ObjectiveTo explore the changes in volatile components， total polysaccharides， enzyme activity， and chromaticity value of Myristicae Semen Koji（MSK） during the fermentation process， and conduct correlation analysis. MethodsBased on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（GC-MS）， the changes of volatile components in MSK at different fermentation times were identified. The phenol sulfuric acid method， dinitrosalicylic acid method（DNS）， and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt method（CMC-Na） were used to investigate the total polysaccharide content， amylase activity， and cellulase activity during the fermentation process. Visual analysis technology was used to explore the changes in chromaticity values， revealing the fermentation process of MSK and the dynamic changes of various measurement indicators， partial least squares-discriminant analysis（PLS-DA） was used to explore the differential compounds of MSK at different fermentation degrees， and Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between volatile components of MSK and total polysaccharides， enzyme activity， and chromaticity values. ResultsA total of 60 volatile compounds were identified from MSK， the relative contents of components such as （+）-α-pinene， β-phellandrene， β-pinene， （+）-limonene， and p-cymene obviously increased， while the relative contents of components such as safrole， methyl isoeugenol， methyleugenol， myristicin， and elemicin significantly decreased. During the fermentation process， the total polysaccharide content showed an upward trend， while the activities of amylase and cellulase showed an initial increase followed by a decrease， and reached their maximum value at 40 h. the overall brightness（L^*） and total color difference（ΔE^*） gradually increased， while the changes in red-green value（a^*） and yellow-blue value（b^*） were not obvious. PLS-DA results showed that MSK could be clearly distinguished at different fermentation times， and 13 differential biomarkers were screened out. Pearson correlation analysis results showed that the contents of α-terpinene， β-phellandrene， methyleugenol， β-cubebene and myristic acid had an obvious correlation with chromaticity values. ConclusionAfter fermentation， the volatile components， total polysaccharides， amylase activity， and cellulase activity of MSK undergo significant changes， and there is a clear correlation between them and chromaticity values， which reveals the dynamic changes in the fermentation process and related indicators of MSK， laying a foundation for the quality control.

Oxidative stress due to aberrant metabolism is considered as a crucial contributor to diabetes and its complications. Hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia boost excessive reactive oxygen species generation by elevated mitochondrial respiration, increased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity, and enhanced pro-oxidative processes, including protein kinase C pathways, hexosamine, polyol, and advanced glycation endproducts, which exacerbate oxidative stress. Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the onset of diabetes and its associated complications by impairing insulin production, increasing insulin resistance, maintaining hyperglycemic memory, and inducing systemic inflammation. A more profound comprehension of the molecular processes that link oxidative stress to diabetes is crucial to new preventive and therapeutic strategies. Therefore, this review discusses the mechanisms underlying how oxidative stress contributes to diabetes mellitus and its complications. We also summarize the current approaches for prevention and treatment by targeting the oxidative stress pathways in diabetes.
Oxidative Stress/physiology* ; Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus/physiopathology* ; Diabetes Complications/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Glycation End Products, Advanced/metabolism* ; Animals

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic, idiopathic, and recurrent gastrointestinal disorder with an unclear etiology and uncertain pathogenesis. Traditional treatment strategies rely on frequent administration of high doses of medication to reduce inflammation, whereas these approaches have limitations and may induce potential complications. Therefore, finding more effective and safe therapeutic drugs and methods is particularly important. Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles(PDELNs) are nano-sized vesicles with a lipid bilayer structure that are secreted by plant cells. The bioactive molecules contained within, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, can serve as information carriers, playing a role in the transmission of information and substances between cells and across species. PDELNs can carry and transfer their own bioactive substances or act as carriers for delivering other active components or drugs. Due to the high biocompatibility, low toxicity, and significant bioactivity, PDELNs have garnered widespread attention. Compared with other exosomes, PDELNs are not destroyed in the gastrointestinal tract when taken orally and can reach the intestines. This unique property makes PDELNs a promising oral nanodrug for treating intestinal diseases, showing great potential in this area. This article reviews recent research literature on PDELNs regarding the physicochemical characteristics, extraction and purification methods, functions, application characteristics and mechanisms in the treatment of intestinal diseases, and use as a carrier for treating intestinal diseases, aiming to provide a reference for the use of PDELNs in the treatment of intestinal diseases.
Humans ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Animals ; Intestinal Diseases/metabolism* ; Plants/metabolism* ; Drug Carriers/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Nanoparticles/chemistry*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the biomechanical properties of four internal fixation methods in a lower cervical spine injury model using the finite element method. METHODS: Cervical CT data of a 28-year-old healthy adult male were utilized to establish a finite element model of the normal cervical spine and a lower cervical spine three-column injury model. Four internal fixation methods were then applied to the three-column injury model, resulting in four groups:Group A, anterior cervical locked-plate(ACLP) fixation system model(anterior approach);Group B, posterior cervical pedicle screw fixation model (posterior approach);Group C, combined anterior and posterior cervical pedicle screw fixation model; Group D, Novel composite anterior cervical internal fixation model. A 75 N axial compressive load and a 1.0 N·m pure moment were applied to the upper surface of the cervical spine model to simulate flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral bending movements. The intervertebral range of motion(ROM) and stress distribution of the internal fixators under different motion conditions were compared across all models. RESULTS: Compared with the normal model, the reductions in overall intervertebral ROM for each group under flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral bending were as follows:Group A, 24.04°, 23.12°, 6.24°, and 9.06°;Group B, 24.42°, 24.34°, 6.48°, and 9.20°;Group C, 25.43°, 25.29°, 7.17°, and 9.57°;Group D, 24.75°, 25.5°, 6.71°, and 9.12°. The peak stress values of the internal fixators in each group were:Group A, 53.9 MPa, 79.9 MPa, 61.4 MPa, and 80.3 MPa;Group B, 218.3 MPa, 105.4 MPa, 206.6 MPa, and 186.8 MPa;Group C, 40.8 MPa, 97.2 MPa, 47.1 MPa, and 39.4 MPa;Group D, 93.0 MPa, 144.0 MPa, 64.8 MPa, and 106.3 MPa. CONCLUSION The biomechanical properties of the novel composite anterior cervical internal fixation method are similar to those of the combined anterior-posterior fixation method, and superior to both the anterior cervical ACLP plate-screw fixation and posterior cervical pedicle screw fixation methods.
Humans ; Finite Element Analysis ; Cervical Vertebrae/physiopathology* ; Male ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Adult ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Range of Motion, Articular

Hypercholesterolemia is a significant risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. 2',3',5'-Tri-O-acetyl-N ⁶-(3-hydroxyphenyl) adenosine (IMM-H007), a novel AMPK agonist, has shown protective effects in metabolic diseases. However, its impact on cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism in hypercholesterolemia remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effects and specific mechanisms by which IMM-H007 regulates cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism. To achieve this goal, we used Apoe ^-/- and Ldlr ^-/- mice to establish a hypercholesterolemia/atherosclerosis model. Additionally, hepatocyte-specific Ampka1/2 knockout mice were subjected to a 5-week high-cholesterol diet to establish hypercholesterolemia, while atherosclerosis was induced via AAV-PCSK9 injection combined with a 16-week high-cholesterol diet. Our results demonstrated that IMM-H007 improved cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism in mice with hypercholesterolemia. Mechanistically, IMM-H007 modulated the AMPKα1/2-LDLR signaling pathway, increasing cholesterol uptake in the liver. Furthermore, IMM-H007 activated the AMPKα1-FXR pathway, promoting the conversion of hepatic cholesterol to bile acids. Additionally, IMM-H007 prevented hepatic steatosis by activating the AMPKα1/2-ATGL pathway. In conclusion, our study suggests that IMM-H007 is a promising therapeutic agent for improving hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis through the activation of AMPKα.

Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Constipation/therapy* ; Probiotics/therapeutic use* ; Patients

Objective To investigate the impact of exosomal miRNAs derived from endoplasmic reticulum-stressed(ERS)head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)cells on macrophages.Methods This study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee.The expression levels of ERS-associated proteins,including protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)and glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78),in HNSCC tissues and para-tumor tissues were detected by Western blot(WB)and quantitative real-time PCR(RT-qPCR).HN4 human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells were treated with 500 U/mL interferon-γ(IFN-γ)for 48 h to induce ER stress,and exo-somes secreted by ER-stressed HN4 cells were collected and identified.The types of miRNAs in exosomes were identi-fied through bioinformatics analysis,and the target genes of miRNAs were predicted.Macrophages were transfected with miRNA,co cultured with collected exosomes,and the expression of PTEN in macrophages was knocked down.The downstream signaling pathway regulated by exosomal miRNAs was studied by WB and RT-qPCR.Results Compared with that in para-tumor tissues,the expression level of ER stress-associated proteins in HNSCC tissues was increased(P＜0.05).RNA-seq analysis revealed that miR-26a-5p was highly upregulated in ER-stressed HN4 cell-derived exo-somes(P＜0.05).PTEN is the target gene for miR-26a-5p.miR-26a-5p increased the expression level of PD-L1 in mac-rophages and downregulated the expression of PTEN(P＜0.05).Macrophages co cultured with ERS extracellular vesi-cles showed an increase in miR-26a-5p and PD-L1 expression,a decrease in PTEN expression,and an increase in p-AKT expression(P＜0.05).Knock down the expression of PTEN in macrophages and increase the expression of PD-L1(P＜0.01).Conclusion ERS HNSCC cell-derived exosomal miR-26a-5p promotes the expression of PD-L1 in macro-phages through the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective This study aims to monitor the mRNA ratio of podocin to nephrin (PNR) in glomerular podocytes of early diabetic kidney disease (DKD) rat models. The feasibility of using PNR as an early diagnostic indicator for DKD was evaluated by comparing it with the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (U-ACR). Additionally, the early intervention effects of valsartan and fosinopril sodium on DKD were compared. Methods The DKD rat model was established by caudal intravenous injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dosage of 60 mg/kg. The early changes in PNR and U-ACR were monitored and compared, followed by timely intervention with valsartan and fosinopril sodium. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) was used to observe glomerular structure, while transmission electron microscopy examined the ultrastructure of glomerular podocytes. ResultsPNR reached the critical value(≥1) on day 9 after modeling, earlier than U-ACR, which reached the critical value(≥30 mg/g) on day 15. Intervention with valsartan and fosinopril sodium on day 9 after modeling significantly reduced U-ACR (P < 0.05), with low-dose valsartan showing better results than high-dose (P>0.05), while high-dose fosinopril sodium outperformed low-dose (P>0.05). Both low doses of valsartan and fosinopril sodium significantly reduced PNR (P<0.05), with no significant effect observed for high doses. The interventions with valsartan and fosinopril sodium improved and maintained glomerular structure and podocyte arrangement. ConclusionPNR changes earlier than U-ACR, indicating its potential as an early diagnostic marker for DKD in rats. Early intervention with valsartan and fosinopril sodium demonstrates a therapeutic effect on DKD in rats.

Objective To explore the role and mechanism of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)overexpressing transglutaminase 2(TGM2)in lactate-mediated oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells.Methods Twenty 6-week-old male SD rats(350±50 g)were used to extract nucleus pulposus cells.Lactic acid was utilized to establish a model of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in primary nucleus pulposus cells.Lentiviral vectors carrying TGM2 were employed to transfect BMSCs to overexpress the protein,and then exosomes were extracted from the BMSCs and identified.Subsequently,to investigate the potential mechanisms of TGM2-overexpressing exosomes against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells,flow cytometry was used to detect the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS),and Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay were applied to measure the expression levels of Bax,Bcl-2,Cleaved-Caspase3,p-PI3K,p-Akt,n-Nrf2,c-Nrf2 and HO-1,and Nrf2 nuclear translocation.The rate of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells and changes in the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway were assessed in 4 groups of cells(n=3):control group,lactate treatment group,lactate+control exosome group,and lactate+TGM2-overexpressing exosomes group.Results Lactic acid of 10 mmol/L was found to be more effective in inducing oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells(P＜0.05).Both control BMSCs and TGM2-overexpressing BMSCs could produce exosomes and stably overexpress TGM2(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Compared with the lactate treatment group,the nucleus pulposus cells in the lactate+TGM2-overexpressing exosome group and the lactate+control exosome group showed reduced apoptotic rates(P＜0.05),as well as decreased ROS level(P＜0.05).The lactate+TGM2-overexpressing exosome group exhibited better anti-apoptosis and ROS accumulation effects(P＜0.05).Additionally,the expression of Bax and Cleaved-Caspase3 was decreased(P＜0.05),that of Bcl-2 protein was increased(P＜0.05),the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt was enhanced(P＜0.05),and both Nrf2 nuclear translocation and the expression of the antioxidant stress factor HO-1 were increased in nucleus pulposus cells.The lactic acid+TGM2-overexpressing exosome group showed stronger anti-apoptotic effects and activation of the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway(P＜0.05).Conclusion Exosomes derived from BMSCs overexpressing TGM2 can inhibit lactate-mediated oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells,and the mechanism may be related to the activation of the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of gene polymorphism on opioid-induced constipation. METHODS The target genes related to opioid-induced constipation were screened out through searching guidelines， databases and evidence-based medical data， and then 100 cancer pain patients who received opioid drugs for analgesia were included as the study subjects. According to whether there were adverse effects of constipation after medication or not， they were divided into test group and control group， with 50 cases in each group. The target gene was detected by PCR or fluorescence in situ hybridization. The SNPStats program was used to carry out Hardy-Weinberg balance test and correlation analysis between gene polymorphism and opioid-induced constipation. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relevant predictive factors of opioid-induced constipation， and receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve of subjects was drawn to analyze the effectiveness of each predictive factor in predicting opioid-induced constipation. RESULTS CYP2D6， CYP3A5*3， ABCB1 and OPRM1 were selected as target genes for detection. The results of genotype detection showed that the frequency distribution of CYP2D6 （rs1065852， rs1135822， rs16947， rs28371725， rs28371735）， CYP3A5*3 （058rs776746）， ABCB1 （062rs1045642）， OPRM1 （047rs1799971） alleles were consistent with Hardy-Weinbergbalance test. The correlation analysis results showed that the proportion of genotype GG and AG in CYP3A5*3 （058rs776746， 163.com A＞G） and genotype AA and AG in OPRM1 （047rs1799971， A＞G） of patients was significantly higher in test group than that in the control group （P＜0.05）. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that medication duration， CYP3A5*3 and OPRM1 gene polymorphism could be used as predictors of opioid- induced constipation in patients （P＜0.05）. The ROC curve analysis results showed that the areas under the ROC curves for medication duration and CYP3A5*3， OPRM1 gene polymorphism were 0.648， 0.640 and 0.670， respectively， with the optimal cutoff values of 124.0， 0.5 and 0.5， respectively. CONCLUSIONS Genotype GG and AG in CYP3A5*3 （058rs776746，A＞G） and genotype AA and AG in OPRM1 （047rs1799971，A＞G） are associated with opioid-induced constipation， which are expected to become clinical predictors of opioid-induced constipation， and more attention should be paid to the occurrence of constipation in patients who have been taking opioids for a long time.