ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms of Tongnao decoction （TND） in mice with acute ischemic stroke （AIS）. MethodsFifty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a sham operation group， model group， TND low-dose group （1.86 g·kg^-1）， TND high-dose group （3.72 g·kg^-1）， and butylphthalide （NBP） group （10 mg·kg^-1）， with 10 mice in each group. A mouse model of cerebral ischemic injury was established using photochemical thrombosis （PT）. The sham operation group and model group were administered an equal volume of normal saline by gavage. All five groups were treated once daily for 14 consecutive days. Behavioral tests were performed before modeling and at the end of administration. T₂-weighted imaging （T₂WI） was performed 3 days after modeling to evaluate the extent of injury. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe histological changes in the cerebral cortex， and Nissl staining was used to observe neuronal morphology. Cerebral blood flow in mice was detected using a laser speckle contrast imaging （LSCI） system. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the cell proliferation marker bromodeoxyuridine （BrdU） and the highly glycosylated type I transmembrane glycoprotein CD34. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， protein kinase B （Akt）， glycogen synthase kinase-3β （GSK-3β）， and their phosphorylation levels， as well as tight junction-related proteins zonula occludens-1 （ZO-1）， Occludin， and Claudin-5 in the peri-infarct tissue. Thirty-five zebrafish were randomly divided into normal control group， model group， TND low and high dose groups （0.16， 0.32 g·L^-1） and NBP group （10 μmol·L^-1）， with 7 in each group. A stereoscopic fluorescence microscope was used to observe vascular growth in zebrafish. ResultsImaging showed that PT caused ischemia in the right cortical region. Behavioral tests indicated that， compared with the model group， the drug-treated groups reduced the error rate of irregular balance ladder climbing on the affected side and shortened the tape removal time （P<0.05）. HE staining and Nissl staining showed that， compared with the model group， the drug-treated groups exhibited reduced brain tissue damage， fewer scars， and improved neuronal morphology. LSCI results showed that the drug-treated groups partially restored cerebral blood perfusion and promoted the establishment of collateral circulation compared with the model group. Immunofluorescence staining indicated that the drug-treated groups increased the positive rates of BrdU and CD34 compared with the model group （P<0.01）， promoting angiogenesis. Meanwhile， compared with the model group， the drug-treated groups upregulated the expression levels of p-PI3K， p-Akt， p-GSK-3β， and tight junction proteins ZO-1， Occludin， and Claudin-5 （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and increased the number of intersegmental vessels in zebrafish （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionTND can promote angiogenesis around the infarct in PT model mice by regulating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway， thereby improving cerebral ischemic injury.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of the Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue prescription （YYHP） in the treatment of cathartic colon （CC） and its effects on fecal short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs）， and to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria， 98 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine for CC with the syndrome of Qi-Yin deficiency complicated by blood stasis were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group. The observation group received YYHP granules， while the control group received lactulose. Both medications were administered twice daily， one sachet each time， half an hour after breakfast and dinner， with a treatment course of 8 weeks. The primary constipation symptom score， Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life （PAC-QOL） score， and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment and at the 8^th week after the end of treatment. The overall clinical effective rate， as well as the efficacy attenuation index and degree， were evaluated. Fecal SCFA levels were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS）. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. ResultsThe overall clinical effective rate in the observation group （95.83%） was higher than that in the control group （78.72%） （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total scores for primary constipation symptoms， PAC-QOL， and TCM syndromes decreased in both groups （P<0.05）， with more significant reductions in the observation group （P<0.05）. The severity of all primary constipation symptoms was alleviated in both groups （P<0.05）. In terms of "excessive straining and difficult defecation"， "anal heaviness， incomplete evacuation， and bloating sensation"， "abdominal distension"， and "defecation frequency"， the observation group showed better efficacy than the control group （P<0.05）. Scores of the four PAC-QOL dimensions and the scores and severity of primary and secondary TCM symptoms were reduced in both groups （P<0.05）， with more significant reductions in the observation group （P<0.05）. After treatment， acetic acid， propionic acid， butyric acid， and total SCFAs in the observation group increased significantly （P<0.05）. The efficacy attenuation index and degree in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （P<0.05）. No severe adverse reactions occurred in either group， and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. Positive correlations of varying degrees were observed among the total scores of primary constipation symptoms， PAC-QOL， and TCM syndromes， as well as between these scores and the history of stimulant laxative use， disease duration， and age. ConclusionYYHP can effectively alleviate the primary constipation symptoms in CC patients， improve quality of life， and ameliorate TCM syndromes， with good safety. It also has the advantage of a lower rebound degree after drug withdrawal， and its mechanism may be related to increasing fecal SCFA levels. Long-term abuse of stimulant laxatives may aggravate the severity of CC and prolong the disease course.

Objective To analyze the adverse reaction reports （ADRs） of drug-induced liver injury in recent ten years, explore the characteristics and related rules of drug-induced liver injury, and provide reference for clinical safe drug use. Methods ADRs in our hospital from 2011 to 2021 which belonged to drug-induced liver injuries were collected, and Pareto analysis was carried on. Results In 259 ADR reports, the most common type of drug-induced liver injury was hepatocellular injury （37.84%）. The age of drug-induced liver injury was mainly over 46 years, totaling 195 （75.28%）. Drugs were mainly distributed in cardiovascular system medicine （44.02%）, anti-infective medicine （23.94%）and anti-tumor medicine （11.58%）. Among the cardiovascular drugs, atorvastatin calcium 40mg and over 40mg were the highest proportion, with 53 cases （46.49%）. The main anti-infectious drugs were cephalosporins （29.03%）, carbapenem （19.35%）， antifungal （17.74%）and quinolones （11.29%）. Adverse reactions occurred within 6 days （69.88%）, the duration of adverse reactions was 1-2 weeks （31.66%）, and most patients were improved （47.88%） or cured （37.07%）. Conclusion For middle-aged and elderly patients, when the application of cardiovascular system drugs, anti-infective drugs or anti-tumor drugs, it is necessary to monitor the liver function changes of patients for at least 6 days. If there are abnormalities, the drugs should be stopped or given treatment in time, to avoid the progress of drug-induced liver injury.

Targeting T-cell is a strategy to control allogeneic response disorders, such as acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) which is an important cause of therapy-failure after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants. Free fatty acid receptor-4 (FFAR4) is a regulator of obesity but its role in T-cell and allogeneic reactions is unknown. Here, we found knockout of Ffar4 in donor T-cells in a mouse allograft model increased acute GVHD whereas the natural FFAR4 ligands and the synthetic FFAR4 agonists decreased it. FFAR4 agonist-mediated anti-acute GVHD effects depended on FFAR4-expression in donor T-cells. The FFAR4 agonist CpdA suppressed donor T-cell-mediated alloreaction by activating an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway. CpdA recruited β-Arrestin2 to FFAR4 which facilitated nuclear translocation of AhR and upregulation of IL-22. The CpdA-mediated anti-acute GVHD effect was absent in mice receiving Ahr-knockout or Il22-knockout T-cells. Recipient-expressing Ffar4 was also important for the anti-acute GVHD effect of CpdA which inhibited activation of antigen presenting cells. Importantly, CpdA decreased acute GVHD in obese mice, an effect also depended on Ffar4-expression in donor T-cells and recipients. Our study shows the immunoregulatory effect of FFAR4 in T-cell, and targeting FFAR4 might be a relative option for controlling allogeneic reactions in obese patients.

The production of healthy agricultural products has increased the demand for innovative and sustainable plant protection technologies, and the rapid advancement of nanotechnology has brought revolutionary breakthroughs to traditional agriculture. Nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems can not only significantly improve the utilization efficiency of pesticides, achieving enhanced efficacy and reduced application, but also decrease the pesticide residues and environmental pollution. Additionally, they have made breakthrough progress in the stability and persistence of RNA pesticides. This review summarized the research progress on nanopesticides and RNA pesticides, focusing on the mechanisms of nanocarriers in improving pesticide bioactivity and RNA interference (RNAi) efficiency. It also systematically summarized the types of nanomaterials and their applications in pest and disease management and provided an in-depth outlook for the future development of nanopesticides and RNA pesticides, which provided technical support for the high-quality development of agriculture in the future.
Pesticides/chemistry* ; Nanotechnology ; Nanostructures ; RNA ; Agriculture/methods* ; RNA Interference ; Drug Delivery Systems

Poor ovarian response (POR) is a pathological condition in which the ovary responds poorly to gonadotropins,and is a major constraint on the unsatisfactory outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Follicular growth,development,maturation,and expulsion are all affected by the yin-yang balance between heart and kidney,as well as the elevation exchange. If the heart and kidney essence and blood are insufficient,water and fire are out of harmony,and qi movement is not smooth,fewer high-quality follicles will be recruited and acquired during the ovarian stimulation cycle,resulting in a low transferable embryo rate and unacceptable pregnancy result. Sympathetic treatment of heart and kidney should be based on the following principles at different stages of the IVF-ET cycle:replenishing the heart,kidney,essence,and blood before entering the cycle,in order to nourish the essence and assist in the growth of the follicles;nourishing renal water,and clearing heart fire during the pituitary down-regulation period,in order to lessen the negative effects of the down-regulation medicinals;regulating the depression of the heart,liver,spleen,and kidney meridians during the follicle's retrieval period,in order to encourage the smooth release of the ova;and warming heart and kidney fire to improve endometrial tolerance during the implantation period. The application of the theory of intercourse of heart and kidney to elucidate the pathogenesis of POR is critical to the development of clinical strategies for fertility enhancement,as well as providing new ideas for the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine in the field of reproduction.

BACKGROUND:Tissue engineering has brought new hope to the clinical challenge of liver failure,and the preparation of plant-derived decellularized fiber scaffolds holds significant importance in liver tissue engineering. OBJECTIVE:To prepare apple tissue decellularized scaffold material by using fresh apple slices and a solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate,and assess its biocompatibility. METHODS:Fresh apples were subjected to decellularization using phosphate buffer saline and sodium dodecyl sulfate solution,separately.Afterwards,the decellularized apple tissues and apple decellularized scaffold materials were decontaminated with phosphate buffer saline.Subsequently,scanning electron microscopy was used to assess the effectiveness of decellularization of the apple materials.Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were extracted from the inguinal fat BALB/C of mice,and their expression of stem cell-related markers(CD45,CD34,CD73,CD90,and CD105)was identified through flow cytometry.The cells were then divided into a scaffold-free control group and a scaffold group.Equal amounts of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were seeded onto both groups.The biocompatibility of the decellularized scaffold with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells was evaluated using CCK-8 assay,hematoxylin-eosin staining,and phalloidine staining.Cell adhesion and growth on the scaffold were observed under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.Furthermore,the scaffold was subdivided into the non-induced group and the hepatogenic-induced group.Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultured on the decellularized apple scaffold,and they were cultured for 14 days in regular culture medium or hepatogenic induction medium for comparison.Immunofluorescent staining using liver cell markers,including albumin,cytokeratin 18,and CYP1A1,was performed.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the secretion of alpha fetoprotein and albumin.Additionally,scanning electron microscopy was employed to observe the morphology of the induced cells on the scaffold,verifying the expression of liver cell-related genes on the decellularized scaffold material.Finally,the cobalt-60 irradiated and sterilized decellularized apple scaffolds were transplanted onto the surface of mouse liver and the degradation of the scaffold was observed by gross observation and hematoxylin-eosin staining after 28 days. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The scanning electron microscopy results revealed that the decellularized apple scaffold material retained a porous structure of approximately 100 μm in size,with no residual cells observed.(2)Through flow cytometry analysis,the cultured cells were identified as adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells.(3)CCK-8 assay results demonstrated that the prepared decellularized apple tissue scaffold material exhibited no cytotoxicity.Hematoxylin-eosin staining and phalloidine staining showed that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were capable of adhering and proliferating on the decellularized apple tissue scaffold.(4)The results obtained from immunofluorescence staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells cultured on the decellularized apple scaffolds exhibited elevated expression of liver-specific proteins,including albumin,alpha-fetoprotein,cytokeratin 18,and CYP1A1.These results suggested that they were induced differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells possessing functional characteristics of liver cells.(5)The decellularized apple scaffold implanted at 7 days has integrated with the liver,with partial degradation of the scaffold observed.By 28 days,the decellularized apple scaffold has completely degraded and has been replaced by newly-formed tissue.(6)The results indicate that the decellularized scaffold material derived from apple tissue demonstrates favorable biocompatibility,promoting the proliferation,adhesion,and hepatic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective:To investigate and analyze case reporting ethical review and patient informed consent reports published in the comprehensive journals of clinical medicine in China in 2022.Methods:According to the data from the 2022 Edition of the Chinese Science and Technology Journal of the Citation Reports(Extended Version),the case reports published in comprehensive journals of clinical medicine in 2022 were selected as the research objects.The information on ethics and patient informed consent was extracted from the case reports that met the selection criteria,and Microsoft Excel 2021 and SPSS 21.0 were used to sort out and analyze the data.Results:A total of 587 case reporting articles were published in the 42 included journals in 2022,of which 36(6.13%)reported on science and technology ethics and/or informed consent.Case reports reporting on science and technology ethics and/or informed consent mostly came from the key magazine of China technology(88.89%Vs.65.88%),and the proportion of manuscripts involving science and technology ethics on the official website of the journal was relatively high(86.11%Vs.63.88%),and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion:The proportion of case reports of science and technology ethics and/or informed consent in journals of comprehensive discipline classification of clinical medicine was relatively low.Currently,most international journals are required to obtain the informed consent of patients or legal guardians before publishing case reports.Compared with this,there are still certain gaps in China,which need to be paid great attention to.

Background::Atopic dermatitis (AD) affects approximately 10% of adults worldwide. CM310 is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-4 receptor alpha that blocks interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 signaling. This trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CM310 in Chinese adults with moderate-to-severe AD.Methods::This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2b trial was conducted in 21 medical institutions in China from February to November 2021. Totally 120 eligible patients were enrolled and randomized (1:1:1) to receive subcutaneous injections of 300 mg CM310, 150 mg CM310, or placebo every 2 weeks for 16 weeks, followed by an 8-week follow-up period. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving ≥75% improvement in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75) score from baseline at week 16. Safety and pharmacodynamics were also studied.Results::At week 16, the proportion of EASI-75 responders from baseline was significantly higher in the CM310 groups (70% [28/40] for high-dose and 65% [26/40] for low-dose) than that in the placebo group (20%[8/40]). The differences in EASI-75 response rate were 50% (high vs. placebo, 95% CI 31%–69%) and 45% (low vs. placebo, 95% CI 26%–64%), with both P values <0.0001. CM310 at both doses also significantly improved the EASI score, Investigator’s Global Assessment score, daily peak pruritus Numerical Rating Scale, AD-affected body surface area, and Dermatology Life Quality Index compared with placebo. CM310 treatment reduced levels of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine, total immunoglobulin E, lactate dehydrogenase, and blood eosinophils. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was similar among all three groups, with the most common TEAEs reported being upper respiratory tract infection, atopic dermatitis, hyperlipidemia, and hyperuricemia. No severe adverse events were deemed to be attributed to CM310. Conclusion::CM310 at 150 mg and 300 mg every 2 weeks demonstrated significant efficacy and was well-tolerated in adults with moderate-to-severe AD.Trial Registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04805411.