Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation, joint destruction, and functional impairment. Angiogenesis plays a key role in the pathological progression of RA with dysfunction of endothelial cells to promote synovial inflammation, sustain pannus formation, subsequently leading to joint damage. Colquhounia Root Tablets (CRT), a Chinese patent drug, has shown a satisfying clinical efficacy in treating RA, while the underlying mechanism by which CRT inhibits RA-associated angiogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we applied a research approach combining transcriptomic data analysis, bio-network mapping, and in vivo and in vitro experiments to explore the molecular mechanisms of CRT in suppressing angiogenesis in RA. Animal welfare and experimental procedures follow the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Basic Theory for Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (ratification number: IBTCMCACMS21-2307-06). Network analysis identified that key genes such as nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2), SMAD family member 3 (SMAD3), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) significantly enriched in pathways related to NOD-like receptor signaling and VEGF signaling, indicating that CRT may inhibit angiogenesis by regulating vascular endothelial cell function with modulating angiogenesis-related pathways. In vivo data showed that CRT significantly reduced the positive expression of CD31 and VEGF in the ankle joint of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats. In vitro data further confirmed that CRT effectively inhibited VEGF-induced migration, invasion, and tube formation in HUVECs, while significantly reduced the expression of angiogenesis-related factors VEGF/CD31/Ang-1, as well as the positive expression of VEGF and CD31 in HUVECs. Furthermore, CRT markedly decreased the protein expression of NOD2, VEGFA, and SMAD3. In conclusion, these findings indicate that CRT may inhibit the RA-related angiogenesis by targeting the NOD2/SMAD3/VEGF signaling axis to improve endothelial cell function, enriching the scientific connotation of CRT in inhibiting pathological angiogenesis in RA and also offer new insights for clinical prevention and treatment of RA.

BACKGROUND: Regulatory dendritic cell (DCreg) subset exhibits a unique capacity for inducing immune tolerance among the variety subsets of dendritic cells (DCs) within gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs). Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L) is involved in the differentiation of DCregs and the subsequent expansion of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) mediated by DCregs, though the precise mechanism remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the expansion mechanism of Treg induced by DCreg and the role of FLT3L in this process. METHODS: DCregs were distinguished from other DC subsets isolated from GALTs of BALB/c mice through a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay. The functions and mechanisms by which FLT3L promoted Treg expansion via DCregs were investigated in vitro through co-culture experiments involving DCregs and either CD4 + CD25 - T-cells or CD4 + CD25 + T-cells. Additionally, an in vivo experiment was conducted using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model in mice. RESULTS: CD103 + CD11b + DC exhibited DCreg-like functionality and was identified as DCreg for subsequent investigation. Analysis of Foxp3 + Treg percentages within a co-culture system of CD4 + CD25 - T-cells and DCregs, with or without FLT3L, demonstrated the involvement of the FLT3/FLT3L axis in driving the differentiation of precursor T-cells into Foxp3 + Tregs induced by DCregs. Cell migration and co-culture assays revealed that the FLT3/FLT3L axis enhanced DCreg migration toward Tregs via the Rho pathway. Additionally, it was observed that DCregs could promote Treg proliferation through the Notch pathway, as inhibition of Notch signaling by DAPT (N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-l-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester) suppressed Treg expansion within the co-culture system of DCregs and CD4 + T-cells or CD4 + CD25 + T-cells. Furthermore, the FLT3/FLT3L axis influenced JAG1 expression in DCregs, indirectly modulating Treg expansion. In vivo experiments further established that FLT3L promoted DCreg expansion and restored Treg balance in DSS-induced colitis models, thereby ameliorating colitis symptoms in mice. CONCLUSION The FLT3/FLT3L axis is integral to the maintenance of DCreg function in Treg expansion.
Animals ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology* ; Dendritic Cells/immunology* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Receptors, Notch/metabolism* ; Lymphoid Tissue/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/physiology* ; Coculture Techniques ; Flow Cytometry

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the regulatory effects of two traditional mineral medicines (TMMs), Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao, GF) and Terra Flava Usta (Zaoxintu, TFU), on gut-beneficial bacteria in mice, and preliminarily explore their mechanisms of action. METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10 per group): the control group (standard diet), the GF group (diet supplemented with 2% GF), and the TFU group (diet supplemented with 2% TFU). After 4-week intervention, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the changes in the gut microbiota (GM). Scanning electron microscopy, in combination with coumarin A tetramethyl rhodamine conjugate and Hoechst stainings, was used to observe the bacteria and biofilm formation. RESULTS: Principal coordinate analysis revealed that GF and TFU significantly altered the GM composition in mice. Further analysis revealed that GF and TFU affected different types of gut bacteria, suggesting that different TMMs may selectively modulate specific bacterial populations. For certain bacteria, such as Faecalibaculum and Ileibacterium, both GF and TFU exhibited growth-promoting effects, implying that they may be sensitive to TMMs and that different TMMs can increase their abundance through their respective mechanisms. Notably, Lactobacillus reuteri, a widely recognized and used probiotic, was significantly enriched in the GF group. Random forest analysis identified Ileibacterium valens as a potential indicator bacterium for TMMs' impact on GM. Further mechanistic studies showed that gut bacteria formed biofilm structures on the TFU surface. CONCLUSIONS This study provides new insights into the interaction between TMMs and GM. As safe and effective natural clays, GF and TFU hold promise as potential candidates for prebiotic development.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Bacteria/growth & development* ; Mice ; Biofilms/drug effects* ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics*

Lipid metabolism,as the basis of life maintenance,is a prerequisite for cell survival,and lipid homeostasis can rapidly respond to metabolic changes in a coordinated manner.In cancers,there is an increase in lipid metabolism in cancer cells to meet the requirements for plasma membrane synthesis and energy production.Abnormal lipid metabolism plays an important role in the progression of primary liver cancer.This article reviews the association between abnormal lipid metabolism and primary liver cancer,in order to find targets for the prevention and treatment of primary liver cancer.

Objective To analyze the status of the bacteria in the operative area of transnasal skull base surgery and its correlation with postoperative intracranial infection.Methods The procedure of transnasal skull base surgery was divided into three stages:nasal passage preparation(stage 1),tumor resection(stage 2),and skull base reconstruction(stage 3).Bacterial sampling was taken from the mucosa of the anterior wall of sphenoid sinus or clival recess of sellar floor at the beginning of each stage;and the positive rate of bacterial culture in different stages of operation and its correlation with postoperative intracranial infection were analyzed.Results A total of 105 patients were enrolled in this study,and 315 samples were taken.The average time point of sampling in the three stages was 20.3,45.1 and 131.3 min after the beginning of operation,respectively.The positive results were 9 cases(2.9％)in the stage 1,8 cases(2.5％)in the stage 2,and 23 cases(7.3％)in the stage 3,which were 24 cases of Staphylococcus epidermidis,7 cases of Staphylococcus aureus,3 cases of hemolytic streptococcus,2 cases of Klebsiella pneumonia,and 4 cases of Escherichia coli.There was no significant difference in the positive cases between stage 1 and stage 2(P=0.955),but there were significant differences between stage 1 or 2 and stage 3(P=0.013;P=0.007).There were 36(11.4％)patients with at least one positive result in the three stages,17(16.2％)with cerebrospinal fluid leakage,and 12(11.4％)with intracranial infection.The risk of intracranial infection was 3.1 times higher in patients with positive bacterial culture than patients with negative bacterial culture(OR=3.1,95％CI:0.9-10.6),which was not statistically significant;patients with CSF leakage were 61.4 times higher than those without CSF leakage(OR=61.4,95％CI:11.2-337.1),which was statistically significant(P＜0.001).The consistency rate of bacteria in nasal cavity and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid culture was 57.1％.Conclusion The positive rate of bacterial culture in the operative area of transnasal skull base surgery increases significantly with the extension of operation time,which is a potential risk index of postoperative intracranial infection.

Objective:To analyze the disease characteristics, diagnosis and treatment methods of venous pulsatile tinnitus treated by intervention of sigmoid sinus.Methods:Fifty patients (from Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Shandong University between February 2014 and July 2020) with venous pulsatile tinnitus treated by sigmoid sinus surgery were analyzed retrospectively. The tinnitus characteristics, imaging findings, surgical methods, intraoperative findings and postoperative tinnitus changes were recorded. The patients were followed up for 6-12 months. The sign rank sum test was used to analyze the difference in tinnitus grading before and after surgery. There were 50 patients with unilateral venous pulsatile tinnitus, including 49 females and 1 male. The age ranged from 17 to 67 years, with a median age of 44 years. There were 45 cases of right tinnitus and 5 cases of left tinnitus. The degree of tinnitus before operation was grade Ⅱ or above, including 4 cases of gradeⅡ, 11 cases of grade Ⅲ, 22 cases of grade Ⅳ and 13 cases of grade Ⅴ.Results:Thirty-seven cases were cured, 8 cases were ineffective (no change in tinnitus), 3 cases were markedly effective (tinnitus grade decreased by 3 in 2 cases, 4 in 1 case), and 2 cases were effective (tinnitus grade decreased by 1). The difference of tinnitus grade before and after operation was statistically significant ( Z=-5.70, P<0.05). Temporal bone CT showed 36 cases of sigmoid diverticulum (including 17 cases with sigmoid sinus dehiscence), 12 cases of sigmoid sinus dehiscence and 2 cases of absence of the temporal bone cortex abutting to sigmoid sinus. Thirty-five cases were performed with closure of sigmoid sinus diverticulum, 4 cases were performed with resurfacing of the sigmoid plate, 5 cases were performed with narrowing of sigmoid sinus, 4 cases were performed with simple opening of pre sigmoid mastoid air chamber, 1 case of opening was performed with pre sigmoid mastoid air chamber combined with narrowing of sigmoid sinus, and 1 case was performed with opening of pre sigmoid mastoid air chamber combined with closure of sigmoid sinus diverticulum. Conclusions:Venous pulsatile tinnitus is common in women. The common causes may be sigmoid sinus wall abnormalities such as sigmoid sinus diverticulum and perisigmoid bone defect. Imaging examinations are helpful for diagnosis. Venous pulsatile tinnitus can be treated with surgery.

Hepatic encephalopathy （HE） is a common severe liver disease syndrome in clinical practice and is one of the critical and severe diseases in internal medicine， and more than half of liver failure patients diagnosed with overt HE have a survival time of less than 1 year. A comprehensive analysis of the complex pathogenesis of HE and the development of diagnosis and treatment regimens based on evidence-based medicine are of great importance for alleviating high medical resource consumption， high medical expenses， and high incidence and mortality rates in clinical practice. The latest studies have shown that the intestinal tract and the central nervous system can perform bidirectional continuous interaction and signal transmission and regulate the function of inflammation signals， molecules， cells， and organs， which is known as neuroimmune communication and is highly consistent with the main pathological features of HE. With a focus on the mechanism of neuroimmune communication in HE， this article reviews the association between inflammation signal transduction via the gut-brain axis and neurotransmitter regulation and its role in neuroimmune communication in HE， which provides new ideas for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of HE and the research and development of related drugs.

Objective:To establish a Plaque-reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) for the detection of neutralizing antibody titers of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV) and optimize the conditions for preliminary application.Methods:The CHO expression system was used to produce palivizumab monoclonal antibody (palivizumab) and the influencing factors such as cell type, cell culture duration, fixation and permeabilization protocols, and blocking agents. The reproducibility of the method was verified and its correlation was verified with conventional PRNT. Finally, the optimized PRNT assay was further used to determine neutralizing antibody titers against HRSV subtypes A and B in BALB/c mouse serum (immunized by intramuscular injection of HRSV fusion proteins).Results:Palivizumab was expressed at approximately 50 mg/L. The optimal working conditions for PRNT were as follows: culturing HEp-2 cells for 2 days, fixing with 4% (V/V) paraformaldehyde at room temperature for 15 min followed by 0.2% (V/V) Triton X-100 permeabilization for 15 minutes as the optimal fixation-permeabilization and removing the blocking step. The overall coefficient of variation (CV) for the reproducibility validation of this method was <15%, showing a good linear relationship with the conventional PRNT. The Spearman correlation coefficient r s was 0.983. This method was used to detect neutralizing antibody titers in mouse sera against HRSV subtype A strain long and subtype B strain 9320, and the fusion proteins combined with AlOH and CpG adjuvant induced the highest neutralizing antibody titers in mice. Conclusion:The HRSV neutralizing antibody assay established in this study is rapid, reproducible, high-throughput, and can be used to detect neutralizing antibodies to HRSV subtypes A and B.

Objective:To investigate the effect of behavioral lifestyle on the CT values of urinary tract stones, as well as the relationship between behavioral lifestyle and the therapeutic effect of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).Methods:A total of 265 patients with urinary tract stones who underwent ESWL treatment at Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from January 2019 to June 2023 were selected. According to the CT values of the stones, the subjects were divided into high CT value group (CT value > 1 000 HU, n=106) and low CT value group (CT value ≤ 1 000 HU, n=159). A retrospective survey was conducted to assess the patients' behavioral lifestyles, and general data, CT values, number of lithotripsy sessions, lithotripsy time, lithotripsy efficiency, and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis. The χ2 test and t-test were used for group comparisons, and Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between stone CT values and different behavioral lifestyles. Results:The high CT value group had lower average daily water intake((1 242±347)mL vs (1 784±376)mL), average daily fresh fruit intake((135±43)g vs (196±51)g), and average daily exercise time((18±12)min vs (32±14)min) compared with the low CT value group( t=-11.850, -9.926, -8.434, all P<0.01). In contrast, the high CT value group had higher average daily salt intake((8.3±2.2)g vs (6.5±1.7)g) and average daily animal protein intake ((72±18)g vs (54±16)g) compared with the low CT value group ( t=7.495, 8.531, both P<0.01). The high CT value group required more lithotripsy sessions and longer lithotripsy time than the low CT value group ( t=6.192, 7.507, both P<0.05), while lithotripsy efficiency was lower than the low CT value group ( χ2=33.181, P<0.01). The incidence of complications was higher in the high CT value group compared to the low CT value group ( χ2=3.915, P=0.048), with statistically significant differences. Conclusion:Appropriate water intake, diet, and exercise habits are beneficial in reducing stone CT values, improving the efficacy of ESWL treatment, and decreasing the incidence of complications.

Objective:To establish a Plaque-reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) for the detection of neutralizing antibody titers of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV) and optimize the conditions for preliminary application.Methods:The CHO expression system was used to produce palivizumab monoclonal antibody (palivizumab) and the influencing factors such as cell type, cell culture duration, fixation and permeabilization protocols, and blocking agents. The reproducibility of the method was verified and its correlation was verified with conventional PRNT. Finally, the optimized PRNT assay was further used to determine neutralizing antibody titers against HRSV subtypes A and B in BALB/c mouse serum (immunized by intramuscular injection of HRSV fusion proteins).Results:Palivizumab was expressed at approximately 50 mg/L. The optimal working conditions for PRNT were as follows: culturing HEp-2 cells for 2 days, fixing with 4% (V/V) paraformaldehyde at room temperature for 15 min followed by 0.2% (V/V) Triton X-100 permeabilization for 15 minutes as the optimal fixation-permeabilization and removing the blocking step. The overall coefficient of variation (CV) for the reproducibility validation of this method was <15%, showing a good linear relationship with the conventional PRNT. The Spearman correlation coefficient r s was 0.983. This method was used to detect neutralizing antibody titers in mouse sera against HRSV subtype A strain long and subtype B strain 9320, and the fusion proteins combined with AlOH and CpG adjuvant induced the highest neutralizing antibody titers in mice. Conclusion:The HRSV neutralizing antibody assay established in this study is rapid, reproducible, high-throughput, and can be used to detect neutralizing antibodies to HRSV subtypes A and B.