ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan on the autophagy function in the hippocampus of senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 （SAMP8） by regulating the expression of glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B （GPNMB）. Furthermore， it is designed to explore the mechanism of the method of tonifying the kidneys and replenishing essence in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease （AD）. MethodsIn experiment 1， 24 5-month-old SAMP8 mice were randomly and equally divided into the model group， and the low-， middle- and high-dose（0.59，1.18，2.36 g·kg^-1） Liuwei Dihuangwan groups. At the same time， six 5-month-old senescence accelerated mouse resistant 1 （SAMR1） mice were used as the control group. The learning and memory ability was evaluated through novel object recognition experiment. Serum cortisol （Cort）， adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH） and urine 17-hydroxycorticosteroid （17-OHCS） levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons was observed by transmission electron microscope （TEM）， and the expression levels of hippocampal GPNMB， a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 （ADAM10） and autophagy-related proteins were detected by Western blot. In experiment 2， 18 SAMP8 mice were randomly and equally divided into the model group， vector control group （Vector）， and GPNMB overexpression group （GPNMB^OE）. Lentiviral vectors were stereotactically injected into the brain （2 μL per side in the GPNMB^OE group）. Western blot was used to detect the expression of the above target proteins in the hippocampus； In Experiment 3， 24 SAMP8 mice were randomly and equally divided into the model group， Liuwei Dihuangwan group， Liuwei Dihuangwan+negative control （NC） group， and Liuwei Dihuangwan+GPNMB silencing group （shGPNMB）. Before drug treatment， the Liuwei Dihuangwan+NC group and the Liuwei Dihuangwan+shGPNMB group were injected with negative control and GPNMB silencing lentivirus， respectively. Western blot was used to detect the expression of the above target proteins in the hippocampus. ResultsThe novel object discrimination index of mice in the model group was significantly lower than that of mice in the control group （P<0.01）. The novel object discrimination index of mice in the medium- and high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan groups was significantly higher than that of mice in the model group （P<0.01）. Aggregated autolysosomes were observed in the normal hippocampus tissue by TEM. In the model group， mitochondria were dominant， and no typical characteristic autophagosomes were observed. In the low- and medium-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan groups， a small number of autolysosomes and autophagosomes with double-membrane structures were observed. In the high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan group， the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes was greater than that in the low- and medium-dose groups. The results of ELISA and Western blot showed that compared with the control group， the levels of serum Cort， ACTH， and urine 17-OHCS in the model group were substantially increased， while the expression of hippocampal ADAM10， Beclin1， and microtubule associated-protein light chain 3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ （LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ） was significantly decreased. The expression of GPNMB and ubiquitin binding protein p62 was significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the serum Cort and ACTH levels in the low-， medium-， and high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan groups were significantly reduced， while only the urine 17-OHCS level in the high-dose group was significantly reduced. The hippocampal GPNMB， ADAM10， Beclin1， and LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ expression levels in the medium-， and high-dose groups of Liuwei Dihuangwan were significantly increased compared to the model group， whereas the expression of p62 was significantly reduced （P<0.01）. The above indicators showed a progressive trend among the three groups. Compared with the model group， the GPNMB^OE group showed a significant increase in GPNMB， ADAM10， Beclin1， LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ expression， and a significant decrease in p62 expression （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the expression of GPNMB， ADAM10， Beclin1， and LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ in the hippocampus of the Liuwei Dihuangwan group significantly increased， while the expression of p62 significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the Liuwei Dihuangwan group， the Liuwei Dihuangwan+shGPNMB group showed a significant decrease in GPNMB， ADAM10， Beclin1， LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ， and a significant increase in p62 expression （P<0.01）. ConclusionLiuwei Dihuangwan can enhance hippocampal autophagy function and improve AD by upregulating GPNMB expression.

The liver is one of the important metabolic organs in the body, and liver diseases are also one of the major public health issues globally. Currently, the lack of models that accurately simulating human physiology and pathology is the key challenge in liver disease research, and the emerging of organoid technology is an excellent solution to this challenge. Organoids are three-dimensional cellular structures cultured in vitro that can mimic the structure and function of real organs while maintaining genetic stability. The development of organoids has provided possibilities for personalized medicine and precision therapy and has become a key tool in the research and treatment of liver diseases. The authors focuse on the application and development of organoids in liver disease research, while also emphasizing their limitations and future prospects.

Objective:To elucidate the mechanism by which Clostridium butyricum alleviates atopic dermatitis (AD) from three aspects: immune cells, gut microbiota, and the metabolites of gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and provide a theoretical reference for clinical probiotic-assisted treatment of AD. Methods:A model of 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD was established using BALB/c mice. Three groups including control group, AD group, and Clostridium butyricum intervention group were set up with 20 mice in each group. The dermatitis score, scratching score, pathological conditions and mast cell infiltration at the lesion site, and the levels of cytokines related to Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg as well as IgE levels in serum samples were analyzed. Gut microbiota was detected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The contents of SCFAs in mouse fecal samples were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between the cytokines related to Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg, gut microbiota, and SCFAs. Comparisons between groups were performed using one-way analysis of variance with Turkey post hoc test correction. Results:Clostridium butyricum intervention down-regulated various inflammatory indexes and alleviated pathological changes in AD mice, elevated the levels of IFN-γ ( P<0.05) and IL-10 ( P<0.01), reduced the levels of IL-4, IL-17 and IgE ( P<0.01), and maintained the balance of Th1/Th2 ( P<0.01) and Th17/Treg ( P<0.001). Besides, the intervention improved intestinal dysbiosis by decreasing the abundance of conditionally pathogenic bacteria such as Prevotellaceae_ UCG-001 ( P<0.01) and increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lachnospiraceae_ NK4A136_ group and norank_ f_ Oscillospiraceae ( P<0.05), and enhanced the production of SCFAs ( P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that allergy-associated immune cytokines were strongly correlated with the composition of gut microbiota and the content of SCFAs. Conclusions:Clostridium butyricum may regulate the microbiota-SCFAs signaling response by inhibiting the colonization of harmful bacteria and increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria. This, in turn, increases the level of SCFAs, decreases the number of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and maintains the balance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg in the body. Therefore, Clostridium butyricum may alleviate allergic diseases.

Objective:To elucidate the mechanism by which Clostridium butyricum alleviates atopic dermatitis (AD) from three aspects: immune cells, gut microbiota, and the metabolites of gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and provide a theoretical reference for clinical probiotic-assisted treatment of AD. Methods:A model of 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD was established using BALB/c mice. Three groups including control group, AD group, and Clostridium butyricum intervention group were set up with 20 mice in each group. The dermatitis score, scratching score, pathological conditions and mast cell infiltration at the lesion site, and the levels of cytokines related to Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg as well as IgE levels in serum samples were analyzed. Gut microbiota was detected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The contents of SCFAs in mouse fecal samples were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between the cytokines related to Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg, gut microbiota, and SCFAs. Comparisons between groups were performed using one-way analysis of variance with Turkey post hoc test correction. Results:Clostridium butyricum intervention down-regulated various inflammatory indexes and alleviated pathological changes in AD mice, elevated the levels of IFN-γ ( P<0.05) and IL-10 ( P<0.01), reduced the levels of IL-4, IL-17 and IgE ( P<0.01), and maintained the balance of Th1/Th2 ( P<0.01) and Th17/Treg ( P<0.001). Besides, the intervention improved intestinal dysbiosis by decreasing the abundance of conditionally pathogenic bacteria such as Prevotellaceae_ UCG-001 ( P<0.01) and increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lachnospiraceae_ NK4A136_ group and norank_ f_ Oscillospiraceae ( P<0.05), and enhanced the production of SCFAs ( P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that allergy-associated immune cytokines were strongly correlated with the composition of gut microbiota and the content of SCFAs. Conclusions:Clostridium butyricum may regulate the microbiota-SCFAs signaling response by inhibiting the colonization of harmful bacteria and increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria. This, in turn, increases the level of SCFAs, decreases the number of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and maintains the balance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg in the body. Therefore, Clostridium butyricum may alleviate allergic diseases.

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism of miR-4508 regulating the inflammatory response of human bronchial epithelial cells induced by representative chrysotile asbestos.Methods:The chrysotile asbestos was ground into ultrafine dust using a horizontal planetary instrument, and human bronchial epithelium (16HBE) cells were taken as the object of infection. Cell survival rate was detected by cell counting kit-8 method, cytotoxicity was detected by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) kit. The released of inflammatory factor IL-6 was detected by electrochemical luminescence. The released inflammatory factor IL-8 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression level of miR-4508 was screened and verified by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. After 16HBE cells were treated with AKT inhibitor MK2206, the phosphorylation levels of AKT and PTEN were detected by western blot. The expression levels of AKT and PTEN and the contents of IL-6 and IL-8 were detected in miR-4508 overexpression and interference experiments.Results:With the increase of chrysotile asbestos exposure concentration, the cell survival rate decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, and the LDH content gradually increased. The secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 in chrysotile 25, 50 and 75 μg/ml groups were (325.92±8.61) pg/ml, (331.51±4.96) pg/ml, (378.74±13.77) pg/ml, and (94.95±3.11) pg/ml, (357.60±1.80) pg/ml, (537.19±3.11) pg/ml, respectively, while the group with 0 μg/ml chrysotile was (95.85±1.20) pg/ml and (7.81±0.00) pg/ml ( P＜0.05). In addition, chrysotile asbestos exposure to 16HBE could induce the high expression of miR-4508 . After pretreatment with MK2206, the phosphorylation levels of AKT and PTEN were decreased, the contents of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly decreased, and the expression level of miR-4508 was significantly reduced. Overexpression of miR-4508 significantly increased the expressions of AKT and PTEN, and the contents of IL-6 and IL-8 ( P＜0.01). After interfering with miR-4508, the expressions of AKT and PTEN were significantly decreased, and the contents of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly decreased ( P＜0.01). Conclusions:Chrysotile asbestos can induce the inflammatory response of 16HBE cells and up-regulate the expression level of miR-4508. The up-regulation of miR-4508 promotes the 16HBE inflammatory response induced by chrysotile asbestos through the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological trends,temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in Lanping County.Methods Based on tuberculosis management data and basic information systems from the"China Disease Prevention and Control Information System,"pulmonary tuberculosis data from Lanping County for 2018-2023 were obtained.Descriptive epidemiology,concentration method,circular distribution method,and spatial autocorrelation analysis were used to conduct epidemiological and spatial analyses of the pulmonary tuberculosis data.Results A total of 2836 TB cases were reported in Lanping County from 2018 to 2023,with an average annual incidence rate of 233.26 per 100000,showing a declining trend.The male-to-female ratio was 1.95∶1,with the highest incidence among individuals aged 60 and above(932 cases,32.86%).Cases were predominantly among farmers(91.01%)and the Lisu ethnic group(52.68%).TB incidence showed weak seasonality with a bimodal distribution,with primary peak occurring from October to March and secondary peak from June to August.Tu'e Township(324.74 per 100,000),Shideng Township(307.42 per 100000),and Jinding Town(260.98 per 100,000)had the highest incidence rates,accounting for 1,284 cases or 45.28%of the county's total cases.In 2020,the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in Lanping County showed a spatial clustering distribution(global Morans's I value<0,P value<0.05),with Shideng Township consistently showing high-low aggregation characteristics.Conclusion Between 2018-2023,while the tuberculosis incidence rate in Lanping County has declined,it still falls short of Yunnan Province's tuberculosis prevention and control targets,and the prevention and control work continues to face significant challenges.Strengthening screening of high-risk populations and providing medical support to remote areas will be key measures for future prevention and treatment.

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism of miR-4508 regulating the inflammatory response of human bronchial epithelial cells induced by representative chrysotile asbestos.Methods:The chrysotile asbestos was ground into ultrafine dust using a horizontal planetary instrument, and human bronchial epithelium (16HBE) cells were taken as the object of infection. Cell survival rate was detected by cell counting kit-8 method, cytotoxicity was detected by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) kit. The released of inflammatory factor IL-6 was detected by electrochemical luminescence. The released inflammatory factor IL-8 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression level of miR-4508 was screened and verified by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. After 16HBE cells were treated with AKT inhibitor MK2206, the phosphorylation levels of AKT and PTEN were detected by western blot. The expression levels of AKT and PTEN and the contents of IL-6 and IL-8 were detected in miR-4508 overexpression and interference experiments.Results:With the increase of chrysotile asbestos exposure concentration, the cell survival rate decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, and the LDH content gradually increased. The secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 in chrysotile 25, 50 and 75 μg/ml groups were (325.92±8.61) pg/ml, (331.51±4.96) pg/ml, (378.74±13.77) pg/ml, and (94.95±3.11) pg/ml, (357.60±1.80) pg/ml, (537.19±3.11) pg/ml, respectively, while the group with 0 μg/ml chrysotile was (95.85±1.20) pg/ml and (7.81±0.00) pg/ml ( P＜0.05). In addition, chrysotile asbestos exposure to 16HBE could induce the high expression of miR-4508 . After pretreatment with MK2206, the phosphorylation levels of AKT and PTEN were decreased, the contents of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly decreased, and the expression level of miR-4508 was significantly reduced. Overexpression of miR-4508 significantly increased the expressions of AKT and PTEN, and the contents of IL-6 and IL-8 ( P＜0.01). After interfering with miR-4508, the expressions of AKT and PTEN were significantly decreased, and the contents of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly decreased ( P＜0.01). Conclusions:Chrysotile asbestos can induce the inflammatory response of 16HBE cells and up-regulate the expression level of miR-4508. The up-regulation of miR-4508 promotes the 16HBE inflammatory response induced by chrysotile asbestos through the PI3K/AKT pathway.

The liver is one of the important metabolic organs in the body, and liver diseases are also one of the major public health issues globally. Currently, the lack of models that accurately simulating human physiology and pathology is the key challenge in liver disease research, and the emerging of organoid technology is an excellent solution to this challenge. Organoids are three-dimensional cellular structures cultured in vitro that can mimic the structure and function of real organs while maintaining genetic stability. The development of organoids has provided possibilities for personalized medicine and precision therapy and has become a key tool in the research and treatment of liver diseases. The authors focuse on the application and development of organoids in liver disease research, while also emphasizing their limitations and future prospects.

Objective To develop a radiomics nomogram based on contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) for preoperative prediction of high-risk and low-risk thymomas. Methods Clinical data of patients with thymoma who underwent surgical resection and pathological confirmation at Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital from January 2018 to February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Feature selection was performed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method. An ExtraTrees classifier was used to construct the radiomics signature model and the radiomics signature. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was applied to analyze clinical-radiological characteristics and identify variables for developing a clinical model. The radiomics nomogram model was developed by combining the radiomics signature and clinical features. Model performance was evaluated using area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value. Calibration curves and decision curves were plotted to assess model accuracy and clinical values. Results A total of 120 patients including 59 females and 61 males with an average age of 56.30±12.10 years. There were 84 patients in the training group and 36 in the validation group, 62 in the low-risk thymoma group and 58 in the high-risk thymoma group. Radiomics features (1 038 in total) were extracted from the arterial phase of CECT scans, among which 6 radiomics features were used to construct the radiomics signature. The radiomics nomogram model, combining clinical-radiological characteristics and the radiomics signature, achieved an AUC of 0.872 in the training group and 0.833 in the validation group. Decision curve analysis demonstrated better clinical efficacy of the radiomics nomogram than the radiomics signature and clinical model. Conclusion The radiomics nomogram based on CECT showed good diagnostic value in distinguishing high-risk and low-risk thymoma, which may provide a noninvasive and efficient method for clinical decision-making.