Background Co-exposure to noise and microwave radiation occurs frequently. The central nervous system has been identified as a sensitive target organ for both noise and microwave exposure individually, and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The specific biological effects resulting from co-exposure to these two factors have yet to be fully elucidated. Objective To clarify the effects of co-exposure to noise and microwave on neurobehavior and hippocampal tissue structure, and to explore the underlying mechanism through the assessment of serum cytokines. Methods C57BL/6N mice were selected and randomly assigned to a blank control group, a noise group, a microwave group, and a combined noise & microwave exposure group. To establish the exposure models, the noise group was subjected to broadband noise at 100 dB for 2 h, while the microwave group received radiation at a central frequency of 9.375 GHz with an average power density of 12 mW·cm⁻² and a specific absorption rate of 2.58 W·kg⁻¹ for 15 min. Open field and tail suspension tests assessed anxiety-like emotional behaviour; novel object recognition and Y-maze tests evaluated cognitive function. Histological changes in hippocampal tissue were examined using haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and Nissl staining under light microscopy. Serum cytokine levels were measured using radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results After 3 d of exposure, the noise, microwave, and combined exposure groups showed significant reductions in exploration frequency, duration, and distance within the central zone of the open field test compared to the control group (P < 0.01); the combined exposure group exhibited increased ratios of peripheral-to-central exploration time and distance (P < 0.05). After 7 d of exposure, compared with the control group, the noise group maintained a decrease in central zone exploration time (P < 0.01), while the combined exposure group showed persistent decline across all central zone metrics (P < 0.05) and elevated peripheral-to-central ratios (P < 0.05); compared to the microwave group, the combined exposure group showed significant less time in the central zone (P < 0.05) and higher peripheral-to-central ratios (P < 0.05). Regarding behaviour and cognition, compared with the control group, the combined exposure group showed increased immobility time in the tail suspension test after 3 d of exposure (P < 0.01). At this interval, all exposure groups demonstrated reduced frequency and duration of novel object recognition (P < 0.05), with the combined exposure group showing a marked decrease in novel arm exploration time (P < 0.01). After 7 d of exposure, compared with the control group, the noise group showed reduced novel object recognition frequency (P < 0.05), and both the noise and microwave groups exhibited decreased novel arm exploration time (P < 0.05). Pathological alterations including an increased number of hyperchromatic nuclei and depleted Nissl bodies were observed in the CA3 and DG regions across all exposure groups with the most severe lesions observed in the combined exposure group. Serum levels of central nervous system-specific protein β (S-100β), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and corticosterone (CORT) were significantly elevated in all exposure groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) levels increased in the combined exposure group (P < 0.05), while CXC chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) levels rose in both the noise and combined groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Specifically, S-100β and CXCL10 levels in the combined exposure group were higher than those in the microwave group (P < 0.05); moreover, levels of S-100β, GFAP, CORT, AQP4, and CXCL10 in the combined exposure group were significantly higher than those in the noise group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Combined exposure to noise and microwave radiation induces pathological changes in the hippocampus of mice, increases levels of serum stress hormones and neuro-specific biomarkers. These impairments are more severe than those observed following single-factor exposure. The underlaying mechanism may be related to systemic stress response, neuronal damage, astrocyte activation, and changes in blood-brain barrier permeability, leading to emotional behavioral abnormalities and cognitive decline.

Objective To investigate the role of circular RNAs(circRNA)in Alzheimer's disease(AD)and its potential mechanism.Methods Six-month-old APP/PS1 mouse model of AD and wild type(WT)mice were subjected and then randomly divided into WT group,WT+circ-Olfm1 knockout group,AD group(transgenic APP/PS1 mice),AD+circ-Olfm1 knockout group,AD+FOXO3a knockout group,with 3 mice in each group.① The total RNA of mouse brain was extracted,and the differential expression of circRNAs and mRNAs between the AD mice and WT mice was detected,and the obtained circRNAs and mRNAs were analyzed with gene ontology(GO)analysis.② RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of the top 10 up-regulated and down-regulated circRNAs,as well as the expression of circ-Olfm1 and miR-330-5p.③ Lentiviral vectors were prepared and stereotaxically injected into the cortex or hippocampus of WT and AD mice to knock out circ-Olfm1 gene.Water maze test was used to evaluate the effect of circ-Olfm1 knockout on cognitive function,and immunofluorescence assay was employed to observe the deposition of amyloid β(Aβ)plaque in the brain.④ The interaction between circ-Olfm1 and miR-330-5p was verified by double luciferase reporter gene analysis.⑤ The protein levels of AMPK and FOXO3a were detected by Western blotting.⑥ Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to observe the mitochondria of the hippocampus.⑦ The levels of inflammatory factors IL-6,IL-1β and TNF-α were detected by ELISA.Results There were totally 52 differentially expressed circRNAs identified between the AD and WT mice,including 28 up-regulated and 24 down-regulated(fold change>1.5,P<0.05).These differentially expressed genes are mainly involved in signal transduction,learning and memory and other functions.circ-Olfm1 was identified as the most significantly differentially expressed circRNA,which is highly expressed in the neurons and up-regulated in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the AD mice.Knockout of circ-Olfm1 reduced the number of Aβ plaques in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of AD mice(P<0.01).In starBase database,there are complementary sequences observed between circ-Olfm1 and miR-330-5p.Western blotting showed that the addition of Aβ42 significantly increased the expression of AMPK and FOXO3a in the neuronal cells(P<0.01).And silencing circ-Olfm1 led to decreased expression of AMPK and FOXO3a in neuronal cells+Aβ42(P<0.01).ELISA revealed that knockout of FOXO3a significantly increased the levels of inflammatory factors IL-6,IL-1β,and TNF-α(P<0.01).Transmission electron microscopy displayed that knocking FOXO3a out significantly aggravated mitochondrial damage(P<0.01).Conclusion circ-Olfm1 is up-regulated in the brain tissue and neurons+Aβ42 of AD rats,and the mechanism of cognitive impairment in AD rats may be through its regulating FOXO3a protein.

Objective To investigate the effect of pramlintide,a pancreatic amyloid peptide analog,on learning and memory of Alzheimer's disease(AD)mice through antioxidant stress,and to determine the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt)signaling pathway.Methods The APP/PS1 mice were divided into a pramlintide treatment group(intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 μmol/L per day for 10 weeks)and an AD group(same dose of PBS),with 5 mice in each group.The learning and memory abilities were detected with water maze test,the pathological changes of the hippocampus were observed with HE staining and immunohistochemistry,the morphological characteristics of dendritic spines in hippocampus were observed after Golgi staining,and the ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons was observed through transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The content of malondialdehyde(MDA)and the level of superoxide dismutase(SOD)in the hippocampal tissue were detected by biochemical assay,and the levels of inflammatory factors IL-6,TNF-α and IL-1β were determined with ELISA.Western blotting was applied to measure the expression of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway related proteins in the hippocampus.In the cell experiment,SH-SY5Y cells were added with Aβ 1-42 to establish a cell model of AD.After the cells were treated with pramlintide,the levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory response were detected,and cell apoptosis was detected by immunofluorescence.Results The animal experiments showed that pramlintide treatment resulted in significantly shortened escape latency(P<0.01),increased platform crossings(P<0.01),and prolonged time to exploring hidden platform(P<0.01).In the hippocampal tissue of the pramlintide treatment group,HE staining displayed hippocampal neurons in high density and neat arrangement(P<0.05),immunohistochemical results showed significantly reduced Aβ protein(P<0.01),Golgi staining results demonstrated more dendritic spines(P<0.05),TEM revealed almost intact neuronal mitochondrial structure,with reduced vacuolization and clear and identifiable morphology.When compared with the AD group,the levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory response were decreased(P<0.01),and the relative expression of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt proteins was increased(P<0.01)in the treatment group.In cell experiments,the levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory response were decreased in AD cell model after pramlintide treatment(P<0.01),and the results of immunofluorescence showed that cell apoptosis was declined(P<0.01).Conclusion Pramlintide can improve the cognitive function,reduce the hippocampal deposition of Aβ,reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory response,alleviate the pathological changes of neuronal ultrastructure,and enhance the expression of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in AD mice.

Objective To investigate the expression level of circular RNA circ-Tns3 in Alzheimer's disease(AD)mice and its role in Aβ-induced neuronal damage.Methods Five APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice and 5 wild-type(WT)mice,weighting of 23～26 g and aged 6 months were subjected in the study.Morris water maze test was used to assess learning and memory abilities,and immunohistochemical staining was performed to observe the number of Aβ plaques in the hippocampal tissue.Subsequently,total RNA was extracted from the brains to detect the differential expression of circRNAs between AD and WT mice,and the results were further analyzed with Gene Ontology(GO)analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analysis.The top 6 differentially expressed circRNAs were validated by real-time quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR).In in vitro experiments,Aβ1-42 was used to treat neuronal cells to establish AD cell model,and si-circ-Tns3 was transfected into Aβ1-42-treated neuronal cells to knock down circ-Tns3.RT-qPCR was used to determine the expression levels of circ-Tns3 and miR-671-5p.Cell viability and apoptotic rate were detected by CCK-8 assay and TUNEL staining,respectively.The levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and malondialdehyde(MDA)were measured using corresponding kits,and the levels of inflammatory factors IL-6,IL-1β,and TNF-α were detected with ELISA.The interaction between circ-Tns3 and miR-671-5p was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation(RIP)assay.The expression level of Sirt1 protein was detected by Western blotting.Results The 6-month-old AD mice exhibited significant cognitive impairment and Aβ deposition(P<0.01).There were 269 differentially expressed circRNAs identified between AD and WT mice,of which 159 were up-regulated and 110 down-regulated.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that these differentially expressed circRNAs were mainly involved in synaptic transmission,memory,and cholinergic synapse signaling pathways.The expression of circ-Tns3 was significantly increased not only in the brain tissue of AD mice but also in neuronal cells after Aβ1-42 treatment.In cellular experiments,knockdown of circ-Tns3 significantly reduced cell viability and number of apoptotic cells in Aβ1-42-treated neuronal cells,decreased MDA content,increased SOD activity,and reduced the levels of IL-6,IL-1β,and TNF-α(P<0.01).The starBase database predicted that circ-Tns3 and miR-671-5p have complementary sequences,and dual-luciferase reporter and RIP assays confirmed their interaction.The bioinformatics database predicted that miR-671-5p and sirt1 have complementary sequences.Western blotting indicated that in neuronal cells treated with Aβ1-42,the expression of sirt1 was increased after knockdown of circ-Tns3(P<0.01).In Aβ1-42-treated neuronal cells,after knockdown of circ-Tns3,addition of miR-671-5p inhibitor significantly decreased the expression level of sirt1 protein(P<0.01).Conclusions circ-Tns3 is highly expressed in AD mice and cell model of AD.Knocking circ-Tns3 down improves neuronal damage.circ-Tns3 may be involved in the neuronal damage through regulating sirt 1 protein by binding to miR-671-5p.

Given the increasing concern regarding antibacterial resistance, the antimicrobial properties of naphthoquinones have recently attracted significant attention. While 1,4-naphthoquinone and its derivatives have been extensively studied, the antibacterial properties of 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives remain relatively unexplored. This study presents a comprehensive in vitro and in vivo analysis of the antibacterial activity of 35 naturally sourced and chemically synthesized derivatives of 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. Kirby-Bauer antibiotic testing identified three compounds with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with one compound (PNP-02) demonstrating activity comparable to vancomycin in minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill assays. Microscopic and biochemical analyses revealed that PNP-02 adversely affects the cell wall and cell membrane of MRSA. Mechanistic investigations, including proteomic sequencing analyses, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR assays, indicated that PNP-02 compromises cell membrane integrity by inhibiting arginine biosynthesis and pyrimidine metabolism pathways, thereby increasing membrane permeability and inducing bacterial death. In an in vivo mouse model of skin wound healing, PNP-02 exhibited antibacterial efficacy similar to vancomycin. The compound demonstrated low toxicity to cultured human cells and in hemolysis assays and remained stable during serum incubation. These findings suggest that PNP-02 possesses promising bioactivity against MRSA and represents a potential novel antibacterial agent.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/genetics* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry* ; Naphthoquinones/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mice ; Humans ; Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology* ; Molecular Structure

Antibiotic adjuvants offer a promising strategy for restoring antibiotic sensitivity, expanding antibacterial spectra, and reducing required dosages. Previously, compound 15 was identified as a potential adjuvant for Polymyxin B (PB) against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa DK2; however, its clinical utility was hindered by high cytotoxicity, uncertain in vivo efficacy, and an unclear synergetic mechanism. To address these challenges, we synthesized and evaluated a series of novel benzamide derivatives, with A22 emerging as a particularly promising candidate. A22 demonstrated potent synergistic activity to PB, minimal cytotoxicity, improved water solubility, and broad-spectrum synergism of polymyxins against various clinically isolated MDR Gram-negative strains. In vivo studies using Caenorhabditis elegans and mouse models further confirmed the efficacy of A22. Moreover, A22 effectively suppressed the development of PB resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa DK2. Mechanistic investigations revealed that A22 enhances polymyxins activity by inducing reactive oxygen species production, reducing ATP levels, increasing NOX activity, and inhibiting biofilm formation, leading to bacterial death. These findings position A22 as a highly promising candidate for the development of polymyxin adjuvants, offering a robust approach to combating MDR Gram-negative bacterial infections.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of quercetin on cuproptosis and L-type calcium currents in the myocardium of diabetic rats. METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomized into control group and diabetic model groups. The rat models of diabetes mellitus (DM) induced by high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection were further divided into DM model group, quercetin treatment group, and empagliflozin treatment group (n=10). Blood glucose and body weight were measured every other week, and cardiac function of the rats was evaluated using echocardiography. HE staining, Sirius red staining, and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) analysis were used to observe the changes in myocardial histomorphology, and serum copper levels and myocardial FDX1 expression were detected. In cultured rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells with high-glucose exposure, the effects of quercetin and elesclomol, alone or in combination, on intracellular CK-MB and LDH levels and FDX1 expression were assessed, and the changes in L-type calcium currents were analyzed using patch-clamp technique. RESULTS: The diabetic rats exhibited elevated blood glucose, reduced body weight, impaired left ventricular function, increased serum copper levels and myocardial FDX1 expression, decreased L-type calcium currents, and prolonged action potential duration. Quercetin and empagliflozin treatment significantly lowered blood glucose, improved body weight, and restored cardiac function of the diabetic rats, and compared with empagliflozin, quercetin more effectively reduced serum copper levels, downregulated FDX1 expression, and enhanced myocardial L-type calcium currents in diabetic rats. In H9c2 cells, high glucose exposure significantly increased myocardial expressions of FDX1, CK-MB and LDH, which were effectively lowered by quercetin treatment; Elesclomol further elevated FDX1, CK-MB and LDH levels in the exposed cells, and these changes were not significantly affected by the application of quercetin. CONCLUSIONS Quercetin ameliorates myocardial injury in diabetic rats possibly by suppressing myocardial cuproptosis signaling and restoring L-type calcium channel activity.
Animals ; Quercetin/pharmacology* ; Calcium Channels, L-Type/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Male

Objective The aim of this study is to analyze the expression level of cell-free DNA(cf-DNA),a biomarker of neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs),in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP),and to explore the predictive efficacy of cf-DNA(as a marker of NETs)for the severity of MPP in these children.Methods A total of 115 children with MPP were prospectively selected as the MPP group.Based on the disease severity,the MPP group was categorized into the mild group(n=75)and the severe group(n=40).During the same period,50 healthy children undergoing physical examinations were selected as the control group.The levels of serum cf-DNA in the MPP group and the control group,as well as the levels of C-reactive protein(CRP),D-dimer,lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),interleukin-6(IL-6),interferon-γ(IFN-γ),and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the MPP group were detected.The differences in the levels of serum cf-DNA and related inflammatory factors among the groups were compared,and the role of serum cf-DNA in evaluating the severity of MPP was analyzed.Results The level of serum cf-DNA in children of the MPP group was notably higher than that in the control group,with a more significant elevation observed in the severe group(P<0.05).The levels of CRP,D-dimer,LDH,IL-6,IFN-γ,and TNF-α were all higher in the severe group than in the mild group(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the increased levels of serum cf-DNA,CRP,and IL-6 were closely related to the severity of MPP(P<0.05).The results of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of the combination of serum cf-DNA,CRP,and IL-6 for predicting severe MPP was 0.981,which was higher than that of each index alone(P<0.05).Conclusions Serum cf-DNA(as a marker of NETs)is closely related to the severity of MPP in children.The combined detection of cf-DNA,CRP,and IL-6 is more beneficial for assessing the severity of MPP in children.

Objective:To explore the mediating effect of illness acceptance between self-compassion and rehabilitation motivation in stroke patients with partial disability.Methods:By convenience sampling method, stroke patients who attended the neurology outpatient clinic of Xinxiang Central Hospital from February to December 2024 were selected as the research subjects. The General Information Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), Chinese version of Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS-CHI), and Stroke Rehabilitation Motivation Scale (SRMS) were used for the survey. Pearson correlation analysis was applied to analyze the relationships among self-compassion, illness acceptance, and rehabilitation motivation. AMOS 21.0 software was used to establish a structural equation model and verify the mediating effect.Results:A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed, and 289 valid ones were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 96.33%. Among the 289 stroke patients with partial disability, the total score of SCS was (65.73±5.50), the total score of AIS-CHI was (17.46±5.62), and the total score of SRMS was (77.18±10.97). Pairwise positive correlations were found between self-compassion, illness acceptance, and rehabilitation motivation (all P<0.05). Self-compassion had a direct positive effect on rehabilitation motivation ( β=0.328, P<0.01) and a direct positive effect on illness acceptance ( β=0.439, P<0.01). Illness acceptance played a partial mediating role between self-compassion and rehabilitation motivation, and the mediating effect accounted for 31.38% of the total effect (0.150/0.478) . Conclusions:The levels of self-compassion, illness acceptance, and rehabilitation motivation in stroke patients with partial disability need to be further improved. Illness acceptance exerts a partial mediating effect between self-compassion and rehabilitation motivation. Clinically, the rehabilitation motivation of patients can be enhanced by improving their levels of self-compassion and illness acceptance.

Sinopodophyllum hexandruma is a traditional Chinese medicine in China,which is mostly distributed in Gansu,Shaanxi,Sichuan,Qinghai,Yunnan and Xizang,etc.In recent years,with the gradual deepening of the research on the chemical composition and pharmacology-toxicology of Sinopodophyllum hexandruma,its antitumour and antiviral pharmacodynamic evaluation has increasingly become a research hotspot in the industry.Based on the chemical structure,pharmacological properties and the theoretical basis of quality markers(Q-markers),this paper presents an in-depth literature review and analysis of the chemical composition,pharmacological activities and Q-markers of Sinopodophyllum hexandruma,and systematically explores and predicts the Q-markers of Sinopodophyllum hexandruma.It is proposed that Podophyllotoxin,picropodophyllotoxin,podophyllotoxinone,quercetin,kaempferol,quercetin-3-O-β-glucoside can be used as the Q-marker of Sinopodophyllum hexandruma.In the later stage,these index components can be selected to control the whole quality of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum,and provide some data support and theoretical reference for the quality evaluation of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum.