Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI) is a pathological process involving multiple injury factors and cell types, with different stages. Currently, protective drugs targeting a single condition are limited in efficacy, and interventions on immune cells will also be accompanied by a series of side effects. In the current bottleneck research stage, the multi-target and obvious clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) is expected to become a breakthrough point in the research and development of new drugs. In this review, we summarize the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in various stages of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion and on various types of cells. Combined with the current research progress in reducing ROS/RNS with CM, new therapies and mechanisms for the treatment of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion are discussed.
Reperfusion Injury/drug therapy* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Reactive Nitrogen Species/metabolism* ; Humans ; Liver/drug effects* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Xiangshao Granules (XSG) on post-stroke depression (PSD) and explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Forty-three C57BL/6J mice were divided into 3 groups: sham (n=15), PSD+vehicle (n=14), and PSD+XSG (n=14) groups according to a random number table. The PSD models were constructed using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The sham group only experienced the same surgical operation, but without MACO and CUMS stimulation. The XSG group received XSG (60 mg/kg per day) by gavage for 4 weeks. The mice in the sham and vehicle groups were given the same volume of 0.9% saline at the same time. The body weight and behavior tests including open field test, sucrose preference test, tail suspension test, and elevated plus-maze test, were used to validate the PSD mouse model. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of XSG. The potential molecular mechanisms were explored and verified through network pharmacology analysis, Nissl staining, Western blot, ELISA, and RT-qPCR, respectively. RESULTS: The body weight and behavior tests showed that MCAO combined with CUMS successfully established the PSD models. XSG alleviated neuronal damage, reduced the expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins Caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2)-associated X (BAX), and increased the expression of anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2 in PSD mice (P<0.05 or P<0.01). XSG inhibited microglial activation and the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1 β, and IL-6 via the toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway in PSD mice (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, XSG decreased the expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase1 (IDO1) and increased the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine in PSD mice (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION XSG could reverse the anxiety/depressionlike behaviors and reduce the neuronal injury in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of PSD mice, which may be a potential therapeutic agent for PSD.
Animals ; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/metabolism* ; Depression/etiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Prefrontal Cortex/pathology* ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Stroke/drug therapy* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects*

Oligodendrocyte lineage cells, including oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and oligodendrocytes (OLs), are essential in establishing and maintaining brain circuits. Autophagy is a conserved process that keeps the quality of organelles and proteostasis. The role of autophagy in oligodendrocyte lineage cells remains unclear. The present study shows that autophagy is required to maintain the number of OPCs/OLs and myelin integrity during brain aging. Inactivation of autophagy in oligodendrocyte lineage cells increases the number of OPCs/OLs in the developing brain while exaggerating the loss of OPCs/OLs with brain aging. Inactivation of autophagy in oligodendrocyte lineage cells impairs the turnover of myelin basic protein (MBP). It causes MBP to accumulate in the cytoplasm as multimeric aggregates and fails to be incorporated into integral myelin, which is associated with attenuated endocytic recycling. Inactivation of autophagy in oligodendrocyte lineage cells impairs myelin integrity and causes demyelination. Thus, this study shows autophagy is required to maintain myelin quality during aging by controlling the turnover of myelin components.
Animals ; Autophagy/physiology* ; Oligodendroglia/metabolism* ; Myelin Sheath/physiology* ; Aging/pathology* ; Myelin Basic Protein/metabolism* ; Cell Lineage/physiology* ; Mice ; Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Brain/cytology* ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Count

Patients suffering from nerve injury often experience exacerbated pain responses and complain of memory deficits. The dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), a well-defined region responsible for learning and memory, displays maladaptive plasticity upon injury, which is assumed to underlie pain hypersensitivity and cognitive deficits. However, much attention has thus far been paid to intracellular mechanisms of plasticity rather than extracellular alterations that might trigger and facilitate intracellular changes. Emerging evidence has shown that nerve injury alters the microarchitecture of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and decreases ECM rigidity in the dHPC. Despite this, it remains elusive which element of the ECM in the dHPC is affected and how it contributes to neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits. Laminin, a key element of the ECM, consists of α-, β-, and γ-chains and has been implicated in several pathophysiological processes. Here, we showed that peripheral nerve injury downregulates laminin β1 (LAMB1) in the dHPC. Silencing of hippocampal LAMB1 exacerbates pain sensitivity and induces cognitive dysfunction. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that loss of hippocampal LAMB1 causes dysregulated Src/NR2A signaling cascades via interaction with integrin β1, leading to decreased Ca²⁺ levels in pyramidal neurons, which in turn orchestrates structural and functional plasticity and eventually results in exaggerated pain responses and cognitive deficits. In this study, we shed new light on the functional capability of hippocampal ECM LAMB1 in the modulation of neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits, and reveal a mechanism that conveys extracellular alterations to intracellular plasticity. Moreover, we identified hippocampal LAMB1/integrin β1 signaling as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neuropathic pain and related memory loss.
Animals ; Laminin/genetics* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Male ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/metabolism* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Integrin beta1/metabolism* ; Pyramidal Cells/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

Ambient air pollution is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor for heart failure; however, its effects on cardiac biomarkers remain unclear. This scoping review assessed the existing evidence on the association between air pollution and cardiac biomarkers in heart failure, described the key concepts, synthesized data, and identified research gaps. Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI databases were searched for studies on air pollution, heart failure, and biomarkers. A total of 765 records were screened, and 81 full texts were assessed for eligibility, resulting in 15 studies. The results showed that the exposure to particulate matter was associated with elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and troponin levels. Several studies have linked particulate matter exposure to a higher cardiovascular risk and heart failure biomarkers. Inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were consistently elevated across studies, supporting the biological relevance of these associations. However, few studies have focused specifically on populations with heart failure or clinically relevant biomarkers, and the evidence for gaseous pollutants remains inconclusive. These findings highlight the need to integrate environmental risk assessment into heart failure care and inform policy efforts to reduce the pollution-related cardiovascular burden. Further research should address these gaps through improved exposure assessments and the integration of mechanistic evidence.
Heart Failure/epidemiology* ; Biomarkers/metabolism* ; Humans ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Air Pollutants/adverse effects* ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects* ; Environmental Exposure ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/blood* ; Oxidative Stress ; Troponin/blood*

Objective To explore the accumulated effects of physical activity,sedentary behavior,and sleep on cardiorespiratory fitness(CRF)among college students and provide effective measures for enhancing their CRF. Methods From May to June in 2023,223 college students aged 18 to 24 years old were recruited from Tianjin University of Science and Technology for a 24 hours activity behavior survey and CRF testing.Compositional analysis was employed to investigate the relationships of physical activity,sedentary behavior,and sleep with CRF.Isotemporal substitution models were established to predict the effects of substituting various activity behaviors on CRF.Results The proportion of time spent on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA)was positively correlated with CRF of college students(β=6.40,P=0.002),while the proportion of time spent on sedentary behavior was negatively correlated with CRF(β=-3.02,P=0.004).Light physical activity(LPA)and sleep were not correlated with CRF(β=-1.06,P=0.504).Isotemporal substitution results for 15-min increments showed that replacing other activity behaviors with MVPA significantly increased the CRF of college students[SB:1.72 mL/(kg·min),95% CI=0.94-2.51;LPA:1.82 mL/(kg·min),95% CI=0.95-2.68;sleep:1.64 mL/(kg·min),95% CI=0.84-2.45].In the dose-response relationship from -30 min to 30 min,reallocating time from other behaviors to MVPA had greater adverse effect on CRF than reallocating time from MVPA to other behaviors.Among all the substitutions,replacing LPA with MVPA had the most beneficial effect on improving CRF.Additionally,a 5-min increment was considered the optimal tipping point for MVPA replacing other activities.Conclusions This study underscores the importance of participating in MVPA for improving the CRF of college students.The isotemporal substitution model provides clear goals for the allocation of time for these behaviors,aiding in future intervention measure development and policy-making.
Humans ; Sedentary Behavior ; Sleep ; Students ; Cardiorespiratory Fitness ; Exercise ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Universities ; Male ; Female

Objective : To investigate the effects of sinapine on lung tissue inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in asthmatic mice. Methods: Eight-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into Control group, ovalbumin(OVA) group, Sinapine group, and Sinapine+OVA group. The asthmatic mice model were established by intraperitoneal injection of OVA combined with aluminum hydroxide [Al(OH)3] suspension and OVA nasal stimulation. One hour before OVA nasal stimulation, the mice in Sinapine+OVA group and Sinapine group were intraperitoneally injected with sinapine solution, and the mice in OVA group and Control group were treated with the same dose of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. 24 hours after the last OVA stimulation, the inflammation of lung tissue of mice were observed by HE staining; the mucus secretion were evaluated by PAS staining; the mRNA expression levels of Interleukin-4(IL-4), Interleukin-5(IL-5), Interleukin-13(IL-13), tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), Mucin 5ac(Muc5ac), and the mRNA of the key genes of Notch pathway such as Notch receptor 1(Notch1), Notch receptor 2(Notch2), Notch receptor 3(Notch3), and hes family bHLH transcription factor 1(Hes1) in lung tissues were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR); the expression levels of Notch1, Notch2, Notch3 and Hes1 proteins were determined by Western blot. Results : Compared with Control group, the inflammation score and PAS score of lung tissues of mice in OVA group increased(P<0.001); the mRNA expression levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-α, and Muc5ac of mice in OVA group were enhanced(P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch2, Notch3, and Hes1 of mice in OVA group significantly increased(P<0.001), while there was no significant difference in the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1. Compared with OVA group, the inflammation score and PAS score of lung tissues of mice in Sinapine+OVA group decreased(P<0.001); the mRNA expression levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-α, and Muc5ac of mice in Sinapine+OVA group were reduced(P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch2, Notch3, and Hes1 of mice in Sinapine+OVA group were downregulated(P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1. Conclusion Sinapine can alleviate the lung tissue inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in asthmatic mice, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Notch2/Notch3-Hes1 signal pathway.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of enteral nutrition combined with trocar puncture with a sump drain in the treatment of Crohn's disease(CD)complicated by intra-abdominal abscess.Methods:A descriptive case series study was conducted.Clinical data of CD patients with intra-abdominal abscess who received enteral nutrition and trocar puncture with a sump drain at the Intestinal Fistula and Intra-abdominal Infection Center of Nanjing BenQ Hospital between June 2018 and December 2022 were retrospectively collected.Laboratory parameters,including white blood cell(WBC)count,C-reactive protein(CRP),and procalcitonin(PCT),were recorded at baseline(pre-puncture)and on days 1,3,and 7 post-puncture.Changes in clinical indicators before and after intervention were compared.Results:All 19 CD patients with intra-abdominal abscess successfully underwent CT-guided trocar puncture with a sump drain,with fistulography confirming the presence of intestinal fistula.No post-procedural complications,including puncture site infection,new-onset intestinal fistula or intra-abdominal hemorrhage,were observed.The median treatment duration was 58.3 days(range:14～300 days).10 patients achieved spontaneous healing while 9 eventually underwent surgical intervention for unresolved fistulas.Post-puncture WBC levels decreased significantly on days 1,3,and 7 compared to baseline(P<0.05).Serum CRP levels increased markedly on day 1 post-puncture(P<0.05)but declined significantly by days 3 and 7(P<0.05).No statistically significant difference was observed in serum procalcitonin levels before and after puncture(P>0.05).Conclusion:The combination of enteral nutrition and trocar puncture with a sump drain is safe,feasible,and effective for managing CD complicated by intra-abdominal abscess.

Objective To verify the efficacy of a domestic human DNA quantification kit based on real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR in detecting the total human DNA concentration,male DNA concen-tration in mixed male/female DNA samples,the degree of DNA degradation and inhibitor tolerance.Methods Samples with different concentrations,different male/female ratios,different concentrations of inhibitors,and different degradation degrees were tested using the domestic human DNA quantification kit based on real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.This kit was compared with a similar product on the market and was applied to the detection of DNA from real cases.Results This human DNA quan-tification kit can effectively detect human DNA as low as 0.001 65 ng/μL,and 6.25 pg/μL of male DNA in mixed samples with a male-to-female ratio of 1∶15 000.Even when the sample contains as high as 400 ng/μL of humic acid or 1 000 μmol/L of hemin alone,the DNA concentration can still be accurately detected.The degradation index can effectively characterize the degradation degree of the sample.This kit has been successfully applied in forensic practice.Conclusion This human DNA quan-tification kit is accurate and reliable in detection.It can accurately reflect the degradation of DNA and inhibitor tolerance.It has good performance in quantitative accuracy,determination of the male/female ratio in mixed samples,and inhibitor tolerance.It has application potential in forensic case examination.