Isoflavones which mainly distributed in leguminous plants have plenty of health benefits.Isoflavone synthase(IFS)is a membrane-associated cytochrome P450 enzyme(CYP450)which carries out the unique aryl-ring migration and hydroxylation.So far,few crystal structures of plant P450s have been obtained.We determined the crystal structure of IFS from Medicago truncatula at 1.9 ? by MAD method using a selenomethionine substituted crystal and conducted molecular docking and mutagenesis study.The structure of IFS complexed with imidazole exhibits the helix Ⅰa-loop-helix Ⅰβ motif which cor-responds to helix Ⅰ of other P450s.Compared with structures of common P450s,IFS/imidazole structure contains an extra domain,i.e.,the γ-domain.The structure reveals a homodimer in which the γ-domain of one molecule interacts with the β-domain of another.The plane of heme group makes an angle of ap-proximately 40° with the helix Ⅰa-loop-helix Ⅰβ motif.Molecular docking combined with mutagenesis study suggested that Trp-128 and Asp-300 might play important roles in substrate binding and recogni-tion.Phe-301,Ser-303 and Gly-305 from the helix Ⅰa-loop-helix Ⅰβ motif may play important roles in the aryl-ring migration.These novel structural features reveal insights into the unique reaction mechanism of IFS and provide a basis for engineering IFS in leguminous crops for health purpose.

Objective:To design an auxiliary device based on embedded microcontroller system for venipuncture,which can adjust posture,so as to resolve the problem that occurs failure in puncture due to insufficient exposure of the puncture site in various scenarios.Methods:The device consisted of a support component,an air ring,a component with lifting and angle adjustment,and a pedestal.By advanced embedded microcontroller technique,it can precisely regulate the posture of the support structure of patient's limbs,and fully expose the targeted puncture site,and create more favorable conditions for nurses in performing punctures.A total of 2,482 patients who underwent blood collection at emergency department of the 305th Hospital of the People's Liberation Army from September to October 2024 were selected.The 1,204 patients were enrolled in September were divided into control group(without using the auxiliary device for venipuncture),and the 1,278 patients were enrolled in October were divided into observation group(using the auxiliary device for venipuncture).The puncture's one-time success rates of junior nurses(experience≤3 years)for both groups were compared.Each group respectively selected 150 patients by using the random number table method to conduct investigate,and satisfaction scores for success rate of puncture,and comfort degree of puncture for position,as well as the pain,process and efficiency,were investigated Results:The puncture's one-time success rates of junior nurses for the patients of control and observation groups were respectively 85.05%and 89.36%,with a statistically significant difference(x2=10.35,P<0.05).The satisfaction scores of patients in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group,with a statistically significant difference(t=-5.529,P<0.05).Conclusion:This device is simple and convenient in operation,and has favorable stability.It is beneficial to adjust position and exposure puncture site for patients who undergo peripheral venipuncture.It can improve puncture's success rate and patients'satisfaction.

To introduce the general thinking, guidelines, work objectives and elaboration process of the general technical requirements adopted by volume Ⅳ of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition, and to summarize and figure out the main characteristics on dosage forms, physico-chemical testing, microbial and biological testing, reference standards and guidelines The newly revised general chapters of pharmacopoeia give full play to the normative and guiding role of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard, track the frontier dynamics of international drug regulatory science and the elaboration of monographs, expand the application of state-of-the-art technologies, and steadily promote the harmonization and unification with the ICH guidelines； further enhance the overall capacity of TCM quality control, actively implement the 3 R principles on animal experiments, and practice the concept of environmental-friendly； replace and/or reduce the use of toxic and hazardous reagents, strengthen the requirements of drug safety control This paper aims to provide a full-view perspective for the comprehensive, correct understanding and accurate implementation of general technical requirements included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition.

BACKGROUND:In the initial stage of growth plate injury inflammation,platelet-derived growth factor BB promotes the repair of growth plate injury by promoting mesenchymal progenitor cell infiltration,chondrogenesis,osteogenic response,and regulating bone remodeling. OBJECTIVE:To elucidate the action mechanism of platelet-derived growth factor BB after growth plate injury. METHODS:PubMed,VIP,WanFang,and CNKI databases were used as the literature sources.The search terms were"growth plate injury,bone bridge,platelet-derived growth factor BB,repair"in English and Chinese.Finally,66 articles were screened for this review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Growth plate injury experienced early inflammation,vascular reconstruction,fibroossification,structural remodeling and other pathological processes,accompanied by the crosstalk of chondrocytes,vascular endothelial cells,stem cells,osteoblasts,osteoclasts and other cells.Platelet-derived growth factor BB,as an important factor in the early inflammatory response of injury,regulates the injury repair process by mediating a variety of cellular inflammatory responses.Targeting the inflammatory stimulation mediated by platelet-derived growth factor BB may delay the bone bridge formation process by improving the functional activities of osteoclasts,osteoblasts,and chondrocytes,so as to achieve the injury repair of growth plate.Platelet-derived growth factor BB plays an important role in angiogenesis and bone repair tissue formation at the injured site of growth plate and intrachondral bone lengthening function of uninjured growth plate.Inhibition of the coupling effect between angiogenesis initiated by platelet-derived growth factor BB and intrachondral bone formation may achieve the repair of growth plate injury.

Ginsenoside Rg_2(GRg2) is a triterpenoid compound found in Panax notoginseng. This study explored its effects and mechanisms on diabetic retinopathy and angiogenesis. The study employed endothelial cell models induced by glucose or vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), the chorioallantoic membrane(CAM) model, the oxygen-induced retinopathy(OIR) mouse model, and the db/db mouse model to evaluate the therapeutic effects of GRg2 on diabetic retinopathy and angiogenesis. Transwell assays and endothelial tube formation experiments were conducted to assess cell migration and tube formation, while vascular area measurements were applied to detect angiogenesis. The impact of GRg2 on the retinal structure and function of db/db mice was evaluated through retinal thickness and electroretinogram(ERG) analyses. The study investigated the mechanisms of GRg2 by analyzing the activation of Yes-associated protein(YAP) and Toll-like receptors(TLRs) pathways. The results indicated that GRg2 significantly reduced cell migration numbers and tube formation lengths in vitro. In the CAM model, GRg2 exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in the vascular area ratio. In the OIR model, GRg2 notably decreased the avascular and neovascular areas, ameliorating retinal structural disarray. In the db/db mouse model, GRg2 increased the total retinal thickness and enhanced the amplitudes of the a-wave, b-wave, and oscillatory potentials(OPs) in the ERG, improving retinal structural disarray. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the TLR signaling pathway was significantly down-regulated following YAP knockdown, with PCR results consistent with the transcriptome sequencing findings. Concurrently, GRg2 downregulated the expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), TNF receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6), and nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB) proteins in high-glucose-induced endothelial cells. Collectively, GRg2 inhibits cell migration and tube formation and significantly reduces angiogenesis in CAM and OIR models, improving retinal structure and function in db/db mice, with its pharmacological mechanism likely involving the down-regulation of YAP expression.
Animals ; Ginsenosides/pharmacology* ; Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology* ; Mice ; YAP-Signaling Proteins ; Humans ; Male ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Panax notoginseng/chemistry* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Angiogenesis

Objective:To design an auxiliary device based on embedded microcontroller system for venipuncture,which can adjust posture,so as to resolve the problem that occurs failure in puncture due to insufficient exposure of the puncture site in various scenarios.Methods:The device consisted of a support component,an air ring,a component with lifting and angle adjustment,and a pedestal.By advanced embedded microcontroller technique,it can precisely regulate the posture of the support structure of patient's limbs,and fully expose the targeted puncture site,and create more favorable conditions for nurses in performing punctures.A total of 2,482 patients who underwent blood collection at emergency department of the 305th Hospital of the People's Liberation Army from September to October 2024 were selected.The 1,204 patients were enrolled in September were divided into control group(without using the auxiliary device for venipuncture),and the 1,278 patients were enrolled in October were divided into observation group(using the auxiliary device for venipuncture).The puncture's one-time success rates of junior nurses(experience≤3 years)for both groups were compared.Each group respectively selected 150 patients by using the random number table method to conduct investigate,and satisfaction scores for success rate of puncture,and comfort degree of puncture for position,as well as the pain,process and efficiency,were investigated Results:The puncture's one-time success rates of junior nurses for the patients of control and observation groups were respectively 85.05%and 89.36%,with a statistically significant difference(x2=10.35,P<0.05).The satisfaction scores of patients in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group,with a statistically significant difference(t=-5.529,P<0.05).Conclusion:This device is simple and convenient in operation,and has favorable stability.It is beneficial to adjust position and exposure puncture site for patients who undergo peripheral venipuncture.It can improve puncture's success rate and patients'satisfaction.

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.

Antibiotic resistance is spreading at a faster rate than new antibiotic agents applied for clinical remedies. It is an urgent need to discover potential compounds to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Marine fungi offer a promising avenue for mining antibiotic-like molecules with chemical diversity. To discover structurally novel and antibiotic metabolites, we screened the in-house marine fungus genome library and found a fungus Stephanonectria keithii LZD-10-1 containing a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) cluster with 18 modules to synthesize a new subfamily of peptaibols with effective eradication against MDR pathogens. Targeting isolation of the cultured fungus afforded six new peptaibols, which exhibit the ability to kill MDR bacteria by targeting bacterial membrane phospholipids, especially phosphatidylglycerol (PG), leading to the dysfunction of bacterial membranes. Furthermore, their efficacies against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in both Galleria mellonella and mouse wound infection models were observed. This study underscores the significance of employing genome-guided approaches to identify untapped marine fungi as potential sources for novel antibiotic candidates with unique scaffolds.

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