Objective To observe the effects of Yinqin Qingfei Granules on oxidative injury in lung tissue of mice with mycoplasma pneumoniae infection;To explore the mechanism of the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in it.Methods Totally 100 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into blank group,model group,Yinqin Qingfei group,Azithromycin group and combination group,with 20 mice in each group.Except for the blank group,the other groups of mice were used to establish mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia model through bacterial solution nasal drip,and the blank group was given the same amount of normal saline nasal drip for 3 days.After modeling,the drug groups were given corresponding drugs by gavage,the blank group and the model group were given the same amount of distilled water by gavage,and the materials were taken at 3 and 7 days after administration,respectively.HE staining was used to observe the morphology of lung tissue,ELISA was used to detect the contents of interleukin(IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in serum,biochemical method was used to detect the contents of nitric oxide(NO),malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD)and glutathione(GSH)in lung tissue,Western blot was used to detect the expressions of Kelch like ECH associated protein 1(Keap1),nuclear factor E2 related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)protein in lung tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,the lungs of mice in the model group showed severe inflammatory changes on day 3 and 7,with alveolar fusion or disappearance,and lung consolidation,which were more severe on day 7;the contents of IL-1β and TNF-α in serum significantly increased(P<0.05),the contents of SOD and GSH in lung tissues significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the contents of MDA and NO significantly increased(P<0.05),the protein expression of Keap1 in lung tissues increased(P<0.05),and Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expressions decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the histopathological changes in lung tissue showed different degrees of improvement on day 3 and 7 of drug treatment in Yinqin Qingfei group,Azithromycin group and combination group groups,the serum contents of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly decreased(P<0.05),the contents of SOD and GSH in lung tissue were significantly increased on day 7 of drug treatment(P<0.05),the contents of MDA and NO significantly decreased(P<0.05),the protein expression of Keap1 in lung tissue decreased on day 3 and 7 of drug treatment(P<0.05),and the protein expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Yinqin Qingfei Granules can regulate the level of inflammatory factors,reduce lung inflammation and oxidative damage of mice with mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.The mechanism may be related to down-regulating the expression of Keap1,up-regulating the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1,reducing the contents of NO and MDA,improving the activities of SOD and GSH,and playing an antioxidant role.

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of Nepetoidin B on rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:DBA/1 mice were divided into four groups using the random number method, namely the control group, model group, methotrexate group, and Nepetoidin B group. The collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model was prepared. Mice were treated from day 21th to day 60th. Arthritis symptoms were evaluated every three days during treatment. At the end of treatment, pathological changes of joint tissue were observed through HE staining. Serum IL-17, IL-6, MDA, and NO levels were measured using ELISA and biochemical colorimetric assays. The Nrf2/HO1 pathway in joint tissues was detected using western blot. A group of CIA mice was treated with Nepetoidin B, followed by an Nrf2 inhibitor to validate the mechanism. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare between multiple groups with homogeneity of variance, pairwise comparison using LSD- t test. Results:The study found that mice treated with methotrexate and Nepetoidin B exhibited a significant reduction in arthritis scores(CIA+Meth group 5.2±1.3, CIA+NepB group 6.8±1.2 vs. CIA group 11.0±1.7, t=6.69, P=0.004; t=5.00, P=0.009), and joint histopathology compared to the CIA mice(CIA+Meth group 1.5±1.0, CIA+NepB group 2.2±0.8 vs. CIA group 4.0±0.9, t=4.44, P<0.001; t=3.84, P=0.005). Additionally, there was a significant decrease in serum IL-17[CIA+Meth group(257±69)ng/ml, CIA+NepB group (279±103)ng/ml vs. CIA group(414±71)ng/ml, t=3.86, P=0.006; t=2.63, P=0.020], IL-6[CIA+Meth group(32±6)ng/ml, CIA+NepB group (44±5)ng/ml vs. CIA group(56±11)ng/ml, t=4.69, P<0.001; t=2.48, P=0.040) ,MDA [CIA+Meth group(22±4)μmol/L, CIA+NepB group(22±8)μmol/L vs. CIA group(34±11)μmol/L, t=2.77, P=0.038; t=2.29, P=0.049]and NO[ CIA+Meth group(37±12)μmol/L, CIA+NepB group(37±11)μmol/L vs. CIA group(56±12)μmol/L, t=2.71, P=0.040; t=2.90, P=0.035] levels, and a significant elevation in the Nrf2( 0.263±0.021, 0.273±0.022 vs. 0.221±0.034, t=3.18, P=0.044; t=2.70, P=0.049)/HO1 (0.524±0.021, 0.501±0.014 vs. 0.453±0.033, t=3.95, P=0.006; t=3.41, P=0.032) pathway in methotrexate and Nepetoidin B treated group. It was also observed that Nrf2 inhibitors could counteract the treatment effects of Nepetoidin B on arthritis (1.8±0.8 vs. 3.2±0.8, t=3.07, P=0.024). Conclusion:Nepetoidin B has the ability to inhibit oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO1 pathway, which alleviates collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

Objective To investigate the intervention effect of cordycepin on DCM rats and its reg-ulative effect on of AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway.Methods A total of 80 male SD rats were randomly divided into model group,cordycepin group,AKT inhibitor group and cordycepin+AKT inhibitor group,with 20 rats in each group.After the establishment of DCM model,corre-sponding intervention was given to each group.Another 20 healthy rats served as control group.Cardiac function indicators(LVEF,LVFS,LVESD,LVEDD),levels of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α,SOD,GSH-Px and MAD,and expression of AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway related proteins were de-termined and compared among the groups blotting.Results The model group had significantly lower LVEF and LVFS,decreased myocardial SOD and GSH-Px contents,and declined p-AKT/AKT and p-GSK3β/GSK3β,but increased LVESD and LVEDD and myocardial IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-αand MAD expression levels when compared with the control group(P＜0.05).Cordycepin treat-ment obtained increased LVEF and LVFS and myocardial tissue SOD,GSH-Px,Bcl-2,p-AKT/AKT and p-GSK3β/GSK3β protein expressions,and decreased LVESD and LVEDD and myocar-dial expression of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α,MAD and Bax than the model group(P＜0.05),while AKT inhibitor reversed all the changes induced by modelling(P＜0.05).Combination of cordycepin+AKT inhibitor resulted in lower LVEF,LVFS and myocardial SOD,GSH-Px,Bcl-2,p-AKT/AKT,p-GSK3β/GSK3β protein levels,and increased LVESD,LVEDD and expressions of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α,MAD and Bax protein in myocardial tissue when compared with cordycepin group(P＜0.05).And the combination also resulted in increases in LVEF and LVFS[(61.29±5.61)％vs(39.28±4.12)％,(39.05±3.43)％vs(24.47±2.73)％,P＜0.05]and decreases in LVESD and LVEDD(4.36±0.48 mm vs 6.97±0.69 mm,6.07±0.61 mm vs 9.02±0.85mm,P＜0.05)when compared with AKT inhibitor group.Conclusion Cordycepin improves cardiac function,myocar-dial injury,inflammation and oxidative stress in DCM rats probably by activating AKT/GSK3βsignaling pathway,and inhibits the apoptosis of cardiomyocyte.

Objective To investigate the biomechanical characteristics of Salto Talaris tibial components with different heights at the bone-prosthesis interface during different gait support phases after total ankle replacement.Methods An ankle joint model was reconstructed using a weight-bearing CT from a 61-year-old female patient with ankle arthritis,and Salto Talaris tibial components with different heights(5,7,9,11 mm)were modelled to simulate the loading of the tibial-prosthesis during four gait support phases,and to analyse the micromotion and stresses at the bone-prosthesis interface.Results The 11 mm and 9 mm models had a poorer prosthesis stability,with the peak micromotion exceeding 50 μm and the peak internal tibial stresses of 30.75 MPa and 29.86 MPa,respectively,which exceeded the yield stress of the cancellous bone.The tibial stresses of the 7 mm and 5 mm models were within reasonable ranges and the average peak micromotions were only 42.66 μm and 40.32 μm.In contrast,the initial stability of the 5 mm model prosthesis was the best.Conclusions For total ankle replacement with Salto prosthesis,the height of the tibial component should be chosen appropriately,and the optimal height was about 5 mm.Excessive flexion and extension activities of the ankle joint should be avoided to maintain the stability of the prosthesis after surgery.This study provides a theoretical basis for the improvement of the structural parameters of the Salto prosthesis,which is valuable for the selection of clinical surgical prostheses and helps to improve the results of total ankle replacement.

Notum, a negative feedback regulator of the Wnt signaling, has emerged as a promising target for treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). This study showcases an efficient strategy for discovering the anti-Notum constituents from herbal medicines (HMs) as novel anti-GIOP agents. Firstly, a rapid-responding near-infrared fluorogenic substrate for Notum was rationally engineered for high-throughput identifying the anti-Notum HMs. The results showed that Bu-Gu-Zhi (BGZ), a known anti-osteoporosis herb, potently inhibited Notum in a competitive-inhibition manner. To uncover the key anti-Notum constituents in BGZ, an efficient strategy was adapted via integrating biochemical, phytochemical, computational, and pharmacological assays. Among all identified BGZ constituents, three furanocoumarins were validated as strong Notum inhibitors, while 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MP) showed the most potent anti-Notum activity and favorable safety profiles. Mechanistically, 5-MP acted as a competitive inhibitor of Notum via creating strong hydrophobic interactions with Trp128 and Phe268 in the catalytic cavity of Notum. Cellular assays showed that 5-MP remarkably promoted osteoblast differentiation and activated Wnt signaling in dexamethasone (DXMS)-challenged MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. In dexamethasone-induced osteoporotic mice, 5-MP strongly elevated bone mineral density (BMD) and improved cancellous and cortical bone thickness. Collectively, this study constructs a high-efficient platform for discovering key anti-Notum constituents from HMs, while 5-MP emerges as a promising anti-GIOP agent.

The continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants as well as other potential future coronavirus has challenged the effectiveness of current COVID-19 vaccines. Therefore, there remains a need for alternative antivirals that target processes less susceptible to mutations, such as the formation of six-helix bundle (6-HB) during the viral fusion step of host cell entry. In this study, a novel high-throughput screening (HTS) assay employing a yeast-two-hybrid (Y2H) system was established to identify inhibitors of HR1/HR2 interaction. The compound IMB-9C, which achieved single-digit micromolar inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 and its Omicron variants with low cytotoxicity, was selected. IMB-9C effectively blocks the HR1/HR2 interaction in vitro and inhibits SARS-CoV-2-S-mediated cell-cell fusion. It binds to both HR1 and HR2 through non-covalent interaction and influences the secondary structure of HR1/HR2 complex. In addition, virtual docking and site-mutagenesis results suggest that amino acid residues A930, I931, K933, T941, and L945 are critical for IMB-9C binding to HR1. Collectively, in this study, we have developed a novel screening method for HR1/HR2 interaction inhibitors and identified IMB-9C as a potential antiviral small molecule against COVID-19 and its variants.

Objective:To explore the application value of arthroscopic tunnel pulling and suturing methods in West type Ⅱ and Ⅲ lateral meniscus posterior root injuries.Methods:A total of 184 patients with West Ⅱ ( n=92) and Ⅲ ( n=92) lateral meniscus posterior root injuries who underwent surgical treatment in Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University from May 2022 to June 2023 were selected as the study subjects, by adopting a retrospective controlled study method. Using a random number table method, West Ⅱ and Ⅲ patients were divided into a tunnel method group and a suture method group, with 46 patients in each group. There were 23 male and 23 female patients in the West Ⅱ tunnel method group, with an age of (48.36±2.52) years. There were 25 male and 21 female patients in the suture method group, with an age of (48.61±2.21) years. There were 24 male and 22 female patients in the West Ⅲ tunnel method group, with an age of (48.53±2.36) years. There were 24 male and 22 female patients in the suture method group, with an age of (46.38±2.67) years. The tunnel method group used arthroscopic tibial tunnel cable fixation method, while the suture method group used arthroscopic full internal meniscus suture method. Compared the surgical time, length of hospital stay, and first postoperative time of getting out of bed between the tunnel method group and the suture method group of patients with different subtypes. Compared the knee joint function scores (Lysholm, Tegner, IKDC, VAS) before and after surgery. Used MRI to examine the compression of the patient′s lateral meniscus. Compared the incidence of adverse reactions. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as mean ± standard deviation( ± s), and the comparison between groups was conducted using the t-test; the comparison of count data were represented as [ n(%)] and was conducted by chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. The skewness data were expressed by M( Q1, Q3), and rank-sum test was used for inter-group comparison. Results:There was no significant difference in surgical time, length of hospital stay, and first postoperative bed time between the West type Ⅱ, Ⅲ tunel method group and the suture method group ( P>0.05). At 12 months after surgery, there was no statistically significant difference in the Lysholm score, Tegner score, IKDC score, and VAS score between the West Ⅱ type patients in the tunnel method group and the suture method group ( P>0.05). However, the Lysholm score and IKDC score in the West Ⅲ type tunnel method group were significantly higher than those in the suture method group, and the difference was statistically significant( P<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the Tegner score and VAS score ( P>0.05). At the 12th months after surgery, there was no statistically significant difference in the overall width of the meniscus between the tunnel method group and the suture method group for patients with different West classifications( P>0.05). However, the relative percentage of meniscus compression in the tunnel method group was significantly lower than that in the suture method group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the tunnel method group and the suture method group in patients with different West subtypes ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The arthroscopic tibial tunnel wire fixation method is effective, safe, and reliable in treating patients with West Ⅱ and West Ⅲ lateral meniscus posterior root injuries promoting kneejoint function recovery. It is expected to become a high-quality treatment plan for patients with West Ⅱ and West Ⅲ meniscus injuries.

Objective To investigate the biomechanical characteristics of Salto Talaris tibial components with different heights at the bone-prosthesis interface during different gait support phases after total ankle replacement.Methods An ankle joint model was reconstructed using a weight-bearing CT from a 61-year-old female patient with ankle arthritis,and Salto Talaris tibial components with different heights(5,7,9,11 mm)were modelled to simulate the loading of the tibial-prosthesis during four gait support phases,and to analyse the micromotion and stresses at the bone-prosthesis interface.Results The 11 mm and 9 mm models had a poorer prosthesis stability,with the peak micromotion exceeding 50 μm and the peak internal tibial stresses of 30.75 MPa and 29.86 MPa,respectively,which exceeded the yield stress of the cancellous bone.The tibial stresses of the 7 mm and 5 mm models were within reasonable ranges and the average peak micromotions were only 42.66 μm and 40.32 μm.In contrast,the initial stability of the 5 mm model prosthesis was the best.Conclusions For total ankle replacement with Salto prosthesis,the height of the tibial component should be chosen appropriately,and the optimal height was about 5 mm.Excessive flexion and extension activities of the ankle joint should be avoided to maintain the stability of the prosthesis after surgery.This study provides a theoretical basis for the improvement of the structural parameters of the Salto prosthesis,which is valuable for the selection of clinical surgical prostheses and helps to improve the results of total ankle replacement.

Objective To observe the effects of Yinqin Qingfei Granules on oxidative injury in lung tissue of mice with mycoplasma pneumoniae infection;To explore the mechanism of the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in it.Methods Totally 100 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into blank group,model group,Yinqin Qingfei group,Azithromycin group and combination group,with 20 mice in each group.Except for the blank group,the other groups of mice were used to establish mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia model through bacterial solution nasal drip,and the blank group was given the same amount of normal saline nasal drip for 3 days.After modeling,the drug groups were given corresponding drugs by gavage,the blank group and the model group were given the same amount of distilled water by gavage,and the materials were taken at 3 and 7 days after administration,respectively.HE staining was used to observe the morphology of lung tissue,ELISA was used to detect the contents of interleukin(IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in serum,biochemical method was used to detect the contents of nitric oxide(NO),malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD)and glutathione(GSH)in lung tissue,Western blot was used to detect the expressions of Kelch like ECH associated protein 1(Keap1),nuclear factor E2 related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)protein in lung tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,the lungs of mice in the model group showed severe inflammatory changes on day 3 and 7,with alveolar fusion or disappearance,and lung consolidation,which were more severe on day 7;the contents of IL-1β and TNF-α in serum significantly increased(P<0.05),the contents of SOD and GSH in lung tissues significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the contents of MDA and NO significantly increased(P<0.05),the protein expression of Keap1 in lung tissues increased(P<0.05),and Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expressions decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the histopathological changes in lung tissue showed different degrees of improvement on day 3 and 7 of drug treatment in Yinqin Qingfei group,Azithromycin group and combination group groups,the serum contents of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly decreased(P<0.05),the contents of SOD and GSH in lung tissue were significantly increased on day 7 of drug treatment(P<0.05),the contents of MDA and NO significantly decreased(P<0.05),the protein expression of Keap1 in lung tissue decreased on day 3 and 7 of drug treatment(P<0.05),and the protein expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Yinqin Qingfei Granules can regulate the level of inflammatory factors,reduce lung inflammation and oxidative damage of mice with mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.The mechanism may be related to down-regulating the expression of Keap1,up-regulating the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1,reducing the contents of NO and MDA,improving the activities of SOD and GSH,and playing an antioxidant role.

Objective To investigate the intervention effect of cordycepin on DCM rats and its reg-ulative effect on of AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway.Methods A total of 80 male SD rats were randomly divided into model group,cordycepin group,AKT inhibitor group and cordycepin+AKT inhibitor group,with 20 rats in each group.After the establishment of DCM model,corre-sponding intervention was given to each group.Another 20 healthy rats served as control group.Cardiac function indicators(LVEF,LVFS,LVESD,LVEDD),levels of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α,SOD,GSH-Px and MAD,and expression of AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway related proteins were de-termined and compared among the groups blotting.Results The model group had significantly lower LVEF and LVFS,decreased myocardial SOD and GSH-Px contents,and declined p-AKT/AKT and p-GSK3β/GSK3β,but increased LVESD and LVEDD and myocardial IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-αand MAD expression levels when compared with the control group(P＜0.05).Cordycepin treat-ment obtained increased LVEF and LVFS and myocardial tissue SOD,GSH-Px,Bcl-2,p-AKT/AKT and p-GSK3β/GSK3β protein expressions,and decreased LVESD and LVEDD and myocar-dial expression of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α,MAD and Bax than the model group(P＜0.05),while AKT inhibitor reversed all the changes induced by modelling(P＜0.05).Combination of cordycepin+AKT inhibitor resulted in lower LVEF,LVFS and myocardial SOD,GSH-Px,Bcl-2,p-AKT/AKT,p-GSK3β/GSK3β protein levels,and increased LVESD,LVEDD and expressions of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α,MAD and Bax protein in myocardial tissue when compared with cordycepin group(P＜0.05).And the combination also resulted in increases in LVEF and LVFS[(61.29±5.61)％vs(39.28±4.12)％,(39.05±3.43)％vs(24.47±2.73)％,P＜0.05]and decreases in LVESD and LVEDD(4.36±0.48 mm vs 6.97±0.69 mm,6.07±0.61 mm vs 9.02±0.85mm,P＜0.05)when compared with AKT inhibitor group.Conclusion Cordycepin improves cardiac function,myocar-dial injury,inflammation and oxidative stress in DCM rats probably by activating AKT/GSK3βsignaling pathway,and inhibits the apoptosis of cardiomyocyte.