ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Qishao Tongbi Capsule （芪芍通痹胶囊， QTC） in the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration （IDD）. MethodsSeventy-five rats were randomly divided into control group， model group， low-dose QTC group， high-dose QTC group， high-dose QTC +agonist group， with 15 rats in each group. Except for the control group， all other groups were subjected to a fibrous ring puncture to prepare an IDD model. After modeling， rats in low-dose QTC group and high-dose QTC group were given QTC at doses of 0.2 and 0.8 g/（kg·d） by gavage， respectively. Rats in high-dose QTC+ agonist group was given QTC at 0.8 g/（kg·d） and SKL2001 solution at 10 mg/（kg·d） by gavage. The control group and model group were given 10 ml/（kg·d） distilled water by gavage. All treatments were given once a day for 4 consecutive weeks. After treatment， X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） were used to detect IDD degree. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Safranin O-Fast Green staining were used to observe the morphological changes of the intervertebral disc tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine the levels of proteoglycan， type Ⅱ collagen （COL Ⅱ）， and matrix metalloproteinase-3 （MMP-3） in the intervertebral disc tissue. Western blotting was used to detect the extracellular matrix （ECM）-related proteins （proteoglycan， COL Ⅱ， MMP-3， MMP-9， MMP-13）， aging-related proteins （P53， P21， P16）， apoptosis related proteins， including B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 2 （BCL-2）， BCL-2 related X protein （BAX）， Cleaved Caspase-3， and Wnt/β-catenin pathway related proteins such as Wnt3a， glycogen synthase kinase-3β （GSK-3β） and β-catenin in the intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus （NP） tissue. Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction （RT-qPCR） was used to assess the mRNA expression of Wnt3a， GSK-3β， and β-catenin in intervertebral disc tissue. ResultsCompared with the model group， rats in the low-dose QTC group and high-dose QTC group exhibited improved DHI， decreased Pfirmann grading， and alleviated IDD. The structural integrity of the NP and annulus fibrosus increased， and the number of the NP increased. The levels of proteoglycan， COL Ⅱ， BCL-2 and GSK-3β increased， while the levels of MMP-3， MMP-9， MMP-13， P53， P21， P16， BAX， Cleaved Caspase-3， Wnt3a and β-catenin protein decreased. The mRNA expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin mRNA decreased， while GSK-3β mRNA expression increased （P＜0.05）. Compared with the low-dose QTC group， the high-dose QTC group showed further improvements in DHI， decrease in Pfirrmann grading （P＜0.05）， and greater alleviation of IDD. The structural integrity of NP and annulus fibrosus was further enhanced， and the number of NP cells further increased. The levels of proteoglycan， COL Ⅱ， BCL-2 and GSK-3β were higher， while the levels of MMP-3， MMP-9， MMP-13， P53， P21， P16， BAX， Cleaved Caspase-3， Wnt3a and β-catenin were lower. The mRNA expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin decreased， while GSK-3β mRNA expression increased （P＜0.05）. Compared with the high-dose QTC group， the high-dose QTC +agonist group showed a decrease of DHI， an increase of Pfirmann grading （P＜0.05）， significant aggravation of IDD， reduction in structural integrity of the NP and annulus fibrosus， a decrease of NP cell count， lower levels of proteoglycan， COL Ⅱ， BCL-2 and GSK-3β， and higher levels of MMP-3， MMP-9， MMP-13， P53， P21， P16， BAX and Cleaved Caspase-3. Additionally， GSK-3β mRNA expression decreased （P＜0.05）. ConclusionQTC can inhibit NP cell aging， apoptosis， and ECM degradation in IDD rats， and its therapeutic effect may be mediated through the inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Objective: To compare and analyze the antibacterial effects of platelets against five common clinical pathogenic bacteria including MRSA, SE, SA, E. coli, and CRKP, and to preliminarily explore the role of DCD sensitivity in the observed variations of antibacterial effects. Methods: The same number of platelets were used to establish co-culture systems of platelets and platelet lysates with the five pathogenic bacteria. The antibacterial effects of platelets and platelet lysates on the five pathogenic bacteria were evaluated by observing the turbidity of the bacterial solution, measuring the OD value of the bacterial solution and counting the colonies. The supernatant protein of platelets co-cultured with MRSA was collected for quantitative proteomics analysis to explore the important antibacterial proteins of platelets. The content of DCD in the supernatant after co-culture of platelets and platelet lysates with the five pathogenic bacteria was detected by ELISA to preliminarily analyze the reasons for the different antibacterial effects of platelets on the five pathogenic bacteria. Results: Compared with the control group of MRSA, SA, and SE, the turbidity of the bacterial solution decreased after co-culture of platelets and platelet lysates with MRSA, SA, and SE for 12 h, and the OD value and colony count were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The turbidity of the bacterial solution did not change significantly after co-culture of platelets and platelet lysates with E. coli for 24 h, but the OD value decreased (P<0.05), and the colony count decreased to 10 CFU/mL but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with the control group of CRKP, the turbidity, OD value, and colony count of the bacterial solution did not change significantly after co-culture of platelets and platelet lysates with CRKP (P>0.05). Proteomics results showed that after co-culture with MRSA, important proteins related to platelet activation, including collagen, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, integrin αIIbβ3, platelet glycoprotein V and IV were significantly up-regulated. ELISA results showed that after co-culture with the five pathogenic bacteria, platelets could secrete a large amount of DCD, with the content around 3 μg/mL. Conclusion: The antibacterial effect of platelets on Gram-positive bacteria MRSA, SA, and SE is better than that on Gram-negative bacteria E. coli and CRKP, and platelets have the best antibacterial effect on MRSA. The differences in antibacterial effects of platelets on the five pathogenic bacteria may be related to the sensitivity of DCD antibacterial peptides to the five pathogenic bacteria.

Liver being substantial Yin and functional Yang maintain normal function of Qi， blood and meridians. In clinical practice， it is often found that pan-vascular lesions with atherosclerosis as the predominant pathological change often co-occur with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease（MAFLD）. MAFLD leads to increased risk and worse prognosis for many pan-vascular diseases， including cardiovascular disease. Dysregulation of energy homeostasis disrupts the hepatic homeostasis of body use， and representative drugs to improve metabolism， such as metformin， sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors， and glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists， not only have a clear cardiovascular benefit， potential improvement of MAFLD has also been demonstrated. The liver stores blood and the heart pumps blood， and liver diseases affect the heart， that's why the unsmoothness of vessels appears. So the treatment should from the standpoint of liver， restoring liver function， soothing the liver and nourishing heart， activating blood and dredging meridian. It is of great significance to explore in depth the pathogenesis and treatment of pan-vascular lesions caused by MAFLD， and to restore the energy homeostasis by adjusting the balance of liver Yin and Yang.

Liver being substantial Yin and functional Yang maintain normal function of Qi， blood and meridians. In clinical practice， it is often found that pan-vascular lesions with atherosclerosis as the predominant pathological change often co-occur with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease（MAFLD）. MAFLD leads to increased risk and worse prognosis for many pan-vascular diseases， including cardiovascular disease. Dysregulation of energy homeostasis disrupts the hepatic homeostasis of body use， and representative drugs to improve metabolism， such as metformin， sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors， and glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists， not only have a clear cardiovascular benefit， potential improvement of MAFLD has also been demonstrated. The liver stores blood and the heart pumps blood， and liver diseases affect the heart， that's why the unsmoothness of vessels appears. So the treatment should from the standpoint of liver， restoring liver function， soothing the liver and nourishing heart， activating blood and dredging meridian. It is of great significance to explore in depth the pathogenesis and treatment of pan-vascular lesions caused by MAFLD， and to restore the energy homeostasis by adjusting the balance of liver Yin and Yang.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly malignant disease that has garnered significant attention in terms of treatment modalities and course management. Gaining an understanding of the clinical characteristics of SCLC, acquiring proficiency in screening, diagnosis, and treatment methods for this condition, as well as promptly addressing any adverse reactions to treatment are essential foundations for developing a scientific and rational pathological management plan for SCLC. By utilizing an intelligent whole course follow-up management platform, dynamic follow-up, timely warnings, and early interventions can enable high-quality whole life cycle management. This article aims to review the current treatment landscape of SCLC while exploring the challenges associated with implementing a comprehensive process-oriented management approach. The goal is to provide valuable insights for better managing SCLC patients and ultimately improving their quality of life and prognosis.
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Humans ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/diagnosis* ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Quality of Life ; Follow-Up Studies

Neutralizing antibodies have been designed to specifically target and bind to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike (S) protein to block severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus from attaching to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). This study reports a distinctive nanobody, designated as VHH21, that directly catalyzes the S-trimer into an irreversible transition state through postfusion conformational changes. Derived from camels immunized with multiple antigens, a set of nanobodies with high affinity for the S1 protein displays abilities to neutralize pseudovirion infections with a broad resistance to variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2, including SARS-CoV and BatRaTG13. Importantly, a super-resolution screening and analysis platform based on visual fluorescence probes was designed and applied to monitor single proteins and protein subunits. A spontaneously occurring dimeric form of VHH21 was obtained to rapidly destroy the S-trimer. Structural analysis via cryogenic electron microscopy revealed that VHH21 targets specific conserved epitopes on the S protein, distinct from the ACE2 binding site on the RBD, which destabilizes the fusion process. This research highlights the potential of VHH21 as an abzyme-like nanobody (nanoabzyme) possessing broad-spectrum binding capabilities and highly effective anti-viral properties and offers a promising strategy for combating coronavirus outbreaks.
Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology* ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism* ; SARS-CoV-2/immunology* ; Animals ; Humans ; Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology* ; Camelus ; COVID-19/immunology* ; Antibodies, Viral/immunology* ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2

Vascular aging plays a key role in the induction of human aging and serves as the pathological basis for the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis (AS), myocardial fibrosis, and hypertension. Research suggests that vascular aging is the initiating link in the aging process of the body, and cellular senescence is a key mechanism of vascular aging. The process of vascular aging mainly involves the senescence of endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells. This review, therefore, focuses on the molecular mechanisms related to telomere dysfunction, oxidative stress, and metabolic disorders involved in senescence of ECs, elaborating on the correlation between the senescence of endothelial cells and the development of vascular dysfunction, AS, myocardial fibrosis, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and at the same time, systematically summarizes the relevant treatment strategies with western medicines, traditional Chinese medicine formulas, and monomers, to provide some theoretical reference for subsequent treatment and research.

Cardiometabolic disease is a clinical syndrome with a causal relationship between metabolic abnormalities and cardiovascular damage. With its global incidence and related mortality rates continually rising， it has become a major health concern worldwide. The role of the gut microbiome and its metabolic products in cardiovascular metabolic health has received widespread attention， with gut microbiota dysbiosis considered a key factor in promoting the development of cardiometabolic disease. Dysbiosis disrupts the balance of the "heart-spleen-intestine" axis， leading to dysfunction of the spleen and intestines， which triggers metabolic disorders and accelerates the progression of cardiometabolic disease. Cardiac dysfunction can also negatively affect spleen and intestinal function， leading to imbalances in the heart and spleen， disharmony in Qi and blood， and exacerbating metabolic anomalies and further dysbiosis， thus forming a vicious cycle. From a modern biological perspective， the gut microbiome and its metabolic products can influence disease progression by modulating inflammatory responses and immune imbalances， leading to endothelial dysfunction and metabolic disorders， thereby increasing the risk of cardiometabolic disease. Additionally， the article proposes strategies for managing cardiometabolic disease by regulating the gut microbiome through a combination of Chinese and western medicine approaches. Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） treatment starts from the gut microbiome， using the "heart-spleen-intestine" axis as a mediator to regulate cardiovascular metabolic health， highlighting the unique advantages of TCM in targeting the gut microbiome to treat cardiometabolic disease. This article takes the TCM theory of the "heart-spleen-intestine" axis as a starting point， discusses the pivotal role played by this axis in the connection between gut microbiome dysbiosis and the development of cardiometabolic disease， aiming to provide a new perspective for the integrated traditional Chinese and western medical research on cardiometabolic disease， offering scientific evidence and practical guidance to improve the prognosis and quality of life for patients.

Introduction::Observational studies have revealed an association between waist circumference (WC) and atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is difficult to infer a causal relationship from observational studies because the observed associations could be confounded by unknown risk factors. Therefore, the causal role of WC in AF is unclear. This study was designed to investigate the causal association between WC and AF using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.Methods::In our two-sample MR analysis, the genetic variation used as an instrumental variable for MR was acquired from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of WC (42 single nucleotide polymorphisms with a genetic significance of P <5 × 10 –8). The data of WC (from the Genetic Investigation of ANthropometric Traits consortium, containing 232,101 participants) and the data of AF (from the European Bioinformatics Institute database, containing 55,114 AF cases and 482,295 controls) were used to assess the causal role of WC on AF. Three different approaches (inverse variance weighted [IVW], MR–Egger, and weighted median regression) were used to ensure that our results more reliable. Results::All three MR analyses provided evidence of a positive causal association between high WC and AF. High WC was suggested to increase the risk of AF based on the IVW method (odds ratio [OR] = 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30–1.58, P = 2.51 × 10 -13). The results of MR–Egger and weighted median regression exhibited similar trends (MR–Egger OR = 1.40 [95% CI, 1.08–1.81], P = 1.61 × 10 -2; weighted median OR = 1.39 [95% CI, 1.21–1.61], P = 1.62 × 10 -6). MR–Egger intercepts and funnel plots showed no directional pleiotropic effects between high WC and AF. Conclusions::Our findings suggest that greater WC is associated with an increased risk of AF. Taking measures to reduce WC may help prevent the occurrence of AF.

Objective:To explore the correlations of brain network functional connectivity (FC) alterations with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathological biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods:A total of 39 patients with cognitive impairment, admitted to Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from January 2020 to December 2022 were recruited; 23 patients were with AD and 16 with non-AD. Clinical data were compared between the 2 groups. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data were collected, and FC differences between brain networks and FC differences within brain networks were compared by independent component analysis. Correlations of FC differences between brain networks and FC differences within brain networks with concentrations of β-amyloid protein 1-42 (Aβ 1-42) and Tau protein in CSF were analyzed. Results:Compared with the non-AD group, AD group had significantly lower Aβ 1-42 in CSF ( P<0.05). Compared with those in the non-AD group, FC alterations between the left frontoparietal network (lFPN) and anterior default mode network (aDMN) and between the visual network (VN) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), as well as FC alterations in lFPN, were significantly increased in AD group ( P<0.05). Compared with those in the non-AD group, FC alterations between lFPN and cerebellar network (CEN), and FC alterations in aDMN, sensorimotor network (SMN) and VN were significantly decreased in AD group ( P<0.05). In AD group, FC in SMN was positively correlated with total Tau and phosphorylated-Tau181 in CSF ( P<0.05); FC between VN and PCC was positively correlated with total Tau in CSF ( P<0.05). CSF Aβ 1-42 was positively correlated with FC alterations in aDMN and VN, but negatively correlated with FC in FPN ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In AD patients, characteristic changes in FC within and between multiple brain networks are noted, which are related to changes of Tau protein and Aβ 1-42 in CSF.