Aim To explore the mechanism of Bushen Tongfu decoction(BSTF)improving the learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 mice.Methods The APP/PS1 mice were administered by BSTF for eight weeks.The spatial learning and memory ability of all mice were detected by Morris water maze.The changes in the intestinal microbiota and gut metabolites of mice were detected by 16S rDNA and LC-MS/MS technolo-gy.Results Compared with the model group,the es-cape latency and swimming path in BSTF-H,BSTF-M and BSTF-L groups were shortened and the times of target crossings after removing the platform increased significantly(P＜0.01).The 16S rDNA results showed that BSTF could increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria of Firmicutes and reduce the abun-dance of harmful bacteria of Bacteroidota in APP/PS1 mice.A total of 25 differential metabolites were identi-fied by LC-MS/MS,including sphingolipid metabo-lism,lysine metabolism and tyrosine metabolism.KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the therapeutic effect of BSTF was mainly through inflammation-related signaling pathways such as NF-κB pathways and Apelin pathways.Conclusions The mechanism of BSTF im-proving the learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 mice may be related to the improvement of intestinal flora composition,the effect of sphingolipid metabo-lism,lysine metabolism and tyrosine metabolism and the regulation of inflammation-related signaling path-ways such as NF-κB and Apelin pathways.

Objective:To explore the application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in critically ill children with hematological disorders and evaluate its diagnostic value.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children with hematological diseases, tumors, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation who underwent traditional culture and mNGS testing in the pediatric intensive care unit of the Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from September 2019 to June 2022. The detection rate and diagnostic value of traditional culture and mNGS for pathogens were analyzed and compared.Results:Among the 50 patients, there were 29 males and 21 females, with a median age of 9.00(4.75-13.00) years. A total of 60 samples were sent for mNGS testing, including 40 blood samples, 10 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples, 7 cerebrospinal fluid samples, and 1 bone marrow, 1 skin, and 1 pleural fluid sample each. 49 positive samples were detected by mNGS, including 20 cases of viruses, 14 cases of bacteria, 8 cases of mixed samples, and 7 cases of fungi. The detection rate of mNGS in this study was significantly higher than that in traditional pathogen culture (81.7% vs 16.7%), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). Based on clinical diagnostic cases, the sensitivity of mNGS was significantly higher than that of traditional culture (85.2% vs 29.6%), with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.01), while its specificity was not statistically significant ( P>0.05) compared to traditional culture (50.0% vs 83.3%). Conclusions:mNGS has a higher detection rate and sensitivity than traditional pathogen culture, and can early identify viral, fungal, and mixed infections, providing strong assistance for precise treatment of critically ill children with hematological conditions.

AIM To establish a UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous content determination of pseudoginsenoside F11 and ginsenosides Rf,Rg1,Re,Rb1,Rb2,Rb3,Rg2,Rg3,Rc,Rd.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 40℃ thermostatic Phenomenex Kinetex F5 column(2.1 mm×100 mm,1.7 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-2 mmol/L ammonium formate flowing at 0.3 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and electron spray ionization source was adopted in negative ion scanning with multiple reaction monitoring mode.RESULTS Eleven ginsenosides showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r>0.9900),whose average recoveries were 97.40％-103.74％with the RSDs of 1.76％-3.48％.CONCLUSION This sensitive,practical and reproducible method can be used for the quality control of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma in Fukang Tablets.

Objective To report the clinical and imaging characteristics of a case with the clinical manifestation of multiple lung and liver nodules,diagnosed as IgG4-related hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor(HIPT)complicated by hepatic tissue-infection,and review the literature in order to facilitate clinical diagnosis and differential identification of IgG4-related HIPT.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of a patient with IgG4-related disease(IgG4-RD)characterized by multiple lung and liver nodules.A literature review was performed by searching Chinese and English databases to summarize the clinical and imaging characteristics of IgG4-related HIPT and hepatic tissue infection.Results The case involved a 64-year-old female admitted to the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital due to"poor appetite and fatigue for over a year,and dry cough for four months".She presented with multiple nodules in the lungs and liver,without involvement of the eyelids,salivary glands,submandibular glands,or pancreas.Laboratory test results revealed elevated serum IgG4 levels at 14.1 g/L and C-reactive protein(CRP)at 82.1 mg/L.Pulmonary CT scans indicated multiple solid nodules in both lungs with clear boundaries.Abdominal contrast-enhanced MRI revealed a nodule in liver segment S7 with a pseudocapsule around it,clear boundaries,and uniform enhancement;another nodule in liver segment S5 with blurred boundaries and ring enhancement.The final diagnosis of the liver nodules was confirmed by pathological and metagenomic sequencing to be an IgG4-related HIPT in segment S7 and hepatic tissue infection in segment S5.After a full course of anti-infection and treatment with methylprednisolone and leflunomide,follow-up imaging showed near-complete resolution of the lung and liver nodules.Literatures were searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Wanfang,and PubMed databases(up to September 2023),and no case of IgG4-RD complicated with both liver involvement and infection was found.A total of 26 cases of IgG4-RD involving the liver have been reported so far,predominantly in males(92.3%),with an average age of 51 years.Most patients presented with abnormal liver function as the initial symptom,with normal blood inflammatory markers.Imaging typically shows a single nodule in 88.5%of cases,with clear boundaries and uniform enhancement,as well as ring enhancement.Concurrent involvement of the pancreas and biliary tract is common.Pathology is the gold standard for confirming the disease.Conclusions This case reports coexistence of IgG4-related HIPT and infection within multiple hepatic nodules.In the diagnosis and treatment of patients with IgG4-RD presenting with multiple hepatic nodules,if the imaging characteristics of the nodules are inconsistent,it is necessary to consider the possibility of the underlying disease coexisting with other conditions,which can be easily misdiagnosed.Actively obtaining pathological tissue is crucial for aiding in the definitive diagnosis.

Twelve compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the 80% aqueous ethanol extract of the roots and stems of Dalbergia rimosa Roxb. by silica gel, MCI, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectral analysis such as UV, IR, MS, 1D/2D NMR and by comparison with literature information as dalbergiquinol A (1), dalbergiquinol B (2), R-(-)-3′-hydroxy-2,4,5-trimethoxydalbergiquinol (3), neokhriol A (4), mucronulatol (5), (3R)-7,2′,3′-trihydroxy-4′-methoxy-isoflavane (6), isomucronulatol (7), (3S)-violanone (8), 3′-O-methylviolanone (9), eryvarin M (10), (±)-α,3,4,2′,4′-pentahydroxydihydrochalcone (11) and (-)-butin (12). Compound 1 and 2 are new compounds, and compounds 3-12 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12 showed good scavenging effect on DPPH free radical.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the leaves of Cyanocarya paliurus(Batalin)Iljinskaja and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities.METHODS The 95%ethanol extract from the leaves of C.paliurus was isolated and purified by macroporous resin,silica gel,Sephadex LH-20,polyamide,C18 reversed-phase silica gel and semi-preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.Their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were evaluated by PNPG.RESULTS Fifteen compounds were isolated and identified as cyclopaloside C(1),cyclopaloside A(2),juglanosides E(3),vaccinin A(4),ent-murin A(5),kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside(6),kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(7),kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucuronide methyl ester(8),kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucuronide ethyl ester(9),kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucuronide butyl ester(10),quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside(11)quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(12),quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside(13),quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucuronide butyl ester(14),dihydrokaempferol(15).The IC50 value of total extracts ihibited α-glucosidase was(1.83±0.04)μg/mL,and the IC50 values of compounds 1,4-5 were(29.48±1.86),(0.50±0.07),(0.71±0.07)μmol/L,respectively.CONCLUSION Compound 1 is a new tetrahydronaphthalene glycoside.Compounds 4-5,8-10 and 14 are isolated from the leaves of C.paliurus for the first time.Compounds 4-5 are relatively rare flavonoid lignans with potential inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mechanism by which Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family verprolin-homologous protein 1 (WAVE1) regulates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mitochondrial metabolic abnormalities and inflammatory responses in macrophages. METHODS: Macrophage cell lines with overexpressed WAVE1 (mouse BMDM and human THP1 cells) were prepared. The macrophages were treated with LPS (500 ng/mL) to simulate sepsis-induced inflammatory responses. The experiment consisted of two parts. The first part included control, LPS, vector (LPS+oe-NC), WAVE1 overexpression (LPS+oe-WAVE1) groups. The second part included LPS, LPS+oe-NC, LPS+oe-WAVE1 and exogenous high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) intervention (LPS+oe-WAVE1+HMGB1) groups. RT-PCR was used to measure mitochondrial DNA content, and RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of WAVE1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. Western blot was performed to measure the protein expression of WAVE1, hexokinase 2, and pyruvate kinase M2. ELISA was utilized to detect the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and HMGB1. JC-1 staining was used to assess mitochondrial membrane potential. Seahorse XP96 was used to evaluate oxygen consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate. MitoSOX probe was employed to measure mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels, and 2-NBDG method was used to assess glucose uptake. Kits were used to measure pyruvate kinase activity, lactate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and HMGB1 levels. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the LPS group showed lower levels of WAVE1 protein and mRNA expression, mitochondrial membrane potential, oxygen consumption rate, and mitochondrial DNA content (P<0.05), while TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 levels and mRNA expression, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, glucose uptake, lactate, ATP, hexokinase 2, and pyruvate kinase M2 protein expression levels as well as extracellular acidification rate, pyruvate kinase activity, and HMGB1 release were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the LPS+oe-NC group, the LPS+oe-WAVE1 group showed increased WAVE1 protein and mRNA expression, mitochondrial membrane potential, oxygen consumption rate, and mitochondrial DNA content (P<0.05), while TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 levels and mRNA expression, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, glucose uptake, lactate, ATP, hexokinase 2, and pyruvate kinase M2 protein expressions, as well as extracellular acidification rate, pyruvate kinase activity, and HMGB1 release were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the LPS+oe-WAVE1 group, the LPS+oe-WAVE1+HMGB1 group exhibited increased glucose uptake, lactate, ATP levels, and extracellular acidification rate (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS WAVE1 participates in the regulation of LPS-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages by modulating the release of inflammatory factors, mitochondrial metabolism, and HMGB1 release.
Lipopolysaccharides ; Humans ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Animals ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Mice ; Hexokinase/genetics* ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Family/metabolism* ; HMGB1 Protein/physiology* ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Pyruvate Kinase/metabolism*

BACKGROUND: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is the most common complaint associated with menstruation and affects up to three-quarters of women at some stage of their reproductive life. In Chinese medicine, navel therapy, treatment provided at Shenque (CV 8), is used as a treatment option for PD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of navel therapy on pain relief and quality of life in women with PD, compared with Western medicine (WM). METHODS: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), SinoMed and Wanfang Database, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and the International Clinical Trial Registry of the U.S. National Institutes of Health were searched from their inceptions to April 1, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing therapeutic effects of navel therapy on PD were eligible for inclusion. RevMan 5.4 software was used for data analyses. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the online GRADEpro tool. RESULTS: Totally 24 RCTs involving 2,614 participants were identified. Interventions applied to acupuncture point CV 8 included: herbal patching, moxibustion or combined navel therapy (using at least 2 types of stimulation). Compared to placebo, there was a significant effect in favor of navel therapy on reducing overall menstrual symptom scores at the end of treatment [mean difference: -0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.00 to -0.64, n=90; 1 RCT]. As compared with Western medicine, navel therapy had a superior effect on pain intensity as assessed by Visual Analogue Scale at the end of treatment [standardized mean difference (SMD): -0.64, 95% CI: -1.22 to -0.06, I²=80%, n=262; 3 RCTs]; on symptom resolution rate at 3-month follow-up (risk ratio: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.47 to 2.56, n=1527, I²=38%; 13 RCTs); and on global menstrual symptoms score at the end of treatment (SMD: -0.67, 95% CI: -0.90 to -0.45, I²=63%, n=990; 12 RCTs). Subgroup analyses showed either a better or an equivalent effect comparing navel therapy with Western medicine. No major adverse events were reported. The methodological quality of included trials was poor overall. CONCLUSIONS Navel therapy appears to be more effective than Western medicine in decreasing menstrual pain and improving overall symptoms of PD. However, these findings need to be confirmed by well-designed clinical trials with adequate sample size (Systematic review registration at PROSPERO, No. CRD42021240350).
United States ; Female ; Humans ; Dysmenorrhea/drug therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Moxibustion ; Pain Management

Corneal refractive surgery and intraocular collamer lens(ICL)implantation are the mainstream refractive surgery methods at present. Many studies have proved that ICL implantation can effectively improve the postoperative visual acuity of patients. ICL implantation has gained favor among refractive doctors and patients because of its multiple advantages. Excellent postoperative visual acuity and visual quality are the key factors to improve patients' satisfaction. In order to evaluate the subjective and objective visual quality of patients after operation and avoid complications, this article reviews the visual quality and postoperative complications after ICL implantation.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6), an important component of cardiac microenvironment, favors cardiac repair by improving cardiomyocyte regeneration in different models. This study aimed to investigate the effects of IL-6 on stemness maintenances and cardiac differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). The mESCs were treated with IL-6 for two days, and then subjected to CCK-8 essay for proliferation analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to evaluate the mRNA expression of genes related to stemness and germinal layers differentiation. Phosphorylation levels of stem cell-related signal pathways were detected by Western blot. siRNA was used to interfere the function of STAT3 phosphorylation. Cardiac differentiation was investigated by the percentage of beating embryoid bodies (EBs) and qPCR analysis of cardiac progenitor markers and cardiac ion channels. IL-6 neutralization antibody was applied to block the endogenous IL-6 effects since the onset of cardiac differentiation (embryonic day of 0, EB0). The EBs were collected on EB7, EB10 and EB15 to investigate the cardiac differentiation by qPCR. On EB15, Western blot was applied to investigate the phosphorylation of several signaling pathways, and immunochemistry staining was adopted to trace the cardiomyocytes. IL-6 antibody was administered for two days (short term) on EB4, EB7, EB10 or EB15, and percentages of beating EBs at late developmental stage were recorded. The results showed that exogenous IL-6 promoted mESCs proliferation and favored maintenances of pluripotency, evidenced by up-regulated mRNA expression of oncogenes (c-fos, c-jun) and stemness markers (oct4, nanog), down-regulated mRNA expression of germ layer genes (branchyury, FLK-1, pecam, ncam, sox17), and increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and STAT3. siRNA targeting JAK/STAT3 partially attenuated the effects of IL-6 on cell proliferation and mRNA expression of c-fos and c-jun. During differentiation, long term IL-6 neutralization antibody application decreased the percentage of beating EBs, down-regulated mRNA expression of ISL1, GATA4, α-MHC, cTnT, kir2.1, cav1.2, and declined the fluorescence intensity of cardiac α actinin in EBs and single cell. Long term IL-6 antibody treatment decreased the phosphorylation of STAT3. In addition, short term (2 d) IL-6 antibody treatment starting from EB4 significantly reduced the percentage of beating EBs in late development stage, while short term IL-6 antibody treatment starting from EB10 significantly increased the percentage of beating EBs on EB16. These results suggest that exogenous IL-6 promotes mESCs proliferation and favors stemness maintenance. Endogenous IL-6 regulates mESC cardiac differentiation in a development-dependent manner. These findings provide important basis for the study of microenvironment on cell replacement therapy, as well as a new perspective for understanding the pathophysiology of heart diseases.
Animals ; Mice ; Interleukin-6 ; Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells ; Cell Differentiation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; RNA, Messenger