ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan on behavioral impairments in the rat model of autism spectrum disorder （ASD） and explore the mechanism of action. MethodsTwelve SD pregnant rats were intraperitoneally injected with valproic acid （VPA） （10 rats） or normal saline （2 rats）， and male offspring were selected to establish the model of ASD and the control rats. Rats were randomly assigned into model， low-dose （0.75 g·kg^-1） and high-dose （1.5 g·kg^-1） Liuwei Dihuangwan， vitamin D （positive drug， 3.7×10^-5 g·kg^-1）， and blank groups. Each group was administrated with the corresponding concentration of drugs or the same volume of normal saline by gavage for 2 weeks. After the intervention， the three-chamber social test was conducted to evaluate social interaction and social preference. The open field test was carried out to observe spontaneous behavior and anxiety state. Hematoxylin-eosin staining （HE） was used to observe the pathological changes of the prefrontal tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the ultrastructure of mitochondria in prefrontal neurons. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 （Iba-1） in the prefrontal tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was adopted to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6）. Western blot was employed to assess the expression differences of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （p-AMPK）， adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）， phosphorylated Unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinase 1 （p-ULK1）， Unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinase 1 （ULK1）， and FUN14 domain-containing protein 1 （FUNDC1）. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group spent less time sniffing stranger 1 and stranger 2 in the three-chamber social test （P<0.01） and showed reductions in the total distance traveled， average speed， distance traveled in the central area， and time spent in the central area in the open field test （P<0.01）. In addition， the model group showed extensive apoptosis of neurons， with shrunken nuclei and red-stained cytoplasm， and extensive necrosis of neurons in the prefrontal tissue， mitochondrial swelling， decreased matrix density， disrupted cristae， and autophagic lysosomes in neurons， increases in the rate of Iba-1 positive cells in the prefrontal area （P<0.01） and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 （P<0.01）， and down-regulation in the expression of p-AMPK/AMPK， p-ULK1/ULK1， and FUNDC1 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， low-dose and high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan and the vitamin D prolonged the time spent sniffing stranger 1 and stranger 2 in the three-chamber social test （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased the total distance traveled， average speed， distance traveled in the central area， and time spent in the central area in the open field test （P<0.05， P<0.01）， restored the morphology of neurons in the prefrontal tissue， decreased the number of apoptotic cells， alleviated the swelling of mitochondria in neurons， increased the matrix density， mitigated the fragmentation and disorder of cristae， and increased the number of autophagosomes. Moreover， the drugs decreased the rate of Iba-1 positive cells in the prefrontal area （P<0.01）， lowered the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 （P<0.01）， and up-regulated the expression of p-AMPK/AMPK， p-ULK1/ULK1， and FUNDC1 （P<0.01）. ConclusionLiuwei Dihuangwan ameliorate autism-like behaviors and reduce neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammatory damage in the rat model of ASD by promoting mitophagy mediated by the AMPK/ULK1/FUNDC1 pathway.

Houpo Qiwutang originated from the Synopsis of the Golden Chamber， and it consists of seven medicines： Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex， Rhei Radix et Rhizoma， Aurantii Fructus Immaturus， Cinnamomi Ramulus， Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， and Jujubae Fructus. It is a basic formula for the treatment of abdominal fullness. Through the bibliometric method， the historical history， drug base， preparation and dosage， decoction method， and ancient and modern applications of Houpu Qiwu Tang were analyzed by means of textual research. The research finds that Houpu Qiwu Tang has been passed down through the generations in an orderly manner with fewer changes. The drug base of this formula is basically clear， and the base of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex， Rhei Radix et Rhizoma， Cinnamomi Ramulus， Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens， and Jujubae Fructus is consistent with the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The mainstream base of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus is the dried young fruit of Citrus aurantium of Rutaceae family， and the historical mainstream base of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is the dried root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis of Leguminosae family. The modern dosage of this formula is 110.40 g of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex， 41.40 g of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma， 69 g of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus， 27.60 g of Cinnamomi Ramulus， 69 g of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens， 41.40 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， and 30 g of Jujubae Fructus. In addition， the decoction method is to add 2 000 mL of water with the above seven flavors of the medicine， boil it to 800 mL， and then take 160 mL in a warm state each time. The amount of the medicine taken for each time is 22.08 g of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex， 8.28 g of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma， 13.80 g of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus， 5.52 g of Cinnamomi Ramulus， 13.80 g of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens， 8.28 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， and 6 g of Jujubae Fructus. The modern application of this formula involves the digestive system， respiratory system， and urinary system. It is more advantageous in digestive system diseases such as early postoperative inflammatory bowel obstruction， functional dyspepsia， gastric pain， functional abdominal distension， and gastric reflux esophagitis. By comprehensively examining the key information of Houpu Qiwu Tang， this paper aims to provide literature support for the development and clinical application of this formula.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and abundant infiltration of non-malignant lymphocytes, which renders patients potentially suitable candidates for immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone (PLUNC) inhibit the growth of NPC cells and enhance cellular apoptosis and differentiation. Currently, the relationship between PLUNC (as a tumor-suppressor) and PD-L1 in NPC is unclear. Methods: We collected clinical samples of NPC to verify the relationship between PLUNC and PD-L1. PLUNC plasmid was transfected into NPC cells, and the variation of PD-L1 was verified by western blot and immunofluorescence. In NPC cells, we verified the relationship of PD-L1, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), and β-catenin by western blot and immunofluorescence. Later, we further verified that PLUNC regulates PD-L1 through β-catenin. Finally, the effect of PLUNC on β-catenin was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Results: We found that PLUNC expression was lower in NPC tissues than in paracancer tissues. PD-L1 expression was opposite to that of PLUNC. Western blot and immunofluorescence showed that β-catenin could upregulate ATF3 and PD-L1, while PLUNC could downregulate ATF3/PD-L1 by inhibiting the expression of β-catenin. PLUNC inhibits the entry of β-catenin into the nucleus. Co-IP experiments demonstrated that PLUNC inhibited the interaction of DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) and β-catenin. Conclusions PLUNC downregulates the expression of PD-L1 by inhibiting the interaction of DDX17/β-catenin in NPC.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) technology originated in China during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and has rapidly developed over the past two decades, becoming a primary method for studying the causal relationship between gut microbiota and the occurrence and progression of diseases. At the same time, the therapeutic effects of FMT in the field of gastrointestinal diseases have gained widespread recognition and are gradually expanding into other disease areas. The FMT procedure is relatively complex, and there is currently no standardized method; its success is influenced by various factors, including the donor, recipient, processing of the fecal material, and the method of implantation. Given the increasingly recognized relationship between gut microbiota and various diseases, FMT has become a research hotspot in both scientific studies and clinical applications, achieving a series of significant advancements. To help researchers better understand this technology, this paper will outline the development history of FMT, summarize common operational methods in research and clinical settings, review its application progress, and look forward to future development directions.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and osteoporosis (OP) are two very common metabolic diseases. A growing body of experimental evidence supports a pathophysiological link between MAFLD and OP. MAFLD is often associated with the development of OP. Rutaecarpine (RUT) is one of the main active components of Chinese medicine Euodiae Fructus. Our previous studies have demonstrated that RUT has lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects, and can improve the OP of rats. However, whether RUT can improve both fatty liver and OP symptoms of MAFLD mice at the same time remains to be investigated. In this study, we used C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 months to construct a MAFLD model, and gave the mice a low dose (5 mg·kg^-1) and a high dose (15 mg·kg^-1) of RUT by gavage for 4 weeks. The effects of RUT on liver steatosis and bone metabolism were then evaluated at the end of the experiment [this experiment was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (approval number: IMB-20190124D₃03)]. The results showed that RUT treatment significantly reduced hepatic steatosis and lipid accumulation, and significantly reduced bone loss and promoted bone formation. In summary, this study shows that RUT has an effect of improving fatty liver and OP in MAFLD mice.

A 36-year-old male patient presented with repeated myocardial infarction. Despite regular dual-antiplatelet therapy and intensive lipid-lowering therapy, he still experienced restenosis after coronary stent implantation. He then transferred to the Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. According to the disease history, combined with coronary artery inflammation observed by PET/CT and effective anti-inflammatory treatment, he was finally diagnosed with Behçet’s disease (BD) combined with isolated coronary arteritis. BD has been included in the Chinese Second Catalog of Rare Diseases, and the disease that only involves the coronary arteries is even rarer, which makes it very easy to misdiagnose and underdiagnosis in clinical practice. Strengthening the understanding of the complex clinical phenotypes of various vasculitis, attaching importance to multidisciplinary consultation, and dynamically following up are of great value for the early diagnosis of this disease.

AIM: To compare the effects of different nucleus chopping methods on the central corneal thickness, corneal endothelial cell(CEC)count and tear inflammatory indicators in patients with hard nucleus cataract.METHODS: Retrospective study. Totally 89 patients(89 eyes)with hard nucleus cataract who treated in our hospital were included from January 2020 to December 2022. According to different intraoperative nucleus chopping methods, the patients were divided into reverse prechop group(46 eyes)and phaco-chop group(43 eyes). The total effective rate of surgery and visual acuity recovery were compared between the two groups. Corneal related indicators(central corneal thickness, CEC count, CEC area), tear inflammatory indicators and tear film function [tear film break-up time(BUT), Chinese Dry Eye Questionnaire(CDEQ), Schirmer Ⅰ test(SⅠt)] were observed before and after surgery in both groups, and the degree of corneal edema was evaluated.RESULTS: The effective phaco time, phaco energy and cumulative complex energy parameters in the phaco-chop group were longer or higher than those in the reverse prechop group(P<0.05). The macular retinal thickness in the reverse prechop group at 7 d and 1 mo after surgery was thinner than that in the phaco-chop group, the central corneal thickness at 3 and 7 d after surgery was also thinner than that in the phaco-chop group, the CEC count at 3 mo after surgery was more than that in the phaco-chop group, the CEC loss rate was lower than that in the phaco-chop group, and the CEC area at 3 mo after surgery was smaller than that in the phaco-chop group(P<0.05). The levels of tear TNF-α and IL-6 at 7 d and 1 mo after surgery in the reverse prechop group were lower than those in the phaco-chop group(P<0.05). The BUT at 1 and 3 mo after surgery was longer in the reverse prechop group than that in the phaco-chop group(P<0.05). The CDEQ score in the reverse prechop group was lower than that in the phaco-chop group at 1 and 3 mo after surgery(P<0.05). The SⅠt at 1 and 3 mo after surgery was higher in the reverse prechop group compared with that in the phaco-chop group(P<0.05). The degree of corneal edema at 1 d after surgery was milder in the reverse prechop group than that in the phaco-chop group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with phaco-chop, the application of reverse-chopper prechop combined with phacoemulsification can better reduce the ultrasonic energy in the treatment of hard nuclear cataract, and it is more conducive to reducing the postoperative inflammatory degree, improving the tear film function and relieving the corneal edema degree.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and abundant infiltration of non-malignant lymphocytes, which renders patients potentially suitable candidates for immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone (PLUNC) inhibit the growth of NPC cells and enhance cellular apoptosis and differentiation. Currently, the relationship between PLUNC (as a tumor-suppressor) and PD-L1 in NPC is unclear. Methods: We collected clinical samples of NPC to verify the relationship between PLUNC and PD-L1. PLUNC plasmid was transfected into NPC cells, and the variation of PD-L1 was verified by western blot and immunofluorescence. In NPC cells, we verified the relationship of PD-L1, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), and β-catenin by western blot and immunofluorescence. Later, we further verified that PLUNC regulates PD-L1 through β-catenin. Finally, the effect of PLUNC on β-catenin was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Results: We found that PLUNC expression was lower in NPC tissues than in paracancer tissues. PD-L1 expression was opposite to that of PLUNC. Western blot and immunofluorescence showed that β-catenin could upregulate ATF3 and PD-L1, while PLUNC could downregulate ATF3/PD-L1 by inhibiting the expression of β-catenin. PLUNC inhibits the entry of β-catenin into the nucleus. Co-IP experiments demonstrated that PLUNC inhibited the interaction of DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) and β-catenin. Conclusions PLUNC downregulates the expression of PD-L1 by inhibiting the interaction of DDX17/β-catenin in NPC.

The retina has a complex and delicate function and structure, containing a large number of neuronal cells with extremely limited regenerative capacity, which are susceptible to damage and apoptosis under pathological conditions such as ischemia and hypoxia, resulting in irreversible vision loss. Retinal diseases are very common, such as retinitis pigmentosa(RP), age-related macular degeneration(ARMD), diabetic retinopathy(DR), and glaucoma. Most of the diseases in this category are treated symptomatically, which is effective but has some limitations in neuroprotection. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)-B is functionally relatively inert in the VEGF family, and unlike pro-angiogenic VEGF-A, VEGF-B shows functional inertia in angiogenesis but exhibits significant neuroprotective effects. VEGF-B is a potent anti-apoptotic, antioxidant factor that can regulate the expression of apoptotic genes and enhance the expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase 1 by binding to VEGFR-1 to activate the ERK1/2 or Akt pathway, in addition to decreasing the expression of glutamate, resulting in retinal neuroprotective effects. In this article, the protective effects of VEGF-B on retinal neuronal cells were reviewed to provide new ideas for the treatment of retina-associated diseases.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and abundant infiltration of non-malignant lymphocytes, which renders patients potentially suitable candidates for immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone (PLUNC) inhibit the growth of NPC cells and enhance cellular apoptosis and differentiation. Currently, the relationship between PLUNC (as a tumor-suppressor) and PD-L1 in NPC is unclear. Methods: We collected clinical samples of NPC to verify the relationship between PLUNC and PD-L1. PLUNC plasmid was transfected into NPC cells, and the variation of PD-L1 was verified by western blot and immunofluorescence. In NPC cells, we verified the relationship of PD-L1, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), and β-catenin by western blot and immunofluorescence. Later, we further verified that PLUNC regulates PD-L1 through β-catenin. Finally, the effect of PLUNC on β-catenin was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Results: We found that PLUNC expression was lower in NPC tissues than in paracancer tissues. PD-L1 expression was opposite to that of PLUNC. Western blot and immunofluorescence showed that β-catenin could upregulate ATF3 and PD-L1, while PLUNC could downregulate ATF3/PD-L1 by inhibiting the expression of β-catenin. PLUNC inhibits the entry of β-catenin into the nucleus. Co-IP experiments demonstrated that PLUNC inhibited the interaction of DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) and β-catenin. Conclusions PLUNC downregulates the expression of PD-L1 by inhibiting the interaction of DDX17/β-catenin in NPC.