Wnt signaling are critical pathway involved in organ development, tumorigenesis, and cancer progression. WNT7A, a member of the Wnt family, remains poorly understood in terms of its role and the underlying molecular mechanisms it entails in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). According to the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), transcriptome sequencing data of HNSCC, the expression level of WNT7A in tumors was found to be higher than in adjacent normal tissues, which was validated using Real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Unexpectedly, overexpression of WNT7A did not activate the canonical Wnt-β-catenin pathway in HNSCC. Instead, our findings suggested that WNT7A potentially activated the FZD7/JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway, leading to enhanced cell proliferation, self-renewal, and resistance to apoptosis. Furthermore, in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumor model, high expression of WNT7A and phosphorylated STAT3 was observed, which positively correlated with tumor progression. These findings underscore the significance of WNT7A in HNSCC progression and propose the targeting of key molecules within the FZD7/JAK1/STAT3 pathway as a promising strategy for precise treatment of HNSCC.
Animals ; Humans ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck ; Carcinogenesis/genetics* ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; Disease Models, Animal ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/genetics* ; Wnt Proteins ; Frizzled Receptors/genetics* ; Janus Kinase 1 ; STAT3 Transcription Factor

ObjectiveTo determine the human papillomavirus （HPV） infection status and possible influencing factors among healthy women aged 18‒45 years， and to provide a scientific evidence for the prevention of HPV infection and cervical cancer. MethodsA total of 23 HPV types were examined by PCR-reverse dot blot hybridization in 1 210 healthy women who voluntarily participated in the study. Infection status of each HPV genotype and possible factors associated with the infection were determined， including age， ethnicity， marital history， pregnancy history， number of sexual partners， and age at first sexual intercourse. ResultsA total of 1 210 healthy women were examined， of which267 tested positive for HPV， with a prevalence of 22.07%. The prevalence did not differ significantly across age groups or ethnicities （all P>0.05）. Moreover， the highest prevalence was found in the divorced/widowed participants （53.57%）， compared with other marital status （χ²=35.16， P<0.05）. Among the 1 207 participants with pregnancy history， the highest HPV prevalence was 30.58% in those with five or more pregnancies； however， it did not significantly associated with numbers of pregnancies （χ²=10.07， P=0.07）. Number of sexual partners showed a significantly positive association with HPV infection （P<0.05）. In addition， earlier age at first sexual intercourse was significantly associated with HPV infection （χ²=17.37， P<0.05）. ConclusionHealthy women in Panzhihua City were mainly infected with a single HPV type， and the dominant types were HPV 52， 81， and 53. Marital history status， higher number of sexual partners， and younger age at first sexual intercourse were influencing factors associated with HPV infection. It suggested that regular sexual partners and stable marital relationship may reduce the risk of HPV infection.

A precursor ion selection (PIS) based ultra high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) analytical method was used to screen the chemical components in Jiawei Dingzhi pills (JWDZP) comprehensively and rapidly. To compile the components of the compound medicine, a total of 1 921 components were found utilizing online databases and literature. After verifying the sources, unifying the component names, merging the multi-flavor attributed components, and removing the weak polar molecules, 450 components were successfully retained. The Acquity UPLC HSS T3 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) was used, with a 0.1% formic acid water (A)-acetonitrile (B) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 0.35 mL·min^-1, the column temperature was 35 ℃, and an electrospray ion source was used. Data was collected with the PIS strategy in both positive and negative ion modes. Compounds were screened through matching accurate molecular weight of the database, and identified according to MS/MS data (characteristic fragment ions and neutral loss), with comparison of reference. Some compounds were confirmed using standard products. A total of 176 compounds were screened out in the extract of JWDZP, among which 26 compounds were confirmed by standard products. These compounds include 96 components from the sovereign drug, and 34 coefflux components with low ion intensity. The PIS-UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method established in this study can quickly and comprehensively screen the chemical components of JWDZP, which enhanced the screening rate of components with co-elution compounds of low ion intensities and provided a basis for the study of the material foundation of JWDZP.

Exploring the action targets (groups) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an important proposition to promote the innovation and development of TCM, but it has attracted a lot of attention as to whether it is related to the efficacy or the disease. Our team found that the metabolomic signature molecules in the development of diabetes mellitus (DM) were significantly associated with the clinical efficacy of Yuquan Pill through a large clinical sample study. Taking this as a clue, our team intends to expand the information on the omics features of DM development, and discover the key targets (groups) and their lead compounds for the hypoglycemic effect of Yuquan Pill. The project includes: ① Based on the retrospective clinical trials, using omics technology integrated with generative artificial intelligence, mining the characteristic information of proteome and microbiome, forming driving factors together with metabolome characteristic molecules, and characterizing the molecular trajectories of diabetes evolution and their interference by Yuquan Pill; ② Taking the evolving molecular trajectories as a link and pointer, using anthropomorphic modeling and molecular biology techniques such as chemical proteomics to discover the key targets (groups) of Yuquan Pill's hypoglycemic effect, with the prospective clinical samples for validation; ③ Evaluate the overall response of key targets (groups) using graph neural network technology, and search for drug-derived/endogenous lead compounds with proven clinical pathologies and clear mechanisms of action, so as to provide a new paradigm and technology for the discovery of complex active ingredient targets (groups) of TCM that are related to their clinical efficacy, as well as for the discovery of innovative medicines.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) belong to ligand-gated ion channel receptors, of which α7 nAChR subtype is widely distributed in the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, and also identified in microglia, macrophages, bone marrow cells, etc. Previous studies revealed that α7 nAChR is closely related to the function of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, and is a vital target for drug development of Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. The establishment of a stable α7 nAChR in vitro drug screening system is crucial for the efficient screening of novel drugs targeting this target. Recombinant expression of different subtypes of nAChRs on Xenopus laevis oocyte membranes and current detected by two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) is an advanced and complex model for novel drug screening. Molecular chaperones can assist the assembly of some nAChR subunits to form functional receptors, providing a stable expression model for the screening of compounds targeting this receptor. In this study, a molecular chaperone gene of α7 nAChR, transmembrane protein 35A (Tmem35a), was isolated and cloned from rats. We constructed the recombinant expression vector and obtained the cRNA of Tmem35a by in vitro transcription technique. Two cRNAs (Tmem35a and α7) were mixed and injected into X. laevis oocytes for expression. Then, the effects of this molecular chaperone on the current expression and pharmacological properties of α7 nAChR were evaluated by the TEVC. The results revealed that TMEM35A, also known as novel acetylcholine receptor chaperone (NACHO) could effectively increase the expression of α7 nAChR protein on oocyte membranes, and the amount of α7 nAChR protein was increased about 1-fold. The peak current induced by agonist acetylcholine (ACh) was increased about 10-fold. After injection of Tmem35a cRNA, the median effect concentration (EC₅₀) value of α7 nAChR to agonist ACh is 228.5 μmol·L^-1, which shows almost no difference from native α7 nAChR (EC₅₀: 223.3 μmol·L^-1), indicating the preservation of the normal properties of α7 nAChR. The results of this investigation indicate that the molecular chaperone NACHO effectively assists the heterologous expression of α7 nAChR in X. laevis oocytes, which provides a model for screening the potency of lead compounds targeting α7 nAChR. All animal experiments in this study were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangxi University (approval number: GXU-2023-0249).

N-type voltage-gated calcium (Ca²⁺) channels (N-type VGCC, Ca_V2.2) mediate Ca²⁺ influx in response to action potential at the presynaptic terminal, and play an important role in synaptogenesis, neurotransmitter release and nociceptive signal transduction. It is a new target for the development of drugs for the treatment of neuralgia (chronic pain) and other major diseases. Due to the difficulty of calcium channel expression in vitro and the detection of channel current, there is a great lack of new drug screening models. In this study, we established and optimized the electrophysiological drug screening model using Xenopus laevis oocytes for the recombinant expression of Ca_V2.2 in vitro (this study were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangxi University, approval number: GXU-2023-0249). Firstly, the linear plasmids encoding cDNA of major subunit α1B and auxiliary subunits α2δ1 and β3 of rat Ca_V2.2 were used as templates for in vitro transcription to generate their related mRNA (cRNA), after which three kinds of cRNA were injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes at the mass ratio of 2∶1∶1 for expression. The two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) technique was used to detect the inward current produced by Ca_V2.2. At the same time, the expression conditions of Ca_V2.2 were optimized, and its gating function was characterized from the aspects of channel activation and inactivation. The results showed that 3-5 days after cRNA microinjection, stable Ca_V2.2-mediated barium ion (Ba²⁺) currents were successfully detected. The interference of endogenous potassium channels and Ca²⁺-activated chloride channels can be eliminated by tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH) and 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetrakis (BAPTA-AM) treatment. The maximum potential for Ca_V2.2 activation is 0 mV, and the current reverses to be outward when the membrane potential is greater than +50 mV. By fitting the steady-state activation and inactivation curves, the half-maximal activation potential and half-maximal inactivation potential of Ca_V2.2 are identified as -15.9 and -60.2 mV. In this study, a stable Ca_V2.2 expression system was established based on Xenopus laevis oocytes. The in vitro expression system can provide a new way for the screening of Ca_V2.2 active compounds or lead drugs.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma drug pair in the treatment of hypertension based on the network pharmacology method and animal experiment verification.Methods(1)TCMSP,BATMAN and TCMIP databases were used to screen the active components and targets of Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma drug pair.The hypertension-related targets were obtained by searching the Drugbank,Genecard,TTD and Disgenet databases.The intersection(common target)of the active component target and the target related to hypertension disease was taken,and the obtained intersection target was the potential target of Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma drug pair for the treatment of hypertension.The active ingredients and their targets of Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma drug pair were imported into Cytoscape 3.9.1 software to construct a'Chinese medicines-active ingredients-targets'network and screen key active ingredients.The protein-protein interaction(PPI)network of potential targets was constructed to screen potential core targets.The Metascape platform was used to analyze the GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment of potential targets.The key active components and potential core targets were selected for molecular docking verification.(2)Thirty male spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR)were randomly divided into model group,western medicine group(Candesartan Cilexetil,0.72 mg·kg-1)and low-,medium-and high-dose groups of Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(2.25,4.50,9.00 g·kg-1).Another male WKY rats were selected as blank group,with 6 rats in each group,once a day for 8 weeks.The systolic blood pressure of rat tail artery was detected before administration and 2,4,6 and 8 weeks after drug intervention.The pathological changes of thoracic aorta were observed by HE staining.The protein expression levels of GRP78,CHOP and Caspase-12 in aorta abdominalis were detected by Western Blot.Results(1)A total of 83 active components of Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were obtained,and 158 potential targets(intersection targets)for the treatment of hypertension were screened out.Five key active ingredients:p-hydroxybenzoic acid,4-hydroxybenzylamine,tanshinone I,tanshinone,γ-sitosterol;6 potential core targets:IL6,TNF,CASP3,JUN,PTGS2,IL1B;GO functional enrichment analysis obtained 1 826 biological process items,89 cell component items,and 199 molecular function items.KEGG pathway enrichment analysis obtained 186 pathways,mainly involving neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,calcium signaling pathway,inflammatory response(such as TNF and MAPK signaling pathway),vascular protection(such as HIF-1 and cAMP signaling pathway),oxidative stress(such as PI3K-Akt signaling pathway)and other signaling pathways.Tanshinone I and tanshinone had strong binding force to 6 potential core targets,and γ-sitosterol had strong binding force to IL6,CASP3,JUN,PTGS2 and IL1B.(2)Compared with the blank group,the systolic blood pressure of the model group was significantly increased(P＜0.01).The thoracic aortic endothelial injury was obvious,the endothelial cell morphology was abnormal,swelling and exfoliated cells could be seen,the intima of the tissue was disordered,the intima structure was incomplete,and the intima was thickened.The protein expressions of GRP78,CHOP and Caspase-12 in abdominal aorta were significantly increased(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the systolic blood pressure of the rats in the administration group was significantly decreased(P＜0.01);the injury of thoracic aorta was alleviated,and the morphology,intima structure and thickness of endothelial cells were improved to varying degrees.The protein expressions of GRP78,CHOP and Caspase-12 in abdominal aorta were significantly decreased(P＜0.01).Conclusion Gastrodiae Rhizoma-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma drug pair may act on core targets such as IL6,TNF,CASP3,JUN,PTGS2,and IL1B through key active components such as p-hydroxybenzoic acid,tanshinone,and γ-sitosterol,and regulate key signaling pathways such as TNF signaling pathway,MAPK signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,and PERK signaling pathway to improve vascular endothelial dysfunction,inhibit endoplasmic reticulum stress,and lower blood pressure.

This article summarized the experience of Professor Xiong Jibai,a national TCM master,in treating pulmonary nodules based on the theory of"body fluids and blood stasis mixing"in Huang Di Nei Jing.Professor Xiong Jibai believes that the basic pathogenesis of pulmonary nodules is that"body fluids and blood stasis mixing"accumulate in lung collaterals,and the fundamental pathological factor is phlegm and blood stasis.Xiong's treatment is based on dissipating phlegm and activating qi,activating blood circulation and resolving masses,paying attention to syndrome differentiation and treatment,examining syndromes and seeking causes,flexibly selecting prescriptions and treating both symptoms and root causes;attaching importance to maintaining healthy qi,preventing both illness and change,and preventing recovery after illness.Clinical medical records were attached to prove the clinical thinking and medication characteristics.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of sleep deprivation on the expression of sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) in the cerebellum of immature mice.Methods:Fifty SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 4 weeks, weighing 14-16 g, were divided into 2 groups ( n=25 each) using a random number table method: control group (Con group) and sleep deprivation group (SD group). The chronic sleep deprivation model was prepared by using the multi-platform water environment method, with 20 h of sleep deprivation per day for 10 consecutive days. After sleep deprivation, a balance beam experiment was performed to test the balance and coordination ability of mice. The mice were sacrificed after anesthesia and cerebellar lobular IV-VI (4-6 cb) tissues were taken for microscopic examination of the ultrastructure (with a transmission electron microscope) and for determination of the dendritic spine density of cerebellar 4-6cb Purkinje neurons (by Golgi staining), co-expression of SIRT6 and Calbindin D-28k (CbD-28k) and expression of glucose transporter Glut3 of cerebellar 4-6cb (by immunofluorescence staining). Results:Compared with group Con, the duration of passage through the balance beam was significantly prolonged, and the number of posterior foot slips was increased, the synaptic gap of cerebellar 4-6cb neurons was increased, the thickness of postsynaptic density was increased, the density of dendritic spines of Purkinje cells and the number of positive cells co-expressing SIRT6 and CbD-28k were decreased, and the expression of Glut3 was down-regulated in group SD ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which sleep deprivation decreases the abilities of balance and coordination is related to down-regulating SIRT6 expression in cerebellar Purkinje cells and decreasing neuronal glucose metabolism, thus damaging the synaptic plasticity of cerebellum in immature mice.

Objective To identify the latent profile of physical and psychological symptoms in postpartum women and examine the associations of the latent class membership with individual characteristics,based on a latent profile analysis.Methods A cross-sectional survey study was conducted.With convenience sampling,157 postpartum women who had delivered at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University from Dec 2023 to Mar 2024 were selected.The participants were surveyed with patient-reported outcomes measurement information system(PROMIS)Anxiety,Depression,Fatigue,Sleep Disturbance,and Pain interference short forms.LPA and multinomial Logistic regression model were performed to identify subgroups based on physical and psychological symptoms in postpartum women and population heterogeneity.Results LPA results suggested that there existed three distinct classes of postpartum physical and psychological symptoms:severe symptoms distress class(10.2%),moderate symptoms distress class(50.3%),and mild symptoms distress class(39.5%).Postpartum women's age,living arrangements,newborn's birthweight,newborn's feeding method,newborn's medical background,prenatal pregnancy risk assessment,mode of delivery,and postpartum complications had significant associations with the latent class membership(P<0.05).Conclusion There are 3 latent profiles of postpartum physical and psychological symptoms.Healthcare providers could provide targeted intervention to postpartum women according to the characteristics of different subgroup population characteristics,so as to improve the postpartum experience of women.