[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.05.019.].

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) complicated by hyperuricemia (HUA) and explore their potential as novel diagnostic molecular markers and their target genes. METHODS: This study was conducted among 30 CHF patients with HUA (observation group) and 30 healthy volunteers (control group) enrolled between September, 2020 and September, 2023. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 6 CHF patients with HUA for analyzing exosomal miRNAs by high-throughput sequencing, and the results were validated in the remaining 24 patients using qRT-PCR. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed to predict the the target genes of the identified differential miRNAs. We also validated the differentially expressed miRNAs by animal experiment. RESULTS: A total of 42 differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs were detected in observation group by high-throughput sequencing; among them, miR-27a-5p was significantly upregulated (P=0.000179), and miR-139-3p was significantly downregulated (P=0.000058). In the 24 patients with both CHF and PUA, qRT-PCR validated significant upregulation of miR-27a-5p (P=0.004) and downregulation of miR-139-3p (P=0.005) in serum exosomes. When combined, miR-27a-5p and miR-139-3p had a maximum area under the curve (AUC) of 0.899 (95% CI: 0812-0.987) for predicting CHF complicated by HUA. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses suggested that the differential expressions of miR-27a-5p and miR-139-3p was associated with the activation of the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway to activate the autophagic response. We obtained the same conclusion from animal experiment. CONCLUSIONS Upregulated exosomal miR-27a-5p combined with downregulated exosomal miR-139-3p expression can serve as a novel molecular marker for diagnosis of CHF complicated by HUA, and their differential expression may promote autophagy in cardiomyocytes by activating the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway.
Humans ; Hyperuricemia/diagnosis* ; Heart Failure/genetics* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Chronic Disease ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Animals

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effects of cannabidiol on endoplasmic reticulum stress and neuronal apoptosis in rats with multiple concussions (MCC). METHODS: SD rats were randomized into sham group, MCC group, 1% tween20 (TW) treatment group, and low-dose (10 mg/kg) and high-dose (40 mg/kg) cannabidiol treatment groups. In all but the sham group, MCC models were established using a metal pendulum percussion device, after which the rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of the corresponding agents for 2 weeks. The expressions of PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, TRIB3, p-Akt and pro-caspase-3 in the brain tissue of the rats were detected with qRT-PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. The core targets of cannabidiol in treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) were identified by network pharmacology analysis, and molecular docking was carried out to simulate the interaction of cannabidiol with the factors related to endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operated rats, the rat models of MCC showed significantly increased mRNA expressions of PERK, eIF2α and CHOP and protein expressions of PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, TRIB3, p-AKT and pro-caspase-3 in the cerebral cortex. CBD treatment, especially at the high dose, obviously increased the expression of p-Akt and lowered the expression levels of the other factors tested in the rat models. Network pharmacology analysis indicated interactions of the core targets of CBD with the factors related to endoplasmic reticulum stress and TBI, and molecular docking study showed a high binding energy of CBD with multiple factors pertaining to endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS MCC induce endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in rat brain tissues, for which CBD, especially at a high dose, provides neuroprotective effects by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress and cell apoptosis.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Activating Transcription Factor 4/metabolism* ; Transcription Factor CHOP/metabolism* ; Rats ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; eIF-2 Kinase/metabolism* ; Cannabidiol/pharmacology* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Brain Concussion/metabolism* ; Male ; Molecular Docking Simulation

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a naturally occurring, low-toxicity, and hydrophilic bile acid (BA) in the human body that is converted by intestinal flora using primary BA. Solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) functions to uptake extracellular cystine in exchange for glutamate, and is highly expressed in a variety of human cancers. Retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) refers to liposarcoma originating from the retroperitoneal area. Lipidomics analysis revealed that UDCA was one of the most significantly downregulated metabolites in sera of RLPS patients compared with healthy subjects. The augmentation of UDCA concentration (≥25 μg/mL) demonstrated a suppressive effect on the proliferation of liposarcoma cells. [¹⁵N₂]-cystine and [¹³C₅]-glutamine isotope tracing revealed that UDCA impairs cystine uptake and glutathione (GSH) synthesis. Mechanistically, UDCA binds to the cystine transporter SLC7A11 to inhibit cystine uptake and impair GSH de novo synthesis, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and mitochondrial oxidative damage. Furthermore, UDCA can promote the anti-cancer effects of ferroptosis inducers (Erastin, RSL3), the murine double minute 2 (MDM2) inhibitors (Nutlin 3a, RG7112), cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibitor (Abemaciclib), and glutaminase inhibitor (CB839). Together, UDCA functions as a cystine exchange factor that binds to SLC7A11 for antitumor activity, and SLC7A11 is not only a new transporter for BA but also a clinically applicable target for UDCA. More importantly, in combination with other antitumor chemotherapy or physiotherapy treatments, UDCA may provide effective and promising treatment strategies for RLPS or other types of tumors in a ROS-dependent manner.

Objective To explore the effect of aerobic exercise on renal function abnormalities and mitochondrial oxidative stress of obese rats.Methods Ninety 5-week male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal diet group(CON,n=10)and a high-fat diet group(n=80).The latter group was on high-fat diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity with renal function abnormality.After success-ful modelling,40 rats were chosen and randomly divided into a high-fat diet control group(HFD)and three groups of high-fat diet+aerobic exercise with different intensities(40%VO2max,60%VO2max,and 80%VO2max),each of 10.All exercise groups underwent daily 60-min aerobic exercise on treadmill,5 days per week for 4 weeks.After the intervention,their body weight,body length,perirenal and epi-didymal fat weights were measured,and morphometric indices including fat-body ratio and Lee's in-dex were calculated.Moreover,such biochemical indicators of renal function as serum creatinine(SCr),serum cystatin C and urinary microalbumin(mALB)were tested.Meanwhile,the pathological changes of the kidney were observed using hematoxylin eosin(HE)staining and Periodic acid-Schiff(PAS)staining,while the ultrastructural changes of the kidney and mitochondria were observed using the transmission electron microscopy.Moreover,the levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD),malondialde-hyde(MDA),and mitochondrial membrane potential in mitochondria were evaluated using ELISA kits.Results After 4 weeks of intervention,the average SCr,serum cystatin C,and mALB levels in the HFD group increased significantly compared with the CON group(P<0.05).Moreover,the average SCr levels of all exercise groups were significantly lower than the HFD group(P<0.05),with the average serum cystatin C and mALB levels of the 60%VO2max and 80%VO2max groups significantly lower than the HFD group(P<0.05).Meanwhile,the renal tubular epithelial cells in the HFD group showed mod-erate degeneration and increased glomerulosclerosis index(GSI)(P<0.05)and the degree of glomerular hypertrophy in each exercise group was significantly lower than the HFD group,with the renal tubules of the 60%VO2max group showing a clearer contour and decreased GSI(P<0.05).What's more,com-pared with the CON group,the number of swollen mitochondria in the HFD group increased,but the mitochondria damage of the 60%VO2max group relieved significantly compared with the HFD group.The renal mitochondrial MDA levels in the CON group increased significantly compared with the HFD group(P<0.05),and those of the exercise groups were significantly lower than the HFD group(P<0.05),with the most significant decrease in the 40%VO2max group(P<0.05).Moreover,the average renal mito-chondrial SOD and membrane potential levels in the HFD group decreased significantly compared with the CON group(P<0.05),while those in the 40%and the 60%VO2max groups were significantly higher than the HFD group(P<0.05).Conclusion Moderate to low intensity aerobic exercise can relieve renal dysfunction of obese rats by lowering the level of oxidative stress in renal mitochondria,mainly down-regulating such renal function biochemical indicators as SCr,serum cystatin C,and mALB,as well as alleviating the degree of renal tissue damage.

Objective To collect and sort out the literature on the clinical medication experience of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in the treatment of hepatic precancerous lesions,and to summarize the characteristics of the disease and the treatment ideas by analyzing the rules of its formula,in order to provide instructions for the treatment of precancerous lesions of hepatocellular carcinoma with TCM in terms of medication and experience addition and subtraction.Methods CNKI,VIP,WanFang Data,CBM,PubMed,Web of Science,EMBASE,Cochrane databases were systematically searched,the clinical research and personal experience literature of TCM in the treatment of hepatic precancerous lesions from the establishment of the databases to December 2023 was included,and the prescription information that met the inclusion criteria was extracted.Based on"Traditional Chinese Medicine data Miner(TCM Miner)",the medication database was established to analyze the frequency,properties and flavours of the drugs and meridian tropism.The cluster analysis were conducted by SPSS 25.0 statistical software,and the association rules were analyzed by using Apriori algorithm of SPSS Modeler 14.1,and the complex network analysis of high-frequency drugs was conducted by network module of SPSS Modeler.Results 34 researches including 34 formulas,110 drugs with 291 frequencies and 15 drug efficacy were included.Frequency analysis showed that the top eight types of frequently applied drugs were milkvetch root,largehead atractylodes rhizome,radix salviae miltiorrhhizae,hedyotis,carapax trionycis,zedorgy rhidoray,barbated skullcup herb,redix curcumae.The top three properties in the"four qi"were cold,warm and mild.The top three tastes of the"five flavors"were bitterness,sweetness and acridity.The top four in the frequency of meridian tropism were liver,spleen,kidney and lung.Apriori correlation analysis showed that the core drug pairs was"Hedyotis diffusa+Atractylodes".Complex network analysis showed that the core prescriptions were composed of Atractylodes,Radix Paeoniae Alba,Hedyotis diffusa,Poria cocos,Rhizoma Curcumae,Radix Curcumae Aromaticae,Trionycis Carapax,Radix Astragali,Sparganium stoloniferum,Salvia miltiorrhiza,Scutellaria barbata.Conclusion The TCM treatment of hepatic precancerous lesions should be based on tonifying spleen and nourishing liver,promoting blood circulation and detoxification,and combined with drugs that can promote qi-circulation,clear heat,remove blood-stasis,soften hard masses and resolve hard masses.

Objective:To analyze the distribution characteristics of UGT1A1 mutant genes (including enhancers, promoters, and exons 1-5) and further explore the correlation between UGT1A1 genotype and clinical phenotypes in patients with inherited hyperunconjugated bilirubinemia.Methods:Patients diagnosed with hereditary hyperunconjugated bilirubinemia at Nanjing Second Hospital from June 2015 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The UGT1A1 gene was examined using Sanger sequencing in all patients. Complete blood count, liver function, and abdominal imaging examinations were performed. Comparison of categorical variable data using χ2 testor Fisher percision tests. Comparison of continaous veriable data with normal distribution using t-test. Results:112 cases (male:female ratio 81:31, aged 9-70 years) had inherited hyperunconjugated bilirubinemia, with a total of 14 mutation sites identified, of which seven were confirmed mutations, and the frequency ranged from high to low: (TA)n accounted for 50%, c.211G>A (p.G71R) accounted for 49.10%, 1456T>G (p.Y486D) accounted for 16.96%, c.686C>A (p.R229W) accounted for 12.5%, 1091C>T (p.P364L) accounted for 8.04%, and c- 3279T>G accounted for 0.982%. Simultaneously, all patients had one to four mutations, of which only one mutation was the most common (55.36%), followed by two mutations (37.5%), and rare three and four mutations (5.36% and 1.78%). There was no statistical significance in total bilirubin (TBil) levels among the four groups ( F=0.652, P=0.583). One mutation was most common in (TA)n and c.211G>A (p.G71R), among which TA6/TA7 ( n=10) and TA7/TA7 ( n=14) mutations were statistically significant in TBil ( t=2.143, P=0.043). The c.211G>A (p.G71R) heterozygous ( n=9) and isolated ( n=15) mutation had no statistical significance in TBil ( t=0.382, P=0.706). The GS group accounted for 75%, the intermediate group accounted for 16.9%, and the CNS-Ⅱ group accounted for 8%. TBil was statistically significant among the three groups ( F=270.992, P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference ( χ2=3.317, P=0.19) between mutation 1 (44 cases, 14 cases, and 4 cases, respectively) and mutations ≥ 2 (40 cases, 5 cases, and 5 cases, respectively) in the GS group, intermediate group, and CNS-II group. Conclusion:The number of UGT1A1 gene mutation sites may have no synergistic effect on TBil levels in patients with inherited hyperunconjugated bilirubinemia. TA7/TA7 mutations are not uncommon, and TBil levels are relatively high.

Traditional in vitro models have inevitable limitations and there are significant differences in assessing drug efficacy and side effects as compared to human trials.Organ-on-a-chip technology simulates human organs in a physiological environment and functional chip with a high fidelity physiological or pathophysiological level,offering great innovative prospects for drug development.This paper mainly introduces the research progress and application of organ chip from the perspective of various systems in vivo.At the same time,the limitations of the current devel-opment process of organ chip and the future development direction are proposed.

More and more in-depth tumor mechanism research and clinical precision treatment have put forward higher requirements for the technology for the establishment of tumor models.More and more tumor organoids have been applied.This model is able to reproduce the genomic,transcriptome,proteome and other omics features of pa-rental tumors without heterogeneity found in cell line models.Based on these characteristics,tumor organoids have gradually become a representative preclinical model,facilitating the translation of new research results and precision treatment of patients.This article summarizes the latest progress of tumor organoids on R&D of technology and appli-cation,focusing on the current methods of establishing tumor organoids,opportunities and challenges in clinical and research application.

Objective To establish breast cancer organoids for a long time and to characterize their molecular ex-pression and test their sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs.Methods Breast cancer specimens were digested with col-lagenase to release cancer cells for organoid culture.The organoids were characterized by morphology and ER,PR,HER-2,CK expression by technology of histoimmunofluorescence.Among them,three were tested for paclitaxel,doxorubicin and cisplatin sensitivity.Results A total of 44 cases of breast cancer organoids were established,all of which showed dense spherical-like growth and ER,PR,HER-2,CK,matching their clinical counterpart.Breast cancer organoids were sensitive to chemotherapy drugs paclitaxel,doxorubicin and cisplatin.Conclusions Organoid model,as a new in vitro may reproduce the pathophysiology features with heterogeneity.