Nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） is a malignant tumor originating from the mucosal epithelium of the nasopharynx. In recent years， its incidence and mortality rates have shown a continuous upward trend， and there is still a lack of therapeutic regimens with both favorable efficacy and safety in clinical practice. Mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathway plays a key regulatory role in biological processes such as cell proliferation， differentiation， apoptosis and invasion. It is widely involved in the occurrence and progression of NPC， and serves as an important target in the research field of anti-NPC therapy. This article systematically elaborates on the mechanism of action of the MAPK signaling pathway in NPC， and reviews the research status regarding the anti-NPC effect of active components of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and TCM compound prescriptions by regulating this signaling pathway. The results show that TCM active components， including flavonoids （luteolin， maackiain， baicalein， etc.）， alkaloids （picrasidine Ⅰ， tetrandrine， etc.）， terpenoids （bakuchiol， cantharidic acid）， as well as traditional Chinese medicine compound formulas （such as Biyan jiedu capsules and Yiqi jiedu formula） can exert effects including inducing autophagy and apoptosis of NPC cells， promoting pyroptosis， reversing drug resistance， blocking epithelial-mesenchymal transition， weakening cell stemness and arresting cell cycle progression by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway， thereby inhibiting the occurrence and development of NPC through multiple pathways.

Maxillary expansion serves as the principal treatment for maxillary transverse deficiency in clinical practice. Simulating maxillary expansion in animals is the main research approach to assess its mechanism, effect, and stability. Thus, the animal model of maxillary expansion holds great significance in orthodontic research. Rats and rabbits are typically selected for common animal models because the maintenance cost is relatively low; however, their oral anatomy and masticatory behaviors differ significantly from those of humans, and their bone metabolism rates are substantially higher. Consequently, these factors should be carefully considered when extrapolating research findings and applying them to human clinical applications. Miniature pigs and dogs exhibit maxillofacial structures and chewing patterns that closely resemble those of humans; however, their broader application in research is constrained by high maintenance costs and ethical concerns. Rats with small oral space typically require the use of an elastic stainless steel wire expansion appliance, which can be divided into anterior maxillary expansion and posterior maxillary expansion. Rabbits, miniature pigs, and dogs have sufficient oral space and can be fitted with a variety of expansion appliances, including traditional tooth-borne expansion, microimplant-assisted expansion, and new magnetic expansion appliance. Animal models of maxillary expansion are currently used to study the mechanism of mechanically induced bone remodeling in order to provide potential therapeutic targets to promote bone remodeling in clinical orthodontic treatment; different orthodontic devices have been compared and evaluated to verify the correction effect of a new type of orthodontic device and provide experimental evidence for its clinical application; and supplementary methods of maxillary expansion have been screened to explore drug and physical therapy to accelerate the osteogenesis of the palatal suture, so as to shorten the retention time of clinical maxillary expansion and provide patients with more efficient and comfortable treatment. This paper summerized advances in animal models of maxillary expansion and the application effects in order to provide a reference for using an animal model of maxillary expansion.

Taxifolin (TAX) is a natural compound known for its liver protection effect, but the mechanism remains unknown. Phosphorylated proteomics analyses discovered that the phosphorylation level of NDRG1 at T328 was a key event of TAX-improved liver fibrosis. We established models with NDRG1 knockout (KO) in vivo and in vitro, demonstrating that NDRG1 KO attenuated the development of hepatocyte injury, and combining NDRG1 KO and TAX administration did not result in a reduction in protection against liver injury. Cellular thermal shift assay and surface plasma resonance analysis showed that TAX directly binds to NDRG1 rather than its upstream kinase, subsequently demonstrating that TAX regulated phosphorylation of NDRG1 at T328 through binding to its C289 site. NDRG1 T328A (phosphorylated mutation) and T328E (mimic phosphorylation) in vivo and in vitro confirmed that pNDRG1_T328 exacerbates hepatocyte injury along with DNA damage, inflammatory response, and apoptosis, thereby contributing to hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation. In contrast, TAX can inhibit the above pathological abnormalities and block hepatocyte injury-triggered HSCs activation and fibrosis. Overall, TAX is a potent liver protection drug primarily targeting NDRG1 and inhibiting pNDRG1_T328 in hepatocytes.

Periodontal bone defects, primarily caused by periodontitis, are highly prevalent in clinical settings and manifest as bone fenestration, dehiscence, or attachment loss, presenting a significant challenge to oral health. In regenerative medicine, harnessing developmental principles for tissue repair offers promising therapeutic potential. Of particular interest is the condensation of progenitor cells, an essential event in organogenesis that has inspired clinically effective cell aggregation approaches in dental regeneration. However, the precise cellular coordination mechanisms during condensation and regeneration remain elusive. Here, taking the tooth as a model organ, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing to dissect the cellular composition and heterogeneity of human dental follicle and dental papilla, revealing a distinct Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) population with remarkable odontogenic potential. Interestingly, a reciprocal paracrine interaction between PDGFRA⁺ dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) and CD31⁺ Endomucin⁺ endothelial cells (ECs) was mediated by Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and Platelet-derived growth factor subunit BB (PDGFBB). This crosstalk not only maintains the functionality of PDGFRA⁺ DFSCs but also drives specialized angiogenesis. In vivo periodontal bone regeneration experiments further reveal that communication between PDGFRA⁺ DFSC aggregates and recipient ECs is essential for effective angiogenic-osteogenic coupling and rapid tissue repair. Collectively, our results unravel the importance of MSC-EC crosstalk mediated by the VEGFA and PDGFBB-PDGFRA reciprocal signaling in orchestrating angiogenesis and osteogenesis. These findings not only establish a framework for deciphering and promoting periodontal bone regeneration in potential clinical applications but also offer insights for future therapeutic strategies in dental or broader regenerative medicine.
Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha/metabolism* ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/physiology* ; Dental Sac/cytology* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Transcriptome ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Bone Regeneration ; Animals ; Dental Papilla/cytology* ; Periodontium/physiology* ; Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Regeneration ; Angiogenesis

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a porcine herpesvirus that exhibits cross-species infectivity, primarily affecting pigs as its natural host. Since its initial discovery, PRV has rapidly disseminated worldwide and inflicted substantial economic losses on the swine industry. In recent years, sporadic cases of human infections with PRV have been reported, highlighting the potential risk of interspecies transmission to humans. With further analysis of the pathogenic characteristics of PRV and a deeper understanding of its pathogenic mechanism, preventing PRV from becoming a human infectious disease has become a focus of current research and prevention and control work. To comprehensively understand the variant characteristics of PRV, this study presents an overview of cutting-edge advancements in terms of its genetic variations and epidemiological characteristics, aiming to establish a foundation for more effective implementation of relevant prevention and control work.

Cornus officinalis,a medicinal and edible plant known for its liver-nourishing properties,has shown promise in inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs),crucial indicators of hepatic fibrosis,especially when processed by high pressure wine steaming(HPWS).Herein,this study aims to investigate the regulatory effects of cornus officinalis,both in its raw and HPWS forms,on inflammation and apoptosis in liver fibrosis and their underlying mechanisms.In vivo liver fibrosis models were established by subcutaneous injection of CCl4,while in vitro HSCs were exposed to transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β).These findings demonstrated that cornus officinalis with HPWS conspicuously ameliorated his-topathological injury,reduced the release of proinflammatory factors,and decreased collagen deposition in CCl4-induced rats compared to its raw form.Utilizing ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer(UHPLC-QTOF-MS)combined with network analysis,we identified that the pharmacological effects of the changed components of cornus officinalis before and after HPWS,primarily centered on the adenosine phosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK)pathway.Of note,cornus officinalis activated AMPK and sirtuin 3(SIRT3),promoting the apoptosis of activated HSCs through the caspase cascade by regulating caspase3,caspase6 and caspase9.small interfering RNA(siRNA)experiments showed that cornus officinalis could regulate AMPK activity and its mediated-apoptosis through SIRT3.In conclusion,cornus officinalis exhibited the ability to reduce inflammation and apoptosis,with the SIRT3-AMPK signaling pathway identified as a potential mecha-nism underlying the synergistic effect of cornus officinalis with HPWS on anti-liver fibrosis.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a porcine herpesvirus that exhibits cross-species infectivity, primarily affecting pigs as its natural host. Since its initial discovery, PRV has rapidly disseminated worldwide and inflicted substantial economic losses on the swine industry. In recent years, sporadic cases of human infections with PRV have been reported, highlighting the potential risk of interspecies transmission to humans. With further analysis of the pathogenic characteristics of PRV and a deeper understanding of its pathogenic mechanism, preventing PRV from becoming a human infectious disease has become a focus of current research and prevention and control work. To comprehensively understand the variant characteristics of PRV, this study presents an overview of cutting-edge advancements in terms of its genetic variations and epidemiological characteristics, aiming to establish a foundation for more effective implementation of relevant prevention and control work.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has a promising future in the treatment of ocular diseases due to its high efficiency, specificity, and low toxicity in inhibiting the expression of target genes and proteins. However, due to the unique anatomical structure of the eye and various barriers, delivering nucleic acids to the retina remains a significant challenge. In this study, we rationally design PACD, an A-B-C type non-viral vector copolymer composed of a hydrophilic PEG block (A), a siRNA binding block (B) and a pH-responsive block (C). PACDs can self-assemble into nanosized polymeric micelles that compact siRNAs into polyplexes through simple mixing. By evaluating its pH-responsive activity, gene silencing efficiency in retinal cells, intraocular distribution, and anti-angiogenesis therapy in a mouse model of hypoxia-induced angiogenesis, we demonstrate the efficiency and safety of PACD in delivering siRNA in the retina. We are surprised to discover that, the PACD/siRNA polyplexes exhibit remarkable intracellular endosomal escape efficiency, excellent gene silencing, and inhibit retinal angiogenesis. Our study provides design guidance for developing efficient nonviral ocular nucleic acid delivery systems.

Objectives:To evaluate the application of several comprehensive evaluation methods in the evaluation of scientific and technological impact of cardiovascular disease. Methods:According to the comprehensive evaluation system of global and China's scientific and technological influence and the weights,the standardized processing method,the extreme value processing method,the rank evaluation method,and the hierarchical multi-dimensional comprehensive evaluation method were used to evaluate the scientific and technological influence in cardiovascular diseases from 2016 to 2021. Results:The results of the four evaluation methods were consistent.The results of the standardized processing method and the extreme value processing method were similar.The rank evaluation method has a high similarity with the hierarchical multi-dimensional index comprehensive evaluation method.The hierarchical multi-dimensional index comprehensive evaluation can better highlight the importance of high-quality scientific and technological achievements. Conclusions:The hierarchical multi-dimensional index comprehensive evaluation is a comprehensive evaluation process that integrates the hierarchical index system,the echelon evaluation rules and the rank evaluation method.It can highlight the high-quality scientific and technological achievements and respond to the orientation of the classified and multi-dimensional evaluation of scientific and technological achievements.It is operable and generalizable,and provides a certain reference for the comprehensive evaluation practice of domestic medical institutions.

Objective:To explore the association between frailty index (FI) and the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and provide new evidence for the prevention of CVD in adults in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Methods:The FI was constructed by using the data from a prospective cohort with a sample size of 25 055 individuals in 6 years of follow-up, and the prevalence of frailty in adults in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was described by the FI, and Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate the association between the FI and the incidence of CVD in adults in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Results:The FI of the study population was 0.24±0.09. The population in the pre-frail (FI: 0.21-0.27) and frail (FI≥0.28) phases had increased risk for CVD compared to non-frail (FI≤0.20) population [pre-frail: hazard ratio ( HR)=1.232, 95% CI: 1.127-1.347; frail phase: HR=1.418, 95% CI:1.299-1.548]. For every 0.10 increase in FI, the risk for cardiovascular disease increased by 20.3% ( HR=1.203,95% CI:1.156-1.252). Conclusions:In this study, we constructed a FI, which can suggest the risk for CVD. As the increase of frailty degree, the risk for CVD increases.