1.Protective Effect of Taohong Siwutang on Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion Injury Based on A1/A2 Phenotype Transformation of Astrocytes Mediated by JAK2/STAT3 Pathway
Huifang WANG ; Xinru CHEN ; Mengyuan CHEN ; Xian ZHOU ; Lan HAN ; Weidong CHEN ; Zhaojie JI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):25-34
ObjectiveTo investigate whether the effect of Taohong Siwutang on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CIRI) injury in rats is related to the regulation of astrocyte polarization and explore the related mechanism. MethodsEighty-four male SD rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: A sham operation group, a model group, Taohong Siwutang treatment groups (low dose, medium dose, and high dose), ligustrazine phosphate tablet (LPT) group, and AG490 group. All groups, except for the sham operation group, underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) modeling and were treated for seven days. The neurological impairment was evaluated using the Longa score. The volume of cerebral infarction was assessed through 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot analyses were performed to analyze the mRNA and protein expression levels of cortical complement 3 (C3), S100 calcium-binding protein A10 (S100A10), Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Additionally, protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) were assessed, and the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were evaluated. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and C3, S100A10 and Co-localization was detected via immunofluorescence double staining. Lastly, VEGF expression levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsCompared with the sham operation group, the model group showed a significant increase in cerebral infarction volume and neurological impairment (P<0.01). C3 protein levels were elevated, while S100A10 levels were decreased. Pathway-related markers were significantly upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and VEGF-A protein levels were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors was significantly upregulated (P<0.01). Co-localization analysis showed significantly increased GFAP and C3 fluorescence intensity (P<0.01) and greatly decreased GFAP and S100A10 fluorescence intensity (P<0.01). Additionally, VEGF content was significantly elevated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, medium- and high-dose Taohong Siwutang and LPT groups exhibited a significant reduction in cerebral infarction volume and neurological impairment (P<0.01). Groups treated with low, medium, and high doses of Taohong Siwutang and LPT group exhibited a decrease in C3 protein expression levels and an increase in S100A10 expression levels (P<0.01). In the high-dose Taohong Siwutang and AG490 groups, both protein and mRNA expression of C3 and pathway-related markers were significantly downregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01), while S100A10 expression and VEGF-A protein levels were significantly increased (P<0.01). Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The co-localization fluorescence intensity of GFAP and C3 significantly decreased (P<0.01), while that of GFAP and S100A10 greatly increased (P<0.01). Furthermore, VEGF content exhibited a marked elevation (P<0.01). ConclusionTaohong Siwutang exerts a protective effect in rats with cerebral CIRI injury. The underlying mechanism is associated with the downregulation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, promotion of A2-type astrocyte polarization, reduction of inflammatory factor release, and enhancement of VEGF production.
2.Protective Effect of Taohong Siwutang on Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion Injury Based on A1/A2 Phenotype Transformation of Astrocytes Mediated by JAK2/STAT3 Pathway
Huifang WANG ; Xinru CHEN ; Mengyuan CHEN ; Xian ZHOU ; Lan HAN ; Weidong CHEN ; Zhaojie JI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):25-34
ObjectiveTo investigate whether the effect of Taohong Siwutang on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CIRI) injury in rats is related to the regulation of astrocyte polarization and explore the related mechanism. MethodsEighty-four male SD rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: A sham operation group, a model group, Taohong Siwutang treatment groups (low dose, medium dose, and high dose), ligustrazine phosphate tablet (LPT) group, and AG490 group. All groups, except for the sham operation group, underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) modeling and were treated for seven days. The neurological impairment was evaluated using the Longa score. The volume of cerebral infarction was assessed through 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot analyses were performed to analyze the mRNA and protein expression levels of cortical complement 3 (C3), S100 calcium-binding protein A10 (S100A10), Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Additionally, protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) were assessed, and the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were evaluated. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and C3, S100A10 and Co-localization was detected via immunofluorescence double staining. Lastly, VEGF expression levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsCompared with the sham operation group, the model group showed a significant increase in cerebral infarction volume and neurological impairment (P<0.01). C3 protein levels were elevated, while S100A10 levels were decreased. Pathway-related markers were significantly upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and VEGF-A protein levels were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors was significantly upregulated (P<0.01). Co-localization analysis showed significantly increased GFAP and C3 fluorescence intensity (P<0.01) and greatly decreased GFAP and S100A10 fluorescence intensity (P<0.01). Additionally, VEGF content was significantly elevated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, medium- and high-dose Taohong Siwutang and LPT groups exhibited a significant reduction in cerebral infarction volume and neurological impairment (P<0.01). Groups treated with low, medium, and high doses of Taohong Siwutang and LPT group exhibited a decrease in C3 protein expression levels and an increase in S100A10 expression levels (P<0.01). In the high-dose Taohong Siwutang and AG490 groups, both protein and mRNA expression of C3 and pathway-related markers were significantly downregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01), while S100A10 expression and VEGF-A protein levels were significantly increased (P<0.01). Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The co-localization fluorescence intensity of GFAP and C3 significantly decreased (P<0.01), while that of GFAP and S100A10 greatly increased (P<0.01). Furthermore, VEGF content exhibited a marked elevation (P<0.01). ConclusionTaohong Siwutang exerts a protective effect in rats with cerebral CIRI injury. The underlying mechanism is associated with the downregulation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, promotion of A2-type astrocyte polarization, reduction of inflammatory factor release, and enhancement of VEGF production.
3.Nurses' Hospital Selection within a Dual Labor Market Framework:The Dilemma of Professional Identity
Hyun-Ji BAE ; Hyoung Suk KIM ; Hwal Lan BANG
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration 2025;31(1):14-24
Purpose:
This qualitative study explored nurses' experiences in selecting hospitals within a dual labor market framework.
Methods:
Focus group interviews were conducted with 18 general nurses, divided into three groups of six, each representing both large and medium-sized hospitals.
Results:
The analysis revealed two themes, four categories, and nine subcategories, highlighting differences between large and medium-sized hospitals. Nurses who choose large hospitals prioritized "professional development" but faced "struggles to maintain professional identity" while those selecting medium-sized hospitals sought "stability and accessibility" but experienced "crisis of professional identity."
Conclusion
This study highlights significant differences in the factors influencing nurses' hospital choices based on hospital size. These findings provide foundational data for establishing the Enforcement Decree and Rules of the Nursing Act, emphasizing the importance of developing legal measures to strengthen nurses' professional identity and promote a balanced and sustainable nursing labor market.
4.Nurses' Hospital Selection within a Dual Labor Market Framework:The Dilemma of Professional Identity
Hyun-Ji BAE ; Hyoung Suk KIM ; Hwal Lan BANG
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration 2025;31(1):14-24
Purpose:
This qualitative study explored nurses' experiences in selecting hospitals within a dual labor market framework.
Methods:
Focus group interviews were conducted with 18 general nurses, divided into three groups of six, each representing both large and medium-sized hospitals.
Results:
The analysis revealed two themes, four categories, and nine subcategories, highlighting differences between large and medium-sized hospitals. Nurses who choose large hospitals prioritized "professional development" but faced "struggles to maintain professional identity" while those selecting medium-sized hospitals sought "stability and accessibility" but experienced "crisis of professional identity."
Conclusion
This study highlights significant differences in the factors influencing nurses' hospital choices based on hospital size. These findings provide foundational data for establishing the Enforcement Decree and Rules of the Nursing Act, emphasizing the importance of developing legal measures to strengthen nurses' professional identity and promote a balanced and sustainable nursing labor market.
5.Nurses' Hospital Selection within a Dual Labor Market Framework:The Dilemma of Professional Identity
Hyun-Ji BAE ; Hyoung Suk KIM ; Hwal Lan BANG
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration 2025;31(1):14-24
Purpose:
This qualitative study explored nurses' experiences in selecting hospitals within a dual labor market framework.
Methods:
Focus group interviews were conducted with 18 general nurses, divided into three groups of six, each representing both large and medium-sized hospitals.
Results:
The analysis revealed two themes, four categories, and nine subcategories, highlighting differences between large and medium-sized hospitals. Nurses who choose large hospitals prioritized "professional development" but faced "struggles to maintain professional identity" while those selecting medium-sized hospitals sought "stability and accessibility" but experienced "crisis of professional identity."
Conclusion
This study highlights significant differences in the factors influencing nurses' hospital choices based on hospital size. These findings provide foundational data for establishing the Enforcement Decree and Rules of the Nursing Act, emphasizing the importance of developing legal measures to strengthen nurses' professional identity and promote a balanced and sustainable nursing labor market.
6.Endoplasmic reticulum membrane remodeling by targeting reticulon-4 induces pyroptosis to facilitate antitumor immune.
Mei-Mei ZHAO ; Ting-Ting REN ; Jing-Kang WANG ; Lu YAO ; Ting-Ting LIU ; Ji-Chao ZHANG ; Yang LIU ; Lan YUAN ; Dan LIU ; Jiu-Hui XU ; Peng-Fei TU ; Xiao-Dong TANG ; Ke-Wu ZENG
Protein & Cell 2025;16(2):121-135
Pyroptosis is an identified programmed cell death that has been highly linked to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dynamics. However, the crucial proteins for modulating dynamic ER membrane curvature change that trigger pyroptosis are currently not well understood. In this study, a biotin-labeled chemical probe of potent pyroptosis inducer α-mangostin (α-MG) was synthesized. Through protein microarray analysis, reticulon-4 (RTN4/Nogo), a crucial regulator of ER membrane curvature, was identified as a target of α-MG. We observed that chemically induced proteasome degradation of RTN4 by α-MG through recruiting E3 ligase UBR5 significantly enhances the pyroptosis phenotype in cancer cells. Interestingly, the downregulation of RTN4 expression significantly facilitated a dynamic remodeling of ER membrane curvature through a transition from tubules to sheets, consequently leading to rapid fusion of the ER with the cell plasma membrane. In particular, the ER-to-plasma membrane fusion process is supported by the observed translocation of several crucial ER markers to the "bubble" structures of pyroptotic cells. Furthermore, α-MG-induced RTN4 knockdown leads to pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2)-dependent conventional caspase-3/gasdermin E (GSDME) cleavages for pyroptosis progression. In vivo, we observed that chemical or genetic RTN4 knockdown significantly inhibited cancer cells growth, which further exhibited an antitumor immune response with anti-programmed death-1 (anti-PD-1). In translational research, RTN4 high expression was closely correlated with the tumor metastasis and death of patients. Taken together, RTN4 plays a fundamental role in inducing pyroptosis through the modulation of ER membrane curvature remodeling, thus representing a prospective druggable target for anticancer immunotherapy.
Pyroptosis/immunology*
;
Humans
;
Endoplasmic Reticulum/immunology*
;
Animals
;
Nogo Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*
;
Mice
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Xanthones/pharmacology*
;
Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Mice, Nude
7.Causal Associations between Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5), PM 2.5 Absorbance, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Risk: Evidence from a Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.
Xu ZHANG ; Zhi Meng WU ; Lu ZHANG ; Bing Long XIN ; Xiang Rui WANG ; Xin Lan LU ; Gui Fang LU ; Mu Dan REN ; Shui Xiang HE ; Ya Rui LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):167-177
OBJECTIVE:
Several epidemiological observational studies have related particulate matter (PM) exposure to Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but many confounding factors make it difficult to draw causal links from observational studies. The objective of this study was to explore the causal association between PM 2.5 exposure, its absorbance, and IBD.
METHODS:
We assessed the association of PM 2.5 and PM 2.5 absorbance with the two primary forms of IBD (Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]) using Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the causal relationship. We conducted two-sample MR analyses with aggregated data from the UK Biobank genome-wide association study. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms linked with PM 2.5 concentrations or their absorbance were used as instrumental variables (IVs). We used inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the primary analytical approach and four other standard methods as supplementary analyses for quality control.
RESULTS:
The results of MR demonstrated that PM 2.5 had an adverse influence on UC risk (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.010; 95% confidence interval [ CI] = 1.001-1.019, P = 0.020). Meanwhile, the results of IVW showed that PM 2.5 absorbance was also causally associated with UC ( OR = 1.012; 95% CI = 1.004-1.019, P = 0.002). We observed no causal relationship between PM 2.5, PM 2.5 absorbance, and CD. The results of sensitivity analysis indicated the absence of heterogeneity or pleiotropy, ensuring the reliability of MR results.
CONCLUSION
Based on two-sample MR analyses, there are potential positive causal relationships between PM 2.5, PM 2.5 absorbance, and UC.
Humans
;
Mendelian Randomization Analysis
;
Particulate Matter/analysis*
;
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
;
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/genetics*
;
Air Pollutants/analysis*
;
Crohn Disease/genetics*
;
Colitis, Ulcerative/genetics*
;
Genome-Wide Association Study
;
Risk Factors
;
Environmental Exposure
8.Influence of Outdoor Light at Night on Early Reproductive Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization and Its Threshold Effect: Evidence from a Couple-Based Preconception Cohort Study.
Wen Bin FANG ; Ying TANG ; Ya Ning SUN ; Yan Lan TANG ; Yin Yin CHEN ; Ya Wen CAO ; Ji Qi FANG ; Kun Jing HE ; Yu Shan LI ; Ya Ning DAI ; Shuang Shuang BAO ; Peng ZHU ; Shan Shan SHAO ; Fang Biao TAO ; Gui Xia PAN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(8):1009-1015
9.Layered external repair with microsurgery of maxillary central incisor with external cervical resorption.
Xiao JI ; Lan ZHANG ; Dingming HUANG
West China Journal of Stomatology 2025;43(5):736-741
Tooth resorption is the degradation of dental hard tissue due to the continuous action of odontoclasts. External cervical resorption refers to the cervical resorption of a tooth due to destruction and/or defects of the periodontal ligament or subepithelial cementum. In this paper, we report a case of maxillary central incisor with external cervical resorption after dental trauma and orthodontic treatment. The resorption site and morphology of the affected tooth were thoroughly analyzed by cone beam computed tomography prior to the operation. Dental operating microscope and layered external repair with composite resin and bioceramics ensured a perfect restoration of the resorption, and the vital pulp was preserved. The 6-year follow-up indicated a favorable treatment effect.
Humans
;
Composite Resins
;
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
;
Incisor/surgery*
;
Maxilla
;
Microsurgery/methods*
;
Tooth Resorption/etiology*
10.Astragali Radix Polysaccharide Inhibits Proliferation and Migration of Gastric Cancer Cells by Targeting ID1 and Akt
Peizheng SHI ; Shanshan XIAO ; Xinjiang ZHANG ; Yixiang NIE ; Xianchao WANG ; Jing HUANG ; Jie MEI ; Huaquan LAN ; Tuanyun JI ; Tianyi ZHANG ; Xiaoyong WEI ; Qiaohong YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):96-105
ObjectiveTo explore the regulatory effects and mechanisms of Astragali Radix polysaccharide (APS) on inhibitor of differentiation1 (ID1) and protein kinase B (Akt) in gastric cancer. MethodsImmunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of ID1 and Akt in 61 gastric cancer tissue samples and 20 adjacent normal gastric tissue samples. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the localization of ID1 and Akt. The effects of APS at the concentrations of 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg·L-1 on the proliferation of gastric cancer MGC-803 cells were examined by the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) method and the colony formation assay. The target information of APS was retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology and Analysis Platform and Swiss Target Prediction. Keywords such as gastric cancer, gastric tumor, and stomach cancer were searched against GeneCards, UniProt, DisGeNET, and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) for the screening of gastric cancer-related targets. The online tool jvenn was used to create the Venn diagram to identify the common targets, and STRING and Cytoscape were used to construct the protein-protein interaction network. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted via R 4.2.2 to predict the potential roles of APS in the development of gastric cancer. The cell scratch assay was employed to assess the effect of APS on the migration of MGC-803 cells. The protein and mRNA levels of ID1 and Akt in the cells treated with APS were determined by Western blot and Real-time PCR, respectively. ResultsCompared with the adjacent normal gastric tissue, the gastric adenocarcinoma tissue showed increased positive expression of ID1 (χ2 =81.00, P<0.01). Immunofluorescence detection showed that ID1 and Akt were mainly located in the cytoplasm of gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Bioinformatics analysis identified 14 common genes shared between APS and gastric cancer. The average degree of protein-protein interaction network nodes was 14.29. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment results showed that ID1 and Akt were significantly enriched in the Rap1 and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) /Akt signaling pathways. Cell experiments demonstrated that 5-fluorouracil (0.1 mg·L-1) and APS (10, 20 mg·L-1) groups showed decreased cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation. Compared with the control group, 10, 20 mg·L-1 APS inhibited the proliferation of MGC-803 cells (P<0.01), with 10 mg·L-1 APS demonstrating stronger inhibitory effect. In addition, APS at 10, 20 mg·L-1 inhibited the migration (P<0.01) and colony formation (P<0.05, P<0.01) of MGC-803 cells. Compared with the control group, APS at 10, 20 mg·L-1 down-regulated the protein levels of ID1 (P<0.01) and Akt (P<0.05) and the mRNA levels of ID1 (P<0.05, P<0.01) and Akt (P<0.05, P<0.01) in MGC-803 cells. ConclusionID1 and Akt are highly expressed in the gastric adenocarcinoma tissue, which may be related to the development of gastric cancer. APS can down-regulate the protein and mRNA levels of ID1 and Akt to exert anti-tumor effects, which is expected to provide new therapeutic targets for gastric cancer treatment.

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