Abnormal synaptic plasticity is an early pathological feature of Alzheimer disease (AD). Synaptic damage and dysfunction initiate neuronal degeneration and death, ultimately leading to cognitive impairment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can effectively ameliorate cognitive dysfunction through multitarget regulation of synaptic plasticity. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which TCM, including active components, single herbs, and classical formulas, modulates synaptic plasticity, offering new insights for future research and clinical applications. Relevant experimental studies published between 2020 and 2024 were retrieved from major databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the National Science and Technology Library, Wanfang Data, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, PubMed, SpringerLink, and Web of Science. Network pharmacology and bioinformatics approaches were used to predict the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of TCM on AD-related synaptic plasticity. In total, 15 TCM single herbs and 11 TCM formulas were identified as enhancing AD-related synaptic plasticity. Additionally, 15 active ingredients targeting synaptic plasticity in AD were retrieved from TCM databases over the past decade. This review provides novel perspectives and strategic directions for future AD research and therapeutic development.

Objective Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of diverse animals to sense and utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, remains a molecularly unresolved mystery in sensory biology. The putative magnetoreceptor (MagR, previously known as IscA1) is a highly conserved iron-sulfur protein implicated in both magnetoreception and iron metabolism; however, the functional diversity among its cross-species homologs remains poorly understood. Cellular morphology is a key genetically determined trait that can be altered through genetic or environmental modifications—a process known as cell morphology engineering. Constructing engineered cells with specific morphological features and magnetic sensitivity to achieve remote, non-invasive magnetic modulation represents a crucial goal in this field with significant application potential. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the effects of MagR heterologous expression on bacterial morphology and magnetic sensing capabilities, screen for MagR-based magnetically sensitive morphology engineering pathways, and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods We systematically screened 28 MagR homologous genes from diverse prokaryotic and animal taxa to evaluate their expression and corresponding phenotypic effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli). To compare the differential magnetic responses among bacteria expressing various recombinant MagR proteins, we utilized high-throughput automated bright-field microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterizations of iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding were performed using Ferrozine colorimetric assays, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Additionally, 100 mT static magnetic field (SMF) exposure experiments were conducted to assess magnetically tunable phenotypes, while the intrinsic magnetic properties of purified MagR proteins were directly measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results Our results demonstrated that the heterologous expression of MagR homologs induced varying degrees of bacterial filamentation. From this comprehensive screen, two distinct morphological patterns were identified: hydra (Hydra vulgaris) MagR (hyMagR) promoted uniform cell elongation and filamentation, exhibiting robust magnetic sensitivity manifested as significantly enhanced filamentation under the 100 mT SMF. In contrast, pigeon (Columba livia) MagR (clMagR) induced only low-frequency, extreme filamentation (sporadically exceeding 80 μm) with a relatively weaker magnetic morphological response. Mechanistically, our data unambiguously proved that these phenotypic differences are primarily driven by distinct iron redox preferences rather than total cellular iron accumulation. Specifically, hyMagR preferentially binds ferrous iron (Fe²⁺), whereas clMagR favors ferric iron (Fe³⁺) and forms more stable iron-sulfur clusters. Intriguingly, although SQUID magnetometry showed that purified clMagR exhibited approximately five-fold higher mass magnetic susceptibility than hyMagR, its cellular magnetic response was weaker. We hypothesize that the Fe²⁺-preferred intracellular environment associated with hyMagR overexpression primes the cell for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the Fenton reaction. Exposure to an SMF synergizes with this primed redox state, triggering the bacterial SOS response and upregulating cell division inhibitors to efficiently induce uniform filamentation. Conclusion Our findings identify the Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ redox state as a critical determinant of MagR-mediated morphological remodeling and magnetic responsiveness. This discovery suggests a potential strategy for engineering magnetically responsive cellular systems for synthetic biology applications, and provides a plausible framework, which potentially combines intrinsic protein magnetism with redox-state modulation, for further investigating the evolutionary mechanisms of MagR-mediated magnetoreception.

Objective Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of diverse animals to sense and utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, remains a molecularly unresolved mystery in sensory biology. The putative magnetoreceptor (MagR, previously known as IscA1) is a highly conserved iron-sulfur protein implicated in both magnetoreception and iron metabolism; however, the functional diversity among its cross-species homologs remains poorly understood. Cellular morphology is a key genetically determined trait that can be altered through genetic or environmental modifications—a process known as cell morphology engineering. Constructing engineered cells with specific morphological features and magnetic sensitivity to achieve remote, non-invasive magnetic modulation represents a crucial goal in this field with significant application potential. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the effects of MagR heterologous expression on bacterial morphology and magnetic sensing capabilities, screen for MagR-based magnetically sensitive morphology engineering pathways, and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods We systematically screened 28 MagR homologous genes from diverse prokaryotic and animal taxa to evaluate their expression and corresponding phenotypic effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli). To compare the differential magnetic responses among bacteria expressing various recombinant MagR proteins, we utilized high-throughput automated bright-field microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterizations of iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding were performed using Ferrozine colorimetric assays, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Additionally, 100 mT static magnetic field (SMF) exposure experiments were conducted to assess magnetically tunable phenotypes, while the intrinsic magnetic properties of purified MagR proteins were directly measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results Our results demonstrated that the heterologous expression of MagR homologs induced varying degrees of bacterial filamentation. From this comprehensive screen, two distinct morphological patterns were identified: hydra (Hydra vulgaris) MagR (hyMagR) promoted uniform cell elongation and filamentation, exhibiting robust magnetic sensitivity manifested as significantly enhanced filamentation under the 100 mT SMF. In contrast, pigeon (Columba livia) MagR (clMagR) induced only low-frequency, extreme filamentation (sporadically exceeding 80 μm) with a relatively weaker magnetic morphological response. Mechanistically, our data unambiguously proved that these phenotypic differences are primarily driven by distinct iron redox preferences rather than total cellular iron accumulation. Specifically, hyMagR preferentially binds ferrous iron (Fe²⁺), whereas clMagR favors ferric iron (Fe³⁺) and forms more stable iron-sulfur clusters. Intriguingly, although SQUID magnetometry showed that purified clMagR exhibited approximately five-fold higher mass magnetic susceptibility than hyMagR, its cellular magnetic response was weaker. We hypothesize that the Fe²⁺-preferred intracellular environment associated with hyMagR overexpression primes the cell for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the Fenton reaction. Exposure to an SMF synergizes with this primed redox state, triggering the bacterial SOS response and upregulating cell division inhibitors to efficiently induce uniform filamentation. Conclusion Our findings identify the Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ redox state as a critical determinant of MagR-mediated morphological remodeling and magnetic responsiveness. This discovery suggests a potential strategy for engineering magnetically responsive cellular systems for synthetic biology applications, and provides a plausible framework, which potentially combines intrinsic protein magnetism with redox-state modulation, for further investigating the evolutionary mechanisms of MagR-mediated magnetoreception.

Background/Aims: Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism is a hallmark of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that drives tumor initiation and progression. However, clinical targeting of cholesterol metabolism has yielded limited benefits due to stringent feedback in tumor cells. Identifying a central mediator capable of restoring cholesterol homeostasis within the cell’s intrinsically fine-tuned regulatory framework is urgently needed. Methods: We integrated a proteomic dataset from patients with cholesterol-dysregulated HCC into a global cholesterol metabolic regulatory network to identify potential therapeutic targets for disrupted cholesterol homeostasis. The prognostic significance of the candidate targets was further validated in an independent cohort through immunohistochemistry. Functional and mechanistic studies were conducted in vitro using HCC cell lines and in vivo using mouse models. The pharmacological efficacy of the candidate agent was evaluated in both subcutaneous and orthotopic HCC mouse models. Results: ER lipid raft-associated 1 (ERLIN1), a pivotal regulator of cholesterol metabolism reprogramming, was identified as an independent favorable prognostic indicator in HCC. ERLIN1 constrains HCC progression both in vitro and in vivo by stabilizing the INSIG1–SCAP–SREBP2 axis and maintaining the metabolic balance of intracellular cholesterol. Under hypoxia, impaired factor-inhibiting hypoxia-1-dependent hydroxylation of ASB11 at asparagine residues 90 and 92 enhances ASB11-mediated ERLIN1 degradation. Pharmacological targeting of this axis using zoledronic acid (ZoA) attenuated HCC progression by weakening the ASB11–ERLIN1 interaction and restoring cholesterol homeostasis. Conclusions ERLIN1 represents a druggable metabolic vulnerability in cholesterol-dysregulated HCC. Targeting the ASB11–ERLIN1 axis with the clinically approved ZoA reestablishes cholesterol homeostasis and offers a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome the current limitations of cholesterol-targeted HCC therapies.

To explore the application effectiveness of generative artificial intelligence(GAI) in the standardized training assessment of critical care medicine residents.

Acute carbon monoxide poisoning (ACMP) is a common harmful gas poisoning. Underwent systematic treatment and a 2-3 week pseudo-healing period, some ACMP patients may still develop delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP). DEACMP is the most severe complication that could happen to ACMP patients and comes with an exceeding high disability rate. Early identification and adequate intervention measures of DEACMP are particularly crucial for preventing its occurrence in clinical practice. At present, multiple studies have found that after ACMP occurred, a series of biomarkers showed predictive value for detecting the occurrence and development of DEACMP. This paper reviews these biomarkers and their predictive effects on DEACMP, aiming to provide theoretical guidance for the prevention and intervention of DEACMP.

Objective:To compare the clinical effect of deproteinized calf blood extract (DCBE) eye drops and 0.3% sodium hyaluronate eye drops in the treatment of diabetic cataract patients with dry eye after phacoemulsification.Methods:A randomized controlled study was performed.A total of 112 patients (116 eyes) with type Ⅱ diabetes combined with cataract and dry eye who underwent phacoemulsification in the Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from January 2022 to September 2022 were selected.Patients were divided into DCBE group (49 cases, 51 eyes) and sodium hyaluronate group (63 cases, 65 eyes) by the random number table method.Patients received DCBE eye drops and 0.3% sodium hyaluronate eye drops after surgery according to grouping.Preoperative and postoperative 1 week, 1 month subjective symptoms of dry eye, corneal edema grade, tear film breakup time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) and Schirmer Ⅰ test (SⅠt) results were recorded and compared.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (No.SDSYKYY202112-1).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject.Results:There were significant differences in dry eye symptom score, TBUT and SⅠt at different time points between before and after surgery ( Ftime=323.202, 102.771, 151.876; all P<0.001).Dry eye symptom score decreased and SⅠt increased in the two groups at 1 week and 1 month after surgery compared with before surgery, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.017).TBUT was longer at 1 week and 1 month after surgery compared with before surgery in the DCBE group, and TBUT at 1 month after surgery was longer than that before surgery in the sodium hyaluronate group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.017).There were statistically significant differences in CFS scores between the two groups at different time points before and after surgery ( Fgroup=5.391, P=0.022; Ftime=142.402, P<0.001).The CFS scores of both groups at 1 week and 1 month after surgery were lower than those before surgery, and CFS scores in the DCBE group were lower than those in the sodium hyaluronate group, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.017).One week after surgery, the proportion of patients with corneal edema in the DCBE group was 5.9%(3/51), which was significantly lower than 20.0%(13/65) in the sodium hyaluronate group ( χ2=4.790, P=0.029). Conclusions:DCBE eye drops can promote corneal repair, stabilize tear film and improve dry eye discomfort in early postoperative period in diabetic cataract, and its overall effect is better than 0.3% sodium hyaluronate eye drops.

Endothelial dysfunction is one of the early triggers of vascular remodeling during pulmonary hypertension (PH) with complex predisposing mechanisms, mainly via an unbalanced generation of vasoactive factors, increased expression of growth factors, prothrombotic elements, and inflammatory markers. Conventional treatment regimens are restricted to a single therapeutic pathway, which usually leads to limited clinical outcomes. Combination therapies targeting multiple cells and several signaling pathways are increasingly adopted in PH treatment. Herein, inspired by the cocrystal pleomorphism theory, we prepared rod-shaped nanococrystals of the endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptor antagonist (bosentan, BST) and the anti-inflammatory drug (andrographolide, AG) for targeting the pulmonary endothelium and alleviating PH. The 525 nm-sized co-delivery system displayed a rod-like morphology, preferentially accumulated in the pulmonary endothelium and alleviated pulmonary artery (PA) remodeling. A three-week treatment with the preparation significantly alleviated the monocrotaline (MCT)- or Sugen 5416/hypoxia (SuHx)-induced PH by reducing the pulmonary artery pressure, increasing the survival rate, improving the hemodynamics, and inhibiting vascular remodeling. Mechanistically, the nanococrystals collaboratively repaired endothelial dysfunction by suppressing the pathways of ET-1/NF-κB/ICAM-1/TNF-α/IL-6. In conclusion, the cocrystal-based strategy offers a promising approach for constructing co-delivery systems. The developed rod-shaped nanococrystals effectively target the pulmonary endothelium and relieve experimental PH.

Effective annotation of in vivo drug metabolites using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) remains a formidable challenge. Herein, a metabolic reaction-based molecular networking (MRMN) strategy is introduced, which enables the "one-pot" discovery of prototype drugs and their metabolites. MRMN constructs networks by matching metabolic reactions and evaluating MS² spectral similarity, incorporating innovations and improvements in feature degradation of MS² spectra, exclusion of endogenous interference, and recognition of redundant nodes. A minimum 75% correlation between structural similarity and MS² similarity of neighboring metabolites was ensured, mitigating false negatives due to spectral feature degradation. At least 79% of nodes, 49% of edges, and 97% of subnetworks were reduced by an exclusion strategy of endogenous ions compared to the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) platform. Furthermore, an approach of redundant ions identification was refined, achieving a 10%-40% recognition rate across different samples. The effectiveness of MRMN was validated through a single compound, plant extract, and mixtures of multiple plant extracts. Notably, MRMN is freely accessible online at https://yaolab.network, broadening its applications.

Functional dyspepsia (FD), characterized by persistent or recurrent dyspeptic symptoms without identifiable organic, systemic or metabolic causes, is an increasingly recognized global health issue. The objective of this guideline is to equip clinicians and nursing professionals with evidence-based strategies for the management and treatment of adult patients with FD using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Guideline Development Group consulted existing TCM consensus documents on FD and convened a panel of 35 clinicians to generate initial clinical queries. To address these queries, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, China Biology Medicine (SinoMed) Database, Wanfang Database, Traditional Medicine Research Data Expanded (TMRDE), and the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS). The evidence from the literature was critically appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The strength of the recommendations was ascertained through a consensus-building process involving TCM and allopathic medicine experts, methodologists, pharmacologists, nursing specialists, and health economists, leveraging their collective expertise and empirical knowledge. The guideline comprises a total of 43 evidence-informed recommendations that span a range of clinical aspects, including the pathogenesis according to TCM, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, efficacy assessments, and prognostic considerations. Please cite this article as: Zhang SS, Zhao LQ, Hou XH, Bian ZX, Zheng JH, Tian HH, Yang GH, Hong WS, He YY, Liu L, Shen H, Li YP, Xie S, Shu J, Zeng BF, Li JX, Liu Z, Xiao ZH, Xiao JD, Zheng PY, Huang SG, Chen SL, Fei GJ. International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025). J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):502-518.
Dyspepsia/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*