ObjectiveMicrotube associated protein-2 （MAP-2）， alpha-tubulin （α-tubulin）， and synaptophysin （SYP） are important proteins in neuronal signal communication. This paper observed the effects of modified Zhigancao Tang on the expression of serum α-Synuclein （α-Syn） and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP of patients with liver and kidney deficiency of Parkinson's disease （PD）， analyzed their correlation， and evaluated the therapeutic effect of modified Zhigancao Tang in patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD based on α-Syn transmission pathway mediated by neuronal communication in vivo. MethodsA total of 60 patients with PD who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a treatment group （30 cases） and a control group （30 cases）. Both groups were treated on the basis of PD medicine， and the treatment group was treated with modified Zhigancao Tang. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The changes in UPDRS score， TCM syndrome score， and expression of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP were observed before and after 12 weeks of treatment in each group. The correlation between the above-mentioned serum biological indexes and the levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers was analyzed. ResultsAfter treatment， the TCM syndrome score， UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ score of the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ scores in the treatment group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total effective rate of the control group was 63.3% （19/30）， and that of the treatment group was 86.7% （26/30）. The clinical effect of the observation group was better than the control group （Z=-2.03， P<0.05）. The total effective rate of the observation group was better than that of the control group， and the difference was statistically significant （χ²=5.136， P<0.05）. After treatment， the oligomer level of serum α-Syn and MAP-2 level in the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， as well as α-tubulin in the treatment group， were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum α-Syn was correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-Syn oligomer in patients with PD （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP . Serum α-Syn oligomers of patients with PD were correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-tubulin （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP level. Serum SYP of patients with PD was correlated with serum MAP-2 （P<0.05）. ConclusionModified Zhigancao Tang has a therapeutic effect on patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD by inhibiting the production of α-Syn oligomers and intervening α-Syn microtubule transport pathway in vivo.

Gegen Qinlian Decoction(GQD) is a classic prescription for the clinical treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC). This study, based on the differences in efficacy observed in UC mice under different level of bile acids treated with GQD, aims to clarify the impact of bile acids on UC and its therapeutic effects. It further investigates the expression of bile acid receptors in the liver of UC mice, and preliminarily reveals the mechanism through which GQD affects bile acid synthesis in the treatment of UC. A UC mouse model was established using dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) induction. The efficacy of GQD was evaluated by assessing the general condition, disease activity index(DAI) score, colon length, and histopathological changes in colon tissue via hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining. ELISA and Western blot were used to evaluate the inflammatory response in colon tissue. The total bile acid(TBA) level and liver damage were quantified using an automatic biochemistry analyzer. The expression levels of bile acid receptors and bile acid synthetases in liver tissue were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR. The results showed that compared with the model group, GQD treatment significantly improved the DAI score, colon shortening, and histopathological damage in UC mice. The levels of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6 in the colon were significantly reduced. Serum TBA levels were significantly decreased, while alkaline phosphatase(ALP) levels significantly increased. After administration of cholic acid(CA), UC symptoms in the CA + GQD group were significantly aggravated compared with the GQD group. The DAI score, degree of weight loss, colon injury, serum TBA, and liver injury markers all increased significantly. However, compared with the CA group, the CA + GQD group showed a marked reduction in TBA levels and a significant improvement in UC-related symptoms, indicating that GQD can alleviate UC damage exacerbated by CA. Further investigation into the expression of bile acid receptors and synthetases in the liver showed that under GQD treatment, the expression of farnesoid X receptor(FXR) and small heterodimer partner(SHP) significantly increased, while the expression of G protein-coupled receptor 5(TGR5) and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase(Cyp7A1) significantly decreased. These findings suggest that GQD may affect bile acid receptors and synthetases, inhibiting bile acid synthesis through the FXR/SHP pathway to treat UC.
Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative/genetics* ; Bile Acids and Salts/biosynthesis* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Male ; Humans ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism* ; Colon/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Liver/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) represents a predominant cause of blindness among older adults, with limited therapeutic options currently available. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and retinal pigment epithelium injury are recognized as key contributors to the pathogenesis of AMD. Regulated cell death plays a pivotal role in mediating cellular responses to stress, maintaining tissue homeostasis, and contributing to disease progression. Recent research has elucidated several regulated cell death pathways-such as apoptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy-that may contribute to the progression of AMD owing to cell death in the retinal pigment epithelium. These discoveries open new avenues for therapeutic interventions in patients with AMD. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary and analysis of the latest advancements regarding the relationship between regulated cell death and AMD. Moreover, we examined the therapeutic potential of targeting regulated cell death pathways for the treatment and prevention of AMD, highlighting their roles as promising targets for future therapeutic strategies.

Sturgeon cartilage has a wide range of applications as it is rich in biologically active substances such as chondroitin sulphate and protein. In this study, the safety evaluation of sturgeon cartilage peptide in NIH/3T3 and C2C12 cells was conducted, and the results showed that sturgeon cartilage peptide did not induce apoptosis and necrosis in NIH/3T3 and C2C12 cells compared to the blank control, which provides an in vitro experimental basis for the transdermal drug delivery of sturgeon cartilage peptide. Further evaluation of the scavenging activity of sturgeon cartilage peptides against the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals showed that sturgeon cartilage peptides have strong antioxidant activity. A stable sturgeon cartilage peptide ointment containing 7% sturgeon cartilage peptide was prepared and analysed for its transdermal absorption in mouse skin. This experiment was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (approval number: 00007684). It was found that the 12-hour cumulative release of sturgeon cartilage peptide ointment reached 92%. In this study, we further analyzed the ability of sturgeon cartilage peptide ointment to inhibit ear swelling in mice after xylene-induced inflammation. The sturgeon cartilage peptide ointment showed significant anti-inflammatory activity compared to the matrix group and the control group. In conclusion, the present study clearly demonstrated that sturgeon cartilage peptide has good safety and antioxidant activity, and the prepared sturgeon cartilage peptide ointment provides an experimental basis for further application of sturgeon cartilage peptide as well as the study of transdermal drug delivery.

Objective Viral encephalitis is an infectious disease severely affecting human health.It is caused by a wide variety of viral pathogens,including herpes viruses,flaviviruses,enteroviruses,and other viruses.The laboratory diagnosis of viral encephalitis is a worldwide challenge.Recently,high-throughput sequencing technology has provided new tools for diagnosing central nervous system infections.Thus,In this study,we established a multipathogen detection platform for viral encephalitis based on amplicon sequencing. Methods We designed nine pairs of specific polymerase chain reaction(PCR)primers for the 12 viruses by reviewing the relevant literature.The detection ability of the primers was verified by software simulation and the detection of known positive samples.Amplicon sequencing was used to validate the samples,and consistency was compared with Sanger sequencing. Results The results showed that the target sequences of various pathogens were obtained at a coverage depth level greater than 20×,and the sequence lengths were consistent with the sizes of the predicted amplicons.The sequences were verified using the National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST,and all results were consistent with the results of Sanger sequencing. Conclusion Amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing technology is feasible as a supplementary method for the pathogenic detection of viral encephalitis.It is also a useful tool for the high-volume screening of clinical samples.

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations,molecular genetics and gonadal pathol-ogy characteristics of patients with disorders of sex development(DSD),and to summarize the clinical experi-ence of identifying rare diseases from common symptoms.Methods The clinical data of 416 patients with DSD diagnosed and treated in the multidisciplinary center of DSD of Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Cen-ter from May 2018 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed,summarized and discussed.Results Accord-ing to chromosome karyotype,416 cases of DSD were classified into three types:92 cases(22.1％)of abnormal sex chromosome karyotype,285 cases(68.5％)of 46,XY karyotype and 39 cases(9.4％)of 46,XX karyotype.Among the 92 patients with abnormal sex chromosome karyotype,59 cases were raised as males,18 cases(30.5％)complained of short penis with hypospadias and cryptorchidism.The most common karyotype was 45,X/46,XY(58 cases,63.0％).Among the 285 patients with 46,XY karyotype,238 cases were raised as males,and 63 cases(26.5％)complained of short penis and hypospadias;47 cases were raised as females,and 13 ca-ses(27.7％)complained of inguinal mass.A total of 216 patients with 46,XY karyotype were subjected to whole exome gene detection,and 155 cases(71.8％)were found to have molecular pathogenesis with the clinical phe-notype.Among the 39 patients with 46,XX karyotype,19 cases were raised as males,and 8 cases(42.1％)com-plained of short penis and hypospadias.In the 18 cases of gonad biopsy,17 cases showed testicular tissue in go-nads.Whole exome sequencing was performed in 14 cases.NR5A1 gene heterozygous mutation,SRY gene muta-tion and SOX3 gene mutation were found in 2 cases,respectively(14.3％).Twenty cases were raised as females,and 14 cases(70.0％)complained of clitoral hypertrophy.Gonad biopsy was performed in 8 cases,with 7 cases of ovotestis(87.5％)and 1 case of NR5A1 gene heterozygous mutation(14.3％).Conclusions The etiologies of DSD are complex and diverse,and the clinical manifestations are various,which can be manifested as hypospa-dias,micropenis,cryptorchidism and other common symptoms of the urinary system.Different etiologies have dif-ferent treatment options.Therefore,chromosome karyotype,molecular genetic testing and gonadal pathology can be used to clarify the cause of disease,especially for rare diseases,improve the detection rate,reduce the rate of missed diagnosis,and ensure reasonable treatment,especially sex selection.

Objective To investigate the effect of peripheral blood bile acids on the cognitive function of schizophrenia patients.Methods Targeted metabolomics was adopted to analyze the total level of primary and secondary serum bile acid metabolites collected from 23 schizophrenia patients and 23 health control individuals.The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery(MCCB)was adopted to evaluate the subjects'cognitive function in five dimensions.Results We found that the schizophrenia patients had impaired cognitive functions in multiple dimensions including speed of processing,working memory,reasoning and problem solving,and visual learning.Compared with the health control group,serum levels of cholic acid(CA)and chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA)were significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia,while serum level of glycocholic acid(GCA)was significantly higher,and the ratio of deoxycholic acid(DCA)to CA was higher(3.04 vs.1.16).Speed of processing,working memory,reasoning and problem solving,and visual learning abilities were significantly negatively correlated with serum levels of multiple primary bile acids including taurocholic acid(TCA),GCA,glycochenodeoxycholic acid(GCDCA)and taurochenodeoxycholic acid(TCDCA),after adjustments of age,sex,and body mass index.Conclusion The bile acid profile of schizophrenia patients is obvious,and the decrease in neuroprotective bile acids(namely,CA and CDCA)and the up-regulation of cytotoxic bile acid(i.e.,GCA)may impair the cognitive function of schizophrenia patients.

Objective To investigate the value of urodynamic study(UDS)in guiding the treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction(LUTD)in elderly patients with ischemic stroke(IS)during convalescence,in order to provide reference for clinical treatment.Methods A total of 50 LUTD patients with IS who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University during Jan.2020 and Jan.2022 were selected.Oral tolterodine was administered to patients with detrusor overactivity(DO),clean intermittent catheterization(CIC)to those with no detrusor reflex and symptomatic increased residual urine,and oral administration of tamsulosin to those with functional obstruction of bladder outlet.The lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS)relief rate,UDS parameters and quality of life(QoL)scores were compared before treatment and 3 months after treatment.Results The UDS examination results showed that 25 cases(50.0％)had simple DO,9 cases(18.0％)had DO with impaired detrusor muscle contraction function,5 cases(10.0％)had DO with bladder outlet functional obstruction,4 cases(8.0％)had no detrusor reflex,and 7 cases(14.0％)had simple bladder outlet functional obstruction.After 3 months of treatment,the symptoms of LUTS,including frequent urination,urgent urination,incontinence,dysuria and urinary retention were significantly improved(P＜0.05).The maximum urine flow rate and urine output were significantly increased,the residual urine volume was significantly reduced,QoL scores were significantly reduced,with significant differences(P＜0.001).Conclusion UDS is significant in guiding the treatment of LUTD in elderly patients with IS during convalescence.

Objective To explore the causes of related medical damage risks and preventive measures by analyzing the identification results of medical damage in 20 urological death cases.Methods A retro-spective analysis was conducted on 20 death cases of medical damage identification involving urology diagnosis and treatment accepted by the Judicial Appraisal Center,School of Forensic Medicine,Gui-zhou Medical University,and Academy of Forensic Science from 2010 to 2023.Results Among the 20 cases,the male-to-female ratio was 1.5∶1.The age of the identified persons ranged from 37 to 84 years old,with an average age of 59.2 years.There were 21 medical institutions involved,with 81.0%being tertiary medical institutions.The statistical results of the causes of death showed that 60.0%deaths were due to infectious shock or hemorrhagic shock.Conclusion The causative potency analysis of medical damage in urological death cases is closely related to the patients'diseases,the death con-sequences of medical damage,and medical errors.Analyzing characteristics of typical cases can im-prove the comprehensive analysis ability of forensic examiners in similar cases,help them understand the rationality and compliance of medical behaviors in different situations,in order to make more accu-rate and comprehensive judgments.