OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of liriodendrin on the intestinal flora and the ferroptosis signaling pathway in renal tissue of rats with sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham group), sepsis model induced by cecal ligation and puncture group (CLP group), and liriodendrin intervention group (CLP+LIR group), with 10 rats in each group. The CLP+LIR group was given 0.2 mL of 100 mg/kg liriodendrin by gavage 2 hours before modeling; Sham group and CLP group were given the same volume of normal saline by gavage. The samples were collected after anesthesia 24 hours after modeling. The pathological changes of renal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The levels of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of renal function indicators such as creatinine (Cr), and urea nitrogen (UREA) in peripheral blood, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and Fe²⁺ in renal tissue were detected. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in renal tissues. The changes of intestinal flora were detected by 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. RESULTS: Compared with the Sham group, the CLP group showed significantly enlarged glomeruli, noticeable renal interstitial edema, disorganized kidney tissue, and significantly increased pathological scores. The contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, Cr, and UREA in peripheral blood and the levels of MDA and Fe²⁺ in renal tissue were significantly increased. The protein expressions of Nrf2, GPX4, and HO-1 in renal tissue were significantly down-regulated. The species richness of intestinal flora decreased significantly, and the relative abundances of pathogenic bacteria such as Morganella, Citrobacter, Proteus, Klebsiella, Shigella, Aggregatibacter, and Enterococcus increased significantly, while the relative abundances of beneficial bacteria such as Butyricimonas, Veillonella, Prevotella, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Ruminococcus decreased significantly. Compared with the CLP group, CLP+LIR group could significantly reduce the pathological damage of renal tissue, the pathological score significantly decreased (1.80±0.84 vs. 4.20±1.30, P < 0.05), and improve the composition of intestinal flora, reduce the relative abundances of pathogenic bacteria such as Proteus, Klebsiella, Shigella, Aggregatibacter, and Enterococcus, and significantly increase the relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Ruminococcus, significantly reduce the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, Cr, and UREA in peripheral blood and the levels of MDA and Fe²⁺ in renal tissue [blood TNF-α (ng/L): 191.31±7.23 vs. 254.90±47.89, blood IL-1β (ng/L): 11.15±4.04 vs. 23.06±1.67, blood IL-6 (ng/L): 163.20±17.83 vs. 267.69±20.92, blood Cr (μmol/L): 24.14±4.25 vs. 41.17±5.43, blood UREA (mmol/L): 4.59±0.90 vs. 8.01±1.07, renal MDA (μmol/g): 9.67±0.46 vs. 16.05±0.88, renal Fe²⁺ (mg/g): 0.71±0.07 vs. 0.93±0.04, all P < 0.05], and increase the protein expressions of Nrf2, GPX4, and HO-1 (Nrf2/GAPDH: 1.21±0.01 vs. 0.39±0.01, GPX4/GAPDH: 0.74±0.04 vs. 0.48±0.04, HO-1/GAPDH: 0.91±0.01 vs. 0.41±0.02, all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Liriodendrin has an obvious protective effect on sepsis-induced AKI. The mechanism may involve regulating the intestinal flora, increasing the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 signaling pathway in renal tissue, and reducing ferroptosis.
Animals ; Acute Kidney Injury/microbiology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepsis/complications* ; Male ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*

Lenvatinib, a second-generation multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved by the FDA for first-line treatment of advanced liver cancer, facing limitations due to drug resistance. Here, we applied a multidimensional, high-throughput screening platform comprising patient-derived resistant liver tumor cells (PDCs), organoids (PDOs), and xenografts (PDXs) to identify drug susceptibilities for conquering lenvatinib resistance in clinically relevant settings. Expansion and passaging of PDCs and PDOs from resistant patient liver tumors retained functional fidelity to lenvatinib treatment, expediting drug repurposing screens. Pharmacological screening identified romidepsin, YM155, apitolisib, NVP-TAE684 and dasatinib as potential antitumor agents in lenvatinib-resistant PDC and PDO models. Notably, romidepsin treatment enhanced antitumor response in syngeneic mouse models by triggering immunogenic tumor cell death and blocking the EGFR signaling pathway. A combination of romidepsin and immunotherapy achieved robust and synergistic antitumor effects against lenvatinib resistance in humanized immunocompetent PDX models. Collectively, our findings suggest that patient-derived liver cancer models effectively recapitulate lenvatinib resistance observed in clinical settings and expedite drug discovery for advanced liver cancer, providing a feasible multidimensional platform for personalized medicine.

Objective:To investigate the current situation of the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for portal hypertension, which should aid the development of TIPS in China.Methods:The China Portal Hypertension Alliance (CHESS) initiated this study that comprehensively investigated the basic situation of TIPS for portal hypertension in China through network research. The survey included the following: the number of surgical cases, main indications, the development of Early-TIPS, TIPS for portal vein cavernous transformation, collateral circulation embolization, intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurement, commonly used stent types, conventional anticoagulation and time, postoperative follow-up, obstacles, and the application of domestic instruments.Results:According to the survey, a total of 13 527 TIPS operations were carried out in 545 hospitals participating in the survey in 2021, and 94.1% of the hospital had the habit of routine follow-up after TIPS. Most hospitals believed that the main indications of TIPS were the control of acute bleeding (42.6%) and the prevention of rebleeding (40.7%). 48.1% of the teams carried out early or priority TIPS, 53.0% of the teams carried out TIPS for the cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and 81.0% chose routine embolization of collateral circulation during operation. Most of them used coils and biological glue as embolic materials, and 78.5% of the team routinely performed intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurements. In selecting TIPS stents, 57.1% of the hospitals woulel choose Viator-specific stents, 57.2% woulel choose conventional anticoagulation after TIPS, and the duration of anticoagulation was between 3-6 months (55.4%). The limitation of TIPS surgery was mainly due to cost (72.3%) and insufficient understanding of doctors in related departments (77.4%). Most teams accepted the domestic instruments used in TIPS (92.7%).Conclusions:This survey shows that TIPS treatment is an essential part of treating portal hypertension in China. The total number of TIPS cases is far from that of patients with portal hypertension. In the future, it is still necessary to popularize TIPS technology and further standardize surgical indications, routine operations, and instrument application.

Bluetongue virus is an arbovirus that seriously harms ruminants such as sheep,this study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism of bluetongue virus infection and host cell interferon antiviral immune response.The study was conducted to characterize the mRNA expression of inter-feron pathway genes by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,as well as Western blot analysis of MDA5,TRAF3,RIG-Ⅰ,and TBK1 protein expression in BHK-21 cells induced by BTV with a multiplicity of infections(MOI)of 1 for 18,24,and 36 h.The results showed that the most pro-nounced changes in the expression of interferon signaling pathway genes were observed at 24 h of induction,the gene mRNA expression levels of the IFN-α,IFN-β,RIG-Ⅰ,TBK1,MDA5,VISA,and TRAF3 genes were upregulated.However,the mRNA expression levels of IKKε and TRAF6 genes were downregulated.At the protein level,MDA5 and TBK1 proteins were upregulated while RIG-1 and TRAF3 proteins were downregulated,which showed that BTV infection induces a typeⅠ interferon immune response in BHK-21 cells.This study lays the foundation for further exploring the antiviral immunity mechanism of IFN-Ⅰ signaling pathway regulatory genes in host cells infected with BTV infection.

Objective To investigate the current status,obstacles,and specific needs associated with the application of transradial access(TRA)in peripheral interventions in Chinese hospitals,with the aim of promoting the broader adoption of TRA in interventional procedures.Methods The Committee of Interventional Oncology of China Anti-Cancer Association conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey to investigate and analyze the nationwide situation of TRA in peripheral interventional surgeries in 2022.Results Personnel from 60 hospitals participated in the questionnaire.The results showed that the number of peripheral interventionals performed using TRA was significantly lower than that performed using transfemoral access(TFA),with considerable variability among hospitals.The primary obstacles to the adoption of TRA were the lack of suitable catheters and the difficulty of radial artery puncture.Approximately 86.67％of the institutions expressed a high expectation for the innovation of new TRA-specific devices,particularly catheters,microcatheters,and guidewires.60.00％of medical institutions indicated a strong desire for systematic training and participation in multi-center clinical trials.Conclusions TRA peripheral intervention is feasible in many hospitals in China,however,systematic training and further promotion of TRA are essential.The innovation of new TRA-specific devices and TRA in peripheral intervention is urgent.

Objective To explore the corneal wound healing mechanism after 3.74 μm infrared laser irradiation.Methods Twenty-seven C57BL/6J mice(six to eight weeks old)were randomly divided into a normal group(3 mice)and an experimental group(24 mice).Mice in the normal group were not subjected to any treatment.The corneas of mice in the experimental group were damaged by infrared laser at a wavelength of 3.74 μm.The spot diameter was 2 mm,the exposure duration 0.8 s,and the radiant exposure 23.2 J·cm-2.Pathological sectioning of corneas was performed at 3 h,6 h,12 h,1 d,3 d,7 d,14 d,and 21 d after laser irradiation in the experimental group,with 3 mice at each time point.It was the same for mice in the normal group.Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to examine neutrophil elastase,CD68,CD163 and thrombomodulin-positive cells and identify neovascularization.Results Neutrophil elastase,CD68,CD163,and thrombomodulin-positive cells were not detected in the corneal stroma of mice in the normal group.Neutrophil elastase-positive cells were detected in the damaged corneal periphery of mice in the experimental group at 3 h,migrated to the damaged area at 12 h,peaked at 1 d,and then decreased gradually with time,but still existed slightly at 21 d after laser irradiation.CD68-positive cells were detected in the damaged corneal periphery of mice in the experimental group at 12 h and in the damaged area at 1 d through 21 d after laser irradiation.CD163-positive cells were found in the damaged corneal periphery of mice in the experimental group at 7 d and in the damaged area at 14 d and 21 d after laser irradiation.Throm-bomodulin-positive cells were found in the damaged area of the corneal stroma at 14 d and 21 d after laser irradiation.Con-clusion During the wound healing process after 3.74 μm infrared laser-induced full-thickness corneal injury in mice,a large number of inflammatory cells migrate from the damaged corneal periphery or limbus to the damaged area.Neutrophils and M1 macrophages infiltrate in the early stage,while M2 macrophages are involved in the later stage,accompanied by neovascularization.

Objective To construct a carbon dioxide(CO2)laser-induced corneal injury model in mice and observe the process of corneal wound healing.Methods Twenty eyes of ten C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups.The cen-tral corneas in each group were irradiated by CO2 laser with a wavelength of 10.6 μm,spot diameter of 2 mm and power of 0.94 W.The exposure doses were 3.0 J·cm-2,4.5 J·cm-2,7.5 J·cm-2 and 10.5 J·cm-2,with corresponding expo-sure durations of 0.10 s,0.15 s,0.25 s and 0.35 s.Corneal injury severity was assessed using a slit lamp microscope,opti-cal coherence tomography and histopathological evaluation at 1 day after the exposure to determine the proper exposure dose for constructing a corneal injury model.Subsequently,the corneal injury model was constructed and the same meth-ods were used to monitor wound healing before,and 0 hours to 6 months after the exposure.Results No obvious corne-al injury was observed at an exposure dose of 3.0 J·cm-2.At an exposure dose of 4.5 J·cm-2,an off-white injury area appeared on the central cornea with loss of epithelium and endothelium.At an exposure dose of 7.5 J·cm-2 or 10.5 J·cm-2,the injury area became porcelain white,the cornea was thickened,and the iris was seen adhering to the margin of the cornea.Therefore,4.5 J·cm-2 CO2 laser was selected to construct a corneal injury model.At this exposure dose,the cornea swelled and thickened rapidly after injury,reached the maximum thickness 1 day after the exposure,and then grad-ually recovered,returning to normal by 14 days after the exposure.In the early stage(0 hours to 3 days after the expo-sure),the cornea showed shedding of injured epithelium and endothelium,migration of new epithelium and endothelium,and infiltration and regression of inflammatory cells.At the late stage(7 days to 6 months after the exposure),the cornea gradually returned to a normal physiological state,but some of the injured cornea exhibited stromal hyperplasia.Conclu-sion A CO2 laser with an exposure dose of 4.5 J·cm-2 can be used to construct a corneal injury model in mice.The a-cute phase of corneal injury primarily occurs within 3 days after the exposure.The cornea tends to restore its original physi-ological structure,but the corneal transparency cannot return to a normal state.

Objective To observe the relationship between functional connectivity(FC)of frontoparietal network(FPN)and cognitive function in patients with cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD)using resting-state functional MRI(rs-fMRI).Methods rs-fMRI of 50 CSVD patients with cognitive impairment(CI group),65 CSVD patients with normal cognition(NC group)and 60 healthy controls(HC group),as well as outcomes of neuropsychological tests were retrospectively analyzed.Brain regions with different FC of FPN were compared among 3 groups and between each 2 groups.Partial correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlations of FC of brain regions value being statistically different between CI and NC groups and cognitive scores.Results Significant differences of FC in bilateral cingulate gyrus,left middle frontal gyrus,right supramarginal gyrus,right inferior parietal lobule and right medial superior frontal gyrus were found among groups(FWE correction,all P＜0.05).Compared with NC group,FC of left cingulate gyrus decreased,of right inferior frontal gyrus and right medial superior frontal gyrus increased in CI group(FWE correction,all P＜0.05).The decreased FC value of left cingulate gyrus was negatively correlated with clock drawing test score in CSVD patients(r=-0.159,P=0.049).Conclusion CSVD patients with or without CI had extensive abnormal FC of FPN,and the left cingulate gyrus was associated with patient's cognitive function.

The management of antibiotic-resistant, bacterial biofilm infections in skin wounds poses an increasingly challenging clinical scenario. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is difficult to eradicate because of biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. In this study, we identified a new benzothiazole derivative compound, SN12 (IC₅₀ = 43.3 nmol/L), demonstrating remarkable biofilm inhibition at nanomolar concentrations in vitro. In further activity assays and mechanistic studies, we formulated an unconventional strategy for combating P. aeruginosa-derived infections by targeting the two-component (Gac/Rsm) system. Furthermore, SN12 slowed the development of ciprofloxacin and tobramycin resistance. By using murine skin wound infection models, we observed that SN12 significantly augmented the antibacterial effects of three widely used antibiotics-tobramycin (100-fold), vancomycin (200-fold), and ciprofloxacin (1000-fold)-compared with single-dose antibiotic treatments for P. aeruginosa infection in vivo. The findings of this study suggest the potential of SN12 as a promising antibacterial synergist, highlighting the effectiveness of targeting the two-component system in treating challenging bacterial biofilm infections in humans.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the composition and metabolites of gut microbiota in septic rats by fecal 16s rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics, and to preliminarily explore the effect and potential mechanism of gut microbiota and its metabolites on inflammatory response and multiple organ damage in sepsis. METHODS: Ten males healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a sham operated group (Sham group) and sepsis model group (CLP group) using a random number table method, with 5 rats in each group. A rat sepsis model was established by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) method. The animals were sacrificed 24 hours after modeling, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in peripheral blood were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes of lung and kidney tissues, and the pathological scores were evaluated. Fecal samples were collected, and 16s rRNA high-throughput sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics were used to screen microbiota, metabolites and potential signal pathways that may play an important role in disease outcomes. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to jointly analyze the gut microbiota and non-targeted metabolism. RESULTS: Compared with the Sham group, the degree of pathological damage to lung and kidney tissues in the CLP group was significantly increased (lung tissue score: 3.60±0.80 vs. 0.00±0.00, kidney tissue score: 2.40±0.80 vs. 0.00±0.00, both P < 0.01), the level of IL-6 and TNF-α in peripheral blood significantly increased [TNF-α (ng/L): 248.12±55.98 vs. 143.28±36.57, IL-6 (ng/L): 260.26±39.47 vs. 116.01±26.43, both P < 0.05], the species diversity of intestinal flora of rats in the CLP group was significantly reduced, the relative abundance of Morganella, Bacteroides and Escherichia-Shigella were significantly increased, and the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae NK4A136, Ruminococcus, Romboutsia and Roseburia were significantly reduced. In addition, the biosynthesis and bile secretion of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan in the gut microbiota of the CLP group were significantly increased, while the biosynthesis of secondary bile acids was significantly reduced. There was a significant correlation between differential metabolites and differential microbiota. CONCLUSIONS Sepsis can cause significant changes in the characteristics of gut microbiota and fecal metabolites in rats, which provides a basis for translational research to seek new targets for the treatment of sepsis.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Interleukin-6 ; Rats, Wistar ; Sepsis