Curzerene, a sesquiterpene compound isolated from Curcuma Radix, exhibits various therapeutic effects, such as anti-tumor and anti-hyperlipidemic properties. However, its neuroprotective effects have not yet been reported. This study focused on exploring the neuroprotective effect of curzerene and elucidating its potential mechanism by combining molecular biotechnology with multi-omics approaches. Curzerene was orally administered to LPS-induced depressive-like behaviors and cognitive impairment in mice for 14 days, and the related biochemical parameters were evaluated. The possible mechanisms were elucidated using qRT-PCR, Western Blot, immunofluorescence, untargeted metabolomics, GC-MS and 16S rDNA comprehensively. Curzerene ameliorated depression symptoms and cognitive impairment by increasing the preference for sucrose in SPT and the central area and total distance traveled in OFT, reducing the immobility time in TST and FST, as well as rising the spontaneous alternation ratio in Y maze. Multiple molecular biology techniques analyses indicated the ameliorative effect of curzerene via HMGB1/RAGE/ TLR4 pathway. Moreover, curzerene primarily regulates purine metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, etc. Furthermore, intervention increased the relative abundance of Parabacteroides, Clostridia_UCG-014_unclassified, and Rhodospirillales_unclassified, and enhanced the production of SCFAs. This work demonstrated that curzerene effectively protects against LPS-induced neurological damage, potentially by inhibiting the HMGB1/ RAGE/TLR4 pathway through the restoration of gut microbiota homeostasis, modulation of metabolites, and enhancement of SCFAs. In conclusion, this study offers new perspectives on the therapeutic possibilities of curzerene in mitigating depressive-like behaviors and cognitive impairment.

To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Qin-Zhu-Liang-Xue decoction (QZLX) in atopic dermatitis (AD) and glucocorticoid resistance, we conducted a single-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this concoction. Network pharmacology analysis was performed and validated through clinical studies. The efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action of QZLX and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) α recombinant protein were assessed in AD mice induced by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). Correlation analysis was performed to determine the clinical relevance of GRα. The trial demonstrated that patients who received QZLX showed considerable improvements in their Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores compared with those who received mizolastine at week 4. Network pharmacological analysis identified GRα as a key target for QZLX in AD treatment. QZLX administration increased the serum GRα expression in AD patients, alleviated AD symptoms in mice, decreased inflammatory cytokine expression, and increased GRα expression without affecting liver or kidney function. In addition, GRα recombinant protein improved AD-like skin lesions in DNFB-induced mice. A negative correlation was observed between GRα expression and clinical parameters, including SCORAD, DLQI, and serum IgE levels. QZLX alleviates AD symptoms through the upregulation of GRα and thus presents a novel therapeutic strategy for the prevention of glucocorticoid resistance in AD management.
Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Humans ; Mice ; Network Pharmacology ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Single-Blind Method ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE To conduct qualitative analysis of chemical constituents in the crude extract of Modified Ermiao Formu-la,along with its blood-absorbed components and metabolites in rats post-administration employing ultra-performance liquid chroma-tography coupled with quadrupole-exactive orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS/MS).METHODS Separation was performed on a Waters HSS T3 column(100 mm×2.1 mm,1.8 μm)using gradient elution with 0.1%formic acid in water(mobile phase A)and 0.1%formic acid in acetonitrile(mobile phase B),under controlled conditions:column temperature maintained at 40℃,flow rate set to 0.3 mL·min-1,and injection volume fixed at 2 μL.Mass spectrometric data acquisition utilized an electrospray ionization(ESI)source with scanning in both positive and negative ion modes.RESULTS By analyzing precise mo-lecular weights,retention times,and MS/MS fragmentation patterns,and cross-referencing these against established databases and published literature,173 chemical constituents were definitively identified in the Modified Ermiao Formula crude extract.These prima-rily comprised flavonoids,organic acids,and alkaloids.Additionally,32 prototype components and 13 metabolites were characterized in the serum of dosed rats.Organic acids constituted the predominant class of serum prototype components,undergoing in vivo metabo-lism principally through demethylation and carboxyl glucuronidation.CONCLUSION This study provides the initial delineation of blood-absorbed prototype components derived from Modified Ermiao Formula,with concomitant identification of their metabolites,thereby establishing a foundational framework for elucidating the pharmacologically active constituents of this formula.

Objective: To investigate the effect of intraarticular hemorrhage on extending knee joint contracture model in rats . Methods: 18 mature male SD rats were divided into 3 groups by random number table method . The control group ( group C) was not immobilized and was killed after 4 weeks of feeding . In the simple fixation group( M1 group) , the left lower limb knee joint was immobilized in straight position for 4 weeks . The blood fixationgroup (M2 group) was injected into the knee cavity with body blood and immobilized in a straight position for 4 weeks . The knee joint motion of each group was measured by the joint motion measuring instrument under a stand⁃ard torque . The contracture degree was calculated by the joint range of motion of the knee joint before and after muscles separation . HE staining and Masson staining were used to detect the number of cells and collagen deposi⁃tion in the anterior joint capsule . The protein expressions of transforming growth factor 1 (TGF⁃ β1) , wingless⁃type MMTV integration site family , member 1 ( Wnt1) and beta⁃catenin ( β⁃catenin) in the anterior articular capsule were detected by Western blotting . Results: Compared with group C , total knee contracture and arthrogenic con⁃tracture of rats in M1 and M2 groups increased , and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0. 05) . At the same time , the degree of total contracture and arthrogenic contracture in M2 group was higher than that in M1 group , and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0. 05) . Compared with group C , the number of anterior joint capsule cells and collagen deposition in M1 and M2 groups increased , and the difference was statistically sig⁃group were higher than those in M1 group , and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0. 05) . Compared with group C , the protein expressions of TGF⁃ β1 , Wnt1 and β ⁃catenin in the anterior articular capsule of rats in M1 expressions of TGF⁃ β1 , Wnt1 and β ⁃catenin in the anterior articular capsule of the knee joint in M2 group were sig⁃nificantly higher than those in M1 group , with statistical significance (P < 0. 05) . Conclusion Joint immobiliza⁃ tion can lead to joint contracture , and joint bleeding aggravates the degree of joint capsule fibrosis induced by im⁃mobilization .

OBJECTIVE To conduct qualitative analysis of chemical constituents in the crude extract of Modified Ermiao Formu-la,along with its blood-absorbed components and metabolites in rats post-administration employing ultra-performance liquid chroma-tography coupled with quadrupole-exactive orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS/MS).METHODS Separation was performed on a Waters HSS T3 column(100 mm×2.1 mm,1.8 μm)using gradient elution with 0.1%formic acid in water(mobile phase A)and 0.1%formic acid in acetonitrile(mobile phase B),under controlled conditions:column temperature maintained at 40℃,flow rate set to 0.3 mL·min-1,and injection volume fixed at 2 μL.Mass spectrometric data acquisition utilized an electrospray ionization(ESI)source with scanning in both positive and negative ion modes.RESULTS By analyzing precise mo-lecular weights,retention times,and MS/MS fragmentation patterns,and cross-referencing these against established databases and published literature,173 chemical constituents were definitively identified in the Modified Ermiao Formula crude extract.These prima-rily comprised flavonoids,organic acids,and alkaloids.Additionally,32 prototype components and 13 metabolites were characterized in the serum of dosed rats.Organic acids constituted the predominant class of serum prototype components,undergoing in vivo metabo-lism principally through demethylation and carboxyl glucuronidation.CONCLUSION This study provides the initial delineation of blood-absorbed prototype components derived from Modified Ermiao Formula,with concomitant identification of their metabolites,thereby establishing a foundational framework for elucidating the pharmacologically active constituents of this formula.

Objective To investigate the effect of very-long-chain saturated fatty acids on Tau protein phosphorylation and membrane fluidity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells,and to explore its role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells in logarithmic growth phase were randomly divided into control group,C22∶0 group,and C24:0 group.Cells in the control group were routinely cultured,while cells in the C22:0 and C24:0 groups were treated with culture medium containing 10 μmol·L-1very-long-chain saturated fatty acids C22:0 and C24:0,respectively.After 24 hours of incubation,cells were collected.The expression levels of total Tau protein,phosphorylated Tau protein at serine 396 site(p-Tau-ser396),glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK-3β),and phosphorylated GSK-3 β protein at serine 9 site(p-GSK-3β-Ser9)in cells of each group were detected by using Western blot.The malondialdehyde(MDA)level in cells of each group was determined by using the thiobarbituric acid method.The fluorescence recovery rate and diffusion coefficient of cell membranes were measured by using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching technique,and the fluidity of cell membranes was evaluated.Results The total Tau protein level in SH-SY5Y cells showed no statistically significant difference among the three groups(F=1.807,P＞0.05).However,there was a statistically significant difference in the level of p-Tau-ser396 in SH-SY5Y cells among the three groups(F=18.397,P＜0.05).Specifically,the level of p-Tau-ser396 in SH-SY5Y cells in the C22:0 and C24:0 groups was significantly higher than that in the control group(P＜0.05),and the level of p-Tau-ser396 in SH-SY5Y cells in the C24:0 group was significantly higher than that in the C22:0 group(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the GSK-3 β protein level in SH-SY5Y cells among the three groups(F=0.351,P＞0.05).However,there was a statistically significant difference in the level of p-GSK-3β-Ser9 in SH-SY5Y cells among the three groups(F=13.330,P＜0.05).Specifically,the level of p-GSK-3β-ser9 in SH-SY5Y cells in the C22:0 and C24:0 groups was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05),and there was no statistically significant difference in the level of p-GSK-3β-ser9 in SH-SY5Y cells between the C22:0 group and C24:0 group(P＞0.05).The MDA level in SH-SY5Y cells in the C24:0 group was significantly higher than that in the control group and C22:0 group(P＜0.05);there was no statistically significant difference in the MDA level in SH-SY5Y cells between the control group and C22:0 group(P＞0.05).The fluorescence recovery rate and diffusion coefficient of SH-SY5Y cells in the C22:0 and C24:0 groups showed a decreasing trend compared to the control group,but there was no statistically significant difference in the fluorescence recovery rate and diffusion coefficient of SH-SY5Y cells among the three groups(F=3.891,3.649,P＞0.05).Conclusion Very-long-chain saturated fatty acids C22:0 and C24:0 can promote hyperphosphorylation of Tau protein,induce cellular oxidative damage,and tend to reduce the fluidity cell membranes.Very-long-chain saturated fatty acids may be one of the factors that cause the onset of AD.

Objective To investigate the possible mechanism of action of Jinqi Qingshu granules(JQQSG)in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia(CAP)by network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.Methods The TCMSP database and SwissTargetPrediction database were used to obtain and screen the active ingredients and targets of JQQSG,and GeneCards,OMIM,TTD,and DisGeNET databases were used to search for the predicted targets of CAP,and the two targets were mapped and then imported into STRING database to construct a PPI network to screen the key targets,and then the GO and KEGG pathway enrichment were analyzed by the DAVID database,and molecular docking was carried out by the AutoDock Tools software.Results 209 active ingredients and 1 041 targets of JQQSG were obtained after screening;312 targets were co-activated with CAP,and 64 core targets were obtained after PPI network screening.571 biological processes,68 cellular components,and 199 molecular functions were analyzed by GO enrichment,and 165 KEGG pathways were analyzed by KEGG pathway enrichment,mainly involved in protein action,apoptosis and MAPK signaling pathway.Molecular docking suggests that the core target and the core components all have good binding ability.Conclusion The mechanism of action of JQQSG in the treatment of CAP may be related to its regulation of Akt,MAPK signaling pathway,improvement of oxidative stress,and other pathways to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects,which could lay the foundation for further in-depth study of its specific mechanism of action.

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of myocardial flow reserve (MFR) measured by SPECT myocardial blood flow (MBF) quantitative technique in patients with intermediate stenoses of coronary arteries.Methods:From September 2019 to May 2021, patients with intermediate stenoses (50% to 80%) identified by invasive coronary angiography in Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Fuwai Center China Cardiovascular Hospital, and TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital were prospectively included. All patients underwent a one-day rest/stress SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and SPECT MBF quantification. The radioactivity distribution of each segment of the MPI bullseye polar maps were obtained according to the standard 5-point method to obtain the summed stress score (SSS) and the summed difference score (SDS) to determine the existence of abnormality. ROC curve analysis was used to obtain the optimal prognostic cut-off value for MFR. The primary endpoint was defined as cardiovascular endpoint events. Survival and prognostic analyses were conducted by Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard models. The difference of AUCs was analyzed by Delong test.Results:A total of 314 patients (194 males, 120 females; age (59.4±8.6) years) were enrolled. Over a median follow-up duration of 754 (range: 628-914) d, 54 patients had endpoint events. ROC curve showed that the prediction ability of MFR was significantly better than that of conventional MPI (AUCs: 0.713 and 0.512; z=3.76, P<0.001). The optimal prognostic cut-off value for MFR to predict endpoint events in patients with intermediate stenoses was 2.04. Cox multivariate analysis showed that MFR (hazard ratio ( HR)=0.434, 95% CI: 0.282-0.669, P<0.001) was an independent predictor of endpoint events in patients with intermediate stenoses. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the prevalence of endpoint events in patients with MFR≤2.04 was significantly higher than that in patients with MFR>2.04 (25.4%(43/169) vs 7.6%(11/145); χ2=21.27, P<0.001). Conclusion:The MFR measured by SPECT MBF quantitative technique has an independent predictive value for cardiovascular endpoint events in patients with intermediate stenoses.

Atypical sensory responsivity is widely reported in autistic individuals and is related to elevated functional difficulties. Dynamically, altered initial responses and/or habituation rates could underlie their atypical averaged responses to repeated sensory stimuli. In this study we aimed to measure the arousal level in response to different types of auditory stimuli and the dynamic change of atypical arousal level using pupillometry in autistic children. In Experiment 1, 43 autistic children and 49 neurotypical (NT) children were asked to passively listen to a mild sound and an aversive sound repeatedly. In Experiment 2, 39 autistic children and 44 NT children who went through Experiment 1 listened to a gradually emerging non-startling sound and a suddenly emerging startling sound in a random order. We found that the autistic group showed hyper-arousal in response to the aversive sound and the startling sound as reflected by their larger change in pupil area. In comparison, these autistic children demonstrated normal arousal in response to the mild sound and the non-startling sound. Dynamically, the autistic group had a larger peak pupil area change than the NT group in the first trial and a normal habituation rate to the aversive sound. In summary, our results suggest hyper-arousal to aversive and startling stimuli and the role of larger initial responses in hyper-arousal in autism. Minimizing aversive and startling sensory stimuli or gradually increasing the volume of aversive auditory stimuli to allow autistic children to adapt using the principle of habituation is recommended to reduce the arousal level and problematic behaviors of autistic children.
Humans ; Male ; Child ; Female ; Acoustic Stimulation ; Autistic Disorder/physiopathology* ; Arousal/physiology* ; Pupil/physiology* ; Habituation, Psychophysiologic/physiology* ; Auditory Perception ; Child, Preschool

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new combination treatment of vinorelbine and pyrotinib in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and provide higher level evidence for clinical practice. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, single-arm, phase 2 trial conducted at three institutions in China. Patients with HER2-positive MBC, who had previously been treated with trastuzumab plus a taxane or trastuzumab plus pertuzumab combined with a chemotherapeutic agent, were enrolled between March 2020 and December 2021. All patients received pyrotinib 400 mg orally once daily plus vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 intravenously or 60-80 mg/m2 orally on day 1 and day 8 of 21-day cycle. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints included the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival, and safety. Results: A total of 39 patients were enrolled. All patients had been pretreated with trastuzumab and 23.1% (n=9) of them had accepted trastuzumab plus pertuzumab. The median follow-up time was 16.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.3 to 27.2), and the median PFS was 6.4 months (95% CI, 4.0 to 8.8). The ORR was 43.6% (95% CI, 27.8% to 60.4%) and the DCR was 84.6% (95% CI, 69.5% to 94.1%). The median PFS of patients with versus without prior pertuzumab treatment was 4.6 and 8.3 months (p=0.017). The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were diarrhea (28.2%), neutrophil count decreased (15.4%), white blood cell count decreased (7.7%), vomiting (5.1%), and anemia (2.6%). Conclusion Pyrotinib plus vinorelbine showed promising efficacy and tolerable toxicity as second-line treatment in patients with HER2-positive MBC.