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Yuanyuan Wu,1 Xinmiao Yao,2 Yongliang Jiang,1 Xiaofen He,1 Xiaomei Shao,1 Junying Du,1 Zui Shen,1 Qiaoying He,1 Jianqiao Fang1 1Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 2The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, China Abstract: Pain is considered a multidimensional conscious experience that includes a sensory component and a negative affective-motivational component. The negative affective-motivational component of pain is different from the sensory component and amplifies the pain experience. Nowadays, a significant number of preclinical research groups have focused their attention on the affective symptoms of pain. In the present study, we investigated the pain aversion and anxiety-like behavior of the complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced chronic pain model. CFA rats experienced spontaneous pain during pain-paired conditioning (pain aversion) and spontaneous pain produces an affective response (anxiety-like behavior). Moreover, pain aversion was gradually attenuated, while the anxiety-like behavior increased in 4 weeks. Therefore, although the negative effect (including pain aversion and anxiety) is always associated with hyperalgesia, the manifestations of negative effect may follow different time courses, which may influence the progress of primary disease. The findings illustrate that targeted therapy should focus on a specific aspect in different stages of pain. Our study emphasizes the necessity of using multiple tests to study pain comorbidities. Keywords: pain, pain aversion, pain affection, anxiety-like behavior, chronic inflammatory pain, rat

Zelong Luo, Chao Feng, Peng Hu, Yong Chen, Xiao-feng He, Yanhao Li, Jianbo Zhao Department of Interventional Radiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the level of serum microRNA-199a/b-3p (miR-199a/b-3p) can serve as a predictor of treatment response to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods: Serum miR-199a/b-3p expression level was measured in 132 patients with HCC before TACE (t1) and 3–5 days after TACE (t2). Additionally, 126 patients of these 132 patients had levels measured 4 weeks after TACE (t3) and 3–5 days after second TACE (t4). Serum miR-199a/b-3p expression levels were compared with those of 50 healthy controls. Correlations between miR-199a/b-3p expression levels and clinicopathologic factors and tumor responsiveness were analyzed. The modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors assessment was conducted at t3.Results: A lower mean baseline miR-199a/b-3p expression level was observed in patients with HCC compared with healthy controls (0.68±0.81 vs 2.50±2.16, P25% decrease in serum miR-199a/b-3p expression levels compared with the nonresponder group (64% vs 39%).Conclusion: Serum miR-199a/b-3p may represent a novel biomarker for predicting efficacy of TACE in patients with HCC. Keywords: biomarker, hepatocellular carcinoma, microRNA, microRNA-199a/b-3p, transarterial chemoembolization

Hua Lu,1,2 Xingjie Liu,2 Fengfu Guo,2 Shanfeng Tan,2 Guangjian Wang,2 Hongjun Liu,2 Jianming Wang,2 Xiangfei He,2 Yanshuai Mo,2 Benkang Shi1 1Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Urology, Linyi People’s Hospital, Shandong, People’s Republic of China Introduction: Increasing evidence suggests that beta-blocker use might be associated with reduced mortality in prostate cancer patients. To provide a quantitative assessment of this association, we pooled data available to examine the association between beta-blocker use and mortality of prostate cancer.Methods: We identified studies by a literature search of MEDLINE (from 1 January 1966) and EMBASE (from 1 January 1974), through 10 September 2014, and by searching the reference lists of pertinent articles. Two authors independently screened and reviewed the eligibility of each study. The primary outcomes were prostate cancer-specific mortality and all-cause mortality.Results: A total of four studies including 16,825 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Analysis of all studies showed that beta-blocker use was associated with reduced prostate cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio =0.85, 95% confidence interval =0.77–0.94), without any heterogeneity between studies (Q=3.59, I2=16.5%, P=0.309). However, we observed no association with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio =0.97, 95% confidence interval =0.90–1.04). There was also no evidence of the presence of significant heterogeneity between the four studies (Q=2.48, I2=0.0%, P=0.480).Conclusion: These findings indicate that beta-blocker use was associated with reduced cancer-specific mortality among prostate cancer patients taking beta-blockers. Keywords: prostate cancer, beta-blocker, mortality, meta-analysis

Objective: To investigate the stability and three-dimensional movements of the atlantoaxial joint after artificial atlanto-odontoid joint (AAOJ) arthroplasty by comparing with a conventional method.Methods: After anterior decompression, 24 human cadaveric spinal specimens of C0-C3 were randomly divided into two groups: Group A receiving artificial AAOJ arthroplasty; Group B experiencing anterior transarticular screw (ATAS) fixation. Two groups underwent flexibility test in intact and instrumented states. Rotational angle of the C0-C3 segments was measured to study the immediate stability and function of anterior decompression with AAOJ arthroplasty compared with the intact state and ATAS fixation.Results: Compared with the intact state, anterior decompression with AAOJ arthroplasty resulted in a significant decrease in the range of motion (ROM) and neutral zone (NZ) during flexion, extension and lateral bending (P less than 0.05); however, with regard to axial rotation, there was no significant difference in ROM and NZ (P larger than 0.05). Compared with anterior decompression with ATAS fixation, anterior decompression with AAOJ arthroplasty during flexion, extension and lateral bending, significant difference was found in ROM and NZ (P larger than 0.05); however, as for axial rotation, there was a significant increase in ROM and NZ (P less than 0.05).Conclusion: The self-designed AAOJ has an excellent biomechanical performance, which can restore excellent instant stability and preserve the movement of the atlantoaxial joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To get morphologic parameters of Chinese adults through observation and measurement on axial laminas, to evaluate the feasibility of placing axial laminar screws and to introduce the technique.Methods: Relative parameters of 28 sets of fresh Chinese adults'axial specimens, including distance from the superior and inferior entry points of axial laminar screws to the superior margins of axial laminas, superior, middle, inferior thickness and height of the axial laminas, length and angle of the axial laminar screw trajectories, distance from the entry points of axial laminar screws to the transverse foramen and central points of the inferior articular process, were measured with a digital caliper and a goniometer. Data were statistically analyzed.Results: Averagely, distance from the superior and inferior entry points of axial laminar screws to the superior margins of axial laminas was 5 mm and 9 mm, superior, middle, inferior thickness and the height of the axial laminas were 3.2 mm, 6.7 mm, 5.5 mm and 12.8 mm respectively, and the length of the superior and inferior axial laminar screw trajectories was 26.2 mm and 25.5 mm, respectively.Conclusions: It is feasible and reliable to apply posterior laminar screw fixation techniques to the axes of Chinese adults. Also the C2 laminar screw fixation technique can be taken as a supplementary to conventional posterior screw fixations of C2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical exercise (PE) may be the single most important and accessible lifestyle habit throughout life, it inhibits the neuroinflammatory response and protects the brain against damage. As the innate cells in brain, microglia undergo morphological and functional changes to communicate with neurons protecting the neurons from injury. Herein, aiming at exploring the effects of PE on the communication between microglia-neuron during acute ischemic cerebral infarction, we carried out running wheel training before the conduction of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in C57BL/6 J and Cx3cr1-GFP mice. We found that microglial P2Y12 expression in the peri-infarct area was decreased, microglial dynamics and microglia-neuron communications were impaired, using in vivo two-photon imaging. PE up-regulated the microglial P2Y12 expression, increased the microglial dynamics, and promoted the contacts of microglia with neurons. As a result, PE inhibited neuronal Ca 2+ overloads and protected against damage of the neuronal mitochondria in acute tMCAO. Mechanistically, PE increased the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB 2 R) in microglia, promoted the phosphorylation of Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) at ser-344, increased the transcription factor level of Mafk, and up-regulated the level of P2Y12, whereby PE increased the levels of CB 2 R to promote microglia-neuron contacts to monitor and protect neuronal function., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Rhinophyma, a late-stage subtype of rosacea, is characterized by excessive sebaceous glands and connective tissue proliferation. Patients may experience respiratory disturbances and psychological distress that significantly affect their quality of life when excessive nasal hyperplasia obstructs the external nasal valves. Surgery is the treatment of choice for rhinophyma. However, excessive bleeding, scarring, pigmentation, and high recurrence rates frequently characterize current surgical methods., Aim: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and recurrence rates after treating severe rhinophyma with the five-blade scratcher., Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of 28 patients with severe rhinophyma rosacea. The Global Flushing Severity Score (GFSS), Clinician Erythema Assessment (CEA), Rhinophyma Severity Index (RHISI), Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), and satisfaction scores were used to assess the recovery of patients at 6 months and 5 years, with the recurrence rate calculated at 5 years postoperatively. In addition, the levels of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in the serum of patients before and after surgery were detected by ELISA., Results: The GFSS, CEA, and RHISI scores at 6 months and 5 years postoperatively were significantly lower than those preoperatively ( P < 0.001 for both periods). Five-blade scratcher treatment greatly benefits patients as demonstrated by the GBI and patient satisfaction. A small number of patients (7/28, 25%) reported recurrence after surgical treatment for rhinophyma in our department that was not more serious than before treatment. The expression of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in the patient's serum was significantly reduced after surgery of five-blade scratcher., Conclusion: The five-blade scratcher treatment demonstrates notable advantages, including simplicity, safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness, coupled with reduced bleeding, minimized scarring, lower recurrence rates, reduced the level of pro-inflammatory factors and improved patient satisfaction. Consequently, this therapeutic modality exhibits a viable option for individuals afflicted with severe rhinophyma., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: Dr. He has nothing to disclose., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Artemisia annua L. ("Qinghao" in Chinese) is a famous traditional Chinese medicinal herb and has been used to treat malaria and various tumors. Our preliminary screening indicated that the EtOAc extract of A. annua manifested activity against HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1 cell lines with inhibitory ratios of 53.2%, 52.1%, and 59.6% at 200 μg/mL, respectively. Bioassay-guided isolation of A. annua afforded 14 unusual cadinane-involved sesquiterpenoid dimers, artemannuins A‒N (1-14), of which the structures were elucidated by extensive spectral analyses, ECD calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structurally, these compounds were classified into five different types based on the coupled modes of two monomeric sesquiterpenoids. Among them, compounds 1-9 represented the first examples of sesquiterpenoid dimers formed via the C-3‒C-3' single bond of two 5(4 → 3)-abeo-cadinane sesquiterpenoid monomers, while compounds 13 and 14 were dimers fused by cadinane and humulane sesquiterpenoids via an ester bond. Methylated derivatives of 1, 4, 6, and 8 showed antihepatoma activity against HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1 cell lines with IC 50 values ranging from 30.5 to 57.2 μM., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The urea-assisted water splitting not only enables a reduction in energy consumption during hydrogen production but also addresses the issue of environmental pollution caused by urea. Doping heterogeneous atoms in Ni-based electrocatalysts is considered an efficient means for regulating the electronic structure of Ni sites in catalytic processes. However, the current methodologies for synthesizing heteroatom-doped Ni-based electrocatalysts exhibit certain limitations, including intricate experimental procedures, prolonged reaction durations, and low product yield. Herein, Fe-doped NiO electrocatalysts were successfully synthesized using a rapid and facile solution combustion method, enabling the synthesis of 1.1107 g within a mere 5 min. The incorporation of iron atoms facilitates the modulation of the electronic environment around Ni atoms, generating a substantial decrease in the Gibbs free energy of intermediate species for the Fe-NiO catalyst. This modification promotes efficient cleavage of C-N bonds and consequently enhances the catalytic performance of UOR. Benefiting from the tunability of the electronic environment around the active sites and its efficient electron transfer, Fe-NiO electrocatalysts only needs 1.334 V to achieve 50 mA cm -2 during UOR. Moreover, Fe-NiO catalysts were integrated into a dual electrode urea electrolytic system, requiring only 1.43 V of cell voltage at 10 mA cm -2 .

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic progressive joint ailment that is largely predominant worldwide. However, it typically gets worse over time, occurs more frequently, and becomes more crippling., Objectives: Syringic acid (SA) is a well-known phenolic compound reported to suppress inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis of various cancer cells. Since the role of SA in OA remains unknown, there is a need to hypothesize the anti-inflammatory activities of SA on IL- 1β-induced ATDC5 chondrocyte‑like cells and to elucidate its protective action against OA., Methods: The cytotoxicity, inflammatory mediators, mRNA expression of MMPs, ADAMTS, COX-2, and Akt/NF-κB protein expression of SA activity on ATDC5 cells were examined through CCK-8 assay, ELISA, RT-qPCR, and western blot. It was found that SA (10, 20, and 30 μM) did not show any inhibitory effects on the viability of the ATDC5 cells in a concentrationdependent manner., Results: SA markedly reduced the inflammatory mediators, cytokines, PGE2, MMPs, COX-2, and ADAMTS in a concentration-dependent manner. Likewise, SA expressively attenuated IL- 1β-stimulated Akt phosphorylation and NF-κB activation as well as IL-1β- induced ATDC5 chondrocytes., Conclusion: This study revealed that SA is a novel candidate applicable for the treatment of OA., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Purpose: While the role of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is established, questions regarding appropriate bead size for use in patients remain. This trial evaluated the effectiveness and safety of DEB-TACE using small-size (≤ 100 μm) microspheres loaded with epirubicin., Materials and Methods: This prospective, single-arm, multicenter study enrolled patients diagnosed with HCC who underwent DEB-TACE using 40 (range, 30-50), 75 (range, 60-90), or 100 (range, 75-125) μm epirubicin-loaded microspheres (TANDEM microspheres, Varian Medical). Bead size was at the discretion of treating physicians and based on tumor size and/or vascular structure. The primary outcome measure was 6-month objective response rate (ORR). Secondary outcome measures were 30-day and 3-month ORR, time to tumor progression and extrahepatic spread, proportion of progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) at one year, and incidence of treatment-associated adverse events., Results: Data from 108 patients from ten centers was analyzed. Six-month ORR was 73.3 and 71.3% based on European association for the study of the liver (EASL) and modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) criteria, respectively. Thirty-day ORR was 79.6% for both EASL and mRECIST criteria with 3-month ORR being 80.0 and 81.0%, respectively, for each criteria. One-year PPF and OS rate were 60.3 and 94.3%. There was a total of 30 SAEs reported to be likely to definitely associated with microsphere (n = 9), epirubicin (n = 9), or procedure (n = 12) with none resulting in death., Conclusion: DEB-TACE using epirubicin-loaded small-sized (≤ 100 μm) microspheres demonstrates promising local tumor control and acceptable safety in patients with HCC., Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03113955; registered April 14, 2017. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03113955; registered April 14, 2017., Level of Evidence: 2, Prospective, Non-randomized, Single-arm, study., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The genus Scorzonera L. comprises of approximately 175 species, which are mainly distributed in temperate and arid regions of Central Europe, Central Asia, and Africa. Twenty-nine Scorzonera traditional ethnomedicines have been used for treating colds and fevers, pulmonary diseases, asthma, dyspepsia, malignant stomach neoplasia, liver disorder, jaundice, kidney diseases, mastitis, women's vaginitis, herpes zoster, poisonous ulcers, rheumatic pain, diabetic, atherosclerosis, headache, hypertension, dysentery, pregnant vomiting, snakebites, etc. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review aims to systematically evaluate the genus Scorzonera over its ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology, discuss the relationship between traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties, and put forward some suggestions to promote further development and utilization of Scorzonera., Materials and Methods: This review is based on published scientific research works obtained from the following databases: Elsevier, Web of Science, PubMed, Springer, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, Google Scholar, CNKI, Baidu Scholar, ResearchGate, and others (the Flora of China, 1997 edition; Chinese herbal books, PhD dissertation and Master thesis in Chinese)., Results: The genus 81 Scorzonera plants have been studied for their traditional usage, phytochemistry, and pharmacology. Altogether 421 chemical constituents are isolated from the 54 species of Scorzonera, which include sesquiterpenoids, monoterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenoids, steroids, quinic acid derivatives, flavonoids, cumarinoids, lignanoids, phenylpropanoids, stilbene derivatives, benzylphthalides, kava lactones, phenolics, aliphatic acids, phthalic acids, alkanes, vitamins, sugars, alkaloids, and other constitutes. Besides those listed above, there are also volatile oils, polysaccharides, tannins, amino acids, enzymes, and inorganic elements. The extracts and compounds extracted from 55 Scorzonera species exhibit extensive pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, wound healing, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, anti-microbial, anti-ulcerogenic, antidiarrheal, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, repairing cerebral ischemia, antidepressant, immunomodulatory activities, enzyme inhibitory effects, etc. Clinical applications strongly indicate that certain species are effective in treating herpes zoster and pregnancy resistance. Certain species are studied over applicationssuch as pharmacokinetic and histological distribution, and toxicity, the product extraction process, quick-freezing processing technology, synthesized metabolites, etc. Chemotaxonomy is also discussed on Scorzonera., Conclusion: This review provides information on traditional usage, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, chemotaxonomy, other applications aspects, and future prospects of the genus Scorzonera. However, only around one third of Scorzonera species have been studied so far. This review may be used as the basis for future endeavors, including further biological and chemical investigations, and efforts of seeking more applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of combined echocardiography and residual cholesterol in asymptomatic myocardial ischaemia. One hundred and fifty-seven patients were seen at Hefei BOE Hospital from 2019 to 2022. The patients were divided into two groups, the observation group (n=90, confirmed asymptomatic myocardial ischaemia) and the control group (n=67, negative diagnosis), based on coronary angiography. The observation group had significantly higher residual cholesterol levels (p=0.001). A combined approach of echocardiography and serum residual cholesterol values showed statistically higher accuracy (p<0.05), with ROC curve analysis supporting the superiority of this method [AUC 0.788 (0.711-0.865), Yoden index 0.576]. It also demonstrated higher sensitivity (88.9%) and specificity (68.7%). The study concluded that combined echocardiography and serum residual cholesterol testing offer superior diagnostic efficacy and practicality for asymptomatic myocardial ischaemia, recommending it for the clinical use. Key Words: Echocardiography, Residual cholesterol, Asymptomatic myocardial ischaemia, Diagnosis.

Central nervous system (CNS) diseases have become one of the leading causes of death in the global population. The pathogenesis of CNS diseases is complicated, so it is important to find the patterns of the disease to improve the treatment strategy. Microglia are considered to be a double-edged sword, playing both harmful and beneficial roles in CNS diseases. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the progression of the disease and the changes in the polar phenotype of microglia to provide guidance in the treatment of CNS diseases. Microglia activation may evolve into different phenotypes: M1 and M2 types. We focused on the roles that M1 and M2 microglia play in regulating intercellular dialogues, pathological reactions and specific diseases in CNS diseases. Importantly, we summarized the strategies used to modulate the polarization phenotype of microglia, including traditional pharmacological modulation, biological therapies, and physical strategies. This review will contribute to the development of potential strategies to modulate microglia polarization phenotypes and provide new alternative therapies for CNS diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The ethanol and EtOAc extracts of Artemisia sacrorum exhibited inhibitory effect against HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1 cell lines with inhibitory ratios of 65.5%, 28.1%, 84.6%, and 93.5%, 82.0%, 89.0% at 200 μg/mL. Twenty-three undescribed guaiane-type sesquiterpene lactones, artemisacrolides A‒W, were isolated from A. sacrorum under the guidance of antihepatoma activity. Their structures were elucidated by spectral data (HRESIMS, IR, UV, 1D and 2D NMR), ECD calculations, and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Artemisacrolides A‒U were guaiane-type sesquiterpene lactones possessing α-methylene-γ-lactone and containing acetoxyl groups at C-8, and artemisacrolides V and W represented the first report from the genus Artemisia with a 1,10-rearranged guaiane-type sesquiterpene lactone. Antihepatoma assay suggested that artemisacrolides A‒U demonstrated better inhibitory activity in Huh7 and SK-Hep-1 cells than those of HepG2 cells. Among them, nine compounds exhibited significant inhibitory activity against Huh7 cells with IC 50 values of 8.2-14.3 μM, superior or equal to that of sorafenib; seven compounds demonstrated obvious activity against SK-Hep-1 cells with IC 50 values of 13.5-19.2 μM, which were equivalent to that of sorafenib. Artemisacrolides B and E were the most active ones in three human hepatoma cell lines with IC 50 values of 21.9, 8.2, 16.9 and 22.6, 9.0, 17.3 μM., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Marine benthic dinoflagellate toxins, potent bioactive compounds with wide-ranging presence in marine ecosystems, have surged in response to global climate change and human activities, prompting an urgent and imperative inquiry. This study conducts an in-depth review of contemporary research concerning these toxins, employing meticulous bibliometric analysis. Leveraging a dataset of 736 relevant literatures sourced from the Web of Science (spanning from 2000 to May 2023), our analysis delves comprehensively into the scientific discourse surrounding these toxic compounds. Employing tools such as VOSviewer, co-citation analysis, co-occurrence analysis, and cluster analysis, our study yields nuanced insights into the intricate characteristics and trajectories of the field. The co-citation analysis underscores the pivotal role played by benthic and epiphytic dinoflagellates like Ostreopsis and Gambierdiscus in shaping prevailing research trends. Our study identifies four distinct research directions, encompassing the domains of ecology, toxicology, toxin production, and taxonomy. Moreover, it traces the evolutionary journey of research stages, marking the transition from a focus on taxonomy to an emphasis on unraveling molecular mechanisms. The culmination of our comprehensive analysis yields three pertinent research recommendations: a call for widescale global studies, the advancement of rapid toxin monitoring techniques, and a deeper exploration of the factors influencing toxin synthesis and toxicity. These findings provide invaluable insights to researchers grappling with the complex realm of harmful algal blooms and substantially enrich the understanding of this pivotal and pressing field., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of posterior axillary approach internal fixation for Ideberg Ⅰa andⅡ glenoid fractures., Methods: From December 2018 to September 2021, 9 patients with lower part of glenoid fractures were treated by posterior axillary approach, including 3 males and 6 females, aged from 50 to 78 years old. All the fractures were closed fractures. According to Ideberg type of scapular glenoid fracture was type Ⅰa in 6 cases and type Ⅱ in 3 cases. AP and lateral X-ray films of scapula were taken at 6, 12 weeks and 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Constant-Murley and disabilities of the arm shoulder and hand (DASH), and other complications were recorded at the latest follow-up., Results: Nine patients were followed up, ranged from 6 to 15 months. And bone healing was achieved in all 9 patients at the final follow-up, the healing time 3 to 6 months, Constant-Murley score at the final follow-up ranged from 55 to 96, and DASH score ranged from 3.33 to 33.33. Both of them were better than preoperative., Conclusion: The posterior axillary approach internal fixation for Ideberg Ⅰa and Ideberg Ⅱ Glenoid fractures scapular fracture is satisfactory and worthy of clinical application.

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is a common and destructive complication of diabetes mellitus. The discovery of effective therapeutic methods for DNP is vitally imperative because of the lack of effective treatments. Although 2 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) was a successful approach for relieving DNP, the mechanism underlying the effect of EA on DNP is still poorly understood. Here, we established a rat model of DNP that was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection. P2X4R was upregulated in the spinal cord after STZ-injection. The upregulation of P2X4R was mainly expressed on activated microglia. Intrathecal injection of a P2X4R antagonist or microglia inhibitor attenuated STZ-induced nociceptive thermal hyperalgesia and reduced the overexpression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the spinal cord. We also assessed the effects of EA treatment on the pain hypersensitivities of DNP rats, and further investigated the possible mechanism underlying the analgesic effect of EA. EA relieved the hyperalgesia of DNP. In terms of mechanism, EA reduced the upregulation of P2X4R on activated microglia and decreased BDNF, IL-1β and TNF-α in the spinal cord. Mechanistic research of EA's analgesic impact would be beneficial in ensuring its prospective therapeutic effect on DNP as well as in extending EA's applicability., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: Gene polymorphisms of estrogen receptor (ESR) 1 PvuII (rs2234693), XbaI (rs9340799), G2014A (rs2228480), ESR2 AluI (rs4986938), and RsaI (rs1256049) had been reported to be associated with the risk of osteoporosis. However, these conclusions were inconsistent, therefore, an updated meta-analysis was conducted to further explore these issues., Objective: To evaluate the association between gene polymorphisms of ESR1 PvuII (rs2234693), XbaI (rs9340799), G2014A (rs2228480), ESR2 AluI (rs4986938), RsaI (rs1256049), and osteoporosis risk., Materials and Methods: PubMed, Medline, Ovid, Embase, CNKI, and China Wanfang databases were searched. Association was assessed using odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Moreover, the false-positive reporting probability, Bayesian false-finding probability, and Venetian criteria were used to assess the credibility of statistically significant associations., Results: Overall, ESR1 PvuII (rs2234693) and XbaI (rs9340799) were associated with the risk of osteoporosis in Indians. Moreover, ESR1 G2014A (rs2228480) was associated with the decreased risk of osteoporosis in East Asians. Moreover, ESR2 Alul (rs4986938) was associated with the increased risk of osteoporosis in East Asians and Caucasians. There was a significant association between ESR2 Rsal (rs1256049) and osteoporosis risk in overall population. When only high-quality and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium studies were included in the sensitivity analysis, all results did not change in the present study. When the credibility was evaluated applying false-positive reporting probability, Bayesian false-finding probability, and Venetian criteria, all significant associations were considered as false positive results., Conclusions: In summary, this study shows that all substantial associations between gene polymorphisms of ESR1 (PvuII, XbaI, and G2014A) and ESR 2 (AluI and RsaI) and osteoporosis risk are possibly false positive results instead of real associations or biological variables., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Artemongolins A-K (1-11), which are undescribed sesquiterpenoid dimers, were obtained from Artemisia mongolica and characterized through comprehensive spectral data, including HRESIMS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD calculations. The absolute configurations of compounds 1, 4, and 7 were undoubtedly determined by a single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Artemongolins A-K (1-11) featured a rare 5/7/5/5/5/10 hexacyclic system composed of a germacrene and a guaianolide by a fused 2-oxaspiro[4,4]nonane-1-one ring system. Antihepatoma evaluation against three human hepatoma cell lines demonstrated that the most active compounds 5 and 6 displayed inhibitory activity with IC 50 values of 88.6 and 57.0 (HepG2), 59.1 and 26.4 (Huh7), and 67.5 and 32.5 (SK-Hep-1) µM, respectively., (© 2023. The Pharmaceutical Society of Korea.)

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a therapy where drugs aimed to slow or halt tumor development are injected into the artery supplying for HCC tissues. A comprehensive analysis of all the articles on TACE for HCC can give us a general understanding of the progress in this field and provide guidance for future research., Aim: To analyze and visualize scientific results and research trends in TACE treatment for HCC., Methods: The "Web of Science" database was used to identify articles regarding TACE for the treatment of HCC from 2012 to 2021. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to analyze the publications trends, collaboration between countries/insti-tutions/authors, and the co-occurrence of keywords, keyword bursts, and references., Results: A total of 5728 original articles on TACE for HCC were retrieved. Regarding the volume of publications, the total number of yearly publications showed a generally increasing trend. China had the highest number of articles, while the United States achieved the highest Hirsch index and highest number of citations. The Sun Yat-sen University in China was most prolific institution. The most active author was Park, J.W from South Korea. The Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (234 articles) was the most productive journal. There is a growing trend toward international collaboration in TACE for HCC. Cluster networks of co-cited references suggested that practice guidelines and targeted therapies are an essential theme in this field. In addition, cluster analysis based on keyword co-occurrence identified the research topic "prediction of TACE treatment" as a hotspot, and propensity score matching can be used to help investigators conduct innovative studies in the future., Conclusion: The results of our bibliometric analysis provide the latest trends and hot topics in TACE therapy for HCC., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest associated with any of the senior author or other coauthors contributed their efforts in this manuscript., (©The Author(s) 2023. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Artemeriosides A-F (1-6), six novel sesquiterpenoids containing a 6'-O-crontonyl β-glucopyranoside, were isolated from Artemisia annua L. Their structures were determined by spectral data including HRESIMS, IR, UV, 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD calculations. Compounds 1-6 represented the first examples of natural sesquiterpenoid substituted by 6'-O-crontonyl β-glucopyranoside. By antihepatoma assay, compounds 1 and 2 demonstrated inhibitory effect against both HepG2 and SK-Hep-1 cells with inhibitory ratios of 77.0%, 88.8%, and 86.8%, 83.9% at 200.0 μM, and compound 1 showed inhibitory activity against Huh7 cells with inhibitory ratio of 56.8%., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

O-linked β-D-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc), as a posttranslational modification (PTM), is a reversible reaction that attaches β-N-GlcNAc to Ser/Thr residues on specific proteins by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). O-GlcNAcase (OGA) removes the O-GlcNAc from O-GlcNAcylated proteins. O-GlcNAcylation regulates numerous cellular processes, including signal transduction, the cell cycle, metabolism, and energy homeostasis. Dysregulation of O-GlcNAcylation contributes to the development of various diseases, including cancers. Accumulating evidence has revealed that higher expression levels of OGT and hyper-O-GlcNAcylation are detected in many cancer types and governs glucose metabolism, proliferation, metastasis, invasion, angiogenesis, migration and drug resistance. In this review, we describe the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of OGT- or O-GlcNAcylation-mediated tumorigenesis. Moreover, we discuss the potential role of O-GlcNAcylation in tumor immunotherapy. Furthermore, we highlight that compounds can target O-GlcNAcylation by regulating OGT to suppress oncogenesis. Taken together, targeting protein O-GlcNAcylation might be a promising strategy for the treatment of human malignancies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest in this work., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Artemisia annua , also known as "Qinghao" in Chinese, is a famous traditional Chinese medicine and has been used for the treatment of malaria and various tumors. In this study, three novel sesquiterpenoid-flavonol hybrids, artemannuols A-C (1-3), were isolated and elucidated by extensive spectral data and ECD calculations. Structurally, artemannuols A-C (1-3) are the first examples of sesquiterpenoid-flavonol hybrids fused by an ether bond, among which artemannuols A and B (1 and 2) are composed of bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoid and flavonol moieties, and artemannuol C (3) is composed of humulane-type sesquiterpenoid and flavonol moieties. The antihepatoma assay suggested that compounds 1-3 showed inhibitory effects against HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1 cell lines with IC 50 values in the range of 32.7 to 70.4 μM.

Bioassay-guided investigation of the active fraction of Artemisia princeps led to 13 undescribed sesquiterpenoid dimers, artemiprinolides A-M (1-13), together with 11 known ones (14-24). Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data and absolute configurations were assigned based on single crystal X-ray diffraction data and ECD calculations. Structurally, all compounds were postulated to be derived from the Diels-Alder cycloaddition. The isolated dimers except 11 and 15 were assayed for their cytotoxicity against HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1 cell lines, of which four compounds (3, 13, 17, 18) exhibited obvious cytotoxicity with IC 50 values ranging from 8.8 to 20.1 μM. Interestingly, the most active compounds 1 and 16 manifested significant cytotoxicity on the three tested hepatoma cell lines with IC 50 values of 5.4, 4.1 (HepG2), 7.7, 5.6 (Huh7), and 11.8, 15.7 μM (SK-Hep-1), respectively, which were better than sorafenib. Compound 1 dose-dependently inhibited cell migration and invasion, and significantly induced the HepG2 cell arrest in G2/M phase by downregulating cdc2 and pcdc2 and upregulating cyclinB1; and induced apoptosis by downregulating Bcl-2 expression and upregulating Bax level. The molecular docking study implied that the carbonyl at the C-12' of 1 had a strong binding affinity with PRKACA., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Upstream infection with vaginal flora can develop into tubal endothelial damage and tubal edema, which can lead to tubal obstruction and fallopian tube abscess if left untreated. Fallopian tube abscess in adolescent virgins is very rare, it may lead to long-term or even lifelong complications once it occurred., Case Presentation: A 12-year-old adolescent virgin with no history of sexual intercourse and previous physical fitness who presented with lower abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting for 22 h, body temperature up to 39.2 °C. Laparoscopic surgery revealed an abscess in the left fallopian tube, the left fallopian tube was surgically removed, successfully treated, and the pus was cultured for escherichia coli., Conclusion: It is important to consider possibility of tubal infection in young., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Fractionation of the ethanol extract of Artemisia verlotorum led to the identification of eight undescribed eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids, artemverlolides A-H (1-8). Their structures were determined by spectral analyses (HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, IR, and ECD). Network pharmacology predicted that compounds 1-8 might be target on AURKA, CCNA2, CYP2C19, and EPHX2 with possibly antihepatoma effect from Swiss TargetPrediction and Gene Expression Omnibus database. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses showed that the targets significantly enriched in FoxO signaling pathway. The molecular docking suggested that compound 8 had high binding affinity with AURKA. Furthermore, the interaction between compound 8 and AURKA was determined by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) assay. The result suggested that compound 8 bound to AURKA with KD value of 68.0μM and was consistent with the predicted data, demonstrating that AURKA might be one of acting targets of 8., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Quercus dentata Thunb., a dominant forest tree species in northern China, has significant ecological and ornamental value due to its adaptability and beautiful autumn coloration, with color changes from green to yellow into red resulting from the autumnal shifts in leaf pigmentation. However, the key genes and molecular regulatory mechanisms for leaf color transition remain to be investigated. First, we presented a high-quality chromosome-scale assembly for Q. dentata. This 893.54 Mb sized genome (contig N50 = 4.21 Mb, scaffold N50 = 75.55 Mb; 2n = 24) harbors 31 584 protein-coding genes. Second, our metabolome analyses uncovered pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside, and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside as the main pigments involved in leaf color transition. Third, gene co-expression further identified the MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) transcription activation complex as central to anthocyanin biosynthesis regulation. Notably, transcription factor (TF) QdNAC (QD08G038820) was highly co-expressed with this MBW complex and may regulate anthocyanin accumulation and chlorophyll degradation during leaf senescence through direct interaction with another TF, QdMYB (QD01G020890), as revealed by our further protein-protein and DNA-protein interaction assays. Our high-quality genome assembly, metabolome, and transcriptome resources further enrich Quercus genomics and will facilitate upcoming exploration of ornamental values and environmental adaptability in this important genus., (© 2023 The Authors New Phytologist © 2023 New Phytologist Foundation.)

The essential oils of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (CXEO) are considered to be important parts of the pharmacological action of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. CXEO have a wide range of applications in various fields. Despite the interesting properties of CXEO, the volatility and low solubility have limited the application. Liposomes are vesicles composed of concentric bilayer lipids arranged around the water environment. Therefore, this study aimed to prepare stable CXEO liposomes (CXEO-LP) to improve the properties. Then, CXEO-LP were prepared by thin film dispersion method and optimized. The results showed that CXEO-LP were well dispersed. Subsequently, in vitro release and antioxidant properties of CXEO-LP were researched. CXEO-LP had slow release effect and oxidation resistance, indicating CXEO-LP may be a potential drug for treating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). The nasal mucosa toxicity test and acute toxicity test showed that CXEO-LP had no obvious toxicity to nasal cavity, heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney tissues. Pharmacodynamic studies found that CXEO-LP significantly improved neurological deficits and brain pathology in a mouse model of CIRI compared to CXEO after intranasal administration. In general, this study showed that CXEO-LP were easy to prepare and continuously released, and had an important development prospect in the treatment of CIRI., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of adenovirus infection after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Methods: A total of 26 patients with adenovirus infection admitted to the posttransplant ward of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from 2018 to 2022 were enrolled. Their data on baseline and clinical characteristics, treatment, and follow-up were analyzed. Results: The median patient age was 30 (22, 44) years. Twenty-two patients received related haploid stem cell transplantation, three received unrelated stem cell transplantation, and one received umbilical cord stem cell transplantation. Antithymocyte globulin was included in the conditioning regimen in 25 patients. The median time of adenovirus infection was +95 (+44, +152) days. The median peripheral blood lymphocyte count was 0.30 (0.11, 0.69) × 10(9)/L. Twelve patients had acute graft-versus-host disease. Twenty-four patients received antirejection therapies at diagnosis. Sixteen cases had combined infection with other pathogens with adenovirus infection. Eight cases were diagnosed as asymptomatic infection, and 18 were diagnosed as adenovirus disease, including pneumonia (38.89% ) , gastrointestinal disease (38.89% ) , encephalitis (33.33% ) , hepatitis (5.56% ) , and urinary tract inflammation (5.56% ) . The age of >30 years was a risk factor for adenovirus disease ( P =0.03) . Eighteen patients received tapering of immunosuppression, and all 26 patients received at least one antiviral drug. Other treatments included high-dose gamma globulin and donor lymphocyte infusion. Adenovirus infection improved in 10 cases and progressed in 16 cases. The median follow-up time was 30 (7, 237) days. Twenty-two patients died. The all-cause mortality rate was (88.5±7.1) % , and the attributable mortality rate was 45.5% . There was no significant difference in the 100 d survival rate between asymptomatic infected patients and patients diagnosed with adenovirus disease (37.5% vs 22.2% , HR =1.83, 95% CI 0.66-5.04, P =0.24) . Conclusion: The age of >30 years was a risk factor for adenovirus disease. Mortality was high in patients with adenovirus infection after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is highly common in diabetes patients. P2X receptors play critical roles in pain sensitization. We previously showed that elevated P2X3 expression in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) contributes to DNP. However, the role of other P2X receptors in DNP is unclear. Here, we established the DNP model using a single high-dose streptozotocin (STZ) injection and investigated the expression of P2X genes in the DRG. Our data revealed elevated P2X2, P2X4, and P2X7 mRNA levels in DRG of DNP rats. The protein levels of P2X4 and P2X7 in DNP rats increased, but the P2X2 did not change significantly. To study the role of P2X4 and P2X7 in diabetes-induced hyperalgesia, we treated the DNP rats with TNP-ATP (2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-adenosine 5'-triphosphate), a nonspecific P2X1-7 antagonist, and found that TNP-ATP alleviated thermal hyperalgesia in DNP rats. 2 Hz electroacupuncture is analgesic against DNP and could downregulate P2X4 and P2X7 expression in DRG. Our findings indicate that P2X4 and P2X7 in L4-L6 DRGs contribute to diabetes-induced hyperalgesia, and that EA reduces thermal hyperalgesia and the expression of P2X4 and P2X7., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is frequent among patients with diabetes. We previously showed that P2X3 upregulation in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) plays a role in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DNP but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, a rat model of DNP was established by a single injection of STZ (65 mg/kg). Fasting blood glucose was significantly elevated from the 1 st to 3 rd week. Paw withdrawal thresholds (PWTs) and paw withdrawal latencies (PWLs) in diabetic rats significantly reduced from the 2 nd to 3 rd week. Western blot analysis revealed that elevated p-CaMKIIα levels in the DRG of DNP rats were accompanied by pain-associated behaviors while CaMKIIα levels were unchanged. Immunofluorescence revealed significant increase in the proportion of p-CaMKIIα immune positive DRG neurons (stained with NeuN) in the 2 nd and 3 rd week and p-CaMKIIα was co-expressed with P2X3 in DNP rats. KN93, a CaMKII antagonist, significantly reduce mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal hyperalgesia and these effects varied dose-dependently, and suppressed p-CaMKIIα and P2X3 upregulation in the DRGs of DNP rats. These results revealed that the p-CaMKIIα upregulation in DRG is involved in DNP, which possibly mediated P2X3 upregulation, indicating CaMKIIα may be an effective pharmacological target for DNP management., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Upregulation of P2X3 receptor (P2X3R) has been strongly implicated in nociceptive signaling including bone cancer pain (BCP). The present study, using rat bone cancer model, aimed to explore the role of P2X3R in regulating rat pain behavior under the intervention of electroacupuncture (EA). The BCP model was successfully established by injection with MRMT-1 breast cancer cell into the medullary cavity of left tibia for 3 × 10 4 cells/3 μL PBS in rats as revealed by obvious bone destruction, decreased paw withdrawal thresholds (PWTs), and reduced paw withdrawal latencies (PWLs). Western blot analyses showed that P2X3R expression was significantly upregulated in ipsilateral lumbar 4-6 (L4-6) dorsal root ganglia (DRG), but the difference not seen in spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH). With the in-depth study of P2X3R activation, we observed that intrathecal injection of P2X3R agonist α,β-meATP aggravated MRMT-1 induced BCP, while injection of P2X3R inhibitor A-317491 alleviated pain. Subsequently, we demonstrated that BCP induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were attenuated after EA treatment. Under EA treatment, total P2X3R protein expression in ipsilateral DRGs was decreased, and it is worth mentioning that decreased expression of P2X3R membrane protein, which indicated that both the expression and membrane trafficking of P2X3R were inhibited by EA. The immunofluorescence assay showed that EA stimulation exerted functions by reducing the expression of P2X3R-positive cells in ipsilateral DRGs of BCP rats. Ca 2+ imaging analysis revealed that the EA stimulation decreased the percentage of α,β-meATP responsive neurons in DRGs and inhibited calcium influx. Notably, the inhibitory effect of EA on mechanical allodynia and nociceptive flinches was abolished by intrathecal injection of α,β-meATP. These findings demonstrated EA stimulation ameliorated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in rat model of MRMT-1-induced BCP. EA exerts analgesic effect on BCP by reducing the overexpression and functional activity of P2X3R in ipsilateral DRGs of BCP rats. Our work first demonstrates the critical and overall role of P2X3R in EA's analgesia against peripheral sensitization of MRMT-1-induced BCP and further supports EA as a potential therapeutic option for cancer pain in clinic., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Twelve undescribed and 13 known eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids were obtained from Artemisia leucophylla, and structurally elucidated based on comprehensive analyses of spectral data, including HRESIMS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD calculation. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by a single X-ray single crystal diffraction. Chemically, compounds 1-5 featured unprecedented 1,2-seco-1-nor-eudesmane-type skeleton with a cis-fused 6/5 bicyclic system. Antihepatoma evaluation against three human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1) for all compounds demonstrated that compound 7 displayed the most active cytotoxicity with IC 50 values of 35.1, 35.0, and 32.7 μΜ., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is a common complication of diabetes. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced changes of protein in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) are critical for DNP genesis. However, which proteins change remains elusive. Here, the DNP model was established by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ, accompanied by increased fasting blood glucose (FBG), decreased body weight (BW), and decreased paw withdrawal latency (PWL). Proteins change in L4-L6 DRGs and SCDH of rats were detected. Western blot and immunofluorescence results showed that expression levels of phosphorylated protein kinase C (p-PKC), transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1), Substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the DRG and the SCDH of rats were increased after STZ injection. A preliminary study from our previous study showed that 2 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) effectively alleviates DNP. However, the analgesic mechanism of EA needs further elucidation. Here, EA at the bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and KunLun (BL60) acupoints was applied for one week, and to investigate the effect on DNP. EA reversed thermal hyperalgesia in DNP rats and downregulated the expression of p-PKC, TRPV1, SP, and CGRP in DRG and SCDH., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest for this work., (Copyright © 2023 Yi-qi Ma et al.)

Dental calculus is a potential material that can be used for assessing chronic exposure to trace heavy metals in oral cavity as it is a long-term reservoir. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between dental calculus copper levels and risk of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) due to chewing dried areca-nut quids in Mainland China. This study included 34 OSF (grade 1) sufferers with dried areca-nut quids chewing as the patient group and 23 healthy individuals without areca-nut chewing as the control group. The dental calculus sample was obtained from all 57 participants and evaluated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for dental calculus level of copper. This work revealed that the mean copper level of dental calculus was significantly higher in OSF (grade 1) sufferers with areca-nut chewing than those in healthy individuals without areca-nut chewing (p < 0.001). This work provided an evidence to support that there may be a positive correlation between elevated levels of copper in dental calculus caused by chewing dried areca-nut quids and an increased risk of developing OSF in Mainland China., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Artemongolides A-E (1-5), an unusual class of diseco-guaianolides featuring a rare fused 7-methylbicyclo[2.2.1]-2-ene-7-heptanol ring system, and artemongolide F (6), the first example of [4 + 2] Diels-Alder type adducts presumably incorporating a chain farnesane sesquiterpene and a guaianolide diene, were isolated from the whole plant of Artemisia mongolica. Their structures were elucidated based on the spectroscopic analyses of UV, IR, MS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectra. The absolute configurations of artemongolides A (1) and F (6) were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, and those of artemongolides B-E (2-5) were established by ECD calculations. Cytotoxicity evaluation suggested that compound 1 exhibited activity against HSC-LX2 cells with an IC 50 value of 165.0 μM, equivalent to that of the positive control silybin (IC 50 , 146.4 μM). Preliminary mechanism studies revealed that compound 1 could inhibit the deposition of human collagen type I (Col I), human hyaluronic acid (HA), and human laminin (HL) with IC 50 values of 123.8, 160.4, and 139.20 μM.

The synthesis of structurally diverse amines is of fundamental significance in the pharmaceutical industry due to the ubiquitous presence of amine motifs in biologically active molecules. Biocatalytic reductive amination for amine production has attracted great interest owing to its synthetic advantages. Herein, we report the direct synthesis of a wide range of sterically demanding secondary amines, including several important active pharmaceutical ingredients and pharmaceutical intermediates, via reductive amination of carbonyl substrates and bulky amine nucleophiles employing imine reductases. Key to success for this route is the identification of an imine reductase from Penicillium camemberti with unusual substrate specificity and its further engineering, which empowered the accommodation of a broad range of sterically demanding amine nucleophiles encompassing linear alkyl and (hetero)aromatic (oxy)alkyl substituents and the formation of final amine products with up to >99% conversion. The practical utility of the biocatalytic route has been demonstrated by its application in the preparative synthesis of the anti-hyperparathyroidism drug cinacalcet.

Objective: To observe the effectiveness of ultrasound monitoring during negative pressure suction for abortion., Methods: This retrospective study analyzed patients with abortion who underwent negative pressure suction, excluding 23 cases with incomplete information and missing interviews, leaving a total of 200 patients included in the study. They were divided into an ultrasound group (n = 100) and a non-ultrasound group (n = 100) based on whether ultrasound monitoring was used. The ultrasound group was applied negative pressure suction under ultrasound monitoring, and the non-ultrasound group was applied traditional negative pressure suction. The operative time and complications were assessed after the treatment., Results: The operative time in the ultrasound group was 3.19 ± 0.62 min and in the non-ultrasound group was 6.35 ± 1.20 min, revealing a significantly shorter operative time in the ultrasound group than in the non-ultrasound group (P < 0.05). There was one case of uterine residual in the ultrasound group. There were eight cases with uterine residuals, four cases with intrauterine adhesions, one case with missed aspiration, and one case with perforation of the uterus in the non-ultrasound group. The complication rate in the ultrasound group was less than that in the non-ultrasound group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Ultrasound-monitored negative pressure suction has obvious advantages over ordinary negative pressure suction in that it can shorten operation time, reduce operative complications, and ensure a safe and effective abortion., (© 2022 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.)

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between osteoprotegerin ( OPG ) polymorphisms (A163G (rs3102735), T245G (rs3134069), T950C (rs2073617), G1181C (rs2073618)) and osteoporosis risk. However, their conclusions are inconsistent. In addition, some new studies have been updated, and more importantly, previous meta-analyses have not tested for false-positive results. In order to further explore these associations, we recently conducted a meta-analysis. Objectives: To study the relationship between OPG polymorphisms A163G, T245G, T950C, G1181C and the risk of osteoporosis. Methods: PubMed, Medline, International Statistical Institute (ISI), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and China Wanfang Database were used for research searches. Associations were assessed with five genetic models using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In addition, confidence in statistically significant associations was assessed using false-positive report probability (FPRP), Bayesian probability of False discovery (BFDP), and Venice criteria. Results: On the whole, the OPG A163G polymorphism was not significantly associated with risk of osteoporosis. However, in a subgroup analysis, we found that the OPG A163G polymorphism increased the risk of osteoporosis in Caucasians (AG + GG vs AA: OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.06-1.73; AA + GG vs AG: OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.49-0.82) and the female (G vs A: OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.03-1.64; AG + GG vs AA: OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.18-1.71). At the same time, the OPG G1181C polymorphism reduces the risk of osteoporosis (C vs G: OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.74-0.95; CC vs GG: OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.60-0.93; GC + CC vs GG: OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.67-0.95; CC vs GG + GC: OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.70-1.00). Moreover, a significantly decreased risk of osteoporosis was also discovered in Asian (C vs G: OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.66-0.98; CC vs GG: OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.47-0.95; GC + CC vs GG: OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.58-0.95) and the female (C vs G: OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.75-0.97; CC vs GG: OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.61-0.96; GC + CC vs GG: OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.66-0.95). Finally, we did not find a close association between OPG T245G and T950C polymorphisms and osteoporosis risk. However, when we retained only studies in the control group that was consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and high-quality scores, we observed that the OPG A163G polymorphism increased the risk of osteoporosis in the overall analysis (G vs A: OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.16-1.68; GG vs AA: OR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.20-3.21; AG + GG vs AA: OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.22-1.72). Finally, after the credibility assessment, we concluded that all statistically significant association results in the meta-analysis in this study and those in the previous study were 'positive results with low confidence'. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study concluded that all meaningful results between OPG A163G and G1181C polymorphisms and osteoporosis risk were false-positive results rather than true associations., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Han, Zheng, Mu, Li and He.)

In the search for new antihepatic fibrosis candidates, it was observed that the EtOH extract of Artemisia zhongdianensis and EtOAc fraction had cytotoxicity against hepatic stellate cell line LX2 (HSC-LX2) with the inhibitory ratios of 85.7 % and 83.9 % at 400 μg/mL. 21 new guaianolide dimers, artemzhongdianolides A1 - A21 (1-21) were isolated from the active fractions under the guidance of bioassay, and elucidated by spectral analyses (HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, IR, ECD). The absolute stereochemistry of compounds 1, 13, and 14 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Cytotoxicity evaluation suggested that nine compounds exhibited activity against HSC-LX2 with IC 50 values ranging from 14.0 to 95.2 μM. Of them, compounds 2, 6, and 13 displayed significant cytotoxicity against HSC-LX2 with IC 50 values of 22.1, 24.3 and 14.0 μM, which were 6 to 10 times more active than the positive drug silybin (IC 50 , 148.6 μM). Preliminary mechanism study revealed that compounds 2, 6, and 13 could markedly inhibited the deposition of human collagen type Ⅰ (Col Ⅰ), human hyaluronic acid (HA), and human laminin (HL) with IC 50 values of 37.9, 54.8, and 28.0 μM (Col Ⅰ), 29.5, 25.3, and 42.9 μM (HL), 31.2, 94.6, and 12.4 μM (HA), which were 1.5 to 13-fold more potent than silybin., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)