ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Guizhi Fulingwan （GFW） against hepatic fibrosis， focusing on elucidating the regulatory effect of GFW on the mitochondrial DNA （mtDNA）/NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）/cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 （Caspase-1）/gasdermin D （GSDMD） signaling pathway. MethodsForty-two male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly allocated into six groups （n=7）： control， model， low/medium/high-dose （0.14， 0.28， 0.56 g·kg^-1·d^-1） GFW （GFW-L， GFW-M， GFW-H）， and Dahuang Zhechong pills （DZW， 1.8 g·kg^-1·d^-1）. The rat model of hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride. General conditions of the rats were observed. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） levels were measured. Liver histopathology and collagen deposition were observed through hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） was employed to observe structural alterations and damage of cellular ultrastructures including mitochondria. Mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP， ΔΨ_m） was detected by flow cytometry. Serum levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and interleukin-18 （IL-18） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The mRNA levels of mtDNA and NLRP3 in the liver tissue were quantified by Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The protein levels of key molecules in the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway in the liver tissue were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group exhibited a decrease in body weight （P<0.01）， an increase in liver index （P<0.01）， elevations in serum ALT and AST levels （P<0.01）， and typical fibrotic features such as disorganized hepatocytes， inflammatory infiltration， and increased collagen deposition in the liver tissue. TEM revealed significant karyotheca degeneration， mitochondrial swelling， endoplasmic reticulum expansion， and organelle efflux in the model group. In addition， the model group showed decreased ΔΨ_m （P<0.01）， up-regulated mRNA levels of mtDNA and NLRP3 （P<0.01） and protein levels of NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD （P<0.01） in the liver tissue， and increased serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 （P<0.01）. Compared with that in the model group， the body weight increased in GFW-L， GFW-M， and DZW groups （P<0.05） and markedly increased in the GFW-H group （P<0.01）. The liver index decreased in the GFW groups and DZW group （P<0.01）. The serum ALT level declined in the GFW-L group （P<0.05）， and the serum ALT and AST levels decreased in the GFW-M， GFW-H， and DZW groups （P<0.01）. Histopathological damage and fibrosis were alleviated to varying degrees， and TEM revealed mitigated ultrastructural injuries including mitophagy， mitochondrial swelling， and endoplasmic reticulum expansion in the drug intervention groups. The ΔΨ_m increased in GFW groups without statistical significance. The mRNA level of mtDNA in the liver tissue was down-regulated in the GFW-M （P<0.05）， GFW-H （P<0.01）， and DZW （P<0.01） groups. The mRNA level of NLRP3 was down-regulated in GFW-M， GFW-H， and DZW groups （P<0.01）. Western blot analysis showed significantly down-regulated protein level of NLRP3 in all the GFW groups and the DZW group （P<0.01）. The protein level of GSDMD-N was down-regulated in GFW-H and DZW groups （P<0.01）. The protein level of cleaved Caspase-1 was down-regulated in GFW-M （P<0.05）， GFW-H （P<0.01）， and DZW （P<0.01） groups. In addition， the serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 declined in GFW-H and DZW groups （P<0.01）. ConclusionGFW can suppress pyroptosis to ameliorate CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis， potentially through mitigating mitochondrial damage， inhibiting inflammasome assembly and activation， and blocking pro-inflammatory cytokine release.

ObjectiveTo study the pharmacological substances and mechanisms through which sesquiterpene ZH-13 from Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum improves neuroinflammation. MethodsBV-2 microglial cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） to induce neuroinflammation. The cells were divided into the normal group， the model group， and the ZH-13 low- and high-dose treatment groups （10， 20 μmol·L^-1）. The model group was treated with 1 μmol·L^-1 LPS. Cell viability was assessed using the cell proliferation and activity assay （CCK-8 kit）. Nitric oxide （NO） release in the cell supernatant was measured using a nitric oxide kit （Griess method）. The mRNA expression levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） pathway proteins was assessed by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the model group， ZH-13 dose-dependently reduced NO release from BV-2 cells under LPS stimulation （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In the 20 μmol·L^-1 ZH-13 treatment group， the mRNA expression levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， iNOS， and IL-6 were significantly reduced compared to the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In both the low- and high-dose ZH-13 groups， the expression of the inflammatory factor TNF-α and the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK） in the upstream MAPK pathway were significantly reduced （P<0.05）. After stimulation with the JNK agonist anisomycin （Ani）， both low- and high-dose ZH-13 treatment groups showed reduced phosphorylation of JNK proteins compared to the Ani-treated group （P<0.01）. ConclusionThe sesquiterpene compound ZH-13 from Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum significantly ameliorates LPS-induced neuroinflammatory responses in BV-2 cells by inhibiting excessive JNK phosphorylation and reducing TNF-α expression. These findings elucidate the pharmacological substances and mechanisms underlying the sedative and calming effects of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) acts as a damage-associated molecular pattern to activate the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling in macrophages, promoting tissue inflammation. However, its role in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. Macrophage-specific Sting1 knockout mice were used to validate STING's pathological role in AMI. Cardiac and liver mtDNA were used to activate macrophages in co-culture systems with cardiomyocytes to assess fibrosis and hypertrophy. Panaxatriol saponin (PTS) was tested for its ability to block mtDNA-driven macrophage activation and subsequent cardiomyocyte damage. STING-PTS binding ability was analyzed. AMI rats received PTS to evaluate its effects on myocardial inflammation and ventricular remodeling. In vivo, macrophage-specific Sting1 knockout reduced myocardial inflammation and injury after AMI. In vitro, mtDNA-activated macrophages induced cardiomyocyte fibrosis and hypertrophy through STING signaling. PTS suppressed mtDNA-driven macrophage activation by directly binding STING, thereby blocking inflammatory cascades. In AMI rats, PTS treatment attenuated acute inflammation and reversed ventricular remodeling. These findings establish the mtDNA-STING axis in macrophages as a critical driver of post-AMI inflammation and identify pharmacological STING inhibition with PTS as a promising therapeutic strategy. The study bridges genetic validation with translational applications, highlighting macrophage STING as a novel target for ischemic heart disease management.

Bipolar disorder in children, a serious mental illness, often leads to significant functional impairment. Bipolar disorder onset in children is rare and is difficult to diagnose correctly due to the atypical clinical manifestations. Risperidone, as a second-generation antipsychotic, shows satisfied efficacy in children with bipolar disorder with dual effects on mood stabilization and psychotic symptom control. However, the long-term efficacy and safety of risperidone for the treatment of children with bipolar disorder remains unknown. This paper reports a 5-year-old child with bipolar disorder who was treated with low-dose risperidone and followed up for 4 years. The child showed significant emotional stabilization and behavioral improvement at the beginning of treatment. No serious side effects occurred during long-term follow-up. This paper detailly describes the clinical manifestations and diagnostic process of bipolar disorder onset in children in aspects of detailed clinical observation and evaluation. It summarizes the efficacy and safety of risperidone in the treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder to provide valuable experience for clinicians.

Major depressive disorder in adolescents is a serious psychiatric condition characterized by profound impairment in psychosocial functioning. Its primary symptoms include low mood, irritability, and anhedonia. Although pharmacological treatments and psychotherapy are currently recommended as first-line treatments, their effectiveness is limited, and pharmacological treatments may carry the risk of increased suicidal ideation. Therefore, exploring new, effective, and safe treatment options is an urgent priority. In recent years, intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a novel form of transcranial magnetic stimulation, has shown promising results in treating treatment-resistant depression in adults, drawing growing interest in its potential use in adolescents. iTBS modulates neural activity through magnetic stimulation of the cerebral cortex and has been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms, particularly when targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Given the high neuroplasticity of the adolescent brain during this critical developmental stage, adolescents may exhibit heightened sensitivity to iTBS, resulting in more enduring neuroregulatory effects. Research highlights the importance of precise targeting and individualized adjustment of stimulation intensity for optimal therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, accelerated iTBS (aiTBS) protocols have demonstrated faster clinical effects in treating acute or severe depression in adolescents, improving treatment adherence and partially mitigating suicidal tendencies. This review summarizes recent progress in the application of iTBS in adolescent depression, with a focus on its mechanisms, treatment parameters, and related research. The goal is to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for the clinical application of iTBS in adolescent depression care.

Bipolar disorder in children, a serious mental illness, often leads to significant functional impairment. Bipolar disorder onset in children is rare and is difficult to diagnose correctly due to the atypical clinical manifestations. Risperidone, as a second-generation antipsychotic, shows satisfied efficacy in children with bipolar disorder with dual effects on mood stabilization and psychotic symptom control. However, the long-term efficacy and safety of risperidone for the treatment of children with bipolar disorder remains unknown. This paper reports a 5-year-old child with bipolar disorder who was treated with low-dose risperidone and followed up for 4 years. The child showed significant emotional stabilization and behavioral improvement at the beginning of treatment. No serious side effects occurred during long-term follow-up. This paper detailly describes the clinical manifestations and diagnostic process of bipolar disorder onset in children in aspects of detailed clinical observation and evaluation. It summarizes the efficacy and safety of risperidone in the treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder to provide valuable experience for clinicians.

Major depressive disorder in adolescents is a serious psychiatric condition characterized by profound impairment in psychosocial functioning. Its primary symptoms include low mood, irritability, and anhedonia. Although pharmacological treatments and psychotherapy are currently recommended as first-line treatments, their effectiveness is limited, and pharmacological treatments may carry the risk of increased suicidal ideation. Therefore, exploring new, effective, and safe treatment options is an urgent priority. In recent years, intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a novel form of transcranial magnetic stimulation, has shown promising results in treating treatment-resistant depression in adults, drawing growing interest in its potential use in adolescents. iTBS modulates neural activity through magnetic stimulation of the cerebral cortex and has been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms, particularly when targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Given the high neuroplasticity of the adolescent brain during this critical developmental stage, adolescents may exhibit heightened sensitivity to iTBS, resulting in more enduring neuroregulatory effects. Research highlights the importance of precise targeting and individualized adjustment of stimulation intensity for optimal therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, accelerated iTBS (aiTBS) protocols have demonstrated faster clinical effects in treating acute or severe depression in adolescents, improving treatment adherence and partially mitigating suicidal tendencies. This review summarizes recent progress in the application of iTBS in adolescent depression, with a focus on its mechanisms, treatment parameters, and related research. The goal is to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for the clinical application of iTBS in adolescent depression care.

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of clonidine adhesive patch in Tourette syndrome (TS) patients with comorbid attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: This study was conducted on a sample of children and adolescents with TS who had comorbid ADHD between May 2012 and March 2015. The patients were diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition, and were randomly assigned to four different dose groups: 1.0 mg/week, 1.5 mg/week, 2.0 mg/week and placebo group, and the symptom was evaluated by Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale, Version IV (SNAP-IV) and Yale Global Tic Severity Scale scales every 2 weeks. The primary outcome was tic disorders (TD) effective rate at week 8. Results: One hundred and twenty-seven TS patients with comorbid ADHD in 2.0 mg/week (n=35), 1.5 mg/week (n=27), 1.0 mg/week (n=36) and placebo groups (n=29) were included in this subgroup analysis. The TD effective rate of the 2.0 mg, 1.5 mg, and 1.0 mg groups at week 8 were significantly better than that in placebo group (85.7%, 81.5%, and 86.1% vs. 20.7%, all p<0.0001). All groups demonstrated significant improvements in SNAP-IV total scale scores compared to baseline (p=0.0004), with treatment groups showing only a trend for better performance compared to placebo group at week 8, without statistical differences (22.1±15.41, 21.3±11.96, and 21.2±12.48 vs. 26.0±13.37, p=0.3385). A total of 9 adverse reactions occurred, all recovered spontaneously without additional medication. Conclusion Clonidine adhesive patch could safely and effectively reduce the tic symptoms of TS patients with comorbid ADHD, and might be potentially helpful in the ADHD symptoms control.

OBJECTIVE To study the protective effects of mangiferin against oxidative stress injury of myocardial cells induced by hydrogen peroxide （H2O2）， and its effects on the expression of nuclear factor of activated T cell cytoplasmic 4（NFATc4）. METHODS H9c2 myocardial cells were cultured in vitro and divided into blank group， H2O2 group， and 50， 100， 150 μmol/L mangiferin groups. Mangiferin groups were treated with different concentrations of mangiferin for 12 h， and then were subjected to H2O2 （200 μmol/L） stimulation for 12 hours together with the H2O2 group； relative survival rate was detected in each group， and the levels of superoxide dismutase （SOD）， catalase （CAT） and malondialdehyde （MDA） in cell supernatant and reactive oxygen species （ROS） in H9c2 cells were measured. Meanwhile， the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins [B cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl- 2）， Bcl-2 associated X protein （Bax）， cleaved caspase-3] and nuclear protein NFATc4 were determined. Furthermore， the NFATc4 interference sequence was transfected， and the effects of NFATc4 on oxidant stress indexes and apoptosis-related proteins in H2O2- induced myocardial cells were investigated. RESULTS Compared with blank group， relative cell viability， the levels of SOD and CAT， relative expression of Bcl-2 were decreased significantly， while the levels of MDA and ROS， relative expressions of Bax， cleaved caspase-3 and nuclear protein NFATc4 were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the H2O2 group， the above indexes of 100 and 150 μmol/L mangiferin groups were reversed significantly （P＜0.05）. After the transfection of the NFATc4 interference sequence， the expression of nuclear protein NFATc4 was down-regulated significantly； the levels of MDA and SOD， the protein expressions of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were all decreased/down-regulated significantly， while the levels of SOD and CAT， and the protein expression of Bcl-2 were all increased/up-regulated significantly， compared with H2O2 group （P＜ 0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Mangiferin can relieve H2O2-induced oxidative stress of H9c2 cells， reduce the apoptosis and inhibit the nuclear translocation of NFATc4， thereby alleviating myocardial cell damage； reducing the nuclear level of NFATc4 protein is related to reducing H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis.

OX40 is a costimulatory receptor that is expressed primarily on activated CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and regulatory T cells. The ligation of OX40 to its sole ligand OX40L potentiates T cell expansion, differentiation, and activation and also promotes dendritic cells to mature to enhance their cytokine production. Therefore, the use of agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies for cancer immunotherapy has gained great interest. However, most of the agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies in the clinic are OX40L-competitive and show limited efficacy. Here, we discovered that BGB-A445, a non-ligand-competitive agonistic anti-OX40 antibody currently under clinical investigation, induced optimal T cell activation without impairing dendritic cell function. In addition, BGB-A445 dose-dependently and significantly depleted regulatory T cells in vitro and in vivo via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. In the MC38 syngeneic model established in humanized OX40 knock-in mice, BGB-A445 demonstrated robust and dose-dependent antitumor efficacy, whereas the ligand-competitive anti-OX40 antibody showed antitumor efficacy characterized by a hook effect. Furthermore, BGB-A445 demonstrated a strong combination antitumor effect with an anti-PD-1 antibody. Taken together, our findings show that BGB-A445, which does not block OX40-OX40L interaction in contrast to clinical-stage anti-OX40 antibodies, shows superior immune-stimulating effects and antitumor efficacy and thus warrants further clinical investigation.
Mice ; Animals ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/physiology* ; Receptors, OX40 ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Ligands ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*