This study aimed to explore the mechanisms and molecular targets of total flavones of Abelmoschus manihot(TFA) plus empagliflozin(EM) in attenuating diabetic tubulopathy(DT) by targeting mitochondrial homeostasis and pyroptosis-apoptosis-necroptosis(PANoptosis). In the in vivo study, the authors established the DT rat models through a combination of uninephrectomy, administration of streptozotocin via intraperitoneal injections, and exposure to a high-fat diet. Following modeling successfully, the DT rat models received either TFA, EM, TFA+EM, or saline(as a vehicle) by gavage for eight weeks, respectively. In the in vitro study, the authors subjected the NRK52E cells with or without knock-down Z-DNA binding protein 1(ZBP1) to a high-glucose(HG) environment and various treatments including TFA, EM, and TFA+EM. In the in vivo and in vitro studies, The authors investigated the relative characteristics of renal tubular injury and renal tubular epithelial cells damage induced by reactive oxygen species(ROS), analyzed the relative characteristics of renal tubular PANoptosis and ZBP1-mediatted PANoptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells, and compared the relative characteristics of the protein expression levels of marked molecules of mitochondrial fission in the kidneys and mitochondrial homeostasis in renal tubular epithelial cells, respectively. Furthermore, in the network pharmacology study, the authors predicted and screened targets of TFA and EM using HERB and SwissTargetPrediction databases; The screened chemical constituents and targets of TFA and EM were constructed the relative network using Cytoscape 3.7.2 network graphics software; The relative targets of DT were integrated using OMIM and GeneCards databases; The intersecting targets of TFA, EM, and DT were enriched and analyzed signaling pathways by Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) software using DAVID database. In vivo study results showed that TFA+EM could improve renal tubular injury, the protein expression levels and characteristics of key signaling molecules in PANoptosis pathway in the kidneys, and the protein expression levels of marked molecules of mitochondrial fission in the kidneys. And that, the ameliorative effects in vivo of TFA+EM were both superior to TFA or EM. Network pharmacology study results showed that TFA+EM treated DT by regulating the PANoptosis signaling pathway. In vitro study results showed that TFA+EM could improve ROS-induced cell injury, ZBP1-mediatted PANoptosis, and mitochondrial homeostasis in renal tubular epithelial cells under a state of HG, including the protein expression levels of marked molecules of mitochondrial fission, mitochondrial ultrastructure, and membrane potential level. And that, the ameliorative effects in vitro of TFA+EM were both superior to TFA or EM. More importantly, using the NRK52E cells with knock-down ZBP1, the authors found that, indeed, ZBP1 was mediated PANoptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells as an upstream factor. In addition, TFA+EM could regulate the protein expression levels of marked signaling molecules of PANoptosis by targeting ZBP1. In summary, this study clarified that TFA+EM, different from TFA or EM, could attenuate DT with multiple targets by ameliorating mitochondrial homeostasis and inhibiting ZBP1-mediated PANoptosis. These findings provide the clear pharmacological evidence for the clinical treatment of DT with a novel strategy of TFA+EM, which is named "coordinated traditional Chinese and western medicine".
Animals ; Rats ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Benzhydryl Compounds/administration & dosage* ; Glucosides/administration & dosage* ; Abelmoschus/chemistry* ; Male ; Homeostasis/drug effects* ; Flavones/administration & dosage* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Diabetic Nephropathies/physiopathology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Humans ; Apoptosis/drug effects*

Patients suffering from nerve injury often experience exacerbated pain responses and complain of memory deficits. The dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), a well-defined region responsible for learning and memory, displays maladaptive plasticity upon injury, which is assumed to underlie pain hypersensitivity and cognitive deficits. However, much attention has thus far been paid to intracellular mechanisms of plasticity rather than extracellular alterations that might trigger and facilitate intracellular changes. Emerging evidence has shown that nerve injury alters the microarchitecture of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and decreases ECM rigidity in the dHPC. Despite this, it remains elusive which element of the ECM in the dHPC is affected and how it contributes to neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits. Laminin, a key element of the ECM, consists of α-, β-, and γ-chains and has been implicated in several pathophysiological processes. Here, we showed that peripheral nerve injury downregulates laminin β1 (LAMB1) in the dHPC. Silencing of hippocampal LAMB1 exacerbates pain sensitivity and induces cognitive dysfunction. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that loss of hippocampal LAMB1 causes dysregulated Src/NR2A signaling cascades via interaction with integrin β1, leading to decreased Ca²⁺ levels in pyramidal neurons, which in turn orchestrates structural and functional plasticity and eventually results in exaggerated pain responses and cognitive deficits. In this study, we shed new light on the functional capability of hippocampal ECM LAMB1 in the modulation of neuropathic pain and comorbid cognitive deficits, and reveal a mechanism that conveys extracellular alterations to intracellular plasticity. Moreover, we identified hippocampal LAMB1/integrin β1 signaling as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neuropathic pain and related memory loss.
Animals ; Laminin/genetics* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Male ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/metabolism* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Integrin beta1/metabolism* ; Pyramidal Cells/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVE: EPF3 is a fibrinolysin monomer isolated and purified from Pheretima vulgaris Chen, an earthworm used in traditional Chinese medicine as Dilong for treating blood stasis syndrome. Its composition, anticoagulant and fibrinolytic activities, and relevant mechanisms have been confirmed through in vitro experiments. However, whether it has antithrombotic effects in vivo and can be absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract is unknown. This study evaluates the antithrombotic effect in zebrafish and investigates the gastrointestinal stability and intestinal absorption mechanism of this protein in vitro. METHODS: The antithrombotic effect of EPF3 in vivo was verified using the zebrafish thrombus model induced by arachidonic acid and FeCl₃. Then, the protein bands of EPF3 incubated with simulated gastric fluid (SGF), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), and homogenate of Caco-2 cells (HC2C) were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to evaluate its gastrointestinal stability. Finally, the transport behavior and absorption mechanism of EPF3 were studied using Caco-2 cell monolayer. RESULTS: EPF3 could significantly enhance the returned blood volume and blood flow velocity in zebrafish with platelet aggregation thrombus induced by arachidonic acid. It could also prolong the formation time of tail artery thrombus and increase the blood flow velocity in zebrafish with vessel injury thrombus induced by FeCl₃. EPF3 was stable in SIF and HC2C and unstable in SGF. The permeability of EPF3 in Caco-2 monolayer was time-dependent and concentration-dependent. The efflux ratio was less than 1.2 during transport, and the transport behavior was not affected by inhibitors. EPF3 could reversibly reduce the expression of tight junction-related proteins, including zonula occludens-1, occludin, and claudin-1 in Caco-2 cells. CONCLUSION EPF3 could play a thrombolytic and antithrombotic role in zebrafish. It could be transported and absorbed into the intestine through cellular bypass pathway by opening the intestinal epithelium tight junction. This study provides a scientific explanation for the antithrombotic effect of earthworm and provides a basis for the feasibility of subsequent development of EPF3 as an antithrombotic enteric-soluble preparation. Please cite this article as: Zhong WL, Yang JQ, Liu H, Wu YL, Shen HJ, Li PY, Du SY. Antithrombotic effect in zebrafish of a fibrinolytic protein EPF3 from Dilong (Pheretima vulgaris Chen) and its transport mechanism in Caco-2 monolayer through cell bypass pathway. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 415-428.
Animals ; Zebrafish ; Humans ; Caco-2 Cells ; Fibrinolytic Agents/pharmacology* ; Thrombosis/drug therapy* ; Intestinal Absorption

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides in the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression.Methods An open,single-arm,multi-center design was adopted in our study.Adult patients with mild and moderate depression who had received acute treatment of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides were enrolled and continue to receive Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules for 24 weeks,the dose remained unchanged during continuation treatment.The remission rate,recurrence rate,recurrence time,and the change from baseline to endpoint of Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),Clinical Global Impression-Severity(CGI-S)and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale(ASEX)were evaluated.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was reported.Results The scores of HAMD-17 at baseline and after treatment were 6.60±1.87 and 5.85±4.18,scores of HAMA were 6.36±3.02 and 4.93±3.09,scores of CGI-S were 1.49±0.56 and 1.29±0.81,scores of ASEX were 15.92±4.72 and 15.57±5.26,with significant difference(P＜0.05).After continuation treatment,the remission rate was 54.59％(202 cases/370 cases),and the recurrence rate was 6.49％(24 cases/370 cases),the recurrence time was(64.67±42.47)days.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was 15.35％(64 cases/417 cases).Conclusion Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides capsules can be effectively used for the continuation treatment of mild and moderate depression,and are well tolerated and safe.

Aim To investigate the effect of quercetin on the aging model of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells established under microgravity. Methods Using 3D gyroscope, a aging model of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was constructed, and after receiving quercetin and microgravity treatment, the anti-aging effect of the quercetin was evaluated by detecting related proteins and oxidation indexes. Results Compared to the control group, the expressions of age-related proteins p21, pi6, p53 and RB in the microgravity group significantly increased, while the expressions of cyclin D1 and lamin B1 significantly decreased, with statistical significance (P<0.05). In the microgravity group, mitochondrial membrane potential significantly decreased (P<0.05), ROS accumulation significantly increased (P <0.05), SOD content significantly decreased and MDA content significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared to the microgravity group, the expressions of age-related proteins p21, pi6, p53 and RB in the quercetin group significantly decreased, while the expressions of cyclin D1 and lamin B1 significantly increased, with statistical significance (P<0.05). In the quercetin group, mitochondrial membrane potential significantly increased (P<0.05), ROS accumulation significantly decreased (P<0.05), SOD content significantly increased and MDA content significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusions Quercetin can resist oxidation, protect mitochondrial function and normal cell cycle, thus delaying the aging of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells induced by microgravity.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of Dingxuan Decoction combined with vestibular function rehabilitation training in the treatment of Meniere's disease and to observe its effect on clinical symptoms and blood flow of vertebral artery.Methods A total of 100 patients with Meniere's disease of liver-kidney yin deficiency complicated with wind-water upward stirring type were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,with 50 patients in each group.The control group was given conventional treatment and vestibular function rehabilitation training,and the observation group was treated with Dingxuan Decoction on the basis of treatment for the control group.The two groups were treated for 4 weeks and then were followed up for 6 months.The changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome score,Dizziness Handicap Inventory(DHI)score,Tinnitus Handicap Inventory(THI)score,hearing visual analogue scale(VAS)score and vertebral artery blood flow in the two groups were observed before and after the treatment.After treatment,the TCM syndrome efficacy,hearing improvement and follow-up results were compared between the two groups.Results(1)After 4 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate for TCM syndrome efficacy of the observation group was 86.00%(43/50),and that of the control group was 62.00%(31/50),and the intergroup comparison showed that the TCM syndrome efficacy in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(2)After 4 weeks of treatment,the hearing of patients in both groups was improved,and the total effective rate for the efficacy of hearing improvement in the observation group was 76.00%(38/50),while that in the control group was 46.00%(23/50).The intergroup comparison showed that the efficacy of hearing improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the TCM syndrome scores,DHI score,THI score and hearing VAS scores in the two groups were all decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the decrease in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the average blood flow velocity of the left vertebral artery(LVA)and the right vertebral artery(RVA)in the two groups were both increased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the increase in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(5)The results of 6-month follow-up after treatment showed that the incidence of Meniere's disease and the frequency of attack in the observation group were significantly reduced compared with those in the control group,and the episode duration in the observation group was significantly shorter than that in the control group,the differences being all statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusion Dingxuan Decoction combined with vestibular function rehabilitation training exert certain effect in treating patients with Meniere's disease of liver-kidney yin deficiency complicated with wind-water upward stirring type,and the therapy is effective on improving patients'clinical symptoms and vertebral artery blood flow,reducing the risk of recurrence and improving the quality of life of the patients.

Objective:To understand the serological characteristics of irregular antibodies in pregnant women and explore their clinical significance.Methods:From January 2017 to March 2022,151 471 pregnant women in Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were enrolled in this study,microcolumn gel card test was used for irregular antibody screening,and antibody specificity identification was further performed in some antibody-positive subjects.Results:The positive rate of irregular antibody screening in the enrolled pregnant women was 0.91％(1 375/151 471),0.23％(355/151 471)was detected in the first trimester,0.05％(71/151 471)in the second trimester,and 0.63％(949/151 471)in the third trimester.The positive rate of irregular antibody screening in the third trimester was significantly higher than that in the first and second trimester,and a significant increase in the number of positive cases was found in the third trimester than that in the second trimester.The analysis of agglutination intensity of 1 375 irregular antibody screening positive results showed that the weakly positive agglutination intensity accounted for 50.11％(689/1 375),which was the highest,the suspicious positive was 18.69％(257/1 375),and the positive was 31.20％(429/1 375).The significant difference in distribution of agglutination intensity was not observed between the first trimester group and the second trimester group,however,in the third trimester,the proportion of suspicious positive and weakly positive was lower than the first trimester,while,the proportion of positive was higher than the first trimester,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.001).Among the irregular antibody screening positive pregnant women,the proportion of pregnant women with pregnancy number ≥ 2 was significantly higher than that with pregnancy≤1.Among 60 pregnant women who underwent antibody identification,the distributions of the antibodies were as follows:Rh blood group system accounted for 23.33％(14/60),Lewis system 43.33％(26/60),Kidd system 3.33％(2/60),MNS system 16.67％(10/60),P1PK system 1.67％(1/60),autoantibodies 1.67％(1/60),and 4 cases was unable to identify(6.67％,4/60).Among specific antibodies,the anti-Lea was the most common(30.00％),followed by anti-E(16.67％)and anti-M(16.67％).Conclusion:The differences of irregular antibody serological characteristics exist in pregnant women from different regions with different genetic backgrounds,understanding the characteristics of irregular antibody in local pregnant women is of great significance for ensuring transfusion safety in pregnant women and preventing hemolytic disease of newborn.

Guillain-Barre syndrome rarely develops after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and only a few reports exist in China. Guillain-Barre syndrome is an acute and life-threatening condition that requires early diagnosis and treatment. A patient with acute myeloid leukemia underwent allogeneic HSCT for >5 months and gradually developed limb muscle weakness and limited eye movement after coexisting with delayed acute intestinal graft-versus-host disease. After the examination of cerebrospinal fluid and electromyography, the diagnosis of Guillain–Barre syndrome was confirmed. After a high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment, muscle strength gradually recovered, and the prognosis was good.

The onset of myasthenia gravis (MG) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) seriously threatens the survival of patients, since it is acute, and is prone to rapid progression. Two patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), who had undergone allo-HSCT developed shortness of breath, and gradually developed cervical weakness and dyspnea. The acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody and neostigmine test enabled the diagnosis of MG. The condition of the patients improved after treatment with pyridostigmine bromide, glucocorticoids and rituximab.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]