ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Yishen Juanbi pills （YSJB）-containing bone marrow fluid on the migration and differentiation phenotypes of CD4⁺T lymphocytes based on the stromal cell-derived factor-1/chemokine receptor 4 （SDF-1/CXCR4） signaling pathway. MethodsPrimary CD4⁺T lymphocytes were isolated from mice using magnetic bead separation and identified for purity by flow cytometry. A CD4⁺T lymphocyte culture system was then established to observe the effects of SDF-1 on CD4⁺T-cell migration and differentiation. On this basis， the experimental groups included the Sham group， the ovariectomy （OVX） group， the Sham+collagen-induced arthritis （CIA） group， the OVX+CIA group， the Sham+CIA+YSJB group （2.16 g·kg^-1）， the OVX+CIA+YSJB group （2.16 g·kg^-1）， and the OVX+CIA+methotrexate （MTX） group （1.5 mg·kg^-1）. Bone marrow fluid from each group was prepared according to previous methods and added to the CD4⁺ T-cell culture system at 5% （v/v）. Transwell assays were used to examine CD4⁺T-cell migration in each group. Real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of interleukin （IL）-17， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， retinoic-acid-related orphan receptor γt （RORγt）， IL-10， transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， forkhead box P3 （FoxP3）， CXCR4， phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）， and protein kinase B （Akt）. Western blot was used to detect the expression of helper T （Th）17/regulatory T （Treg） cell signature factors （RORγt， FoxP3）， CXCR4， PI3K， phosphorylated （p）-PI3K， Akt， and p-Akt. In a separate set of experiments， cells were divided into the Sham group， OVX+CIA group， OVX+CIA+CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 group， and OVX+CIA+YSJB+AMD3100 group to observe changes in the above indicators following AMD3100 intervention. ResultsCompared with the Sham group， the number of migrated cells in the lower chamber was significantly increased in the Sham+CIA and OVX+CIA groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of RORγt， IL-17， TNF-α， CXCR4， PI3K， and Akt was significantly upregulated， whereas FoxP3， IL-10， and TGF-β mRNA expression was significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Protein expression of RORγt， CXCR4， p-PI3K/PI3K， and p-Akt/Akt was significantly increased， while FoxP3 protein expression was markedly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the OVX+CIA group， the OVX+CIA+YSJB group and OVX+CIA+MTX group showed significantly reduced migration （P<0.05）， mRNA expression of RORγt， IL-17， TNF-α， CXCR4， PI3K， and Akt was also significantly decreased， while FoxP3， IL-10， and TGF-β mRNA expression was significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. RORγt protein expression was significantly downregulated， and FoxP3 protein expression markedly upregulated （P<0.05）. In the OVX+CIA+YSJB group， CXCR4， p-PI3K/PI3K， and p-Akt/Akt protein expression was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the OVX+CIA group， RORγt， CXCR4， PI3K， and Akt mRNA expression in CD4⁺T cells was significantly decreased in the OVX+CIA+AMD3100 group and the OVX+CIA+YSJB+AMD3100 group， while FoxP3 mRNA and protein expression was significantly upregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. RORγt， CXCR4， p-PI3K/PI3K， and p-Akt/Akt protein expression was also markedly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the OVX+CIA+AMD3100 group， the OVX+CIA+YSJB+AMD3100 group showed significantly decreased RORγt and Akt mRNA expression （P<0.05） and significantly lower p-Akt/Akt protein expression （P<0.05）. ConclusionYSJB-containing bone marrow fluid suppresses CD4⁺T-cell migration and regulates Th17/Treg balance by downregulating Th17-associated signature factors and upregulating Treg-associated signature factors through inhibition of the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway is one of the targets through which YSJB inhibits CD4⁺T-cell differentiation.

OBJECTIVE To explore the correlation between phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase alpha(PIK3CA)gene mutation and the clinicopathological characteristics of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)infection in patients with gastric cancer.METHODS Cancer tissue samples were collected from 593 patients with gastric cancer who under-went surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University between Sep.2021 and Sep.2024.EBV infection in pa-tients with gastric cancer was detected by EBV-encoded RNA(EBER)in situ hybridization.Based on the detec-tion results,patients were divided into an EBV-positive group(n=31)and an EBV-negative group(n=562).The incidence of EBV-infected gastric cancer was compared among patients of different genders and ages.The relationship between EBV infection and PIK 3CA gene mutation,as well as clinicopathological character-istics of patients with gastric cancer,was analyzed.Spearman's correlation analysis was used to assess the correla-tion between PIK3CA gene mutation and EBV infection in patients with gastric cancer.RESULTS Among the 593 gastric cancer cases,31 were EBER-positive,with a positive rate of 5.23％.EBER showed scattered dot scope or diffuse staining,appearing as a dark brown signal localized in the nucleus.The PIK3CA gene mutation rate was higher in the EBV-positive group(32.26％)than in the EBV-negative group(P＜0.001).PIK3CA gene muta-tions mainly occurred in exons 9 and 20,with 2 cases of p.E542K mutation,5 cases of p.E545K mutation,1 case of pH1047L mutation,no cases of p.H1047R mutation were detected.The proportion of patients with tumors at the esophagogastric junction,T3-T4 invasion depth,and lymph node metastasis was higher in the EBV-positive group than in the EBV-negative group(P＜0.05).There was a positive correlation between PIK 3CA gene muta-tion and EBV infection in patients with gastric cancer(r=0.742,P=0.026).The proportion of EBV infection was higher in male patients with gastric cancer(6.49％)than in females(P＜0.001).CONCLUSIONS The inci-dence of EBV-infected gastric cancer is low,but it is closely related to PIK3CA gene mutation,gender,tumor lo-cation,invasion depth and lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.

Approximately 300 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year,which has a serious impact on human health,marine life and the livestock industry.Microplastics have also been detected in meat and milk samples.Research has shown that nanoplastics(NP)(＜1 μm)and mi-croplastics(MP)(1 μm-5 mm)can affect the digestive,immune and reproductive systems of ani-mals.This experiment aims to investigate whether NP and MP regulate autophagy and damage the nervous system and spatial memory of animals.This experiment was divided into control group,nanoplastic group(PS-NP group,0.1 μm)and microplastic group(PS-MP group,1 μm),with 20 mice in each group.The mice were given 0.5 mL of PS-NP and PS-MP every day for 35 consecutive days,followed by neck amputation and brain analysis.The results showed that NPs and MPs of dif-ferent diameters caused varying degrees of damage to the brains of mice.In the behavioral tests of new object recognition,barnes maze and Y-shaped maze spatial memory,compared with the control group,the PS-NP group and PS-MP group showed a significant decrease in spatial memory ability of mice.HE staining results showed that neuronal cells in the PS-NP and PS-MP groups of mice exhibited shrinkage,decreased cell volume and deepened staining.The number of Nissl bodies de-creased,leading to dissolution and disappearance.RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that compared with the control group,the expression of glutamate receptors NR1,NR2A and NR2B in-creased in mice administered NP and MP orally,while the expression of autophagy related proteins Parkin,LC3B and Beclin1 was inhibited.In summary,this study suggests that nanoplastics and mi-croplastics stimulate glutamate receptors in mice by inhibiting the autophagy pathway,leading to impaired spatial memory.

Objective To explore and analyze the characteristics and transmission routes of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)strains in intensive care unit(ICU).Methods From January to October 2023,17 clinical infection isolates(clinical infection group),5 active screening isolates(active screening group),and 7 envi-ronmental isolates(environmental group)of CRKP in the liver surgery ICU of a hospital were selected and analyzed by whole-genome sequencing.The differences in resistance genes,virulence genes,and sequence typing(ST)were compared,and transmission routes were analyzed based on the phylogenetic tree.Results 29 strains of CRKP car-ried 4-18 resistance genes and 52-98 virulence genes,respectively.There were no statistically significant diffe-rences in genotype distribution of resistance genes,the number of virulence genes,and gene types among three groups of CRKP(all P＞0.05).ST showed that 29 CRKP strains mainly consisted of two categories:ST11 and ST15.Based on the phylogenetic tree constructed from the core genome,there were 7 highly homologous groups of CRKP,among which 4 groups had clear epidemiological associations.Conclusion CRKP in ICU carries more re-sistance and virulence genes,and some strains are highly homologous in ST and phylogenetic tree,which may lead to cross transmission.In the future,prevention and control measures should be strengthened to reduce the trans-mission of CRKP.

Rheumatic diseases,as a complex class of chronic immune-mediated disorders,involve interplay among genetics,environment,and immunity in their pathogenesis,which remains incompletely elucidated to date.In recent years,with the advancement of epigenetic research,particularly in the field of RNA modifications,the role of m6 A methylation in rheumatic diseases has increasingly garnered attention.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),as the indigenous medical system of China,has accumulated extensive experience in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.This article systematically reviewed the research progress of TCM in treating rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis,systemic lupus erythematosus,Sj?gren's syndrome,ankylosing spondylitis,and osteoarthritis,as well as improving bone metabolism abnormalities closely related to rheumatic diseases,through regulating m6 A methylation.The aim is to provide novel insights into the treatment of rheumatic diseases with TCM and to offer theoretical support for the development of related functional drugs.

Rheumatic diseases,as a complex class of chronic immune-mediated disorders,involve interplay among genetics,environment,and immunity in their pathogenesis,which remains incompletely elucidated to date.In recent years,with the advancement of epigenetic research,particularly in the field of RNA modifications,the role of m6 A methylation in rheumatic diseases has increasingly garnered attention.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),as the indigenous medical system of China,has accumulated extensive experience in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.This article systematically reviewed the research progress of TCM in treating rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis,systemic lupus erythematosus,Sj?gren's syndrome,ankylosing spondylitis,and osteoarthritis,as well as improving bone metabolism abnormalities closely related to rheumatic diseases,through regulating m6 A methylation.The aim is to provide novel insights into the treatment of rheumatic diseases with TCM and to offer theoretical support for the development of related functional drugs.

OBJECTIVE To explore the correlation between phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase alpha(PIK3CA)gene mutation and the clinicopathological characteristics of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)infection in patients with gastric cancer.METHODS Cancer tissue samples were collected from 593 patients with gastric cancer who under-went surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University between Sep.2021 and Sep.2024.EBV infection in pa-tients with gastric cancer was detected by EBV-encoded RNA(EBER)in situ hybridization.Based on the detec-tion results,patients were divided into an EBV-positive group(n=31)and an EBV-negative group(n=562).The incidence of EBV-infected gastric cancer was compared among patients of different genders and ages.The relationship between EBV infection and PIK 3CA gene mutation,as well as clinicopathological character-istics of patients with gastric cancer,was analyzed.Spearman's correlation analysis was used to assess the correla-tion between PIK3CA gene mutation and EBV infection in patients with gastric cancer.RESULTS Among the 593 gastric cancer cases,31 were EBER-positive,with a positive rate of 5.23％.EBER showed scattered dot scope or diffuse staining,appearing as a dark brown signal localized in the nucleus.The PIK3CA gene mutation rate was higher in the EBV-positive group(32.26％)than in the EBV-negative group(P＜0.001).PIK3CA gene muta-tions mainly occurred in exons 9 and 20,with 2 cases of p.E542K mutation,5 cases of p.E545K mutation,1 case of pH1047L mutation,no cases of p.H1047R mutation were detected.The proportion of patients with tumors at the esophagogastric junction,T3-T4 invasion depth,and lymph node metastasis was higher in the EBV-positive group than in the EBV-negative group(P＜0.05).There was a positive correlation between PIK 3CA gene muta-tion and EBV infection in patients with gastric cancer(r=0.742,P=0.026).The proportion of EBV infection was higher in male patients with gastric cancer(6.49％)than in females(P＜0.001).CONCLUSIONS The inci-dence of EBV-infected gastric cancer is low,but it is closely related to PIK3CA gene mutation,gender,tumor lo-cation,invasion depth and lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.

Approximately 300 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year,which has a serious impact on human health,marine life and the livestock industry.Microplastics have also been detected in meat and milk samples.Research has shown that nanoplastics(NP)(＜1 μm)and mi-croplastics(MP)(1 μm-5 mm)can affect the digestive,immune and reproductive systems of ani-mals.This experiment aims to investigate whether NP and MP regulate autophagy and damage the nervous system and spatial memory of animals.This experiment was divided into control group,nanoplastic group(PS-NP group,0.1 μm)and microplastic group(PS-MP group,1 μm),with 20 mice in each group.The mice were given 0.5 mL of PS-NP and PS-MP every day for 35 consecutive days,followed by neck amputation and brain analysis.The results showed that NPs and MPs of dif-ferent diameters caused varying degrees of damage to the brains of mice.In the behavioral tests of new object recognition,barnes maze and Y-shaped maze spatial memory,compared with the control group,the PS-NP group and PS-MP group showed a significant decrease in spatial memory ability of mice.HE staining results showed that neuronal cells in the PS-NP and PS-MP groups of mice exhibited shrinkage,decreased cell volume and deepened staining.The number of Nissl bodies de-creased,leading to dissolution and disappearance.RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that compared with the control group,the expression of glutamate receptors NR1,NR2A and NR2B in-creased in mice administered NP and MP orally,while the expression of autophagy related proteins Parkin,LC3B and Beclin1 was inhibited.In summary,this study suggests that nanoplastics and mi-croplastics stimulate glutamate receptors in mice by inhibiting the autophagy pathway,leading to impaired spatial memory.

Objective To explore and analyze the characteristics and transmission routes of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)strains in intensive care unit(ICU).Methods From January to October 2023,17 clinical infection isolates(clinical infection group),5 active screening isolates(active screening group),and 7 envi-ronmental isolates(environmental group)of CRKP in the liver surgery ICU of a hospital were selected and analyzed by whole-genome sequencing.The differences in resistance genes,virulence genes,and sequence typing(ST)were compared,and transmission routes were analyzed based on the phylogenetic tree.Results 29 strains of CRKP car-ried 4-18 resistance genes and 52-98 virulence genes,respectively.There were no statistically significant diffe-rences in genotype distribution of resistance genes,the number of virulence genes,and gene types among three groups of CRKP(all P＞0.05).ST showed that 29 CRKP strains mainly consisted of two categories:ST11 and ST15.Based on the phylogenetic tree constructed from the core genome,there were 7 highly homologous groups of CRKP,among which 4 groups had clear epidemiological associations.Conclusion CRKP in ICU carries more re-sistance and virulence genes,and some strains are highly homologous in ST and phylogenetic tree,which may lead to cross transmission.In the future,prevention and control measures should be strengthened to reduce the trans-mission of CRKP.

Lymphatic metastasis is the main metastatic route for colorectal cancer, which increases the risk of cancer recurrence and distant metastasis. The properties of the lymph node metastatic colorectal cancer (LNM-CRC) cells are poorly understood, and effective therapies are still lacking. Here, we found that hypoxia-induced fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα) expression in LNM-CRC cells. Gain- or loss-function experiments demonstrated that FAPα enhanced tumor cell migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stemness, and lymphangiogenesis via activation of the STAT3 pathway. In addition, FAPα in tumor cells induced extracellular matrix remodeling and established an immunosuppressive environment via recruiting regulatory T cells, to promote colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis (CRCLNM). Z-GP-DAVLBH, a FAPα-activated prodrug, inhibited CRCLNM by targeting FAPα-positive LNM-CRC cells. Our study highlights the role of FAPα in tumor cells in CRCLNM and provides a potential therapeutic target and promising strategy for CRCLNM.