OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Qingda Granule (QDG) in ameliorating hypertension-induced cardiac damage and investigate the underlying mechanisms involved. METHODS: Twenty spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were used to develope a hypertension-induced cardiac damage model. Another 10 Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as normotension group. Rats were administrated intragastrically QDG [0.9 g/(kg•d)] or an equivalent volume of pure water for 8 weeks. Blood pressure, histopathological changes, cardiac function, levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory response markers were measured. Furthermore, to gain insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of QDG against hypertension-induced cardiac injury, a network pharmacology study was conducted. Predicted results were validated by Western blot, radioimmunoassay immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS: The administration of QDG resulted in a significant decrease in blood pressure levels in SHRs (P<0.01). Histological examinations, including hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining revealed that QDG effectively attenuated hypertension-induced cardiac damage. Furthermore, echocardiography demonstrated that QDG improved hypertension-associated cardiac dysfunction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and colorimetric method indicated that QDG significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory response levels in both myocardial tissue and serum (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Both network pharmacology and experimental investigations confirmed that QDG exerted its beneficial effects in decreasing hypertension-induced cardiac damage by regulating the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)/angiotensin II (Ang II)/Ang II receptor type 1 axis and ACE/Ang II/Ang II receptor type 2 axis.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Hypertension/pathology* ; Renin-Angiotensin System/drug effects* ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Male ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Rats ; Inflammation/pathology*

Purpose Based on multimodal imaging combined with a variety of histological techniques,to visually evaluate the changes of rats brain metabolic microenvironment after cerebral hypoxia and ischemia of prematurity,and to discuss the effects of abnormal lactate metabolism in the brain on oligodendrocyte precursor cells,so as to provide a basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of premature white matter injury(PWMI).Materials and Methods A total of 36 SPF-grade healthy 3-day-old Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats were randomly assigned to the sham surgery(Sham)group and the model(PWMI)group using a random number table method,with 18 rats in each group.A neonatal rat PWMI model was established by hypoxia-ischemia method.Twenty-four hours after modeling,laser speckle imaging was used to monitor cerebral blood flow and blood oxygen changes.Multimodal imaging was used to observe the changes in brain tissue microstructure and metabolism after PWMI.HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of nerve cells in the white matter of the brain.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the changes of lactate content and lactate dehydrogenase activity in the white matter region of the brain after PWMI in neonatal rats.PDGFR-α immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the dynamic changes of the number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the subependymal zone after PWMI in neonatal rats.Results Twenty-four hours after modeling,the multimodal imaging results showed that the T2WI and diffusion-weighted imaging on the injured side of the PWMI group showed high intensity,and the relative cerebral blood flow,relative oxygen saturation,relative apparent diffusion coefficient and amide proton transfer(APT)Lorentzian difference value were lower than those in the Sham group(t=29.466,23.522,59.006,54.778,10.263,all P<0.001),and the lactate content was higher than that in the Sham group(t=-7.521,P<0.001).The results of HE staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the arrangement of nerve cells in the white matter area of the injured side of the brain in the PWMI group was loose and disordered.The lactate content and lactate dehydrogenase activity were higher than those in the Sham group(t=-6.079,-10.548,both P<0.001).The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that the number of PDGFR-α+cells in the subependymal zone of the damaged side of the PWMI group was higher than that of the Sham group at 24 hours after modeling,and lower than that in the Sham group at 11 days after modeling(t=-8.386,6.676,both P<0.001).The correlation analysis between the lactate content and APT Lorentzian difference value in the brain and the number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the brain 11 days after modeling showed that the number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the subependymal zone was positively correlated with the APT Lorentzian difference value(r=0.821,P=0.001 1),and negatively correlated with the lactate content in the brain(r=-0.880,P=0.000 2).Conclusion Multimodal imaging can monitor the early brain metabolism changes of PWMI in neonatal rats,especially the changes of lactate,and provide a visual basis for their early diagnosis.The level of lactate in the brain increases after cerebral hypoxia and ischemia in prematurity,and oligodendrocyte precursor cells increase transiently and then decrease,resulting in PWMI.

Kv1.3,a voltage-gated potassium channel,is highly expressed in T lymphocytes,the nervous system,and vascular smooth muscle cells.It plays a critical role in membrane excitability and electrical signal transduction,serving as an important target for studying T-cell function and providing a promising direction for developing therapeutics against autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.Therefore,the de-velopment of specific inhibitors of Kv1.3 channel has emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy for these disorders.In this study,we isolated and purified a novel Kv1.3-inhibitory peptide toxin,LmKTx13,from the venom of the scorpion Lychas mucronatus using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chroma-tography(RP-HPLC).LmKTx13 consists of 38 amino acid residues,including six cysteines that form three disulfide bonds.Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings revealed that LmKTx13 potently inhibited Kv1.3 with an IC50 of 7.92±3.0 nmol/L.Selectivity analysis showed that 2 μmol/L LmKTx13 also in-hibited Kv1.2 and Kv1.7,but exhibited no significant effects on other potassium channel subtypes or voltage-gated sodium channels.Further investigation into the mechanism demonstrated that LmKTx13 acts as a pore-blocking inhibitor of Kv1.3.By analyzing the effects of LmKTx13 on Kv1.3 channel gating ki-netics and performing sequence alignment of the pore regions of Kv1.3 and Kv1.5,we constructed site-directed mutants and identified the pore region of Kv1.3 as the critical binding site for LmKTx13.Key residues involved in the interaction included T425,G427,and H451.In summary,we discovered a no-vel pore-blocking Kv1.3 inhibitor,LmKTx13,from L.mucronatus venom,which exhibits high affinity and selectivity for Kv1.3.These findings highlight its potential as a potential lead molecule for developing Kv1.3-targeted therapeutics.

Anticipatory anxiety is a negative emotion that arises when individuals encounter potential threats or uncertainties in the future. It is the core symptom of a variety of anxiety disorders, and is closely associated with the occurrence, severity, treatment outcome, and prognosis of anxiety disorders, which has garnered a growing amount of focus in clinical practice. Nevertheless, scientific research on anticipatory anxiety continues to face obstacles such as unclear pathological mechanisms, the absence of simple and consistent self-assessment tools, and effective interventions. To improve understanding of the role of anticipatory anxiety in the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders, this study reviews pertinent domestic and international literature, and briefly introduces the concept, assessment and measurement, activation paradigm, pathological mechanisms, and interventions of anticipatory anxiety.

Kv1.3,a voltage-gated potassium channel,is highly expressed in T lymphocytes,the nervous system,and vascular smooth muscle cells.It plays a critical role in membrane excitability and electrical signal transduction,serving as an important target for studying T-cell function and providing a promising direction for developing therapeutics against autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.Therefore,the de-velopment of specific inhibitors of Kv1.3 channel has emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy for these disorders.In this study,we isolated and purified a novel Kv1.3-inhibitory peptide toxin,LmKTx13,from the venom of the scorpion Lychas mucronatus using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chroma-tography(RP-HPLC).LmKTx13 consists of 38 amino acid residues,including six cysteines that form three disulfide bonds.Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings revealed that LmKTx13 potently inhibited Kv1.3 with an IC50 of 7.92±3.0 nmol/L.Selectivity analysis showed that 2 μmol/L LmKTx13 also in-hibited Kv1.2 and Kv1.7,but exhibited no significant effects on other potassium channel subtypes or voltage-gated sodium channels.Further investigation into the mechanism demonstrated that LmKTx13 acts as a pore-blocking inhibitor of Kv1.3.By analyzing the effects of LmKTx13 on Kv1.3 channel gating ki-netics and performing sequence alignment of the pore regions of Kv1.3 and Kv1.5,we constructed site-directed mutants and identified the pore region of Kv1.3 as the critical binding site for LmKTx13.Key residues involved in the interaction included T425,G427,and H451.In summary,we discovered a no-vel pore-blocking Kv1.3 inhibitor,LmKTx13,from L.mucronatus venom,which exhibits high affinity and selectivity for Kv1.3.These findings highlight its potential as a potential lead molecule for developing Kv1.3-targeted therapeutics.

Purpose Based on multimodal imaging combined with a variety of histological techniques,to visually evaluate the changes of rats brain metabolic microenvironment after cerebral hypoxia and ischemia of prematurity,and to discuss the effects of abnormal lactate metabolism in the brain on oligodendrocyte precursor cells,so as to provide a basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of premature white matter injury(PWMI).Materials and Methods A total of 36 SPF-grade healthy 3-day-old Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats were randomly assigned to the sham surgery(Sham)group and the model(PWMI)group using a random number table method,with 18 rats in each group.A neonatal rat PWMI model was established by hypoxia-ischemia method.Twenty-four hours after modeling,laser speckle imaging was used to monitor cerebral blood flow and blood oxygen changes.Multimodal imaging was used to observe the changes in brain tissue microstructure and metabolism after PWMI.HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of nerve cells in the white matter of the brain.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the changes of lactate content and lactate dehydrogenase activity in the white matter region of the brain after PWMI in neonatal rats.PDGFR-α immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the dynamic changes of the number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the subependymal zone after PWMI in neonatal rats.Results Twenty-four hours after modeling,the multimodal imaging results showed that the T2WI and diffusion-weighted imaging on the injured side of the PWMI group showed high intensity,and the relative cerebral blood flow,relative oxygen saturation,relative apparent diffusion coefficient and amide proton transfer(APT)Lorentzian difference value were lower than those in the Sham group(t=29.466,23.522,59.006,54.778,10.263,all P<0.001),and the lactate content was higher than that in the Sham group(t=-7.521,P<0.001).The results of HE staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the arrangement of nerve cells in the white matter area of the injured side of the brain in the PWMI group was loose and disordered.The lactate content and lactate dehydrogenase activity were higher than those in the Sham group(t=-6.079,-10.548,both P<0.001).The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that the number of PDGFR-α+cells in the subependymal zone of the damaged side of the PWMI group was higher than that of the Sham group at 24 hours after modeling,and lower than that in the Sham group at 11 days after modeling(t=-8.386,6.676,both P<0.001).The correlation analysis between the lactate content and APT Lorentzian difference value in the brain and the number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the brain 11 days after modeling showed that the number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the subependymal zone was positively correlated with the APT Lorentzian difference value(r=0.821,P=0.001 1),and negatively correlated with the lactate content in the brain(r=-0.880,P=0.000 2).Conclusion Multimodal imaging can monitor the early brain metabolism changes of PWMI in neonatal rats,especially the changes of lactate,and provide a visual basis for their early diagnosis.The level of lactate in the brain increases after cerebral hypoxia and ischemia in prematurity,and oligodendrocyte precursor cells increase transiently and then decrease,resulting in PWMI.

Anticipatory anxiety is a negative emotion that arises when individuals encounter potential threats or uncertainties in the future. It is the core symptom of a variety of anxiety disorders, and is closely associated with the occurrence, severity, treatment outcome, and prognosis of anxiety disorders, which has garnered a growing amount of focus in clinical practice. Nevertheless, scientific research on anticipatory anxiety continues to face obstacles such as unclear pathological mechanisms, the absence of simple and consistent self-assessment tools, and effective interventions. To improve understanding of the role of anticipatory anxiety in the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders, this study reviews pertinent domestic and international literature, and briefly introduces the concept, assessment and measurement, activation paradigm, pathological mechanisms, and interventions of anticipatory anxiety.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and adverse reactions of whole-lung low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT) in patients with severe/critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods:Eight patients with severe/critical COVID-19 treated in the Jiangyin Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University from January to June 2023 who were treated with whole-lung LDRT after deteriorating or failing to improve post-medical treatment were enrolled in this single-arm phase I clinical trial. They received anterior-posterior penetrating radiation in a supine or prone position, with a total dose range from 0.5 to 1.5 Gy and a dose weight ratio of 1∶1. The oxygenation status, inflammatory markers, and imaging changes before and after radiotherapy were analyzed, and patients were followed up for acute radiation-induced adverse reactions.Results:One week after LDRT, the SaO 2/FiO 2 or PaO 2/FiO 2 indices increased in seven patients (87.5%), inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) decreased in seven patients (87.5%), and chest CT/chest radiographs revealed a significant reduction in the extent of pneumonia involvement in 5 patients (62.5%). No evident acute radiation-related adverse reactions were observed. Conclusions:Whole-lung LDRT with a dose range from 0.5 to 1.5 Gy can reduce inflammatory markers, improve clinical symptoms, and promote inflammatory absorption in patients with severe/critical COVID-19 who responded poorly to medical treatment while not inducing acute adverse reactions.

Objective:To analyze the genotypes distribution of common and rare thalassemia in people of reproductive age in Huadu district of Guangzhou,enhance the database of thalassemia.Methods:Peripheral blood samples were collected for genotype analysis in Maternity and Child Health Hospital of Huadu District from January 2016 to October 2022.Gap-PCR and Reverse dot blot hybridization were used to detect common thalassemia genotypes.DNA sequencing was performed in samples suspected of rare genotypes.Results:A total of 16 171 subjects were identified as thalassemia carriers,and the positive rate was 44.41％(16 171/36 412).The genotypes of 114 cases(0.31％)were rare.A total of 10 845 cases were identified as α-thalassemia carriers(29.78％),and--SEA/αα was the most common genotype in those people,followed by-α3.7/αα and-α4.2/αα.A total of 4 531 subjects were identified as common β-thalassemia carriers(12.44％).The most common β-thalassemia mutation in the population was β41-42/βN,followed by β654/βN and β-28/β N.A total of 681 subjects were identified as αβ thalassemia carriers(1.87％),among them--SEA/αα compounded withβ CD41-42/β N was the most common genotype.A total of 48 cases were identified as rare α-thalassemia carriers,14 types of mutations,in which Fusion gene/αα was the most common.A total of 52 cases were identified as rare β-thalassemia carriers,11 types of mutation,in which βSEA-HPFH/βN was the most common.Conclusion:The thalassemia genotypes in Huadu district are complex and diverse.We should attach great importance to the detection of rare thalassemia genotypes.

Rumination is a pathological habitual thinking pattern commonly observed in various mental disorders. It is closely associated with the severity of symptoms, treatment outcomes, and social functioning outcomes in conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In recent years, rumination has become a focal point in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. However, research on rumination still faces challenges, including conceptual ambiguity, lack of consistent assessment tools, unclear pathological mechanisms, and a shortage of effective intervention methods. This paper conducts a comprehensive review by examining relevant domestic and international literature to enhance our understanding of rumination across different mental disorders. The review encompasses the concepts, assessments, pathological mechanisms, and intervention methods of rumination, aiming to provide insights and references for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of rumination.