Macrophages are innate immune cells connected with the development of inflammation. Retinoic acid has previously been proved to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. However, the exact mechanism through which retinoic acid modulates arthritis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether retinoic acid ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis by modulating macrophage polarization. This study used retinoic acid to treat mice with adjuvant arthritis and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects by arthritis score, thermal nociceptive sensitization test, histopathologic examination and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, its specific anti-arthritic mechanism was investigated by flow cytometry, cell transfection and inflammatory signaling pathway assays in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Retinoic acid significantly relieved joint pain and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. Furthermore, this treatment modulated peritoneal macrophage polarization, increased levels of arginase 1, as well as decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In vitro, we verified that retinoic acid promotes macrophage transition from the M1 to M2 type by upregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression and inhibiting P38, JNK and ERK phosphorylation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Notably, the therapeutic effects of retinoic acid were inhibited by MKP-1 knockdown. Retinoic acid exerts a significant therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through the MKP-1/MAPK pathway, and play an important role in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Macrophages are innate immune cells connected with the development of inflammation. Retinoic acid has previously been proved to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. However, the exact mechanism through which retinoic acid modulates arthritis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether retinoic acid ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis by modulating macrophage polarization. This study used retinoic acid to treat mice with adjuvant arthritis and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects by arthritis score, thermal nociceptive sensitization test, histopathologic examination and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, its specific anti-arthritic mechanism was investigated by flow cytometry, cell transfection and inflammatory signaling pathway assays in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Retinoic acid significantly relieved joint pain and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. Furthermore, this treatment modulated peritoneal macrophage polarization, increased levels of arginase 1, as well as decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In vitro, we verified that retinoic acid promotes macrophage transition from the M1 to M2 type by upregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression and inhibiting P38, JNK and ERK phosphorylation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Notably, the therapeutic effects of retinoic acid were inhibited by MKP-1 knockdown. Retinoic acid exerts a significant therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through the MKP-1/MAPK pathway, and play an important role in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Macrophages are innate immune cells connected with the development of inflammation. Retinoic acid has previously been proved to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. However, the exact mechanism through which retinoic acid modulates arthritis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether retinoic acid ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis by modulating macrophage polarization. This study used retinoic acid to treat mice with adjuvant arthritis and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects by arthritis score, thermal nociceptive sensitization test, histopathologic examination and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, its specific anti-arthritic mechanism was investigated by flow cytometry, cell transfection and inflammatory signaling pathway assays in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Retinoic acid significantly relieved joint pain and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. Furthermore, this treatment modulated peritoneal macrophage polarization, increased levels of arginase 1, as well as decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In vitro, we verified that retinoic acid promotes macrophage transition from the M1 to M2 type by upregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression and inhibiting P38, JNK and ERK phosphorylation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Notably, the therapeutic effects of retinoic acid were inhibited by MKP-1 knockdown. Retinoic acid exerts a significant therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through the MKP-1/MAPK pathway, and play an important role in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Macrophages are innate immune cells connected with the development of inflammation. Retinoic acid has previously been proved to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. However, the exact mechanism through which retinoic acid modulates arthritis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether retinoic acid ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis by modulating macrophage polarization. This study used retinoic acid to treat mice with adjuvant arthritis and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects by arthritis score, thermal nociceptive sensitization test, histopathologic examination and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, its specific anti-arthritic mechanism was investigated by flow cytometry, cell transfection and inflammatory signaling pathway assays in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Retinoic acid significantly relieved joint pain and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. Furthermore, this treatment modulated peritoneal macrophage polarization, increased levels of arginase 1, as well as decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In vitro, we verified that retinoic acid promotes macrophage transition from the M1 to M2 type by upregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression and inhibiting P38, JNK and ERK phosphorylation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Notably, the therapeutic effects of retinoic acid were inhibited by MKP-1 knockdown. Retinoic acid exerts a significant therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through the MKP-1/MAPK pathway, and play an important role in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Macrophages are innate immune cells connected with the development of inflammation. Retinoic acid has previously been proved to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. However, the exact mechanism through which retinoic acid modulates arthritis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether retinoic acid ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis by modulating macrophage polarization. This study used retinoic acid to treat mice with adjuvant arthritis and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects by arthritis score, thermal nociceptive sensitization test, histopathologic examination and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, its specific anti-arthritic mechanism was investigated by flow cytometry, cell transfection and inflammatory signaling pathway assays in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Retinoic acid significantly relieved joint pain and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in mice. Furthermore, this treatment modulated peritoneal macrophage polarization, increased levels of arginase 1, as well as decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In vitro, we verified that retinoic acid promotes macrophage transition from the M1 to M2 type by upregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression and inhibiting P38, JNK and ERK phosphorylation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Notably, the therapeutic effects of retinoic acid were inhibited by MKP-1 knockdown. Retinoic acid exerts a significant therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis in mice by regulating macrophage polarization through the MKP-1/MAPK pathway, and play an important role in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Microalgae possess high photosynthetic efficiency, robust adaptability, and substantial biomass, serving as excellent biological resources for large-scale cultivation. Malic enzyme (ME), a ubiquitous metabolic enzyme in living organisms, catalyzes the decarboxylation of malate to produce pyruvate, CO₂, and NAD(P)H, playing a role in multiple metabolic pathways including energy metabolism, photosynthesis, respiration, and biosynthesis. In this study, we identified the Scenedesmus quadricauda malic enzyme gene (SqME) and its biological functions, aiming to provide excellent target genes for the genetic improvement of higher plants. Based on the RNA-seq data from S. quadricauda under the biofilm cultivation mode with high CO₂ and light energy transfer efficiency and small water use, a highly expressed gene (SqME) functionally annotated as ME was cloned. The physicochemical properties of the SqME-encoded protein were systematically analyzed by bioinformatics tools. The subcellular localization of SqME was determined via transient transformation in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The biological functions of SqME were identified via genetic transformation in Nicotiana tabacum, and the potential of SqME in the genetic improvement of higher plants was evaluated. The ORF of SqME was 1 770 bp, encoding 590 amino acid residues, and the encoded protein was located in chloroplasts. SqME was a NADP-ME, with the typical structural characteristics of ME. The ME activity in the transgenic N. tabacum plant was 1.8 folds of that in the wild-type control. Heterologous expression of SqME increased the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll by 20.9%, 26.9%, and 25.2%, respectively, compared with the control. The transgenic tobacco leaves showed an increase of 54.0% in the fluorescence parameter NPQ and a decrease of 30.1% in Fo compared with the control. Moreover, the biomass, total lipids, and soluble sugars in the transgenic tobacco leaves enhanced by 20.5%, 25.7%, and 9.5%, respectively. On the contrary, the starch and protein content in the transgenic tobacco leaves decreased by 22.4% and 12.2%, respectively. Collectively, the SqME-encoded protein exhibited a strong enzymatic activity. Heterologous expressing of SqME could significantly enhance photosynthetic protection, photosynthesis, and biomass accumulation in the host. Additionally, SqME can facilitate carbon metabolism remodeling in the host, driving more carbon flux towards lipid synthesis. Therefore, SqME can be applied in the genetic improvement of higher plants for enhancing photosynthetic carbon fixation and lipid accumulation. These findings provide scientific references for mining of functional genes from S. quadricauda and application of these genes in the genetic engineering of higher plants.
Nicotiana/genetics* ; Photosynthesis/physiology* ; Malate Dehydrogenase/biosynthesis* ; Plant Leaves/genetics* ; Scenedesmus/enzymology* ; Carbon Cycle/genetics* ; Lipid Metabolism/genetics* ; Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism*

Colorectal cancer （CRC）， a most common malignant tumor of the digestive tract， is often manifested by abdominal pain， changes in stool quality， blood in the stool， and weight loss， with rising morbidity and mortality year by year. The onset and development of CRC involve a variety of mechanisms， in which tumor microenvironment （TME） and tumor-associated macrophages （TAMs） have received increasing attention. TAMs influence the tumor development via immune escape and angiogenesis promotion and are associated with the prognosis of tumors. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has been widely researched and applied in the treatment of cancers. Studies have discovered that TCM mainly exerts the therapeutic effects on CRC by inhibiting the proliferation， metastasis， and angiogenesis， promoting the apoptosis， and inducing autophagy of tumor cells and boosting the immune function. TCM as an effective treatment approach can regulate TAMs to inhibit tumor growth. Moreover， the active components and targets of TCM can be taken as new research directions of immunotherapy. This review describes TAMs and their roles in CRC progression and summarizes the molecular targets and mechanisms of different active components， compound prescriptions， and novel preparations of TCM against CRC， aiming to provide a mechanism reference for the clinical treatment of CRC with TCM and give new insights into the in-depth research on the prevention and treatment of CRC-related diseases with TCM.

The incidence of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fracture (OTLVF) in the elderly is gradually increasing. The kyphotic deformity caused by various factors has become an important characteristic of OTLVF and has received increasing attention. Its clinical manifestations include pain, delayed nerve damage, sagittal imbalance, etc. Currently, the definition and diagnosis of OTLVF with kyphotic deformity in the elderly are still unclear. Although there are many treatment options, they are controversial. Existing guidelines or consensuses pay little attention to this type of fracture with kyphotic deformity. To this end, the Lumbar Education Working Group of the Spine Branch of the Chinese Medicine Education Association and Editorial Committee of Chinese Journal of Trauma organized the experts in the relevant fields to jointly develop Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures with kyphotic deformity in the elderly ( version 2024), based on evidence-based medical advancements and the principles of scientificity, practicality, and advanced nature, which provided 18 recommendations to standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective To construct an evidence-based prevention and management programme for peristomal moisture-associated skin damage in patients with enterostomy,and to evaluate its clinical effectiveness in improving the knowledge level of nurses and patients about peristomal moisture-associated skin damage in patients with enterostomy and reducing the incidence and severity of peristomal moisture-associated skin damage.Methods Through literature screening,evaluation,and summary,the best evidence for the prevention and management programme of peristomal moisture-associated skin damage in patients with enterostomy was summarized.From October 2021 to March 2022,based on the Ottawa research application model,review indicators were developed based on the best evidence for clinical review,identifying obstacles and promoting factors in evidence application,and developing action strategies to improve the evidence-based practice content for the prevention and management of peristomal moisture-associated skin damage in patients with enterostomy.From April to June 2022,evidence-based practice was conducted in the oncology surgery ward of a tertiary hospital in Anhui Province.The implementation rate of various review indicators by nurses,the knowledge level of peristomal moisture-associated skin damage of nurses and patients,and the incidence and severity of peristomal moisture-associated skin damage were compared before and after evidence-based practice.Results 46 cases were included before the evidence-based practice and 49 cases were included after the evidence-based practice.After evidence-based practice,the implementation rate of each review index was improved;the overall implementation rate increased from(0-66.67％)to(83.33％-100％);the score of the patient's knowledge questionnaire on peristomal moisture-associated skin damage was increased from(69.67±8.31)to(80.18±8.07).The score of the nurse's knowledge questionnaire on peristomal moisture-associated skin damage was increased from(79.83±5.97)to(88.28±5.43).At 4 weeks and 12 weeks of discharge,the incidence of peristomal moisture-associated skin damage was decreased,with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05);the severity of peristomal moisture-associated skin damage was also significantly reduced,with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).Conclusion Conducting evidence-based practice for the prevention and management of peristomal moisture-associated skin damage can effectively improve the implementation rate of nurse review indicators,improve the knowledge level of nurses and patients with peristomal moisture-associated skin damage,and reduce the incidence and severity of peristomal moisture-associated skin damage in patients with enterostomy.

Objective:To explore the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic-assisted liposuction in the treatment of gynecomastia.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 115 male breast development patients from January 2021 to May 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University and Shaoguan Hospital of Southern Medical University. The patients were divided into two groups based on surgical methods: the laparoscopic combined liposuction technique group (observation group) and the traditional areola incision group (control group). The control group consisted of 59 cases, aged between 18 and 52 years (26.2±5.2); There were 56 cases in the observation group, aged between 18 and 55 years (26.5±5.2). The differences in surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage tube removal time, incidence of surgical complications, postoperative drainage volume, pain visual analog scale (VAS), and patient satisfaction were compared between two groups of patients.Results:The intraoperative bleeding volume, drainage tube removal time, and postoperative drainage volume in the observation group were 12.25±2.23, 2.85±0.53, and 80.52±7.53, respectively, all of which were lower than those in the control group (26.53±2.35, 4.22±0.59, 81.25±8.54, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05).The incidence of sensory abnormalities in the nipple areola area of the observation group was 1.8% (1/56), which was lower than the 10.2% (6/59) of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05).The postoperative breast shape, nipple shape, and incision score of the observation group were 81.15±18.52, 77.85±22.15, and 72.58±10.56 points, respectively, all higher than the control group's 69.34±18.48, 78.12±21.75, and 60.35±9.35 points, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Laparoscopic combined with liposuction technology for the treatment of gynecomastia can reduce intraoperative bleeding and postoperative drainage volume and shorten the time for removing drainage tubes with better safety.