 2.74)%] ( t = 2.19, P < 0.05). The urethral circumference [(12 209 ± 2 743) μm] was higher than that of the model group [(10 127 ± 2 237) μm] ( t = 15.46, P < 0.05). Conclusions:An ultrasound therapeutic instrument dedicated to rabbit urethral scars has been successfully designed and can be used for the study of ultrasound treatment of rabbit urethral scars.

Objective To explore the expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2(TREM2)in high-glucose microglia and to investigate the role of TREM2 in the proliferation,migration and phagocytosis of high-glucose microglia.Methods Microglia cells were divided into control group and high-glucose treatment group(67.5 mmol/L glucose,24 h).The microglia cells were counted and the expression of Iba1 and TREM2 was de-tected.TREM2 siRNA was transfected to detect the proliferation and migration of microglia.The amyloid β-peptide(Aβ)with a fluorescent tag was added to observe the phagocytosis of Aβ by microglia.Results Compared to normal microglia,the number of microglia significantly decreased after high-glucose treatment(P＜0.001),while the ex-pression of TREM2 and Iba1 markedly increased(P＜0.001).High glucose and TREM2 did not affect the prolifer-ation of microglia.Compared to the normal group,the migration of microglia significantly decreased after high-glu-cose treatment(P＜0.05)and TREM2 did not affect the migration ability of high-glucose microglia.Compared to the normal group,the phagocytosis of Aβ by microglia significantly decreased in the high-glucose treated group(P＜0.001).Furthermore,TREM2 knockdown further decreased the phagocytosis of Aβ by high-glucose microglia(P＜0.001).Conclusions The expression of TREM2 in microglia significantly increases after high-glucose treat-ment,which significantly affects phagocytosis of Aβ by microglia.

Objective To analyze the clinical features and surgical treatment strategies of T4a thyroid cancer.Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients with thyroid cancer treated in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery of Sichuan Cancer Hospital from January 2004 to May 2021.A total of 303 cases were included and statistically analyzed for pathological type,invaded organs,surgical approach,survival time,and overall survival rate.The postoperative survival curves of the patients were analyzed using the Kaplan Meier method.Results Of the 303 patients enrolled,53 patients were lost to follow-up,and the 1-year,3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 98.4％(246/250),97.0％(224/231)and 90.2％(92/102),respectively.Of the 94 patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve invasion only,13 were lost to follow-up,and the 1-year,3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 100％(81/81),98.7％(77/78)and 97.4％(38/39),respectively.There were 151 patients with invasion of recurrent laryngeal nerve and tracheal/laryngeal/esophageal nerve,31 of them were lost to follow-up,and the 1-year,3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 96.7％(116/120),95.3％(101/106)and 82.2％(37/45),respectively.According to the survival curve analysis,the group with recurrent laryngeal nerve invasion only had an advantage in overall survival time over the group with recurrent laryngeal nerve and tracheal/laryngeal/esophageal invasion.Conclusion Surgical resection is supposed to be preferred for T4a thyroid cancer if there is a chance of surgery.A reasonable surgical strategy,radical surgery while preserving the vital tissues and organs,and one-stage repair and reconstruction can bring patients a better quality of life and prognosis.

Objective To compare and analyze the tilt and decentration of the intraocular lens in patients receiving four-point and two-point suspension fixation,as well as their relationship with visual prognosis.Methods A total of 80 patients(80 eyes)who underwent intraocular lens suspension fixation at the Ophthalmology Department of Baoding No.1 Central Hospital from June 2021 to April 2022 were selected as the subjects.These patients were randomly divided into the experimental group(41 patients,41 eyes,underwent four-point suspension fixation)and the control group(39 patients,39 eyes,underwent traditional two-point suspension fixation).They were followed up for at least 6 months after surgery to re-cord their uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA)and best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)before surgery and at the last follow-up.The tilt angle and decentration distance of the intraocular lens of patients in the two groups were measured after surger-y by a panoramic ultrasound biomicroscope.The preoperative and last follow-up UCVA and BCVA of patients in the two groups,as well as tilt angle and decentration distance of the intraocular lens after surgery,were compared,and the corre-lation between tilt angle,decentration distance and postoperative UCVA,BCVA was analyzed by Person correlation analy-sis.Results The UCVA and BCVA at the last follow-up in the experimental group and control group were better than those before surgery(all P＜0.05).The difference in postoperative UCVA between the experimental group and the control group was statistically significant(t=-6.20,P=0.00),and the experimental group had better postoperative UCVA than the control group.There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative BCVA between the experimental group and the control group(t=-1.43,P=0.16).The postoperative horizontal and vertical tilt angles of the intraocular lens in the experimental group were 0.70°±0.24° and 0.60°±0.16°,respectively;while those in the control group were 2.66°± 1.40° and 3.76°±0.67°,respectively.The differences between the two groups were statistically significant(t=-8.51 and-29.42,P=0.00 and 0.00).The postoperative horizontal and vertical decentration distances of the intraocular lens in the experimental group were(0.24±0.10)mm and(0.25±0.10)mm,respectively,while those in the control group were(0.85±0.77)mm and(2.14±0.50)mm,respectively.The differences between the two groups were statistically signifi-cant(t=-4.82 and-21.68,P=0.00 and 0.00).In the experimental group,neither the horizontal and vertical tilt angles of intraocular lenses nor the horizontal and vertical decentration distances were correlated with postoperative UCVA and BCVA(all P＞0.05).In the control group,the horizontal tilt angle of intraocular lenses was positively correlated with post-operative UCVA and BCVA(both P＜0.05),while the vertical tilt angle was not correlated with postoperative UCVA and BCVA(both P＞0.05);the horizontal decentration distance was positively correlated with postoperative UCVA and BCVA(both P＜0.05),but the vertical decentration distance was not correlated with postoperative UCVA and BCVA(both P＞0.05).Conclusion Both four-point suspension fixation and traditional two-point suspension fixation can effectively im-prove postoperative vision of patients,while the tilt and decentration of the intraocular lens are smaller after four-point sus-pension fixation.

Objective To investigate the distribution and clinical characteristics of TCM syndromes in infertility patients with autoimmune thyroiditis(AIT).Methods By referring to the relevant literature on the distribution of TCM syndromes of AIT and infertility in women of childbearing age,the TCM Syndromes Survey of Infertility Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis was formulated.256 cases of infertility patients with AIT who underwent in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET)at the Reproductive Center of The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from June 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.The data of basic information,TCM syndromes,basic thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH),thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPO-Ab)and thyroglobulin antibody(TG-Ab)were collected.By means of frequency analysis and systematic cluster analysis,the distribution regularity of TCM syndromes in infertility patients with AIT were concluded.Results After analysis,the following 5 common syndrome elements were obtained,namely,qi deficiency,liver depression,spleen deficiency,kidney deficiency and blood stasis.In addition,it was concluded that this disease was more common in complex syndromes.Through systematic clustering analysis,main TCM syndromes of this disease were obtained,which were qi deficiency and liver depression syndrome(69 cases,26.9%),spleen and kidney deficiency syndrome(45 cases,17.6%),spleen qi deficiency syndrome(38 cases,14.8%),qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome(36 cases,14.1%),kidney deficiency and liver depression syndrome(32 cases,12.5%)and other syndrome types(36 cases,14.1%).The basic TSH level was higher in patients with qi deficiency and liver depression syndrome,spleen qi deficiency syndrome,qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome than other syndrome types,with statistical significance(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in TPO-Ab and TG-Ab titers among different syndromes(P>0.05).Conclusion TCM syndromes of infertility patients with AIT can be clustered into qi deficiency and liver depression syndrome,spleen and kidney deficiency syndrome,spleen qi deficiency syndrome,qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome,kidney deficiency and liver depression syndrome and other syndrome.The main element of syndrome is qi deficiency,and the pathological sites involved spleen,kidney and liver.Stasis blood is a main pathological product.It is required to pay close attention to the thyroid function in AIT patients with qi deficiency.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of adjuvant radiotherapy versus surgery alone in patients with stage pT 2-3N 0M 0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical resection. Methods:The search was conducted through Web of Science, Emabse, PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Chongqing VIP, China Biomedical Literature Database, and Wanfang database, etc. The search time was ranged from the establishment of the database to December 2022. Searched studies were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Review Manager 5.4 software was used for analysis.Results:Clinical data of 2 424 patients from 8 controlled clinical studies were finally included. Meta-analysis showed that postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy had higher 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival rates ( OR=2.33, 95%CI=1.71-3.17, P<0.001; OR=2.38, 95% CI=1.73-3.27, P<0.001) and 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates ( OR=1.89, 95% CI=1.37-2.60, P<0.01; OR=1.94,95% CI=1.50-2.49, P<0.001) than surgery alone. Meanwhile, the local recurrence rate ( OR=0.33, 95% CI=0.21-0.50, P<0.001) and distant metastasis rate ( OR=0.62, 95% CI=0.39-0.98, P=0.040) of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy group were lower than those in the surgery alone group. The incidence of radiation esophagitis (1.4%-9.5%), radiation pneumonitis (2.1%) and anastomotic stenosis (5.3%) was reported. Conclusions:For patients with stage pT 2-3N 0M 0 squamous cell carcinoma after radical resection of esophageal cancer, adjuvant radiotherapy may improve 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival rates and 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates compared with surgery alone. In addition, adjuvant radiotherapy may reduce the local recurrence and distant metastasis rates. Therefore, postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy is an optional treatment for stage pT 2-3N 0M 0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.