ObjectiveTo investigate the role and mechanism of ribosomal DNA （rDNA） transcription and ribosome biogenesis in muscle atrophy induced by acute kidney injury （AKI）. MethodsEight male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group （Ctrl） and a model group （AKI）. An AKI model was established via intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin. Muscle atrophy was phenotypically assessed by measuring muscle mass， myofiber cross-sectional area （HE staining）， and mRNA expression levels of atrophy-related genes （Murf-1， Atrogin-1， Igf-1） using qRT-PCR. In vivo protein synthesis rates were determined via the SUnSET assay （puromycin incorporation）. Ribosome biogenesis was evaluated by assessing rRNA content and 47S pre-rRNA expression levels. Myotubes differentiated from mouse skeletal muscle cell lines （C2C12 myotubes） were treated with serum from AKI mice， and the effects on rDNA transcription， ribosome biogenesis， and protein metabolism were analyzed using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction （ChIP-qPCR） and Western blot. ResultsAKI successfully induced muscle atrophy， as evidenced by a significant reduction in skeletal muscle mass. The most pronounced decrease occurred in the extensor digitorum longus muscle （21.0%， P 0.01）， along with a trend toward reduced myofiber cross-sectional area. At the molecular level， AKI inhibited muscle protein synthesis （83.14% reduction in puromycin incorporation， P 0.000 1） and impaired ribosome biogenesis， manifested by suppressed rDNA transcription elongation （52.62% decrease in 47S pre-rRNA ITS-1 levels， P 0.01） and reduced total rRNA content （65.29%， P 0.000 1）. In contrast， serum from AKI mice promoted rDNA transcription initiation and protein synthesis in C2C12 myotubes in vitro. ConclusionAKI induces muscle atrophy by suppressing rDNA transcription and ribosome biogenesis in skeletal muscle， leading to impaired protein synthesis. Dysregulated ribosome biogenesis may play a critical role in AKI-induced muscle atrophy.

AIM: To detect the distribution and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in radiation retinopathy(RR)through fluorescence targeted imaging.METHODS:Covalent binding of fluorescein FITC with VEGF antibody ranibizumab to prepare targeted fluorescent imaging probe ranibizumab-FITC. SD rats were randomly divided into three groups based on the principle of weight balance: a normal control group(Con group), a low-dose radiation group(10 Gy group), and a high-dose radiation group(30 Gy group). Medical linear accelerators and lead blocks were used to locally irradiate the rat eyeballs for modeling. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression levels of VEGF-A in each group and to screen for appropriate modeling dose. The inverted fluorescence microscope and the confocal microscope were used to observe the distribution of VEGF and imaging probes in the retinas of control and RR model group rats, and to verify the effectiveness of targeted probes.RESULTS:The expression level of VEGF-A in the retina of rats in the high-dose radiation group(30 Gy group)was higher than that in the normal control group(Con group). In early RR, VEGF expression was observed to be associated with microaneurysms and abnormal microvessels in the retina. VEGF accumulation was observed at the site of capillary wall damage. When retinal capillary endothelial damage occurred, targeted probes gathered on the outer surface of the vessel wall.CONCLUSION:The expression level of VEGF in the retina of RR model rats is elevated, and fluorescent targeted molecular imaging probes can detect the spatial distribution of VEGF at the microvascular lesions in the retina of RR rats.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which adrenoceptor alpha 2A (Adra2a) regulates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in primary hepatocytes from lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) knockout mice (Lbp^-/-). MethodsPrimary hepatocytes from C57BL/6J and Lbp^-/- mice were isolated using a two-step perfusion method. An in vitro inflammatory model was established by LPS stimulation, and an in vivo inflammatory mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The in vitro experiments were grouped as follows: Control group, LPS group, BRL+LPS group, OE-NC+LPS group, and OE-Adra2a+LPS group. The Control group served as the blank control. The LPS group involved stimulating primary hepatocytes with LPS. The BRL+LPS group involved pretreating primary hepatocytes with BRL-44408 maleate followed by LPS stimulation. The OE-NC+LPS group involved transfecting primary hepatocytes with an empty vector followed by LPS stimulation. The OE-Adra2a+LPS group involved transfecting primary hepatocytes with a lentivirus overexpressing Adra2a, followed by LPS stimulation. The in vivo experimental groups were divided into Control', LPS', BRL+LPS', OE-NC+LPS', and OE-Adra2a+LPS' groups. The Control' group served as the blank control. The LPS' group received intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The BRL+LPS' group received intraperitoneal injection of BRL-44408 maleate for pretreatment, followed by LPS injection. The OE-NC+LPS' group received intraperitoneal injection of empty vector for pretreatment, followed by LPS injection. The OE-Adra2a+LPS' group received intraperitoneal injection of a lentivirus overexpressing Adra2a for pretreatment, followed by LPS injection. Cell viability after Adra2a inhibition and overexpression was assessed via the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. RT-qPCR measured changes in gene expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) after Adra2a inhibition and overexpression. Western blotting was performed to detect Adra2a protein expression and phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) following LPS stimulation. ResultsIn vitro experiments revealed that LPS stimulation significantly decreased Adra2a protein expression in primary hepatocytes from C57BL/6J mice compared to the Control group (P<0.05), whereas it increased in primary hepatocytes from Lbp^-/- mice (P<0.001). Compared to the LPS group, the BRL+LPS group exhibited significantly increased cell viability (P<0.01), reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β gene transcription levels (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.001), and decreased phosphorylation levels of MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins ERK1/2, p38, and JNK (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.001). Compared with the OE-NC+LPS group, the OE-Adra2a+LPS group showed significantly decreased cell viability (P<0.001), increased gene transcription levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β genes (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.001), and elevated phosphorylation levels of MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins ERK1/2, p38, and JNK (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.001). In vivo experiments showed that, compared with the LPS' group, the BRL+LPS' group exhibited significantly reduced phosphorylation levels of MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins ERK1/2, p38, and JNK (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.01). In the OE-Adra2a+LPS' group, the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, p38, and JNK were significantly elevated compared to the OE-NC+LPS' group (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.01). ConclusionLPS stimulation can cause a significant increase in Adra2a protein expression in primary hepatocytes of Lbp^-/- mice. Adra2a protein can regulate the level of LPS-induced inflammation in primary hepatocytes of Lbp^-/- mice through the MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effect of chlorogenic acid on atherosclerosis (AS) in a mouse model.Methods:Twenty-four specific pathogen-free male ApoE-/- mice were adaptively fed for 1 week and then randomly divided into three groups ( n=8 per group): The model group, the atorvastatin group, and the chlorogenic acid group. All three groups were fed with a high-fat diet. Eight male C57BL/6N wild-type mice served as the control group and were fed with a standard diet. After 8 weeks, the atorvastatin group received intragastric administration of a solution containing 0.9% sodium chloride +2.6 mg/kg atorvastatin at 10 mL/kg, while the chlorogenic acid group received 0.9% sodium chloride +200 mg/kg chlorogenic acid at 10 mL/kg. The control and model groups were given an equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride once a day. After 9 weeks of continuous treatment, the mice were anesthetized, and the aortas were collected for Oil Red O staining. Image J was used to measure plaque area and total vascular area, and the percentage was calculated. Liver tissues were subjected to hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining to observe pathological changes. Blood samples from the abdominal aorta were collected to measure lipid profiles [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)], liver function markers [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], and inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)]. Non-HDL-C levels were calculated as TC minus HDL-C. Results:Aortic lipid plaque area: The model group exhibited a significantly higher plaque area than the control group [(44.91±1.91)% vs. (0.21±0.11)%]. Both the atorvastatin group [(15.00±1.29)%] and the chlorogenic acid group [(26.13±2.16)%] showed reduced plaque areas compared to the model group ( P<0.05). Liver pathology: The control group displayed intact hepatocyte structure with regular morphology, whereas the model group exhibited significant steatosis. Both the atorvastatin and chlorogenic acid groups showed alleviated liver damage compared to the model group. Blood lipid levels: The model group had higher TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C levels than the control group [(30.3±4.0) mmol/L vs. (2.8±0.3) mmol/L, (1.26±0.32) mmol/L vs. (0.52±0.12) mmol/L, (3.02±0.39) mmol/L vs. (2.00±0.17) mmol/L, (14.87±5.23) mmol/L vs. (0.39±0.09) mmol/L, (27.3±4.0) mmol/L vs. (0.8±0.3) mmol/L, respectively]. Both the atorvastatin group [(24.0±3.1), (0.64±0.08), (2.04±0.41), (8.55±1.15), (22.0±3.2) mmol/L] and the chlorogenic acid group [(23.3±2.5), (0.88±0.14), (2.28±0.18), (8.90±0.29), (21.0±2.5) mmol/L] showed lower levels than the model group ( P<0.05). The model group had higher ALT, AST, and ALP levels than the control group [(274±43) U/L vs. (99±14) U/L, (130±66) U/L vs. (38±4) U/L, (86±15) U/L vs. (60±5) U/L, respectively]. Both the atorvastatin group [(139±12), (58±16), (69±5) U/L] and the chlorogenic acid group [(138±11), (55±16), (54±5) U/L] exhibited lower levels than the model group ( P<0.05). Inflammatory cytokines: The model group had higher IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels than the control group [(238±15) ng/L vs. (202±7) ng/L, (211±6) ng/L vs. (174±6) ng/L, (1 325±75) ng/L vs. (1 036±75) ng/L, respectively]. Both the atorvastatin group [(215±9), (191±4), (1 163±78) ng/L] and the chlorogenic acid group [(220±13), (195±7), (1 197±53) ng/L] showed reduced levels compared to the model group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Chlorogenic acid may inhibit aortic lipid plaque deposition and ameliorate AS in mice by improving lipid metabolism and suppressing inflammatory responses.

6-Thioguanine(6-TG)is an antineoplastic agent used in treatment of acute leukemia.However,significant interindividual variability in dosing regimens and frequent clinical manifestations of hepatotoxicity and myelosuppression as adverse effects have affected its therapeutic efficacy.Consequently,the development of rapid analytical methods for 6-TG in clinical samples,enabling continuous therapeutic drug monitoring of plasma concentrations,holds substantial significance in optimizing dosage regimens,mitigating adverse reactions,and investigating drug metabolism mechanisms.In this study,multi-tipped gold nanostars(AuNSs)were prepared.With bis-(p-sulfonylphenyl)phenylphosphine molecule as the protecting agent and internal standard molecule,the AuNSs were assembled onto a highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman(SERS)substrate for developing a ratio-based SERS quantitative analysis method for 6-TG in serum.The AuNSs containing multiple tips and gaps exhibited strong local surface plasmon resonance effect and SERS activity,ensuring the sensitivity of the analytical method.Furthermore,the introduction of internal standard molecules could improve the reproducibility,which guaranteed this method suitable for rapid analysis of drug molecules in complex samples.Quantitative analysis of 6-TG was achieved with linear detetion range of 1.0×10?4-1.0 mmol/L.In the spiked recovery experiments of serum,the RSD was less than 5.32%,and the recoveries were 94%-104%,which proved that this method could be used for rapid quantitative determination of 6-TG in serum.This method provided a powerful tool for studying drug pharmacokinetics,which could promote the optimization of the usage methods of anti-cancer drugs,and it was expected to further enhance the clinical efficacy and safety of 6-TG,enabling it to achieve the best therapeutic effect.

Aim To explore the mechanism of ligustil-ide(LIG)improving demyelination by inhibiting in-flammatory response in mice with distal middle cerebral artery occlusion(dMCAO)through AIM2/caspase-1 signal pathway.Methods Thirty C57BL/6N male mice were randomly divided into three groups:sham operation group(Sham group,n=10),model group(dMCAO group,n=10)and treatment group(LIG group,n=10).The dMCAO mouse model was estab-lished by electrocoagulation in dMCAO group and LIG group.The mice were scored by Longa after waking up,and the changes of cerebral blood flow were moni-tored by laser speckle blood flow imaging system after dMCAO.One hour after modeling,LIG(30 mg·kg-1·d-1)was injected intraperitoneally in LIG group,and the same amount of normal saline was injected in sham group and dMCAO group for one week until the end of the experiment.The mice in each group were stained with TTC,and the brain injury was observed pathologically.Fatigue turning bar test and open field test were used to evaluate the motor function and anxie-ty degree of mice,and then the brain tissues of mice were taken for black gold staining to compare the chan-ges of myelin sheath in each group.Immunofluores-cence staining was used to detect the average fluores-cence intensity of MBP,IBA1 and GFAP in CC,CPU and CX regions of mouse brains.ELISAwas used to de-tect the contents of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1 β,IL-17A and BDNF in brain tissue proteins of mice.Western blot-ting was used to detect the protein expressions of AIM2,caspase-1 and ASC-in each group.Results Compared with the dMCAO group,the infarct area was reduced,the behavior was significantly improved and the demyelination was reduced in the LIG group.The expression of MBP protein in CC,CPU and CX regions increased(P＜0.05),the expression of IBA1 in CX decreased(P＜0.01),and the expression of GFAP in-creased in CC,CPU and CX regions(P＜0.01).The results of ELISA showed that the levels ofTNF-α(P＜0.01),IL-6(P＜0.01),IL-1β(P＜0.05)and IL-17A(P＜0.01)significantly decreased,while the ex-pression of BDNF increased(P＜0.05).The protein expression levels of AIM2,caspase-1 and ASC in mouse brain decreased after treatment(P＜0.01).Conclusion LIG has a protective effect on demyelina-tion in dMCAO mice,which may be related to the inhi-bition of AIM2/caspase-1 signaling pathway and in-flammation and to the promotion of BDNF secretion.

To summarize the diagnosis and management of a highly sensitized renal transplant recipient who developed Legionella pneumophila infection during the perioperative period. A 48-year-old male recipient presented early after transplantation with both acute allograft rejection and pulmonary infection. The acute rejection episode was successfully reversed with appropriate treatment, whereas the pulmonary infection continued to progress. Initial microbiological tests were negative, and empirical antimicrobial therapy was ineffective. Legionella pneumophila was subsequently detected by metagenomic next-generation sequencing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained via bronchoscopy. Following combined therapy with moxifloxacin and tigecycline, along with withdrawal of immunosuppressive agents, the pulmonary lesions completely resolved.

Osteoporosis is a prevalent skeletal condition characterized by reduced bone mass and strength, leading to increased fragility. Buqi-Tongluo (BQTL) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has yet to be fully evaluated for its potential in treating bone diseases such as osteoporosis. To investigate the mechanism by which BQTL decoction inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and validate these findings through in vivo experiments. We employed MTS assays to assess the potential proliferative or toxic effects of BQTL on bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) at various concentrations. TRAcP experiments were conducted to examine BQTL's impact on osteoclast differentiation. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were utilized to evaluate the relative expression levels of osteoclast-specific genes and proteins under BQTL stimulation. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed using an osteoporosis model to further validate the in vitro findings. This study revealed that BQTL suppressed receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast resorption activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner without observable cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects of BQTL on osteoclast formation and function were attributed to the downregulation of NFATc1 and c-fos activity, primarily through attenuation of the MAPK, NF-κB, and Calcineurin signaling pathways. BQTL's inhibitory capacity was further examined in vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model, demonstrating a strong protective effect against bone loss. BQTL may serve as an effective therapeutic TCM for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the alleviation of bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and related conditions.
Animals ; NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Ovariectomy ; Osteoclasts/metabolism* ; Female ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Osteoporosis/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Bone Resorption/genetics* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Humans ; RANK Ligand/metabolism* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Transcription Factors

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*