Natural products have shown great potential in the research and development of antitumor drugs. However， their clinical application is severely limited by inherent drawbacks such as poor water solubility， low stability， and low bioavailability. Cell membrane biomimetic nanoparticles， as a novel drug delivery system， have provided new strategies to overcome this bottleneck. This review systematically summarizes the preparation methods （e.g.， membrane extrusion， ultrasonic fusion， and microfluidic electroporation） and characterization techniques （e.g.， particle size， Zeta potential， and membrane surface protein detection） of cell membrane biomimetic nanoparticles， with a focus on the application of these derived from various sources in delivering antitumor natural products. Cell membrane biomimetic nanoparticles are endowed with unique biological functions， including low immunogenicity conferred by stem cell membranes， prolonged systemic circulation enabled by red blood cell membranes， and homologous targeting facilitated by tumor cell membranes. Despite these advancements， the technology still faces challenges such as difficulties in large-scale production， high costs， and limited characterization methods. Future research needs to further optimize the relevant processes to promote the clinical translation of cell membrane-biomimetic nanoparticles， thereby offering an efficient and safe novel delivery approach for antitumor therapy using natural products.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Danhe granules in treating mixed hyperlipidemia based on network pharmacology， as well as animal and cell experiments. MethodsThe active compounds and targets of Danhe granules were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP） and the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine （ETCM）. Related targets for mixed hyperlipidemia were obtained from the GeneCards database. The intersecting targets were subjected to Gene Ontology （GO） functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analyses. A high-fat model was established in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells （HepG2） induced by palmitic acid （PA）， followed by intervention with Danhe granules to assess intracellular lipid accumulation and oxidative stress levels. A mixed hyperlipidemia rat model was also established and divided into low-， medium-， and high-dose Danhe granules groups （1.134， 2.268， and 4.536 g·kg^-1， respectively）， as well as a positive control group treated with pravastatin sodium （4.020 mg·kg^-1）. After eight weeks of intervention， serum lipid levels， inflammatory factors， oxidative stress indices， and the expression of key hepatic lipid metabolism-related proteins were determined. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified 93 intersecting targets between Danhe granules and mixed hyperlipidemia， with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma （PPARG）， peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha （PPARA）， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and IL-1B among the key nodes. The PPAR signaling pathway， AGE/RAGE signaling pathway， lipid metabolism， atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） were among the most significantly enriched pathways. Cellular experiments demonstrated that Danhe granules significantly reduced reactive oxygen species （ROS） and malondialdehyde （MDA） levels while increasing catalase （CAT） activity （P<0.05）， thereby alleviating intracellular lipid accumulation and triglyceride （TG） content in HepG2. In animal experiments， Danhe granules markedly decreased serum total cholesterol （TC）， TG， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） levels （P<0.05）， reduced hepatic MDA levels， and elevated superoxide dismutase （SOD） and CAT levels. Histological analysis showed alleviation of hepatic steatosis， upregulation of hepatic PPARA and lipoprotein lipase （LPL） expressions， and downregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 （SREBP1） expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionDanhe granules improve lipid metabolism disorders in mixed hyperlipidemia by reducing MDA levels， enhancing SOD and CAT activities， scavenging excessive ROS， inhibiting oxidative stress， and mitigating liver injury. The underlying mechanism may involve the upregulation of PPARA and LPL and the suppression of SREBP1 expression.

Kui was first recorded in The Rites of Zhou and is the earliest domesticated wild vegetable in China. In the Qi Min Yao Shu, Kui was called “the master of all vegetables” and has a long history of application in China. As a medicine, Kuizi was first recorded in Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic, which has a history of more than 2 000 years of medicinal use and a long history of clinical application. By researching the ancient and modern herbal literature, the first herbs texts of Kui were examined, various recorded texts, confused products and the history of the original medicinal use were clarified. It was concluded that the ancient herbal texts recorded the base plant of Kui as Malva verticillata L. belonging to family Malvaceae, which provided scientific basis for the development and utilization of Kui.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Danhe granules in treating mixed hyperlipidemia based on network pharmacology， as well as animal and cell experiments. MethodsThe active compounds and targets of Danhe granules were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP） and the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine （ETCM）. Related targets for mixed hyperlipidemia were obtained from the GeneCards database. The intersecting targets were subjected to Gene Ontology （GO） functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analyses. A high-fat model was established in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells （HepG2） induced by palmitic acid （PA）， followed by intervention with Danhe granules to assess intracellular lipid accumulation and oxidative stress levels. A mixed hyperlipidemia rat model was also established and divided into low-， medium-， and high-dose Danhe granules groups （1.134， 2.268， and 4.536 g·kg^-1， respectively）， as well as a positive control group treated with pravastatin sodium （4.020 mg·kg^-1）. After eight weeks of intervention， serum lipid levels， inflammatory factors， oxidative stress indices， and the expression of key hepatic lipid metabolism-related proteins were determined. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified 93 intersecting targets between Danhe granules and mixed hyperlipidemia， with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma （PPARG）， peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha （PPARA）， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and IL-1B among the key nodes. The PPAR signaling pathway， AGE/RAGE signaling pathway， lipid metabolism， atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） were among the most significantly enriched pathways. Cellular experiments demonstrated that Danhe granules significantly reduced reactive oxygen species （ROS） and malondialdehyde （MDA） levels while increasing catalase （CAT） activity （P<0.05）， thereby alleviating intracellular lipid accumulation and triglyceride （TG） content in HepG2. In animal experiments， Danhe granules markedly decreased serum total cholesterol （TC）， TG， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） levels （P<0.05）， reduced hepatic MDA levels， and elevated superoxide dismutase （SOD） and CAT levels. Histological analysis showed alleviation of hepatic steatosis， upregulation of hepatic PPARA and lipoprotein lipase （LPL） expressions， and downregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 （SREBP1） expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionDanhe granules improve lipid metabolism disorders in mixed hyperlipidemia by reducing MDA levels， enhancing SOD and CAT activities， scavenging excessive ROS， inhibiting oxidative stress， and mitigating liver injury. The underlying mechanism may involve the upregulation of PPARA and LPL and the suppression of SREBP1 expression.

ObjectiveThe malaria parasites remodel the host erythrocyte structure by exporting parasite proteins that interact with the membrane skeleton proteins of red blood cells (RBCs), facilitating their intracellular survival and pathogenicity. Skeleton-binding protein 1 (SBP1) is a conserved exported protein across Plasmodium species. In Plasmodium falciparum, SBP1 has been reported to interact with erythrocyte membrane skeleton proteins 4.1R and spectrin, while its contribution to erythrocyte remodeling and parasite virulence in Plasmodium berghei (Pb) remains unclear. This study aims to determine whether PbSBP1 associates with the host cytoskeletal protein 4.1R and to investigate its role in the remodeling of host RBCs and the pathogenicity of Plasmodium berghei. MethodsIn Plasmodium berghei, the relationship between PbSBP1 and the erythrocyte cytoskeletal protein 4.1R was examined using co-immunoprecipitation. A Pbsbp1 gene knockout mutant of Plasmodium berghei (Pbsbp1∆) was generated based on the principle of double crossover homologous recombination. The deformability of erythrocytes infected with Pbsbp1∆ parasites was assessed using microfluidic methods. Microchannels with an array of cylindrical pillars were used to detect modifications in infected RBC deformability. The infected RBCs were squashed between the rows and recovered between the columns and the transit velocity (μm/s) of infected RBCs travelling through the microchannel was recorded. The component of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton junctional complex, tropomodulin (TMOD), was fluorescently labeled, and the cytoskeletal network of infected erythrocytes was imaged using super-resolution stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) to analyze ultrastructural changes in the cytoskeleton of wild-type (WT) and Pbsbp1∆-infected erythrocytes. Actin-based junctional complexes were displayed as individual clusters by the labeled TMOD in the STORM images, and the cluster densities and distances between adjacent clusters of infected RBCs were calculated. Additionally, rodent malaria models (BALB/c mice) and experimental cerebral malaria models (C57BL/6 mice) were employed to monitor the growth of Pbsbp1∆ and WT parasites during the intraerythrocytic stage and their capacity to induce cerebral malaria in mice. ResultsPbSBP1 may participate in the remodeling of infected erythrocytes through direct or indirect interaction with the erythrocyte cytoskeletal protein 4.1R. Microfluidic assays revealed that the deformability of erythrocytes infected with Pbsbp1∆ parasites was significantly enhanced compared to those infected with WT parasites. STORM imaging further demonstrated that the ultrastructure of the erythrocyte cytoskeleton in Pbsbp1∆-infected cells was altered relative to that in WT-infected erythrocytes. The distances between nearest neighbors of clusters had a tendency to increase while the cluster densities were decreased in Pbsbp1∆-infected RBCs compared to WT-infected RBCs. Subsequent phenotypic analysis indicated that the growth rate of Pbsbp1∆ parasites during the intraerythrocytic stage was significantly slower than that of WT parasites, and their ability to induce cerebral malaria in mice was also attenuated. These findings suggest that PbSBP1 is involved in the remodeling of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton, likely through its direct or indirect interaction with protein 4.1R, thereby regulating the deformability of infected erythrocytes and influencing the pathogenicity of the blood-stage parasites. ConclusionThis study establishes a role for PbSBP1 in host erythrocyte remodeling and parasite virulence, providing new research strategies for the prevention and treatment of malaria.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Qinggan Jianpi Houxue prescription against hepatic fibrosis in mice using metabolomics. MethodsA hepatic fibrosis mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 20% carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄， diluted with olive oil at a ratio of 4∶1） at a dose of 2.5 mL·kg^-1 for 4 weeks. A total of 54 C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the blank control group， model group， Qinggan Jianpi Houxue prescription high-dose group （47.32 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose group （23.66 g·kg^-1）， low-dose group （11.83 g·kg^-1）， and Biejiajian pill group （1.365 g·kg^-1）， with 9 mice in each group. Concurrently with modeling， each administration group received the corresponding dose continuously for 4 weeks， once daily. After 4 weeks， liver tissues and blood samples were collected for liver function and hepatic pathological examinations. Non-targeted metabolomics was employed to detect hepatic metabolites. Principal component analysis （PCA）， partial least squares discriminant analysis （PLS-DA） and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA） were performed to explore the metabolites and their involved metabolic pathways in the liver tissues of mice in the blank control group， model group and Qinggan Jianpi Houxue prescription high-dose group. Western blot validation was conducted at both the cellular and animal levels. ResultsCompared with the blank control group， the model group showed significantly increased levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） （P<0.01）， along with increased inflammatory cell infiltration， and formation of fibrous septa. The predominantly enriched pathway was the forkhead box O （FoxO） signaling pathway. Compared with the model group， the Qinggan Jianpi Huoxue prescription high-dose group exhibited significantly decreased ALT and AST levels （P<0.01）. In all administration groups of Qinggan Jianpi Huoxue prescription， inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced， fibrous septa were narrowed and diminished， collagen fibers were reduced， and the collagen area was significantly decreased. Non-targeted metabolomics identified 79 differential metabolites， among which 49 were up-regulated and 30 down-regulated， primarily enriched in the tricarboxylic acid （TCA） cycle and pyruvate metabolism pathways. Western blot results demonstrated that， compared with the blank control group， the model group exhibited significantly upregulated protein expressions of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， lactate dehydrogenase A （LDHA）， FoxO1， pyruvate kinase M2 （PKM2）， hexokinase 2 （HK2）， and phosphofructokinase 1 （PFK1） in liver tissues （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In hepatic stellate cells， the glucose concentration increased， and the protein expression of α-SMA， LDHA， FoxO1， PKM2， glucose transporter 1 （GLUT1）， and PFK1 were significantly up-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Conversely， compared with the model group， the Qinggan Jianpi Huoxue prescription high-dose group showed significantly downregulated protein expression of α-SMA， LDHA， FoxO1， PKM2， HK2， and PFK1 in liver tissues （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In hepatic stellate cells， the glucose concentration decreased， and the protein expression of α-SMA， LDHA， FoxO1， PKM2， GLUT1， and PFK1 were significantly down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionQinggan Jianpi Huoxue prescription can alleviate the pathological progression of hepatic fibrosis in mice， potentially by regulating the TCA cycle and pyruvate metabolism through FoxO1， and by modulating glycolytic metabolic reprogramming in hepatic stellate cells， thereby promoting liver tissue repair.

Objective To analyze the differences of free and esterified oxo-eicosatetraenoic acids (oxo-ETEs) in blood cells and plasma from arterial and venous blood in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods Arterial and venous blood samples from 12 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) before and after HD treatment at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, from June to December 2020 were collected. The esterified and free oxo-ETEs derived from arachidonic acid in blood cells and plasma were measured by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Results Neither esterified nor free oxo-ETEs in blood cells displayed significant arteriovenous differences before and after HD. HD predominantly affected the metabolic levels of esterified and free oxo-ETEs in plasma. HD reduced the arteriovenous differences of esterified 12-oxo-ETE, free 15-oxo-ETE, and free 5-oxo-ETE in plasma, while raised the arteriovenous differences of esterified 15-oxo-ETE. Conclusions The oxo-ETEs in blood cells are relatively well-stabilized responding to HD treatment, whereas arteriovenous differences of free and esterified oxo-ETEs in plasma are present and active in response to HD treatment, potentially contributing to the cardiovascular disease.

ObjectiveMagnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique, meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity. Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID), MEG based on optically pump magnetometer (OPM) has the advantages of higher sensitivity, better spatial resolution and lower cost. However, most of the current studies are clinical studies, and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology. Pain, a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon, induces intricate alterations in brain activity, exhibiting notable sex differences. Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG, specific properties remain elusive, and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain (induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)) on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique, to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception, and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling. MethodsThis study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA (100 μl, 50% in saline) in the left hind paw, with control groups receiving saline. Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection. For MEG recording, anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield, undergoing two 15-minute sessions: a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase. Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms, generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range. ResultsMEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared, before and after saline/CFA injections. Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre- and post-saline/CFA injections. Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states. Remarkably, female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states. Furthermore, despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment, female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection. ConclusionThese results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts. Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection, highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state. Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals. In addition, the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.

Objective To investigate the species of ticks in Suizhou City, Hubei Province, so as to provide insights into management of ticks and tick-borne diseases. Methods During the period between May 2023 and June 2024, livestock breeding farms and vegetation neighboring the place of residence of confirmed and suspected patients with tick-borne disease were selected as sampling points in rural areas from Yindian Township, Gaocheng Township, Wanhe Township, Wushan Township, Xiaolin Township, Xihe Township, Hedian Township and Beijiao Street in Suizhou City, Hubei Province, where confirmed and suspected cases with tick-borne diseases had been reported. The parasitic ticks on the body surface of free-range livestock were captured with tweezers in livestock breeding farms, and free ticks on the vegetation surface were captured with the flagging method. Morphological identification of tick samples was performed under a microscope, and the gender and developmental stage of ticks were determined. One engorged adult tick, 2 to 3 blood-feeding but non-engorged adult ticks, 10 to 15 unfed female ticks, 15 to 20 unfed male ticks, and 30 to 40 tick nymphs or larvae were assigned into a group, respectively. Genomic DNA was extracted from tick samples in each group, and mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene was amplified. Sequence analysis was performed with the DNASTAR software, and phylogenetic analysis was performed using the software MEGA 7.0. In addition, the phylogenetic tree was generated using the maximum likelihood method based on the Kimura 2 parameter model. Results A total of 2 438 ticks were captured from Suizhou City, Hubei Province during the period between May 2023 and June 2024, including 595 free ticks and 1 483 parasitic ticks. Three developmental stages of ticks were captured, including larvae, nymphs, and adults, and 75.18% (1 899/2 438) of captured ticks were adult, in which 79.04% (1 501/1 899) were female. Morphological and molecular biological assays identified one family, three genera and four species of captured ticks, including 2 425 Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks (99.47%) and one H. flava tick (0.04%) of the genus Haemaphysalis, 11 Rhipicephalus microplus ticks (0.45%) of the genus Rhipicephalus, and one Ixodes sinensis tick (0.04%) of the genus Ixodes in the family Ixodidae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the H. longicornis sequence (SZ49) in this study was clustered with sequences from Yunnan Province (GenBank accession number: MH024510.1), Hebei Province (GenBank accession number: MK450606.1) and Henan Province (GenBank accession number: MZ230645.1) into a clade, and the H. flava sequence (SZ19) in this study was clustered with sequences from Japan (GenBank accession number: MW064044.1), South Korea (GenBank accession number: ON629585.1), and Jiangsu Province (GenBank accession number: PP494741.1) and Hebei Province of China (GenBank accession number: MH520685.1) into a clade, while the R. microplus sequence (SZ8) in this study was clustered with the sequences from India (GenBank accession number: MK621328.1), and Henan Province (GenBank accession number: MT555307.1) and Guizhou Province of China (GenBank accession number: PP446801.1) into a clade. The sequence of I. sinensis (SZ23) in this study had 99.51% homology with that (GenBank accession number: OM368265.1) of ticks sampled from Wuhan City, Hubei Province. Conclusion There are four tick species of H. longicornis, H. flava, R. microplus and I. sinensis in Suizhou City, Hubei Province, and H. longicornis is the dominant species. H. flava is firstly recorded in Suizhou City.

Background: Psoralea corylifolia L. (Buguzhi, BGZ), known for its efficacy in supporting pregnancy and preventing miscarriage, has been used in China for over 1000 years. Recently, BGZ has been identified as a potential cause of drug-induced liver injury. However, its safety during pregnancy remains unclear, which significantly hinders its routine clinical application. Objective: To investigate the effects of BGZ administration during pregnancy on the liver of mouse mothers and their weaned 21-day-old offspring. Methods: Mice were orally administered BGZ at doses of 2.5 and 10 g/kg during pregnancy, with BGZ withdrawal during the lactation period. Liver histopathology (hematoxylin-eosin staining), biochemical analysis, and evaluation of liver bile acid metabolism were performed after the lactation period. Results: BGZ administration at doses of 2.5 and 10 g/kg during pregnancy, followed by withdrawal during the lactation period, caused mild liver damage in both mothers and their 21-day-old offspring. Serum total bile acid (TBA) levels were elevated compared with those in the control group. Additionally, changes were observed in the levels and proportions of various bile acids (BAs) in the liver, suggesting mild effects on BA metabolism. Conclusion: BGZ administration during pregnancy caused mild liver damage and increased serum TBA levels in both mouse mothers and their 21-day-old offspring. This phenomenon may be associated with imbalanced BA metabolism in the liver. Based on the present study and the limited toxicological research on BGZ, pregnant women should avoid prolonged use of BGZ. If BGZ is administered during pregnancy, serum TBA levels should be monitored, and if elevated, BGZ should be discontinued.