ObjectiveTo establish the multi-technique characteristic profiles of Alumen by X-ray diffraction（XRD）， Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR） and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis（TG-DTA）， and to explore the spectral characteristics for rapid identification of Alumen and its potential adulterant， Ammonium alum. MethodsA total of 27 batches of Alumen samples from 8 production regions were collected for preliminary identification based on visual characteristics. The PDF standard cards of XRD were used to differentiate Alumen from A. alum， and the XRD characteristic profiles of Alumen were established， and then the common peaks were screened. Based on hierarchical clustering analysis（HCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA）， the characteristic information that could be used for identification of Alumen was selected with variable importance in the projection（VIP） value>1. FTIR characteristic profiles of Alumen were established， and key wavenumbers for identification were screened by HCA and OPLS-DA with VIP value>1. Meanwhile， the thermogravimetric differences between Alumen and A. alum were analyzed by TG-DTA， and the thermogravimetric traits that could be used for identification were screened. ResultsAlumen and A. alum could not be effectively distinguished by traits alone. However， by comparing the PDF standard cards of XRD， 15 batches of Alumen and 12 batches of A. alum could be distinguished. In the XRD profiles， 10 characteristic peaks were confirmed， corresponding to diffraction angles of 14.560°， 24.316°， 12.620°， 32.122°， 17.898°， 34.642°， 27.496°， 46.048°， 40.697° and 21.973°. In the FTIR profiles， 4 wavenumber ranges（399.193-403.050， 1 186.010-1 471.420， 1 801.190-2 620.790， 3 612.020-3 997.710 cm^-1） and 12 characteristic wavenumbers（1 428.994， 1 430.922， 1 432.851， 1 434.779， 1 436.708， 1 438.636， 1 440.565， 1 442.493， 1 444.422， 1 446.350， 1 448.279， 1 450.207 cm^-1） were identified. In the TG-DTA profiles， there were characteristic decomposition peaks of ammonium ion and mass reduction features near 555.34 ℃ for A. alum. These characteristics could serve as important criteria for distinguishing the authenticity of Alumen. ConclusionXRD， FTIR and TG-DTA can be used to rapidly detect Alumen and A. alum， and combined with the discriminant features selected through chemometrics， the rapid and accurate identification of Alumen and A. alum can be achieved. The research findings provide new approaches for the rapid identification of Alumen.

ObjectiveTo establish the multi-technique characteristic profiles of Alumen by X-ray diffraction（XRD）， Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR） and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis（TG-DTA）， and to explore the spectral characteristics for rapid identification of Alumen and its potential adulterant， Ammonium alum. MethodsA total of 27 batches of Alumen samples from 8 production regions were collected for preliminary identification based on visual characteristics. The PDF standard cards of XRD were used to differentiate Alumen from A. alum， and the XRD characteristic profiles of Alumen were established， and then the common peaks were screened. Based on hierarchical clustering analysis（HCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA）， the characteristic information that could be used for identification of Alumen was selected with variable importance in the projection（VIP） value>1. FTIR characteristic profiles of Alumen were established， and key wavenumbers for identification were screened by HCA and OPLS-DA with VIP value>1. Meanwhile， the thermogravimetric differences between Alumen and A. alum were analyzed by TG-DTA， and the thermogravimetric traits that could be used for identification were screened. ResultsAlumen and A. alum could not be effectively distinguished by traits alone. However， by comparing the PDF standard cards of XRD， 15 batches of Alumen and 12 batches of A. alum could be distinguished. In the XRD profiles， 10 characteristic peaks were confirmed， corresponding to diffraction angles of 14.560°， 24.316°， 12.620°， 32.122°， 17.898°， 34.642°， 27.496°， 46.048°， 40.697° and 21.973°. In the FTIR profiles， 4 wavenumber ranges（399.193-403.050， 1 186.010-1 471.420， 1 801.190-2 620.790， 3 612.020-3 997.710 cm^-1） and 12 characteristic wavenumbers（1 428.994， 1 430.922， 1 432.851， 1 434.779， 1 436.708， 1 438.636， 1 440.565， 1 442.493， 1 444.422， 1 446.350， 1 448.279， 1 450.207 cm^-1） were identified. In the TG-DTA profiles， there were characteristic decomposition peaks of ammonium ion and mass reduction features near 555.34 ℃ for A. alum. These characteristics could serve as important criteria for distinguishing the authenticity of Alumen. ConclusionXRD， FTIR and TG-DTA can be used to rapidly detect Alumen and A. alum， and combined with the discriminant features selected through chemometrics， the rapid and accurate identification of Alumen and A. alum can be achieved. The research findings provide new approaches for the rapid identification of Alumen.

Debates persist regarding the efficacy and safety of azvudine, particularly its real-world outcomes. This study involved patients aged ≥60 years who were admitted to 25 hospitals in mainland China with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Efficacy outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization, the proportion of patients discharged with recovery, time to nucleic acid-negative conversion (T _NANC), time to symptom improvement (T _SI), and time of hospital stay (T _HS). Safety was also assessed. Among the 5884 participants identified, 1999 received azvudine, and 1999 matched controls were included after exclusion and propensity score matching. Azvudine recipients exhibited lower all-cause mortality compared with controls in the overall population (13.3% vs. 17.1%, RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90; P = 0.001) and in the severe subgroup (25.7% vs. 33.7%; RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.88; P < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients discharged with recovery, and a shorter T _NANC were associated with azvudine recipients, especially in the severe subgroup. The incidence of adverse events in azvudine recipients was comparable to that in the control group (2.3% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.170). In conclusion, azvudine showed efficacy and safety in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron wave in China.

Increasing evidence shows that the early lesions of Parkinson's disease (PD) originate from gut, and correction of microbiota dysbiosis is a promising therapy for PD. FLZ is a neuroprotective agent on PD, which has been validated capable of alleviating microbiota dysbiosis in PD mice. However, the detailed mechanisms still need elucidated. Through metabolomics and 16S rRNA analysis, we identified glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA) was the most affected differential microbial metabolite by FLZ treatment, which was specially and negatively regulated by Clostridium innocuum, a differential microbiota with the strongest correlation to GUDCA production, through inhibiting bile salt hydrolase (BSH) enzyme. The protection of GUDCA on colon and brain were also clarified in PD models, showing that it could activate Nrf2 pathway, further validating that FLZ protected dopaminergic neurons through promoting GUDCA production. Our study uncovered that FLZ improved PD through microbiota-gut-brain axis, and also gave insights into modulation of microbial metabolites may serve as an important strategy for treating PD.

Although enteric glial cell (EGC) abnormal activation is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), and inhibition of EGC gliosis alleviated gut and dopaminergic neuronal dysfunction was verified in our previous study, the potential role of gut microbiota on EGC function in PD still need to be addressed. In the present study, fecal microbiota transplantation revealed that EGC function was regulated by gut microbiota. By employing 16S rRNA and metabolomic analysis, we identified that 3-indolepropionic acid (IPA) was the most affected differential microbial metabolite that regulated EGC gliosis. The protective effects of IPA on PD were validated in rotenone-stimulated EGCs and rotenone (30 mg/kg i.g. for 4 weeks)-induced PD mice, as indicated by decreased inflammation, improved intestinal and brain barrier as well as dopaminergic neuronal function. Mechanistic study showed that IPA targeted pregnane X receptor (PXR) in EGCs, and inhibition of IL-13Rα1 involved cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, leading to inactivation of downstream JAK1-STAT6 pathway. Our data not only provided evidence that EGC gliosis was critical in spreading intestinal damage to brain, but also highlighted the potential role of microbial metabolite IPA in alleviating PD pathological damages through gut-brain axis.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary fibrogenic cells in the liver, and their activation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRα), a unique member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key modulator of HSC activation and liver fibrosis. RXRα exerts its effects by modulating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα). In addition, we demonstrate that K-80003, which binds RXRα by a unique mechanism, effectively suppresses HSC activation, proliferation, and migration, thereby inhibiting liver fibrosis in the CCl₄ and amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet animal models. The effect is mediated by AMPKα activation, promoting mitophagy in HSCs. Mechanistically, K-80003 activates AMPKα by inducing RXRα to form condensates with CaMKKβ and AMPKα via a two-phase process. The formation of RXRα condensates is driven by its N-terminal intrinsic disorder region and requires phosphorylation by CaMKKβ. Our results reveal a crucial role of RXRα in liver fibrosis regulation through modulating mitochondrial activities in HSCs. Furthermore, they suggest that K-80003 and related RXRα modulators hold promise as therapeutic agents for fibrosis-related diseases.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2025.02.029.].

Objective To explore the correlation between central venous oxygen saturation(ScvO2)-re-lated indexes at different time points and the occurrence of low cardiac output syndrome(LCOS)after con-genital heart disease(CHD)correction surgery.Methods A total of 73 children who underwent CHD correc-tion surgery in this hospital from July 1st,2021 to July 1st,2024 were selected as the research subjects.The clinical data,preoperative conditions,and postoperative conditions of the children were collected.The ScvO2 and arterial lactate(Lac)levels of the children at different time points(the 1st,6th,12th,and 24th hours after surgery)were monitored,and the ScvO2/Lac at different time points and the change rate of ScvO2 in different time periods were calculated.The correlation between ScvO2-related indexes and LCOS after CHD correction surgery was analyzed.Results ScvO2 at the 6th hour after surgery,ScvO2 at the 12th hour after surgery,Sc-vO2/Lac at the 12th hour after surgery,the change rate of ScvO2 from the 1st to the 24th hour after surgery,the change rate of ScvO2 from the 6th to the 12th hour after surgery,and the change rate of ScvO2 from the 12th to the 24th hour after surgery were independent influencing factors of LCOS occurrence after CHD cor-rection surgery(P＜0.05).There was a negative correlation between ScvO2 at the 12th hour after surgery,ScvO2/Lac and LCOS occurrence after CHD correction surgery(r=-0.543,-0.523,P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of ScvO2 at the 12th hour after surgery for predicting LCOS occurrence after CHD correction surgery was 0.938(95％CI:0.865-1.000);the AUC of ScvO2/Lac at the 12th hour after surgery for predicting LCOS occurrence after CHD correction surgery was 0.922(95％CI:0.851-0.994).Conclusion ScvO2 and ScvO2/Lac at the 12th hour after surgery have good predictive potential for LCOS occurrence af-ter CHD correction surgery.

Endothelial dysfunction(ED)is a crucial pathological feature and a key initiating factor in diabetic angiopathy.A major pathway contributing to ED is the reduction of nitric oxide(NO)production.NO is synthesized by endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)using L-arginine as a substrate.However,arginase(Arg)can compete with eNOS for this substrate.Arg has subtype 1 and 2.In diabetes mellitus(DM),the abnormal increase in Arg1 can lead to excessive consumption of the substrate in the vascular endothelium,which causes a decrease in NO levels,leading to diabetes-induced vascular ED.This article reviews the research progress of arginase 1 in diabetes-induced vascular ED.

Endothelial dysfunction(ED)is a crucial pathological feature and a key initiating factor in diabetic angiopathy.A major pathway contributing to ED is the reduction of nitric oxide(NO)production.NO is synthesized by endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)using L-arginine as a substrate.However,arginase(Arg)can compete with eNOS for this substrate.Arg has subtype 1 and 2.In diabetes mellitus(DM),the abnormal increase in Arg1 can lead to excessive consumption of the substrate in the vascular endothelium,which causes a decrease in NO levels,leading to diabetes-induced vascular ED.This article reviews the research progress of arginase 1 in diabetes-induced vascular ED.