ObjectiveThis study aims to systematically analyze the blood-absorbed components and metabolic profiles of Xiebaisan（XBS） in normal and chronic bronchitis （CB） mice using ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS）， while comparing differences between the two states. MethodsThirty female BABL/c mice were randomly divided into the normal group， the normal drug administration group， the CB group， the CB drug administration group and the dexamethasone group， with 6 mice in each group. The CB mouse model was established by inducing with ovalbumin （OVA）. The mice in the normal drug administration group and the CB drug administration group started to be gavaged with XBS（13.2 g·kg^-1） from the 21^st day， and the dexamethasone group mice were simultaneously gavaged with dexamethasone （0.5 mg·kg^-1） until the end of the 35^th day of the experiment. Subsequently， serum samples were collected and evaluated for their efficacy， based on the pharmacological evaluation indicators， to determine the efficacy of XBS in treating CB. Then the UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS was employed to identify and analyze the chemical constituents， blood-absorbed components， and metabolites of XBS. Chemometric analysis was conducted to reveal metabolic profile differences under "dual states". Concurrently， Real-time PCR technology was utilized to detect the expression levels of key liver metabolic enzymes CYP2E1， CYP3A1， UGT1A1， and UGT1A6. ResultsA total of 28 prototype components and 158 metabolites （including 48 phase Ⅰ metabolites and 110 phase Ⅱ metabolites） of XBS were unambiguously identified in the serum of normal mice. Additionally， a comprehensive characterization was performed on a total of 32 prototype components and 178 metabolites （including 50 phase Ⅰ metabolites and 128 phase Ⅱ metabolites） of XBS in the serum of CB mice. Among them， 27 prototype components were detected in both states， including 12 flavonoids， 2 alkaloids， 3 triterpenes， 4 organic acids， 3 amides， 1 stilbene and 2 other compounds. The chemometrics analysis revealed no significant difference in the prototype components and metabolites of XBS between normal and CB mice； however， there was a significant increase in the in-vivo exposure of XBS in CB mice. Compared to normal mice， the levels of phase Ⅰ metabolites such as oxidation， reduction and methylation of blood components of XBS as well as phase Ⅱ metabolites of glucuronidation showed significant changes in CB mice. Real-time PCR further confirmed that these alterations were attributed to the upregulation of CYP2E1 （P<0.05）， CYP3A1 （P>0.05）， UGT1A1 （P<0.01） and UGT1A6 （P<0.01） enzymes expression in the liver of CB mice. ConclusionThis study elucidated the disparities in the levels of the blood-absorbed components and metabolic profiles of XBS in normal and CB mice， especially in oxidation， reduction， methylation in phase Ⅰ metabolism and glucoaldehyde acidification in phase Ⅱ metabolism. And there are related to the differences in the expression levels of phase Ⅰ and phase Ⅱ metabolic enzymes CYP2E1， CYP3A1， UGT1A1 and UGT1A6 in the liver.

AIM:To observe the role of enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase/L-3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydroge-nase(Ehhadh)in renal tubulointerstitial inflammation in high-fat diet(HFD)fed mice,and to explore its molecular mecha-nism.METHODS:Twenty-four C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:standard diet(SD)group,HFD group,HFD with Ehhadh overexpression(HFD+Ehh)group and HFD with blank vector(HFD+Vec)group.Each group consisted of 6 mice.The HFD mice were fed with a diet containing 60%fat,20%protein,and 20%carbohydrates for 16 weeks.Briefly,at the end of 8 weeks,the mice in HFD+Ehh or HFD+Vec group were injected with adeno-associated virus 9(AAV9)-Ehhadh or AAV9-vector via the tail vein,and then continued another 8-week HFD feeding.At the end of the experiments,the renal function and morphological changes were observed.The protein expression levels of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),caspase-1 p10,interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and IL-18 in the kidney were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the colocalization of Ehhadh and peroxisomal biogenesis factor 14(Pex14).ELISA was used to detect the content of IL-1β and IL-18 in the urine.Lipid droplet formation in renal tissues was detected by Nile red staining.Absolute quantitative lip-idomic analysis were used to detect the differential lipid species in renal cortices of the mice in SD,HFD and HFD+Ehh groups.RESULTS:Compared with SD group,the expression of Ehhadh protein was significantly decreased in the peroxi-some of renal tubular epithelium cells in HFD-fed mice(P<0.01).Overexpression of Ehhadh significantly improved renal function(P<0.01)and alleviated the morphological changes of renal tubular epithelial cells in HFD group.Moreover,it significantly inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 and macrophage infiltration in renal tu-bule interstitium of HFD-fed mice(P<0.01).At the same time,Ehhadh overexpression inhibited HFD-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation(P<0.01).It also attenuated lipid deposition in renal tubular epithelium cells(P<0.01)and promoted the β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acid such as cholesterol and phospholipids in peroxisomes.CONCLUSION:The Ehhadh inhibits tubulointerstitial inflammation by promoting long-chain fatty acid β-oxidation in peroxisomes and in-hibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in HFD-fed mice.

AIM:To observe the role of enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase/L-3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydroge-nase(Ehhadh)in renal tubulointerstitial inflammation in high-fat diet(HFD)fed mice,and to explore its molecular mecha-nism.METHODS:Twenty-four C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:standard diet(SD)group,HFD group,HFD with Ehhadh overexpression(HFD+Ehh)group and HFD with blank vector(HFD+Vec)group.Each group consisted of 6 mice.The HFD mice were fed with a diet containing 60%fat,20%protein,and 20%carbohydrates for 16 weeks.Briefly,at the end of 8 weeks,the mice in HFD+Ehh or HFD+Vec group were injected with adeno-associated virus 9(AAV9)-Ehhadh or AAV9-vector via the tail vein,and then continued another 8-week HFD feeding.At the end of the experiments,the renal function and morphological changes were observed.The protein expression levels of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),caspase-1 p10,interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and IL-18 in the kidney were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the colocalization of Ehhadh and peroxisomal biogenesis factor 14(Pex14).ELISA was used to detect the content of IL-1β and IL-18 in the urine.Lipid droplet formation in renal tissues was detected by Nile red staining.Absolute quantitative lip-idomic analysis were used to detect the differential lipid species in renal cortices of the mice in SD,HFD and HFD+Ehh groups.RESULTS:Compared with SD group,the expression of Ehhadh protein was significantly decreased in the peroxi-some of renal tubular epithelium cells in HFD-fed mice(P<0.01).Overexpression of Ehhadh significantly improved renal function(P<0.01)and alleviated the morphological changes of renal tubular epithelial cells in HFD group.Moreover,it significantly inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 and macrophage infiltration in renal tu-bule interstitium of HFD-fed mice(P<0.01).At the same time,Ehhadh overexpression inhibited HFD-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation(P<0.01).It also attenuated lipid deposition in renal tubular epithelium cells(P<0.01)and promoted the β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acid such as cholesterol and phospholipids in peroxisomes.CONCLUSION:The Ehhadh inhibits tubulointerstitial inflammation by promoting long-chain fatty acid β-oxidation in peroxisomes and in-hibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in HFD-fed mice.

Terahertz(THz)technology,as an emerging tool for characterizing biomacromolecules,has rapidly developed over the past few decades,demonstrating significant application potential in multiple fields.Defensive qi is a vital energy in the human body,responsible for defense functions by warming the skin,regulating the opening and closing of the striae and interstices,and resisting the invasion of external pathogens.Defensive qi is one of the core concepts for disease prevention and health maintenance in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).However,due to the high abstraction and complexity of TCM theory,the scientific connotation and mechanism of action of defensive qi remained incompletely elucidated.THz waves have the unique physical properties of molecular vibration sensitivity,penetrability,and thermal radiation effects,and are highly sensitive to biological tissues,which make THz technology a promising tool for defensive qi research.By analyzing the characteristics of THz waves,this paper explores the feasibility of applying THz technology to investigate the circulation patterns of defensive qi,the prevention and treatment of disorders related defensive qi,the pathological essence of defensive qi diseases,the material basis of defensive qi,the screening of defensive qi disorders,and the development of novel drugs targeting defensive qi disorders.This approach provides a new perspective and methodology for the research of TCM fundamental theory.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of baicalein on acute myocardial injury in rats with high-level spinal cord injury (SCI) and the role of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2).Methods:Twenty-four clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 250-300 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), SCI group, SCI+ baicalein group (SCI+ Bai group) and SCI+ baicalein+ ML385 group (SCI+ Bai+ ML385 group). The high-level SCI rat model was established by the modified Allens method. In Sham group, the 7th cervical vertebra (C 7) was only exposed, but the spinal cord was not hit. In SCI group, C 7 was exposed and the spinal cord was hit. In SCI+ Bai group, baicalein 50 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected immediately after SCI. In SCI+ Bai+ ML385 group, Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 30 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 1 h before SCI, and baicalein 50 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected immediately after SCI. The rats were anesthetized at 24 h after SCI and sacrificed after the blood samples from the abdominal aorta were collected and the hearts were taken for microscopic examination of the pathological changes (by HE staining) which were scored and the ultrastructure of cells (with a transmission electron microscope) and for determination of the serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), content of ferrous ion (Fe 2+ ) in myocardial tissues (by colorimetry), contents of malondialdehyde(MDA) and glutathione (GSH) and activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) in myocardial tissues (by biochemical method) and expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), acyl CoA synthase long chain family member 4 (ACSl4) and Nrf2 protein and mRNA in myocardial tissues (by Western blot and fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction). The mitochondrial Flameng score was assessed and recorded. Results:Compared with Sham group, the pathological score, mitochondrial Flameng score and serum cTnI concentrations were significantly increased, the contents of Fe 2+ and MDA in myocardial tissues were increased, the content of GSH and SOD activity were decreased, the expression of GPX4 was down-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 and Nrf2 was up-regulated in SCI group ( P<0.05). Compared with SCI group, the pathological score, mitochondrial Flameng score and serum cTnI concentration were significantly decreased, the contents of Fe 2+ and MDA in myocardial tissues were decreased, the contents of GSH and SOD activity were increased, the expression of GPX4 and Nrf2 was up-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 was down-regulated in SCI+ Bai group ( P<0.05). Compared with SCI+ Bai group, the pathological score, mitochondrial Flameng score and serum cTnI concentrations were significantly increased, the contents of Fe 2+ and MDA in myocardial tissues were increased, the content of GSH and SOD activity were decreased, the expression of GPX4 and Nrf2 was down-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 was up-regulated in SCI+ Bai+ ML385 group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Baicalein can alleviate acute myocardial injury in rats with high-level SCI, and Nrf2 is involved in this process.

Objective:To explore the trend of influenza positive rate in Beijing by using classic autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model, autoregressive integrated moving average model with exogenous variables (ARIMAX) and vector autoregression model (VAR) to compare the performance of three models in influenza prediction and select the most suitable one for Beijing.Methods:The weekly positive rate of influenza virus nucleic acid test and meteorological data in Beijing from week 1 of 2013 to week 40 of 2024 were collected. The data were divided into four groups with expanding training sets and corresponding testing sets. The training set of the first group was from week 1 of 2013 to week 40 of 2016, and the testing set was from week 41 of 2016 to week 40 of 2017. Subsequent groups extended the training set by one year each time. Data from 2020 to 2023 were excluded due to COVID-19 pandemic. The fourth group used data from the week 1 of 2013 to week 40 of 2023 for training and from the week 41 of 2023 to week 40 of 2024 for testing.Results:The incidence of influenza had seasonality in Beijing with higher incidence in winter and spring. The positive rate of influenza virus was positively correlated with the weekly average atmospheric pressure ( r=0.482, P<0.001) and weekly average wind speed ( r=0.003, P=0.034), and negatively correlated with the weekly average temperature ( r=-0.541, P<0.001). The ARIMAX model incorporating meteorological factors had the best prediction performance, with test set's root mean square error ( RMSE) of 0.115 3 and mean absolute error ( MAE) of 0.076 7 (the RMSE and MAE values for ARIMA and VAR models were 0.117 1 and 0.163 8, and 0.078 6 and 0.122 3, respectively). The prediction results of the optimal model showed that the positive rate of influenza virus would continue to rise in Beijing after October 2024 and reach peak in the second week of 2025, but the peak positive rate would be lower than that of previous influenza season. Conclusions:Compared with the ARIMA model and the VAR model,the ARIMAX model which used meteorological parameters is more suitable for prediction of long-term influenza trend in Beijing. The influenza trend peak was predicted to occur in the second week of 2025, but lower than that in previous influenza season.

Intestinal fibrosis is a significant clinical challenge in inflammatory bowel diseases, but no effective anti-fibrotic therapy is currently available. Glucagon receptor (GCGR) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R) are both peptide hormone receptors involved in energy metabolism of epithelial cells. However, their role in intestinal fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Herein GCGR and GLP1R were found to be reduced in the stenotic ileum of patients with Crohn's disease as well as in the fibrotic colon of mice with chronic colitis. The downregulation of GCGR and GLP1R led to the accumulation of the metabolic byproduct lactate, resulting in histone H3K9 lactylation and exacerbated intestinal fibrosis through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Dual activating GCGR and GLP1R by peptide 1907B reduced the H3K9 lactylation in epithelial cells and ameliorated intestinal fibrosis in vivo. We uncovered the role of GCGR/GLP1R in regulating EMT involved in intestinal fibrosis via histone lactylation. Simultaneously activating GCGR/GLP1R with the novel dual agonist peptide 1907B holds promise as a treatment strategy for alleviating intestinal fibrosis.

Objective:To explore the trend of influenza positive rate in Beijing by using classic autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model, autoregressive integrated moving average model with exogenous variables (ARIMAX) and vector autoregression model (VAR) to compare the performance of three models in influenza prediction and select the most suitable one for Beijing.Methods:The weekly positive rate of influenza virus nucleic acid test and meteorological data in Beijing from week 1 of 2013 to week 40 of 2024 were collected. The data were divided into four groups with expanding training sets and corresponding testing sets. The training set of the first group was from week 1 of 2013 to week 40 of 2016, and the testing set was from week 41 of 2016 to week 40 of 2017. Subsequent groups extended the training set by one year each time. Data from 2020 to 2023 were excluded due to COVID-19 pandemic. The fourth group used data from the week 1 of 2013 to week 40 of 2023 for training and from the week 41 of 2023 to week 40 of 2024 for testing.Results:The incidence of influenza had seasonality in Beijing with higher incidence in winter and spring. The positive rate of influenza virus was positively correlated with the weekly average atmospheric pressure ( r=0.482, P<0.001) and weekly average wind speed ( r=0.003, P=0.034), and negatively correlated with the weekly average temperature ( r=-0.541, P<0.001). The ARIMAX model incorporating meteorological factors had the best prediction performance, with test set's root mean square error ( RMSE) of 0.115 3 and mean absolute error ( MAE) of 0.076 7 (the RMSE and MAE values for ARIMA and VAR models were 0.117 1 and 0.163 8, and 0.078 6 and 0.122 3, respectively). The prediction results of the optimal model showed that the positive rate of influenza virus would continue to rise in Beijing after October 2024 and reach peak in the second week of 2025, but the peak positive rate would be lower than that of previous influenza season. Conclusions:Compared with the ARIMA model and the VAR model,the ARIMAX model which used meteorological parameters is more suitable for prediction of long-term influenza trend in Beijing. The influenza trend peak was predicted to occur in the second week of 2025, but lower than that in previous influenza season.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of baicalein on acute myocardial injury in rats with high-level spinal cord injury (SCI) and the role of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2).Methods:Twenty-four clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 250-300 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), SCI group, SCI+ baicalein group (SCI+ Bai group) and SCI+ baicalein+ ML385 group (SCI+ Bai+ ML385 group). The high-level SCI rat model was established by the modified Allens method. In Sham group, the 7th cervical vertebra (C 7) was only exposed, but the spinal cord was not hit. In SCI group, C 7 was exposed and the spinal cord was hit. In SCI+ Bai group, baicalein 50 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected immediately after SCI. In SCI+ Bai+ ML385 group, Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 30 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 1 h before SCI, and baicalein 50 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected immediately after SCI. The rats were anesthetized at 24 h after SCI and sacrificed after the blood samples from the abdominal aorta were collected and the hearts were taken for microscopic examination of the pathological changes (by HE staining) which were scored and the ultrastructure of cells (with a transmission electron microscope) and for determination of the serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), content of ferrous ion (Fe 2+ ) in myocardial tissues (by colorimetry), contents of malondialdehyde(MDA) and glutathione (GSH) and activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) in myocardial tissues (by biochemical method) and expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), acyl CoA synthase long chain family member 4 (ACSl4) and Nrf2 protein and mRNA in myocardial tissues (by Western blot and fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction). The mitochondrial Flameng score was assessed and recorded. Results:Compared with Sham group, the pathological score, mitochondrial Flameng score and serum cTnI concentrations were significantly increased, the contents of Fe 2+ and MDA in myocardial tissues were increased, the content of GSH and SOD activity were decreased, the expression of GPX4 was down-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 and Nrf2 was up-regulated in SCI group ( P<0.05). Compared with SCI group, the pathological score, mitochondrial Flameng score and serum cTnI concentration were significantly decreased, the contents of Fe 2+ and MDA in myocardial tissues were decreased, the contents of GSH and SOD activity were increased, the expression of GPX4 and Nrf2 was up-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 was down-regulated in SCI+ Bai group ( P<0.05). Compared with SCI+ Bai group, the pathological score, mitochondrial Flameng score and serum cTnI concentrations were significantly increased, the contents of Fe 2+ and MDA in myocardial tissues were increased, the content of GSH and SOD activity were decreased, the expression of GPX4 and Nrf2 was down-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 was up-regulated in SCI+ Bai+ ML385 group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Baicalein can alleviate acute myocardial injury in rats with high-level SCI, and Nrf2 is involved in this process.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intrasaccular flow disruptor in wide-necked intracranial aneurysms.Methods:One hundred and seventeen patients with wide-necked intracranial aneurysms treated with intrasaccular flow disruptor were collected from Department of Neurointervention (First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University), Department of Neurosurgery (Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University), Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Neurosurgery Center (Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University), and Department of Neurosurgery (First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University) from August 2022 to March 2024. Raymond-Roy Occlusion Classification (RROC) was employed to evaluate aneurysm embolization immediately after procedure; cranial CT or MRI within 48 hours of embolization were performed to identify any new intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or new symptomatic cerebral infarction related to the intracranial aneurysms. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to assess the neurological function at discharge. Imaging follow-up and outpatient follow-up were performed at 6 months after embolization to evaluate the aneurysm occlusion degree and complications.Results:A total of 117 intrasaccular flow disruptors were implanted in 117 patients, with a technical success rate of 100%; 115 patients (98.3%) enjoyed successful one-time release of their disruptors, and 2 patients (1.7%) required retrieval and redirection of the disruptors before second successful attempt. Flow disruptor plus stent was performed in 13 patients (11.1%). Immediately after procedure, RROC grading I was noted in 3 patients, grading II in 51 patients and grading III in 63 patients. Cranial CT or MRI within 48 hours of embolization indicated no new intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or symptomatic cerebral infarction related to the intracranial aneurysms. All patients had mRS score of 0 at discharge. Eighty-three patients completed a 6-month follow-up (RROC grading I in 41 patients, grading II in 33 patients and grading III in 9 patients), without ischemic or hemorrhagic adverse events.Conclusion:The results of this study preliminarily suggest that intrasaccular flow disruptor is effective and safe in wide-necked intracranial aneurysms.