Ecological cultivation is an important way for the sustainable production of traditional Chinese medicine in the context of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Facility cultivation and simulative habitat cultivation modes have been developed and applied to develop the endangered Dendrobium huoshanense on the basis of protection. However, the differences in the greenhouse gas emissions and global warming potential of these cultivation modes remain unexplored, which limits the accurate assessment of carbon-friendly ecological cultivation modes of D. huoshanense. Greenhouse gas emission flux monitoring based on the static chamber method provides an effective way to solve this problem. Therefore, this study conducted a field experiment in the facility cultivation and simulative habitat cultivation modes at a D. huoshanense cultivation base in Dabie Mountains, Anhui Province. From April 2023 to March 2024, samples of greenhouse gases were collected every month, and the concentrations of CO_2, CH_4, and N_2O of the samples were then detected by gas chromatography. The greenhouse gas emission fluxes, cumulative emissions, and global warming potential were further calculated, and the following results were obtained.(1)The two cultivation modes of D. huoshanense showed significant differences in greenhouse gas emission fluxes, especially the CO_2 emission flux, with a pattern of facility cultivation>simulative habitat cultivation [(35.60±11.70)mg·m~(-2)·h~(-1) vs(2.10±4.59)mg·m~(-2)·h~(-1)].(2) The annual cumulative CO_2 emission flux in the case of facility cultivation was significantly higher than that of simulative habitat cultivation[(3 077.00±842.00)kg·hm~(-2) vs(221.00±332.00)kg·hm~(-2)], while no significant difference was found in annual cumulative CH_4 and N_2O emission fluxes.(3) The facility cultivation mode had a significantly higher global warming potential than the simulative habitat cultivation mode [(3 053.00±847.00)kg·hm~(-2) vs(196.00±362.00)kg·hm~(-2)]. Overall, the simulative habitat cultivation of D. huoshanense has obvious carbon-friendly characteristics compared with facility cultivation, which is in line with the concept of ecological cultivation of medicinal plants. This study is of great reference significance for the implementation and promotion of the ecological cultivation mode of D. huoshanense under carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.
Dendrobium/chemistry* ; Greenhouse Gases/metabolism* ; Carbon/analysis* ; Ecosystem ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism* ; China ; Global Warming

This study aims to explore the mechanism of Jiaotai Pills in treating depression based on metabolomics and network pharmacology. The chemical constituents of Jiaotai Pills were identified by UHPLC-Orbitrap Exploris 480, and the targets of Jiaotai Pills and depression were retrieved from online databases. STRING and Cytoscape 3.7.2 were used to construct the protein-protein interaction network of core targets of Jiaotai Pills in treating depression and the "compound-target-pathway" network. DAVID was used for Gene Ontology(GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the core targets. The mouse model of depression was established with chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) and treated with different doses of Jiaotai Pills. The behavioral changes and pathological changes in the hippocampus were observed. UHPLC-Orbitrap Exploris 120 was used for metabolic profiling of the serum, from which the differential metabolites and related metabolic pathways were screened. A "metabolite-reaction-enzyme-gene" network was constructed for the integrated analysis of metabolomics and network pharmacology. A total of 34 chemical components of Jiaotai Pills were identified, and 143 core targets of Jiaotai Pills in treating depression were predicted, which were mainly involved in the arginine and proline, sphingolipid, and neurotrophin metabolism signaling pathways. The results of animal experiments showed that Jiaotai Pills alleviated the depression behaviors and pathological changes in the hippocampus of the mouse model of CUMS-induced depression. In addition, Jiaotai Pills reversed the levels of 32 metabolites involved in various pathways such as arginine and proline metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and porphyrin metabolism in the serum of model mice. The integrated analysis showed that arginine and proline metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, and porphyrin metabolism might be the key pathways in the treatment of depression with Jiaotai Pills. In conclusion, metabolomics combined with network pharmacology clarifies the antidepressant mechanism of Jiaotai Pills, which may provide a basis for the clinical application of Jiaotai Pills in treating depression.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Depression/genetics* ; Mice ; Network Pharmacology ; Metabolomics ; Male ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects* ; Antidepressive Agents

Peyronie's disease (PD) is a disorder characterized by fibrous plaque formation in the penile tissue that leads to curvature and complications in advanced stages. In this study, we aimed to compare four injectable induction agents for the establishment of a robust rat model of PD: transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), fibrin, sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) combined with TGF-β1, and polidocanol (POL) combined with TGF-β1. The results showed that injection of TGF-β1 or fibrin into the tunica albuginea induced pathological endpoints without causing penile curvature. The STS + TGF-β1 combination resulted in both histological and morphological alterations, but with a high incidence of localized necrosis that led to animal death. The POL + TGF-β1 combination produced pathological changes and curvature comparable to STS + TGF-β1 and led to fewer complications. In conclusion, fibrin, STS + TGF-β1, and POL + TGF-β1 all induced PD with a certain degree of penile curvature and histological fibrosis in rats. The POL + TGF-β1 combination offered comparatively greater safety and clinical relevance and may have the greatest potential for PD research using model rats.
Animals ; Male ; Penile Induration/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibrin ; Penis/drug effects* ; Polidocanol/administration & dosage* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Polyethylene Glycols/administration & dosage* ; Injections

This study explores whether the current external quality assessment (EQA) level and acceptable bias for basic semen analysis in China are clinically useful. We collected data of semen EQA from Andrology laboratories in the Hunan Province (China) in 2022 and searched for data in the published literature from January 2000 to December 2023 in China. On the basis of these data, we analyzed the coefficients of variation and acceptable biases of different quality control materials for basic semen analysis through robust statistics. We compared these findings with quality specifications based on biological variation from optimal, desirable, and minimum levels of bias to seek a unified and more suitable semen EQA bias evaluation standard for China's national conditions. Different sources of semen quality control material exhibited considerable variation in acceptable biases among laboratories, ranging from 8.2% to 56.9%. A total of 50.0% of the laboratories met the minimum quality specifications for progressive motility (PR), whereas 100.0% and 75.0% of laboratories met only the minimum quality specifications for sperm concentration and total motility (nonprogressive [NP] + PR), respectively. The Z value for sperm concentration and PR+NP was equivalent to the desirable performance specification, whereas the Z value for PR was equivalent only to the minimum performance specification. This study highlights the feasibility of operating external quality assessment schemes for basic semen analysis using quality specifications based on biological variation. These specifications should be unified among external quality control (EQC) centers based on biological variation.
Semen Analysis/standards* ; Humans ; China ; Male ; Quality Control ; Sperm Motility ; Sperm Count/standards*

AIM:Bone morphogenetic protein 7(BMP7)reduces the expression of Yes-related protein 1(YAP1)by down-regulating Ajuba level and decreasing extracellular matrix(ECM)deposition.This study aimed to inves-tigate the influence of these factors on modifying the degree of renal fibrosis in rats with diabetic nephropathy.METH-ODS:Eighteen Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into three groups:the normal control(NC)group,the diabetes mellitus(DM)group,and the DM group treated with BMP7 overexpressing adeno-associated virus(DM+rAAV-BMP7).Each group consisted of six rats.Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)was established in the DM and DM+rAAV-BMP7 groups by injecting 55 mg/kg streptozotocin(STZ)via the tail vein.NRK-52E cells were divided into three groups:the normal glucose(NG)group,the high glucose(HG)group,and the high glucose group treated with recombinant hu-man BMP7(HG+rhBMP7)group.Pathological changes in renal tissues were observed using hematoxylin and eosin(HE)and Sirius red staining.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine the expression sites of Ajuba and YAP1 in the renal cortex.Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the expression levels of BMP7,Ajuba,YAP1,colla-gen type Ⅲ(Col-Ⅲ),and fibronectin(FN)in the rat renal cortex and NRK-52E cells.RT-qPCR was used to measure the mRNA levels of Ajuba and YAP1 in the rat renal cortex.RESULTS:Biochemical indices revealed significantly ele-vated levels of blood glucose,serum creatinine,triglycerides,total cholesterol,and 24-hour urinary protein in the DM group compared to the NC group(P<0.05).In the DM+rAAV-BMP7 group,the levels of serum creatinine,24-hour uri-nary protein,triglycerides,and total cholesterol were lower than those in the DM group(P<0.05).Pathological staining demonstrated that the renal interstitium of the DM group exhibited inflammatory cell infiltration,fibrous tissue,collagen fi-ber deposition,disordered renal tubule arrangement,atrophy,and vacuolar degeneration,which were ameliorated in the DM+rAAV-BMP7 group.Immunohistochemistry revealed that Ajuba and YAP1 were mainly expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus,with high expression in the cytoplasm of the DM group,which was significantly decreased in the DM+rAAV-BMP7 group.Western blot results indicated that the protein levels of FN,Col-Ⅲ,Ajuba,and YAP1 were up-regulated in the DM and the HG groups(P<0.05),but significantly down-regulated in the DM+rAAV-BMP7 group(P<0.05).RT-qP-CR results demonstrated that the mRNA levels of Ajuba and YAP1 were higher in the DM group and significantly lower in the DM+rAAV-BMP7 group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The overexpression of BMP7 can ameliorate renal fibrosis in rats with DKD.This effect is likely mediated by the down-regulation of Ajuba,reduction of YAP1 expression,and subse-quent inhibition of ECM deposition.

A case of spinal cord abscess caused by Nocardia cyriacigeorgica is reported. The patient is an elderly man with a history of nephritic syndrome who presented with aggravating lower back pain and then gradually developed urinary retention, weakness and numbness in both lower extremities. Operative intervention was performed, and postoperative pathological findings suggested spinal cord abscess formation. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing of the cerebrospinal fluid identified Nocardia cyriacigeorgica as the causative pathogen. Although appropriate antibiotics were prescribed, the patient died 3 months later.

The breakage pattern of unit particles during the production of oral solid dosage forms (OSD) is closely related to the quality of intermediate or final products. To accurately characterize the particles and study the evolution law of particle breakage, the Bonding model of the discrete element method (DEM) was used to investigate the breakage patterns of model parameters, particle shape and process conditions (loading mode and loading rate) on the dynamic breakage, force-time curve, breakage rate, maximum breakage size ratio and fracture strength of particles. The results showed that the particle breakage force was positively correlated with normal strength and bonded disk scale, negatively correlated with normal stiffness per unit area and tangential stiffness per unit area, and weakly correlated with tangential strength. The particle breakage rate was negatively correlated with the aspect ratio of the particles, and the maximum breakage size ratio was positively correlated with the aspect ratio of the particles; among the three loading modes, the breakage rate of compression breakage model was the largest, the breakage rate of shear breakage model was the second largest, and the breakage rate of wear breakage model was the smallest; the maximum breakage size ratio was positively correlated with the loading rate, the loading mode and the loading rate had no mutual influence on particle breakage rate, but had mutual influence on the maximum breakage size ratio. The research results will provide a theoretical basis for the shift of OSD from batch manufacturing to advanced manufacturing.

Conventional chemotherapy based on cytotoxic drugs is facing tough challenges recently following the advances of monoclonal antibodies and molecularly targeted drugs. It is critical to inspire new potential to remodel the value of this classical therapeutic strategy. Here, we fabricate bisphosphonate coordination lipid nanogranules (BC-LNPs) and load paclitaxel (PTX) to boost the chemo- and immuno-therapeutic synergism of cytotoxic drugs. Alendronate in BC-LNPs@PTX, a bisphosphonate to block mevalonate metabolism, works as both the structure and drug constituent in nanogranules, where alendronate coordinated with calcium ions to form the particle core. The synergy of alendronate enhances the efficacy of paclitaxel, suppresses tumor metastasis, and alters the cytotoxic mechanism. Differing from the paclitaxel-induced apoptosis, the involvement of alendronate inhibits the mevalonate metabolism, changes the mitochondrial morphology, disturbs the redox homeostasis, and causes the accumulation of mitochondrial ROS and lethal lipid peroxides (LPO). These factors finally trigger the ferroptosis of tumor cells, an immunogenic cell death mode, which remodels the suppressive tumor immune microenvironment and synergizes with immunotherapy. Therefore, by switching paclitaxel-induced apoptosis to mevalonate metabolism-triggered ferroptosis, BC-LNPs@PTX provides new insight into the development of cytotoxic drugs and highlights the potential of metabolism regulation in cancer therapy.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of endothelin-1(ET-1)on atrial fibrosis in Atrial fibrillation(AF)rats.Methods Fourteen adult male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control(NC)group and Atrial fibrillation(AF)group.The rat model of Atrial fibrillation was established by injecting 0.1 ml/100g CaCl2-Ach mixture into the tail vein once a day for one week.The control group was injected with the same dose of normal saline.An electrocardiogram of normal or atrial fibrillation was recorded on the first day and the eighth day in each group,and echocardiography was used to monitor atrial size and cardiac function.The fibrosis of atrial was observed using Masson and HE staining.The expression of endothelin-1(ET-1),collagen-I(Col-I),transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)and the store operated calcium channel(SOCC)protein Orai1,stromal in-teraction molecule 1(STIM1)in atrial tissue were detected by Western blot.HL-1 cells were cultured and treated with gradient concentration of ET-1 for 24 hours.Western blot was used to observe changes in the expression of TGF-β,Orai1 and STIM1 proteins in ET-1/SOCC/TGF-β signaling pathway of HL-1 cells.Small interfering RNA(siRNA)transfection method was used to knock down the expression of Orai1 in HL-1 cells,then the cells were treated with appropriate concentrations of ET-1 for 24 hours,and the expression of TGF-β protein in HL-1 cells was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,echocardiography showed a significant in-crease in left atrial diameter(LAD)of the heart in atrial fibrillation rats(P<0.05).The HE and Masson staining results showed significant fibrosis in the myocardial tissue of AF group rats(P<0.05),and the Western blot re-sults indicated the expression of ET-1,Orai1,STIM1,TGF-β and COL-Ⅰ in the myocardial tissue of AF group significantly increased compared to the NC group(P<0.05).After ET-1 treatment of HL-1 cells,the protein ex-pression of Orai1,STIM1and TGF-β increased(P<0.05),while knocking down Orai1 in HL-1 cells,ET-1 treat-ment no longer caused the expression of TGF-β a significant upregulation.Conclusion AF caused by atrial fibril-lation results in a significant increase in ET-1 expression in atrial tissue,and ET-1/SOCC/TGF-β signal pathway promotes atrial fibrillation and fibrosis.

Berberine is an antipyretic and detoxicating drug commonly used in clinical practice,and it is currently used for the routine treatment of gastrointestinal diseases such as bacterial gastroenteritis and diarrhea.However,several recent studies have shown that berberine can exert a therapeutic effect on the diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis,viral hepatitis,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,and liver cancer by regulating the AMPK and TGF-β pathways and altering the composition of intestinal flora.This provides new drugs for the treatment of these diseases,expands the potential indications of berberine,and provides clues for the follow-up research and development of similar drugs.This article summarizes the therapeutic effect and mechanism of berberine on various liver diseases,in order to provide a reference for effective clinical application.