OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the optimal dose ratio and mechanisms of the primary active components in Yinchenhao decoction (geniposide, chlorogenic acid, and rhubarb polysaccharides) for ameliorating metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the normal control group, model control group, uniform design groups 1-6, and Yinchenhao Decoction group; except for the normal control group, mice in all other groups were fed a Western diet to establish a MASLD model, and after 8 weeks of modeling, mice in the uniform design groups 1-6 and Yinchenhao Decoction group were given the corresponding drugs by gavage. At 12 weeks, all mice were sacrificed: their body weight and liver weight were measured, hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of liver tissue, the plasma levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were detected, and the levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in plasma and liver were measured. Based on these results, the optimal uniform design group was identified; subsequently, with plasma AST, plasma TG, and liver TC levels as screening indicators, the optimal dose ratio was obtained via a regression equation, which was further verified from two dimensions, namely functional indicators and tissue morphology. Meanwhile, glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test were conducted to evaluate glucose metabolic homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in mice, periodic acid-Schiff staining was used to observe glycogen accumulation, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was employed to detect the mRNA expression of genes related to glycolipid metabolism and bile acid metabolism, Western blotting was performed to measure the protein expression of molecules involved in bile acid metabolism, and commercial kits were used to determine the plasma levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), and total bile acid (TBA). RESULTS: Combinations of geniposide, chlorogenic acid, and rhubarb polysaccharide all reduced the liver-to-body weight ratio, alleviated liver injury, and decreased lipid accumulation, among which the uniform design group 6 (200 mg/kg geniposide+160 mg/kg chlorogenic acid+340 mg/kg rhubarb polysaccharide) exhibited the optimal efficacy. Meanwhile, regression analysis indicated that the dosage ratio of uniform design group 6 was the optimal one for MASLD intervention. Validation experiments showed that, compared with single-drug intervention, the optimal dosage ratio resulted in significantly lower body weight, as well as lower plasma levels of ALT, AST and TC in mice (all P<0.05), along with a more pronounced reduction in the area of hepatic lipid accumulation. Mechanistic investigation experiments demonstrated that intervention with the optimal dosage ratio significantly improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in mice (all P<0.05), reduced hepatic glycogen deposition, and downregulated the mRNA expression of glycolipid metabolism-related genes such as Gsk3, G6pc, Pck1, Fbp1, Fasn, Srebp-1c, Scd1, Slc27a2, and Slc27a5 (all P<0.05); it also decreased plasma levels of TBIL, DBIL, and TBA (all P<0.05), reversed the abnormal protein expression of bile salt export pump (BSEP), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), and cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) in the liver (all P<0.05), and reversed the abnormal mRNA expression of bile acid metabolism-related genes including Nr1h4, Cyp7a1, Cyp27a1, Slc10a1, and Slco1a1 (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The combination of geniposide (200 mg/kg), chlorogenic acid (160 mg/kg), and rhubarb polysaccharide (340 mg/kg) exerts the optimal ameliorative effect on MASLD in mice. This superior efficacy is presumably achieved by synergistically regulating the key nodes of glycolipid metabolism and bile acid metabolism, ultimately optimizing the therapeutic outcome.

Epilepsy is a recurrent, transient seizure disorder of the nervous system that affects the intellectual development, life and work, and psychological health of patients. People with epilepsy worldwide experience great suffering. Stressful stimuli such as infection, mental stress, and sleep deprivation are important triggers of epilepsy, and chronic stressful stimuli can lead to frequent seizures and comorbidities. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the most important system involved in the body’s stress response, and dysfunction thereof is thought to be associated with core epilepsy symptoms and related psychopathology. This article explores the intrinsic relationships of corticotropin-releasing hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and glucocorticoids with epilepsy in order to reveal the role of the HPA axis in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. We hope that this information will yield future possible directions and ideas for fully understanding the pathogenesis of epilepsy and developing antiepileptic drugs.

Objective:The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 18 cases of Japanese spotted fever (JSF) in Zigui County were analyzed in order to improve the prevention and treatment of JSF.Methods:This is a case series analysis. The epidemiological and clinical data, laboratory tests and imaging characteristics of 18 JSF cases with median age of 60 years (54, 68) identified by The People′s Hospital of Zigui from April 2021 to August 2022 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Results:Most (17/18) of the patients were farmers and all had a field exposure history. The patient′s onset was from April to October. Spring and autumn were the seasons with the highest incidence of JSF. The first symptoms of patients were high fever, headache, and fatigue. Of the 18 cases, 15 had a rash and 12 presented an eschar and 3 had neither rash nor eschar. In addition, 10 of 18 cases experienced edema of both lower extremities, and 3 got disturbance of consciousness. Laboratory tests found that 15 patients had abnormal white blood cells and 11 patients had decreased platelets. C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase were elevated in all patients; 13 patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase, 14 patients with elevated aspartate transamination. Kidney damage caused by Rickettsia japonica infection showed by abnormal proteinuria in 11 of the patients. Conclusions:The most common clinical manifestations of JSF are non-specific indications such as high fever, chills, fatigue, headache. The eschar and rash, which are the main features of Rickettsia infection, are not present in all patients, resulting delay of diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Medical workers should be more alert to rickettsial infections in patients with fever of unknown origin, especially in seasons of high incidence of spotted fever. Early diagnosis and correct antibiotic treatment shall be given according to the patient′s clinical manifestations, laboratory results and imaging test to control disease progression.

Isochrysis galbana is considered an ideal bait for functional foods and nutraceuticals of humans because of its high fucoxanthin(Fx)content.However,multi-omics analysis of the regula-tory networks for Fx biosynthesis in I.galbana has not been reported.In this study,we report a high-quality genome assembly of I.galbana LG007,which has a genome size of 92.73 Mb,with a contig N50 of 6.99 Mb and 14,900 protein-coding genes.Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of Haptophyta,with I.galbana sister to Emiliania huxleyi and Chrysochromulina tobinii.Evolutionary analysis revealed an estimated divergence time between I.galbana and E.huxleyi of～133 million years ago.Gene family analysis indicated that lipid metabolism-related genes exhibited significant expansion,including IgPLMT,IgOAR1,and IgDEGS1.Metabolome analysis showed that the content of carotenoids in I.galbana cultured under green light for 7 days was higher than that under white light,and β-carotene was the main carotenoid,accounting for 79.09％of the total carotenoids.Comprehensive multi-omics analysis revealed that the content of β-carotene,antheraxanthin,zeaxanthin,and Fx was increased by green light induction,which was significantly correlated with the expression of IgMYB98,IgZDS,IgPDS,IgLHCX2,IgZEP,IgLCYb,and IgNSY.These findings contribute to the understanding of Fx biosynthesis and its regulation,pro-viding a valuable reference for food and pharmaceutical applications.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and treatment outcome of Kallmann syndrome(KS) caused by fibroblast growth factor receptor-1(FGFR1) gene mutation in 4 patients.Methods:Targeted next-generation sequencing(NGS) was performed on thirty KS and normosmic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism(nIHH) patients. FGFR1 mutation was identified in four KS patients. The clinical data, laboratory and imaging examinations, and treatment outcome were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Four male patients, aging from 11 to 22 years old, presented as micropenis, and with olfactory dysfunction. Among them, two had history of cryptorchidism, three had history of cleft lip and palate repair surgery. The most severe patient presented with short stature, left microtia and dental agenesis. FGFR1 heterozygous mutation was identified in all four patients, two were point mutation(p.Y374X; p. E670K), and the other was frameshift mutation(p.S346Yfs*61; p.S723*fs*1). One patient, who started treatment of the pulsatile GnRH pump during his youth, succeeded in having two babies.Conclusion:Patients with Kallmann syndrome caused by FGFR1 mutation presents complex clinical manifestations. Besides dysosmia, micropenis, microrchidia, and delayed pubertal development are the main clinical manifestations in male patients. Symptoms such as cleft lip and palate are helpful for early recognition. Genotyping analysis is crucial to confirm the diagnosis. The pulsatile GnRH pump can produce satisfactory therapeutic effect, but the age of initiating therapy should be carefully considered.

Objective To analyze the relationship between pillow height and cervical intervertebral disc stress in lateral decubitus position of the human body using three-dimensional finite element method,and to provide the basis for appropriate pillow selection.Methods A cervical spine CT scan was performed on a normal male volunteer.The medical 3D image reconstruction software (Mimics),reverse engineering software (Geomagic Studio) and finite element software (MSC.Patran) were collectively used to establish three-dimensional finite element models of the whole cervical spine under three lateral decubitus conditions,includes pillow height of 10 cm (cervical spine leftward flexion),17 cm (cervical spine neutral),and 25 cm (cervical spine rightward flexion).Moreover,the finite element analysis and calculation of the three models were conducted.Results The Von-Mises stress,maximal principal stress and maximum shear stress of the model in cervical spine neutral (pillow height=17 cm) were all significantly lower than those of the cervical spine lateral model.Conclusions When the cervical coronal plane is in neutral position,the cervical discs can achieve the best stress distribution state.In lateral decubitus position of the human body,a appropriate pillow height should make the cervical vertebrae in neutral position.

Objective:To assess the guidance of 3D reconstruction in the surgical and orthodontic management of maxillary palatal impacted canines with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).Methods:22 adolescent patients with 26 impacted maxillary conines were examined by CBCT.CBCT 3D reconstruction was used to observe the impaction of the canines.Measurements were taken to evaluate spatial relationship between the canine and adjacent structures and resorption of neighboring incisor roots.Results:CBCT was effective to localize the impacted canines.All of the maxillary palatal impacted canines inclinated mesially,angles of impacted ca-nines to occlusal plane were 61.1°±18.1°,there were 8,5,3 and 10 impacted canines found in classⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ mesial mal-position respectively.3 adjacent lateral incisors and 2 central incisors were extracted because of severely root resorption.Normal occlu-sion was achieved for 26 impacted canines by the traction of the canines into dental arch and reaching the occlusal plane.Conclusion:CBCT can spatially show the palatal impaction of maxillary canines and the relationship to adjacent tooth,can guide the treatment plan and traction direction,therefore increase therapeutic effect.

Objective To study the intrinsic relationships between the binding energy of the antibody light and heavy chains and the conformational characteristics , physical and chemical properties , and to establish a corresponding mathemat-ical model and evaluate the thermal stability of the antibody molecules , which contribute to the antibody design , optimiza-tion and affinity maturation .Methods Based on bioinformatics and computational biology methods , the antibody′s structur-al information with the crystal diffraction data was analyzed .The conformational character of the variable domain of the antibody was studied using distance geometry and computer graphics technology .With the aid of the intermolecular hydrogen bond formation theory and the reaction free energy theory , the dynamic structure and energy characteristics be-tween the heavy and light chain variable regions of the antibody were studied .Furthermore , using nonlinear fitting and regression analysis, a mathematical model was set up .Results According to simulation and statistic analysis , there was a linear relationship between the binding energy and the number of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding , Van der Waals interaction of the heavy and light chains of the antibody .There was polynomial correlation between the binding energy and the physicochemical properties of the antibody .Using the frequency of amino acid position and the established model , the humanized anti-ricin antibody , which could not obtain the stable engineering cell line , was evaluated and optimized .The stable engineering cell line of the humanized anti-ricin antibody was obtained in the experiment .Conclusion The self structure of the antibody variable region ( conformation and physicochemical properties ) has much effect on its stability . The antibody stability can be improved by structural optimization .

Objective To analyze and summarize the efficacy and the experience in the application of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ bundled pancreaticojejunostomy in pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods Between Jan.2005 and Dec. 2009, a total of 38 patients who underwent bundled pancreaticojejunostomy was enrolled, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. 20 patients received type Ⅰ bundled pancreaticojejunostomy and 18 patients received type Ⅱ bundled pancreaticojejunostomy. The operative time, postoperative hospital stay, mortality and complications were compared. Results The operative time of type Ⅰ bundled pancreaticojejunostomy was (91 ± 20) min, and it was (63 ± 21) min in type Ⅱ procedure, and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0. 05). The mortality and complications, postoperative hospital stay were 10.0%(2/20), 45.0% (9/20) and (20 ±2)d in type Ⅰ procedure, while they were 5.6% (1/18),38.9% (7/18) and(23 ±2)d in type Ⅱ procedure, and the difference was not statistically significant.Conclusions There was no significant difference in the effects between type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ bundled pancreaticojejunostomy. Carefully selective application of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ bundled pancreaticojejunostomy helps complete these procedures.