OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effect and mechanism of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglucoside （TWM） on nephrotic syndrome in rats. METHODS The nephrotic syndrome model was established by intravenous injection of adriamycin via the tail vein. The modeling rats were randomly divided into the model group （distilled water）， prednisone group （10 mg/kg）， and TWM high- and low-dose groups （10 and 5 mg/kg， respectively）. Additionally， blank group （distilled water） without model induction was established. Each group consisted of 9 rats. Rats in each group were administered the corresponding drugs or distilled water by gavage， once a day， for 6 consecutive weeks. The histopathological morphology of kidney tissues in rats was observed； the levels of 24-hour urinary protein （24 h-UTP） and serum biochemical indicators [albumin （ALB）， blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， serum creatinine （SCr）， cholesterol （CHOL）， and triglyceride （TG）] in rats were determined； the levels of oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase （SOD）， malondialdehyde （MDA）] in kidney tissue of rats were determined； expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）/microRNA-155-5p （miR-155-5p）/nuclear factor erythriod 2- related factor 2 （Nrf2） signaling pathway-related mRNA and protein in the renal tissues of rats were detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank group， the rats in the model group exhibited disordered renal tissue structure， with a small amount of glomerular necrosis and edema of the renal tubular epithelial cells. 24 h-UTP， serum levels of SCr， BUN， CHOL and TG， MDA content， mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α and Keap1 as well as the expression of miR-155-5p in renal tissues were increased significantly （ P ＜0.05）. Serum level of ALB， SOD level in renal tissue as well as mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2 were decreased significantly （ P ＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， TWM high-dose and low-dose groups exhibited significant improvements in renal injury， with notable reversals in the levels of the above quantitative indicators （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS TWM can alleviate oxidative stress-induced damage and thereby improve nephrotic syndrome in rats by regulating the HIF-1α/miR-155-5p/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Qingxin Jieyu granules on ventricular remodeling of mice after myocardial infarction， and their regulatory role in mitophagy. MethodsSixty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to six groups： sham-operated group， model group， Qingxin Jieyu granules low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （1.3， 2.6， 5.2 g·kg^-1）， and sacubitril valsartan sodium group （0.03 g·kg^-1）， with 10 mice per group. Except for the sham-operated group， all other groups utilized left anterior descending coronary artery ligation to build a myocardial infarction model. Ultrasound was used to measure left ventricular parameters， including end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters （LVIDd， LVIDs）， diastolic and systolic posterior wall thickness （LVPWd， LVPWs）， end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes （LV Vold， LV Vols）， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， and fractional shortening （LVFS）. Additionally， the heart mass index and heart weight/tibia length ratio of mice were calculated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to quantify brain natriuretic peptide （BNP）， creatine kinase isoenzyme （CK-MB）， angiotensinⅡ （AngⅡ）， and lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） levels in the serum of mice. Histological analysis using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and Masson staining was conducted to examine morphological changes in myocardial tissue. Immunohistochemistry assessed the expression of vascular growth factors， including basic fibroblast growth factor （bFGF） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）. Transmission electron microscopy was used to scrutinize mitochondrial morphology in the myocardial tissue of mice. Western blot was performed to analyze the expression of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase （p-AMPK） and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin （p-mTOR） proteins in myocardial tissue from each experimental group. ResultsCompared to the sham-operated group， the model group mice exhibited significantly elevated levels of LV Vold， LV Vols， LVIDd， LVIDs， cardiac mass index， heart weight/tibia length ratio， BNP， LDH， and p-mTOR protein expression （P<0.05）， along with decreased levels of LVPWd， LVPWs， LVEF， LVFS， and p-AMPK protein expression （P<0.05）. The model group also displayed substantial inflammatory cell infiltration， collagen deposition in myocardial cells， reduced expression of bFGF and VEGF， mitochondrial swelling， and cristae fragmentation. Compared to the model group， the sacubitril/valsartan group and mid-dose Qingxin Jieyu granules group showed significant reductions in LVIDs， LV Vold， LV Vols， BNP， CK-MB， LDH， and p-mTOR protein expression （P<0.05）， coupled with increases in LVEF， LVFS， and p-AMPK expression （P<0.05）. Improvements were observed across all treatment groups， including reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition， increased bFGF and VEGF expression， alleviated mitochondrial swelling， and the presence of autophagosomes and lysosomes. ConclusionThe results show that Qingxin Jieyu granules can regulate mitochondrial autophagy in myocardial tissue and inhibit ventricular remodeling to improve cardiac performance， by up-regulating the p-AMPK expression in the myocardial tissue of mice with ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction， and down-regulating the p-mTOR expression.

ObjectiveTo observe the intervention effect of Fufang Kangjiaolv capsules on anxiety-like behaviors in the rat model of chronic restraint stress （CRS） and explore the mechanism underlying the anti-anxiety effect via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. MethodsRats were assigned into blank， model， positive drug （diazepam， 1 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （0.75， 1.5， 3 g·kg^-1， respectively） Fufang Kangjiaolv capsules groups. After 14 days of administration， the elevated plus maze test， open field test， light and dark box test， and marble burying test were performed. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the pathological changes in the hippocampus and colon of rats， and Nissl staining was conducted to observe the damage of hippocampal neurons. The gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was employed to determine the mRNA levels of zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1） and occludin in the colon of rats. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in the colon， serum， and hippocampus were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of ZO-1， occludin， nuclear factor-κB p65 （NF-κB p65） in the colon tissue and NF-κB p65 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in the hippocampal tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group showed reductions in the time and frequency ratio of rats entering the elevated plus maze， the time and frequency of rats entering the central area of the open field， the time of entering the open box， the times of passing through the light and dark box， and the number of unburied beads （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Fufang Kangjiaolv capsules ameliorated the anxiety of the model rats to varying degrees， and the high-dose group had the best effect， with increases in the proportions of time and frequency of rats entering the open arm in the elevated plus maze （P<0.05）， the number of rats entering the central area in the open field （P<0.05）， the time of entering the open box， the times of passing through the light and dark boxes， and the number of unburied beads （P<0.01）. Moreover， the high-dose group showed alleviated pathological damage of hippocampal neurons and colon. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the model group had increased relative abundance of Firmicutes， Deferribacterota， Romboutsia， and Phascolarctobacterium， while it had decreased relative abundance of Bavcteroidota and Lactobacillus. The drug administration groups showed increased relative abundance of Bavcteroidota， Bacteroides， norank f norank o Clostridia UCG-014， and Blautia and decreased relative abundance of Firmicutes and Deferribacterota. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed down-regulated protein and mRNA levels of ZO-1 and occludin in the colon （P<0.01）， elevated levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-β in the colon， serum， and hippocampus （P<0.01）， up-regulated protein level of NF-κB p65 in the colon and hippocampus （P<0.01）， and down-regulated protein level of BDNF in the hippocampus （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， high-dose Fufang Kangjiaolv capsules up-regulated the mRNA levels of ZO-1 and occludin in the colon （P<0.01）， lowered the levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-β in the colon， serum， and hippocampus （P<0.01）， up-regulated the protein levels of ZO-1 （P<0.01） and occludin （P<0.05） in the colon， down-regulated the protein level of NF-κB p65 in the colon and hippocampus （P<0.05）， and up-regulated the protein level of BDNF in the hippocampus. ConclusionFufang Kangjiaolv capsules can reduce the anxiety-like behaviors in the rat model of CRS by regulating the gut microbiota disturbance， up-regulating the expression of tight junction proteins in the colon， repairing intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier， and down-regulating NF-κB/BDNF signaling pathway， thereby reducing peripheral and central inflammation. This study proves the hypothesis that Fufang Kangjiaolv capsules play an anti-anxiety role via the microbiota-gut-brain axis， providing a new idea for further research.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analyze the clinical symptoms and imaging manifestations in patients with temporomandibular disorder syndrome (TMD), who are sensitive to sudden temperature drop. METHODS: One hundred and nineteen patients with TMD who attended the Department of Stomatology of the First Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from December 2022 to December 2023 were included, including 44 males and 75 females, with a mean age of 32.4±13.7 years.The questionnaire was used to determine whether they were sensitive to temperature drop, and the TMD patients were divided into a temperature plunge-sensitive group and a temperature drop insensitive group. The clinical symptoms and imaging manifestations of patients in the two groups were observed. SPSS 25.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the gender and age of patients in the temperature plunge-sensitive group (50 patients) and the insensitivity group (69 patients) (P>0.05). The percentage of patients with pain was slightly higher in the temperature plunge-sensitive group [86.0% (43/50)] than in the insensitive group [68.1% (47/69)], and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=5.031, P=0.025), while the differences in joint murmur and mouth opening limitation between the two groups were not statistically significant. A total of 238 lateral joints were detected in both groups, the percentage of osteoarthropathic imaging changes was significantly higher in the temperature plunge-sensitive group [82.0% (82/100)] than in the insensitive group [53.6% (74/138)] (χ²=20.675, P<0.001). Magnetic imaging showed that the percentage of joint effusion was higher in patients in the temperature plunge-sensitive group [66.0% (33/50)] than in the insensitive group [42.0% (29/69)], and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=5.602, P=0.018). CONCLUSIONS TMD patients with maxillofacial pain symptoms, joint effusions, and abnormal imaging of osteoarticular structures are more likely to be sensitive to sudden temperature drops.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/diagnosis* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Temperature ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between clinical symptoms and unilateral chewing habits in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) accompanied by tinnitus. METHODS: A total of 285 patients diagnosed with TMD at the Department of Stomatology of the First Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital between December 2020 and May 2024 were included and divided into two groups: tinnitus group and non-tinnitus group. Analysis was conducted on the proportion of patients with unilateral chewing habits in both groups, the correlation between the side of tinnitus and the side of unilateral chewing, and the correlation of tinnitus with TMD clinical symptoms (joint clicking, joint pain, and limited mouth opening) and unilateral chewing habits. The correlation of the type of disc displacement with unilateral chewing and tinnitus was also examined. RESULTS: In the tinnitus group, the proportions of patients with and without unilateral chewing habits were 90.70% (39/43) and 9.30% (4/43), respectively. In the non-tinnitus group, the proportions of patients with and without unilateral chewing habits were 76.03% (184/242) and 23.97% (58/242), respectively. The proportion of patients with unilateral chewing habits in the tinnitus group was significantly higher than in the non-tinnitus group (χ²=4.613, P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between tinnitus and unilateral chewing habits (P<0.05). In the left-sided tinnitus group, the proportion of left-sided unilateral chewers [54.55% (12/22)] was higher than that of right-sided unilateral chewers [45.45% (10/22)]. In the right-sided tinnitus group, the proportion of right-sided unilateral chewers [81.82% (9/11)] was higher than that of left-sided unilateral chewers [18.18% (2/11)]. The difference was statistically significant (χ²=7.282, P<0.05). A positive correlation was also found between the side of tinnitus and the side of unilateral chewing habits (P<0.05). The proportion of patients with pain was significantly higher in the tinnitus group than in the non-tinnitus group (P<0.05). No significant difference in the proportion of joint clicking or limited mouth opening and disc displacement (no disc displacement, unilateral disc displacement, bilateral disc displacement, reducible disc displacement, or irreducible disc displacement) was found between the tinnitus and non-tinnitus groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS TMD with unilateral chewing habits may be a contributing factor to unexplained tinnitus. Unexplained tinnitus is correlated with joint pain in patients with TMD.
Humans ; Tinnitus/physiopathology* ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/physiopathology* ; Mastication ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Habits

The biological nitrogen removal technology utilizing heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) bacteria has shown effectiveness in wastewater treatment. However, the nitrogen removal efficiency of HN-AD bacteria significantly decreases as the salinity increases. To tackle the challenge of treating high-salt and high-nitrogen wastewater, we isolated a moderately halophilic HN-AD strain 5505 from a salt lake in Xinjiang. The strain was identified based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics and the 16S rRNA gene sequence. Single-factor experiments were carried out with NH₄⁺-N, NO₃^--N, and NO₂^--N as sole or mixed nitrogen sources to study the nitrifying effect, denitrifying effect, and nitrogen metabolism pathway of the strain. The strain was identified as Halomonas sp.. It can grow in the presence of 1%-25% (W/V) NaCl and exhibited efficient nitrogen removal ability in the presence of 3%-8% NaCl. At the optimal NaCl concentration (8%), the strain showed the NH₄⁺-N, NO₃^--N and NO₂^--N removal rates of 100.0%, 94.11% and 74.43%, respectively. Strain 5505 removed inorganic nitrogen mainly by assimilation, which accounted for over 62.68% of total nitrogen removal. In the presence of mixed nitrogen sources, strain 5505 showed a preference for utilizing ammonia, with a potential HN-AD pathway of NH₄⁺→NH₂OH→NO₂^-→NO₃^-→NO₂^-→NO/N₂O/N₂. The findings provide efficient salt-tolerant bacterial resources, enhance our understanding of biological nitrogen removal, and contribute to the nitrogen removal efficiency improvement in the treatment of high-salt and high-nitrogen wastewater.
Halomonas/classification* ; Nitrogen/isolation & purification* ; Denitrification ; Nitrification ; Wastewater/microbiology* ; Aerobiosis ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Salinity

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of the major animal infectious diseases in the world. All cloven-hoofed animals are susceptible to FMD. Vaccination is still the first choice for the prevention and control of FMD. mRNA vaccines can be rapidly designed, synthesized, and produced on a large scale in vitro, and they can induce effective protective immune responses, demonstrating the advantages of rapid development, easy preparation, and low biosafety risks. The design of untranslated regions is a key to enhancing the expression and efficacy of mRNA vaccines. In order to generate an efficient FMD mRNA vaccine, we designed three FMD P12A3C expression vectors with different untranslated regions and synthesized corresponding mRNAs. By comparing expression efficiency of these vectors and their mRNAs at different time points and in different cell lines, we found that the mRNA P12A3C-UTR3 had the best expression and universality. This study laid a foundation for the development of mRNA vaccines against FMD and provided a theoretical basis for the optimal sequence design of efficient mRNA.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus/genetics* ; Animals ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis* ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease/immunology* ; Antigens, Viral/biosynthesis* ; Viral Vaccines/biosynthesis* ; Genetic Vectors/genetics* ; Cell Line ; Vaccines, DNA/immunology*

ObjectiveTo investigate the potential mechanism of Liangxue Tuizi Formula （凉血退紫方， LXTZF） in treating Henoch-Schönlein Purpura （HSP） by examining its regulatory effect on neutrophil extracellular trap （NETs） dysregulation via the rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma kinase （RAF）/mitogen-activated protein kinase （MEK）/extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK） signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy Wistar rats were randomly allocated into a blank control group （n=14） and a modeling group （n=56）. Rats in the modelling group underwent an eight-week modelling period to establish HSP rat models with blood-heat syndrome via modified ovalbumin （OVA） induction method combined with oral administration of heat-property Chinese herbal medicine. Fifty successfully modeled rats were subsequently randomly divided into five groups （n=10 per group）， model group， compound glycyrrhizin group， LXTZF group， RAF inhibitor group， and LXTZF + RAF agonist group. Additionally， 10 rats were selected from the original blank control group for the final experiment. From the 11th week of modelling， rats in the blank control group and the model group received 1 ml/（100 g·d） ultrapure water via oral administration， in addition to 0.5 ml/（kg·d） 0.9% sodium chloride solution via intraperitoneal injection. The LXTZF group and the compound glycyrrhizin group received 7.5 g/（kg·d） LXTZF granule suspension via gavage， 13.5 mg/（kg·d） compound glycyrrhizin suspension via gavage， respectively. The RAF inhibitor group received 1 mg/（kg·d） GW5074 suspension via intraperitoneal injection and ultrapure water via oral administration； the LXTZF + RAF agonist group received 7.5 g/（kg·d） LXTZF granule suspension via gavage and 1 mg/（kg·d） paclitaxel suspension via intraperitoneal injection. All administrations were performed once daily for 4 weeks. After intervention， skin tissue histopathology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin （H&E） staining， immunoglobulin A （IgA） deposition was assessed via immunofluorescence， serum levels of neutrophil elastase （NE）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 （VCAM-1） were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， serum myeloperoxidase （MPO） level was determined by a colorimetric assay； the mRNA expression levels of RAF， MEK， and ERK in skin tissue were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （RT-qPCR）； and the protein expression of RAF， MEK， ERK， as well as phosphorylated MEK （p-MEK） and phosphorylated ERK （p-ERK）， were analyzed by Western Blot. ResultsSkin tissue in the blank control group rats remained normal， whereas the model group exhibited neutrophil infiltration and haemorrhage with red blood cell rupture. In all drug intervention groups， neutrophil infiltration and haemorrhagic exudation reduced markedly， with LXTZF group demonstrating the most pronounced improvement. Compared with the blank control group， rats in the model group exhibited enhanced IgA fluorescence intensity in skin tissue， elevated serum levels of NE， MPO， TNF-α and VCAM-1， increased mRNA expression of RAF， MEK， ERK1 and ERK2， as well as heightened RAF protein levels and p-MEK/MEK and p-ERK/ERK ratios （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， the drug intervention groups exhibited reduced IgA fluorescence intensity in skin tissue， along with decreased serum levels of NE， MPO， TNF-α， and VCAM-1 （P＜0.05）. In LXTZF group and RAF inhibition groups， reduced mRNA expression of RAF， MEK， ERK1， and ERK2 was observed in rat skin tissue， alongside decreased RAF protein levels and reduced p-MEK/MEK and p-ERK/ERK ratios （P＜0.05）. Compared with LXTZF + RAF agonist group， the compound glycyrrhizin group， LXTZF group， and RAF inhibitior group exhibited reduced IgA fluorescence intensity in skin tissue， decreased serum NE， MPO， TNF-α， and VCAM-1 levels， and decreased MEK mRNA expression and p-MEK/MEK ratio （P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe potential mechanism by which LXTZF treats Henoch-Schönlein purpura with blood heat syndrome may involve blocking the RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in skin tissue， and suppressing excessive formation of NETs， thereby reducing IgA deposition in dermal microvessels and attenuating systemic inflammatory responses.

CD11c + microglia are a type of important immune cells in the central nervous system. They maintain the homeostasis of internal environment during normal development and are massively activated in aging and various neuro-pathological conditions, playing roles in phagocytic clearance and neuroinflammation regulation; however, their specific mechanism remains unclear. In recent years, more and more studies have focused on mechanism of this cell subpopulation in the central nervous system development and diseases. Therefore, this article reviews the recent advance in the biological characteristics, signal regulation mechanisms of CD11c + microglia, as well as their roles in neurodevelopment and various CNS diseases (ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, neuropathic pain, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica), aiming to provide theoretical basis and reference for the development of drugs targeting CD11c + microglia.

Epidemiology research has found that ABO blood group and the gene coding ABO glycosyltransferases are associated with many human diseases. The activity of ABO glycosyltransferases varies with different blood types, mediating different glycosylation modifications. The variation in glycosylation level might be the risk factor of specific disease. Based on the literature retrieval and analysis, glycosylation levels regulated by ABO glycosyltransferases mainly affect the ABH blood group antigens and von Willebrand factor (vWF). By modulating key glycosylation components, ABO glycosyltransferases partly determine the activity or expression levels of the ABH antigens and vWF, thereby affecting the development and progression of diseases. Exploring the pathogenic mechanisms of ABO glycosyltransferases can improve the understanding of the molecular pathology of related diseases and provide reference for clinical research and application.