OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of Scleromitrion diffusum on gastric mucosal epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in rats with gastric precancerous lesion. METHODS: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group (n=11), model control group (n=13), Scleromitrion diffusum (SD) group (n=13) and vitase group (n=13). Gastric precancerous lesion animal model was prepared by 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine complex polyfactor method, and the drugs were administrated by gavage once a day for 6 weeks. The pathological changes of gastric mucosa were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining, the expression of EMT marker proteins were detected with immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the model control group, the gastric mucosal injury was significantly attenuated in the Scleromitrion diffusum group, the mucosal tissue structure gradually recovered, the saccular expansion area was reduced, and the inflammatory infiltration was ameliorated. The expression of epithelial cadherin was higher, and the expression of neural cadherin and vimentin in the Scleromitrion diffusum group were lower than those of model control group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Scleromitrion diffusum can ameliorate gastric mucosal injury in rats with gastric precancerous lesion by reversing the EMT.
Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects* ; Precancerous Conditions/metabolism* ; Gastric Mucosa/metabolism* ; Stomach Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Male ; Cadherins/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE To determine the contents of 15 components in Aurantii Fructus Immaturus from different origins （Citrus aurantium， C. junos， C. aurantium Linn.， C. sinensis Osb.， C. sinensis）， screen differential components， and provide references for the quality evaluation of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus. METHODS HPLC method was adopted to determine the contents of synephrine， N-methyltyramine， 5，7-dihydroxychromone-7-neohesperidoside， neoponcirin， narirutin， naringin， hesperidin， neohesperidin， naringenin， hesperetin， sinensetin， nobiletin， tangeretin， 5-demethylnobiletin， and auraptene in 46 batches of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus from different origins. The determination was performed on Waters Symmetry C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid （gradient elution） at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min； column temperature was set at 40 ℃ ， detection wavelength was 284 nm， and sample injection volume was 5 μL. The differences between different origins of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus were analyzed by cluster analysis， principal component analysis （PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA）， and differential components were screened. RESULTS The linear relationships of the aforementioned 15 components were all good within the tested mass concentration ranges （all r＞0.999 0）. The RSDs for precision， stability （24 h）， and repeatability tests were all less than 2.00%. The average recovery rate ranged from 91.1% to 103.9% （all RSDs＜3.10%）. Cluster analysis， PCA， and OPLS-DA revealed that C. sinensis Osb. and C. sinensis were clustered into one category， while C. aurantium，C. junos and C. aurantium Linn. were clustered into another category. The variable importance projection values for neohesperidin， auraptene， naringin， neoponcirin， tangeretin， hesperidin， sinensetin， and 5，7-dihydroxychromone-7-neohesperidoside were all greater than 1. CONCLUSIONS In this study， the contents of 15 components in Aurantii Fructus Immaturus from different origins are determined， and 8 differential components， including neohesperidin， auraptene， naringin， and neoponcirin， are screened out.

ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Shufeng Jiedu capsules （SFJD） in alleviating influenza A （H1N1） virus pneumonia and focus on its effect on Toll-like receptor （TLR） signaling pathway in respiratory epithelial cells. MethodsA mouse model of viral pneumonia was established via the A/PR/8/34 （PR8） strain of influenza A virus. Mice were randomly divided into a normal group， a PR8 infection （PR8） group， and an SFJD group （8.4 g·kg^-1）， with 10 mice in each group. The day of infection was designated as day 1. The SFJD group was administered intragastrically at a volume of 20 mL·kg^-1 daily， while the normal and PR8 groups were given an equal volume of deionized water. Micro-computed tomography （Micro-CT） was performed on day 5， and the mice were dissected to collect their lungs， after which the lung index was calculated to verify the therapeutic effect of SFJD. Single-cell sequencing was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes in respiratory epithelial cells. Multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of TLR， tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 （TRAF6）， and myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88） proteins in epithelial cell adhesion molecule （EpCAM）-positive cells， and the proportion of respiratory epithelial cells expressing TLR pathway proteins was calculated. Respiratory epithelial cells were then sorted by flow cytometry， and Western blot was used to detect the expression of TLR， MyD88， TRAF6， Toll-interleukin receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-β （TRIF）， inhibitor of κB kinase α （IKKα）， and nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） in the sorted epithelial cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure the levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in lung tissue. ResultsAt the transcriptional level， SFJD reversed the expression of TLR signaling pathway genes in respiratory epithelial cells， downregulating multiple TLR signaling pathway-related genes （P<0.01）. At the protein level， SFJD significantly reduced the proportion of respiratory epithelial cells expressing TLR3 （P<0.05）， the expression levels of TLR2， TLR3， TLR4， TRIF， TRAF6， IKKα， and NF-κB in epithelial cells（P<0.05， P<0.01）， as well as the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α in lung tissue （P<0.01）. ConclusionSFJD may alleviate viral pneumonia by suppressing the expression of TLR in respiratory epithelial cells and their subsequent signaling cascades.

Human NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is a flavoenzyme expressed at high levels in multiple solid tumors, making it an attractive target for anticancer drugs. Bioactivatable drugs targeting NQO1, such as β-lapachone (β-lap), are currently in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. β-Lap selectively kills NQO1-positive (NQO1⁺) cancer cells by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) via catalytic activation of NQO1. In this study, we demonstrated that cryptotanshinone (CTS), a naturally occurring compound, induces NQO1-dependent necrosis without affecting NQO1 activity. CTS selectively kills NQO1⁺ cancer cells by inducing NQO1-dependent necrosis. Interestingly, CTS directly binds to NQO1 but does not activate its catalytic activity. In addition, CTS enables activation of JNK1/2 and PARP, accumulation of iron and Ca²⁺, and depletion of ATP and NAD⁺. Furthermore, CTS selectively suppressed tumor growth in the NQO1⁺ xenograft models, which was reversed by NQO1 inhibitor and NQO1 shRNA. In conclusion, CTS induces NQO1-dependent necrosis via the JNK1/2/iron/PARP/NAD⁺/Ca²⁺ signaling pathway. This study demonstrates the non-enzymatic function of NQO1 in inducing cell death and provides new avenues for the design and development of NQO1-targeted anticancer drugs.

As the brain's resident immune cells, microglia perform crucial functions such as phagocytosis, neuronal network maintenance, and injury restoration by adopting various phenotypes. Dynamic imaging of these phenotypes is essential for accessing brain diseases and therapeutic responses. Although numerous probes are available for imaging pro-inflammatory microglia, no PET tracers have been developed specifically to visualize anti-inflammatory microglia. In this study, we present an ¹⁸F-labeled PET tracer (QTFT) that targets the P2Y₁₂, a receptor highly expressed on anti-inflammatory microglia. [¹⁸F]QTFT exhibited high binding affinity to the P2Y₁₂ (14.43 nmol/L) and superior blood-brain barrier permeability compared to other candidates. Micro-PET imaging in IL-4-induced neuroinflammation models showed higher [¹⁸F]QTFT uptake in lesions compared to the contralateral normal brain tissues. Importantly, this specific uptake could be blocked by QTFT or a P2Y₁₂ antagonist. Furthermore, [¹⁸F]QTFT visualized brain lesions in mouse models of epilepsy, glioma, and aging by targeting the aberrantly expressed P2Y₁₂ in anti-inflammatory microglia. In a pilot clinical study, [¹⁸F]QTFT successfully located epileptic foci, showing enhanced radioactive signals in a patient with epilepsy. Collectively, these studies suggest that [¹⁸F]QTFT could serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for imaging various brain disorders by targeting P2Y₁₂ overexpressed in anti-inflammatory microglia.

Therapeutic resistance in cancer is responsible for numerous cancer deaths in clinical practice. While target mutations are well recognized as the basis of genetic resistance to targeted therapy, nontarget mutation resistance (or nongenetic resistance) remains poorly characterized. Despite its complex and unintegrated mechanisms in the literature, nongenetic resistance is considered from our perspective to be a collective response of innate or acquired resistant subpopulations in heterogeneous tumors to therapy. These subpopulations, e.g., cancer stem-like cells, cancer cells with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and drug-tolerant persisters, are protected by their resistance traits at cellular and molecular levels. This review summarizes recent advances in the research on resistant populations and their resistance traits. NOTCH signaling, as a central regulator of nongenetic resistance, is discussed with a special focus on its canonical maintenance of resistant cancer cells and noncanonical regulation of their resistance traits. This novel view of canonical and noncanonical NOTCH signaling pathways is translated into our proposal of reshaping therapeutic strategies targeting NOTCH signaling in resistant cancer cells. We hope that this review will lead researchers to study the canonical and noncanonical arms of NOTCH signaling as an integrated resistant mechanism, thus promoting the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.
Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Receptors, Notch/metabolism* ; Disease Resistance/physiology* ; Signal Transduction/physiology* ; Humans ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/physiology* ; Molecular Targeted Therapy/methods*

Objective: To investigate the incidence and influencing factors of falls among the elderly in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide the basis for developing effective prevention strategies. Methods: The residents aged 60 years and above in Haishu District and Yuyao City of Ningbo City were selected by the multi-stage cluster random sampling method from June to October 2022. Demographic information, fall incidence in the past year, history of disease and self-rated health were collected through questionnaire surveys. Incidence of falls was descriptively analyzed, and factors affecting falls were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model stratified by gender and age. Results: A total of 1 275 elderly people were surveyed, including 635 men and 640 women. The median age was 72.00 (interquartile range, 13.00) years. In the past year, 158 residents fell, accounting for 12.39%. Additionally, 14 individuals experienced two or more falls, accounting for 8.86%. The incidence of falls was 14.69% in women, which was higher than the 10.08% in men (P<0.05). The incidence of falls was 14.86% in the elderly over 70 years, which was higher than the 9.39% in those aged 60 to 70 years (P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression showed that the educational level (primary school and above, OR=0.501, 95%CI: 0.301-0.836), heart disease (present, OR=1.996, 95%CI: 1.076-3.703), and self-rated health status (good, OR=0.529, 95%CI: 0.319-0.875) were factors affecting falls in women; educational level (primary school and above, OR=0.514, 95%CI: 0.285-0.928) and self-rated health status (good, OR=0.456, 95%CI: 0.253-0.824) were factors affecting falls in residents aged 60 to 70 years. Conclusion Fall risk among the elderly is associated with gender, age, heart disease, educational level and self-rated health status, and the influencing factors for falls vary in different genders and ages.

The United States has established a perfect specialist training system for developmental and behavioral pediatrics (DBP), while the DBP specialist training system in China is still in the early stage of development and has been constantly improved. This article analyzes and compares the current status of DBP specialist training system between the United States and China from the aspects of training pattern, eligibility criteria, training plans and contents, assessment and evaluation, and certification. With reference to the training system in the United States, we can further improve the DBP specialist training system in China by perfecting the training system and related documents, constructing reasonable eligibility criteria, establishing a training pattern guided by post competency, improving the DBP assessment and evaluation system based on competency, and enhancing the certification of DBP physicians.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and changing trend of malignant tumor death in Danjiangkou City, the water source area along the middle route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Methods The surveillance data of cancer death cases in Danjiangkou City from 2015 to 2022 were collected, and the mortality rate, gender mortality rate, age-specific mortality rate and the rank of cancer cause of death were calculated. Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trend of malignant tumor mortality and standardized mortality. Annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) were calculated to analyze the trend changes. Results From 2015 to 2022, a total of 6 254 deaths from malignant tumors were reported in Danjiangkou City, with a crude mortality rate of 178.57/100 000 and a standardized mortality rate of 152.77/100 000. There were 4 366 male deaths, and the crude mortality and standardized mortality were 244.70/100 000 and 212.87/100 000 , respectively. There were 1 888 female deaths, and the crude mortality rate and the standardized mortality rate were 109.89/100 000 and 92.69/100 000, respectively. The crude death rate of malignant tumors in the whole population in Danjiangkou City showed an increasing trend from 2015 to 2022, and the difference was statistically significant (AAPC=5.18%, t=4.07, P<0.05). The crude mortality rates of malignant tumors in both men and women showed an upward trend, and the differences were statistically significant (AAPC =5.56% and 4.35%, both P<0.05). The standardized mortality rates of malignant tumors in the whole population, women and men remained stable, and the differences were not statistically significant (AAPC=0.68, 1.59 and -0.74, all P>0.05). The trend analysis of age-specific mortality of malignant tumors showed that the age-specific mortality of malignant tumors in the whole population, men and women showed an increasing trend with age, and the differences were statistically significant (AAPC =9.22%, 9.40% and 8.53%, P<0.05). The mortality rate of malignant tumors in 0-, 1-, 10-, 45- and 70- age groups decreased year by year (AAPC =-79.62%, -7.19%, -65.99%, -8.88%, and -5.83%, all P<0.05). The mortality rate in the age group of over 75 years old showed an increasing trend (AAPC =12.24%, P<0.05), and the differences were statistically significant. The top 10 malignant tumor deaths in the whole population were lung cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer , leukemia , pancreatic cancer , breast cancer , brain malignant tumor and cervical cancer, accounting for 88.49% of all malignant tumor deaths. Mortality rates in lung cancer (AAPC =6.75%), esophageal cancer (AAPC=11.24%), colorectal cancer (AAPC =12.95%), leukemia (AAPC=8.10%), pancreatic cancer (AAPC=15.11%), breast cancer (AAPC=13.11%) and brain malignancies (AAPC=11.16%) showed an increasing trend, and the differences were statistical significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Malignant tumor is the main cause of death in Danjiangkou City. The death rate increases year by year and increases with age. Lung cancer, stomach cancer and liver cancer are the main causes of death. Men and the elderly are high-risk groups of malignant tumors. Early detection and treatment of malignant tumors should be strengthened to reduce the incidence and death.

IKBKG is the essential modulator for nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) signaling pathway, and mutations within this gene can lead to anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and immunodeficiency (EDA-ID). Here we report a male patient, who presented with mild frontal bossing, sparse hair, skin pigmentation, conical teeth, and recurrent infections involving bacteria, fungi, and viruses after one month of age, together with hypogammaglobulinemia. These symptoms were consistent with the phenotype of EDA-ID. Genetic analysis revealed a hemizygous mutation c.1249T > G (p.Cys417Gly) in exon 10 of the IKBKG gene in the patient. The mother of the patient was identified as heterozygous carriers of the same mutation. Immunological assessment revealed a significant reduction in memory B cells. The patient showed no skewed TCR diversity. PHA-induced T-cell proliferation was impaired. IFN-γ secretion by Th cells was significantly reduced after PHA stimulation. IκBα degradation rate retained the same in the patient. We summarized the clinical features of the patient and conducted immunological analysis, in order to increase pediatricians′awareness of this rare disease. For boys with early-onset recurrent infections together with ectodermal dysplasia, IKBKG mutation should be considered. In addition, genetic analysis is needed to exclude pseudogene interference and functional evaluations are required.