Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of lentinan(LNT)on hepatic tissue ferroptosis in mice exposed to sodium arsenite(SA).Methods C57BL/6N male mice were exposed to SA low-dose,SA high-dose,and LNT intervention combined with SA high-dose,then,hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining was applied to assess pathological liver tissue damage;Enzyme-linked immunosorbent and Western blot were used to detect the content or expression of tumor necrosis factor α(TNFα),interleukin-6(IL-6),ferritinophagy or ferroptosis biomarkers.Results Compared with the control group,SA exposure induced the elevated levels of TNFα,IL-6,ferritinophagy biomarker ferritin heavy chain 1(FTH1)and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B(MAP1LC3B)in mice liver tissue,while levels the ferroptosis biomarker GPX4 decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with SA high-dose groups,LNT intervention showed the reduced pathological liver damage and the downregulated levels of TNFα,IL-6,FTH1,and MAP1LC3B,while the level of GPX4 upregulated(P＜0.05).Western blot experiment showed that LNT intervention antagonized the upregulated levels of FTH1,and autophagy biomarker LC3B/A,and antagonized the increased co-expressions of FTH1 with LC3B or Ub protein in SA high-dose group(P＜0.05).Conclusions LNT antagonizes SA-exposed hepatic pathological injury and ferroptosis in mice,possibly associated with inhibition of TNFα-ferritinophagy signaling.

Objective"Lie flat"has recently become a buzz word describing a specific psychological state in some individuals.However,its psychological meaning and mechanisms remain unclear.Lack of motivation under certain conditions may be one of the key psychological characteristics of this condition.Methods Sixteen male SD rats were randomly assigned to two food-restriction levels(90%and 80%of baseline weight,respectively),and subjected to a sucrose-pellet self-administration task.The establishment of the model is divided into three stages.The rats were trained to self-administer sucrose pellets in a high-reward learning stage and in a low-reward learning stage.We then assessed"lie flat"behavior in a preference-test stage,in which rats could choose between high-reward-and low-reward-paired nose-pokes in a discrete choice procedure.Results Combining self-feeding training with Western blot,the results showed that:(1)rats showed significantly decreased nose-poke behavior for low-reward,i.e."lie flat"behavior,but not for high-reward,when≥90%of the maximal reward was obtained in the high-reward task and the effort(X)in the low-reward task increased to the breaking point.(2)Dopamine D1R expression in the NAc was significantly higher in the"lie flat"group compared with the"not lie flat"rats,while D2R expression was similar in both groups.Conclusions Rats can show"lie flat"behavior,and up-regulation of D1R expression in the NAc may be a key part of the molecular basis responsible for this motivation deficiency in"lie flat"behavior.These results extend our understanding of"lie flat"behavior,and provide a new paradigm for the study of its mechanism.

A ketogenic diet(KD)refers to an eating pattern designed to achieve a low-calorie content,minimum carbohydrate intake,high-fat consumption,and standard protein levels.A ketogenic diet is used in clinical practice to treat conditions including heart disease,diabetes,obesity,autism,glioblastoma,and other cancers.Although a ketogenic diet has not been recommended for any neurological disorders except epilepsy,extensive recent research suggests that such a diet may have a neuroprotective effect and may thus represent a new dietary therapy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease(PD).In this review,we discuss in detail the mechanisms responsible for the neuroprotective effects of a ketogenic diet in Parkinson's disease,with the aim of providing references for future clinical and experimental studies.

Endometriosis presents a common challenge in global women's health.Ferroptosis,as an emerging form of regulated cell death,has recently attracted attention in relation to endometriosis.In terms of disease mechanisms,ferroptosis drives ovarian endometrial fibrosis via the induction of iron overload,and promotes disease progression by regulating multiple signaling pathways,such as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 6(p38MAPK/STAT6),promote angiogenesis,autophagy,etc,fueling disease progression.In terms of infertility,ferroptosis affects embryo development and ovarian function,thereby reducing fertility.From a diagnostic perspective,high expression of ferroptosis-related genes provides potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of endometriosis,effectively distinguishing patients from healthy individuals,and showing important clinical value.In terms of treatment strategies,non-natural compounds such as Erastin,as well as natural compounds such as resveratrol,ursolic acid,and baicalein,have shown potential therapeutic effects in relieving the pathological process and related symptoms of endometriosis.This review comprehensively elucidates the key role of ferroptosis in endometriosis in terms of the disease mechanisms,infertility,diagnosis,and treatment,and explores its potential as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target,thus providing new theoretical support and treatment strategies for the management of endometriosis.

Pulmonary hypertension(PH)is a fatal disease characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling,ultimately leading to right heart failure and death.Current treatments for PH are suboptimal,with no substantial improvement in overall survival among patients with advanced PH.Despite some progress in understanding the pathogenesis of PH,further studies at the molecular level are needed to develop more effective treatments for PH.Recent research has shown that long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)have an important regulatory function in the pathophysiological process of PH,and may thus be potential disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets.In this paper,we review recent progress in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in PH.

Bone defect repair is an urgent problem in the field of orthopedics,and numerous researchers are working to develop more effective treatment plans.The accurate evaluation of bone repair after surgery is a crucial step.In line with the development of computed tomography(CT)imaging,dual-energy CT imaging has shown significant advantages in analyzing bone composition and reducing metal artifacts.This article reviews the application of dual-energy CT imaging for the evaluation of bone repair in animals.

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most common malignant life-threatening tumors,with serious impacts on patient quality of life.Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase(SHP2)has recently become a hot topic in the field of cancer research,and has demonstrated a close relationship with CRC.SHP2,encoded by the PTPN11 gene,is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase commonly present in various tissues and cells of the human body.Existing research shows that SHP2 plays a crucial role in regulating CRC and colitis-associated colon cancer(CAC),and the emergence of SHP2 allosteric inhibitors has identified SHP2 as a potential new therapeutic target for patients with CRC.Here we review the structure of SHP2 and its roles in CRC and CAC.

Macrophages are important immune cells involved in innate immunity,with significant heterogeneity and polarization.Macrophages can polarize into different phenotypes(mainly M1 and M2)under stimulation by various factors in the microenvironment,leading to different roles and functions.Macrophages play an important role in the pathophysiological mechanism of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury(RIRI).An excessive immune response will inevitably lead to tissue damage.M1 macrophages are pro-inflammatory cells involved in the clearance of pathogens,while M2-type macrophages have anti-inflammatory effects and participate in the repair and remodeling of renal tissue after RIRI.The balance between these macrophage phenotypes is thus an important factor affecting the outcome and treatment of RIRI.This review considers the pathophysiologic mechanism of macrophages in RIRI and the latest treatments from the perspective of macrophage polarization,with the aim of supporting further studies of the function of macrophage polarization in RIRI and adjusting the macrophage polarization process to improve RIRI treatment strategies.

Objective To investigate the effect of KH-type splicing regulatory protein(KHSRP)on the malignant biological behavior of lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD)by targeting the Janus kinase 1(JAK1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)signaling axis.Methods Clinical data were collected for 64 patients with LUAD,diagnosed at Huaihe Hospital from January 2017 to December 2018.Expression levels of KHSRP were detected in LUAD tissues and adjacent tissues by immunohistochemical staining.KHSRP gene expression was also detected in LUAD cell lines(SPC-A1,H1975,CL1-5,PC-9,Calu-3,H446)and normal human bronchial epithelial cells using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.KHSRP expression in SPC-A1,H1975,PC-9,and Calu-3 cells was manipulated by lentivirus transfection.The effects of KHSRP on the proliferation,migration,and invasion of LUAD cells were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays.The effects of KHSRP overexpression and knockdown were also investigated in a mouse xenograft tumor model,and JAK/STAT signaling pathway proteins were detected by Western blot.Rescue experiments were conducted to verify if KHSRP promoted the malignant progression of LUAD cells by regulating the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway.Results KHSRP expression was significantly higher in LUAD tissues compared with adjacent tissues(P＜0.05).Overexpression of KHSRP significantly promoted the proliferation,migration,and invasion of LUAD cells in vitro(P＜0.05).KHSRP also promoted LUAD cell xenograft tumor growth and lung nodule metastasis in nude mice in vivo(P＜0.01).KHSRP knockdown significantly decreased the levels of JAK1,phospho-JAK1,and STAT3 in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway,while the situation was reversed following KHSRP overexpression(P＜0.05).Rescue experiments showed that KHSRP reversed the inhibitory effect of knockdown(P＜0.05).Conclusions KHSRP targets the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway and acts as an oncogene in LUAD.

Objective To establish an efficient and stable model of pelvic inflammatory disease in rats via a non-surgical method,and to evaluate its application in pharmacodynamic testing.Methods Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into the following groups:control group;model group with phenol for 7 d;model group with phenol for 10 d;treatment group modeled with phenol;model group with low concentration of bacteria;model group with high concentration of bacteria;and treatment group modeled with bacteria.Rats in the model and treatment groups were injected with 25%phenol gel and 2×107 or 2×108 Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus mixture via a non-surgical method,to construct a rat model of pelvic inflammatory disease.Rats in the treatment groups received the Chinese patent medicine Jingangteng capsules by gavage,and rats in the control group received the same volume of solvent solution.The health status,weight changes,and uterine appearance were monitored and the uterine coefficient was calculated.Pathological changes in the uterus and fallopian tubes,endometrial thickness,and number of glands were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining.Serum levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Protein expression of the macrophage marker CD68 was detected by immunofluorescence.Expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor(NF)-κB pathway-related proteins in the uterus was detected by Western blot.Results The mortality rate in the model group was only 5%.Compared with the control group,model rats showed decreased body weight,increased uterine coefficient,pathological changes in the uterus and Fallopian tubes,thinner endometrium,fewer glands,significantly higher serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α and more macrophages in the uterine tissue,and activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.The 7 d phenol and low-concentration bacterial solution models were judged to be mild pelvic inflammatory disease models,and the 10 d phenol and high-concentration bacterial solution models were considered severe pelvic inflammatory disease models.Treatment with Jingangteng capsules relieved the pathological symptoms in the uterus and fallopian tubes,in line with the efficacy evaluation of clinical pelvic inflammatory disease.Conclusions We established rat models of pelvic inflammatory disease using phenol and a mixed bacterial solution via a non-surgical method,to simulate the different pathological states of pelvic inflammatory disease caused by different factors.These models will be suitable for evaluating drug efficacy and elucidating the pathological mechanism of pelvic inflammatory disease.