Cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury （CIRI） is a secondary brain injury that may occur in patients with ischemic stroke during the process of blood flow recovery. NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome plays an important role in the occurrence and development of CIRI. Regulating the activity of NLRP3 inflammasome can induce cell pyroptosis， induce neuroinflammatory response， promote macrophage/microglial polarization， destroy the blood-brain barrier， affect angiogenesis and neurogenesis， thereby affecting CIRI. Traditional Chinese medicine has obvious advantages in the treatment of CIRI. In this paper， with NLRP3 inflammasome as the core， we systematically elucidated the mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicines on CIRI， and found that traditional Chinese medicines monomers （such as baicalin， polygalasaponin F） and traditional Chinese medicines compound formulas （such as Huangqi guizhi wuwu decoction， Yiqi shengqing formulation） can inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activity， reduce inflammatory response and oxidative stress， and improve neuronal injury， thereby reducing CIRI.

Cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury （CIRI） is a secondary brain injury that may occur in patients with ischemic stroke during the process of blood flow recovery. NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome plays an important role in the occurrence and development of CIRI. Regulating the activity of NLRP3 inflammasome can induce cell pyroptosis， induce neuroinflammatory response， promote macrophage/microglial polarization， destroy the blood-brain barrier， affect angiogenesis and neurogenesis， thereby affecting CIRI. Traditional Chinese medicine has obvious advantages in the treatment of CIRI. In this paper， with NLRP3 inflammasome as the core， we systematically elucidated the mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicines on CIRI， and found that traditional Chinese medicines monomers （such as baicalin， polygalasaponin F） and traditional Chinese medicines compound formulas （such as Huangqi guizhi wuwu decoction， Yiqi shengqing formulation） can inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activity， reduce inflammatory response and oxidative stress， and improve neuronal injury， thereby reducing CIRI.

Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of disability in China,and treatment options are still very limited.The method of dredging Fu-organs has been proved to have a significant effect in the treatment of ischemic stroke,but its mechanism is not clear.With the progress of brain-gut communication research,more and more evidence shows that brain-gut communication plays an important role during ischemic stroke.Based on the theory of"brain-gut interaction",this paper discusses the mechanism of Tongfu method in the treatment of ischemic stroke,and discusses the intestinal flora,brain-gut peptide,intestinal metabolites,intestinal mucosal barrier and other aspects.It is concluded that Tongfu method can treat ischemic stroke by regulating intestinal flora,brain-gut peptide content,intestinal metabolite content and repairing intestinal mucosal barrier.In order to provide more ideas for elucidating the mechanism of Tongfu method in the treatment of ischemic stroke,it has very important theoretical and clinical value.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone(DMQ),an active ingredients in fermented wheat germ extract,for inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and alleviating septic shock in mice.Methods Cultured murine bone marrow-derived macrophages(BMDM)stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)were treated with DMQ,followed by treatment with Nigericin,ATP,and MSU for activating the canonical NLRP3 inflammasome;the non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome was activated by intracellular transfection of LPS,and AIM2 inflammasome was activated using Poly A:T.In human monocytic THP-1 cells,the effect of Nigericin on inflammasome activation products was examined using Western blotting and ELISA.Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to explore the mechanism of DMQ-induced blocking of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.In a male C57BL/6J mouse model of LPS-induced septic shock treated with 20 and 40 mg/kg DMQ,the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the serum and peritoneal lavage fluid were determined using ELISA,and the survival time of the mice within 36 h was observed.Results Treatment with DMQ effectively inhibited LPS-induced activation of canonical NLRP3 inflammasome in mouse BMDM and human THP-1 cells and also inhibited non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mouse BMDM,but produced no significant effect on AIM2 inflammasome activation.DMQ significantly blocked the binding between ASC and NLRP3.In the mouse models of septic shock,DMQ treatment significantly reduced the levels of IL-1β in the serum and peritoneal fluid and obviously prolonged survival time of the mice.Conclusion DMQ can effectively block ASC-NLRP3 interaction to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation and alleviate LPS-induced septic shock in mice.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone(DMQ),an active ingredients in fermented wheat germ extract,for inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and alleviating septic shock in mice.Methods Cultured murine bone marrow-derived macrophages(BMDM)stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)were treated with DMQ,followed by treatment with Nigericin,ATP,and MSU for activating the canonical NLRP3 inflammasome;the non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome was activated by intracellular transfection of LPS,and AIM2 inflammasome was activated using Poly A:T.In human monocytic THP-1 cells,the effect of Nigericin on inflammasome activation products was examined using Western blotting and ELISA.Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to explore the mechanism of DMQ-induced blocking of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.In a male C57BL/6J mouse model of LPS-induced septic shock treated with 20 and 40 mg/kg DMQ,the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the serum and peritoneal lavage fluid were determined using ELISA,and the survival time of the mice within 36 h was observed.Results Treatment with DMQ effectively inhibited LPS-induced activation of canonical NLRP3 inflammasome in mouse BMDM and human THP-1 cells and also inhibited non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mouse BMDM,but produced no significant effect on AIM2 inflammasome activation.DMQ significantly blocked the binding between ASC and NLRP3.In the mouse models of septic shock,DMQ treatment significantly reduced the levels of IL-1β in the serum and peritoneal fluid and obviously prolonged survival time of the mice.Conclusion DMQ can effectively block ASC-NLRP3 interaction to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation and alleviate LPS-induced septic shock in mice.

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CIR1)refers to the recovery of blood supply after cerebral ischemia,which leads to further damage and the dysfunction of brain tissue.Modern medicine has made some progress in the prevention and treatment of CIRI,but it still faces some challenges and limitations.Therefore,it is of great clinical value to find effective interventions to prevent and treat CIRI.AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)and its downstream proteins are important targets for the treatment of CIRI and play key roles in the regulation of cellular energy homeostasis.Traditional Chinese medicine for CIRI has multi-target and multi-pathway activities and multiple effects.It can activate a cascade of reactions in the AMPK signaling pathway and can be used to treat CIRI by regulating autophagy,oxidative stress,inflammatory response,and apoptosis,and has achieved certain result.Therefore,this paper summarizes the structure and mechanisms of the AMPK-related signaling pathway,elaborates on its relationship with CIRI,and systematically summarizes the research status of traditional Chinese medicine's ability to regulate the AMPK signaling pathway in the prevention and treatment of CIRI.This paper aims to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of CIRI using traditional Chinese medicine and the development of new drugs.

Objective:To investigate whether memantine hydrochloride (MEM) could promote the bactericidal effect of neutrophils against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the possible mechanism. Methods:Neutrophils were co-incubated with different concentrations of MEM and MRSA for 4 h. Then the cell lysates were collected and cultured on plate for survival bacteria counting. After co-incubation, the neutrophils were collected to detect the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). A mouse model of MRSA infection was established, and then the mice were treated with or without MEM. Blood, spleen and kidney samples were collected from the mice for bacterial colony counting and blood procalcitonin (PCT) detection. In the 48 h survival experiment, the mice were first infected with MRSA, and then treated with MEM or PBS. The survival rates of the mice were calculated and the survival curves were drawn.Results:The number of MRSA co-cultured with neutrophils decreased significantly in the presence of MEM, and within a certain concentration range, the survival number of MRSA decreased with the increase of MEM concentration. Moreover, MEM could significantly promote the production of ROS by neutrophils and the formation of NETs. In vivo experiment showed that the concentration of PCT in mouse blood samples was lower in the MRSA+ MEM group than in the MRSA+ PBS group. The animal experiment also revealed that MEM significantly decreased the bacteria loads in mouse blood and organs and increased the 48 h survival rate after MRSA infection.Conclusions:MEM could significantly promote the bactericidal effect of neutrophils against MRSA, which might be related to the enhanced generation of ROS by neutrophils and the formation of NETs.

Objective : To investigate whether Mitochondria-targeted antioxidant peptide SS-31 can inhibit the ozone ( O3 ) -induced mice lung airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus hypersecretion． Methods : Eight-week C57BL /6 mice were randomized into four groups，including phosphate buffer saline (PBS) + Air group，SS-31 + Air group， PBS + O3 group and SS-31 + O3 group．C57BL /6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with SS-31 ( 10 mg / kg) one hour before ozone exposure ，and then single-exposed to ozone at a concentration of 5. 01 × 10 －6 mol / m3 for 3 hours．After 24 hours，airway hyperresponsiveness(AHR) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells numbers were measured．Lung tissue schiff periodic acid shiff (PAS) staining，malondialdehyde (MDA) ，inflammatory factors ( interleukin，IL ) -1 β , IL-6 ，IL-18 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 ( MCP-1 ) ) and mucin factor (MUC5B) were detected，and the protein expression levels of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) ，pro-Caspase 1 / Caspase 1 (p20) ，Gasdermin D ( GSDMD) and Cleaved GSDMD were determined by Western blot. Results: O3 exposure caused both mice lung airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus hypersecretion．However，SS-31 could inhibit the O3 -induced airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus secretion，reduce the levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory factor mRNA expression ，and downregulate the protein expression level of NLRP3 and the activated forms of Caspase 1 and GSDMD． Conclusion SS-31 could suppress O3 -induced mice airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus hypersecretion by inhibiting the NLRP3 / Caspase 1 / GSDMD signaling pathway.

A patient aged 68 years old presented urinary frequency, urgency, and gross hematuria for 1 month, with initial PSA of 72.72 ng/ml and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)of 114 U/L. Prostate biopsy pathology showed small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of prostate. The patient was immediately administered 6 cycle of chemotherapy including etoposide and cisplatin combined with medical castration. The CDK4 gene was detected 1.99 times amplification by peripheral blood free DNA (cfDNA)gene analysis. The chemotherapy was followed by parbosini therapy. The number and density of bone metastases continued to decrease significantly by bone scan at 3 and 6 months after treatment, with a continuous decline of ALP and PSA. After 1 year of follow-up, pelvic MRI and bone systemic imaging indicated stable lesions, with PSA of 0.05 ng/ml and ALP of 59 U/L.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant chemo-hormonal therapy(NCHT)followed by radical prostatectomy(RP) plus extended pelvic lymphadenectomy for very-high-risk locally advanced prostate cancer.Methods:The data of 327 cases of very-high-risk locally advanced prostate cancer treated in Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, and The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from December 2014 to July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to treatment regimens: the RP group (direct RP + extended pelvic lymphadenectomy 4-6 weeks after the biopsy of prostate) and the NCHT group (4-6 cycles of NCHT prior to RP). There were 171 cases in RP group and 156 cases in NCHT group, respectively. In the RP group, the median age was 67 (ranging 44-83)years. The median PSA at diagnosis was 27.24 (ranging 4.55-207.00) ng/ml. Patients’numbers of clinical T 2, T 3a, T 3b, T 4 stage were 13, 85, 57, 16, respectively, and clinical N 1, N 0 stage were 33 and 138, respectively. Patients’numbers of ISUP grade groups of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 were 5, 35, 41, 51, 39, respectively. In the NCHT group, The median age was 67 years, ranging 46-78 years. The median PSA at diagnosis was 72.09(ranging 4.08-722.95)ng/ml. Patients’ numbers of clinical T 2, T 3a, T 3b, T 4 stage were 11, 47, 58, 40, respectively, and clinical N 1, N 0stage were 76 and 80, respectively. Patients’numbers of ISUP grade groups of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 were 1, 11, 33, 43, 68, respectively. At baseline, the NCHT group showed higher PSA, higher ISUP grade, and more advanced clinical stage at diagnosis( P<0.05). The PSA, pathological down-staging rate, and positive surgical margin rate as well as the biochemical recurrence free survival(bRFS)were compared between the two groups. Results:After radical prostatectomy, compared with the RP group, the NCHT group had a higher proportion of patients achieving PSA<0.2 ng/ml at 6-week postoperative follow-up ( P<0.001), a higher pathologic tumor stage down-staging rate ( P<0.001), a higher ISUP down-grading rate ( P<0.001), and a lower positive surgical margins rate ( P<0.001). In addition, 10.9% of the NCHT group achieved pT 0 or minimal residual disease in postoperative pathology exams. Eighty-three patients (48.5%) in the RP group and 125 patients (80.1%) in the NCHT group achieved undetectable PSA after surgery and entered further analysis for bRFS, which showed NCHT group had significantly longer bRFS (19.46 months vs. 6.35 months). NCHT significantly reduced the risk for biochemical recurrence in locally advanced prostate cancer patients( HR=0.278, 95% CI 0.198-0.390, P<0.001). Such a reduce in risk for biochemical recurrence was seen in all subgroups( P<0.001). Conclusions:NCHT might improve surgical outcomes as well as bRFS in very-high-risk locally advanced prostate cancer patients.