ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Yueju Wan on the 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） signaling pathway in rats with functional dyspepsia （FD） and to explore its therapeutic mechanism in the treatment of FD. MethodsSixty Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a normal group， model group， mosapride group （1.575 mg·kg^-1）， and Yueju Wan low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （0.735， 1.47， and 2.94 g·kg^-1， respectively）. The FD rat model was established using GUO's tail-clamping stimulation combined with irregular feeding. After 14 days of modeling， rats were administered the corresponding drugs by gavage for 28 days. After treatment， gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were measured. Serum levels of 5-HT， tryptophan hydroxylase （TPH）， and substance P （SP） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and acetylcholine （ACh） levels were determined by chemical methods. Histopathological changes in the gastric antrum were observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot were used to assess the mRNA and protein expression levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 receptor （5-HT4R）， SP， and acetylcholinesterase （AChE） in colon tissue， as well as 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor （5-HT3R）， SP， and AChE in hypothalamic tissue. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） was used to examine the expression of 5-HT and 5-HT4R in the colon and 5-HT and 5-HT3R in the hypothalamus. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate in the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Serum levels of 5-HT， SP， ACh， and TPH were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. Histopathological examination revealed irregular arrangement of glands in the gastric antrum， slight mucosal atrophy， and mild inflammatory cell infiltration. The mRNA and protein expression levels of 5-HT4R， SP， and AChE in colon tissue， as well as 5-HT3R， SP， and AChE in hypothalamic tissue， were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and 5-HT protein expression in both the colon and hypothalamus was also significantly reduced （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all Yueju Wan groups showed significantly increased gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate （P<0.01）. The glands in the gastric antrum were more regularly arranged， with no inflammatory cell infiltration observed. Serum levels of 5-HT， SP， ACh， and TPH were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression levels of 5-HT4R， SP， and AChE in colon tissue and 5-HT3R， SP， and AChE in hypothalamic tissue were significantly upregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and 5-HT protein expression in both the colon and hypothalamus was significantly increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionYueju Wan has preventive and therapeutic effects on FD， and its mechanism may be related to regulation of the 5-HT signaling pathway， promotion of brain-gut peptide secretion， and enhancement of gastric motility.

Objective: To investigate the situation and influencing factors of school bullying experienced by primary and middle school students, so as to provide the basis for formulating school bullying intervention measures and promoting students' physical and mental health development. Methods: All the counties (cities, districts) in Zhejiang Province were stratified to urban and suburban areas, primary, junior high and senior high school students were selected using a stratified cluster sampling method. Basic information, lifestyle and school bullying were collected through questionnaire surveys. Factors affecting school bullying experienced by primary and middle school students were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Totally 137 846 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 97.17%. There were 72 526 males (52.61%) and 65 320 females (47.39%). There were 47 561 primary school students (34.50%), 47 701 junior high school students (34.61%) and 42 584 senior high school students (30.89%). A total of 3 987 students suffered from school bullying, accounting for 2.89%. The proportions of being maliciously teased, being intentionally excluded from group activities/isolated, being teased about physical defects or appearance, being hit/kicked/pushed/shoved/locked in a room, being threatened, and being extorted for money were 2.04%, 1.18%, 1.11%, 0.86%, 0.84% and 0.83%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the students who were males (OR=1.122, 95%CI: 1.048-1.202), lived in suburban areas (OR=1.322, 95%CI: 1.233-1.418), lived in areas with medium (OR=1.086, 95%CI: 1.006-1.173) or underdeveloped (OR=1.298, 95%CI: 1.191-1.415) economic level, had higher academic levels (junior high school, OR=1.380, 95%CI: 1.270-1.499; senior high school, OR=1.210, 95%CI: 1.083-1.351), lived on campus (OR=1.489, 95%CI: 1.372-1.616), engaged in fights (OR=6.029, 95%CI: 5.585-6.509), attempted to smoke (OR=1.320, 95%CI: 1.128-1.545), drank (OR=1.735, 95%CI: 1.575-1.912), were scolded and beaten by parents (OR=1.972, 95%CI: 1.822-2.135) and were obese (OR=1.240, 95%CI: 1.132-1.360) were more likely to experience school bullying. Conclusion The harm of school bullying to the physical and mental health of primary and middle school students should be taken seriously, and active policy measures should be adopted to strengthen intervention.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder posing significant risks to maternal and infant health, with a lack of effective early screening markers. Therefore, identifying early screening biomarkers for GDM with higher sensitivity and specificity is urgently needed. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was employed to screen for key circular RNAs (circRNAs), which were then evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics, circRNA expression, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of circRNAs for early and mid-pregnancy GDM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between circRNA levels and oral glucose tolerance test results. A predictive model for early GDM was established using logistic regression. Results: Significant alterations in circRNA expression profiles were detected in GDM patients, with hsa_circ_0031560 and hsa_ circ_0000793 notably upregulated during the first and second trimesters. These circRNAs were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and effectively differentiated GDM patients, with second trimester cohorts achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.836. In first trimester cohorts, these circRNAs identified potential GDM patients with AUCs of 0.832 and 0.765, respectively. The early GDM prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.904, validated in two independent cohorts. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0031560, hsa_circ_0000793, and the developed model serve as biomarkers for early prediction or midterm diagnosis of GDM, offering clinical tools for early GDM screening.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder posing significant risks to maternal and infant health, with a lack of effective early screening markers. Therefore, identifying early screening biomarkers for GDM with higher sensitivity and specificity is urgently needed. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was employed to screen for key circular RNAs (circRNAs), which were then evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics, circRNA expression, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of circRNAs for early and mid-pregnancy GDM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between circRNA levels and oral glucose tolerance test results. A predictive model for early GDM was established using logistic regression. Results: Significant alterations in circRNA expression profiles were detected in GDM patients, with hsa_circ_0031560 and hsa_ circ_0000793 notably upregulated during the first and second trimesters. These circRNAs were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and effectively differentiated GDM patients, with second trimester cohorts achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.836. In first trimester cohorts, these circRNAs identified potential GDM patients with AUCs of 0.832 and 0.765, respectively. The early GDM prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.904, validated in two independent cohorts. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0031560, hsa_circ_0000793, and the developed model serve as biomarkers for early prediction or midterm diagnosis of GDM, offering clinical tools for early GDM screening.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder posing significant risks to maternal and infant health, with a lack of effective early screening markers. Therefore, identifying early screening biomarkers for GDM with higher sensitivity and specificity is urgently needed. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was employed to screen for key circular RNAs (circRNAs), which were then evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics, circRNA expression, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of circRNAs for early and mid-pregnancy GDM was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between circRNA levels and oral glucose tolerance test results. A predictive model for early GDM was established using logistic regression. Results: Significant alterations in circRNA expression profiles were detected in GDM patients, with hsa_circ_0031560 and hsa_ circ_0000793 notably upregulated during the first and second trimesters. These circRNAs were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and effectively differentiated GDM patients, with second trimester cohorts achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.836. In first trimester cohorts, these circRNAs identified potential GDM patients with AUCs of 0.832 and 0.765, respectively. The early GDM prediction model achieved an AUC of 0.904, validated in two independent cohorts. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0031560, hsa_circ_0000793, and the developed model serve as biomarkers for early prediction or midterm diagnosis of GDM, offering clinical tools for early GDM screening.

AIM: To investigate timing of glucocorticoids use in the treatment of syphilitic uveitis.METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 110 patients(134 eyes)with syphilitic uveitis diagnosed from January 2008 to January 2021, of whom 24 were binocular. The time from onset to treatment was 1 d to 3 mo. They were divided into three groups according to the treatment, including 98 eyes with completed clearely fundus lesions and no abnormalities in fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)+ indocyanine green angiography(ICGA)+ optical coherence tomography(OCT)after treated with antibiotics alone for 1 to 2 wk in single antibiotics group, 26 eyes with in completely cleared fundus lesions and retinal vessels wall staining observed by FFA or choroidal weak fluorescence observed by ICGA after standard antisyphilitic treatments for 1 to 2 wk in first antibiotics followed by hormones group, and 10 eyes treated according to uveitis at other hospital in the absence of a clear cause of disease, that was intravenously dripped with 250 mL of normal saline and 10 mg of dexamethasone once a day for 7 to 10 d in total, then clearly diagnosed as syphilitic uveitis by Treponema pallidum particle agglutination(TPPA)test after receiving treatment for 10 to 14 d in hormones followed by antibiotics group. The best corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, fundus photography, OCT, FFA, ICGA and prognosis of the three groups of patients were compared.RESULTS: There were statistically significant difference in the best corrected visual acuity, optic disc, retinal vasculitis, choroidal weak fluorescence, and RPR titer before and after treatment of the three groups of patients. The prognosis of the hormones followed by antibiotics group was lower than that in the single antibiotics group and antibiotics followed by hormones group, and the proportion of “good” prognosis in the antibiotics followed by hormones group was larger than that in other groups.CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and regular treatment of syphilitic uveitis has a good overall prognosis, and giving large doses of glucocorticoids before thorough antisyphilitic treatments is not conducive to the recovery of disease. In patients with residual lesions after standard antisyphilitic, the application of small doses of glucocorticoids is helpful for the recovery of the disease.

Although clinical evidence suggests that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is an established major risk factor for heart failure, it remains unexplored whether sleep disorder-caused hepatic damage contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Here, our findings revealed that sleep fragmentation (SF) displayed notable hepatic detrimental phenotypes, including steatosis and oxidative damage, along with significant abnormalities in cardiac structure and function. All these pathological changes persisted even after sleep recovery for 2 consecutive weeks or more, displaying memory properties. Mechanistically, persistent higher expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4) in the liver was the key initiator of SF-accelerated damage phenotypes. SF epigenetically controlled the acetylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27ac) enrichment at the Nox4 promoter and markedly increased Nox4 expression in liver even after sleep recovery. Moreover, fine coordination of the circadian clock and hepatic damage was strictly controlled by BMAL1-dependent Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) transcription after circadian misalignment. Accordingly, genetic manipulation of liver-specific Nox4 or Sirt1, along with pharmacological intervention targeting NOX4 (GLX351322) or SIRT1 (Resveratrol), could effectively erase the epigenetic modification of Nox4 by reducing the H3K27ac level and ameliorate the progression of liver pathology, thereby counteracting SF-evoked sustained CVD. Collectively, our findings may pave the way for strategies to mitigate myocardial injury from persistent hepatic detrimental memory in diabetic patients.

Viruses constitute a significant group of pathogens that have caused numerous fatalities and substantial economic losses in recent years, particularly with the emergence of coronaviruses. While the impact of SARS-CoV-2 appears to be diminishing in daily life, only a limited number of drugs have received approval or emergency use authorization for its treatment. Given the high mutation rate of viral genomes, host-directed agents (HDAs) have emerged as a preferred choice due to their broad applicability and lasting effectiveness. In contrast to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), HDAs offer several advantages, including broad-spectrum antiviral activities, potential efficacy against future emerging viruses, and a lower likelihood of inducing drug resistance. In our review article, we have synthesized known host-directed antiviral targets that span diverse cellular pathways and mechanisms, shedding light on the intricate interplay between host cells and viruses. Additionally, we have provided a brief overview of the development of HDAs based on these targets. We aim for this comprehensive analysis to offer valuable perspectives and insights that can guide future antiviral research and drug development efforts.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic interstitial lung disease, is characterized by aberrant wound healing, excessive scarring and the formation of myofibroblastic foci. Although the role of alternative splicing (AS) in the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis has garnered increasing attention, its specific contribution to pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified an up-regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7) in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients and a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model, and further characterized its functional role in both human fetal lung fibroblasts and mice. We demonstrated that enhanced expression of Srsf7 in mice spontaneously induced alveolar collagen accumulation. Mechanistically, we investigated alternative splicing events and revealed that SRSF7 modulates the alternative splicing of pyruvate kinase (PKM), leading to metabolic dysregulation and fibroblast activation. In vivo studies showed that fibroblast-specific knockout of Srsf7 in conditional knockout mice conferred resistance to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Importantly, through drug screening, we identified lomitapide as a novel modulator of SRSF7, which effectively mitigated experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a molecular pathway by which SRSF7 drives fibroblast metabolic dysregulation and propose a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.

A major obstacle in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is sleep fragmentation (SF), which negatively affects testicular function. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that SF induces testicular damage through a mechanism involving lipid metabolism, specifically mediated by melatonin (MEL) receptor 1a (MT1). T2DM mice with SF intervention displayed several deleterious phenotypes such as apoptosis, deregulated lipid metabolism, and impaired testicular function. Unexpectedly, sleep recovery (SR) for 2 consecutive weeks could not completely abrogate SF's detrimental effects on lipid deposition and testicular function. Interestingly, MEL and MT1 agonist 2-iodomelatonin (2IM) effectively improved lipid homeostasis, highlighting MEL/2IM as a promising therapeutic drug for SF-trigged testicular damage. Mechanistically, MEL and 2IM activated FGFR1 and sequentially restrained the crosstalk and physical interaction between TAB1 and TAK1, which ultimately suppressed the phosphorylation of TAK1 to block lipid deposition and cell apoptosis caused by SF. The ameliorating effect of MEL/2IM was overtly nullified in Fgfr1 knockout (Fgfr1-KO ^+/- ) diabetic mice. Meanwhile, testicular-specific overexpression of Tak1 abolished the protective effect of FGF1^mut on diabetic mouse testis. Our findings offer valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the testicular pathogenesis associated with SF and propose a novel therapeutic approach for addressing male infertility in T2DM.