Objective To investigate the effect of berberine and its mechanism in delaying silica-induced lung injury via network pharmacology and molecular docking, followed by verification with animal experiments. Methods i) Targets of berberine and silicosis were obtained from multiple databases, and the common targets were identified. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed on the common targets via the DAVID database. Molecular docking was conducted using AutoDock software for validation. ii) Specific pathogen-free Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups, with six rats in each group. Rats in the model group, pirfenidone group, and low- and high-dose berberine groups received a single non-exposure intratracheal instillation of 1.00 mL silica suspension at a mass concentration of 100 g/L, whereas rats in the control group received an equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Rats in the pirfenidone group were administered with pirfenidone solution at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight, and rats in the low- and high-dose berberine groups were administered with berberine solutions at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The remaining two groups received equal volumes of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. All treatments were administered by gavage once daily for 28 consecutive days from 24 hours after silica exposure. After intervention, rats in each group were sacrificed. Histopathological changes in lung tissues were observed, and the lung organ coefficient was detected. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) was detected by colorimetry. Serum inflammatory cytokine were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of fibrosis markers in lung tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The protein expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) in lung tissues was determined by Western blot. Results i) Network pharmacology analysis identified 46 potential targets. The core targets included AKT1, tumor protein p53, caspase-3, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and albumin. GO enrichment analysis revealed that the targets related to the anti-fibrotic effect of berberine against silicosis were mainly enriched in biological processes including signal transduction, negative regulation of apoptosis, extracellular matrix degradation, and response to reactive oxygen species. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that berberine exerted anti-silicosis effects through multiple signaling pathways, such as the PI3K/AKT pathway, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 pathway, and advanced glycation end product (AGE)-receptor for AGE pathway. ii) Histopathological examination revealed that rats in the model group presented typical pulmonary fibrotic lesions. Pathological lung injury of rats was alleviated in all three intervention groups (pirfenidone group, low- and high-dose berberine group) compared with the model group. The improvement in the high-dose berberine group was superior to that in the low-dose berberine group and was comparable with that in the pirfenidone group. rats in the model group showed increased lung organ coefficient, serum MDA, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (all P<0.05), as well as increased expression of typeⅠcollagen (COLⅠ), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and PI3K, and p-AKT/AKT ratio in lung tissues (all P<0.05) when compared with the control group. The above indicators were lower in rats in both the low- and high-dose berberine groups than those in the model group (all P<0.05). Serum MDA, IL-1β, and TNF-α, as well as relative expression of COLⅠ and α-SMA in lung tissues, were lower in the high-dose berberine group than in the low-dose berberine group (all P<0.05). Conclusion Berberine may alleviate pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in rats through regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby delaying the progression of silicosis.

[Objective]To explore the anti-cerebral ischemia mechanism of Rhubarb root and rhizome by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF/MS)combined with network pharmacology and in vitro experiment.[Methods]The active components of Rhubarb root and rhizome in rat serum samples were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS.The potential targets of Rhubarb root and rhizome in blood components were obtained by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP)and Swiss Target Prediction.The related targets of ischemic stroke(IS)were obtained from Genome Annotation Database Platform(GeneCards),Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM)database and Therapeutic Target Database(TTD).The intersection targets were obtained by using Venny 2.1.0 software and imported into the STRING database for protein-protein interaction(PPI)network analysis.Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was employed to visualize and identify the core targets.Gene ontology(GO)enrichment function analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)signal pathway enrichment analysis were conducted to predict the mechanism of action.Molecular docking was performed by AutoDock Vina.Finally,the network pharmacological prediction results were verified by in vitro experiments.[Results]A total of 15 active components were identified in serum containing Rhubarb root and rhizome(SR),and there were 87 intersection targets between Rhubarb root and rhizome and IS.KEGG enrichment analysis showed that Rhubarb root and rhizome may alleviate IS through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/AKT)and nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathways.Molecular docking results showed that the core components had a strong binding ability to the key targets of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88(MyD88)/NF-κB signaling pathway.In vitro experiment demonstrated that SR reduced the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)in BV2 cells.It also increased the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),while decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)and nitric oxide(NO).Additionally,SR reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory factors,increased the levels of anti-inflammatory factors in BV2 cells induced by OGD/R,and decreased the protein expression of TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB in BV2 cells.[Conclusion]Rhubarb root and rhizome protects BV2 microglia from OGD/R-induced injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory response,and its mechanism may be related to regulation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Cervical spinal cord injury without fracture-dislocation (CSCIWFD) is referred to as a special type of cervical spinal cord injury characterized by traumatic spinal cord dysfunction and no significant bony structural abnormalities on imagines. Duo to the high risk of missed diagnosis during the initial consultation, CSCIWFD may lead to progressive neurological deterioration or even complete paralysis, severely impacting patients′ prognosis. Currently, there are no established consensuses over the diagnosis and treatment of CSCIWFD, such as the lack of evidence-based standards for indications of non-surgical treatment and risk of secondary neurological injury, as well as debates over the optimal timing for surgical intervention and indications for different surgical approaches. To address these issues, the Spine Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the relevant fields to formulate Diagnosis and treatment guideline for acute cervical spinal cord injury without fracture- dislocation in adults ( version 2025) . Based on evidence-based medicine and the principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability, the guidelines proposed 11 recommendations covering terminology, diagnosis, evaluation treatment, and rehabilitation, etc., aiming to standardize the management of CSCIWFD.

Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.

Objective:To construct a prediction model for postoperative poor in-hospital prognosis in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and evaluate its predictive performance.Methods:A retrospective case control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 1 120 TBI patients admitted to Changde Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical College of Central South University from May 2019 to December 2024. The patients were divided into the training set ( n=784) and verification set ( n=336) at a ratio of 7∶3. Based on the Glasgow outcome scale-extended (GOS-E) at discharge, the training set was stratified into favorable prognosis group ( n=335, GOS-E 5-8 points) and poor prognosis group ( n=449, GOS-E 1-4 points). The two groups in the training set were compared in terms of general baseline indicators, TBI-related clinical indicators, and admission laboratory blood test results. Univariate analysis and Lasso regression analysis were employed to screen risk factors associated with postoperative poor in-hospital prognosis in TBI patients. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors and construct a regression equation. The regression equation was presented using R language to create a visual nomogram for predicting postoperative poor in-hospital prognosis in TBI patients. In both the training set and verification set, the predictive performance of the model was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), plotting calibration curves, and performing decision curve analysis (DCA). Results:The results of the univariate analysis indicated that the age, Charlson complication index (CCI), time from trauma to admission, time from trauma to operation, cause of injury, abbreviated injury scale (AIS) (head and neck), injury severity score (ISS), admission Glasgow coma scale (GCS), admission pupil responsiveness, multiple craniocerebral injuries, subdural hematoma, intracerebral hematoma, intraventricular hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, decompressive craniotomy, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion, traumatic cerebral infarction, postoperative delayed bleeding, epilepsy seizures, as well as the following admission tested results including red blood cell count, white blood cell count, platelet count, neutrophil percentage, percentage of lymphocytes, albumin, total bilirubin, urea nitrogen, thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time (PT), international standardized ratio (INR), glutamic aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, and blood glucose were statistically different between the two groups in the training set ( P<0.05). Lasso regression analysis suggested 14 risk factors of age, CCI, cause of injury, head and neck AIS, ISS, admission GCS, admission pupil responsiveness, multiple craniocerebral injuries, subdural hematoma, intracerebral hematoma, intraoperative blood loss, admission platelet count, admission albumin, admission blood glucose for postoperative poor in-hospital prognosis. The results of the multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR=1.02, 95% CI 1.00, 1.03, P<0.01), CCI ( OR=1.46, 95% CI 1.02, 2.09, P<0.05), head and neck AIS ( OR=1.43, 95% CI 1.11, 1.85, P<0.01), ISS ( OR=2.16, 95% CI 1.39, 3.35, P<0.01), admission GCS ( OR=1.59, 95% CI 1.19, 2.13, P<0.01), intracerebral hematoma ( OR=4.41, 95% CI 2.15, 9.44, P<0.01), intraoperative blood loss ( OR=1.05, 95% CI 1.00, 1.09, P<0.05), admission platelet count ( OR=0.98, 95% CI 0.97, 0.99, P<0.01), admission blood glucose ( OR=1.08, 95% CI 1.02, 1.15, P<0.05) could be the main risk factors to construct a prediction model for postoperative poor in-hospital prognosis in TBI patients. Meanwhile, a regression equation was constructed: Logit[ P/(1- P)]=-2.4+ 0.02×"age"+0.38×"CCI"+0.36×"head and neck AIS"+0.77×"ISS"+0.47×"admission GCS"+1.48×"intracerebral hematoma"+0.05×intraoperative blood loss-0.02×admission platelet count+0.08×admission blood glucose. In the training set, the predictive model for poor postoperative in-hospital prognosis in TBI patients achieved an AUC of 0.87 (95% CI 0.84, 0.89), with a Youden′s index of 0.57, sensitivity of 73.70%, and specificity of 83.00%. In the verification set, the model showed an AUC of 0.80 (95% CI 0.76, 0.85), with a Youden′s index of 0.63, sensitivity of 65.20%, and specificity of 77.90%. In the training set, the Brier score for the calibration curve was 0.14 (95% CI 0.13, 0.16). In the verification set, the Brier score for the calibration curve was 0.18 (95% CI 0.15, 0.20). The DCA diagram indicated that the nomogram prediction model provided high clinical net benefit for predicting postoperative poor in-hospital prognosis in TBI patients. Conclusion:The prediction model for postoperative poor in-hospital prognosis in TBI patients, constructed based on age, CCI, head and neck AIS, ISS, admission GCS, intracerebral hematoma, intraoperative blood loss, admission platelet count, and admission blood glucose, exhibits good predictive performance.

Objective:To prepare ((2-(2-chlorophenyl)-3-(4-((2- 18F-fluoroethyl)oxy)phenyl)-5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydrooxepino[3, 2-c]pyrazol-8-yl)amino)methanoic acid methyl ester ( 18F-JR-1001) and evaluate its binding affinity to the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R). Methods:18F-JR-1001 was synthesized using an integrated automated synthesis module, and its radiochemical yield (RCY) and molar activity were determined. Cell-specific uptake, lipid-water partition coefficient (log P), competitive binding assays, and in vitro stability tests were performed. Rimonabant-fed rat models (blocking group) with pre-occupied CB1R were established. Radioautography and microPET/CT imaging were conducted on both the blocking group and normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to evaluate the brain uptake of 18F-JR-1001 and its blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration capability. Results:The RCY of the synthetic 18F-JR-1001 after decay correction was (32.5±9.2)% ( n=10), with the molar activity of (194.6±67.3)GBq/μmol. Cell experiments demonstrated that 18F-JR-1001 exhibited specificity for CB1R, with log P of 3.40±0.11 ( n=3) and half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.975nmol/L. Within 3h at 37℃, the radiochemical purity of 18F-JR-1001 in physiological saline and blood remained above 92%, with no significant radioactive by-product peaks observed. Radioautography showed that the whole brain uptake of 18F-JR-1001 in the blocking group was 65.6% of that in normal SD rats. MicroPET/CT imaging showed that the mean whole brain uptake of 18F-JR-1001 in the blocking group was 0.4706, which was lower than that in normal SD rats (1.0561). Additionally, continuous scanning for 60min demonstrated that 18F-JR-1001 exhibited good BBB penetration capability. Conclusion:The synthesized 18F-JR-1001 meets the requirements of production and application, and is proved the potential as a CB1R-targeted tracer in the in vitro experiments, microPET/CT imaging and radioautography.

Objective:To develop and validate a novel PET tracer, N-cyclohexyl-4-((2, 4-dichlorophenyl)(4-(fluoro- 18F)phenyl)methyl)piperazine-1-carboxamide ( 18F-SQKJ-2), targeting cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors for diagnosing psychiatric disorders associated with fear memory. Methods:18F-SQKJ-2 was prepared using a nucleophilic substitution radiochemical synthesis method. For the CB1 receptor blocking experiment, 7 ICR mice were divided into blocking group ( n=4; rimonabant for blocking treatment) and control group 1 ( n=3; no rimonabant blocking treatment). The affinity and specificity of 18F-SQKJ-2 for CB1 receptors were analyzed based on the differences in 18F-SQKJ-2 uptake (percentage injected dose per gram of tissue, %ID/g) by various organs between two groups. The metabolic stability of 18F-SQKJ-2 in vitro was studied using animal tissue homogenates. Ten C57 mice were used to establish fear memory mouse models (fear group, n=6; control group 2, n=4), and the percentage of freezing time was compared between 2 groups. MicroPET scans were used to detect the intracranial distribution of 18F-SQKJ-2, and the relative uptake in each brain region compared to total brain uptake was calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the differences in CB1 receptor relative total brain uptake in fear-related brain regions between 2 groups. Independent-sample t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the data. Results:18F-SQKJ-2 was successfully synthesized with a radiochemical purity ≥98.0% and a corrected radioactive yield of (12.3±6.0)%( n=4). In vitro metabolic stability experiments showed that 18F-SQKJ-2 was basically stable in the liver, blood, and brain within 60min. The CB1 receptor blocking experiment demonstrated that the uptake of 18F-SQKJ-2 in the brains of mice in blocking group was significantly lower than that in control group 1 ((0.95±0.28) vs (3.44±1.16) %ID/g; t=-3.57, P=0.023). The percentage of freezing time in fear group was significantly higher than that in control group 2 (43.28%(39.46%, 52.93%) vs 2.74%(1.52%, 4.85%); Z=-2.45, P=0.010). 18F-SQKJ-2 microPET imaging showed that the uptake of 18F-SQKJ-2 in the cerebral cortex of mice in fear group was significantly increased compared with that in control group 2 ((5.83±0.47)% vs (5.00±0.52)%; t=2.42, P=0.046). Conclusion:18F-SQKJ-2 is successfully prepared with acceptable radiochemical purity and metabolic stability, demonstrating potential for visualizing and quantifying fear memory.

Objective:To construct a nanoparticle vaccine displaying the prefusion F (preF) protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using the I53-50 protein nanoparticle platform, and to systematically evaluate its immunogenicity and protective efficacy.Methods:The RSV preF trimer antigen was genetically fused to I53-50A and assembled in vitro with I53-50B to form preF-I53-50 nanoparticles, theoretically displaying 20 preF antigens per particle. The structure and purity were characterized by size-exclusion chromatography, SDS-PAGE, and negative-stain electron microscopy. BALB/c mice were intramuscularly immunized with varying doses (1 μg or 5 μg) of preF antigen or an equimolar amount of preF-I53-50 nanoparticles. Humoral immunity, B-cell responses, and protective efficacy were assessed following intranasal viral challenge.Results:The preF-I53-50 nanoparticles self-assembled into spherical structures (50-60 nm in diameter) with uniformly arrayed antigens. The nanoparticle vaccine enhanced RSV-specific IgG1 and IgG2a antibody responses, promoting a Th1-biased immune profile. At equimolar preF doses, the neutralizing antibody titers induced by 1 μg and 5 μg nanoparticle formulations were 2.8-fold and 2.3-fold higher, respectively, than those elicited by preF alone ( P<0.05). Notably, even the low-dose nanoparticle group outperformed the high-dose preF group (1.6-fold increase). Viral challenge experiments demonstrated that preF-I53-50 effectively suppressed pulmonary viral replication, mitigated pathological damage, and induced stronger germinal center and memory B-cell responses, suggesting enhanced B-cell affinity maturation and long-term immune memory. Conclusion:The preF-I53-50 vaccine improves the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of RSV preF through multivalent antigen display.

Osteoarthritis(OA)is a common concern over the world.Garlic is a kind of natural herbal medicine,and its active ingredients have shown some anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,anti-catabolic,analgesic and other phar-macological effects.Garlic and its active components alleviate the inflammatory response of OA by inhibiting the ex?pression of inflammatory factors and signal pathways such as NF?κB and PI3K/Akt.They slow down the progression of OA by inhibiting the expression of extracellular matrix(ECM)degrading enzymes.Additionally,they reduce the oxidative damage of joints by upregulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes.Moreover,the active components of garlic can relieve OA pain by activating the potassium ion pathway(Kv7),ATP?sensitive potassium channel(K?ATP),and the nuclear factor erythroid 2?related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase 1(HO?1)?NAD(P)H:qui?none oxidoreductase 1(NQO1)signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the impact of various conditions on the adsorption of quetiapine by activated carbon, establish a method for evaluating the adsorption efficacy of activated carbon on quetiapine, and assess the adsorption effects both in vitro and in vivo.Methods:In vitro experiments involved incubating activated carbon with quetiapine under different conditions, including varying organic solvent contents, types of organic solvents, adsorption temperatures, adsorption times, and pH. After reaching equilibrium, the mixtures were centrifuged, and the supernatants were collected. The concentration of quetiapine in the supernatants was measured using LC-MS/MS, and the adsorption rates were calculated. The log-transformed concentration of activated carbon was used as the independent variable and the adsorption rate as the dependent variable for function fitting using Origin 2021 software. In the in vivo experiments, rats were administered quetiapine orally, followed by 125 mg/mL of activated carbon in the experimental group. Blood samples were collected at multiple time points pre- and post-administration (0.17 h, 0.33 h, 0.50 h, 0.75 h, 1 h, 1.5 h, 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h). Plasma samples were pre-treated and the quetiapine concentrations were determined using LC-MS/MS. Pharmacokinetic parameters for both control and experimental groups were calculated using DAS 2.0 software.Results:The factors such as organic solvent content, type of organic solvent, adsorption temperature, adsorption time, and pH value significantly influenced the adsorption efficiency of quetiapine by activated carbon, leading to the optimization and standardization of the in vitro adsorption methodology. Among the 100 different adsorption function models tested, the Boltzmann function was identified as the most suitable models for describing the adsorption of quetiapine by activated carbon. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that the experimental group treated with activated carbon exhibited significantly reduced C max and AUC for quetiapine compared to the control group. Conclusion:The results of both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that activated carbon effectively adsorbs quetiapine, providing a potential method for mitigating quetiapine absorption.