Background Silicosis, an occupational lung disease induced by chronic silica (SiO₂) exposure, is pathologically defined by progressive pulmonary fibrosis, and its associated molecular mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. Objective To understand the critical role of macrophage-derived vesicles in silicotic pulmonary fibrosis via their carried complement component 1r (C1R). Methods Through integrated analysis of human plasma vesicle proteomics and spatial transcriptomics in silicosis mouse models, the key molecular C1R was identified in silicotic fibrosis. Spatial transcriptomic data were further employed to analyze the expression distribution of C1R in lung tissues. In animal experiments, a mouse silicosis model was established via tracheal instillation of silica dust, followed by pulmonary fibrosis assessed by Sirius Red staining, and C1R expression levels in plasma and lung tissue vesicles examined by Western blot. In cellular experiments, an in vitro model was constructed by stimulating macrophages with silica. Extracellular vesicles isolated from this system were then co-cultured with mouse lung fibroblasts (MLG),followed by intervention with a C1R-neutralizing antibody. Results The proteomic analysis of human plasma vesicles revealed a significant upregulation of C1R in silicosis patients, confirmed by Western blot. The spatial transcriptomics in silicotic mice indicated elevated C1R expression in lung tissues after 56 d of SiO₂ exposure, colocalizing with fibrotic lesions. The results of Western blot further demonstrated increased C1R levels in both lung tissue-derived and peripheral blood-derived vesicles during silicosis progression, consistent with the findings in an ex vivo macrophage model. The results of functional assays demonstrated that macrophage-derived vesicles significantly increased the expression of fibrosis markers, including fibronectin 1 (FN1), collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), as well as the migratory capacity of lung fibroblasts; these effects were blocked by the C1R-neutralizing antibody. Conclusion Macrophage vesicles drive fibroblast activation and migration through C1R. Since a C1R-neutralizing antibody blocks this pro-fibrotic effect, C1R represents a key mediator in silicosis and thus is considered a new potential therapeutic target.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

ObjectiveTo investigate the bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere soil and phyllosphere of Angelica sinensis and examine the effects of foliar applications of a composite bacterial agent，salicylic acid，and coronatine on the bacterial diversity，disease incidence，and plant yield，thus providing a theoretical basis and guidance for the artificial construction of functional minimal communities and the regulation of rhizosphere through foliar treatments. MethodsUnder continuous cropping conditions in the field，foliar applications of a composite bacterial agent，salicylic acid，coronatine，and sterile water were conducted. The 100-plant weight was measured via the conventional method，and the incidence of diseases was recorded. The microbial community composition，diversity，and inter-group differences in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere soil of A. sinensis were analyzed by 16S high-throughput sequencing，and the potential microbial functions were predicted. ResultsCompared with the blank control，foliar applications of salicylic acid and coronatine both significantly reduced the yield and root rot incidence of A. sinensis. The foliar application of salicylic acid decreased the content of ferulic acid and increased that of ligustilide. The foliar application of coronatine increased the content of both ferulic acid and ligustilide. The microbial communities and functions in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere soil were significantly different. The phyllosphere had lower microbial diversity，with all bacteria being Gram-negative，mainly Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria with limited functions. The rhizosphere soil had higher microbial diversity，harboring dominant phyla including Proteobacteria，Actinobacteria，Acidobacteria，and Bacteroidetes with rich functions. All foliar treatments regulated the microbial community in the rhizosphere soil，with a more significant effect on the microbial community in the rhizosphere soil than that in the phyllosphere. The coronatine treatment significantly reduced the abundance of Proteobacteria and nitrate-reducing and aromatic compound-degrading microorganisms in the rhizosphere soil，thus affecting nutrient cycling and autotoxic substance degradation and leading to a yield reduction. Compared with the salicylic acid treatment，the coronatine treatment significantly increased the abundance of Bacillus and Streptomyces in the rhizosphere soil，demonstrating enhanced disease control efficacy. ConclusionFoliar application of coronatine and salicylic acid can significantly regulate the composition and function of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere soil，thereby reducing the disease incidence and the plant yield.

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the effects of different sizes of seedlings and melatonin treatment on physiological and biochemical indicators and bolting-related gene expression in Angelica sinensis， find substances related to early bolting， and elucidate the inhibitory mechanism of melatonin on bolting. MethodsSpectrophotometry was used to detect the related enzyme activities of A. sinensis leaves. The contents of endogenous hormones and polyamines were detected using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the expression levels of bolting-related genes. Inter-group differential indicator analysis， orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis， and principal component analysis were comprehensively applied to identify factors related to early bolting. ResultsEndogenous jasmonic acid and melatonin were identified as the most important factors affecting early bolting. Secondly， the activity of antioxidant enzymes， abscisic acid content， gibberellin content， and the expression levels of CO3， HD3A， and FD genes had important effects on the bolting process. Compared with small seedlings， exogenous melatonin treatment mainly inhibited early bolting by increasing endogenous melatonin content， reducing gibberellin content， and decreasing the expression levels of SOC1 and FD genes. ConclusionExogenous melatonin can inhibit early bolting in A. sinensis by regulating its physiological， biochemical， and gene expression levels.

Phase Ⅰ clinical trials play a crucial role in the research and development of new drugs, serving as the initial studies to assess their safety, tolerability, effectiveness, and pharmacokinetic properties in humans. These trials involve uncertainties regarding safety and efficacy. Comprehensive management of all aspects of phase Ⅰ clinical trials for anti-tumor drugs is crucial to protect the rights and safety of participants. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the key points and precautions necessary for effective quality control throughout the process. The analysis is informed by guidelines such as the “Good Clinical Practice for Drugs” “Key Points and Judgment Principles for Drug Registration Verification” “Key Points and Judgment Principles for Supervision and Inspection of Drug Clinical Trial Institutions” and the standard operating procedures for quality control of the center. Topics discussed include informed consent, inclusion criteria, experimental drugs, biological samples, adverse events, and serious adverse events. The goal is to standardize quality control in phase Ⅰ clinical trials of anti-tumor drugs, ensure the authenticity and reliability of clinical trial data, and protect the rights and safety of participants.

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the effects of different sizes of seedlings and melatonin treatment on physiological and biochemical indicators and bolting-related gene expression in Angelica sinensis， find substances related to early bolting， and elucidate the inhibitory mechanism of melatonin on bolting. MethodsSpectrophotometry was used to detect the related enzyme activities of A. sinensis leaves. The contents of endogenous hormones and polyamines were detected using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the expression levels of bolting-related genes. Inter-group differential indicator analysis， orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis， and principal component analysis were comprehensively applied to identify factors related to early bolting. ResultsEndogenous jasmonic acid and melatonin were identified as the most important factors affecting early bolting. Secondly， the activity of antioxidant enzymes， abscisic acid content， gibberellin content， and the expression levels of CO3， HD3A， and FD genes had important effects on the bolting process. Compared with small seedlings， exogenous melatonin treatment mainly inhibited early bolting by increasing endogenous melatonin content， reducing gibberellin content， and decreasing the expression levels of SOC1 and FD genes. ConclusionExogenous melatonin can inhibit early bolting in A. sinensis by regulating its physiological， biochemical， and gene expression levels.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of action of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang （HGWT） against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury （CIRI） based on bioinformatics and experimental validation. MethodsBiological informatics methods were used to screen for active components of HGWT and their targets. The GEO database was utilized to obtain CIRI-related differentially expressed genes （DEGs）， and platforms such as GeneCards were used to identify disease targets. Venn diagram analysis was conducted to identify overlapping targets， followed by protein-protein interaction （PPI）， gene ontology （GO）， and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） enrichment analysis， as well as immune infiltration and immune cell differential analysis. Core genes （Hub genes） were screened using LASSO regression and ROC curves， and molecular docking was used to validate the binding efficiency between the active components of the drug and the core targets. A rat CIRI model was established， with rats randomly divided into five groups （n=10）： Sham surgery group （Sham）， model group （MG）， and low-dose （LD，5.3 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose （MD，10.6 g·kg^-1）， and high-dose （HD，21.2 g·kg^-1） HGWT groups. From 3 days before modeling to 7 days after surgery， oral administration was performed daily： Sham and MG groups received physiological saline， while each drug group received the corresponding dose of HGWT. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， Nissl staining， and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL staining） were used to assess the repair effects of HGWT on neural damage. Western blot analysis was used to detect B-cell lymphoma-2 protein （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）， phosphorylated STAT3 ［p-STAT3 （Tyr705）］， protein kinase B1 （Akt1）， and phosphorylated Akt1 ［p-Akt1 （Ser473）］， among other target proteins. ResultsAfter screening， 56 common target points of DEGs-disease-drug were obtained. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that HGWT primarily functions in pathways such as apoptosis， oxidative stress， and inflammatory responses. Immune infiltration analysis revealed a significant association between HGWT's anti-CIRI activity and immune cells such as Th17 cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells （MDSCs） （P0.01）. LASSO-ROC analysis identified Akt1， Caspase-3， glycogen synthase kinase-3β （GSK-3β）， and STAT3 as core genes. Molecular docking confirmed that Hub genes exhibit significant binding affinity with the active components of HGWT （binding energy ≤ -5 kJ·mol^-1）（1 cal≈4.186 J）. Animal experiment results showed that compared with the sham group， the MG group exhibited significant neuronal necrosis， nuclear condensation， and vacuolar degeneration in rat brains， with a significant decrease in Nissl body density （P0.01） and increased neuronal apoptosis in rat brains as indicated by TUNEL staining （P0.01）. Compared with the MG， the LD， MD， and HD groups showed reduced neuronal necrosis， nuclear condensation， and vacuolar degeneration in rat brain neurons， increased Nissl body density， and reduced apoptosis （P0.01）， with significant differences among the drug groups （P0.01）. Western blot results showed that compared with the sham group， the MG group had reduced Bcl-2 and p-Akt1 （P0.01） and increased Bax and p-STAT3 （P0.01）. Compared with the MG group， the drug groups showed increased Bcl-2 and p-Akt1 （P0.01） and decreased Bax and p-STAT3 （P0.01）. There were no significant changes in total Akt1 and STAT3 protein levels among the groups. ConclusionBased on network pharmacology and experimental verification， HGWT may exert its neuroprotective effects by regulating the phosphorylation levels of Akt1 and STAT3， thereby alleviating cell apoptosis， inflammatory responses， and oxidative stress in rat brain tissue following CIRI. This provides theoretical support for the clinical treatment of CIRI.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.