Persistent inflammation plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of renal fibrosis. Activation of the pattern recognition receptor retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) is implicated in the initiation of inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the upstream mechanisms that regulates the activation of RIG-I and its downstream signaling pathway. Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were used to establish unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis model, and the renal tissue samples were collected 14 days later for analysis. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-treated mouse renal tubular epithelial cells were used in in vitro studies. The results demonstrated that, compared to the control group, UUO kidney exhibited significant fibrosis, which was accompanied by the increases of RIG-I, p-NF-κB p65 and inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-1β. Additionally, the protein level of the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF125 was significantly downregulated and predominantly localized in the renal tubular epithelial cells. Similarly, the treatment of tubular cells with TGF-β induced the increases in RIG-I, p-NF-κB p65 and inflammatory cytokines while decreasing RNF125. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays confirmed that RNF125 was able to interact with RIG-I. Overexpression of RNF125 promoted the ubiquitination of RIG-I, and accelerated its degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Overexpression of RNF125 in UUO kidneys and in vitro tubular cells effectively mitigated the inflammatory response and renal fibrosis. In summary, our results demonstrated that the decrease in RNF125 under pathological conditions led to reduction in RIG-I ubiquitination and degradation, activation of the downstream NF-κB signaling pathway and increase in inflammatory cytokine production, which promoted the progression of renal fibrosis.
Animals ; Fibrosis ; Male ; Ubiquitination ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; DEAD Box Protein 58 ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/physiology* ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Ureteral Obstruction/complications* ; Kidney/pathology* ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology*

Amber and subfossil resins are subjects of interdisciplinary research across multiple fields. However, due to their diverse origins and complex compositions, different disciplines vary in their definitions and functional interpretations. In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), amber has been utilized as a medicinal material since ancient time, with extensive historical documentation. However, its classification, provenance, and nomenclature remain ambiguous, and authentic medicinal amber artifacts are exceedingly rare. This study employed Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) to characterize amber and subfossil resins from various geological sources and commercially "medicinal amber". Additionally, historical literature and market surveys were analyzed to explore their provenance, composition, and functional attributes. The results indicate that amber and subfossil resins from different sources and with different compositions exhibit distinct fingerprint characteristics in the FTIR spectral range of 1 800-700 cm~(-1). "Medicinal amber" available in the market primarily consists of subfossil or modern resins, significantly differing in composition and structure from geological amber. This study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research on amber identification and resource management. It is essential to establish a systematic database of amber and subfossil resin characteristics and integrate modern analytical techniques to enhance research on their composition, pharmacological mechanisms, and potential therapeutic effects, thereby promoting the standardized utilization of amber resources and advancing the modernization of TCM.
Amber/history* ; Archaeology ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Polysaccharides, predominantly extracted from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as Lycium barbarum, Angelica sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Dendrobium officinale, Ganoderma lucidum, and Poria cocos, represent principal bioactive constituents extensively utilized in Chinese medicine. These compounds have demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory capabilities, especially anti-liver injury activities, while exhibiting minimal adverse effects. This review summarized recent studies to elucidate the hepatoprotective efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms of these herbal polysaccharides. It underscored the role of these polysaccharides in regulating hepatic function, enhancing immunological responses, and improving antioxidant capacities, thus contributing to the attenuation of hepatocyte apoptosis and liver protection. Analyses of molecular pathways in these studies revealed the intricate and indispensable functions of traditional Chinese herbal polysaccharides in liver injury management. Therefore, this review provides a thorough examination of the hepatoprotective attributes and molecular mechanisms of these medicinal polysaccharides, thereby offering valuable insights for the advancement of polysaccharide-based therapeutic research and their potential clinical applications in liver disease treatment.
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Liver Diseases/drug therapy* ; Antioxidants ; Polysaccharides/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective:To understand molecular characteristics and antibiotic resistance of Clostridioides ( C.) difficile isolated from children in China, and provide data support the development of disease risk assessment and burden studies. Methods:A total of 155 strains of C. difficile isolated from children aged <12 years in 14 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) in China from 2010 to 2023 were used for the analyses on molecular characteristics and antibiotic resistance of C. difficile by PCR and drug susceptibility test. Results:A total of 26 sequence types (STs) and 18 ribotypes (RTs) were identified in the 155 C. difficile isolates, in which ST3 (20.65%), ST54 (16.13%), ST35 (12.90%), and RT012/ICDC007 (14.84%), RT001/ICDC001 (11.61%), RT046/ICDC018 (8.39%) were the most common. One highly virulent strain with RT078 and 27 non-toxin-producing strains were also found; the predominant toxin gene was tcdA+ tcdB+ cdt-. All the strains were sensitive to metronidazole and vancomycin, and there were 29 multidrug-resistant strains, in which 1 strain was resistant to all the seven antibiotics except for vancomycin and metronidazole. Conclusions:Molecular characteristics and antibiotic resistance of C. difficile in children were similar to those in whole population in China, but there were regional distribution differences. It is necessary to strengthen the routine drug-resistance surveillance for C. difficile infection in children in China.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases are common clinical conditions. The number of patients with TMJ diseases is large, and the etiology, epidemiology, disease spectrum, and treatment of the disease remain controversial and unknown. To understand and master the current situation of the occurrence, development and prevention of TMJ diseases, as well as to identify the patterns in etiology, incidence, drug sensitivity, and prognosis is crucial for alleviating patients′suffering.This will facilitate in-depth medical research, effective disease prevention measures, and the formulation of corresponding health policies. Cohort construction and research has an irreplaceable role in precise disease prevention and significant improvement in diagnosis and treatment levels. Large-scale cohort studies are needed to explore the relationship between potential risk factors and outcomes of TMJ diseases, and to observe disease prognoses through long-term follw-ups. The consensus aims to establish a standard conceptual frame work for a cohort study on patients with TMJ disease while providing ideas for cohort data standards to this condition. TMJ disease cohort data consists of both common data standards applicable to all specific disease cohorts as well as disease-specific data standards. Common data were available for each specific disease cohort. By integrating different cohort research resources, standard problems or study variables can be unified. Long-term follow-up can be performed using consistent definitions and criteria across different projects for better core data collection. It is hoped that this consensus will be facilitate the development cohort studies of TMJ diseases.

Objective:To explore the optimal index of rotational displacement of femoral neck fractures by modeling the axial rotational displacement of femoral neck fractures after reduction and based on X-ray projections.Methods:Six dry human femur specimens, comprising 2 males and 4 females, were utilized in the study. Design and manufacture a proximal femur ortholateral and oblique X-ray casting jigs and mounts. The femoral neck fracture was modeled on the femoral specimen, with Pauwells 30°, 50°, and 70° models (2 each) made according to Pauwells typing. The fractures were manually repositioned with residual anterior 20°, 40° and 60° axial rotational displacements. Each fracture model was projected at different angles (pedicled 40°, pedicled 20°, vertical 0°, cephalad 20°, and cephalad 40°), and the trabecular angle and Garden's alignment index of the model were measured to observe the imaging characteristics of the fracture line on the medial oblique and lateral oblique radiographs.Results:In the presence of a 20° and 40° anterior rotational displacement following reduction of a femoral neck fracture, the trabecular angle in the rotationally displaced group was not significantly different from that of the anatomically repositioned group in various projection positions. However, when a residual rotational displacement of 60° was present, the trabeculae appeared blurred at most projection angles in the Pauwells 30° and 50° models, failing to measure trabecular angles. In the Pauwells 70° fracture model, the trabecular angle in the rotational displacement group was significantly different from that in the anatomical reduction group. In anteroposterior radiographs, when the anterior rotation displacement was 60° in the Pauwells 70° group, Garden's contralateral index showed an unsatisfactory restoration (150°, 142°), whereas all rotationally displaced models in the Pauwells 30° and Pauwells 50° groups had a Garden's contralateral index of >155°, which achieved an acceptable restoration. In lateral radiographs, all rotational displacement models with Garden's alignment index>180° failed to achieve acceptable repositioning, and the larger the Pauwells angle the greater the Garden's alignment index at the same rotational displacement. In the internal oblique position with a bias towards the foot side, the image showed partial overlap between the femoral head and the shaft, making it difficult to assess the quality of the reduction. Conversely, when projected cephalad, the femoral neck appeared longer, particularly at a projection angle of 40° cephalad, allowing for clear observation of the fracture line and the anatomy of the proximal femur. The trabeculae were not well visualized in the external oblique position.Conclusion:There are limitations in applying the trabecular angle to assess the axial rotational displacement of the femoral head after reduction of femoral neck fractures. The Pauwells 70° with residual rotational anterior displacement of 60° was the only way to detect axial rotational displacement of the femoral head on anteroposterior radiographs Garden's alignment index. For the determination of axial rotational displacement of the femoral head, the Garden's alignment index on lateral radiographs provides higher reliability.

Examining mechanisms involved in the mutual regulation between the muscular system and the skeletal system, elucidating the key issues responsible for loss of muscle and bone mass and strength, and thus halting the progression of these conditions are critical measures for reducing fractures caused by falls and subsequent disability and mortality.At present, most studies have treated the muscular system and the skeletal system separately, often ignoring the mutual regulation and connections between them.This article reviews the current research progress on the mechanisms of interaction between the two systems, aiming to provide a basis for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disuse-related diseases in the elderly population.

Objective To investigate the intrinsic neural mechanism of aggressive behavior in CD 1 mice.Methods CD1 mice with aggressive behavior were screened out by resident intruder test.After the aggressive conditioned pair preference was further verified,the activated brain regions of the whole brain were labeled with c-Fos,and the types of neurons activated by the aggressive behavior were analyzed by double immunofluorescence labeling.Finally,the effects of activity of these neurons regulated by optogenetics on aggressive behavior were observed.Results The c-Fos screening revealed that about 82％of the CD1 mice showed aggressive behavior.After the occurrence of aggressive behavior,the main activation occured in the medial prefrontal cortex(mPFC),and the results of immunofluorescence double labeling showed that the c-Fos positive neurons in the mPFC were mainly glutamatergic neurons.Finally,glutamatergic neurons in the mPFC could be activated by optogenetics,and the activation inhibited the aggressive behavior of CD1 mice.In contrast,optogenetics could inhibit glutamatergic neurons in the mPFC and then promote the aggressive behavior of CD1 mice.Conclusion Glutamatergic neurons in the mPFC are an important component in the regulation of aggressive behavior in CD1 mice.

The presence of 4-aminophenol(4-AP)in wastewater from the pharmaceutical industry is a common occurrence due to its role as a byproduct or intermediate during the hydrolysis process of paracetamol metabolism,resulting in significant water pollution.Therefore,it is crucial to employ a straightforward and reliable analytical approach for detecting 4-AP in the environment.In this study,a specific type of metal-organic framework(MOF)material called[Cd4(ABTC)2(H2O)12]n(SXNU-4-Cd,H4ABTC=3,3′,5,5′-azobenzene tetracarboxylic acid)was successfully synthesized,which exhibited a unique two-dimensional layered structure consisting of three intertwined spiral chains forming a distinctive″twist braid″.These layers underwent π-π stacking,creating three-dimensional channels with azo bonds decorating the channel walls.This p-π interaction significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of SXNU-4-Cd towards 4-AP,thereby improving its recognition sensitivity.The fabricated SXNU-4-Cd/GCE sensor showed high sensitivity towards 4-AP in the linear concentration range of 0.1-130 μmol/L,with a detection limit of 8.6 nmol/L,and also exhibited good anti-interference capability,reproducibility and stability.The SXNU-4-Cd/GCE sensor was successfully used for detecting 4-AP in lake water sample,with spiked recoveries of 95.9%-102.8%.This study introduced a novel technique that utilized pure Cd-MOFs to develop electrochemical sensor capable of effectively detecting 4-AP in water samples.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Chonghe soft extract on ulcer wound healing in diabetic rats through protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian Sirolimus target protein(mTOR)-mediated nucleotides binding oligomeric acid domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome inactivation.Methods Thirty six SD rats with diabetic ulcer,which were established by feeding with high glucose and high fat diet and injecting intraperitoneally with streptozocin(STZ)combined with skin defect,were randomly divided into model group,Chonghe soft extract group and growth factor group,with twelve rats in each group.Another twelve SD rats were injected an equal dose of citric acid-sodium citrate buffer solution and used as blank group.The blank group and the model group were not received drug intervention,but the Chonghe soft extract group and the growth factor group were externally applied Chonghe soft extract and growth factor gel,respectively.The wound healing of each group was observed and recorded.After 7 days and 14 days of treatment,the histopathology of wound were observed by HE staining and the number of fibroblasts were counted.The levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-α in serum were detected by ELISA.The expression of autophagy-related protein Beclin-1 and LC3Ⅱ in granulation tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.The expression of NLRP3,apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),Caspase1,Pro-Caspase1 and Akt/mTOR autophagy pathway-related proteins Akt,p-Akt,mTOR and p-mTOR were detected by Western Blot.Results Compared with the blank control group,the pathological wound repair of the model group was delayed on the 7th day and 14th day,the number of fibroblasts per unit area was decreased(P<0.01).The levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-α were increased(P<0.01).The expression levels of ASC,Pro-Caspase1,Caspase1,and NLRP3 were increased in the wound tissues(P<0.01),while the expression levels of Beclin-1,LC3-Ⅱ,mTOR,p-mTOR,Akt and p-Akt were decreased in the wound tissues(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the pathological injury in Chonghe soft extract group and growth factor group was significantly improved on the 7th day and 14th day.The number of fibroblasts per unit area was significantly increased(P<0.01).The levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and TNF-α were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The expression levels of ASC,Pro-Caspase1,Caspase1,and NLRP3 in the wound tissues were decreased(P<0.01),while the expression levels of Beclin-1,LC3-Ⅱ,mTOR,p-mTOR,Akt and p-Akt were increased(P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Chonghe soft extract can reduce inflammatory reaction,promote the generation of fibro,regulate the Akt/mTOR-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome inactivation,improve the level of autophagy in wound,and promote ulcer wound healing in diabetic rats.