Objective To investigate the role and related mechanisms of exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in radiation-induced lung injury (RILI). Methods Human umbilical cord-derived MSCs were isolated and cultured for the extraction and identification of exosomes. Eighteen male SD rats were randomly divided into Control group, RILI group and RILI + exosomes group (EXO group), with 6 rats in each group. Except for Control group, the other groups received a single X-ray dose of 30 Gy to the right lung. Immediately after irradiation, the EXO group was administered 2 × 10⁹ exosomes/kg via tail vein injection. Control group and RILI group were given the same volume of normal saline. Eight weeks post-irradiation, the rats were sacrificed, lung tissue and peripheral venous blood were collected. HE and Masson staining were employed to observe the pathological and fibrotic changes of lung tissue. The levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10 were detected by ELISA. RT-qPCR was used to assess the mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, Cdh1, and Col1a1 in lung tissue. The expression levels of Vimentin and TGF-β1 in lung tissue were measured by immunohistochemical staining. The expression levels of AMPK, p-AMPK, and TGF-β1 in lung tissue were detected by Western blot. Results MSC-derived exosomes were successfully extracted and identified. Compared with RILI group, EXO group showed significantly reduced pathological changes of lung inflammation and collagen deposition. The levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-6, INF-γ, and TNF-α were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the level of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 was significantly increased (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and Col1a1 in lung tissue were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the mRNA level of Cdh1 was significantly increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The levels of Vimentin and TGF-β1 in lung tissue were significantly reduced, while p-AMPK level was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05). Conclusion Exosomes derived from MSCs may alleviate RILI by inhibiting inflammatory responses and regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediated by AMPK/TGF-β1 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of parthenolide （PLT） on systemic inflammation and intestinal injury in rats with acute pancreatitis （AP） by regulating the Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-associated protein 1 （Keap1）/nuclear factor-erythroid-2 related factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） signaling pathway. METHODS AP rat model was established by injecting 3.5% sodium taurine cholate solution （1 mL/kg） into the biliary pancreatic duct， and modeled rats were divided into AP group， PLT （300 µg/kg） group， dexamethasone （2 mg/kg） group， inhibitor （11 mg/kg Nrf2 inhibitor ML385） group， and PLT+inhibitor group （300 µg/kg PLT+11 mg/kg ML385）， with 10 rats in each group. Another 10 rats were taken as a sham operation group. Each group was given relevant medicine or normal saline via tail vein/intraperitoneal injection once. After 24 h， serum lipase and amylase levels， the levels of oxidative stress index [superoxide dismutase （SOD） and malondialdehyde （MDA）] and inflammatory factors [interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）] were detected. The histopathological changes in colon mucosa and pancreas were observed， and Chiu and Schmidt scores were performed. The cell apoptosis in colon mucosa and the protein expressions of Keap1， Nrf2 and HO-1 were detected. RESULTS Compared with the sham operation group， there was obvious inflammatory cell infiltration in colon mucosa and pancreatic tissue， cell shedding or tissue necrosis and severe bleeding； serum levels of lipase， amylase， MDA， IL-1β， IL-6 and TNF-α， Chiu and Schmidt scores， apoptotic rate and protein expression of Keap1 in colonic mucosa were significantly increased or up-regulated， while SOD level and protein expressions of Nrf2 20230993） and HO-1 were decreased or down-regulated significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the AP group， the above indexes in the PLT group and dexamethasone group were significantly improved， while those in the inhibitor group further deteriorated （P＜0.05）. Inhibitor could significantly reverse the improvement effect of PLT on the above indexes in AP rats （P＜ 0.05）. CONCLUSIONS PLT inhibits inflammation and oxidative stress in AP rats， alleviates intestinal damage， and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting protein expression of Keap1 and activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Objective: To explore the associations between caregivers nutrition literacy and pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), so as to provide scientific evidence for the key contents of family intervention measures. Methods: In September 2022, a study involving 1 609 thirdgrade students and their caregivers from six schools in Yinzhou, Haishu, and Zhenhai Districts of Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, was conducted. Venous blood samples were collected to measure lipid profiles and investigate the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among the children. Family Food Environment Questionnaire was used to assess the nutrition literacy levels of the caregivers. Generalized linear regression analysis was employed to explore the correlation between caregivers nutrition literacy levels and the prevalence of NAFLD in children. Results: Among the surveyed students, 191 were in the NAFLD group, whereas 1 418 were in the nonNAFLD group. The median nutrition literacy score of caregivers in the NAFLD group and nonNAFLD group all were 11.00 (9.00,12.00), which was not significantly different (Z=-0.40, P=0.71). The generalized linear regression results revealed that the level of nutrition literacy of caregivers had no significant effect on childrens Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and Triglyceride-glucose-Waisttoheight ratio (TyG-WHtR) [β(95%CI) were 0.001(-0.005-0.006) and 0.000(-0.014-0.014), P>0.05]. Conclusions The nutrition literacy level of caregivers has no significant correlation with the direct incidence of NAFLD in children. As for family intervention measures, it is necessary not only to improve the nutrition literacy level of caregivers but also to effectively apply nutritional knowledge in practice to optimize health management.

Objective: To evaluates the association between maternal overweight/obesity during pregnancy and offspring risk of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), providing theoretical evidence for early life MASLD prevention. Methods: An online search was conducted across ten databases (CNKI, Wanfang, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PROSPERO, PQDT Global, ScienceDirect) for research literature on the association between maternal overweight/obesity during pregnancy and the development of MASLD in offspring, with the search period spanning from January 2014 to December 2024. Two researchers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed study quality. Statistical analysis was performed using R 4.3.3. Results: Ten studies involving 10 229 participants were included, comprising 4 cohort studies and 6 case control studies. Cohort studies showed that maternal overweight and obesity significantly increased offspring MASLD risk ( RR=1.59, 95%CI=1.06-2.39, P <0.05), with moderate heterogeneity ( I 2=56.9%, P =0.07). Case control studies indicated a positive association between maternal overweight/obesity during pregnancy and offspring risk of MASLD( OR=2.00, 95%CI=1.68-2.39, P < 0.05), with low heterogeneity ( I 2=48.8%, P =0.08). Conclusions Maternal overweight/obesity during pregnancy positively correlates with offspring MASLD risk. Gestational weight management may reduce the risk.

Thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box (TOX), a member of the high mobility group protein super-family, plays an important role in T cell development, functional maintenance, and exhaustion. It has been recently found that TOX exerts critical immunoregulatory functions during pathogen infections, and TOX expression is strongly associated with the intensity and tolerance of host immune responses. This review systematically summarizes the structural and functional features of TOX and focuses on its expression dynamics, mechanisms of action, and immunomodulatory effects during viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections, which provides a theoretical support to better understanding of the role of TOX in infectious diseases and provides new insights into development of potential immunotherapeutic strategies targeting TOX.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of the coblation resection of lingual thyroglossal duct cysts under self-retaining laryngoscopy. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 22 patients with lingual thyroglossal duct cysts admitted to our hospital from December 2016 to December 2023. There were 16 males and 6 females, aged 2 years to 12 years and 3 months（mean: 4 years 1 month; median: 3 years 3 months）. The lingual thyroglossal duct cysts were removed by coblation under self-retaining laryngoscopy. If the cysts could not be removed completely, the epithelial cells of the remaining cysts would be ablated. Results:There were 22 cases of lingual thyroglossal duct cysts，13 cases （59.1%） of lingual thyroglossal duct cysts had laryngeal stridor and dyspnea. The postoperative follow-up period is 3 months to 7 years. 11 cases （50.0%） underwent secondary laryngoscopic evaluation.There were 4 cases of recurrence （18.2%）, with no laryngeal obstruction,bleeding, or nerve damage. Conclusion:Laryngeal stridor and dyspnea are the main clinical symptoms of lingual thyroglossal duct cysts in children. The coblation resection of lingual thyroglossal duct cysts under self-retaining laryngoscopy is safe and effective. Cyst recurrence correlates strongly with residual cyst walls, emphasizing the need for enhanced intraoperative visualization and refined surgical precision.
Humans ; Thyroglossal Cyst/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Laryngoscopy/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Catheter Ablation/methods*

Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) protein inhibitors are a promising class of therapeutics, but research on molecules that effectively penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains limited, which is crucial for treating central nervous system (CNS) malignancies. Although molecular generation models have recently advanced drug discovery, they often overlook the complexity of biological and chemical factors, leaving room for improvement. In this study, we present a structure-constrained molecular generation workflow designed to optimize lead compounds for both drug efficacy and drug absorption properties. Our approach utilizes a variational autoencoder (VAE) generative model integrated with reinforcement learning for multi-objective optimization. This method specifically aims to enhance BBB permeability (BBBp) while maintaining high-affinity substructures of KRAS inhibitors. To support this, we incorporate a specialized KRAS BBB predictor based on active learning and an affinity predictor employing comparative learning models. Additionally, we introduce two novel metrics, the knowledge-integrated reproduction score (KIRS) and the composite diversity score (CDS), to assess structural performance and biological relevance. Retrospective validation with KRAS inhibitors, AMG510 and MRTX849, demonstrates the framework's effectiveness in optimizing BBBp and highlights its potential for real-world drug development applications. This study provides a robust framework for accelerating the structural enhancement of lead compounds, advancing the drug development process across diverse targets.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effects of a polycaprolactone (PCL)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) scaffold incorporated with concentrated growth factor (CGF) on the adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). METHODS: The PCL-PEG-CGF composite scaffold was fabricated using an immersion and freeze-drying technique. Its microstructure, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility were systematically characterized. The hPDLSCs were isolated through enzymatic digestion, and the hPDLSCs were identified through flow cytometry. Third-passage hPDLSCs were seeded onto the composite scaffolds, and their adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation were assessed using CCK-8 assays, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, alizarin red staining, and Western blot analysis of osteogenesis-related proteins [Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), ALP, and morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2)]. RESULTS: Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the PCL-PEG-CGF composite scaffold exhibited a honeycomb-like structure with heterogeneous pore sizes. The composite scaffold exhibited excellent hydrophilicity, as evidenced by a contact angle (θ) approaching 0° within 6 s. Its elastic modulus was measured at (4.590 0±0.149 3) MPa, with comparable hydrophilicity, fracture tensile strength, and fracture elongation to PCL-PEG scaffold. The hPDLSCs exhibited significantly improved adhesion to the PCL-PEG-CGF composite scaffold compared with the PCL-PEG scaffold (P<0.01). Additionally, cell proliferation was markedly improved in all the experimental groups on days 3, 5, and 7 (P<0.01), and statistically significant differences were found between the PCL-PEG-CGF group and other groups (P<0.01). The PCL-PEG-CGF group showed significantly elevated ALP activity (P<0.05), increased mineralization nodule formation, and upregulated expression of osteogenic-related proteins (Runx2, BMP2 and ALP; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The PCL-PEG-CGF composite scaffold exhibited excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility, enhancing the adhesion and proliferation of hPDLSCs and promoting their osteogenic differentiation by upregulating osteogenic-related proteins.
Humans ; Polyesters/chemistry* ; Periodontal Ligament/cytology* ; Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry* ; Stem Cells/cytology* ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Cell Proliferation ; Osteogenesis ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Adhesion ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism* ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit/metabolism* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/pharmacology* ; Tissue Engineering/methods*

Objective To visualize and analyze the researches on transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)for stroke rehabilita-tion. Methods The Web of Science core collection and CNKI were searched for literature on the use of tDCS for stroke reha-bilitation,since the establishment of the database until March 31st,2023.The literature was analyzed wtih Cite-Sapce 6.2.R2 in term of disciplines,articles number,countries,keywords and co-citation,etc. Results A total of 732 articles in English and 322 articles in Chinese were included,and the number of articles was on the rise.The country with the largest number of publications was the United States,and the journal with the high-est citation frequency was Stroke.The keywords with high attention in recent years were virtual reality,upper limb and transcranial magnetic stimulation.The clustering words of co-cited literature were aphasia,homeostatic plasticity,and motor recovery,etc. Conclusion The researches about tDCS for stroke rehabilitation are increasing year by year,and the research fields are diversified.The hotspots include rehabilitation for motor and speech,and combination with other therapy,such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and acupuncture.The combination of tDCS with new rehabilitation protocols such as brain-computer interfaces and virtual reality,as well as the selection of individualized stimula-tion parameters to construct patient-centered tDCS models may be hot in the future.