This study investigated the effects of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata on striatal neuronal apoptosis in rats with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) based on the B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)/Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)/caspase-3 signaling pathway. Twenty-four 3-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR) were randomly divided into a model group, a methylphenidate group(2 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and a Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata group(2.4 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). Age-matched male Wistar Kyoto(WKY) rats were used as the normal control group, with 8 rats in each group. The rats were administered by gavage for 28 days. Body weight and food intake were recorded for each group. The open field test and elevated plus maze test were used to assess hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors. Nissl staining was used to detect changes in striatal neurons and Nissl bodies. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) fluorescence staining was used to detect striatal cell apoptosis. Western blot was employed to detect the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 proteins in the striatum. The results showed that compared with the model group, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata significantly reduced the total movement distance, average movement speed, and central area residence time in the open field test, and significantly reduced the ratio of open arm entries, open arm stay time, and head dipping in the elevated plus maze test. Furthermore, it increased the number of Nissl bodies in striatal neurons, significantly downregulated the apoptosis index, significantly increased Bcl-2 protein expression and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and reduced Bax and caspase-3 protein expression. In conclusion, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata can reduce hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors in ADHD rats. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 signaling pathway in the striatum, enhancing the anti-apoptotic capacity of striatal neurons.
Animals ; Male ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Rats ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Caspase 3/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/genetics* ; Rehmannia/chemistry* ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/physiopathology* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Neurons/cytology* ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Humans ; Corpus Striatum/cytology* ; Plant Extracts

This study explored the potential therapeutic targets and mechanisms of Danggui Shaoyao San(DSS) in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease(AD) through transcriptomics and metabolomics, combined with animal experiments. Fifty male C57BL/6J mice, aged seven weeks, were randomly divided into the following five groups: control, model, positive drug, low-dose DSS, and high-dose DSS groups. After the intervention, the Morris water maze was used to assess learning and memory abilities of mice, and Nissl staining and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining were performed to observe pathological changes in the hippocampal tissue. Transcriptomics and metabolomics were employed to sequence brain tissue and identify differential metabolites, analyzing key genes and metabolites related to disease progression. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) was employed to validate the expression of key genes. The Morris water maze results indicated that DSS significantly improved learning and cognitive function in scopolamine(SCOP)-induced model mice, with the high-dose DSS group showing the best results. Pathological staining showed that DSS effectively reduced hippocampal neuronal damage, increased Nissl body numbers, and reduced nuclear pyknosis and neuronal loss. Transcriptomics identified seven key genes, including neurexin 1(Nrxn1) and sodium voltage-gated channel α subunit 1(Scn1a), and metabolomics revealed 113 differential metabolites, all of which were closely associated with synaptic function, oxidative stress, and metabolic regulation. RT-qPCR experiments confirmed that the expression of these seven key genes was consistent with the transcriptomics results. This study suggests that DSS significantly improves learning and memory in SCOP model mice and alleviates hippocampal neuronal pathological damage. The mechanisms likely involve the modulation of synaptic function, reduction of oxidative stress, and metabolic balance, with these seven key genes serving as important targets for DSS in the treatment of AD.
Animals ; Alzheimer Disease/genetics* ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Metabolomics ; Transcriptome/drug effects* ; Maze Learning/drug effects* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Humans ; Disease Models, Animal ; Memory/drug effects*

Objective:To summarize the initial experience and evaluate the technical feasibility of the endoscopic transcanal transpromontorial approach（TTA） for vestibular schwannoma resection by analyzing long-term follow-up outcomes. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the perioperative and long-term follow-up data（mean follow-up time: 5 years） of patients who underwent endoscopic TTA for vestibular schwannoma resection in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, between January 2020 and December 2020. Long-term outcomes were systematically evaluated. Results:This study included two patients（one 41-year-old male and one 51-year-old female）. According to the AAO-HNS hearing classification system, preoperative hearing was Class C in one patient and Class D in the other. Preoperative imaging confirmed Koos stageⅠ tumors in both cases. Postoperative transient facial nerve paralysis（House-Brackmann Grade Ⅲ） recovered to Grade Ⅰ within 4 months. No complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage, intracranial infection, or intracranial hemorrhage occurred. No tumor recurrence was observed during the 5-year follow-up period. Conclusion:The endoscopic transcanal transpromontorial approach is minimally invasive, facilitates rapid recovery, and demonstrates satisfactory technical feasibility and safety when strict patient selection criteria（Koos stageⅠtumors with non-serviceable hearing） are applied.
Humans ; Neuroma, Acoustic/surgery* ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Female ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary fibrogenic cells in the liver, and their activation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRα), a unique member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key modulator of HSC activation and liver fibrosis. RXRα exerts its effects by modulating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα). In addition, we demonstrate that K-80003, which binds RXRα by a unique mechanism, effectively suppresses HSC activation, proliferation, and migration, thereby inhibiting liver fibrosis in the CCl₄ and amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet animal models. The effect is mediated by AMPKα activation, promoting mitophagy in HSCs. Mechanistically, K-80003 activates AMPKα by inducing RXRα to form condensates with CaMKKβ and AMPKα via a two-phase process. The formation of RXRα condensates is driven by its N-terminal intrinsic disorder region and requires phosphorylation by CaMKKβ. Our results reveal a crucial role of RXRα in liver fibrosis regulation through modulating mitochondrial activities in HSCs. Furthermore, they suggest that K-80003 and related RXRα modulators hold promise as therapeutic agents for fibrosis-related diseases.

COMPERA 2.0 risk stratification has been demonstrated to be useful in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, its suitability for patients at risk for post-capillary PH or PH associated with left heart disease (PH-LHD) is unclear. To investigate the use of COMPERA 2.0 in patients with severe aortic stenosis (SAS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), who are at risk for post-capillary PH, a total of 327 eligible SAS patients undergoing TAVR at our institution between September 2015 and November 2020 were included in the study. Patients were classified into four strata before and after TAVR using the COMPERA 2.0 risk score. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression model. The study cohort had a median (interquartile range) age of 76 (70‒80) years and a pulmonary arterial systolic pressure of 33 (27‒43) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) before TAVR. The overall mortality was 11.9% during 26 (15‒47) months of follow-up. Before TAVR, cumulative mortality was higher with an increase in the risk stratum level (log-rank, both P<0.001); each increase in the risk stratum level resulted in an increased risk of death (hazard ratio (HR) 2.53, 95% confidential interval (CI) 1.54‒4.18, P<0.001), which was independent of age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hemoglobin, albumin, and valve type (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.01‒3.07, P=0.047). Similar results were observed at 30 d after TAVR. COMPERA 2.0 can serve as a useful tool for risk stratification in patients with SAS undergoing TAVR, indicating its potential application in the management of PH-LHD. Further validation is needed in patients with confirmed post-capillary PH by right heart catheterization.
Humans ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/complications* ; Aged ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/mortality* ; Male ; Female ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement ; Aged, 80 and over ; Risk Assessment/methods* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Retrospective Studies

In this study, araucarene diterpenes, characterized by a pimarene skeleton with a variably oxidized side chain at C-13, were investigated. A total of 16 araucarene diterpenoids and their derivatives were isolated from the woods of Agathis dammara, including 11 previously unreported compounds: dammaradione (1), dammarones D-G (2, 5, 14, 15), dammaric acids B-F (8-12), and dammarol (16). The structures of these new compounds were elucidated using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS) and one-dimensional/two-dimensional (1D/2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), while their absolute configurations were determined through the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) exciton chirality method and Snatzke's method. The hypoglycemic activity of all isolated compounds was evaluated using a transgenic zebrafish model, and a structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis was conducted. Araucarone (3) and dammaric acid C (9), serving as representative compounds, demonstrated significant hypoglycemic effects on zebrafish. The primary mechanism involves the promotion of pancreatic β cell regeneration and glucose uptake. Specifically, these compounds enhance the differentiation of pancreatic endocrine precursor cells (PEP cells) into β cells in zebrafish.
Zebrafish ; Animals ; Diterpenes/isolation & purification* ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/cytology* ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Regeneration/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE: To explore and quantify the association of hot night exposure during the sperm development period (0-90 lag days) with semen quality. METHODS: A total of 6,640 male sperm donors from 6 human sperm banks in China during 2014-2020 were recruited in this multicenter study. Two indices (i.e., hot night excess [HNE] and hot night duration [HND]) were used to estimate the heat intensity and duration during nighttime. Linear mixed models were used to examine the association between hot nights and semen quality parameters. RESULTS: The exposure-response relationship revealed that HNE and HND during 0-90 days before semen collection had a significantly inverse association with sperm motility. Specifically, a 1 °C increase in HNE was associated with decreased sperm progressive motility of 0.0090 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.0147, -0.0033) and decreased total motility of 0.0094 (95% CI: -0.0160, -0.0029). HND was significantly associated with reduced sperm progressive motility and total motility of 0.0021 (95% CI: -0.0040, -0.0003) and 0.0023 (95% CI: -0.0043, -0.0002), respectively. Consistent results were observed at different temperature thresholds on hot nights. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the need to mitigate nocturnal heat exposure during spermatogenesis to maintain optimal semen quality.
Humans ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Adult ; Sperm Motility ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects* ; China ; Middle Aged ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Young Adult

The methanol extract of Huperzia serrata was separated and purified by ODS, AB-8 macroporous adsorption resin, dextran gel Sephadex LH-20 and silica gel column chromatography combined with the semi-pre HPLC. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were identified by MS, IR, NMR, etc. Four compounds were isolated from Huperzia serrata and identified, named as serratinine C (1), lycobeline C (2), diphaladin A (3) and crenatine (4). Compound 1 is a new alkaloid, compounds 2-4 were isolated for the first time. In vitro biological activity experiments showed that compound 1 could significantly reduce the levels of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in glial cells induced by lipopolysaccharide and had significant antioxidant biological activity.

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) is a recognition protein for N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), mediating the stability of downstream mRNA, and is a promising anti-tumor target. Based on the lead compound 1g from previous screening, this study designed and synthesized 52 IGF2BP2 small molecule inhibitors using thiazole hydrazone as the parent nucleus. Among them, 9g, 10g, 37g, 47g and 52g showed good inhibitory activities. This work represents an initial exploration in the development of small molecule inhibitors targeting IGF2BP2, using thiazolehydrazone as the core structure. It lays a foundation for subsequent related research.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and prognosis of CLAG±DAC (Clofarabine, Cytarabine, G-CSF±Decitabine) chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) .Methods:Continuous cases of R/R AML treated with the CLAG+DAC protocol or CLAG alone at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2017 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The baseline characteristics, individual treatment regimen, treatment effect, disease progression, and survival status of patients were recorded. The factors influencing the efficacy of the CLAG±DAC chemotherapy regimens were analyzed, and the overall survival (OS) time after reinduction was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results:This study included a total of 53 patients, with 33 male patients and an average age of 40.6 years. Thirty-three patients achieved complete remission (CR+CRi) of the disease after the CLAG±DAC chemotherapy regimen and six patients achieved partial remission (PR), while 14 did not. Thirty-two patients eventually underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and the median OS of the patients was 55.9 months until follow-up. Patients with disease remission after the application of the CLAG±DAC chemotherapy had a significantly longer survival time than those without remission ( P<0.001). The results of the multifactorial analysis have revealed that combined DAC ( OR=4.60, 95% CI 1.14-23.5, P=0.04) and DNMT3A mutation ( OR=0.14, 95% CI 0.01-0.89, P=0.05) were the factors influencing the efficacy of the CLAG±DAC chemotherapy regimen. The remission rate was relatively higher in patients with R/R AML combined with FLT3-ITD mutation by applying the DAC+CLAG regimen ( OR=10.84, 95% CI 1.48-288.50, P=0.04) . Conclusion:The CLAG±DAC regimen is considered effective in patients with R/R AML, whereas decitabine combined with the CLAG regimen is more suitable for patients with R/R AML combined with FLT3-ITD mutation.