ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and potential mechanism of caffeic acid （CA） on severe acute pancreatitis （SAP） induced by caerulein combined with lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， and to provide a basis for the research on novel drugs for the treatment of SAP. MethodsC57BL/6J mice， aged 6 weeks， were divided into control group， model group， CA group， and octreotide acetate （OA） group， with 6 mice in each group. The mice in the control group were given injection of normal saline， and those in the other groups were given intraperitoneal injection of caerulein combined with LPS to establish a mouse model of SAP. At 1 hour after the first injection of caerulein， the mice in the CA group and the OA group were given intraperitoneal injection of CA or subcutaneous injection of OA at an interval of 8 hours. The general status of the mice was observed after 24 hours of modeling， and serum， pancreas， lung， and colon samples were collected. HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of the pancreas and lungs， and the serum levels of α-amylase， lipase， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， alanine aminotransferase， aspartate aminotransferase， and creatinine were measured. RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of proinflammatory factors in the pancreas and lungs； myeloperoxidase （MPO） immunohistochemistry was used to observe the degree of neutrophil infiltration； Western blot was used to measure the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） and the level of citrullinated histone H3 （CitH3）， a marker for the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps （NETs）， in the pancreas and lungs， as well as the expression level of ZO-1 in colon tissue. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the Dunnett’s t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group had severe injury in the pancreas and lungs and significant increases in the activity of serum α- amylase and lipase and the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and TNF-α in serum and lung tissue （all P<0.05）， as well as significant increases in NF-κB activation， neutrophil infiltration， and the formation of NETs in the pancreas and lungs （all P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the CA group had alleviated pathological injury of the pancreas and lungs and significant reductions in the activity of serum α-amylase and the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α in serum and lung tissue （all P<0.05）， as well as significant reductions in NF-κB activation， neutrophil infiltration， and the formation of NETs in the pancreas and lungs （all P<0.05）. ConclusionCA can alleviate SAP induced by caerulein combined with LPS in mice， possibly by inhibiting neutrophil recruitment and the formation of NETs.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of compatibility of Ephedrae Herba，Asari Radix et Rhizoma， and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata on the expression of type 2 innate lymphoid cells（ILC2s）-related factors in the lung of allergic rhinitis（AR）mice. MethodsAccording to the random number table method，fifty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the following groups： Blank group，model group，Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group，Asari Radix et Rhizoma and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group，Ephedrae Herba and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group，Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group，Ephedrae Herba group，Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group， and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group （6 mice in each group）. Except the blank group，the other groups were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin（OVA）and intranasal challenge to induce AR. After the AR model was established，the mice in the blank group and the model group were given 0.2 mL·d^-1 normal saline by gavage，while those in the Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group（2.31 g·kg^-1），Asari Radix et Rhizoma and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（1.54 g·kg^-1）， Ephedrae Herba and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group（1.16 g·kg^-1）， Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（1.93 g·kg^-1），Ephedrae Herba group（0.77 g·kg^-1），Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（1.16 g·kg^-1），and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group（0.39 g·kg^-1）were given corresponding medicine by gavage，with the treatment lasting for 14 consecutive days. The survival state of mice in each group was observed， and the levels of serum immunoglobulins E（IgE）after intranasal challenge were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. The pathological changes of nasal and lung tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE）staining. The expression of ILC2s in lung tissue of mice was detected by immunofluorescence（IF）. The mRNA expression of GATA binding protein 3（GATA3），retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-α（RORα）， and inhibitor of DNA binding 2（ID2）in the lung tissue of mice was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction（real-time PCR）. The levels of IgE，interleukin（IL）-4，IL-5， and IL-13 in serum were detected by ELISA. ResultsCompared with the blank group，the model group had poor survival state of mice and significantly increased serum IgE level after intranasal challenge（p<0.01）. Additionally，the mice in the model group showed a large amount of neutrophil infiltration in the mucosa of the posterior turbinate， obvious nasal mucosal bleeding and purulent secretion，shed epithelium， thickened bronchial wall，obvious intravascular hyperemia and edema，diffusion and infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells，seriously damaged alveolar structure，and local lung consolidation. The model group also exhibited significantly increased expression of ILC2s in the lung tissue（P<0.01），increased mRNA expression of GATA3 and RORα，decreased mRNA expression of ID2（P<0.05，P<0.01），and increased levels of serum IgE， IL-4，IL-5，and IL-13（P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group，the Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group and the other medicine treatment groups showed improved survival state of mice， significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the nasal and lung tissues，a small amount of nasal mucosal bleeding，trachea wall thinning，and no hyperemia，edema， and nasal secretions. Furthermore， the expression of ILC2s in lung tissue was significantly decreased（P<0.01）. The mRNA expression level of GATA3 was decreased（P<0.05），especially in the Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（P<0.01）. The expression mRNA levels of RORα were decreased only in the Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group and the Ephedrae Herba group（P<0.05）. The levels of serum IgE were decreased（P<0.05）， and IL-5 levels were significantly decreased（P<0.01）. IL-4 levels were significantly decreased in the groups except the Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（P<0.01），and the level of IL-13 in the Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group was decreased（P<0.05）. The levels of IL-13 in were significantly decreased in the Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group， Ephedrae Herba group， Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group， and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group（P<0.01）. ConclusionDifferent compatibility of Ephedrae Herba，Asari Radix et Rhizoma， and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata can reduce the inflammation of OVA-induced AR mice and has more advantages in reducing the secretion of IgE and IL-5. The compatibility of Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata has the most advantage in reducing the mRNA expression of GATA3 and RORα to inhibit the expression of ILC2s and thus exert the anti-allergic effect，while the other compatibility has the extensive advantage in inhibiting the mRNA expression of GATA3.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of compatibility of Ephedrae Herba，Asari Radix et Rhizoma， and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata on the expression of type 2 innate lymphoid cells（ILC2s）-related factors in the lung of allergic rhinitis（AR）mice. MethodsAccording to the random number table method，fifty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the following groups： Blank group，model group，Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group，Asari Radix et Rhizoma and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group，Ephedrae Herba and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group，Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group，Ephedrae Herba group，Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group， and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group （6 mice in each group）. Except the blank group，the other groups were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin（OVA）and intranasal challenge to induce AR. After the AR model was established，the mice in the blank group and the model group were given 0.2 mL·d^-1 normal saline by gavage，while those in the Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group（2.31 g·kg^-1），Asari Radix et Rhizoma and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（1.54 g·kg^-1）， Ephedrae Herba and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group（1.16 g·kg^-1）， Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（1.93 g·kg^-1），Ephedrae Herba group（0.77 g·kg^-1），Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（1.16 g·kg^-1），and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group（0.39 g·kg^-1）were given corresponding medicine by gavage，with the treatment lasting for 14 consecutive days. The survival state of mice in each group was observed， and the levels of serum immunoglobulins E（IgE）after intranasal challenge were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. The pathological changes of nasal and lung tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE）staining. The expression of ILC2s in lung tissue of mice was detected by immunofluorescence（IF）. The mRNA expression of GATA binding protein 3（GATA3），retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-α（RORα）， and inhibitor of DNA binding 2（ID2）in the lung tissue of mice was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction（real-time PCR）. The levels of IgE，interleukin（IL）-4，IL-5， and IL-13 in serum were detected by ELISA. ResultsCompared with the blank group，the model group had poor survival state of mice and significantly increased serum IgE level after intranasal challenge（p<0.01）. Additionally，the mice in the model group showed a large amount of neutrophil infiltration in the mucosa of the posterior turbinate， obvious nasal mucosal bleeding and purulent secretion，shed epithelium， thickened bronchial wall，obvious intravascular hyperemia and edema，diffusion and infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells，seriously damaged alveolar structure，and local lung consolidation. The model group also exhibited significantly increased expression of ILC2s in the lung tissue（P<0.01），increased mRNA expression of GATA3 and RORα，decreased mRNA expression of ID2（P<0.05，P<0.01），and increased levels of serum IgE， IL-4，IL-5，and IL-13（P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group，the Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group and the other medicine treatment groups showed improved survival state of mice， significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the nasal and lung tissues，a small amount of nasal mucosal bleeding，trachea wall thinning，and no hyperemia，edema， and nasal secretions. Furthermore， the expression of ILC2s in lung tissue was significantly decreased（P<0.01）. The mRNA expression level of GATA3 was decreased（P<0.05），especially in the Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（P<0.01）. The expression mRNA levels of RORα were decreased only in the Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group and the Ephedrae Herba group（P<0.05）. The levels of serum IgE were decreased（P<0.05）， and IL-5 levels were significantly decreased（P<0.01）. IL-4 levels were significantly decreased in the groups except the Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（P<0.01），and the level of IL-13 in the Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group was decreased（P<0.05）. The levels of IL-13 in were significantly decreased in the Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group， Ephedrae Herba group， Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group， and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group（P<0.01）. ConclusionDifferent compatibility of Ephedrae Herba，Asari Radix et Rhizoma， and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata can reduce the inflammation of OVA-induced AR mice and has more advantages in reducing the secretion of IgE and IL-5. The compatibility of Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata has the most advantage in reducing the mRNA expression of GATA3 and RORα to inhibit the expression of ILC2s and thus exert the anti-allergic effect，while the other compatibility has the extensive advantage in inhibiting the mRNA expression of GATA3.

ObjectiveThe rapid advancement of bioanalytical technologies has heightened the demand for high-throughput, label-free, and real-time cellular analysis. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) operating in the GHz frequency range (GHz-EIS) has emerged as a promising tool for characterizing cell suspensions due to its ability to rapidly and non-invasively capture the dielectric properties of cells and their microenvironment. Although GHz-EIS enables rapid and label-free detection of cell suspensions, significant challenges remain in interpreting GHz impedance data for complex samples, limiting the broader application of this technique in cellular research. To address these challenges, this study presents a novel method that integrates GHz-EIS with deep learning algorithms, aiming to improve the precision of cell suspension concentration identification and quantification. This method provides a more efficient and accurate solution for the analysis of GHz impedance data. MethodsThe proposed method comprises two key components: dielectric property dataset construction and backpropagation (BP) neural network modeling. Yeast cell suspensions at varying concentrations were prepared and separately introduced into a coaxial sensor for impedance measurement. The dielectric properties of these suspensions were extracted using a GHz-EIS dielectric property extraction method applied to the measured impedance data. A dielectric properties dataset incorporating concentration labels was subsequently established and divided into training and testing subsets. A BP neural network model employing specific activation functions (ReLU and Leaky ReLU) was then designed. The model was trained and tested using the constructed dataset, and optimal model parameters were obtained through this process. This BP neural network enables automated extraction and analytical processing of dielectric properties, facilitating precise recognition of cell suspension concentrations through data-driven training. ResultsThrough comparative analysis with conventional centrifugal methods, the recognized concentration values of cell suspensions showed high consistency, with relative errors consistently below 5%. Notably, high-concentration samples exhibited even smaller deviations, further validating the precision and reliability of the proposed methodology. To benchmark the recognition performance against different algorithms, two typical approaches—support vector machines (SVM) and K-nearest neighbor (KNN)—were selected for comparison. The proposed method demonstrated superior performance in quantifying cell concentrations. Specifically, the BP neural network achieved a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 2.06% and an R² value of 0.997 across the entire concentration range, demonstrating both high predictive accuracy and excellent model fit. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that the proposed method enables accurate and rapid determination of unknown sample concentrations. By combining GHz-EIS with BP neural network algorithms, efficient identification of cell concentrations is achieved, laying the foundation for the development of a convenient online cell analysis platform and showing significant application prospects. Compared to typical recognition approaches, the proposed method exhibits superior capabilities in recognizing cell suspension concentrations. Furthermore, this methodology not only accelerates research in cell biology and precision medicine but also paves the way for future EIS biosensors capable of intelligent, adaptive analysis in dynamic biological research.

Financial incentives， as an intervention in behavioral therapy， have been proven to be beneficial in many health behaviors， such as drug addiction treatment， long-term antiviral therapy， and the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. At present， typical financial incentive schemes mainly include commitment contracts and lottery-based models. Key factors in the design of such interventions include the adaptability of behavioral economic principles and medication behavior， the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of design scheme， and the acceptability of intervention population. Although financial incentives have accumulated rich experience in health behavior interventions abroad， research on medication adherence remains limited， with existing intervention scheme design and mechanism constraints， and their effectiveness potentially varying across different cultural and social environments. China should explore practical models of financial incentives to enhance medication adherence, considering patients’ medication patterns and socio-cultural factors.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a significant risk factor for gallstone formation, but mechanisms underlying MASH-related gallstone formation remain unclear. Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) participates in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and is upregulated in MASH. Here, we aimed to explore the role of GOLM1 in MASH-related gallstone formation. Methods: The UK Biobank cohort was used for etiological analysis. GOLM1 knockout (GOLM1-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Livers were excised for histology and immunohistochemistry analysis. Gallbladders were collected to calculate incidence of cholesterol gallstones (CGSs). Biles were collected for biliary lipid analysis. HepG2 cells were used to explore underlying mechanisms. Human liver samples were used for clinical validation. Results: MASH patients had a greater risk of cholelithiasis. All HFD-fed mice developed MASH, and the incidence of gallstones was 16.7% and 75.0% in GOLM1-/- and WT mice, respectively. GOLM1-/- decreased biliary cholesterol concentration and output. In vivo and in vitro assays confirmed that GOLM1 facilitated cholesterol efflux through upregulating ATP binding cassette transporter subfamily G member 5 (ABCG5). Mechanistically, GOLM1 translocated into nucleus to promote osteopontin (OPN) transcription, thus stimulating ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux. Moreover, GOLM1 was upregulated by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we confirmed that IL-1β, GOLM1, OPN, and ABCG5 were enhanced in livers of MASH patients with CGSs. Conclusions In MASH livers, upregulation of GOLM1 by IL-1β increases ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux in an OPN-dependent manner, promoting CGS formation. GOLM1 has the potential to be a molecular hub interconnecting MASH and CGSs.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a significant risk factor for gallstone formation, but mechanisms underlying MASH-related gallstone formation remain unclear. Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) participates in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and is upregulated in MASH. Here, we aimed to explore the role of GOLM1 in MASH-related gallstone formation. Methods: The UK Biobank cohort was used for etiological analysis. GOLM1 knockout (GOLM1-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Livers were excised for histology and immunohistochemistry analysis. Gallbladders were collected to calculate incidence of cholesterol gallstones (CGSs). Biles were collected for biliary lipid analysis. HepG2 cells were used to explore underlying mechanisms. Human liver samples were used for clinical validation. Results: MASH patients had a greater risk of cholelithiasis. All HFD-fed mice developed MASH, and the incidence of gallstones was 16.7% and 75.0% in GOLM1-/- and WT mice, respectively. GOLM1-/- decreased biliary cholesterol concentration and output. In vivo and in vitro assays confirmed that GOLM1 facilitated cholesterol efflux through upregulating ATP binding cassette transporter subfamily G member 5 (ABCG5). Mechanistically, GOLM1 translocated into nucleus to promote osteopontin (OPN) transcription, thus stimulating ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux. Moreover, GOLM1 was upregulated by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we confirmed that IL-1β, GOLM1, OPN, and ABCG5 were enhanced in livers of MASH patients with CGSs. Conclusions In MASH livers, upregulation of GOLM1 by IL-1β increases ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux in an OPN-dependent manner, promoting CGS formation. GOLM1 has the potential to be a molecular hub interconnecting MASH and CGSs.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.