BACKGROUND:Leonurine has many biological activities such as improving microcirculation,anti-oxidation,anti-apoptosis,scavenging free radicals,anti-inflammation,and anti-fibrosis,and can promote osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,which has the potential to be applied in the treatment of periodontitis. OBJECTIVE:To explore the anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects of leonurine loading into chitosan/sodium glycerophosphate/sodium alginate hydrogel. METHODS:(1)Chitosan/sodium glycerophosphate/sodium alginate hydrogel(blank hydrogel)and chitosan/sodium glycerophosphate/sodium alginate/leonurus alkali hydrogel were prepared respectively.RAW 264.7 and MC3T3-E1 cells were inoculated with the two kinds of hydrogel.The cytotoxicity of hydrogels was detected by CCK-8 assay and live/dead cell staining.(2)RAW 264.7 cells were cultured in five groups.The blank group was cultured for 24 hours routinely.The lipopolysaccharide group was treated with lipopolysaccharide.The simple hydrogel group was treated with lipopolysaccharide and blank hydrogel.The drug-loaded hydrogel group was treated with lipopolysaccharide and drug-loaded hydrogel.The inhibitor group was treated with lippolysaccharide,drug-loaded hydrogel,and PI3K inhibitor LY294002.24 hours later,mRNA expression of inflammation-related factors was detected by qRT-PCR.Western blot assay was utilized to detect the protein expression of inflammation-related factors and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.(3)MC3T3-E1 cells were inoculated in four groups.The blank group was cultured without any material.The simple hydrogel group was treated with blank hydrogel.The drug-loaded hydrogel group was treated with drug-loaded hydrogel.The inhibitor group was treated with drug-loaded hydrogel and PI3K inhibitor LY294002 for 7 days.Alkaline phosphatase staining was performed.mRNA expression levels of osteogenic factors were detected by qRT-PCR.The protein expression levels of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway were detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The results of CCK-8 assay and live/dead cell staining showed that the two kinds of hydrogels had no cytotoxic effect and had good cytocompatibility.(2)Compared with the blank group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of interleukin 6,tumor necrosis factor α,and interleukin 1β were significantly increased(P<0.05),and the protein expression levels of p-AKT,p-PI3K,p-p65,and p-IκBα were significantly increased in the lipopolysaccharide group(P<0.05).Compared with lipopolysaccharide group,mRNA and protein expression levels of the above indexes were decreased in drug-loaded hydrogel group(P<0.05).Compared with the drug-loaded hydrogel group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of the above indexes were decreased in the inhibitor group(P<0.05).(3)The activity of alkaline phosphatase in drug-loaded hydrogel group was higher than that in the blank group,simple hydrogel group,and inhibitor group(P<0.05).Compared with blank group,the mRNA expression levels of alkaline phosphatase,Runx2,osteocalcin,and type I collagen were increased(P<0.05),and the protein expression levels of p-AKT and p-PI3K were increased in the simple hydrogel group(P<0.05).Compared with the simple hydrogel group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of the above indexes were increased in the drug-loaded hydrogel group(P<0.05).Compared with the drug-loaded hydrogel group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of the above indexes were decreased in the inhibitor group(P<0.05).(4)These findings conclude that chitosan/sodium glycerophosphate/sodium alginate/leonurine hydrogel has anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects,which may be related to the regulation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effect of semaglutide on the metabolomics of obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complicated by metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).Methods:A prospective non-randomized controlled study was conducted. Obese patients with T2DM complicated by MAFLD who attended the Department of Endocrinology of Shijiazhuang People′s Hospital from October 2022 to June 2023 were selected as the semaglutide group, and healthy individuals from the physical examination center were selected as the control group. Clinical data of both groups were collected. The semaglutide group was subcutaneously injected with semaglutide following a basic hypoglycemic regimen (starting dose of 0.25 mg once a week, which was changed to 0.5 mg once a week after 1 week for 12 weeks). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used for qualitative and quantitative analyses of plasma metabolites, and multivariate analysis methods were used to analyze the metabolomics data.Results:In total, 69 patients in the semaglutide group completed the treatment, with 49 males (71%) and a median age of 46 (36, 54) years, and the healthy control group consisted of 100 individuals, with 38 males (38%) and a median age of 40 (35, 45) years. The body mass index and levels of fasting blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the semaglutide group before treatment were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P<0.001). The body mass index [23.65 (22.33, 24.45) vs. 28.72 (27.50, 32.07) kg/m 2], liver stiffness measurement [1.61 (0.91, 2.00) vs. 5.78 (5.51, 6.10) kPa], and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index [5.10 (2.90, 7.95) vs. 9.00 (6.25, 11.80)] in the semaglutide group were significantly lower after treatment than before treatment (all P<0.001), and the blood glucose, blood lipid, liver function indicator, and IL-6 levels all significantly decreased after treatment. Metabolomics analysis revealed that there were 219 differential metabolites (131 up-regulated and 88 down-regulated) between the semaglutide group ( n=27) before treatment and the control group ( n=12), with glycerophospholipids and free fatty acids being significantly up-regulated. The semaglutide group showed 203 differential metabolites (121 up-regulated and 82 down-regulated) after treatment compared with before, with significant down-regulation of long-chain fatty acids and significant up-regulation of metabolites including carnitines, branched-chain amino acids, and taurine. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that the differential metabolites identified before and after semaglutide treatment were involved in several signaling pathways, such as biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid metabolism, aldosterone synthesis and secretion, and the mTOR signaling pathway, etc. Conclusion:Semaglutide alters the serum metabolite levels in obese patients with T2DM complicated by MAFLD.

The author of this paper repored the diagnostic and treatment process of one patient with secondary primary tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma(TACC).From the perspective of disease occurrence,the patient was successively diagnosed with tracheal basal cell adenocarcinoma and tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma,which was extremely rare in clinical practice,providing a reference for studying the correlation and differences in the incidence of different types of tracheal cancer.At the same time,during the treatment process,massive bleeding from the tracheostomy site occurred during radiotherapy,deepening the understanding of radiotherapy complications in TACC.The patient,a 61-year-old female,underwent surgical treatment for tracheal basal cell adenocarcinoma five years ago.One year ago,the patient experienced exertional dyspnea,which gradually worsened,severely affecting her daily life,leading to her hospital admission for further diagnosis and treatment.The physical examination results showed a 2 cm ×1 cm irregular mass in the right neck,with normal skin temperature and color,no tenderness or pain on pressure,and good mobility.Enhanced computed tomography(CT)of the larynx indicated cauliflower-like soft tissue masses on the right and posterior walls of the trachea and a nodule on the anterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the right supraclavicular region,suggesting recurrence of an intratracheal tumor.The differential diagnosis included tracheal squamous cell carcinoma,which often forms keratin pearls and exhibits more significant cellular atypia.The immunohistochemical markers are also different,and the results of pathology and immunohistochemistry examinations can effectively distinguish them.The patient underwent resection of the mass along with the tracheal wall and excision of the right supraclavicular mass.The postoperative pathology confirmed adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea with local neural involvement.Given the patient's symptoms of tracheal obstruction and the possibility of cervical lymph node metastasis of TACC,surgery was the primary treatment choice.Postoperative radiotherapy further controlled residual tumor cells,reduced the risk of recurrence,and improved the local control rates.After 12 months of follow-up post-radiotherapy,no signs of tumor recurrence were observed.The clinicians should reinforce diagnostic thinking and be highly vigilant for the possibility of secondary primary tumors in the trachea.They should comprehensively assess using various examination methods to improve the early diagnosis accuracy and avoid the misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis,thereby providing the best treatment opportunity for the patients.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the therapeutic mechanism of compound Centella asiatica formula (CCA) for alleviating Schistosoma japonicum (Sj)-induced liver fibrosis in mice. METHODS: The active components and targets of CCA were identified using the TCMSP database with cross-analysis of Sj-related liver fibrosis targets. A "drug-component-target-pathway-disease" network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1. Functional enrichment analysis (GO/KEGG) was performed using DAVID. Molecular docking study was carried out to validate interactions between the core targets and the key compounds. For experimental validation of the results, 36 mice were divided into control group, Sj-infected model group, and CCA-treated groups. In the latter two groups, liver fibrosis was induced via abdominal infection with Sj cercariae for 8 weeks, followed by 8 weeks of daily treatment with CCA decoction or saline. Hepatic pathology of the mice was assessedwith HE and Masson staining, and hepatic expressions of collagen-I and collagen-III were detected using immunohistochemistry; serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were determined with ELISA. Hepatic expressions of TLR4 and MyD88 proteins were analyzed with Western blotting. RESULTS: We identified a total of 107 bioactive CCA components and 791 targets, including 37 intersection targets linked to Sj-induced fibrosis. The core targets included TNF, TP53, JUN, MMP9, and CXCL8, involving the IL-17 signaling, lipid metabolism, TLR4/MyD88 axis, and cancer pathways. Molecular docking study confirmed strong binding affinity between quercetin (a primary CCA component) and TNF/TP53/JUN/MMP9. In Sj-infected mouse models, CCA treatment significantly attenuated hepatic inflammatory cell infiltration, reduced collagen-I and collagen-III deposition, improved tissue architecture, reduced serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and downregulated TLR4 and MyD88 expressions in the liver. CONCLUSIONS CCA mitigates Sj-induced liver fibrosis by targeting TNF, TP53, JUN, and MMP9 to modulate the TLR4/MyD88 pathway, thereby suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine release, inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation, reducing collagen deposition, and preventing granuloma formation in the liver.
Animals ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; Mice ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism* ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Liver Cirrhosis/parasitology* ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; Signal Transduction ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Inflammation ; Centella/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification in mammals, playing a crucial role in various physiological processes, including cell differentiation and the gene expression regulation. The ten-eleven translocation (TET) protein family of DNA demethylases is integral to the regulation of DNA methylation, as it catalyzes the oxidation of 5-methylcytosine to form 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. During early embryonic development, the genome undergoes extensive DNA demethylation, and any aberration in this reprogramming process can result in abnormal embryonic development and physiological defects in offspring. The TET proteins, due to their unique dynamics and multifaceted roles, facilitate DNA demethylation and are involved in development and maturation of germ cells, the establishment of pluripotency, cell lineage differentiation, and transcriptional processes throughout mammalian embryogenesis. Furthermore, these proteins are closely associated with the maintenance of pregnancy and susceptibility of progeny to disease. Factors such as genetic mutations, maternal health conditions, and exposure to adverse environmental influences can impact TET protein activity, resulting in abnormal patterns of DNA demethylation. A comprehensive investigation of the related mechanisms of TET proteins is essential for enhancing our understanding of epigenetic regulation during early life, diagnosing and treating related diseases such as early fetal development retardation, and informing strategies for the prevention and management of pregnancy.This article reviews the regulatory role of DNA demethylation mediated by TET protein in mammalian embryonic development and pregnancy outcomes.

ObjectiveA qualitative analysis method was established for the composition of Astragali Radix（AR） before and after rice stir-frying. On the basis of systematic characterization of the chemical compositions in AR and stir-fried AR with rice（ARR）， the structures of their major compounds were deduced and identified， and the differential compositions between them were analyzed. MethodsUltra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS） was used to detect the samples of AR and ARR in positive and negative ion modes， respectively. The compounds were analyzed and identified through self-constructed databases， literature， and reference standards， etc. And the data were analyzed by chemometrics， in order to screen for the differential components between AR and ARR. ResultsA total of 123 compounds were identified in AR and ARR， including 41 flavonoids， 19 terpenoids， 26 organic acids， 8 amino acids， 5 nucleotides， 5 carbohydrates and 19 other compounds. Among them， there were 95 common components in both， 18 unique components in AR， and 10 unique components in ARR. Principal component analysis（PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） results both showed that there were significant differences in the chemical constituents of AR before and after rice stir-frying， and a total of 26 constituents with differences in the content were screened out， including L-canavanine， L-pyroglutamic acid， L-phenylalanine， cis-caffeic acid， and malonylastragaloside Ⅰ. Among them， 19 constituents of ARR were down-regulated and 7 constituents were up-regulated by comparing with AR. ConclusionThis study clarifies that the chemical composition of AR and ARR is mainly composed of flavonoids， terpenoids， and organic acids， and analyzes the components with significant differences in content between the two in combination with chemometrics， and the differential components are dominated by amino acids， organic acids and terpenoids， which can provide reference for the subsequent quality control and material basis research.

Tumor cell-intrinsic programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) signals mediate tumor initiation, progression and metastasis, but their effects in ameloblastoma (AM) have not been reported. In this comprehensive study, we observed marked upregulation of PD-L1 in AM tissues and revealed the robust correlation between elevated PD-L1 expression and increased tumor growth and recurrence rates. Notably, we found that PD-L1 overexpression markedly increased self-renewal capacity and promoted tumorigenic processes and invasion in hTERT⁺-AM cells, whereas genetic ablation of PD-L1 exerted opposing inhibitory effects. By performing high-resolution single-cell profiling and thorough immunohistochemical analyses in AM patients, we delineated the intricate cellular landscape and elucidated the mechanisms underlying the aggressive phenotype and unfavorable prognosis of these tumors. Our findings revealed that hTERT⁺-AM cells with upregulated PD-L1 expression exhibit increased proliferative potential and stem-like attributes and undergo partial epithelial‒mesenchymal transition. This phenotypic shift is induced by the activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling axis; thus, this study revealed a crucial regulatory mechanism that fuels tumor growth and recurrence. Importantly, targeted inhibition of the PD-L1-PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling axis significantly suppressed the growth of AM patient-derived tumor organoids, highlighting the potential of PD-L1 blockade as a promising therapeutic approach for AM.
Ameloblastoma/metabolism* ; Humans ; B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology* ; Signal Transduction ; Cell Proliferation ; Up-Regulation ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Telomerase/metabolism* ; Jaw Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Male

(±)-Talapyrones A-F (1-6), six pairs of dimeric polyketide enantiomers featuring unusual 6/6/6 and 6/6/6/5 ring systems, were isolated from the fungus Talaromyces adpressus. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis and HR-ESI-MS data, and their absolute configurations were elucidated using a modified Mosher's method and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. (±)-Talapyrones A-F (1-6) possess a 6/6/6 tricyclic skeleton, presumably formed through a Michael addition reaction between one molecule of α-pyrone derivative and one molecule of C₈ poly-β-keto chain. In addition, compounds 2/3 and 4/5 are two pairs of C-18 epimers, respectively. Putative biosynthetic pathways of 1-6 were discussed.
Polyketides/isolation & purification* ; Talaromyces/chemistry* ; Stereoisomerism ; Molecular Structure ; Circular Dichroism ; Pyrones/chemistry*

Objective: To comprehensively evaluate the clinical efficacy of a single dose of tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing perioperative blood loss in patients undergoing craniomaxillofacial plastic and cosmetic surgery through meta-regression analysis. Methods: Embase, PubMed, Wanfang Data, VIP database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were electronically retrieved to collect clinical studies evaluating efficacy of perioperative TXA administration in patients undergoing craniomaxillofacial plastic and cosmetic surgery, from inception to August 2024. Quality assessment of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed using Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Tool. Based on the results of methodological heterogeneity, corresponding meta-analyses were conducted using either random-effects or fixed-effects models in R programming software. Results: Thirty-one articles were included, involving 2 072 patients who underwent craniomaxillofacial plastic and cosmetic surgeries. Among these patients, 1 051 were in the TXA treatment group, and 1 021 were in the control group. The paired meta-analysis showed that compared with the control group, the use of TXA significantly reduced bleeding volume in perioperative patients [standardized mean difference (SMD)=-1.13; 95%CI (-1.47, -0.80), P<0.001]. Subgroup analysis revealed that TXA significantly reduced intraoperative bleeding volume in patients across different surgeries, with the order of efficacy as follows: orthognathic surgery [SMD=-1.44; 95%CI (-2.07, -0.80), P<0.001], cleft palate repair [SMD=-1.32; 95%CI (-2.14, -0.50), P<0.001], rhinoplasty [SMD=-0.97; 95%CI (-1.63, -0.30), P<0.001], and craniosynostosis [SMD=-0.96; 95%CI (-1.40, -0.53), P=0.040]. The result of the meta regression showed there was no significant difference in the hemostatic effect of TXA on patients with increasing doses (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mg/kg) (P=0.650). Sensitivity analysis verified that the pooled values were stable and reliable. The Egger's test indicated a certain degree of publication bias (Z=-3.40, P<0.001). Conclusion: Existing evidence suggests that TXA effectively reduces perioperative blood loss in patients undergoing craniofacial plastic surgery, regardless of its dosage administered.

Large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, Claude, Llama, and Qwen are emerging as transformative technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. With their exceptional long-context reasoning capabilities, LLMs are proficient in clinically relevant tasks, particularly in medical text analysis and interactive dialogue. They can enhance diagnostic accuracy by processing vast amounts of patient data and medical literature and have demonstrated their utility in diagnosing common diseases and facilitating the identification of rare diseases by recognizing subtle patterns in symptoms and test results. Building on their image-recognition abilities, multimodal LLMs (MLLMs) show promising potential for diagnosis based on radiography, chest computed tomography (CT), electrocardiography (ECG), and common pathological images. These models can also assist in treatment planning by suggesting evidence-based interventions and improving clinical decision support systems through integrated analysis of patient records. Despite these promising developments, significant challenges persist regarding the use of LLMs in medicine, including concerns regarding algorithmic bias, the potential for hallucinations, and the need for rigorous clinical validation. Ethical considerations also underscore the importance of maintaining the function of supervision in clinical practice. This paper highlights the rapid advancements in research on the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of LLMs across different medical disciplines and emphasizes the importance of policymaking, ethical supervision, and multidisciplinary collaboration in promoting more effective and safer clinical applications of LLMs. Future directions include the integration of proprietary clinical knowledge, the investigation of open-source and customized models, and the evaluation of real-time effects in clinical diagnosis and treatment practices.
Humans ; Large Language Models ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed