Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and osteoporosis (OP) are two very common metabolic diseases. A growing body of experimental evidence supports a pathophysiological link between MAFLD and OP. MAFLD is often associated with the development of OP. Rutaecarpine (RUT) is one of the main active components of Chinese medicine Euodiae Fructus. Our previous studies have demonstrated that RUT has lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects, and can improve the OP of rats. However, whether RUT can improve both fatty liver and OP symptoms of MAFLD mice at the same time remains to be investigated. In this study, we used C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 months to construct a MAFLD model, and gave the mice a low dose (5 mg·kg^-1) and a high dose (15 mg·kg^-1) of RUT by gavage for 4 weeks. The effects of RUT on liver steatosis and bone metabolism were then evaluated at the end of the experiment [this experiment was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (approval number: IMB-20190124D₃03)]. The results showed that RUT treatment significantly reduced hepatic steatosis and lipid accumulation, and significantly reduced bone loss and promoted bone formation. In summary, this study shows that RUT has an effect of improving fatty liver and OP in MAFLD mice.

The genome tagging project (GTP) plays a pivotal role in addressing a critical gap in the understanding of protein functions. Within this framework, we successfully generated a human influenza hemagglutinin-tagged sperm-specific protein 411 (HA-tagged Ssp411) mouse model. This model is instrumental in probing the expression and function of Ssp411. Our research revealed that Ssp411 is expressed in the round spermatids, elongating spermatids, elongated spermatids, and epididymal spermatozoa. The comprehensive examination of the distribution of Ssp411 in these germ cells offers new perspectives on its involvement in spermiogenesis. Nevertheless, rigorous further inquiry is imperative to elucidate the precise mechanistic underpinnings of these functions. Ssp411 is not detectable in metaphase II (MII) oocytes, zygotes, or 2-cell stage embryos, highlighting its intricate role in early embryonic development. These findings not only advance our understanding of the role of Ssp411 in reproductive physiology but also significantly contribute to the overarching goals of the GTP, fostering groundbreaking advancements in the fields of spermiogenesis and reproductive biology.
Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Spermatids/metabolism* ; Spermatogenesis/physiology* ; Spermatozoa/metabolism* ; Thioredoxins/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Gegen Qinlian decoction has a wide range of clinical applications. However, there is a lack of systematic quality evaluation methods to ensure the safety and effectiveness of Gegen Qinlian decoction in clinical use. The UHPLC fingerprint and multi-component determination method of Gegen Qinlian decoction were established to provide scientific basis for the quality control and evaluation of Gegen Qinlian decoction. The chromatography was performed on a ZORBAX Eclipse Plus-C₁₈ column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 3.5 μm) with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile (A) - 20 mmol·L^-1 ammonium acetate (containing 0.8% acetic acid and 0.5% triethylamine) (B) and gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min^-1. The column temperature was 25 ℃, the detection wavelength was 260 nm, the fingerprint of 10 batches of Gegen Qinlian decoction was determined, and the similarity evaluation system of TCM chromatographic fingerprint was used for comprehensive analysis, and 9 components were quantitatively analyzed. In the fingerprint study of Gegen Qinlian decoction, a total of 18 peaks were obtained, 12 of which were identified by reference substances. Moreover, the similarity of 10 batches of Gegen Qinlian decoction was good, and all of them were greater than 0.99. In the multi-component quantitative analysis, the linear relationship between the nine components and the peak area was good (r ≥ 0.999) in the corresponding mass concentration range. The average recovery rate was 94.4%-100.3%, and the RSD was 0.1%-1.4%. The fingerprint of Gegen Qinlian decoction was studied under the same wavelength, and the content of 9 main components were determined by our established method. The method has high sensitivity and strong specificity, which provided a comprehensive scientific basis for the comprehensive evaluation of the quality of Gegen Qinlian decoction.

Objective To investigate the impacts of cinobufotalin combined with docetaxel+cisplatin chemotherapy on the disease control and the level of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in serum of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.Methods Totally 70 patients with non-small cell lung cancer admitted to Zhejiang Veteran Hospital from March 2019 to March 2022 were included.They were randomly divided into combination group(cinobufotalin combined with docetaxel+cisplatin,n= 35)and control group(docetaxel+cisplatin chemotherapy alone,n=35).The disease control rates of two groups,serum VEGF level,carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),cy-tokeratin 19(CK19)and carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125)were measured using ELISA;life quality of patients was evaluated with the KPS score;The adverse events between two groups were compared.Results The disease control rate in the combination group(33/35,94.29％)was higher than that that of control group(25/35,71.43％,)(P＜0.05).After treatment,the level of VEGF in both groups of patients decreased,and the KPS score increased(P＜0.05)especially in the combination group(P＜0.05).After treatment,the level of serum CEA,CA125,and CK19 of control group and combination group were obviously lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),while those in the combination group were even lower(P＜0.05).The incidence of adverse events in the combination group(5/35,14.29％)was lower than that in the control group(13/35,37.14％)(P＜0.05).Conclusions Cinobufotalin combined with docetaxel+cisplatin chemotherapy as a potential new chemotherapy significantly reduces the level of VEGF and tumor biomarkers in serum factor,improves the life quality of patients.The combined therapy is proved tobe safe.

Screening and evaluating the diseases responding specifically to traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） will help to highlight the advantages of TCM treatment， and the evaluation method should be standardized with consideration to the unique characteristics of the diseases. The incidence of Sjögren's Syndrome （SS） is increasing year by year， while the pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear. Modern therapies for this disease include biological agents and immunosuppressants， which generally have unsatisfactory efficacy. The TCM treatment of SS focuses on the harmony of the physical and mental health. The Rheumatology Branch of the China Association of Chinese Medicine organizes experts in TCM， Western medicine， and evidence-based medicine to form working groups. Delphi method and bibliometric method were used for analysis， and SS was selected as a disease responding specifically to TCM. Furthermore， the evaluation system was established for this disease， and the consensus regarding this disease was reached after seminar discussion. This paper summarized the whole process of the evaluation of the advantages of TCM treatment of SS. First， because TCM atomization is widely used in clinical practice and enriches TCM administration methods， this therapy is included after other non-drug therapies were taken as characteristic therapies. Second， the evaluation indicators of therapeutic effect should be determined with consideration to international acceptance and the current research status. Third， the expression method should be accurate， standardized， and objective， highlight the natural advantages of TCM， and avoid arbitrary extension. This paper provides a reference for clinicians to explore other diseases responding specifically to TCM.

Fibromyalgia syndrome （FMS） is a refractory， chronic non-articular rheumatic disease characterized by widespread pain throughout the body， for which there are no satisfactory therapeutic drugs or options. There are rich Chinese medical therapies， and some non-drug therapies， such as acupuncture， Tai Chi， and Ba-Duan-Jin， have shown satisfactory efficacy and safety and definite advantages of simultaneously adjusting mind and body. FMS is taken as a disease responding specifically to traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2018. In order to clarify the research progress in FMS and the clinical advantages of TCM/integrated Chinese and Western medicine， the China Academy of Chinese Medicine organized a seminar for nearly 20 experts in Chinese and Western medicine， including rheumatology， psychology， acupuncture and moxibustion， and encephalopathy， with the topic of difficulties in clinical diagnosis and treatment of FMS and advantages of TCM and Western medicine. The recommendations were reached on the difficulties in early diagnosis and solutions of FMS， mitigation of common non-specific symptoms， preferential analgesic therapy， TCM pathogenesis and treatment advantages， and direction of treatment with integrated Chinese and Western medicine. FMS is currently facing the triple dilemma of low early correct diagnosis， poor patient participation， and unsatisfactory benefit from pure Western medicine treatment. To solve the above problems， this paper suggests that rheumatologists should serve as the main diagnostic force of this disease， and they should improve patient participation in treatment decision-making， implement exercise therapy， and fully utilize the holistic and multidimensional features of TCM， which is effective in alleviating pain， improving mood， and decreasing adverse events. In addition， it is suggested that FMS treatment should rely on both TCM and Western medicine and adopt multidisciplinary joint treatment， which is expected to improve the standard of diagnosis and treatment of FMS in China.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Linggui Zhugantang on mitochondrial fission and fusion and silencing information regulator 3（Sirt3）/adenosine monophosphate dependent protein kinase （AMPK） signaling pathway in chronic heart failure （CHF） rats after myocardial infarction （MI）. MethodSD rats randomly divide into sham operation group （normal saline ，thread only without ligature）， model group （normal saline， ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery proximal to the heart）， Linggui Zhugantang group （4.8 g·kg^-1） and Captopril group （0.002 57 g·kg^-1）， with 10 rats in each group. Administere drug continuously for 28 days. Echocardiography detected cardiac function parameters. Hematoxylin eosin （HE） staining observed the pathological changes of the heart. Immunofluorescence detected the levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS）. JC-1 detect mitochondrial membrane potential. Colorimetry measure adenosine triphosphate （ATP）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity （Ⅰ-Ⅳ）. TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL） staining detected the apoptosis rate of myocardial tissue. Western blot detected protein expression levels of Sirt3， phosphorylated AMPK （p-AMPK）， phosphorylated dynamic-related protein 1（p-Drp1）， mitochondrial fission protein 1（Fis1）， mitochondrial fission factor （MFF）， optic atrophy protein 1（OPA1）. ResultCompared to the sham group， the left ventricular end diastolic diameter （LVIDd） and left ventricular end systolic diameter （LVIDs） were significantly increased in model group （P<0.01）， while the left ventricular short axis shortening rate （LVFS） and left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. There were inflammatory cell infiltration and obvious pathological injury in myocardial tissue. ROS， MDA levels and myocardial cell apoptosis rate were significantly increased （P<0.01）， SOD level， ATP content， and membrane potential were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes （Ⅰ-Ⅳ） was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Levels of p-Drp1， Fis1， MFF proteins were significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）， while Sirt3， p-AMPK， OPA1 proteins level were significantly down-regulated （P<0.01）. Compared with model group， LVIDd and LVIDs were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， LVEF and LVFS were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Inflammatory cell infiltration and pathological damage of myocardial tissue were significantly relieved. ROS， MDA levels and myocardial cell apoptosis rate were significantly decreased in Linggui Zhugantang group and Captopril group （P<0.01）， SOD level， ATP content， and membrane potential significantly increased （P<0.01）. The activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes （Ⅰ-Ⅳ） increased significantly （P<0.01），and p-Drp1， Fis1， MFF protein levels were significantly down-regulated （P<0.01）， Sirt3， p-AMPK， OPA1 protein were significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）. ConclusionLinggui Zhugantang can alleviate oxidative stress and apoptosis damage of myocardial cells， maintain mitochondrial function stability， and its effect may be related to mitochondrial mitosis fusion and Sirt3/AMPK signaling pathway.

Background Affected by concentration, composition, and population tolerance of air pollutants, the relationship between air pollutants and population health has regional differences. There is still a research gap in Guiyang. Objective To explore the short-term effects of air pollutant concentrations in low-pollution areas on the outpatient volume of respiratory diseases. Methods Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between air pollutants, meteorological factors, and respiratory outpatient volume from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2020 in Guiyang City. A single pollutant distribution lag nonlinear model and a multi-pollutant interaction model were established based on Poisson distribution. A three-dimensional diagram was drawn to display the relationship between air pollutants and respiratory outpatient volume. Quantitative analysis was conducted on the attribution risk and lag effect of air pollutant concentration on outpatient volume of respiratory diseases in Guiyang City. Results The results of the single pollutant model showed that fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) elevated the outpatient volume of respiratory diseases. The maximum relative risk (RR) and 95%CI values of PM_2.5, NO₂,CO, and SO₂ appeared on Day 2, 0, 5, and 6, respectively, which were 1.019 (1.015, 1.023), 1.146 (1.122, 1.171), 1.129 (1.116, 1.143), and 1.046(1.040, 1.052), respectively. For every quartile concentration increment of PM_2.5, NO₂, CO, or SO₂, the outpatient volume of respiratory diseases increased by 0.943% (0.111%, 1.782%), 4.050% (3.573%, 4.529%), 0.595% (0.317%, 0.874%), or 0.667% (0.235%, 1.100%), respectively. The maximum RR (95%CI) of O₃ was 1.015 (1.007, 1.023) and appeared on Day 0. The results of multi-pollutant model showed that PM_2.5, NO₂, CO, SO₂, and O₃ all elevated the outpatient volume of respiratory diseases. The maximum RR values of PM_2.5, NO₂, CO, SO₂ and O₃ appeared on Day 14, 0, 5, 7 and 0, respectively, which were 1.027 (1.021, 1.034), 1.213 (1.179, 1.248), 1.059 (1.043, 1.074), 1.016 (1.005, 1.026), and 1.024 (1.015, 1.033), respectively. Compared with the single pollutant model, the RR values of PM_2.5, NO₂, and O₃ on the outpatient volume of respiratory diseases in the multi-pollutant model showed an upward trend, while the RR values of CO and SO₂ in the multi-pollutant model showed a downward trend. Conclusion The impact of low concentrations of PM_2.5, NO₂, CO, and SO₂ on human health cannot be ignored.