A 20-year-old male patient presented to the Department of Dermatology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital with complaints of an 8-year history of facial scarring, swelling of the lower limbs, and a 4-year history of scalp thickening. Physical examination showed thickening furrowing wrinkling of the skin on the face and behind the ears, ciliary body hirsutism, blepharoptosis, and cutis verticis gyrate. Both lower limbs were swollen, especially the knees and ankles. The skin of the palms and soles of the feet was keratinized and thickened. Laboratory examination using bone and joint X-ray showed periostosis of the proximal middle phalanges and metacarpals of both hands, distal ulna and radius, tibia and fibula, distal femurs, and metatarsals.Genetic testing revealed two variants in SLCO2A1, c.1658T > A and c.96+4A > C.Through multidisciplinary consultation, we confirmed the diagnosis of pachydermoperiostosis.

Objective To investigate the characteristics and correlation between peak oxygen uptake(VO?peak)and heart rate recov-ery(HRR)during cardiopulmonary exercise test(CPET)in patients with coronary borderline lesions.Methods From January,2022 to January,2024,183 patients with coronary borderline lesions in Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were divided into low cardiorespiratory fitness(LCF)group(n=61),moderate cardiorespiratory fitness(MCF)group(n=62)and high cardiorespiratory fitness(HCF)group(n=60)based on VO?peak.Their characteristics and CPET parameters including VO?peak,exercise-phase heart rate(HR1,HR2,HR3),and post-exercise heart rate recovery(HRR1,HRR2,HRR3)were analyzed.Results After adjusting for age and body mass index,analysis of covariance showed that the peak heart rate,HR1,HR2 and HR3 were the lowest in LCF group(F>5.388,P<0.01).Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that the inter-and intra-group effects were significant in HRR(F>14.561,P<0.001).Partial correlation analy-sis showed that VO?peak positively correlated with HRR1(r=0.404,P<0.001),HRR2(r=0.379,P<0.001)and HRR3(r=0.425,P<0.001).Conclusion In patients with coronary artery borderline lesions,VO?peak demonstrated a significant inverse correlation with HRR,the lower the VO?peak,the more delays of HRR.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the plasma-entering components of the ethanol extract of Yu-Ping-Feng-San by ultra-per-formance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS)technology,so as to pro-vide a reference for the study of the pharmacological substances of Yu-Ping-Feng-San.METHODS Male BALB/c mice were ga-vaged with the ethanol extract of Yu-Ping-Feng-San(6.5 g·kg-1),and plasma samples were collected before administration(0 h)and 1,2,4,6,8,and 12 h after administration.The UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technology was used to analyze and identify the components absorbed into the plasma.RESULTS A total of 73 chemical components in the ethanol extract of Yu-Ping-Feng-San were identi-fied,and 26 plasma-entering components were identified in all plasma samples.Among the plasma-entering components,11 compo-nents were from Saposhnikoviae Radix,and 15 components were from Radix Astragali.CONCLUSION The chemical components and plasma-entering components of the ethanol extract of Yu-Ping-Feng-San were analyzed comprehensively,which provides a reference for further clarifying the pharmacological substance basis and mechanism of action of Yu-Ping-Feng-San.

Objective To investigate the characteristics and correlation between peak oxygen uptake(VO?peak)and heart rate recov-ery(HRR)during cardiopulmonary exercise test(CPET)in patients with coronary borderline lesions.Methods From January,2022 to January,2024,183 patients with coronary borderline lesions in Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were divided into low cardiorespiratory fitness(LCF)group(n=61),moderate cardiorespiratory fitness(MCF)group(n=62)and high cardiorespiratory fitness(HCF)group(n=60)based on VO?peak.Their characteristics and CPET parameters including VO?peak,exercise-phase heart rate(HR1,HR2,HR3),and post-exercise heart rate recovery(HRR1,HRR2,HRR3)were analyzed.Results After adjusting for age and body mass index,analysis of covariance showed that the peak heart rate,HR1,HR2 and HR3 were the lowest in LCF group(F>5.388,P<0.01).Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that the inter-and intra-group effects were significant in HRR(F>14.561,P<0.001).Partial correlation analy-sis showed that VO?peak positively correlated with HRR1(r=0.404,P<0.001),HRR2(r=0.379,P<0.001)and HRR3(r=0.425,P<0.001).Conclusion In patients with coronary artery borderline lesions,VO?peak demonstrated a significant inverse correlation with HRR,the lower the VO?peak,the more delays of HRR.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the plasma-entering components of the ethanol extract of Yu-Ping-Feng-San by ultra-per-formance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS)technology,so as to pro-vide a reference for the study of the pharmacological substances of Yu-Ping-Feng-San.METHODS Male BALB/c mice were ga-vaged with the ethanol extract of Yu-Ping-Feng-San(6.5 g·kg-1),and plasma samples were collected before administration(0 h)and 1,2,4,6,8,and 12 h after administration.The UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technology was used to analyze and identify the components absorbed into the plasma.RESULTS A total of 73 chemical components in the ethanol extract of Yu-Ping-Feng-San were identi-fied,and 26 plasma-entering components were identified in all plasma samples.Among the plasma-entering components,11 compo-nents were from Saposhnikoviae Radix,and 15 components were from Radix Astragali.CONCLUSION The chemical components and plasma-entering components of the ethanol extract of Yu-Ping-Feng-San were analyzed comprehensively,which provides a reference for further clarifying the pharmacological substance basis and mechanism of action of Yu-Ping-Feng-San.

AIM To investigate the protective effect of Sanfeng Tongqiao Dropping Pills against house dust mite(HDM)-induced allergic asthma in mice.METHODS Compared to the intact BALB/c mice in the blank control group,the BALB/c mice randomly assigned into the model group,the dexamethasone group(0.67 mg/kg),and the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose Sanfeng Tongqiao Dropping Pills groups(15,30 and 60 mg/kg),were induced into acute allergic asthma models via weekly intraperitoneal sensitization with 0.1 mL HDM solution(0.5 mg/mL)for three weeks followed by three consecutive daily intranasal challenges with 10 μL HDM solution(2.5 mg/mL)starting in the third week.The drug administered continuously 7 days after the last excitation.The mice had their airway reactive Penh value detected,their pulmonary pathological changes observed by HE staining,their blood eosinophils(EOS)counted,their Th2 cytokines in lung tissue and serum IgE levels detected by ELISA,and their number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)and pulmonary Th2 cells detected by flow cytometry.Chronic allergic asthma was induced in grouped BALB/c mice through repeated intranasal challenges with 10 μL HDM solution(2.5 mg/mL)administered five times weekly for five consecutive weeks.Drug treatment continued for 14 days following the final challenge.After the final treatment,the mice had their pulmonary pathological changes observed by HE staining,and their levels of Th2 cytokines in B ALF and lung tissue and serum IgE detected by ELISA.RESULTS Compared to the blank control group,the acute allergic asthma model group exhibited increases in Penh value,EOS count and IgE level in serum,IL-4 and IL-5 levels in lung tissue(P＜0.01);obvious pulmonary inflammatory cells infiltration,and thickened airway wall;and increase in pulmonary number of Th2 cells(P＜0.01).Compared to the model group,the groups intervened with Sanfeng Tongqiao Dropping Pills demonstrated decreased Penh value,serum EOS count,IgE level and IL-5 level in lung tissue(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);reduced pulmonary inflammatory infiltration and alleviated airway wall thickening;and decreased number of pulmonary Th2 cells.Compared to the blank group,the chronic allergic asthma model group showed obvious pulmonary inflammatory infiltration and airway wall thickening;and increased EOS count and IgE level in serum,IL-4 and IL-13 in lung tissue and IL-14 in BALF(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Compared to the model group,the groups intervened with either medium-dose or high-dose Sanfeng Tongqiao Dropping Pills demonstrated reduced pulmonary inflammatory infiltration;and decreased serum EOS count,IgE level,IL-13 in lung tissue and IL-14 in BALF(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Sanfeng Tongqiao Dropping Pills reduce Th2 cells in peripheral blood and lung tissue,suppress type 2 inflammation,and thereby alleviate allergic asthma.

In-depth study of the components of polymyxins is the key to controlling the quality of this class of antibiotics.Similarities and variations of components present significant analytical challenges.A two-dimensional(2D)liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS)method was established for screening and comprehensive profiling of compositions of the antibiotic colistimethate sodium(CMS).A high concentration of phosphate buffer mobile phase was used in the first-dimensional LC system to get the components well separated.For efficient and high-accuracy screening of CMS,a targeted method based on a self-constructed high resolution(HR)mass spectrum database of CMS components was established.The database was built based on the commercial MassHunter Personal Compound Database and Library(PCDL)software and its accuracy of the compound matching result was verified with six known components before being applied to genuine sample screening.On this basis,the unknown peaks in the CMS chromatograms were deduced and assigned.The molecular formula,group composition,and origins of a total of 99 compounds,of which the combined area percentage accounted for more than 95％of CMS components,were deduced by this 2D-LC-MS method combined with the MassHunter PCDL.This profiling method was highly efficient and could distinguish hundreds of components within 3 h,providing reliable results for quality control of this kind of complex drugs.

Recent studies have indicated that the expression of ubiquitin-specific protease 51 (USP51), a novel deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that mediates protein degradation as part of the ubiquitin‒proteasome system (UPS), is associated with tumor progression and therapeutic resistance in multiple malignancies. However, the underlying mechanisms and signaling networks involved in USP51-mediated regulation of malignant phenotypes remain largely unknown. The present study provides evidence of USP51's functions as the prominent DUB in chemoresistant triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. At the molecular level, ectopic expression of USP51 stabilized the 78 kDa Glucose-Regulated Protein (GRP78) protein through deubiquitination, thereby increasing its expression and localization on the cell surface. Furthermore, the upregulation of cell surface GRP78 increased the activity of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), the main efflux pump of doxorubicin (DOX), ultimately decreasing its accumulation in TNBC cells and promoting the development of drug resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, we found significant correlations among USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 expression in TNBC patients with chemoresistance. Elevated USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 levels were also strongly associated with a poor patient prognosis. Importantly, we revealed an alternative intervention for specific pharmacological targeting of USP51 for TNBC cell chemosensitization. In conclusion, these findings collectively indicate that the USP51/GRP78/ABCB1 network is a key contributor to the malignant progression and chemotherapeutic resistance of TNBC cells, underscoring the pivotal role of USP51 as a novel therapeutic target for cancer management.

Neuropathic pain, a debilitating condition caused by dysfunction of the somatosensory nervous system, remains difficult to treat due to limited understanding of its molecular mechanisms. Bioinformatics analysis identified cerebellin 2 (CBLN2) as highly enriched in human and murine proprioceptive and nociceptive neurons. We found that CBLN2 expression is persistently upregulated in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) following spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in mice. In addition, transcription factor SOX11 binds to 12 cis-regulatory elements within the Cbln2 promoter to enhance its transcription. SNL also induced SOX11 upregulation, with SOX11 and CBLN2 co-localized in nociceptive neurons. The siRNA-mediated knockdown of Sox11 or Cbln2 attenuated SNL-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. High-throughput sequencing of DRG following intrathecal injection of CBLN2 revealed widespread gene expression changes, including upregulation of numerous NF-κB downstream targets. Consistently, CBLN2 activated NF-κB signaling, and inhibition with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate reduced CBLN2-induced pain hypersensitivity, proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines production, and neuronal hyperexcitability. Together, these findings identified the SOX11/CBLN2/NF-κB axis as a critical mediator of neuropathic pain and a promising target for therapeutic intervention.
Animals ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Ganglia, Spinal/metabolism* ; Up-Regulation ; Mice ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; SOXC Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Male ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics* ; Hyperalgesia/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Spinal Nerves