Compounds isolated from Epimedium include the total flavonoids of Epimedium , icariin, and its metabolites (icaritin, icariside I, and icariside II), which have similar molecular structures. Modern pharmacological research and clinical practice have proved that Epimedium and its active components have a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially in improving sexual function, hormone regulation, anti-osteoporosis, immune function regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor activity. To date, we still need a comprehensive source of knowledge about the pharmacological effects of Epimedium and its bioactive compounds on the male reproductive system. However, their actions in other tissues have been reviewed in recent years. This review critically focuses on the Epimedium , its bioactive compounds, and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the male reproductive system. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on the Epimedium and its bioactive compounds that protect the male reproductive system and provide some guidances for clinical treatment of related male reproductive disorders.
Male ; Epimedium/chemistry* ; Humans ; Genitalia, Male/drug effects* ; Flavonoids/therapeutic use* ; Animals

Hemorrhagic shock is a common clinical emergency that can aggravate cell injury after resuscitation. Astrocytes are crucial for the survival of neurons because they regulate the surrounding ionic microenvironment of neurons. Although hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR) injury can impair cognition, it remains unclear how this insult directly affects astrocytes. In this study, we established an HSR model by bleeding and re-transfusion in mice. The social interaction test and new object recognition test were applied to evaluate post-operative cognitive changes, and the results suggest that mice experience cognitive impairment following exposure to HSR. In the HSR group, the power spectral density of β and γ oscillations decreased, and the coupling of the θ oscillation phase and γ oscillation amplitude was abnormal, which indicated abnormal neuronal oscillation and cognitive impairment after HSR exposure. In brief, cognitive impairment in mice is strongly correlated with Ca²⁺ signal strength in lateral septum astrocytes following HSR.
Animals ; Astrocytes/metabolism* ; Shock, Hemorrhagic/metabolism* ; Resuscitation/adverse effects* ; Male ; Mice ; Calcium Signaling/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Septal Nuclei/metabolism* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Cognition Disorders/etiology*

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This study aims to explore the mechanism of lung and gut protection by Tanreqing Capsules on the mice infected with influenza virus based on "the lung-gut axis". A total of 110 C57BL/6J mice were randomized into control group, model group, oseltamivir group, and low-and high-dose Tanreqing Capsules groups. Ten mice in each group underwent body weight protection experiments, and the remaining 12 mice underwent experiments for mechanism exploration. Mice were infected with influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/08/1934(PR8) via nasal inhalation for the modeling. The lung tissue was collected on day 3 after gavage, and the lung tissue, colon tissue, and feces were collected on day 7 after gavage for subsequent testing. The results showed that Tanreqing Capsules alleviated the body weight reduction and increased the survival rate caused by PR8 infection. Compared with model group, Tanreqing Capsules can alleviate the lung injury by reducing the lung index, alleviating inflammation and edema in the lung tissue, down-regulating viral gene expression at the late stage of infection, reducing the percentage of neutrophils, and increasing the percentage of T cells. Tanreqing Capsules relieved the gut injury by restoring the colon length, increasing intestinal lumen mucin secretion, alleviating intestinal inflammation, and reducing goblet cell destruction. The gut microbiota analysis showed that Tanreqing Capsules increased species diversity compared with model group. At the phylum level, Tanreqing Capsules significantly increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, while reducing the abundance of Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria to maintain gut microbiota balance. At the genus level, Tanreqing Capsules significantly increased the abundance of unclassified＿f＿Lachnospiraceae while reducing the abundance of Bacteroides, Eubacterium, and Phocaeicola to maintain gut microbiota balance. In conclusion, Tanreqing Capsules can alleviate mouse lung and gut injury caused by influenza virus infection and restore the balance of gut microbiota. Treating influenza from the lung and gut can provide new ideas for clinical practice.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Lung/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Capsules ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections/virology* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Influenza A virus/physiology* ; Influenza, Human/virology*

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response caused by severe infection or trauma, and is one of the common causes of acute lung injury(ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). Sepsis-acute lung injury(SALI) is a critical clinical condition with high morbidity and mortality. Its pathogenesis is complex and not yet fully understood, and there is currently a lack of targeted and effective treatment options. Pyroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death, plays a key role in the pathological process of SALI by activating inflammasomes and releasing inflammatory factors, making it a potential therapeutic target. In recent years, the role of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in regulating signaling pathways related to pyroptosis through multi-components and multi-targets has attracted increasing attention. TCM may intervene in pyroptosis by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and regulating the expression of Caspase family proteins, thus alleviating inflammatory damage in lung tissues. This paper systematically reviews the molecular regulatory network of pyroptosis in SALI and explores the potential mechanisms and research progress on TCM intervention in cellular pyroptosis. The aim is to provide new ideas and theoretical support for basic research and clinical treatment strategies of TCM in SALI.
Pyroptosis/drug effects* ; Humans ; Sepsis/genetics* ; Acute Lung Injury/physiopathology* ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*

Aim To explore the possible regulatory effect of leptin on acyl-CoA synthetase long chain fami-ly member ACSL5 and their effect on migration and in-vasion of breast cancer cell,and to explore the underly-ing mechanism.Methods The expression of leptin receptor was detected by immunofluorescence assay.The migration and invasion ability of MCF-7 cells were detected by wound healing assay and Transwell assay respectively.The downstream target gene of leptin was analyzed by PCR microarray data.The expression of ACSL5 in breast cancer and its correlation with the staging and prognosis of breast cancer patients were as-sessed uing bioinformatics methods.The expression of ACSL5 in MCF-7 cells treated with different concentra-tions of leptin was detected using real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Overexpressing ACSL5 was constructed by lentiviral transfection;the expressions of EMT related proteins,AMPK-α and p-AMPK-α were detected by Western blot.Results Leptin promoted breast cancer cell mi-gration and invasion and EMT.ACSL5 was significant-ly low expressed in breast cancer and related to progno-sis.Leptin downregulated the expression of ACSL5 through OBR.Leptin activated AMPK pathway to downregulate ACSL5 and promote migration,invasion and EMT of breast cancer cells.Conclusions Leptin may promote the migration,invasion and EMT of breast cancer by downregulating ACSL5 through activating AMPK pathway.

Purpose To investigate the incidence and risk of malignancy(ROM)of the Bethesda class Ⅰ/Ⅲ di-agnosis of thyroid nodules due to insufficient number of follicular cells,and to analyze the correlation between their in-sufficient cell volume and the characteristics of the nodules themselves from the perspective of ultrasound and histology.Methods Clinical data were collected from fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC)of the thyroid gland.Review and statistical analysis was performed on cases with the Bethesda class Ⅰ/Ⅲ diagnosis due to insufficient cell volume.The incidence and the ROM of Bethesda class Ⅰ/Ⅲ diagnosis were calculated.BRAF V600E(+)or postoperative patho-logical indicating papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)was used as the criterion for malignancy.Then,we matched the Bethesda class Ⅱ/Ⅵ cases with sufficient cell volume as the control group.The ultrasound characteristics and histo-logical images of the two groups were compared and analyzed in order to reveal the correlation between the insufficient amount of penetrating cells and the objective characteristics of the nodule itself.Results There were 39 solid thyroid nodules with the Bethesda class Ⅰ diagnosis,with an incidence of 3.3％and a ROM of 38.5％,and 160 nodules with the Bethesda class Ⅲ diagnosis,with an incidence of 13.5％and a ROM of 59.4％.The incidence and ROM of nod-ules with C-TIRADS ≥4b(22.4％,67.6％)were higher than those of C-TIRADS ≤4a(12.7％,39.8％),and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.001).Compared to the Bethesda class Ⅱ/Ⅵ nodules with sufficient cell volume,occurrence of the Bethesda class Ⅰ/Ⅲ nodules were significantly correlated with small nodules(maximal diameter＜5 mm),vertical growth(aspect ratio ≥ 1)and poor blood supply(no or little blood flow signals)(r=0.131,-0.230,0.237,P=0.008,＜0.001,＜0.001).They were also significantly correlated with the pathologic histologic structure of diffuse significant fibrosis of the interstitium and low parenchyma/interstitium composition ratio(about 1:1)(r=-0.269,-0.396,P=0.019,＜0.001).Conclusion Thyroid Bethesda class Ⅰ/Ⅲ nodules have a high ROM,and BRAF V600E detection is recommended as a tool of tiered management.Bethesda class Ⅰ/Ⅲ diagnosis of insufficient cell volume is more likely when the nodules are too small,grow vertically and lack blood sup-ply,presumably associated with extensive interstitial fibrosis and sparse parenchymal cells.

AIM To investigate the effects of Liangxue Heying Formula-medicated serum(LXHY-MS)on human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS).METHODS CCK-8,DCFH-DA fluorescence probe and Western blot method were used to screen the LPS concentration in modeling and the serum LXHY concentration for treatment.The HUVECs divided into the normal group,the model group and the LXHY-MS group had their SOD activity detected by automatic biochemical analyzer;their MDA level detected by colorimetry;their protein expressions of ICAM-1,VCAM-1,IL-6,TNF-α,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 detected by Western blot;and their mROS expression and recruitment effect on THP-1 photographed with high connotation.With the use of JAK2/STAT3 pathway inhibitor(AG490),the HUVECs divided into the normal group,the AG490 group,the LPS group,the LPS+AG490 group,the LPS+LXHY-MS group,and LPS+LXHY-MS+AG490 group were subjected to the corresponding treatment,followed by the detection of their protein expressions of ICAM-1,VCAM-1,IL-6,TNF-α,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the normal group,the model group displayed decreased SOD activity(P＜0.01),increased MDA level(P＜0.05),increased ICAM-1,VCAM-1,IL-6,TNF-α,p-JAK2,p-STAT3 protein expressions(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and increased mROS expression and THP-1 cells recruitment.Compared with the model group,the LXHY-MS group shared increased SOD activity(P＜0.05),decreased MDA level(P＜0.01),decreased ICAM-1,VCAM-1,IL-6,TNF-α,p-JAK2,p-STAT3 protein expressions(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),reduced mROS expression and THP-1 cells recruitment.Given the use of AG490,the model group displayed increased protein expressions of ICAM-1,VCAM-1,IL-6,TNF-α,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in contrast to the normal group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);each intervened group showed decreased expressions of related proteins in contrast to the model group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).CONCLUSION LXHY-MS may protect the injury due to the activation of HUVECs by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application effects of free transplantation of lobulated inguinal flaps.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From July 2019 to April 2024, 34 patients with skin defect wounds whose wounds in one part met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University & Wuhan Third Hospital, including 28 males and 6 females, aged 26 to 59 years. The wound area in the recipient area ranged from 3.0 cm×2.0 cm to 25.0 cm×20.0 cm. The lobulated inguinal flap pedicled with the branch of the superficial circumflex iliac artery were obtained in 19 patients, and the lobulated inguinal flap pedicled with the main artery of the superficial circumflex iliac artery and the superficial inferior epigastric artery were obtained in 15 patients. The total area of the flaps ranged from 6.0 cm×2.2 cm to 27.0 cm×23.0 cm. The flaps were divided into 2 to 4 lobes, and the area of each lobe ranged from 2.0 cm×1.0 cm to 17.0 cm×12.0 cm. Each lobe of the flaps was reassembled, spliced, or directly transplanted onto the wounds, and the donor wounds were sutured in layers. The survival of each lobe of the flaps and wound healing in the recipient and donor areas were observed, and the wound recovery in the recipient and donor areas were followed up. At the last follow-up, the patient's satisfaction with the efficacy was assessed by 5-grade Likert scale.Results:A small amount of necrosis appeared in the tip of one lobe of the flaps in 4 patients after surgery, which healed after trimming. The flaps of the remaining 30 patients survived. The wounds in the recipient areas healed smoothly. There was a small amount of necrosis at the suture edge of the donor areas in 3 patients, which healed after local trimming and dressing change. The donor wounds healed well in the remaining 31 patients. During the follow-up of 6 to 42 months, all the recipient wounds were well repaired, and the shape of the donor areas was good. At the last follow-up, 15 patients were very satisfied with the efficacy, 15 were relatively satisfied, and 4 were generally satisfied.Conclusions:Through preoperative ultrasonic examination and positioning, the inguinal flap is designed according to the course of blood vessels and lobulated with the branch of the superficial circumflex iliac artery or the main artery of the superficial circumflex iliac artery and the superficial inferior epigastric artery as the pedicles. The anatomical process is reliable and the blood flow of the flap after being lobulated is rich, which can meet the repair needs of various skin defect wounds. The repair effect is good, and the damage in the donor area is small, which is worthy of promotion.

Spine fracture and dislocation are common traumatic spinal conditions that often require surgical intervention due to compromised spinal stability. Surgical approaches include anterior, posterior, and combined anterior-posterior spinal procedures. According to the specific surgical requirements, patients may be placed in the prone position or repositioned between prone and supine positions during surgery. Intraoperative repositioning has become an essential step in patient positioning. However, during repositioning, patients with spinal fracture and dislocation are at increased risk for complications such as hemodynamic instability, nerve injury, and pressure injuries to the skin and soft tissue. Notably, due to the instability of the spinal cord, even minor manipulations can further exacerbate the damage, potentially leading to severe outcomes like paraplegia. Although the current clinical guidelines provide instructive recommendations for standard position, there remains no specific protocols for intraoperative repositioning in patients with spine fracture and dislocation. With a concern for the lack of clinical studies on positioning techniques, risk prevention, and operational norms for special patients, no applicable guidelines or standards are available. A consensus was required to provide clinical reference, meet the requirements of surgical treatment, and minimize the safety risks of patients caused by improper placement of positions. Professional Committee of Operating Room Nursing of Shaanxi Nursing Association organized experts in nursing management and operating room nursing from major hospitals across China to formulate Expert consensus on intraoperative repositioning for patients with spinal fracture and dislocation ( version 2025). The consensus provides 11 recommendations covering pre-repositioning preparation, intraoperative maneuvers, and post-repositioning observation, aiming to provide references for clinical standardization of the intraoperative repositioning process and protection of patients′ safety.