ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which Huanglian Jiedutang （HLJDT） modulates microglial （MG） phenotypes through the sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin 2 （SIGLEC2/CD22）/Src-homology-2-domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 （SHP-1）/phosphorylated protein kinase B （p-Akt） signaling pathway， thereby promoting myelin repair and alleviating agitation-like behaviors in vascular dementia （VAD）. MethodsSixty C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to a sham （normal） group， model group， HLJDT low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （2.5， 5， and 10 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and a risperidone group （2 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 10 mice per group. VAD was induced by bilateral common carotid artery stenosis （BCAS）. From day 42， mice received drug interventions for 2 weeks. Agitation-like behaviors were assessed using the resident-intruder test. After behavioral testing， ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus （VMHvl） tissues were collected. Western blot was used to measure protein levels of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein （MOG）， myelin basic protein （MBP）， proteolipid protein （PLP）， inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， arginase-1 （Arg1）， CD86， CD206， and CD22， SHP-1， and p-Akt. Immunofluorescence was used to evaluate myelin-associated glycoprotein （MAG） intensity and the proportion of iNOS⁺/ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 （Iba1）⁺ cells. ELISA was used to detect tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin （IL）-6， and IL-1β. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited markedly increased biting and aggressive behaviors and shortened attack latency （P<0.01）. MOG， MBP， and PLP protein levels and MAG fluorescence intensity were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. INOS and CD86 expression and TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β levels were significantly elevated （P<0.01）. CD22 and SHP-1 expression increased significantly （P<0.01）， whereas p-Akt expression decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the medium- and high-dose HLJDT groups and the risperidone group showed markedly reduced biting and aggression （P<0.05， P<0.01） and prolonged attack latency （P<0.01）. MOG， MBP， and PLP levels and MAG fluorescence intensity were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. INOS， CD86， TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β levels decreased significantly （P<0.05， P<0.01）. CD22 and SHP-1 expression decreased， while p-Akt expression increased significantly （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionHLJDT may modulate CD22/SHP-1/p-Akt signaling in the VMHvl， promote the shift of MG toward an anti-inflammatory and phagocytic phenotype， enhance myelin repair， and improve agitation-like behaviors in VAD mice.

ObjectiveBased on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we investigated the brain activity characteristics of gross motor tasks in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and motor dysfunctions (MDs) to provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the mechanism of MDs in children with ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 48 children with ASD accompanied by MDs were recruited into the ASD group and 40 children with typically developing (TD) into the TD group. The fNIRS device was used to collect the information of blood oxygen changes in the cortical motor-related brain regions during single-handed bag throwing and tiptoe walking, and the differences in brain activation and functional connectivity between the two groups of children were analyzed from the perspective of brain activation and functional connectivity. ResultsCompared to the TD group, in the object manipulative motor task (one-handed bag throwing), the ASD group showed significantly reduced activation in both left sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and right secondary visual cortex (V2) (P<0.05), whereas the right pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex (PMC&SMA) had significantly higher activation (P<0.01) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, there was a significant decrease in the strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and V2. In the body stability motor task (tiptoe walking), the ASD group had significantly higher activation in motor-related brain regions such as the DLPFC, SMC, and PMC&SMA (P<0.05) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, the ASD group had lower strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with PMC&SMA and V2. ConclusionChildren with ASD exhibit abnormal brain functional activity characteristics specific to different gross motor tasks in object manipulative and body stability, reflecting insufficient or excessive compensatory activation of local brain regions and impaired cross-regions integration, which may be a potential reason for the poorer gross motor performance of children with ASD, and meanwhile provides data support for further unraveling the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of MDs in the context of ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective.

ObjectiveTo investigate the ameliorative effects of quercetin on neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with vascular dementia （VaD） and to elucidate the molecular mechanism， specifically whether quercetin inhibits pro-inflammatory activation of microglia by modulation of the receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 （RIPK1）/NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）/Caspase-1 signaling pathway， thereby promoting myelin repair in the medial prefrontal cortex （mPFC）. MethodsA C57BL/6J mouse model of VaD with neuropsychiatric symptoms was established by bilateral common carotid artery stenosis （BCAS） combined with chronic restraint stress （CRS）. Mice were randomly divided into a sham group， a model group， low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose quercetin groups （30， 60， 120 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， and a fluoxetine group （10 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）. After intervention， depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors were assessed by the sucrose preference test （SPT）， forced swim test （FST）， open field test （OFT）， and elevated plus maze （EPM）. mPFC tissue was collected. Immunofluorescence （IF） was used to detect myelin basic protein （MBP） expression and microglial morphology. Western blot was used to measure the protein level of MBP， myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein （MOG）， myelin-associated glycoprotein （MAG）， inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， CD86， RIPK1， phosphorylated RIPK1 （Ser166）， NLRP3， and Caspase-1. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to determine the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-1β （IL-1β）. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group exhibited significant depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors （P<0.01）， significantly decreased protein expression of MBP， MOG， and MAG in the mPFC （P<0.01）， activated microglia （characterized by enlarged cell bodies， reduced protrusions， and upregulated iNOS and CD86 expressions， P<0.01）， and significantly elevated p-RIPK1/RIPK1 ratio， NLRP3， Caspase-1 protein expression， and level of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β （P<0.01， P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the quercetin treatment （especially at medium and high doses） significantly ameliorated these behavioral abnormalities （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased the expression of MBP （protein and fluorescence intensity）， MOG， and MAG in the mPFC （P<0.05， P<0.01）， suppressed excessive microglial activation （characterized decreased cell bodies， increased protrusions， and downregulated iNOS and CD86 expressions， P<0.01）， and significantly reduced the p-RIPK1/RIPK1 ratio， NLRP3， Caspase-1 protein expression， and inflammatory cytokine levels （P<0.01）. ConclusionQuercetin effectively alleviates neuropsychiatric symptoms in VaD mice. Its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of microglial inflammatory activation mediated by the RIPK1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway， thereby promoting myelin repair in the mPFC region.

Guided by the concept of quality by design(QbD), this study optimizes the calcination and quenching process of calcined Magnetitum and establishes the XRD characteristic spectra of calcined Magnetitum, providing a scientific basis for the formulation of quality standards. Based on the processing methods and quality requirements of Magnetitum in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the critical process parameters(CPPs) identified were calcination temperature, calcination time, particle size, laying thickness, and the number of vinegar quenching cycles. The critical quality attributes(CQAs) included Fe mass fraction, Fe~(2+) dissolution, and surface color. The weight coefficients were determined by combining Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) and the criteria importance though intercrieria correlation(CRITIC) method, and the calcination process was optimized using orthogonal experimentation. Surface color was selected as a CQA, and based on the principle of color value, the surface color of calcined Magnetitum was objectively quantified. The vinegar quenching process was then optimized to determine the best processing conditions. X-ray diffraction(XRD) was used to establish the characteristic spectra of calcined Magnetitum, and methods such as similarity evaluation, cluster analysis, and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were used to evaluate the quality of the spectra. The optimized calcined Magnetitum preparation process was found to be calcination at 750 ℃ for 1 h, with a laying thickness of 4 cm, a particle size of 0.4-0.8 cm, and one vinegar quenching cycle(Magnetitum-vinegar ratio 10∶3), which was stable and feasible. The XRD characteristic spectra analysis method, featuring 9 common peaks as fingerprint information, was established. The average correlation coefficient ranged from 0.839 5-0.988 1, and the average angle cosine ranged from 0.914 4 to 0.995 6, indicating good similarity. Cluster analysis results showed that Magnetitum and calcined Magnetitum could be grouped together, with similar compositions. OPLS-DA discriminant analysis identified three key characteristic peaks, with Fe_2O_3 being the distinguishing component between the two. The final optimized processing method is stable and feasible, and the XRD characteristic spectra of calcined Magnetitum was initially established, providing a reference for subsequent quality control and the formulation of quality standards for calcined Magnetitum.
X-Ray Diffraction/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Quality Control ; Particle Size

To investigate the effects of phosphorus fertilizer on the morphological traits, active ingredients and rhizosphere soil microbial community of Polygala tenuifolia. The phosphorus fertilizer was calculated in terms of P_2O_5. Five treatments were set up: 0(CK), 17(P1), 34(P2), 51(P3), and 68(P4) kg per Mu(1 Mu≈667 m~2). A randomized block design was adopted. Samples of P. tenuifolia and its rhizosphere soil were collected under different superphosphate fertilizer treatments. Illumina high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the rhizosphere soil microbial community, 9 morphological traits were measured and the content of 11 active ingredients were determined. The results showed that the whole plant weight, shoot fresh weight, root weight, and root peel thickness were the highest under P1 treatment, increasing by 34.41%, 38.80%, 39.21%, and 3.17% respectively compared to CK. Under P2 treatment, the plant height, stem diameter, root thickness, and core thickness were significantly higher than CK. Phosphorus fertilizer had a significant impact on the content of tenuifolin, sibiricose A5, sibiricose A6, arillanin A, 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose, and polygalaxanthone Ⅲ. Correlation analysis results showed that the relative abundance of Arthrobacter, Bacillus, norank＿f＿Vicinamibacteraceae, norank＿o＿Vicinamibacterales, MND1 and other bacteria, as well as the relative abundance of Neocosmospora, Paraphoma and other fungi were positively correlated with root diameter, wood core diameter, the whole plant weight, root weight, shoot fresh weight of P. tenuifolia. Bacillus, Neocosmospora, Subulicystidium were significantly positively correlated with oligosaccharides such as 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose, sibiricose A5、sibiricose A6、glomeratose A、arillanin A and tenuifoliside C. Arthrobacter, Humicola, Aspergillus, Paraphoma were positively correlated with tenuifolin and norank＿f＿Vicinamibacteraceae, norank＿o＿Vicinamibacterales, Fusarium were positively correlated with polygalaxanthone Ⅲ. Evidently, appropriate phosphorus application is conducive to the growth and quality improvement of P. tenuifolia, and can increase the abundance of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
Rhizosphere ; Phosphorus/pharmacology* ; Soil Microbiology ; Polygala/anatomy & histology* ; Fertilizers/analysis* ; Bacteria/metabolism* ; Soil/chemistry* ; Microbiota/drug effects* ; Plant Roots/metabolism*

Quality control is a key link in the modernization process of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Studies have shown that the effects of active components in TCM depend on not only their chemical composition but also their suitable physical forms and states. The physical phase structures, such as micelles, vesicles, gels, and nanoparticles, can improve the solubility, delivery efficiency, and targeting precision of active components. These structures significantly enhance the pharmacological activity while reducing the toxicity and side effects, demonstrating functional activity surpassing that of active components and highlighting the key effects of "structures" on "functions" of active components. Taking the physical phase structure as a breakthrough point, this paper outlines the common types of TCM physical phase structures. Furthermore, this paper explores how to realize the quality upgrading of TCM through the precise regulation of physical phase structures based on the current applications and potential of TCM physical phase structures in processing to increase the efficacy and reduce the toxicity, compounding and decocting processes, drug delivery systems, and quality control, aiming to provide novel insights for the future quality control of TCM.
Quality Control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; Humans ; Drug Delivery Systems

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of Xuanshen Yishen Decoction (XYD) in the treatment of hypertension. METHODS: Hospital electronic medical records from 2019-2023 were utilized to emulate a randomized pragmatic clinical trial. Hypertensive participants were eligible if they were aged ⩾40 years with baseline systolic blood pressure (BP) ⩾140 mm Hg. Patients treated with XYD plus antihypertensive regimen were assigned to the treatment group, whereas those who followed only antihypertensive regimen were assigned to the control group. The primary outcome assessed was the attainment rate of intensive BP control at discharge, with the secondary outcome focusing on the 6-month all-cause readmission rate. RESULTS: The study included 3,302 patients, comprising 2,943 individuals in the control group and 359 in the treatment group. Compared with the control group, a higher proportion in the treatment group achieved the target BP for intensive BP control [8.09% vs. 17.5%; odds ratio (OR)=2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.68 to 3.13; P<0.001], particularly in individuals with high homocysteine levels (OR=3.13; 95% CI=1.72 to 5.71; P<0.001; P for interaction=0.041). Furthermore, the 6-month all-cause readmission rate in the treatment group was lower than in the control group (hazard ratio=0.58; 95% CI=0.36 to 0.91; P=0.019), and the robustness of the results was confirmed by sensitivity analyse. CONCLUSIONS XYD could be a complementary therapy for intensive BP control. Our study offers real-world evidence and guides the choice of complementary and alternative therapies. (Registration No. ChiCTR2400086589).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology* ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Hypertension/physiopathology* ; Patient Readmission ; Treatment Outcome

Bone repair remains an important target in tissue engineering, making the development of bioactive scaffolds for effective bone defect repair a critical objective. In this study, β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds incorporated with processed pyritum decoction (PPD) were fabricated using three-dimensional (3D) printing-assisted freeze-casting. The produced composite scaffolds were evaluated for their mechanical strength, physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, in vitro pro-angiogenic activity, and in vivo efficacy in repairing rabbit femoral defects. They not only demonstrated excellent physicochemical properties, enhanced mechanical strength, and good biosafety but also significantly promoted the proliferation, migration, and aggregation of pro-angiogenic human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In vivo studies revealed that all scaffold groups facilitated osteogenesis at the bone defect site, with the β-TCP scaffolds loaded with PPD markedly enhancing the expression of neurogenic locus Notch homolog protein 1 (Notch1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), and osteopontin (OPN). Overall, the scaffolds developed in this study exhibited strong angiogenic and osteogenic capabilities both in vitro and in vivo. The incorporation of PPD notably promoted the angiogenic-osteogenic coupling, thereby accelerating bone repair, which suggests that PPD is a promising material for bone repair and that the PPD/β-TCP scaffolds hold great potential as a bone graft alternative.
Calcium Phosphates/chemistry* ; Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Rabbits ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Humans ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Osteogenesis ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Biomimetic Materials ; Cell Proliferation ; Angiogenesis

OBJECTIVE: The study aim was to investigate the effects of exposure to multiple environmental organic pollutants on cardiopulmonary health with a focus on the potential mediating role of oxidative stress. METHODS: A repeated-measures randomized crossover study involving healthy college students in Beijing was conducted. Biological samples, including morning urine and venous blood, were collected to measure concentrations of 29 typical organic pollutants, including hydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs), bisphenol A and its substitutes, phthalates and their metabolites, parabens, and five biomarkers of oxidative stress. Health assessments included blood pressure measurements and lung function indicators. RESULTS: Urinary concentrations of 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OH-PHE) ( β = 4.35% [95% confidence interval ( CI): 0.85%, 7.97%]), 3-hydroxyphenanthrene ( β = 3.44% [95% CI: 0.19%, 6.79%]), and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene (4-OH-PHE) ( β = 5.78% [95% CI: 1.27%, 10.5%]) were significantly and positively associated with systolic blood pressure. Exposures to 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-PYR) ( β = 3.05% [95% CI: -4.66%, -1.41%]), 2-OH-PHE ( β = 2.68% [95% CI: -4%, -1.34%]), and 4-OH-PHE ( β = 3% [95% CI: -4.68%, -1.29%]) were negatively associated with the ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity. These findings highlight the adverse effects of exposure to multiple pollutants on cardiopulmonary health. Biomarkers of oxidative stress, including 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and extracellular superoxide dismutase, mediated the effects of multiple OH-PAHs on blood pressure and lung function. CONCLUSION Exposure to multiple organic pollutants can adversely affect cardiopulmonary health. Oxidative stress is a key mediator of the effects of OH-PAHs on blood pressure and lung function.
Humans ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Male ; Cross-Over Studies ; Female ; Young Adult ; Environmental Pollutants/toxicity* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Adult ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/urine* ; Beijing

Most tumor cells and healthy neurons are at rest during G0 phase.Once the cell cycle is abnormally re-entered under certain conditions,the proliferation of tumor cells and the degenerative necrosis of neurons can be initiated.From the perspective of the cell cycle,cancer and central nervous system diseases,two seemingly different disease types,have a common pathogenesis.This type of diseases is named aberrant cell cycle diseases.As a newly discovered microRNA(miR),miR-1976 is closely related to the regulation of the cell cycle.This review summarizes the progress in the research on miR-1976 in cancer and central nervous system diseases,aiming to provide a reference for the clinical application of miR-1976 in aberrant cell cycle diseases in the future.
MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Humans ; Cell Cycle/genetics* ; Neoplasms/genetics* ; Central Nervous System Diseases/genetics*