ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m⁶A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m⁶A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m⁶A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.

ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m⁶A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m⁶A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m⁶A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2(EZH2)is a histone methyltransferase It mediates trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3,thereby facilitating the epigenetic silencing of downstream genes.In conjunc-tion with SUZ12,EED,and other components,it constitutes the polycomb repressive complex 2(PRC2)complex.While EZH2 is intricately involved in cellular proliferation and cardiac development,the chan-ges in its expression during cardiac terminal differentiation remain elusive.In this study,we employed differential gene expression analysis of embryonic and adult myocardial cells using the GEO database,and found that EZH2 is highly expressed in embryonic myocardium,but is present at very low levels in adult myocardium(P＜0.0001).Conversely,the expression changes of PRC2 members SUZ12 and EED are not as pronounced.Online analysis through the Tabula Muris database indicates that under physiological conditions,various cell subpopulations in the adult mouse heart exhibit negligible expression of EZH2.Immunohistochemical staining of mouse cardiac tissues shows that EZH2 is highly expressed in embryonic and neonatal myocardium but declines progressively from the first day after birth(P＜0.0001),becoming almost undetectable by the third day.Western blotting further confirms the rapid disappearance of EZH2 expression post-birth(P＜0.05),with EZH1 compensating for the downregulation of EZH2 to maintain H3K27me3 modification levels.Additionally,using the P19 teratocarcinoma stem cell model for cardio-myocyte differentiation,it is observed that EZH2 is significantly upregulated during the transition from cardiac progenitor cells to spontaneously beating cardiomyocytes,correlating with the expression of the cardiomyocyte transcription factor Gata4(P＜0.01).Targeted degradation of EZH2 using the small mole-cule drug MS1943 significantly inhibits the proliferation of induced cardiomyocytes,as evidenced by 5-e-thynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU)incorporation assays(P＜0.01),and RT-qPCR reveals a marked in-crease in the expression of the proliferation inhibitor CDKN1A(P＜0.01).In summary,the high expres-sion of EZH2 in embryonic myocardial cells is associated with enhanced cell proliferation.The rapid loss of EZH2 expression postnatally correlates with the loss of proliferative capacity in cardiomyocytes,mark-ing it as a key indicator of cardiac terminal differentiation.

This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves(TFHL)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammatory injury in rat intestinal epithelial(IEC-6)cells,as well as the underlying mechanisms.An in vitro inflam-mation model was first established by treating IEC-6 cells with lipopolysaccharide(LPS).IEC-6 cells were then incubated with three concentrations of TFHL for 24 h prior to a further 24 h LPS treatment.RT-qPCR was used to quantify mRNA levels of the inflammatory genes COX-2 and iN-OS,while Western blotting was used to assess protein levels of the apoptotic markers Bax,cleaved Caspase-3,Bcl-2,and the JNK/p-JNK signaling pathway.Finally,cells were pretreated with TFHL and/or the JNK inhibitor SP600125 for 24 h before LPS exposure for 24 h,in order to evaluate the combined effects of TFHL and SP600125 on LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine expression and apoptotic protein levels in IEC-6 cells.The results showed that,compared with the LPS group,the mRNA level of COX-2 and iNOS in the 2.5,5.0,10.0 mg/L TFHL group and the Bax and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P＜0.01),and the Bcl-2 protein level was significantly higher(P＜0.01),p-JNK protein level and p-JNK/JNK ratio decreased significantly(P＜0.01);compared with the LPS group,the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels of the TFHL+LPS group de-creased significantly(P＜0.01),Bax,and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P＜0.01),and the level of Bcl-2 protein increased significantly(P＜0.05);compared with the LPS group,the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels of the TFHL+SP600125 group decreased significantly(P＜0.01),Bax and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P＜0.01),and Bcl-2 protein level increased significantly(P＜0.01).These findings indicate that TFHL exerts anti-inflammato-ry and anti-apoptotic effects in LPS-challenged IEC-6 cells by inhibiting the JNK signaling path-way.

Objective To analyze the changes in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters in patients with essential hypertension，and to explore the effect of blood pressure on OCTA parameters. Methods A total of 164 patients with essential hypertension were selected and divided into controlled blood pressure group (n=92) and uncontrolled blood pressure group (n=72). OCTA examination was performed on the optic disc and macula of all patients, and the right eyes were selected for analysis. Results There were no significant differences in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) total vascular density, RPC total small vessel density, perifovea superficial capillary plexus (SCP) vascular density, and perifovea deep capillary plexus (DCP) vascular density between the two groups of patients. There were no significant differences in foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, FAZ diameter, and fovea retinal thickness between the two groups of patients. The density of the parafovea SCP, parafovea DCP, and fractal dimension (FD) in the uncontrolled blood pressure group were significantly lower than those in the controlled blood pressure group (P＜0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that elevation of blood pressure was a independently related factor of reduced parafovea DCP density (P＝0.026), while there was no correlation between the uncontrolled blood pressure and parafovea SCP density and FD level. Conclusions The blood pressure level is correlated with the parafovea DCP density, while has no correlation with other OCTA parameters in hypertension patients.

Gentianopsis barbata (G. barbata) represents a significant plant species with considerable ornamental and medicinal value in China. This investigation sought to elucidate the primary constituents within the plant and investigate their pharmacological properties. Fifty triterpenoids (1-50), including nine previously undescribed compounds (1, 2, 7, 10, 20, 28, 29, 37, and 41) were isolated and characterized from the whole plants of G. barbata. Notably, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited the novel 3,4;9,10-diseco-24-homo-cycloartane triterpenoid skeleton. The isolated triterpenoids demonstrated substantial anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine secretion in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages, and hepatoprotective effects by preventing tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative injury in HepG2 cells. These results demonstrate both the presence of diverse triterpenoids in G. barbata and their therapeutic potential for inflammatory and hepatic conditions, providing scientific evidence supporting the clinical application of this traditional Mongolian medicinal plant.
Triterpenes/isolation & purification* ; Mice ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification* ; Animals ; Humans ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Hep G2 Cells ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics* ; Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Protective Agents/isolation & purification* ; Liver/drug effects* ; Gentianaceae/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/chemistry* ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVE: To assess health equity in the Yangtze River region to improve understanding of the correlation between hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and socioeconomic factors. METHODS: From 2014-2016, data on HFMD incidence, population statistics, economic indicators, and meteorology from 26 cities along the Yangtze River were analyzed. A multi-city random-effects meta-analysis was performed to study the relationship between temperature and HFMD transmission, and health equity was assessed with respect to socio-economic impact. RESULTS: Over the study period, 919,458 HFMD cases were reported, with Shanghai (162,303) having the highest incidence and Tongling (5,513) having the lowest. Males were more commonly affected (male-to-female ratio, 1.49:1). The exposure-response relationship had an M-shaped curve, with two HFMD peaks occurring at 4 °C and 26 °C. The relative risk had two peaks at 1.30 °C (1.834, 95% CI: 1.204-2.794) and 31.4 °C (1.143, 95% CI: 0.901-1.451), forming an M shape, with the first peak higher than the second. The most significant impact of temperature on HFMD was observed between -2 °C and 18.1 °C. The concentration index (0.2463) indicated moderate concentration differences, whereas the Theil index (0.0418) showed low inequality in distribution. CONCLUSION The incidence of HFMD varied across cities, particularly with changes in temperature. Economically prosperous areas showed higher risks, indicating disparities. Targeted interventions in these areas are crucial for mitigating the risk of HFMD.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; China/epidemiology* ; Cities/epidemiology* ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/transmission* ; Incidence ; Risk Factors ; Temperature

Aim To investigate the therapeutic effects of cinnamaldehyde on synovial lesions in mice with knee osteoarthritis(KOA)and its regulatory mecha-nism in the phagocytic function of synovial macropha-ges.Methods In the animal experiments,mouse ser-um and synovial tissue were extracted.HE staining was used to evaluate the inflammatory cell infiltration in the synovial tissue.ELISA was employed to detect the lev-els of inflammatory factors such as interleukins in the serum.Western blot was used to detect the expression of Ras homolog family member A(RhoA),Rho-associ-ated protein kinase 1(ROCK1),myosin light chain(MLC),and p-MLC proteins in the synovial tissue.RT-qPCR was utilized to detect the expression of in-flammatory factors and pathway-related mRNA in the synovial tissue.TUNEL staining was used to detect ap-optosis in the synovial tissue.In the cellular experi-ments,after the intervention,RAW267.4 cells were subjected to Western blot and RT-qPCR for the detec-tion of the aforementioned indicators,and confocal mi-croscopy was used to assess phagocytic function.Re-sults After cinnamaldehyde intervention,the synovial inflammatory infiltration was significantly reduced,the protein and mRNA expression of the RhoA/ROCK1/MLC signaling pathway was markedly downregulated,the fluorescence intensity of TUNEL staining signifi-cantly decreased,and the phagocytic function of macro-phages was enhanced.Conclusion Cinnamaldehyde can inhibit RhoA/Rock1/MLC signaling pathway,en-hance macrophage burial,improve synovial inflamma-tion,and delay the progression of KO A mice.

Aim To investigate the intestinal protection and possible mechanism of magnolol(MG)in newborn rats with necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC).Methods The rats were randomly divided into control group(Ctrl group),model group(NEC group)and treatment group(MG group).The NEC model was induced by hypoxia,cold stimulation,deep formula milk and LPS intragastric administration in 7-day-old rats for four days.They were killed after five days of treatment with MG(20 mg·kg-1).HE staining was used to observe the intestinal pathological injury.Western blot was used to detect the expressions of IL-1 β,TNF-α,NL-RP3,ASC,caspase-1 and tight junction protein in the distal ileum of rats.Colon contents were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing to understand the gut microbio-ta.Results MG improved the body mass and intesti-nal injury of NEC neonatal rats.The expressions of in-testinal IL-1β,TNF-α,NLRP3,ASC and caspase-1 proteins were down-regulated,and the expressions of Claudin,Occludin and ZO-1 proteins were up-regula-ted.16S rDNA showed that MG increased the diversity of intestinal flora,and at the phylum level,MG in-creased the abundance of firmicutes and bacteroides in NEC model,and decreased the abundance of pro-teobacteria.At the genus level,MG treatment in-creased the abundance of Lactobacillus,unclassified_Muribaculaceae,Racteroides,but decreased the abun-dance of Escherichia_Shigella,Rodentibacter and Fuso-bacterium.Conclusion MG intervention can protect the intestinal tract of NEC rats by potentially improving barrier function,and regulating the intestinal microbiota through the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 signaling pathway.

Objective:To quickly identify the causes of morphological abnormalities of microcytic hypochromic erythrocytes that are detected during health checkups for recruitment of flying cadets, and to explore its role in medical selection.Methods:Students with hemoglobin (Hb)≥110 g/L and morphological abnormalities of microcytic hypochromic erythrocytes detected during the 2023 medical selection of flying cadets by Guangzhou Selection Center were selected. Their medical history was collected, and iron metabolism, Hb electrophoresis and hemoglobin H (HbH) inclusion bodies were examined to screen for thalassemia and iron deficiency. The diagnosis of thalassemia was confirmed by thalassemia gene testing. Those with iron deficiency received iron supplementation therapy and the recovery of Hb was observed.Results:Ninety-one students were diagnosed with Hb≥110 g/L and morphological abnormalities of microcytic hypochromic erythrocytes, accounting for 4.35% of the total. Among these cases, 85 with abnormal Hb electrophoresis and/or positive HbH inclusion body detection were confirmed as thalassemia minor via thalassemia genetic testing, and 3 cases with normal iron metabolism, Hb electrophoresis, and negative HbH inclusion body detection. A total of 88 cases of thalassemia minor were diagnosed, accounting for 96.70% of the total. Among them, 2 cases were complicated with iron deficiency while 3 were diagnosed with iron deficiency erythropoiesis. Out of the 91 students with Hb≥110 g/L and morphological abnormalities of microcytic hypochromic erythrocytes, 9 were recruited, including 7 cases with thalassemia minor (Hb≥130 g/L), 1 case with thalassemia minor combined with iron deficiency erythropoiesis (Hb≥130 g/L after iron supplementation), and 1 case with iron deficiency erythropoiesis (Hb≥130 g/L after iron supplementation). Among the 9 recruits, 8 were followed up for over one year and the results of their military physical fitness tests all reached or exceeded the standards, but the remaining one dropped out and lost contact.Conclusions:Among physical examinees during medical selection of flying cadets in South China, thalassemia is the leading cause of morphological abnormalities of microcytic hypochromic erythrocytes. Results of iron metabolism, Hb electrophoresis, and HbH inclusion body detection can help identify thalassemia and iron deficiency quickly. Cases of morphological abnormalities of microcytic hypochromic erythrocytes caused by iron deficiency can be considered eligible for selection after Hb levels return to normal following iron supplementation therapy. Students who are diagnosed with thalassemia with Hb<130 g/L can be determined as ineligible. Such rapid identification can facilitate the medical selection of the above 2 types of students.