ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of the combination of components from Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma and Chuanxiong Rhizoma on rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes （RA-FLSs） and the underlying mechanism. MethodsRA-FLSs were grouped as follows： blank control， positive control （methotrexate）， Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma components， Chuanxiong Rhizoma components， and components from Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma+Chuanxiong Rhizoma. The cell-counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was employed to the cell proliferation， invasion， and apoptosis. The levels of tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-6， reactive oxygen species （ROS）， and malondiadehyde （MDA） in cells were measured. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） p65， phosphorylated inhibitory subunit of NF-κBα （p-IκBα）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-3 （Caspase-3）， and B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）. Real-time PCR was employed to determine the mRNA levels of Nrf2， HO-1， and NF-κB p65. ResultsThe cells in the groups of positive control， Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma components， Chuanxiong Rhizoma components， and components from Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma+Chuanxiong Rhizoma were treated with 2.50 mg·L^-1 methotrexate， 0.20 mg·L^-1 triptolide + 0.20 mg·L^-1 celastrol， 5.00 mg·L^-1 ferulic acid + 20.00 mg·L^-1 ligustrazine， 0.20 mg·L^-1 triptolide + 0.20 mg·L^-1 celastrol + 5.00 mg·L^-1 ferulic acid + 20.00 mg·L^-1 ligustrazine， respectively. Compared with the blank control group， drug administration reduced the proliferation and invasion and increased the apoptosis of cells （P<0.01）， lowered the levels of TNF-α， IL-6， ROS， and MDA （P<0.01）， up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of Caspase-3， Nrf2， and HO-1 （P<0.01）， and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2， NF-κB p65， and p-IκBα （P<0.01）. Compared with the Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma components group， the combination of components from Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma+Chuanxiong Rhizoma inhibited the proliferation and invasion （P<0.05） and promoted the apoptosis of RA-FLSs， up-regulated the mRNA levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 and protein levels of Nrf2 and Caspase-3 （P<0.05）， and down-regulated the protein levels of NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe combination of components from Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Tripterygii Radix et Rhizoma can inhibit the proliferation and invasion and promote the apoptosis of RA-FLSs and alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway， activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway， and regulating the expression of Bcl-2/Caspase-3.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) is a severe dose-limiting adverse event of chemotherapy. Presently, the mechanism underlying the induction of CIPN remains unclear, and no effective treatment is available. In this study, through metabolomics analyses, we found that nab-paclitaxel therapy markedly increased serum serotonin [5-hydroxtryptamine (5-HT)] levels in both cancer patients and mice compared to the respective controls. Furthermore, nab-paclitaxel-treated enterochromaffin (EC) cells showed increased 5-HT synthesis, and serotonin-treated Schwann cells showed damage, as indicated by the activation of CREB3L3/MMP3/FAS signaling. Venlafaxine, an inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, was found to protect against nerve injury by suppressing the activation of CREB3L3/MMP3/FAS signaling in Schwann cells. Remarkably, venlafaxine was found to significantly alleviate nab-paclitaxel-induced CIPN in patients without affecting the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy. In summary, our study reveals that EC cell-derived 5-HT plays a critical role in nab-paclitaxel-related neurotoxic lesions, and venlafaxine co-administration represents a novel approach to treating chronic cumulative neurotoxicity commonly reported in nab-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy.
Paclitaxel/toxicity* ; Animals ; Albumins/adverse effects* ; Serotonin/metabolism* ; Mice ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride/therapeutic use* ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes/metabolism* ; Middle Aged ; Schwann Cells/metabolism* ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/drug therapy* ; Antineoplastic Agents

Lumbar disc (LD) herniation and aging are prevalent conditions that can result in substantial morbidity. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms connecting the LD aging and herniation, particularly focusing on cellular senescence and molecular alterations in the nucleus pulposus (NP). We performed a detailed analysis of NP samples from a diverse cohort, including individuals of varying ages and those with diagnosed LD herniation. Our methodology combined histological assessments with single-nucleus RNA sequencing to identify phenotypic and molecular changes related to NP aging and herniation. We discovered that cellular senescence and a decrease in nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPCs) are central to both processes. Additionally, we found an age-related increase in NFAT1 expression that promotes NPPC senescence and contributes to both aging and herniation of LD. This research offers fresh insights into LD aging and its associated pathologies, potentially guiding the development of new therapeutic strategies to target the root causes of LD herniation and aging.
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/metabolism* ; Humans ; Aging/pathology* ; Nucleus Pulposus/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Transcriptome ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology* ; Adult ; Cellular Senescence ; Stem Cells/pathology* ; Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/metabolism*

ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic effect of Huangliansan on atopic dermatitis （AD） model mice induced by 2， 4-dinitrochlorobenzene （DNCB）. MethodA total of 42 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， hydrocortisone group， low， medium， and high-dose groups （0.3， 0.6， 1.2 g·kg^-1） of Huangliansan oil， and water extract group （0.6 g·kg^-1） of Huangliansan. In addition to the normal group， DNCB was applied on the back of mice in other groups to establish the AD model. On the 15^th day after DNCB stimulation， each group was given the corresponding drug or solvent， and the changes in skin lesions， dermatitis score， and frequency of scratching were observed and recorded. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the skin and spleen. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect mRNA levels of filaggrin （FLG）， lorophane （LOR）， and involucrin （IVL） in skin， as well as immunoglobulin E （lgE）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and interferon-γ （IFN-γ） in spleen. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed symptoms of skin swelling and scab， and the score of dermatitis， the frequency of scratching， and the spleen index were increased （P<0.05）. The expression levels of FLG， LOR， and IVL in skin tissue were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and the mRNA expressions of IgE， IL-4， IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α in the spleen were significantly increased， while the expression level of IFN-γ was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the symptoms of skin erythema， scaly， and scab of mice in each drug group were alleviated to varying degrees， and the score of dermatitis， the frequency of scratching， and the spleen index were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， the expression levels of FLG， LOR， and IVL in the skin of mice in the drug group were increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the mRNA expression of IgE， IL-4， IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α in spleen were decreased. IFN-γ was increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the lesions of the skin and spleen were improved to varying degrees. The medium-dose group of Huangliansan oil and hydrocortisone group had the most obvious manifestations （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The indexes in the medium-dose group of Huangliansan oil were better than those in the water extract group of Huangliansan. ConclusionHuangliansan may improve the expression level of skin barrier protein， inhibit the expression of helper T cell 2 （Th2）-related inflammatory factors， increase the expression of helper T cell 1 （Th1） inflammatory factors， restore the skin barrier function and Th1/Th2 balance in the spleen， regulate the inflammatory response in the spleen of AD mice， and thus relieve AD. Huangliansan oil is more effective than water extract.

Objective To investigate the regulatory effect of small interfering RNA(siRNA)silencing zinc finger protein A20 on pyroptosis of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)fibroblast-like synoviocytes(HFLS-RA).Methods Hu-man FLS-RA cell line MH7A cells were cultivated,A20 siRNA silencing group was synthesized for knocking down the human A20 gene,and then specific A20 gene siRNA and siRNA-NC(negative control)were transfected into MH7A cells using liposome method.RT-qPCR was applied to detect the expression of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 mRNA in cells.The protein expression of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 was detected by Western blot,and IL-1β and IL-18 in cell culture medium were detected by ELISA method.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)was used to detect pyroptosis.Results After A20 knockdown,the mRNA and expression of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in MH7A cells in the siRNA-A20 group were significantly increased as compared with the siRNA-NC group(P＜0.01).The concentration of IL-1β and IL-18 in the cell culture supernatant of the siRNA-A20 group was sig-nificantly increased compared with the siRNA-NC group(P＜0.01).Compared with the siRNA-NC group,some cells in the siRNA-A20 group showed swollen and ruptured.The integrity of the cell membrane was also lost,and a large area of edema was present in the cell.In addition,a blurred depression of the local nuclear membrane was noted,while an increase in heterochromatin pyknosis was accompanied by their uneven distribution as well as their aggregation around the nuclear membrane.Conclusions Silencing of A20 gene with siRNA might promote NLRP3/Caspase-1 mediated pyroptosis in HFLS-RA,which lays an experimental foundation for new clinical treatment meth-ods of RA.

To investigate the status and epidemiological characteristics of respiratory pathogens infections in children with influenza-like illnesses (ILI) in Beijing Children′s Hospital from 2022 to 2023. A dual amplification technique was used to detect nucleic acids of seven common respiratory pathogens, including influenza A virus (Flu A), influenza B virus (Flu B), mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), adenovirus (ADV), and Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP), in outpatient and inpatient children (aged 0-18 years) with influenza-like symptoms who sought medical care at Beijing Children′s Hospital, from January 2022 to March 2023. A total of 43 663 children were included in the study, of which 27 903 tested positive for respiratory pathogens with a total detection rate of 63.91%. Flu A had the highest detection rate of 69.93% (27 332/39 084), followed by MP about 13.22% (380/2 875). The total detection rate of RSV, PIV and ADV was 7.69% (131/1 704). Flu B had a detection rate of 0.16% (64/39 084). No CP was detected in this study. A total of 7 cases of dual infections were detected, with a detection rate of 0.41% (7/1 704). The Chi-square test was used to analyze the differences in detection rates of pathogens among different genders, age groups, and different seasons. Among the seven pathogens, only Flu A had statistically significant differences in gender ( χ2=16.712, P<0.001). The detection rates of Flu A and MP showed an increasing trend with age (both P trend<0.001), while the detection rates of RSV and PIV showed a decreasing trend with age (both P trend<0.001). Flu A had its epidemic peak in winter and spring, with detection rates of 61.30% (3 907/6 374) and 77.47% (23 207/29 958) respectively; MP and PIV had higher detection rates in autumn (25.14% and 7.64% respectively); RSV showed a relatively higher detection rate in winter (8.69%); Flu B and ADV had lower detection rates throughout the study period (0.16% and 1.17% respectively). In conclusion, children with ILI in 2022-2023 were mainly infected with a single respiratory pathogen, and occasionally dual pathogen infections were observed. Among them, the detection rate of Flu A was the highest, and only Flu A showed a gender difference in detection rate. As the age of the children patients increased, the detection rate of Flu A and MP showed an increasing trend, while RSV and PIV showed a decreasing trend. The prevalence of Flu A, Flu B, MP, PIV, and RSV were seasonal.

Objective:To investigate the value of implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) in the diagnosis and treatment of patients over 60 years old with unexplained syncope.Methods:This was a multi-center, prospective cohort study. Between June 2018 and April 2021, patients over the age of 60 with unexplained syncope at Beijing Hospital, Fuwai Hospital, Beijing Anzhen Hospital and Puren Hospital were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on their decision to receive ICM implantation (implantation group and conventional follow-up group). The endpoint was the recurrence of syncope and cardiogenic syncope as determined by positive cardiac arrhythmia events recorded at the ICM or diagnosed during routine follow-up. Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis was used to compare the differences of cumulative diagnostic rate between the 2 groups. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of diagnosis of cardiogenic syncope in patients with unexplained syncope.Results:A total of 198 patients with unexplained syncope, aged (72.9±8.25) years, were followed for 558.0 (296.0,877.0) d, including 98 males (49.5%). There were 100 (50.5%) patients in the implantation group and 98 (49.5%) in the conventional follow-up group. Compared with conventional follow-up group, patients in the implantation group were older, more likely to have comorbidities, had a higher proportion of first degree atrioventricular block indicated by baseline electrocardiogram, and had a lower body mass index (all P<0.05). During the follow-up period, positive cardiac arrhythmia events were recorded in 58 (58.0%) patients in the ICM group. The diagnosis rate (42.0% (42/100) vs. 4.1% (4/98), P<0.001) and the intervention rate (37.0% (37/100) vs. 2.0% (2/98), P<0.001) of cardiogenic syncope in the implantation group were higher than those in the conventional follow-up group (all P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the cumulative diagnostic rate of cardiogenic syncope was significantly higher in the implantation group than in the traditional follow-up group ( HR=11.66, 95% CI 6.49-20.98, log-rank P<0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that ICM implantation, previous atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus or first degree atrioventricular block in baseline electrocardiogram were independent predictors for cardiogenic syncope (all P<0.05). Conclusions:ICM implantation improves the diagnosis and intervention rates in patients with unexplained syncope, and increases diagnostic efficiency in patients with unexplained syncope.