Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH） is a chronic liver disease with the main pathological features of hepatic steatosis， inflammatory cell infiltration， and interstitial fibroplasia， and it is an important risk factor for liver fibrosis， liver cirrhosis， and hepatocellular carcinoma. NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome is the core of innate immunity， and the abnormal activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is closely associated with the development and progression of NASH， which involves multiple links such as inflammatory response and oxidative stress. A large number of studies have shown that the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and TCM compound prescriptions can improve oxidative stress， regulate lipid metabolism， and alleviate liver inflammation by regulating NLRP3 inflammasome. TCM treatment applied in clinical practice has achieved a good therapeutic effect， while inflammasome is one of the key pathways or targets for TCM in improving NASH. This article reviews the mechanism of action of NLRP3 inflammasome in NASH and the research advances in TCM intervention of NLRP3 inflammasome， in order to provide ideas for the clinical TCM treatment of NASH， as well as reference targets and research directions for the research and development of new TCM drugs.

Senile osteoporosis is a growing public health challenge with significant impacts on the daily life of the elderly population as a result of its hidden nature,high prevalence,and high risk of disability.Suitable animal models that simulate senile osteoporosis are crucial for understanding its pathological mechanism and to facilitate the development of anti-osteoporosis drugs and identify new therapeutic targets.This review considers the most commonly used method for creating animal models of senile osteoporosis,analyzes their advantages and limitations,and discusses research progress in animal models in terms of evaluation indicators,to provide references for research using animal models of senile osteoporosis.

Objective To analyze the expression levels of RNA demethylase alkB homolog 5(ALKBH5)and p21 activated kinase 5(PAK5)in high-risk human papillomavirus(HR-HPV)positive cervical cancer tissue,and explore their clinical significance.Methods A total of 96 patients with HR-HPV positive cervical cancer were selected as the research object.The expressions of ALKBH5 and PAK5 mRNA and protein in cancer tissue and adjacent tissue were analyzed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay.The expression levels of ALKBH5 and PAK5 proteins in patients with HR-HPV positive cervical cancer with different clinicopathological characteristics were compared.Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to analyze influencing factors of death in patients with HR-HPV positive cervical cancer.Kaplan-Meier curve was used to analyze the effects of ALKBH5 and PAK5 protein expression on the 5-year survival rate of patients.Results The results of real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay showed that expression levels of ALKBH5 and PAK5 mRNA and protein in HR-HPV positive cervical cancer tissue were higher than those in adjacent tissue(P<0.05).The positive rates of ALKBH5 and PAK5 in cancer tissue of HR-HPV positive cervical cancer patients with FIGO stage ⅡA and lymph node metastasis were increased(P<0.05).ALKBH5 positive(HR=1.467,95％CI:1.104-1.949),PAK5 positive(HR=1.435,95％CI:1.093-1.884),FIGO stage ⅡA(HR=1.435,95％CI=1.065-1.933)and lymph node metastasis(HR=1.652,95％CI:1.053-2.593)were risk factors affecting the prognosis of HR-HPV positive cervical cancer patients(P<0.05).The 5-year cumulative survival rate was lower in the ALKBH5 positive group[72.58％(45/62)vs.91.18％(31/34)]than that of the ALKBH5 negative group(log rank χ2=4.481,P=0.034).The 5-year overall survival rate of the PAK5 positive group[71.67％(43/60)vs.91.67％(33/36)]was lower than that of the PAK5 negative group(log rank χ2=4.153,P=0.043).Conclusion The expression levels of ALKBH5 and PAK5 are significantly up-regulated in HR-HPV positive cervical cancer,both of which are related to the poor clinicopathological features of patients,and are helpful to evaluate the prognosis.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a significant complication of sepsis, characterized by high morbidity, mortality, and poor prognosis. Neutrophils, as critical intrinsic immune cells in the lung, play a fundamental role in the development and progression of ALI. During ALI, neutrophils generate neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and excessive NETs can intensify inflammatory injury. Research indicates that Taohe Chengqi decoction (THCQD) can ameliorate sepsis-induced lung inflammation and modulate immune function. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which THCQD improves ALI and its relationship with NETs in sepsis patients, seeking to provide novel perspectives and interventions for clinical treatment. The findings demonstrate that THCQD enhanced survival rates and reduced lung injury in the cecum ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced ALI mouse model. Furthermore, THCQD diminished neutrophil and macrophage infiltration, inflammatory responses, and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Notably, subsequent experiments confirmed that THCQD inhibits NET formation both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, THCQD significantly decreased the expression of peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) protein, and molecular docking predicted that certain active compounds in THCQD could bind tightly to PAD4. PAD4 overexpression partially reversed THCQD's inhibitory effects on PAD4. These findings strongly indicate that THCQD mitigates CLP-induced ALI by inhibiting PAD4-mediated NETs.
Extracellular Traps/immunology* ; Acute Lung Injury/immunology* ; Animals ; Sepsis/immunology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Neutrophils/immunology* ; Male ; Protein-Arginine Deiminase Type 4/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Disease Models, Animal ; Cytokines/metabolism*

Objective:To evaluate the role of fibrinogen in perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) in aged mice.Methods:Sixty SPF healthy male C57BL/6J mice, aged 16-18 months, weighing 25-30 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=15 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), PND group (group P), urokinase group (group U) and PND+ urokinase group (group PU). Abdominal surgery was performed under 3% sevoflurane anesthesia to establish the mouse model of PND. In PU group, urokinase 20 000 U/kg was intraperitoneally administered at 1 h after surgery, once a day, for 5 consecutive days. In group U, urokinase was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 5 consecutive days without anesthesia and surgery. The cognitive function was assessed after operation using the novel object recognition test (discrimination index) and the Morris water maze test (frequency of crossing the original platform and percentage of the time spent in the target quadrant). The expression of occludin, claudin-5, fibrinogen and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) and CD11b in hippocampal tissues was detected using Western blot, the area of fibrinogen extravascular deposits was measured and the morphology of microglia was observed using the immunofluorescence staining, and the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors (interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and inducible nitric oxide synthase), anti-inflammatory factors (interleukin-4 and arginase-1), and chemokines (chemokine 2 and chemokine ligand 10) in hippocampal tissues was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction after surgery. Results:Compared with group C, the parameters of cognitive function were significantly decreased, the expression of occludin and claudin-5 was down-regulated, the expression of fibrinogen was up-regulated, the area of fibrinogen extravascular deposits was increased, the number of branches was decreased and the average process length was shortened in the microglia around fibrinogen deposits, the expression of Iba-1 and CD11b was up-regulated, the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines was up-regulated, and the mRNA expression of the anti-inflammatory factors was down-regulated in group PND ( P<0.05). Compared with group PND, the parameters of cognitive function were significantly increased, the expression of occludin and claudin-5 was up-regulated, the expression of fibrinogen was down-regulated, the area of fibrinogen extravascular deposits was decreased, the number of branches was increased and the average process length was prolonged in the microglia around fibrinogen deposits, the expression of Iba-1 and CD11b was down-regulated, the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines was down-regulated, and the mRNA expression of the anti-inflammatory factors was up-regulated in group PU ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Fibrinogen deposits in the brain parenchyma through the damaged blood-brain barrier after anesthesia and surgery and participates in the development of PND, and the underlying mechanism may be related to the promotion of microglial activation and the induction of neuroinflammation in aged mice.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between the mechanism of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) preventing sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity and phosphorylated Tau glymphatic system clearance pathway in neonatal mice.Methods:Eighteen C57BL/6 pregnant mice were used in this study and subjected to 2 feeding regiments using the random number table method. Twelve mice were selected to receive a standard diet, and 6 mice were selected to receive a diet supplemented with fish oil (ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids [300 mg was added to every 20 g of standard diet from the 2nd day of gestation to 14 days after parturition). The healthy neonatal mice of both sexes, aged 6 days, weighing 3-5 g, were selected after parturition. Forty-eight neonatal pups from 6 pregnant mice that were fed a standard diet were assigned to control group (C group), 48 neonatal pups from 6 pregnant mice that were fed a standard diet were assigned to sevoflurane group (S group), and 48 neonatal pups from pregnant mice that were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil were assigned to ω-3 PUFAs plus sevoflurane group (PS group) using the random number table method. All the offspring mice in all groups were breastfed until 21 days of birth and then were housed in separate cages from their mothers after 21 days of birth and provided with ad libitum access to standard food. S group and PS group inhaled 3% sevoflurane and 40% oxygen for 2 h daily on postnatal days 6, 7 and 8. C group inhaled only 40% oxygen at the same flow rate. Y maze test was performed at postnatal day 33 to assess the spatial memory and cognitive function. The rotarod test was performed at postnatal day 35 to assess the fine motor coordination. The influx and efflux functions of the glymphatic system were assessed through intracisternal tracer infusion with the fluorescent tracer at postnatal days 14 and 35. The influx function was evaluated by the percentage of the area of tracer penetration 30 min after injection, while the efflux function was determined by the percentage of the residual area of the tracer 90 min after injection. The mice were sacrificed and the hippocampal tissue was obtained at postnatal day 14 for determination of the expression of phosphorylated Tau protein at serine 202 site and threonine 205 site (Tau-PS202/PT205) and total Tau protein by Western blot. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected at postnatal day 14 for determination of the concentration of phosphorylated Tau protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mice were sacrificed and the hippocampal tissue was obtained at postnatal day 35 for determination of the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 and cytochrome C (Cyt c) (by Western blot) and the apoptosis rate of neurons (by TUNEL).Results:Compared with C group, the time of staying at the new arm and in the rotarod test was significantly shortened, the percentage of new arm movement distance was decreased, the percentage of tracer penetration area was decreased at postnatal day 14, the percentage of residual tracer area was increased at postnatal day 14, the expression of Tau-PS202/PT205 in the hippocampus was up-regulated at postnatal day 14, the concentration of phosphorylated Tau protein in CSF was reduced at postnatal day 14, the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons was increased at postnatal day 35 ( P<0.05), and the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 and Cyt c in the hippocampus was up-regulated at postnatal day 35 in S group ( P<0.05). Compared with S group, the time of staying at the new arm and in the rotarod test was significantly prolonged, the percentage of new arm movement distance was increased, the percentage of tracer penetration area was increased at postnatal day 14, the percentage of residual tracer area was decreased at postnatal day 14, the expression of Tau-PS202/PT205 in the hippocampus was down-regulated at postnatal day 14, the concentration of phosphorylated Tau protein in CSF was increased at postnatal day 14, the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons was decreased at postnatal day 35, and the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 and Cyt c in the hippocampus was down-regulated at postnatal day 35 in PS group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which ω-3 PUFAs prevents cerebral neurotoxicity induced by repeated neonatal sevofurane exposure may be related to the enhancement of phosphorylated Tau protein clearance via the glymphatic system.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between the mechanism of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) in preventing brain neurotoxicity caused by multiple sevoflurane anesthesia and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) signaling pathway in neonatal mice.Methods:This study was performed in 2 parts. Part Ⅰ Using a random number table method, 6 C57BL/6 pregnant mice were assigned to receive a standard diet, 3 pregnant mice were assigned to receive a diet supplemented with fish oil from day 2 of gestation to day 14 after parturition (ω-3 PUFAs 300 mg were added to every 20 g of conventional diet). Healthy C57BL/6 mice of both sexes, aged 6 days, weighing 3-5 g, were selected after parturition. Seventeen neonatal pups from 3 pregnant mice that were fed a conventional diet were assigned to control group (C group), 17 neonatal pups from 3 pregnant mice that were fed a conventional diet were assigned to sevoflurane group (S group), and 17 neonatal pups from pregnant mice that were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil were assigned to ω-3 PUFAs plus sevoflurane group (PS1 group) using the random number table method. Part Ⅱ Four C57BL/6 pregnant mice were assigned to receive a diet supplemented with fish oil from day 2 of gestation to day 14 after parturition. After parturition, 12 neonatal pups from 2 pregnant mice that were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil were assigned to ω-3 PUFAs plus sevoflurane group (PS2 group), and 12 neonatal pups from 2 pregnant mice that were fed a diet supplemented with fish oil were assigned to ω-3 PUFAs plus PPARγ inhibitor GW9662 plus sevoflurane group (PGS group) using a random number table method. GW9662 (2 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min before exposure to sevoflurane in PGS group. All offspring mice were breastfed until 21 days of age, after which they were housed separately from the mother and allowed ad libitum access to a conventional diet. S, PS1, PS2 and PGS groups inhaled 3% sevoflurane in 40% oxygen for 2 h daily on postnatal days 6, 7 and 8. C group inhaled only 40% oxygen instead. Y maze test was performed on days 33 after birth. The rotarod test was performed on day 35 after birth. After the behavioral testing, the expression of PPARγ, PGC1α, mitofusin-1 (MFN1), MFN2, dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected by Western blot, the ultrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampal neurons was observed with a transmission electron microscope, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and content of ATP were determined.Results:Part Ⅰ Compared with C group, the time of stay at the new-arm and time spent on the rotarod were significantly shortened, the percentage of movement distance in the new-arm was decreased, the expression of PPARγ, PGC1α, MFN1 and MFN2 in the hippocampus was down-regulated, the expression of DRP1, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampus was up-regulated, the MMP and content of ATP were decreased, and the level of ROS was increased in S group ( P<0.05). Compared with S group, the time of stay at the new-arm and time spent on the rotarod were significantly prolonged, the percentage of movement distance in the new-arm was increased, the expression of PPARγ, PGC1α, MFN1 and MFN2 in the hippocampus was up-regulated, the expression of DRP1, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampus was down-regulated, the MMP and content of ATP were increased, and the level of ROS was decreased in PS1 group ( P<0.05). Part Ⅱ Compared with PS2 group, the time of stay at the new-arm and time spent on the rotarod were significantly shortened, the percentage of movement distance in the new-arm was decreased, the MMP and content of ATP were decreased, the level of ROS was increased, and the expression of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α was up-regulated ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which ω-3 PUFAs prevent brain neurotoxicity caused by multiple sevoflurane anesthesia is related to the activation of the PPARγ/PGC1α signaling pathway and alleviation of mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation in neonatal mice.

Objective:To evaluate the role of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in long-term cognitive impairment after multiple sevoflurane anesthesia in newborn mice.Methods:Clean-grade healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6 days, were used in this study. Ten mice were divided into 2 groups ( n=5 each) by the random number table method: control group (group C) and sevoflurane group (group S). The animals inhaled 3% sevoflurane for 2 h at 6, 7 and 8 days after birth. The DHA content was detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry at 9 days of age. Fifty-two mice were selected and divided into 4 groups ( n=13 each) by a random number table method: control+ normal saline group (group C+ S), sevoflurane anesthesia + normal saline group (group S+ S), control+ DHA group (group C+ D), and sevoflurane anesthesia+ DHA group (group S+ D). The sevoflurane anesthesia method was the same as the one mentioned above. DHA 50 mg/kg was administered by intragastric gavage from postnatal days 6-19 (at 6, 7 and 8 days after birth, 2 h before anesthesia) in C+ D and S+ D groups. The equal volume of normal saline was given instead in C+ S group and S+ S group. The novel object recognition test was conducted at 37 days of age, and the Morris water maze test was performed at 42 days of age. The corpus callosum and hippocampal tissues were isolated at 47 days of age for examination of the ultrastructure of myelin (with a transmission electron microscope) and for determination of the expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) in hippocampal tissues (by Western blot). The G-ratio was calculated. Results:Compared with group C, the content of DHA in hippocampal tissues was significantly decreased in group S ( P<0.05). Compared with group C+ S, the discrimination index was significantly decreased, the percentage of duration of staying at the target platform quadrant and the number of crossing the original platform were decreased, the expression of MBP was down-regulated, and the G-ratio in the original platform and hippocampus was increased in S+ S group ( P<0.05). Compared with group S+ S, the discrimination index was significantly increased, the percentage of duration of staying at the target platform quadrant and the number of crossing the original platform were increased, the expression of MBP was up-regulated, and the G-ratio in the original platform and hippocampus was decreased in S+ D group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism of long-term cognitive impairment following multiple sevoflurane anesthesia may be related to a decrease in the content of DHA, which subsequently leads to myelin structural damage in neonatal mice.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of multiple sevoflurane anesthesia on the metabolism of long-chain fatty acids in the hippocampus of newborn mice and the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-beta (PPARβ).Methods:Clean-grade healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6 days, weighing 3-5 g, were divided into 2 groups ( n=8 each) by a random number table method: control group (group C) and multiple sevoflurane anesthesia group (group S). This study was performed in 2 parts. PartⅠ Sixteen newborn mice were divided into 2 groups ( n=8 each) using a random number table: control group (C group) and multiple sevoflurane anesthesia group (S group). Anesthesia was performed with sevoflurane on postnatal days 6, 7 and 8. The hippocampus was obtained at postnatal day 9 for determination of the content of long-chain fatty acids (by ultra-high performance liquid mass spectrometry), expression of PPARβ (by Western blot), and expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-2 (Scd2) and fatty acid desaturase 2 (Fads2) mRNA (using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction). Part Ⅱ Twenty-one newborn mice were divided into 3 groups ( n=7 each) using a random number table: control+ normal saline group (group C+ S), sevoflurane + normal saline group (group S+ S), and sevoflurane+ PPARβ specific agonist KD3010 group (group S+ K). Anesthesia was carried out with sevoflurane on postnatal days 6, 7 and 8. KD3010 25 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected once a day from postnatal day 6 to 13 in S+ K group. The novel object recognition test was performed on postnatal day 37, and the Morris water maze test was performed on postnatal day 42. The hippocampal tissues were obtained on postnatal day 47 for detection of the expression of Scd2 mRNA and Fads2 mRNA by fluorescent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Anesthesia was carried out with sevoflurane as follows: Mice were exposed to 3% sevoflurane in 40% oxygen-60% nitrogen in an induction chamber for 2 h at a flow rate of 1 L/min. Results:PartⅠ Compared with group C, the total content of long-chain fatty acids, contents of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids were significantly decreased, the percentage of saturated fatty acids was increased, the percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids was decreased, the expression of Scd2 mRNA and Fads2 mRNA was down-regulated, and the expression of PPARβ was down-regulated in group S ( P<0.05). Part Ⅱ Compared with group C+ S, the discrimination index in the novel object recognition test and percentage of time spent in the target quadrant were significantly decreased, the number of crossing the original platform was reduced, and the expression of Scd2 and Fads2 mRNA was down-regulated in group S+ S ( P<0.05). Compared with group S+ S, the discrimination index in the novel object recognition test and percentage of time spent in the target quadrant were significantly increased, the number of crossing the original platform was increased, and the expression of Scd2 and Fads2 mRNA was up-regulated in group S+ K ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Multiple anesthesia with sevoflurane can lead to the disorder of long-chain fatty acid metabolism in the hippocampus of neonatal mice, resulting in long-term cognitive dysfunction. The mechanism may be related to inhibiting the activity of hippocampal PPARβ signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the expression levels of serum hemoglobin β(HBB)in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients and its correlation with topoisomeraseⅡα(TOP2A)gene.Methods A total of 48 HCC patients visited the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from August 2023 to September 2024 were selected as the HCC group,and 32 healthy individuals who underwent physical examination during the same period were selected as the healthy control group.Their blood samples were collected,and the ex-pression levels of serum HBB and TOP2A genes were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).Then,the relationship between the expression of HBB gene and clinicopathological parameters of the patients was ana-lyzed.The Kaplan-Meier Plotter database was used to evaluate the relationship between the expression of HBB gene and the prognosis of HCC.The diagnostic value of the expressions of serum HBB and TOP2A genes for HCC was assessed by the receiver operating charac-teristic(ROC)curve.Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between the expressions of serum HBB and TOP2A genes in HCC patients.The regulatory effect of HBB gene on TOP2A gene was verified by the cell experiment.Results The expression levels of serum HBB gene in HCC patients(0.097[0.055,0.155])were significantly lower than that in healthy controls(1.029[0.625,1.434],U=19,P＜0.001).The expression levels of serum TOP2A gene in HCC patients(1.810[0.825,3.623])were significantly higher than that in healthy controls(1.047[0.604,1.364],U=495,P=0.007).The expression level of serum HBB gene in HCC patients was significantly negatively correlated with that of TOP2A gene(ρ=-0.384,P=0.007).The analysis results of clinicopathological parameters showed that the expression level of HBB gene was only related to tumor size(χ2=4.090,P＜0.05).The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the 5-year overall survival rate of the patients with low expression of HBB gene was signifi-cantly lower than that with high expression(HR=0.680,95%CI:0.470-0.970,P＜0.05).The analysis of the ROC curve showed that the area under the ROC curve(AUCROC)of HBB gene in diagnosing HCC was 0.987(95%CI:0.963-1.000).When the cut-off value was 0.228,its sensitivity was 100%and specificity was 97%.The AUCROC of TOP2A gene for the diagnosis of HCC was 0.677(95%CI:0.559-0.797).When the cut-off value was 1.285,its sensitivity was 65%and specificity was 75%.The combined detection of HBB and TOP2A genes for the diagnosis of HCC had an AUCROC of 0.988(95%CI:0.965-1.000).When the cut-off value was 0.657,its sensitivity was 100%and specificity was 97%.The cell experiment results showed that the overexpression of HBB gene could inhibit the expression of TOP2A gene,while the knockout of HBB gene had the opposite effect.Conclusion HBB gene is lowly expressed in the serum of HCC patients and is significantly negatively correlated with the expression of TOP2A gene.