This study aimed to characterize and identify the non-volatile components in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stems and leaves of Rhododendron tomentosum by using sensitive and efficient ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with a self-built information database. By comparing with reference compounds, analyzing fragment ion information, searching relevant literature, and using a self-built information database, 118 compounds were identified from the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of R. tomentosum, including 35 flavonoid glycosides, 15 phenolic glycosides, 12 flavonoids, 7 phenolic acids, 7 phenylethanol glycosides, 6 tannins, 6 phospholipids, 5 coumarins, 5 monoterpene glycosides, 6 triterpenes, 3 fatty acids, and 11 other types of compounds. Among them, 102 compounds were reported in R. tomentosum for the first time, and 36 compounds were identified by comparing them with reference compounds. The chemical components in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tomentosum leaves and stems showed slight differences, with 84 common chemical components accounting for 71.2% of the total 118 compounds. This study systematically characterized and identified the non-volatile chemical components in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tomentosum for the first time. The findings provide a reference for active ingredient research, quality control, and product development of R. tomentosum.
Rhododendron/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry*

Prostate cancer is the second most common malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death in men worldwide. Radical prostatectomy (RP) is the standard treatment for localized prostate cancer, but the procedure often results in postoperative erectile dysfunction (ED). The poor efficacy of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors after surgery highlights the need to develop new therapies to enhance cavernous nerve regeneration and improve the erectile function of these patients. In the present study, we aimed to examine the potential of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) in preserving erectile function in cavernous nerve injury (CNI) mice. We found that HB-EGF expression was reduced significantly on the 1 st day after CNI in penile tissue. Ex vivo and in vitro studies showed that HB-EGF promotes major pelvic ganglion neurite sprouting and neuro-2a (N2a) cell migration. In vivo studies showed that exogenous HB-EGF treatment significantly restored the erectile function of CNI mice to 86.9% of sham levels. Immunofluorescence staining showed that mural and neuronal cells were preserved by inducing cell proliferation and reducing apoptosis and reactive oxygen species production. Western blot analysis showed that HB-EGF upregulated protein kinase B and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and neurotrophic factor expression. Overall, HB-EGF is a major promising therapeutic agent for treating ED in postoperative RP.
Animals ; Male ; Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor/therapeutic use* ; Erectile Dysfunction/etiology* ; Mice ; Penis/drug effects* ; Nerve Regeneration/drug effects* ; Penile Erection/drug effects* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/drug therapy* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Prostatectomy/adverse effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a pivotal role in orchestrating higher-order emotional and cognitive processes, a function that depends on the precise modulation of synaptic activity. Although pharmacological studies have demonstrated that dopamine signaling through dopamine D1 receptor (DRD1) in the PFC is essential for these functions, the cell-type-specific and molecular mechanisms underlying the neuromodulatory effects remain elusive. Using cell-type-specific knockout mice and patch-clamp recordings, we investigated the regulatory role of DRD1 on neurons and astrocytes in synaptic transmission and plasticity. Furthermore, we explored the mechanisms by which DRD1 on astrocytes regulate synaptic transmission and plasticity at the cellular level, as well as emotional and cognitive functions at the behavioral level, through two-photon imaging, microdialysis, high-performance liquid chromatography, transcriptome sequencing, and behavioral testing. We found that conditional knockout of the Drd1 in astrocytes (CKO^AST) increased glutamatergic synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), whereas Drd1 deletion in pyramidal neurons did not affect synaptic transmission. The elevated level of d-serine in the mPFC of CKO^AST mice increased glutamatergic transmission and LTP through NMDA receptors. In addition, CKO^AST mice exhibited abnormal emotional and cognitive function. Notably, these behavioral changes in CKO^AST mice could be reversed through the administration of d-serine degrease to the mPFC. These results highlight the critical role of the astrocytic DRD1 in modulating mPFC synaptic transmission and plasticity, as well as higher brain functions through d-serine, and may shed light on the treatment of mental disorders.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Vitapex paste and calcium hydroxide paste in the treatment of root canal patients.Methods Patients who received root canal treatment were included,and the data of patients who received one-time injection of calcium hydroxide pastefor root canal filling treatment were used as the control group;the data of patients who received Vitapex paste and calcium hydroxide paste for one-time filling injection root canal treatment at the same time were included as treatment group.The clinical efficacy,degree of pain,diameter of apical foramen,apical closure time,and detection of interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in gingival crevicular fluid between two groups of patients after 6 months were compared.Results There were 40 cases in control group and 42 cases in treatment group.After treatment,the total effective rates of treatment group and control group were 97.62％(41 cases/42 cases)and 80.00％(32 cases/40 cases),with significant difference(P＜0.05).After 6 months of treatment,36 patients in treatment group had no pain or mild pain,6 patients had moderate pain,and 0 patient had severe pain;there were 21 patients in control group who had no pain or mild pain,13 patients in moderate pain,and 6 patients in severe pain.The pain level in treatment group was significantly improved compared with control group,and the pain was reduced(P＜0.05).After 6 months of treatment,the diameter of the apical foramen and the closure time of treatment group were(0.55±0.22)mm and(13.86±2.05)month,which in control group were(0.81±0.10)mm and(16.98±4.35)month,the results of treatment group were significantly better than those in control group(all P＜0.05).After 6 months of treatment,IL-1 β,IL-8,TNF-α in the gingival crevicular fluid of treatment group were(12.50±2.18),(25.33±6.29)and(2.12±0.32)μg·L-1,which in control group were(23.00±6.00),(36.88±10.14)and(4.08±0.57)μg·L-1,all with significant difference(all P＜0.05).The drug complications in treatment group were 2 cases of gingival swelling,1 case of gingival pain.The control group had 3 cases of gingival swelling,2 cases of gingival pain,1 case of occlusal discomfort,respectively,with no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusion The composite application of Vitapex paste and calcium hydroxide paste is more effective in treating root canals than a single calcium silicate bioceramic.

As a microbial therapy method, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has attracted the attention of researchers in recent years. As one of the most direct and effective methods to improve gut microbiota, FMT achieves therapeutic benefits by transplanting functional gut microbiota from healthy human feces into the intestines of patients to reconstruct new gut microbiota. FMT has been proven to be an effective treatment for gastrointestinal diseases such as Clostridium difficile infection, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, the clinical and basic research of FMT outside the gastrointestinal system is also emerging. It is worth noting that there is bidirectional communication between the gut microbial community and the central nervous system (CNS) through the gut-brain axis. Some gut bacteria can synthesize and release neurotransmitters such as glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine. Imbalanced gut microbiota may interfere with the normal levels of these neurotransmitters, thereby affecting brain function. Gut microbiota can also produce metabolites that may cross the blood-brain barrier and affect CNS function. FMT may affect the occurrence and development of CNS and its related diseases by reshaping the gut microbiota of patients through a variety of pathways such as nerves, immunity, and metabolites. This article introduces the development of FMT and the research status of FMT in China, and reviews the basic and clinical research of FMT in neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease), neurotraumatic diseases (spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury) and stroke from the characteristics of three types of nervous system diseases, the characteristics of intestinal flora, and the therapeutic effect and mechanism of fecal microbiota transplantation, summarize the common mechanism of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of CNS diseases and the therapeutic targets. We found that the common mechanisms of FMT in the treatment of nervous system diseases may include the following 3 categories through summary and analysis. (1) Gut microbiota metabolites, such as SCFAs, TMAO and LPS. (2) Inflammatory factors and immune inflammatory pathways such as TLR-MyD88 and NF-κB. (3) Neurotransmitter 5-HT. In the process of reviewing the studies, we found the following problems. (1) In basic researches on the relationship between FMT and CNS diseases, there are relatively few studies involving the autonomic nervous system pathway. (2) Clinical trial studies have shown that FMT improves the severity of patients’ symptoms and may be a promising treatment for a variety of neurological diseases. (3) The improvement of clinical efficacy is closely related to the choice of donor, especially emphasizing that FMT from healthy and young donors may be the key to the improvement of neurological diseases. However, there are common challenges in current research on FMT, such as the scientific and rigorous design of FMT clinical trials, including whether antibiotics are used before transplantation or different antibiotics are used, as well as different FMT processes, different donors, different functional analysis methods of gut microbiota, and the duration of FMT effect. Besides, the safety of FMT should be better elucidated, especially weighing the relationship between the therapeutic benefits and potential risks of FMT carefully. It is worth mentioning that the clinical development of FMT even exceeds its basic research. Science and TIME rated FMT as one of the top 10 breakthroughs in the field of biomedicine in 2013. FMT therapy has great potential in the treatment of nervous system diseases, is expected to open up a new situation in the medical field, and may become an innovative weapon in the medical field.

The anti-inflammatory effect of simplified Zhiqin Decoction was observed by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation mouse model. The main chemical constituents and the main mechanism of action of simplified Zhiqin Decoction were predicted by network pharmacology. Animal experiments verified the anti-inflammatory mechanism of simplified Zhiqin Decoction (this experiment was approved by the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of Southwest University, approval number: IACUC-20210825-02). Simplifying Zhiqin Decoction has a significant anti-inflammatory effect on inflammatory mice, can significantly improve the overall macro shape of mice, reduce body temperature, water intake, increase the number of autonomous activities; alleviate liver, lung, spleen, thymus inflammation and pathological damage; decrease tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) content in serum and urine. The contents of serum immune factors IgG, IgA and IgM were increased. Network pharmacology predicted 66 potential anti-inflammatory active components of simplified Zhiqin Decoction involving 132 inflammatory targets, and the key anti-inflammatory signaling pathway involved PI3K/AKT, TNF, JAK-STAT, etc. Animal experiments show that simplified Zhiqin Decoction can significantly reduce the expression of JAK2/STAT-PI3K/AKT-NF-κB-TNF signaling pathway related proteins in lung tissue of inflammatory mice. The results of this study showed that simplified Zhiqin Decoction had significant anti-inflammatory effects, and its main anti-inflammatory components were quercetin, β-sitosterol, kaempferol, wogonin, stigmasterol, luteolin, neobaicalein, etc. The main mechanism of its anti-inflammatory action is that it significantly inhibits the expression of JAK2/STAT-PI3K/AKT-NF-κB-TNF signaling pathway protein.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) combined with lower cervical fracture is often categorized into unstable fracture, with a high incidence of neurological injury and a high rate of disability and morbidity. As factors such as shoulder occlusion may affect the accuracy of X-ray imaging diagnosis, it is often easily misdiagnosed at the primary diagnosis. Non-operative treatment has complications such as bone nonunion and the possibility of secondary neurological damage, while the timing, access and choice of surgical treatment are still controversial. Currently, there are no clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of AS combined with lower cervical fracture with or without dislocation. To this end, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedics Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts to formulate Clinical guidelines for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis combined with lower cervical fracture in adults ( version 2024) in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine, scientificity and practicality, in which 11 recommendations were put forward in terms of the diagnosis, imaging evaluation, typing and treatment, etc, to provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of AS combined with lower cervical fracture.

Purpose::Vibrio vulnificus ( V. Vulnificus) infection is characterized by rapid onset, aggressive progression, and challenging treatment. Bacterial resistance poses a significant challenge for clinical anti-infection treatment and is thus the subject of research. Enhancing host infection tolerance represents a novel infection prevention strategy to improve patient survival. Our team initially identified cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) as an important target owing to its negative modulation of the body's infection tolerance. This study explored the superior effects of the CYP1A1 inhibitor bergamottin compared to antibiotic combination therapy on the survival of mice infected with multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus and the protection of their vital organs. Methods::An increasing concentration gradient method was used to induce multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus development. We established a lethal infection model in C57BL/6J male mice and evaluated the effect of bergamottin on mouse survival. A mild infection model was established in C57BL/6J male mice, and the serum levels of creatinine, urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate the effect of bergamottin on liver and kidney function. The morphological changes induced in the presence of bergamottin in mouse organs were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining of liver and kidney tissues. The bacterial growth curve and organ load determination were used to evaluate whether bergamottin has a direct antibacterial effect on multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus. Quantification of inflammatory factors in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the expression levels of inflammatory factors in liver and kidney tissues by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed to evaluate the effect of bergamottin on inflammatory factor levels. Western blot analysis of IκBα, phosphorylated IκBα, p65, and phosphorylated p65 protein expression in liver and kidney tissues and in human hepatocellular carcinomas-2 and human kidney-2 cell lines was used to evaluate the effect of bergamottin on the nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway. One-way ANOVA and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results::In mice infected with multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus, bergamottin prolonged survival ( p = 0.014), reduced the serum creatinine ( p = 0.002), urea nitrogen ( p = 0.030), aspartate aminotransferase ( p = 0.029), and alanine aminotransferase ( p = 0.003) levels, and protected the cellular morphology of liver and kidney tissues. Bergamottin inhibited interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression in serum (IL-1β: p = 0.010, IL-6: p = 0.029, TNF-α: p = 0.025) and inhibited the protein expression of the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α in liver (IL-1β: p = 0.010, IL-6: p = 0.011, TNF-α: p = 0.037) and kidney (IL-1β: p = 0.016, IL-6: p = 0.011, TNF-α: p = 0.008) tissues. Bergamottin did not affect the proliferation of multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus or the bacterial load in the mouse peritoneal lavage fluid ( p = 0.225), liver ( p = 0.186), or kidney ( p = 0.637). Conclusion::Bergamottin enhances the tolerance of mice to multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus infection. This study can serve as a reference and guide the development of novel clinical treatment strategies for V. Vulnificus.

Objective To determine the effects of treadmill training on the structure of hippocampal myelin and cognitive function in rats exposed to acute plateau hypoxia.Methods With 30 SPF-grade female SD rats (aged 6-8 weeks,weighing 200-220 g),6 of them were used for observation of myelin structure after injury,and the remaining 24 rats were randomly divided into control group,hypobaric hypoxia group and treadmill training group (n=8).The rats in above experimental groups were placed in a low-pressure oxygen chamber at an altitude of 6000 m for 7 consecutive days,and the rats of the control group were placed in the confined chamber for the same period without hypoxia.Then,the rats of the treadmill training group received a 4-week treadmill training scheme since the day after hypoxia.Finally,all the rats were tested for cognitive function with open field test (OFT)and Morris water maze (MWM).Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the changes of demyelination in the hippocampus. The expression of oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Olig2)and myelin basic protein (MBP )in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions was measured by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting.Results Behavioral tests showed that the number into the central area,total distance,distance ratio in OFT and the number of platform crossings and distance to the target area in MWM were reduced in the hypobaric hypoxia group than the control group (P<0.05 ),while these indexes were increased in the treadmill training group than in the hypobaric hypoxia group (P<0.05).Immunofluorescence staining indicated that the number of Olig2 positive cells per unit area and the mean fluorescence intensity of MBP in the CA1 and CA3 regions were significantly lessen in the hypobaric hypoxia group than the control group (P<0.05 ),while these indicators were higher in the treadmill training group than the hypobaric hypoxia group (P<0.05 ).Western blotting displayed that the expression levels of Olig2 and MBP in the hippocampus were obviously lower in the hypobaric hypoxia group than the control group (P<0.01 ),while the levels were increased in the treadmill training group than the hypobaric hypoxia group (P<0.01 ).Conclusion Treadmill training promotes the number of the oligodendrocyte spectrum cells in CA1 and CA3 regions,enhances the expression of myelin-related proteins and improves myelin repair in hippocampus of hypobaric hypoxia rats,and thereby ameliorates hypoxia-induced anxiety-like behaviors and memory dysfunction.

Objective:To explore the value of high frequency ultrasound scoring combined with serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) in evaluating the prognosis of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) in children.Methods:A total of 106 children with NRDS who were treated at Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University from March 2021 to December 2022 were selected. According to the discharge outcome, NRDS patients were divided into a poor prognosis group ( n=11) and a good prognosis group ( n=95), and the clinical data differences between the two groups were compared. At the same time, NRDS patients were divided into mild to moderate group ( n=75) and severe group ( n=31) based on the severity of the disease. The differences in high-frequency ultrasound scores of the lungs and serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and PCT were analyzed in children with different disease severity levels of NRDS. Logistic multiple regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors of prognosis; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of lung high-frequency ultrasound score, IL-6, and their combination predicted the prognostic value of NRDS in children. Results:The gestational age, birth weight, and high-frequency ultrasound scores of the lungs in the poor prognosis group were significantly lower than those in the good prognosis group (all P<0.05); The proportion of diabetes in pregnancy, the proportion of severe disease, the first use time of pulmonary surfactant (PS) and the level of IL-6 in the poor prognosis group were significantly higher than those in the good prognosis group (all P<0.05). The serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and PCT in severe children were significantly higher than those in mild to moderate children (all P<0.05); The high-frequency ultrasound score of the lungs in severe children was significantly lower than that in mild to moderate children ( P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age, pulmonary high-frequency ultrasound score, gestational diabetes, disease severity, and IL-6 were the influencing factors for poor prognosis of children with NRDS (all P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve for predicting poor prognosis in children with NRDS using high-frequency ultrasound score, IL-6, and their combination were 0.745, 0.802, and 0.786, respectively. Conclusions:The severity of NRDS in children is related to the high-frequency ultrasound score of the lungs and serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and PCT. At the same time, the high-frequency ultrasound score of the lungs and IL-6 are related to the prognosis of NRDS children, and have certain application value in predicting the prognosis of children.