Objective To investigate the role and potential mechanism of secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1)⁺ macrophages in the formation of chronic renal allograft fibrosis. Methods The expression features of SPP1⁺ macrophages in renal allografts of chronic allograft dysfunction (CAD) patients were analyzed based on single-cell transcriptome data of renal tissues from patients with CAD. Transcription factor VIPER analysis and DoRothEA transcription factor activity analysis were performed on the single-cell transcriptome data. Renal tissue samples were collected from kidney transplant recipients, including the CAD group (n=5) and the non-renal allograft fibrosis group (CTL group, n=5). A mouse model of chronic allograft rejection was established and divided into the allogeneic kidney transplantation group (CAD group, n=3) and the syngeneic kidney transplantation group (SYN group, n=3). Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to detect renal tissue injury in mice, and Masson staining was used to detect renal tissue fibrosis. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect SPP1 expression in renal tissues of transplant recipients and mouse renal allografts. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were extracted from mice and subjected to hypoxia stimulation. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and SPP1 was detected by Western blot, and SPP1 expression was detected by flow cytometry. BMDMs were transfected with HIF-1α overexpression plasmid and HIF-1α small interfering RNA (siRNA) followed by hypoxia intervention, and the expression of HIF-1α and SPP1 was detected by Western blot. Mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAECs) were co-cultured with the supernatant of BMDMs, and the expression of endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT)-related markers was detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Results Single-cell transcriptome analysis showed that the proportion of SPP1⁺ macrophages in renal allograft tissues was significantly higher in the CAD group than in the CTL group (P<0.05). The renal injury score and the percentage of interstitial fibrotic area in the CAD group were significantly higher than those in the SYN group (both P<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the proportion of SPP1⁺ macrophages was increased in the CAD group compared with the CTL group, and also increased in the CAD group compared with the SYN group (both P<0.05). VIPER analysis and DoRothEA transcription factor activity analysis revealed activation of the hypoxia pathway and upregulated expression of transcription factors such as HIF-1α in SPP1⁺ macrophages. SPP1 expression was elevated in BMDMs under hypoxic conditions. Knockdown of HIF-1α inhibited hypoxia-induced SPP1 protein expression, whereas overexpression of HIF-1α upregulated SPP1 protein levels. After co-culture of hypoxia-induced BMDMs with MAECs, the expression levels of EndMT-related markers were increased. Conclusions SPP1⁺ macrophages differentiated under hypoxia are significantly infiltrated in the formation of chronic renal allograft fibrosis, and may promote renal allograft fibrosis by inducing EndMT in renal vascular endothelial cells.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Tianxiang pills （TXP） alleviates myocardial cell pyroptosis in the rat model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion （I/R） injury through modulating the reactive oxygen species （ROS）/cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 （Caspase-1）/gasdermin D （GSDMD） signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 54 SPF-grade adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into six groups （n=9）： sham （thoracotomy only without ligation）， I/R （left anterior descending coronary artery ligation for 30 min followed by reperfusion）， NAC （positive control， N-acetylcysteine， 150 mg·kg^-1， by gavage）， low-dose Tianxiang pills （TXP-L， 2.5 g·kg^-1， by gavage）］， medium-dose Tianxiang pills （TXP-M， 5 g·kg^-1， by gavage）， and high-dose Tianxiang pills （TXP-H， 10 g·kg^-1， by gavage）. The fluorescent probe method was employed to measure the ROS level. Biochemical assay kits were employed to determine the Caspase-1 activity， superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity， malondialdehyde （MDA） content， and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） activity. Myocardial infarct size was assessed by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the expression levels of proteins in the ROS/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway， including GSDMD， cleaved Caspase-1/Caspase-1 ratio， the N-terminal domain of GSDMD （GSDMD-N）， and the p22-phox subunit of the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate （NADPH） oxidase complex. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was utilized to determine the concentration of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） was employed to observe mitochondrial structure and to score the degree of mitochondrial swelling. ResultsCompared with the Sham group， the I/R group exhibited elevated the levels of ROS， Caspase-1 activity， GSDMD expression， IL-1β concentration， MDA content， infarct area， mitochondrial swelling score， cleaved Caspase-1/Caspase-1， GSDMD-N， and p22phox and decreased activities of SOD and GSH-Px （P<0.05）. Compared with the I/R group， NAC and different doses of TXP significantly reduced the ROS level， Caspase-1 activity， GSDMD expression， IL-1β concentration， MDA content， infarct area， and mitochondrial swelling score. Moreover， they downregulated the expression of cleaved Caspase-1/Caspase-1， GSDMD-N， and p22phox and increased the activities of SOD and GSH-Px （P<0.05）. Furthermore， TXP exerted effects on ROS， MDA， SOD， GSH-Px， Caspase-1 activity， GSDMD expression， IL-1β concentration， cleaved Caspase-1/Caspase-1， GSDMD-N， p22phox， infarct area， and mitochondrial swelling score in a dose-dependent manner （P<0.05）. ConclusionTianxiang pills alleviates myocardial I/R injury by mitigating oxidative stress and cell pyroptosis through the inhibition of the ROS/Caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway.

The theory of "Yang transforming Qi while Yin constituting form" in the Huangdi's Internal Classic is derived from the application， transformation， movement， and balance of Tao. It is highly condensed， revealing the true meaning of Tao and guiding the changes and progress of all natural things， including diseases. Therefore， the appearance of various physical diseases is the manifestation of Yin-Yang Qi transformation. Sweat pore， formed by the Qi transformation of Yin and Yang， is the nourishing and regulating system. It serves as the hub and channel， assisting in the flow and transformation of Qi， facilitating the exchange of material， energy， and information with the outside world. With sweat pore as the hub and based on the macro-control and holistic thinking of "Yang transforming Qi while Yin constituting form"， this paper explores the microscopic mechanisms underlying chronic liver disease. In combination with the roles of mitochondria， exosomes， and the ultraliver sieve structure in the formation and progression of chronic liver disease， this paper elucidates the close internal relationship between the disease's initial quality， symptom signs， and its physiological and pathological functions under the guidance of this theory. Modern studies have shown that autophagy， intestinal flora disorders， glucose and lipid metabolism disturbances， activation of inflammatory factors， ferroptosis， and other microscopic pathological mechanisms are involved in the occurrence and development of chronic liver disease. The common connotation of the Yin-Yang concept in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and the pathological mechanisms in modern medicine is deeply analyzed. The corresponding relevant microscopic mechanisms and the guiding role of the theory of "Yang transforming Qi while Yin constituting form-sweat pore" in the management of chronic liver disease are summarized. Wind medicine promotes growth and transformation through sweat pore. The combination of pungent and sweet medicines facilitates Yang and disperse Yin. The formulas， combining the characteristics of wind medicine and pungent and sweet medicines， fit the principle of "Yang transforming Qi while Yin constituting form-sweat pore". This paper combines both macro and micro perspectives to explain the scientific connotation and microscopic mechanisms of chronic liver disease based on the theory of "Yang transforming Qi while Yin constituting form-sweat pore"， and explore the prevention and treatment of chronic liver disease through the principles， methods， prescriptions， and medicines featured by combination of pungent and sweet medicines， facilitating Yang， activating sweat pore， and dispersing Yin， providing new ideas and reference for the clinical treatment of chronic liver disease.

Twelve compounds were isolated from the rice fermentation extracts of Penicillium expansum GY618 by silica column chromatography, Sephadex gel column chromatography, ODS column chromatography and semi preparative HPLC methods. They were determined as 11-hydroxyl-penicitrinone F (1), penicitrinone F (2), betulin (3), erythrodiol (4), ergosterol (5), ergost-5α,8α-epidioxy-6,22-dien-3β-ol (6), (5α,8α-epidioxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol) (7), 5α,8α-epidioxy-(22E,24R)-23-methylergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (8), 5α,8α-epidioxy- 23,24(R)-dimethylcholesta-6,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol (9), dankasterone A (10), (17R)-4-hydroxy-17-methylincisterol (11) and ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (12), through mass spectrometer, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and comparison with the literature. Compound 1 was a new compound and compounds 2-4, 6-12 were isolated from Penicillium expansum fungus for the first time. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity experiment showed that compounds 1, 3 and 12 showed certain inhibitory activity against tyrosinase with IC₅₀ values of (75 ± 9), (69 ± 8) and (64 ± 2) μmol·L^-1, respectively. The IC₅₀ of other compounds were all greater than 100 μmol·L^-1, while IC₅₀ of the positive control kojic acid was (46 ± 4) μmol·L^-1.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of magnetic resonance-guided modified ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract in the treatment of deep anorectal abscess.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 148 patients with deep anorectal abscess treated at our hospital from September 2019 to June 2023,who met the inclusion criteria.Of these,51 patients in the observation group underwent modified LIFT,while 97 patients in the control group received incision and drainage.Using propensity score matching,47 patients from each group with balanced baseline characteristics were selected,resulting in a total of 94 patients being included in the analysis.The study compared operation time,hospital stay,pain index,postoperative complications,anal function,and healing rate between the two groups.Results Primary lesions originating in the sphincter space were identified through preoperative magnetic resonance imaging in all 94 patients.The mean operation time for the observation group was(43.75±11.77)minutes,significantly longer than that of the control group at(28.90±8.67)minutes(P<0.05).At three months post-surgery,the healing rate in the observation group was 80.9%,which was signifi-cantly higher than the 57.4%observed in the control group(P<0.05).Among patients with fistulas in the observation group,the healing rate was 73.1%,although this difference was not statistically significant in the univariate analysis of clinical characteristics(P>0.05).No significant differences were found between the two groups regarding the length of hospital stay,pain index,postoperative complications,or anal function(all P>0.05).Conclusions Modified LIFT guided by MRI can be conditionally applied in the treatment of deep anorectal abscesses.This approach can enhance the initial surgical healing rate without significantly increasing the incidence of postoperative complications,thereby avoiding potential damage to anal function.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of circular RNA RAD18 (CircRAD18 ) in regulating daunorubicin (DNR) resistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells through the miR-185-5p/hepatoma-derived growth factor ( HDGF) axis. METHODS: Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunoblotting were applied to detect the expression of CircRAD18 , miR-185-5p, and HDGF in human AML cell lines HL-60, U937, and human AML drug-resistant cell line KG1a. KG1a cells were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into control group, DNR group, DNR+negative control group, DNR+CircRAD18 knockdown group, and DNR+CircRAD18 knockdown+miR-185-5p inhibitor group. After transfection, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunoblotting were applied to detect the expression of CircRAD18 , miR-185-5p, and HDGF of cells, CCK-8 method and Ki-67 immunofluorescence staining were applied to detect cell proliferation, flow cytometry was applied to detect cell apoptosis, and immunoblotting was applied to detect the expression of cell proliferation, apoptosis and drug resistance related proteins in each group. The double luciferase reporter gene experiment was applied to detect the targeting regulation of CircRAD18 on miR-185-5p, and miR-185-5p on HDGF in KG1a cells. RESULTS: Compared with HL-60 and U937 cells, the expression of CircRAD18 , and HDGF mRNA and protein in KG1a cells increased (all P <0.05), while miR-185-5p decreased ( P <0.05). Compared with the control group, the CircRAD18 expression, HDGF mRNA and protein expression, cell viability, proliferation rate, and PCNA, Bcl-2, BCRP, and P-gp protein expression in the DNR+CircRAD18 knockdown group decreased (all P <0.05), while miR-185-5p expression, apoptosis rate, and Bax protein expression increased (all P <0.05). There were no obvious changes in all indicators of cells in the DNR group compared with control group ( P >0.05). Compared with the DNR group, the CircRAD18 expression, HDGF mRNA and protein expression, cell viability, proliferation rate, PCNA, Bcl-2, BCRP, and P-gp protein expression in the DNR+CircRAD18 knockdown group decreased (all P < 0.05), while miR-185-5p expression, apoptosis rate, and Bax protein expression increased (all P < 0.05). There were no obvious changes in all indicators of cells in the DNR+negative control group compared with DNR group (P >0.05). Compared with the DNR+CircRAD18 knockdown group, the HDGF mRNA and protein expression, cell viability, proliferation rate, PCNA, Bcl-2, BCRP, and P-gp protein expression in the DNR+CircRAD18 knockdown+miR-185-5p inhibitor group increased (all P < 0.05), while miR-185-5p expression, apoptosis rate, and Bax protein expression decreased (all P < 0.05). CircRAD18 was able to target and down-regulate the expression of miR-185-5p in KG1a cells, and miR-185-5p was able to target and down-regulate the HDGF expression. CONCLUSION Knocking down CircRAD18 can reduce HDGF expression by up-regulating miR-185-5p, thereby weakening DNR resistance in AML cells, inhibiting KG1a cell proliferation under DNR treatment, and promoting apoptosis.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Daunorubicin/pharmacology* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Apoptosis ; RNA, Circular ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; HL-60 Cells ; Cell Line, Tumor

BACKGROUND: The clinical impact of post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) quantitative flow ratio (QFR) in patients treated with PCI for chronic total occlusion (CTO) was still undetermined. METHODS: All CTO vessels treated with successful anatomical PCI in patients from PANDA III trial were retrospectively measured for post-PCI QFR. The primary outcome was 2-year vessel-oriented composite endpoints (VOCEs, composite of target vessel-related cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, and ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was conducted to identify optimal cutoff value of post-PCI QFR for predicting the 2-year VOCEs, and all vessels were stratified by this optimal cutoff value. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI. RESULTS: Among 428 CTO vessels treated with PCI, 353 vessels (82.5%) were analyzable for post-PCI QFR. 31 VOCEs (8.7%) occurred at 2 years. Mean value of post-PCI QFR was 0.92 ± 0.13. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis shown the optimal cutoff value of post-PCI QFR for predicting 2-year VOCEs was 0.91. The incidence of 2-year VOCEs in the vessel with post-PCI QFR < 0.91 (n = 91) was significantly higher compared with the vessels with post-PCI QFR ≥ 0.91 (n = 262) (22.0% vs. 4.2%, HR = 4.98, 95% CI: 2.32-10.70). CONCLUSIONS Higher post-PCI QFR values were associated with improved prognosis in the PCI practice for coronary CTO. Achieving functionally optimal PCI results (post-PCI QFR value ≥ 0.91) tends to get better prognosis for patients with CTO lesions.

BACKGROUND: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been shown to be positively correlated with cardiovascular disease in previous studies. However, it is unclear whether elderly people with long-term high AIP levels are more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between AIP trajectory and CHD incidence in elderly people. METHODS: 19,194 participants aged ≥ 60 years who had three AIP measurements between 2018 and 2020 were included in this study. AIP was defined as log₁₀ (triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). The group-based trajectory model was used to identify different trajectory patterns of AIP from 2018 to 2020. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI of CHD events between different trajectory groups from 2020 to 2023. RESULTS: Three different trajectory patterns were identified through group-based trajectory model: the low-level group (n = 7410, mean AIP: -0.25 to -0.17), the medium-level group (n = 9981, mean AIP: 0.02-0.08), and the high-level group (n = 1803, mean AIP: 0.38-0.42). During a mean follow-up of 2.65 years, a total of 1391 participants developed CHD. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with the participants in the low-level group, the HR with 95% CI of the medium-level group and the high-level group were estimated to be 1.24 (1.10-1.40) and 1.43 (1.19-1.73), respectively. These findings remained consistent in subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS There was a significant correlation between persistent high AIP level and increased CHD risk in the elderly. This suggests that monitoring the long-term changes in AIP is helpful to identify individuals at high CHD risk in elderly people.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Bushen Huoxue Granule on the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in an in vitro model of Parkinson's disease. METHODS: After treated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺, 1 mmol/L) for 24 h, the cells were incubated with drug-free serum, Madopar-containing serum or Bushen Huoxue Granule-containing serum (BCS, 5%, 10%, and 20%) for another 24 h. The levels of α-synuclein (α-syn), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and UPS-related proteins were detected by Western blot. The expression levels of α-syn in PC12 cells were also analyzed by Western blot after treated with proteasome inhibitor MG132 and WT-α-syn plasmid transfection, respectively, as well as the alterations induced by subsequent BCS intervention. Immunocytochemistry was performed to determine the changes in α-syn phosphorylation at serine 129 (pSer129-α-syn) expression. The 20S proteasome levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay. RESULTS: BCS (volume fraction ⩽20%) intervention could alleviate the MMP⁺-induced cell viability decrease (P<0.05). In the MPP⁺ treated cells, α-syn was up-regulated, while TH and proteins of UPS such as ubiquitin (Ub), Ub binding with Ub-activating enzyme (UBE1), Parkin and Ub C-terminal hydrolase-1 (UCHL-1) were down-regulated (P<0.05). BCS intervention could attenuate the above changes (P<0.05). The activity of BCS on blocking α-syn accumulation was weakened by MG132 (P<0.05). While α-syn level was significantly increased in cells transfected with plasmid, and reduced by BCS intervention (P<0.05). pSer129-α-syn was increased in MPP⁺-induced PC12 cells, whereas decreased by later BCS intervention (P<0.05). The 20S proteasome activity of MPP⁺-induced PC12 cells was decreased, but increased after BCS intervention (P<0.05). CONCLUSION BCS intervention protected UPS function, increased 20S proteasome activity, promoted pathological α-syn clearance, restored cell viability, and reversed the damage caused by MPP⁺ in the in vitro model of Parkinson's disease.
PC12 Cells ; alpha-Synuclein/metabolism* ; Rats ; Animals ; 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium/toxicity* ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Ubiquitin/metabolism* ; Cell Survival/drug effects* ; Phosphorylation/drug effects* ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the governance requirements for real world data(RWD)in China's medical standards and specifications,summarize key technical aspects of data governance,and provide refer-ences for RWD governance-related research.Methods Computerized searches were conducted in CNKI,Wan-fang Data,VIP,and SinoMed,as well as the official websites of 29 national medical societies and the National Standard Information Public Service Platform,covering all records from inception to December 12,2023.A data extraction form was developed,and the included standards and specifications were categorized according to the first six RWD governance processes outlined in the Guidelines for Real World Data Used to Generate Real-World Evidence(Trial)issued by the National Medical Products Administration:data security,data extraction,data cleaning,data transformation,data transmission and storage,and quality control.Relevant content on data governance was systematically summarized and comparatively analyzed.Results A total of 32 standards and specifications were included,comprising 15 foundational medical data standards and 17 data gov-ernance technical specifications.Among these,6 addressed data security,6 covered data extraction,5 focused on data cleaning,5 involved data transformation,6 pertained to data transmission and storage,and 4 discussed quality control.Foundational medical data standards included data description elements,terminology,and format standards,broadly covering essential data elements and meeting basic standardization needs.Data gov-ernance technical specifications primarily provided general guidelines for medical data governance,emphasizing requirements and recommendations.While requirements for data security and extraction were relatively well-de-fined,technical guidance on data transformation and quality control remained limited,and implementation pathways for data cleaning,transmission,and storage were insufficiently detailed.Conclusions As real-world evidence plays an increasingly critical role in healthcare decision-making,China's medical standards and speci-fications have established a preliminary governance framework for RWD.However,technical details and practi-cal implementation of RWD governance still require further refinement.