Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） is a chronic liver disease closely related to metabolism， which is mainly characterized by abnormal lipid deposition in hepatocytes. In recent years， with the increasing prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome， NAFLD has become one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex and varied， involving the cross-regulation of multiple signaling pathways such as glucose-lipid metabolism， oxidative stress， and inflammation. The TLR4 signaling pathway plays a key role in the development and progression of NAFLD， and abnormal activation of this pathway accelerates the deterioration of NAFLD by promoting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines， inducing oxidative stress， and exacerbating insulin resistance. Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can regulate the TLR4 signaling pathway to alleviate the symptoms and pathological features of NAFLD. The present review summarizes the experimental research progress in the TCM regulation of the TLR4 signaling pathway in treating NAFLD in the past 5 years， covering a wide range of TCM active ingredients （such as polysaccharides， terpenoids， alkaloids， flavonoids） and compound prescriptions. The active ingredients and compound prescriptions of TCM can effectively ameliorate lipid metabolism disorders， reduce insulin resistance， regulate intestinal flora， and inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress by regulating the TLR4 signaling pathway via multiple targets and pathways， thus slowing down the progression of NAFLD. Through in-depth analysis of the pathological mechanisms of NAFLD and exploration of the potential of TLR4 signaling pathway as a therapeutic target， we can provide theoretical support for the application of TCM in the treatment of NAFLD， as well as new perspectives and directions for future clinical research and new drug development， thereby promoting the innovation and development of therapeutic strategies for NAFLD.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) is a prevalent metabolic and endocrine disorder. Long-term hyperglycemia can lead to severe chronic complications, imposing substantial economic burdens on both society and patients. Despite the availability of various hypoglycemic agents for clinical use, these agents often fail to meet the therapeutic needs of T2DM and its complications. Consequently, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies and drugs. Lithocarpus litseifolius(L. litseifolius), commonly referred to as "cordyceps on trees", has a long history of use in traditional medicine and can be applied in tea, sugar, and medicine. Research indicates that L. litseifolius extracts are rich in dihydrochalcones, including trilobatin, phloridzin, and phloretin, which exhibit a range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective effects. These properties suggest potential applications in the treatment of T2DM and its complications. This review systematically compiled and organized the relevant literature from the past decade on dihydrochalcones(trilobatin, phloridzin, and phloretin) from L. litseifolius extracts. It highlighted recent research progress regarding their role in treating T2DM and its complications through mechanisms such as reducing insulin resistance, regulating glucose transport, improving glucose and lipid metabolism, modulating enzyme activity, regulating gut microbiota, and alleviating inflammation and oxidative damage. The purpose of this review is to provide a reference and basis for future research on the prevention and treatment of T2DM and its complications using dihydrochalcones(trilobatin, phloridzin, and phloretin) from L. litseifolius extracts.
Chalcones/chemistry* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Humans ; Animals ; Elaeocarpaceae/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/chemistry*

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effect of Huanglian-Renshen-Decoction (HRD) on ameliorating type 2 diabetes mellitus by maintaining islet β -cell identity through regulating paracrine and endocrine glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in both islet and intestine. METHODS: The db/db mice were divided into the model (distilled water), low-dose HRD (LHRD, 3 g/kg), high-dose HRD (HHRD, 6 g/kg), and liraglutide (400 µ g/kg) groups using a random number table, 8 mice in each group. The db/m mice were used as the control group (n=8, distilled water). The entire treatment of mice lasted for 6 weeks. Blood insulin, glucose, and GLP-1 levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The proliferation and apoptosis factors of islet cells were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Then, GLP-1, GLP-1R, prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3), PC2, v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homologue A (MafA), and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1) were detected by Western blot, IHC, IF, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS: HRD reduced the weight and blood glucose of the db/db mice, and improved insulin sensitivity at the same time (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HRD also promoted mice to secrete more insulin and less glucagon (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, it also increased the number of islet β cell and decreased islet α cell mass (P<0.01). After HRD treatment, the levels of GLP-1, GLP-1R, PC1/3, PC2, MafA, and PDX1 in the pancreas and intestine significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION HRD can maintain the normal function and identity of islet β cell, and the underlying mechanism is related to promoting the paracrine and endocrine activation of GLP-1 in pancreas and intestine.
Animals ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor/metabolism* ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/pathology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Male ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Insulin/blood* ; Mice ; Intestinal Mucosa/pathology* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Islets of Langerhans/pathology*

As a cheap and effective antibiotic,sulfonamides are often used in animal husbandry.However,their residues in animal-derived foodstuffs will threaten human health.Consequently,a high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)method integrated with supramolecular solvent microextraction was successfully established for simultaneous quantification of sulfonamide residues sulfachlorpyridazine,sulfamethoxazole,sulfamethoxypyridazine and sulfadimethoxine in milk matrices.This approach exhibited prominent characteristics of operational simplicity,environmental sustainability,and high extraction efficiency.The supramolecular solvents prepared by tributyl octylphosphine tetrafluoroborate and tetrahydrofuran were employed as extraction solvents.The analytes underwent isolation and concentration via dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction(DLLME)prior to quantitative determination using high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The composition and microscopic morphology of the supramolecular solvent were characterized through a series of analytical techniques,including phase diagram,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,scanning electron microscopy,and inverted fluorescence microscopy and so on.The density and pH value of supramolecular solvents were determined.The extraction conditions were optimized through the one-factor experiments.The experimental results demonstrated that under the optimal extraction conditions,the four kinds of sulfonamide antibiotics exhibited excellent linearity within respective detection range(R2 ≥ 0.9998)and the limits of detection(LOD)were 0.67-1.45 μg/L.Compared with literature methods,this approach offered some advantages such as simplicity of operation and less reagent consumption,and could be used for analysis and detection of sulfonamide antibiotic residues in milk samples.The present method provided technical support for food safety regulation and paved a new way for the application of supramolecular solvents in the field of extraction and separation.

Objective:To explore the protective effect of small ubiquitin-related moditier protein specific peptidase 2 (SENP2) on acute kidney injury in septic mice by regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation.Methods:Forty C57BL/6 mice were divided into 4 groups: namely the wild-type sham group (WT-Sham), wild-type cecal ligation and perforation group (WT-CLP), SENP2 gene knockout sham group (KO-Sham), and SENP2 gene knockout cecal ligation and perforation group (KO-CLP), with 10 mice in each group. It was observed the pathological damage of kidney tissue in each group of mice, used ELISA method to detect blood creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma neutrophil gelatinase related lipoprotein (pNGAL), and plasma kidney injury molecule 1 (pKIM-1) levels, and determined plasma TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4 and IL-10 levels. It was used immunohistochemical method to detect the expression of SENP2 protein in renal tissue, while used western-blotting to detect NLRP3, IL-1β, Caspase-1 and ASC protein expression in renal tissue.Results:Compared with the WT-Sham and KO-Sham groups, in the WT-CLP and KO-CLP groups, the pathological damage scores of the kidney tissue and the levels of SCr, BUN, pNGAL, pKIM-1, TNF-α and IL-1β in plasma were all significantly increased (all P<0.001), while the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were all significantly reduced (all P<0.001), and the levels of NLRP3, IL-1β, Caspase-1 and ASC proteins were all significantly increased (all P<0.001). Moreover, compared with the WT-CLP group, the KO-CLP group showed a significant decrease in renal tissue injury scores in mice ( P?0.01), the levels of SCr, BUN, pNGAL, pKIM-1, TNF-α and IL-1β were all significantly reduced (all P<0.05), and the levels of NLRP3 [(0.71 ± 0.04) vs. (0.89 ± 0.01), P=0.011], IL-1β [(0.41 ± 0.02) vs. (0.57 ± 0.01), P=0.004], Caspase-1 [(0.41 ± 0.02) vs. (0.56 ± 0.02), P=0.009], and ASC [(0.27 ± 0.01) vs. (0.41 ± 0.02), P=0.009] were all significantly reduced. Conclusion:SENP2 participates in the occurrence and development of septic AKI by regulating the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes.

Objective:To explore the biomechanical stability of a novel anchor-loop internal fixation system in the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation using cadaveric specimens.Methods:The acromioclavicular ligaments were severed in 12 complete shoulder joint specimens, in which the quasi-static non-destructive cycle experiment was performed until the coracoclavicular ligaments failed. The failure intensities of the coracoclavicular ligaments were recorded. Next, the 12 specimens were randomly divided into groups A, B, C and D ( n=3), in which 4 different internal fixation materials were used respectively to reduce and fix the acromioclavicular joint. Group A was subjected to 3.5 mm clavicular hook locking compression plate, group B to 5 mm soft tissue with wire anchor, group C to 10 mm Endobutton steel plate, and group D to the novel anchor-loop internal fixation system (5 mm soft tissue with wire anchor + 10 mm Endobutton steel plate). An X-ray machine was used to evaluate the reduction and internal fixation of the acromioclavicular joint. After the shoulder specimens were securely fastened by a homemade fixation jig to a 100 KN electronic universal mechanical testing machine, each experimental specimen was subjected to a destructive static tensile mechanic determination in the vertical direction at a loading speed of 100 mm/min. The load-displacement curves were recorded and drawn by a computer connected with the biomechanical testing machine. The failure strength and failure causes were recorded for each internal fixation. Results:The fracture strength of the coracoclavicular ligament in 12 cadaver specimens was (374.6±0.8) N. The mechanical load of internal fixation failure was (409.5±2.6) N in group A, (297.8±3.4) N in group B, (375.2±3.1) N in group C and (376.2±3.1) N in group D. The internal fixation failure was due to clavicular fracture in 2 specimens and to acromial fracture in 1 specimen in group A, to anchor protrusion in all the 3 specimens in group B, to coracoid base fracture in all the 3 specimens in group C, and to anchor protrusion in all the 3 specimens in group D. The mechanical loads of internal fixation failure were significantly different among the 4 experimental groups ( P<0.05). The mechanical load of internal fixation failure in group D was significantly different from that in groups A and B ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Our self-developed novel anchor-loop internal fixation system can effectively reposit the acromioclavicular joint to treat acromioclavicular joint dislocation, because it conforms to the biomechanical characteristics of the acromioclavicular joint, and is easy to handle. Therefore, its feasibility is high.

Currently,human health due to corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has been seriously threatened.The coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)spike(S)protein plays a crucial role in virus transmission and several S-based therapeutic approaches have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19.However,the efficacy is compromised by the SARS-CoV-2 evolvement and mutation.Here we report the SARS-CoV-2 S protein receptor-binding domain(RBD)inhibitor licorice-saponin A3(A3)could widely inhibit RBD of SARS-CoV-2 variants,including Beta,Delta,and Omicron BA.1,XBB and BQ1.1.Furthermore,A3 could potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus in Vero E6 cells,with EC50 of 1.016 pM.The mechanism was related to binding with Y453 of RBD deter-mined by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry(HDX-MS)analysis combined with quan-tum mechanics/molecular mechanics(QM/MM)simulations.Interestingly,phosphoproteomics analysis and multi fluorescent immunohistochemistry(mIHC)respectively indicated that A3 also inhibits host inflammation by directly modulating the JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)path-ways and rebalancing the corresponding immune dysregulation.This work supports A3 as a promising broad-spectrum small molecule drug candidate for COVID-19.

Objective:To design and synthesize peptide inhibitors targeting transient receptor potential vanilloid 1(TRPV1)ion channel,and to validate their function.Methods:Based on previous studies on the relation of molecular structure and function of red head toxin(RhTx),a series of peptides were rationally designed and synthesized,with positive charged amino acids linked to the N terminus of RhTx.These Nplus-RhTx peptides were functionally validated by patch-clamp recordings in live cells.Results:Among the 8 synthesized Nplus-RhTx peptides,four inhibited TRPV1 ion channel activated by capsaicin with IC50 of(188.3±4.7),(193.6±18.0),(282.8±11.9)and(299.5±6.4)μmol/L,respectively.Conclusion:It is feasible to develop TRPV1 peptide inhibitors by using rational design based on N terminal residues of RhTx.

Objective To analyze the hip joint biomechanies of the acetabular anatomical reconstruction and nonanatomi-cal reconstruction in total hip arthroplasty(THA)for Crowe type Ⅲ developmental dysplasia of the hip(DDH)by finite ele-ment method,which provided theoretical foundation and experimental basis for the anatomical acetabular reconstruction dur-ing THA in clinical practice.Methods One patient with left end-stage hip arthritis secondary to Crowe type Ⅲ DDH was se-lected in this study,who underwent total hip arthroplasty in the orthopedic department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College in April 2020.This patient was female,57 years old.The preoperative and postoperative three dimentional CT scan of the patient's pelvis were performed.Fourteen acetabular cup models with different anteversion,inclination and rotation center height were established in Mimics and 3-Matic software.The boundary and load conditions were set in Abaqus software.The Von Mises and stress distribution of the hip joint were calculated and observed.Results In the Crowe type Ⅲ DDH THA,if the hip rotation center was restored anatomically and the acetabular cup's inclination was set as 40°,the cup's anteversion var-ied from 5° to 25°,the lowest Von Mises value of acetabular cup and polyethylene liner occured in 20°anteversioin;if the hip rotation center was restored anatomically and the acetabular cup's anteversion was set as 15°,the cup's inclination varied from 35° to 55°,the lowest Von Mises value of acetabular cup and polyethylene liner occured in 35° inclination;if the acetabular cup's anteversion and inclination were set as 15°and 40°respectively,the up migration of hip rotaion center varied from 0 mm to 20 mm,the lowest Von Mises value of acetabular cup and polyethylene liner occured in 10 mm up migration.In all fourteen models,the Von Mises value of the acetabulum,acetabulum cup and polyethylene liner were lowest when the acetabular cup's anteversion and inlcination were 15°,35° respectively,as well as the rotation center was restored anatomically.Conclusion In total hip arthroplasty for Crowe type Ⅲ DDH,the anatomical restoration of hip rotation center with 15° anteversion and 35° in-clination of the acetabular cup are suggested,bone graft above the acetabular cup and additional screws are recommended si-multaneously to further reduce the Von Mises of hip joint.