Objective To investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanism of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hucMSC-Exo) on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Methods hucMSC-Exos were isolated and characterized. A mouse renal IRI model was established and the animals were divided into Sham, IRI, IRI+hucMSC-Exo, IRI+hucMSC-Exo+JY-2 and Sham+JY-2 groups. Serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to evaluate renal histopathology. Enzyme-linked immune absorbent assay was performed to determine serum interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 levels. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor (NF)-κB, NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cysteineyl aspartate specific proteinase (Caspase)-1 p20 and Gasdermin D(GSDMD). Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction was employed to measure ATF3, TLR4 and NF-κB messenger RNA (mRNA). Immunohistochemistry was conducted to examine NLRP3, Caspase-1 p20 and GSDMD. An in vitro hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model was established in HK-2 cells and divided into Control, H/R, H/R+hucMSC-Exo, H/R+hucMSC-Exo+JY-2 and Control+JY-2 groups. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of ATF3, TLR4 and NF-κB. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure NLRP3, GSDMD and Caspase-1 mRNA. Results HucMSC-Exos were successfully isolated and identified. Compared with the Sham group, the IRI group exhibited elevated Scr and BUN, higher tubular injury scores, increased protein expression levels of ATF3, TLR4, NF-κB p65, NLRP3, Caspase-1 p20 and GSDMD, and raised mRNA expression levels of ATF3, TLR4, NF-κB. Compared with the IRI group, the IRI+hucMSC-Exo group showed decreased Scr and BUN, lower tubular injury scores, up-regulated ATF3 protein and mRNA, down-regulated TLR4, NF-κB p65, NLRP3, Caspase-1 p20 and GSDMD protein, and declined TLR4 and NF-κB mRNA. Compared with the IRI+hucMSC-Exo group, the IRI+hucMSC-Exo+JY-2 group exhibited increased Scr and BUN levels, elevated renal tubular injury scores, decreased ATF3 protein expression levels, elevated protein expression levels of TLR4, NF-κB p65, NLRP3, Caspase-1 p20, and GSDMD, decreased ATF3 mRNA expression levels, and elevated mRNA expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB. (all P < 0.05). Compared with the Control group, the expression levels of ATF3, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 proteins were increased in the H/R group, and the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD mRNA were increased. Compared with the H/R group, the expression level of ATF3 protein was increased, the expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 proteins were decreased, and the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD mRNA were decreased in the H/R+hucMSC-Exo group. Compared with the H/R+hucMSC-Exo group, the expression level of ATF3 protein was decreased, the expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 proteins were increased, and the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD mRNA were increased in the H/R+hucMSC-Exo+JY-2 group (all P < 0.05). Conclusions HucMSC-Exos alleviate renal IRI by up-regulating ATF3, thereby negatively regulating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and subsequently inhibiting pyroptosis.

Chronic pain is a complex condition shaped by long-standing alterations in both physiological and psychological processes. Rather than representing a simple continuation of acute nociceptive signaling, chronic pain is increasingly understood as the outcome of progressive dysregulation within distributed neural systems that govern sensation, affect, motivation, and cognitive control. Neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies indicate that this state is accompanied by extensive plastic changes in deep brain structures and large-scale networks. Beyond well-described central sensitization processes, chronic pain is characterized by disrupted oscillatory rhythms and altered connectivity within large-scale brain networks, including thalamo-cortical circuits and prefrontal-limbic-reward networks. These findings support a conceptual shift from viewing chronic pain as a focal, lesion-driven phenomenon toward recognizing it as a disorder of distributed network pathology. Pharmacological treatments remain central to clinical practice, yet their long-term efficacy is often limited and frequently accompanied by substantial side effects. The ongoing concerns about opioid-related risks and the inadequate therapeutic response in a subset of patients highlight the need for safe, non-pharmacological approaches that can address not only pain but also comorbid disturbances in mood, sleep, and social functioning. Neuromodulation provides a promising path toward mechanism-based and non-pharmacological management of chronic pain by employing physical or chemical stimulation to alter the excitability and synchrony of specific neural populations within central, peripheral, and autonomic systems. While invasive deep brain stimulation demonstrates that targeting deep brain structures can be effective, its clinical application is restricted by surgical risks and cost, highlighting the importance of non-invasive techniques capable of reaching deep targets. Current non-invasive approaches, such as transcranial electric stimulation, are constrained by limited penetration depth and insufficient spatial precision. These limitations hinder reliable engagement of deep regions implicated in pain, including the thalamus and nucleus accumbens, and tend to produce broad, non-specific modulation of cross-network oscillatory activity. Temporal interference (TI) stimulation has emerged as a means of overcoming these obstacles. By delivering interacting high-frequency currents that generate a low-frequency envelope within the head, TI enables focal stimulation of deep targets while minimizing superficial current delivery. Recent multiscale modeling and animal studies indicate that TI exploits the nonlinear rectification properties of neuronal membranes in response to high-frequency carriers, as well as their phase-locked responses to low-frequency envelopes, to generate “peak-focused” electric fields in deep regions under relatively low superficial current loads. Moreover, TI appears to exhibit potential advantages in terms of cell-type selectivity and rhythm-specific engagement, including differential responses across neuronal subtypes and distinct coupling to θ-, β-, and γ-band oscillations. These features suggest a promising avenue for correcting abnormal rhythms and network dynamics that contribute to chronic pain. This review summarizes current knowledge of the neural mechanisms underlying chronic pain and recent advances in TI research. It examines functional disturbances across key pain-related regions and networks, outlines the principles and technical characteristics of TI, and discusses potential deep-brain targets and stimulation strategies relevant to chronic pain. Evidence to date indicates that TI, with its non-invasiveness, tolerability, and capacity for precise deep brain modulation, holds great promise for the management of treatment-resistant chronic pain and may evolve into a new generation of precise and efficient non-pharmacological analgesic strategies.

ObjectiveZheng’s San Qi San (ZSQS) power, a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is used for treating soft tissue injuries involving muscles, tendons, and ligaments. However, its underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to screen and identify pharmaceutically active ingredients and their candidate biomolecule targets, and further elucidate the molecular mechanism of ZSQS in the treatment of skeletal muscle injury. MethodsNetwork pharmacology was employed to construct “ZSQS-component-target”, “protein-protein interaction (PPI)” and “active ingredient-core protein-pathway” networks to predict the key active ingredients and potential core targets of ZSQS for skeletal muscle injury. The predicted results were then validated via microarray data from the GEO database. Molecular docking was then performed to assess the binding ability between the screened active ingredients of ZSQS and the candidate core targets. Moreover, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis to verify the active components of the drug and ZSQS serum. Finally, an animal model of eccentric exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury and a myotube cell model of oxidative stress-induced injury were established to validate the effects of ZSQS and its interventional effects on the biological functions of critical targets, thereby demonstrating the potential therapeutic mechanism of ZSQS. ResultsAmong the 111 active components identified in ZSQS and their corresponding 204 targets related to the skeletal muscle injury repair process, 14 core targets (including AKT1) and 4 core active components (quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and β‑sitosterol) were screened out, while the corresponding metabolites of quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol were detected in the ZSQS serum. Among these targets, 5 candidate genes (IL-6, CASP3, HIF1A, STAT3, and JUN) overlapped with the differential expression screening results with GEO data, and IL-6 was confirmed to be enriched in the PI3K/AKT pathway. Combined with the prediction results of the AKT expression levels, these findings suggest that the phosphorylation level of AKT1 plays a core role in the therapeutic mechanism of ZSQS. Molecular docking analysis further revealed that the PH domain of AKT1 had high binding energy with all 4 core active components, as verified by LC-MS. Finally, animal model studies have shown the promoting effect of ZSQS administration on skeletal muscle injury repair and its possible antioxidant damage mechanism. Cell model studies further demonstrated that ZSQS-containing serum, core active ingredient combination therapy, and quercetin monomer could increase the phosphorylation level of AKT, promote the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, upregulate the expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and GR), and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α), thereby alleviating oxidative stress and the inflammatory response. ConclusionZSQS alleviates skeletal muscle injury mainly by activating the AKT/Nrf2 signaling pathway, enhancing cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the clinical application and modernized development of ZSQS.

Chronic pain is a complex condition shaped by long-standing alterations in both physiological and psychological processes. Rather than representing a simple continuation of acute nociceptive signaling, chronic pain is increasingly understood as the outcome of progressive dysregulation within distributed neural systems that govern sensation, affect, motivation, and cognitive control. Neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies indicate that this state is accompanied by extensive plastic changes in deep brain structures and large-scale networks. Beyond well-described central sensitization processes, chronic pain is characterized by disrupted oscillatory rhythms and altered connectivity within large-scale brain networks, including thalamo-cortical circuits and prefrontal-limbic-reward networks. These findings support a conceptual shift from viewing chronic pain as a focal, lesion-driven phenomenon toward recognizing it as a disorder of distributed network pathology. Pharmacological treatments remain central to clinical practice, yet their long-term efficacy is often limited and frequently accompanied by substantial side effects. The ongoing concerns about opioid-related risks and the inadequate therapeutic response in a subset of patients highlight the need for safe, non-pharmacological approaches that can address not only pain but also comorbid disturbances in mood, sleep, and social functioning. Neuromodulation provides a promising path toward mechanism-based and non-pharmacological management of chronic pain by employing physical or chemical stimulation to alter the excitability and synchrony of specific neural populations within central, peripheral, and autonomic systems. While invasive deep brain stimulation demonstrates that targeting deep brain structures can be effective, its clinical application is restricted by surgical risks and cost, highlighting the importance of non-invasive techniques capable of reaching deep targets. Current non-invasive approaches, such as transcranial electric stimulation, are constrained by limited penetration depth and insufficient spatial precision. These limitations hinder reliable engagement of deep regions implicated in pain, including the thalamus and nucleus accumbens, and tend to produce broad, non-specific modulation of cross-network oscillatory activity. Temporal interference (TI) stimulation has emerged as a means of overcoming these obstacles. By delivering interacting high-frequency currents that generate a low-frequency envelope within the head, TI enables focal stimulation of deep targets while minimizing superficial current delivery. Recent multiscale modeling and animal studies indicate that TI exploits the nonlinear rectification properties of neuronal membranes in response to high-frequency carriers, as well as their phase-locked responses to low-frequency envelopes, to generate “peak-focused” electric fields in deep regions under relatively low superficial current loads. Moreover, TI appears to exhibit potential advantages in terms of cell-type selectivity and rhythm-specific engagement, including differential responses across neuronal subtypes and distinct coupling to θ-, β-, and γ-band oscillations. These features suggest a promising avenue for correcting abnormal rhythms and network dynamics that contribute to chronic pain. This review summarizes current knowledge of the neural mechanisms underlying chronic pain and recent advances in TI research. It examines functional disturbances across key pain-related regions and networks, outlines the principles and technical characteristics of TI, and discusses potential deep-brain targets and stimulation strategies relevant to chronic pain. Evidence to date indicates that TI, with its non-invasiveness, tolerability, and capacity for precise deep brain modulation, holds great promise for the management of treatment-resistant chronic pain and may evolve into a new generation of precise and efficient non-pharmacological analgesic strategies.

ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of melanoma-associated antigen D4 （MAGED4） on the malignant biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）， providing experimental evidence for its evaluation as a potential therapeutic target in HCC. MethodsGenes positively correlated with MAGED4 expression in HCC were screened using the LinkedOmics database， followed by GO functional and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. Endogenously low-expressing SMMC-7721 and Huh7 cells were selected， with normal hepatic LO2 cells serving as controls. Stable overexpression cell lines were established via lentiviral infection （MAGED4 overexpression group）， with RT-PCR and Western blot validating overexpression efficiency. The effects of MAGED4 overexpression on cell proliferation， cell cycle distribution， migration， and adhesion were systematically analyzed using CCK-8 assays， flow cytometry， scratch healing assays， Transwell migration assays， and cell adhesion assays. ResultsBioinformatics analysis indicated that MAGED4 co-expressed genes were significantly enriched in biological processes closely associated with tumor proliferation and metastasis， including cell-cell adhesion， extracellular matrix organization， and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. A stable MAGED4 overexpression cell model was successfully established. In vitro functional assays demonstrated that MAGED4-overexpressing SMMC-7721 and Huh7 cells exhibited a mesenchymal-like morphology， whereas LO2 cells maintained an epithelial-like morphology. Compared with the empty-virus control groups， the MAGED4-overexpressing groups showed significantly increased proliferative activity （48 h： t=3.887， 22.070， 8.866， all P<0.05； 72 h： t=3.231， 23.840， 9.848， all P<0.05； 96 h： t=5.123， 49.800， 5.909， P<0.05， P<0.01， P<0.05）， wound healing rates （12 h： F=40.90， 44.00， 200.50， all P<0.001； 24 h： F=112.00， 34.89， 249.20， all P<0.001）， and numbers of migrated cells （F=239.20， 59.79， 132.80， all P<0.001）， along with significantly decreased numbers of adherent cells （F=73.65， 85.91， 138.00， all P<0.001）， while no significant differences were observed in cell cycle phase distribution in all three cell lines. ConclusionMAGED4 enhances proliferation and migration while suppressing adhesion in both HCC and normal hepatocytes， however， induces mesenchymal-like morphological changes exclusively in HCC cells， suggesting that MAGED4 is capable of driving HCC progression and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Objective To investigate the expression of myelin transcription factor 1-like(MYT1L)during amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)progression and its association with neuronal degeneration through bioinformatics analysis combined with in vivo and in vitro experiments.Methods Bioinformatics analysis of the GSE106803 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database revealed significant down-regulation of MYT1L in spinal cords of ALS transgenic mice carrying the human superoxide dismutase 1 mutant gene(hSOD1G93A)compared to the wild-type(WT)mice.hSOD1G93A transgenic mice and their WT littermates were selected to analyze MYT1L mRNA and protein changes in spinal cord tissues at different disease stages using Real-time PCR and Western blotting.Double immunofluorescent staining was used to determine the distribution and cellular localization of MYT1L in the spinal cord of mice at the middle stage of the disease.An ALS cellular model was established using hSOD1G93A mutant NSC34 cells,with hSOD1WT NSC34 cells as controls.MYT1L expression and distribution were assessed in these cells via Real-time PCR,Western blotting,and immunofluorescent staining.Based on the GSE76220 dataset from the GEO database,differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between MYT1L high-and low-expression groups in lumbar spinal motor neurons of ALS patients were identified,followed by Gene Ontology(GO)functional enrichment analysis.MYT1L overexpression was induced in the ALS cellular model to evaluate alterations in cell viability and neurite outgrowth.Results In the GSE106803 dataset,MYT1L expression was significantly down-regulated in the spinal cord of ALS mice.Animal experiments confirmed progressive reductions in MYT1L mRNA and protein levels in spinal cord tissues of ALS mice during mid-and late-disease stages.Compared to the WT group,MYT1L expression decreased in motor neurons of the lumbar spinal cord gray matter anterior horn in ALS mice,while it increased in astrocytes.In vitro,hSOD1G93Amutant NSC34 cells exhibited significantly reduced MYT1L expression than controls,with MYT1L localized to both the cytoplasm and nucleus.DEGs between MYT1L high-and low-expression groups in lumbar spinal cord motor neurons of ALS patients(GSE76220 dataset)were enriched in synaptic-related functions through GO analysis.Overexpression of MYT1L in hSOD1G93A mutant NSC34 cells enhanced cell viability and promoted neurite outgrowth.Conclusion Aberrantly low expression of MYT1L is closely associated with ALS pathogenesis.Overexpression of MYT1L promotes neurite growth and exerts protective effects on ALS motor neurons,suggesting its therapeutic potential.

Objective To explore the effects of pretreatment with rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharide(RGP)and basic fibroblast growth factor(FGF-2)alone or in combination on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)into cardiomyoid cells and the related mechanisms.Methods BMSCs pretreated with FGF-2 and RGP alone or in combination were cultured for 1,2,and 4 weeks.The expression levels of NKx2.5 and GATA-4 were detected by Real-time PCR.BMSCs pretreated with FGF-2 or RGP alone and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway inhibitor LY294002 were used to detect the expression levels of myocardial specific proteins and related pathway proteins by Western blotting.Results Compared with the blank control group,pretreatment with FGF-2 or RGP alone increased the expression rate of myocardial specific markers,and the effect of combined pretreatment with FGF-2 and RGP was more obvious(P＜0.05).Compared with pretreatment with FGF-2 or RGP alone,pretreatment with LY294002 combined with FGF-2 or RGP significantly down-regulated the expression of cardiac-specific proteins in BMSCs and inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt(P＜0.05).Conclusion Both FGF-2 and RGP can induce BMSCs to differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells by regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,and the combination of FGF-2 and RGP has a better inductive effect.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and the live birth rate (LBR) using different propensity score methods. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, eligible women who underwent a COH were divided into acupuncture and non-acupuncture groups. The primary outcome was LBR, as determined by propensity score matching (PSM). LBR was defined as the delivery of one or more living infants that reached a gestational age over 28 weeks after embryo transfer. The propensity score model encompassed 16 confounding variables. To validate the results, sensitivity analyses were conducted using three additional propensity score methods: propensity score adjustment, inverse probability weighting (IPW), and IPW with a "doubly robust" estimator. RESULTS: The primary cohort encompassed 9751 patients (1830 [18.76%] in the acupuncture group and 7921 [81.23%] in the non-acupuncture group). Following 1:1 PSM, a higher LBR was found in the acupuncture cohort (41.4% [755/1824] vs 36.4% [664/1824], with an odds ratio of 1.23 [95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.41]). Three additional propensity score methods produced essentially similar results. The risk of serious adverse events did not significantly differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION This retrospective study revealed an association between acupuncture and an increased LBR among patients undergoing COH, and that acupuncture is a safe and valuable treatment option. Please cite this article as: Zheng XY, Jiang ZY, Li YT, Li CL, Zhu H, Yu Z, Yu SY, Yang LL, Tang SY, Lü XY, Liang FR, Yang J. Association between acupuncture and live birth rates after fresh embryo transfer: A cohort study based on different propensity score methods. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):528-536.
Humans ; Female ; Propensity Score ; Embryo Transfer ; Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy ; Live Birth ; Birth Rate ; Cohort Studies

The fungal bioluminescence pathway (FBP) catalyzes the oxidation of endogenous caffeic acid to produce green bioluminescence through an enzymatic cascade. Genetic engineering of FBP into plants creates autoluminescent specimens that circumvent the substrate limitations of conventional reporter systems. These transgenic plants serve dual functions as aesthetic displays and versatile biosensing platforms, enabling applications in real-time gene expression monitoring, continuous environmental surveillance, and non-invasive bioimaging, offering novel opportunities for horticultural production, environmental conservation, and bioengineering applications. This review synthesizes current advances in plant FBP engineering and explores how machine learning approaches can optimize autoluminescent phenotypes, thereby accelerating innovation in agricultural biotechnology, environmental sensing, and synthetic biology applications.
Fungi/genetics* ; Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism* ; Genetic Engineering ; Biosensing Techniques ; Luminescent Measurements ; Caffeic Acids/metabolism* ; Luminescence

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the sticks and leaves of Croton cascarilloides Raeusch.and their biological activities.METHODS The 95％ethanol extract from the sticks and leaves of C.cascarilloides was isolated and purified by MCI,silica gel,Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.LPS-induced NO RAW264.7 cell model induced by LPS was used to evaluate its anti-inflammatory activity in vitro.GES-1 injury model induced by taurocholic acid was used to screen the gastric mucosal protection activity.RESULTS Fourteen compounds were isolated and identified as bullatantriol(1),(-)-boscialin(2),(+)-dehydrovomifoliol(3),3-(hydroxylacetyl)-indole(4),pinoresinol(5),3,7-dimethyl-octa-1,7-diene-3,6-ol(6),(+)-syringaresinol(7),curcasinlignan B(8),cleomiscosin C(9),cleomiscosinD(10),2,6-dimethyl-octa-1,7-dien-3,6-diol(11),vanillin(12),vanillic acid(13),methyl vanillate(14).Compound 4 had certain anti-inflammatory activity,with IC50 values of 73.62 μmol/L.The protective rates of 25 μmol/L compounds 1-4,6,9-12 and 14 on gastric mucosal epithelial cells were 30.07％,34.18％,23.91％,30.92％,17.51％,19.69％,31.76％,22.46％,30.56％and 14.49％,respectively.CONCLUSION Compounds 1-14 are isolated from this plant for the first time.Compound 4 shows anti-inflammatory activity,1-4,6,9-12 and 14 show different degrees of gastric mucosal epithelial cell protective activity.