Pinellia ternata， belonging to the Pinellia genus within the Araceae family， is a medicinal plant due to its tubers. There are severe issues with unclear germplasm and mixed varieties in its cultivation， necessitating urgent new variety protection efforts. The distinctness， uniformity， and stability （DUS） testing of the plant variety is the basis for protecting new plant varieties， and the DUS test guidelines are the technical basis for DUS testing. To develop the DUS test guidelines for P. ternata， agronomic traits of 229 germplasm of P. ternata were observed and measured during its two growth stages over the years， and each character was graded and described. A total of 38 traits were selected as the test traits of the DUS test guideline for P. ternata. There were three plant traits， 19 leaf traits， six flower traits， two fruit traits， two tuber traits， five bulbil traits， and one ploidy trait. These traits could be divided into 22 quality characters， 12 quantitative characters， and four pseudo-quantitative characters， as well as seven groups， including plants， leaves， flowers， fruit， tubers， bulbils， and ploidy. By searching for standard traits， 10 standard varieties were ultimately determined. Preparing these guidelines will have great significance for reviewing and protecting P. ternata varieties， safeguarding breeders' rights， and promoting the development of the P. ternata industry.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Buzhong Yiqitang on the abnormal expression of pulmonary surfactant-associated protein C （SFTPC） and lung injury induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia （CIH） and the mechanism of action. MethodsForty healthy adult male SPF-grade C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated into five experimental groups： a normoxia group， a CIH group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose Buzhong Yiqitang groups， with eight mice in each group. During the modeling， mice in the normoxia group were housed under standard oxygen concentrations， while the CIH and all Buzhong Yiqitang groups were placed in a hypoxic chamber for 8 h daily over 35 d. Prior to each chamber session， mice in the low-， medium-， and high-dose Buzhong Yiqitang groups were administered decoctions by gavage at corresponding doses （8.1， 16.2， 32.4 g·kg^-1·d^-1 of crude drug， respectively）， while those in normoxia and CIH groups received an equivalent volume of saline by gavage. The general conditions of the mice were recorded before and after the experiment. Pulmonary function was assessed using a non-invasive detection system. Serum SFTPC levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Histopathological changes in lung tissue were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Apoptosis in lung tissue was detected using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL）. Protein expression of SFTPC， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase （PERK）， phosphorylated PERK （p-PERK）， eukaryotic initiation factor 2α （eIF2α）， phosphorylated eIF2α （p-eIF2α）， activating transcript factor 4 （ATF4）， and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein （CHOP） in lung tissue was analyzed by Western blot. Immunofluorescence staining was employed to assess the expression of SFTPC and CHOP proteins in lung tissue. ResultsCompared to those in the normoxia group， mice in the CIH group showed significantly impaired pulmonary function and increased histopathological lung injury scores （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum SFTPC levels increased， while SFTPC expression in lung tissue was reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The rate of apoptotic cells in lung tissue increased， and the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers p-PERK， p-eIF2α， ATF4， and CHOP was upregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the CIH group， Buzhong Yiqitang intervention improved pulmonary function indicators and decreased the histopathological lung injury scores （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum SFTPC levels were decreased， and lung tissue SFTPC expression was recovered （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The apoptotic rate of lung tissue cells was significantly reduced， with downregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax and upregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Activation and expression of p-PERK， p-eIF2α， ATF4， and CHOP were also decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionBuzhong Yiqitang can alleviate lung injury and improve pulmonary function by reducing lung cell apoptosis and enhancing alveolar surfactant secretion， which may be related to the modulation of the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the effect of stress hyperglycemia (SHG) on new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods A total of 1 321 patients with non-diabetic AMI who were admitted to the hospital from February 2024 to February 2025 were retrospectively selected. The occurrence of SHG was assessed according to the blood glucose level at admission. All patients received standard treatment after admission. The occurrence of NOAF during hospitalization was recorded. According to the presence or absence of NOAF occurrence, the patients were classified into NOAF group (n=118) and no-NOAF group (n=1,203). The clinical data of the two groups were collected and compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze the factors influencing the occurrence of NOAF in AMI patients. Results Among the 1 321 patients, 369 cases (27.93%) had SHG according to their blood glucose test at admission. After the completion of hospitalization, 118 of the 1321 patients developed NOAF, with an incidence rate of 8.93%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that SHG (OR=2.776, 95%CI: 1.384-5.567), smoking history (OR=2.680, 95%CI: 1.457-4.931), Killip grading at admission (OR=2.779, 95%CI: 1.361-5.671), Gensini score (OR=1.119, 95%CI: 1.038-1.205), time from onset to revascularization (OR=1.114, 95%CI: 0.973-1.275), and NT-proBNP (OR=1.123, 95%CI: 1.049-1.203) were independent influencing factors of NOAF in patients with AMI (P<0.05). Conclusion SHG, smoking history, Killip grading at admission, Gensini score, NT-proBNP, and time from onset to revascularization may influence the occurrence of NOAF in AMI patients during hospitalization, which should be given high attention.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of "olfactory three needles" on cognition, learning and memory abilities, as well as hippocampal microglia (MG) phagocytic activity in vascular dementia (VD) rats, and explore the mechanisms of acupuncture in regulating MG activation and improving remyelination, so as to ameliorate VD. METHODS: Among 38 SD rats meeting experimental requirements, 9 rats were randomly assigned to a sham-operation group, and the remaining rats underwent permanent bilateral common carotid artery ligation to establish VD model. Eighteen successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group and an electroacupuncture (EA) group, with 9 rats in each one. In the EA group, EA was performed at "olfactory three needles" ("Yintang" [GV24⁺] and bilateral "Yingxiang" [LI20]), at disperse-dense wave, the frequency of 2 Hz/15 Hz and the current intensity of 1 mA, for 15 min per intervention, once daily. One course was composed of 7 days, and 2 courses were required, with the interval of 2 days. The novel object recognition test was employed to assess the cognition of rats, and the Morris water maze was adopted to observe learning and memory abilities. Luxol fast blue (LFB) staining was performed to evaluate myelin sheath loss in the hippocampus, the Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) and proteolipid protein (PLP) in the hippocampus; and the immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the positive expression of PLP, sex determining region Y-box 10 (SOX10), ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1)⁺ TREM2⁺ and Iba1⁺ lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1)⁺ in the hippocampus. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operation group, the rats in the model group exhibited the prolonged escape latency on day 3 and 4 (P<0.05, P<0.01), the increase of the total distance traveling (P<0.01) and the decrease of the recognition index (RI) and platform crossing frequency (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the rats in the EA group showed the shortened escape latency on day 3 and 4 (P<0.05), the decrease of total distance traveling (P<0.01) and the increase of RI and platform crossing frequency (P<0.05, P<0.01). When compared with the sham-operation group, the rats of the model group presented uneven staining, sparse arrangement of myelin sheath fibers, unclear contours, and prominent vacuole-like changes in the hippocampal CA1 region. When compared with the model group, the EA group showed more dense staining, the increase of myelin sheath fibers with more orderly alignment, and fewer vacuolar changes in the hippocampal CA1 region. Compared with the sham-operation group, the model group exhibited the increase of TREM2 protein expression and the decrease of PLP protein expression in the hippocampus (P<0.01), whereas the EA group showed the up-regulation of TREM2 and PLP protein expression when compared with the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The positive expression of the hippocampal PLP, SOX10, and Iba1⁺LAMP1⁺ in the model group was reduced in comparison with the sham-operation group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the positive expression of Iba1⁺ TREM2⁺ was elevated (P<0.05). In the EA group, the positive expression of PLP, SOX10, Iba1⁺TREM2⁺, and Iba1⁺ LAMP1⁺ was higher compared with that in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION "Olfactory three needles" can improve the learning and memory, and cognitive functions of VD rats, and its mechanism may be associated with the up-regulation of TREM2 and LAMP1 to adjust MG phagocytic activity and intracellular degradation, and promote remyelination.
Animals ; Dementia, Vascular/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Male ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Remyelination ; Memory ; Hippocampus/cytology* ; Cognition ; Electroacupuncture ; Needles

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Radiation pneumonitis is a major complication in lung cancer radiotherapy. Four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) imaging provides dynamic ventilation information, which is valuable for lung function assessment and radiation pneumonitis prevention. Many methods have been developed to calculate lung ventilation from 4DCT, but a systematic comparison is lacking. Prediction of radiation pneumonitis using 4DCT-based ventilation is still in an early stage, and no comprehensive review exists. This paper presented the first systematic comparison of functional lung ventilation algorithms based on 4DCT over the past 15 years, highlighting their clinical value and limitations. It then reviewed multimodal approaches combining 4DCT ventilation imaging, dose metrics, and clinical data for radiation pneumonitis prediction. Finally, it summarized current research and future directions of 4DCT in lung cancer radiotherapy, offering insights for clinical practice and further studies.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography/methods* ; Radiation Pneumonitis/etiology* ; Algorithms ; Lung/radiation effects* ; Pulmonary Ventilation

Objective To explore the mechanism by which cancer-associated fibroblasts(CAFs)regulate CD13-high expression neutrophil-like myeloid-derived suppressor cell(CD13hi-nMDSC)migration in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC),so as to provide potential molecular targets and experimental evidences for immunotherapy in patients.Methods CAFs were isolated and purified from pancreatic cancer tissues of 5 PDAC patients.The phenotype and purity of CAFs were identified by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.The expression of related factors in CAF was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).CAF conditioned medium and myeloid-derived suppressor cell(MDSC)migration system were constructed by Transwell to observe the migration of MDSCs and to study the specific mechanisms by which the aforementioned cytokines participate in regulating the migration of MDSCs.Results The isolated primary CAFs expressed activation biomarkers fibroblast activation protein(FAP)and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),while the human foreskin fibroblasts(HFFs)of control cells did not express FAP and α-SMA.qPCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of interleukin 6(IL-6),monocyte chemotactic protein 1(MCP-1),and stromal cell-derived factor 1(SDF-1)in CAFs were higher than those in HFFs(all P＜0.01).The contents of IL-6,MCP-1,and SDF-1 in the CAF culture supernatant were significantly higher than those in the HFF culture supernatant(all P＜0.01),and the secretion content increased with the prolongation of culture time.Compared with HFF conditioned medium and regular medium(RPMI 1640),CAF conditioned medium could recruit more total MDSCs and CD13hi-nMDSCs(all P＜0.01).The addition of SDF-1 recombinant protein alone in the culture system could induce the migration of total MDSCs and CD13hi-nMDSCs,and the addition of SDF-1 neutralizing antibodies or C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4)blocking antibodies could significantly reduce the migration of CD13hi-nMDSCs induced by CAF conditioned medium(all P＜0.01).Although MCP-1 alone could also induce the migration of total MDSCs and CD13hi-nMDSCs,the number of CD13hi-nMDSCs migrating was significantly less than that of the SDF-1 experimental group.The IL-6 recombinant protein did not induce the migration of total MDSCs or CD13hi-nMDSCs.Conclusion CAFs can mediate the migration of total MDSCs and CD13hi-nMDSCs in PDAC through SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway.

Objective:To investigate the value of CT quantitative parameters of tumor and spleen in predicting the clinical stage of gastric cancer (Ⅰ/Ⅱ stage and Ⅲ/Ⅳ stage).Methods:This study was a case-control study. The data of 145 patients with gastric cancer confirmed by pathology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from February 2019 to June 2021 were retrospectively collected, including 70 cases of Ⅰ/Ⅱ stage and 75 cases of Ⅲ/Ⅳ stage. On the baseline CT images, the tumor related parameters, including tumor thickness, length of tumor, CT attenuation of tumor unenhanced phase, CT attenuation of tumor arterial phase, CT attenuation of tumor venous phase were measured. The spleen related parameters, including splenic thickness, CT attenuation of splenic unenhanced phase, CT attenuation of splenic arterial phase, CT attenuation of splenic venous phase, and standard deviation of CT attenuation (CTsd) in splenic unenhanced phase were also measured. The independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the parameters between the Ⅰ/Ⅱ stage and Ⅲ/Ⅳ stage patients. The multi-factor logistic regression analysis was used to find the independent predictors of gastric cancer clinical stage, and establish the combined parameters. The efficiency to the diagnosis of gastric cancer stage of single and combined parameters was evaluated using the operating characteristic curve, and the DeLong test was used to compare the differences of area under the curve (AUC). Results:There were significant differences in tumor thickness, length of tumor, CT attenuation of tumor venous phase, CT attenuation of splenic unenhanced phase, CT attenuation of splenic venous phase, CTsd in splenic unenhanced phase between the Ⅰ/Ⅱ stage and Ⅲ/Ⅳ stage of gastric cancer ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that tumor thickness ( OR=1.073, 95% CI 1.026-1.123, P=0.002), CT attenuation of splenic venous phase ( OR=1.040, 95% CI 1.011-1.070, P=0.006) and CTsd in splenic unenhanced phase ( OR=1.625, 95% CI 1.330-1.987, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for the clinical stage of gastric cancer and the combined parameters were established. The AUC values of tumor thickness, CT attenuation of splenic venous phase, CTsd in splenic unenhanced phase and combined parameters were 0.655, 0.614, 0.749 and 0.806, respectively. The AUC of combined parameters was higher than those of tumor thickness and CT attenuation of splenic venous phase, and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=3.37, 3.82, both P<0.001). Conclusion:Tumor thickness, CT attenuation of splenic venous phase and CTsd in splenic unenhanced phase are independent risk factors for the clinical stage of gastric cancer, and combined parameters can improve the diagnostic efficiency.

Objective:To discuss the effect of downregulating microRNA-208a(miR-208a)on the resistance of the colorectal cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil(5-FU),and to clarify its related molecular mechanism.Methods:Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was used to detect the expression levels of miR-208a and secreted frizzled-related protein 1(SFRP1)mRNA in the 5-FU-resistant colorectal cancer cell line HT-29/5-FU and its parent HT-29 cells.The HT-29/5-FU cells were transfected with miR-208a inhibitor plasmid and its negative control plasmid(inhibitor-NC),and SFRP1 small interfering RNA(si-SFRP1)and its negative control plasmid(si-NC),either separately or in combination,followed by treatment with 5-FU.The cells were divided into inhibitor-NC group,miR-208a inhibitor group,miR-208a inhibitor+si-NC group,and miR-208a inhibitor+si-SFRP1 group.MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation activities of the cells and the resistance indexes were calculated;Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining and flow cytometry were used to detect the apoptotic rates of the cells after treated with different concentrations of 5-FU;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of SFRP1,β-catenin,P-glycoprotein(P-gp),and ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1(ABCB1)proteins in the cells in various groups;dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to validate the targeting relationship between miR-208a and SFRP1.Results:Compared with HT-29 cells,the expression level of miR-208a in the HT-29/5-FU cells was increased(P＜0.05),and the expression level of SFRP1 mRNA was decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with inhibitor-NC group,the proliferation activity of the cells in miR-208a inhibitor group was decreased(P＜0.05),the resistance index was decreased,the apoptotic rate was increased(P＜0.05),and the expression levels of β-catenin,P-gp,and ABCB1 proteins in the cells were decreased(P＜0.05).The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay results showed that SFRP1 was a target gene of miR-208a and miR-208a could negatively regulate the expression of SFRP1.Compared with miR-208a inhibitor+si-NC group,the proliferation activity of the cells in miR-208a inhibitor+si-SFRP1 group was increased(P＜0.05),the resistance index was increased,the apoptotic rate was decreased(P＜0.05),and the expression levels of β-catenin,P-gp,and ABCB1 proteins in the cells were increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Downregulation of miR-208a can improve the resistance of the HT-29/5-FU cells to 5-FU by targeting and upregulating the SFRP1 expression,thereby inhibiting the transmission of the Wnt signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo systematically and objectively characterize the pharmacological effects of Fufang Biejia Ruangan pills （FBRP） in the intervention of alcoholic liver disease （ALD） using acute and chronic ALD mouse models and to elucidate its molecular mechanisms. MethodFifty SPF-grade male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the normal group， model group， and FBRP low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （9.6， 19.2， 38.4 mg·kg^-1）. Except for the normal group， the remaining groups were given 56° white wine by gavage to establish the acute ALD model， with samples collected after 4 weeks. Thirty SPF-grade male C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into the normal group， model group， and FBRP medium-dose group （19.2 mg·kg^-1）. The chronic ALD mouse model was established using the Lieber-DeCarli method over a 10-week period. Inflammatory markers in liver tissues were assessed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE）， Sirius Red， oil red O staining， and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Intoxication behaviors of each group were objectively evaluated through sobering-up time， net-catching， and pole-climbing tests. Further bioinformatics analyses based on clinical transcriptomic data were conducted to identify key targets and molecular mechanisms of FBRP in alleviating ALD through liver-brain dialogue， with experimental validation by ELISA， Western blot， and immunohistochemical staining. ResultCompared with the normal group, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase （AST） and alanine aminotransferase （ALT） in liver tissues of mice in the acute and chronic ALD model groups were significantly increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the levels of AST and ALT in liver tissue of mice in FBRP groups were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the time of grasping the net and climbing the pole in the acute ALD model group was significantly decreased within 4 weeks （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the grasping and climbing time of FBRP high dose groups increased significantly within 4 weeks （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the expression of high mobility group protein B1 （HMGB1） protein in liver tissue and prefrontal lobe tissue of mice in the chronic ALD model group was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the expression of HMGB1 protein in FBRP medium dose group was significantly decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the normal group， the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） protein and the release of γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA） in the prefrontal cortex of the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group, the expression of BDNF protein and the release of GABA in the FBRP medium dose group were significantly increased （P<0.05）. ConclusionThis study revealed that FBRP improved key pathological changes in ALD by modulating liver-brain dialogue mediated by the HMGB1-BDNF axis. These findings provide experimental evidence for the clinical use of FBRP in treating ALD and offer new insights for the development of ALD therapeutic agents.

ObjectiveTo identify the chemical constituents of Ruyi Zhenbaowan in vitro and in vivo. MethodThe chemical constituents of Ruyi Zhenbaowan were identified based on UHPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap HRMS. A total of 12 male SD rats were randomized into two groups： control （pure water） and Ruyi Zhenbaowan （1.8 g·kg^-1）. The rats were administrated with the suspension of Ruyi Zhenbaowan or pure water by gavage. After 1.5 h， the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were collected. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C₁₈ column （2.1 mm × 150 mm， 1.7 μm） with a mixture of 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution （A） and acetonitrile （B） as the mobile phase. Gradient elution was carried out according to the procedure of 0~15 min，97%~80%A；15~30 min ，80%~60%A；30~40 min，60%~30%A；40~45 min，30%~5%A. The ion source was electrospray ionization， and scan range was m/z 100-1 500. The prototype components and the components in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were analyzed qualitatively by scanning in positive and negative ion modes and identified by comparison with the data in published literature and the information of standard substances. ResultA total of 126 chemical constituents were identified from the 80% methanol solution of Ruyi Zhenbaowan， and 14 and 7 prototype constituents were detected in the plasma and the cerebrospinal fluid， respectively. In addition， the fragmentation rules of apigenin， apigenin-7-O-glucuronide， galangin， liquiritin， piperine， glycyrrhizic acid， eugenol， gallic acid， and cholic acid were deduced. ConclusionThis study achieved rapid multicomponent characterization and identification of Ruyi Zhenbaowan in vitro and in vivo， providing theoretical support for exploring active substances and performing quality control.l.