ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Gegen Qinliantang（GQT） improves skeletal muscle insulin resistance. MethodsThe db/m mice were used as the normal group， while db/db mice were assigned to a model group， low-dose （3.12 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose （6.24 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose （12.48 g·kg^-1） GQT groups， and a Western medicine group （semaglutide， 0.045 mg·kg^-1），n=6 in each group. All groups received corresponding interventions. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test （IPGTT）， intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test （IPITT）， and hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining were used to evaluate insulin resistance and therapeutic efficacy. Serum lipid levels were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer， and apoptosis in skeletal muscle was assessed via TUNEL assay. Transcriptome sequencing combined with gene ontology （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） analyses was performed to identify differentially expressed genes （DEGs）. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to validate gene expression. Molecular docking was applied to evaluate the binding patterns between active components of GQT and key regulatory genes to elucidate pharmacological mechanisms. ResultsCompared with the model group， the medium-dose and high-dose GQT groups showed significantly reduced fasting blood glucose （FBG） levels （P<0.01）. Triglycerides （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） were markedly decreased （P<0.01）， while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） was significantly increased （P<0.01）. IPGTT， IPITT， and HE staining demonstrated that GQT enhanced insulin sensitivity and restored skeletal muscle morphology. GQT also alleviated apoptosis in skeletal muscle tissue. Transcriptome analysis revealed that GQT primarily affected biological processes such as oxidative phosphorylation， metabolic pathways， cellular processes， and protein binding. Real-time PCR results showed that CBR2， CDK6， F830016B08Rik， IL-1β， Rab27b， and COLEC12 were key regulatory genes. Molecular docking demonstrated that CBR2， IL-1β， Rab27b， and COLEC12 formed stable binding with the main active components of GQT. The therapeutic effects of high- and medium-dose GQT were comparable to those of the semaglutide group. ConclusionGQT improves skeletal muscle insulin resistance， potentially by regulating apoptosis as part of its underlying biological mechanism.

Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(anti-VEGF)therapy has been widely used, but the variability in its therapeutic efficacy limits individualized treatment. In recent years, the application of artificial intelligence(AI)has opened up new avenues for personalized treatment response prediction, and its core branches include machine learning(ML)and deep learning(DL). This review systematically retrieved and analyzed 41 relevant studies published up to April 2025. Comprehensive analysis reveals that AI predictive models are evolving from forecasting single endpoints(such as visual acuity or central retinal thickness)to integrating multi-dimensional endpoints(encompassing anatomical, functional, and treatment demand parameters)and generating predictive imaging outputs. In terms of technical approaches, DL models(28 studies, accounting for 68.3%)dominate this field due to their robust image interpretation capabilities, while ML models(10 studies, 24.4%)retain significant value in the analysis of structured clinical data. Cross-disease comparisons indicate that research efforts are most concentrated on age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)and diabetic macular edema(DME), with shared conceptual frameworks for model construction, yet distinct anatomical and functional indicators are prioritized for each disease. Currently, the field confronts several key challenges, including insufficient prospective clinical validation, limited model interpretability(the “black box problem”), and a scarcity of high-quality multi-center datasets. Moving forward, it is imperative to advance real-world validation and develop explainable AI techniques to expedite the clinical translation of these predictive models.

Objective Orosomucoid1 （ORM1） is a novel target in the quest for anti-fatigue pharmacotherapy. Preliminary investigations have illuminated oleuropein （OLE） as a promising candidate molecule, poised to enhance ORM1 expression. To elucidate the influence of OLE on ORM1 protein expression and assess its ramifications on muscle endurance. Methods The impact of OLE on ORM1 protein expressions within hepatocytes and liver tissue was meticulously quantified through Western blotting; the effects of OLE on muscle endurance were evaluated via the rotarod and forced swimming tests; glycogen content within liver and muscle tissues was determined utilizing a specialized kit; and PAS staining was employed to visualize glycogen deposition in the gastrocnemius muscle. Results OLE demonstrated a capacity to elevate ORM1 protein expression in hepatocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner, concurrently prolonging the duration of swimming and rotarod performance in mice, also in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, OLE augmented ORM1 expression in liver tissue, elevated serum ORM1 levels, and enhanced glycogen reserves within the liver and muscle. Conclusion OLE may serve to amplify muscle endurance by elevating ORM1 levels in vivo and augmenting glycogen stores within skeletal muscle.

OBJECTIVE To mine and analyze adverse event signals associated with inebilizumab， and to provide reference for safe and rational clinical use. METHODS Reports of adverse event related to inebilizumab were collected from the FDA adverse event reporting system （FAERS） database， from Q2 2020 to Q4 2024. Adverse events were standardized and categorized according to the preferred term （PT） and system organ class （SOC） of the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities （MedDRA） version 26.0. Signals were mined using the reporting odds ratio （ROR） method and the Bayesian confidence propagation neural network （BCPNN） method. RESULTS A total of 783 adverse event reports with inebilizumab as the primary suspected drug were identified， involving 297 patients. Most reports originated from the United States and Japan， with physicians being the primary reporters. Female patients outnumbered males， and the most common age group was 45-64 years. Using the ROR method and BCPNN method， a total of 29 valid adverse event signals were detected， involving 12 SOCs and comprising 225 adverse event reports. The five most frequently reported PTs were headache， nausea， fatigue， infectious pneumonia and arthralgia. The five PTs with the strongest signal intensity were： B-cell recovery， decreased blood immunoglobulin G， spinal compression fracture， COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Among the 29 valid signals for adverse event， 19 were not documented in the drug package inserts， involving 10 SOCs and comprising 107 adverse event reports. These encompassed nervous system disorders， general disorders and administration site conditions， eye disorders， among others. CONCLUSIONS Inebilizumab treatment not only causes adverse events documented in the product information， such as infections， immunoglobulin reduction and infusion-related reactions but also leads to potential signals， including B-cell recovery， spinal compression fracture. When using this drug in clinical practice， the patient’s risk of infection and baseline immune status should be assessed， relevant indicators should be closely monitored， and targeted preventive measures should be considered when necessary.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a globally life-threatening disease. Presently, few therapeutic medicines are available for treating IS, and rt-PA is the only drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US. In fact, many agents showing excellent neuroprotection but no blood flow-improving activity in animals have not achieved ideal clinical efficacy, while thrombolytic drugs only improving blood flow without neuroprotection have limited their wider application. To address these challenges and meet the huge unmet clinical need, we have designed and identified a novel compound AAPB with dual effects of neuroprotection and cerebral blood flow improvement. AAPB significantly reduced cerebral infarction and neural function deficit in tMCAO rats, pMCAO rats, and IS rhesus monkeys, as well as displayed exceptional safety profiles and excellent pharmacokinetic properties in rats and dogs. AAPB has now entered phase I of clinical trials fighting IS in China.

Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is a critical transcription factor that governs the differentiation of cluster of differentiation 4⁺ (CD4⁺) T cells. The pathogenesis and progression of psoriasis are primarily attributed to an immune imbalance stemming from the overproduction of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) by T lymphocytes. However, the role of IRF4 in psoriasis remains unexplored. In this study, we found that IRF4 activity is increased in the cutaneous lesions of patients with psoriasis in response to stimulation by IL-23A and IL-1β. This IRF4 elevation heightens its binding to the E1A binding protein p300 (EP300) promoter, triggering the transcription of downstream retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-γt (RORγt) and increasing the secretion of IL-17A, thereby establishing the IL-1β/IL-23A-IRF4-EP300-RORC-IL-17A inflammatory cascade in psoriasis. The alleviation of imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic-like symptoms was achieved through the creation of a Irf4 ^-/- gene deletion mouse model and pharmacological inhibition using antisense oligonucleotides targeted for Irf4. This amelioration was accompanied by a decreased number of IL-17A-producing CD4⁺ T cells in the skin. The findings of this study suggest that IRF4 plays a crucial role in the promotion of inflammation and exacerbation of IMQ-induced psoriasiform dermatitis. Consequently, IRF4 targeting could be a promising therapeutic strategy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of Ag₂Se nanoparticles for eliminating intracellular Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in esophageal cancer and examine the effect of P. gingivalis clearance on progression of esophageal cancer. METHODS: Ag₂Se nanoparticles were synthesized via a chemical synthesis method. The effects of Ag₂Se nanoparticles on P. gingivalis viability and colony-forming ability were assessed using fluorescence staining and colony formation assays. In a mouse model bearing subcutaneous murine esophageal cancer cell allograft with P. gingivalis infection, the effect of treatment with Ag₂Se nanoparticles on the abundance of P. gingivalis in the tumor tissues was quantified using RNAscope in situ hybridization and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and the changes in tumor volume were monitored. The biosafety of Ag₂Se nanoparticles was assessed by examining liver and kidney functions and pathological changes in the major organs of the mice. RESULTS: Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the synthesized Ag₂Se nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed spherical particles with a diameter around 50 nm. In vitro experiments demonstrated that exposure to Ag₂Se nanoparticles significantly reduced the viability and clonal proliferation capacity of P. gingivalis in a dose-dependent manner. In the tumor-bearing mice, treatment with Ag₂Se nanoparticles significantly reduced the abundance of P. gingivalis in tumor tissues and suppressed tumor cell proliferation. No significant damages to the liver and kidney functions or the major organs were observed in Ag₂Se nanoparticle-treated mice, demonstrating good biocompatibility of Ag₂Se nanoparticles. CONCLUSIONS Ag₂Se nanoparticles exhibit significant bactericidal and inhibitory effects against P. gingivalis, and can effectively eliminate intracellular P. gingivalis to suppress the growth of esophageal cancer allograft in mice, suggesting the potential of Ag₂Se nanoparticles in the treatment of esophageal cancer.
Animals ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/drug effects* ; Mice ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Nanoparticles ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Bacteroidaceae Infections ; Cell Line, Tumor

OBJECTIVES: To explore the therapeutic mechanism of puerarin for alleviating synovitis in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS: In a SD rat model of CIA, we tested the effects of daily gavage of puerarin at low, moderate and high doses (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg, respectively) for 3 weeks, with tripterygium glycosides (GTW, 10 mg/kg) as the positive control, on swelling in the hind limb joints regions evaluated by arthritis index scoring. Mass fraction of the liver of the rats was calculated, and pathologies in joint synovial membrane were observed with HE staining. The expressions of transforming growth factor β‑activated kinase-1 (TAK1), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and nuclear factor kappa-Bp65 (NF‑κB p65) at the mRNA and protein levels in the synovial tissues were detected using Real-time PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with those in the model group, the rats in GTW group and high-dose puerarin group showed significantly reduced mass fraction of the liver. Treatment with GTW and puerarin at the 3 doses all significantly alleviated plantar swelling, lowered arthritis index scores, and improved synovitis in CIA rats (P<0.05), and the effects of puerarin showed an obvious dose dependence. Both GTW and puerarin treatments significantly lowered TAK1, TLR4, and NF‑κB p65 mRNA and protein expressions in the synovium of CIA rats. CONCLUSIONS Puerarin alleviates synovium damages in CIA rats possibly by suppressing the TLR4/NF‑κB signaling pathway via downregulating TAK1 expression.
Animals ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Isoflavones/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Arthritis, Experimental/drug therapy* ; Transcription Factor RelA/metabolism* ; Synovial Membrane/metabolism*

Within the prefrontal-cingulate cortex, abnormalities in coupling between neuronal networks can disturb the emotion-cognition interactions, contributing to the development of mental disorders such as depression. Despite this understanding, the neural circuit mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. In this study, we present a biophysical computational model encompassing three crucial regions, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The objective is to investigate the role of coupling relationships within the prefrontal-cingulate cortex networks in balancing emotions and cognitive processes. The numerical results confirm that coupled weights play a crucial role in the balance of emotional cognitive networks. Furthermore, our model predicts the pathogenic mechanism of depression resulting from abnormalities in the subgenual cortex, and network functionality was restored through intervention in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. This study utilizes computational modeling techniques to provide an insight explanation for the diagnosis and treatment of depression.
Prefrontal Cortex/physiology* ; Humans ; Emotions/physiology* ; Cognition/physiology* ; Gyrus Cinguli/physiology* ; Computer Simulation ; Models, Neurological ; Neural Pathways/physiology* ; Nerve Net/physiology*

Objective:To investigate the current status of application of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in China, aiming to provide reference for promoting the development of this technology.Methods:From January to March 2024, a questionnaire was designed and distributed online, targeting member units of the Professional Committee of Stereotactic Radiosurgery Treatment, which covers 175 radiotherapy units in 30 provinces and regions nationwide. The survey focused on the current application of SBRT technology and its utilization in the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A statistical description of the survey results was presented.Results:Of 175 questionnaires distributed, a total of 130 valid responses were collected, with an effective response rate of 74.3%. A total of 81.5% (106/130) of the units had implemented SBRT technology, and 99.1% of the respondents believed it was necessary to further promote SBRT technology, yet the actual training rate was only 67.0%. SBRT equipment configuration: there were a total of 267 SBRT equipment, featuring a diverse range of types, with traditional linear accelerators as the mainstays, accounting for 76.0% ( n=203), followed by 12.0% ( n=32) for TOMO, 6.4% ( n=17) for Cyber knife, 3.7% ( n=10) for Gamma knife, and proton/heavy ion equipment at 1.5% ( n=4), respectively. The percentage of units with multi-leaf collimator leaf widths ≤0.5 cm was 93.4% (99/106). The application of SBRT: the first radiotherapy unit commenced SBRT in 2000, and this technology entered a period of rapid growth after 2015, sustaining a steady increase over the past decade; SBRT technology was mainly applied in the brain, lung, liver, bone, adrenal gland, and kidney, with application rates of 97.2%, 94.3%, 86.8%, 71.7%, 56.6%, and 27.4%, respectively, while the application rates for the pancreas, metastatic lymph nodes, and other parts were less than 5%. Current status of SBRT technology application in early-stage NSCLC: 90.6% (96/106) of units had implemented SBRT; pre-treatment multi-disciplinary diagnosis and treatment accounted for 77% (74/96); the proportion of application units for peripheral and central type lung cancer lesions both exceeded 57.3%, whereas the application rate for ultra-central type and lesions > 5 cm lung cancer was less than 30%; there was significant variability in the selection of reference guidelines, dose fractionation patterns, and the concept of central type among units. Conclusions:The development of SBRT technology in China is in a period of steady growth, but several issues such as low training rate and lack of standardization still exist. The survey results provide important reference for clinical training and promotion of SBRT technology in China.