Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic interstitial lung disease, is characterized by aberrant wound healing, excessive scarring and the formation of myofibroblastic foci. Although the role of alternative splicing (AS) in the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis has garnered increasing attention, its specific contribution to pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified an up-regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7) in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients and a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model, and further characterized its functional role in both human fetal lung fibroblasts and mice. We demonstrated that enhanced expression of Srsf7 in mice spontaneously induced alveolar collagen accumulation. Mechanistically, we investigated alternative splicing events and revealed that SRSF7 modulates the alternative splicing of pyruvate kinase (PKM), leading to metabolic dysregulation and fibroblast activation. In vivo studies showed that fibroblast-specific knockout of Srsf7 in conditional knockout mice conferred resistance to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Importantly, through drug screening, we identified lomitapide as a novel modulator of SRSF7, which effectively mitigated experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a molecular pathway by which SRSF7 drives fibroblast metabolic dysregulation and propose a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective To systematically evaluate the influencing factors for antiretroviral therapy(ART)discontinuation in Chinese human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)/acquired immuno deficiency syn-drome(AIDS)patients.Methods A computer-based search was conducted in PubMed,Web of Science,Em-base,The Cochrane Library,CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,and China Biology Medicine(CBM)databases for studies on influencing factors of ART discontinuation in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients from the establishment of the databases to August 2024.Meta-analysis was performed on the included studies by using Stata16.0.Results A total of 17 studies were included.Meta-analysis showed that the following factors were associated with ART discontinuation:male gender(OR=1.301,95%CI:1.099-1.540),age≥50 years(OR=1.212,95%CI:1.109-1.324),unmarried/divorced/widowed marital status(OR=1.198,95%CI:1.060-1.354),education level was or below senior high school(OR=1.778,95%CI:1.508-2.096),infection route was in-travenous drug use(OR=2.420,95%CI:1.989-2.945),baseline CD4 cell count>500 cells/μL(OR=1.157,95%CI:1.020-1.313),tuberculosis co-infection before ART(OR=1.559,95%CI:1.398-1.739),hepatitis B co-infection before ART(OR=1.554,95%CI:1.305-1.851),AIDS-related symptoms occur be-fore ART(OR=1.245,95%CI:1.148-1.351),time from diagnosis to treatment initiation≥365 days(OR=1.449,95%CI:1.301-1.615),initial treatment regimen containing zidovudine(OR=1.573,95%CI:1.206-2.052),treatment at county-level or lower institutions(OR=1.204,95%CI:1.153-1.257),exist drug adverse reactions(OR=7.043,95%CI:3.142-15.786),and compliance education(OR=0.182,95%CI:0.094-0.352).Conclusion There are multiple factors influencing ART discontinuation in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients.Early identification of individuals at risk of discontinuation and targeted interventions are nec-essary to promote their maintenance of ART.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanisms of celecoxib on right heart function in mice with acute high-altitude hypoxia exposure.Methods Male C57BL/6J mice(7 weeks old)were housed in a hypobaric chamber simulating an altitude of 5 800 m for 2 d to establish an animal model of acute hypobaric hypoxia.①Eighteen mice were randomly assigned to plain+saline(P+S),high-altitude hypoxia exposure+saline(H+S),and high-altitude hypoxia exposure+celecoxib(H+Cel).Body weight and routine blood indicators were measured,and cardiac ultrasound examination were performed for heart rate(HR),pulmonary artery acceleration time to ejection time ratio(AT/ET),tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE),tricuspid annular systolic velocity(S'),and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and fractional shortening(FS).Targeted metabolomic profiling was applied to detect the cardiac arachidonic acid(AA)metabolite levels.The contents of 12,13-dihydroxy-9Z-octadecenoic acid(12,13-diHOME)in the heart,liver,brown adipose tissue,and plasma were quantified by ELISA.② Eighteen mice were randomly assigned into plain+saline(P+S),high-altitude hypoxia exposure+saline(H+S)and high-altitude hypoxia exposure+12,13-diHOME(H+di)groups.Body weight,routine blood tests,and echocardiography were performed as above.③ Thirty-two mice were randomly divided into high-altitude hypoxia exposure+saline(H+S),high-altitude hypoxia exposure+celecoxib(H+Cel),high-altitude hypoxia exposure+soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor(sEHI)(H+sEHI),and high-altitude hypoxia exposure+sEHI+celecoxib(H+sEHI+Cel)groups.Body weight,routine blood tests,and echocardiography were performed as above.Cardiac and plasma contents of 12,13-diHOME and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids(EETs)were measured by ELISA.Results ① Compared to the P+S group,the H+S group exhibited significantly reduction of cardiac 12,13-diHOME level(P<0.001),increased counts of white blood cells(WBC)and neutrophils(P<0.01)and decreased TAPSE,S'and AT/ET both at resting state and under stress(P<0.01,P<0.001).Compared to the H+S group,the H+Cel group exhibited significantly increase of cardiac 12,13-diHOME level(P<0.05),reduced WBC and lymphocyte counts(P<0.01,P<0.05)and improved TAPSE and S'levels at resting state and under stress(P<0.01,P<0.001).② Compared to the H+S group,the H+di group demonstrated significantly improvement of TAPSE at basal and under stress(P<0.001)and a trend towards improved TAPSE at resting state(P=0.0532),but no obvious differences was observed in WBC and neutrophil counts between the H+di group and the H+S group.③ Compared to the H+Cel group,both the H+sEHI and H+sEHI+Cel groups exhibited significantly reduction of cardiac 12,13-diHOME level(P<0.01,P<0.05)though no statistical changes in cardiac function indicators.Compared to the H+S group,WBC counts and lymphocyte were decreased,and serum EETs level was incrased in the H+Cel group,H+sEHI group and H+sEHI+Cel group(P<0.01,P<0.001).Conclusion Celecoxib can elevate cardiac level of 12,13-diHOME and improves right heart function in mice after acute high-altitude hypoxia exposure through the CYP450-sEH metabolic pathway.

Objective To explore the impact of Shexiang Baoxin Pill(SXBXP,a traditional Chinese patent medicine,broadly applied for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases)on coronary microvascular disease(CMD)and investigate the role and underlying mechanisms of muscone,a key bioactive component of the pills,in the treatment.Methods A total of 16 ob/ob mice(8 weeks old)were randomly and equally divided into an ob/ob-SXBXP group and a ob/ob-Control group,receiving 10 mg/kg·d SXBXP or PBS via oral gavage,and another 8 wild-type mice with the same genetic background(WT group)were subjected as a negative control group.Cell model of CMD was established based on mouse coronary microvascular endothelial cells(MCMEC)under ischemia and hypoxic(HI)condition,and the cells were further treated with 20 μg/mL SXBXP(HI+SX)and 30 μmol/L muscone(HI+Muscone),respectively.Echocardiography was carried out for coronary flow reserve(CFR)and left ventricular function,and laser speckle imaging was applied to evaluate myocardial blood flow(MBF).Microvascular density in the heart was evaluated with CD31 immunofluorescence staining.The expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells of both mouse and cell models were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis.The proliferation and angiogenesis of MCMEC were observed by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining and angiogenesis experiments.Results In the ob/ob-Control group of mice,the levels of CFR,MBF,and cardiac microvascular density were significantly lower than those in the WT group(P<0.05),and these indicators were significantly improved in the ob/ob-SXBXP group when compared with the ob/ob-Control group(P<0.05),which indicates that SXBXP improves the CMD phenotype.The expression level of VEGF in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells was significantly lower in the ob/ob-Control mice than the WT mice(P<0.05),while the level in the ob/ob-SXBXP group was significantly higher than that in the ob/ob-Control group(P<0.05),illustrating that SXBXP may ameliorate CMD through VEGF-mediated microvascular angiogenesis.In vitro experiments further revealed that the VEGF expression level and the proliferation and angiogenesis abilities in MCMEC were significantly lower in the HI group than the cells under the normoxia control condition(P<0.05).Both SXBXP and muscone treatment resulted in enhanced expression of VEGF and improved proliferative and angiogenesis abilities of MCMEC(P<0.05).These results suggest that muscone could improve CMD by VEGF-mediated microvascular angiogenesis.Conclusion SXBXP can improve CMD.Muscone,as a key component of SXBXP,promotes microvascular angiogenesis by inducing the expression of VEGF,then enhances myocardial perfusion,and consequently alleviates CMD.

Objective To analyze the interaction between PML protein and TAB1 protein using bioinformatic approaches and experimentally verify the results.Methods Using Rosetta software,a 3D model of TAB1 protein was constructed through a comparative modeling approach;the secondary structure of PML protein was retrieved in the PDB database and its crystal structure and 3D structure were resolved.Zdock 3.0.2 software was used to perform protein-protein docking of PML and TAB1,and the best conformation was extracted for molecular structure analysis of the docking model.The interaction between the two proteins was detected using immunoprecipitation in α-MMC-treated M1 inflammatory macrophages.Results When 6IMQ of PML was used as the docking site,PML protein formed 3 salt bridges,6 hydrogen bonds and 6 hydrophobic interactions with TAB1 proteins;when 5YUF of PML was used as the docking site,PML protein formed 1 hydrogen bond,3 electrostatic interactions and 9 hydrophobic interactions with TAB1 proteins,and both of the docking modes formed good molecular docking and interactions.In the M1 inflammatory macrophages treated with α-MMC for 4 h,positive protein bands of PML and TAB1 were detected in the cell lysates in PML-IP group.Conclusion PML protein can interact strongly with TAB1 protein.

Objective:To evaluate the utility of the 9-gene panel as a differential diagnostic method for thyroid nodules within determinate cytological diagnosis and as a parallel diagnostic method for thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology.Methods:579 liquid-based cytology samples from 544 patients were collected after thyroid FNA diagnosis in our hospital from December 2014 to April 2021. Mutations at any site of 9 genes, namely, BRAF, NRAS, HRAS, KRAS, GNAS, RET, TERT, TP53, and PIK3CA as recorded by the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC), were analyzed by next-generation sequencing. Taking postoperative histopathology and cytology results with definite benign or malignant diagnosis as the gold standard, the diagnostic efficacy of the 9-gene panel as a reclassified method for thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytological diagnosis and as a parallel diagnostic method for thyroid FNA cytology were evaluated and compared with that of the BRAF V600E single-gene detection method.Results:Of the 579 thyroid nodules, 196 (33.85%) were Bethesda Ⅱ, 11 (1.90%) were Bethesda Ⅲ, 31 (5.35%) were Bethesda Ⅳ, 27 (4.66%) were Bethesda Ⅴ, and 314 (54.23%) were Bethesda Ⅵ, as diagnosed by thyroid FNA cytology. Among these 579 thyroid nodules, 275 were tested positive for 9-gene mutations, with a mutation rate of 47.5%. Of the 329 thyroid nodules surgically removed, 30 (9.12%) were benign, 5 (1.52%) were borderline, and 294 (89.36%) were malignant. Regarding borderline nodules as malignant nodules, the mutation rates of the 9 genes in the 299 malignant thyroid nodules from high to low were BRAF 62.21% (186/299), NRAS 5.02% (15/299), HRAS 1.00% (3/299), PIK3CA 0.67% (2/299), GNAS 0.67% (2/299), KRAS 0.33% (1/299), TP53 0.33% (1/299), TERT 0.33% (1/299) and RET 0.00% (0/299). The malignant risks of the 9 genes from high to low were BRAF 100% (186/186), PIK3CA 100.00% (2/2), GNAS 100.00% (2/2), TERT 100.00% (1/1), TP53 100.00% (1/1), NRAS 78.95% (15/19), HRAS 75.00% (3/4), and KRAS 50.00% (1/2). For thyroid nodules of Bethesda Ⅲ-Ⅳ (indeterminate diagnosis), the sensitivity (SN) of the 9-gene panel in diagnosing thyroid cancer is 34.48% (10/29), the specificity (SP) is 61.54% (8/13), and the accuracy is 42.86% (18/42); whereas the SN of the BRAF V600E detection method is 0%. Therefore, the diagnostic efficiency of the 9-gene panel is significantly better than that of BRAF V600E single gene detection. For thyroid nodules of Bethesda Ⅱ-Ⅵ, the SN of the 9-gene panel in diagnosing thyroid cancer was 68.83% (254/369), the SP was 90.00% (189/210), the accuracy was 76.51% (443/579), and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.79; whereas the SN of BRAF V600E single-gene detection in diagnosing thyroid cancer was 63.69% (235/369), the SP was 99.52% (209/210), the accuracy was 76.68% (444/579), and the AUC was 0.82. The SP of BRAF V600E detection is higher than that of the 9-gene panel ( P＜0.01), but there is no significant difference in SN, accuracy (both P＞0.05), and AUC ( Z=0.85, P=0.396) between them. Gene mutations indicating poor prognosis were detected in 4 nodules of papillary thyroid carcinoma and 1 nodules of follicular thyroid carcinoma, including 2 nodules with TERT and BRAF V600E co-mutations, 1 nodule with TP53 mutation, and 2 nodules with PIK3CA mutation. Conclusions:As a reclassified method for thyroid lesions with indeterminate cytological diagnosis, the 9-gene panel is better than BRAF V600E single gene detection. As a parallel diagnostic method of thyroid FNA cytology, the 9-gene panel has similar diagnostic efficacy as BRAF V600E single-gene detection. The 9-gene panel can detect individual cases with gene mutations indicating poor prognosis. The identification of patients with these special gene mutations has certain implications for the clinical management of them.

ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Hewei Anshen Formula （和胃安神方） in the treatment of insomnia. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group， the model group， the eszopiclone group and the low-， medium- and high-dose Hewei Anshen Formula groups. The insomnia model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine （PCPA） for 2 days in all groups except the normal group. After successful modelling， the eszopiclone group was given 0.33 mg/（kg·d） eszopiclone aqueous solution by gavage， the low-， medium- and high-dose Hewei Anshen Formula groups were given 10 ml/kg of Hewei Anshen Formula with a concentration of 1， 2 and 4 g/ml， respectively， and the rats in the normal group and the model group were given 10 ml/kg of saline by gavage， once a day for 7 consecutive days. The general condition of the rats was observed during the experiment， and the body mass of the rats was measured every day after medication administration. The following day after the last medication administration， pentobarbital sodium co-test was used to observe the sleep condition， and the sleep latency and sleep duration were recorded； immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of hypothalamic clock rhythm regulating protein （CLOCK） and brain and muscle aromatic hydrocarbon receptor nuclear transporter-like protein 1 （BMAL1） in the rats. ResultsThe body mass of rats in the model group was lower than that of rats in the normal group at all time points （P＜0.01）； compared with the same time in the eszopiclone group， the body mass of rats in the low-dose Hewei Anshen Formula group was elevated on the 5th， 6th and 7th days of medication administration （P＜0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the sleep duration of rats in the model group was shortened （P＜0.01）； compared with the model group， the sleep duration of rats in each dosage group increased （P＜0.01）， and the difference between the high-dose Hewei Anshen Formula group and the eszopiclone group showed no statistically significant （P＞0.05）， while the sleep duration of the low- and medium-dose Hewei Anshen Formula groups were shorterned than the eszopiclone group （P＜0.01）. The difference in sleep latency showed no statistically significant among each group （P＞0.05）. The results of both immunohistochemistry and Western blotting showed that the expression of CLOCK and BMAL1 in the hypothalamus of rats in the model group was significantly reduced compared with that in the normal group （P＜0.01）； the expression of CLOCK and BMAL1 in the hypothalamus of rats in the low- and high-dose Hewei Anshen Formula groups increased than that in the model group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionHewei Anshen Formula can improve insomnia in model rats， and its mechanism of action may be related to the up-regulation of the expression of the hypothalamic biological clock genes CLOCK and BMAL1 protein.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of aucubin （AU） on the proliferation and tumor growth of prostate cancer （PC） cells by regulating the protein kinase B （Akt）/murine double minute2 （MDM2）/p53 signaling pathway. METHODS Prostate cancer cell PC3 were separated into control group， 50 μmol/L AU group， 100 μmol/L AU group， SC79 （Akt activator） group （5 μmol/L）， and 100 μmol/L AU+SC79 group. The cell cloning and proliferation ability were investigated； the rate of cell apoptosis and the expressions of Akt/MDM2/p53 signaling pathway-related protein were detected. Meanwhile， xenograft tumor models of nude mice were constructed and separated into tumor group， AU group （80 mg/kg）， SC79 group （50 mg/kg）， and AU+SC79 group （80 mg/kg AU+50 mg/kg SC79）， with 10 mice in each group. They were given relevant medicine， once a day， for 21 d. After the last medication， tumor weight was determined， and the expressions of nucleus-associated antigen （Ki-67） and Akt/MDM2/p53 signaling pathway-related protein were detected in tumor tissue. RESULTS In the cell experiment， compared with control group， the cell clonal formation number， proliferation rate and phosphorylation levels of Akt and MDM2 protein in 50 μmol/L AU and 100 μmol/L AU groups were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）， while the cell apoptosis rate and p53 protein expression levels were significantly increased （P＜0.05）； however， the change trend of each index in SC79 group was opposite （P＜0.05）. Compared with 100 μmol/L AU group， the cell clonal formation number， proliferation rate and phosphorylation levels of Akt and MDM2 protein in 100 μmol/L AU+SC79 group were significantly increased （P＜0.05）， while cell apoptosis rate and p53 protein expression levels were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）； however， compared with SC79 group， the changing trend of indexes was the opposite （P＜0.05）. In the in vivo experiment， compared with the tumor group， the tumor mass and Ki-67 positive expression and the phosphorylation levels of Akt and MDM2 protein in nude mice of AU group were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）， and the expression level of p53 protein was significantly increased （P＜0.05）， but the changing trend of above indexes of nude mice in SC79 group were opposite （P＜0.05）. Compared with AU group， the tumor mass， Ki-67 positive expression and phosphorylation levels of Akt and MDM2 protein in tumor tissues of nude mice in AU+SC79 group were significantly increased （P＜0.05）， while the expression level of p53 protein was significantly decreased （P＜0.05）； however， compared with SC79 group， the changing trend of above indexes was opposite （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS AU can inhibit PC cell proliferation and tumor growth by inhibiting Akt/MDM2/p53 signaling pathway.

Objective To analyze the interaction between PML protein and TAB1 protein using bioinformatic approaches and experimentally verify the results.Methods Using Rosetta software,a 3D model of TAB1 protein was constructed through a comparative modeling approach;the secondary structure of PML protein was retrieved in the PDB database and its crystal structure and 3D structure were resolved.Zdock 3.0.2 software was used to perform protein-protein docking of PML and TAB1,and the best conformation was extracted for molecular structure analysis of the docking model.The interaction between the two proteins was detected using immunoprecipitation in α-MMC-treated M1 inflammatory macrophages.Results When 6IMQ of PML was used as the docking site,PML protein formed 3 salt bridges,6 hydrogen bonds and 6 hydrophobic interactions with TAB1 proteins;when 5YUF of PML was used as the docking site,PML protein formed 1 hydrogen bond,3 electrostatic interactions and 9 hydrophobic interactions with TAB1 proteins,and both of the docking modes formed good molecular docking and interactions.In the M1 inflammatory macrophages treated with α-MMC for 4 h,positive protein bands of PML and TAB1 were detected in the cell lysates in PML-IP group.Conclusion PML protein can interact strongly with TAB1 protein.

Objective:To explore the effect of comprehensive moxibustion with Huolong cupping in patients with lung-spleen qi deficiency type allergic rhinitis.Methods:This study was a randomized controlled trial. From October 2022 to April 2023, convenience sampling was used to select 66 patients with lung-spleen qi deficiency type allergic rhinitis who visited the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Clinic of Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine as the research subject. The patients were randomly divided into an experimental group ( n=33) and a control group ( n=33). Both groups received routine oral Chinese medicine treatment. On the basis of routine treatment, the experimental group performed comprehensive moxibustion with Huolong cupping on the meridians of the Du meridian and bladder meridian. This study compared the scores of Nasal Airway Resistance (NAR), Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Chinese version of Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) between two groups of patients before and after intervention. Results:Eventually 30 patients in each of the experimental group and control group completed the study. After intervention, the NAR score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that with the increase of treatment time, the TNSS, VAS, and RQLQ scores of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group with statistical differences ( P<0.05), and the time effect, inter group effect, and interaction effect were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Huolong cupping comprehensive moxibustion can reduce nasal resistance, meliorate nasal symptoms and accompanying nasal symptoms, and improve the quality of life of patients.