1.Material Basis and Its Distribution in vivo of Qili Qiangxin Capsules Analyzed by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS
Jianwei ZHANG ; Jiekai HUA ; Rongsheng LI ; Qin WANG ; Xinnan CHANG ; Wei LIU ; Jie SHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):185-193
ObjectiveBased on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS), the chemical constituents of Qili Qiangxin capsules was identified, and their distribution in vivo was analyzed. MethodsUPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS was used to detect the sample solution of Qili Qiangxin capsules, as well as the serum, brain, heart, lung, spleen, liver and kidney tissues of mice after oral administration. Using the Thermo Xcalibur 2.2 software, the compound information database was constructed, and the molecular formulas of compounds corresponding to the quasi-molecular ions were fitted. Based on the information of retention time, accurate relative molecular mass and fragments, the compounds and their distribution in vivo were analyzed by comparing with the data of reference substances and literature. ResultsA total of 233 compounds, including 70 terpenoids, 60 flavonoids, 23 organic acids, 17 alkaloids, 20 steroids, 7 coumarins and 36 others, were identified or predicted from Qili Qiangxin capsules, 73 of which were identified matching with standard substances. Tissue distribution results showed that 71, 17, 38, 33, 32, 58 and 43 migrating components were detected in blood, brain, heart, lung, spleen, liver and kidney, respectively. Thirty-seven components were absorbed into the blood and heart, including quinic acid, benzoylaconitine benzoylmesaconine and so on. Fourteen components were absorbed into the blood and six tissues, including calycosin, methylnissolin, formononetin, alisol B, alisol A and so on. ConclusionThis study comprehensively analyzes the chemical components of Qili Qiangxin capsules and their distribution in vivo. Among them, astragaloside Ⅳ, salvianolic acid B, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rb3, ginsenoside Rd, ginsenoside Rg3, calycosin-7-glucoside, and sinapine may be the important components for the treatment of heart failure, which can provide useful reference for its quality control and research on pharmacodynamic material basis.
2.Role of Autophagy in Cardiovascular Diseases and Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment: A Review
Yiting ZHAO ; Hewei QIN ; Xia WEI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):284-292
Cardiovascular diseases, a group of major non-infectious diseases, are characterized by high morbidity and mortality, significantly influencing patients' quality of life. Hence, it is imperative to discover a secure and efficacious treatment approach. As a form of programmed cell death, autophagy has been demonstrated to be associated with the pathogeneses of hypertension, diabetic cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular disorders. It serves as one of the potential targets for the clinical intervention in cardiovascular diseases by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Autophagy exerts dual regulatory effects on the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases, and its specific effect predominantly depends on the extent of autophagy and the pathological stage of diseases. Recent studies have confirmed that TCM can prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases by directly regulating autophagy or interacting with oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis under the regulation of autophagy, exhibiting the unique advantages of multiple targets, multiple components, and mild adverse reactions. This article reviews the experimental research progress in the role of autophagy and the intervention by active components and compound prescriptions of TCM and Chinese patent medicines in common cardiovascular diseases (such as diabetic cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, and atherosclerosis) in recent years and summarizes the research shortcomings, providing a theoretical basis and strategies for the clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
3.Role of Autophagy in Cardiovascular Diseases and Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment: A Review
Yiting ZHAO ; Hewei QIN ; Xia WEI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):284-292
Cardiovascular diseases, a group of major non-infectious diseases, are characterized by high morbidity and mortality, significantly influencing patients' quality of life. Hence, it is imperative to discover a secure and efficacious treatment approach. As a form of programmed cell death, autophagy has been demonstrated to be associated with the pathogeneses of hypertension, diabetic cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular disorders. It serves as one of the potential targets for the clinical intervention in cardiovascular diseases by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Autophagy exerts dual regulatory effects on the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases, and its specific effect predominantly depends on the extent of autophagy and the pathological stage of diseases. Recent studies have confirmed that TCM can prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases by directly regulating autophagy or interacting with oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis under the regulation of autophagy, exhibiting the unique advantages of multiple targets, multiple components, and mild adverse reactions. This article reviews the experimental research progress in the role of autophagy and the intervention by active components and compound prescriptions of TCM and Chinese patent medicines in common cardiovascular diseases (such as diabetic cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, and atherosclerosis) in recent years and summarizes the research shortcomings, providing a theoretical basis and strategies for the clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
4.Effect of Gynostemma pentaphyllum Alcohol Extract on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders in db/db Mice Based on Transcriptomics and Gut Microbiota
Yifei ZHU ; Lei DING ; Wei LIU ; Yahui SUN ; Lingling QIN ; Lili WU ; Tonghua LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):80-89
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of Gynostemma pentaphyllum alcohol extract in improving glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in db/db mice through transcriptomics and gut microbiota analysis. MethodsEighteen db/db mice were randomly assigned to the model(DM) group, metformin(MET) group, and G. pentaphyllum alcohol extract(GP) group, with six mice in each group, based on stratification of fasting blood glucose and body weight. An additional six db/m mice were selected as the normal control(NC) group. Mice in the NC and DM groups were administered deionized water (10 mL·kg-1) daily. The MET group received metformin (0.195 g·kg-1) by gavage. The GP group was treated with G. pentaphyllum alcohol extract (3.9 g·kg-1) by gavage for six weeks. Fasting blood glucose was measured every two weeks. After six weeks of intervention, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine (CREA), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were assessed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure insulin (FINS), adiponectin (ADP), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe liver histomorphology, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was employed to assess hepatic glycogen synthesis, and Oil Red O staining was used to detect hepatic lipid deposition. Liver transcriptomic data were used to identify differentially expressed genes in the liver and conduct enrichment analysis. Real-time PCR was employed to verify the expression levels of adiponectin gene (Adipoq), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), glucokinase (GCK), forkhead box (Fox)O1, FoxO3, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC). Metagenomic sequencing was conducted to analyze changes in gut microbiota composition. ResultsCompared with the NC group, the DM group exhibited significantly elevated fasting blood glucose (P<0.01), serum AST, ALT, TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C (P<0.01). FINS, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α were significantly increased (P<0.01), while ADP was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Histological analysis confirmed severe hepatic steatosis and excessive lipid accumulation in the DM group, along with markedly reduced glycogen synthesis. Compared with the DM group, the GP group showed significantly decreased fasting blood glucose (P<0.01), reduced serum TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels (P<0.05), significantly decreased serum TG and AST levels (P<0.01), significantly reduced FINS, HOMA-IR, and TNF-α levels (P<0.01), and significantly increased ADP (P<0.01). Hepatic steatosis and lipid deposition were significantly alleviated, while glycogen synthesis was markedly enhanced. Transcriptomic differential and enrichment analyses suggested that the mechanisms by which G. pentaphyllum alcohol extract improved hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in db/db mice may involve regulation of the AMPK and FoxO signaling pathways. Real-time PCR results confirmed that expression of PGC-1α, PEPCK, G6PC, FoxO1, and FoxO3 was significantly downregulated following treatment with G. pentaphyllum alcohol extract (P<0.05, P<0.01), whereas mRNA expression of Adipoq, PPARα, GCK, and AMPK was significantly upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metagenomic analysis showed that the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Alistipes, and Akkermansia species was higher in the GP group than in the DM group. ConclusionG. pentaphyllum alcohol extract may improve glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in db/db mice by regulating the hepatic AMPK/PPARα pathway to suppress lipid deposition and alleviate hepatic steatosis, by inhibiting gluconeogenesis through the AMPK/PGC-1α and FoxO pathways to lower fasting blood glucose, and by increasing the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Alistipes, and Akkermansia to restore gut microbiota balance.
5.Effect of Gynostemma pentaphyllum Alcohol Extract on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders in db/db Mice Based on Transcriptomics and Gut Microbiota
Yifei ZHU ; Lei DING ; Wei LIU ; Yahui SUN ; Lingling QIN ; Lili WU ; Tonghua LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):80-89
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of Gynostemma pentaphyllum alcohol extract in improving glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in db/db mice through transcriptomics and gut microbiota analysis. MethodsEighteen db/db mice were randomly assigned to the model(DM) group, metformin(MET) group, and G. pentaphyllum alcohol extract(GP) group, with six mice in each group, based on stratification of fasting blood glucose and body weight. An additional six db/m mice were selected as the normal control(NC) group. Mice in the NC and DM groups were administered deionized water (10 mL·kg-1) daily. The MET group received metformin (0.195 g·kg-1) by gavage. The GP group was treated with G. pentaphyllum alcohol extract (3.9 g·kg-1) by gavage for six weeks. Fasting blood glucose was measured every two weeks. After six weeks of intervention, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine (CREA), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were assessed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure insulin (FINS), adiponectin (ADP), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe liver histomorphology, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was employed to assess hepatic glycogen synthesis, and Oil Red O staining was used to detect hepatic lipid deposition. Liver transcriptomic data were used to identify differentially expressed genes in the liver and conduct enrichment analysis. Real-time PCR was employed to verify the expression levels of adiponectin gene (Adipoq), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), glucokinase (GCK), forkhead box (Fox)O1, FoxO3, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC). Metagenomic sequencing was conducted to analyze changes in gut microbiota composition. ResultsCompared with the NC group, the DM group exhibited significantly elevated fasting blood glucose (P<0.01), serum AST, ALT, TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C (P<0.01). FINS, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α were significantly increased (P<0.01), while ADP was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Histological analysis confirmed severe hepatic steatosis and excessive lipid accumulation in the DM group, along with markedly reduced glycogen synthesis. Compared with the DM group, the GP group showed significantly decreased fasting blood glucose (P<0.01), reduced serum TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels (P<0.05), significantly decreased serum TG and AST levels (P<0.01), significantly reduced FINS, HOMA-IR, and TNF-α levels (P<0.01), and significantly increased ADP (P<0.01). Hepatic steatosis and lipid deposition were significantly alleviated, while glycogen synthesis was markedly enhanced. Transcriptomic differential and enrichment analyses suggested that the mechanisms by which G. pentaphyllum alcohol extract improved hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in db/db mice may involve regulation of the AMPK and FoxO signaling pathways. Real-time PCR results confirmed that expression of PGC-1α, PEPCK, G6PC, FoxO1, and FoxO3 was significantly downregulated following treatment with G. pentaphyllum alcohol extract (P<0.05, P<0.01), whereas mRNA expression of Adipoq, PPARα, GCK, and AMPK was significantly upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metagenomic analysis showed that the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Alistipes, and Akkermansia species was higher in the GP group than in the DM group. ConclusionG. pentaphyllum alcohol extract may improve glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in db/db mice by regulating the hepatic AMPK/PPARα pathway to suppress lipid deposition and alleviate hepatic steatosis, by inhibiting gluconeogenesis through the AMPK/PGC-1α and FoxO pathways to lower fasting blood glucose, and by increasing the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Alistipes, and Akkermansia to restore gut microbiota balance.
6.Modified Buwangsan Ameliorates Cognitive Dysfunction in Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Regulating Autophagy in Hippocampus via PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway
Jie YANG ; Tonghua LIU ; Wei LIU ; Lili WU ; Lingling QIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):104-113
ObjectiveTo evaluate the therapeutic effects of modified Buwangsan on cognitive dysfunction in the rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus with mild cognitive impairment (T2DM-MCI) and explore the underlying mechanism. MethodsThirty-six 5-week-old SPF-grade SD rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups: Normal (Con, fed with a normal diet), model (DM, fed with a high-sugar and high-fat diet), low-dose modified Buwangsan (L-BWS, 1.86 g·kg-1), medium-dose modified Buwangsan (M-BWS, 3.72 g·kg-1), high-dose modified Buwangsan (H-BWS,7.44 g·kg-1), and huperzine A (SSJJ, 0.018 mg·kg-1). The rats were treated by gavage once a day for 12 weeks. The body weight and blood glucose level were monitored dynamically. Morris water maze was employed to test the cognitive function of rats. Hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining were employed to observe the pathological changes of the hippocampus. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the serum and hippocampus were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blotting was employed to determine the expression levels of key autophagy-related proteins including microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), type Ⅲ phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex regulatory subunit (Beclin1), and phosphorylated UNC-51-like kinase (p-ULK) 1/2 in the hippocampus. Immunofluorescence staining was employed to observe the regulation of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-mTOR/mTOR, and p-Akt/Akt ratios. ResultsCompared with the DM group, the L-BWS, M-BWS, H-BWS, and SSJJ groups showed increases in body weight at the end of the experiment (P<0.05), and the M-BWS, H-BWS and SSJJ groups showed declines in fasting blood glucose level (P<0.05). In the water maze test, compared with the DM group, the M-BWS, H-BWS, and SSJJ groups presented shortened escape latency (P<0.001). The L-BWS, M-BWS, H-BWS, and SSJJ group showcased regularly arranged cells in the hippocampus and cortex, markedly increased number of neurons, and significantly recovered Nissl bodies. Compared with the DM group, the L-BWS, M-BWS, H-BWS, and SSJJ groups had reductions in the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the serum and hippocampus (P<0.05), increases in the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and expression level of beclin1 in the hippocampus (P<0.05) and the p-ULK level (P<0.05). The p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, and p-mTOR/mTOR ratios in the hippocampus decreased in the M-BWS, H-BWS, and SSJJ groups (P<0.01). ConclusionModified Buwangsan significantly ameliorates cognitive dysfunction and neurological damage in the rat model of T2DM through multiple mechanisms. It regulates metabolic disorders, lowers the blood glucose level, improves lipid metabolism, and alleviates oxidative stress. It promotes the protection and repair of neurons by inhibiting inflammatory responses and activating the autophagy pathway in the hippocampus. At the same time, modified Buwangsan relieves autophagy inhibition by regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway to alleviate the brain tissue injury.
7.Disease Burden of Malignant Tumors Among Residents of Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, 2006–2021
Zhouquan FAN ; Wenbin HU ; Yixu JIN ; Lyulin LU ; Jie ZHOU ; Lan TONG ; Wei QIN
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(5):411-417
Objective To analyze the burden of disease of malignant tumors in Kunshan City from 2006 to 2021. Methods The global burden of disease research methodology was applied. The indicators of cancer incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in Kunshan were calculated using the data from the Tumor Registry System and Death Registry System in Kunshan. The changes in cancer were compared. Results In 2021, the number of incidences and deaths and the DALYs of cancer were
8.Modified Buwangsan Ameliorates Cognitive Dysfunction in Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Regulating Autophagy in Hippocampus via PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway
Jie YANG ; Tonghua LIU ; Wei LIU ; Lili WU ; Lingling QIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):104-113
ObjectiveTo evaluate the therapeutic effects of modified Buwangsan on cognitive dysfunction in the rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus with mild cognitive impairment (T2DM-MCI) and explore the underlying mechanism. MethodsThirty-six 5-week-old SPF-grade SD rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups: Normal (Con, fed with a normal diet), model (DM, fed with a high-sugar and high-fat diet), low-dose modified Buwangsan (L-BWS, 1.86 g·kg-1), medium-dose modified Buwangsan (M-BWS, 3.72 g·kg-1), high-dose modified Buwangsan (H-BWS,7.44 g·kg-1), and huperzine A (SSJJ, 0.018 mg·kg-1). The rats were treated by gavage once a day for 12 weeks. The body weight and blood glucose level were monitored dynamically. Morris water maze was employed to test the cognitive function of rats. Hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining were employed to observe the pathological changes of the hippocampus. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the serum and hippocampus were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blotting was employed to determine the expression levels of key autophagy-related proteins including microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), type Ⅲ phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex regulatory subunit (Beclin1), and phosphorylated UNC-51-like kinase (p-ULK) 1/2 in the hippocampus. Immunofluorescence staining was employed to observe the regulation of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-mTOR/mTOR, and p-Akt/Akt ratios. ResultsCompared with the DM group, the L-BWS, M-BWS, H-BWS, and SSJJ groups showed increases in body weight at the end of the experiment (P<0.05), and the M-BWS, H-BWS and SSJJ groups showed declines in fasting blood glucose level (P<0.05). In the water maze test, compared with the DM group, the M-BWS, H-BWS, and SSJJ groups presented shortened escape latency (P<0.001). The L-BWS, M-BWS, H-BWS, and SSJJ group showcased regularly arranged cells in the hippocampus and cortex, markedly increased number of neurons, and significantly recovered Nissl bodies. Compared with the DM group, the L-BWS, M-BWS, H-BWS, and SSJJ groups had reductions in the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the serum and hippocampus (P<0.05), increases in the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and expression level of beclin1 in the hippocampus (P<0.05) and the p-ULK level (P<0.05). The p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, and p-mTOR/mTOR ratios in the hippocampus decreased in the M-BWS, H-BWS, and SSJJ groups (P<0.01). ConclusionModified Buwangsan significantly ameliorates cognitive dysfunction and neurological damage in the rat model of T2DM through multiple mechanisms. It regulates metabolic disorders, lowers the blood glucose level, improves lipid metabolism, and alleviates oxidative stress. It promotes the protection and repair of neurons by inhibiting inflammatory responses and activating the autophagy pathway in the hippocampus. At the same time, modified Buwangsan relieves autophagy inhibition by regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway to alleviate the brain tissue injury.
9.Investigation and analysis of medical radiation application frequency in Jinan City, China
Guoying NING ; Aihua ZHAI ; Jiangbo XIN ; Yujiang GU ; Yiwen QIN ; Wei ZHU
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(2):198-203
Objective To investigate and analyze the resources and application frequency of radiological diagnosis and treatment in Jinan City in 2023 and provide a basis for the rational application of radiological diagnosis and treatment resources and strengthening radiological health protection management. Methods The health administrative department issued a work plan. A general survey was conducted on radiological diagnosis and treatment institutions (excluding dental clinics) in Jinan City using a questionnaire. The survey covered the basic information of the radiological diagnosis and treatment institutions, the distribution of the radiological diagnosis and treatment equipment, the number of radiological workers, and the frequency of radiological diagnosis and treatment. Results There were 301 radiological diagnosis and treatment institutions in Jinan City, with
10.Dynamics of eosinophil infiltration and microglia activation in brain tissues of mice infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis
Fanna WEI ; Renjie ZHANG ; Yahong HU ; Xiaoyu QIN ; Yunhai GUO ; Xiaojin MO ; Yan LU ; Jiahui SUN ; Yan ZHOU ; Jiatian GUO ; Peng SONG ; Yanhong CHU ; Bin XU ; Ting ZHANG ; Yuchun CAI ; Muxin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2025;37(2):163-175
Objective To investigate the changes in eosinophil counts and the activation of microglial cells in the brain tissues of mice at different stages of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection, and to examine the role of microglia in regulating the progression of angiostrongyliasis and unravel the possible molecular mechanisms. Methods Fifty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-day and 25-d infection groups, of 10 mice in each group. All mice in infection groups were infected with 30 stage III A. cantonensis larvae by gavage, and animals in the control group was given an equal amount of physiological saline. Five mice were collected from each of infection groups on days 7, 14, 21 d and 25 d post-infection, and 5 mice were collected from the control group on the day of oral gavage. The general and focal functional impairment was scored using the Clark scoring method to assess the degree of mouse neurological impairment. Five mice from each of infection groups were sacrificed on days 7, 14, 21 d and 25 d post-infection, and 5 mice from the control group were sacrificed on the day of oral gavage. Mouse brain tissues were sampled, and the pathological changes of brain tissues were dynamically observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Immunofluorescence staining with eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) was used to assess the degree of eosinophil infiltration and the counts of microglial cells in mouse brain tissues in each group, and the morphological parameters of microglial cells (skeleton analysis and fractal analysis) were quantified by using Image J software to determine the morphological changes of microglial cells. In addition, the expression of M1 microglia markers Fcγ receptor III (Fcgr3), Fcγ receptor IIb (Fcgr2b) and CD86 antigen (Cd86), M2 microglia markers Arginase 1 (Arg1), macrophage mannose receptor C-type 1 (Mrc1), chitinase-like 3 (Chil3), and phagocytosis genes myeloid cell triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (Trem2), CD68 antigen (Cd68), and apolipoprotein E (Apoe) was quantified using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay in the mouse cerebral cortex of mice post-infection. Results A large number of A. cantonensis larvae were seen on the mouse meninges surface post-infection, and many neuronal nuclei were crumpled and deeply stained, with a large number of bleeding points in the meninges. The median Clark scores of mouse general functional impairment were 0 (interquartile range, 0), 0 (interquartile range, 0.5), 6 (interquartile range, 1.0), 14 (interquartile range, 8.5) points and 20 (interquartile range, 9.0) points in the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-d and 25-d groups, respectively (H = 22.45, P < 0.01), and the median Clark scores of mouse focal functional impairment were 0 (interquartile range, 0), 2 (interquartile range, 2.5), 7 (interquartile range, 3.0), 18 (interquartile range, 5.0) points and 25 (interquartile range, 6.5) points in the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-d and 25-d groups, respectively (H = 22.72, P < 0.01). The mean scores of mice general and focal functional impairment were all higher in the infection groups than in the control group (all P values < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed a significant difference in the eosinophil counts in mouse brain tissues among the five groups (F = 40.05, P < 0.000 1), and the eosinophil counts were significantly higher in mouse brain tissues in the 14-d (3.08 ± 0.78) and 21-d infection groups (5.97 ± 1.37) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.28) (both P values < 0.05). Semi-quantitative analysis of microglia immunofluorescence showed a significant difference in the counts of microglial cells among the five groups (F = 17.66, P < 0.000 1), and higher Iba1 levels were detected in mouse brain tissues in 14-d (5.75 ± 1.28), 21-d (6.23 ± 1.89) and 25-d infection groups (3.70 ± 1.30) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.30) (all P values < 0.05). Skeleton and fractal analyses showed that the branch length [(162.04 ± 34.10) μm vs. (395.37 ± 64.11) μm; t = 5.566, P < 0.05] and fractal dimension of microglial cells (1.30 ± 0.01 vs. 1.41 ± 0.03; t = 5.266, P < 0.05) were reduced in mouse brain tissues in the 21-d infection group relative to the control group. In addition, there were significant differences among the 5 groups in terms of M1 and M2 microglia markers Fcgr3 (F = 48.34, P < 0.05), Fcgr2b (F = 55.46, P < 0.05), Cd86 (F = 24.44, P < 0.05), Arg1 (F = 31.18, P < 0.05), Mrc1 (F = 15.42, P < 0.05) and Chil3 (F = 24.41, P < 0.05), as well as phagocytosis markers Trem2 (F = 21.19, P < 0.05), Cd68 (F = 43.95, P < 0.05) and Apoe (F = 7.12, P < 0.05) in mice brain tissues. Conclusions A. cantonensis infections may induce severe pathological injuries in mouse brain tissues that are characterized by massive eosinophil infiltration and persistent activation of microglia cells, thereby resulting in progressive deterioration of neurological functions.

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