Objective : To explore the risk factors of biliary stricture after liver transplantation and to construct a nomogram prediction model. Methods : The clinical data of 208 liver transplant recipients in hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including 54 cases in the biliary stricture group and 154 cases in the non-biliary stricture group. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen out independent predictors, fit the prediction model and construct a visual nomogram to evaluate the prediction model. Survival curves were drawn and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed. Results : Autoimmune liver diseases(OR=6.610,95%CI: 1.410-30.99), alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(OR=1.007,95%CI: 1.003-1.011), warm ischemia time(OR=1.972,95%CI: 1.399-2.780), cold ischemia time(OR=1.016,95%CI: 1.010-1.022), cytomegalovirus infection(OR=6.037,95%CI: 1.480-24.63) and hepatic vascular stenosis(OR=7.784,95%CI: 2.312-26.20) were independent predictors of biliary stricture after liver transplantation. The area under the curve(AUC) of the nomogram prediction model was 0.921, the cut-off value was 0.238, the sensitivity was 0.889, and the specificity was 0.838. The model showed good discrimination. The Brier score was 0.092, Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit testP=0.253, Calibration curve(B=1 000) was in good agreement, and the model showed good calibration. Decision curve analysis(DCA) showed that the application of the model could benefit liver transplant recipients. The postoperative follow-up time was 27-60 months. The cumulative survival rate of the non-biliary stricture group was better than that of the biliary stricture group(P=0.019), but multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that biliary stricture(HR=1.194, 95%CI: 0.624-2.285) was not an independent risk factor for survival after liver transplantation. Conclusion The nomogram model based on autoimmune liver diseases, ALT, warm ischemia time, cold ischemia time, cytomegalovirus infection and hepatic vascular stenosis performs well and can be used to predict the occurrence of biliary stricture after liver transplantation.

Psoriasis is an incurable chronic inflammatory disease that requires new interventions. Here, we found that fibroblasts exacerbate psoriasis progression by promoting macrophage recruitment via CCL2 secretion by single-cell multi-omics analysis. The natural small molecule celastrol was screened to interfere with the secretion of CCL2 by fibroblasts and improve the psoriasis-like symptoms in both murine and cynomolgus monkey models. Mechanistically, celastrol directly bound to the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) β-chain and abolished its binding to the transcription factor c-Jun in the nucleus, which in turn inhibited CCL2 production by skin fibroblasts, blocked fibroblast-macrophage crosstalk, and ameliorated psoriasis progression. Notably, fibroblast-specific LRP1 knockout mice exhibited a significant reduction in psoriasis like inflammation. Taken together, from clinical samples and combined with various mouse models, we revealed the pathogenesis of psoriasis from the perspective of fibroblast-macrophage crosstalk, and provided a foundation for LRP1 as a novel potential target for psoriasis treatment.

Objective To investigate the changes of macrophages and hemophagocytes in bone marrow smears of patients with multiple myeloma(MM)before and after chemotherapy and their correlation with clinical prognostic value.Methods A total of 300 MM patients treated in Liaocheng Second People's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from June 2018 to June 2023 were selected as the study objects.All patients received at least 3 courses of chemotherapy and were divided into the remission group(n=214)and the non-remission group(n=86)according to the clinical effect.Immunoglobulin(Ig)A,IgG,CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,interleukin(IL-2),IL-4,IL-6,IL-17,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,transforming growth factor(TGF)-β,macrophages and hemophagocytes were detected in the two groups and compared between the two groups.COX regression was used to analyze the relationship between immunological indexes and non-remission of chemotherapy.The relationship between macrophages and hemophagocytes and non-remission of chemotherapy was analyzed by restricted cubic spline.The multiplicative interaction of macrophages and hemophagocytes on non-remission of chemotherapy was analyzed using an unconditioned Logistic regression model,and the additive interaction was analyzed using the interaction calculation table.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis of macrophages and hemophagocytes alone or in combination to determine the value of chemotherapy non-remission.Results The overall response rate(ORR)and non-response rate(NRR)of MM patients were 71.33%and 28.67%respectively.Compared with before treatment,IgA,IgG,CD8+,IL-6,IL-17,TNF-α,TGF-β,macrophages and hemophagocytes were significantly decreased in both groups after treatment(tslow=9.252～61.177,tnot slow=4.057～35.797).CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+,IL-2 and IL-4 were significantly increased(tslow=9.706～33.940,tnot slow=4.227～16.167),and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).After treatment,compared with the remission group,IgA,IgG,CD8+,IL-6,IL-17,TNF-α,TGF-β,macrophages and hemophagocytes in the non-remission group were significantly higher than those in remission group(t=3.362～30.028),CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+,IL-2 and IL-4 were significantly lower than those in remission group(t=3.736～13.998).and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).After adjusting the influence of other factors by COX regression,the trend test of macrophages and hemophagocytes was still statistically significant the trend test of macrophages and hemophagocytes was still statistically significant(P<0.05).Patients with≥5 macrophages/tablet and≥3 hemophagocytes/tablet had a significantly increased risk of non-remission from chemotherapy(P<0.05).There were additive(OR=6.157,95%CI:3.768～12.978)and multiplicative(OR=5.648,95%CI:1.035～17.492)interactions between macrophages and hemophagocytes in the non-remission of chemotherapy.Compared with the single judgment of macrophages and hemophagocytes,the combination of the two has the highest accuracy in determining chemotherapy non-remission(P＜0.05).Conclusion Macrophages and hemophagocytic cells in MM patients after chemotherapy are significantly lower than those before chemotherapy,with≥5 macrophages/tablet and≥3 hemocyte phages/tablet,indicating that the risk of non-remission in patients with chemotherapy increased significantly,and the combination of the two can accurately judge the clinical efficacy.

This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves(TFHL)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammatory injury in rat intestinal epithelial(IEC-6)cells,as well as the underlying mechanisms.An in vitro inflam-mation model was first established by treating IEC-6 cells with lipopolysaccharide(LPS).IEC-6 cells were then incubated with three concentrations of TFHL for 24 h prior to a further 24 h LPS treatment.RT-qPCR was used to quantify mRNA levels of the inflammatory genes COX-2 and iN-OS,while Western blotting was used to assess protein levels of the apoptotic markers Bax,cleaved Caspase-3,Bcl-2,and the JNK/p-JNK signaling pathway.Finally,cells were pretreated with TFHL and/or the JNK inhibitor SP600125 for 24 h before LPS exposure for 24 h,in order to evaluate the combined effects of TFHL and SP600125 on LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine expression and apoptotic protein levels in IEC-6 cells.The results showed that,compared with the LPS group,the mRNA level of COX-2 and iNOS in the 2.5,5.0,10.0 mg/L TFHL group and the Bax and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P＜0.01),and the Bcl-2 protein level was significantly higher(P＜0.01),p-JNK protein level and p-JNK/JNK ratio decreased significantly(P＜0.01);compared with the LPS group,the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels of the TFHL+LPS group de-creased significantly(P＜0.01),Bax,and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P＜0.01),and the level of Bcl-2 protein increased significantly(P＜0.05);compared with the LPS group,the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels of the TFHL+SP600125 group decreased significantly(P＜0.01),Bax and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P＜0.01),and Bcl-2 protein level increased significantly(P＜0.01).These findings indicate that TFHL exerts anti-inflammato-ry and anti-apoptotic effects in LPS-challenged IEC-6 cells by inhibiting the JNK signaling path-way.

Objective To investigate the changes of macrophages and hemophagocytes in bone marrow smears of patients with multiple myeloma(MM)before and after chemotherapy and their correlation with clinical prognostic value.Methods A total of 300 MM patients treated in Liaocheng Second People's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from June 2018 to June 2023 were selected as the study objects.All patients received at least 3 courses of chemotherapy and were divided into the remission group(n=214)and the non-remission group(n=86)according to the clinical effect.Immunoglobulin(Ig)A,IgG,CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,interleukin(IL-2),IL-4,IL-6,IL-17,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,transforming growth factor(TGF)-β,macrophages and hemophagocytes were detected in the two groups and compared between the two groups.COX regression was used to analyze the relationship between immunological indexes and non-remission of chemotherapy.The relationship between macrophages and hemophagocytes and non-remission of chemotherapy was analyzed by restricted cubic spline.The multiplicative interaction of macrophages and hemophagocytes on non-remission of chemotherapy was analyzed using an unconditioned Logistic regression model,and the additive interaction was analyzed using the interaction calculation table.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis of macrophages and hemophagocytes alone or in combination to determine the value of chemotherapy non-remission.Results The overall response rate(ORR)and non-response rate(NRR)of MM patients were 71.33%and 28.67%respectively.Compared with before treatment,IgA,IgG,CD8+,IL-6,IL-17,TNF-α,TGF-β,macrophages and hemophagocytes were significantly decreased in both groups after treatment(tslow=9.252～61.177,tnot slow=4.057～35.797).CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+,IL-2 and IL-4 were significantly increased(tslow=9.706～33.940,tnot slow=4.227～16.167),and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).After treatment,compared with the remission group,IgA,IgG,CD8+,IL-6,IL-17,TNF-α,TGF-β,macrophages and hemophagocytes in the non-remission group were significantly higher than those in remission group(t=3.362～30.028),CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+,IL-2 and IL-4 were significantly lower than those in remission group(t=3.736～13.998).and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).After adjusting the influence of other factors by COX regression,the trend test of macrophages and hemophagocytes was still statistically significant the trend test of macrophages and hemophagocytes was still statistically significant(P<0.05).Patients with≥5 macrophages/tablet and≥3 hemophagocytes/tablet had a significantly increased risk of non-remission from chemotherapy(P<0.05).There were additive(OR=6.157,95%CI:3.768～12.978)and multiplicative(OR=5.648,95%CI:1.035～17.492)interactions between macrophages and hemophagocytes in the non-remission of chemotherapy.Compared with the single judgment of macrophages and hemophagocytes,the combination of the two has the highest accuracy in determining chemotherapy non-remission(P＜0.05).Conclusion Macrophages and hemophagocytic cells in MM patients after chemotherapy are significantly lower than those before chemotherapy,with≥5 macrophages/tablet and≥3 hemocyte phages/tablet,indicating that the risk of non-remission in patients with chemotherapy increased significantly,and the combination of the two can accurately judge the clinical efficacy.

This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves(TFHL)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammatory injury in rat intestinal epithelial(IEC-6)cells,as well as the underlying mechanisms.An in vitro inflam-mation model was first established by treating IEC-6 cells with lipopolysaccharide(LPS).IEC-6 cells were then incubated with three concentrations of TFHL for 24 h prior to a further 24 h LPS treatment.RT-qPCR was used to quantify mRNA levels of the inflammatory genes COX-2 and iN-OS,while Western blotting was used to assess protein levels of the apoptotic markers Bax,cleaved Caspase-3,Bcl-2,and the JNK/p-JNK signaling pathway.Finally,cells were pretreated with TFHL and/or the JNK inhibitor SP600125 for 24 h before LPS exposure for 24 h,in order to evaluate the combined effects of TFHL and SP600125 on LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine expression and apoptotic protein levels in IEC-6 cells.The results showed that,compared with the LPS group,the mRNA level of COX-2 and iNOS in the 2.5,5.0,10.0 mg/L TFHL group and the Bax and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P＜0.01),and the Bcl-2 protein level was significantly higher(P＜0.01),p-JNK protein level and p-JNK/JNK ratio decreased significantly(P＜0.01);compared with the LPS group,the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels of the TFHL+LPS group de-creased significantly(P＜0.01),Bax,and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P＜0.01),and the level of Bcl-2 protein increased significantly(P＜0.05);compared with the LPS group,the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels of the TFHL+SP600125 group decreased significantly(P＜0.01),Bax and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P＜0.01),and Bcl-2 protein level increased significantly(P＜0.01).These findings indicate that TFHL exerts anti-inflammato-ry and anti-apoptotic effects in LPS-challenged IEC-6 cells by inhibiting the JNK signaling path-way.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of acute kidney injury(AKI)after liver transplantation(LT), examine its prognostic impact and construct a clinical prediction model.Methods:Clinical data are retrospectively reviewed for 220 LT recipients.They are divided into two groups of AKI(93 cases)and non-AKI(127 cases)according to the occurrence of AKI post-LT.Clinical data of two groups are compared.The variables with statistically significant inter-group differences in univariate analysis are included for multivariate analysis for obtaining the independent risk factors for AKI post-LT.Then the independent risk factors are employed for fitting a prediction model and a visual nomogram is constructed.At the same time, discrimination and calibration of the prediction model are evaluated.Extubation time, length of intensive care unit(ICU)stay, continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)rate, length of hospital stay, in-hospital mortality, estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)at discharge, incidence of chronic renal failure(CRF)and readmission times are compared between two groups.Survival analysis is also performed between AKI and non-AKI groups and AKI 0/1 and AKI 2/3 stages.Results:The incidence of AKI post-LT is 42.3%.Age( OR=1.036, 95% CI: 1.001~1.073), preoperative serum creatinine level( OR=1.030, 95% CI: 1.011~1.049), platelet count( OR=0.992, 95% CI: 0.985~0.999), Child-Pugh class C( OR=2.678, 95% CI: 1.031~6.952), postoperative abdominal infection( OR=2.271, 95% CI: 1.120~4.603)and abdominal hemorrhage( OR=3.869, 95% CI: 1.016~14.72)are independent risk factors for AKI post-LT.The AUC/C-index of nomogram prediction model is 0.789 with a Brier score of 0.183, showing decent discrimination and calibration.According to the nomogram score, the recipients with a risk of AKI>50% are included into high-risk group while those with a risk of AKI<50% into low-risk group.Postoperative survival of low-risk group is better than that of high-risk group( P<0.001).Compared with non-AKI group, AKI group had a later extubation time( P=0.003), a longer length of ICU stay( P<0.001)and hospital stay( P=0.001), a higher rate of CRRT usage( P<0.001)and in-hospital mortality( P<0.001), a lower eGFR at discharge( P<0.001)and a higher incidence of CRF( P<0.001).Postoperative survival of non-AKI group was better than that of AKI group( P=0.048).Postoperative survival of patients with AKI 0/1 is better than that of those with AKI 2/3( P=0.002). Conclusions:Advanced age, high preoperative serum creatinine, low preoperative platelet, poor preoperative liver function, postoperative abdominal infection and abdominal hemorrhage may elevate the risks of AKI post-LT.And the nomogram prediction model based upon the above risk factors has a high value of clinical application.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons (MNs) with large unmet medical needs. Multiple pathological mechanisms are considered to contribute to the progression of ALS, including neuronal oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Honokiol (HNK) has been reported to exert therapeutic effects in several neurologic disease models including ischemia stroke, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Here we found that honokiol also exhibited protective effects in ALS disease models both in vitro and in vivo. Honokiol improved the viability of NSC-34 motor neuron-like cells that expressed the mutant G93A SOD1 proteins (SOD1-G93A cells for short). Mechanistical studies revealed that honokiol alleviated cellular oxidative stress by enhancing glutathione (GSH) synthesis and activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway. Also, honokiol improved both mitochondrial function and morphology via fine-tuning mitochondrial dynamics in SOD1-G93A cells. Importantly, honokiol extended the lifespan of the SOD1-G93A transgenic mice and improved the motor function. The improvement of antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial function was further confirmed in the spinal cord and gastrocnemius muscle in mice. Overall, honokiol showed promising preclinical potential as a multiple target drug for ALS treatment.

Natural products, and especially the active ingredients found in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), have a thousand-year-long history of clinical use and a strong theoretical basis in TCM. As such, traditional remedies provide shortcuts for the development of original new drugs in China, and increasing numbers of natural products are showing great therapeutic potential in various diseases. This paper reviews the molecular mechanisms of action of natural products from different sources used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer, introduces the methods and newly emerging technologies used to identify and validate the targets of natural active ingredients, enumerates the expansive list of TCM used to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer, and summarizes the patterns of action of emerging technologies such as single-cell multiomics, network pharmacology, and artificial intelligence in the pharmacological studies of natural products to provide insights for the development of innovative natural product-based drugs. Our hope is that we can make use of advances in target identification and single-cell multiomics to obtain a deeper understanding of actions of mechanisms of natural products that will allow innovation and revitalization of TCM and its swift industrialization and internationalization.