ObjectiveTo decipher the mechanism by which Zuoguiwan （ZGW） treat hyperthyroidism in rats with kidney-Yin deficiency based on the dopamine receptor D4 （DRD4）/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate （NADPH） oxidase 4 （NOX4） signaling pathway. MethodsThe rat model of kidney-Yin deficiency was induced by unilateral intramuscular injection of dexamethasone （0.35 mg·kg^-1）. After successful modeling， the rats were randomized into model， methimazole （positive control， 5 mg·kg^-1）， low-， medium-， and high-dose （1.85， 3.70， 7.40 g·kg^-1， respectively） ZGW， and normal control groups. After 21 days of continuous gavage， the behavioral indexes and body weight changes of rats were evaluated. The pathological changes of the renal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The serum levels of thyroid hormones ［triiodothyronine （T₃）， thyroxine （T₄）， thyroid-stimulating hormone （TSH）］， renal function indexes ［serum creatine （Scr） and blood urea nitrogen （BUN）］， energy metabolism markers ［cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP） and cyclic guanosine monophosphate （cGMP）］， and oxidative stress-related factors ［superoxide dismutase （SOD）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， and NADPH）］ were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot was employed to analyze the expression of DRD4， NOX4， mitochondrial respiratory chain complex proteins ［NADH：ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit S4 （NDUFS4） and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 4 （COX4）］， and inflammation-related protein ［tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）］ pathway in the renal tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed mental malaise， body weight decreases （P<0.01）， inflammatory cell infiltration in the renal tissue， a few residual parotid glands in the thyroid， elevations in serum levels of T₃， T₄， Scr， BUN， cAMP， cAMP/cGMP， MDA， and NADPH （P<0.01）， down-regulation in protein levels of TSH， SOD， and DRD4 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulation in expression of NOX4， p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK， and inflammatory factors （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， ZGW increased the body weight （P<0.05， P<0.01）， reduced the infiltration of renal interstitial inflammatory cells， restored the thyroid structure and follicle size， lowered the serum levels of T₃， T₄， Scr， BUN， cAMP， cAMP/cGMP， MDA and NADPH （P<0.05， P<0.01）， up-regulated the expression of TSH， SOD and DRD4 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and down-regulated the expression of NOX4， p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK， and inflammatory factors （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， high-dose ZGW outperformed methimazole （P<0.05）. ConclusionBy activating DRD4， ZGW can inhibit the expression of NOX4 mediated by the p38 MAPK pathway， reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory response， thereby ameliorating the pathological state of hyperthyroidism due to kidney-Yin deficiency. This study provides new molecular mechanism support for the clinical application of ZGW.

The JAK2 V617F mutation is a key molecular event in myeloproliferative neoplasms and is strongly associated with an increased risk of thrombosis. This review aims to summarize the underlying mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and management strategies for thrombosis driven by the JAK2 V617F mutation. Relevant recent studies are analyzed to evaluate the effect of the mutation on molecular signaling, hematopoietic cell function, inflammatory activation, endothelial injury, and coagulation imbalance. Findings indicate that the JAK2 V617F mutation induces the persistent activation of the JAK-STAT pathway, leading to erythroid clonal expansion, platelet hyperreactivity, and enhanced neutrophil chemotaxis, along with excessive inflammatory cytokine release, NET formation, and platelet-leukocyte aggregation. These processes collectively promote endothelial dysfunction and hypercoagulation, ultimately contributing to arterial and venous thrombosis. Clinically, affected patients may present with coronary artery events deep vein thrombosis, and portal vein thrombosis, often accompanied by high recurrence rates and poor outcomes. In conclusion, the JAK2 V617F mutation drives thrombosis via multiple intertwined mechanisms, suggesting that future therapeutic strategies should integrate anticoagulation, anti-inflammation therapy, NET inhibition, and targeted JAK-STAT pathway blockade to improve patient survival.

Objective: To analyze the mediating effects of self-efficacy and self-management behaviors on the relationship between depression symptoms and glycemic control among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide references for optimizing health management of elderly T2DM patients. Methods: T2DM patients aged ≥60 years from 8 community health service centers in Nanjing City were selected using a convenience sampling method. Basic information such as gender and age was collected through questionnaires. Depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and self-management behaviors were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Diabetes Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Diabetes Self-Management Behavior Scale, respectively. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured to evaluate glycemic control. A mediating effect model was constructed to analyze the mediating effects of self-efficacy and self-management behaviors on the relationship between depressive symptoms and glycemic control. Results: A total of 567 elderly T2DM patients were included, with a median age of 70.00 (interquartile range, 7.50) years. There were 248 males (43.74%) and 319 females (56.26%). The median scores of self-efficacy, self-management behaviors, depressive symptoms, and HbA1c were 3.89 (interquartile range, 0.78), 4.45 (interquartile range, 1.55), 4.00 (interquartile range, 6.00), and 6.80% (interquartile range, 1.40%), respectively. The mediating effect analysis showed that depressive symptoms indirectly affected glycemic control among elderly T2DM patients through the independent mediating effects of self-efficacy (β=0.028, 95%CI: 0.016-0.043) and self-management behaviors (β=0.009, 95%CI: 0.003-0.016), as well as the chain mediating effect of both (β=0.025, 95%CI: 0.017-0.035). The mediating effects of self-efficacy and self-management behaviors accounted for 36.66% and 11.35% of the total effect, respectively, while the chain mediating effect accounted for 32.15% of the total effect. Conclusion Self-efficacy and self-management behaviors play mediating roles in the relationship between depressive symptoms and glycemic control among elderly T2DM patients.

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells have reshaped the treatment landscape of hematological malignancies, offering a potentially curative option for patients. Despite these major milestones in the field of immuno-oncology, growing experience with CAR-T cells has also highlighted several limitations of this strategy. The production process of CAR-T cells is complex, time-consuming, and costly, thus leading to poor drug accessibility. The potential carcinogenic risk of viral transfection systems remains a matter of controversy. Treatment-related side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome, can be life-threatening. And the biggest challenge is the inadequate efficacy related to poor infiltration and retention of CAR-T cells in tumor tissues and impaired T cell activation caused by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Innovative strategies are urgently needed to address these problems, and nanomedicine offers good solutions to these challenges. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of recent advancements in the application of nanomaterials to enhance CAR-T cell therapy. We examine the role of innovative nanoparticle-based delivery systems in the production of CAR-T cells, with a particular focus on polymeric delivery systems and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Furthermore, we explore various strategies for delivering immune stimulators, which significantly enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cells by modulating T cell viability and functionality or by reprogramming the immunosuppressive TME. In addition, we discuss several novel therapeutic approaches aimed at mitigating the adverse effects associated with CAR-T therapies. Finally, we offer an integrated perspective on the future challenges and opportunities facing CAR-T therapies.
Humans ; Nanomedicine/methods* ; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism* ; Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods* ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology* ; Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Animals

Accurate staging is the fundamental basis for the treatment and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and whether the tumor involves the pleura or chest wall is a critical aspect in assessing the staging of peripheral lung cancer. Imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US) and positron emission tomography (PET) are widely used to determine pleural invasion in NSCLC. There has been an increasing number of studies evaluating whether NSCLC invades the pleura and the extent of such invasion. This article provides a review of the staging and the imaging diagnostic criteria of pleural invasion, aiming to offer references for peers in the precise diagnosis of pleural or chest wall invasion.
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Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/diagnosis* ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Thoracic Wall/diagnostic imaging* ; Pleura/diagnostic imaging* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective:To explore the movement patterns and factors influencing lung tumors tracked using the M6 cyberknife stereotactic radiotherapy(SRT)system and to provide a reference for the implementation of precise stereotactic radiotherapy for lung tumors.Method:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 29 patients with lung tumors who were treated using x-sight lung tracking technology and the M6 cyberknife SRT system at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute&Hospital,from January 2022 to August 2024.The tumor location and volume,irradiation dose,isodose line,and number of divisions were recorded.Lung tumor location and SPSS 26.0 software were used to analyze the movement amplitude of tumors in the left and right(LFT/RGT,LR)directions,the anterior-posterior(ANT/POS,AP)direction,and the superior-inferior(SUP/INF,SI)direction.The results are expressed as the mean±standard deviation((x)±s)mm,and a t-test was used for inter-group comparisons.Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the effects of factors such as age,gender,tumor location(upper and lower lungs),and tumor volume on the amplitudes of the lung tumor movements.Result:The average motion amplitudes in the LR direc-tions,AP direction,and SI direction of the tumor target areas were(3.5±1.8)mm,(5.3±1.7)mm,and(7.3±5.4)mm for the upper lung,based on 19 cases,and(3.1±1.6)mm,(4.5±2.2)mm,and(12.2±4.4)mm for the lower lung,based on 10 cases,respectively.There was a statistic-ally significant difference(P=0.015 3)in the amplitude of movements between the lower and upper lung tumors in the SI direction.The lung tumor movement amplitude in the SI direction was influenced by tumor location(P=0.035),and the movement amplitudes in the LR direc-tions and the AP direction were not related to factors such as gender,age,tumor location,and tumor volume.Conclusions:The lung tumor movement amplitudes for the different locations varied depending on the respiratory movement shown by the patient.In the SI direction,the movement amplitude of the lower lung tumors was greater than that of upper lung tumors,and this was due to tumor location effects.The movement amplitudes of the lower and upper lung tumors were similar in the LR directions and AP directions.Furthermore,movement amplitude was not affected by gender,age,tumor location,and tumor volume.

Owing to the insidious onset and limited awareness of early screening,many patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)are diagnosed at an advanced stage.Immunochemotherapy is the current standard first-line treatment for advanced ESCC;however,survival outcomes remain suboptimal.Radiotherapy,with its precise local control and potential immunomodulatory effects,is anticipated to act synergistically with immunochemotherapy,offering a novel direction for overcoming survival limitations.This review systematically sum-marizes the progress in the use of radiotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced ESCC and discusses the synergistic mechanisms,clinical applications,and challenges associated with its combination with immunochemotherapy.

BACKGROUND:Mongolian medicine Echinops sphaerocephalus L.is a commonly used medicine for bone injury in Mongolian medicine.It is effective for tendon injury,fracture,bone nonunion,bone fever,tingling,sore and other diseases.Our previous studies have confirmed that Mongolian medicine Echinops sphaerocephalus L.can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,but its effect on angiogenesis in the process of bone defect repair is unknown.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Echinops sphaerocephalus L.on in vitro angiogenesis in human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells and to explore the angiogenesis-promoting active ingredients and their mechanisms of action of Echinops sphaerocephalus L.using network pharmacology technology.METHODS:The ethanol extract of Echinops sphaerocephalus L.was prepared and preserved by freeze-drying.The proliferation,migration,chemotaxis and angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were observed after treatment with different concentrations(1 000,100,and 10 μg/mL)of Echinops sphaerocephalus L.The active components and possible signaling pathways that promoted angiogenesis were enriched and analyzed by network pharmacology.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The effect of Echinops sphaerocephalus L.on angiogenesis was regulated by its mass concentration:at low mass concentration(10 μg/mL),Echinops sphaerocephalus L.could promote the proliferation,migration,chemotaxis and angiogenesis of human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells;on the contrary,Echinops sphaerocephalus L.inhibited the proliferation,migration,and chemotaxis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells at high mass concentration(1 000 μg/mL).However,the inhibitory effect of Echinops sphaerocephalus L.on angiogenesis was not significant at high mass concentration due to the limitation of experimental time.10 μg/mL Echinops sphaerocephalus L.could up-regulate the mRNA expression of angiogenesis-associated factors,including kinase insert domain receptor,vascular endothelial growth factor A,and hypoxia-inducible factor α,and thereby influenced angiogenesis during bone repair.(2)Network pharmacological analyses indicated that Echinops sphaerocephalus L.may bind to eight core targets(TGFB1,TNF,IL-6,STAT3,CTNNB1,IL-1B,AKT1,and HIF-1A)through four core active components(apigenin,caffeic acid,quercetin,and chlorogenic acid)to exert an effect on angiogenesis,atherosclerosis,multiple viral infections,and tumor angiogenesis-related signaling pathways.

Objective To simulate modern social stress using a pre-pregnancy chronic mild stress(CMS)model and to explore the mechanisms of emotional,behavioral,and neurodevelopmental changes in male offspring of pre-pregnancy liver qi stagnation female mice through corticosterone(CORT)-brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)1/2 signaling cascade-mediated hippocampal injury.This study aimed to elucidate the impact of negative life events on offspring and the interventional mechanism of Shuyu Capsules.Methods CMS stress was used to induce pre-pregnancy depression in female rats(liver qi stagnation state),followed by intervention with Shuyu and fluoxetine capsules.After screening,male rats were mated and 12 male offspring from each group were selected for behavioral testing and detection of serum CORT levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.BDNF,ERK1/2,phospho(p)-ERK1/2,cAMP-response element binding protein(CREB),and p-CREB protein levels in the hippocampus were detected by Western Blot,and BDNF,ERK1,ERK2,and CREB mRNA levels in the hippocampus were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),to verify the effects of pre-pregnancy CMS on the BDNF-ERK1/2-CREB signaling pathway and to investigate the key micro-mechanisms of Shuyu Capsules on emotional and learning memory-related behaviors of male offspring of females with pre-pregnancy liver qi stagnation syndrome.Results The distance,number of entries,and duration of stay in the central area in open-field experiments were significantly reduced in offspring in the model group(all P＜0.05).The escape latency during the exploration period of the water-maze experiment was significantly prolonged(P＜0.05)and the swimming distance,duration of the target quadrant,and number of platform crossings were significantly reduced(P＜0.05,P＜0.05,P＜0.01),the suspension time and frequency in the forced-swimming experiment were increased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and the incubation period was shortened(P＜0.05)in offspring in the model group.Prophylactic treatment with Shuyu Capsules and fluoxetine improved the depression-like behavior and cognitive impairment in the offspring in the model group.Biochemical tests showed that CORT levels were increased in the CMS model group(P＜0.05),BDNF,p-ERK1/2,and p-CREB protein levels in the hippocampus were decreased(all P＜0.05),and BDNF,ERK1,ERK2,and CREB mRNA levels were significantly reduced(P＜0.01,P＜0.05,P＜0.01,P＜0.05).Treatment with Shuyu Capsules and fluoxetine increased the CORT content and BDNF,ERK1/2,and CREB protein and mRNA levels in male offspring to varying degrees.Conclusions High levels of CORT in offspring act selectively on the hippocampus,exerting adverse effects on the emotional and learning memory functions of rats by downregulating the BDNF-ERK1/2 signaling cascade.The Chinese medicine Shuyu Capsules can reduce the impact of an adverse intrauterine environment on offspring development by correcting abnormal levels and pathways of glucocorticoids.

Objective:To evaluate the long-term protective efficacy of the recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cell-derived hepatitis B vaccine（CHO-HepB）26 years post-vaccination in the rural China.Methods:Zhengding county，Hebei province was designated as a rural monitoring site for CHO-HepB efficacy. Study participants included individuals born between 1997 and 1999 who had completed the three-dose CHO-HepB primary series without booster doses. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in late 2024 using random sampling. Demographic and vaccination history data were collected via questionnaires，and hepatitis B virus（HBV）serological markers were detected using chemiluminescence. Historical surveillance data were integrated to infer infection statuses of HBsAg-positive individuals and evaluate longitudinal trends in anti-HBs seropositivity and antibody titers.Results:Among 178 participants（mean time since vaccination：26.2 years），the seroprevalence rates were 0.6% for HBsAg（95% CI：0.0%-1.6%），64.6% for anti-HBs（95% CI：57.6%-71.6%），and 1.1% for anti-HBc（95% CI：0.0%-2.7%）. Compared to the pre-vaccination baseline HBsAg positivity of 11.3% in children under 10 years of age，the estimated vaccine protection rate was 95%. Two notable cases were identified：one with concurrent HBsAg and anti-HBc positivity and one with anti-HBs and anti-HBc positivity，suggestive of transient HBV exposure（1999—2009）without chronicity. Natural immune boosting was inferred for the latter case based on anti-HBs titer dynamics. Longitudinal analysis of four prior cross-sectional surveys（2005，2009，2013，and 2017）revealed no significant upward trends in HBsAg and anti-HBc positivity（both P>0.05）over 26 years，while anti-HBs seropositivity declined significantly（ P<0.05）from 6 to 26 years post-vaccination. Conclusion:The CHO-HepB vaccine demonstrates sustained immunological persistence and robust long-term protection up to 26 years post-immunization. Continued emphasis on rigorous implementation of mother-to-child transmission prevention strategies is critical for future hepatitis B control.