OBJECTIVE To provide suggestions for improving the path and system construction of patient engagement in drug regulation in China. METHODS By reviewing initiatives and experiences from the United States （U. S.）， European Union （EU）， and Japan in promoting patient engagement， this study summarizes the roles and contributions of patients in the entire drug regulatory process internationally. Combining China’s current progress and challenges in patient engagement， specific proposals are formulated to refine regulatory pathways and institutional systems. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS With growing global emphasis on patient engagement as a regulatory strategy， countries or regions such as the U.S.， EU， and Japan have established clear policies， designated oversight agencies， and developed diversified pathways for patient engagement. Patients contribute to regulatory processes through advisory meetings， direct decision-making roles， and leveraging lived experiences and expertise to optimize drug evaluation and monitoring. In contrast， China’s patient engagement remains primarily limited to clinical value- oriented drug development， lacking formal policy guidance. It is recommended that China， based on its existing policy system， further strengthen the construction of a safeguard system for patient engagement， improve the capacity building and pathway models for patient participation in pharmaceutical regulation， and promote the continuous development of patient engagement in pharmaceutical regulation in our country.

Objective To elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of Qingxin Jieyu Granule(QXJYG)against atherosclerosis(AS)based on network pharmacology.Methods The major targets and pathways of QXJYG against AS were analyzed using network pharmacology.Rat models of AS established by high-fat feeding combined with intraperitoneal vitamin D3 injection were treated daily with normal saline,atorvastatin(13.15 mg/kg),or QXJYG at 0.99,1.98,and 3.96 g/kg for 8 weeks(n=6).Ultrasound and HE staining were used to assess the function and pathologies of the abdominal aorta.Blood lipids and serum levels of Ang II,ET-1,TXA2,PGI2,and ox-LDL of the rats were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer or ELISA.The expressions of LOX-1,PPARγ,RXRα,p-P65,VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in the abdominal aorta were detected with immunohistochemistry.Results The rat models of AS showed obvious abdominal aorta wall thickening,increased pulse wave velocity and pulse index,decreased inner diameter of the abdominal aorta,elevated levels of TC,LDL-C,Ang II,ET-1 and TXA2,and lowered levels of HDL-C and PGI2.QXJYG and atorvastatin treatment of the rat models significantly alleviated histopathological changes of the abdominal aorta,decreased serum levels of TC,LDL-C,Ang II,ET-1 and TXA2,and increased the levels of HDL-C and PGI2.Network pharmacology study suggested the therapeutic effect of QXJYG against AS was mediated by regulating lipid metabolism,PPAR and NF-κB pathways.Consistently,treatments with QXJYG were found to significantly decrease ox-LDL level and LOX-1,P-P65,VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 protein expressions while increasing PPARγ and RXRα expressions in the aorta of AS rats.Conclusion QXJYG alleviates lipid metabolism disorder and improves histopathological changes of the abdominal aorta of AS rats possibly by lowering ox-LDL level,reducing LOX-1 expression,activating PPARγ and RXRα,and inhibiting P65 phosphorylation to reduce VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression in the aorta.

Objective To elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of Qingxin Jieyu Granule(QXJYG)against atherosclerosis(AS)based on network pharmacology.Methods The major targets and pathways of QXJYG against AS were analyzed using network pharmacology.Rat models of AS established by high-fat feeding combined with intraperitoneal vitamin D3 injection were treated daily with normal saline,atorvastatin(13.15 mg/kg),or QXJYG at 0.99,1.98,and 3.96 g/kg for 8 weeks(n=6).Ultrasound and HE staining were used to assess the function and pathologies of the abdominal aorta.Blood lipids and serum levels of Ang II,ET-1,TXA2,PGI2,and ox-LDL of the rats were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer or ELISA.The expressions of LOX-1,PPARγ,RXRα,p-P65,VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in the abdominal aorta were detected with immunohistochemistry.Results The rat models of AS showed obvious abdominal aorta wall thickening,increased pulse wave velocity and pulse index,decreased inner diameter of the abdominal aorta,elevated levels of TC,LDL-C,Ang II,ET-1 and TXA2,and lowered levels of HDL-C and PGI2.QXJYG and atorvastatin treatment of the rat models significantly alleviated histopathological changes of the abdominal aorta,decreased serum levels of TC,LDL-C,Ang II,ET-1 and TXA2,and increased the levels of HDL-C and PGI2.Network pharmacology study suggested the therapeutic effect of QXJYG against AS was mediated by regulating lipid metabolism,PPAR and NF-κB pathways.Consistently,treatments with QXJYG were found to significantly decrease ox-LDL level and LOX-1,P-P65,VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 protein expressions while increasing PPARγ and RXRα expressions in the aorta of AS rats.Conclusion QXJYG alleviates lipid metabolism disorder and improves histopathological changes of the abdominal aorta of AS rats possibly by lowering ox-LDL level,reducing LOX-1 expression,activating PPARγ and RXRα,and inhibiting P65 phosphorylation to reduce VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression in the aorta.

Objective·To explore the molecular regulatory mechanism of neural tube defect(NTD)induced by retinoic acid(RA)in mouse embryos,and reveal the gene expression regularity of neural tube closure in mice.Methods·Based on the high-quality brain vesicle transcriptome data of mouse embryo during the critical period of neural tube closure[embryonic day 8.5(E8.5),E9.5 and E10.5],the gene expression trend data of the NTD group and the control group were obtained by using Short Time-series Expression Miner(STEM)software.Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis were performed for genes with different expression trends between the NTD group and the control group.Some candidate genes were screened for validation.Pregnant mice were divided into the NTD group and control group,with 9 mice in each group.Pregnant mice in the NTD group were treated with RA and those in the control group were treated with sesame oil by gavage at E7.5.Foetal rat brain vesicle tissues were collected at E8.5,E9.5 and E10.5 for experiments.Based on the above animal tissues,the screened candidate genes were validated by quantitative real-time PCR(RT-PCR).Results·A total of 18 255 genes were detected in the transcriptome data of the control group,and the expression patterns of these genes could be summarized into 7 significant profiles.A total of 19 037 gene expression data were detected in the transcriptome data of the NTD group,and gene expression patterns could be summarized into 6 profiles with significant significance.A total of 46 genes in the control group showed an upward trend but a downward trend in the NTD group.They were enriched in the positive and negative regulation of organ development,neuronal apoptosis,oligodendrocyte proliferation,and fibroblast growth factor signaling pathway at the biological process level.At the cellular component level,they were mainly involved in the basic structure of cells and neurons;At the molecular functional level,they were mainly related to the binding of fibroblast growth factor receptor.A total of 61 genes showed a downward trend in the control group but an upward trend in the NTD group.These genes were enriched in functions such as cell lysis and amino acid/ion transport at the biological process level.At the cellular component level,they were enriched in intracellular molecules,particles,extracellular region,intercellular space,etc.At the molecular function level,they were related to the activity of a series of enzymes and transporters.The results of RT-qPCR showed that the transcriptome sequencing data were authentic and reliable.Conclusion·RA intervention causes abnormal cellular activities and stress responses during mouse embryo development,leading to abnormal embryo development,activation of signalling pathways related to organismal self-protection,and suppression of genes that maintain normal embryo development.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of neck Gongfa exercise in intervening people at high risk for cervical spondylosis. Methods:A total of 212 participants from 8 companies at high risk for cervical spondylosis were divided into two groups using the random number table method,with 105 participants in the control group receiving health education and 107 participants in the trial group receiving an additional neck Gongfa exercise.After successive 3-month interventions,the two groups were compared in terms of cervical soft tissue tension and neck disability index(NDI)score.The incidence of cervical spondylosis was observed 3 months later. Results:During the process,10 cases dropped out in the trial group,and the control group had 9 dropout cases.After the intervention,the cervical soft tissue tension value and NDI score improved in both groups(P<0.05)and showed significant differences between the two groups(P<0.05).At the 3-month follow-up,the trial group had a lower incidence rate of cervical spondylosis than the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion:For people at high risk for cervical spondylosis,neck Gongfa exercise can effectively improve cervical soft tissue tension and motor dysfunction and lower the incidence of cervical spondylosis in the short run.

Objective To explore the classification and changes of macrophage subsets in liver transplant rejection.Methods Rat liver transplantation model were established and divided into immune tolerance group(B-B),where the liver of BN rat donors was transplanted to BN rat recipients,and immune rejection group(L-B),in which the liver of Lewis rat donors was transplanted to BN rat recipients.Single-cell RNA sequencing and high-throughput RNA sequencing were used to distinguish the macrophage subsets of rat liver transplantation,and to find differential gene in rejection reactions.Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the changes and distribu-tion of protein expression and cell subsets.Results CD68 positive macrophages were higher in the rejection group than that in the tolerance group(P<0.05),and macrophages could be divided into 9 subsets.During the rejection reaction,the CXC chemokine ligand 9(CXCL9)in the 8th subsets of macrophages was significantly increased,while the gene for white blood cell differentiation antigen 74(CD74)in the 5th subsets was significantly increased(P<0.05).CD74 ranked first in the differential gene synthesis of macrophages during rejection,followed by CXCL9.Compared with the tolerance group,a large number of CD74 positive macrophages were observed in the hepatic portal area of the rejection group,and the infiltration of CD74 positive macrophages in the hepatic sinuses was also significantly increased(P<0.05),while a large number of CXCL9 positive macrophages were observed in the hepatic portal area and hepatic sinuses of the rejection group,especially in the portal area(P<0.05),and CD14 positive cells were significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusions The CD74 positive macrophage subsets and CXCL9 positive macrophage subsets may be key subgroups in promoting liver transplant rejection,improving the mechanism of macrophage action in liver transplant rejection.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 system has been widely used for genome engineering and transcriptional regulation in many different organisms. Current CRISPR-activation (CRISPRa) platforms often require multiple components because of inefficient transcriptional activation. Here, we fused different phase-separation proteins to dCas9-VPR (dCas9-VP64-P65-RTA) and observed robust increases in transcriptional activation efficiency. Notably, human NUP98 (nucleoporin 98) and FUS (fused in sarcoma) IDR domains were best at enhancing dCas9-VPR activity, with dCas9-VPR-FUS IDR (VPRF) outperforming the other CRISPRa systems tested in this study in both activation efficiency and system simplicity. dCas9-VPRF overcomes the target strand bias and widens gRNA designing windows without affecting the off-target effect of dCas9-VPR. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using phase-separation proteins to assist in the regulation of gene expression and support the broad appeal of the dCas9-VPRF system in basic and clinical applications.
Humans ; Transcriptional Activation ; RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Gene Expression Regulation ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics*

Humans ; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2/metabolism* ; Multiprotein Complexes/metabolism* ; Neural Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Rapamycin-Insensitive Companion of mTOR Protein/metabolism* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*

Tumor tissue is a complex of tumor cells, stromal cells, and extracellular matrix, and they constitute a disordered and aggressive microenvironment, which plays an indispensable role in the occurrence and development of tumors. In breast cancer, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) not only promote the occurrence, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance of tumor, but also participate in events including angiogenesis, lymph angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and reconstruction of the microenvironment, which are known to induce cancer. Therefore, a new strategy for tumor therapy is provided by targeting CAF. This article reviews the research progress of CAF in breast cancer.