ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Feixin decoction treats hypoxic pulmonary hypertension （HPH） by regulating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma （PPARγ）/nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB）/NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 （NLRP3） signaling pathway. MethodsForty-eight male SD rats were randomly allocated into normal， hypoxia， and low-， medium- and high-dose （5.85， 11.7， 23.4 g·kg^-1， respectively） Feixin decoction groups， with 8 rats in each group. Except the normal group， the remaining five groups were placed in a hypoxia chamber with an oxygen concentration of （10.0±0.5）% for 8 h per day， 28 days， and administrated with corresponding drugs during the modeling process. After 4 weeks of treatment， echocardiographic parameters ［pulmonary artery acceleration time （PAT）， pulmonary artery ejection time （PET）， right ventricular anterior wall thickness （RVAWd）， and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion （TAPSE）］ were measured for each group. The right ventricular systolic pressure （RVSP） was measured by the right heart catheterization method， and the right ventricular hypertrophy index （RVHI） was calculated by weighing the heart. The pathological changes in pulmonary arterioles were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The co-localization of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） with NLRP3， N-terminal gasdermin D （N-GSDMD）， and cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 （Caspase-1） in pulmonary arteries was detected by immunofluorescence. The protein levels of PPARγ， NF-κB， NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， N-GSDMD， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-18（IL-18）， and cleaved Caspase-1 in the lung tissue was determined by Western blot. The ultrastructural changes in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells （PASMCs） were observed by transmission electron microscopy. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the hypoxia group showed increased RVSP and RVHI （P<0.01）， decreased right heart function （P<0.01）， increased pulmonary vascular remodeling （P<0.01）， increased co-localization of α-SMA with NLRP3， N-GSDMD， and Caspase-1 in pulmonary arterioles （P<0.01）， up-regulated protein levels of NF-κB， NLRP3， ASC， N-GSDMD， IL-1β， IL-18， and cleaved Caspase-1 in the lung tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）， a down-regulated protein level of PPARγ （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and pyroptosis in PASMCs. Compared with the hypoxia group， Feixin decoction reduced RVSP and RVHI， improved the right heart function and ameliorated pulmonary vascular remodeling （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased the co-localization of α-SMA with NLRP3， N-GSDMD， and Caspase-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， down-regulated the protein levels of NF-κB， NLRP3， ASC， N-GSDMD， IL-1β， IL-18， and cleaved Caspase-1 in the lung tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）， up-regulated the protein level of PPARγ （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and alleviated pyroptosis in PASMCs. ConclusionFeixin decoction can ameliorate pulmonary vascular remodeling and right heart dysfunction in chronically induced HPH rats by regulating pyroptosis in PASMCs through the PPARγ/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.

Objective:To investigate the impact of postoperative complications on adverse outcomes following curative-intent resection for gallbladder cancer (GBC).Methods:The multi-center real-world study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 629 patients with GBC, who were admitted to 14 medical centers including The First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from the national multicenter database of Biliary Surgery Group of Elite Group of Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery, from April 2020 to April 2024 were collected. There were 225 males and 404 females, aged (64±10)years. Patients underwent open curative-intent resection for GBC. Observation indicators: (1)surgery, postoperative complica-tions and adverse outcomes; (2) analysis of risk factors affecting postoperative adverse outcomes in patients and population attributable fraction (PAF). Missing data in predictor variables were addressed using multiple imputation with chained equations, while cases with missing outcome variables were addressed using the "multiple imputation then deletion (MID)" strategy. The severity of multicollinearity among independent variables was assessed using the variance inflation factor (VIF) test. Multivariable possion regression models with log link and robust error variance were construc-ted incorporating restricted cubic splines (3 knots) to address nonlinear relationships in continuous variables, calculating adjusted relative risk ( RR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval ( CI). Adjusted PAF was calculated for each imputed dataset using the AF package of R software, with subsequent pooling performed according to Rubin's rules. Results:(1) Surgery, postoperative complications and adverse outcomes. All 629 patients underwent curative-intent resection for GBC, of which 143 cases had postoperative complications, including 68 cases of intra-abdominal ascites, 39 cases of pulmonary infection, 21 cases of bile leakage, 12 cases of intra-abdominal hemorrhage, 11 cases of liver failure, 10 cases of pan-creatic fistula, 10 cases of wound infection, 10 cases of gastroparesis, 7 cases of cholangitis, 7 cases of sepsis. The same patient could have more than one kind of complication. Of 629 patients, there were 19 cases of postoperative 90-day death and 11 cases of missing data, 42 cases with post-operative 90-day reoperation and 7 cases with missing data, 44 cases with postoperative 90-day readmission and 3 cases with missing data, 155 cases with prolonged postoperative hospital stay and 3 cases with missing data. (2) Analysis of risk factors affecting the postoperative adverse outcomes in patients and PAF. Results of multivariate analysis showed that pulmonary infection and liver failure were independent risk factors for postoperative 90-day mortality ( RR=3.74, 12.15, 95% CI as 1.18-11.83, 1.98-74.48, P<0.05). Pulmonary infection demons-trated the highest PAF as 4.61% (95% CI as 3.94%-5.28%, P<0.05). Intra-abdominal ascites, pulmonary infection, bile leakage, and intra-abdominal hemorrhage were independent risk factors for post-operative 90-day reoperation ( RR=4.80, 3.62, 3.46, 4.99, 95% CI as 2.49-9.26, 1.42-9.21, 1.34-8.92, 1.55-16.06, P<0.05). Intra-abdominal ascites demonstrated the highest PAF as 8.65% (95% CI as 8.22%-9.08%, P<0.05). Intra-abdominal ascites, bile leakage, and liver failure were independent risk factors for postoperative 90-day readmission ( RR=6.20, 3.33, 14.33, 95% CI as 3.21-11.95, 1.33-8.35, 3.72-55.28, P<0.05). Intra-abdominal ascites demonstrated the highest PAF as 9.11% (95% CI as 8.85%-9.37%, P<0.05). Intra-abdominal ascites, pulmonary infection, bile leakage, liver failure, and wound infection were independent risk factors for prolonged postoperative hospital stay ( RR=2.29, 2.21, 2.26, 2.14, 3.35, 95% CI as 1.63-3.23, 1.41-3.46, 1.32-3.86, 1.11-4.13, 1.70-6.60, P<0.05). Intra-abdominal ascites demonstrated the highest PAF as 6.03% (95% CI as 5.71%-6.35%, P<0.05). Conclusion:Pulmonary infection is the most significant risk factor for postoperative 90-day mortality after curative-intent resection for GBC, while intra-abdominal ascites is the most significant risk factor for postoperative 90-day reoperation, postoperative 90-day readmission, and prolonged postoperative hospital stay.

AIM:To explore the effects of Jianpi Huatan formula on regulating T cells and helper T cells 17(Th17)cells in patients with polycystic ova-ry syndrome(PCOS)due to spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome,and conduct a model evaluation.METHODS:Ninety-two patients with spleen deficiency phlegm dampness syndrome(PCOS)admitted to our hospital from January 2023 to October 2024 were selected as the research sub-jects.Propensity score matching(PSM)method was used to match them in a 1:1 ratio,with 46 pa-tients in each group.The control group received conventional treatment,while the observation group received treatment with Jianpi Huatan for-mula on the basis of the control group.Compared and analyze the differences in clinical data and lab-oratory indicators between two groups;Compared the changes of sex hormone,glucose metabolism and TCM syndrome score before and after treat-ment in the two groups,and focused on the chang-es of regulatory T cells(Treg)and Th17 cells in the two groups before and after treatment;And used the Generalized Estimation Equation(GEE)model to analyze its improvement.Multiple linear regres-sion analysis was used to examine its correlation with the score of traditional Chinese medicine syn-drome.A time effect model of Jianpi Huatan formu-la for treating PCOS with spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome was established using a nonlinear mixed effects model.The fitting effect of the final model was evaluated through the good-ness of fit.Bootstrap was used to test and evaluate the stability of model parameters.Visual prediction testing was used to evaluate the predictive perfor-mance of the model.Typical time effect curves of traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores was simulated based on the final model for each base-line.RESULTS:After treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was significantly high-er than that of the control group(χ2=4.842,P=0.028);Compared with before treatment,after 1months and 3 months of treatment,TC,TG,LDL-C,T,LH,FSH,AMH,FPG,FINS,HOMA-IR,the score of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome were sig-nificantly reduced,while E2 and HDL-C were signifi-cantly increased,and the improvement in the ob-servation group was significantly greater than that in the control group(P<0.05);The results of repeat-ed measures ANOVA showed significant difference-sin the time effects,inter group effects,and interac-tion effects of Treg,Th17,and Treg/Th17 between the two groups of patients(P<0.05).The GEE anal-ysis results showed that the improvement of Treg,Th17,and Treg/Th17 in the observation group were better than that in the control group(P<0.05);The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the levels of TC,TG,LDL-C,T,LH,FSH,AMH,FPG,FINS,HOMA-IR,Th17 were significantly positively correlated with TCM syndrome score,while the levels of E2,HDL-C,Treg,and Treg/Th17 were significantly negatively correlated with TCM syndrome score(P<0.05);The decrease in tradition-al Chinese medicine symptom score compared to baseline gradually increases over time,eventually reaching the pharmacological platform,which was consistent with the classic Emax model.After gradu-ally screening covariates,it was found that the baseline value of traditional Chinese medicine symptom score had a significant impact on the effi-cacy parameter Emax.The final model was Emax,i=15.42+1.21×(Baselinei-24.41).The goodness of fit results showed that the final model had a good fit-ting effect on the measured data.The model pa-rameters obtained from Bootstrap testing were very consistent with the original model,indicated that the model parameter estimation was robust.The visual prediction test results showed that the model had good predictive performance.The typi-cal efficacy time curve showed that the higher the baseline value of TCM symptom score,the greater the decrease in score.At 3 months of treatment,the TCM symptom score at each baseline basically decreased to below 10 points.CONCLUSION:The formula for strengthening the spleen and resolving phlegm can effectively improve the levels of Treg and Th17 in PCOS patients with spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome,and has good therapeutic effects,which is worthy of clinical appli-cation.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from dichloromethane fraction of Dalbergia odorifera T.Chen heartwood.METHODS Separation and purification were performed using silica gel,Sephadex LH-20,thin-layer chromatography,and semi-preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Twenty-four compounds were isolated and identified as 7,2′-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy-isoflavanol(1),vanillin(2),2,2′-oxybis-(1,4-di-tert-butylbenzene)(3),7-hydroxy-6-methoxyflavone(4),sativan(5),5-hydroxy-4′,7-dimethoxyisoflavone(6),2-hydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxychalcone(7),7,2′,3′,4′-tetramethoxydihydroisoflavone(8),2,4,2′-trihydroxy-4′-methoxybenzil(9),ethyl-3-hydroxy-3-phenyl-2-propenoate(10),6,7-dimethoxy-2,3-dihydr-ochromen-4-one(11),sophorophenolone(12),apocynin(13),ethyl-2,4-dihydroxybenzoate(14),ethylparaben(15),methyl-2,4-dihydroxybenzoate(16),5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxyflavanone(17),7-hydroxyflavanone(18),mimosifoliol(19),7-hydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavane(20),virolane(21),5-hydroxy-7-methoxychromone(22),3-hydroxyl-5-methoxy-stilbene(23),2′,4′-dihydroxydihydrochalcone(24).CONCLUSION Compound 8 is new natural product,2-6,15,17-18 are isolated from this plant for the first time,7,9-14,16,20-24 are first isolated from genus Dalbergia.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Objective:To investigate the role of microRNA-709(miR-709)in erythroid development and its correlation with multiple hematological diseases.Methods:The expression of miR-709 in multiple tissues of mice was detected by qRT-PCR;The expression of miR-709 and other miRNAs in day-14.5 fetal liver cells from mouse embryos was detected by transcriptome microarray analysis;The expression of miR-709 in nucleated red blood cells derived from bone marrow and spleen,and in peripheral blood erythrocytes of mice was detected by magnetic bead sorting combined with qRT-PCR;The expression of miR-709 during erythroid differentiation of murine erythroleukemia(MEL)cells was analyzed by cell culture and qRT-PCR;The expression of miR-709 during erythroid lineage differentiation of mouse erythroid precursor cells derived from fetal livers was analyzed by magnetic bead sorting,flow cytometry,cell culture and qRT-PCR;The expression of miR-709 in peripheral blood of patients with different hematological diseases was measured by qRT-PCR.Results:Among the various tissues examined in mice,miR-709 exhibited the highest expression in peripheral blood,followed by high expression levels in muscle,bone marrow,and liver;In day-14.5 fetal liver cells from mouse embryos,miR-709 was highly expressed,significantly surpassing miR-451,which was most highly expressed in mature red blood cells;In nucleated red blood cells derived from mouse bone marrow and spleen,the expression of miR-709 was higher than that of miR-451,whereas the opposite pattern was observed in peripheral blood;During the differentiation of erythroid precursor cells derived from mouse embryonic liver,the expression level of miR-709 first increased and then decreased;During the differentiation of MEL cells,the expression of miR-709 gradually increased;Compared with the healthy controls,patients with myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS),α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia expressed lower levels of miR-709 in peripheral blood;while the expression of miR-709 in patients with infectious hemolytic anemia(IHA)was higher than that in healthy controls.Conclusion:miR-709 is highly expressed in the early stage of erythropoiesis and exhibits dynamic changes during erythroid development,potentially playing an important role.It is also differentially expressed in different hematological diseases,which is expected to serve as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of hematological diseases.

A recombinant adenovirus(rAd)for expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tb)c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase CnpB was constructed,and its induced humoral immune response was detected.The codon-optimized gene of M.tb CnpB was cloned into the adenoviral plasmid pcADV.The recombinant plasmid pcADV-CnpB was transfected into HEK293T cells,and expression was detected with Western blot.The recombinant plasmid pcADV-CnpB and the backbone plasmid were co-transfected into HEK293T cells to obtain the recombinant adenovirus rAd-CnpB.rAd-CnpB was amplified in HEK293T cells,and the target protein expression of rAd-CnpB was detected with Western blot and immunofluorescence.Mice were immunized with rAd-CnpB intranasally,and their sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were collected.ELISA was used to detect levels of antigen-specific antibodies.Restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing indicated that the recombinant plasmid pcADV-CnpB was successfully constructed and led to protein expression in eukaryotic cells.rAd-CnpB was packaged and produced in HEK293T cells.After amplification and purification,rAd-CnpB with a titer of 5.53×1010 PFU/mL was obtained.rAd-CnpB led to CnpB expression in HEK293T cells.Intranasal immunization with rAd-CnpB increased levels of IgG and secretory IgA in BALF and led to high levels of IgG in sera.rAd-CnpB,the recombinant adenovirus for expression of c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase CnpB was successfully constructed,and was found to induce antigen-specific humoral and mucosal immune responses through mucosal immunization.Thus,rAd-CnpB may be used in further research on new TB vaccine strategies.

This study assessed the role and mechanism of the recombinant Bacillus Calmette-Gue?rin vaccine(rBCG)with c-di-AMP adjuvant in regulating metabolism and immunity in epididymal white adipose(eWAT)in mice.Male C57BL/6 mice were intravenously immunized with BCG and rBCG,and their body weights were monitored.eWAT was isolated from the mice,and the stromal vascular fractions(SVFs)cell number was counted with a hemocytometer.Sections of mouse adipose tissue were prepared,and the size,number,and morphology of eWAT adipocytes and crown-like structure(CLS)formation were compared under a microscope after HE staining.The transcription levels of lipid metabolism-associated factors,cytokines and aging-associated genes in each group were determined with qRT-PCR.The body weights of mice gradually increased after immunization with BCG and rBCG.The proportions of eWAT increased,and the SVFs cell number decreased,in rBCG immunized mice.HE staining indicated that BCG immunization promoted hyperplasia,whereas rBCG immunization promoted hypertrophy of eWAT adipocytes;moreover,both BCG and rBCG immunization induced CLS formation in eWAT.The qRT-PCR results indicated that rBCG immunization inhibited the expression of genes associated with lipolysis and energy expenditure in eWAT.BCG immunization had little effect on cytokine transcription,whereas rBCG significantly induced the transcription of IFN-γ and IL-1Ra,and inhibited that of IL-15 and IL-2,but did not induce the expression of aging-associated genes.Thus,rBCG immunization induced eWAT adipocyte hypertrophy,which was associated with the inhibition of eWAT lipolysis and the regulation of cytokine expression.

Objective:To establish a mouse model of liver cancer resistant to PD-1 monoclonal antibody and analyze the changes in its metabolomics to explore the potential mechanism of drug resistance.Methods:BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control and treatment groups after being loaded with tumor,and a normal group was additionally set up.The normal and control groups were injected with saline,and the treatment group was injected with PD-1 monoclonal antibody,after which the mice in the treatment group were screened for drug resistant and response groups.Observed the drug-resistant situation,body mass,tumor growth and survival rate of mice in each group,calculate the spleen index.The pathological features of tumor tissues were observed by HE staining method.Serum metabolites were detected by non-targeted metabolomics.Finally,a bivariate Pearson correlation analysis was conducted between the differential serum metabolites and tumor size.Results:The tumor-bearing mouse model with PD-1 monoclonal antibody resistance was successfully established,and the drug resistance rate of the mice was 50％.Compared with the normal and response groups,mice in the resistant group showed an increase in body weight,a significant increase in tumor volume,a decrease in survival rate,and a significant increase in splenic index.There was less lymphocyte infiltration in the tumor tissue.Metabolomics analysis showed that the serum levels of glutamic acid and aspartic acid increased and malic acid decreased in the resistant mice compared with the response group,and these changes were closely related to the arginine biosynthesis pathway.Conclusions:The tumor-bearing mouse model with PD-1 monoclonal antibody resistance was successfully established.The changes in its peripheral serum metabolomics mainly involve arginine metabolism and the related changes of aspartate,malate and glutamate.

Atractylodes lancea is a perennial herbaceous plant of Asteraceae, with rhizomes for medical use. However, A. lancea plants from different habitats have great variability, and the germplasm resources of A. lancea are unclear and mixed during production. Therefore, it is urgent to protect new varieties of A. lancea. The distinctness, uniformity, and stability(DUS) testing of new plant varieties is the foundation of plant variety protection, and the DUS testing guidelines are the technical basis for variety approval agencies to conduct DUS testing. In this study, the phenotypic traits of 94 germplasm accessions of A. lancea were investigated considering the breeding and variety characteristics of A. lancea in China. The traits were classified and described, and 24 traits were preliminarily determined, including 20 basic traits that must be tested and four traits selected to be tested. The 20 basic traits included 3 quality traits, 5 false quality traits, and 12 quantitative traits, corresponding to 1 plant traits, 2 stem traits, 8 leaf traits, 6 flower traits, and 3 seed traits. The measurement ranges and coefficients of variation of eight quantitative traits were determined, on the basis of which the grading criteria and codes of the traits were determined and assigned. The guidelines has guiding significance for the trait evaluation, utilization, and breeding of new varieties of A. lancea.
Atractylodes/growth & development* ; China ; Phenotype ; Guidelines as Topic ; Plant Breeding