OBJECTIVE To investigate the ameliorative effects and potential mechanism of total secondary ginsenosides （TSG） on hypertrophic changes of primary cardiomyocytes stimulated by angiotensin Ⅱ （Ang Ⅱ）. METHODS Primary cardiomyocytes were isolated from the hearts of neonatal SD rats and divided into the following groups： control group， AngⅡ group （2 µmol/L）， TSG group （7.5 µg/mL）， PFK-015 group [6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2， 6-bisphosphatase 3 （PFKFB3） inhibitor， 10 nmol/L]， and TSG+PFK-015 group （TSG 7.5 µg/mL+PFK-015 10 nmol/L）. The surface area， protein synthesis， energy metabolism-related indicators [free fatty acid （FFA）， coenzyme A （CoA）， acetyl coenzyme A （acetyl-CoA）]， and the expressions of glycolysis-related factors [hypoxia-inducible factor 1α （HIF-1α）， glucose transporter protein 4 （GLUT-4）， lactate dehydrogenase A （LDHA）， pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 （PDK1） and PFKFB3] in primary cardiomyocytes of each group were measured. RESULTS Compared with the control group， the surface area of primary cardiomyocytes and protein synthesis were significantly increased， the content of FFA， protein and mRNA expressions of HIF-1α， LDHA， PDK1 and PFKFB3 were significantly increased or up-regulated in the AngⅡ group， while the contents of CoA and acetyl-CoA， the protein and mRNA expressions of GLUT-4 were significantly decreased or down-regulated （P＜0.05）. Compared with the AngⅡ group， both TSG group and PFK-015 group showed significant improvements in these indexes， with the TSG+PFK-015 group generally demonstrating superior effects compared to either treatment alone （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS TSG can reduce the surface area of AngⅡ-induced primary cardiomyocytes， decrease protein synthesis， and inhibit their hypertrophic changes. These effects may be related to improving energy metabolism and the inhibition of glycolysis activity.

Objective:To analyze the nationwide epidemiological characteristics and trend of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) fatal cases from 2008 to 2022 and provide evidence for the prevention and control of HFMD.Methods:The information on HFMD fatal cases during 2008 to 2022 was collected from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance Reporting System of China. Data of the epidemiological characteristics was analyzed by R 4.2.2 software and the changing trends for the case fatality rates, mortality rates and their age-adjusted rates were analyzed by Joinpoint 4.9.10 software.Results:From 2008 to 2022, a total of 3 704 fatal HFMD cases were reported in China. The fatal cases were primarily observed in children aged <3 years (83.42%, 3 090/3 704). The male and female gender ratio was 1.82 ∶1 (2 389 ∶1 315). Regarding the age-adjusted case fatality rates over time, there was a rapid increase from 2008 to 2010 [annual percentage change (APC) =41.97%, P<0.05]. From 2010 to 2016, a steady decline was observed (APC=-28.57%, P<0.05), and the decline accelerated (APC=-39.66%, P<0.05) from 2016 to 2022. Since 2020, less than 10 fatal cases were reported annually nationwide. Among the 2 566 laboratory-confirmed deaths from 2008 to 2022, Enterovirus A71 (EV71) was the predominant pathogen (91.62%,2 351/2 566). There have been noticeable changes in the pathogen composition since 2017, decreasing in EV71 and increasing in the proportion of fatalities caused by Coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) and other enteroviruses. Conclusions:From 2008 to 2022, the HFMD case fatality rates and mortality rates continuously declined, peaked in 2010. Since 2017, the decline of HFMD case fatality rates has been noticeably accelerated. Along with the decrease in the proportion of EV71 in HFMD fatal cases, the proportion of other enteroviruses appeared increasing. It is essential to continuously monitor the etiological spectrum of the fatal cases.

Objective:To investigate the application effects of a novel framework: the external septal retention bionic framework in East Asian rhinoplasty.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed based on the clinical data of the patients who received treatments in Department of Plastic and Aesthetic ( Burn) Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from January 2022 to July 2023 using an external septal retention bionic framework with autologous costal cartilage rhinoplasty. The patients were all treated with a V-shaped incision at the nasal columella, which continued to both sides of the nose to form a bird-shaped incision. During the operation, the sixth or seventh costal cartilage was sculpted to form the nasal columella support grafts (sturt), external nasal septal graft, cap grafts, and shield grafts, in which the nasal column support graft and external nasal septal graft were implanted in a mortise-and-tenon joint structure to form a septum bionic retained external stent in order to lengthen the nasal columellar column and strengthen the septum. A capsular graft was used to shape the tip of the nose and the rectus abdominis fascia was covered to soften the tip of the nose, and the shield grafts were used to fill out the subnasal lobules. A bulb was sculpted, shaped and implanted in the dorsal space to elevate the nasal dorsum. To observe the postoperative results and complications, a postoperative satisfaction survey was completed using the rhinoplasty outcome evaluation (ROE) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) with regular follow-up. Comparison of preoperative and postoperative scale scores was performed using paired samples t-test. Nasal stent stability was assessed by measuring the patients’ preoperative and postoperative nasolabial angle and nasal tip protrusion. The comparison of preoperative and postoperative nasolabial angle was performed using the paired-sample t-test, and the comparison of nasal tip protrusion was performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test, P<0.05 considered a statistically significant difference. Results:A total of 33 patients were enrolled, including 4 males and 29 females, with average age of 23.8 years(15-42 years). The follow-up period is (14.52 ± 4.72) months (3 to 21 months). Thirty-three patients recovered well after surgery, and no short-term complications such as infection or bleeding occurred. The patients' nasal aesthetic problems such as saddle nose, deviated nasal columella, bilateral asymmetry of the nose, bilateral nasal base depression, and rounded shield of the nasal tip were improved after surgery. Satisfaction survey results: ROE and VAS scores were significantly higher than those before surgery, which were [(17.92±2.56) vs.(12.78±3.14)] and [(8.08±1.66)vs(5.15±1.99)], ( P<0.05), 87.9% (27/33)of the patients were satisfied with the aesthetic and functional outcomes of the nose. Comparisons of nasolabial angle [(87.28±2.58)° vs. (97.64±1.95)°] and tip protrusion [1.88 (1.78, 1.95) cm vs. 2.16(2.01, 2.32) cm] measurements between preoperative and postoperative period of the 33 patients, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Rhinoplasty for East Asians employs an external septal retention bionic framework to retain the nasal septum. This technique can avoid septal cartilage resorption caused by compression of grafts transplanted in the future, and cause less damage to the anatomy and physiology of the nose. The framework is relatively easy to construct, with a stable and strong stent, and good patient satisfaction. It can achieve a more desirable aesthetic effect of the nose.

Objective:To explore the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery in the treatment of achalasia.Methods:The clinical data of 53 patients with achalasia who underwent laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery from Jan 2013 to Dec 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, including operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospitalization , and short-term complications.Patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months after surgery. The preoperative and postoperative achalasia symptom scores (Eckardt score, Gerd-Q score) were compared.Results:All operations were successful, with an average operation time of (124±22) min, an average intraoperative blood loss of (15±5) ml, and an average postoperative hospital stay of (4.2±1.3) d. Compared with those before the operation, the Eckardt score and Gerd-Q score of the patients after the operation were improved compared with that before surgery (all P<0.05). The average postoperative follow-up was 12 months in all 53 cases. One patient with end-stage achalasia developed mild dysphagia 11 months after surgery, and the symptoms of the remaining 52 cases improved significantly. Among them, symptoms disappeared in 48 cases and improved in 5 cases. Conclusions:Laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery can not only effectively improve the symptoms of achalasia, but also effectively prevent postoperative gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. The operation is simple, less invasive, and has fewer complications.

As a potential vectored vaccine,Newcastle disease virus(NDV)has been subject to various studies for vaccine development,while relatively little research has outlined the immunomodulatory effect of the virus in antigen presentation.To elucidate the key inhibitory factor in regulating the interaction of infected dendritic cells(DCs)and T cells,DCs were pretreated with the NDV vaccine strain LaSota as an inhibitor and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)for further detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),flow cytometry,immunoblotting,and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).The results revealed that NDV infection resulted in the inhibition of interleukin(IL)-12p40 in DCs through a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)-dependent manner,thus inhibiting the synthesis of IL-12p70,leading to the reduction in T cell proliferation and the secretion of interferon-γ(IFN-γ),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and IL-6 induced by DCs.Consequently,downregulated cytokines accelerated the infection and viral transmission from DCs to T cells.Furthermore,several other strains of NDV also exhibited inhibitory activity.The current study reveals that NDV can modulate the intensity of the innate?adaptive immune cell crosstalk critically toward viral invasion improvement,highlighting a novel mechanism of virus-induced immunosuppression and providing new perspectives on the improvement of NDV-vectored vaccine.

Objective:To investigate the application effects of a novel framework: the external septal retention bionic framework in East Asian rhinoplasty.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed based on the clinical data of the patients who received treatments in Department of Plastic and Aesthetic ( Burn) Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from January 2022 to July 2023 using an external septal retention bionic framework with autologous costal cartilage rhinoplasty. The patients were all treated with a V-shaped incision at the nasal columella, which continued to both sides of the nose to form a bird-shaped incision. During the operation, the sixth or seventh costal cartilage was sculpted to form the nasal columella support grafts (sturt), external nasal septal graft, cap grafts, and shield grafts, in which the nasal column support graft and external nasal septal graft were implanted in a mortise-and-tenon joint structure to form a septum bionic retained external stent in order to lengthen the nasal columellar column and strengthen the septum. A capsular graft was used to shape the tip of the nose and the rectus abdominis fascia was covered to soften the tip of the nose, and the shield grafts were used to fill out the subnasal lobules. A bulb was sculpted, shaped and implanted in the dorsal space to elevate the nasal dorsum. To observe the postoperative results and complications, a postoperative satisfaction survey was completed using the rhinoplasty outcome evaluation (ROE) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) with regular follow-up. Comparison of preoperative and postoperative scale scores was performed using paired samples t-test. Nasal stent stability was assessed by measuring the patients’ preoperative and postoperative nasolabial angle and nasal tip protrusion. The comparison of preoperative and postoperative nasolabial angle was performed using the paired-sample t-test, and the comparison of nasal tip protrusion was performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test, P<0.05 considered a statistically significant difference. Results:A total of 33 patients were enrolled, including 4 males and 29 females, with average age of 23.8 years(15-42 years). The follow-up period is (14.52 ± 4.72) months (3 to 21 months). Thirty-three patients recovered well after surgery, and no short-term complications such as infection or bleeding occurred. The patients' nasal aesthetic problems such as saddle nose, deviated nasal columella, bilateral asymmetry of the nose, bilateral nasal base depression, and rounded shield of the nasal tip were improved after surgery. Satisfaction survey results: ROE and VAS scores were significantly higher than those before surgery, which were [(17.92±2.56) vs.(12.78±3.14)] and [(8.08±1.66)vs(5.15±1.99)], ( P<0.05), 87.9% (27/33)of the patients were satisfied with the aesthetic and functional outcomes of the nose. Comparisons of nasolabial angle [(87.28±2.58)° vs. (97.64±1.95)°] and tip protrusion [1.88 (1.78, 1.95) cm vs. 2.16(2.01, 2.32) cm] measurements between preoperative and postoperative period of the 33 patients, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Rhinoplasty for East Asians employs an external septal retention bionic framework to retain the nasal septum. This technique can avoid septal cartilage resorption caused by compression of grafts transplanted in the future, and cause less damage to the anatomy and physiology of the nose. The framework is relatively easy to construct, with a stable and strong stent, and good patient satisfaction. It can achieve a more desirable aesthetic effect of the nose.

Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC. is a famous medicinal plant commonly used in East Asia. Triterpene saponins isolated from P. grandiflorum are the main biologically active compounds, among which polygalacin D (PGD) has been reported to be an anti-tumor agent. However, its anti-tumor mechanism against hepatocellular carcinoma is unknown. This study aimed to explore the inhibitory effect of PGD in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and related mechanisms of action. We found that PGD exerted significant inhibitory effect on hepatocellular carcinoma cells through apoptosis and autophagy. Analysis of the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and autophagy-related proteins revealed that this phenomenon was attributed to the mitochondrial apoptosis and mitophagy pathways. Subsequently, using specific inhibitors, we found that apoptosis and autophagy had mutually reinforcing effects. In addition, further analysis of autophagy showed that PGD induced mitophagy by increasing BCL2 interacting protein 3 like (BNIP3L) levels.In vivo experiments demonstrated that PGD significantly inhibited tumor growth and increased the levels of apoptosis and autophagy in tumors. Overall, our findings showed that PGD induced cell death of hepatocellular carcinoma cells primarily through mitochondrial apoptosis and mitophagy pathways. Therefore, PGD can be used as an apoptosis and autophagy agonist in the research and development of antitumor agents.
Humans ; Mitophagy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Cell Line ; Autophagy ; Apoptosis ; Membrane Proteins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics* ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Tingli dazao xiefei decoction on ventricular remodeling in model rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction. METHODS The rat model of heart failure after myocardial infarction was established by ligation of anterior descending branch of left coronary artery， which was divided into 8 groups： sham operation group， model group， A779 group （1 mg/kg）， A779 （1 mg/kg）+Tingli dazao xiefei decoction equivalent-dose group （0.8 g/kg）， A779 （1 mg/kg） +Tingli dazao xiefei decoction high-dose group （1.6 g/kg）， Tingli dazao xiefei decoction equivalent-dose group （0.8 g/kg）， Tingli dazao xiefei decoction high-dose group （1.6 g/kg） and losartan potassium group （10 mg/kg）. Each group was given equal volume of distilled water or corresponding drugs intragastrically for 4 weeks. Masson staining was used to determine the distribution of collagen fibers in rat myocardium. The content of hydroxyproline （Hyp） in myocardium was determined by alkaline hydrolyzation. The expressions of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen （COLⅠ， COLⅢ）in myocardium were detected by immunohisto-chemistry. Myocardial fibrosis-related indexes such as matrix metalloproteinase-2 （MMP-2）， MMP-9， tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 （TIMP-1） and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 （sST-2） were detected by ELISA. The protein expressions of angiotensin converting enzyme 2-angiotensin-（1-7）-Mas [ACE2-Ang-（1-7）-Mas] axis were detected by Western blot. RESULTS Compared with sham operation group， myocardial cells in model group and A779 group were disordered， collagen fiber deposition was significantly increased and myocardial fibrosis was obvious； the Hyp content and MMP-2， MMP-9， sST-2 levels were increased， and COL Ⅰ and COL Ⅲ positive expressions were significantly enhanced； TIMP-1 level， protein expressions of ACE2， Ang-（1-7） and Mas were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， above indexes of Tingli dazao xiefei decoction equivalent-dose and high-dose groups were improved to different extents. Compared with A779 group， A779+Tingli dazao xiefei decoction equivalent-dose and A779+high-dose groups could improve myocardial arrangement and collagen distribution， reduce the Hyp content and MMP-2， MMP-9 levels， reduce positive expressions of COL Ⅰ and COL Ⅲ （P＜0.05）， but couldn’t improve Ang-（1-7） and Mas protein expression. CONCLUSIONS Tingli dazao xiefei decoction can improve ventricular remodeling in myocardial failure model rats after myocardial infarction by improving the expression of ACE2- Ang（- 1-7）-Mas axis proteins.

Objective To investigate the association of five noninvasive diagnostic methods for liver cirrhosis, i.e., liver stiffness measurement (LSM) on FibroScan, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-platelet ratio (GPR), and red blood cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio (RPR), with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome types in patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 327 patients who were diagnosed with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis in The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine from January 2017 to January 2020, and based on their TCM syndrome type, they were divided into liver depression and spleen deficiency group with 160 patients, liver-gallbladder damp-heat syndrome group with 84 patients, liver-kidney Yin deficiency group with 13 patients, spleen-kidney Yang deficiency group with 5 patients, and blood stasis obstructing the collaterals group with 65 patients. Related data were collected, including clinical data, routine blood test results, liver function, LSM, and color Doppler ultrasound findings of liver, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas. TCM syndrome differentiation was performed, and the models of APRI, FIB-4, GPR, and RPR were established. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t -test was used for further comparison between two groups; the multiple independent samples Kruskal-Wallis H rank sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups, and the one- way Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA (k-sample) was used for multiple comparison; the binary logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between TCM syndrome types and non-invasive diagnosis of liver cirrhosis; the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic capability of five noninvasive methods for predicting TCM syndrome type in compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis. Results The logistic regression analysis showed that in the liver-gallbladder damp-heat syndrome group, aspartate aminotransferase OR =1.981, 95% CI : 1.8225-2.139, P < 0.05), and LSM ( OR =2.002, 95% CI : 1.840-2.160, P < 0.05) were influencing factors for compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis; in the liver depression and spleen deficiency group, portal vein width ( OR =4.402, 95% CI : 4.050-4.754, P < 0.05), LSM ( OR =3.901, 95% CI : 3.589-4.213, P < 0.05), APRI ( OR =1.891, 95% CI : 1.740-2.042, P < 0.05), and FIB-4 ( OR =1.845, 95% CI : 1.697-1.993, P < 0.05) were influencing factors for compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis; in the blood stasis obstructing the collaterals group, LSM ( OR =2.465, 95% CI : 2.268-2.662, P < 0.05), APRI ( OR =1.298, 95% CI : 1.194-1.402, P < 0.05), and FIB-4 ( OR =1.849, 95% CI : 1.701-1.997, P < 0.05) were influencing factors for compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis. The ROC curve analysis showed that LSM and RPR had a significantly better diagnostic value than the other methods in evaluating liver-gallbladder damp-heat syndrome, and LSM and FIB-4 had a significantly better diagnostic value than the other methods in evaluating liver depression and spleen deficiency; all five noninvasive diagnostic methods had a good value in evaluating the syndrome of blood stasis obstructing the collaterals. Conclusion The five noninvasive diagnostic methods have their own advantages in evaluating different syndrome types, which provide a reference for the diagnosis of TCM syndrome types in patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between 24 h urinary ion content and kidney stones, and to explore the diagnostic values of kidney stone in primary gout patients. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with primary gout had ultrasound scanning of both feet and kidneys in Peking University First Hospital from Jan. 2020 to May 2021. Their clinical characteristics were compared between the positive and negative kidney stone groups, and the relationship between kidney stone and urinary ion composition were analyzed. Risk factors of kidney stone were analyzed. The explored diagnostic values were evaluated for urinary oxalate and citrate according with uric acid kidney stones by dual-energy computed tomography (DECT). RESULTS: Among the 100 gouty patients, 80 patients had uric acid crystal deposition in lower joints of extremity by ultrasonography, 61 patients had kidney stone, and 34 had kidney uric acid stones by DECT. All the multiple kidney stones were proved as uric acid kidney stones by DECT. Compared with patients without kidney stone group proved by ultrasonography, patients with kidney stone had longer gouty duration [(48.7±26.6) months vs. (84.0±30.6) months, P=0.01], higher 24 h urinary oxalate [(20.1±9.6) mg vs. (28.6±20.7) mg, P=0.001] and lower 24 h urinary citrate [(506.3±315.4) mg vs. (355.7±219.6) mg, P=0.001]. Compared with the patients without kidney stone by DECT, the patients with uric acid kidney stone also had longer disease duration [(49.1±28.4) months vs. (108.3±72.2) months, P=0.001], higher 24 h urinary oxalate [(23.6±16.9) mg vs. (28.5±18.8) mg, P < 0.05], lower 24 h urinary citrate [(556.0±316.3) mg vs. (391.7±261.2) mg, P < 0.05], higher serum uric acid [(466.2±134.5) μmol/L vs. (517.2±18.1) μmol/L, P < 0.05] and higher 24 h urinary uric acid [(1 518.1±893.4) mg vs. (1 684.2±812.1) mg, P < 0.05]. Logistic regression analysis showed long gout disease duration (OR=1.229, 95%CI: 1.062-1.522, P < 0.05), high serum uric acid level (OR=1.137, 95%CI: 1.001-1.213, P=0.01), low 24 h urinary citrate (OR=0.821, 95%CI: 0.659-0.952, P=0.01) were all risk factors of kidney stones by ultrasonography. Also, long gout disease duration (OR=1.201, 95%CI: 1.101-1.437, P=0.005), high serum creatine uric level (OR=1.145, 95%CI: 1.001-1.182, P=0.04), low 24 h urinary citrate (OR=0.837, 95%CI: 0.739-0.931, P=0.02) were all risk factors of kidney uric acid stones by DECT. CONCLUSION Long disease duration and low 24 h urinary citrate were risk factors for kidney stones.
Humans ; Urinary Calculi ; Uric Acid/analysis* ; Citric Acid ; Kidney Calculi/diagnostic imaging* ; Gout/diagnostic imaging* ; Citrates ; Oxalates