ObjectiveTo construct a multifunctional liposomal delivery system by replacing cholesterol（Chol） in conventional liposomes with saikosaponin D（SSD） and modifying with poloxamer 407（P407） for co-delivery of curcumin（Cur）. The system was evaluated for in vivo tumor targeting and inhibitory effects on mouse subcutaneous solid tumors. MethodsSingle-factor and orthogonal tests combined with information entropy weighting were used to optimize the formulation process of the liposome with encapsulation efficiency and absolute Zeta potential as indexes， and validation studies and liposomal characterization were performed. A subcutaneous solid tumor model was established by injecting H22 hepatocellular carcinoma cells subcutaneously into the dorsal surface of the right forelimb of mice. DiR-loaded traditional Chol liposomes（P407-DiR-Chol-LPs， PDCL） and novel SSD-based liposomes（P407-DiR-SSD-LPs， PDSL） were prepared by the optimized formulation process， and tail vein injection was performed to investigate the impact of SSD on liposome tumor targeting with small animal in vivo imaging. Mice were randomly divided into eight groups， including blank group， model group， free doxorubicin（DOX） group（2 mg·kg^-1）， free Cur group（8 mg·kg^-1）， free SSD group（10 mg·kg^-1）， P407-Cur-Chol-LPs（PCCL） group， P407-SSD-LPs（PSL） group， and P407-Cur-SSD-Lps（PCSL） group. Treatments were administered intraperitoneally every other day for seven doses. Antitumor efficacy and biocompatibility were evaluated by monitoring body weight change， organ indices， tumor volume and mass， relative tumor proliferation rate（T/C）， and tumor growth inhibition rate（TGI）. Histopathological analysis of liver， kidney， and tumor tissues was performed using hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase（AST）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， blood urea nitrogen（BUN）， and creatinine（Crea）in mice were quantified by fully automated biochemical analyzer. ResultsOrthogonal test yielded optimal ratios of Cur， SSD， and P407 to soybean phosphatidylcholine（SPC） as 1∶25， 1∶20， and 1∶4. The optimized PCSL exhibited spherical morphology with a particle size of 179.15 nm， a Zeta potential of -47.25 mV， and an encapsulation efficiency of 96.40%. Its in vitro release profile conformed to first-order kinetics， demonstrating excellent storage stability and hemocompatibility. In vivo imaging revealed that the fluorescence signal in tumor tissues and the fluorescence intensity ratio between tumors and organs were significantly higher in the PDSL group than in the PDCL group（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Among the treatment groups， PCSL group showed superior efficacy over free Cur group， free SSD group， PCCL group， and PSL group， with TGI>40% and T/C<60%， indicating pronounced anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Histopathology and serum biochemistry indicated minimal hepatorenal toxicity and improved hepatic and renal function in PCSL-treated mice. ConclusionReplacing Chol with SSD in preparing multifunctional drug delivery systems not only stabilizes liposomes but also yields superior anti-hepatocellular carcinoma efficacy， achieving the effect of drug-excipient integration. Co-delivery of Cur via this system can be used for treating subcutaneous solid tumors in hepatocellular carcinoma， providing new insights and technical approaches for anti-hepatocellular carcinoma research and the meridian-guiding and messenger-directing theory in traditional Chinese medicine.

OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effect and mechanism of Dendrobium officinale on skin damage in mice with xeroderma. METHODS The mice were randomly divided into control group， model group， and D. officinale group， with 5 mice in each group. Except for the control group （which only underwent shaving treatment）， the mice in all other groups were induced to develop a xeroderma model using an acetone-ether mixture for five consecutive days. The mice in D. officinale group were treated with 200 μL of D. officinale suspension （0.2 mg/mL） two hours after the first modeling each day. Mice in the control group and the model group were applied with an equal volume of pure water； once a day， until the end of the modeling process. After last medication， skin lesions and pathological morphology of the mice were observed. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expressions of Filaggrin， Loricrin and Ki67 proteins in skin tissue of the mice. The core pathways through which D. officinale improves skin damage in xeroderma were screened using 16S rRNA sequencing combined with gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） enrichment analyses， and subsequent validation was conducted. RESULTS Compared with the control group， the mice in the model group exhibited obvious scratching behavior， with a large amount of scale on the skin， excessive epidermal keratinization， and thickened stratum spinosum. The skin scale score， epidermal thickness， and the expression levels of Ki67， Filaggrin， and Loricrin proteins in the skin tissue were significantly increased/elevated （ P ＜0.05）. Compared with model group， the mice in the D. officinale group exhibited reduced scratching behavior and scaling， along with a mitigated degree of skin keratinization. The aforementioned quantitative indicators were significantly decreased/reduced （ P ＜0.05）. The results of core pathway screening revealed that the KEGG pathways involving differentially expressed genes included signaling pathways such as interleukin-17 （IL-17） and tumor necrosis factor （TNF）. Further validation experim ents found that after intervention with D. officinale ， mRNA expression of downstream effector molecules CCN1， Hbegf， Tnfrsf12a， and Thbs1 genes in skin tissues were all significantly reduced （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS D. officinale can repair skin damage in mice with xeroderma， and its mechanism of action is related to restoring the balance of proliferation and differentiation in keratinocytes and down-regulating the mRNA expressions of CCN1， Hbegf， Tnfrsf12a， and Thbs1.

As a pivotal strategy to alleviate the shortage of organ donors, xenotransplantation has achieved remarkable advances in both pre-clinical and clinical studies in recent years, driven by continuous optimization of gene modification techniques and immunosuppressive regimens. Nevertheless, clinical translation still confronts formidable challenges, including rejection and heightened infection risks, which severely compromise long-term graft survival. Consequently, the role of immunosuppressive regimens in xenotransplantation has become increasingly prominent. This article summarizes the mechanisms underlying xenogeneic immune rejection, the latest developments in immunosuppressive regimens, cutting-edge strategies for inducing immune tolerance and the major hurdles facing clinical xenotransplantation. It delves into potential optimization strategies and directions for future clinical research, aiming to offer theoretical insights and practical guidance for the safe and effective application of clinical xenotransplantation.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and possible mechanism of Wei's Huoxue Tongluo Formula （韦氏活血通络方，WHTF） in treating atrophic-stage non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy （NAION） with qi deficiency and blood stasis. MethodsA total of 82 atrophic-stage NAION patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group， with 41 cases in each group. The treatment group was given oral administration of WHTF twice a day plus acupoint injection of distilled water 2 ml at Taiyang （EX-HN5） once daily， while the control group received injection of compound anisodine injection 2 ml at Taiyang （EX-HN5） once daily and oral administration of WHTF placebo twice a day. Both groups received treatment for a course of 14 days. The best-corrected visual acuity （BCVA）， optic disc perfusion density （PD）， flux index （FI）， macular superficial PD， vascular density （VD）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores were compared between groups before treatment and on day 7 and day 14 of treatment. Additionally， mean defect （MD） and mean sensitivity （MS） of visual fields were measured before treatment and on day 14， along with safety evaluation. ResultsAfter treatment， both groups showed significant improvement in BCVA， visual field MD and MS， and TCM syndrome scores （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. On day 14 of treatment， the TCM syndrome score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group （P＜0.05）. There was no significant improvement in optic disc PD and FI， and macular superficial PD and VD after treatment in either group （P＞0.05） except that on day 7 the macular superficial foveal PD in the control group was significantly better than that in the treatment group （P＜0.05）. During the treatment period， no serious adverse events occurred in either group. ConclusionWHTF can improve the visual function indicators including visual acuity and visual field， as well as TCM syndrome scores in atrophic-stage NAION patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis. It shows clinical safety， although it does not appear to have a significant effect on optic disc or macular blood flow.

Objective: To compare the effects of eccentric cycling (ECC), concentric cycling (CON), and standard care (CTL) on cardiopulmonary capacity, respiratory health, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: Thirty-one CKD patients were divided into the CTL, CON, and ECC groups. The CON and ECC groups participated in 8-week, 24-session cycling programs. Outcomes were assessed through cardiopulmonary exercise tests, respiratory function tests, and the 36-Item Short Form Survey Instrument questionnaire. Results: The ECC group achieved significant improvements in maximal oxygen uptake, while the CTL group showed a decline. For oxygen uptake efficiency slope, significant changes were observed only in the ECC group, with a group-by-time interaction effect compared to CTL. Furthermore, the ECC group demonstrated the most significant increase in diaphragm movement and a significant increase in diaphragm thickness, with comparisons indicating that ECC outperformed both CTL and CON. Regarding QoL, the ECC group exhibited significantly greater improvements in Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary, with statistically significant differences compared with the CTL and CON groups. Conclusion ECC is a low-effort, high-benefit exercise modality that significantly enhances cardiopulmonary fitness, respiratory function, and QoL in patients with CKD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression level of mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 （MST1） in prostate cancer （PCa） tissues， its biological functions， and its regulatory effects on androgen receptor （AR） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） expression. MethodsImmunohistochemistry was performed to detect MST1 expression in 77 prostate cancer tissues and 34 benign prostatic hyperplasia （BPH） tissues， and the relationship between MST1 expression and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. MST1-overexpressing C4-2 and LNCaP cell lines were constructed. CCK-8 assay， Transwell migration assay， and angiogenesis assay were conducted to evaluate the effects of MST1 on cell proliferation， migration， and angiogenesis. The expression changes of AR and VEGF were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. ResultsMST1 expression was significantly lower in PCa tissues compared with BPH tissues （P=0.012）. Low MST1 expression was significantly associated with tumor metastasis （P=0.033）. MST1 overexpression inhibited C4-2 cell proliferation and migration， with transmembrane migrated cells reduced by 53.6% （P<0.01）. MST1 overexpression decreased the mRNA and protein expression levels of AR and VEGF （P<0.05）. Angiogenesis assay demonstrated that the length of new vessel structure was significantly reduced （P<0.05）. ConclusionMST1 shows a low expression level in PCa tissues and is associated with tumor metastasis. MST1 exerts tumor-suppressive effects in prostate cancer by inhibiting cell proliferation， migration， and angiogenesis， as well as downregulating the expression of AR and VEGF， indicating its potential as a therapeutic target for prostate cancer.

The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is higher among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than in the general population. Emerging evidence indicates that the development of MASLD in patients with IBD may occur independently of traditional metabolic risk factors, suggesting a unique pathophysiological mechanism distinct from conventional MASLD pathways. Bile acids (BAs), which act as critical signaling molecules in enterohepatic circulation, play an essential role in maintaining gastrointestinal homeostasis through bidirectional gut–liver axis communication. These molecules are increasingly recognized as pivotal regulators in the progression of both MASLD and IBD. While previous studies have characterized the dynamics of BA in blood or fecal samples under both conditions, a comprehensive understanding of their metabolic profiles and the associated interactions within the gut–liver axis is still lacking. This review synthesizes current evidence from studies employing BA metabolomics to investigate IBD and MASLD. By focusing on BA signatures, we summarize conserved alterations between these two conditions and their potential mechanisms of disease progression. Our review advances understanding of BA-mediated pathways in IBD and MASLD, providing a foundation for assessing their roles in contributing to the pathogenesis of MASLD in patients with IBD.

Organ transplantation faces the challenge of a shortage of donors. Although xenotransplantation holds great potential, it is limited by rejection. Extracellular histones, as key members of damage-associated molecular patterns, have been proven in recent years to play a crucial role in transplant rejection by activating innate immunity, regulating the coagulation-inflammation network, and modulating adaptive immune responses. However, the specific functions and key mechanisms remain to be clarified. Therefore, this article reviews the structural characteristics of histones, their release pathways, the biological functions of extracellular histones, and their potential roles in xenotransplantation. It summarizes the latest research progress of extracellular histones in xenotransplantation, analyzes the shortcomings of existing research and the direction for future research, with the expectation of providing references for the application of extracellular histones in xenogeneic kidney transplantation.

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection,with a high mortality rate.Sirtuin 3,a deacetylase within mitochondria,plays an important regulatory role in cellular metabolism,oxidative stress,and inflammatory responses.In recent years,significant progress has been made in the study of the function and regulatory role of sirtuin 3 in sepsis-related diseases.Research has shown that sirtuin 3 can alleviate organ damage caused by sepsis by regulating mitochondrial function,reducing oxidative stress,and inhibiting inflammatory responses.The specific mechanisms include the regulation of mitochondrial bioenergetics,activation of antioxidant enzyme systems,and inhibition of inflammatory mediator expression.In addition,sirtuin 3 plays a protective role in the pathological process of sepsis by interacting with multiple signaling pathways.This article summarizes the functions and regulatory mechanisms of sirtuin 3 in various sepsis-related diseases,aiming to provide new targets and strategies for the prevention and treatment of sepsis in the future.
Sepsis/metabolism* ; Sirtuin 3/physiology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Oxidative Stress ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of transabdominal uterine electromyography for pre-term labor after tocolysis in women with threatened preterm labor.Methods:A total of 48 pregnant women at 28-34 weeks of gestation diagnosed with threatened preterm labor and admitted to The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soo-chow University from January to September 2023 were included.According to the response to tocolysis and whether the pregnancy was prolonged for at least 48 h,women were divided into two groups:non-preterm birth within 48 h(n=35)and preterm birth within 48 h(n=13).Uterine electromyography parameters and difference were compared before and after tocolytic therapy in two groups.Univariate Logistic regression was performed to predict the related factors of preterm birth within 48 h after the using of tocolysis in pregnant women with threat-ened preterm birth by uterine electromyography,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was per-formed to evaluate their performance.Results:Compared to before treatment with tocolysis,after therapy,in the non-preterm birth within 48 h group,significant reductions in contraction frequency,area,duration and amplitude were observed(P<0.05).In the preterm birth within 48 h group,only contraction frequency decreased significant-ly(P<0.05).Univariate Logistic regression indicated that contraction frequency,contraction duration,and contrac-tion area were predictive factors for premature birth within 48 h after tocolysis(P<0.05).When the duration of u-terine contractions lasting for 104.55 s or more the sensitivity and specificity of predicting premature birth within 48 h are 92.3％and 68.6％,respectively.Conclusions:Uterine electromyography may predict the premature birth within 48 h after tocolytic treatment in preterm labor,which may provide reference for subsequent corticosteroid therapy or transfer of high-risk pregnant patients.