Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of eculizumab in treating acute attacks of aquaporin-4 antibody(AQP4-IgG)positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder(NMOSD).Methods:Six patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD treated with eculizumab at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from August 2023 to April 2024 were included.The patients' clinical characteristics, changes in scores of neurological function, pain and spasm before and after eculizumab treatment, and adverse drug reactions during the treatment period were described, and the data were subjected to Friedman test using SPSS 25.0.Results:The median score of expanded disability status scale in the six patients decreased from 3.25 before treatment to 1.25 after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=44.77, P<0.01).The functional status score showed noticeable improvement as early as week 1, demonstrating greater sensitivity to treatment response.Three patients experienced moderate to severe pain before treatment, with a mean pain score of 6, which reduced to 4.67 and 1.33 at week 2 and 6, respectively( F=29.17, P<0.05).Two patients reported spasms before treatment, with a mean score of 3.00, which decreased to 2.00, 1.50, and 1.00 at week 2, 3, and 6 after treatment, respectively( F=18.00, P>0.05).No serious adverse reactions were reported during the treatment. Conclusion:Eculizumab can effectively improve the neurological function and alleviate pain in patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD during acute attacks, and demonstrate good safety.

Aim To elucidate the molecular mecha-nism underlying the inhibitory effect of liquidambaric acid(LDA)targeting TNF receptor associated factor 6(TRAF6)in colorectal cancer.Methods This study employed microscale thermophoresis(MST),drug af-finity responsive target stability assay(DARTS)and cellular thermal shift assay(CETSA)to confirm the direct binding of LDA to TRAF6.Additionally,we generated TRAF6 knockout colorectal cancer HCT116 cells using CRISPR/Cas9 technology,and assessed the impact of LDA on TRAF6-regulated Hippo/YAP and Wnt signaling pathways through immunofluorescence a-nalysis and TOPFlash/Renilla luciferase reporter sys-tem.Co-IP and proximity ligation assays(PLA)were conducted to investigate LDA-regulated TRAF6 pro-tein-protein interactions and elucidate molecular mech-anisms.Results The direct binding of LDA to TRAF6 was confirmed in cell lysates and living cells.LDA promoted TRAF6-dependent nuclear translocation of YAP in colorectal cancer cells,and inhibited Wnt signaling by overexpressing TRAF6.Co-IP and PLA revealed that TRAF6 formed a tripartite complex with YAP and β-catenin in colon cancer cells,where TRAF6 was a key scaffolding protein of the tripartite complex.LDA disrupted the interactions between the TRAF domain of TRAF6 and YAP,as well as YAP and β-catenin.Conclusion LDA regulates Hippo/YAP signaling pathway by targeting TRAF6 and inhib-its colorectal cancer.

Chronic visceral pain is a persistent and debilitating condition arising from dysfunction or sensitization of the visceral organs and their associated nervous pathways. Increasing evidence suggests that imbalances in central nervous system function play an essential role in the progression of visceral pain, but the exact mechanisms underlying the neural circuitry and molecular targets remain largely unexplored. In the present study, the ventral tegmental area (VTA) was shown to mediate visceral pain in mice. Visceral pain stimulation increased c-Fos expression and Ca²⁺ activity of glutamatergic VTA neurons, and optogenetic modulation of glutamatergic VTA neurons altered visceral pain. In particular, the upregulation of NMDA receptor 2A (NR2A) subunits within the VTA resulted in visceral pain in mice. Administration of a selective NR2A inhibitor decreased the number of visceral pain-induced c-Fos positive neurons and attenuated visceral pain. Pharmacology combined with chemogenetics further demonstrated that glutamatergic VTA neurons regulated visceral pain behaviors based on NR2A. In summary, our findings demonstrated that the upregulation of NR2A in glutamatergic VTA neurons plays a critical role in visceral pain. These insights provide a foundation for further comprehension of the neural circuits and molecular targets involved in chronic visceral pain and may pave the way for targeted therapies in chronic visceral pain.
Animals ; Male ; Visceral Pain/metabolism* ; Up-Regulation/physiology* ; Ventral Tegmental Area/metabolism* ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Neurons/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/metabolism* ; Chronic Pain/metabolism* ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the multimorbidity of myopia and obesity, as well as myopia and malnutrition, among children and adolescents aged 7-18 in Guangdong Province and analyze their epidemiological characteristics and related factors.Methods:A stratified random cluster sampling method was used to select 274 939 children and adolescents aged 7-18 from 21 cities in Guangdong Province in 2023. Physical examination information such as height, weight, distance vision, and diopter, as well as questionnaire survey information on dietary behavior, physical activity, screen behavior, sleep time, etc., were collected to analyze the current status and trends of multimorbidity between myopia and obesity, myopia and malnutrition. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors of multimorbidity.Results:The multimorbidity rates of myopia and obesity, myopia and malnutrition in children and adolescents aged 7-18 in Guangdong Province in 2023 were 4.43% and 6.40%, respectively. The multimorbidity rates for males were 5.44% and 6.88%, respectively, which were higher than those for females, about 3.31% and 5.88% (both P<0.001). The multimorbidity rates of urban students were 5.03% and 6.73%, respectively, which were higher than those of county students at 4.03% and 6.18% (both P<0.001). The multimorbidity rates of myopia and obesity, myopia and malnutrition increased with the increase of academic stage (all P<0.001). The multimorbidity rates of myopia and obesity, as well as myopia and malnutrition, fluctuated with age, with the first decrease occurring at the age of 12. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared to children and adolescents aged 7-18 who had daily after-school tutoring <2 hours, daily screen time <2 hours, did not consume sugary drinks every day, sleep time that could meet health requirements daily, and exercised≥60 minutes of moderate-to vigorous-physical activity ≥60 minutes for at least 3 days per week, those who had daily after-school tutoring ≥2 hours ( OR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.11-1.26), daily screen time ≥2 hours ( OR=1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.16), consumed sugary drinks every day ( OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.11-1.30), daily sleep time that could not meet the health requirements ( OR=1.16, 95% CI: 1.09-1.23), and no exercise per week ( OR=1.09, 95% CI: 1.01-1.18) had a higher risk of multimorbidity of myopia and obesity. Compared to children and adolescents who exercised≥60 minutes of moderate-to vigorous-physical activity ≥60 minutes for at least 3 days per week, those who exercised <3 days per week ( OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.17-1.34) had a higher risk of multimorbidity of myopia and malnutrition. Conclusion:The multimorbidity rates of myopia and obesity, as well as myopia and malnutrition, in children and adolescents aged 7-18 in Guangdong Province are relatively low and fluctuate with age. Physical activity, screen time, consumption of sugary drinks, and sleep time may be associated with these multimorbidities.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of eculizumab in treating acute attacks of aquaporin-4 antibody(AQP4-IgG)positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder(NMOSD).Methods:Six patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD treated with eculizumab at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from August 2023 to April 2024 were included.The patients' clinical characteristics, changes in scores of neurological function, pain and spasm before and after eculizumab treatment, and adverse drug reactions during the treatment period were described, and the data were subjected to Friedman test using SPSS 25.0.Results:The median score of expanded disability status scale in the six patients decreased from 3.25 before treatment to 1.25 after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=44.77, P<0.01).The functional status score showed noticeable improvement as early as week 1, demonstrating greater sensitivity to treatment response.Three patients experienced moderate to severe pain before treatment, with a mean pain score of 6, which reduced to 4.67 and 1.33 at week 2 and 6, respectively( F=29.17, P<0.05).Two patients reported spasms before treatment, with a mean score of 3.00, which decreased to 2.00, 1.50, and 1.00 at week 2, 3, and 6 after treatment, respectively( F=18.00, P>0.05).No serious adverse reactions were reported during the treatment. Conclusion:Eculizumab can effectively improve the neurological function and alleviate pain in patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD during acute attacks, and demonstrate good safety.

The circadian clock plays a critical role in regulating various physiological processes, including gene expression, metabolic regulation, immune response, and the sleep-wake cycle in living organisms. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial regulatory mechanisms to maintain the precise oscillation of the circadian clock. By modulating the stability, activity, cell localization and protein-protein interactions of core clock proteins, PTMs enable these proteins to respond dynamically to environmental and intracellular changes, thereby sustaining the periodic oscillations of the circadian clock. Different types of PTMs exert their effects through distincting molecular mechanisms, collectively ensuring the proper function of the circadian system. This review systematically summarized several major types of PTMs, including phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation and oxidative modification, and overviewed their roles in regulating the core clock proteins and the associated pathways, with the goals of providing a theoretical foundation for the deeper understanding of clock mechanisms and the treatment of diseases associated with circadian disruption.
Protein Processing, Post-Translational/physiology* ; Circadian Rhythm/physiology* ; Humans ; Animals ; CLOCK Proteins/physiology* ; Circadian Clocks/physiology* ; Phosphorylation ; Acetylation ; Ubiquitination ; Sumoylation

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), a treasure of the Chinese nation, contains abundant chemical components and demonstrates unique pharmacological activities, showing important values in clinical applications. With profound connotations and broad application prospects, TCM urgently needs us to further explore and conduct systematic research. Puerarin is a small-molecule natural isoflavonoid carbon glycoside extracted from plants of Pueraria. It is also the main active ingredient of Puerariae Lobata Radix, a Chinese herbal medicine with both medicinal and edible values. Puerarin has a variety of pharmacological effects such as blood pressure-lowering, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-ischemia-reperfusion injury, antithrombotic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, liver-protecting, nerve cell-protecting, and intestinal microbiota-regulating effects. It is also an active ingredient that has been widely studied. This article comprehensively reviews the research progress in the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of puerarin over the years, aiming to provide references and theoretical support for the in-depth research and development as well as clinical application of puerarin.
Isoflavones/chemistry* ; Humans ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Pueraria/chemistry*

This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction in regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress via the inositol-requiring enzyme 1α(IRE1α)/apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) pathway to improve neurological function in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(CIRI). SPF-grade male sprague-dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into Sham group, model group, Buyang Huanwu Decoction group, and edaravone group. Except for the Sham group, the other groups were subjected to the modified suture method to establish a middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R) model. After treatment, neurological function was assessed using the Zea Longa scoring system. Gait analysis was used to detect the motor function. Detection of relative infarct area in brain tissue using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining. Nissl staining was used to observe the structure of neuronal cells. Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR) were used to detect IRE1α, ASK1, JNK, B cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2 related X protein(Bax), and Caspase-3 in the brain tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of IRE1α, ASK1, and JNK. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the fluorescence expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3. The results showed that compared with the Sham group, the model group exhibited increased neurological scores(P<0.01), increased ratio of ground contact area and strength in both forelimbs(P<0.01), enlarged relative infarct area of brain tissue(P<0.05), and a reduced number of Nissl staining-positive cells(P<0.01). The protein and mRNA expression levels of IRE1α, ASK1, JNK, Bax, and Caspase-3 in brain tissue were significantly elevated, while those of Bcl-2 were decreased(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, both the Buyang Huanwu Decoction group and edaravone group showed reduced neurological scores(P<0.05), decreased ratio of ground contact area and strength in both forelimbs(P<0.05), smaller relative infarct area(P<0.05), alleviated neuronal damage, and increased number of Nissl staining-positive cells(P<0.05). The expression levels of IRE1α, ASK1, JNK, Bax, and Caspase-3 protein and mRNA in brain tissue were significantly reduced, while those of Bcl-2 were significantly increased(P<0.05). The results indicated that Buyang Huanwu Decoction can effectively improve brain injury in CIRI rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to regulating the endoplasmic reticulum stress IRE1α/ASK1/JNK signaling pathway.
Animals ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Rats ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5/genetics* ; Ischemic Stroke/physiopathology* ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Endoribonucleases/genetics* ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/drug effects* ; Multienzyme Complexes

New quality productivity is a strategic engine for promoting high-quality development and is an inherent requirement and important focus for enhancing new driving forces and building national advantages.The cultivation of innovative talents and technological innovation are key to the development of new quality productivity.Laboratory animal science is a comprehensive interdisciplinary subject that integrates multiple disciplines including biology,medicine,pharmacy,and biomedical engineering.Teaching and research of laboratory animal science not only promotes the creation of innovative talent teams by cultivating innovative consciousness,thinking,spirit,and operational abilities,but also promotes the development of cutting-edge technologies and the transformation of disruptive research result in the fields of basic research and clinical translation of biomedicine,thus providing important guarantees for China's scientific and technological progress and innovative development.