BACKGROUND:During diabetic wound healing,the sustained activation of M1 macrophages exacerbates the inflammatory response and hinders wound repair.Auranofin,an anti-inflammatory drug,has not been clearly studied for its effects on M1 macrophages and its potential role in diabetic wound healing.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of different concentrations of auranofin on the biological function of M1 macrophages and evaluate its potential application in diabetic wound healing.METHODS:RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells were used as research models.M1 polarization was induced using different concentrations of interferon-γ and lipopolysaccharide.M1 macrophages were treated with 1 and 2 μmol/L auranofin.Cell counting kit-8 assay was used to evaluate the effect of auranofin on cell viability.Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to detect mRNA expression of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α.ELISA was employed to measure the levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α in the supernatant.Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of nuclear factor-κB(p65),phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK),and total MAPK proteins.Additionally,6-8-week-old male C57BL/6J and db/db diabetic mice were used for wound healing experiments,with the mice divided into C57 control,db/db control and auranofin treatment groups,each containing six animals.Dorsal skin defect modeling and treatment with intraperitoneal injection of auranofin were performed to observe wound healing in mice.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Cell experiments showed that co-treatment with interferon-y(10 ng/mL)and lipopolysaccharide(100 ng/mL)significantly induced M1 polarization in RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells,resulting in increased mRNA expression of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α.Treatment with auranofin(1 and 2 μmol/L)reduced the mRNA expression of these inflammatory factors in the cells and inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors in the cell supernatant.(2)Auranofin treatment significantly suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-κB(p65)and phosphorylated MAPK signaling pathways.(3)Animal experiments showed that auranofin promoted wound healing in db/db diabetic mice,suggesting that auranofin has strong anti-inflammatory effects and may facilitate the healing of wounds in diabetic mice.

BACKGROUND:During diabetic wound healing,the sustained activation of M1 macrophages exacerbates the inflammatory response and hinders wound repair.Auranofin,an anti-inflammatory drug,has not been clearly studied for its effects on M1 macrophages and its potential role in diabetic wound healing.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of different concentrations of auranofin on the biological function of M1 macrophages and evaluate its potential application in diabetic wound healing.METHODS:RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells were used as research models.M1 polarization was induced using different concentrations of interferon-γ and lipopolysaccharide.M1 macrophages were treated with 1 and 2 μmol/L auranofin.Cell counting kit-8 assay was used to evaluate the effect of auranofin on cell viability.Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to detect mRNA expression of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α.ELISA was employed to measure the levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α in the supernatant.Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of nuclear factor-κB(p65),phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK),and total MAPK proteins.Additionally,6-8-week-old male C57BL/6J and db/db diabetic mice were used for wound healing experiments,with the mice divided into C57 control,db/db control and auranofin treatment groups,each containing six animals.Dorsal skin defect modeling and treatment with intraperitoneal injection of auranofin were performed to observe wound healing in mice.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Cell experiments showed that co-treatment with interferon-y(10 ng/mL)and lipopolysaccharide(100 ng/mL)significantly induced M1 polarization in RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells,resulting in increased mRNA expression of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α.Treatment with auranofin(1 and 2 μmol/L)reduced the mRNA expression of these inflammatory factors in the cells and inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors in the cell supernatant.(2)Auranofin treatment significantly suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-κB(p65)and phosphorylated MAPK signaling pathways.(3)Animal experiments showed that auranofin promoted wound healing in db/db diabetic mice,suggesting that auranofin has strong anti-inflammatory effects and may facilitate the healing of wounds in diabetic mice.

OBJECTIVE To preliminarily investigate the antiasthmatic effect and mechanism of Ephedrae Herba-Armeniacae Semen Amarum herb pair on the respiratory center. METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， dexamethasone group （positive control）， and Ephedrae Herba-Armeniacae Semen Amarum 2∶1， 1∶1 and 1∶2 groups. Rats in each group were administered different ratios of the herb pair decoction [all at 18 g （crude drug）/kg]， dexamethasone suspension （0.5 mg/kg）， or normal saline intragastrically twice daily for seven consecutive days. Forty minutes after the last administration， medicated cerebrospinal fluid was collected to determine the content of effective components entering the brain. One and a half hours after the last administration， the nucleus tractus solitarius （NTS） was located using a stereotaxic apparatus. Histamine phosphate （1 μL） was injected into the NTS region at a constant rate of 1 μL/min using a 10 μL microsyringe to induce excitation of the respiratory center in rats； the blank group was injected with normal saline. The contents of neurotransmitters [nerve growth factor （NGF）， substance P （SP）， norepinephrine （NA）， 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） and acetylcholine （Ach）] in the medulla oblongata brain tissue were detected. The mRNA expressions of neurokinin-1 receptor （NK-1R）， p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， and c-fos in the medulla oblongata， as well as the protein expressions of NK-1R， p38 MAPK， and c-fos in the NTS region， were determined. RESULTS The main active components of Ephedrae Herba-Armeniacae Semen Amarum herb pair entering the brain were ephedrine， pseudoephedrine， and methylephedrine. Compared with blank group， the contents of NGF， SP， NA， 5-HT and Ach， and the relative expression levels of NK-1R， p38 MAPK， and c-fos mRNA and protein were significantly increased in the model group （ P ＜0.01）. Compared with model group， Ephedrae Herba-Armeniacae Semen Amarum herb pair groups with different ratios significantly reduced the neurotransmitter contents and the relative expression levels of NK-1R， p38 MAPK， and c-fos mRNA and protein （ P ＜0.01）， with the 2∶1 Ephedrae Herba-Armeniacae Semen Amarum herb pair and 1∶1 mass ratios showing relatively better effects. CONCLUSIONS Ephedrae Herba alkaloids are the main active components in affecting the function of the respiratory center. The herb pair groups with a larger proportion of Ephedrae Herba exhibit stronger effects. Ephedrae Herba-Armeniacae Semen Amarum herb pair can reduce the excitability of the respiratory center by down-regulating the expression of the NK-1R/MAPK/c-fos pathway in the NTS and decreasing the abnormal release of neurotransmitters such as NGF and SP.

The research and development of innovative drug have progressed remarkably, but the long development circle and high failure rate have become the bottleneck. Drug repurposing, discovering new indications of approved drugs, is a strategy to overcome these obstacles. By exploring new indications for approved drugs, rapid progress has been made in basic research and clinical translation in recent years. Rich resources of drugs, proven security, efficient development workflow and reduced cost are core advantages of this strategy, making the strategy a crucial direction of optimizing the pipeline of drug research and development. This review systematically summarizes drug repurposing cases that have received clinical approval over the past five years, and proposes core strategies for drug repurposing, including approaches based on targets, pathways, drug similarity, post-treatment phenotypes, and clinical side effects, aiming to provide some strategic guidance for drug repurposing efforts.

Objective:To construct a communication skills assessment scale for newly employed nurses, verify the reliability and validity of the scale in a simulated setting, and develop and construct an effective and structured assessment tool for the communication skills of newly employed nurses.Methods:The Chinese version of the Liverpool Communication Skills Assessment Scale was modified and two rounds of expert consultation were conducted to construct the communication skills assessment scale for newly employed nurses. A total of 194 newly employed nurses at a tertiary hospital between 2024 and 2025 were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a teacher-based evaluation method during simulated communication scenarios. The performance of the nurses was scored, and the reliability and validity of the scale were analyzed.Results:The final version of the scale consisted of 4 dimensions and 11 items, and can be used in both workplace-based and simulation-based evaluations. The expert authority coefficients of both rounds were greater than 0.70. The Kendall's W coordination coefficients for the two rounds of consultation were 0.278 and 0.309 for workplace-based evaluations and 0.256 and 0.295 for simulation-based evaluations. The coefficients of variation for the 11 items in both application scenarios were <0.250. The total Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.805 and the total split-half reliability coefficient was 0.814. In the two application scenarios, the item-level content validity index ranged from 0.769 to 1.000 (all >0.750). The scale-level content validity index was 0.916 and 0.909 (>0.900), respectively, in the workplace-based and simulation-based evaluations. The exploratory factor analysis extracted a total of four common factors, with a cumulative variance contribution of 69.09%, and all item loadings on their corresponding factors exceeded 0.500. Conclusions:The communication skills assessment scale for newly employed nurses has moderate and validated content and number of items. The scale demonstrates high reliability and validity in simulation-based evaluations, and can be used as an effective tool for assessing the communication skills of newly employed nurses.

Objectives:To investigate the predictive value of Murray's law-based quantitative flow ratio(μQFR)in side branches for long-term clinical prognosis in patients with non-left main bifurcation lesions who underwent simple main branch stenting,and to provide a potential functional assessment standard for intervention decision-making on coronary bifurcation lesions.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted in 408 patients with non-left main bifurcation lesions who underwent simple main branch stenting at Lianyungang First People's Hospital and Nanjing First Hospital between July 2018 and January 2021.The study utilized third-generation QFR software to analyze pre-and post-procedure anatomical and functional parameters of the target lesion's main branch and key branches.The primary endpoint was target vessel failure(TVF)events during the 3-year follow-up.Patients were stratified into TVF and non-TVF groups.Baseline characteristics,procedural data,and pre-/post-procedural parameters of target vessels were compared between groups.Multivariable Cox regression was performed to identify predictors of TVF.Diagnostic efficacy of predictors was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC)with DeLong's method for comparison.Patients were dichotomized based on the optimal cutoffof post-procedural side branch μQFR,with TVF incidence rates compared via Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results:During 3-year follow-up,54 patients(13.2%)experienced TVF(TVF group),data were compared with 354 patients(86.76%)without TVF(non-TVF group).The TVF group showed higher post-procedural side branch diameter stenosis([32.93±17.80]%vs.[22.62±11.96]%,P<0.001)and lower μQFR(0.80±0.10 vs.0.89±0.07,P<0.001).Multivariate Cox regression identified higher post-procedural side branch μQFR as an independent protective factor against 3-year TVF(per 0.01 increase:HR=0.903,95%CI:0.850-0.959,P<0.001).ROC curves indicated that post-procedural side branch μQFR had moderate diagnostic efficacy for predicting 3-year TVF(AUC=0.769,95%CI:0.678-0.861,P<0.001),with a significantly higher AUC value than post-operative side branch area stenosis and minimal lumen diameter(both P<0.001),the optimal cutoffvalue was 0.84.Multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed markedly higher 3-year TVF rates in patients with μQFR≤0.84 compared to patients with μQFR>0.84(HR=4.007,95%CI:2.342-6.855,P<0.001;28.3%vs.7.9%,log-rank P<0.001).Conclusions:For patients with bifurcation lesions not involving the left main,the immediate post-procedural side branch μQFR could better predict 3-year TVF than anatomical indices.Maintaining post-stenting side branch μQFR>0.84 may optimize clinical outcomes when using a single-stent strategy.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features of patients with congenital atresia of the oval window (CAOW).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 7 cases (8 ears) of surgically confirmed CAOW treated at our department from July 2018 to July 2024. Among the cases, 1 patient had bilateral CAOW, and 4 patients had unilateral CAOW combined with other types of ossicular chain malformations in the contralateral ear. We collected and analyzed the clinical data, audiological features, and temporal bone HRCT results of all patients.Results:The 7 patients were diagnosed at ages ranging from 8 to 19 years, with a mean age of (13.2±6.9) years. None of the patients exhibited significant auricular deformities. All presented with conductive hearing loss or mixed hearing loss predominantly of the conductive type, with an intact tympanic membrane. The diagnosis of CAOW was confirmed via endoscopic tympanotomy, revealing a concave oval window area on the medial wall of the tympanic cavity, sealed by a bony plate. All 8 ears exhibited additional ossicular chain deformities. Stapes absence was present in all 8 ears. Partial absence of the incus long process was observed in 3 ears, while, abnormal bony connections between the incus long process and the promontory were seen in 4 ears, 1 ear had a short malleolar handle, 1 ear had a smaller than normal malleus volume. In addition, facial nerve deformities were found in 6 ears, with 4 ears showing bifurcation of the facial nerve and 2 ears showing facial nerve obscuration of the oval window. Pure-tone audiometry revealed that 62.5% (5/8 ears) of patients had air conduction (AC) thresholds≥60 dB preoperatively, with a mean pure-tone average (PTA) of (69.0±11.8) dB HL and a mean air-bone gap (ABG) of (52.0±7.0) dB. The mean AC threshold and ABG were higher in the low-frequency (125-1 000 Hz) range compared to the high-frequency (2 000-8 000 Hz) range (both P<0.05). Preoperative HRCT showed abnormalities in all patients, with 7 ears being diagnosable as CAOW. Although the remaining 1 ear could not be diagnosed as CAOW, stapes and incus long process absence were detected. Conclusion:CAOW is rare in clinical, as the patients with non-progressive conductive hearing loss (AC≥60 dB, ABG≥50 dB) since childhood, intact tympanic membrane without malformations of auricle and external auditory canal, and thick bony plate covered the oval window of the HRCT imaging, CAOW should be highly suspected, which could be confirmed by the exploratory tympanotomy.

Trifluridine-tipiracil(TAS-102),as a novel fluorouracil-based chemotherapeutic agent,effectively overcomes fluorouracil resistance in colorectal cancer(CRC)through its unique pharmacological mechanisms,providing a critical treatment option for advanced CRC patients.Probiotics have shown unique value in CRC prevention and adjuvant therapy by regulating intestinal flora homeostasis and modulating host immune response.It is worth noting that the combination of chemotherapeutic drugs and probiotics not only enhances the anti-tumor activity through synergistic effects,but also reduces the adverse effects caused by chemotherapeutic drugs.Based on this,this paper systematically reviews the pharmacological properties of TAS-102 and describes its synergistic effects in combination with other antitumor drugs.It also summarizes the synergistic effect of fluorouracil drugs combined with probiotics to enhance the effectiveness and reduce the toxicity,and discusses the potential value of the combination of TAS-102 and probiotics,which provides a new research direction for optimizing the precision treatment of CRC and a scientific basis for improving the quality of life of patients.

Trifluridine-tipiracil(TAS-102),as a novel fluorouracil-based chemotherapeutic agent,effectively overcomes fluorouracil resistance in colorectal cancer(CRC)through its unique pharmacological mechanisms,providing a critical treatment option for advanced CRC patients.Probiotics have shown unique value in CRC prevention and adjuvant therapy by regulating intestinal flora homeostasis and modulating host immune response.It is worth noting that the combination of chemotherapeutic drugs and probiotics not only enhances the anti-tumor activity through synergistic effects,but also reduces the adverse effects caused by chemotherapeutic drugs.Based on this,this paper systematically reviews the pharmacological properties of TAS-102 and describes its synergistic effects in combination with other antitumor drugs.It also summarizes the synergistic effect of fluorouracil drugs combined with probiotics to enhance the effectiveness and reduce the toxicity,and discusses the potential value of the combination of TAS-102 and probiotics,which provides a new research direction for optimizing the precision treatment of CRC and a scientific basis for improving the quality of life of patients.

Objective To explore the protective effect of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone(7,8-DHF)on the retina of diabetic rats and its mechanism.Methods A total of 18 SPF-grade male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were selected and randomly divided into three groups:the normal group,the model group,and the experimental group,with six rats in each group.Rats in the normal group were fed with a normal diet,while those in the remaining two groups were fed with a high-fat emulsion through oral gavage continuously for 2 weeks to establish a diabetes model.Rats in the experimental group were provided with 7,8-DHF(5 mg?kg-1)by continuous intraperitoneal injection,while those in the normal and model groups were provided with an equal volume of normal saline.The rats in all groups received intervention once a day for 2 weeks.The changes in the body mass and fasting blood glucose(FBG)were observed before and after modeling.Besides,the changes in the retina of rats in each group were observed by fundus fluorescence angiography(FFA)after 2 weeks.Moreo-ver,the changes and apoptosis of retinal neuronal cells were detected by hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining,CD31 im-munofluorescence,and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)assays.Results After 2 weeks of continuous intervention,compared with the normal group,the body mass of rats in the model and experimental groups decreased(both P＜0.05),and the FBG increased significantly(both P＜0.05);compared with the model group,the experimental group showed an increase in the body mass(P＜0.05)and a decrease in the FBG(P＜0.05).The fundus photography and FFA of rats in the three groups did not reveal any fundus features of diabetic retinopathy.The HE staining results showed that the retina of rats in the normal and experimental groups was structurally intact,with neatly arranged cells and uniform thickness;the retinal structure of rats in the model group remained clear.However,the thickness of the inner layers of the retina of rats in the model group was thinner compared with the normal and experimental groups,exhibi-ting significant differences(both P＜0.05).The CD31 immunofluorescence assay results indicated that the CD31 immuno-fluorescence intensity values of rats in the three groups were roughly comparable,without significant differences(all P＞0.05).The TUNEL assay results suggested that the apoptosis of retinal neurons increased in rats in the model group com-pared with the normal group,exhibiting significant differences(P＜0.001);compared with the model group,the apoptosis of retinal neurons of rats in the experimental group decreased significantly,displaying significant differences(P＜0.001).Conclusion The apoptosis of retinal neurons in diabetic rats may precede vascular endothelial cell injury.7,8-DHF can improve the body mass,decrease the blood glucose level,and protect the retinal neurons in diabetic rats.